Internal medicine
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The effect of clinical pathway (CP) care and early switch from intravenous to oral antibiotics therapy on community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) has been well documented. However, limited studies have evaluated the effects of CP on reducing time taken for attaining clinical stability and duration of antibiotics prescriptions. This study was aimed to investigate the use of a CP and its implication for CAP in a community hospital. ⋯ Implementation of this CP would lead to effective care, may serve to reduce time for attaining clinical stability and reduce the use of unnecessary antibiotics without worsening clinical outcomes in mild and moderate CAP.
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Reduced glomerular filtration rate (GFR) is a risk factor of cardiovascular diseases. Accurate assessment of GFR together with early and appropriate treatment of chronic kidney disease (CKD) is important. Although the Japanese Society of Nephrology has recently announced two equations (equation 0.741 and equation 194) to estimate GFR for Japanese, the clinically significant estimated GFR (eGFR) in Japanese has not been identified. We examined the clinical significance of eGFR with regard hyperkalemia. ⋯ From the viewpoint of the increase in incidence of hyperkalemia, using an eGFR below 50 mL/min/1.73 m2 as the cutoff has clinical significance when equation 0.741 is used and a cutoff at 60 mL/min/1.73 m2 is appropriate when equation 194 is used.
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The transforming growth factor beta-1 gene (TGFB1) is one of the most promising candidate genes for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Several case-control studies have been performed and generated inconsistent results. The possible reasons for these discrepancies include the diversity of ethnic populations and the heterogeneity of COPD, including emphysema and airway disease. We designed this study to investigate the association of single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of TGFB1 with the emphysema phenotype in the Japanese population. ⋯ One significant haplotype of TGFB1 is associated with the emphysema phenotype in the Japanese population. Two TGFB1 SNPs (rs1800469 and rs1982073) are associated with the severity of COPD in patients with emphysema phenotype.
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Case Reports
Two Japanese CADASIL families exhibiting Notch3 mutation R75P not involving cysteine residue.
Most previously reported mutations in cerebral autosomal dominant arteriopathy with subcortical infarcts and leukoencephalopathy (CADASIL) result in an odd number of cysteine residues within the epidermal growth factor (EGF)-like repeats in Notch3. We report here R75P mutation in two Japanese CADASIL families not directly involving cysteine residues located within the first EGF-like repeats. Probands in both families had repeated episodes of stroke, depression, dementia as well as T2 high-intensity lesions in the basal ganglia and periventricular white matter, but fewer white matter lesions in the temporal pole on MRI. These families provide new insights into the diagnosis and pathomechanisms of CADASIL.
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Pheochromocytoma is a rare, catecholamine-secreting tumor. The classic symptoms are headache, diaphoresis, and tachycardia with paroxysmal hypertension. ⋯ They were diagnosed with pheochromocytoma and underwent laparoscopic adrenectomy that restored cardiac function. These cases illustrate diagnostic and management considerations in pheochromocytoma complicated by acute myocarditis and cardiogenic shock.