[The association between alcohol consumption and Mild Cognitive Impairment: the Toon Health Study].

AIM: The effects of alcohol consumption on Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI) among the Japanese population had not been fully examined. Therefore, the objective of this study was to examine the association between alcohol consumption and MCI among the Japanese elderly population. METHODS: In total, 421 men and 700 women aged 60-84 years participated in this cross-sectional study. Alcohol consumption was estimated according to frequency and amount of major alcoholic beverages (i.e., beer, Japanese sake, shochu, and wine) consumed by each individual using a self-administered questionnaire. MCI was assessed using the Japanese version of the Montreal Cognitive Assessment. Multivariable odds ratio (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) of MCI according to alcohol consumption were calculated using logistic models. We further analyzed the associations of the major alcoholic beverages with MCI. RESULTS: The prevalence of MCI was 50.4% among the male participants and 31.4% among the females. A positive association between alcohol consumption and MCI was observed in men, but not in women. The multivariable OR (95% CI) of MCI for ≥ 2 go (46 g ethanol) /day vs. non-drinkers was 1.78 (0.93-3.40, p for trend = 0.045) in men and for ≥ 1 go (23 g ethanol) /day was 0.96 (0.39-2.38, p for trend = 0.92) in women, respectively. We also observed an association between shochu consumption and MCI in men, whereby the multivariable OR (95% CI) of MCI for each 1 go increment was 1.57 (1.18-2.07). CONCLUSION: Our findings suggest that alcohol consumption in moderation may contribute to the prevention of MCI development in men.

[ISO 15189 So Far and in the Future -Effects of Quality Assurance and Management System Using ISO 15189-].

Clinical examinations are also influenced by medical globalization. Samples from patients for some special tests, including genetic analyses, are transported across the world. International standardization should be applied to clinical examinations as a part of medical care. The quality of techniques and management in clini- cal laboratories are evaluated by organizations for ISO 15189 authorization. This process helps detect issues overlooked on a daily basis and establish a system to maintain the high quality of laboratory examinations. In Ehime University Hospital Clinical Laboratory, we went through examinations from ISO 15189 authorization acquisition to the 3rd periodical surveillance. When the incongruent rate was assessed in each in- spection process under the quality management system (QMS), that of the process before the inspection ac- counted for 47% of the total. Therefore, the management of early processes including sample extraction, inspection, reception, and processing appears to be particularly important. [Review].