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The present study examined factors in subjects diagnosed with hyperglycemia during periodic medical checkups. In total, 9,324 subjects (males: 4,532, females: 4,792) visited the Takagi Hospital for medical checkups in 2019. Eighty-two subjects (59 males) whose fasting blood glucose exceeded 126 mg/dl for the first time during the annual or biannual follow-up were included. Sex- and age-matched controls were used. Data from cases with hyperglycemia were compared to data from themselves one or two years before hyperglycemia. Body mass index (BMI), waist circumference, fatty liver, and blood pressure were higher in cases than in controls. Fasting blood glucose and hemoglobin A1c were higher in cases. Blood test results indicated that triglyceride, low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol, aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), and γ-glutamyl transpeptidase (γ-GTP), were significantly enhanced in cases. Multiple logistic regression analysis revealed that BMI, waist circumference, blood pressure, triglyceride, ALT, and γ-GTP were significant independent risk factors for cases with hyperglycemia. These risk factors were already enhanced in the cases of themselves in one or two years before hyperglycemia. In conclusion, BMI, waist circumference, blood pressure, and fatty liver indicated by ALT and γ-GTP were exacerbated concomitant with hyperglycemia, and increases in these factors preceded hyperglycemia., Competing Interests: No potential conflicts of interest were disclosed., (Copyright © 2024 JCBN.)

This study aimed to evaluate gender differences of hemodialysis patients in adverse events, gastrointestinal bleeding, and bone fractures during 5 year longitudinal follow-up period in the regional core hospital in Japan. This study included 151 patients with maintenance hemodialysis for end-stage renal failure at Takagi Hospital in December 2017. All the patients, divided into females-group of 61 and males-group of 90. Data were evaluated in the electronic medical record. Multivariate analysis indicated a decrease in diabetes mellitus (odd ratio: 2.3, 95% confidence interval: 1.1-4.8, p  = 0.03) and less mortality in those younger than 75 years old (odd ratio: 0.2, 95% confidence interval: 0.1-0.8, p  = 0.02) were characterized factors in females. Gastrointestinal bleeding were not different between genders. Bone fractures were high in females (females: 34.4% vs males: 18.9%; p <0.03), whereas the mortality rate of bone fractured patients was markedly high in males (females: 28.6% vs males: 76.5%; p  = 0.003) with lower body bone fractures. In conclusion, diabetes mellitus-induced end-stage renal failure was less common in females. The mortality rate during hemodialysis was higher in males less than 75 years old with increased mortality with lower bone fractures., Competing Interests: No potential conflicts of interest were disclosed., (Copyright © 2024 JCBN.)

Introduction: The objective of the current study was to investigate the association between lower body bone fractures occurring during maintenance hemodialysis and prognosis., Methods: This study included 151 hemodialysis patients at the dialysis center of our hospital as of December 2017, and data were systematically gathered from medical records over a period of 5 years, concluding in December 2022., Results: Fourteen patients, 3.0 per 100 person-years, in 151 hemodialysis patients suffered from lower body bone fractures. The ratio of males was significantly lower, and age was significantly higher in the lower body bone fracture group than in the no lower body bone fracture group. Duration of hemodialysis prior to entry into this study was significantly shorter in the lower body bone fracture group than in the no lower body bone fracture group. Serum albumin was significantly lower and alkaline phosphatase was significantly higher in the lower body bone fracture group than in the no lower body bone fracture group. Mortality rate was significantly higher in the lower body bone fracture group (85.7%) compared to no lower body bone fracture group (28.5%) (p = 0.01). Kaplan-Meier survival curves for mortality showed that lower body bone fracture group had poor prognosis compared to no lower body bone fracture group. Multivariable-adjusted odds ratio for mortality were significantly higher for cases with lower body bone fractures., Conclusion: Lower body bone fractures have high mortality rates and poor prognosis in the patients with hemodialysis., (© 2024 International Society for Apheresis and Japanese Society for Apheresis.)

We conducted a retrospective case-control study to assess the efficacy of personalized health guidance interventions on individuals with type 2 diabetes mellitus and obesity. A selection was made of individuals in regular visits to the Takagi Hospital for medical checkups between January 2017, and October 2021. Totally, 108 subjects (cases) with health guidance were divided into 2 groups: one group without pharmacotherapy for diabetes mellitus in medical institutions ( n  = 92) and another group with pharmacotherapy ( n  = 116). Cases were provided with personalized health guidance interventions by public health nurses for 30 min, in accordance with the Japanese clinical guidelines for the prevention of lifestyle-related diseases. Sex- and age-matched controls were chosen from individuals with diabetes mellitus without health guidance. The intervention without pharmacotherapy resulted in improvements in health indicators, including body weight, waist circumference, diastolic blood pressure, triglyceride levels, and γ-glutamyl trans-peptidase. These positive effects were not observed in the control group without health guidance. The therapeutic effects of health guidance were observed in cases where pharmacotherapy was administered. In conclusion, the implementation of individual health guidance interventions may prove to be effective for individuals with type 2 diabetes mellitus and obesity who regularly attend medical checkups., Competing Interests: No potential conflicts of interest were disclosed., (Copyright © 2024 JCBN.)

Gastrointestinal bleeding is one serious complication of patients undergoing hemodialysis with end-stage renal failure. The present study aimed to evaluate risks and clinical features of real-world clinical data on upper and lower gastrointestinal bleeding in patients undergoing hemodialysis during a 5-year longitudinal observation period. This study included 151 patients undergoing maintenance hemodialysis at Takagi Hospital between December 2017 and December 2022. Clinical data from December 2017 were recorded, and upper and lower gastrointestinal bleeding, mortality, prescribed medications, and bone fractures were examined during the five-year observation period. Of 151 patients, 32 (21.2%:4.2% per year) experienced bleeding, 24 had upper gastrointestinal bleeding, 7 had lower gastrointestinal bleeding, and one had an unknown origin of bleeding. Ulcers or erosions primarily cause upper gastrointestinal bleeding without Helicobacter pylori infection, whereas patients with H pylori eradication are more likely to experience bleeding caused by vascular lesions, often accompanied by underlying comorbidities. The prophylactic effects of proton pump inhibitors and histamine-2 receptor blockers were limited in hemodialysis patients, as 15 out of 24 patients with upper gastrointestinal bleeding (62.5%) were prescribed these medications. The mortality rate in patients with lower gastrointestinal bleeding (71.4%) was higher than that in those without bleeding (33.6%) (P < .05). All patients with lower gastrointestinal bleeding were prescribed nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and/or aspirin. In this study, endoscopic hemostasis was successfully achieved. The present study indicated that the incidence of gastrointestinal bleeding during hemodialysis was relatively high. Upper gastrointestinal bleeding may develop even with the prescription of proton pump inhibitors. Lower gastrointestinal bleeding was a complication in hemodialysis patients under serious pathological condition with nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and or aspirin., Competing Interests: The authors have no funding and conflicts of interest to disclose., (Copyright © 2024 the Author(s). Published by Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc.)

Objective We analyzed adverse events retrospectively during a three-year follow-up of patients undergoing hemodialysis at the dialysis center of our general hospital that can treat comprehensive diseases and conducted an exploratory study focusing on the risk factors that determine the prognosis of hemodialysis patients. Methods A total of 132 hemodialysis patients at our dialysis center as of June 2017 were included in the study. Data on event incidence, including death and various clinical indicators, were collected in the electronic medical record for three years until June 2020. Results Between June 2017 and June 2020, 33 of the 132 patients died. The mortality group had a lower body mass index (BMI) and a longer duration of hemodialysis already carried out with more preexisting upper gastrointestinal (GI) bleeding, infections, ischemic heart disease (IHD), and malignancy than the survival group. Furthermore, the mortality group took more warfarin, aspirin, proton pump inhibitors and less H 2 blockers than the survival group. Occurrence of upper or lower GI bleeding was similar between the mortality and survival groups. In a univariate analysis for mortality, the odds ratio was significantly higher for a low BMI (<18), long duration of hemodialysis, history of upper GI bleeding, and presence of IHD. Multivariable-adjusted odds ratios for mortality were significantly higher for cases with a history of upper GI bleeding and BMI <18. Conclusion A history of upper GI bleeding and low BMI may be poor prognostic factors of hemodialysis patients. Careful management of upper GI bleeding and a low BMI are required during the initiation of hemodialysis.

The present retrospective study aimed to examine the real-world data regarding time-dependent changes in the age distribution of patients with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) as well as the severity and infectivity in a regional core hospital in Japan. Patients with COVID-19 who visited the fever outpatient branch in Takagi Hospital during phase I (May 1 to December 31, 2021), and during phase II (January 1 to April 30, 2022) were evaluated. The age distribution of outpatients and the characteristics of inpatients aged > 75 years were compared between phases I and II. The age distribution of outpatients shifted from the older generation in phase I to the younger generation in phase II (p < 0.01). Disease severity might be reduced in a time-dependent manner with a decrease in the hospitalization rate (phase I: 145/368 (39.4%); phase II: 104/1496 (7.0%); p < 0.01) and mortality rate (phase I: 10/368 (2.7%); phase II: 7/1496 (0.5%); p < 0.01). The number of patients increased in phase II (374.0/month) compared to that in phase I (36.8/month). Regarding the older inpatients, the disease severity of COVID-19 and hospitalization days were reduced in phase II compared to those in phase I (p < 0.01, each). In conclusion, the present study suggests a change in the age distribution of patients with COVID-19, a decrease in toxicity, and an increase in infectivity of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 in a time-dependent manner.

We retrospectively analyzed major cardiovascular events (MACE), a composite of cardiac death, nonfatal myocardial infarction, unplanned revascularization, heart failure leading to hospitalization, and stroke during a 3-year follow-up of patients with hemodialysis at the dialysis center of our general hospital that can treat comprehensive diseases. Moreover, we conducted an exploratory study that focuses on the risk factor for MACE in patients with hemodialysis.A total of 132 patients with hemodialysis at our dialysis center as of June 2017 were included in the study. Data on event incidence, including death and various clinical indicators, were collected in the electronic medical record for three years until June 2020. Between June 2017 and June 2020, of the 132 patients with hemodialysis, 31 patients experienced MACE (10 cardiovascular deaths, 3 nonfatal myocardial infarction, 11 unplanned revascularizations, 5 heart failure leading to hospitalization, and 2 stroke). The patients with MACE had a lower body mass index (BMI), longer duration of dialysis with more preexisting gastrointestinal (GI) bleeding, and took more aspirin compared to the MACE-free patients. Malnutrition markers (serum total protein, serum albumin, and serum total cholesterol) were similar in both groups. In a univariate analysis for MACE, the odds ratio was significantly higher for BMI < 18.5, duration of hemodialysis, and history of GI bleeding. Multivariable-adjusted odds ratios for MACE were significantly higher for BMI < 18.5.In conclusion, BMI < 18.5 without malnutrition may be an independent risk factor for MACE in patients with hemodialysis.

The present study aimed to reveal; i) risk for prolonged hospitalization and mortality in aged community acquired pneumonia patients, and ii) whether swallowing ability was related to re-hospitalization. The present retrospective study included 92 patients older than 75 years hospitalized with community acquired pneumonia in Takagi Hospital between April 2017 and March 2018. The patients were classified into 3 groups; discharged within 17 days (group I): hospitalized more than 18 days (group II): died during the hospitalization (group III). Swallowing ability was evaluated if available. Univariate analysis indicated males and body mass index (BMI) in group I ( n  = 24) were higher than group II ( n  = 46). Group III ( n  = 22) had low serum albumin, low BMI, and severe disease progression compared with group I. Multivariate analysis demonstrated that group II BMI was lower than group I [odds ratio (OR) = 1.18, p  = 0.042]. Group III had lower serum albumin level compared with group I (OR = 81.01, p  = 0.025). Diabetes mellitus ( p  = 0.009), but not swallowing disability, was risk for readmission. Malnutrition represented by low albumin enhanced mortality rate in the pneumonia patients, and low BMI and diabetes mellitus might increase the pneumonia risk., Competing Interests: No potential conflicts of interest were disclosed., (Copyright © 2020 JCBN.)