Effect of DNA methylation at the CTLA4 gene on the clinical status of autoimmune thyroid diseases.

The pathogenesis and manifestation of autoimmune thyroid diseases (AITDs), Graves' disease (GD), and Hashimoto's disease (HD) are associated with T cell activation. Cytotoxic T lymphocyte-associated antigen 4 (CTLA-4) plays a crucial role in the regulation of T cell activation. DNA methylation levels of eight CpG sites in the CTLA4 gene and expression levels of soluble CTLA-4 were examined.

Methylation levels of the IL10 gene in peripheral blood are related to the intractability of Graves' disease.

The prognosis of autoimmune thyroid diseases (AITDs), including Hashimoto's disease (HD) and Graves' disease (GD), is difficult to predict. DNA methylation regulates gene expression of immune mediating factors. Interleukin (IL)-10 is a Th2 cytokine that downregulates inflammatory cytokines produced by Th1 cells.

Effects of Levothyroxine Treatment on Fertility and Pregnancy Outcomes in Subclinical Hypothyroidism: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials.

Subclinical hypothyroidism, defined by elevated thyrotropin (TSH) and normal free thyroxine levels, is associated with adverse pregnancy outcomes, including preterm birth, pre-eclampsia, and small for gestational age. Despite the uncertainty regarding the effectiveness of levothyroxine (LT4) treatment on pregnancy outcomes in subclinical hypothyroidism, LT4 is widely administered with a pre-treatment threshold TSH level of 2.5 mU/L.

Association of B7H3 and B7H4 gene polymorphisms and protein expression with the development and prognosis of autoimmune thyroid diseases.

Background: The prognosis of autoimmune thyroid diseases (AITDs), including Graves' disease (GD) and Hashimoto's disease (HD), varies among patients. B7-H3 and B7-H4, members of the B7 family of proteins, regulate immune response. To clarify the association of B7-H3 and B7-H4 with the pathogenesis and prognosis of AITDs, we examined the expression of the soluble and membrane form of B7-H3 and B7-H4 and genotyped single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the B7H3 and B7H4 genes.

Effect of urinary glucose concentration and pH on signal intensity in magnetic resonance images.

Purpose: With advances in anti-diabetes drugs, increasing numbers of patients have high urinary glucose concentrations, which may alter magnetic resonance (MR) signal intensity. We sought to elucidate the effect of urinary glucose concentration and pH on transverse relaxation and MR signal intensity.

Materials And Methods: The transverse relaxation rate (R) was measured in samples with different glucose concentrations (in vitro) and in the urinary bladder of seven patients with diabetes and nine healthy volunteers (in vivo).

Comparison of extraction-based and elution-based polymerase chain reaction testing, and automated and rapid antigen testing for the diagnosis of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2.

We aimed to compare the differences in testing performance of extraction-based polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assays, elution-based direct PCR assay, and rapid antigen detection tests for severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). We used nasopharyngeal swab samples of patients with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). We used the MagNA Pure 24 System (Roche Diagnostics K.

gene polymorphisms and thyroid expression of PD-1 ligands differ between Graves' and Hashimoto's diseases.

The programmed cell death-1 (PD-1)/PD ligand pathway plays a key role in the maintenance of peripheral tolerance by enhancing the suppressive activity of regulatory T (Treg) cells. The promoter activity of the A allele of rs36084323 G/A polymorphism is lower than that of the G allele. We examined the association of gene polymorphisms, PD-1 expression on Treg cells, and thyroid PD-1/PD-1 ligand (PD-L1) expression with the pathogenesis of autoimmune thyroid disease (AITD).

Polymorphisms in Vitamin A-Related Genes and Their Functions in Autoimmune Thyroid Disease.

Vitamin A is a factor that suppresses immune responses, including T helper (Th)1 and Th17 responses. However, there has been no report showing the association between vitamin A-related genes (, , and ) and the prognosis of autoimmune thyroid disease (AITD). The objective of this study was to clarify the association between vitamin A-related genes and the susceptibility and prognosis of AITD.

10-Year survey on serum antibody positivity rates and titers for measles and rubella in healthcare workers; an observational study at a Japanese university hospital.

Background: We evaluated the effect of the two-dose vaccination strategy, which has been a widely adopted as childhood routine schedule worldwide to acquire herd immunity, on healthcare workers (HCWs) in Japan.

Methods: Between 2010 and 2019, antibody titers for measles and rubella were measured annually among newly employed HCWs at Osaka University Hospital, Japan, using Enzygnost® assays (Siemens Healthcare Diagnostics Co. Ltd.

Urinary mulberry bodies as a potential biomarker for early diagnosis and efficacy assessment of enzyme replacement therapy in Fabry nephropathy.

Background: The inability of enzyme replacement therapy (ERT) to prevent progression of Fabry nephropathy (FN) in the presence of >1 g/day proteinuria underscores the necessity of identifying effective biomarkers for early diagnosis of FN preceding proteinuria. Here we attempted to identify biomarkers for early detection of FN.

Methods: Fifty-one Fabry disease (FD) patients were enrolled.

Risk for the occupational infection by cytomegalovirus among health-care workers.

Background: Cytomegalovirus (CMV) are ubiquitously distributed worldwide, causing a wide range of clinical manifestations from congenital infection to a life-threatening disease in immunocompromised individuals. CMV can be transmitted via human-to-human contact through body fluids; however, the risk of CMV infection among healthcare workers (HCWs) has not been fully evaluated.

Aim: This study aimed to assess the risk of CMV infection among HCWs through daily medical practices.

Gene polymorphisms of VEGF and VEGFR2 are associated with the severity of Hashimoto's disease and the intractability of Graves' disease, respectively.

Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) is one of main regulators of angiogenesis that functions by binding to its receptors, including VEGF receptor (VEGFR) 2. There are few data available regarding the association between VEGF and VEGFR polymorphisms and the susceptibility to and prognosis of autoimmune thyroid diseases (AITDs). To elucidate this association, we genotyped four functional VEGF and two VEGFR2 polymorphisms and measured serum VEGF levels.

Increases of CD80 and CD86 Expression on Peripheral Blood Cells and their Gene Polymorphisms in Autoimmune Thyroid Disease.

The prognosis of autoimmune thyroid diseases (AITDs), such as Graves' disease (GD) and Hashimoto's disease (HD), are difficult to predict. Both CD80 and CD86 costimulatory signals promote T cell activation in cooperation with T cell receptor signal. To clarify whether any association between CD80 and CD86 and the pathogenesis of AITD exist, we examined the expressions and gene polymorphisms of CD80 and CD86.

Association of gene methylation in peripheral blood cells with the development and prognosis of autoimmune thyroid diseases.

Autoimmune thyroid diseases (AITDs), including Hashimoto's disease (HD) and Graves' disease (GD), are archetypes of organ-specific autoimmune diseases, but the prognosis of patients with AITD varies. Autoimmune diseases, including AITDs, are believed to develop in response to both genetic and environmental factors. Interleukin (IL)-6 plays a major role in B cell differentiation and T cell proliferation, and methylation of the gene is associated with IL-6 production.

Association of Polymorphisms and its Protein Expression with the Development and Prognosis of Autoimmune Thyroid Diseases.

The prognosis of autoimmune thyroid diseases (AITDs), including Graves' disease (GD) and Hashimoto's disease (HD), varies among patients. The interaction of CD58 and its ligand (CD2) promotes the differentiation of regulatory T cells and suppresses the immune response. To clarify the association of CD58 expression with the pathogenesis and prognosis of AITDs, we genotyped polymorphisms in the gene including rs12044852A/C (SNP1), rs2300747A/G (SNP2), rs1335532C/T (SNP3), rs1016140G/T (SNP4), rs1414275C/T (SNP5) and rs11588376C/T (SNP6).

Association of IFNG gene methylation in peripheral blood cells with the development and prognosis of autoimmune thyroid diseases.

The intractability of Graves' disease (GD) and the severity of Hashimoto's disease (HD) vary among patients. Both genetic and environmental factors may be associated with their prognoses. To clarify the role of methylation of the IFNG gene in the pathogenesis and prognosis of (AITDs), we examined interferon gamma (IFNG) methylation levels at various CpG sites and genotyped IFNG +874 A/T and +2109 C/T polymorphisms.

Polymorphisms in Th17-related genes and the pathogenesis of autoimmune thyroid disease.

The prognosis of autoimmune thyroid disease (AITD) including Graves' disease (GD) and Hashimoto's disease (HD) is difficult to predict. We previously suggested that Th17 cells may be associated with the pathogenesis of AITD. However, the association between gene polymorphisms in Th17-related genes and the prognosis of AITD was not clarified.

Association of the polymorphisms in Th2 chemotaxis-related genes with the development and prognosis of autoimmune thyroid diseases.

The prognosis of autoimmune thyroid disease (AITD) is difficult to predict. Th2 cells suppress the differentiation of Th1 and Th17 cells, which are associated with the prognosis of AITD. However, there are few reports as to whether Th2 chemotaxis-related genes, such as CRTH2 (chemoattractant receptor-homologous molecule expressed on Th2 cells), IL-25, TARC/CCL17 (Thymus and activation regulated chemokine/chemokine ligand 17) or STAT6 (Signal transducer and activator of transcription 6), affect the pathology of and/or susceptibility to AITD.

Functional Polymorphisms of the Type 1 and Type 2 Iodothyronine Deiodinase Genes in Autoimmune Thyroid Diseases.

Graves' disease (GD) and Hashimoto's disease (HD) are major autoimmune thyroid diseases (AITDs), and their pathological conditions vary among patients. Type 1 iodothyronine deiodinase (D1) and type 2 iodothyronine deiodinase (D2) convert from thyroxine (T4) to triiodothyronine (T3). However, few findings have been described concerning the association between polymorphisms in D1 and D2 genes and AITD.

Methylation levels of the TNFA gene are different between Graves' and Hashimoto's diseases and influenced by the TNFA polymorphism.

Graves' disease (GD) and Hashimoto's disease (HD) are different pathological types of autoimmune thyroid diseases (AITDs). However, the epigenetic differences between these diseases have not been elucidated. DNA methylation is one of the primary epigenetic modifications that reflect environmental influences on gene expression.

Comparison of the Temperature Influence on the Activity of Currently Available Procalcitonin Reagents.

Background: Procalcitonin (PCT) is a stable biomarker for bacterial infections; however, limited data is available on new trivalent reagents. We evaluated temperature influence on the activity of PCT reagents.

Methods: Using both conventional and trivalent reagents, we measured PCT levels of 30 clinical samples, stored residuum at refrigerator (4°C) and room temperature (24°C), and reexamined it after 24 hours.

Polymorphisms and expression of genes encoding Argonautes 1 and 2 in autoimmune thyroid diseases.

The microRNA (miRNA) biogenesis pathway is regulated by specific proteins and enzymes, including Dicer, Drosha, DGCR8, Exportin 5 and the Argonaute (AGO) family. In this study, we investigated the AGO family, which is the primary component of RISC (RNA-induced silencing complex) and directly binds to microRNA. We examined the association of polymorphisms in AGO family genes with AGO expression and with the development and prognosis of autoimmune thyroid diseases.