Internal medicine
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Objective We recently reported a novel score for the detection of glomerular filtration rate (GFR) overestimation using a creatinine-based equation. We examined the utility of this score in patients with cardiovascular/renal diseases and diabetes mellitus. Methods We enrolled 1,425 patients (65±15 years old; 37% women) who were admitted to our hospital for the management of cardiovascular and renal diseases and their risk factors. ⋯ The score predicted OE with a sensitivity of 70.8% and a specificity of 99.6%, and the sensitivity was increased in patients ≥75 years old (88.3%) and decreased in diabetics (58.6%). When patients were divided into subgroups by the total score, the frequencies of OE were 8% (59/754), 14% (72/502), 38% (58/151), and 72% (13/18) in patients with scores of 0, 1, 2, and 3, respectively. Conclusion The OE score is useful for detecting elderly cases of cardiovascular and renal diseases in which eGFRcre overestimates the GFR, although its utility is limited in diabetics.
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Objective Helicobacter pylori antibody kits using the latex immunoassay (LIA) are widely used in Japan. However, the optimal cut-off of the LIA remains unclear. This study clarified the optimal cut-off of the LIA for assessing the current infection status of patients (currently infected, never infected, spontaneously eradicated) in clinical practice. ⋯ When applying the cut-off of 4 U/mL to the judgment of current infection in all subjects, the sensitivity and specificity were 92.1% and 92.6%, respectively. Conclusion Our findings suggest that 4 U/mL was the optimal cut-off for differentiating current infection from no prior infection, and the value may be stable because of the exclusion of subjects with spontaneous eradication. The cut-off may be useful in initial screening for current H. pylori infection.
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Nontuberculous mycobacterial (NTM) infections are an emerging problem. Common organisms include Mycobacterium avium, M. intracellulare, and M. kansasii, along with the M. avium intracellulare complex (MAC), which includes both M. avium and M. intracellulare. Typically, NTM infections affect the lungs and subsequently demonstrate a chronic course. ⋯ Because NTM are ubiquitous environmental organisms, a positive culture from a minimum of two separate expectorated sputum samples are required to make a diagnosis. The repertoire of effective drugs for treatment is considerably limited, indicating the need for long-term management with multiple drugs. Establishing a treatment regimen with high therapeutic efficacy and safety is an important issue for the future.
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Objective We investigated the relationship between the amount and frequency of fish intake, and the white blood cell (WBC) count and aerobic exercise habits. Methods We conducted a cross-sectional study between April 2019 and March 2020 at the Health Planning Center of Nihon University Hospital on a cohort of 8,981 male subjects. Results The average amount and frequency of fish intake were 134±85 g/week and 2.14±1.28 days/week, respectively. ⋯ Therefore, the amount of fish intake could be substituted by the average number of days of fish intake per week. Conclusion A high fish intake was an independent determinant of a low WBC count and engagement in regular aerobic exercise, regardless of whether the fish intake was defined by the amount or frequency of fish intake. However, since fish intake frequency can be measured more easily, this may be used to measure the fish intake.