Although both thyroid function and skipping breakfast influence circadian rhythms, no study has yet examined an association between subclinical hypothyroidism (SCH) and breakfast skipping in the middle-aged to elderly population. This cross-sectional study included 1,725 Japanese individuals aged 40-74 with normal free triiodothyronine and free thyroxine levels. Skipping breakfast more than three times a week is defined as having a habit of skipping breakfast. Logistic regression models were used to calculate odds ratios (ORs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for the association between SCH and breakfast skipping. Analyses were stratified according to the thyroid cyst status, as the absence of thyroid cysts may indicate latent thyroid damage. Among the study population, 564 individuals had thyroid cysts, and 98 had SCH. In the overall analysis, a positive association was observed between SCH and skipping breakfast, though statistical significance was not reached (the potential confounder-adjusted OR: 1.47, 95% CI: 0.77-2.82). However, when analyses were restricted to individuals without thyroid cysts, the association became significant (adjusted OR: 2.26, 95% CI: 1.13-4.51). Skipping breakfast is significantly associated with SCH in individuals without thyroid cysts. While further research is warranted, these findings suggest that breakfast skipping may contribute to latent thyroid dysfunction.
Abstract Background Previous study has shown that height loss (defined as the highest quartile of height loss per year) was inversely associated with serum albumin levels. Furthermore, comparatively healthy hyponutrition has been linked with being underweight; as such, underweight might be inversely associated with serum albumin levels and positively associated with height loss. Methods To clarify the associations between serum albumin level, underweight status, and height loss, we conducted a retrospective study of 8,096 men over 4.0 years (median). Results Serum albumin level at baseline was inversely associated with being underweight (body mass index [BMI]: < 18.5 kg/m2) at baseline and height loss. The known cardiovascular risk factor adjusted odds ratio (OR) and 95% confidence interval (CI) of underweight at baseline and of height loss for 1 standard deviation increment of serum albumin (0.28 g/dL) was 0.79 (0.70, 0.90) and 0.84 (0.80, 0.88). Underweight was also shown to be positively associated with height loss: with the reference of normal-low weight (BMI: 18.5–22.9 kg/m2), the adjusted OR (95% CI) was 1.60 (1.21, 2.10). Conclusion Comparative healthy hyponutrition, which is related to low serum albumin levels and being underweight, is a significant risk factor for height loss among Japanese men. These results help to clarify the mechanisms underlying height loss.
Mycobacterium tuberculosis ( Mtb ) strains of Beijing lineage have caused great concern because of their rapid emergence of drug resistance and worldwide spread. DNA mutation rates that reflect evolutional adaptation to host responses and the appearance of drug resistance have not been elucidated in human-infected Beijing strains. We tracked and obtained an original Mtb isolate of Beijing lineage from the 1999 tuberculosis outbreak in Japan, as well as five other isolates that spread in humans, and two isolates from the patient caused recurrence. Three isolates were from patients who developed TB within one year after infection (rapid-progressor, RP), and the other three isolates were from those who developed TB more than one year after infection (slow-progressor, SP). We sequenced genomes of these isolates and analyzed the propensity and rate of genomic mutations. Generation time versus mutation rate curves were significantly higher for RP. The ratio of oxidative versus non-oxidation damages induced mutations was higher in SP than RP, suggesting that persistent Mtb are exposed to oxidative stress in the latent state. Our data thus demonstrates that higher mutation rates of Mtb Beijing strains during human infection is likely to account for the higher adaptability and an emergence ratio of drug resistance.
Mycobacterium triplex (M. triplex) is a bacterial species that can cause severe pulmonary diseases. Despite its clinical importance, only a few cases of M. triplex infection have been reported. Here, we present a rare case of pulmonary disease due to M. triplex in an immunocompetent patient who showed abnormal findings on chest X-ray and computed tomography scans. In this patient, the bacterium was identified by DNA sequencing analysis of the 16S rRNA and hsp65 genes. The patient was successfully treated with the appropriate antimicrobial agents. To put this case into the context of the current literature, we also reviewed other case reports of M. triplex infection.
