Significant increase of prostaglandin E-major urinary metabolite in male smokers: a screening study of age and gender differences using a simple radioimmunoassay.

Background: For the assessment of inflammatory status, we have developed a simple, reliable radioimmunoassay (RIA) of prostaglandin E-major urinary metabolite (PGE-MUM), which remains stable in urine after it is metabolized. Using this method, we conducted a screening study to compare standard values of PGE-MUM to serum C-reactive protein (CRP) levels in health check volunteers.

Methods: PGE-MUM (micrograms per gram creatinine) was measured in normal urine samples obtained from 797 samples in volunteers for health check, using a newly developed RIA, and analyzed in relation to age, gender, smoking, and drinking habits.

Cut-off levels of salivary beta2-microglobulin and sodium differentiating patients with Sjögren's syndrome from those without it and healthy controls.

Objectives: For the diagnosis of Sjögren's syndrome (SS), cut-off levels of β2-microglobulin (β2MG) and sodium (Na+) in unstimulated whole saliva have not yet been shown. We aimed to determine the cut-off levels of salivary β2MG and Na+ which differentiate SS patients from non-SS patients and healthy controls.

Methods: Seventy-one patients of primary SS (pSS, 69 females/2 males, 60.

Pathological differentiation of chronic hypersensitivity pneumonitis from idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis/usual interstitial pneumonia.

Aims: To evaluate the histological characteristics differentiating chronic hypersensitivity pneumonitis (chronic HP) with a usual interstitial pneumonia (UIP)-like pattern from idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF)/UIP.

Methods And Results: Surgical lung biopsy specimens from 22 patients with chronic HP diagnosed as having a UIP-like pattern upon histological examination and 13 patients with IPF/UIP were examined and the incidences of bronchiolitis, perilobular fibrosis, centrilobular fibrosis, bridging fibrosis, organizing pneumonia, fibroblastic foci, honeycombing, granulomas, giant cells, lymphocytic alveolitis and lymphoid follicles were compared. Bronchiolitis, centrilobular fibrosis, bridging fibrosis, organizing pneumonia, granulomas, giant cells and lymphocytic alveolitis were significantly more frequent among patients with chronic HP than among patients with IPF (all P<0.

Efficacy and safety of short- and long-term treatment of itraconazole on chronic necrotizing pulmonary aspergillosis in multicenter study.

In the respiratory field, chronic pulmonary aspergillosis, such as chronic necrotizing pulmonary aspergillosis (CNPA) or aspergilloma, is important. We examined the efficacy and safety of short- and long-term itraconazole (ITCZ) administration, involving a switch from injection to an oral preparation, in patients with CNPA. In all hospitals participating in this study, the protocol was approved by the ethics review board.

Study on the usefulness of high-molecular-weight (HMW)-Adiponectin level check of Japanese general population upon health check: comparison of carotid ultrasonography measurement.

Objective: High-molecular-weight (HMW)-adiponectin is an active and powerful predictor of atherosclerosis. Unfortunately, there is currently no reliable epidemiological reference level data available in Japan. The current ELISA method for HMW-adiponectin measurement is tedious as it requires several sample pre-treatment steps.