Achievement of Target Serum Uric Acid Levels and Factors Associated with Therapeutic Failure among Japanese Men Treated for Hyperuricemia/Gout.

Objective To assess the rate of successfully achieving treatment goals among Japanese men with hyperuricemia/gout and identify factors influencing the success rate. Methods This cross-sectional study, conducted from January to December 2012, examined the serum uric acid (SUA) levels and clinical characteristics of 2,103 men with hyperuricemia/gout selected from an initial population of 136,770 individuals who participated in a workplace health checkup. The success rates (defined as SUA ≤6.

[A clinical analysis of elderly dementia patients with physical comorbidities].

Aim: To investigate the current status of elderly dementia patients with physical illnesses and identify optimal care strategies for this growing population.

Methods: This retrospective study included elderly dementia patients who (i) received in-patient treatment for a physical comorbidity at the dementia ward of the Juntendo Tokyo Koto Geriatric Medical Center, and (ii) who were discharged from April 2009 to March 2011.

Results: The study population was 390 patients (144 males, 246 females), with a mean [±SD] age of 80.

[Blood culture results in elderly febrile patients].

Aim: We retrospectively evaluated blood culture results in elderly patients (≥65 years) with a fever due to infection.

Methods: We examined the bacteria isolated from blood cultures and compared them to bacteria detected in infected lesions that caused bacteremia. We compared the types of bacteria isolated in the two groups (the community-acquired group and the hospital-acquired group).

Achievement of Target Blood Pressure Levels among Japanese Workers with Hypertension and Healthy Lifestyle Characteristics Associated with Therapeutic Failure.

Background: Few studies have examined Japanese with regard to the achievement rates for target blood pressure levels, or the relationship between these rates and healthy lifestyle characteristics in patients with hypertension as defined by the newly established hypertension management guidelines (JSH2014). The aim of this study was to elucidate achievement rates and examine healthy lifestyle characteristics associated with achievement status among Japanese.

Methods: This cross-sectional study, conducted in January-December 2012, examined blood pressure control and healthy lifestyle characteristics in 8,001 Japanese workers with hypertension (mean age, 57.

Association Between Serum Uric Acid Levels/Hyperuricemia and Hypertension Among 85,286 Japanese Workers.

This cross-sectional study from January 2012 to December 2012 aimed to examine the sex-specific association between serum uric acid (SUA) levels/hyperuricemia and hypertension among Japanese patients. SUA level, medical histories, and lifestyle-related items were collected from 85,286 of 136,770 participants. Among those with hyperuricemia, the median age was 46 years and 97% were men, which was significantly different than those without hyperurecemia (44 years and 56%, respectively; P<.

Raltegravir and Abacavir/Lamivudine in Japanese Treatment-Naïve and Treatment-Experienced Patients with HIV Infection: a 48-Week Retrospective Pilot Analysis.

Abacavir/lamivudine (ABC/3TC) is a nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor used for treating human immunodeficiency viral (HIV) infections. Hypersensitivity reactions such as skin eruptions caused by ABC are well-known, but rarely occur in Asians. Raltegravir (RAL) is an integrase strand transfer inhibitor, that is now increasingly, used for treating HIV infections because it has few adverse effects.

Body mass index and waist circumference are independent risk factors for low vital capacity among Japanese participants of a health checkup: a single-institution cross-sectional study.

Objective: This study aimed to examine the associations between obesity and percentage vital capacity (%VC), as well as lifestyle-related disorders, among Japanese participants of a voluntary health checkup.

Methods: Subjects were 7,892 individuals who participated in a medical health checkup from January to December 2007. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was performed to assess associations between low %VC (<80) and body mass index (BMI) and waist circumference (WC), as well as lifestyle-related disorders.

Analysis of 256 cases of classic fever of unknown origin.

Objective: The causes of fever of unknown origin (FUO) vary depending on the region and time period. We herein present a study of patients with classic FUO where we investigated differences based on patient background factors, such as age and causative diseases, and changes that have occurred over time.

Methods: We extracted and analyzed data from the medical records of 256 patients ≥18 years old who met the criteria for classic FUO and were hospitalized between August, 1994 and December, 2012.

Association between abdominal fat distribution and atherosclerotic changes in the carotid artery.

Aim: We aimed to evaluate the association between abdominal fat distribution (e.g., abdominal visceral fat area [VFA], subcutaneous fat area [SFA], and total fat area [TFA]), waist circumference (WC), or body mass index (BMI) and atherosclerotic changes in the carotid artery after adjusting for common risk factors.

Factors influencing the diagnostic accuracy of the rapid influenza antigen detection test (RIADT): a cross-sectional study.

Objective: To evaluate the diagnostic accuracy of the rapid influenza antigen detection test (RIADT) and determine which symptoms are relevant to results.

Design: Single-centre, cross-sectional study.

Setting: Primary care centre, Tokyo, Japan.

Age-specific effectiveness and safety of newly initiated insulin therapy in Japanese patients with uncontrolled diabetes.

Introduction: One consequence of population aging is an increase in the number of elderly patients with diabetes mellitus. These elderly patients often experience atherosclerotic complications, and diabetes prevention and management are strongly desired to promote health and reduce the financial burden on the healthcare system. In this study, we conducted an age-specific evaluation of the effectiveness and safety of comprehensive management with newly initiated insulin therapy over a 1-year period in elderly (≥65 years) compared with non-elderly (≤64 years) Japanese patients with uncontrolled diabetes [glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) ≥ 8% for ≥ 3 months].

Near point-of-care administration by the attending physician of the rapid influenza antigen detection immunochromatography test and the fully automated respiratory virus nucleic acid test: contribution to patient management.

Rapid influenza antigen detection tests (RIADTs) using immunochromatography are the most readily available tools for the diagnosis and management of influenza. This study was designed to assess whether near point-of-care administration by primary care physicians of the RIADT and a fully automated respiratory virus nucleic acid test (Verigene Respiratory Virus Plus®; RV+) would contribute to improved patient management. When viral culture and RT-PCR/bi-directional sequencing were used as the gold standard, sensitivities and specificities for RIADT and RV+ were 58.

Influence of smoking on HIV infection among HIV-infected Japanese men.

We performed a cross-sectional study that included 100 HIV-infected Japanese men without hemophilia to examine the influence of smoking on HIV infection. History of smoking was obtained using a questionnaire. The percentage of current smokers was 40 % and was the highest (50 %) among men in their forties.

Associations between healthy lifestyle behaviors and proteinuria and the estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR).

Aim: The aim was to investigate the respective associations between lifestyle and proteinuria and the estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR).

Methods: The lifestyle habits of 25,493 middle-aged participants were investigated in a cross-sectional study to find habits that are associated with a low eGFR (<60 mL/min/1.73 m(2)) and/or the presence of proteinuria.

A case of diaphragmatic paralysis complicated by herpes-zoster virus infection.

Diaphragmatic paralysis is commonly caused by surgical and traumatic injuries, malignant neoplasm, and neurodegenerative disorders. However, in rare instances, diaphragmatic paralysis due to herpes-zoster virus infection has been reported. Here, we describe an 85-year-old woman who developed left hemidiaphragmatic paralysis within 19 days of the appearance of a typical herpes-zoster rash involving the C4-5 dermatome on the left side.

Infective endocarditis with Lactococcus garvieae in Japan: a case report.

Introduction: Lactococcus garvieae is a well-recognized fish pathogen, and it is considered a rare pathogen with low virulence in human infection. We describe the 11th case of L. garvieae infective endocarditis reported in the literature, and the first reported case in Japan.

[Death in geriatric pneumonia patients].

Aim: Pneumonia-associated deaths are the 4th leading cause of death in elderly people, and fatality tends to increase with age, especially after the age of 65. We aimed to further define convalescence in this patient population by examining the clinical characteristics of elderly pneumonia patients.

Methods: We retrospectively examined the data of 292 patients aged 65 years or older who had died of pneumonia.

Correlation between HIV disease and lipid metabolism in antiretroviral-naïve HIV-infected patients in Japan.

Antiretroviral therapy alters lipid metabolism in HIV-infected patients. However, interpreting the impact of HIV infection on lipid metabolism is difficult because of various associated factors, including antiretroviral drugs and demographic characteristics. A few studies have associated HIV infection with lipid metabolism in antiretroviral-naïve HIV-infected patients.

[Study of discharge support in dementia cases].

Aim: The goal of this study was to clarify how the post-discharge support by a full time psychiatric social worker (PSW) in a dementia ward affected the discharge status of dementia patients.

Methods: Patients who were discharged from a dementia ward were examined for hospitalization, post-discharge status, nutrition methods, treatment drugs, and relationship with discharge support performed by the PSW.

Results: A total of 192 cases met the requirements for this examination, and approximately half (94, 49.

The long-term prognosis of lupus nephritis patients treated with intravenous cyclophosphamide.

Objective: Patients with lupus nephritis receiving intravenous cyclophosphamide (IVCY) therapy were divided into groups according to their clinical course, and the long-term prognosis was evaluated.

Patients And Methods: A total of 67 patients with lupus nephritis were enrolled and divided as follow into the following groups: Group A: patients with fresh nephritis, Group B: patients with relapse nephritis, Group C: patients with nephritis as a transition of the main clinical manifestation. IVCY (500 mg or 750 mg) was administered every month, and continued for two to more than six months.

[Clinical analysis of mortality in elderly patients with community-acquired pneumonia].

Aim: Community-acquired pneumonia remains a common and serious disease for elderly persons. The incidence and mortality rates of pneumonia are higher in the elderly. We analyzed the mortality and prognostic factors in 200 elderly patients with community-acquired pneumonia.

[Causes of death in hospitalized elderly patients].

Aim: The Juntendo Tokyo Koto Geriatric Medical Center (JTKGMC) is a community hospital catering for the health care needs of senior citizens, and 37.5% (120 beds) of its beds are psychiatric beds mostly for those with cognitive impairment. The purpose of this study was to analyze cause of death in a hospital like ours with its particular case mix.

Cyclospora infection in an immunocompetent patient in Japan.

Cyclospora cayetanensis is a coccidian protozoa that was newly recognized in 1979 in Papua New Guinea. We report the case of a 42-year-old French man who had visited Vietnam and presented with fever and watery diarrhea that had lasted for more than 2 weeks. The patient was diagnosed with C.

[Clinical study on lung disease caused by non-tuberculous mycobacteriosis in the elderly].

Aim: This study was done to clarify the characteristics of elderly patients with nontuberculous mycobacteriosis.

Methods: We investigated the clinical features of 10 patients at an advanced age who had been given diagnosis of nontuberculous mycobacteriosis.

Results: Mycobacterium avium intracellulare complex (MAC) were detected in all cases.

Seroprevalence of IgG anti-toxoplasma antibodies in asymptomatic patients infected with human immunodeficiency virus in Japan.

The seroprevalence of IgG antibodies to Toxoplasma gondii was assessed in 56 non-hemophiliac human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected adult patients in Japan. Seroprevalence of T. gondii infection was only 5.