Plasma brain-derived neurotrophic factor concentration is a predictor of chronic kidney disease in patients with cardiovascular risk factors - Hyogo Sleep Cardio-Autonomic Atherosclerosis study.

Background: Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) has been shown to have protective effects against cardiovascular diseases and death through neural and non-neural pathways via tropomyosin-related kinase B signaling. However, it is not known whether plasma BDNF concentration is a predictor of chronic kidney disease (CKD).

Design: This study was conducted as a prospective cohort study as part of the Hyogo Sleep Cardio-Autonomic Atherosclerosis.

Serum Macro TSH Level is Associated with Sleep Quality in Patients with Cardiovascular Risks - HSCAA Study.

Macro thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) has been reported to be associated with seasonality and regulated by changes in day length in rodents, different from free TSH. In the present study, we investigated structural differences between macro TSH and free TSH levels in human serum, as well as the association of macro TSH with sleep quality. We enrolled 314 patients registered in the Hyogo Sleep Cardio-Autonomic Atherosclerosis (HSCAA) study.

Familial Carney complex with biatrial cardiac myxoma.

We report a case of Carney complex (CNC) with biatrial cardiac myxoma. The patient had left and right atrial myxomas which were resected in a surgery. She showed bilateral adrenal tumors and multiple mammary tumors.

Plasma leptin concentration is associated with fatigue severity in patients with cardiovascular risk factors - HSCAA study.

Fatigue induced by complex dysfunctions of the central nervous system is frequently complained by patients with cardiovascular risk factors. Although leptin is considered to regulate the central nervous system, there are no reports regarding its association with fatigue in those patients. This cross-sectional study included 347 patients with cardiovascular risk factors.

Association of Nocturnal Hypertension With Disease Activity in Rheumatoid Arthritis.

Objectives: Both nocturnal hypertension (HT) and systemic inflammation underlying rheumatoid arthritis (RA) have been shown to be independent predictors of cardiovascular disease (CVD), although little is known on the relationship between nocturnal blood pressure (BP) and disease activity in RA patients.

Methods: We performed 24-hour ambulatory BP monitoring (ABPM) in 71 RA patients to examine the relationship of nocturnal fall in BP and RA disease activity based on a disease activity score of 28 joint counts with C-reactive protein (CRP, 28-joint disease activity score (DAS28)-CRP). Among them, 25 RA patients whose consent obtained were reexamined by ABPM to assess the improvement of nocturnal fall in BP after RA therapeutic intervention.

Successful treatment with ustekinumab of psoriasis vulgaris in a patient undergoing hemodialysis.

Psoriasis is a common chronic inflammatory skin disease but psoriasis patients with renal impairment undergoing dialysis are not frequently seen. Furthermore, the published work contains little information on the treatment with biologic drugs of patients with end-stage renal disease. We describe a 57-year-old man with refractory plaque-type psoriasis and end-stage renal disease due to polycystic kidney disease undergoing hemodialysis.

A case of bilateral pheochromocytoma during pregnancy.

Background: Pheochromocytoma is a disease where catecholamines are secreted. If pheochromocytoma occurs during pregnancy, it can be difficult to diagnose because it is similar to pregnancy-induced hypertension. Furthermore, bilateral pheochromocytoma during pregnancy is even rarer than unilateral pheochromocytoma.

Association between poor glycemic control, impaired sleep quality, and increased arterial thickening in type 2 diabetic patients.

Objective: Poor sleep quality is an independent predictor of cardiovascular events. However, little is known about the association between glycemic control and objective sleep architecture and its influence on arteriosclerosis in patients with type-2 diabetes mellitus (DM). The present study examined the association of objective sleep architecture with both glycemic control and arteriosclerosis in type-2 DM patients.

Increased soluble IL-2 receptor levels in serum from a patient with painless thyroiditis.

Context: Serum concentration of soluble interleukin-2 receptor (sIL-2R) has been established as a reliable marker of T-lymphocyte activation. However, there have been no reports describing the relationship between serum sIL-2R and painless thyroiditis.

Objective: We report a case of a 76-yr-old female with a significant and temporary increase of sIL-2R concomitant with painless thyroiditis.

Association between glycemic control and morning blood pressure surge with vascular endothelial dysfunction in type 2 diabetic patients.

Objective: Morning blood pressure surge (MBPS) is an independent predictor of cardiovascular events. However, little is known about the association between glycemic control and MBPS, and its effect on vascular injury in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). The current study examined the association between glycemic control and MBPS, and the involvement of MBPS in the development of vascular dysfunction in T2DM patients.