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Biomedical subjects

H Tamashiro

Publications and source records attributed to H Tamashiro.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2001

[Health status and lifestyle issues of homeless people in Sapporo city, 2000].

OBJECTIVE: To clarify the health status and lifestyle issues of homeless people in Sapporo city, voluntary "health consultations and medical examinations" were carried out near an emergency kitchen. METHODS: The voluntary activities were held in a park near the shelter tents of homeless people seven times from December 1999 to December 2000. The homeless people who consulted us, medical doctors, were asked detailed questions about past history, present illness, subjective symptoms, lifestyles and so on, and were examined for their blood pressure and urinary parameter. RESULTS: A total of 60 homeless people, including 59 men and 1 woman, were consulted and examined, Fifty-seven percent of them were 50 years old of older, and 30% had been homeless for less than half a year. Forty percent had some dental problems, 28% suffered neck stiffness, and 27% back pain. The medical examination found 53% of them to be hypertensive and 26% to be diabetic. Twenty-five percent had meals only once a day, 55% had meat or fish in their diet not more than twice a week and 57% had vegetables in their diet not more than twice a week. Forty-two percent slept not more than 5 hours a day, 13% often drank alcohol in the daytime, and 83% were smokers. CONCLUSION: The present results suggest that lifestyle-related chronic diseases are more significant problems among homeless people in Sapporo city than common infectious diseases such as tuberculosis or dysentery, probably because it is colder and therefore there are fewer homeless people in Sapporo city than in other major cities in Japan such as Tokyo and Osaka. Further studies of the homeless people living in such a cold environment are warranted to develop better health policies for them in the context of their social and economical determinants. In addition, it is important to establish a more reliable registration system for these people in order to plan and provide a comprehensive social and health support network as needed.

Adult↗
PubMed1999

[An Internet-based "distance" learning for health, environment and sustainable development "distance learning without a frontier"].

Quality of the environment is crucial for human health. Environmental hazards may lead to adverse health effects, while a sound environment can support of enable health. It has been clear that health and environment must be understood within the context of social and economic development, which was stressed especially in the Earth Summit held in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, in 1992. Investing in improvement of people's health and their environment is a prerequisite for sustainable development. The telecommunication revolution enables distance learning without frontiers in a reansparent and interactive environment. Applying the Internet and other telecommunication into public health including environmental health holds the greatest promise for global health. A wide application and access would facilitate and expedite the reduction of inequity prevailing between the south and north in an unprecedented speed. This proposed course is thus designed to provide an overview on health and environment in sustainable development through the Internet.

Environmental Health↗
PubMed1995

Re-evaluation of anti-HTLV-I Western blot assay using HTLV-I and HTLV-II serum panels.

BACKGROUND: Western blot assay is accepted to be a confirmatory test of anti-HTLV-I antibodies, and several WB criteria have been proposed for confirming HTLV-I seropositivity. There is a necessity for comprehensive study on the criteria. OBJECTIVES: This study was performed to evaluate anti-HTLV-I WB kits and feasibility of the WB criteria. STUDY DESIGN: We tested 3 commercially available WB kits: PROBLOT HTLV-I, Eitest ATL-WB and HTLV BLOT 2.2, by a standard HTLV-I serum panel which had been established in our previous study. Sensitivity and specificity to detect each component of HTLV-I antigens were evaluated by the correlation coefficient, R-value. Specificity of the anti-HTLV-I WB kits and HTLV BLOT 2.3 was further evaluated by a standard HTLV-II serum panel established from the HTLV-I/II epidemiological surveillance of Colombian natives. RESULTS: PROBLOT HTLV-I showed high R-values (>/=0.980) for p28, p53 and gp46, but low R-values (<0.900) for p19 and p24. Eitest ATL-WB showed a high R-value for p19, but low R-values for p53, gp46 and rgp21. HTLV BLOT 2.2 showed high R-values for p28 and recombinant gp46-I, but low R-values for p53 and gp46. The HTLV-II serum panel showed positive reactions with p24 and p19 of HTLV-I but a little if any reactions with p28 and gp46 of HTLV-I. Although these reactions could not define HTLV-II-specific WB patterns in anti-HTLV-I WB, HTLV-I- and HTLV-II-specific recombinant gp46 in HTLV BLOT 2.3 were useful to distinguish anti-HTLV-II antibodies. CONCLUSIONS: The currently available anti-HTLV-I WB kits are sufficient for confirmatory testing of anti-HTLV-I antibodies with WHO criteria using one gag and one env positivity, but they are inadequate for anti-HTLV-II confirmatory testing.

Journal Article↗
PubMed1995

Evaluation of commercial HTLV-1 test kits by a standard HTLV-1 serum panel.

To evaluate the performance of currently available test kits for human T-cell lymphotropic virus type 1 (HTLV-1), we examined two particle agglutination (PA) tests and nine enzyme immunoassays (EIA) using a standard serum panel consisting of HTLV-1-positive and HTLV-1-negative sera that had been characterized by immunofluorescence and the polymerase chain reaction (PCR). The PA kits exhibited 94.0-100.0% sensitivity and 99.5-100.0% specificity; the sensitivity range was ascribed to the quality of the HTLV-1 antigens coated on the particles. The EIA kits had 99.5-100% sensitivity and 98.5-100% specificity; the 98.5%-99.5% specificity exhibited by five of the EIA kits could have been due to nonspecific reactions that were detected through use of an inadequate cut-off value and the use of recombinant proteins. It can be concluded that the sensitivity of the currently available PA and EIA kits is sufficient to permit their use for screening purposes; however, the specificity of some EIA kits should be optimized.

Agglutination Tests↗
PubMed1994

Sensitivity of HIV-antibody assays determined by seroconversion panels.

OBJECTIVES: To determine the sensitivity of HIV-antibody assays for detecting low levels of HIV antibody using seroconversion and other panels containing plasma of varying titres. METHODS: Eight HIV-antibody assays, available under the World Health Organization bulk-procurement agreement, were evaluated on sets of sequential plasma samples derived from 11 individuals who had recently become HIV-infected (seroconversion panels). In addition, two non-seroconversion panels, consisting of low performance (titre) and mixed titre samples were used to further define the sensitivity of the assays. The eight assays included two rapid tests, one simple test, and five enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISA). RESULTS: On average, the eight assays detected antibody 0.5-4.8 days later than the reference test (Abbott HIV-1/HIV-2 3rd generation ELISA); these differences were statistically significant for six of the eight tests. All tests performed well on the low performance and mixed titre panels. All eight assays also had comparable sensitivity to that of the reference test on a large panel of known positive plasma. The additional risk of missing an infectious unit of blood during seroconversion by using the least sensitive rather than the reference test was estimated to be 1 in 7600 and 1 in 76 million at annual HIV incidence rates of 1 and 0.0001%, respectively. The cost of eliminating this additional risk by using the reference test is between US$ 15,150 and 151 million per unit detected at the above incidence rates. CONCLUSIONS: Although there are differences in sensitivity between the assays when used to test blood from individuals during the course of seroconversion, the differences are small, and all eight tests are appropriate for use as screening tests.

AIDS Serodiagnosis↗
PubMed1994

Strategies for laboratory HIV testing: an examination of alternative approaches not requiring Western blot.

Advances in laboratory tests for antibodies to human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) have permitted the development of alternative HIV testing strategies that do not require use of the Western blot approach. Three strategies are proposed. In strategy I, sera are tested for HIV antibody using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA)/rapid/simple (ERS) test; in strategy II, sera reactive in an initial ERS test are retested using a second ERS test; strategy III involves retesting with a third ERS test all sera reactive in two previous ERS tests. Where the objective is identification of asymptomatic HIV-infected individuals, strategy III is proposed where HIV prevalences in the study population are < or = 10%, and strategy II at prevalences > 10%. Strategy II is recommended where the diagnosis of HIV-related disease requires HIV testing. For serosurveillance, strategy II is recommended if the prevalence is < or = 10%, and strategy I if the prevalences are > 10%. Use of strategy I is recommended for transfusion and transplantation safety, at any prevalence. Lower-cost laboratory HIV testing will permit such testing to become more widely available.

AIDS Serodiagnosis↗
PubMed1994

Serological diagnosis of HIV infection using oral fluid samples.

The serological identification of antibodies to human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) in blood is the most widely used method to diagnose HIV infection. Recently, however, the use of oral fluid samples for the detection of antibodies to HIV has been suggested as an alternative. This review describes some basic information about oral fluids, the application of these samples for HIV testing, and summarizes results from many of the studies performed using HIV tests with oral fluids. The fluids obtained from the oral cavity include saliva and crevicular fluid, and can be collected directly (by dribbling) or by using commercially available devices. The immunoglobulin content of oral fluids is similar to that of blood, but their levels are less. However, the use of an HIV IgG antibody capture assay (GAC ELISA) designed specifically for testing oral fluids, and certain routine HIV blood tests that have been optimized for use with oral fluids, has produced encouraging results. A number of studies, including several in developing countries, report that the sensitivities and specificities of these optimized tests lie in the range 95-100% and 98-100%, respectively. Also, the performance of the GAC ELISA was consistent and in general, excellent. The article identifies several issues that need to be addressed before a recommendation on the routine use of oral fluid samples for HIV antibody detection can be made.

AIDS Serodiagnosis↗
PubMed1993

Reducing the cost of HIV antibody testing.

Available tests to detect antibody to human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) have a range of applications, and injudicious selection and inappropriate use can add a significant financial burden to budgets for AIDS programmes in developing countries. There are several ways by which the cost of HIV antibody testing can be reduced; they include use of tests appropriate for existing laboratory capabilities; adoption of cost-effective testing strategies; pooling of serum samples before testing; and ensuring best possible purchase prices. Each approach can significantly reduce the cost of HIV antibody testing alone or in combination, which increases the potential sustainability of antibody testing programmes, even in settings of limited resources.

AIDS Serodiagnosis↗
PubMed1992

WHO international quality assessment scheme for HIV antibody testing: results from the second distribution of sera.

The WHO international quality assessment scheme for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) antibody testing has been established to monitor the quality of laboratory performance in testing for antibodies to HIV. Following a small trial distribution of specimens early in 1989, the second distribution was made in February 1990. A total of 20 specimens of sera, 10 of which contained antibodies to HIV-1, were sent to 103 laboratories located in the six WHO Regions. Participants were asked to test the specimens using their routine methods and to report to WHO their findings on each specimen for each diagnostic assay used and their interpretation of the HIV antibody status of each specimen. For the antibody-positive specimens, 98.2% of the results were interpreted as positive and 1.8% as indeterminate; no false-negative interpretations were reported. For the antibody-negative specimens, 90.3% of the results were interpreted as negative, 1.3% as positive, and 8.4% as indeterminate. Most of the indeterminate reports were associated with one particular specimen. A wide variety of diagnostic assays and combinations of assays were used. In terms of the technical results obtained rather than their interpretation, the assays appeared extremely reliable for the positive specimens, with 99.5% of assay results being recorded as positive, 0.17% as negative, and 0.34% as indeterminate.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

AIDS Serodiagnosis↗
PubMed1992

Detection of HIV-1 antibodies in blood specimens spotted on filter-paper.

Described are the results of an international collaborative study to evaluate the use of whole blood samples spotted on filter-paper (BSP) for the detection of antibodies to human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1). BSP samples were collected from 40 patients at risk for HIV-1 infection and tested blindly using commercially available HIV antibody test kits, either specifically manufactured or modified for this purpose. Parallel serum samples were also collected, and the antibody reactivity was defined and confirmed by Western blot. The results demonstrate that recovery of antibodies from BSP samples after elution can be comparable to that from serum. Some kits can be easily adapted to test BSP samples, while others cannot. At present, detection of HIV antibodies in BSP samples should therefore be carried out using kits specifically manufactured for this purpose or by the development of a modified protocol using a panel of BSP and their corresponding serum specimens.

AIDS Serodiagnosis↗
PubMed1990

World Health Organization quality assessment programme on HIV testing.

A serum panel comprising 19 samples of known (five positives and 14 negatives) but undisclosed HIV-1-antibody content was distributed to 30 national reference laboratories for HIV serology. In order to simulate normal circumstances of referral, participants were asked to test the panel for HIV-1-antibody status using their normal procedures. Results of testing were returned by 28 participants. There were great variations in the number and combinations of tests used. The number used ranged from one to five assays per laboratory and none of the 24 laboratories using two or more tests employed the same combination. A high average success rate of 99% was seen with the positive samples. More errors occurred with the negative samples, with an average of 87% correct negative reports. Only four of the 14 negative specimens were reported as negative by all participants.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗
PubMed1987

AIDS prevention and control in Japan.

Surveillance for the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) in Japan started in September 1984 and in February 1987 was extended to seropositive carriers of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) antibodies. A total of 2,000 hospitals and clinics throughout the country have actively participated in the surveillance. An educational program for health care workers, including physicians, was initiated in July 1985 by issuing a series of government memoranda and distributing pamphlets and posters. Counseling programs for people concerned about AIDS and laboratory support to provide screening services have been developed. Laboratories that can also perform confirmatory tests will be established shortly. The screening of all donated blood was established in November 1986. Education programs for the public have been conducted mainly through the production and distribution of various materials and pamphlets. Research has been focused primarily on diagnosis and treatment, with international cooperation emphasized. A new act of legislation has been proposed in the Parliament that will require mandatory reporting of cases of AIDS and HIV infection with confidentiality preserved. Further debate may be needed to reach national consensus on this issue. The proposed law will not include provisions that would affect international travelers, foreign students or immigrants.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗