Macroprolactin in mothers and their babies: what is its origin?

Objectives: Macroprolactinemia is one of the major causes of hyperprolactinemia. The aim of this study was to clarify the origin of macroprolactin (macro-PRL).

Methods: We examined macro-PRL in the sera of 826 pregnant women and in those of their babies' umbilical cords at delivery.

Prevalence and Pathogenesis of Macro-Thyrotropin in Neonates: Analysis of Umbilical Cord Blood from 939 Neonates and Their Mothers.

Macro-thyrotropin (macro-TSH) is a large molecular weight TSH that causes elevated serum TSH concentrations due to its slow clearance. It is primarily a complex of TSH and anti-TSH autoantibodies. The aims of this study were to examine the prevalence and nature of macro-TSH in neonates and to determine how to cope with macro-TSH in neonates suspected to have congenital hypothyroidism through neonatal mass screening.

Relationship between somatic symptoms with menstruation and intention to leave work among university hospital nurses in Japan: a cross-sectional study.

Purpose: This study investigated the association between menstrual symptoms and the intention to leave work among female nurses in Japan.

Methods: This cross-sectional study investigated female nurses (n = 317) at two university hospitals. The items measured were their characteristics (e.

Progressive Changes in Lumbopelvic Alignment during the Three Month-Postpartum Recovery Period.

Pregnancy-related lumbopelvic pain is a common musculoskeletal problem, and postural changes are believed to be involved in these disorders. However, the lumbopelvic alignment changes in postpartum women remain unclear. This study aimed to determine whether there are changes in lumbopelvic alignment following vaginal or cesarean delivery and when these alignment changes occur after delivery.

Neonatal oral fluid as a transmission route for bifidobacteria to the infant gut immediately after birth.

Bifidobacteria are one of the most abundant bacterial groups in the infant gut microbiota and are closely associated with infant health and can potentially affect health in later life. However, the details regarding the source of bifidobacteria have yet to be completely elucidated. This study aimed to assess neonatal oral fluid (OF) as a transmission route for bifidobacteria to the infant gut during delivery.

Effectiveness on high-grade cervical abnormalities and long-term safety of the quadrivalent human papillomavirus vaccine in Japanese women.

This study for the first time assessed quadrivalent human papillomavirus (qHPV) vaccine effectiveness against HPV6/11/16/18-related high-grade cervical disease in Japanese women (16-26 years old), as previously demonstrated in overseas trials, and vaccine safety in a longer term (48-month) open-label study (NCT01544478). Participants received three doses of qHPV vaccine (Day 1, Month 2, Month 6). Effectiveness endpoints, assessed in the per-protocol population, included incidence of HPV6/11/16/18-related cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN) Grade 2 or worse (CIN Grade 2 and 3, adenocarcinoma in situ, and/or cervical cancer) as primary endpoint and incidence of external genital lesions (EGLs).

Creation of haemoglobin A1c direct oxidase from fructosyl peptide oxidase by combined structure-based site specific mutagenesis and random mutagenesis.

The currently available haemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) enzymatic assay consists of two specific steps: proteolysis of HbA1c and oxidation of the liberated fructosyl peptide by fructosyl peptide oxidase (FPOX). To develop a more convenient and high throughput assay, we devised novel protease-free assay system employing modified FPOX with HbA1c oxidation activity, namely HbA1c direct oxidase (HbA1cOX). AnFPOX-15, a modified FPOX from Aspergillus nidulans, was selected for conversion to HbA1cOX.

Preparing Public Health Professionals to Make Evidence-Based Decisions: A Comparison of Training Delivery Methods in the United States.

Evidence-based decision making (EBDM) in health programs and policies can reduce population disease burden. Training in EBDM for the public health workforce is necessary to continue capacity building efforts. While in-person training for EBDM is established and effective, gaps in skills for practicing EBDM remain.

Phase III trial comparing the efficacy and safety of recombinant- or urine-derived human chorionic gonadotropin for ovulation triggering in Japanese women diagnosed with anovulation or oligo-ovulation and undergoing ovulation induction with follitropin-alfa.

Aim: Outside of Japan, recombinant-human chorionic gonadotropin (r-hCG) is widely used for the induction of final follicular maturation and early luteinization in women undergoing ovulation induction; whereas in Japan, urine-derived hCG (u-hCG) is predominantly used. The primary objective of this study was to demonstrate the non-inferiority of r-hCG to u-hCG for ovulation induction, as assessed by the ovulation rate.

Methods: This was an open-label, parallel-group, randomized, multicenter, phase III trial in Japanese women with anovulation or oligo-ovulation secondary to hypothalamic-pituitary dysfunction or polycystic ovary syndrome, undergoing ovulation induction with recombinant-human follicle-stimulating hormone.

Impact of macroprolactin on galactorrhea and the rate of patients possibly affected by macroprolactin.

The clinical influence of macroprolactin (MPRL) is not clearly understood and the rate of patients potentially affected by MPRL is unknown. We investigated the influence of MPRL on the onset of galactorrhea and estimated the rate of patients with a proportion of MPRL fraction that may possibly affect galactorrhea. Data of patients with obstetric or gynecological symptoms who had undergone PRL fractionation testing were retrospectively analyzed.

A possible cause of the variable detectability of macroprolactin by different immunoassay systems.

Background: Macroprolactinaemia is a major cause of hyperprolactinaemia. The detectability of macroprolactin varies widely among different immunoassay systems, but the causes are not fully known. This study aimed to identify the factors influencing the detectability of macroprolactin by immunoassay systems.

Implementing administrative evidence based practices: lessons from the field in six local health departments across the United States.

Background: Administrative evidence based practices (A-EBPs) are agency level structures and activities positively associated with performance measures (e.g., achieving core public health functions, carrying out evidence-based interventions).

Assessing Capacity for Sustainability of Effective Programs and Policies in Local Health Departments.

Context: Sustainability has been defined as the existence of structures and processes that allow a program to leverage resources to effectively implement and maintain evidence-based public health and is important in local health departments (LHDs) to retain the benefits of effective programs.

Objective: Explore the applicability of the Program Sustainability Framework in high- and low-capacity LHDs as defined by national performance standards.

Design: Case study interviews from June to July 2013.

Introduction of a new index of cervical consistency with transvaginal B-mode ultrasonography.

Changes in the length and consistency of the uterine cervix during pregnancy are known to precede pre-term labor. However, cervical consistency has not been studied in depth because its objective evaluation requires special equipment. Our aim was to define a new index to evaluate cervical consistency simply and easily using B-mode ultrasonography.

Friedmanniella luteola sp. nov., Friedmanniella lucida sp. nov., Friedmanniella okinawensis sp. nov. and Friedmaniella sagamiharensis sp. nov., isolated from spiders.

Four Gram-positive, non-motile, aerobic actinobacteria were isolated from spiders and their webs. Their genetic, phenotypic and chemical properties were studied. The 16S rRNA gene sequence data suggested that the four novel isolates belonged to the genus Friedmanniella.

[Effectiveness of bisphosphonate administration during Gn-RH agonist therapy for endometriosis].

Gn-RH agonist therapy is widely used for treatment of endometriosis. However, it is well known that there are some side effects due to too much suppress of plasma sex steroid hormone levels. The decrease of the BMD (bone mineral density) is a serious side effect, and the BMD values are decreasing significantly even in the short period during Gn-RH agonist therapy.

Pelvic actinomycosis presenting with a large abscess and bowel stenosis with marked response to conservative treatment: a case report.

Pelvic actinomycosis is a rare disease that can result in abscess formation, bowel obstruction, and other serious complications. Moreover, the correct diagnosis can seldom be established before radical surgery because the disease often mimics pelvic neoplasms. It has been recently recognized that pelvic actinomycosis is associated with long-term use of an intrauterine contraceptive device.

Purification, characterization, and potential applications of formate oxidase from Debaryomyces vanrijiae MH201.

Formate oxidase was found in cell-free extracts of Debaryomyces vanrijiae MH201, a soil isolate. After purification by column chromatography, the preparation showed a protein band corresponding to a molecular mass (MM) of 64 kDa on sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. The MM, estimated by a gel filtration, was 99 kDa.

The cannabinoid CB2 receptor inverse agonist JTE-907 suppresses spontaneous itch-associated responses of NC mice, a model of atopic dermatitis.

JTE-907, N-(benzo[1,3]dioxol-5-ylmethyl)-7-methoxy-2-oxo-8-pentyloxy-1,2-dihydroquinoline-3-carboxamide, is a selective cannabinoid CB2 receptor antagonist/inverse agonist. The anti-pruritic activity of JTE-907 was studied in NC mice with chronic dermatitis, a model of atopic dermatitis. The oral dose of JTE-907 (1 and 10 mg/kg/day), an immunosuppressant agent tacrolimus (1 mg/kg/day) and a glucocorticoid betamethasone 17-valerate (1 mg/kg/day) for 20 days suppressed the spontaneous scratching and cutaneous nerve activity of NC mice.

Cloning and sequencing of the aldehyde oxidase gene from Methylobacillus sp. KY4400.

The aldehyde oxidase genes (aods) from Methylobacillus sp. KY4400 were cloned, and sequenced. The sequences for small (aodS, 489 bp), medium (aodM, 993 bp), and large (aodL, 2,328 bp) subunit genes were determined.

Production of aldehyde oxidases by microorganisms and their enzymatic properties.

In order to establish an efficient process to decompose environmentally toxic aldehydes, dioxygen-dependent aldehyde oxidase (ALOD) from microorganisms was first sought, and some bacteria and actinomycetes were found to produce the enzyme in their cells. Methylobacillus sp., Pseudomonas sp.