Search PubMed⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

Toshihiro Horiguchi

Publications and source records attributed to Toshihiro Horiguchi.

26 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed2003

An assessment of the mental health of physicians specializing in the field of child neurology.

We assessed physicians working in the field of child neurology with the aim of improving the physicians' mental health. Our questionnaire included a burnout inventory and a general health questionnaire. We analyzed 29 responses from physicians in a variety of countries obtained through the Internet. According to their responses, 8 (27.5%) of the respondents had attained a burnout status, and 27 respondents (93.1%) had neurotic conditions. We found a greater percentage of physicians in poor mental health than we had found previously in assessments made in Japan. However, the respondents in the present survey had more positive styles for coping with stress. The length of time working as a physician affected respondents in Japan and internationally, whereas nationality or working environment (workplace, night shifts, and so on) did not. Consultants or mentors on work and assertive stress coping would be effective.

Adaptation, Psychological↗
PubMed2003

[Assessment of chromosome and gene analysis for the diagnosis of the fragile X syndrome in Japan--estimated prevalence rate in various facilities].

We assessed the present status of chromosome and gene analyses utilized in Japan for the diagnosis of fragile X syndrome. Nursery facilities for the mentally handicapped and hospitals completed a mail-in-questionnaire including information on the number of patients diagnosed with the syndrome, the types of diagnostic analyses used, and the need for such analyses. Among 517 responders, ninety-five (18.4%, more frequently in hospitals) reportedly conducted chromosome or gene analyses, which established the diagnosis of fragile X syndrome in 56 patients, accounting for 2.2% of patients who underwent the analyses, and 0.13% of the patients included in this study. Each responder's experience with chromosome or gene analyses were related to his/her demand for them. Some facilities that had not utilized these analyses requested information on them as well as access to them. A larger number of specialists interested in diagnostic screening are essential to establish a diagnosis system of fragile X syndrome.

Cytogenetic Analysis↗
PubMed2003

[Assessment of the selection and usefulness of diagnostic examinations for children with mental retardation].

We retrospectively investigated medical records of 196 patients suspected of having mental retardation at their initial visits. The objective of the study was to clarify the current choice of medical examinations and to assess their usefulness. Frequently selected examinations included 1. neuroimaging, neurophysiology and other central nervous system examinations, 2. psychological examinations and 3. blood tests. The former two demonstrated abnormal results very frequently. Genetic examinations rarely showed abnormal results. On the contrary, chromosomal analysis was often useful for diagnosing diseases that are difficult to be made only by clinical symptoms. Physicians should provide patients and their families with information about medical examinations currently available and useful.

Child↗
PubMed2002

Auditory perception in auditory neuropathy: clinical similarity with auditory verbal agnosia.

The precise features of auditory perception in patients with auditory neuropathy have not been well described. In the present study, we examined auditory perception in a patient with auditory neuropathy. The patient was a right-handed 7-year-old boy. His chief complaint was delayed speech and suspected of verbal learning disability. He could talk, read and repeat rather fluently but could not understand fully what was asked. V-IQ, P-IQ and F-IQ of Wechsler Scale for Children III-R were 53, 118 and 81, respectively. Pure tone audiogram was completely normal. His speech discrimination ability was very poor. He could identify environmental sounds with visual matching. He could differentiate intensity difference but not time difference. This phenomenon was reported in patients with hemispheric symptoms. These clinical features are very similar to verbal auditory agnosia. ABR showed no response at 90dBnHL alternating clicks and tone bursts. Click evoked and distortion product otoacoustic emissions (OAE) were normal. Electrocochleogram was also normal. Motor and sensory nerve conduction velocity was completely normal. Pa of MLR and N1 of SVR were present. His diagnosis should be "pure type" of auditory neuropathy or auditory nerve disease. Importance of both ABR and OAE examination should be widely announced and auditory neuropathy must be campaigned stressed to be clinical entity among personnel who take care of children with speech delay.

Agnosia↗
PubMed2002

[Early detection and therapeutic rearing for children with mental retardation: I. Assessment of diagnosing examination and collaborative facilities assigned for children with mental retardation].

We assessed medical examinations and therapeutic rearing designed for diagnosing children with mental retardation (MR) taking three cases as an example. One hundred and seven physicians answered the questionnaire. Their tentative diagnoses were tuberous sclerosis, autistic disorder, and mental retardation, respectively. They planned medical examinations of blood cell count, urinalysis, blood biochemistry, developmental questionnaires, CT, MRI, and EEG. They chose speech and occupational therapy, nursery facilities, public health center, social welfare counselors, and parents' associations as their early intervention programs. To enrich social resources for MR children, a network of facilities and training for specialists are necessary.

Child Rearing↗
PubMed2002

[Early detection and therapeutic rearing for children with mental retardation: II. Assessment of gene analyses for the diagnosis of developmental disorders in Japan].

The authors assessed the present status of gene analysis utilized in Japan. Physicians completed a mail-in questionnaire with their comments regarding the types of gene analyses they used, the perceived effectiveness of the analyses, and how they conducted genetic counselling for the patients. Among the 76 physicians who responded, gene analysis was most often conducted (n = 16, 75.0%) for muscle dystrophies, and considered to be effective by most of them (chi 2 (df = 2) = 11.99, p = 0.003). Many factors including the age of physicians, location of their facilities, and experience in child neurology were related to the utilization of gene analyses. Future studies based on ethical guidelines should establish a network between specialists and facilities and encourage medical approach to developmental disorders.

Child↗