TUMOR MARKERS IN BONE MARROW IN PATIENTS WITH PROSTATIC CANCER

We compared prostatic specific acid phosphatase (PAP), prostatic specific antigen (PA) and γ-seminoprotein (γ-SM) levels between bone marrow and serum for the purpose of assessing of the usefulness of these tumor markers in early detection of bone metastasis in cases with prostatic cancer. Thirty-three patients were entered into this study. Of the patients, 20 had prostatic cancer including 11 with bone metastasis, and 13 patients had benign prostatic hypertrophy (BPH) served as controls. It seemed unlikely that bone marrow PAP, PA and γ-SM are more useful than their serum levels for detection of bone metastasis of prostatic cancer. Because correlation between bone marrow and serum levels of each marker was observed not only in cases with prostate cancer accompanied by bone metastasis but also in metastasis-free prostatic cancer and BPH cases, it seems likely that PAP, PA and γ-SM in bone marrow circulate from peripheral blood rather than from bone metastasis of prostatic cancer

Short stature-related single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) activates endothelial repair activity in elderly Japanese

Background: Hypertension and atherosclerosis are bidirectionally related, while platelet count could serve as an indicator of endothelial repair. Therefore, high platelet counts could be associated with hypertension by indicating more intense endothelial repair activity. Furthermore, short stature has been shown to constitute a risk of atherosclerosis. Since inflammation-related single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP(rs3782886)) is reportedly associated with myocardial infarction and short stature, rs3782886 could be associated with a high platelet count and thus more intense endothelial repair activity. Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional study of 988 elderly Japanese who participated in a general health check-up. Short stature was defined as a height of at or under the 25th percentile of the study population, and high platelet count as the highest tertiles of the platelet levels. Results: High platelet counts were found to be independently and positively associated with hypertension while rs3782886 was independently associated with high platelet levels and short stature. The classical cardiovascular risk factor-adjusted odds ratio (OR) and 95% confidence interval (CI) of high platelet count for hypertension was 1.34 (1.02, 1.77). With non-minor homo of the rs3782886 as the reference group, the adjusted OR and 95% CI for high platelet count and short stature of minor home were 2.40 (1.30, 4.42) and 2.21 (1.16, 4.21), respectively. Conclusion: SNP (rs3782886) was shown to be associated with high platelet count and short stature. This result partly explains how a genetic factor can influence the impact of height on endothelial repair

Human T-cell Leukemia Virus-1 Infection is Associated with Atherosclerosis as Measured by Carotid Intima-Media Thickness in Japanese Community-Dwelling Older People

The association between human T-cell leukemia virus-1 (HTLV-1) and atherosclerosis remains to be determined. This case?control study aimed to investigate this association as measured by carotid intima?media thickness (CIMT). HTLV-1 infection was positively associated with CIMT, independent of atherosclerotic risks

Screening Validity of Arterial Pressure?Volume Index and Arterial Velocity?Pulse Index for Preclinical Atherosclerosis in Japanese Community-Dwelling Adults: the Nagasaki Islands Study

Aim: The arterial pressure?volume index (API) and arterial velocity?pulse index (AVI) are novel measurement indices of arterial stiffness. This study was performed to examine the screening validity of the API and AVI for preclinical atherosclerosis in Japanese community-dwelling adults. Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional study of 2,809 participants aged ?40 years who underwent Japanese national medical check-ups from 2014 to 2016. Preclinical atherosclerosis was defined as a mean carotid intima?media thickness (CIMT) of ? 1.0 mm. Multivariable linear regression analysis was performed to investigate the association of CIMT with API and AVI, adjusting for body mass index, sex, and the Framingham ?D\u27Agostino score. We also examined receiver operating characteristic curves, sensitivity, and specificity to predict preclinical atherosclerosis defined by the CIMT. The cardio-ankle vascular index was also measured for comparison with the API and AVI. Results: Of 2,809 participants, 68 (2.4%) had preclinical atherosclerosis. In the multivariable linear regression analysis, the API and AVI maintained a positive association with the mean CIMT (B =2.6, P =0.009 and B =3.7, P =0.001, respectively). The cut-offs of the API and AVI that demonstrated better sensitivity and specificity for detection of subclinical atherosclerosis were 31 [area under the curve (AUC), 0.64] and 29 (AUC, 0.60). Conclusions: The API and AVI were positively associated with preclinical carotid atherosclerosis independent of the participants\u27 cardiovascular risk. The ability of these scores to predict carotid atherosclerosis could make them a useful screening tool for atherosclerosis

Association of hemoglobin concentration with handgrip strength in relation to hepatocyte growth factor levels among elderly Japanese men aged 60?69?years: a cross-sectional study

Background: Hemoglobin concentration reportedly is positively associated with muscle strength, for example, handgrip strength. However, hemoglobin cannot repair muscle directly, but is beneficial only in a supportive role. Since hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) regulates muscle satellite cell production and differentiation, which is stimulated by organ injury, the supportive effect of hemoglobin should thus be stronger for participants with high HGF than for those with low HGF. However, the association between hemoglobin concentration and handgrip strength in relation to HGF levels remains unknown. Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional study of 255 Japanese elderly men aged 60-69 years who participated in annual health check-ups in 2014-2015. The study population was categorized on the basis of a median value of HGF of 300.6 pg/mL. Results: Among present study population, 128 participants showed low HGF. For participants with low HGF, hemoglobin concentration showed no significant association with handgrip strength (standardized parameter estimate (β) = 0.03, p = 0.767), but for those with high HGF, hemoglobin concentration was significantly positively associated with handgrip strength (β = 0.23, p = 0.014). Conclusions: A significant positive association between hemoglobin level and handgrip strength was established for elderly Japanese men aged 60-69 years with high HGF but not for participants with low HGF. Our finding indicates that HGF levels could determine the relationship of hemoglobin concentration with handgrip strength in elderly Japanese men aged 60-69 years. This result can be expected to serve as an effective tool for the clarification of the roles played by HGF and hemoglobin concentration in maintenance of muscle strength