Hemodialysis-induced P-wave signal-averaged electrocardiogram alterations are indicative of vulnerability to atrial arrhythmias.

Background: Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most common supraventricular arrhythmia, often occurring during hemodialysis (HD). Prolongation of the total filtered P-wave duration (PWD) and reduction of the root mean square voltages for the last 20 ms of the P wave (RMS20) on a P-wave signal-averaged electrocardiogram (P-SAECG) are predictors of AF. We investigated whether HD induces alterations of P-SAECG, and determined the influential factors.

Association between dietary heterocyclic amine levels, genetic polymorphisms of NAT2, CYP1A1, and CYP1A2 and risk of stomach cancer: a hospital-based case-control study in Japan.

Background: Although the associations between grilled (broiled) or barbecued meats or fish intake and stomach cancer risk have been investigated, the evidence implicating heterocyclic amine (HCA) intake as a cause of stomach cancer is limited. We conducted a case-control study to investigate the association between HCA intake and stomach cancer risk. We also investigated the possible effect of genetic polymorphisms of NAT2, CYP1A1, and CYP1A2 on stomach cancer.

Association between dietary heterocyclic amine levels, genetic polymorphisms of NAT2, CYP1A1, and CYP1A2 and risk of colorectal cancer: a hospital-based case-control study in Japan.

Objective: Although associations between dietary HCA intake and colorectal cancer risk have been investigated, results have been suggestive but inconsistent. The aim of this hospital-based case-control study was to examine the impact of heterocyclic amine (HCA) intake on colorectal cancer risk. A further objective was to investigate the possible effect of genetic polymorphisms of NAT2, CYP1A1, and CYP1A2 on colorectal cancer.

Screening of 214 single nucleotide polymorphisms in 44 candidate cancer susceptibility genes: a case-control study on gastric and colorectal cancers in the Japanese population.

Objectives: Single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) have potential as markers for identifying genes responsible for common diseases and for personalized medicine. To investigate the association between polymorphisms and gastrointestinal (gastric and colorectal) cancer, we performed a hospital-based case-control study in Japan.

Methods: We screened a total of 214 SNPs in 44 candidate genes by using a mass spectrometry-based technique (MassARRAY; Sequenom, Inc.

Atrophic gastritis, Helicobacter pylori, and colorectal cancer risk: a case-control study.

Background: Helicobacter pylori is a major risk factor for atrophic gastritis and gastric cancer. Various extragastric manifestations of H. pylori infection have also recently been suggested.

Administration of recombinant human growth hormone normalizes GH-IGF1 axis and improves malnutrition-related disorders in patients with anorexia nervosa.

High serum level of GH in the presence of low plasma level of insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I) is one of the endocrinological features of anorexia nervosa (AN). Whether the amount of endogenous GH is not enough to increase IGF-I is not certain. We studied the effect of recombinant human growth hormone (rhGH) on the GH-IGF-I axis and on malnutrition-related disorders in this syndrome.

Folate, vitamin B6, vitamin B12, and vitamin B2 intake, genetic polymorphisms of related enzymes, and risk of colorectal cancer in a hospital-based case-control study in Japan.

We conducted a case-control study to investigate the association of nutrient intake involved in the one-carbon pathway of folate for DNA methylation and DNA synthesis and the related enzyme genetic polymorphisms with colorectal cancer. Cases were 107 patients newly diagnosed with colorectal cancer. Controls were 224 subjects matched with cases by sex, age, and residential area.

hOGG1 Ser326Cys polymorphism, interaction with environmental exposures, and gastric cancer risk in Japanese populations.

Oxidative DNA damage caused by reactive oxygen species (ROS) generated by Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori ) infection or smoking may be a cause of gastric cancer development. 8-Hydroxydeoxyguanine (8-OHdG) formation is one of the most common types of oxidative DNA damage, while human oxoguanine glycosylase 1 (hOGG1) is responsible for repairing 8-OHdG lesions.

Epidemiological and clinical study of sporadic acute hepatitis E caused by indigenous strains of hepatitis E virus in Japan compared with acute hepatitis A.

Background: We compared acute hepatitis E (AH-E) and acute hepatitis A (AH-A) to investigate the epidemiology, clinical features, and prognosis of AH-E caused by an indigenous hepatitis E virus (HEV) in Japan.

Methods: We enrolled 58 patients diagnosed with AH-A or AH-E (32 men and 26 women; age, 20-72 years) from December 1997 to October 2002. Phylogenetic analysis of the partial 412-nucleotide sequence of open reading frame (ORF) 2 was performed in patients with AH-E.

A novel splice-site variant of the base excision repair gene MYH is associated with production of an aberrant mRNA transcript encoding a truncated MYH protein not localized in the nucleus.

The MYH gene encodes a DNA glycosylase involved in the excision repair of adenines paired with 8-hydroxyguanines, a major component of oxidative DNA damage, and bi-allelic germline MYH mutations have been reported to predispose individuals to multiple colorectal adenomas and carcinoma. To determine whether the MYH gene is involved in gastric carcinogenesis, we examined blood specimens from 20 Japanese familial gastric cancer (GC) patients for MYH mutations by polymerase chain reaction-single-strand conformation polymorphism (PCR-SSCP) analysis followed by direct sequencing. Bi-allelic germline MYH mutations were not found in any of the specimens, but in addition to four known variants, a novel splice-site variant, IVS10-2A > G (c.

Association of Helicobacter pylori infection and environmental factors in non-cardia gastric cancer in Japan.

Background: Although Helicobacter pylori infection is a major risk factor for gastric cancer, it does not explain the full picture of stomach carcinogenesis. There have been few epidemiological studies, however, which examined both H. pylori and environmental factors simultaneously.

Cruciferous vegetables, mushrooms, and gastrointestinal cancer risks in a multicenter, hospital-based case-control study in Japan.

We assessed the possible association of gastrointestinal cancers with cruciferous vegetables and mushrooms in a multicenter, hospital-based case-control study in an agricultural area of Japan. One hundred forty-nine cases and 287 controls for stomach cancer and 115 cases and 230 controls for colorectal cancer were matched by age, sex, and residential area. In stomach cancer, the protective effect of vegetables (consumption of total vegetable) was obscure, but it became clearer when we examined specific kinds of vegetables.

Fulminant diabetes mellitus associated with pregnancy: case reports and literature review.

We report two cases of type 1 diabetes mellitus fulminantly developed as diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) at 19 weeks of gestation and immediately after delivery. Development of type 1 diabetes around pregnancy is not rare, but its fulminant development is highly uncommon. We also review the relevant literature concerning mostly Japanese cases.