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Biomedical subjects

E Morita

Publications and source records attributed to E Morita.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2006

Psychological effects of forest environments on healthy adults: Shinrin-yoku (forest-air bathing, walking) as a possible method of stress reduction.

OBJECTIVES: Shinrin-yoku (walking and/or staying in forests in order to promote health) is a major form of relaxation in Japan; however, its effects have yet to be completely clarified. The aims of this study were: (1) to evaluate the psychological effects of shinrin-yoku in a large number of participants; and (2) to identify the factors related to these effects. METHODS: Four hundred and ninety-eight healthy volunteers took part in the study. Surveys were conducted twice in a forest on the same day (forest day) and twice on a control day. Outcome measures were evaluated using the Multiple Mood Scale-Short Form (hostility, depression, boredom, friendliness, wellbeing and liveliness) and the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory A-State Scale. Statistical analyses were conducted using analysis of variance and multiple regression analyses. RESULTS: Hostility (P<0.001) and depression (P<0.001) scores decreased significantly, and liveliness (P=0.001) scores increased significantly on the forest day compared with the control day. The main effect of environment was also observed with all outcomes except for hostility, and the forest environment was advantageous. Stress levels were shown to be related to the magnitude of the shinrin-yoku effect; the higher the stress level, the greater the effect. CONCLUSIONS: This study revealed that forest environments are advantageous with respect to acute emotions, especially among those experiencing chronic stress. Accordingly, shinrin-yoku may be employed as a stress reduction method, and forest environments can be viewed as therapeutic landscapes. Therefore, customary shinrin-yoku may help to decrease the risk of psychosocial stress-related diseases, and evaluation of the long-term effects of shinrin-yoku is warranted.

Adult↗
PubMed2005

Identification of relevant ICF categories for indication, intervention planning and evaluation of health resort programs: a Delphi exercise.

Health resort programs have a long tradition, mainly in European countries and Japan. They rely on local resources and the physical environment, physical medicine interventions and traditional medicine to optimise functioning and health. Arguably because of the long tradition, there is only a limited number of high-quality studies that examine the effectiveness of health resort programs. Specific challenges to the evaluation of health resort programs are to randomise the holistic approach with a varying number of specific interventions but also the reliance on the effect of the physical environment. Reference standards for the planning and reporting of health resort studies would be highly beneficial. With the International Classification of Functioning Disability and Health (ICF), we now have such a standard that allows us to describe body functions and structures, activities and participation and interaction with environmental factors. A major challenge when applying the ICF in practice is its length. Therefore, the objective of this project was to identify the ICF categories most relevant for health resort programs. We conducted a consensus-building, three-round, e-mail survey using the Delphi technique. Based on the consensus of the experts, it was possible to come up with an ICF Core Set that can serve as reference standards for the indication, intervention planning and evaluation of health resort programs. This preliminary ICF Core Set should be tested in different regions and in subsets of health resort visitors with varying conditions.

Activities of Daily Living↗
PubMed2005

Prevalence of atopic dermatitis in Japanese elementary schoolchildren.

BACKGROUND: Although there have been several reports on the prevalence of atopic dermatitis (AD) in Japanese schoolchildren based on questionnaires, there has been no nation-wide study of the frequency of this condition diagnosed by dermatologists in regular health check-ups of schoolchildren. OBJECTIVES: The objective of this work was to evaluate precisely the prevalence of AD in elementary schoolchildren in Japan based on regular health check-ups by dermatologists. METHODS: In 2001/2, elementary schoolchildren: first graders (age 6-7 years) and sixth graders (age 11-12 years) were examined by dermatologists in eight prefectures of Japan (Hokkaido, Iwate, Tokyo, Gifu, Osaka, Hiroshima, Kochi and Fukuoka). In each prefecture, public elementary schools were randomly selected from urban and rural districts. We planned to examine about 700 schoolchildren in each of urban first, urban sixth, rural first and rural sixth grades from the eight areas, a total of 22 400 children (700 x 4 x 8). AD was diagnosed by the dermatologists based on the Japanese Dermatological Association criteria for the disease. RESULTS: The point prevalence of AD was 11.2% overall (2664 of 23 719) ranging from 7.4% (Iwate) to 15.0% (Fukuoka) in the eight areas. Seventy-four per cent, 24%, 1.6% and 0.3% of those afflicted were in the mild, moderate, severe and very severe groups, respectively. Overall, the prevalence of first graders was slightly higher than that of sixth graders (11.8% vs. 10.5%, P < 0.01). There was no apparent difference in prevalence between urban and rural districts, or between boys and girls. CONCLUSIONS: The prevalence of AD in Japanese elementary schoolchildren was about 10%, three-quarters of those being mildly affected. This is the first nation-wide study made of Japanese elementary schoolchildren examined by dermatologists to evaluate the frequency of AD.

Child↗
PubMed2005

Exercise and aspirin increase levels of circulating gliadin peptides in patients with wheat-dependent exercise-induced anaphylaxis.

BACKGROUND: Food-dependent exercise-induced anaphylaxis (FDEIA) is an allergic reaction characteristically induced by intense exercise combined with the ingestion of causative food. Recent reports have shown that aspirin intake is a contributing factor in some patients with FDEIA. Wheat is known to be the most frequent causative food, and the IgE-binding epitopes of a major wheat allergen (omega-5 gliadin) in wheat-dependent exercise induced anaphylaxis (WDEIA) have already been clarified. However, the mechanism of eliciting the symptom in WDEIA remains not fully understood. OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to examine the relationship of serum gliadin levels and allergic symptoms induced by exercise or aspirin in patients with WDEIA. METHODS: Six patients with a history of recurrent anaphylaxis associated with wheat ingestion were diagnosed as having WDEIA by the provocation test, which included wheat ingestion, exercise, aspirin intake and a combination of these challenges. During the tests, serum levels of gliadins were monitored by gliadin-specific sandwich ELISA. The effects of exercise and aspirin on serum gliadin levels were also investigated in four healthy subjects. RESULTS: Immunoreactive gliadins appeared in the sera of patients during the provocation test with both wheat-exercise and wheat-aspirin challenges in parallel with allergic symptoms. Serum gliadin levels also increased under the two same challenge conditions in the healthy subjects, although they exhibited no allergic symptoms. However, low levels of gliadin were detected in the sera of both patients and healthy subjects when challenged with wheat alone. CONCLUSION: We demonstrated for the first time that blood gliadin levels correlate with clinical symptoms induced by exercise and aspirin in patients with WDEIA. These findings suggest that exercise and aspirin facilitate allergen absorption from the gastrointestinal tract.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2005

Predominant presence of Streptococcus anginosus in the saliva of alcoholics.

Chronic alcohol consumption is known to be a major risk factor for cancers of the upper aerodigestive tract. The incidence of esophageal cancer (4.4%) in alcoholics is reported to be much higher than that in the Japanese population as a whole (0.0001%). This suggests the presence of specific factors in chronic alcohol consumption-related carcinogenesis. Recently, data showing a significant correlation between Streptococcus anginosus and carcinogenesis in the upper aerodigestive tract have been reported. In this study, the ratio of S. anginosus to oral bacteria in the saliva of 38 alcoholic patients was investigated to determine if there is an association between alcoholic patients and S. anginosus infection. The level of S. anginosus in the saliva from 22 healthy people, 41 esophageal cancer patients, 32 gastritis patients, and 24 periodontitis patients was also investigated and compared to the level in alcoholic patients. In the saliva from esophageal cancer patients, the level of S. anginosus was not significantly different from that of healthy people. The levels of S. anginosus in periodontitis and gastritis patients were also similar. In alcoholics, however, there was an extremely high level of S. anginosus, suggesting that they, rather than healthy people and general esophageal cancer patients, have a high risk for S. anginosus infection.

Adult↗
PubMed2004

Molecular analysis of age-related changes of Streptococcus anginosus group and Streptococcus mitis in saliva.

The purpose of this study was to survey the prevalence of streptococcal species, especially Streptococcus anginosus (which has been reported to be associated with cancer in the upper digestive tract), Streptococcus constellatus, and Streptococcus intermedius in the saliva of different age groups. A sequence analysis of 16S rDNA was performed and DNA quantified using real-time polymerase chain reaction. The S. anginosus level increased with age, whereas the levels of S. constellatus and S. intermedius did not change. Streptococcus mitis was the predominant species in the saliva of all the age groups but, unlike the S. anginosus, the proportion of S. mitis in the salivary bacteria decreased with age. The increase in S. anginosus with age should be carefully monitored because of its association with diseases, including cancer.

Adult↗
PubMed2003

Fast omega-gliadin is a major allergen in wheat-dependent exercise-induced anaphylaxis.

BACKGROUND: Wheat-dependent exercise-induced anaphylaxis is an anaphylaxy induced by physical exercise after ingestion of wheat. An immediate-type hypersensitivity to water/salt-insoluble fraction of wheat proteins (gluten) has been considered to underlie in this disease. OBJECTIVE: The aim of the study is to determine the major allergen in Japanese patients with wheat-dependent exercise-induced anaphylaxis by using a panel of purified wheat gliadins and glutenins. METHODS: Water/salt-insoluble wheat proteins, alpha-gliadin, beta-gliadin, gamma-gliadin, fast omega-gliadin, slow omega-gliadin, high molecular weight glutenin and low molecular weight glutenin, were purified, and five patients with wheat-dependent exercise-induced anaphylaxis, whose diagnose had been determined by positive-challenge test, were evaluated for skin prick test, dot-blotting test and CAP-RAST inhibition test by using these purified wheat proteins. RESULTS: The fast omega-gliadin was the most potent allergen among these water/salt-insoluble proteins when evaluated by skin prick test and dot-blotting test. Fast and slow omega-gliadin, and gamma-gliadin caused dose-dependent inhibition of the serum IgE-binding to solid-phase gluten in the patients. The incubation with fast omega-gliadin of the patient's serum caused dose-dependent inhibition in the IgE-binding to gamma-gliadin as well as slow omega-gliadin, indicating a cross-reactivity of these proteins in IgE-binding. CONCLUSION: We concluded that fast omega-gliadin is a major allergen among these water/salt-insoluble proteins for wheat-dependent exercise-induced anaphylaxis in Japanese patients, and IgE against fast omega-gliadin cross-reacts to gamma-gliadin and slow omega-gliadin.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2001

The IL-6 family cytokines, interleukin-6, interleukin-11, oncostatin M, and leukemia inhibitory factor, enhance mast cell growth through fibroblast-dependent pathway in mice.

Mast cell hyperplasia is observed in various inflammatory skin diseases. Although the mechanisms involved in the pathogenesis of these conditions remains largely uninvestigated, it is speculated that mediators produced in the lesional skin provide a favorable microenvironment for mast cell growth. Among the proinflammatory mediators, leukemia inhibitory factor (LIF), which shares a receptor component (gp130 subunit) with interleukin-6 (IL-6), has been identified as a mast cell growth-enhancing factor produced by cells of the keratinocyte-derived cell line (KCMH-1). In this study, we investigated the effect of four IL-6 family cytokines, IL-6, IL-11, oncostatin M (OSM) and LIF on mast cell growth in a mast cell/fibroblast co-culture system. When mouse bone marrow-derived cultured mast cells (BMMC) were maintained on a NIH/3T3 fibroblast monolayer, these cytokines induced proliferation of the mast cells, but none of the cytokines had any effect on mast cell proliferation in the absence of fibroblasts. mRNA for gp130 and receptors for the four IL-6 family cytokines were detected in NIH/3T3 fibroblasts by reverse transcriptase-mediated polymerase chain reaction. In contrast, only mRNA for the IL-11 receptor and gp130 were detected in BMMC. Tyrosine phosphorylation of gp130 was observed in NIH/3T3 fibroblasts after stimulation with all the cytokines. Some IL-6 family cytokines enhanced the production of stem cell factor (SCF), a potent mast cell growth factor, from NIH/3T3 fibroblasts, but the amount of SCF produced by NIH/3T3 fibroblasts was not paralleled by the mast cell growth-enhancement induced by the IL-6 family cytokines. When anti-SCF antibody was added with the IL-6 family cytokines in the BMMC/fibroblast coculture system, a significant effect of these cytokines remained, although the growth-enhancing activity was markedly reduced. A similar result was obtained when BMMC were prepared from W/W(V)-mice, which lack functional c-kit, in the BMMC/ fibroblast coculture system. These results suggest that IL-6 family cytokines stimulate mast cell growth by a fibroblast-dependent mechanism, and also suggest the existence of another pathway between BMMC and NIH/3T3 fibroblasts cooperating with the SCF/c-kit pathway. IL-6 family cytokines may thus contribute to mast cell hyperplasia in skin diseases.

3T3 Cells↗
PubMed2001

Association between residual thyroid carcinoma and diffuse hepatic uptake of 131I following radioiodine ablation in postoperative total thyroidectomy patients.

In patients with differentiated thyroid cancer (DTC) total or near-total thyroidectomy, postoperative 131I ablation, and thyroid suppression therapy are reported to be associated with fewer recurrences than other treatments. Many patients with DTC after total thyroidectomy and radioablation therapy have diffuse hepatic uptake of radioiodine, and its clinical importance is debated. Some investigators report that diffuse liver uptake correlates with uptake in the thyroid bed or the presence of metastatic thyroid cancer somewhere in the body, whereas others note no such correlation. The purpose of this research was to determine the clinical importance of diffuse hepatic uptake of radioiodine after 131I ablative therapy in patients with DTC. We retrospectively reviewed 141 posttherapy scans done in 118 patients with DTC. Patients had had total thyroidectomy and were hypothyroid when serum thyroglobulin (Tg) levels were obtained, and they were treated with 30 to 200 mCi of 131I. Scans were performed 3 to 21 days after radioablation therapy. Information was collected regarding the patients' age and gender, the interval between the ablation therapy and scan, uptake of radioiodine, serum thyroglobulin level, thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) level, thyroglobulin antibodies, TNM classification, mortality, and recurrence. Diffuse liver uptake was classified from 0 to 4 depending on hepatic brightness. Radioiodine scans were done to determine whether there was uptake in the thyroid bed or elsewhere. Statistical analyses included analysis of variance and Kaplan-Meier survival analysis. Diffuse hepatic uptake was observed (grades 1-4) in 96.4% of the patients; thus 3.6% had no hepatic uptake. There was no significant association between liver uptake and the uptake in the thyroid bed, the dose of 131I administered for ablation therapy, thyroglobulin levels, age, stage of the disease, presence of local or distant metastases, recurrence, or survival. Diffuse hepatic uptake was therefore not associated with residual normal thyroid or metastases as suggested by some but not all previous investigators.

Adult↗
PubMed2001

Identification of leukemia inhibitory factor as a potent mast cell growth-enhancing factor produced by mouse keratinocyte cell line, KCMH-1.

Inoculation of KCMH-1 cells, a keratinocyte-derived cell line established from a chemically induced skin tumor, into the skin of mice results in accumulation of mast cells around the resulting tumors. The conditioned medium of KCMH-1 cells enhances the growth of mast cells in vitro when they are cultured in the presence of NIH/3T3 fibroblasts, suggesting an important role for keratinocytes in mast cell hyperplasia in the skin. The aim of this study was to identify this mast cell growth-enhancing factor (MCGEF) by screening a KCMH-1 cDNA library. We first established a polyclonal antibody raised against the partially purified factor obtained from KCMH-1-conditioned medium which neutralized the MCGEF activity in KCMH-1-conditioned medium. Expression cloning of 1 x 10(6) cDNAs from the KCMH-1 cDNA library led to 16 cDNAs. One of these cloned cDNAs was found to be leukemia inhibitory factor (LIF). Both LIF produced by COS cells and the recombinant protein obtained commercially showed MCGEF activity when added to mast cell/fibroblast cocultures. MCGEF activity in KCMH-1-conditioned medium was completely neutralized by an anti-LIF monoclonal antibody. These results suggest that MCGEF produced by KCMH-1 cells is identical to LIF.

3T3 Cells↗
PubMed2001

Can localization studies be used to direct focused parathyroid operations?

BACKGROUND: There is considerable controversy today concerning the most appropriate surgical approach for patients with primary hyperparathyroidism. The conventional surgical operation involves a bilateral neck exploration through a collar incision with identification of all parathyroid tissue and removal of abnormal parathyroid glands while the patient is under general anesthesia. The success rate of this operation is about 95% or greater in the hands of an experienced endocrine surgeon. Preoperative localization techniques are generally considered to be unnecessary before initial parathyroid operations. The purpose of this investigation was (1) to evaluate the individual and combined accuracy of ultrasonography and technetium 99m sestamibi scans in localizing abnormal parathyroid glands and (2) to determine whether such scans could be used to direct a focused operation. METHODS: We retrospectively studied 338 patients with sporadic primary hyperparathyroidism who had preoperative neck localization studies, ultrasonography and/or technetium 99m sestamibi scans, and parathyroid exploration (238 patients or, reexploration, 60 patients) from January 1996 to April 2000 at the University of California San Francisco/Mount Zion Medical Center. The preoperative localization studies were recorded as true-positive, false-positive, and false-negative and compared with the surgical and pathologic findings and with the outcome of the operation. RESULTS: All of the abnormal parathyroid glands were correctly identified by ultrasonography in 184 of 303 patients (60.7%) and by technetium 99m sestamibi scanning in 183 of 237 patients (77.2%). The sensitivities of ultrasonography and sestamibi were 65% and 80%, respectively. Among the 202 patients who received both ultrasonography and sestamibi scans, a parathyroid tumor was identified at the same site in 105 (52%) of them. When both techniques identified a parathyroid tumor at the same site, the tests were correct in 101 of 105 patients and the sensitivity increased to 96%. CONCLUSIONS: When both the ultrasonography and sestamibi scans identified the same, solitary parathyroid tumor in patients with sporadic primary hyperparathyroidism, this was the only abnormal parathyroid gland in 96% of the patients. A focused parathyroidectomy could therefore be performed in such patients with an acceptable ( approximately 95%) success rate.

Adenoma↗
PubMed2001

Human parvovirus B19 induces cell cycle arrest at G(2) phase with accumulation of mitotic cyclins.

Human parvovirus B19 infects specifically erythroid progenitor cells, which causes transient aplastic crises and hemolytic anemias. Here, we demonstrate that erythroblastoid UT7/Epo cells infected with B19 virus fall into growth arrest with 4N DNA, indicating G(2)/M arrest. These B19 virus-infected cells displayed accumulation of cyclin A, cyclin B1, and phosphorylated cdc2 and were accompanied by an up-regulation in the kinase activity of the cdc2-cyclin B1 complex, similar to that in cells treated with the mitotic inhibitor. However, degradation of nuclear lamina and phosphorylation of histone H3 and H1 were not seen in B19 virus-infected cells, indicating that the infected cells do not enter the M phase. Accumulation of cyclin B1 was persistently localized in the cytoplasm, but not in the nucleus, suggesting that B19 virus infection of erythroid cells raises suppression of nuclear import of cyclin B1, resulting in cell cycle arrest at the G(2) phase. The B19 virus-induced G(2)/M arrest may be the critical event in the damage of erythroid progenitor cells seen in patients with B19 virus infection.

CDC2 Protein Kinase↗
PubMed2001

Safe and effective treatment of refractory facial lesions in atopic dermatitis using topical tacrolimus following corticosteroid discontinuation.

BACKGROUND: Topical corticosteroids are commonly applied in atopic dermatitis (AD) treatment. However, their chronic use may be associated with significant side effects at the application site. Skin atrophy and other undesirable effects are frequently seen after long-term corticosteroid treatment. In addition, when application of corticosteroids is discontinued, a rebound phenomenon in the facial lesions can occur within several days. Topical tacrolimus, an immunosuppressant currently used to prevent rejection after solid-organ transplantation, presents a potential alternative therapeutic agent for AD. OBJECTIVE: The present study is the first trial designed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of topically applied tacrolimus ointment after corticosteroid discontinuation without a washout phase in severe, long-term facial AD. PATIENTS/METHODS: Forty-seven patients with facial refractory AD were recruited, of whom 38 had undergone topical corticosteroid treatment for at least 4 weeks before enrollment (group 1) and the other 9 had not received steroid treatment (group 2). All 47 patients received 0.1% tacrolimus ointment, and the severity index and pruritus score were assessed as an AD clinical activity index every week and compared with baseline data. RESULTS: Both the severity index and pruritus score improved significantly in group 1 after 1 and 2 weeks of application (p < 0.01, respectively). Group 2 showed the greatest improvement at 4 weeks (p < 0.05). In this trial, none of the patients experienced a rebound phenomenon associated with tacrolimus treatment. A transient sensation of burning at the application site was the only adverse event in 31 of the 47 (66%) enrolled patients, but this condition improved after several days. Spectrophotometric assessment of the facial lesion following treatment revealed significant improvement in group 1 (p < 0.05). CONCLUSION: The present results indicate that topical tacrolimus treatment following corticosteroid discontinuation is safe and effective in refractory facial AD.

Administration, Topical↗