[A 28-Week-Pregnant Woman at Twenty Years of Age, Who Had Been Hospitalized with Jaundice].

The Reversed Clinicopathological Conference (R-CPC) is a useful tool to analyze a patient's condition us- ing only laboratory data. An R-CPC was held at the 59th Regional Congress. One case presenter, two dis- cussers, and one commenter participated in this R-CPC.

[Challenges and Outcomes of the Process for Achieving Certification].

Clinical laboratory tests have been indispensable for medical services in recent years, and such a situation is associated with the offering of accurate test results by clinical laboratory units. A large number of facilities wishing to achieve ISO 15189 Certification follow preparatory procedures with support from consulting companies. However, in our facility, a limited budget did not allow us to use such services.

Validation of two automatic devices: Omron HEM-7252G-HP and Omron HEM-7251G for self-measurement of blood pressure according to the European Society of Hypertension International Protocol revision 2010.

Objective: The aim of this study was to validate the performance of Omron HEM-7252G-HP and Omron HEM-7251G for monitoring upper arm blood pressure (BP) in accordance with the European Society of Hypertension International Protocol revision 2010 (ESH-IP revision 2010).

Methods: Three trained medical doctors validated the performance of these devices by comparing data obtained from these devices with those obtained using a standard mercury sphygmomanometer. We included 33 participants (19 men and 14 women for the experiment using HEM-7252G-HP; 16 men and 17 women for the experiment using HEM-7251G).

Validation of two automatic devices for the self-measurement of blood pressure according to the ANSI/AAMI/ISO81060-2:2009 guidelines: the Omron BP765 (HEM-7311-ZSA) and the Omron BP760N (HEM-7320-Z).

Background: Allowing patients to measure their blood pressure (BP) at home will be the standard for evaluating the disease state as the process of clinical diagnosis, and it is recognized as having great clinical utility. To measure BP as accurately as possible, innovative techniques have been incorporated into home BP measurement devices.

Objective: The present study aimed to evaluate the performance of the Omron BP765 (HEM-7311-ZSA) and the Omron BP760N (HEM-7320-Z), which are equipped with functions to detect irregular pulses and arm movement that lead to inaccurate BP readings.

Validation of three automatic devices for the self-measurement of blood pressure according to the European Society of Hypertension International Protocol revision 2010: the Omron HEM-7130, HEM-7320F, and HEM-7500F.

Objective: The aim of the present study was to validate the Omron HEM-7130, HEM-7320F, and HEM-7500F for monitoring upper arm blood pressure (BP) according to the European Society of Hypertension International Protocol revision 2010 (ESH-IP revision 2010).

Methods: Three trained medical doctors validated the performance of these devices by comparing the data obtained from the devices with those of a standard mercury sphygmomanometer. We included 33 participants (20 men and 13 women for the HEM-7130 experiment; 18 men and 15 women for the HEM-7320F experiment; and 21 men and 12 women for the HEM-7500F experiment).

[A Case of Heparin-Induced Thrombocytopenia with Discrepancy in the Results of Anti-Platelet Factor 4/Heparin Antibodies between Latex-Particle-Enhanced Immunoturbidimetric Assay and Enzyme Immunoassay].

A female patient in her seventies with diabetes mellitus, hyper-lipidemia and mitral regurgitation was admitted because of the acute heart failure. She was treated with diuretics and vasodilators, however these were not effective. Therefore the CHDF using heparin was required for the patients.

[The basic research on the high-sensitive troponin I assay, and the application to evaluation of chronic heart failure].

The mortality among patients with heart diseases increases steadily in an aging society like Japan. Among those, the patients with chronic heart failure (CHF) are thought to be increasing rapidly although the official report is missing. It is well-known that BNP or NT-proBNP is useful for a clinical diagnosis of CHF, but a role of the cardiac troponin (cTn) attracts attention as a novel biomarker of their prognosis.

Validation of Omron RS8, RS6, and RS3 home blood pressure monitoring devices, in accordance with the European Society of Hypertension International Protocol revision 2010.

Background: Allowing patients to measure their blood pressure at home is recognized as being of clinical value. However, it is not known how often these measurements are taken correctly. Blood pressure monitors for home use fall into two types based on the position of the cuff, ie, at the upper arm or the wrist.

[Performance and clinical utility of a high-sensitivity troponin T assay].

In the present study, we evaluated the performance and clinical utility of a high-sensitivity troponin T (hs-cTnT) assay. The within- and between-assay variations (coefficients of variation: CV) in the low and high concentrations of troponin T in serum samples were 0.84% to 3.

The central mechanism underlying hypertension: a review of the roles of sodium ions, epithelial sodium channels, the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system, oxidative stress and endogenous digitalis in the brain.

The central nervous system has a key role in regulating the circulatory system by modulating the sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous systems, pituitary hormone release, and the baroreceptor reflex. Digoxin- and ouabain-like immunoreactive materials were found >20 years ago in the hypothalamic nuclei. These factors appeared to localize to the paraventricular and supraoptic nuclei and the nerve fibers at the circumventricular organs and supposed to affect electrolyte balance and blood pressure.

Validation of home blood pressure-monitoring devices, Omron HEM-1020 and Omron i-Q132 (HEM-1010-E), according to the European Society of Hypertension International Protocol.

Objective: Allowing patients to measure their blood pressure (BP) at home is recognized as being of clinical value. However, it is not known whether BP measurement is usually taken correctly outside of a clinical setting. Automated proper wrapping of the cuff and correction of wrong posture will help in taking BP measurement properly.

An ouabain-like factor is secreted from immortalized hypothalamic cells in an aldosterone-dependent manner.

Ouabain-like factor (OLF) modulates blood pressure via sodium pump inhibition in the central nervous system and in the peripheral circulation. Ouabain-like factor (OLF) is thought to be produced in the adrenal gland and hypothalamus, and it may relate locally to the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system. However, the evidence for the latter was obtained from in vivo experiments using animals.

Ca2+ entry mode of Na+/Ca2+ exchanger as a new therapeutic target for heart failure with preserved ejection fraction.

Aims: Left ventricular (LV) fibrosis and stiffening play crucial roles in the development of heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFPEF). Plasma level of digitalis-like factors (DLFs) is increased in patients with hypertension, a principal underlying cardiovascular disease of HFPEF. Digitalis-like factors inhibit ion-pumping function of Na(+)/K(+)-ATPase and activate the Ca(2+) entry mode of Na(+)/Ca(2+) exchanger (NCX).

Isolation of marinobufotoxin from the supernatant of cultured PC12 cells.

1. Digitalis-like factors (DLFs) are believed to be involved in sodium metabolism via inhibition of Na(+) /K(+) -ATPase and may cause hypertension. Yet, the source and regulation of secretion of DLFs remain unknown.

Pitavastatin further decreases serum high-sensitive C-reactive protein levels in hypertensive patients with hypercholesterolemia treated with angiotensin II, type-1 receptor antagonists.

Lipid-lowering therapy with a statin not only powerfully lowers cholesterol but also exerts anti-inflammatory effects by decreasing serum C-reactive protein (CRP). Since an angiotensin II, type-1 receptor antagonist (ARB) also decreases CRP levels, the add-on effect of statins on CRP may be worth exploring. We determined the effect of pitavastatin on serum levels of highly sensitive CRP (hs-CRP) in 30 patients with hypercholesterolemia undergoing treatment with anti-hypertensive medication including ARBs.

A difficult diagnosis case of prolonged thrombocytopenia with sepsis and disseminated intravascular coagulation.

A 19-year-old male was admitted because of the trauma due to sepsis-induced disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC) and multiple organ failure (MOF). We treated with antibiotics, danaparoid, and continuous hemodiafiltration (CHDF). Once he recovered, but after several days, he had septic shock and MOF again.

[Study on the diagnostic role of NT-proBNP assay for assessment of cardiac function, and the effect of renal function--comparable study with BNP].

We, in the present study, studied the stability, operability, and economy as a whole of NT-proBNP assay, and further on the performance of diagnosing cardiac failure as a laboratory test. It was found to be superior to BNP assay not only as a reagent but also as a clinical test to diagnose cardiac functions. On the other hand, it is reported that NT-proBNP is influenced by the renal function more than BNP, and we investigated it precisely.

[Usefulness of a single radial immunodiffusion method for the immediate diagnosis of abnormal fibrinogenemia in the laboratory].

Patients with dysfibrinogenemia demonstrate a low concentration of plasma fibrinogen. However, many cases remain a symptomatic and are incidentally identified on a pre-operative or screening test for pregnancy. Therefore, urgent diagnosis is desirable.

Soluble FcgammaRIIIa(Mphi) levels in plasma correlate with carotid maximum intima-media thickness (IMT) in subjects undergoing an annual medical checkup.

Macrophages play a major role in the development of vascular lesions in atherogenesis. The cells express FcgammaRIIIa (CD16) identical to that in NK cells, but with a cell type-specific glycosylation, and these soluble forms (sFcgammaRIIIa) are present in plasma. We measured sFcgammaRIIIa(Mphi) derived from macrophages in plasma from subjects undergoing an annual medical checkup.

Novel digitalis-like factor, marinobufotoxin, isolated from cultured Y-1 cells, and its hypertensive effect in rats.

Marinobufagenin and telecinobufagin have been identified as digitalis-like factors in mammals. In toads, marinobufagenin-related compounds, such as marinobufotoxin (MBT), have been isolated in some tissues but not in mammals, and its biological action has not been elucidated. Herein, we aimed to explore the possible production and/or secretion of MBT and the biological action in rats.

[Consulting work performed by the hospital laboratory. Laboratory information from the screening test of blood coagulation].

Clinical laboratory physicians and scientists/technologists in the clinical laboratory of a hospital can provide much more information about laboratory data to medical doctors, by the interpretation of laboratory data, and can provide strategies to understand laboratory results. For example, in a case of circulating anticoagulant without hemorrhage, interpretation of the slightly abnormal APTT is important for precise diagnosis, although it is very difficult to interpret the data in the early stages of the disease. Recently, we experienced a patient (female, age: 61) with strong anti-phospholipid antibody and lymphoma but without thrombosis, and found spuriously elevated FDP and CRP in the patient's immunoglobulin.