Validity and reliability of the Integrated Palliative Care Outcome Scale for non-cancer patients.

Aim: This study assessed the validity and reliability of the Integrated Palliative Care Outcome Scale for non-cancer patients.

Methods: We recruited 223 non-cancer patients receiving palliative care and their healthcare providers (222) across two home care facilities and two hospitals for a cross-sectional study. We assessed the construct validity and known-group validity of the Integrated Palliative Care Outcome Scale.

Highly Diastereoselective Synthesis of 2-(1-N-Boc-aminoalkyl)thiazole-5-carboxylates by Reduction of tert-Butylsulfinyl Ketimines.

Positional isomers of naturally occurring peptide subunits were synthesized via highly diastereoselective reduction of tert-butylsulfinyl ketimines as a key reaction. While NaBH reduction of ketimines derived from 2-thiazolyl ketones afforded the (R,R)-isomer with moderate diastereoselectivity, L-Selectride reduction afforded the (R,S)-isomer as the sole product. In contrast, ketimines derived from tert-butyl 2-thiazolyl ketone afforded the (R,R)-isomer with low diastereoselectivity by both NaBH and L-Selectride reduction.

Metabolic responses during hemodialysis determined by quantitative (1)H NMR spectroscopy.

A large proportion of patients with end-stage renal disease have lifelong hemodialysis (HD) treatment. HD rapidly and indiscriminately removes necessary small metabolites together with uremic toxins from plasma into dialysate. To investigate metabolic responses to HD, we determined the levels of metabolites through time-course monitoring of (1)H NMR spectroscopy of dialysate during HD.

Sex differences in the prevalence, progression, and improvement of chronic kidney disease.

Background/aims: We examined sex differences in prevalence, progression, and improvement in early-stage chronic kidney disease (CKD).

Methods: We analyzed data from 533 participants who took 4 consecutive annual CKD detection tests.

Results: Urine albumin-creatinine ratio (ACR), estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR), and hemoglobin (Hb) at baseline in men with and without CKD and in women with and without CKD were 8.

¹H NMR spectroscopic quantification of plasma metabolites in dialysate during hemodialysis.

We used ¹H nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy to assess metabolic responses in patients undergoing hemodialysis (HD). We collected 71 samples of plasma and dialysate from 10 patients before, during, and after HD. We used the dialysate as a possible substitute for blood plasma to quantify small metabolites by ¹H NMR.

Three-year follow-up of lanthanum carbonate therapy in hemodialysis patients.

For 3 years following the start of lanthanum carbonate therapy, effects on other pharmaceutical treatment with sevelamer hydrochloride (SH), calcium carbonate (CC), and vitamin D, and those on clinical condition were examined. Dialysis patients with hyperphosphatemia (89 cases; average age 55.2 years; dialysis history of 10 years; 50 male and 39 female), who agreed to start lanthanum carbonate (LC) administration, were observed for a mean period of 32.

Blood pressure and sympathetic nerve tone relation during hemodialysis may reflect cardiovascular dysfunction.

Background: The blood pressure response to the rapid removal of fluid during hemodialysis is complex and the pathophysiological mechanisms underlying intradialytic hypotension are not clear and sometimes these mechanisms render dialysis difficult to continue.

Purpose: We analyzed the changes in blood pressure and sympathetic nerve tone and attempted to clarify whether the dynamic pattern of this relationship reflects cardiovascular dysfunction.

Methods: The dynamic pattern of sympathetic nerve activity throughout dialysis was analyzed by frequency analysis of RR intervals recorded by 24 hours Holter electrocardiography in 64 patients and 3 minutes ECG every 15 minutes during dialysis in 121 stable end-stage renal failure patients who underwent maintenance hemodialysis.

Attempt of quantitative analysis of visual evaluation for (123)I-BMIPP myocardial scintigraphy images.

We developed a new technique to quantitatively analyze visual evaluation single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT). Short axis tomograms and color scales were computer scanned. The scales were divided into 25 parts; numbers of each hue pixel were scored 0-100%.

Different clinical outcomes for cardiovascular events and mortality in chronic kidney disease according to underlying renal disease: the Gonryo study.

Purpose: Chronic kidney disease (CKD) can result from a wide variety of diseases, but whether clinical outcomes differ in the same CKD stages according to the underlying renal disease remains unclear. Clarification of this issue is important for stratifying risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD) and death in patients before dialysis.

Patients And Methods: The study comprised 2,692 patients recruited from 11 outpatient nephrology clinics, classified by underlying disease of primary renal disease (PRD) (n = 1,306), hypertensive nephropathy (HN) (n = 458), diabetic nephropathy (DN) (n = 283), or other nephropathies (ON) (n = 645).

Quantification of molecules in (1)H-NMR metabolomics with formate as a concentration standard.

Quantitative analysis of metabolites is important in (1)H-nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR)-based metabolomics of plasma. Human plasma contains a high density of proteins which heavily adsorb the commonly-used standard compound of sodium 3-(trimethylsilyl) propionate 2, 2, 3, 3-d(4) (TSP). We have evaluated calcium formate as an alternative standard in 1D single-pulse (1)H-NMR spectra to quantify plasma metabolites.

Pattern recognition analysis for 1H NMR spectra of plasma from hemodialysis patients.

1H NMR spectroscopic and pattern recognition-based methods (NMR-PR) were applied to the metabolic profiling studies on hemodialysis (HD). Plasma samples were collected from 37 patients before and after HD and measured by 600 MHz NMR spectroscopy. Each spectrum was data-processed and subjected to principal component analysis for pattern recognition.

[Hypertension and metabolic syndrome/lifestyle diseases].

Hypertension is caused by metabolic syndrome. The primary cause of hypertension, however, is excess salt intake and an impaired renal salt excretory mechanism of the tubuloglomerular feedback mechanism involved in macula densa. Salt-losing nephropathy such as Gitelman's syndrome (which is caused by loss of function mutation in the tyhiazide-sensitive Na-Cl transporter, NCCT gene) is lacking in hypertension and has fewer cardiovascular complications despite the presence of the stimulated rennin-angiotensin-aldosterone system.

Effects of monotherapy of temocapril or candesartan with dose increments or combination therapy with both drugs on the suppression of diabetic nephropathy.

We examined the effects of increasing the recommended initial doses of angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors (ACEIs) or angiotensin receptor blockers (ARBs), or of switching to combination therapy with both drugs, on diabetic nephropathy. Hypertensive type 2 diabetic patients with urinary albumin excretion (ACR) between 100 and 300 mg/g creatinine (Cre) were assigned to the following five groups in which an antihypertensive drug was administered at a recommended initial dose for 48 weeks, and then either the dose was doubled or an additional drugs was added to regimen for the following 48 weeks: N, nifedipine-CR (N) 20 mg/day (initial dose); T, ACEI temocapril (T) 2 mg/day; C, ARB candesartan (C) 4 mg/day; T+C, T first and then addition of C; C+T, C first and then addition of C. ACR decreased in the T (n=34), C (n=40), T+C (n=37) and C+T (n=35) groups, but not in the N group (n=18).

Detection of bacteria associated with harmful algal blooms from coastal and microcosm environments using electronic microarrays.

With the global expansion of harmful algal blooms (HABs), several measures, including molecular approaches, have been undertaken to monitor its occurrence. Many reports have indicated the significant roles of bacteria in controlling algal bloom dynamics. Attempts have been made to utilize the bacteria/harmful algae relationship in HAB monitoring.

Spironolactone further reduces urinary albumin excretion and plasma B-type natriuretic peptide levels in hypertensive type II diabetes treated with angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor.

1. Over the course of treatment with angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor (ACEI), plasma levels of aldosterone have been shown to increase and this increase would blunt the effectiveness of the ACEI (aldosterone escape phenomenon). 2.

Angiotensin II type 1 receptor blockers reduce urinary oxidative stress markers in hypertensive diabetic nephropathy.

We tested the hypothesis that blockade of angiotensin II type 1 receptors reduces oxidative stress markers in parallel with urinary albumin and type IV collagen excretions. Sixty-six diabetic patients with nephropathy were randomly assigned to either the angiotensin II receptor blocker (ARB; n=33) or trichlormethiazide (n=33) group. The majority of patients had been treated with angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors or calcium channel blockers for > or =1 year before the present study.

Upregulation of nitric oxide production in vascular endothelial cells by all-trans retinoic acid through the phosphoinositide 3-kinase/Akt pathway.

Background: A natural retinoid all-trans retinoic acid (ATRA) contains various beneficial effects on vasculature, including suppression of neointima formation after balloon injury. However, little is known about the effects of ATRA on vascular endothelial function. We therefore studied its role in nitric oxide (NO) production of vascular endothelial cells (ECs).

Hepatocyte growth factor stimulates nitric oxide production through endothelial nitric oxide synthase activation by the phosphoinositide 3-kinase/Akt pathway and possibly by mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase in vascular endothelial cells.

Hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) has recently been the focus of attention due to its angiogenic effects, which are similar to those of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF); because of these effects, HGF is considered to be a novel therapeutic agent against vascular disorders, including atherosclerotic angiopathies. Although nitric oxide (NO), which is derived from vascular endothelial cells (ECs), is also involved in angiogenesis, little is known regarding the interactions between HGF and NO. We therefore examined the effects of HGF on NO production as well as endothelial NO synthase (eNOS) phosphorylation, and investigated their mechanisms.

Profiling and monitoring of microbial populations by denaturing high-performance liquid chromatography.

We describe a new molecular technique for the analysis of microbial species and complex microbial populations based on the separation of PCR-amplified 16S rDNA fragments by denaturing high-performance liquid chromatography (DHPLC). Using marine bacterial samples, we determined the optimum conditions for the analysis of bacterial species and the examination of complex bacterial assemblages obtained from different environments. The incorporation of a 40-bp GC clamp into the amplification primer was essential to effectively discriminate genetic differences in DHPLC-primers with a 20-, 10-, or 0-bp GC clamp length were less efficient.

Electronic microarray analysis of 16S rDNA amplicons for bacterial detection.

Electronic microarray technology is a potential alternative in bacterial detection and identification. However, conditions for bacterial detection by electronic microarray need optimization. Using the NanoChip electronic microarray, we investigated eight marine bacterial species.