Combined Exercise and Education Program: Effect of Smaller Group Size and Longer Duration on Physical Function and Social Engagement among Community-Dwelling Older Adults.

Background: Exercise, education, and social engagement are critical interventions for older adults for a healthy life expectancy and to improve their physical function. Objective: To conduct a combined exercise and education (CEE) program for improved social engagement and physical function of older adults. Design: Based on a short-term program we conducted in our previous study, in this study, the program was conducted for half the number of participants of the earlier study but for a longer duration. Setting: A community of older adults in Ami, Japan, was the setting of the study. Participants: 23 healthy older adults >65 years living in the community were the participants in the study. Interventions: Five 80-minute sessions conducted once in two weeks comprised 60-min exercise instruction and 20-min educational lectures per session on health. We examined the improvement in physical and social engagement before and after participation. Physical function and health-related questionnaire data were collected before and after the program. Results: Data analysis from 15 participants showed improved physical performance but no effect on social engagement. Conclusions: A higher program frequency, rather than program duration, may be vital to improving exercise performance and social engagement and maximizing the effects of high group cohesion in small groups. Further studies are needed to develop more effective interventions to extend healthy life expectancy.

Prediction of outpatient visits and expenditure under the Universal Coverage Scheme in Bangkok using subscriber's attributes: A random forest analysis.

Objectives: There is limited evidence on methods to allocate budgets to healthcare providers under capitation schemes. The objective of this study was to construct and test models that predict outpatient visits and expenditure for each healthcare facility using subscriber data from the preceding year. Study design: We used the database of the Universal Coverage Scheme in Bangkok, Thailand that stores subscriber information and healthcare service utilization data. One-percent and ten-percent random samples of subscribers were selected as training and testing groups, respectively. Methods: Using data of the training group, we constructed a model using a random forest algorithm to predict outpatient visits and expenditure in 2017 from the 2016 data. The model was applied to the testing group and facility-level predicted number of visits and expenditure were compared with actual data. Results: The identically-structured training and testing groups consisted of 37,259 and 371,650 subscribers, respectively. Approximately 25% of subscribers utilized outpatient services. The R2 for models predicting facility-level utilization rate (visits/subscribers) and expenditure per subscriber in 2017 were 0.85 and 0.75, respectively. Conclusions: The model to predict outpatient visits and expenditure performed well. Such a prediction model may be useful for allocating budgets to healthcare facilities under capitation systems.

Complement profile in microscopic polyangiitis and granulomatosis with polyangiitis: analysis using sera from a nationwide prospective cohort study.

OBJECTIVE: The complement cascade, especially the alternative pathway of complement, has been shown in basic research to be associated with anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic autoantibody (ANCA)-associated vasculitis (AAV). We aimed to elucidate relationships between serum complement components and clinical characteristics in AAV. METHOD: In a nationwide prospective cohort study (RemIT-JAV-RPGN), we measured the serum levels of C1q, C2, C3, C3b/iC3b, C4, C4b, C5, C5a, C9, factor B, factor D, factor H, factor I, mannose-binding lectin, and properdin in 52 patients with microscopic polyangiitis (MPA) and 39 patients with granulomatosis with polyangiitis (GPA). RESULTS: The properdin level of MPA and GPA was significantly lower than that of healthy donors. The properdin level was negatively correlated with the Birmingham Vasculitis Activity Score (BVAS) (ρ = -0.2148, p = 0.0409). The factor D level at 6 months was significantly positively correlated with the Vasculitis Damage Index (VDI) at 6, 12, and 24 months (ρ = 0.4207, 0.4132, and 0.3115, respectively). Patients with a higher ratio of C5a to C5 had higher neutrophil percentage and serum immunoglobulin G levels, and significantly lower creatinine levels. Cluster analysis divided the MPA and GPA patients into three subgroups. A principal component (PC) analysis aggregated 15 types of complements into alternative pathway-related PC 1 and complement classical pathway and common pathway-related PC 2. CONCLUSIONS: The serum levels of properdin and factor D were correlated with the BVAS and the VDI in MPA and GPA, respectively. Our analyses suggested the pathological heterogeneity of MPA and GPA from the aspect of complement components.

High-resolution copy number variation analysis of schizophrenia in Japan.

Recent schizophrenia (SCZ) studies have reported an increased burden of de novo copy number variants (CNVs) and identified specific high-risk CNVs, although with variable phenotype expressivity. However, the pathogenesis of SCZ has not been fully elucidated. Using array comparative genomic hybridization, we performed a high-resolution genome-wide CNV analysis on a mainly (92%) Japanese population (1699 SCZ cases and 824 controls) and identified 7066 rare CNVs, 70.0% of which were small (<100 kb). Clinically significant CNVs were significantly more frequent in cases than in controls (odds ratio=3.04, P=9.3 × 10-9, 9.0% of cases). We confirmed a significant association of X-chromosome aneuploidies with SCZ and identified 11 de novo CNVs (e.g., MBD5 deletion) in cases. In patients with clinically significant CNVs, 41.7% had a history of congenital/developmental phenotypes, and the rate of treatment resistance was significantly higher (odds ratio=2.79, P=0.0036). We found more severe clinical manifestations in patients with two clinically significant CNVs. Gene set analysis replicated previous findings (e.g., synapse, calcium signaling) and identified novel biological pathways including oxidative stress response, genomic integrity, kinase and small GTPase signaling. Furthermore, involvement of multiple SCZ candidate genes and biological pathways in the pathogenesis of SCZ was suggested in established SCZ-associated CNV loci. Our study shows the high genetic heterogeneity of SCZ and its clinical features and raises the possibility that genomic instability is involved in its pathogenesis, which may be related to the increased burden of de novo CNVs and variable expressivity of CNVs.

Antibody against chromatin assembly factor-1 is a novel autoantibody specifically recognized in systemic lupus erythematosus.

Autoantibodies to proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) are specifically, if rarely, present in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) patient sera. Even SLE patients lacking PCNA reactivity often show reaction to PCNA-binding protein. Here, immunoreactivity to chromatin assembly factor-1 (CAF-1), an essential molecule for DNA replication and a PCNA-binding protein, was compared for the sera of SLE patients, normal healthy controls (NHCs) and other disease controls, and in autoimmune sera reactive to standard autoantigens, by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), indirect immunofluorescence, and immunoblotting. CAF1 and IRF1 expression in SLE and NHC peripheral mononuclear cells were compared by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction. Serum interferon-γ-inducing protein-10 and anti-double-stranded (ds)DNA antibody levels were measured by ELISA. Increased CAF-1 autoimmune reactivity was recognized in SLE or serum anti-dsDNA antibody-positive patients. Significantly greater central nervous system (CNS) involvement (aseptic meningitis) and serum anti-dsDNA antibody titers were present more often in anti-CAF-1 antibody-positive than antibody-negative SLE patients. IFN-γ positively regulated CAF-1 expression in vitro and was associated with anti-CAF-1 antibody production in SLE. Thus, a novel anti-CAF-1 autoantibody is frequently found in patients with SLE and is a useful biomarker for diagnosis, especially in cases with CNS involvement. Aberrant IFN-γ regulation appears to play an important role in anti-CAF-1 antibody production in SLE.

Association of a single nucleotide polymorphism in the SH2D1A intronic region with systemic lupus erythematosus.

SH2D1A, also known as signaling lymphocytic activation molecule (SLAM)-associated protein (SAP), is an adaptor protein. Recently, it was reported that SAP deficient mice were protected from systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). In this study, we postulated SH2D1A gene to be a candidate susceptibility gene for SLE and analyzed its association with SLE. A case-control association study was conducted on 5 tag single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in SH2D1A region in 506 Japanese female SLE patients and 330 healthy female controls. The luciferase assay was performed to determine the functional role of the SNP associated with SLE. One SNP in the intron 2, rs2049995, showed association with SLE (p=0.0110, odds ratio (OR) 1.97, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.16-3.34, under the dominant model). The association of rs2049995 seemed to be stronger in the subset with the age of onset less than 20 years (p=0.0067, OR 2.65, 95% CI 1.28-5.46). Functional evaluation of rs2049995 showed that reporter gene activity was increased 1.9-fold for the susceptible allele compared with the resistant allele. An intronic SNP of SH2D1A is associated with SLE.

Association of PHRF1-IRF7 region polymorphism with clinical manifestations of systemic lupus erythematosus in a Japanese population.

Interferon regulatory factor 7 (IRF7) has an essential role in the production of type I interferon. Although recent studies detected association of a single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) rs4963128 in PHD and ring finger domains 1 (PHRF1)/KIAA1542, located closely to IRF7, and IRF7 rs1131665 (glutamine (Gln) 412 arginine (Arg)) with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), causal variants have not been established. In this study, we resequenced exons and introns of IRF7 to screen for all common polymorphisms, and examined whether they were associated with SLE in 416 Japanese patients with SLE and 505 healthy controls. We also tested whether the association of PHRF1 rs4963128 with SLE was replicated in a Japanese population. None of the IRF7 polymorphisms was associated with SLE. PHRF1 rs4963128T was not significantly associated with occurrence of SLE either; however, this allele was significantly increased in SLE with anti-Sm antibodies (6.8%) as compared with healthy controls (3.1%, P = 0.014, odds ratio [OR] 2.31) and SLE without anti-Sm antibodies (3.3%, P =0.041, OR 2.12). This allele was also increased in SLE with renal disorder (5.1%) as compared with those without renal disorder (2.4%, P = 0.047, OR 2.17). These results confirmed recently reported association of PHRF1 rs4963128T with anti-Sm antibody positive SLE in African-American populations, and supported the role of PHRF1-IRF7 region in the genetics of SLE.

Possible role of the JAK/STAT pathways in the regulation of T cell-interferon related genes in systemic lupus erythematosus.

Changes in gene expression in CD3+ T cells associated with disease progression in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) patients were determined. The genes related to SLE disease-related activities were identified and their gene regulatory networks were investigated. Analyses of gene expression were performed by both DNA microarray and real-time quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR). The expression of certain genes including interferon (IFN) regulatory factor (IRF)-related genes, such as IFN-regulated, -related, and -signature genes was increased in the active phase of SLE. Pathway network analyses suggested that these IRF-related genes are regulated through the Janus kinase/signal transducer and activator of transcription (JAK/STAT) pathway. JAK/STAT pathway-mediated regulation of IRF-related genes may have an important role in the disease activity of SLE. Inhibitors of JAK/STAT cascade may be useful as therapeutic agents.

Changes in the gene expression of peripheral blood mononuclear cells during the menstrual cycle of females is associated with a gender bias in the incidence of systemic lupus erythematosus.

OBJECTIVE: The incidence of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is far higher in females than in males and the onset and/or disease activity is influenced by pregnancy and the menstrual cycle. Sex hormones seem to influence the pathogenesis of SLE, therefore, changes in gene expression in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) were examined during the menstrual cycle in females, under the comparison of gene expression of patients with SLE. METHODS: The detection and a quantitative analysis of the gene expression was performed by DNA microarray or real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RQ-PCR) method. RESULTS: There were thirteen known genes which showed significant quantitative changes during the menstrual cycles of females, but not in males. Among these genes, statistical quantitative differences between normal controls and SLE patients were observed in six genes. CONCLUSION: Based on these findings, certain genes (such as the tumor necrosis factor receptor superfamily, member 14; TNFRSF14, and signal regulatory protein, gamma; SIRPG) appear to contribute to gender difference of SLE.

Hypocomplementemic urticarial vasculitis with Jaccoud's arthropathy and valvular heart disease: case report and review of the literature.

We describe a female Japanese patient with concomitant hypocomplementemic urticarial vasculitis, Jaccoud's arthropathy and valvular heart disease. In 1996, she developed arthritis with swelling of both proximal interphalangeal joints and urticarial vasculitis on both arms that was resolved by administration of glucocorticoid (prednisolone 30 mg/day). Tests for antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies, antinuclear antibody and rheumatoid factor gave negative results. The findings of a skin biopsy examination were consistent with 'leukocytoclastic vasculitis'. During 10 years of observation, the patient manifested polyarthritis leading to progressive deformity of the joints of the hands and feet (without loss of cartilage or erosion of bone), persistent urticaria exacerbated by cold and accompanied by hypocomplementemia and progressive cardiac valvular disease with mitral valve regurgitation. There are only three reports described previously documenting five patients with this rare combination of manifestations.

Protein biomarker analysis by mass spectrometry in patients with rheumatoid arthritis receiving anti-tumor necrosis factor-alpha antibody therapy.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the mechanism of action of anti-tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) antibody in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA), we analyzed serum or plasma proteins by mass spectrometry system. METHODS: Ten RA patients who received treatment with anti-TNF-alpha antibody were studied. Samples obtained before and after therapy were analyzed by a two-dimensional liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (2D LC-MS/MS) system after pretreatment by a recently developed method to remove high molecular weight proteins. RESULTS: Using this system, certain proteins were identified after treatment with anti-TNF-alpha antibody, including proteins related to the TNF-alpha-mediated pathway for nuclear factor kappa B (NF-kappaB) activation and/or to the metabolism (including regeneration) of articular cartilage. CONCLUSION: Our mass spectrometry system appears to be useful for proteomic analysis. The efficacy of anti-TNF-alpha antibody therapy for RA may be related to various consequence of the inhibition of TNF-alpha activity.

Association of LILRA2 (ILT1, LIR7) splice site polymorphism with systemic lupus erythematosus and microscopic polyangiitis.

Leukocyte immunoglobulin-like receptors (LILRs) are inhibitory, stimulatory or soluble receptors encoded within the leukocyte receptor complex. Some LILRs are extensively polymorphic, and exhibit evidence for balancing selection and association with disease susceptibility. LILRA2 (LIR7/ILT1) is an activating receptor highly expressed in inflammatory tissues, and is involved in granulocyte and macrophage activation. In this study, we examined the association of LILRA2 and adjacently located LILRA1 with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and microscopic polyangiitis (MPA). Polymorphism screening detected a LILRA2 SNP (rs2241524 G>A) that disrupts splice acceptor site of intron 6. Case-control association studies on 273 Japanese SLE, 296 RA, 50 MPA and 284 healthy individuals revealed increase of genotype A/A in SLE (12.1%, odds ratio (OR) 1.82, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.02-3.24, P=0.041) and in MPA (16.0%, OR 2.52, 95% CI 1.07-5.96, P=0.049) compared with healthy individuals (7.0%). The risk allele caused an activation of a cryptic splice acceptor site that would lead to a novel LILRA2 isoform lacking three amino acids in the linker region (Delta 419-421). Flow cytometry indicated that this isoform was expressed on the surface of monocytes. These findings suggested that LILRA2 Delta 419-421 isoform encoded by the splice site SNP may play a role in SLE and MPA.

Role of pathogenic auto-antibody production by Toll-like receptor 9 of B cells in active systemic lupus erythematosus.

OBJECTIVES: Toll-like receptor 9 (TLR9) is a pattern-associated receptor functioning in innate immunity that may be involved in the recognition of self-antigens and the production of pathogenic auto-antibodies. Therefore, we examined the expression of TLR9 in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) to determine whether TLR9 is involved in the production of pathogenic auto-antibodies. METHODS: B cells were collected from patients with active SLE, and subjected to analysis of the TLR9 molecule using flow cytometry fluorescence activated cell sorting (FACS) and TLR9 mRNA by reverse-transcriptase polymerase chain reaction. SLE B cells were stimulated with CpG-ODN, and subsequent cytokine and anti-dsDNA antibody production was measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. RESULTS: The expression and mRNA level of TLR9 on B cells was up-regulated in SLE patients, and SLE disease activity index (SLEDAI) and CH50 were correlated with TLR9 expression on CD20+ B cells. Moreover, TLR9-CpG interaction enhanced the production of anti-dsDNA antibody and IL-10. CONCLUSIONS: The present study demonstrated that higher expression of TLR9 on peripheral blood B cells from patients with active SLE was significantly correlated with CH50 and SLEDAI to TLR9, and induced the production of anti-dsDNA antibody and IL-10 by TLR9-CpG ligation. These results suggest that an abnormality of innate immunity plays a crucial role in the pathology of SLE, and that blockade of CpG-TLR9 interaction may be a new therapeutic approach for SLE.

Striking alteration of some populations of T/B cells in systemic lupus erythematosus: relationship to expression of CD62L or some chemokine receptors.

Recent studies have revealed new populations of T/B cells, including central/effector memory, follicular T cells and CXCR3+ or CXCR4+ B cells. In the present study, changes in these populations of CD4+ T cells were examined on the basis of the expression of CD62L, CCR7 and CXCR5 in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) in relation to CCL21 and CXCL10. Changes in CXCR3+, CXCR4+ and CXCR5+ B cells were also examined. CD62L and various chemokine receptors were examined by flow cytometry analysis using monoclonal antibodies, and CCL21 and CXCL10 were examined by sandwich enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. In patients with SLE, a decrease of naive T cells and an increase in the ratio of activated effector memory T cells were associated with an increase of CCL21 and CXCL10 in serum, although the correlation was not significant. An increase in the ratio of CXCR3+ B cells was also recognized. These results suggest that naive T cells are transferred to lymphoid tissue by CCL21, and that effector memory T cells are activated by CXCL10. It is also suggested that B cells responsive to follicular helper T cells tend to migrate to inflammatory tissue.

Expression of B-cell activating factor of the tumour necrosis factor family (BAFF) in T cells in active systemic lupus erythematosus: the role of BAFF in T cell-dependent B cell pathogenic autoantibody production.

OBJECTIVES: To determine whether B cell activating factor of the tumour necrosis factor family (BAFF) is involved in T cell-dependent B cell pathogenic autoantibody production in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). METHODS: Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) from 23 SLE patients were analysed by flow cytometry to examine the intracellular expression of BAFF in CD4+ and CD8+ T cells and the surface expression of BAFF-receptor (R) and TACI on CD20+ B cells. Moreover, peripheral blood was used to determine the level of BAFF messenger RNA (mRNA) in CD4+ and CD8+ T cells and the level of BAFF-R mRNA in CD20+ B cells. Blocking of BAFF function with TACI-Ig measured anti-double-stranded DNA (dsDNA) antibodies by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). RESULTS: CD4+ and CD8+ T cells from patients with active SLE expressed intracellular BAFF whereas those from normal subjects did not. BAFF-R and TACI were expressed on B cells from both normal controls and patients with active SLE and there was no significant difference. CD4+ and CD8+ T cells from SLE patients expressed BAFF mRNA whereas those from normal controls did not. Expression of BAFF-R mRNA in CD20+ B cells showed no significant difference between SLE patients and normal controls. TACI-Ig suppressed spontaneous in vitro T cell-dependent B cell anti-dsDNA antibodies production on active SLE with kidney involvement. CONCLUSIONS: BAFF may play a pathogenic role in SLE by stimulating T cell-dependent B cell autoantibodies production. Blockade of BAFF is a promising therapeutic approach for SLE especially in patients with kidney involvement.