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Biomedical subjects

Hitoshi Miyaoka

Publications and source records attributed to Hitoshi Miyaoka.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

Validity of the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale as a screening instrument of major depressive disorder among Japanese workers.

BACKGROUND: The Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale (CES-D) is used at workplaces to screen depressive disorders. The aim of this study was to examine the validity of the CES-D for depression in a workplace. METHODS: The CES-D was administered to 2,219 workers (84.2% men; age 21-68 years) at a manufacturing company in Japan. Concomitantly all workers had an interview with the Mini International Neuropsychiatric Interview (MINI) as a gold standard for diagnosing major depressive disorder (MDD). The validity was evaluated by a receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve. RESULTS: The area under the ROC curve of the CES-D was 0.96 [95% Confidence Interval (CI): 0.94-0.99]. The optimal cut-off score of MDD was 19 for screening. CONCLUSIONS: The validity of CES-D is confirmed and it is a valid instrument for detecting MDD in working populations in Japan.

Adult↗

Auditory fear conditioning and conditioned stress raise NO(3) level in the Amygdala.

BACKGROUND: The conditioned fear response is considered to be acquired by experimental animals when tone information is combined with that of an electrical foot shock (unconditioned stimulus) in the amygdala. Nitric oxide biosynthesized in the brain is reportedly involved in several kinds of learning. METHODS: In this study, we continuously monitored the NO(3)(-) level, as a marker of nitric oxide production, in the amygdala starting before the application of tone and electrical foot shock stimuli together (conditioned group) or the tone stimulus alone (control group) on day 1, until after the tone information was given (both groups) on day 2, using the in vivo microdialysis method. RESULTS: The NO(3)(-) level of the conditioned group was increased on both day 1 and day 2, while that of the control group was not elevated on either day. Freezing behavior was observed in the conditioned but not the control rats. CONCLUSIONS: Although the sources of NO(3)(-) remain uncertain, these results suggest that nitric oxide is associated with auditory fear conditioning and the response to a conditioned stimulus.

Acoustic Stimulation↗

Reliability and validity of communication skills questionnaire (CSQ).

A new and easy evaluation method of communication skills has been developed using the Communication Skills Questionnaire (CSQ), which can be self-administered or administered by family members and medical staff. The reliability and validity of this CSQ were evaluated. Eighty-seven patients with mental disorders and 100 normal controls participated in a self-rating evaluation of the CSQ, and 55 family members and four medical personnel also participated in objective rating. The CSQ contained 29 items and these items were divided into three categories: cooperative skills (17 items), assertive skills (six items) and general communication skills (six items, mainly non-verbal skills). Internal consistencies of all groups were between 0.91 and 0.97. Test-retest reliability values for patients, family members and medical staff were between 0.90 and 0.95. Interrater reliability of medical staff was 0.73. The total scores had a moderate positive correlation with Global Assessment of Functioning (GAF) score and doctor's impression of communication skill evaluated on a 10-point scale. The patient group had a lower CSQ score than that of controls and the score differences between controls and patients with schizophrenia, mood disorders or eating disorders were statistically significant. This questionnaire is a good psychometric method of evaluating the communication skills of patients.

Adult↗

Chronic intraperitoneal injection of interferon-alpha reduces serotonin levels in various regions of rat brain, but does not change levels of serotonin transporter mRNA, nitrite or nitrate.

Interferon-alpha therapy is associated with a high rate of depression, but the pathophysiological mechanisms remain unclear. The purpose of the present study was to investigate the effects of i.p. administered interferon-alpha on monoaminergic neurotransmission in the brain. The levels of monoamines and associated metabolites were measured in various regions of the rat brain using a high-performance liquid chromatography-electrochemical detection system. The serotonin transporter mRNA levels were also measured using in situ hybridization. After 1 day, dopamine turnover was diminished in the cortex. Norepinephrine turnover was decreased in most regions tested after 4 days. However, these changes were transient. After 14 days, serotonin turnover was increased in the frontal cortex and hippocampus in rats given a dose of 20 000 IU/kg; in the frontal cortex, hippocampus, amygdala, thalamus, hypothalamus and brainstem in those on 200 000 IU/kg; and in the thalamus and hypothalamus in those on 2 000 000 IU/kg (all P < 0.05). However, 14-day treatment did not significantly change serotonin transporter mRNA levels. Next, the question of whether interferon-alpha affects monoamine levels via induction of nitric oxide (NO), was investigated. However, there were no changes in either NO2- or NO3-, as markers of NO production, in any brain regions after 14-day treatment. These results suggest that chronic peripheral administration of interferon-alpha induces metabolic changes in the central serotonin system. Further investigation is needed to determine exactly how this cytokine affects the central serotonin system and to assess whether a central serotonin abnormality is involved in interferon-induced depression.

Animals↗

Teeth contacting habit as a contributing factor to chronic pain in patients with temporomandibular disorders.

Many different factors are known to cause and perpetuate the symptoms of temporomandibular disorders (TMD). However, the roles of parafunctional factors have not been clearly elucidated. We found one of these habits in the clinical setting. This parafunctional habit involves daily light touching of the upper and lower teeth, when the mouth is closed. We named this habit Teeth Contacting Habit (TCH). [OBJECTIVES] To investigate the following hypotheses: 1) TCH is associated with perpetuation of chronic pain of TMD patients; 2) TCH is associated with other behavioral factors. [METHODS] Two hundred and twenty-nine TMD outpatients with chronic pain were analyzed with multivariate logistic regression models. [RESULTS] TCH was found in 52.4% of patients. Patients with TCH and pain lasting for more than four months were less likely to experience improvements in pain at the first visit (OR = 1.944, p = 0.043). Other factors associated with TCH were as follows: unilateral chewing (OR = 2.802) and involvement in a precision job (OR = 2.195). [CONCLUSION] TCH can prolong TMD pain and is associated with other behavioral factors.

Adult↗

Amygdalic levels of dopamine and serotonin rise upon exposure to conditioned fear stress without elevation of glutamate.

Conditioned fear is an artificial stress, induced by a stimulus, such as a tone, that does not elicit fear in nature. This fear response is acquired by experimental animals when tone is combined with an unconditioned stimulus, such as electrical foot shock. The amygdala is considered to be the area involved in acquisition, consolidation and recall of fear. A series of previous pharmacological studies showed antagonists of dopamine D1 and D2, glutamate N-methyl-D-asparatate and (+/-)-alpha-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methylisoxazole-4-propionic acid receptors to prevent the acquisition of conditioned fear. However, little is known about the types of neurotransmitters released when conditioned fear is acquired and recalled. The present study was designed to continuously monitor changes in extracellular levels of glutamate, dopamine and serotonin in the amygdala, at the acquisition of conditioned fear on Day 1 and at fear recall in response to a tone as a conditioned stimulus on Day 2, using the in vivo microdialysis method. Glutamate was elevated only on Day 1, while dopamine and serotonin rose on both days. The periods of elevated dopamine and serotonin were longer on Day 1 than on Day 2. These results suggest that greater amounts of glutamate, dopamine and serotonin are necessary for acquisition than for recall of conditioned fear.

Amygdala↗

Effects of intraperitoneal administration of IFN-alpha for one, four, and fourteen days on amino acid levels in various rat brain regions.

Interferon-alpha (IFN-alpha) therapy is strongly associated with certain adverse effects, but the pathophysiologic mechanism is unclear. The present study was designed to investigate the influence of peripherally administered IFN- alpha on amino acid levels in the brain. IFN-alpha was administered intraperitoneally (i.p.) once daily to rats, and their brains were extracted 24 h after the last injection. The levels of glutamate, glycine, taurine, gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA), and arginine in homogenized samples of the frontal cortex, striatum, hippocampus, amygdala, thalamus, hypothalamus, cerebellum, and brainstem were determined. One day of IFN-alpha treatment induced no significant changes in any of these amino acids. After 4 days of injections, glutamate, glycine, taurine, and gamma-aminobutyric acid levels were significantly higher than those in the control frontal cortex, striatum, hippocampus, amygdala, and thalamus. However, most of these amino acids returned to approximately basal levels, or even lower, with 14-day treatment. Our results suggest that daily peripheral administration of IFN-alpha affects the metabolism of amino acids in the brain. Further studies are necessary to determine if these effects of IFN-alpha on cerebral amino acids are involved in the pathophysiology of IFN-alpha-induced depression.

Amino Acids↗

Effects of intraperitoneally injected lithium, imipramine and diazepam on nitrate levels in rat amygdala.

Nitric oxide (NO) has been studied in relation to the etiologies of various neurologic and psychiatric diseases. However, little is known about whether clinically available psychotropic drugs affect the NO system in the brain. Using an in vivo brain microdialysis method, the effects of intraperitoneally administered lithium, imipramine and diazepam on levels of , a marker of in vivo NO production, were investigated in the rat amygdala. Lithium significantly reduced, while imipramine raised, levels as compared with controls. These observations suggest that lithium and imipramine induce opposite effects on NO-related systems in the brain.

Amygdala↗

Depression and associated factors of informal caregivers versus professional caregivers of demented patients.

To examine the differences in depressive state and associated factors between informal and professional caregivers, a cross-sectional study was carried out in 23 informal home-based caregivers of demented patients, 24 professional caregivers working in the dementia ward of a psychiatric hospital, and 31 controls. Measurements included severity of dementia (Clinical Dementia Rating Scale, Mini Mental State Examination, MMSE) and levels of caregivers depression (Beck Depression Inventory; BDI), care burden (Zarit Caregiver Burden Interview; ZBI) and quality of life (World Health Organization-Quality of Life-26, WHO-QOL26). Informal caregivers had the highest BDI score and ZBI and the lowest QOL among the three studied groups. Regarding informal caregivers, there was a strong positive correlation between BDI and ZBI scores. The BDI and ZBI scores were significantly high when patients exhibited behavioral problems. The four WHO-QOL categories (physical domain, psychological domain, social relationships and environment) had a strong negative correlation with BDI. Regression analysis demonstrated that the psychological domain points of WHO-QOL, role strain factor of ZBI and MMSE score were significantly associated with BDI. Regarding professional caregivers, their BDI score had a strong negative correlation with the physical and psychological domains and environment categories of WHO-QOL. Regression analysis demonstrated that their BDI score was significantly associated with the psychological domain and environment. It is thus very important to provide sufficient social care services and/or personal support to informal caregivers.

Age Factors↗

Relationship between oral sensory thresholds and depressive moods.

AIMS: The aims were to compare the sensory thresholds on the tip of the tongue with on the dorsum of the hand, and to investigate the relationship between the sensory threshold and depressive mood with volunteers whose psychological conditions were normal. METHODS: Fifty-five subjects (28 women, 27 men) took psychiatric structured diagnostic interview and Self-rating Depression Scale (SDS). In the next step, the quantitative sensory tests (light touch sensation and thermal sensory test) were carried out on the tongue and the hand. Then we investigated the relationship between depressive moods and sensory thresholds on the tongue and the hand using logistic regression model. RESULT: The sensory thresholds on the tip of the tongues were significantly different from those on the dorsum of the hands. Only on tongue tip, increment of SDS had relation to the thresholds of innoxious thermal stimulation (OR=0.152, 95% CI. 0.049-0.478) and noxious heat stimulation (OR=0.352, 95% CI. 0.169-0.734). CONCLUSION: This finding might support for the idea that depressive mood had closer association with the tongue of the orofacial areas than the dorsum of the hand.

Adolescent↗

Massive pulmonary thromboembolism demonstrated at necropsy in Japanese psychiatric patients treated with neuroleptics including atypical antipsychotics.

BACKGROUND: There may be an increased risk of pulmonary thromboembolism (PTE) with antipsychotic drugs, so this association was investigated in autopsy cases of sudden unexpected death determined by the Department of Legal Medicine of a Japanese university hospital. METHODS AND RESULTS: Records of 1,125 forensic autopsies (808 males, 317 females) performed during the study period for investigation of the cause of sudden unexpected death were reviewed and a logistic regression analysis was performed to explore whether age, gender, body mass index (BMI), and antipsychotic drug use were associated with fatal PTE. Among all records, 34 (3.0%; 14 males, 20 females) indicated the use of antipsychotic drugs and 28 (2.5%; 9 males, 19 females) indicated PTE as the cause of death. Of the 28 subjects who died from PTE, 8 had taken antipsychotic drugs (29%) and all were female. Female gender and antipsychotic drug use accounted for a significantly higher risk of PTE death with an odds ratio of 4.22 (95% confidence interval (CI), 1.82-9.78; p<0.01) and 10.49 (95% CI, 3.95-27.85; p<0.01), respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Japanese women taking antipsychotic drugs may be at particular risk for PTE.

Aged↗

[Introduction of cognitive-behavioral therapy for alcoholic inpatients at Kurihama National Hospital].

A new inpatient treatment program for alcoholism based on cognitive-behavioral therapy was introduced at Kurihama National Hospital in March 2000. We have classified the dysfunctional cognitions frequently exhibited by alcoholics into eight categories. The therapy is premised on the notion that the presence of one or more of the dysfunctional cognitions can trigger worsening of an alcoholic's drinking problem. We have devised a cognitive model in which the patients themselves examine their dysfunctional cognitions and recover from the vicious cycle of alcoholism. Cognitive-behavioral therapy is conducted at Kurihama National Hospital based on these hypotheses. The cognitive-behavioral therapy employed at Kurihama National Hospital is administered in group therapy in an inpatient treatment setting. Since the treatment is provided on an inpatient basis, dropouts from the program as a result of the patient starting to drink again can be prevented. Furthermore, since group therapy are used, cognitions of alcohol are examined not just in the context of the relationship between patient and therapist, but also in the context of the relationships among patients. It thus becomes easier to examine dysfunctional cognitions from a multifaceted perspective. It will be easier for patients to examine their future drinking behavior concretely through the introduction of cognitive-behavioral therapy, and improvements in outcome should be achieved. However, the relationship between change in cognitions and prognosis needs to be studied in the future.

Alcohol Drinking↗

Antisense hippocampal knockdown of NMDA-NR1 by HVJ-liposome vector induces deficit of prepulse inhibition but not of spatial memory.

Considerable evidence suggests that an N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor plays a crucial role in memory and cognitive function. To identify the role of this receptor in higher functions of the brain, we delivered antisense oligonucleotides against an NMDA-NR1 subunit (NR1) to the hippocampus in rats using the HVJ-liposome-mediated gene-transfer method. NR1 hippocampal knockdown was performed by the focal injection of the NR1 antisense-HVJ-liposome complex into the bilateral hippocampus. The blocking effect of NR1-antisense on the expression of NR1 was confirmed by Western blot analysis. Spatial memory was tested by a water maze task, and sensorimotor gating was examined by prepulse inhibition (PPI). Western blot analysis demonstrated that the NR1-antisense treatment specifically provided the down-regulation (about 30%) of NR1 protein levels in the hippocampus. The water maze task showed that the antisense treatment did not affect spatial memory, while the PPI test revealed that NR1 hippocampal knockdown caused a deficit in sensorimotor gating. We conclude that mild dysfunction of hippocampal NMDA receptor causes sensorimotor gating deficit and relatively intact in spatial memory.

Animals↗

Nitric oxide involvement in depression during interferon-alpha therapy.

It has been postulated that interferon induces depression via a nitric oxide-related system. The purpose of this study was to test whether there was a difference in the effects of interferon-alpha (IFN-alpha) on nitric oxide production between patients with and without interferon-induced depression. The subjects had chronic hepatitis C and were being treated with IFN-alpha. We measured plasma nitrate, a marker of nitric oxide production in vivo, before, during, and after interferon therapy. Of 146 patients, 9 developed depression within the first 4 wk of interferon therapy, and 8 developed depression later. In the former group, a significant plasma nitrate increase was observed during therapy, followed by a decrease to baseline after discontinuation. This, however, was not the case with the latter group or those who had no psychiatric symptoms. These results suggest nitric oxide involvement in at least some forms of IFN-alpha-induced depression.

Adolescent↗