Effects of liquefied sake lees on growth performance and faecal and blood characteristics in Japanese Black calves.

Liquefied sake lees, a by-product of Japanese sake, is rich in Saccharomyces cerevisiae, proteins, and prebiotics derived from rice and yeast. Previous studies have reported that Saccharomyces cerevisiae fermentation products improved the health, growth, and faecal characteristics of preweaning calves. This study investigated the effects of adding liquefied sake lees to milk replacer on the growth performance, faecal characteristics, and blood metabolites of preweaning Japanese Black calves from 6 to 90 days of age. Twenty-four Japanese Black calves at 6 days of age were randomly assigned to one of three treatments: No liquefied sake lees (C, n = 8), 100 g/d (on a fresh matter basis) liquefied sake lees mixed with milk replacer (LS, n = 8), and 200 g/d (on a fresh matter basis) liquefied sake lees mixed with milk replacer (HS, n = 8). The intake of milk replacer and calf starter, as well as, the average daily gain did not differ between the treatments. The number of days counted with faecal score 1 in LS was higher than in HS (P < 0.05), while the number of days with diarrhoea medication in LS and C was lower than HS (P < 0.05). The faecal n-butyric acid concentration tended to be higher in LS compared to C (P = 0.060). The alpha diversity index (Chao1) was higher in HS than in C and LS at 90 days of age (P < 0.05). The principal coordinate analysis (PCoA) using weighted UniFrac distance showed that the bacterial community structures in faeces among the treatments at 90 days of age were significantly different (P < 0.05). The plasma ß-hydroxybutyric acid concentration, an indicator of rumen development, was higher for LS than in C throughout the experiment (P < 0.05). These results suggested that adding liquefied sake lees up to 100 g/d (on a fresh matter basis) might promote rumen development in preweaning Japanese Black calves.

Supplemental Leuconostoc mesenteroides strain NTM048 attenuates imiquimod-induced psoriasis in mice.

AIMS: Psoriasis, a chronic inflammatory skin disease, is associated with altered intestinal microbiota. Here, we investigated the ameliorative effect of Leuconostoc mesenteroides NTM048 strain in imiquimod (IMQ)-induced psoriasis in mice. METHODS AND RESULTS: Mice were administered NTM048 for 21 days alongside the topical application of IMQ on the dorsal skin for 6 consecutive days. IMQ induced psoriatic symptoms such as erythema and scaling and also upregulated interleukin (IL)-17, a key effector cytokine of psoriasis, in the skin. Supplemental NTM048 suppressed these abnormalities, increased the levels of plasma deoxycholic acid (DCA), a secondary bile acid and altered the faecal microbiota composition, as indicated by the increased abundance of Akkermansia and decreased abundance of Staphylococcus and Streptococcus. Notably, DCA treatment of murine splenocytes reduced IL-17 production. CONCLUSIONS: The NTM048-mediated reduction of psoriasis was shown to involve the downregulation of IL-17 in mouse skin, which was possibly associated with the plasma DCA derived from intestinal microbiota. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY: Our findings propose not only a novel approach for psoriasis reduction but also a crosstalk between the skin and intestine in psoriasis.

Immunological Response of Pigs to Human Cells, Including Issues Such as the Production of Natural Antibodies in Newborns.

Pigs have recently become very popular for use not only in xenotransplantation field, but in regeneration studies as well, sometimes with pigs being used as the scaffold. We have already presented our findings related to the pig immune system against human cells, including the complement systems, natural antibodies (NAs), and NK cells. In this study, we investigated the pig innate immunological reaction against human cells further. Our investigations included issues such as the production of NAs in newborns, day 0 and day 1, and sow colostrum. The alternative pathway for pig complement reacted with human cells, and pig NK cells and macrophages directly injured human aortic endothelial cells. Pig serum clearly contains the natural antibodies IgG and IgM to human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs). Pig plasma from day 1 newborns contained almost the same levels of these natural antibodies to human PBMCs as those of sow plasma. On the other hand, pig plasma from day 0 newborns did not contain IgG and IgM to human PBMCs. In addition, sow colostrum clearly contained both IgG and IgM to human PBMCs. As expected, the pig innate immunity system reacted to human cells, including natural antibodies. However, the NAs of pigs, both IgM and IgG, against human cells do not exist in pig serum at day 0, but at day 1 and in mother's milk, indicating that NAs in newborns did not come from the placenta but from sow colostrum.

Factors Prognostic for Survival in Japanese Patients Treated with Sunitinib as First-line Therapy for Metastatic Clear Cell Renal Cell Cancer.

BACKGROUND: Factors predictive of survival have been identified in Western patients with metastatic clear cell renal cell carcinoma (mCCRCC) treated with sunitinib. Less is known, however, about factors predictive of survival in Japanese patients. This study evaluated factors prognostic of survival in Japanese patients with mCCRCC treated with first-line sunitinib. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This retrospective study evaluated 46 consecutive Japanese mCCRCC patients treated with sunitinib as first line therapy. Clinical and biochemical markers associated with progression-free survival (PFS) were analyzed, with prognostic factors selected by uni- and multivariate Cox regression analyses. RESULTS: Univariate analysis showed that factors significantly associated with poor PFS included Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center poor risk scores, International Metastatic RCC Database Consortium poor risk and high (>0.5 mg/dl) serum C-reactive protein (CRP) concentrations (p<0.001 each). Multivariate analysis showed that high serum CRP was independently associated with poorer PFS (p=0.040). Six month disease control rate (complete response, partial response and stable disease) in response to sunitinib was significantly higher in patients with normal (≤0.5 mg/dl) than elevated baseline CRP (p<0.001). CONCLUSIONS: CRP is a significant independent predictor of PFS for Japanese patients with mCCRCC treated with first-line sunitinib. Pretreatment CRP concentration may be a useful biomarker predicting response to sunitinib treatment.

Living situations associated with poor dietary intake among healthy Japanese elderly: the Ohasama Study.

BACKGROUND: Rapid increases in life expectancy have led to concurrent increases in the number of elderly people living alone or those forced to change living situations. Previous studies have found that poor dietary intake was common in elderly people living alone. However, there have been few studies about the dietary intake in elderly people living in other situations, particularly those living with family other than a spouse (nonspouse family), which is common in Japan. OBJECTIVE: To examine the differences in dietary intake by different living situations in elderly Japanese people. We analyzed the data of 1542 healthy residents in the town of Ohasama aged 60 years and over who had completed self-administered questionnaires. METHODS: The dietary intake was measured using a validated 141-item food frequency questionnaire. Multiple regression models with robust (White-corrected) standard errors were individually fitted for nutrients and foods by living situation. RESULTS: In men, although the presence of other family was correlated with significantly lower intake of protein-related foods, e.g., legumes, fish and shellfish, and dairy products, these declines were more serious in men living with nonspouse family. Conversely, in men living alone the intake of fruits and vegetables was significantly lower. In women, lower intakes of fruit and protein-related foods were significantly more common in participants living with nonspouse family than those living with only a spouse. CONCLUSION: These findings revealed that elderly people living alone as well as those living with family other than a spouse had poor dietary intake, suggesting that strategies to improve food choices and skills for food preparation could promote of healthy eating in elderly Japanese people.

Effect of organic loading rate and fill time on the biohydrogen production in a mechanically stirred AnSBBR treating synthetic sucrose-based wastewater.

This study investigated the feasibility to produce biohydrogen of a mechanically stirred anaerobic sequencing batch biofilm reactor (AnSBBR) treating sucrose-based synthetic wastewater. The bioreactor performance (30 °C) was evaluated as to the combined effect of fill time (2, 1.5, and 1 h), cycle length (4, 3, and 2 h), influent concentration (3,500 and 5,250 mg chemical oxygen demand (COD) L(-1)) and applied volumetric organic load (AVOLCT from 9.0 to 27.0 g COD L(-1) d(-1)). AVOLs were varied according to influent concentration and cycle length (t C). The results showed that increasing AVOLCT resulted in a decrease in sucrose removal from 99 to 86 % and in improvement of molar yield per removed load (MYRLS.n) from 1.02 mol H2 mol carbohydrate(-1) at AVOLCT of 9.0 g COD L(-1) d(-1) to maximum value of 1.48 mol H2 mol carbohydrate(-1), at AVOLCT of 18.0 g COD L(-1) d(-1), with subsequent decrease. Increasing AVOLCT improved the daily molar productivity of hydrogen (MPr) from 15.28 to 49.22 mol H2 m(-3) d(-1). The highest daily specific molar productivity of hydrogen (SMPr) obtained was 8.71 mol H2 kg TVS(-1) d(-1) at an AVOLCT of 18.0 g COD L(-1) d(-1). Decreasing t C from 4 to 3 h decreased sucrose removal, increased MPr, and improved SMPr. Increasing influent concentration decreased sucrose removal only at t C of 2 h, improved MYRLS,n and MPr at all t C, and also improved SMPr at t C of 4 and 3 h. Feeding strategy had a significant effect on biohydrogen production; increasing fill time improved sucrose removal, MPr, SMPr, and MYRLS,n for all investigated AVOLCT. At all operational conditions, the main intermediate metabolic was acetic acid followed by ethanol, butyric, and propionic acids. Increasing fill time resulted in a decrease in ethanol concentration.

Hepatic arterial infusion chemotherapy with cisplatin before radical local treatment of early hepatocellular carcinoma (JIS score 0/1) improves survival.

BACKGROUND: It has not yet been determined whether hepatic arterial infusion (HAI) chemotherapy improves survival in patients with early hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). We evaluated the effectiveness of HAI with high-concentration cisplatin (DDP-H) for the treatment of HCC by comparing outcomes between patients who received HAI with DDP-H before radical local treatment of early-stage HCC [Japan Integrated Staging (JIS) score 0/1] and patients who did not receive HAI chemotherapy. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Survival was analyzed in 114 patients with early-stage HCC who underwent radical local treatment. The patients were divided into two groups: a HAI group (n = 79) who received DDP-H infusion into the whole liver via the proper hepatic artery, and a non-HAI group (n = 35) who did not receive HAI chemotherapy. RESULTS: The cumulative survival rates at 1, 3, and 5 years were 77.4%, 69.2%, and 55.3% in the non-HAI group and 97.4%, 87.0%, and 84.4% in the HAI group, respectively. Survival time prolonged significantly in the HAI group compared with the non-HAI group (log-rank test: P = 0.023; generalized Wilcoxon test: P = 0.012) Multivariate analysis using the Cox proportional hazards model identified HAI with DDP-H as the most important factor affecting survival. CONCLUSIONS: Whole-liver HAI with DDP-H before radical local treatment can improve the prognosis of patients with early-stage HCC.

Optimum design of a moderator system based on dose calculation for an accelerator driven Boron Neutron Capture Therapy.

An accelerator based BNCT has been desired because of its therapeutic convenience. However, optimal design of a neutron moderator system is still one of the issues. Therefore, detailed studies on materials consisting of the moderator system are necessary to obtain the optimal condition. In this study, the epithermal neutron flux and the RBE dose have been calculated as the indicators to look for optimal materials for the filter and the moderator. As a result, it was found that a combination of MgF2 moderator with Fe filter gave best performance, and the moderator system gave a dose ratio greater than 3 and an epithermal neutron flux over 1.0×10(9)cm(-2)s(-1).

Protection from non-alcoholic steatohepatitis and liver tumourigenesis in high fat-fed insulin receptor substrate-1-knockout mice despite insulin resistance.

AIMS/HYPOTHESIS: Epidemiological studies have revealed that obesity and diabetes mellitus are independent risk factors for the development of non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) and hepatocellular carcinoma. However, the debate continues on whether insulin resistance as such is directly associated with NASH and liver tumourigenesis. Here, we investigated the incidence of NASH and liver tumourigenesis in Irs1 ( -/- ) mice subjected to a long-term high-fat (HF) diet. Our hypothesis was that hepatic steatosis, rather than insulin resistance may be related to the pathophysiology of these conditions. METHODS: Mice (8 weeks old, C57Bl/6J) were given free access to standard chow (SC) or an HF diet. The development of NASH and liver tumourigenesis was evaluated after mice had been on the above-mentioned diets for 60 weeks. Similarly, Irs1 ( -/- ) mice were also subjected to an HF diet for 60 weeks. RESULTS: Long-term HF diet loading, which causes obesity and insulin resistance, was sufficient to induce NASH and liver tumourigenesis in the C57Bl/6J mice. Obesity and insulin resistance were reduced by switching mice from the HF diet to SC, which also protected these mice against the development of NASH and liver tumourigenesis. However, compared with wild-type mice fed the HF diet, Irs1 ( -/- ) mice fed the HF diet were dramatically protected against NASH and liver tumourigenesis despite the presence of severe insulin resistance and marked postprandial hyperglycaemia. CONCLUSIONS/INTERPRETATION: IRS-1 inhibition might protect against HF diet-induced NASH and liver tumourigenesis, despite the presence of insulin resistance.

Enhanced photon generation in a Nb/n-InGaAs/p-InP superconductor/semiconductor-diode light emitting device.

We experimentally demonstrate Cooper pairs' drastic enhancement of the band-to-band radiative recombination rate in a semiconductor. Electron Cooper pairs injected from a superconducting electrode into an active layer by the proximity effect recombine with holes injected from a p-type electrode. The recombination of a Cooper pair with p-type carriers dramatically increases the photon generation probability of a light-emitting diode in the optical-fiber communication band. The measured radiative decay time rapidly decreases with decreasing temperature below the superconducting transition temperature of the niobium electrodes. Our results indicate the possibility to open up new interdisciplinary fields between superconductivity and optoelectronics.

The G-protein on cholesterol-rich membrane microdomains mediates mucosal sensing of short- chain fatty acid and secretory response in rat colon.

AIM: Short-chain fatty acids (SCFA) stimulate colonic contraction and secretion, which are mediated by an enteric reflex via a mucosal sensing and cholinergic mechanisms. The involvement of G-protein signal transduction was examined in the secretory response to luminal propionate sensing in rat distal colon. METHODS: Mucosa-submucosa and mucosa preparations were used to measure short-circuit current (I(sc)) and acetylcholine (ACh) release respectively. Cholesterol-rich membrane microdomains, lipid rafts/caveolae, were fractionated using a sucrose gradient ultra-centrifugation after detergent-free extraction of the isolated colonic crypt. RESULTS: Luminal addition of methyl-ß-cyclodextrin (10 mm) and mastoparan (30 µm), lipid rafts/caveolae disruptors, significantly inhibited luminal propionate-induced (0.5 mm) increases in I(sc) , but did not affect increases in I(sc) induced by serosal ACh (0.05 mm) or electrical field stimulation (EFS). Luminal addition of YM-254890 (10 µm), a Gα(q/11) -selective inhibitor, markedly inhibited propionate-induced increase in I(sc) , but did not affect I(sc) responses to ACh and EFS. Both methyl-ß-cyclodextrin and YM-254890 significantly inhibited luminal propionate-induced non-neuronal release of ACh from colonocytes. Real-time PCR demonstrated that in mRNA expression of SCFA receptors, GPR 43 was far higher than that of GPR41 in the colon. Western blotting analysis revealed that the cholesterol-rich membrane microdomains that fractionated from colonic crypt cells were associated with caveolin-1, flotillin-1 and Gα(q/11) , but not GPR43. Uncoupling of Gα(q/11) from flotillin-1 in lipid rafts occurred under desensitization of the I(sc) response to propionate. CONCLUSIONS: These data demonstrate that the secretory response to luminal propionate in rat colon is mediated by G-protein on cholesterol-rich membrane microdomains, provably via Gα(q/11) .

Knee osteoarthritis, knee joint pain and aging in relation to increasing serum hyaluronan level in the Japanese population.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate relationship between serum hyaluronan (HA) level and the presence and severity of radiographic knee osteoarthritis (OA) as well as degree of knee pain in Japanese population. DESIGN: A total of 616 volunteers participated in this study. Based on the Kellgren-Lawrence (K-L) grade, participants were radiographically classified into three groups: Normal (K-L grade 0 or 1), Moderate (grade 2) and Severe (grade 3 or 4). The degree of knee pain was quantified by visual analogue scale (VAS) and Knee injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score (KOOS) Pain. Serum HA levels were compared among the Normal, Moderate and Severe groups, and the relationship between serum HA level and the severity of knee OA was analyzed after age, sex and body mass index (BMI) were adjusted. In addition, the correlation between serum HA level and the degree of knee pain was analyzed in each group. RESULTS: Regarding relationship between serum HA level and the severity of radiographic knee OA, serum HA levels of the Moderate and Severe groups were significantly higher than in the Normal group (P<0.001). Furthermore, serum HA level correlated with the severity of radiographic knee OA (r=0.289, P<0.001) after adjusting for age, sex and BMI. Serum HA level correlated with VAS of knee pain and/or KOOS Pain in the Normal and Moderate groups. CONCLUSION: Serum HA level has the potential to be useful for the diagnosis of the presence and severity of knee OA.

Large domain fluctuations on 50-ns timescale enable catalytic activity in phosphoglycerate kinase.

Large-scale domain motions of enzymes are often essential for their biological function. Phosphoglycerate kinase has a wide open domain structure with a hinge near the active center between the two domains. Applying neutron spin echo spectroscopy and small-angle neutron scattering we have investigated the internal domain dynamics. Structural analysis reveals that the holoprotein in solution seems to be more compact compared to the crystal structure but would not allow the functionally important phosphoryl transfer between the substrates if the protein were static. Brownian large-scale domain fluctuation dynamics on a timescale of 50 ns was revealed by neutron spin echo spectroscopy. The dynamics observed was compared to the displacement patterns of low-frequency normal modes. The displacements along the normal-mode coordinates describe our experimental results reasonably well. In particular, the domain movements facilitate a close encounter of the key residues in the active center to build the active configuration. The observed dynamics shows that the protein has the flexibility to allow fluctuations and displacements that seem to enable the function of the protein. Moreover, the presence of the substrates increases the rigidity, which is deduced from a faster dynamics with smaller amplitude.

Glass transition and molecular mobility in polymer thin films.

Extensive studies on polymer thin films to date have revealed their interesting but unusual properties such as film thickness dependence of glass transition temperature Tg and thermal expansivity. Recent studies have shown that the lower Tg is not always related to the higher mobility in polymer thin films, which contradicts our current understanding of the glass transition process. In this work, we report the results of inelastic neutron-scattering measurements on polystyrene thin films using two spectrometers with different energy resolutions as well as ellipsometry measurements. The results are interpreted in terms of cooperatively rearranging region and motional slowing down due to the surface effect that explain plausibly the anomalous relationship between the glass transition temperature Tg and the molecular mobility in thin films.

Measuring qutrit-qutrit entanglement of orbital angular momentum states of an atomic ensemble and a photon.

Three-dimensional entanglement of orbital angular momentum states of an atomic qutrit and a single photon qutrit has been observed. Their full state was reconstructed using quantum state tomography. The fidelity to the maximally entangled state of Schmidt rank 3 exceeds the threshold 2/3. This result confirms that the density matrix cannot be decomposed into an ensemble of pure states of Schmidt rank 1 or 2. That is, the Schmidt number of the density matrix must be equal to or greater than 3.

Short communication: Bovine alpha-casein is a ferritin-binding protein and inhibitory factor of milk ferritin immunoassay.

Commercial bovine milk alpha-casein, but not beta- and kappa-caseins, bound to bovine spleen ferritin, as determined by an immunoassay for ferritin. In contrast, alpha-casein did not bind to apoferritin. The binding of alpha-casein to bovine spleen ferritin was strongly inhibited by increasing ionic strength by the addition of 0.5 M (NH(4))(2)SO(4). The addition of alpha-casein to a known amount of bovine spleen ferritin resulted in significantly lower recovery (78-80%) of added ferritin, although beta- and kappa-caseins showed little inhibitory effect in the ferritin immunoassay. These results indicate that bovine alpha-casein is a specific ferritin-binding protein that may inhibit milk ferritin immunoassay.

17beta-Estradiol-induced enhancement of estrogen receptor biosynthesis via MAPK pathway in mouse skeletal muscle myoblasts.

The skeletal muscle is one of the important target tissues for the actions of estrogen via both nuclear and extranuclear (non-genomic) pathways. However, there is a paucity of information about the receptor (ER) involved. The aim of this study was thus to explore the ER expression in skeletal muscle, and the influence of estrogen on it, by using C2C12 myoblasts derived from mouse skeletal muscle. Significant expression of a approximately 66-kD protein immunoreactive to ER type alpha (ERalpha) monoclonal antibody, which was comparable to that in ovary, was detected in the whole-cell (total) and nucleus-free (nonnuclear) fractions of C2C12 myoblasts. The expression level of these ER proteins increased in several hours with treatment with 17beta-estradiol (E2), which was preceded by the elevation of the ER mRNA level. This increase appeared to reflect the acceleration of de novo synthesis of ER protein, as proved by the (35)S-methionine immunoprecipitation method. A similar extent of fast increase in ER expression was also induced by a membrane-impermeable, BSA-conjugated estradiol (E2-BSA). Unexpectedly, the E2-induced increases in total and nonnuclear ER were further enhanced by the classic ER antagonists tamoxifen and ICI182,780 in a wide concentration range, implying some structural difference of the involved ER from the classical one. Treatment with the ERK1/2 inhibitor, PD98059 (10 microM), or the p38 MAPK-specific inhibitor, SB203580 (10 microM), greatly inhibited the E2-induced ER increase, while the protein kinase C (PKC) activator TPA (1 microM) enhanced it. These results collectively suggest that C2C12 skeletal myoblasts express a high level of ER, a considerable part of which is extranuclear. Further, the expression of ER in these cells may be significantly upregulated by estrogen itself via increased biosynthesis linked to membrane-bound ER and downstream MAPK-mediated signaling pathways.

Maxillary haemangioma successfully resected by endoscopic approach.

OBJECTIVE: We report an extremely rare case of maxillary haemangioma. METHOD: Case report and review of the literature concerning haemangioma arising from the nasal cavity and paranasal sinuses. RESULTS: Maxillary haemangioma is rare and sometimes requires wider resection than nasal haemangioma if a large tumour is found. We present a case of maxillary haemangioma in a 37-year-old Japanese woman, which was completely resected by pre-operative embolisation and endoscopic sinus surgery. CONCLUSION: Our findings suggest that if a large maxillary haemangioma is diagnosed pre-operatively, the treatment of choice is pre-operative embolisation followed by endoscopic sinus surgery, in order to avoid the surgical complications associated with wide resection.

Clonal relationship between infiltrating immunoglobulin G4 (IgG4)-positive plasma cells in lacrimal glands and circulating IgG4-positive lymphocytes in Mikulicz's disease.

Mikulicz's disease (MD) is gaining acceptance as an immunoglobulin G4 (IgG4)-related disease characterized by bilateral lacrimal and salivary gland swelling. The aetiology of MD and other IgG4-related diseases is still unclear. The present work was performed to study the clonality of infiltrating IgG4-positive plasma cells in lacrimal glands and circulating peripheral blood cells in patients with MD, and compare the clonal relationship between infiltrating and circulating IgG4 positive cells. Total cellular RNA was extracted from the lacrimal glands and peripheral blood in five MD patients. Reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction was performed with primers specific for activation-induced cytidine deaminase (AID) and for Ig VH and IgG4. Sequences of Ig VH were compared with the structure of Ig VH of the lacrimal glands and the peripheral blood cells. AID was expressed to varying degrees in lacrimal glands of all MD patients. Most IgG4-positive cells infiltrating lacrimal glands and in peripheral blood were polyclonal, although several clonally related pairs were detected. In one patient, two of the circulating IgG4 VH4-59 clones shared identical CDR3 sequences with the clones within the lacrimal glands. In conclusion, while most tissue-infiltrating and circulating IgG4-positive cells in MD are polyclonal, some clonally related IgG4 positive cells exist between lacrimal gland and peripheral blood, accounting for the clinical features of MD as an IgG4-related disease involving multiple organs.

Home blood pressure measurements associated with better blood pressure control: the J-HOME study.

The usefulness of self-measurements of blood pressure (BP) at home (home BP measurements) in hypertensive patients has been reported by many studies. Several national guidelines recommend the use of home BP measurements to achieve better hypertension control. The objective of this study was to clarify the association between home BP measurements and hypertension treatment among 2363 essential hypertensive patients taking antihypertensive drugs. Compared to the 543 (23.0%) patients who had not taken home BP measurements, the 1820 (77.0%) patients who had taken home BP measurements were significantly older, included a higher proportion of males, included a higher proportion with a family history of hypertension, took a greater number of antihypertensive drugs and alpha blockers and took antihypertensive drugs more often in the evening. Home BP measurements were associated with significantly better control of home and office BP levels. Compared to patients who had not taken home BP measurements, the adjusted odds ratios for good control of morning home BPs, evening home BPs and office BPs in patients who had taken home BP measurements were 1.46 (95% confidential interval (CI) 1.33-1.57), 1.35 (95% CI 1.21-1.47) and 1.23 (95% CI 1.06-1.37), respectively. Home BP measurements were associated with good hypertensive management. Our findings suggest that it is important that physicians recommend home BP measurements to their patients.