Validity and reproducibility of folate and vitamin B12 intakes estimated from a self-administered diet history questionnaire in Japanese pregnant women

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>No validated dietary questionnaire for assessing folate and vitamin B₁₂intakes during pregnancy is available in Japan. We evaluated the validity and reproducibility of intakes of folate and vitamin B₁₂estimated from a self-administered diet history questionnaire (DHQ) in Japanese pregnant women.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>A sample of 167 healthy subjects with singleton pregnancies in the second trimester was recruited at a private obstetric hospital in metropolitan Tokyo from June to October 2008 (n = 76), and at a university hospital in Tokyo from June 2010 to June 2011 (n = 91). The dietary intakes of folate and vitamin B₁₂were assessed using the DHQ. The serum concentrations of folate and vitamin B₁₂were measured as reference values in the validation study. To assess the reproducibility of the results, 58 pregnant women completed the DHQ twice within 4-5 week interval.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Significantly positive correlations were found between energy-adjusted intakes and serum concentrations of folate and vitamin B₁₂(r = 0.286, <it>p </it>< 0.001 and r = 0.222, <it>p </it>= 0.004, respectively). After excluding the participants with nausea (n = 121), the correlation coefficient for vitamin B₁₂increased to 0.313 (<it>p </it>= 0.001). When participants were classified into quintiles based on intakes and serum concentrations of folate and vitamin B₁₂, approximately 60% were classified in the same or adjacent quintile. The intraclass correlation coefficients of the two-time DHQ were 0.725 for folate and 0.512 for vitamin B₁₂.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>The present study indicated that the DHQ had acceptable validity and reproducibility for assessing folate and vitamin B₁₂intakes in Japanese pregnant women.</p

Comparison of Anti-Inflammatory Analgesics for Mechanical Stress-induced Inflammation in a Human Synovial Sarcoma Cell Line

Osteoarthritis is a complicated clinical condition affected by age, mechanical stress, cartilage hypertrophy, cytokines, and genetic predisposition. In this study, we compared the effects of various anti-inflammatory analgesics on mechanical stress-induced inflammation in a synovial sarcoma cell line （SW982 cells）. SW982 cells exposed to mechanical stress by shaking with hydroxyapatite-simulating bone chips were treated with acetaminophen, ketoprofen, triamcinolone acetonide, celecoxib, or neurotrophin for 48hr. The expression of integrin α5β1 receptor, observed in fibroblasts and synovium, was evaluated. Levels of the transcription factor, nuclear factor-κB, the inflammatory cytokine, tumor necrosis factor-α, the proteolytic enzyme, matrix metalloproteinase-3, and prostaglandin E2, which is associated with pain and arachidonate cascade product levels, were measured by ELISA. The expression of integrin α5β1 was significantly increased by mechanical stress. Activation of nuclear factor-κB by mechanical stress was significantly suppressed by celecoxib only. Mechanical stress-induced increases in tumor necrosis factor-α and matrix metalloproteinase-3 levels were significantly suppressed by acetaminophen, triamcinolone acetonide, and neurotrophin. The mechanical stress-induced increase in prostaglandin E2 levels was significantly suppressed by acetaminophen, ketoprofen, and celecoxib. SW982 exposed to mechanical stress is proposed as a model for arthritis, and indeed, the expression of integrin α5β1, a membrane receptor protein that binds to fibronectin and the extracellular matrix, and is involved in cell proliferation, differentiation, and neovascularization in osteoarthritis, was significantly upregulated. Following evaluation using this model, acetaminophen was found to possess anti-inflammatory, analgesic, and joint-destruction suppression properties. This drug may, therefore, have applications in the treatment of mechanical stress-induced inflammation

Eribulin Treatment Induces High Expression of miR-195 and Inactivates the Wnt/β - catenin Signaling Pathway in Triple-negative Breast Cancer

Triple-negative breast cancer （TNBC） accounts for 10-15％ of all breast cancer cases and shows a poor prognosis with 30％ distant metastasis. With few specific target molecules and ineffective hormonal and anti-HER2 treatment, an alternative therapeutic method for TNBC is urgently required. Recently, a non-taxane inhibitor of microtubule dynamics called eribulin was developed for breast cancer therapy. Eribulin induces irreversible mitotic mass formation in cancer cells during the G2-M phase, initiating apoptosis; however, the mechanism underlying this eribulin activity remains unclear. We reported previously that exposing non-basal-like （NBL） TNBC cells to eribulin increases miR-195 expression, which in turn decreases the expression of targeted Wnt3a. The present study sought to further clarify the mechanism of this antitumor effect by exploring how eribulin affects Wnt/β - catenin signaling based on miRNA expression changes in TNBC. In an NBL type of human breast cancer cell line （MDA-MB-231 cells）, we compared the expression levels of Wnt/β catenin signaling pathway proteins in cells exposed to an miR-195 mimic （cells transfected with miR-195 and in which Wnt3a expression was suppressed） and in cells exposed to eribulin. Expression levels of Wnt3a, β -catenin, and GSK-3β were measured by ELISA and observed by fluorescence immunostaining. Wnt3a and β -catenin expression was significantly lower and GSK-3β expression was significantly higher in the cells exposed to eribulin and transfected with miR-195 mimic than in the untreated controls, suggesting that eribulin inactivates the Wnt/β -catenin signaling pathway. Therefore, a novel antitumor mechanism of eribulin was determined, whereby eribulin induces high expression of miR-195 to inactivate the Wnt/β -catenin signaling pathway in NBL-type TNBC

Evaluation of changes in hepatic disposition of phenolsulfonphthalein, indocyanine green and fluorescein isothiocyanate-dextran at low temperatures using a rat liver perfusion system

Objectives The aim of this study was to determine the factor changing the hepatic disposition of a drug during hypothermia using a rat liver perfusion system. Methods The livers of male Wistar rats were perfused at 37, 32 or 28°C in the single-pass mode. Venous outflow dilution patterns and biliary excretion rate patterns of phenolsulfonphthalein (PSP), indocyanine green (ICG) and fluorescein isothiocyanate (FITC)-dextran (FD-4, MW 4400) after the injection of a bolus into the perfused rat liver were analysed based on statistical moment theory. Key findings The first-pass extraction ratio (E h) of PSP was significantly decreased at 32 and 28°C compared with 37°C. The biliary recovery of PSP and its conjugate was decreased and the biliary excretion was kept at a high concentration and was prolonged by low perfusion temperatures. ICG was almost extracted by a single-pass through the liver even at 32 and 28°C. The biliary recovery of ICG was significantly decreased at low temperature. Although the distribution volume of FD-4 as a vascular reference was not changed by perfusion temperature, the E h of FD-4 was decreased at 28°C although not markedly. Conclusion The change in hepatic disposition of a drug at low perfusion temperatures differed according to disposition processes under hypothermia

ミゾリビンによる急性尿酸性腎症とメソトレキサートによる骨髄抑制を併発した1例

症例は83歳,男性.近医で関節リウマチの診断で加療(プレドニゾロン2mg,メソトレキサート(MTX)4mg),他に高尿酸血症,高血圧で加療中であった.当院へ入院13日前にミゾリビン(MZ)150mg追加投与された.入院2日前に食欲不振と全身倦怠感で近医を受診,尿素窒素99.5mg/dl,クレアチニン7.8mg/dlと急性腎不全を認めたため当院へ紹介入院した.入院時の検査所見で尿酸26.5mg/dLと著明な高尿酸血症を認めMZによる急性尿酸性腎症と診断した.そのためMZ及び尿酸の除去を目的に緊急血液透析を施行した.尿酸値及び腎機能は速やかに改善した.しかし,入院後より血小板及び白血球数の減少を認めた.骨髄検査では骨髄異形成症候群様であり,MZに加えMTXの関与を推測された.その後汎血球減少も改善している.本症例はMZの血中濃度も高くMZの排泄遅延による高尿酸血症のため急性腎不全を合併し更に腎機能の増悪がMTXによる無効造血を発症した可能性が考えられた.MZと尿酸も血液透析により体外への除去が可能でありMZによる急性尿酸性腎症の場合は早急な血液透析が有効である.An 83-year-old man was diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis at a nearby hospital for which he was administered methotrexate (MTX) and prednisolone. Thirteen days before admission, he had started mizoribine (MZ) 150mg. Two days before admission to our hospital, he was admitted to a nearby hospital for appetite loss and general fatigue. Laboratory tests showed renal dysfunction at nearby hospital, and he was consequently admitted to our hospital for further examination. On admission, we reasoned that renal dysfunction had resulted from hyperuricemia during MZ administration because the serum concentration of uric acid (26.5mg/dL) and MZ (trough level, 5.14μg/mL) were markedly elevated. Accordingly, MZ treatment was terminated, and hemodialysis was initiated. The patient subsequently showed an improvement in his condition and renal function recovered. However, pancytopenia developed soon after admission, and bone marrow aspiration showed myelodysplastic syndrome-like lesions. We suspected MTX and MZ to be the main cause of pancytopenia. Because the onset of acute renal failure had been attributed to MZ, it was conjectured that the dose of MTX was too high. Therefore, MTX administration was cancelled, and pancytopenia ameliorated. In cases of transient renal dysfunction with MZ, it is necessary to consider discontinuation of MZ and initiation of hemodialysis

Isolation of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus ST398 from pigs in Japan

Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is a major concern for public health. Recent decades have seen the emergence and worldwide spread of livestock-associated MRSA, particularly sequence type (ST) 398, in pigs. Two investigations were conducted to confirm the presence of MRSA ST398 in domestic Japanese pigs. In the first investigation, nasal swabs were collected from 500 pigs on 50 pig farms between August 2012 and February 2013. MRSA ST398 was isolated from four pigs from a farm. In the second investigation, nasal swabs were collected from 480 pigs on 24 pig farms between November 2013 and March 2014. MRSA ST398 was isolated from 54 pigs on five farms. These results indicate that MRSA ST398 has become established in domestic Japanese pigs