Background: Although oxidative stress by accumulation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in diabetes has become evident, it remains unclear what genes, involved in redox balance, would determine susceptibility for development of atherosclerosis in diabetes. This study evaluated the effect of genetic polymorphism of enzymes producing or responsible for reducing ROS on coronary artery calcification in type 2 diabetes (T2D).

Objective.To evaluate the clinical significance of serum levels of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), angiopoietin-1 (Ang-1), and angiopoietin-2 (Ang-2) in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA).Methods.The subjects were 70 patients with RA. Serum VEGF, Ang-1, and Ang-2 levels were determined by ELISA. As indices of disease activity, serum levels of C-reactive protein (CRP) and matrix metalloprotease (MMP)-3 were examined, and the 28-joint count Disease Activity Score (DAS28)-CRP was calculated. Power Doppler ultrasonography was performed in the bilateral wrists, elbows, shoulders, knees and ankles. The synovial blood flow signals were scored using a 3-grade scale (0–2), and the total of the scores in the 10 joints was regarded as the total signal score (TSS).Results.Serum VEGF level showed significant correlations with serum CRP and MMP-3 levels, DAS28-CRP, and TSS. Serum Ang-1 level showed significant correlations with serum MMP-3 level and DAS28-CRP. Serum Ang-2 level showed significant correlations with serum CRP level and TSS.Conclusion.The serum VEGF level is important as an index of the activity of RA based on angiogenesis and a prognostic factor regarding joint destruction. Serum Ang-1 level may be useful as an index of sustained arthritis based on the maintenance of newly formed vessels. Serum Ang-2 level may reflect a state of marked angiogenesis.

The pathophysiology of fibromyalgia remains unknown. Several reports have recently suggested the novel concept that fibromyalgia is due to the central nervous system becoming hyper-responsive to a peripheral stimulus. The effect of electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) as pain remedication in cases of fibromyalgia without major depressive disorder was studied in a prospective trial lasting three months. All of the patients taking part in the study fulfilled the American College of Rheumatology diagnostic criteria for fibromyalgia. Technetium-99m ethyl cysteinate dimer single photon emission computed tomography was used to assess regional cerebral blood flow (rCBF) before and after a course of ECT. Pain assessment in the patients was undertaken by use of the visual analog scale (VAS) and by evaluation of tender points (TPs). Beck's depression inventory (BDI) was further used to assess depressive mood change in the patients. Our study clearly demonstrated that pain was significantly less severe after ECT, as indicated by the VAS scale for pain and the evaluation of TPs. A further notable observation was that thalamic blood flow was also improved. We conclude that a course of ECT produced notable improvements in both intractable severe pain associated with fibromyalgia and also in terms of thalamic blood flow.

The aim of this experiment was to investigate whether static magnetic fields (SMFs) have cytogenetic effects in mouse bone marrow cells. The frequency of micronuclei was significantly increased by exposure of mice to 3.0 T for 48 and 72 h and 4.7 T for 24, 48 and 72 h. The increase in micronucleus frequency was dose dependent at all times. Micronucleus frequency at 4.7 T was higher than at 3.0 T. We consider that the increased numbers of micronuclei may be attributable to a stress reaction caused by SMFs or a direct clastogenic/spindle disturbance effect of SMFs.

Adenomatous hyperplasia (AH) of the liver is considered a precancerous lesion because hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) has been found in nodules of AH at histologic examination. Contrast material-enhanced ultrasound (US) with intraarterial infusion of carbon dioxide microbubbles was performed in four patients with HCC in AH lesions. In all four patients, a "hyperechoic focus in an area of hypoechoic change" in relation to the adjacent liver was demonstrated, compatible with the minimal vascular change associated with neoplastic transformation and carcinoma development. Because early detection of the minute cancer foci that may develop in an AH nodule is clinically important, this contrast-enhanced US technique may be a useful tool for the detection of these associated lesions.

In our limited population, PDUS was useful for the detection of fasciitis associated with DM, especially in the early stage of disease. The increased blood flow signal as detected by PDUS is involved in angiogenesis accompanying fasciitis in patients with DM.

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High-resolution endoscopic transpapillary ultrasonography of the gallbladder is feasible and safe, and may contribute to the diagnosis of gallbladder diseases, particularly of small polypoid lesions.