Association of kidney function with cancer incidence and its influence on cancer risk of smoking: The Japan Multi-Institutional Collaborative Cohort Study

The association between kidney function and cancer incidence is inconsistent among previous reports, and data on the Japanese population are lacking. It is unknown whether kidney function modifies the cancer risk of other factors. We aimed to evaluate the association of estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) with cancer incidence and mortality in 55 242 participants (median age, 57 years; 55% women) from the Japan Multi-Institutional Collaborative Cohort Study. We also investigated differences in cancer risk factors between individuals with and without kidney dysfunction. During a median 9.3-year follow-up period, 4278 (7.7%) subjects developed cancer. Moderately low and high eGFRs were associated with higher cancer incidence; compared with eGFR of 60-74 ml/min/1.73 m², the adjusted hazard ratios (HRs) (95% confidence intervals [CIs]) for eGFRs of ≥90, 75-89, 45-59, 30-44 and 10-29 ml/min/1.73 m² were 1.18 (1.07-1.29), 1.09 (1.01-1.17), 0.93 (0.83-1.04), 1.36 (1.00-1.84) and 1.12 (0.55-2.26), respectively. High eGFR was associated with higher cancer mortality, while low eGFR was not; the adjusted subdistribution HRs (95% CIs) for eGFRs of ≥90 and 75-89 ml/min/1.73 m² were 1.58 (1.29-1.94) and 1.27 (1.08-1.50), respectively. Subgroup analyses of participants with eGFRs ≥60 and <60 ml/min/1.73 m² revealed elevated cancer risks of smoking and family history of cancer in those with eGFR <60 ml/min/1.73 m², with significant interactions. Our findings suggest that the relationship between eGFR and cancer incidence was U-shaped. Only high eGFR was associated with cancer mortality. Kidney dysfunction enhanced cancer risk from smoking.     

Study on the mass-screening of after-meal serum triglyceride concentration]

The serum triglyceride concentration (TG) tested in health checks after meals cannot properly sort out hypertriglyceridemia with reference to the upper normal limit of fasting TG (150 mg/dl) set by the Japan Arteriosclerosis Society, because TG goes up considerably after a meal. In our survey of a large number of health check examinees (free of abnormal biochemical data other than TG and diseases under medical treatment), the mean (M) of fasting TG + 2 standard deviations (SD) was close to 150 mg/dl. When the screening level was set at M + 2SD for each time span after a meal, the ratio of the screened was distributed between 19.9 and 21.8%, which was close to 23.5%, the ratio of the screened on fasting. Accordingly, the nearest round number ending with zero for the first digit is suggested to be of practical use for the screening level of after-meal TG. The average TG in females was definitely lower than that of males, though proportionately increasing with age. The ratio of the screened among females aged between 20 and 49 was 5.3% on fasting and 3.2-5.8% for after-meal time spans, and that of the screened aged in their fifties was 11.3% and 8.2-12.9% respectively.     

Cloning, Expression, and Sequencing of a Cell Surface Antigen Containing a Leucine-Rich Repeat Motif from Bacteroides forsythus ATCC 43037

Bacteroides forsythus is a recently recognized human periodontopathogen associated with advanced, as well as recurrent, periodontitis. However, very little is known about the mechanism of pathogenesis of this organism. The present study was undertaken to identify the surface molecules of this bacterium that may play roles in its adherence to oral tissues or triggering of a host immune response(s). The gene (bspA) encoding a cell surface-associated protein of B. forsythus with an apparent molecular mass of 98 kDa was isolated by immunoscreening of a B. forsythus gene library constructed in a lambda ZAP II vector. The encoded 98-kDa protein (BspA) contains 14 complete repeats of 23 amino acid residues that show partial homology to leucine-rich repeat motifs. A recombinant protein containing the repeat region was expressed in Escherichia coli, purified, and utilized for antibody production, as well as in vitro binding studies. The purified recombinant protein bound strongly to fibronectin and fibrinogen in a dose-dependent manner and further inhibited the binding of B. forsythus cells to these extracellular matrix (ECM) components. In addition, adult patients with B. forsythus-associated periodontitis expressed specific antibodies against the BspA protein. We report here the cloning and expression of an immunogenic cell surface-associated protein (BspA) of B. forsythus and speculate that it mediates the binding of bacteria to ECM components and clotting factors (fibronectin and fibrinogen, respectively), which may be important in the colonization of the oral cavity by this bacterium and is also a target for the host immune response.     

DNA typing of HLA in the patients with moyamoya disease

Summary Moyamoya disease is a clinical entity demonstrating a chronic occlusion of the cerebrovascular system. Although some possible etiological factors have been postulated, the etiology of this disease is still unknown. So far, some investigations have suggested the association between moyamoya disease and HLA in the serological typing. However, DNA typing of HLA have not been performed yet. Thus, we performed DNA-typing of HLA in the unrelated Japanese patients with definite moyamoya disease, using the polymerase chain reaction-sequence specific oligonucleotide probe (PCR-SSOP) technique. In the total patients,DQB1*0502 had a positive association with the disease. On the other hand,DRB1*0405 andDQB1*0401 showed a negative association. In comparing the early-onset and late-onset groups, two groups did not share the same disease associated alleles at all. Thus, the etiology of moyamoya disease seem to have a genetic background. Furthermore, different genetic factors might also be involved in the difference between the early-onset and late-onset groups.     

Effect of intracarotid bradykinin infusion on cerebral blood flow in dogs

We examined whether intracarotid infusion of bradykinin altered circulation in the normal canine brain. Twenty-four anesthetized dogs were divided into four groups receiving different doses of bradykinin (1, 2.5, 5, and 10 micrograms kg-1 min-1). Regional cerebral blood flow (rCBF) was measured continuously using laser Doppler flowmetry through a burr hole in the frontal bone. Systemic blood pressure (SBP) and heart rate (HR) were monitored simultaneously. Higher doses of bradykinin significantly but temporarily decreased rCBF and SBP immediately after the start of infusion; these parameters rapidly recovered and then were stable through the rest of the infusion. During this period, percent change in rCBF and SBP was small, and differences between groups were not significant. On the other hand, HR increased during infusion and remained high. SBP, rCBF, and HR returned to pre-infusion levels after bradykinin was stopped. The results suggest that intracarotid infusion of bradykinin for treatment of brain tumors would be safe in terms of circulation to the uninvolved brain.     

Intracranial adenoid cystic carcinoma mimicking meningioma: report of two cases

Two cases of intracranial adenoid cystic carcinoma mimicking meningioma are reported. In one, MRI showed not only a homogeneously enhancing extra-axial tumour attached to the dura mater of the posterior cranial fossa, but also surrounding dural enhancement, the dural tail sign. In the second, CT demonstrated a well-demarcated enhancing extra-axial tumour, indistinguishable from a sphenoid ridge meningioma extending into the orbit. The neuroradiological features of intracranial adenoid cystic carcinoma may thus closely resemble those of meningioma.     

Origin and evolution of the Department of Neurosurgery, Neurological Institute, Faculty of Medicine, Kyushu University

The Department of Neurosurgery at Kyushu University had its origins within the First Department of Surgery and was established as a subspecialty at the Neurological Institute more than 30 years ago under the leadership of Katsutoshi Kitamura. Further development of the neurosurgical department has proceeded during the chairmanship of Masashi Fukui. These leaders and many other dedicated physicians and surgeons, nurses, investigators from other countries, and staff members have contributed to the creation of a research-oriented neurosurgical environment that interacts fruitfully with the other components of the Neurological Institute. This article describes the development of neurosurgery within Kyushu, which has been a highly cosmopolitan area throughout its long history. More specifically, this account outlines the origin and growth of the Department of Neurosurgery at Kyushu University.     

Leukotriene C4 contents,synthase and catabolic activity in human meningiomas

Abstract

Leukotriene has been proposed as a factor of tumour induced brain oedema. Independently of its size, meningioma occasionally shows various extents of peritumoural oedema. We investigated LTC₄ tissue contentsLTC₄ catabolic and synthetic activity in 12 human meningiomas and their correlation with peritumoural oedema was studied. LTC₄ contents were varied from 0.01 to 8.21 pg/mg tissue. When LTA4/ an unstable expoxide intermediate was incubated with tumour homogenate, LTC₄ was rapidly synthesized. However; LTC₄ levels generated by incubating LTA4 with each homogenate were much different in each case. Degradation of LTC₄ to LTD4, LTE4, and other polar materials was also rapid by incubation with tumour homogenates. Approximately 70% of added UC₄ was transformed to LTD4/ LTE4 nor 6-trans LTB4 diastereoisomers during 30 min incubation at 37 °C. The results suggested that there were significant LTC₄ tissue contents and LTC₄ synthetic and catabolic activity in meningiomas. Oedema index ranged from 1.0 (no peritumoural oedema) to 67.5. No significant correlationi, however', was observed not only between the LTC₄ tissue contents and LTC₄ synthetic or catabolic activities but also between each of these three parameters and peritumoural oedema. Thus, these results do not support a significant correlation of sulfidopeptide LTs with oedema formation in meningioma patients. Since leukotrienes are extremely unstable compounds, LTC₄ tissue contents should be carefully discussed along with a consideration of rapid LTC₄ synthesis and catabolism. Further role of leukotrienes in meningioma tissue should be studied.