RESUMEN
BACKGROUND: It is unclear whether infection with hepatitis B virus (HBV) or hepatitis C virus (HCV) affects arteriosclerosis. We performed a cross-sectional study to clarify the effect of HBV and HCV infection on arteriosclerosis. METHODS: The study subjects were 1806 healthy individuals who visited Shimane Environment and Health Public Corporation for routine medical check-ups. Serum levels of total cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein (HDL)-cholesterol, triglycerides, and blood glucose were investigated in all subjects. The degree of arteriosclerosis was assessed using systolic blood pressure, the bilateral ankle brachial index (ABI), the heart-carotid pulse wave velocity (HCPWV), and the heart-ankle PWV (HAPWV). These cardiovascular parameters were compared between control subjects and subjects with HBV and HCV infection, using analysis of covariance to adjust for confounding factors (sex, age, body mass index, and smoking and drinking). RESULTS: Of the 1806 subjects, 39 and 31 were diagnosed as positive for HBV and HCV infection, respectively. The remaining 1736 were considered to be the controls. Adjusted serum lipid levels in the subjects with HBV and those with HCV infection tended to be lower than those in the control subjects. Adjusted arteriosclerotic parameters in the subjects with HBV and HCV infection were similar to those in the control subjects, even after adjusting for serum lipid levels. CONCLUSIONS: Infection with HBV or HCV does not influence the severity of arteriosclerosis in healthy subjects.
Asunto(s)
Arteriosclerosis/virología , Hepatitis B/complicaciones , Hepatitis C/complicaciones , Consumo de Bebidas Alcohólicas , Arteriosclerosis/sangre , Arteriosclerosis/fisiopatología , Presión Sanguínea , Colesterol/sangre , Femenino , Hemodinámica , Hepatitis B/sangre , Hepatitis C/sangre , Humanos , Masculino , Persona de Mediana Edad , Fumar , Triglicéridos/sangreRESUMEN
OBJECTIVE: The frequency of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) has not been fully investigated in the Asian population. The aim of this study was to investigate the prevalence of GERD, endoscopy-negative GERD (NERD), and erosive GERD in Japan, and the factors influencing disease prevalence. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 2760 subjects (mean age 50.4 years, range 24-84 years) were prospectively enrolled in this multicenter study. GERD symptoms were assessed with the Japanese version of the Carlsson-Dent self-administered questionnaire (QUEST) and upper gastrointestinal endoscopy was performed on all study participants. RESULTS: A total of 495 (17.9%) individuals were diagnosed with GERD by the presence of erosive esophagitis at endoscopy and/or by the presence of GERD symptoms. Erosive esophagitis was diagnosed endoscopically in 195 (7.1%), and symptomatic GERD was diagnosed in 351 (12.7%) based on a QUEST score of over 6. Of these 351 subjects, 300 (10.9%) were considered to have NERD. Male gender, hiatal hernia, and mild gastric mucosal atrophy were significant positive predictive factors of erosive esophagitis by multiple regression analysis. Hiatal hernia ws the only significant predictor of GERD symptoms. Traditional Japanese foods, such as sweet cakes and rice cake, frequently exacerbated GERD symptoms. CONCLUSIONS: The prevalence of GERD in the Japanese was 17.9% and the prevalence rates of NERD and erosive esophagitis were 10.9% and 8.6%, respectively. The majority of symptomatic patients did not have endoscopically proven esophagitis. Hiatal hernia is the only important predictor of the presence of GERD symptoms.
Asunto(s)
Endoscopía Gastrointestinal , Esófago/patología , Mucosa Gástrica/patología , Reflujo Gastroesofágico/epidemiología , Adulto , Anciano , Anciano de 80 o más Años , Femenino , Estudios de Seguimiento , Reflujo Gastroesofágico/patología , Humanos , Japón/epidemiología , Masculino , Persona de Mediana Edad , Oportunidad Relativa , Valor Predictivo de las Pruebas , Prevalencia , Estudios Prospectivos , Factores de RiesgoRESUMEN
BACKGROUND: Changes in serum lipid concentrations during the administration of interferon to patients with chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection have not been fully investigated. The present study was designed to compare changes in serum lipid concentrations before, during and after interferon therapy in responders and non-responders to treatment. METHODS: In total, 101 patients with chronic HCV positive hepatitis were enrolled in this study. High dose interferon alpha was given on alternate days for 6 months. Six months after the end of treatment patients were assessed for the presence or absence of HCV RNA to determine the results of interferon treatment. The time courses of changes in serum lipid concentrations were measured in all patients. RESULTS: The total cholesterol level increased gradually during and after interferon therapy, and its pattern of change coincided with that of serum cholinesterase activity. Pretreatment serum cholesterol concentrations did not differ between responders and non-responders to interferon therapy. The serum triglyceride concentration, conversely, showed a sharp increase during interferon administration and returned to its basal level after the end of treatment. Responders to interferon therapy tended to have higher pretreatment triglyceride concentrations than did non-responders. CONCLUSIONS: We clarified that serum cholesterol and triglyceride levels showed different patterns of change during interferon therapy.
Asunto(s)
Antivirales/uso terapéutico , Hepatitis C Crónica/sangre , Hepatitis C Crónica/tratamiento farmacológico , Hiperlipidemias/inducido químicamente , Interferón-alfa/uso terapéutico , Lípidos/sangre , Adolescente , Adulto , Anciano , Niño , Femenino , Hepacivirus/efectos de los fármacos , Hepacivirus/aislamiento & purificación , Humanos , Hiperlipidemias/sangre , Hiperlipidemias/complicaciones , Pruebas de Función Hepática , Masculino , Persona de Mediana Edad , Resultado del TratamientoRESUMEN
A patient with duodenal ulcer and primary hyperparathyroidism was found to have an abnormally high intragastric pH. The pH level returned to normal after surgical removal of the parathyroid adenoma followed by normalization of parathyroid hormone (PTH) and serum calcium concentrations. The patient was positive for Helicobacter pylon (H. pylori) infection. Although the exact mechanism by which chronic hypercalcemia or high PTH level inhibited gastric acid secretion in this case remains unclear, our findings suggest that hypercalcemia may play some role in H. pylori associated gastroduodenal diseases through induction of proinflammatory cytokines or by enhancing the attachment of H. pylori to gastric epithelial cells.