The uncoupling protein-1 gene -3826A/G polymorphism and hypertension in Japanese subjects.

BACKGROUND: The possible effects of the uncoupling protein-1 (UCP-1) gene -3826A/G polymorphism on hypertension (HT) have yet to be elucidated. METHODS: A total of 578 Japanese subjects (231 males and 347 females, mean age 58.4 years) were enrolled in the study to investigate the association between HT and the -3826A/G polymorphism by genomic PCR and Bcl1-restriction fragment length polymorphism methods. RESULTS: Multivariate logistic regression analysis for HT, adjusted for genotype (recessive model, AA+AG vs. GG) and other covariates such as cardiovascular risk factors [e.g., smoking, body mass index (BMI), dyslipidemia and diabetes] showed age [odds ratio (OR) 1.11 (95% confidence interval 1.08-1.13)] and BMI [OR 1.13 (1.06-1.21)] as independent significant factors. In the subgroup analysis, as well as age and BMI, GG genotype [OR 2.32 (1.08-4.99)] was also an independent significant factor for HT in males. Similarly, as well as age and BMI, GG genotype [OR 1.89 (1.00-3.57)] was also an independent significant factor for HT in the relatively older subgroup (> or =60 years). CONCLUSIONS: The results suggest that the GG genotype may be associated with the presence of HT in Japanese males and older subjects. Further investigation is needed to confirm our hypothesis.

Application of a quick-freezing and deep-etching method to pathological diagnosis: a case of elastofibroma.

A case of elastofibroma in a middle-aged Japanese woman was examined by the quick-freezing and deep-etching (QF-DE) method, as well as by immunohistochemistry and conventional electron microscopy. The slowly growing tumor developed at the right scapular region and was composed of fibrous connective tissue with unique elastic materials called elastofibroma fibers. A normal elastic fiber consists of a central core and peripheral zone, in which the latter has small aggregates of 10 nm microfibrils. By the QF-DE method, globular structures consisting of numerous fibrils (5-20 nm in width) were observed between the collagen bundles. We could confirm that they were microfibril-rich peripheral zones of elastofibroma fibers by comparing the replica membrane and conventional electron microscopy. One of the characteristics of elastofibroma fibers is that they are assumed to contain numerous microfibrils. Immunohistochemically, spindle tumor cells showed positive immunoreaction for vimentin, whereas alpha-smooth muscle actin, desmin, S-100 protein and CD34 showed negative immunoreaction. By conventional electron microscopy, the tumor cell had thin cytoplasmic processes, pinocytotic vesicles and prominent rough endoplasmic reticulum. Abundant intracytoplasmic filaments were observed in some tumor cells. Thick lamina-like structures along with their inner nuclear membrane were often observed in the tumor cell nuclei. The whole image of the tumor cell was considered to be a periosteal-derived cell, which would produce numerous microfibrils in the peripheral zone of elastofibroma fibers. This study indicated that the QF-DE method could be applied to the pathological diagnosis and analysis of pathomechanism, even for surgical specimens obtained from a patient.

Relationships between hematological recovery and overall survival in older adults undergoing allogeneic bone marrow transplantation.

OBJECTIVE: The advancement of hematopoietic stem cell transplantation techniques and the increase in frequency of hematological malignancy in older patients are expected to expand the indications to include more elderly patients. We investigated the problem of allogeneic bone marrow transplantation (allo-BMT) in patients over 40 years old. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed 21 consecutive patients (13 males and 8 females) over 40 years old who underwent allo-BMT at our center during the past 12 years. RESULTS: The patients had a median age of 46 years, and 5 patients were over 50 years old. There were 8 cases of acute myelogenous leukemia (AML), 5 cases of acute lymphocytic leukemia (ALL), 6 cases of chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML) and 2 cases of myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS). The 3-year overall survival rate was 43.0%. Overall survival was associated with recovery of platelets in less than 30 days and recovery of neutrophil counts in less than 15 days. We did not observe any severe graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) or regimen-related toxicities. Twelve patients died of transplantation-related diseases. CONCLUSION: A faster recovery of the neutrophil and platelet counts was significantly associated with overall survival. Decreasing transplantation-related death, particularly by infection control, in allo-BMT in patients over age 40 is an important problem.