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Biomedical subjects

Akira Okayama

Publications and source records attributed to Akira Okayama.

65 records · Page 4Linked to original sources
PubMed2003

Reappraisal of the motor role of basal ganglia: a functional magnetic resonance image study.

The importance of the basal ganglia in controlling motor function is well known. However, neuroimaging studies have failed to show either movement-rate dependence or different activation patterns caused by self-initiated (SI) and externally triggered (ET) movements in the basal ganglia-thalamo-motor loop. We herein report the functional magnetic resonance image (fMRI) mapping of sequential left-hand finger movements at five different rates under SI and ET conditions. Significant movement-rate dependence was found in the whole right basal ganglia-thalamo-motor loop only during the SI task. Network analysis also showed strong interactions within this loop during SI movement, whereas interactions were present only from the premotor cortex to the putamen via the sensorimotor cortex during the ET task. Furthermore, psychophysiological interaction analysis confirmed the different modulation between the two tasks in the putamen. fMRI provides evidence that the basal ganglia-thalamo-motor loop plays a key role in controlling the rate of sequential finger movements in SI movement but not in ET movement.

Adult↗
PubMed2003

Usefulness of ultrasonography for early recurrent myositis ossificans.

Myositis ossificans is a benign heterotopic ossifying condition of soft tissues. The lesion may cause persistent functional impairment of adjacent joints. Surgical intervention is often needed to regain normal function, even though a high recurrence rate is reported. In the present case, we found that recurrent myositis ossificans could not be demonstrated by radiography during the early stage. However, ultrasonography proved to be an excellent tool for detecting early recurrence of myositis ossificans and for distinguishing the condition from extraosseous sarcomas.

Alkaline Phosphatase↗
PubMed2003

Impact of elevated blood pressure on mortality from all causes, cardiovascular diseases, heart disease and stroke among Japanese: 14 year follow-up of randomly selected population from Japanese -- Nippon data 80.

The objectives of the study were to clarify the relationship between blood pressure and mortality from stroke, heart disease, cardiovascular diseases and all causes of death among representative population of Japanese and to estimate category-specific excess mortality from stroke due to blood pressure (BP) level. The study design comprised a retrospective cohort study using the 1980 National Survey on Cardiovascular Diseases and identification of underlying causes of death using national vital statistics data. In 1994, a 14-year follow-up cohort study was conducted among participants of the National Survey on Cardiovascular Diseases in 1980, randomly selected from the Japanese population. With a collaboration of 300 public health centres, which had conducted the original survey in 1980, 91.4% of the participants of the original survey could be followed up. Total observed person-years were 53948 for men and 70932 for women. During follow-up, 1327 deaths were observed. BP levels were significantly related to mortality from strokes, cardiovascular diseases and all causes of death for both sexes (P<0.001). Heart disease mortality was significantly related to BP levels among men (P<0.05) while not among women. Estimated excess mortality was 130% for men and 42% for women and chiefly observed among moderate hypertensives (48% for men and 16% for women). In conclusion, high blood pressure was a risk factor for mortality from all causes as well as those from cardiovascular diseases, stroke and heart disease among Japanese. Since the major part of excess mortality was due to mild hypertension, a population strategy to reduce blood pressure should be encouraged.

Adult↗
PubMed2003

Successful reimplantation of total femoral prosthesis after deep infection.

A 16-year-old boy developed a deep infection with methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus 6 months after total femoral replacement including knee and hip joints. The deep infection was eradicated by the use of débridement with continuous irrigation and removal of all prosthetic components followed by insertion of an antibiotic-impregnated cement spacer. Six weeks later, the total femoral prosthesis could be successfully reimplanted with both acetabular and tibial components. Two and half years later, the patient remained free of infection. Débridement with continuous irrigation and an antibiotic-impregnated cement spacer can be a feasible technique for the treatment of deep infection after large prosthetic replacement. Furthermore, reimplantation should be performed after a short waiting period. Such treatment should be considered before deciding on amputation.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2003

[An association (population attributable fraction) between smoking habit and mortality from all causes, cancer and lung cancer: NIPPON DATA80, 1980-1999. National Integrated Projects for Prospective Observation of Non-communicable Diseases and its Trend in the Aged].

OBJECTIVES: The authors examined the relationship and the population attributable fraction (PAF) between smoking habit and death from all causes, including cancer and lung cancer. METHODS: The baseline data were collected in the National Cardiovascular Survey in 1980 carried out for all household members aged 30 years or older in 300 districts, which were randomly selected throughout Japan. The number of participants in the survey was 10,546. The vital status was ascertained in 1999, and he calculated the adjusted relative risk of mortality and the PAF of mortality attributable to stopping smoking. RESULTS: A total of 9,629 subjects were available for the final analyses. There were 165,190 person-years of follow-up, and 2,011 deaths from all causes, including 579 deaths from cancer and 106 deaths from lung cancer. After adjustment for age and other cancer risk factors, smoking habit was associated with mortality from all causes, cancer and lung cancer. These associations had positive trends. The PAF (%) from all causes was 9.0 (male), 1.6 (female). The PAF (%) from cancer was 29.5 (male), 2.7 (female) and that from lung cancer was 42.9 (male), 7.1 (female). CONCLUSIONS: After adjustment for age and other cancer risk factors, smoking habit was associated with mortality from all causes, cancer and lung cancer. These associations had positive trends. The PAF (%) from all causes was 9.0 (male), 1.6 (female). The PAF (%) from cancer was 29.5 (male), 2.7 (female) and that from lung cancer was 42.9 (male), 7.1 (female).

Adult↗
PubMed2003

Respiratory symptoms correlating to smoking prevalence: the National Nutrition Survey and the National Life-style Survey in Japan.

BACKGROUND: Although the fact that smoking habits have adverse effects on health, whether the high proportion of smokers elevates the prevalence of symptoms relating to the smoking in a community is still unknown. METHODS: An ecologic study about whole Japan was conducted. Age-adjusted smoking prevalence was calculated using the National Nutrition Survey data from 1986 through 1995 by prefecture and sex. Age-adjusted respiratory symptom prevalence were observed using the National Life-style Survey data in 1995. Correlation among 46 and/or 43 prefectures was examined by sex. RESULTS: There was a negative correlation between smoking prevalence and wheezing prevalence among males (r = -0.301). Among females, positive correlations were observed on the symptoms of nasal obstruction (r = 0.355), nasal discharge (r = 0.344), sore throat (r = 0.481), cough (r = 0.350), sputum (r = 0.594), wheezing (r = 0.451), palpitation (r = 0.363), dyspnea (r = 0.587), and frontal chest pain (r = 0.472). CONCLUSIONS: Smoking prevalence was deeply related to respiratory symptoms among females in Japan.

Female↗
PubMed2002

Alcohol consumption and the risk of diabetes by body mass index levels in a cohort of 5,636 Japanese.

The association between alcohol consumption and the risk of diabetes in Japanese with a low-body mass index (BMI) (< or = 22.0 kg/m(2)), middle-BMI (22.1-24.9 kg/m(2)) and high-BMI (> or =25.0 kg/m(2)) was investigated among a cohort of 5,636 employees of a Japanese insurance company. Participants were free of diabetes at baseline and were followed up for a mean of 5.7 years with annual assessments of fasting plasma glucose (FPG). The outcome was a clinical diagnosis of diabetes on the basis of a questionnaire administered at each follow-up assessment or a follow-up FPG level of 7.8 mmol/l or more. Relative risks and 95% confidence intervals (95% CIs) were estimated by fitting pooled logistic regression models, which included age, gender, BMI, baseline FPG level, current tobacco use and current alcohol consumption. A total of 264 outcome events were recorded. The relative risk of diabetes associated with current alcohol consumption was 3.19 (95% CI 1.09-9.37) among low-BMI individuals, 0.41 (0.23-0.73) among middle-BMI individuals and 0.74 (0.44-1.25) among high-BMI individuals. In this study, current alcohol consumption was associated with an increased risk of diabetes among low-BMI individuals and a decreased risk of diabetes among middle-BMI individuals. A tendency for an association of alcohol consumption with a decreased risk of diabetes among high-BMI individuals was noted, although without statistical significance.

Adult↗
PubMed2002

What unfavorable factors are associated with low serum total cholesterol in a Japanese population?

An inverse association between blood cholesterol level and excess mortality in low cholesterol level subjects has been reported, but there has been no reasonable explanation widely accepted. To evaluate the associations between unfavorable factors and low blood cholesterol in non-Western populations, we performed a cross-sectional study in a rural Japanese population. A self-administered questionnaire concerning health characteristics and a nutritional survey, using a continuous 48-hour dietary record, was conducted on 461 males and 571 females aged 20-79 years old. The serum total cholesterol (TC) of less than 160 mg/dl was defined as low cholesterol, which accounted for 18% of the subjects. The multivariate odds ratio of having low cholesterol adjusted for age and selected variables were 0.70 (95% Cl: 0.52-0.94) for 1 SD increment of Key's lipid factor, 0.71 (0.51-0.97) for 1SD increment of vitamin A intake, 2.23 (1.01-4.91) for heavy drinking, 2.80 (1.21-6.46) for being underweight and 2.59 (1.01-6.61) for blood transfusion in males, and 1.04 (1.00-1.08) for 10 cigarette-year increase in smoking in females. Even when further adjusted for body mass index, these associations were still significant except for those who were underweight and had undergone blood transfusion in males. These findings may partly explain the excess mortality of the Japanese males with low serum TC.

Adult↗
PubMed2002

[Nutrient intake of elderly people with care need and caregivers based on data of the Comprehensive Survey of the Living Conditions of People on Health and Welfare and the National Nutrition Survey in Japan].

OBJECTS: This study examined the nutritional intakes of elderly people with care needs and of the caregivers, using data of the Comprehensive Survey of the Living Conditions of People on Health and Welfare and the National Nutrition Survey in 1995. METHODS: Four groups were categorized: elderly people with care needs (65 and older, n = 83), female caregivers (40 and older, n = 95), other elderly people (65 and older, n = 1,818), and other women (40 and older, n = 3,477). The ratios of intakes to dietary reference intakes (DRIs) for energy and 8 nutrients (protein, fat, calcium, iron, vitamin A/B1/B2/C), as well as salt, were compared among those four groups. RESULTS: Mean ratios to DRIs in elderly people with care needs were 108% for energy, 85% for calcium, and 101-224% for the other 7 nutrients. Mean salt intake in this group was 11.0 g/day. For many nutrients, ratios to DRIs were significantly lower than those in other elderly people. Mean ratios to DRIs in caregivers were 104-294% for energy and the 8 nutrients, and mean salt intake was 12.8 g/day, with no significant differences from date for other women. CONCLUSION: This study cast light on the status of the nutrient intake in elderly people with care needs and their caregivers. It was suggested that calcium intake was insufficient in the former.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Relation between interleukin-18 and PGE2 in synovial fluid of osteoarthritis: a potential therapeutic target of cartilage degradation.

Osteoarthritis (OA) is characterized by articular cartilage degradation and hypertrophic joint changes. Interleukin (IL)-18 is a potent inducer of prostaglandin (PG) E2 in vitro. We determined the relation between IL-18 and PGE2 in synovial fluid (SF) of human OA, and discussed the role of IL-18 in the pathogenesis of OA and also its therapeutic consequences. SF was collected from 30 patients with knee OA. The concentrations of IL-18 and other cytokines including IL-1beta, tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha, IL-6, and IL-8 were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The concentration of PGE2 was also assessed by inhibitory ELISA. The average value of IL-18 was 248 +/- 310 pg/mL. The average value of PGE2 was 93 +/- 103 pg/mL. There was a relatively strong correlation between IL-18 and PGE2 (r = 0.78, p = 0.0001). In contrast, IL-1beta was undetectable (cutoff point of 20 pg/mL), except for one case. TNF-alpha was also undetectable (cutoff point of 20 pg/mL), except for two cases. The average value of IL-6 was 1,310 +/- 2,623 pg/mL (n = 17), whereas IL-8 was 5,208 +/- 6,031 pg/mL (n = 5). Furthermore, IL-6 and IL-8 correlated with IL-18 (r = 0.69, p = 0.0024 and r = 0.87, p = 0.0527, respectively). Our results suggest that IL-18 could play a major role in vivo in inducing the production of PGE2, which in turn can cause cartilage degradation in OA pathogenesis. Thus, targeting this cytokine appears to be an important therapeutic approach in OA.

Biomarkers↗