Microalbuminuria, an indicator of glomerular injury, is associated with increased risk of progressive renal deterioration, cardiovascular disease, and mortality. However, the prevalence of microalbuminuria in Japanese general population is less certain. Thus, we examined the prevalence of microalbuminuria and its associated risk factors in Japan. Subjects of this cross-sectional study were asymptomatic individuals over 40 years in Takahata, Japan. Urine albumin-creatinine ratio was calculated from a single-spot urine specimen collected in the morning. Creatinine clearance (CCr) was obtained by Cockcroft-Gault equation. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was used to determine which risk factors (i.e., age, hypertension, diabetes, obesity, and salt intake) might predict the presence of microalbuminuria. A total of 2321 subjects (mean age, 64 years; men, 1034; women, 1287) were entered into the final analysis. Among them, the prevalence of microalbuminuria, macroalbuminuria, and proteinuria by dipstick test (> or = 1+) were 317 (13.7%), 39 (1.7%), and 103 (4.4%), respectively. Age, hypertension, and diabetes were independently associated with microalbuminuria in men. In addition to the classical risk factors detected in men, estimated 24-h urinary sodium excretion and uric acid were also independently associated with microalbuminuria in women. Among the 668 subjects with renal insufficiency (CCr <60 ml/min/1.73 m(2)), the prevalence of microalbuminuria and macroalbuminuria were 119 (17.8%) and 18 (2.7%), respectively. In conclusion, microalbuminuria is prevalent across all age groups and is associated with lifestyle-related risk factors in Japanese general population. However, there are a substantial number of subjects with renal insufficiency accompanying no microalbuminuria.

There has been much recent interest and development of methods to accurately measure the current distribution in an operating polymer electrolyte fuel cell ͑PEFC͒. This paper presents results from a novel technique that uses a segmented flow field with standard, nonaltered membrane electrode assemblies and gas diffusion layers. Multiple current measurements are taken simultaneously with a multichannel potentiostat, providing high-resolution temporal and spatial distribution data. Current distribution data are shown that display the distributed effects of cathode stoichiometry variation and transient flooding on local current density. It is shown that the time scale for liquid accumulation in gas diffusion layer pores is much greater than that of any electrochemical or gas-phase species transport process. In order to facilitate state-of-the-art PEFC model validation, an idealized single-pass serpentine flow field was used, and the exact geometry is presented.

Trace proteinuria could be a useful indicator of microalbuminuria in the general population, and especially in subjects at high risk of cardiovascular disease.

Active sites for oxygen reduction were investigated at the interface of 02/La09Sr0 1MnO3_ (LSM)/yttria-stabilized zirconia (YSZ). Isotopic oxygen (160/110) exchange under cathodic polarization and secondary-ion mass spectrometry (SIMS) analysis were examined to visualize the oxygen reduction active sites. The LSM mesh pattern electrode was prepared to define the contact area of LSM/YSZ. Under cathodic polarization, oxygen can diffuse through the dense LSM via oxygen vacancy, which promotes the electrode reaction. By SIMS imaging technique, the active sites for oxygen reduction were clearly determined as spots around the 02/LSM/YSZ three-phase boundary. The line analysis of the SIMS image enabled us to draw a contour map of the 180 concentration in the cross section of YSZ. The diffusion paths were clearly visualized in the contour map. The width of the active sites for oxygen reduction is estimated to be less than 1 J.m under the examined condition.

Objective