Association between maternal gestational diabetes mellitus and high‐sensitivity C‐reactive protein levels in 8‐year‐old children: The Yamanashi Adjunct Study of the Japan Environment and Children’s Study (JECS)

Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) is one of the most common pregnancy‐related complications; it is associated with adverse pregnancy outcomes and metabolic disorders in offspring, consistent with the concept of the developmental origins of health and disease. This cohort study of women without diabetes (n = 761), who were part of the Yamanashi Adjunct Study of the Japan Environment and Children’s Study, aimed to explore the associations between maternal GDM and their offspring’s level of high‐sensitivity C‐reactive protein (hsCRP), a biomarker of inflammatory and cardiovascular diseases. We analyzed the associations between GDM and the offspring’s hsCRP levels using a multiple logistic regression model. A mother with GDM significantly increased the risk for high hsCRP level by 4.07‐fold (≥2.0 mg/L) in the child. As such, maternal GDM was significantly associated with increased serum hsCRP levels in 8‐year‐old children.     

Association of glycated hemoglobin at an early stage of pregnancy with the risk of gestational diabetes mellitus among non‐diabetic women in Japan: The Japan Environment and Children’s Study

Aims/IntroductionGestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) is one of the most common complications of pregnancy and is associated with adverse pregnancy outcomes. This study aimed to explore the associations between glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) levels at the early stage of pregnancy and the GDM risk among non‐diabetic women in a nationwide study in Japan. In addition, the relationship between GDM and adverse pregnancy outcomes was also analyzed.Materials and MethodsThis cohort study (n = 89,799) used data from the Japan Environment and Children’s Study. We stratified the participants into four groups according to HbA1c levels at an early stage of pregnancy. We investigated the association of HbA1c at an early stage of pregnancy with the risk of GDM, and of GDM with the risk of some representative adverse pregnancy outcomes, using the multiple logistic regression model with adjustment for potential confounders.ResultsThe adjusted odds ratio for GDM per 0.1 percentage point increase in HbA1c (%) was 1.20. The adjusted odds ratio for developing GDM was significantly increased in women from the HbA1c 5.0–5.4% category. GDM significantly increased the adjusted odds ratio for adverse pregnancy outcomes, such as hypertensive disorders of pregnancy, polyhydramnios and premature birth.ConclusionsHigh‐normal HbA1c levels at the early stage of pregnancy are significantly associated with GDM risk in women in Japan. GDM was significantly associated with adverse pregnancy outcomes.     

Difference and Variance in Nutrient Intake by Age for Older Adults Living Alone in Japan: Comparison of Dietary Reference Intakes for the Japanese Population

This study aimed to estimate the distribution of usual intakes in protein, sodium, potassium, and calcium by age group and assessed whether proportions of deficiencies/excesses of each nutrient would occur more in older age via a comparison with the dietary reference intakes for the Japanese population (DRIs_J). A cross-sectional analysis was conducted using a database of the 2-day nutrient intake of 361 Japanese people aged 65–90 years. The AGEVAR MODE was used to estimate usual intake. Percentile curves using estimated distribution by sex and age and usual nutrient intake were compared to those of the DRIs_J. The usual intake of protein (male and female) and potassium and calcium (female) were lower with older age. Within-individual variance of protein in female (p = 0.037) and calcium in male (p = 0.008) subjects were considerably lower with older age. The proportion of deficiencies in protein (male and female), potassium (female), and calcium (female) were higher with older age. However, the proportion of people with excess salt (converted from sodium; male and female) did not differ by age. The variances found herein could be important for enhancing the understanding of differences in dietary intake by age.     

Current state of fertility preservation for adolescent and young adult patients with gynecological cancer

International Journal of Clinical Oncology - Although the incidence of the various gynecological cancers has been increasing in recent years, long-term survival is now possible for many patients...     

Neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin levels associated with cardiovascular disease in chronic kidney disease patients

Background

Elevated levels of neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (NGAL) have been reported in patients with cardiovascular disease (CVD), heart failure, and stroke. We assessed the relationships between serum levels of NGAL and the prevalence of CVD, and clarified the prognostic usefulness of systemic NGAL levels in hemodialysis (HD) patients.

Methods

Eighty-eight HD patients were followed up for 1 year. Logistic regression analyses were used to investigate the relationship between de novo CVD status and NGAL levels as well as other risk factors.

Results

During follow-up, CVD events occurred in 20 patients. Initial serum levels of NGAL and brain natriuretic peptide of HD patients with de novo CVD were significantly higher than those of HD patients without de novo CVD. Multivariate logistic regression analyses showed that initial serum levels of NGAL were independent risk factors for de novo CVD in HD patients. When patients were classified on the basis of NGAL quartiles, multiple logistic regression analyses demonstrated that the highest quartile of NGAL level showed an increased odds ratio for the prevalence of CVD.

Conclusion

These findings suggest that NGAL levels can be used to detect the prevalence of CVD in HD patients with or without diabetes.     

Prevention Measures for COVID-19 and Changes in Kawasaki Disease Incidence

BackgroundKawasaki disease is suspected to be triggered by previous infection. The prevention measures for coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) have reportedly reduced transmission of certain infectious diseases. Under these circumstances, the prevention measures for COVID-19 may reduce the incidence of Kawasaki disease.MethodsWe conducted a retrospective study using registration datasets of patients with Kawasaki disease who were diagnosed in all 11 inpatient pediatric facilities in Yamanashi Prefecture. The eligible cases were 595 cases that were diagnosed before the COVID-19 pandemic (from January 2015 through February 2020) and 38 cases that were diagnosed during the COVID-19 pandemic (from March through November 2020). Incidence of several infectious disease were evaluated using data from the Infectious Disease Weekly Report conducted by the National Institute of Infectious Diseases.ResultsEpidemics of various infectious diseases generally remained at low levels during the first 9 months (March through November 2020) of the COVID-19 pandemic. Moreover, the incidence of COVID-19 was 50–80 times lower than the incidence in European countries and the United States. The total number of 38 cases with Kawasaki disease for the 9 months during the COVID-19 pandemic was 46.3% (−3.5 standard deviations [SDs] of the average [82.0; SD, 12.7 cases] for the corresponding 9 months of the previous 5 years. None of the 38 cases was determined to be triggered by COVID-19 based on their medical histories and negative results of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 testing at admission.ConclusionThese observations provide a new epidemiological evidence for the notion that Kawasaki disease is triggered by major infectious diseases in children.Key words: COVID-19, Kawasaki disease, retrospective database, infectious disease