Impact of Direct Measurement of Small Dense Low-Density Lipoprotein Cholesterol for Long-Term Secondary Prevention in Patients with Stable Coronary Artery Disease.

BACKGROUND: This study investigated whether directly measured small dense low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (D-sdLDL-C) can predict long-term coronary artery disease (CAD) events compared with low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), non-high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (non-HDL-C), apolipoprotein B (apoB), and estimated small dense low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (E-sdLDL-C) determined by the Sampson equation in patients with stable CAD. METHODS: D-sdLDL-C measured at Showa University between 2010 and 2022, and E-sdLDL-C were evaluated in 790 male and 244 female patients with stable CAD. CAD events, defined as sudden cardiac death, onset of acute coronary syndrome, and/or need for coronary revascularization, were monitored for 12 years. Cutoff lipid levels were determined by receiver operating characteristic curves. RESULTS: CAD events were observed in 238 male and 67 female patients. The Kaplan-Meier event-free survival curves showed that patients with D-sdLDL-C ≥32.1 mg/dL (0.83 mmol/L) had an increased risk for CAD events (P = 0.007), whereas risk in patients with E-sdLDL-C ≥36.2 mg/dL (0.94 mmol/L) was not increased. In the group with high D-sdLDL-C, the multivariable-adjusted hazard ratio (HR) was 1.47 (95% CI, 1.15-1.89), and it remained significant after adjustment for LDL-C, non-HDL-C, or apoB and in patients treated with statins. HRs for high LDL-C, non-HDL-C, or apoB were not statistically significant after adjustment for high D-sdLDL-C. Higher D-sdLDL-C was associated with enhanced risk of high LDL-C, non-HDL-C, and apoB (HR 1.73; 95% CI, 1.27-2.37). CONCLUSIONS: Higher D-sdLDL-C can predict long-term recurrence of CAD in stable CAD patients independently of apoB and non-HDL-C. D-sdLDL-C is an independent risk enhancer for secondary CAD prevention, whereas E-sdLDL-C is not.UMIN-CTR Clinical Trial Number: UMIN000027504.

Comparison of sputum specimens and nasopharyngeal swab specimens for diagnosis of acute human metapneumovirus-related lower respiratory tract infections in adults.

BACKGROUND: To detect human metapneumovirus, tests besides reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) on nasopharyngeal swab specimens are less accessible. Immunochromatography assays are rapid and simple without the need of any special equipment but sometimes are insufficiently sensitive. This study describes the usefulness of immunochromatography assays to detect human metapneumovirus in adult patients with human metapneumovirus-related acute lower respiratory tract infection using sputum specimens. METHODS: This prospective single-center study enrolled adults and adolescents aged ≥16 years with signs and symptoms of an acute respiratory illness who were diagnosed with acute lower respiratory tract infection. The presence of human metapneumovirus infection was confirmed by seroconversion. Immunochromatography assays and real-time RT-PCR were performed to compare the efficacy of nasopharyngeal swab specimens and sputum specimens. Comparative results were obtained via McNemar's test. RESULTS: Overall, 337 patients were recruited in this study; 63 (18.7%) patients were seroconverted. Sputum specimens showed significantly higher positivity rates than nasopharyngeal swab specimens with both immunochromatography assays (p = 0.0008) and real-time RT-PCR (p = 0.014). Among 29 patients with pneumonia who had concordant positive real-time RT-PCR results for both nasopharyngeal swab specimens and sputum specimens, 21 (72.4%) had a higher viral load in the sputum specimens. CONCLUSIONS: Sputum specimens are more useful in detecting human metapneumovirus than nasopharyngeal swab specimens in adult patients with acute lower respiratory tract infection.

Structure of χ3-Borophene Studied by Total-Reflection High-Energy Positron Diffraction (TRHEPD).

We have investigated the structure of χ3-borophene on Ag(111), a monolayer material of boron atoms, via total-reflection high-energy positron diffraction (TRHEPD). By comparing the experimental rocking-curves with ones for several structures calculated by using dynamical diffraction theory, we confirmed that the χ3-borophene layer has a flat structure. The distance from the topmost layer of the metal crystal is 2.4 Å, which is consistent with results reported by X-ray standing wave-excited X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. We also demonstrated that the in-plane structure of χ3-borophene is compatible with the theoretical predictions. These structural properties indicate that χ3-borophene belongs to a group of epitaxial monolayer sheets, such as graphene, which have weak interactions with the substrates.

Fibrinolytic markers could be useful predictors of severity in patients with pulmonary arterial hypertension: a retrospective study.

BACKGROUND: The severity of pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) is classified based on mean pulmonary artery pressure (mPAP) levels. However, other markers have not been elucidated. Fibrinolytic markers, such as total plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (tPAI-1) and thrombomodulin (TM), are known to reflect arterial endothelial function. However, the relationship between serum tPAI-1, TM and pulmonary circulation has not been completely determined. METHODS: This study included 100 consecutive patients (38 men), with a mean age of 68.9 ± 12.0 years, with cardiac diseases who underwent right heart catheterization. Serum coagulation and fibrinolytic marker levels were measured. RESULTS: The average mPAP value was 25.1 ± 13.1 mmHg for all patients. The mPAP levels revealed a significant positive correlation with serum tPAI-1 (ρ = 0.24, p = 0.042) and uric acid (ρ = 0.29, p = 0.0031) levels. In the group with mPAP levels less than 25 mmHg (n = 58, ave. 17.3 ± 4.3 mmHg), mPAP levels showed a significant positive correlation with serum tPA-1 (ρ = 0.34, p = 0.034) and TM (ρ = 0.34, p = 0.043) values. The mean tPAI-1 (29.8 ± 23.3 ng/ml, p = 0.047) and uric acid (5.7 ± 1.8 mg/dl, p = 0.026) levels were significantly less in those with lower mPAP levels. A multivariate analysis revealed that tPAI-1 alone was a significant independent characteristic marker of PAH (odds ratio 1.02, 95%CI 1.000-1.036, p = 0.034). CONCLUSIONS: These results indicate that serum tPAI-1 and TM may be useful predictors of severity, similar to mPAP in patients with PAH. They could be beneficial in predicting PAH among patients in the early stage of the disease.

Subacute Stent Thrombosis After Primary Percutaneous Coronary Intervention in a Middle-Aged Anabolic Steroid-Abusing Bodybuilder.

A 54-year-old male bodybuilder who was abusing anabolic steroids developed an acute ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction after strenuous strength training. Despite optimal use of dual antiplatelet therapy, on day 4 after primary coronary stenting, the patient suffered another acute coronary event due to subacute thrombosis, potentially pre-disposed by anabolic steroid use. (Level of Difficulty: Intermediate.).

Clinical predictors for bradycardia and supraventricular tachycardia necessitating therapy in patients with unexplained syncope monitored by insertable cardiac monitor.

BACKGROUND: Insertable cardiac monitors (ICMs) improve diagnostic yield in patients with unexplained syncope. The most of cardiac syncope is arrhythmic causes include paroxysmal bradycardia and supraventricular tachycardia (SVT) in patients with unexplained syncope receiving ICM. Predictors for bradycardia and SVT that necessitate therapy in patients with unexplained syncope are not well known. HYPOTHESIS: This study aimed to investigate predictors of bradycardia and SVT necessitating therapy in patients with unexplained syncope receiving ICMs. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed medical records of consecutive patients who received ICMs to monitor unexplained syncope. We performed Cox's stepwise logistic regression analysis to identify significant independent predictors for bradycardia and SVT. RESULTS: One hundred thirty-two patients received ICMs to monitor unexplained syncope. During the 17-month follow-up period, 19 patients (14%) needed pacemaker therapy for bradycardia; 8 patients (6%) received catheter ablation for SVT. The total estimated diagnostic rates were 34% and 48% at 1 and 2 years, respectively. Stepwise logistic regression analysis indicated that syncope during effort (odds ratio [OR] = 3.41; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.21 to 9.6; p = .02) was an independent predictor for bradycardia. Palpitation before syncope (OR = 9.46; 95% CI, 1.78 to 50.10; p = .008) and history of atrial fibrillation (OR = 10.1; 95% CI, 1.96 to 52.45; p = .006) were identified as significant independent predictors for SVT. CONCLUSION: Syncope during effort, and palpitations or history of atrial fibrillation were independent predictors for bradycardia and for SVT. ICMs are useful devices for diagnosing unexplained syncope.

Potential Association of Circulating MicroRNA-181c and MicroRNA-484 Levels with Cardiorespiratory Fitness after Myocardial Infarction: A Pilot Study.

OBJECTIVES: In the field of exercise physiology, there has been great interest in exploring circulating microRNAs (miRs) as potential biomarkers. However, it remains to be determined whether circulating miRs reflect cardiorespiratory fitness. The aim of this study was to investigate the association between circulating levels of specific miRs and cardiorespiratory fitness evaluated by cardiopulmonary exercise testing (CPET) after acute myocardial infarction (MI). METHODS: Twenty patients who had had an acute MI were included. All patients underwent CPET in the convalescent phase. Quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction analyses for miR-181 members (a/b/c) and miR-484 were performed to determine the expression levels in the peripheral blood of the included patients and healthy control subjects (n=5). RESULTS: Post-MI patients showed impaired exercise tolerance and ventilatory efficiency in CPET analysis. Compared with controls, circulating levels of miR-181a and 181c were gradually and significantly elevated through the 1st to 7th days after acute MI, whereas miR-181b and miR-484 were not. Circulating miR levels did not correlate with clinical or echocardiographic parameters. However, circulating levels of miR-181c and miR-484 on the 7th day showed significant positive correlations with the anaerobic threshold and peak oxygen consumption from CPET analysis. Moreover, miR-181c levels were inversely associated with the ventilatory inefficiency index. Patients with high exercise capacity after MI showed significantly higher expressions of circulating miR-181c and miR-484 than those with low exercise capacity. CONCLUSIONS: The results of this pilot study suggest that circulating levels of miR-181c and miR-484 after acute MI may be predictive biomarkers of post-MI cardiorespiratory fitness.

Small Dense Low-Density Lipoprotein Cholesterol: A Residual Risk for Rapid Progression of Non-Culprit Coronary Lesion in Patients with Acute Coronary Syndrome.

AIM: This study investigated whether the small dense low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (sd-LDL-c) level is associated with the rapid progression (RP) of non-culprit coronary artery lesions and cardiovascular events (CE) after acute coronary syndrome (ACS). METHODS: In 142 consecutive patients with ACS who underwent primary percutaneous coronary intervention for the culprit lesion, the sd-LDL-c level was measured using a direct homogeneous assay on admission for ACS and at the 10-month follow-up coronary angiography. RP was defined as a progression of any pre-existing coronary stenosis and/or stenosis development in the initially normal coronary artery. CEs were defined as cardiac death, myocardial infarction, stroke, or coronary revascularization. RESULTS: Patients were divided into two groups based on the presence (n=29) or absence (n=113) of RP after 10 months. The LDL-c and sd-LDL-c levels at baseline were equivalent in both the groups. However, the sd-LDL-c, triglyceride, remnant lipoprotein cholesterol (RL-c), and apoC3 levels at follow-up were significantly higher in the RP group than in the non-RP group. The optimal threshold values of sd-LDL-c, triglyceride, RL-c, and apoC3 for predicting RP according to receiver operating characteristics analysis were 20.9, 113, 5.5, and 9.7 mg/dL, respectively. Only the sd-LDL-c level (≥ 20.9 mg/dL) was significantly associated with incident CEs at 31±17 months (log-rank: 4.123, p=0.043). CONCLUSIONS: The sd-LDL-c level on treatment was significantly associated with RP of non-culprit lesions, resulting in CEs in ACS patients. On-treatment sd-LDL-c is a residual risk and aggressive reduction of sd-LDL-c might be needed to prevent CEs.

A useful and safe method for retrieving a round metallic object from an airway.

The endoscopic net forceps with the support of a laryngeal mask airway are a dependable choice for retrieving a round metallic object from an airway.

Relationships of Fatty Acids, Delta-5 Desaturase Activity, and Lipid Profiles in Men with Acute Coronary Syndrome.

AIMS: We evaluated the relationship between the ratios of eicosapentaenoic acid and arachidonic acid (EPA/AA), docosahexaenoic acid (DHA)/AA, and delta-5 desaturase activity (D5D) and atherogenic lipid profiles (ALP) and coronary atherosclerosis. METHODS: Polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) and ALP were assessed in 436 men with the first episode of acute coronary syndrome (ACS) not take any lipid-lowering drugs. D5D was estimated as the ratio of AA to dihomogamma-linolenic acid (DGLA). These biomarkers were compared between the lower and higher levels of EPA/AA (0.41) or DHA/AA (0.93) according to the levels in Japanese general population. The thrombolysis in myocardial infarction flow (TIMI) grade of the culprit coronary artery was visually estimated during the initial angiography. RESULTS: Approximately 70% of patients had low EPA/AA or DHA/AA. Serum levels of LDL-cholesterol, apolipoprotein B (apoB), and remnant lipoprotein cholesterol (RL-C) were significantly higher in the low EPA/AA or DHA/AA groups, while those of triglycerides and malondialdehyde-modified LDL (MDA-LDL) were significantly higher in the low EPA/AA group alone. The levels of EPA, EPA/AA, DHA/AA, and HbA1c increased and those of DGLA and apoA1 decreased with increasing number of stenotic vessels. Patients with three stenotic coronary vessels or TIMI grade ≥ 1 had significantly higher EPA levels compared with the others. The levels of LDL-cholesterol, non-HDL-cholesterol, triglycerides, small dense LDL-cholesterol, RL-C, MDA-LDL, apoB, and apoE decreased progressively and those of EPA, DHA, EPA/AA and HDL-cholesterol increased as D5D increased. CONCLUSIONS: The EPA/AA is a superior risk marker than DHA/AA in term of correlation with ALP in ACS patients.

Comparison of plasma levels of different species of trans fatty acids in Japanese male patients with acute coronary syndrome versus healthy men.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: It remains unclear how trans fatty acid (TFA) at low-level intake affect lipid levels and the development of acute coronary syndrome (ACS). The study aimed to investigate how plasma TFA composition differs between male patients with ACS and healthy men. METHODS: Plasma fatty acid (FA) composition (as determined by gas chromatography) was analyzed in ACS patients on hospital admission and compared to that of age-adjusted healthy men. RESULTS: Total FA and TFA levels were similar between ACS and control subjects. Palmitelaidic acid, ruminant-derived TFA (R-TFA), levels were lower in ACS patients (0.17 ±â€¯0.06 vs. 0.20 ±â€¯0.06 of total FA, in ACS and control, respectively, p<0.01), and were significantly directly associated with HDL cholesterol (HDL-C) (rho = 0.269) and n-3 polyunsaturated FA (n-3 PUFA) (rho = 0.442). Linoleic trans isomers (total C18:2 TFA), primary industrially-produced TFA (IP-TFAs), were significantly higher in ACS patients (0.68 ±â€¯0.17 vs. 0.60 ±â€¯0.20 of total FA, in ACS and control, respectively). Total trans-C18:1 isomers were comparable between ACS and control. Differences between ACS and controls in C18:1 trans varied by specific C18:1 trans species. Absolute concentrations of trans-C18:2 isomers were significantly directly associated with LDL-C and non-HDL-C in ACS men. The ACS patients showed significantly lower levels of both n-6 and n-3 PUFA (i.e., eicosapentaenoic, docosahexaenoic and arachidonic acids). CONCLUSIONS: There were several case-control differences in specific TFA that could potential affect risk for ACS. Japanese ACS patients, especially middle-aged patients, may consume less R-TFA.

Small dense low-density lipoprotein cholesterol is a promising biomarker for secondary prevention in older men with stable coronary artery disease.

AIM: The study objective was to investigate whether small dense low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (sdLDL-C) is superior to low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) and other biomarkers to predict future cardiovascular events (CE) in secondary prevention. METHODS: sdLDL-C measured by a homogeneous assay, remnant lipoprotein cholesterol, LDL particle diameter and other biomarkers were compared in 345 men aged ≥65 years with stable coronary artery disease. Baseline LDL-C was 100.5 ± 30.1 mg/dL. CE including cardiovascular death, onset of acute coronary syndrome, need for arterial revascularization, hospitalization for heart failure, surgery procedure for cardiovascular disease and hospitalization for stroke were monitored for 5 years. RESULTS: CE occurred in 96 patients during the study period. LDL-C, sdLDL-C non-high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, apolipoprotein B, remnant lipoprotein cholesterol, glucose, glycated hemoglobin and brain natriuretic peptide were significantly higher; LDL particle diameter and apolipoprotein A-1 were significantly lower in patients with than in those without CE. Age-adjusted Cox regression analysis showed that sdLDL-C per 10 mg/dL, but not LDL-C, was significantly associated with CE (HR 1.206, 95% CI 1.006-1.446). A significant association of sdLDL-C and incident CE was observed in statin users (HR 1.252, 95% CI 1.017-1.540), diabetes patients (HR 1.219, 95% CI 1.018-1.460), patients without diabetes (HR 1.257, 95% CI 1.019-1.551) and patients with hypertriglyceridemia (HR 1. 376, 95% CI 1.070-1.770). CONCLUSIONS: sdLDL-C was the most effective predictor of residual risk of future CE in stable coronary artery disease patients using statins and in high-risk coronary artery disease patients with diabetes or hypertriglyceridemia. Geriatr Gerontol Int 2018; 18: 965-972.

Effects of Cardiac Rehabilitation on High-Density Lipoprotein-mediated Cholesterol Efflux Capacity and Paraoxonase-1 Activity in Patients with Acute Coronary Syndrome.

AIMS: We evaluated whether exercised-based cardiac rehabilitation (CR) can ameliorate the HDL function, i.e., cholesterol efflux capacity (CEC) and paraoxonase-1 activity in patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS). METHODS: This study is a retrospective analysis of stored serum from patients with ACS following successful percutaneous coronary intervention. The CEC, measured by a cell-based ex vivo assay using apolipoprotein B-depleted serum and 3H-cholesterol labeled macrophages and arylesterase activity (AREA) at the onset or early phase of ACS, and the follow-up periods were compared between 69 patients who completed the five-month outpatient CR program (CR group) and 15 patients who did not participate and/or dropped out from CR program (non-CR group). RESULTS: Apolipoprotein A-I (apoA-I) and CEC significantly increased by 4.0% and 9.4%, respectively, in the CR group, whereas HDL-cholesterol and AREA were not changed during the follow-up periods in both groups. Among CR patients, the CEC significantly increased, irrespective of the different statin treatment, while HDL-cholesterol and apoA-I significantly increased in patients treated with rosuvastatin or pitavastatin. Although CEC and AREA were significantly correlated each other, there is a discordance between CEC and AREA for their correlations with other biomarkers. Both CEC and AREA were significantly correlated with apoA-I rather than HDL-cholesterol. Changes in CEC and those in AREA were significantly correlated with those in apoA-I (rho=0.328, p=0.002, and rho=0.428, p＜0.0001, respectively) greater than those in HDL-cholesterol (rho=0.312, p= 0.0042,and rho=0.343, p=0.003, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: CR can improve HDL function, and it is beneficial for secondary prevention.

Predictors of Mortality, Rehospitalization for Syncope and Cardiovascular Events in Patients With Cardiovascular Syncope.

BACKGROUND: Predictors of poor outcomes remain unknown for cardiovascular syncope patients after discharge.Methods and Results:We reviewed the medical records of consecutive patients admitted to hospital with cardiovascular syncope. We then performed Cox stepwise logistic regression analysis to identify significant independent factors for death, rehospitalization for syncope, and cardiovascular events. The study group was 206 patients with cardiovascular syncope. Of them, bradycardia was diagnosed in 50%, tachycardia in 27%, and structural disease in 23%. During a 1-year follow-up period, 18 (8%) and 45 (23%) patients, respectively, were rehospitalized for syncope or a cardiovascular event, and 10 (4%) died. Independent predictors of cardiovascular events were systolic blood pressure <100 mmHg (odds ratio [OR] 3.25; 95%confidence interval [CI] 1.41-7.51, P=0.006) and implantation of a pacemaker (OR 0.19; 95% CI 0.05-0.51, P=0.0005) (inverse association). Drug-induced syncope (OR 4.57; 95% CI 1.54-12.8, P=0.007) was an independent risk factor for rehospitalization. Finally, a history of congestive heart failure (OR 11.0; 95% CI 2.78-54.7, P=0.0006) and systolic blood pressure <100 mmHg (OR 5.40; 95% CI 1.30-22.7, P=0.02) were identified as significant independent prognostic factors for death. CONCLUSIONS: Drug-induced syncope, hypotension, no indication for a pacemaker, and a history of congestive heart failure are risk factors post-discharge for patients with cardiovascular syncope and careful follow-up of these patients for at least 1 year is recommended.

Beneficial Effects of Exercise-Based Cardiac Rehabilitation on High-Density Lipoprotein-Mediated Cholesterol Efflux Capacity in Patients with Acute Coronary Syndrome.

AIM: Recent studies reported that low high-density lipoprotein (HDL)-mediated cholesterol efflux capacity rather than low HDL cholesterol (HDL-C) is strongly associated with the increased risk for coronary artery disease. It remains unclear whether exercised-based cardiac rehabilitation (CR) can increase HDL cholesterol efflux capacity. METHOD: This study is a retrospective analysis of stored serum from patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS) who participated in outpatient CR program following successful percutaneous coronary intervention. We employed a cell-based cholesterol efflux system including the incubation of (3)H-cholesterol labeled macrophages with apolipoprotein B-depleted serum at the onset or early phase of ACS and at 6-month follow-up periods in 57 male and 11 female patients with ACS. Cardiopulmonary exercise tests were performed at the beginning and end of CR program. RESULT: Fifty-seven patients completed the CR program. Compared with patients who dropped out from CR program (non-CR group), CR participants showed marked amelioration in serum lipid levels, increased efflux capacity, and improved exercise capacity. Spearman's rank correlation coefficient analysis revealed that the percent increases of efflux capacity were significantly associated with the percent increases in HDL-C (ρ=0.598, p＜0.0001) and apolipoprotein A1 (ρ=0.508, p＜0.0001), whereas no association between increases in efflux capacity and increases in cardiopulmonary fitness was observed. Increases in cholesterol efflux capacity were not seen in patients who continued smoking and those who did not achieve all risk factor targets and higher exercise tolerance. CONCLUSION: CR can markedly increase both HDL-C and HDL cholesterol efflux capacity. These results suggest that CR is a very useful therapy for reverse cholesterol transport and secondary prevention.

[[TUBERCULOSIS DIAGNOSIS FOLLOWING A VISIT TO THE EMERGENCY ROOM].]

We aimed to evaluate the clinical char- acteristics of patients admitted to the emergency room (ER) and diagnosed with tuberculosis. [Method] We conducted a retrospective study of patients aged ; 16 years admitted to the hospital between April 1980 and March 2015 and diagnosed with tuberculosis. We com- pared patient clinical characteristics and type of tuberculosis between ER and non-ER patients. We also compared the incidence of delayed diagnosis of tuberculosis between ER patients with and without respiratory symptoms. We compared the tuberculosis encounter rate and the time to diagnosis of tuberculosis in ER and non-ER patients. [Results] A total of 255 patients, including 54 ER and 201 non-ER patients were enrolled in this study. The average age J was higher in ER patients than in non-ER patients (71.7? 16.3 vs. 63.3 ?20.3 years, p=0.006). The reasons for visiting the ER included acute conditions such as fracture of the lumbar spine, acute myocardial infarction, hemorrhagic gastric ulcer, brain infarction, and carbon monoxide intoxication, requiring immediate treatment. The time to diagnosis of tuberculosis in ER patients without respiratory symptoms (n=21) was approximately three times longer than that in patients with respiratory symptoms (n=33) as urgent treatment is priori- tized. The tuberculosis encounter rate was 1/1,800 for pa- tients transported by ambulance and 1/22,000 for emergency outpatients. The time to diagnosis of tuberculosis for patients transported by ambulance was approximately 4-6 days lon- ger than that for emergency outpatients or non-ER patients. [Conclusion] Physicians should seek to rule out the possi- bility of tuberculosis in all patients admitted to the ER, even where more urgent clinical conditions are prioritized.

[Clinical Characteristics of Adult Onset RSV Infection During Two Consecutive Winter Seasons].

We performed a retrospective study examining adult patients with RSV infection who were diagnosed at our hospital during two consecutive winter seasons, 2011-2012 and 2012-2013; these patients were compared with, adult patients who had been diagnosed as having influenza during the same periods. RSV infection was confirmed by a 4-fold increase in the CF antibody titer, while influenza was diagnosed based on a rapid antigen test. Forty-three patients with RSV infection and pneumonia patients (39 inpatients and 4 outpatients) and 25 patients with influenza and pneumonia (23 inpatients and 2 outpatients) were detected. Overall, 54 patients with RSV infection and 42 patients with influenza, were hospitalized during the two seasons. A history of the influenza vaccination was verified for 48% of the influenza patients with pneumonia and 35% of the non-pneumonia influenza patients who were hospitalized, and neuraminidase inhibitors were used for the treatment of all the influenza patients and 88% of the non-pneumonia influenza patients who were hospitalized. Overall, 5.3% of the adult cases with pneumonia (43/817) during the two seasons were diagnosed as having RSV related illness, and within the peak period, in particular, 14.6% were judged as having RSV pneumonia. Furthermore, 63% of the patients with RSV infection and pneumonia had mixed infections with other common respiratory pathogen, such as Streptococcus pneumoniae, and within the peak period, almost 15% of the patients with pneumonococcal pneumonia were confirmed to have mixed infections that included RSV. In both groups, one-fourth of the patients had been living in nursing homes or had been receibing home medical care. Up to 20% of the RSV pneumonia patients were initially diagnosed as having aspiration pneumonia. We suspect that some of these elderly patients might have developed pneumonia as a result of preceding viral infection or following vomiting or aspiration. The overall clinical picture, such as the mean age, maximum body temperature, hypoxemia, CRP, and WBC, did not differ significantly between the two groups. The 30-day mortality and overall hospital mortality rates were similar in both groups, but the lengths of the hospital stay were significantly longer, and several patients survived but continued to have a reduced activities of daily living score at the time of their discharge in the RSV pneumonia group.

Impact of depression on masked hypertension and variability in home blood pressure in treated hypertensive patients.

This study was conducted to determine the effects of depression and/or insomnia on masked hypertension (MHT) compared with other types of HT and on variability in home-measured blood pressure (HBP) and clinic BP (CBP). Three hundred and twenty-eight hypertensives (132 women) aged 68±10 years were classified into four BP types: controlled HT (CHT), white-coat HT, MHT and sustained HT (SHT), based on CBP (140/90 mm Hg) and morning HBP (135/85 mm Hg) measurements. A score of ⩾16 on the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale (CES-D) was defined as depression. The mean values and s.d. of BP were calculated from measurements taken during the 14 consecutive days just before the CES-D evaluation. Compared with the CHT group, the risk of depression was 2.77-fold higher in the SHT group and even higher in the MHT group (7.02-fold). The association between depression and MHT was augmented in the presence of insomnia and was somewhat stronger in women. A HBP variability index defined as s.d./mean BPs in both morning and night time was significantly higher in MHT than in the other BP types, whereas that of CBP was not. Both morning and night-time HBP variability were significantly higher in depressive patients than in non-depressives. These suggest that depression is associated with MHT and that increases both morning and night-time HBP variability but not CBP variability. Physicians should be mindful of mental stresses such as depression in their hypertensive patients when forming strategies to control BP over the diurnal cycle.

[Occurrence and clinical characteristics of tuberculosis among home medical care patients].

OBJECTIVE: To clarify the occurrence and clinical characteristics of tuberculosis among home medical care patients, we conducted a retrospective study of patients who received home medical care from our hospital. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: We investigated 502 patients (mean age, 79.5 years) who received home medical care from our hospital between January 2003 and December 2012. The newly notified tuberculosis cases aged > or = 70 years in the general population in Miyagi were defined as the control group. Among the patients receiving home medical care, we evaluated the clinical characteristics of the patients with tuberculosis. RESULTS: Four of the 502 patients (0.8%) developed tuberculosis. Using the person-years method, the case rate of tuberculosis was calculated as 298.3 per 100,000 among home medical care patients. Compared with the control group, home medical care patients had a greater incidence of tuberculosis (298.3 vs. 36.06; rate ratio, 8.27; 95% confidence interval, 3.06-22.3; p < 0.001). When home medical care patients visited the hospital or were transported there by ambulance, they were initially often diagnosed with aspiration pneumonia. Moreover, the time interval to the onset of disease from the introduction of home medical care varied among cases (3-192 months). CONCLUSION: Patients receiving home medical care are at high risk of contracting tuberculosis. Therefore, for the medical staff involved in treating home medical care patients, the onset of tuberculosis should be carefully considered in daily medical practice.

Establishment and clinical applications of a portable system for capturing influenza viruses released through coughing.

Coughing plays an important role in influenza transmission; however, there is insufficient information regarding the viral load in cough because of the lack of convenient and reliable collection methods. We developed a portable airborne particle-collection system to measure the viral load; it is equipped with an air sampler to draw air and pass it through a gelatin membrane filter connected to a cone-shaped, megaphone-like device to guide the cough airflow to the membrane. The membrane was dissolved in a medium, and the viral load was measured using quantitative real-time reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction and a plaque assay. The approximate viral recovery rate of this system was 10% in simulation experiments to collect and quantify the viral particles aerosolized by a nebulizer. Using this system, cough samples were collected from 56 influenza A patients. The total viral detection rate was 41% (23/56), and the viral loads varied significantly (from <10, less than the detection limit, to 2240 viral gene copies/cough). Viable viruses were detected from 3 samples with ≤18 plaque forming units per cough sample. The virus detection rates were similar among different groups of patients infected with different viral subtypes and during different influenza seasons. Among patients who did not receive antiviral treatment, viruses were detected in one of six cases in the vaccinated group and four of six cases in the unvaccinated group. We found cases with high viral titers in throat swabs or oral secretions but very low or undetectable in coughs and vice versa suggesting other possible anatomical sites where the viruses might be mixed into the cough. Our system is easy to operate, appropriate for bedside use, and is useful for comparing the viral load in cough samples from influenza patients under various conditions and settings. However, further large-scale studies are warranted to validate our results.