Scale-Up Procedure for Primary Drying Process in Lyophilizer by Using the Vial Heat Transfer and the Drying Resistance.

The objective of this study is to design primary drying conditions in a production lyophilizer based on a pilot lyophilizer. Although the shelf temperature and the chamber pressure need to be designed to maintain the sublimation interface temperature of the formulation below the collapse temperature, it is difficult to utilize a production lyophilizer to optimize cycle parameters for manufacturing. In this report, we assumed that the water vapor transfer resistance (Rp) in the pilot lyophilizer can be used in the commercial lyophilizer without any correction, under the condition where both lyophilizers were operated in the high efficiency particulate air (HEPA)-filtrated airflow condition. The shelf temperature and the drying time for the commercial manufacturing were designed based on the maximum Rp value calculated from the pilot lyophilizer (1008 vials) under HEPA-filtrated airflow condition and from the vial heat transfer coefficient of the production lyophilizer (6000 vials). And, the cycle parameters were verified using the production lyophilizer of 60000 vials. It was therefore concluded that the operation of lab- or pilot-scale lyophilizer under HEPA-filtrated airflow condition was one of important factors for the scale-up.

Evidence that genetic variants of metabolic detoxication and cell cycle control are not related to gallbladder cancer risk in Chilean women.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: High consumption of red chili pepper has been shown to be a risk factor for gallbladder cancer (GBC) in Chilean women. However, genetic factors in addition to this and other environmental factors may also be associated with an increased risk of GBC. We aimed to examine the associations of cytochrome P450 1A1 (CYP1A1), glutathione S-transferase class mu (GSTM1), and tumor protein p53 (TP53) polymorphisms with the risk of GBC in Chilean women. METHODS: A hospital-based case-control study of 57 patients with GBC, 119 patients with gallstones, and 70 controls was conducted. The statuses of the polymorphisms CYP1A1 rs4646903, CYP1A1 rs1048943, and TP53 rs1042522 were assayed using Custom Taqman SNP Genotyping Assays and TaqMan SNP Genotyping Assay. GSTM1 deletion polymorphism was detected by allele-specific PCR analysis. RESULTS: No significant differences in the genotypic or allelic frequencies in the CYP1A1, GSTM1, and TP53 polymorphisms were found between the three groups. CONCLUSION: These genetic variants were not related to an increased risk of GBC in Chilean women. Other polymorphisms, such as red-chili-pepper-related polymorphisms, may contribute to the development of GBC in Chilean women.

Long-term suicide mortality rates decrease in men and increase in women after the Niigata-Chuetsu earthquake in Japan.

A devastating earthquake causes psychological distress, and may increase suicide mortality thereafter, yet previous studies have made inconsistent conclusions regarding this issue. The purpose of the present study was to determine whether the 2004 Niigata-Chuetsu earthquake in Japan affected long-term mortality from suicide. We conducted a comparative study of suicide mortality rates during the 5-year period preceding and the 3-year period following the earthquake in the disaster area and a control area in Niigata Prefecture, by analyzing death certificate data from October 1, 1999, to September 30, 2007. In men, baseline suicide mortality rates (5 years preceding the earthquake) were 48.4 per 100,000 person-years in the disaster area and 46.1 in the control area, and suicide mortality rates during the 3-year period following the earthquake were 46.0 and 45.1, respectively. In women, baseline suicide mortality rates were 22.3 in the disaster area and 18.7 in the control area, and post-earthquake suicide mortality rates were 20.2 and 15.3, respectively. In consequence, the decrease in suicide mortality rate during the 3 years post-earthquake was significantly higher in the disaster area (2.5) than in the control area (1.0) (p = 0.0013) in men, whereas the decrease in suicide mortality rate was 2.1 in the disaster area and 3.0 in the control area (p = 0.1246) in women. We have concluded that the long-term mortality from suicide after the earthquake decreases in men and increases in women, suggesting that post-earthquake suicide mortality is sex-dependent. Post-earthquake suicide prevention strategies should more aggressively target women.

Bone fracture in physically disabled children attending schools for handicapped children in Japan.

OBJECTIVE: Very few epidemiologic studies on bone fracture have been conducted in schools for handicapped children (Yogo schools). The aim of this study was to clarify the frequency and risk factors of bone fracture in physically disabled children in Japan. METHODS: We used a cross-sectional design to examine 525 physically disabled children in 38 Yogo schools in the Hokuriku-Koshinetsu District of Japan. The questionnaire surveyed information on participant sex, age, level of physical disability, and bone fracture history. Information on fractures was obtained, including number of fractures over participant lifetime, age when fractures occurred, location, and cause. One-year-period prevalence and lifetime prevalence were defined as the proportion of subjects with incident fractures in the previous year and with a history of fracture, respectively. RESULTS: Participant ages ranged from 6 to 15 years, and 66.3% had cerebral palsy (CP). The 1-year-period prevalence was 3.6% and lifetime fracture prevalence was 9.7%. The 1-year-period prevalence in the age groups of 6-9, 10-12, and 13-15 years was 2/184 (1.1%), 5/171 (2.9%), and 12/164 (7.3%), respectively (P for trend = 0.0031). There were no differences in period prevalence between sexes, and this was not associated with presence of CP. Multiple logistic regression analysis showed that age and presence of one joint contracture in the lower limbs or hip were independently associated with occurrence of bone fracture over participant lifetime. CONCLUSIONS: Physically disabled children are at high risk of bone fracture, and further risk factors should be determined.

Chiral Reaction Field with Thermally Invertible Helical Sense that Controls the Helicities of Conjugated Polymers.

A chiral reaction field with thermally invertible helical sense enables control of the helicity of the reaction product, which is a central challenge in asymmetric synthesis that has yet to be overcome. A novel chiral compound comprising two types of chiral moieties with opposite helicities and temperature dependences is synthesized; this compound is added as a chiral dopant to a mixture of nematic liquid crystals to prepare a chiral nematic liquid crystal (N*-LC). The N*-LC containing the chiral dopant exhibits thermally invertible helicity to yield left- and right-handed helical senses at low and high temperatures, respectively. Interfacial polymerization of acetylene is achieved in the N*-LC by modulating the temperature. Helical polyacetylenes (H-PAs) that are synthesized at low (-12 °C) and high (28 °C) temperature show right- and left-handedness, respectively, in terms of the fibrils, fibril bundles, and spiral morphology. In addition, the helical sense of H-PA is opposite that of the N*-LC because of the peculiar polymerization mechanism for acetylene in the N*-LC. The current N*-LC is the first chiral reaction field that has not only the thermally invertible helical sense but also the chemical functions and stability needed to serve as the medium for polymer reactions.

Low calcium intake is associated with increased bone resorption in postmenopausal Japanese women: Yokogoshi Study.

OBJECTIVE: Low Ca intake is common among Japanese women, but its effect on bone metabolism has not been fully elucidated. The aim of the present study was to determine the relationship between Ca intake and serum markers of bone turnover in postmenopausal Japanese women. DESIGN: A cross-sectional study. SETTING: A community setting. SUBJECTS: Subjects were 595 home-dwelling postmenopausal Japanese women. Ca intake was assessed by a validated FFQ. Serum type I collagen cross-linked N-telopeptides (NTX) and osteocalcin were measured as markers of bone turnover. The relationships between demographic characteristics, lifestyles, serum Ca, vitamin D and intact serum parathyroid hormone and bone turnover were also assessed. RESULTS: The average age of the subjects was 64.5 (sd 5.8) years and the mean Ca intake was 527 (sd 160) mg/d. Ca intake was significantly associated with serum NTX (P = 0.0104), but not with serum osteocalcin. Mean serum NTX concentration in the lowest quartile of Ca intake (<417 mg/d) was significantly higher than in the fourth, referent quartile. Among these Japanese postmenopausal women, very low Ca intake (less than approximately 400 mg/d) was associated with increased bone resorption but not bone formation. CONCLUSIONS: Increased bone resorption may be one mechanism by which this Ca-depleted population normalizes bone metabolism and prevents osteoporosis.

Unhealthy maternal lifestyle leads to rapid infant weight gain: prevention of future chronic diseases.

Infants' rapid (catch-up) weight gain is associated with later obesity and chronic adult diseases. The aim of this study was to determine maternal and environmental factors related to rapid weight gain at one month and 18 months after full-term birth in Japan. Subjects were 1,524 infants and their mothers who visited the 18-month check-up in Niigata City between October 1, 2007 and September 30, 2008. An anonymous questionnaire elicited information on the infant's weight (at birth, 1 month, and 18 months), sex, feeding method, presence of food allergy, gestational age, and caregiver. Mother's information was height, pre-pregnancy weight, pregnancy weight gain, age at delivery, pregnancy toxicosis, number of daily meals during pregnancy, smoking and drinking habits. Some questionnaire items were obtained from a maternal and child health handbook. Independence of predictors for rapid weight gain (vs. slow or average weight gain), i.e. a score gain of 0.67 SD, during the first month and first 18 months was tested by multiple logistic regression analysis. In the first month, having a meal once or twice daily during pregnancy (P = 0.0016) and daily smoking in pre-pregnancy (P = 0.0175) were associated with rapid weight gain. In the first 18 months, use of daycare (P = 0.0083) and daily drinking in pre-pregnancy (P = 0.0130) were associated with rapid weight gain. We conclude that mother's pre-pregnancy smoking and drinking, dieting during pregnancy, and infant daycare attendance lead to rapid infant weight gain. Controlling these factors may prevent future chronic adult lifestyle-related diseases.

Vitamin D status, bone mass, and bone metabolism in home-dwelling postmenopausal Japanese women: Yokogoshi Study.

Little has been understood about vitamin D status in relation to bone health in Asian women. The purpose of this study was to identify how the serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25[OH]D) concentration is associated with bone mass and bone metabolism. This cross-sectional, community-based epidemiologic study was conducted among 600 ambulatory postmenopausal women. The serum 25(OH)D concentration was measured with radioimmunoassay. Other blood biochemical measurements were intact parathyroid hormone and markers of bone turnover, including osteocalcin and type I collagen cross-linked N-telopeptides. Bone mineral density (BMD) of the lumbar spine and right femoral neck were measured with the dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry method using a QDR4500a. The mean serum 25(OH)D concentration was 55.6 nmol/L (SD 14.6). Serum 25(OH)D concentration was linearly associated with BMD of the femoral neck (R(2)=0.020, P=0.003), but not with BMD of the lumbar spine. Odds ratios (ORs) for low BMD (defined as t score < or =-2.5 SD) were calculated for strata defined by 25(OH)D concentration. The prevalence of low BMD of the lumbar spine was significantly higher in the 40- to 50-nmol/L 25(OH)D group (adjusted OR=3.0, 95% CI: 1.3-7.0) compared to the reference group (> or =70 nmol/L). Prevalence of low BMD for the femoral neck was significantly higher in the 30- to 40-nmol/L (adjusted OR=3.6, 95% CI: 1.1-12.1) and the 40- to 50-nmol/L (adjusted OR=7.6, 95% CI: 2.5-23.2) groups compared to the reference group (> or =70 nmol/L). The mean serum concentration of intact PTH was significantly higher in subjects with serum 25(OH)D <50 nmol/L compared to those with serum 25(OH)D > or =50 nmol/L. The present study suggests that higher serum 25(OH)D concentrations are associated with increased BMD of the femoral neck, and that a serum 25(OH)D concentration of at least 70 nmol/L is needed to obtain high BMD of the femoral neck, and that of at least 50 nmol/L is needed to achieve normal PTH levels and prevent low BMD in home-dwelling postmenopausal Japanese women.

Genetic changes of p53, K-ras, and microsatellite instability in gallbladder carcinoma in high-incidence areas of Japan and Hungary.

AIM: To disclose geographic differences in genetic changes involved in gallbladder carcinogenesis between two distinct high-incidence areas of Japan and Hungary. METHODS: We examined 42 cases of gallbladder carcinoma: 22 Japanese and 20 Hungarian cases. p53 mutations at exons 5 to 8 and K-ras mutations at codon 12 were tested by direct sequencing. Microsatellite instability was determined from fluorescent dye-labeled PCR amplifications of five-microsatellite markers (BAT-25, BAT-26, D2S123, D5S346, and D17S250). RESULTS: Mutations of p53 were detected in 11 of 22 Japanese cases and 6 of 18 Hungarian cases (11/22 vs 6/18, P = 0.348). Transition at CpG sites was found in none of 11 Japanese cases and 2 of 6 Hungarian cases; the difference was marginally significant (0/11 vs 2/6, P = 0.110). K-ras mutations were detected in only one of the Hungarian cases. Eight of 19 (42.1%) Japanese cases were MSI-high (presence of novel peaks in more than one of the five loci analyzed), whereas only 1 of 15 (6.7%) Hungarian cases was MSI-high (P = 0.047). CONCLUSION: It appears that the p53 mutations and MSI differ in patients with gallbladder carcinoma between two distinct high-incidence areas. Geographic variation might exist in the process of gallbladder carcinogenesis.

Polymorphisms of cytochrome P450 1A1, glutathione S-transferase class mu, and tumour protein p53 genes and the risk of developing gallbladder cancer in Japanese.

OBJECTIVES: To examine the relationship between genetic polymorphisms of cytochrome P450 1A1 (CYP1A1), glutathione S-transferase class mu (GSTM1), and tumour protein p53 (TP53) genes, and gallbladder cancer (GBC) risk, a case-control study was conducted. DESIGN AND METHODS: Genotypes of CYP1A1 T3801C, CYP1A1 Ile462Val, GSTM1, and TP53 Arg72Pro were determined in 54 cases of GBC and 178 controls. RESULTS: The age-adjusted odds ratios (ORs) for the Ile/Val genotype of CYP1A1 Ile462Val polymorphism in women and the Arg/Pro genotype of TP53 Arg72Pro polymorphism in men were observed to be 2.70 (95% CI: 1.14-6.40) and 4.32 (95% CI: 1.08-17.2), respectively. No significant differences in the genotypic frequencies of CYP1A1 T3801C and GSTM1 polymorphisms were observed between controls and cases in both men and women. CONCLUSION: These results suggest that the Val allele of CYP1A1 Ile462Val polymorphism and the Pro allele of TP53 Arg72Pro polymorphism contribute to an increased risk of GBC among Japanese women and men, respectively.

Work environment and mental health status assessed by the general health questionnaire in female Japanese doctors.

The number of female doctors in Japan has been increasing, but the relationship between their work environment and their mental health is not clear. This study aimed to determine factors in the work environment influencing mental health status among female doctors. We mailed an anonymous survey questionnaire to 587 female doctors, and 367 (62.5%) responded. The survey included questions about age, marital status, work-related information including their specialty, affiliated medical facility, position, type of employment, working time, and night duty. The thirty-item version of the General Health Questionnaire (GHQ-30) was used to examine psychological distress. For the purposes of analysis, subjects with a GHQ-30 score greater than or equal to eight were considered to have psychological distress. The mean age of the subjects was 45.1 yr (SD 15.1). A total of 152 [corrected] (41.6% [corrected]) of subjects met criteria for having psychological distress. Bivariate analysis showed that age (p=0.0009), marital status (p=0.0038), medical facility (p=0.0476), position (p=0.0180), working time (p=0.0337), and working at night (p<0.0001) were associated with the GHQ-30 score. Multiple logistic regression analysis showed that younger age (p=0.0030), engaging in night duty (p=0.0049), and being divorced (p=0.0093) were independently associated with psychological distress. These results suggest that work environment factors, particularly night duty, play important roles in modulating psychological distress among female doctors.

Magnesium intake and bone mineral density in young adult women.

The purpose of this study was to determine a possible association between magnesium intake and bone mass in young adult women. Subjects consisted of 106 female university students aged 19-25 years. Calcium and magnesium intakes were evaluated using the duplicate sampling method on three weekdays. Spinal and femoral bone mineral density (BMD) was measured by dual energy X-ray absorptiometry. Mean magnesium intake was 139 mg/day (median 127, SD 54). The correlation between magnesium intake and BMD was of borderline significance (r = 0.175, p = 0.073) for the femoral neck, and was insignificant (r = 0.084, p = 0.391) for the lumbar spine. However, the partial correlation between magnesium intake and BMD of the femoral neck (r = -0.027, p = 0.788), adjusted for calcium intake, was not significant. In conclusion, we did not find an association between magnesium intake and bone mass in young women, and calcium intake needs to be included as an important, potential confounding factor when exploring such an association.

[Fracture-related medical cost of aged people in Niigata Prefecture, Japan: analysis of data from health insurance claims].

OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study is to determine the fracture-related medical cost of aged people to reduce such cost. METHODS: Using health insurance claims, we obtained data on the number of aged people (> or =60 years of age) with fractures among members of the National Health Insurance Organization in Niigata Prefecture and their fracture-related medical cost, every May from 2003 to 2005. We analyzed these data and stratified them by sex, age (5-year age range), and hospitalization history. RESULTS: The average number of fractures per 100,000 people and the fracture-related medical cost per capita for women were 1,316+/-11 and 1,344+/-66 yen, respectively. These values were found to be more than twofold, those for men (604+/-11 and 556+/-33 yen, respectively). The number of fractures per 100,000 people and the fracture-related medical cost per capita increased with age. The fracture-related medical cost per hospitalization admission, however, did not increase with age. The amount of two-year increase in the fracture-related medical cost of hospitalization per capita was the largest in the > or =85 age group, and increased with the number of fractures. The fracture-related medical cost of people > or =60 years of age in Niigata prefecture was estimated to increase with age for women, but not for men. CONCLUSIONS: It is suggested that lowering the prevalence of fractures among very old women would lead to a decrease in the total fracture-related medical costs. Additional studies are needed to confirm the findings using nation wide data.

Free fatty acid concentrations in gallbladder bile collected from Chilean patients with gallstones.

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the association between gallstones and biliary free fatty acids (FFAs) as the first attempt to clarify whether biliary FFAs relate to developing gallbladder cancer (GBC) in Chile, which has the highest mortality rate in the world. DESIGN AND METHODS: Gallbladder bile from 21 male and 129 female patients with gallstones from Santiago was collected, and their FFAs were measured. The results were compared with those observed in a similar previous study performed in Niigata and Kochi Prefectures which showed the highest and lowest mortality rates, respectively, for GBC in Japan. RESULTS: Palmitoleic and linolenic acids compositions in Santiago patients were significantly lower than those in Niigata and Kochi patients, though these compositions in Niigata patients were significantly lower than those in Kochi patients. The levels of these FFAs compositions decreased in the order of Kochi, Niigata, and Santiago patients. CONCLUSIONS: Decreased biliary FFAs compositions may relate to developing gallstones and subsequently GBC.

Antibacterial effects of chitosan solution against Legionella pneumophila, Escherichia coli, and Staphylococcus aureus.

Chitosan has been shown to have antibacterial activities on the growth of a wide variety of bacteria. Chitosan solution has been sold commercially for use as an antibacterial agent. Chitosan solution contains not only chitosan but also organic acids as solvents and desalted Japan Sea Proper Water (dJSPW). We aimed to clarify whether chitosan solution has antibacterial activity against bacteria invading bath water, and then to explore the causative factor among these ingredients. The antibacterial activity of full-strength chitosan solution and of 10(2)- and 10(4)-fold chitosan solution diluted with purified water was studied against Legionella pneumophila serogroups 1 (L. pneumophila SG1) and 6 (L. pneumophila SG6), Escherichia coli (E. coli), and Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) for 7 days at 37 degrees C. To clarify the causative factor in the antibacterial activity against E. coli, the antibacterial activities of the full-strength and diluted chitosan solutions for 24 h were examined. L. pneumophila SG1 and SG6, and E. coli could not survive in the chitosan solution or in the 10(2)-fold dilute solution for over a day at 37 degrees C. The cells of S. aureus were found to have decreased more than 2.46 log cfu/ml after 1 day of incubation, not only in the chitosan solutions, but also in phosphate buffer solution as a control. No inhibitory effect of dJSPW on the growth of the bacteria was observed. The antibacterial activity of the chitosan solution was lower compared with those of the organic acids solutions, and it increased with decreasing pH value. We observed the antibacterial activity of chitosan solution against L. pneumophila SG1 and SG6, and E. coli, suggesting it may be due to the decreased pH value derived from organic acids rather than from chitosan itself or dJSPW.

Mental and physical effects of Tanshin funin, posting without family, on married male workers in Japan.

This paper investigates the effects of tanshin funin, a posting without family, on the health of married male workers. A prospective study using the pair-matched method was performed. One hundred and twenty-nine married male tanshin funin workers in their 40s and 50s and as many matched workers living with their family (regular workers) participated. Fewer tanshin funin workers took breakfast everyday (OR=3.3, p<0.001). Tanshin funin workers more frequently suffered from stress due to daily chores (OR=3.6, p<0.001) and from stress-related health problems, namely headache (OR=4.7, p=0.013) and gastric/duodenal ulcers (OR=8.7, p<0.001). They also developed more frequently common cold/bronchitis (OR=14.5, p<0.001). The levels of gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase for workers reluctant to work under tanshin funin and workers who spent less than two years in tanshin funin increased significantly from the fiscal year 1997 to year 2001 (46.7 to 67.5 IU/l, p<0.001, and 36.9 to 72.4 IU/l, p=0.005, respectively), although those of their matched regular workers did not show significant changes. The daily alcohol intake of reluctant tanshin funin workers (the equivalent of approximately 817 ml of beer) was higher than that of the matched regular workers (582 ml, p=0.026). In summary, abrupt changes in lifestyle and elevated mental stress were thus important effects of tanshin funin. Tanshin funin workers should be provided with health and lifestyle education programs and mental health care before and during tanshin funin. Doctors and nurses in the healthcare departments of companies should play a leading role.

[Descriptive epidemiologic studies on geographical clusterings of pancreatic cancer mortality and incidence--an analysis in Niigata, Japan].

OBJECTIVES: The objectives of this study were to determine the mortality for pancreatic cancer in the 47 prefectures of Japan and to reveal the geographical distribution of the mortality and incidence for pancreatic cancer in Niigata. METHODS: Standardized mortality ratio (SMR) for pancreatic cancer in the 47 prefectures from 1998 to 2002 was calculated on the basis of the census and vital statistics of Japan. The same SMR in the 36 cities and counties in Niigata from 1995 to 2002 was calculated. These SMRs were compared with that of the national population. Then, standardized incidence ratio (SIR) for pancreatic cancer in the 36 cities and counties in Niigata from 1995 to 2002 was calculated on the basis of the Niigata Cancer Registry, compared with that of the general population of Niigata. RESULTS: The SMRs for pancreatic cancer for both sexes in Hokkaido, Aomori, Akita, Miyagi and Shimane were significantly higher than that of the national population (p<0.05). The SMR for males in Niigata was significantly high, whereas that for females was near the SMR of the national population. Among the 36 cities and counties in Niigata, significantly high SMRs for both sexes were observed only in Higashikanbara county; the SMRs [95% confidence interval (CI)] were 158.4 (104.4-230.5) and 172.2 (114.4-248.9) for males and females, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Significantly high SMRs for pancreatic cancer were observed in Hokkaido and most of the Tohoku region. A geographical clustering of pancreatic cancer in Higashikanbara county was found. Further studies are needed to clarify the determinants of the clustering.

Effect of Mass Stool Examination and Mass Treatment For Decreasing Intestinal Helminth and Protozoan Infection Rates in Bolivian Children: A Cross-Sectional Study.

Bolivia is one of the countries with a high intestinal helminth and protozoan infection rate. Despite the high prevalence of the parasitic infection, nationwide preventive measures for Bolivian children have not yet been implemented. We evaluated the effect of mass stool examination and treatment as a strategy for decreasing the infection rate. This study was conducted between 2013 and 2015 in children aged 2-18 years. A total of 2,033 stool samples (575 in 2013, 815 in 2014 and 642 in 2015) were collected and examined using the formalin-ether medical sedimentation method. As an anthelminthic medicine, nitazoxanide was given to all infected children within 2 months post-examination, each year. The effect of mass stool examination and treatment was evaluated based on the changes in the overall or individual parasitic infection rates during the study period. The overall parasitic infection rate decreased significantly from 65.2% in 2013 to 43.0% in 2015; a 22.2 percentage point decrease (P<0.001). Protozoan infection accounted for a large portion of the parasitic infections, in the following rates: 62.4% in 2013, 49.3% in 2014, and 41.0% in 2015. The rate of the most common helminth infection, Hymenolepis nana, decreased significantly from 9.0% in 2013 to 6.4% in 2014 to 3.4% in 2015 (P<0.001). Prevalence of the most common pathogenic protozoan infection, Entamoeba histolytica, decreased significantly from 19.0% in 2013 to 3.0% in 2015 (P<0.001). Conversely, the rate of Giardia intestinalis increased significantly from 16.5% in 2013 to 21.2% in 2015 (P<0.01). Mass stool examination and treatment for intestinal helminth and protozoan infections was effective for decreasing the overall parasitic infection rate in the study population, excluding Giardia intestinalis. Further studies on the long-term effect of mass stool examination and treatment for decreasing all intestinal parasitic infection rates in Bolivian children are needed.

CYP1A1, GSTM1, GSTT1 and TP53 Polymorphisms and Risk of Gallbladder Cancer in Bolivians.

The Plurinational State of Bolivia (Bolivia) has a high incidence rate of gallbladder cancer (GBC). However, the genetic and environmental risk factors for GBC development are not well understood. We aimed to assess whether or not cytochrome P450 (CYP1A1), glutathione S-transferase mu 1 (GSTM1), theta 1 (GSTT1) and tumor suppressor protein p53 (TP53) genetic polymorphisms modulate GBC susceptibility in Bolivians. This case-control study covered 32 patients with GBC and 86 healthy subjects. GBC was diagnosed on the basis of histological analysis of tissues at the Instituto de Gastroenterologia Boliviano-Japones (IGBJ); the healthy subjects were members of the staff at the IGBJ. Distributions of the CYP1A1 rs1048943 and TP53 rs1042522 polymorphisms were assayed using PCR-restriction fragment length polymorphism assay. GSTM1 and GSTT1 deletion polymorphisms were detected by a multiplex PCR assay. The frequency of the GSTM1 null genotype was significantly higher in GBC patients than in the healthy subjects (odds ratio [OR], 2.35; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.03-5.37; age-adjusted OR, 3.53; 95% CI, 1.29-9.66; age- and sex-adjusted OR, 3.40; 95% CI, 1.24-9.34). No significant differences were observed in the frequencies of CYP1A1, GSTT1, or TP53 polymorphisms between the two groups. The GSTM1 null genotype was associated with increased GBC risk in Bolivians. Additional studies with larger control and case populations are warranted to confirm the association between the GSTM1 deletion polymorphism and GBC risk suggested in the present study.

Nutrition, mild hyperparathyroidism, and bone mineral density in young Japanese women.

BACKGROUND: The adverse effects of poor nutrition on the bones of young Asian women have not been fully elucidated. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to investigate possible associations of vitamin D nutrition, calcium intake, and other nutrients with bone metabolism and bone mass in young Japanese women. DESIGN: The subjects were 108 female college students aged 19-25 y. Dietary nutrients were measured by using the duplicate sampling method on 3 weekdays. Serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D], intact parathyroid hormone, and bone turnover markers were also measured. Bone mineral density (BMD) of the spine and femur was measured by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry. RESULTS: The proportions of the subjects with low 25(OH)D (< 30 nmol/L) and high intact parathyroid hormone (> or = 6.9 pmol/L) concentrations were 32.4% and 15.7%, respectively. Serum 25(OH)D concentrations (P = 0.0265) and calcium intake (P = 0.0103) were inversely associated with serum intact parathyroid hormone. In addition to weight and physical activity, the presence of mild hyperparathyroidism was associated with a low BMD of the lumbar spine (P = 0.0062) and the femoral neck (P = 0.0250), and a low calcium intake was associated with a low BMD of the femoral neck (P = 0.0044). CONCLUSIONS: Low calcium intake (based on low BMD of the femoral neck only) and mild hyperparathyroidism (based on low BMD of both the femoral neck and lumbar spine), partly explained by low vitamin D nutrition and a low calcium intake, are important predictors of low BMD in young Japanese women. Effects of poor nutrition and mild hyperparathyroidism on bone peak bone mass in young women should be further investigated in longitudinal studies.