Hearing impairment and cognitive function among a community-dwelling population in Japan

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Hearing impairment is a prevalent and chronic condition in older people. This study investigated the relationship between cognitive function and hearing impairment in a Japanese population.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>A pure-tone average (0.5-2.0 kHz) was used to evaluate hearing impairment in 846 participants of the Iwaki Health Promotion Project who were aged at least 50 years old (310 men and 536 women). We also administered the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE), the Center for Epidemiologic Studies for Depression (CES-D) scale, Starkstein's apathy scale (AS) and the Short Form Health Survey Version 2 (SF-36v2). A multiple linear regression analysis assessed the association between hearing impairment and mental correlates.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>The overall prevalence of hearing impairment in this study population was 37.7%. The participants with hearing impairment were older and less educated compared to those with no hearing problems. We observed significant differences in the MMSE and AS scores between the mild/moderate to severe groups versus the non-impaired group. After adjusting for age, gender and amount of education, hearing impairment was significantly associated with MMSE and AS scores, but not with CES-D scores. Hearing impairment was significantly related to the social functioning (SF) and role emotional (RE) scores of the SF-36v2.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>Hearing impairment is common among older people and is associated with cognitive impairment, apathy and a poor health-related quality of life. Screening for and correcting hearing impairments might improve the quality of life and functional status of older patients.</p

Mineralocorticoid receptor stimulation induces urinary storage dysfunction via upregulation of epithelial sodium channel expression in the rat urinary bladder epithelium

AbstractWe aimed to evaluate mineralocorticoid receptor (MR) expression in rat bladder and the physiological role of the MR-epithelial sodium channel (ENaC) pathway in controlling bladder function in 10–12-week-old, male Sprague–Dawley rats. First, we examined the mRNA expression of MR and localization of MR and ENaC-α proteins in the urinary bladder. MR mRNA expression was observed in untreated-rat urinary bladders, and MR and ENaC-α proteins were localized in the epithelium. Next, rats were treated with vehicle (controls) or fludrocortisone (an MR agonist) for 3 days, and ENaC-α protein expression levels and bladder function were evaluated on day 4. ENaC-α protein expression was significantly higher in fludrocortisone-treated rats than in controls. In addition, cystometry was performed during intravesical infusion of saline and amiloride (an ENaC inhibitor). While intercontraction intervals (ICIs) during saline infusion were significantly shorter in the fludrocortisone group than in the controls, infusion of amiloride normalized the ICIs in the fludrocortisone group. However, no intra- or inter-group differences in maximum intravesical pressure were observed. Taken together, MR protein is localized in the rat urinary bladder epithelium, and may regulate ENaC expression and bladder afferent input. The MR-ENaC pathway may be a therapeutic target for ameliorating storage symptoms

In Vitro Studies to Define the Cell-Surface and Intracellular Targets of Polyarginine-Conjugated Sodium Borocaptate as a Potential Delivery Agent for Boron Neutron Capture Therapy

Boron neutron capture therapy (BNCT) requires pharmaceutical innovations and molecular-based evidence of effectiveness to become a standard cancer therapeutic in the future. Recently, in Japan, 4-borono-L-phenylalanine (BPA) was approved as a boron agent for BNCT against head and neck (H&N) cancers. H&N cancer appears to be a suitable target for BPA-BNCT, because the expression levels of L-type amino acid transporter 1 (LAT1), one of the amino acid transporters responsible for BPA uptake, are elevated in most cases of H&N cancer. However, in other types of cancer including malignant brain tumors, LAT1 is not always highly expressed. To expand the possibility of BNCT for these cases, we previously developed poly-arginine peptide (polyR)-conjugated mercaptoundecahydrododecaborate (BSH). PolyR confers the cell membrane permeability and tumor selectivity of BSH. However, the molecular determinants for the properties are not fully understood. In this present study, we have identified the cluster of differentiation 44 (CD44) protein and translational machinery proteins as a major cell surface target and intracellular targets of BSH-polyR, respectively. CD44, also known as a stem cell-associated maker in various types of cancer, is required for the cellular uptake of polyR-conjugated molecules. We showed that BSH-polyR was predominantly delivered to a CD44(High) cell population of cancer cells. Once delivered, BSH-polyR interacted with the translational machinery components, including the initiation factors, termination factors, and poly(A)-biding protein (PABP). As a proof of principle, we performed BSH-polyR-based BNCT against glioma stem-like cells and revealed that BSH-polyR successfully induced BNCT-dependent cell death specifically in CD44(High) cells. Bioinformatics analysis indicated that BSH-polyR would be suitable for certain types of malignant tumors. Our results shed light on the biochemical properties of BSH-polyR, which may further contribute to the therapeutic optimization of BSH-BNCT in the future

Usefulness of transcatheter arterial embolization prior to excision of hypervascular musculoskeletal tumors

The objective of this study was to evaluate the usefulness of transcatheter arterial embolization prior to surgical excision of musculoskeletal tumors. We reviewed the records of nine patients (3 females and 6 males) who received arterial embolization prior to excision of musculoskeletal tumors in our hospital from December 2009 to April 2010. We evaluated tumor region, size, histopathology, feeding artery, embolic material, and blood loss during surgery. We compared the actual amount of intraoperative bleeding with arterial embolization to estimated amounts of bleeding without embolization predicted by three orthopedic surgeons. Arterial embolization was performed on the same day or within 5 days before surgery. Operations were performed as planned in all patients without serious complications. The amount of intraoperative bleeding was 35-4200 mL and there was significantly less bleeding with arterial embolization compared with the estimated amounts (p<0.01). Our results show that arterial embolization prior to resection of hypervascular musculoskeletal tumors reduces the amount of bleeding during surgery and contributes to patient safety

The role of AGE-Rage system in the development of diabetic nephropathy in vivo

金沢大学大学院医学部医学系研究科Vascular complications are what eventually threaten the lives of diabetic patients. Here we show direct in vivo evidence that the interaction between advanced glycation end products (AGE), the formation of which is accelerated during prolonged hyperglycemic exposure, and a cell surface receptor for AGE (RAGE) is the major cause of such complications. We created transgenic mice that overexpress human RAGE in vascular cells and crossbred them with another transgenic line which develops insulin-dependent diabetes early after birth. The resultant double transgenic mice exhibited accelerated kidney changes compared with single transgenic littermates, and the nephropathy was ameliorated by an inhibitor of AGE formation. The AGE–RAGE system will thus be a promising target for overcoming diabetic complications

多職種連携と患者特性に配慮したケアを行った高度肥満症の一例

A ４８-year-old man who weighed ２１６ kg was significantly overweight with a body mass index （BMI）of ７５．６kg/m２, and was unable to walk due to disuse syndrome. Because of the psychological and social problems in the background, a psychological examination was performed and the staff took time to build a trusting relationship with the patient, taking into account his characteristics. With diet and rehabilitation, he was able to lose weight to １２４kg and BMI ４３．９kg/m２ over ６００ days, and was able to walk with assistive devices and defecate by himself. The patient was discharged from our hospital after a series of multidisciplinary meetings with medical, nursing, welfare, and governmental agencies to create an environment for home recuperation. The reasons for the improvement to enable him to be discharged from the hospital were due to the multi-disciplinary meetings among the staff inside and outside the hospital, information sharing and advanced coordination, and smooth communication with the patient by taking into account his characteristics from a psychological standpoint

クリプトコッカス髄膜炎を発症したCD4リンパ球減少症の２例

　クリプトコッカス感染症はCryptococcus neoformans による真菌感染症であり，免疫不全患者に発症しやすい．今回，我々はCD4リンパ球減少を認め，クリプトコッカス髄膜炎を発症した２例を経験したので報告する．症例１は，40歳代男性で不明熱のため受診した．血液検査でリンパ球930/μL，髄膜刺激症状はなかったが，髄液検査にてクリプトコッカス菌体が検出され，血液培養からも検出された．CD4 72.5/μL と低値であり，HIV 抗体陽性であった．クリプトコッカス髄膜炎を発症したAIDS 患者と診断した．症例２は，20歳代女性で不明熱のため受診した．血液検査でリンパ球510/μL，髄膜刺激症状はなかったが，髄液検査にてクリプトコッカス菌体が検出され，血液培養からも検出された．CD4 19.4/μL と低値であったが，HIV 抗体陰性で原発性免疫不全症や他の免疫不全となる原因は認められなかった．Idiopathic CD4 lymphocytopenia（ICL）に発症したクリプトコッカス髄膜炎と診断した．AIDS とICL がそれぞれ原因となったクリプトコッカス髄膜炎であった．前者での本症併発は2.4 %，後者での併発は19.7 % と報告されている．HIV非感染のクリプトコッカス髄膜炎をみた際にはICL によるCD4リンパ球減少症を考える必要がある．死に至ることもまれではないクリプトコッカス髄膜炎であるが，治療が奏効し１年以上経過しているため報告する．　Cryptococcal infections are fungal infections caused by Cryptococcus neoformans. This infection develops more commonly in immunocompromised patients. We report two cases of cryptococcal meningitis that developed as a result of CD4 lymphocytopenia. Case 1 was a man in his 40s who presented with a fever of unknown origin. A blood test revealed a lymphocyte count of 930/μL, with no meningeal irritation; however, examination of his cerebrospinal fluid detected cryptococcal bodies, which was also confirmed by blood culture. In addition, the patient had a low CD4 count of 72.5/μL, and was HIV antibodypositive. We thus diagnosed him as an AIDS patient who developed cryptococcal meningitis. Case 2 was a woman in her 20s who also presented with a fever of unknown origin. A blood test revealed a lymphocyte count of 510/μL, with no meningeal irritation; however, examination of her cerebrospinal fluid detected cryptococcal bodies, which was confirmed by blood culture. Despite the patient having a low CD4 count of 19.4/μL, she was HIV antibody-negative, and there was no evidence of primary immunodeficiency or any other causes of immune deficiency. Accordingly, we diagnosed this patient as cryptococcal meningitis that developed as a result of idiopathic CD4 lymphocytopenia (ICL). In the above cases, cryptococcal meningitis developed as a result of AIDS and ICL, respectively. The incidence rates of this complication are reported as 2.4% for the former and 19.7% for the latter. When cryptococcal meningitis without HIV infection is observed, it is necessary to consider the possibility of CD4 lymphocytopenia due to ICL. Although cryptococcal meningitis can be fatal, treatment was successful in both cases, and more than one year has elapsed since their initial presentation

リツキシマブ併用ベンダムスチン療法が奏効した腸管monomorphic PTLD

　移植後リンパ増殖性疾患（PTLD）は，造血幹細胞移植後に免疫抑制剤を使用した結果として，Ｔ細胞機能が低下して生じる異常なリンパ球，または形質細胞の増殖で，移植領域において最も致死的で注意を要する合併症の一つである．PTLD は４つのカテゴリーに分類され，その中のmonomorphic PTLD は、悪性リンパ腫の形態を呈する．Monomorphic PTLD の治療には，免疫抑制剤減量，リツキシマブ（Ｒ）単独療法やR-CHOP 療法があるが，予後は不良である．今回，難治性PTLD に対してリツキシマブ併用ベンダムスチン療法が奏効し寛解をえることができた症例を経験したので報告する．症例は50歳代男性で、骨髄異形成症候群に対して臍帯血移植を施行し，GVHD 予防にタクロリムスを使用した．移植後，消化管GVHD を発症し，プレドニゾロンで治療中，monomorphic PTLD（びまん性大細胞型Ｂ細胞リンパ腫）を発症した．免疫抑制剤中止後，リツキシマブ（Ｒ）単独療法，R-CHOP like 療法を施行したが効果不良であった．リツキシマブ併用ベンダムスチン療法に変更し４コース施行後，消化管内視鏡検査で病変は消失し，CT 検査で完全奏効を確認した．治療終了し約１年経過しているが，現在も症状増悪なく経過できており，難治性monomorphic PTLD に対してリツキシマブ併用ベンダムスチン療法が有効であった．Post-transplantation lymphoproliferative disorder (PTLD) occurs as a result of the use of immunosuppressants following hematopoietic stem cell transplantation, which causes the emergence of abnormal lymphocytes owing to the decline in T-cell function and the proliferation of plasma cells. It is thus one of the most fatal complications and the biggest concern for transplantation cases. PTLD is classified into 4 categories, and monomorphic PTLD takes the form of a malignant lymphoma. Immunosuppressant dose reduction, rituximab (R) monotherapy, and R-CHOP therapy are used to treat monomorphic PTLD, but the prognosis is poor for these forms of treatment. This report describes the experience of a patient with refractory PTLD who went into remission after responding to combination therapy with rituximab and bendamustine. A 50-year-old man underwent cord blood transplantation because of a myelodysplastic syndrome. Tacrolimus was used for GVHD prevention. After transplantation, symptoms of GVHD of the gastrointestinal tract developed, and during treatment using prednisolone, symptoms of monomorphic PTLD (diffuse large B-cell lymphoma) emerged. Once immunosuppressant use was discontinued, the patient underwent R monotherapy and R-CHOPlike treatment, but the response was poor. The treatment was then changed to combination therapy with rituximab and bendamustine; after 4 courses of treatment, gastrointestinal endoscopy revealed that the pathological abnormality had disappeared, and a complete response was confirmed. One year has passed since the completion of treatment, and at present, the patient’s symptoms have not worsened, suggesting that combination therapy with rituximab and bendamustine is effective for treating monomorphic PTLD