Two Mutations in Thyroid Hormone Receptor Beta Gene (P453A and C36Y) in a Family with Resistance to Thyroid Hormone with Comorbid Myotonic Dystrophy.

The co-occurrence of resistance to thyroid hormone beta (RTHβ) and myotonic dystrophy type 1 (DM1) was observed in a Japanese family. Two mutations, P453A and C36Y, were identified in the thyroid hormone receptor beta (THRB) gene. Whereas family members with THRB exhibited RTHβ, two members with THRB but without THRB had normal thyroid function.

[Usefulness of Polyethylene-Glycol Precipitation As a Screening Method for Macroprolactinemia].

Macroprolactin is mostly a complex of monomeric prolactin (PRL) with IgG and considered to be biological inactive. Its presence commonly leads to diagnostic confusion and misdiagnosis. Polyethylene-glycol (PEG) precipitation method is widely used for a screening of macroprolactinemia.

Efficacy on the risk of vertebral fracture with administration of once-weekly 17.5 mg risedronate in Japanese patients of established osteoporosis with prevalent vertebral fractures: a 156-week longitudinal observational study in daily practice.

Currently, the only available evidence for the efficacy of once-weekly 17.5 mg risedronate in preventing vertebral fractures was obtained in a 48-week study in Japan. We performed a 156-week prospective, longitudinal, observational study to determine the efficacy of the 17.

Modified Cut-Off Value of the Urine Protein-To-Creatinine Ratio Is Helpful for Identifying Patients at High Risk for Chronic Kidney Disease: Validation of the Revised Japanese Guideline.

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is a global public health issue, and strategies for its early detection and intervention are imperative. The latest Japanese CKD guideline recommends that patients without diabetes should be classified using the urine protein-to-creatinine ratio (PCR) instead of the urine albumin-to-creatinine ratio (ACR); however, no validation studies are available. This study aimed to validate the PCR-based CKD risk classification compared with the ACR-based classification and to explore more accurate classification methods.

[Cross-reactivity evaluation of improved estradiol (E2) assay reagent based on chemiluminescent enzyme immunoassay].

We evaluated the performance of a newly-improved estradiol(E2) assay reagent (NEW LP-E2-N), which replaces murine monoclonal antibody in the present reagent (LP-E2-N) with sheep monoclonal antibody, since we had experienced discrepant E2 assay results between LP-E2-N and other commercially available E2 assay kits. Several examinations with the new assay reagent indicated a good performance in terms of the limit of quantity, reproducibility (within-run and between-day), dilution linearity, and influence of blood components except hemoglobin. Using analogues and/or metabolites of E2, low or no cross-reactivity has been shown in NEW LP-E2-N: 0.

The total urine protein-to-creatinine ratio can predict the presence of microalbuminuria.

Background: The Kidney Disease: Improving Global Outcomes chronic kidney disease (CKD) guidelines recommend that CKD be classified based on the etiology, glomerular filtration rate (GFR) and degree of albuminuria. The present study aimed to establish a method that predicts the presence of microalbuminuria by measuring the total urine protein-to-creatinine ratio (TPCR) in patients with cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factors.

Methods And Results: We obtained urine samples from 1,033 patients who visited the cardiovascular clinic at St.

[A case of Burkitt lymphoma with multifocal bone invasion].

A 12-year-old boy admitted to a local hospital with fever, migratory arthralgia, and periosteal reaction on X Ray. He was transferred to our hospital because magnetic resonance imaging scan of his whole body showed multiple abnormal signals in bones. Laboratory findings on admission showed the increased erythrocyte sedimentation rate, uric acid, lactate dehydrogenase, alkaline phosphatase, C-reactive protein, immunoglobulin G, hemolytic complement activity and soluble interleukin-2 receptor.

[A case of mycoplasma hominis infection on chronic refractory lower leg ulceration caused by livedo vasculopathy].

Mycoplasma hominis is a common inhabitant of the human urogenital tract and most frequently causes diseases of the genitourinary tract. Extragenital M. hominis infections are uncommon, with almost all occurring in immunosuppressed persons or those predisposed due to surgery or trauma.

[Report of immunoassay control surveys conducted in the past 30 years by the Subcommittee for Radioisotope in vitro Test, the Medical Science and Pharmaceutical Committee, and the Japan Radioisotope Association].

Immunoassay control surveys, were conducted by the Subcommittee for Radioisotope in vitro Test, the Medical Science and Pharmaceutical Committee, and the Japan Radioisotope Association, between 1978 to 2008. A total of 40 analytes for 26 hormones, 14 tumor markers and pharmaceutical drugs were investigated in participating facilities. In the first immunoassay control survey in 1978, samples were measured using only RI kits, however, non-RI kits increased gradually during the next 30 years.

Establishment of a method to detect microalbuminuria by measuring the total urinary protein-to-creatinine ratio in diabetic patients.

Diabetes and chronic kidney disease (CKD) which are risk facters of cardiovascular disease, are increasing global public health problems. Microalbuminuria is an early sign of progressive cardiovascular and renal disease in individuals with or without diabetes. Screening for microalbuminuria and early treatment are recommended for patients with increased cardiovascular and renal risk factors.

[Clostridium difficile TOX A/B II TEST evaluation].

We compared the performance of two commercial toxin detection kits, C. difficile toxin A/B (C. difficile TOX A/B II test; TOX A/B II) and C.

Evaluated reference intervals for serum free thyroxine and thyrotropin using the conventional outliner rejection test without regard to presence of thyroid antibodies and prevalence of thyroid dysfunction in Japanese subjects.

The determination of the reference intervals for serum free thyroxine (FT4) and thyrotropin (TSH) is usually based on central 95 percentile intervals using subjects without detectable antibodies against thyroid peroxidase (TPO) or thyroglobulin (Tg). However, some subjects with extreme data over reference intervals are generally included. The study objective was to evaluate the reference intervals for FT4 and TSH using different outlier tests.

Evaluation of a new rapid and fully automated electrochemiluminescence immunoassay for thyrotropin receptor autoantibodies.

Background: Hyperthyroidism in Graves' disease is caused by autoantibodies to the TSH receptor (TSHR), and measurement of the TSHR autoantibody (TRAb) yields important information to diagnose and decide on the course of treatment of Graves' disease. We evaluated basic and clinical performance of a new, rapid, and fully automated electrochemiluminescence immunoassay Elecsys Anti-TSHR (Elecsys TRAb) for measuring serum TRAb.

Methods: For evaluation of basic performance of the assay, we carried out intra- and interassay precision studies using five serum pools and three serum pools, respectively, and the assay was compared with four commercial TRAb assays.

[Desirable medical technologists in a community support hospital].

Recently, there have been marked advances in the technological strategies employed in medical examinations. The educational concept to nurture highly capable medical technologists is considered to be a priority issue by not only educators but also employers, even though the medical educational levels have markedly improved in every college and university. It is commonly acknowledged that the results of any examination in the clinical laboratory should be accurate and fed back to medical doctors as soon as possible.

[Anaerobiospirillum succiniciproducens septicemia].

We report the first case of septicemia caused by anaerobic spiral-shaped Gram negative bacilli, Anaerobiospirillum succiniciproducens in Japan. A 71-year-old male who had been suffered from terminal stage of liver cirrhosis and hepatocelluler carcinoma was admitted to our hospital for his symptoms of general malaise and increasing ascites on September 1, 2004. He developed diarrhea seven times a day on the eighth hospital day and had fever of 38.

[Evaluation of cardiac dysfunction after herceptin treatment in patients with metastatic breast cancer by echocardiography].

Herceptin (Trastuzumab) is a humanized recombinant monoclonal antibody that binds the extracellular domain of the human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) and is used in the treatment of patients with HER2 overexpressing metastatic breast cancer. Treatment with Herceptin is generally well tolerated. At times, however, it exerts cardiac toxicity especially when used in combination with anthracyclines.

[Molecular defects in plasma membrane hormone receptors].

The biological effects of hormones are mediated by plasma membrane receptors which transmit extracellular signals to the cytoplasm and nucleus. Mutations in plasma membrane receptors can affect normal signal transduction with loss-of-function mutations leading to hormone resistance and gain-of-function mutations leading to constitutive activation of signaling pathways. The loss-of-function mutations leading to familial hormone resistance disorders are germline in origin whereas the gain-of-function mutations leading to constitutively active receptors are somatic.