Correlation in Staphylococcus aureus infections between toxic shock syndrome toxin-1 production and clinical feature

Catastrophic stress induced by Hanshin-Awaji earthquake seems to promote rheological deterioration associated with high blood pressure, increased blood viscosity due to hemoconcentration and increased fibrinogen level. These changes lead to prolonged endothelial cell dysfunction demonstrating high levels of von Willebrand factor, tissue type plasminogen activator and plasmin.alpha 2 plasmin inhibitor complex, and accelerate fibrin turnover as the result of a high D-dimer level from the post earthquake period until 4-6 months later. There were remarkable changes in biochemical parameters except for uric acid, BUN, triglyceride level. An increase in these acute changes caused by mental and physical stress might trigger obstructive thrombus in coronary arteries in the elderly after an earthquake. In conclusion, earthquake induced stress could be considered a transient cardiovascular risk factor.