Gender differences in chronic kidney disease.

Women live longer than men. Can this phenomenon be explained by chronic kidney disease (CKD)? Gender differences in the prevalence and incidence of CKD are discussed.

Metabolic syndrome and chronic kidney disease: a Japanese perspective on a worldwide problem.

Metabolic syndrome and obesity have causative roles in the development of chronic kidney disease (CKD). CKD leads to end-stage renal disease (ESRD), cardiovascular disease and death. The prevalence of metabolic syndrome is increasing worldwide in both developing and developed countries.

Proteinuria and decreased body mass index as a significant risk factor in developing end-stage renal disease.

Background: Body mass index (BMI) is a significant predictor of developing end-stage renal disease (ESRD). The relation between a change in BMI (DeltaBMI) and the incidence of ESRD has not been examined in any large epidemiologic studies.

Methods: We determined the DeltaBMI in subjects who participated in the Okinawa General Health Maintenance Association (OGHMA) screenings in 1983 and again in 1993.

[Influence of the mixed inoculum on the species-identification and antimicrobial susceptibility test results by the automated microbial systems].

The influence of the mixed inoculum on the species-identification and antimicrobial susceptibility test results was evaluated for the three automated microbial systems, WalkAway-40 (Dade MicroScan, West Sacramento, CA, USA), VITEK 2 Compact (bioMérieux, Marcy l'Etoile, France) and RAISUS (Nissui Pharmaceutical, Tokyo). In the evaluation, two different species or two different strains were mixed in serial ratios and adjusted to the inoculum cell suspension for the respective systems, and then tested for the species-identification and antimicrobial susceptibility. For the species-identification, all the three automated systems experienced incorrect identifications others from the species inoculated with higher likelihoods (> 90%), e.

Chronic kidney disease in Japan.

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is defined as either kidney damage with urine, imaging, and histologic abnormalities, or a low estimated glomerular filtration rate (GFR) for more than 3 months. The GFR is calculated using either the Modification of Diet in Renal Disease (MDRD) Study equation or the Cockcroft-Gault formula. CKD is a risk factor for end-stage renal disease (ESRD) and cardiovascular disease.

High Prevalence of chronic kidney disease among patients with sleep related breathing disorder (SRBD).

Sleep apnea syndrome, a sleep-related breathing disorder (SRBD) of which obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS) is representative, is often associated with obesity, and therefore patients with SRBD might have a high prevalence of chronic kidney disease (CKD). However, the relationship between obesity and the prevalence of CKD has not yet been investigated in a large cohort of patients with SRBD. The Okinawa Nakamura Clinic Sleep Apnea Syndrome (ONSLEEP) registry contains records for all patients evaluated by full-scale polysomnography (PSG) from September 1990 to the end of 2003 (n=5,651).

[Epidemiological search for vancomycin-resistant enterococci in mainland of the Ryukyus].

During the period from January through December 2007, a total of 1,814 stool specimens from the inpatients of nine regional hospitals in mainland of the Ryukyus, were tested to identify vancomycin-resistant enterococci (VRE). All the stool specimens were primarily cultured onto the VRE selective agar plates, and a total of 195 specimens yielded positive enterococcal growth. Of 195 isolates, VRE screening agar tests identified 106 phenotypic VRE isolates, consisting 24 isolates of Enterococcus casseliflavus, 12 of E.

[Laboratory-based evaluation of TOX A/B QUIK CHEK "NISSUI" to detect toxins A and B of clostridium difficile].

The TOX A/B QUIK CHEK "NISSUI" which detects both toxin A (TcdA) and toxin B (TcdB) of Clostridium difficile in stool specimens through immunochromatography was first approved to be released in Japan, and we evaluated its accuracy. In the evaluation, the TOX A/B QUIK CHEK "NISSUI" could correctly detect TcdA and TcdB in solution and in stool specimens spiked with culture broth of TcdA and/or TcdB-producing isolates of C. difficile.

Anemia as a risk factor for chronic kidney disease.

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is an important and leading cause of end-stage renal disease (ESRD) and moreover, plays a role in the morbidity and mortality due to cardiovascular disease, infection, and cancer. Anemia develops during the early stages of CKD and is common in patients with ESRD. Anemia is an important cause of left ventricular hypertrophy and congestive heart failure.

[Species-identification and antimicrobial susceptibility tests by the fully automated RAISUS using an early-harvested cell suspension].

We evaluated the usefulness of an early-harvested bacterial cell suspension to the fully automated RAISUS (Nissui Pharmaceuticals Co., Ltd., Tokyo) to provide the results of species-identification and antimicrobial susceptibility testings within a day after overnight-incubation of the primary cultures.

Prevalence of chronic kidney disease (CKD) in the Japanese general population predicted by the MDRD equation modified by a Japanese coefficient.

Background: The number of patients with end-stage renal disease (ESRD) in Japan has continuously increased in the past three decades. In 2005, 36,063 patients whose average age was 66 years entered a new dialysis program. This large number of ESRD patients could be just the tip of the iceberg of an increasing number of patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD).

Risk of developing low glomerular filtration rate or elevated serum creatinine in a screened cohort in Okinawa, Japan.

There are no known predictors of renal dysfunction, particularly for a community-based screening. We evaluated the changes in serum creatinine (SCr) and glomerular filtration rate (GFR) among screenees who participated in the screening program of the Okinawa General Health Maintenance Association both in 1983 and 1993. A total of 4,662 screenees at least 30 years of age at the 1983 screening were analyzed to examine whether they developed high SCr (>or=1.

Changes in the demographics and prevalence of chronic kidney disease in Okinawa, Japan (1993 to 2003).

To compare the risk factor demographics and the prevalence of chronic kidney disease (CKD), we analyzed two databases from the 1993 (N=143,948) and 2003 (N=154,019) mass screenings in Okinawa, Japan (Okinawa General Health Maintenance Association registry). We estimated the glomerular filtration rate (GFR) using serum creatinine (SCr) levels. SCr was measured by the modified Jaffe method in 1993 and by enzyme assay in 2003; the relation between the two methods was: SCr (Jaffe) = 0.

[Flow cytometric analysis using live/dead staining for yeast cells which were autoclaved and treated with various disinfectants].

Flow cytometric analysis using live/dead staining dyes was applied to discriminate yeast cells treated with autoclave and various disinfectants. One fluorogenic dye, propidium iodide cannot leak into live cells with intact membranes, whereas another fluorogenic dye, thiazole orange is permeant and can enter all cells, live and dead. Thus a combination of these two dyes can classify cell populations into live, injured and dead cells.

Laboratory-based evaluation of the colorimetric VITEK-2 Compact system for species identification and of the Advanced Expert System for detection of antimicrobial resistances: VITEK-2 Compact system identification and antimicrobial susceptibility testing.

The newly redesigned colorimetric VITEK-2 Compact system with updated Advanced Expert System (AES) (bioMerieux, Marcy l'Etoile, France) was evaluated for its accuracy and rapidity to identify clinical isolates and to detect several antimicrobial resistances. Overall, the VITEK-2 gave 95.8% of compatibility with the reference API strips (bioMerieux) in the identifications (IDs) of Gram-positive cocci (GPC), Gram-negative rods (GNR), and yeasts.

Successful management of critical limb ischemia with intravenous sodium thiosulfate in a chronic hemodialysis patient.

Vascular calcification is common among hemodialysis (HD) patients and contributes to the development of peripheral arterial disease. A 57-year-old Japanese man who had been on HD for 30 years was referred to us for severe pain with multiple ulcers on his toes and fingers. He was an ex-smoker and had no diabetes mellitus.

Body mass index and the risk of chronic renal failure: the Asian experience.

Background: There is a worldwide obesity epidemic, and the number of patients requiring dialysis because of obesity-related renal disease such as diabetes mellitus and hypertension is increasing. Obesity increases the risk of cardiovascular disease and premature death due to chronic kidney disease (CKD) and end-stage renal disease (ESRD). Although the effect of obesity might differ among races, obesity has a significant impact on CKD and ESRD.

[Laboratory-based evaluation of a selective X-SA agar medium supplemented with chromogenic substrate for Staphylococcus aureus].

The newly developed culture medium, X-SA agar medium (Nissui Pharmaceuticals Co., Ltd., Tokyo) selective for Staphylococcus aureus was evaluated for its ability to detect clinical isolates of S.

[Antifungal susceptibility among the isolates of yeast from the University Hospital of the Ryukyus].

During the period from 1999 to 2003, A total of 2,255 isolates of yeast from the patients of the University Hospital of the Ryukyus were determined for their antifungal susceptibilities by the ASTY (Kyokuto Pharmaceutical Industrial Co., Ltd., Tokyo) colorimetric microdilution testing.

Significance of coronary artery calcification score (CACS) for the detection of coronary artery disease (CAD) in chronic dialysis patients.

Background: Coronary artery disease (CAD) is a principal cause of death in patients with end-stage renal disease (ESRD). The coronary artery calcification score (CACS), determined by electron-beam computed tomography (EBCT), is useful for the detection of CAD in non-ESRD patients. There are few reports on the usefulness of EBCT for the detection of CAD, however, in ESRD patients.

Metabolic syndrome and chronic kidney disease in Okinawa, Japan.

We assessed the prevalence of chronic kidney disease (CKD) in a hospital-based screening program in Okinawa, Japan. The significance of metabolic syndrome as a determinant of CKD was examined using multivariate logistic regression analysis. A total of 6980 participants, aged 30-79 years, participated in a screening program in Tomishiro Chuo Hospital.

[Evaluation of a fully automated microbiology system, RAISUS to determine antimicrobial susceptibility for the isolates of Haemophilus influenzae].

A fully automated microbiology system, RAISUS (Nissui Pharmaceuticals Co., Ltd., Tokyo) was evaluated to determine antimicrobial susceptibility of the isolates of Haemophilus influenzae.

Increasing gender difference in the incidence of chronic dialysis therapy in Japan.

The incidence of chronic kidney disease and its progression to end-stage renal disease (ESRD) differs between genders, so it can be surmised that the incidence of ESRD is different between men and women. We analyzed the annual incidence of ESRD by gender for a 20 year period, from 1983 to 2002, using Japanese Society for Dialysis Therapy (JSDT) registration data. The annual incidence of ESRD was calculated as the number of incident dialysis patients divided by the census population of the previous year in each gender, and expressed per million of each population (male and female).

Predictors of diabetic end-stage renal disease in Japan.

Diabetes mellitus (DM) has been the leading cause of incident dialysis in Japan since 1998, according to the Japanese Society for Dialysis Therapy (JSDT). In particular, the number of male DM dialysis patients is increasing. DM is becoming a worldwide epidemic in both developed and developing countries.

Factors influencing the development of end-stage renal disease.

Epidemiological evidence is needed to design effective strategies for preventing chronic kidney disease (CKD) and end-stage renal disease (ESRD). Several types of health check are routinely performed in Japan, including the screening of asymptomatic individuals, but the potential benefits of these procedures remain unknown. We evaluated the predictors of ESRD, using community-based mass screening and a dialysis registry.