Development of a high-performance liquid chromatographic glycated albumin assay using finger-prick blood samples.

BACKGROUND: Home blood glucose monitoring can be effective for the self-management of diabetic patients. Hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) is a widely used marker that reflects the average blood glucose within 1-2 months but does not sensitively respond to behavioral changes. Self-monitoring of blood glucose, continuous glucose monitoring, and flush glucose monitoring are sensitive; however, the cost and invasiveness of these tests prevent their widespread use. We focused on glycated albumin (GA), which reflects the average blood glucose levels over 1-2 weeks, and established a GA measurement method for self-sampling, finger-prick blood, which may be submitted for testing through postal service to receive weekly results. METHODS: A high-performance liquid chromatography assay was established to measure GA levels in finger-prick blood samples from 103 diabetic patients and the results were compared with venous blood measurements using an enzymatic method. Furthermore, conditions for sending blood samples by mail were evaluated. Under these conditions, samples from 27 healthy and 32 patient volunteers sent through postal service were compared with samples stored in the laboratory. RESULTS: GA levels were measured in samples containing > 20 µg albumin, which resulted in a CV less than 0.3%. The correlation between the GA levels of finger-prick blood measured using HPLC and the GA levels of venous blood measured using the enzymatic method was R2 = 0.988 with the slope âˆ¼ 1.0, suggesting that the two were nearly equivalent. GA levels were stable for four days at 30 °C and two days at 37 °C. Mail-delivered samples exhibited a high correlation with samples that were not sent (R2 > 0.99). CONCLUSIONS: We established a method to measure GA levels in self-sampled, finger-prick blood sent through postal service in Japan. The method is applicable for weekly feedback of GA levels, which is potentially useful for motivating behavioral changes. In addition to markers such as HbA1c and blood glucose, GA can be used as a marker for assessing dietary and physical activities. This study highlighted the importance of GA monitoring by developing a suitable measurement method for weekly monitoring of GA levels.

Sensitivity of rapid antigen tests for COVID-19 during the Omicron variant outbreak among players and staff members of the Japan Professional Football League and clubs: a retrospective observational study.

OBJECTIVES: Rapid antigen tests have been used to prevent the spread of the COVID-19; however, there have been concerns about their decreased sensitivity to the Omicron variant. In this study, we assessed the sensitivity and specificity of the rapid antigen test compared with the PCR test among the players and staff members of the Japan Professional Football League and clubs. Furthermore, we evaluated the relationship between the sensitivity and the duration from the onset of symptoms to testing or vaccine status. DESIGN: This was a retrospective observational study. METHODS: We used 656 results from both the rapid antigen and PCR tests for COVID-19 using samples collected on the same day from 12 January to 2 March 2022, during the Omicron variant outbreak in Japan. RESULTS: The sensitivity of the rapid antigen test compared with the PCR test was 0.63 (95% CI: 0.53 to 0.73) and the specificity was 0.998 (95% CI: 0.995 to 1.000). There were no significant associations between the sensitivity and the duration from the onset of symptoms to testing (including asymptomatic cases in the category) or vaccination status (p>0.05) with small effect sizes (Cramer's V or φ: ≤0.22). CONCLUSIONS: Even during the Omicron outbreak, the sensitivity of the rapid antigen tests did not depend on the duration from the onset of symptoms to testing.

A Diet Including Red Bell Pepper Juice and Soy Protein Suppress Physiological Markers of Muscle Atrophy in Mice.

Although muscle atrophy can be caused by disuse and lifestyle-related syndromes, it may be possible to prevent this condition through dietary intervention. We hypothesized that a diet including red bell pepper juice (RBPJ) and soy protein isolate (SPI) would prevent muscle atrophy. Accordingly, an experimental diet containing RBPJ and/or SPI was administered for 18 d to normal C57BL/6J mice. The control group was administered a casein diet. Four days before the end of the test period, denervation-induced muscle atrophy and/or sham operation were performed. Anterior tibialis muscle samples were then obtained to assess muscle degradation and perform metabolome analysis. Under the denervation condition, the 20% SPI diet did not alter the mRNA expression levels of muscle atrophy marker genes compared with the 20% casein group. Although the diet comprising RBPJ and 20% casein did not prevent muscle atrophy compared with the control group, the diet containing RBPJ and 20% SPI did. Metabolome analysis revealed that a diet including RBPJ and SPI induced a greater than 1.5-fold change in the levels of 20 muscle atrophy-related metabolites. In particular, the level of S-adenosylmethionine, which concerned with energy metabolism and lifespan, showed a strong positive correlation with the muscle atrophy marker. These findings suggest that a diet including RBPJ and soy protein suppress gene expressions related with muscle atrophy. Further research in humans is needed to confirm whether a combination of RBPJ and SPI can indeed prevent muscle atrophy.

Brown tumor of the patella caused by primary hyperparathyroidism: a case report.

It has been reported that the common sites of brown tumors are the jaw, pelvis, ribs, femurs and clavicles. We report our experience in a case of brown tumor of the patella caused by primary hyperparathyroidism. An initial radiograph and CT showed an osteolytic lesion and MR images showed a mixed solid and multiloculated cystic tumor in the right patella. One month after the parathyroidectomy, rapid bone formation was observed on both radiographs and CT images.

[Retrospective investigation of clinical presentation of lung cancer patients before and after treatment discontinuation].

INTRODUCTION: There is no clear answer as to how long we should continue aggressive treatment for progressive lung cancer. PURPOSE: An ideal way to conduct and discontinue aggressive treatment was examined from the viewpoint of quality of life and the remaining lifespan after treatment discontinuation. MATERIAL & METHODS: We began systemic chemotherapy and/or radiotherapy from January 2003 to December 2007, based on our pathological diagnosis of lung cancer. Then, in 30 patients who thereafter stopped aggressive treatment, we retrospectively investigated the content and period of aggressive treatment, and clinical presentation before and after they discontinued their treatment. In addition, the factors important for quality of life and the prognosis after the treatment discontinuation were analyzed. RESULT: For quality of life and the remaining lifespan after the treatment discontinuation, it was found important to avoid serious adverse effects of treatment and watch out for performance status decrease during the treatment period. Then, after the treatment discontinuation, it was thought to be important to pay attention not only to the cancer progression but also the complications arising from other diseases including pneumonia.

[Inflammatory myofibroblast tumor after surgery for primary lung cancer; report of a case].

Inflammatory myofibroblast tumor of the lung is a rare disease, and is difficult todistinguish from lung cancer. We report a case of inflammatory myofibroblast tumor which was found and resected postsurgery for lung cancer. The patient underwent right middle and lower lobectomy due to squamous cell carcinoma in right S6 of the lung. A nodular density of 15 mm in diameter was found in the right apex on computed tomography (CT) 1 year and 11 months after surgery. The right apical mass was resected by partial resection of the residual lobe and inflammatory myofibroblast tumor was diagnosed pathologically. It was a case for which recurrence or 2nd primary lung cancer was strongly suspected from the radiological findings and its rapid growth.