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Biomedical subjects

M Ichikawa

Publications and source records attributed to M Ichikawa.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2006

Magazine information on safety belt use for pregnant women and young children.

To assess the information on safety belt use for pregnant women and infants in maternity and baby magazines, we reviewed 2003 issues of the three top-selling monthly baby and maternity magazines. Articles on safety belt use during pregnancy and child safety seat (CSS) use for infants, and advertisements of the CSS, automobiles, or CSS-related products were examined for their informational content. Of the 9418 pages in the maternity magazines, 46 pages were on infants, 16 pages on pregnant women and 162 pages displayed advertisements. Of the 9750 pages in the baby magazines, 34 pages of articles addressed CSS use; no articles addressed the issue of pregnant women; 83 pages were advertisements. Although the magazines showed accurate information in general; its amount was not sufficient, and little specific information on appropriate use and selection of a CSS was seen. Some information was misleading and even incorrect: specifically related to when to start using a forward-facing seat, what products are attachable to the CSS, and the reuse of a CSS. Greater amounts and accuracy of safety information in these magazines would help pregnant women and parents acquire important safety knowledge that healthcare providers are falling short of providing in Japan.

Adult↗
PubMed2006

Unintentional injuries among school adolescents in Kathmandu, Nepal: a descriptive study.

OBJECTIVE: To describe detailed mechanisms and activities at the time of unintentional injuries among adolescents in Kathmandu, Nepal. METHODS: A school-based study was conducted on 1557 students in grades 6-8 across 14 schools, using a self-administered questionnaire during August-September 2003. Mechanisms and activities were coded using the Nordic Medico Statistical Committee's classification. FINDINGS: Falls (65%) and cuts (63%) were the most common injuries, followed by transport-related injuries (36%) and burns (22%). In urban areas, falls (59%) were the most common injuries, followed by transport-related injuries (50%); in semi-urban areas, falls (66%) and cuts (65%) were the most common injuries, followed by transport-related injuries (34%). At the time of falls, boys were generally engaged in sports while girls were engaged in walking on streets or on stairs in houses, in both areas. Falls from trees among boys and falls from roofs among girls were also common in semi-urban areas. Cut injuries while processing food were common among boys and girls in both areas, whereas agricultural work was also a source of injury in semi-urban areas. Pedestrian injuries were common during transport among boys and girls in both areas; boys in semi-urban areas were almost equally likely to be injured during cycling. Burn injuries while cooking and serving food were more common among girls in semi-urban areas. CONCLUSION: Falls, cuts, transport-related injuries, and burn injuries were quite prevalent among adolescents in Kathmandu. The reported injury mechanisms and activities posing injury risks have implications for future interventions.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2006

Perceived social environment and quality of life among people living with HIV/AIDS in northern Thailand.

Efforts have been made to improve the social environment of people living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA) in Thailand but have not been assessed in terms of their quality of life (QOL). In this study, we preliminarily examined the relationship between PLWHA's perception of social environment and QOL. The participants of this study were 200 PLWHA who belonged to the self-help groups in Chiang Mai province, northern Thailand. We collected data in face-to-face interviews using a structured questionnaire. The QOL was measured using a Thai version of the Medical Outcomes Study HIV Health Survey. Those who perceived themselves as well accepted by the community, perceived health services accessible or someone's help available, tended to have better QOL in terms of mental health. Community acceptance was most significantly related to QOL. Stratified analyses revealed similar relationships between perceived social environment and QOL among symptomatic and non-symptomatic participants but the relationships appeared weaker among men than women. In sum, our preliminary findings suggest that supportive social environment, especially community acceptance, is important for mental aspects of PLWHA's QOL irrespective of the disease stages and for women who usually take on multiple roles in the Thai traditional family.

Adult↗
PubMed2005

Herbal medicine use and quality of life among people living with HIV/AIDS in northeastern Thailand.

Many people living with HIV/AIDS (PHA) use herbal medicine as one of alternative therapies, where curative options are limited. This study aimed to examine the association between the herbal medicine use and quality of life (QOL) among PHA in northeastern Thailand. Participants were 132 HIV-positive Thai adults who attended the PHA's self-help group meetings from June to July 2002. Health-related QOL scores were measured by self-administered questionnaire from the Medical Outcomes Study-HIV Health Survey. Dimensions of physical function (PF) and mental health (MH) in QOL were assessed. Additional data were collected on herbal medicine use, socio-demographic, psychosocial and HIV-related characteristics. The herbal medicine users had significantly better MH scores than the non-users, while the herbal medicine use was not statistically associated with PF scores. When stratified, herbal medicine users with the following characteristics had significantly better MH scores than the non-users: female, widowed, having no income, reporting any HIV-related symptom, having no instrumental support or receiving subsidies. In conclusion, herbal medicine use was associated with better MH especially among socially vulnerable PHA. This study suggests that herbal medicine has a potential to improve the MH aspect of QOL among socially vulnerable PHA who cannot easily receive antiretroviral therapy in Thailand.

Adult↗
PubMed2003

Increase in the number of tyrosine hydroxylase-containing neurons in a primary culture system of the rat accessory olfactory bulb by co-culture with vomeronasal pockets.

Previously, we established a culture system of the accessory olfactory bulb in order to investigate the functional role of each accessory olfactory bulb neurons in pheromonal signal processing. In the present study, we developed a co-culture system of cultured accessory olfactory bulb neurons with partially dissociated cells of the vomeronasal organ. The dissociated cells of the vomeronasal organ form spherical structures surrounding a central cavity in culture, referred to as the vomeronasal pockets. The projection and activity of olfactory receptor neurons affect the differentiation and maturation of main olfactory bulb neurons. It was also reported induction of tyrosine hydroxylase expression in main olfactory bulb neurons when they were co-cultured with explants of the olfactory epithelium. Thus, we investigated the effects of co-culture with vomeronasal pockets on the differentiation and/or maturation of cultured accessory olfactory bulb neurons in relation to tyrosine hydroxylase expression. The number of tyrosine hydroxylase-containing neurons developmentally increased over time in the accessory olfactory bulb culture. This increase was significantly enhanced by coculture with vomeronasal pockets. Interestingly, a significant change in tyrosine hydroxylase expression was not observed when main olfactory bulb neurons were co-cultured with vomeronasal pockets. Moreover, significant changes in tyrosine hydroxylase expression were not observed when accessory olfactory bulb neurons were co-cultured with olfactory epithelium explants, as was previously observed in co-culture of main olfactory bulb neurons and olfactory epithelium explants. These results suggest that the differentiation and/or maturation of accessory olfactory bulb neurons is modified by vomeronasal organ neurons via specific interactions between the sensory organ and its target.

Animals↗
PubMed2003

Seatbelt legislation in Japan: high risk driver mortality and seatbelt use.

OBJECTIVES: To clarify why seatbelt legislation did not achieve the expected reduction in mortality in Japan. LOCATION AND BACKGROUND: Seatbelt legislation was enacted in Japan in September 1985 and penalties were introduced in November 1986. METHODS: The driver deaths per vehicle km traveled (D/VKT) were calculated to adjust for changes in traffic volume. Decreases in D/VKT were compared with the reduction expected after legislation. The association between percentage changes of driver D/VKT, seatbelt use rate, and seatbelt non-use rate were explored. Deaths of passengers, pedestrians, and cyclists were also examined. Mortality data were obtained from vital statistics, traffic volume figures from the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, and Transport, and seatbelt use rates from the National Police Agency. RESULTS: Although the decrease in D/VKT after the law was enforced was larger than the absolute number of deaths, it was far less than predicted. The percentage decrease in seatbelt non-use rate showed the strongest correlation with the percentage decrease in driver mortality. Mortality did not increase among other road users after the law was enacted. CONCLUSION: Accurate evaluation of the effect of seatbelt legislation must take into account changes in traffic volume. The selective recruitment hypothesis-that high risk drivers were less responsive to seatbelt legislation-fits well with the findings. There was no conclusive evidence supporting risk compensation-that is, an increase in injuries among other road users.

Accidents, Traffic↗
PubMed2003

Car seatbelt use during pregnancy in Japan: determinants and policy implications.

CONTEXT: Pregnant women are exempted from the current seatbelt legislation in Japan despite the fact that seatbelt use is essential to reduce the risk of fatalities for these women and their fetuses in car crashes. OBJECTIVE: To examine factors that might influence seatbelt use during pregnancy. METHODS: A cross sectional study, with data collected via an anonymous, self administered questionnaire at obstetric clinics in suburban areas of Japan. Altogether 880 pregnant women receiving prenatal care in July 2001 were recruited. The relative effects of factors that might influence seatbelt use during pregnancy were estimated using logistic regression analysis. RESULTS: Almost 70%-80% of pregnant women were consistent seatbelt wearers before pregnancy but seatbelt compliance was reduced by about half at 20 weeks or more gestation. Only 20% had received information on maternal seatbelt use, with one third reporting that seatbelt use is beneficial during pregnancy. Those who perceived that maternal seatbelt use is beneficial tended to maintain use, but daily car users and those who knew that they were exempted from seatbelt legislation were more likely to reduce use. CONCLUSIONS: Knowledge of the legislative exemption for pregnant women, misunderstanding of the benefits, and daily car use contributed to the reduction in seatbelt use after pregnancy.

Adult↗
PubMed2001

Molecular cloning and characterization of human PTB-like protein: a possible retinal autoantigen of cancer-associated retinopathy.

Human homologue of polypyrimidine tract binding protein (PTB), a possible autoantigen for cancer-associated retinopathy (CAR), was isolated from a human retinal cDNA library. This homologue, named PTB-like protein (PTBLP), encodes a 532 amino acid residue and has a 75% homology to the human PTB. The human PTBLP had four RNA recognition motifs (RRMs) and had a RNA binding ability. There are four splicing variants in PTBLP. The CAR serum recognized the full length form of PTBLP and the antigenic determinant was localized within 12 amino acids of the C-terminal region. The sequence was included in the fourth RRM sequence.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed2001

Cellular localization of metabotropic glutamate receptors mGluR1, 2/3, 5 and 7 in the main and accessory olfactory bulb of the rat.

The cellular localization of metabotropic glutamate receptors (mGluRs) (mGluR1alpha, 2/3, 5a and 7) in the main and accessory olfactory bulb (MOB and AOB) of adult rats was compared by using affinity purified polyclonal antibodies directed to their C-termini. mGluR1alpha and mGluR5a immunoreactivities were located in comparable structures of the MOB and AOB with different levels of intensity. mGluR5a reactivity was high in the AOB. mGluR2/3 showed a different pattern of expression in the MOB compared to that observed in the AOB; the periglomerular region of the MOB was strongly stained, but in the AOB it was the mitral/tufted cell layer that was intense. The mitral cell bodies in the MOB were strongly immunoreactive for mGluR7. These differences in the distribution of mGluRs in the MOB and AOB may reflect differences in synaptic transmission and sensitivity to neuromodulation in the two systems.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed2001

Optical anisotropy of oxidized Si(001) surfaces and its oscillation in the layer-by-layer oxidation process.

Reflectance-difference (RD) measurements for the oxidation of single-domain (2x1)-reconstructed Si(001) surfaces show that the polarity of the interface-induced optical anisotropy is reversed repeatedly with increasing oxide thickness. The oscillation of the RD amplitude, which we show is due to layer-by-layer progression of the oxidation, has allowed us to count the number of oxidized Si layers in situ during oxidation. The origins of the observed spectral line shape are discussed.

Journal Article↗
PubMed2001

Transplantation of adult rat hippocampus-derived neural stem cells into retina injured by transient ischemia.

Neural stem cells are capable of differentiating along multiple central nervous system cell-type lineages, and their use as graft material has provided new strategies for the treatment of neuronal damage. We transplanted adult rat hippocampus-derived neural stem cells into eyes of adult rats that underwent ischemia-reperfusion injury. As control, the cells were also injected into normal rats eyes without ischemic insult. The rats were sacrificed at 1, 2, 4, and 8 weeks, and the eyes were examined histochemically. In eyes with the insult, the transplanted cells were well integrated into the host retinas and expressed Map2ab. In the control, none of the cells migrated into the retina. These results suggest that neural stem cells may be used as donor cells for transplantation to repair ischemic-injured retina.

Animals↗
PubMed2001

UV-induced skin carcinogenesis in xeroderma pigmentosum group A (XPA) gene-knockout mice with nucleotide excision repair-deficiency.

Nucleotide excision repair (NER) removes a wide variety of lesions from the genome and is deficient in the genetic disorder, xeroderma pigmentosum (XP). In this paper, an in vitro analysis of the XP group A gene product (XPA protein) is reported. Results of an analysis on the pathogenesis of ultraviolet (UV)-B-induced skin cancer in the XPA gene-knockout mouse are also described: (1) contrary to wild type mice, significant bias of p53 mutations to the transcribed strand and no evident p53 mutational hot spots were detected in the skin tumors of XPA-knockout mice. (2) Skin cancer cell lines from UVB-irradiated XPA-knockout mice had a decreased mismatch repair activity and an abnormal cell cycle checkpoint, suggesting that the downregulation of mismatch repair helps cells escape killing by UVB and that mismatch repair-deficient clones are selected for during the tumorigenic transformation of XPA (-/-) cells. (3) The XPA-knockout mice showed a higher frequency of UVB-induced mutation in the rpsL transgene at a low dose of UVB-irradiation than the wild type mice. CC-->TT tandem transition, a hallmark of UV-induced mutation, was detected at higher frequency in the rpsL transgene in the XPA-knockout mice than the wild type mice. This rpsL/XPA mouse system will be useful for further analysing the role of NER in the mutagenesis induced by various carcinogens. (4) The UVB-induced immunosuppression was greatly enhanced in the XPA-knockout mice. It is possible that an enhanced impairment of the immune system by UVB irradiation is involved in the high incidence of skin cancer in XP.

Animals↗
PubMed2001

Brain-derived gangliosides suppress the chronic relapsing-remitting experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis in NOD mice induced with myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein peptide.

Chronic relapsing-remitting experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (CREAE) induced with myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein peptides 35-55 (MOG(35-55)) in NOD mice was successfully treated with brain-derived gangliosides (GA). The GA treatment suppressed the development and severity of CREAE, both clinically and histologically. Spleen cells from the GA-treated mice displayed markedly inhibited levels of MOG(35-55) specific proliferation and interferon-gamma production. Delayed-type hypersensitivity reactions to MOG(35-55) were suppressed by the GA treatment. GA modulate various T cell effector functions in CREAE and may be an effective therapeutic agent for autoimmune demyelinating diseases such as multiple sclerosis.

Amino Acid Sequence↗