Objective: The metabolic syndrome is associated with an increased risk of chronic kidney disease, cardiovascular disease and mortality. However, the association between microalbuminuria and the metabolic syndrome has not yet been reported in the general population in Japan. Therefore, we undertook a population-based study to examine the association between microalbuminuria and the metabolic syndrome in Takahata, Japan.
Methods: Subjects of this cross-sectional study were individuals aged from 40 to 87 years old. The metabolic syndrome was defined according to the criteria of the Adult Treatment Panel III. Microalbuminuria was defined as a urine albumin-creatinine ratio of 30 to 300 mg/g.
Results: A total of 2,321 subjects (mean age 64 years old) were entered into the final analysis. Among them, the prevalence of the metabolic syndrome and microalbuminuria was 16.5% and 13.7%, respectively. There was a significantly positive correlation between the number of components of the metabolic syndrome and the corresponding prevalence of microalbuminuria (p<0.001). In the subjects with metabolic syndrome compared with those without metabolic syndrome, the age- and gender-adjusted odds ratio of microalbuminuria was 1.99 (95% CI, 1.49-2.66). Multiple logistic regression analysis revealed that high glucose, high blood pressure and obesity were independently associated with microalbuminuria.
Conclusions: Our study revealed a strong relationship between microalbuminuria and the metabolic syndrome in the general population in Japan. More comprehensive and intensive management of the metabolic syndrome at its early stage is important to prevent the progression of renal injury and cardiovascular complications.

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Objective: Th1 activation based on a high HTLV-I proviral load is one of the characteristic immunological abnormalities in the peripheral blood lymphocytes of patients with HTLV-I-associated myelopathy/tropical spastic paraparesis (HAM/TSP). To clarify the cause of this abnormality with the potential to be one of the therapeutic targets, we analyzed the involvement of interleukin-2 (IL-2)/IL-2 receptor (IL-2R) signaling in HTLV-I and interferon-γ (IFN-γ), which is a representative Th1 cytokine, expression in peripheral blood CD4⁺ T cells from HAM/TSP patients.
Patients and Methods: Twelve patients with HAM/TSP were included in the study. After the peripheral blood CD4⁺ T cells were treated in cultures under the presence of each anti-IL-2Rα, β,and γ blocking antiboby for 48 hours, both HTLV-I p19 antigen and IFN-γ levels in the culture supernatants were measured using ELISA methods. To check the influence on cell proliferation under these culture conditions, the numbers of viable cells were simultaneously determined by MTS assay.
Results: Treatment with anti-IL-2Rα blocking antibody, but not anti-IL-2Rβ or anti-IL-2Rγ blocking antibody, suppressed HTLV-I p19 antigen expression levels. In addition, treatment with all types of anti-IL-2R blocking antibodies also suppressed IFN-γ expression levels. All of the types of anti-IL-2R blocking antibodies did not inhibit the proliferation.
Conclusion: These results indicate that IL-2/IL-2R signaling is involved in HTLV-I and IFN-γ expression on peripheral blood CD4⁺ T cells from HAM/TSP patients, suggesting that the interruption of this signaling has therapeutic potential against HAM/TSP in patients with the focus on the down-regulation of Th1 activation based on a high HTLV-I proviral load in the peripheral blood.

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Background: Erythromycin (EM) and rifampicin (RFP) have mainly been used to treat patients with Legionella pneumonia. Since intravenous ciprofloxacin (CPFX) became available in Japan from 2000, many reports have been published detailing successful treatment of Legionella pneumonia with CPFX. In this study, we compared the evolution of patients with Legionella pneumonia treated with CPFX to those treated with EM.
Methods: The study included nine patients treated with CPFX and eighteen patients treated with EM. Diagnosis of these patients was made by culture, PCR, urinary antigen assay or a serological method. A comparison was made of the patients' characteristics, severity of pneumonia, efficacy of each agent and the clinical course.
Results: No significant differences were observed between the two groups, in regard to age, gender, underlying disease or severity of pneumonia. In addition, the period of time from onset of the disease until appropriate therapy did not differ significantly between the two groups. In the CPFX group, all of the patients were cured and in the EM group 16 out of the 18 patients were cured. Although there were no significant differences, the time to apyrexia, normalization of leukocytosis and a 50% decrease in C-reactive protein (CRP) occurred within a relatively shorter time frame in the CPFX group than in the EM group (3.5 versus 4 days, 4 versus 5.2 days, and 2.9 versus 10.3 days, respectively). And, the duration of antibiotic treatment in the CPFX group was significantly shorter than in the EM group.
Conclusion: CPFX was as effective as erythromycin in the treatment of Legionella pneumonia. The effects of treatment may appear relatively earlier and the duration of treatment was significantly shorter in patients treated with CPFX therapy than with EM therapy.

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Objective: To evaluate effect of recombinant human growth hormone (rhGH) among HIV-infected adults with moderate to severe facial lipoatrophy as a side effect of long-term antiretroviral treatment.
Design: A prospective open-label study
Methods: Twenty-five HIV-1 patients with moderate to severe facial lipoatrophy who had been on antiretroviral treatment for more than 18 months were enrolled. rhGH (5 mg) was given every other day for 6 months. After treatment was completed, the participants were followed up for 6 months. Facial lipoatrophy was evaluated by computed tomography at months 0, 3, 6 and 12.
Results: Nearly all participants (24 of 25) completed the study. The sum of bilateral soft tissue thickness at the level of zygomatics at months 0, 3, 6, 12 were 7.23, 8.59, 8.35, 8.60 mm, respectively. There was significant improvement from baseline in month 3 (p=0.009) and month 12 (p=0.021). In the 6 months of follow-up, the soft tissue showed no significant decrease. Several side effects including diarrhea, arthralgia, myalgia, mastalgia and hand numbness were seen, which were self-limited and transient.
Conclusion: rhGH is effective and relatively safe for moderate to severe facial lipoatrophy. Its effect was sustained at least for 6 months after the cessation of rhGH.

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Object: It is a matter of concern that women have higher in-hospital mortality rates than men with percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI), however, it is not yet clear whether significant gender differences exist. We studied the influence of gender on the characteristics and in-hospital mortality among patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI) undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI).
Methods: We used data from 15 acute care hospitals included in the sample from the Tokai Acute Myocardial Infarction Study II (TAMIS-II), a prospective study of all patients admitted to these hospitals from 2001 to 2003 with a diagnosis of AMI. We abstracted the baseline and procedural characteristics from detailed chart reviews which included not only physician notes but also nursing notes, and a questionnaire which included baseline characteristics, procedural course and in-hospital mortality. Multivariate analysis was performed, controlling for age and other variables which were found to be significantly different between men and women by chi-square test or unpaired t test.
Patients: A total of 566 women and 2,048 men were included in the present study.
Results: There were gender differences in age, comorbid conditions, smoking status, body mass index, activities of daily livings, heart failure on presentation, duration of stay, angiographic data, transfer to ICU/CCU, and thrombolytic drugs. In univariate analysis, women had a higher in-hospital mortality rate than did men; however, this gender difference disappeared after adjustment for age and other variables.
Conclusion: Our study demonstrated that women with AMI who undergo PCI do not have a higher in-hospital mortality rate than men.

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We describe a 64-year-old man with decompensated hepatitis B virus (HBV)-related cirrhosis who became resistant to lamivudine. He was started on adefovir at 10 mg daily while continuing lamivudine therapy. Several months later, his liver function improved and subsequently his ascites disappeared. The serum HBV-DNA level became undetectable 11 months later. Twenty months after the start of additional treatment with adefovir, one hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) was detected, and the patient underwent a successful hepatectomy. Our findings suggest that the addition of adefovir to ongoing lamivudine therapy is useful for improving liver function in patients with decompensated lamivudine-resistant HBV-related cirrhosis, allowing surgery for HCC.

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Liposarcoma is one of the most common primary neoplasms in the retroperitoneum, whereas primary mesenteric liposarcomas are rare (1). We encountered a case of liposarcoma which arose from the mesentery of the jejunum that was diagnosed by imaging studies before surgical operation.

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An 80-year-old woman was admitted to our hospital with complaints of jaundice and liver dysfunction. She was found to have a high titer of serum IgG4, positive rheumatoid factor and marked elevation of DUPAN-2 (11,148 U/ml). Computed tomography showed swelling of the pancreas, and endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography revealed diffuse irregular narrowing of the main pancreatic duct, which are typical findings of autoimmune pancreatitis. There was no evidence of malignancy. Administration of 30 mg/day of prednisolone was started. Computed tomography showed significant regression in the size of the pancreas, and the stenosis of the main pancreatic duct was improved on ERCP. The serum level of DUPAN-2 was also markedly decreased after the treatment.

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We measured the serum adiponectin and leptin concentrations before and after successful removal of a left adrenal adenoma in a 46-year-old woman with Cushings syndrome. The serum adiponectin level was 6.0 μg/ml before the operation and rose to 8.1 μg/ml after adrenalectomy. However, the serum leptin level was markedly high (24.8 ng/ml) before the operation and decreased to within the normal range (6.0 ng/ml) 6 months after adrenalectomy, concomitant with weight reduction and normalization of the serum cortisol level.

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A 75-year-old woman who had been healthy except for mild glycemia and lipidemia discovered three and a half months before admission experienced severe dysphagia secondary to oral and esophageal candidiasis. She eventually developed diabetic hyperosmolar syndrome and ketoacidosis. Since anti-GAD antibody was negative and her diabetes was controlled with a moderate dose of insulin, we made a diagnosis of type 2 diabetes. Her only risk factors for candidiasis were hyperglycemia, age, and continuous denture use. The fact that her diabetes developed in association with oral candidiasis supports the hypothesis that there is a bidirectional interrelationship between diabetes and oral infection.

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Iodine-induced hypothyroidism that develops in patients who gargle routinely with povidone iodine is well known. Usually the hypothyroidism is mild and resolves spontaneously upon cessation of gargling. Here, we report a 63-year-old patient with overt hypothyroidism that developed due to habitual gargling with povidone iodine for more than 10 years. The urinary excretion of iodine was estimated to be greater than 5 mg/day, based on values obtained from 18 normal subjects who gargled three times a day (4.6±2.1 mg, mean±SD). After discontinuation of the gargling, the patient has been euthyroid for more than 10 months.

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When ichthyosis occurs in adulthood, it may signify internal disease, especially malignant hemopathy. A 49-year-old man was admitted to hospital with diarrhea, fever, weight loss and abdominal pain. Physical examination showed generalized ichthyosis with palmoplantar hyperkeratosis and multiple inguinal lymph nodes. Laboratory investigations showed severe pancytopenia. Ultrasonography and CT scan demonstrated intraabdominal lymph node enlargement. Osteomedullary biopsy and open abdominal lymph node biopsy revealed an anaplastic large cell lymphoma. The lymph node involvement subsequently became worse and more severe, and the patient's general condition deteriorated. He died before receiving chemotherapy.

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Although Clostridium difficile colitis is a common problem during chemotherapy, fulminant expression is rarely observed. Here, we describe a 68-year-old woman who developed fatal colitis due to Clostridium difficile infection. The patient was treated with CHOP therapy for relapsed lymphoma. In the nadir phase, she developed severe bloody diarrhea with a high fever and died within 12 hours after the beginning of symptoms. Clostridium difficile was identified in her stool and an autopsy showed hemorrhagic necrosis on the whole colon and rectum. This case demonstrates the substantial incidence of an unexpected feature with Clostridium difficile infection even with popular chemotherapy.

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We report a 65-year-old man with insulinoma who initially developed stereotypical behaviors and then progressed to more complex behaviors occurring early in the morning. He could not remember the events during the episodes. Insulinoma was diagnosed based on fasting blood glucose level of 15 mg/dl, high fasting immunoreactive insulin/blood glucose ratio (more than 0.3), and a tumor in the pancreas head by abdominal CT. Hypoglycemia caused by insulinoma should be considered as one of the mechanisms underlying abnormal nocturnal behaviors since the symptoms are very similar to those of sleep-related epilepsy, parasomnia, and night delirium.

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Conventional therapy for Wegeners granulomatosis, steroid and cyclophosphamide, fails to control disease activity in some refractory patients and has treatment-related toxicity. B cell depletion therapy using rituximab, a chimeric anti-CD20 monoclonal antibody, has been shown to be effective for certain autoimmune diseases including antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody (ANCA) -associated systemic vasculitis. We report two refractory cases of Wegeners granulomatosis: one with bronchial and pulmonary involvement and retroorbital granuloma, the other with retroorbital granuloma and hypertrophic pachymeningitis causing severe headache. Rituximab was effective in both cases, with diminished granuloma and reduced ANCA titers, allowing steroids to be tapered. No adverse effects were detected.

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This report examines simultaneous tuberculous and syphilitic meningitis in a patient with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). The 41-year-old homosexual patient presented with meningitis and hydrocephalus. His CD4+ and CD8+ T-lymphocyte counts per microliter were 60 and 71, respectively. His clinical presentation was of a rapid-onset cerebral attack incompatible with tuberculous meningitis. Imaging indicated fatal bilateral cerebral infarction at the basal nuclei, and basal meningitis. We believe that syphilitic meningitis in HIV exacerbated the central nervous system (CNS) damage caused by tuberculosis and syphilis. The combination of three pathogens, Mycobacterium tuberculosis, Treponema pallidum, and HIV, has a great potential to cause serious CNS damage.

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A 73-year-old man presented with lymphadenopathy, hepatosplenomegaly, and a variety of hematological and immunological abnormalities. The bone marrow was replaced by polymorphic cellular infiltrates containing aggregates of CD10⁺ T-cells. Circulating lymphoplasmacytic/immunoblastic cells showed an early plasma cell immunophenotype on flow cytometric analysis. Combination of these observations indicated that the underlying disorder of this patient was angioimmunoblastic T-cell lymphoma (AITL); postmortem pathology was consistent with progression of peripheral T-cell lymphoma. Even in the absence of definitive lymph node biopsy, the appearance of the bone marrow and the peripheral blood can lead to the diagnosis of AITL.

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