Questionnaire survey on the prevention and development of cervical cancer in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus in Japan.

Objectives: The aim is to evaluate the prevention and development of cervical cancer in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) patients in Japan and its background based on a questionnaire survey.

Methods: The questionnaire was handed to 460 adult female SLE patients at 12 medical institutions. The participants were grouped by age, and data related to their human papillomavirus vaccination status, age at first coitus, cervical cancer screening, and diagnosis of cervical cancer were analysed.

Specialized Pro-Resolving Mediators Do Not Inhibit the Synthesis of Inflammatory Mediators Induced by Tumor Necrosis Factor-α in Synovial Fibroblasts.

Background: Tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, a proinflammatory cytokine, is involved in the pathogenesis of rheumatoid arthritis (RA). The omega-3 unsaturated fatty acid-derived metabolites resolvin (Rv) D1, RvE1, and maresin-1 (MaR1) have been reported as anti-inflammatory lipid mediators and are known as specialized pro-resolving mediators (SPMs). In this study, we aimed to investigate the anti-inflammatory effects of SPMs on TNF-α-induced responses in synovial fibroblasts.

Resolvin E1 Inhibits Osteoclastogenesis and Bone Resorption by Suppressing IL-17-induced RANKL Expression in Osteoblasts and RANKL-induced Osteoclast Differentiation.

Background: Resolvin E1 (RvE1) derived from the ω-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid eicosapentaenoic acid is known to be a potent pro-resolving lipid mediator that prevents chronic inflammation and osteoclastogenesis. We investigated the inhibitory effects of RvE1 on osteoclastogenesis and bone resorption to clarify its therapeutic potential for rheumatoid arthritis (RA).

Methods: Receptor activator of nuclear factor-κB ligand (RANKL)-induced osteoclast differentiation was assessed with tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase staining.

An onion farmer with a case of hypersensitivity pneumonitis caused by .

A 62-year old man was admitted to our hospital with a 2-week complaint of a dry cough, general fatigue, and dyspnea on effort. He has been an onion farmer for several years and developed these symptoms after cleaning up onion peels with air compressors. A chest roentgenogram and computed tomography showed a ground glass shadow in the bilateral upper lung field.

Relationship between Oxidative Stress, Physical Activity, and Vitamin Intake in Patients with Asthma.

Background: Oxidative stress plays an important role in the pathogenesis of bronchial asthma. Antioxidant nutrition and supplementation have been used to reduce oxidative stress. However, a clinical trial with antioxidant supplementation showed no beneficial effects in patients with asthma.

γ-Tocotrienol Inhibits TGF-β1-Induced Contractile Phenotype Expression of Human Airway Smooth Muscle Cells.

Background: Tocotrienols, members of the vitamin E family, exist in four different isoforms (α, β, γ and δ tocotrienol) that have can be protective against brain damage, as well as having anticancer effects and . We have shown that γ-tocotrienol inhibits human airway smooth muscle cell proliferation and migration induced by platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF)-BB by suppressing RhoA activation. In this study, we tested whether γ-tocotrienol modulates transforming growth factor (TGF) -β-induced induction of human airway smooth muscle (ASM) into a contractile phenotype and concomitant synthesis of extracellular matrix proteins.

Influence of Asian Desert Dust on Lower Respiratory Tract Symptoms in Patients with Asthma over 4 Years.

The Asian Dust Storm (ADS) aggravates symptoms and pulmonary dysfunction in adult asthma patients. Our objective was to investigate the association of air pollutants and metals in desert dust with worsening of asthma symptoms during the ADS. A telephone survey was performed to investigate the upper and lower respiratory tract symptoms, ocular symptoms and skin symptoms of asthma patients during the ADS in March between 2007 and 2010.

Pollen augments the influence of desert dust on symptoms of adult asthma patients.

Background: East Asian desert dust storms that occur during mainly spring are called Asian dust storms (ADS). Our objective was to study the association of pollen and ADS with symptoms of adult asthma patients in Japan.

Methods: We designed a telephone survey to investigate the upper and lower respiratory, ocular, and skin symptoms of asthma patients during ADS in February, March, and December on 2009.

Difference of health-care associated pneumonia between large hospitals and small hospitals in Japan.

Objective: Health-care associated pneumonia (HCAP) is a new category of pneumonia. We investigated differences of epidemiology, pathogens, and outcomes between HCAP patients in large hospitals and those in small hospitals.

Methods: This was a retrospective observational study of patients hospitalized with HCAP from December 2009 to March 2010.

Correlation between Asian dust storms and worsening asthma in Western Japan.

Background: Severe wind storms during spring in East Asia, called Asian dust storms (ADS), have been assessed in the past for their effect on health in Asian countries. Our objective was to study the ADS association with asthma symptoms in adult patients in Japan.

Methods: We designed a telephone survey to assess ADS influence on upper and lower respiratory, ocular and cutaneous symptoms in 98 patients with adult asthma from April to May 2007.

COPD is frequent in conditions of comorbidity in patients treated with various diseases in a university hospital.

Background: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is one of the leading causes of death and loss of disability-adjusted life-years. However, many COPD patients are not diagnosed because of underrecognition or underdiagnosis of this disease among many patients and physicians. One possible reason is underrecognition of spirometry.

A nocturnal decline of salivary pH associated with airway hyperresponsiveness in asthma.

Salivary pH is associated with esophageal acid reflux and neutralization of esophageal acid. In this study, we assessed the association between nocturnal decline of salivary pH and airway hyperresponsiveness. Salivary pH was serially assessed in 9 patients with mild asthma (7 men and 2 women; mean age 33.

[Determination of residual pesticides in processed foods manufactured from livestock foods and seafoods using ion trap GC/MS].

A simultaneous method using iontrap gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS) was developed for the determination of pesticide residues in four processed foods (frozen Chinese dumpling, eel kabayaki, corned beef and retort curry). Pesticide residues were extracted from samples with ethyl acetate-cyclohexane (1:1) in the presence of anhydrous sodium sulfate. The extract was concentrated and the residue was dissolved in n-hexane.

Expression of functional leukotriene B4 receptors on human airway smooth muscle cells.

Background: Leukotriene B4 (LTB4) increases in induced sputum and exhaled breath condensate in people with asthma. Furthermore, the T(H)2-type immune response and airway hyperresponsiveness induced by ovalbumin sensitization is markedly suppressed in LTB4 receptor (BLT) 1 null mice. These studies suggest that LTB4 may contribute to asthma pathophysiology.

Repressed ileal artery aneurysms in Churg-Strauss syndrome following combination treatment with glucocorticoid and cyclophosphamide.

Churg-Strauss syndrome (CSS) is a systemic small-vessel vasculitis characterized by asthma and eosinophilia. We report a case of CSS complicated by multiple aneurysms in the small intestine. A 57-year-old man was admitted to our hospital with fever and blood eosinophilila.

[Detection of wheat as an allergenic substance in food by a nested PCR method].

A nested PCR method was developed for the detection of DNAs extracted from allergenic substances (here, wheat) in food. Because of DNA fragmentation, detection of wheat-specific DNA extracted from food, such as retort pouch food, is very difficult. Therefore, to improve the sensitivity of detection, a nested PCR primer pair (Wtr01NE2-5' and Wtr10NE5-3': amplicon size 97 bp) was newly designed within the region of the PCR products amplified by the official Japanese primer pair (Wtr01-5' and Wtr10-3'; amplicon size 141 bp) for wheat.

Determination of Bisphenol A (BPA) in Plasma of Hemodialysis Patients Using Three Methods: LC/ECD, LC/MS, and ELISA.

ABSTRACT Bisphenol A (BPA) values were compared in plasma of hemodialysis patients and in recycling solvents using LC/MS, LC/electrochemical detector (ECD), and enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). BPA values in the plasma and the solvent were 0-8.4 ng/ml and 0-0.

[Detection of allergenic substances in foods by a multiplex PCR method].

A multiplex PCR (M-PCR) method was developed for the detection of DNAs of plant and three allergenic substances (wheat, buckwheat, and peanut) in foods. Genomic DNAs were extracted from allergenic substances with a commercial ion-exchange type kit. Four primer pairs suitable for the specific detection of plant DNA were designed to establish a M-PCR method detecting simultaneously the specific DNAs of plant and allergenic substances.

[Effect of santalol on the sleep-wake cycle in sleep-disturbed rats].

Sandalwood oil is widely used in aromatherapy for alleviating various symptoms. Santalol, a major component of sandalwood oil, has been reported to have central nervous system depressant effects such as sedation. In the present study, we investigated the effect of santalol on the sleep-wake cycle in sleep-disturbed rats.

Pulmonary findings without the influence of therapy in a patient with rheumatoid arthritis: an autopsy case.

We report the autopsy findings of a 40- year- old woman with lung complications of rheumatoid arthritis. She has been suffering from rheumatoid arthritis and interstitial pneumonia without satisfactory therapies because of her poor compliance. At autopsy, diffuse pleural adhesions and many protruding cysts were observed.

Lung cancer arising in association with middle lobe syndrome.

Middle lobe syndrome, caused mainly by benign inflammatory diseases, such as chronic bronchitis and bronchiectasis, is manifested clinically as a chronic cough with sputum production. The prognosis associated with this syndrome is considered good in most cases which are caused by chronic inflammatory diseases. A patient who developed lung cancer in the course of long-term treatment for right middle lobe syndrome is described.