Platelet count and hypertension as indicators of height loss in the general population: A prospective study.

Circulating CD34-positive cell count is inversely associated with height loss. It acts as an indicator of endothelial repair activity. In conjunction with CD34-positive cells, platelets contribute to endothelial repair.

Internal Temperature of Neonatal Endotracheal Tube Predicted by Infrared Thermography: A Neonatal Bench Study.

Introduction: Neonatal ventilators are managed by monitoring the inspiratory gas temperature with a probe placed outside the incubator, although the temperature decreases as the gases passe through the ventilator circuit extension tube and endotracheal tube (ETT). There are no established methods for measuring the internal temperature of the ETT. This bench study aimed to investigate the feasibility of using infrared thermography (IRT) to predict the internal temperature of the ETT.

Feeling of incomplete bladder emptying and angiogenesis-related polymorphism rs3025020 among older community-dwelling individuals.

Aim: To clarify the association between genetic factors related to angiogenesis and feeling of incomplete bladder emptying among older community-dwelling individuals.

Method: A cross-sectional study of 1762 (607 men and 1155 women) older Japanese individuals aged 60-79 years with data on rs3025020 was conducted, because vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), which contributes to the progression of angiogenesis, has been reported to be positively associated with the minor allele (T) of polymorphism rs3025020.

Results: In the study population, 155 (103 men and 52 women) had feeling of incomplete bladder emptying.

Association between eating speed and atherosclerosis in relation to growth differentiation factor-15 levels in older individuals in a cross-sectional study.

Although fast eating speed has been associated with cardiovascular risk factors, no studies have reported an association between fast eating speed and atherosclerosis as evaluated by carotid intima-media thickness (CIMT). Rapid glucose ingestion is known to cause glucose spikes, which may accelerate atherogenesis and increase levels of growth differentiation factor 15 (GDF-15). Therefore, GDF-15 levels may influence the association between fast eating speed and atherosclerosis.

Association between atherosclerosis and height loss among older individuals.

Atherosclerosis and height loss are each reportedly associated with cardiovascular disease. However, no studies have found an association between atherosclerosis and height loss. A retrospective study of 2435 individuals aged 60-89 years who underwent annual health check-ups was conducted.

Association between anti-thyroid peroxidase antibody and thyroid stimulating hormone: a cross-sectional study.

To maintain normal level of thyroid hormone, especially for free thyroxine (FT4), individuals with latent thyroid gland damage might have required higher thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) than those without latent thyroid gland damage. Anti-thyroid peroxidase antibody (TPO-Ab) is a main cause of auto-immune thyroiditis, and therefore euthyroid individuals positive for TPO-Ab might have latent damage to the thyroid gland. Therefore, the association between TSH values and TPO-Ab positivity may be useful to determine the influence of latent thyroid gland damage on requirement of TSH.

Profile of Nagasaki Islands Study (NaIS): A Population-based Prospective Cohort Study on Multi-disease.

In an aging society, it is important to visualize the conditions of people living with diseases or disabilities, such as frailty and sarcopenia, and determine the environmental and genetic factors underlying such conditions. Atherosclerosis and arterial stiffness are key conditions between these factors and noncommunicable diseases. In 2014, we launched a population-based prospective open-cohort study, the Nagasaki Islands Study (NaIS), which was conducted in Goto City, located in the remote islands of Nagasaki Prefecture, Japan, mostly involving middle-aged and older residents.

Serum Concentration of Growth Differentiation Factor 15 and Atherosclerosis among General Older Japanese Individuals with Normal Weight.

Growth differentiation factor 15 (GDF-15), which modulates cellular energy balance, is reported to be positively associated with cardiovascular disease. However, there have been no reports about the association between serum GDF-15 concentration and atherosclerosis as evaluated by carotid intima-media thickness (CIMT) among the general population. A cross-sectional study of 536 Japanese individuals aged 60 to 69 years was conducted.

Endoscopic mucosal ischemic index for predicting anastomotic complications after esophagectomy: a prospective cohort study.

Background: Postoperative complications related to gastric conduit reconstruction are still common issues after McKeown esophagectomy. A novel endoscopic mucosal ischemic index is desired to predict anastomotic complications after McKeown esophagectomy.

Aims And Methods: The purpose of this study was to prospectively evaluate the safety and efficacy of endoscopic examinations of the anastomotic region in the acute period after esophagectomy.

Low-Density Lipoprotein Cholesterol, Structural Atherosclerosis, and Functional Atherosclerosis in Older Japanese.

Aggressive endothelial repair results in the progression of both structural and functional atherosclerosis, while insufficient endothelial repair worsens functional but not structural atherosclerosis. Aging increases the risk of inadequate endothelial repair. Since low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDLc) activates endothelial repair, LDLc may be positively associated with structural atherosclerosis but inversely associated with functional atherosclerosis in older individuals.

Height and Active Arterial Wall Thickening in Relation to Thyroid Cysts Status among Elderly Japanese: A Prospective Study.

Height is inversely associated with inflammation that stimulates endothelial repair. In our previous study involving elderly men aged 60-69 years, we found that active arterial wall thickening, which is known as the process of endothelial repair, requires CD34-positive cells. As thyroid hormone regulates CD34-positive cell production and as the absence of thyroid cysts might indicate latent damage in the thyroid, the status of thyroid cysts possibly influences the association between height and active arterial wall thickening.

Chimeric antigen receptor T-cell therapy targeting a MAGE A4 peptide and HLA-A*02:01 complex for unresectable advanced or recurrent solid cancer: protocol for a multi-institutional phase 1 clinical trial.

Introduction: Adoptive cell transfer of genetically engineered T cells is a promising treatment for malignancies; however, there are few ideal cancer antigens expressed on the cell surface, and the development of chimeric antigen receptor T cells (CAR-T cells) for solid tumour treatment has been slow. CAR-T cells, which recognise major histocompatibility complex and peptide complexes presented on the cell surface, can be used to target not only cell surface antigens but also intracellular antigens. We have developed a CAR-T-cell product that recognises the complex of HLA-A*02:01 and an epitope of the MAGE-A4 antigen equipped with a novel signalling domain of human GITR (investigational product code: MU-MA402C) based on preclinical studies.

VEGF Polymorphism rs3025039 and Human T-Cell Leukemia Virus 1 (HTLV-1) Infection among Older Japanese Individuals: A Cross-Sectional Study.

Previous studies have reported a close correlation between vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), which plays an important role in angiogenesis, and human T-cell leukemia virus 1 (HTLV-1). However, an association between genetic characteristics related to VEGF and HTLV-1 infection has not yet been reported. Because the VEGF polymorphism rs3025039 is inversely associated with serum concentrations of VEGF, we focus on rs3025039 in the present study.

Tooth Loss and Carotid Intima-Media Thickness in Relation to Functional Atherosclerosis: A Cross-Sectional Study.

Structural arterial stiffness can be evaluated with carotid intima-media thickness (CIMT). Functional arterial stiffness can be evaluated with cardio-ankle vascular index (CAVI). A positive association between CIMT and tooth loss has been reported, but no studies have evaluated the association between CIMT and tooth loss in relation to functional arterial stiffness (functional atherosclerosis).

Association between circulating CD34-positive cell count and height loss among older men.

Height loss starting in middle age is reportedly significantly associated with death due to cardiovascular disease. Impaired blood flow is the main pathology in cardiovascular disease. Hematopoietic stem cells such as CD34-positive cells play an important role in maintaining the microcirculation and preventing impaired blood flow by activating endothelial repair and angiogenesis.

Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) polymorphism rs3025039 and atherosclerosis among older with hypertension.

Angiogenesis inhibition therapy causes hypertension by increasing peripheral vascular resistance. Vasa vasorum angiogenesis plays a crucial role in the development of atherosclerosis. Since vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), which contributes to the progress of angiogenesis, is reported to be inversely associated with the minor allele of polymorphism rs3025039, the minor allele of rs3025039 could be inversely associated with atherosclerosis among individuals with hypertension.

Associations among Ratio of Free Triiodothyronine to Free Thyroxine, Chronic Kidney Disease, and Subclinical Hypothyroidism.

The ratio of free triiodothyronine (FT3) to free thyroxine (FT4) (FT3/FT4), a maker of peripheral thyroxin deiodination, could indicate activity of thyroid hormone. Since positive association between subclinical hypothyroidism (SCH) and chronic kidney disease (CKD) was reported, clarifying the association among FT3/FT4, SCH, and CKD could be an efficient tool to make a strategy for preventing CKD. A cross-sectional study with 1724 Japanese with normal thyroid hormone was conducted.

Effect of Subclinical Hypothyroidism on the Association between Hemoglobin A1c and Reduced Renal Function: A Prospective Study.

Subclinical hypothyroidism (SCH) was reported to be associated with accelerating endothelial dysfunction, which is recognized as one of the upstream mechanisms that leads to glomerular injury (lower glomerular filtration rate (GFR)). SCH was also reported to be associated with hyperglycemia, which is associated with higher hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) levels and induces endothelial dysfunction. Therefore, SCH status could influence the association between HbA1c and reduced eGFR.

Normal Anti-Thyroid Peroxidase Antibody (TPO-Ab) Titers and Active Arterial Wall Thickening among Euthyroid Individuals: A Prospective Study.

Among euthyroid individuals, having an anti-thyroid peroxidase antibody (TPO-Ab) titer in the normal range (negative) is positively associated with atherosclerosis as evaluated based on carotid intima-media thickness (CIMT). Atherosclerosis is an established risk factor for cardiovascular disease, but no significant association between yearly progression in CIMT and cardiovascular disease has been reported. Therefore, clarifying the association between having a TPO-Ab titer in the normal range and yearly progression in CIMT (i.

Association between thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) and proteinuria in relation to thyroid cyst in a euthyroid general population.

Background: High normal levels of thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) have been reported to be associated with chronic kidney disease (CKD) among euthyroid individuals. However, there has been only limited research on the association between TSH and proteinuria, a major risk factor for the progression of renal disease.

Methods: A cross-sectional study of 1595 euthyroid individuals was conducted.