Associations between dietary n-6 and n-3 fatty acids and arachidonic acid compositions in plasma and erythrocytes in young and elderly Japanese volunteers

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>We reported that the compositions of arachidonic acid (ARA) in erythrocytes and plasma phospholipids (PL) in the elderly were lower than those in the young, though the ARA intake was nearly identical.</p> <p>Objective</p> <p>We further analyzed data in four study groups with different ages and sexes, and determined that the blood ARA levels were affected by the kinds of dietary fatty acids ingested.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>One hundred and four healthy young and elderly volunteers were recruited. Dietary records together with photographic records from 28 consecutive days were reviewed and the fatty acid composition in plasma lipid fractions and erythrocyte PL was analyzed.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>No correlations for ARA between dietary fatty acids and blood lipid fractions were observed. A significant negative correlation between eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) + docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) intake and ARA composition in erythrocyte PL was observed. ARA composition in erythrocyte PL was significantly lower in elderly subjects than in young subjects, because EPA and DHA intake in elderly subjects was higher than in young subjects. However, after removing the effect of dietary EPA+DHA intake, the ARA composition in erythrocyte PL in elderly subjects was significantly lower than that in young subjects.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>Changes in physical conditions with aging influenced the low ARA composition of erythrocyte in elderly subjects in addition to the effects of dietary EPA and DHA.</p

Associations between metal concentrations in whole blood and placenta previa and placenta accreta: the Japan Environment and Children’s Study (JECS)

Background: Placenta previa and placenta accreta associate with high morbidity and mortality for both mothers and fetus. Metal exposure may have relationships with placenta previa and placenta accreta. This study analyzed the associations between maternal metal (cadmium [Cd], lead [Pb], mercury [Hg], selenium [Se], and manganese [Mn]) concentrations and placenta previa and placenta accreta. Methods: We recruited 17,414 women with singleton pregnancies. Data from a self-administered questionnaire regarding the first trimester and medical records after delivery were analyzed. Maternal blood samples were collected to measure metal concentrations. The subjects were classified into four quartiles (Q1, Q2, Q3, and Q4) according to metal concentrations. Results: The odds ratio for placenta previa was significantly higher among subjects with Q4 Cd than those with Q1 Cd. The odds ratio for placenta previa was significantly higher for subjects with Q2 Pb than those with Q1 Pb. Conclusion: Participants with placenta previa had higher Cd concentrations. However, this study was crosssectional and lacked important information related to Cd concentration, such as detailed smoking habits and sources of Cd intake. In addition, the subjects in this study comprised ordinary pregnant Japanese women, and it was impossible to observe the relationship between a wide range of Cd exposure and placenta previa. Therefore, epidemiological and experimental studies are warranted to verify the relationship between Cd exposure and pregnancy abnormalities.This study was funded and supported by the Ministry of the Environment of Japan. The findings and conclusions of this article are solely the responsibility of the authors and do not represent the official views of this government agency

Steady-state serum concentrations of carbamazepine and valproic acid in obese and lean patients with epilepsy.

Steady-state serum concentrations of carbamazepine (CBZ) and valproic acid (VPA) were investigated in normal weight (body mass index; BMI 20 to 25), lean (smaller than 20 BMI) and moderately obese subjects (greater than 25 BMI) who received either 400 mg/day of CBZ or 800 mg/day of VPA. The CBZ serum concentration in lean subjects was significantly higher than that in normal weight subjects. However, no significant differences in VPA serum concentration were found between the three groups. The CBZ serum concentration decreased with increases in total body weight, and the VPA serum concentration decreased with increases in ideal body weight. However, both serum concentrations were not correlated with BMI. These results suggest that VPA doses should be calculated using ideal body weight and that degree of obesity may affect CBZ serum concentration rather than VPA serum concentration.</p

A Case of Granulocyte-Colony Stimulating Factor-Producing Hepatocellular Carcinoma Confirmed by Immunohistochemistry

Granulocyte-colony stimulating factor (G-CSF) is a naturally occurring glycoprotein that stimulates the proliferation and maturation of precursor cells in the bone marrow into fully differentiated neutrophils. Several reports of G-CSF-producing malignant tumors have been published, but scarcely any in the hepatobiliary system, such as in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Here, we encountered a 69-yr-old man with a hepatic tumor who had received right hepatic resection. He showed leukocytosis of 25,450/µL along with elevated serum G-CSF. Histological examination of surgical samples demonstrated immunohistochemical staining for G-CSF, but not for G-CSF receptor. The patient survived without recurrence for four years, but ultimately passed away with multiple bone metastases. In light of the above, clinicians may consider G-CSF-producing HCC when encountering patients with leukocytosis and a hepatic tumor. More cases are needed to clarify the clinical picture of G-CSF-producing HCC

Associations Between Metal Levels in Whole Blood and IgE Concentrations in Pregnant Women Based on Data From the Japan Environment and Children’s Study

Background: Metal exposures could possibly affect allergic responses in pregnant women, although no studies have yet shown a clear relationship between the two, and such exposures might also affect the development of allergic diseases in children. Methods: We investigated the relationship between metal concentrations in whole blood and immunoglobulin E (IgE; total and specific) in 14,408 pregnant women who participated in the Japan Environment and Children’s Study. The subjects submitted self-administered questionnaires, and blood samples were collected from them twice, specifically, during the first trimester and again during the second=third trimester. Concentrations of the metals Cd, Pb, Hg, Se, and Mn, as well as serum total and allergen-specific IgEs for egg white, house dust-mites (HDM), Japanese cedar pollen (JCP), animal dander, and moth, were measured. Allergen-specific IgE(s) were divided based on concentrations <0.35 or ≥0.35UA=mL, and the metal levels were divided into quartiles. Results: Multivariable logistic regression analysis showed that there was a significant negative correlation between HDM- and animal dander-specific IgEs and Hg and Mn concentrations. Conversely, there was a significant positive relationship between JCP-specific IgE and Hg and Se concentrations. Conclusions: Metal exposures may be related to both increases and decreases in allergen-specific IgEs in pregnant women.This work was supported by the Ministry of the Environment, Japan.Supplementary data related to this article can be found at https://doi.org/10.2188/jea.JE20180098

ブックデザインと文字組版デザインを中心とした戦後デザイン動向の研究

出版メディアにおけるデザイン動向は、広告など他の分野と比較して、実験的先端的な傾向が強い。組版設計をふくむ広義の「ブックデザイン」のそうした傾向には日本語固有の組版システムの複雑さがもたらす、実験的組版の広汎性も要因のひとつと考えられる。事例として2009 年度のビジュアルデザイン学科における3 回の特別講義を取り上げる。それぞれの講師は、絵本作家・イラストレーターの木内達郎氏、アートディレクター・ブックデザイナーのミルキィ・イソベ氏、グラフィックデザイナーの松田行正氏の3 氏である。ブックデザイン・組版デザインに長年携わってこられた、これらの方々の講義には、さまざまな作品紹介を通じて、多様な「ブックデザイン」の実験的試みが含まれている。　ブックデザインの戦後的動向の先端や特異点を構成する3 氏の特別講義はわれわれの研究に大きな示唆をもたらすものである。それら、事例紹介も多く盛り込まれた特別講義を単行本「デザイン・プレゼンテーションの哲学」として編纂・刊行した。そして、この単行本の制作自体がブックデザインやエディトリアルデザイン（組版デザインを含む）の実験的実践なのである。Design in publication media are inclined to be experimental and edgy compared to that in other fields such as advertising. This characteristic of “book design” in the broad sense of term is attributed in part to the prevalence of experimental typesetting caused by the complex typesetting system intrinsic to the Japanese language.This course explored three special lectures presented by Department of Visual Design in fiscal 2009. The speakers of the lectures were Mr. Tatsuro Kiuchi (an illustrator and picture book author), Ms. Milky Isobe (an art director and book designer) and Mr. Yukimasa Matsuda (a graphic designer). In these lectures, the three professionals, who had long been involved in book design and typesetting design, talked about diverse experiments in “book design” through various projects. Their special lectures, discussing the cutting-edges and uniqueness of the post-war book design trends, offered inspiring insights in our study.We compiled and published a book based on the three lectures introducing many cases of experimental book design titled Philosophy of Design Presentation.The production of this book was an experimental practice of book design and editorial design (including typesetting design)

Clinical impact of albuminuria and glomerular filtration rate on renal and cardiovascular events, and all-cause mortality in Japanese patients with type 2 diabetes

Background: The number of patients suffering from diabetic nephropathy resulting in end-stage kidney disease is increasing worldwide. In clinical settings, there are limited data regarding the impact of the urinary albumin-to-creatinine ratio (UACR) and reduced estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) on renal and cardiovascular outcomes and all-cause mortality. Methods: We performed a historical cohort study of 4328 Japanese participants with type 2 diabetes from 10 centers. Risks for renal events (requirement for dialysis or transplantation, or half reduction in eGFR), cardiovascular events (cardiovascular death, nonfatal myocardial infarction, or nonfatal stroke), and all-cause mortality were assessed according to UACR and eGFR levels. Results: During follow-up (median 7.0 years, interquartile range 3.0-8.0 years), 419 renal events, 605 cardiovascular events and 236 deaths occurred. The UACR levels increased the risk and the adjusted hazard ratios for these three events. In addition to the effects of UACR levels, eGFR stages significantly increased the adjusted hazard ratios for renal events and all-cause mortality, especially in patients with macroalbuminuria. Diabetic nephropathy score, based on the prognostic factors, well predicted incidence rates per 1000 patient/year for each event. Conclusions: Increased UACR levels were closely related to the increase in risks for renal, cardiovascular events and all-cause mortality in Japanese patients with type 2 diabetes, whereas the association between high levels of UACR and reduced eGFR was a strong predictor for renal events. © 2013 Japanese Society of Nephrology