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Biomedical subjects

S Yamamoto

Publications and source records attributed to S Yamamoto.

At least 55 records · Page 3Linked to original sources
PubMed2005

Prevalence of dental caries and sugar consumption among 6-12-y-old schoolchildren in La Trinidad, Benguet, Philippines.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the prevalence of dental caries and the level of sugar consumption among 6-12-y-old schoolchildren in La Trinidad, Benguet, Philippines. DESIGN: A Cross-sectional study as a baseline survey for a later intervention program. A questionnaire was distributed to obtain information on dental history and total consumption of food with sugar. Caries were diagnosed based on the WHO recommendation. RESULTS: A total of 1200 schoolchildren, aged 6-12 y were included. The prevalence of dental caries in primary dentition was 71.7% and in the permanent dentition, 68.2%. The mean total decayed, extracted due to caries and filled primary teeth (DMFT) and decayed, missing and filled permanent teeth (DMFT) were 4.12 (s.d. 4.03) and 2.40 (s.d. 2.57), respectively. As age increased the mean DMFT increased. Majority (70%) had tooth brushing practices, and less than half (42.5%) had a dental visit only when necessary. Their sugar intake was twice more than the WHO recommendation with a mean daily total intake of 59 g per person. Most common sources of dietary sugar were hard candies (89%), banana cue (84.9%), camote cue (84.9%) and soft drinks (84.4%). No significant correlation was found between sugar intake and dental caries. CONCLUSION: The results indicate that dental caries is highly prevalent and increase with augmented sugar consumption. This maybe due to a widespread neglect of oral health and an increased availability of refined sugary products. Caries rates mirrored those of the developing countries with untreated lesions dominating all ages. The high level of untreated caries in all age groups is a cause for concern.

Child↗
PubMed2005

Extended resection of T4 lung cancer with invasion of the aorta: is it justified?

BACKGROUND: We report our 10-year experience of performing surgical resection of T4 lung cancer invading the thoracic aorta. PATIENTS AND METHODS: From 1994 to 2004, sixteen patients with T4 primary lung cancer with local invasion of the thoracic aorta underwent tumor resection. Surgical resection included 8 pneumonectomies and 8 lobectomies. The histologic type was squamous cell carcinoma in 7 patients, adenocarcinoma in 7, large cell carcinoma in 1, and small cell carcinoma in 1. Complete resection of the tumor with mediastinal lymph node dissection was achieved in 8 patients (50 %), while the resection was incomplete in the other 8 cases. RESULTS: The overall cumulative survival of the 16 patients at 3 and 5 years was 34.7 % and 17.4 %, respectively. The survival of the patients in the complete resection group was found to be 36.5 % at 5 years, with 2 patients surviving more than 5 years without a recurrence, which was significantly better than that of the incomplete resection group ( p = 0.005). CONCLUSIONS: Extended aortic resection with primary lung cancer is complex and possibly high risk, but can achieve long-term survival in selected patients. Surgical resection should be considered as a treatment option for T4 lung cancer for this T4 subcategory.

Adenocarcinoma↗
PubMed2005

Development of an ankle-foot orthosis with an oil damper.

The purpose of the present study was to develop an ankle-foot orthosis (AFO) that satisfies the requirements for an AFO for patients with hemiplegia as determined in a previous study. An oil damper has been introduced as an assistive device. The oil damper provides a resistive moment to plantar flexion of the ankle joint during initial stance on the paretic side. This function improves the insufficient eccentric contraction of the dorsiflexors. The magnitude of the resistive moment generated by this newly developed AFO can be changed easily to adjust its properties in accordance with the requirements of each patient. The mechanical properties of the AFO were measured, and the results showed that the AFO generated a sufficient resistive moment. Hemiplegic gaits with various types of AFOs were assessed, and it was found that the properties of the AFO affected the movements of the ankle, the knee, and the hip joints. The effects of the resistive moment on the alignment of the shank to the floor during initial stance are also discussed. Based on the results of this study, it is concluded that adjustability will be an essential feature for future AFOs.

Ankle Joint↗
PubMed2005

Nesting Ardeid colonies are not a focus of elevated West Nile virus activity in southern California.

A large nesting colony of Ardeid birds at the Finney-Ramer Wildlife Refuge in Imperial County, California, did not appear to be a focus of West Nile virus (WNV) amplification during the summer of 2004. Blood samples taken during June and July from 155 nestlings of four species of Ardeid birds (cattle egrets, black-crowned night herons, great egrets, and snowy egrets) and five nestling double-crested cormorants yielded a single WNV isolation from a 3-week-old cattle egret. Antibody was detected by enzyme immunoassay from 20 nestlings (13%), 14 (70%) of which were confirmed as positive by plaque reduction neutralization test (PRNT). However, titration end points against WNV and St. Louis encephalitis virus (SLEV) were similar precluding viral identification. The grouping of positives within few nests, highest PRNT titers in youngest birds (<1 weeks of age), the decline of titer with nestling age, and the lack of antibody specificity indicated that antibody may have been acquired maternally and did not represent new infections. Infection rates in Culex tarsalis mosquitoes collected near the Ardeid colony at Ramer Lake (3.1 per 1,000) were statistically similar to rates estimated at the nearby Wister Unit wetlands (5.3 per 1,000) that lacked an Ardeid nesting colony. Black-crowned night heron nestlings experimentally infected with the NY99 strain of WNV produced viremias >5 log10 plaque forming units (PFU)/mL and were considered moderately competent hosts, whereas cattle egret nestlings had viremias that remained <5 log10 PFU/mL and were incompetent hosts.

Animals↗
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

Accumulation of plasma cells expressing CXCR3 in the synovial sublining regions of early rheumatoid arthritis in association with production of Mig/CXCL9 by synovial fibroblasts.

Accumulation of plasma cells in the synovium is one of the diagnostic hallmarks in the histopathological manifestations of rheumatoid arthritis (RA). This seems to be prominent even prior to significant B cell infiltration and/or formation of lymphoid follicles in the synovium. To clarify the mechanism of early plasma cell accumulation, we examined in situ expression of chemokines and their receptors using synovial targeting biopsy specimens, which were obtained under arthroscopy from early RA patients. By immunohistochemical staining, plasma cells were found to express a chemokine receptor CXCR3, while synovial fibroblasts in the synovial sublining regions expressed its ligand, Mig/CXCL9. By reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), using targeted lesions of synovial tissues obtained by laser capture microdissection, expression levels of Mig/CXCL9 in the synovial sublining regions were remarkably high and were likely to be associated with interferon (IFN)-gamma expression. Furthermore, cultured synovial fibroblasts were confirmed to produce Mig/CXCL9 upon stimulation with IFN-gamma. Our results indicate that in the early stage of RA, plasma cells expressing CXCR3 may be recruited directly from the circulation into the synovial sublining regions by its ligand, Mig/CXCL9, produced by synovial fibroblasts.

Adult↗
PubMed2005

Half-sib family structure of Fagus crenata saplings in an old-growth beech-dwarf bamboo forest.

Half-sib family structure of Fagus crenata saplings was examined in an old-growth beech-dwarf bamboo (Sasa spp.) forest using microsatellite genotypes in parentage analysis to identify the half-sib families in two 50 x 50 m plots: one with 36 adults, 641 saplings and no Sasa cover, the other with 21 adults, 61 saplings and Sasa cover. For large proportions of the saplings (44.6% and 75.4%, respectively) both of their parents were found within the same plot, indicating that pollination events frequently involved short-range pollen dispersal, probably because of the high density of adults in the study population. Although almost all of the adults had half-sib families, the number of offspring in the families was highly variable. In the plot with no Sasa cover, the variation in the number of offspring was significantly explained by the size of parents, i.e. the reproductive success is higher for large adults than for small adults. The half-sibs were aggregately distributed around their parents and the distribution overlapped among different half-sib families, which may be due to the limited seed dispersal and overlapping seed shadows of this species. As expected, there was weak genetic structure in the plot. By contrast, in the plot with Sasa cover, the half-sibs were distributed sparsely with a low density, and the degree of genetic structure was very weak. The difference in the half-sib family structure and genetic structure among saplings presumably reflects the difference in density that should be affected by regeneration dynamics associated with environmental conditions.

Demography↗
PubMed2005

Interannual genetic heterogeneity of pollen pools accepted by Quercus salicina individuals.

Since flowering often varies among years in wind-pollinated woody species, the genetic composition of pollen pools accepted by seed parents can differ between years. The interannual heterogeneity of pollen flow may be important for maintaining genetic diversity within populations because it can increase genetic variation within populations and the effective sizes of the populations. In this study we examined heterogeneity, using paternity analysis and analysis of molecular variance, in the genetic composition of pollen pools among different reproductive years for six Quercus salicina seed parents in an 11.56-ha plot in a temperate old-growth evergreen broadleaved forest. The genotypes at seven microsatellite loci were determined for 111 adult trees and 777 offspring of the six seed parents in 2-5 reproductive years. Genetic differentiation of pollen pools among different reproductive years for each seed parent was significant over all seed parents and for each of four seed parents that were analysed for more than 2 years, but not for either of the other two seed parents (analysed for 2 years). For both the pollen pools originating from inside the plot and those originating from outside it, genetic differentiation among different reproductive years for each seed parent was significant over all seed parents. However, among-year genetic differentiation in the pollen pools originating from within the plot was detected for all four of the seed parents that were analysed for more than 2 years, but for only one of the four in the pools originating from outside the plot. Genetic diversity (estimated as allelic richness and gene diversity) was higher for pollen pools over all reproductive years than for pollen pools in single years. These results indicate that the year-to-year genetic variation of pollen pools increases genetic diversity in offspring and is strongly affected by the variation in pollen parents within the plot because of their high pollination contributions. The high year-to-year variation in pollen parents within the plot and overall supports the hypothesis that the offspring produced across years represent a larger genetic neighbourhood.

Analysis of Variance↗
PubMed2005

Heterogeneity of platelet responsiveness to anti-CD36 in plasma associated with adverse transfusion reactions.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Antibodies to CD36 (anti-CD36) are clinically important. As some platelet immunoglobulins produced by transfusion or pregnancy have been shown to induce platelet activation and to play roles in non-haemolytic transfusion reactions (NHTRs), we investigated the in vitro response of platelets to plasma containing anti-CD36. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Plasma containing anti-CD36, implicated in the development of NHTRs and subsequent thrombocytopenia, was incubated with CD36-positive platelets. Plasma-induced platelet activation was examined by evaluating platelet aggregation and RANTES (regulated on activation, normal, T-cell expressed, and presumably secreted) release. RESULTS: Platelet activation was induced by plasma alone in four out of 20 CD36-positive subjects. In seven subjects, platelet activation was synergistically induced by the combination of epinephrine priming and the plasma. The platelets of the nine remaining subjects failed to respond to the plasma. Platelet activation induced by either the plasma alone or by synergy with epinephrine required the involvement of Fc gamma RIIa. The different responsiveness of the platelets was partially associated with the surface levels of CD36 and Fc gamma RIIa, but not with Fc gamma RIIa polymorphisms. CONCLUSIONS: Plasma containing anti-CD36, implicated in the development of NHTRs, exhibited a platelet-activating capability. Additionally, platelets from healthy human subjects exhibited a considerable degree of heterogeneity in their responsiveness to this plasma. The heterogeneity of these responses may determine the occurrence of anti-CD36-related NHTRs.

Antigens, CD↗
PubMed2005

Cerebral cortical laminar necrosis on diffusion-weighted MRI in hypoglycaemic encephalopathy.

BACKGROUND: Laminar necrosis of the cerebral cortex characterized neuropathologically by delayed selective neuronal necrosis occurs in hypoglycaemic encephalopathy and other brain diseases. CASE REPORT: A 37-year-old male with insulin-treated Type 1 diabetes mellitus developed hypoglycaemic encephalopathy associated with respiratory failure. Brain diffusion-weighted MRI during the subacute period demonstrated high signals along the cerebral cortex. Brain single-photon emission computed tomography showed diffuse, severe cerebral hypoperfusion. The patient remained comatose and died 1 month later. CONCLUSIONS: High signals along the cortical bands on diffusion-weighted MRI suggest cortical laminar necrosis, although a postmortem examination was unavailable. Sustained hypoglycaemic brain injury, possibly associated with respiratory hypoxia, may be the underlying mechanism.

Adult↗
PubMed2005

Improved bioluminescent enzyme immunoassay for the rapid detection of Salmonella in chicken meat samples.

AIMS: To evaluate an improved bioluminescent enzyme immunoassay (BEIA) using biotinylated firefly luciferase for the rapid detection of Salmonella in naturally contaminated chicken meat samples. METHODS AND RESULTS: Capture agents and lipopolysaccharide (LPS) extraction reagents for Salmonella were investigated to improve the sensitivity of the BEIA. Also, the use of Oxoid SPRINT (Simple Pre-enrichment and Rapid Isolation New Technology) as a pre-enrichment and selective medium for 26-h BEIA detection of Salmonella in chicken meat samples was examined. The use of polymyxin B as a capture agent on solid support and 3-[(3-Cholamidopropyl) dimethylammonio] propanesulfonic acid (CHAPS) for extraction of the LPS facilitated sensitive detection of Salmonella. Of 120 chicken meat samples, 25 samples were positive using the improved BEIA with the SPRINT and 25 samples were positive using the SPRINT followed by the standard isolation methods. CONCLUSIONS: The improved BEIA, in which polymxin B was used as a capture agent and CHAPS was used for extraction of the antigen, had a sensitivity of 96.0% and a specificity of 98.9% for the detection of Salmonella in chicken meat. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY: The improved BEIA combined with the SPRINT medium for the detection of Salmonella in chicken meat samples produced comparable results to the culture methods in 26 h.

Animals↗
PubMed2005

Perioperative antimicrobial prophylaxis in urology: a multi-center prospective study.

Since there are few published reports regarding the impact of urologic surgery on perioperative infections, an epidemiologic analysis was performed on data from 1,156 open or laparoscopic operations in urology collected by the 21 hospitals participating in this study between September 2002 and August 2003. Prophylactic antibiotics were administered intravenously according to our protocol designed on the basis of the invasiveness and contamination levels. The surgical site infection (SSI) rates following clean, clean-contaminated and contaminated surgery were 1.2%. 5.8% and 23.4%, respectively, while the remote infection (RI) rates were 3.5%. 7.1% and 35.9%, respectively. Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) was most frequently isolated from SSIs as well as RIs, whereas Enterococcus faecalis and Pseudomonas aeruginosa were more frequently discovered in RIs than in SSIs. Several risk factors for SSI and/or RI, such as older age, high ASA score, obesity, diabetes, preoperative chemotherapy, long operation time and much blood loss, were identified by univariate analysis.

Adult↗
PubMed2005

dsRNA enhances eotaxin-3 production through interleukin-4 receptor upregulation in airway epithelial cells.

The exacerbation of asthma during viral infections is mainly explained by neutrophils infiltrating into the airways. However, enhanced functions of eosinophils are also observed. The aim of this study was to reveal the mechanism of how eosinophils are activated during and after viral infection of the airways, using a model of viral infection. A synthetic double-stranded RNA, poly inosinic-cytidyric acid (poly(IC)), was transfected to a human airway epithelial cell line (BEAS-2B) and the primary bronchial epithelial cells, to mimic a viral infection. The production of chemokines from the cells was investigated. The transfection of poly(IC), alone, marginally affected the eotaxin-3 production of the cells. However, the transfection of poly(IC) prior to interleukin (IL)-4 stimulation enhanced eotaxin-3 production. Poly(IC) transfection increased mRNA and protein expressions of IL-4 receptor (R)alpha and IL-2Rgamma, components of the IL-4R. In BEAS-2B cells, IL-4-mediated phosphorylation of signal transducer and activator of transcription six was enhanced in poly(IC) transfected cells. This was reversed by the addition of anti-IL-4Ralpha antibody, suggesting the role of an increased number of IL-4 receptors in enhanced IL-4-induced eotaxin-3 production. Poly(IC)-induced upregulation of IL-4Ralpha was inhibited by treatment with cycloheximide or dexamethasone. In conclusion, these results suggest that viral airway infection may enhance interleukin-4-induced eotaxin-3 production through upregulation of the interleukin-4 receptor in airway epithelial cells.

Cells, Cultured↗
PubMed2005

[Multiple synchronous intrathoracic neurilemmomas who had a past history of neurilemmoma on the abdominal wall; report of a case].

A 66-year-old female, who had received a surgery of the neurilemmoma on the abdominal wall 6 years ago, was referred to our hospital because of a chest X-ray abnormality. Chest computed tomography (CT) revealed 3 tumors in the left chest wall. One tumor arised from the 7th intercostal nerve and 2 tumors from 8th nerve. These tumors were surgically removed by video-assisted thoracic surgery. These tumors are histopathologically diagnosed as neurilemmoma and have the same characteristics with previously resected abdominal wall tumor.

Abdominal Wall↗
PubMed2005

[Thoracoscopy and intraoperative upper gastrointestinal endoscopy was effective for Boerhaave syndrome; report of a case].

Boerhaave syndrome is a rare disease and needs an exact diagnosis and a proper treatment plan because of its terrible clinical course. We experienced a case of Boerhaave syndrome that thoracoscopy and intraoperative upper gastrointestinal (GI) endoscopy was very effective. Sixty-four-year-old man realized chest and back pain after vomitting. Esophageal perforation was suspected, but 64 hours had passed already when we started a surgical treatment. By the thoracoscopy and intraoperative endoscopy, lower esophageal perforation and infectious pleural effusion were found. Therefore, we selected a surgical treatment under the assistance of thoracoscopy. Secondly, a simple closure and intracostal muscle overlapping was performed with small incisional thoracotomy. Postoperative complication, such as mediastinal abscess, has not occurred. Thoracoscopy and intraoperative upper GI endoscopy was effective for an appropriate diagnosis and treatment of Boerhaave syndrome.

Endoscopy, Gastrointestinal↗
PubMed2005

[Diaphragmatic eventration resulting from phrenicectomy treated with surgical method; report of a case].

The case was a 59-year-old man who has a history of left mediastinal tumor resection with left phrenicectomy. The elevated diaphragm revealed by chest X-ray 7 years after the operation led to diagnosis of diaphragmatic eventration. Since any symptom was seen in the early period, "wait and watch" strategy was done for management. Both the abdominal enlarged feeling and the dyspnea on effort were appeared 10 years after the operation. Under the speculation of these symptoms related to the elevated abdominal organs came up with diaphragmatic eventration, surgical method the plication of the diaphragm was performed. The diaphragm was plicated by interrupted suture as opening the diaphragm to avoid injury the abdominal organs, and reinforced with the Marlex mesh. We used artificial mesh to reinforce the thin diaphragm with exceptation of prevent the postoperative recurrence, because a result of the etiological process of the case was considered as disuse atrophy of diaphragm after phrenicectomy.

Diaphragm↗
PubMed2005

[Changing pattern of the respiratory function associated with resected lung lobe].

Respiratory function before and 2 months after lung lobectomy was analyzed associated with resected lobe. Post- or preoperative ratios of FEV1.0 or VC were compared among (1) predicted value by the number of subsegments using bronchofiberscopy, (2) predicted value by the lobar volume ratio using computed tomography (CT), and (3) actually measured value. Using subsegments method, post- or preoperative predicted VC ratios were 85 +/- 1% after right upper lobectomy (RU), 69 +/- 1% after right lower lobetomy (RL), 74 +/- 1% after left upper lobectomy (LU), and 75 +/- 1% after left lower lobectomy (LL). Using CT method, post- or preoperative predicted VC ratios were 80 +/- 2% after RU, 76 +/- 4% after RL, 74 +/- 2% after LU, and 79 +/- 3% after LL. Actually measured post- or preoperative FEV1.0 ratios were 82 +/- 3% after RU, 89 +/- 8% after RL, 73 +/- 3% after LU, and 86 +/- 5% after LL, and the VC ratios were 88 +/- 5% after RU, 79 +/- 3% after RL, 77 +/- 4% after LU, and 94 +/- 3% after LL. In the FEV1.0 analysis using both subsegments method and CT method, the predicted value was correlated with upper lobectomy but was overestimated in case of lower lobectomy. This phenomenon might be caused by the postoperative bronchial branching deformity after upper lobectomy. In the VC analysis using subsegments method, the predicted value was correlated with upper lobectomy but was overestimated in case of lower lobectomy. Meanwhile, in the VC analysis using CT method, the predicted value was correlated with RL or LU but was overestimated in case of RU or LL. This may due to the fact that RL and LU had large lobar volumes. In conclusion, postoperative predicted and actually measured values were different associated with resected lobe. In the FEV1.0 and VC analysis using subsegments method, the predicted value was strongly correlated with upper lobectomy but was overestimated (10%) in case of lower lobectomy.

Adult↗