Search PubMed⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

A Homma

Publications and source records attributed to A Homma.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed1998

Slowly progressive pure word deafness.

Among the reports of primary progressive aphasia, there are few about patients who exhibited progressive pure word deafness with detailed auditory and radiological examination as well as neuropsychological assessment. We describe a 67-year-old right-handed man who exhibited slowly progressive pure word deafness over a period of 9 years without exhibiting any other cognitive or mental deterioration. Magnetic resonance imaging of his brain revealed generalized cortical atrophy, particularly in the left superior temporal region. Auditory examination revealed severe disability in discriminating each syllable or mora of Japanese words despite adequate auditory acuity. He also showed impairment in temporal auditory discrimination assessed by the click fusion test and the click counting test. His ability to discriminate meaningful environmental sounds was mildly impaired. We discuss the pathophysiology of slowly progressive pure word deafness over a period of many years which was not complicated by other language or cognitive dysfunctions.

Aged↗
PubMed1998

[Public laboratories for vaccine production: a new paradigm].

In Latin America and the Caribbean, public laboratories that produce vaccines have contributed in varying degrees to the control and eradication of vaccine-preventable diseases, and several of them are manufacturing vaccines that are routinely applied in national immunization programs, such as the vaccine against tuberculosis (made with the bacillus of Calmette-Guérin, BCG), the triple vaccine against diphtheriatetanus-pertussis (DTP), tetanus toxoid (TT), the vaccine against measles and the oral vaccine against polio. Thanks to recent scientific strides, one can foresee an important increase in the number of safe and effective vaccines that will be available in the near future for use in routine vaccination programs. However, there are high costs involved in developing such vaccines and in protecting the intellectual property rights involved, and few laboratories in Latin America have the technical capacity to research and develop these vaccines. Such factors will affect the speed with which they are assimilated into vaccination programs in countries of the Region. Currently, public laboratories that manufacture vaccines in the Region are not equipped to compete in this new scenario and run the risk of being completely outmarketed. Thus, they must radically change their style of management and their scientific and technical capabilities, backed by a commitment from governments to improve and strengthen those political and financial aspects that can assure that national laboratories participate in the sustainable supply of vaccines to immunization programs, as well as in researching, developing, and producing new vaccines.

Caribbean Region↗
PubMed1997

Reduced size of right hippocampus in 39- to 80-year-old normal subjects carrying the apolipoprotein E epsilon4 allele.

Hippocampal size on magnetic resonance imaging was compared between normal subjects with the apolipoprotein E (apo E) epsilon4 allele (epsilon4/4, epsilon4/3, and epsilon4/2) and those without the epsilon4 allele (epsilon3/3, epsilon3/2, and epsilon2/2) in the age range of 39-80 years. The Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) scores did not differ between the two groups. The right hippocampal area and its ratio to hemisphere area and intracranial cavity area were significantly smaller in epsilon4 carriers than non-carriers, whereas hemisphere area did not differ between the two groups. These results suggest that as early as their forties, apo E epsilon4 allele carriers have a markedly smaller right hippocampus with no apparent cognitive impairment, which may have some significance in the high prevalence of the epsilon4 allele in Alzheimer's disease as well as other conditions that cause dementia.

Adult↗
PubMed1997

Distribution of capsular types and antimicrobial susceptibility of invasive isolates of Streptococcus pneumoniae in Colombian children. Pneumococcal Study Group in Colombia.

Streptococcus pneumoniae is the leading bacterial cause of childhood pneumonia in the developing world. This study describes the type distribution and antimicrobial susceptibility of invasive pneumococcal isolates from Colombian children and is part of the Sistema Regional de Vacunas (SIREVA), a PAHO regional initiative designed to determine the ideal serotype composition of a protein polysaccharide pneumococcal conjugate vaccine for use in children less than 5 years old in Latin America. In Colombia, during the study period, centres in Bogota, Medellin, and Cali collected 324 S. pneumoniae isolates from invasive diseases, 238 (73.5%) from children under the age of 2. Pneumonia was the clinical diagnosis in 41.3% cases, meningitis in 41%, and sepsis in 11.2%. The seven most frequent types included 14(21.9%), 5(10.5%), 23F(9.6%), 1(9%), 6B(9%), 19F(7.1%), and 6A(6.2%). The frequency of diminished susceptibility to penicillin (DSP) was 12%, with 8.9% of isolates showing intermediate level resistance and 3.1% showing high level resistance. Among DSP isolates, 23% were also resistant to cefotaxime, 33.3% to erythromycin, 48.7% to chloramphenicol, and 74.3% to trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole. Multiple resistance was detected in 59% of the isolates that have DSP. Penicillin resistance was associated with types 23F (53.8%) and 14 (25.6%). These data provides information on capsular types prevalent in Colombia that will not only allow the formulation of an ideal vaccine for the region but also reinforce the need for ongoing regional surveillance.

Anti-Bacterial Agents↗
PubMed1997

[Lipid and lipoprotein profile of Japanese centenarians--high prevalence of hypo beta lipoproteinemia].

To study the relationship between lipids and longevity, we examined the level of serum lipids and apolipoproteins, and the susceptibility of low density lipoprotein (LDL) to oxidation of 45 centenarians (15 men, 30 women, mean age 101.1 +/- 1.4) living in the Tokyo metropolitan area. The average levels of total cholesterol (TC), of LDL-C of high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), and of apolipoproteins A1 and B were significantly lower in centenarians than in healthy middle-aged controls. The frequency of hypobeta-lipoproteinemia (apoB < 60 mg/dl) in centenarians was almost ten times as high as in controls. The time course of copper-mediated LDL, oxidation (assessed by monitoring 234 nm diene absorption (lag time)) did not significantly differ between the two groups. Analysis of LDL subfractions by non-denaturated gradient-gel electrophoresis showed a predominance of large, buoyant LDL particles (pattern A) in 75%, and a predominance of small dense LDL particles (pattern B) in 25% of centenarians. We also assessed activities of daily living (ADL) and cognitive function in the centenarians. Centenarians were divided into two groups according to the median ADL score, and were classified into five groups with a scale clinical dementia. In subjects with good ADL scores, the mean concentration of HDL-3-C was significantly higher than in those with poor ADL scores. Average levels of HDL-C were also significantly lower in subjects with moderate or severe dementia than in those with normal cognitive function. These findings suggest that centenarians have protective phenotypes of lipids and lipoproteins that protect them from atheroscierosis.

Activities of Daily Living↗
PubMed1997

[Tokyo Centenarian Study. 4. Apolipoprotein E phenotype in Japanese centenarians living in the Tokyo Metropolitan area].

To examine the relationship between apolipoprotein E (apoE) phenotype and life span, we measured the frequently of the apoE phenotype and allele in 54 Japanese centenarians who lived in the Tokyo metropolitan area in 1994, 1995, and 1996. The control group consisted of 973 subjects, 883 healthy volunteers who were described previously and 90 healthy people who came to the Keio health consulting center. The apoE phenotypes in the centenarians was 2 E2/E2 (3.7%), 5 E2/E3 (9.3%), 38 E3/E3 (70.4%), and 9 3E/E4 (16.7%). No other phenotype was observed. In the control group, the phenotypes were 2 E2/E2 (0.2%), 57 E2/E3 (5.9%) 712 E3/E3 (73.2%), and 179 E3/E4 (18.4%). The frequency of E2 was higher in the centenarians. The frequencies of the apoE allele in the centenarians and the control subjects were epsilon 2 8.3% vs. 3.5%, epsilon 3 83.3% vs. 85.4%, and epsilon 4 8.3% vs. 10.9%. The frequency of the apoE allele differed significantly between centenarians and control subjects (chi 2 = 6.84, p = 0.033). Levels of serum cholesterol and apolipoprotein B were significantly lower in the E2/E2 + E2/E3 centenarians. Studies of the frequency of the apoE allele in Japanese, French, and Finnish subjects showed that epsilon 2 is more frequent and epsilon 4 is less frequent in centenarians. These data show the apoE phenotype may affect life span: epsilon 2 is positively and epsilon 4 is negatively associated with longevity.

Aged↗
PubMed1997

[Tokyo Centenarian Study. 5. Nutritional status of Japanese centenarians].

To establish the guideline for nutrition in the very old, we analyzed biochemical and hematological data from 45 Japanese centenarians living in Tokyo metropolitan area during 1994 and 1995. Levels of cholesterol, HDL-cholesterol, apolipoprotein A1 and B, albumin, prealbumin in serum were lower than in a control group or lower than the reference range, which indicates that these centenarians were undernourished. RBC counts, hemoglobin, and hematocrit were also low in the centenarians. The concentration of albumin correlated positively with those of HDL-cholesterol and apolipoprotein A1, and negatively with concentration of Lp(a). The value for transferrin correlated positively with energy intake and with the concentration of apolipoprotein A1. The concentration of prealbumin correlated positively with the concentration of hemoglobin, hematocrit and the total cholesterol concentration. According to their nutritional status, the centenarians were divided into 2 groups: well-nourished and undernourished. Those who were well-nourished had higher levels of cholesterol, HDL, Hb, and apolipoprotein A1, their levels of ADL and cognitive function were also high. The findings of blood-chemical data in the centenarians may be partly due to undernutrition. Centenarians who were well-nourished were considered to be aging successfully. These results and others previously published indicate that the concentrations of albumin, prealbumin, transferrin and either CRI or IL-6 are useful for nutritional assessment in the very old.

Aged↗
PubMed1996

Global DTP manufacturing capacity and capability. Status report: January 1995.

A recently completed survey of 63 manufacturers of diphtheria-tetanus-pertussis (DTP) vaccine and its components in 42 countries shows that there is potentially a large excess installed capacity for DTP production. However, many manufacturers are not producing to capacity, and demand and supply for this vaccine are not matched in individual countries. About half of all countries producing DTP vaccine and its components do not have fully functional national control systems, and some countries are performing none of the critical functions for an effective control of quality. Thus, potential for export of excess capacity is limited. The data collected indicate much homogeneity in the preparation of diphtheria and tetanus toxoids. Nearly all manufacturers use the same seeds and similar purification methods, but there is variability in whether purification is done before or after conversion of toxin to toxoid. About 10% of all manufacturers do not meet WHO-defined standards of purity for these toxoids. There is much more heterogeneity in the pertussis seed strains and the methods of purification used. The formulation of DTP vaccine differs considerably among producers. Potency testing is not being done by the WHO-recommended method by about 50% of manufacturers on lots of diphtheria and tetanus toxoids for release. Testing of irreversibility of conversion of toxin to toxoid, a WHO-specified safety test, is also not being done on each lot of diphtheria toxoid by 15% of manufacturers surveyed nor on each lot of tetanus toxoid vaccine by 30% of manufacturers surveyed. Access to technology to develop new DTP-based combination vaccines will be delayed if these manufacturers cannot ensure consistent high quality vaccine for their target populations. The results and conclusions suggest areas for future activities to strengthen the supply and quality of DTP and DTP-based combination vaccines.

Chemistry, Pharmaceutical↗
PubMed1996

Parameters considered in multinational clinical drug trials.

Before evaluating behavioral disturbances of dementia (BDD), several factors should be considered. This includes the patient population, the properties of the rating scales to be used, and the assessor. The frequency of behavioral symptoms appears to vary between countries, making comparisons in multinational studies difficult. These variations may be caused by cultural differences, clinicians' attitudes to behavioral symptoms, and interrater variability. The psychometric properties of a rating scale may be affected by differences in clinicians' attitudes in different countries, which may, in turn, alter the frequency of diagnosis of BDD, causing problems in the interpretation of data in multinational studies. Consideration should be given to all these factors before initiating a multinational clinical trial.

Behavior↗
PubMed1996

Personality, longevity, and successful aging among Tokyo metropolitan centenarians.

The purpose of our study was to examine two hypotheses: 1) that androgyny and Type B behavior are related to longevity; and 2) that personality characteristics associated with longevity may also be related to successful aging. Participants were eighty-two centenarians (37 men and 45 women) who were compared with 605 elderly in their sixties, seventies, and eighties. Both groups were living in the Tokyo metropolitan area. We used the Bem Sex Role Inventory and Bortner Pattern A Behavior Scales to measure personality, and the Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale and Cattell Anxiety Scale to measure successful aging. We found that androgyny was not more prominent among centenarians than masculinity, femininity, or undifferentiated. In fact, more femininity was observed. Additionally, we found that more women were classified as feminine than were men. The results indicated more Type B's among centenarians than among those in their sixties and more women than men showed Type B behavior. Our hypothesis that Type B behavior is related to longevity was supported. We observed lower self-esteem for femininity than for either the masculinity or androgyny. We also observed that anxiety was lower for femininity than masculinity but higher than androgyny among women. Type B women showed lower self-esteem than Type A women. Type B men showed lower anxiety than Type A men. We conclude that femininity is related to longevity and that androgyny may be related to successful aging. Further, we suggest that Type B behavior is associated with longevity, but its relationship to successful aging differs between men and women.

Aged↗
PubMed1996

[P300 findings in patients with corticobasal degeneration].

An auditory discrimination paradigm was employed to elicit the P300 component of the event-related potentials from three patients with clinically diagnosed corticobasal degeneration (CBD). Presenile and senile dementia of Alzheimer type (DAT), vascular dementia (VD) and age-matched control subjects were also examined. All patients with CBD manifested limb kinetic apraxia, hemiparkinsonism and mild dementia. Brain MRI revealed marked parietal atrophy, which was predominant in contralateral to the extremities with severe motor dysfunction. 123I-IMP SPECT analysis showed asymmetric reduction of cerebral blood flow, in accordance with the MRI findings. The P300 latencies in the two CBD patients were markedly prolonged compared to those of DAT and VD patients, although they were not as severely demented as DAT and VD patient. It should be noted that the P300 was not detected in one patient with CBD. The latencies of the N100 were not significantly different among the all groups. These abnormal findings of the P300 may be characteristic in CBD, and, furthermore, may be associated with the parietal lobe atrophy and low blood flow in cortex and thalamus revealed by brain MRI and SPECT.

Aged↗