Aging-related Characteristics of Subclinical Hypothyroidism Detected in General Practice.

Subclinical hypothyroidism (SCH) is diagnosed when serum thyrotropin (TSH) is elevated despite a normal thyroxine level and is known to increase the risk of metabolic disorders. This study was conducted to identify potential laboratory markers suspicious for latent SCH. We retrospectively reviewed 958 outpatients in whom thyroid functions had been examined. Eighty-five (9.1%) of the 939 analyzed subjects had SCH (73% females). In the SCH group, median serum TSH and FT4 levels were 5.04 µU/ml and 1.19 ng/dl, respectively, and auto-thyroid antibodies were detected in 53.8% of patients. SCH group patients were significantly older than patients in the euthyroid group, while there was no intergroup difference in BMI. However, 56.5% of the SCH patients were asymptomatic. In the SCH group, serum aspartate aminotransferase and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) levels were significantly higher, and the estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) was significantly lower than in the euthyroid group. Among patients less than 65 years of age, SCH patients tended to have lower eGFR and higher LDL-C than euthyroid patients. Age-dependent reductions of red blood cells and serum albumin were more prominent in the SCH than the euthyroid group. Biochemical changes with aging are useful as potential clues for suspecting latent SCH.

Antimicrobial activity of Gel-entrapped catechins toward oral microorganisms.

The oral cavity contains almost half of the commensal bacterial population present in the human body. An increase in the number of these microorganisms may result in systemic diseases such as infective endocarditis and aspiration pneumonia as well as oral infections. It is essential to control the total numbers of these microorganisms in order to suppress disease onset. Thus, we examined the antimicrobial activity of a newly developed gel-entrapped catechin (GEC) preparation against oral microorganisms. The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of GEC was determined based on the relationship between a modified agar diffusion method and a broth microdilution method. GEC inhibited the growth of the Actinomyces, periodontopathic bacteria and Candida strains tested, but did not inhibit the growth of the oral streptococci that are important in the normal oral flora. Commercially available moisture gels containing antimicrobial components showed antimicrobial activity against all of the tested strains. After a series of washes and after a 24-h incubation, GEC retained the antimicrobial activity of the catechins. Catalase prevented GEC-induced growth inhibition of Actinomyces naeslundii and Streptococcus mutans suggesting that hydrogen peroxide may be involved in the antimicrobial activity of catechins. These results suggest that GEC may be useful for controlling oral microorganism populations and reducing the accumulation of dental plaque, thereby helping to prevent periodontal disease and oral candidiasis.

Efficiency of the novel quenching-probe PCR method to detect 23S rRNA mutations in children with Mycoplasma pneumoniae infection.

An automated rapid molecular diagnostic kit (Smart Gene Myco) was recently developed for individual detection of Mycoplasma pneumoniae (MP) genes. This new testing approach requires no special equipment and skills and can be completed within 50 min. We prospectively evaluated this diagnostic kit, along with other conventional tests, for pneumonia diagnosis in children. Samples from 98 children (50 boys and 48 girls; aged 1-14 years; mean: 4.7 ± 2.1 years; median: 4 years) clinically diagnosed with pneumonia were tested for MP using real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) as a reference method. Results from three molecular diagnostic tests, serum anti-MP antibodies, and MP culture were compared to RT-PCR data. Among the 98 children, 38 were positive for MP. All molecular diagnostic results showed complete concordance with the RT-PCR data. The sensitivity of the culture was 64%, whereas the sensitivities of the ImmunoCard Mycoplasma and SERODIA Myco II kits were lower (39% and 29%, respectively). Furthermore, a significant positive correlation was found between MP copy numbers and the culture test sensitivity (r = 0.95, p = 0.048). Macrolide-resistance mutations in the 23S ribosomal RNA gene were detected in 24 of 38 children using Smart Gene Myco based on quenching-probe PCR, which was confirmed by direct sequencing, revealing all mutations as A2063G. This is the first study to evaluate the clinical utility of the Smart Gene Myco kit, demonstrating that it is a fast and reliable method to support timely therapeutic decisions in children with MP pneumonia.

Enhanced vaccination effect against influenza by prebiotics in elderly patients receiving enteral nutrition.

AIM: We investigated the effect of prebiotics on the immunological response after influenza vaccination in enterally fed elderly individuals. The intervention group was given an enteral formula containing lactic acid bacteria-fermented milk products. In addition, two different types of other prebiotics, galacto-oligosaccharide and bifidogenic growth stimulator, were also given. The two prebiotics improved intestinal microbiota differently. In a control group, a standard formula without prebiotics was given. METHODS: An enteral formula with (intervention group [F]) or without (control group [C]) prebiotics was given through percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy to elderly participants for 10 weeks. Influenza vaccine was inoculated at week 4. Nutritional and biochemical indices, intestinal micro bacteria and immunological indices were analyzed. RESULTS: The Bifidobacterium count in groups F and C at week 0 was 6.4 ± 1.9 and 6.6 ± 3.0 (log10 [count/g feces]), respectively. Although the count in group C decreased at week 10, the count in group F increased. The Bacteroides count in group F increased from 10.7 ± 0.9 to 11.4 ± 0.5, but decreased in group C from 11.2 ± 0.2 to 10.7 ± 0.4. Although the enhanced titers of H1N1, H3N2 and B antigens against the vaccine decreased thereafter in group C, these enhanced titers in group F could be maintained. CONCLUSION: Our findings suggest that prebiotics affect the intestinal microbiota and might maintain the antibody titers in elderly individuals.

An improved method for acetaldehyde determination in blood by high-performance liquid chromatography and solid-phase extraction.

This study reports on an improved method for acetaldehyde (ACH) determination in blood by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). In the case of HPLC analysis, ACH is generally converted to derivatives for ultraviolet detection (for example 2,4-dinitrophenylhydrazine [DNPH] derivative). Nevertheless, elevation of the background during protein precipitation, hydrazone synthesis, or both frequently results in a serious loss of accuracy and precision of the analysis. The method in this study is developed to minimize the increase in nonspecific ACH-DNPH with a view to optimize mainly the synthetic condition of ACH-DNPH. The background is decreased dramatically by gentle deproteination, optimization of the DNPH amount and reaction pH, and reversed-phase solid extraction for the elimination of excess DNPH reagent. The standard curves show good linearity between 0 and 100 microM and minimal background is observed, indicating that the method is useful for monitoring the ACH concentration in blood.