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Biomedical subjects

W Kajiyama

Publications and source records attributed to W Kajiyama.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed1990

Antibody to p40tax protein of human T cell leukemia virus 1 and infectivity.

To investigate the physiologic significance of antibody to human T cell leukemia virus type 1 (HTLV-1) tax gene product (p40tax), 147 male and 243 female HTLV-1 carriers were examined for anti-p40tax, and 104 carriers were checked for anti-p40tax an average of 5.4 times during an 8-year period. Prevalence of anti-p40tax was significantly higher in female (62.6%) than in male subjects (51.0%; P less than .05). Anti-p40tax status did not change in most during the observation period. There were significantly more HTLV-1 carriers among children of anti-p40tax-positive mothers (45.3%) than among those from anti-p40tax-negative mothers (20.0%; P less than .01). However, no significant difference was observed between wives of p40tax-positive and -negative men. The p40tax antibody may be a marker of relative infectivity of HTLV-1, albeit an imperfect one.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1990

Study of seroconversion of antibody to human T-cell lymphotropic virus type-I in children of Okinawa, Japan.

From 1983 to 1986, 1,813 children in nursery schools in Ishigaki Island and 1,228 children under 15 years old in the rural area in the Yaeyama District of Okinawa, Japan, were tested for anti-HTLV-I; 18 children (1.0%) in Ishigaki Island and 39 children (3.2%) in the rural area were positive. In order to survey when anti-HTLV-I developed in these children, their older serum samples were investigated retrospectively for 1 to 5 years. Two cases of seroconversion from anti-HTLV-I negative to positive were found between the age of 2 and 4, and there were no cases of seroconversion over 4 years old. Among the children who suffered maternal transmission of HTLV-I and developed anti-HTLV-I before the age of 15, about 80% of the children were considered to have anti-HTLV-I before the age of 2, and the remainder developed anti-HTLV-I before the age of 4.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1990

[An epidemiologic study of anti-ATLA (antibody to adult T-cell leukemia-associated antigen) by category of disease in the Karatsu and Higashimatsuura districts of northern Kyusyu by enzymeimmunoassay].

The Kyusyu district is known as an endemic area of HTLV-I. But the prevalence of anti-ATLA in Saga prefecture was reportedly relatively low. In this study, in order to determine the distribution of antibody to ATL-associated antigen (anti-ATLA) in the Karatsu and Higashimatsuura districts of the northern Kyusyu, the determination of anti-ATLA status of patients in Karatsu Red Cross Hospital was carried out from September to October, 1985. Sera from 757 patients were tested for presence of anti-ATLA by Enzyme immunoassay (EIA) prepared by Eisai Co., Ltd. Tokyo, Japan. Results obtained are as follows: 1) Overall prevalence of anti-ATLA was 13.7 per cent (104 of 757 individuals). Prevalence of anti-ATLA increased with age, reaching a maximum of 21.1 per cent for people from 60 to 69 years old. 2) Prevalence of anti-ATLA was 9.5 per cent (36 of 376) in males and 17.8 per cent (68 of 381) in females. A significant difference by sex was recognized. (p less than 0.001) 3) The positive rates of patients with non-malignant diseases were high in the Chinzei, Hizen, and Hamatama areas facing the Sea of Genkai. The positive rate of the seaside area was significantly higher than that of the mountain area. (p less than 0.001). 4) Anti-ATLA was most prevalent in the patients with neoplasms (26.1%). The positive rate of ATL patients was 100 per cent, and that of patients with malignancies other than ATL was 25.9 per cent. These results suggest that HTLV-I infection is likely to increase the incidence of other types of malignancy.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1989

Intradermal hepatitis B vaccination for mentally retarded patients.

We investigated immune responses in 63 mentally retarded patients each given a low-dose (4 micrograms) intradermally of plasma-derived hepatitis B vaccine made in Japan and which was repeated after 1 and 6 months. Two doses of the vaccine induced antibodies in 85.5% these patients. A further dose 6 months later induced antibodies in 93.5% of the recipients and markedly increased the proportion of recipients with acceptable or high concentrations of antibody. The numbers of acceptable and high responders decreased slightly during a period of 12 months. The rate of acquiring antibody was significantly higher in the males. No significant differences in antibody response with regard to age and type of disease were observed. One patient with Down's syndrome, who acquired a low concentration of antibody after vaccination, was infected with hepatitis B virus. Supplementary vaccination may be necessary for poor responders in order to obtain protection. Side-effects resulting from the vaccination were not severe in any patients. These results suggest that low-dose, intradermal hepatitis B vaccination is safe and effective.

Adult↗
PubMed1989

High risk of mother-to-child transmission of HTLV-I in p40tax antibody-positive mothers.

A new enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) for detecting the antibody to a human T-lymphotropic virus type I (HTLV-I) tax gene product, p40tax, has been developed. By this ELISA method, we have investigated the relationship between the presence of p40tax antibody in HTLV-I-infected mothers and the virus transmission rate from mothers to their children. The rate of mother-to-child transmission of HTLV-I was higher in p40tax antibody-positive mothers than in antibody-negative ones. Thus, the presence of p40tax antibody may indicate an increased risk of vertical transmission of HTLV-I.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1989

Hepatitis B virus infection among mentally retarded patients in institutions, Okinawa, Japan.

To determine whether transmission of hepatitis B virus occurs among mentally retarded patients in six institutions, from 1986 to 1988, 373 patients (males 203, females 170, 18-53 years of age, mean age 29.9) were tested for hepatitis B markers. Seventy five of them had Down's syndrome. Overall prevalences were 9.1% for hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg), 39.7% for antibody to HBsAg (anti-HBs) and 48.0% for antibody to hepatitis B core antigen (anti-HBc). Prevalence of HBsAg was significantly higher in patients with Down's syndrome than in other mentally retarded patients. Five patients (three males and two females) in four institutions were infected with hepatitis B virus during the two years of observation. Four of these five patients were the other mentally retarded and became both anti-HBs and anti-HBc positive. The remaining one, who was 29 years old and Down's syndrome, became an HBsAg carrier. These observations indicate that hepatitis B virus transmission frequently occurs among mentally retarded patients in institutions and therefore vaccination of susceptible institutionalized patients is necessary. Vaccination to patients with Down's syndrome is particularly warranted, because they are uniquely predisposed to develop chronic hepatitis B infection following exposure.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1988

Hepatitis B virus DNA polymerase activity and hepatitis B e antigen (HBeAg)/anti-HBe status among type B chronic liver diseases.

To investigate the relationship between hepatitis B virus (HBV) replication and chronic liver disease, age-specific prevalences of HBeAg, anti-HBe, and HBV DNA polymerase (DNAP) activity were studied in 295 asymptomatic HBV carriers and 183 patients with B-type chronic liver diseases. DNAP activity decreased with age, and there was no difference in the overall prevalence of DNAP activity between the asymptomatic carriers (27.8%) and the chronic liver disease patients (27.3%). The prevalence of DNAP activity in the 40-and-over age group was significantly higher for the chronic liver disease patients (17.5%) than for the asymptomatic carriers (1.7%). The prevalence of HBeAg in the 40-and-over age group was also significantly higher for the chronic liver disease patients (33.8%) than for the asymptomatic carriers (2.6%). These data suggest that viral replication decreased with age and that viral replication occurring in older persons closely related to chronic liver disease.

Age Factors↗
PubMed1988

Comparison of results of recombinant and plasma-derived hepatitis B vaccines in Japanese nursery-school children.

Results obtained with a recombinant hepatitis B vaccine were compared with those obtained with a plasma-derived hepatitis B vaccine in separate studies conducted in nursery schools in which at least one child had hepatitis B e antigen associated with surface antigen. Recombinant vaccine (5 micrograms), made in Japan and prepared from antigen expressed in yeast, was given to 118 children (aged 0-5 years of age, mean age 2.9 years). Plasma-derived vaccine (10 micrograms) was given to 243 children. Side-reactions were not observed with either vaccine. Seroconversion rates for the recombinant vaccine group were 8.5% after 1 month, 98.3% after 9 months and 100% after 12 months. For the plasma-derived vaccine group, the rate after 1 month was 26.3% after 9 months 82.3%, and after 12 months 77.9%. Although in the recombinant vaccine group the immune response developed more slowly during the early phase, seroconversion rates were significantly higher than in the plasma-derived vaccine group after 6 months. Titres of antibodies also were significantly higher in the recombinant vaccine group after the third injection. None of the children in either group became infected with hepatitis B virus. These results confirm the high immunogenicity, safety and efficacy of the recombinant vaccine given to these nursery school children.

Carrier State↗
PubMed1988

Changing pattern of intrafamilial transmission of hepatitis B virus in Okinawa, Japan.

To investigate the pattern of intrafamilial spread of hepatitis B virus, the authors conducted a seroepidemiologic survey of nursery school children aged 1-5 years as well as family studies of the hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg)-positive children found in the survey in 1980 and 1985 in the Yaeyama district of Okinawa, Japan. The data from these family studies were compared with data from the studies conducted in 1968-1980 in the same area. Although the prevalence of HBsAg was not different for 1980 (eight of 847 children, 0.9%) and 1985 (13 of 1,355 children, 1.0%), prevalence of antibody to hepatitis B core antigen was significantly higher in 1980 (3.3%) than in 1985 (1.7%). Families were divided into four groups by the HBsAg status of the parents. In 1968-1980, families in which both parents were HBsAg-negative were most prevalent (64 of 107 families, 59.8%), followed by families in which only the mother was HBsAg-positive (17 of 107 families, 15.9%). In 1980, families in which only the mother was HBsAg-positive were most prevalent (11 of 25 families, 44.0%) and became more prevalent in 1985 (nine of 12 families, 75%). These data suggest that in the area studied, hepatitis B virus infections among children have declined over a five-year period and that mother-to-child transmission may be a main route of intrafamilial transmission in recent years.

Carrier State↗
PubMed1988

An epidemiologic study of effects of alcohol in the liver in hepatitis B surface antigen carriers.

A total of 932 hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) carriers and 1,704 HBsAg-negative inhabitants of the Yaeyama District of Okinawa, Japan, over age 20 years were investigated in 1982-1985 in order to elucidate whether an interaction between habitual alcohol intake and hepatitis B virus infection is capable of producing liver disease. All of the subjects were tested for biochemical liver functions and asked about their habitual intake of alcohol. HBsAg carriers were tested for hepatitis B e antigen (HBeAg) and antibody to HBeAg. Subjects were ranked into three categories by alcohol consumption: nondrinkers, light drinkers (1-59 g/day), and heavy drinkers (greater than or equal to 60 g/day). The prevalence of liver abnormalities in HBsAg carriers increased with alcohol consumption. The prevalence differed significantly between nondrinkers and light drinkers in HBsAg carriers (p less than 0.001), but not in HBsAg-negative inhabitants. Prevalence also differed significantly between nondrinkers and heavy drinkers irrespective of HBsAg positivity (p less than 0.001). The highest prevalence of liver abnormalities was observed in HBeAg-positive heavy drinkers (53.8%). In conclusion, this study confirms that alcohol consumption intensifies the development of liver disease caused by hepatitis B virus. Therefore, the authors see a need to educate HBsAg carriers about the risks of consuming alcohol.

Adult↗
PubMed1988

Prevalence of gallstone disease in a general population of Okinawa, Japan.

A total of 2,584 healthy residents in the Yaeyama District of Okinawa, Japan, were investigated in 1984 to determine the prevalence of gallstone disease and its associated factors. Diagnosis of gallstone disease was assessed by real-time ultrasonography. For participants over 20 years of age, obesity index and serum levels of total cholesterol and triglycerides were measured. Overall prevalence of gallstone disease was 3.2%. Prevalence increased with age from 0% under 19 years of age to 11.4% over 70 years of age and was higher in females (4.0%) than in males (2.5%). The results of the logistic regression analysis indicated that age and fatty liver were significant predictors of gallstone disease. The results of the automatic interaction detector analysis indicated that age and fatty liver were strong factors associated with gallstone disease and that prevalence was highest in females over age 50 with fatty liver.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1988

Sex- and age-specific prevalences of HBeAg and anti-HBe among HBsAg carriers with or without liver function abnormalities in Okinawa, Japan.

We investigated sex- and age-specific prevalences of hepatitis B e antigen (HBeAg) and antibody to HBeAg (anti-HBe) in 1,163 carriers of hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) in Okinawa, Japan, and followed them up for longer than one year in correlation with liver function abnormalities. Elevated serum transaminase levels were found in 160 (13.8%) of them. The prevalence of liver function abnormalities was significantly higher in male carriers (127/690, 18.4%) than in female carriers (33/473, 7.0%) at a P value of 0.001. In asymptomatic carriers, the prevalence of HBeAg was 13.2% and that of anti-HBe 80.0%, significantly different from 41.9% and 54.4%, respectively, in carriers with elevated transaminase levels (P less than 0.001). In asymptomatic carriers, the mean age of HBeAg-positive carriers was 16.7 years which was much lower than the 22.8 years in carriers with liver function abnormalities. The prevalence of elevated transaminase levels was significantly higher in carriers with HBeAg than in those with anti-HBe (33.8% vs. 9.7%, P less than 0.001). Based on these results, the prolonged positivity for serum HBeAg would qualify as a predictor for deteriorating liver function among HBsAg carriers.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1988

Seroepidemiologic study of adult T-cell leukemia virus (ATLV) and hepatitis B virus infection in Okinawa, Japan.

A total of 2,283 serum samples were collected from healthy subjects in three islands of the Yaeyama district of Okinawa, Japan. These sera were tested for the presence of hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg), for antibody to hepatitis B core antigen (anti-HBc), and for antibody to adult T-cell leukemia-associated antigen (anti-ATLA). Correlation between hepatitis B virus infection and adult T-cell leukemia virus (ATLV) infection was determined by using the prevalence rates for three virus markers. Overall prevalence of HBsAg, anti-HBc and anti-ATLA was 6.5%, 57.4%, and 17.9%, respectively. Age-specific prevalence of anti-HBc and anti-ATLA increased with age, but that of HBsAg did not. Sex-specific prevalence of HBsAg was significantly higher in males than in females, but that of anti-ATLA was significantly higher in females than in males. Statistical analysis revealed that prevalence of anti-ATLA was significantly higher in HBsAg-positive persons and HBsAg-negative/anti-HBc-positive persons than in those negative for HBsAg and anti-HBc. These data suggest that hepatitis B virus-infected persons have a significantly higher chance of adult T-cell leukemia virus infection than those without hepatitis B virus infection in the area studied.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1988

Prevalence of fatty liver in a general population of Okinawa, Japan.

A total of 2,574 residents in Yaeyama District of Okinawa, Japan, were investigated using real time ultrasonography to determine the real prevalence of fatty liver in the general population and to define its associated factors. Overall prevalence of fatty liver was 14.0%. Prevalence of fatty liver in persons under 19 years old was only 1.2%, and increased with age to a maximum in persons 40-49 years of age and then decreased. For persons over 20 years old, obesity index and serum levels of triglyceride and total cholesterol were measured, and alcohol consumption was asked. Prevalence of fatty liver was significantly higher in drinkers than non-drinkers (p less than 0.01), and increased with alcohol consumption. Furthermore, in persons not suffering from obesity prevalence of fatty liver was significantly higher in drinkers than in non-drinkers (p less than 0.001). The results of logistic regression analysis indicated that obesity and elevated serum triglyceride level in both sexes, and alcohol in males were significant predictors of fatty liver. In conclusion, prevalence of fatty liver increased with age to a maximum in persons 40-49 years of age and overall was 14.0%. Obesity was the strongest associated factor in both sexes and in males alcohol was also a strong factor.

Age Factors↗
PubMed1988

An outbreak of influenza A (H3N2) in a hospital for the elderly with emphasis on pulmonary complications.

From Dec 1, 1985 to Jan 18, 1986, 133 of 379 (35.1%) mainly elderly in-patients at a hospital in Fukuoka City were infected with influenza virus A (H3N2). In 32 of the 133 (24.1%) infected with the virus, pneumonia occurred. The occurrence was significantly higher in man (33.1%) than in women (17.1%) (p less than 0.05), and the same occurrence was found to be higher in bed-ridden patients (32.7%) than in ambulatory patients (17.3%) (p less than 0.05). It was also higher in those age 70 or older (25.4%) than in those 69 years or younger (17.4%), but with no statistical difference. Seven men and one woman, all 70 years old or older, infected with the virus died of pneumonia. The overall case-fatality ratio was 6.0%. Thus, male bed-ridden patients aged 70 years or older are highly vulnerable to pneumonia in case of infection with influenza virus A.

Aged↗