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Biomedical subjects

M Minowa

Publications and source records attributed to M Minowa.

At least 55 records · Page 3Linked to original sources
PubMed1998

[Alcoholic problem among homeless people around Shibuya Station].

It has been reported that the general public has the impression that many of the homeless people have alcoholic problems, and that these problems make their life problems worse. While there has been some research on this subject, most of them focus on the people who use public or private services. So, this study was conducted to investigate the alcoholic problems focused on the homeless people who were around Shibuya station. An investigation covering the questions about their job, company, sleeping style, amount of alcohol taken per day, CAGE and blood examination was compiled using questionnaires. The results were compared with people who are not homeless people and among homeless people. There were forty-nine homeless people who responded to the questionnaire and 34 homeless people who responded to the blood examination. The mean age of the homeless people was 53.1 years and no significant difference was seen between the homeless and the control. About 46% of the homeless reported that they do not drink. Sixteen per cent of the homeless respondents answered positively to the CAGE, No difference was found in having past history of liver dysfunction and in blood examination between them. There was a tendency that the amount of alcohol increases when the homeless have company. The level of gamma GTP increased significantly according to the amount of alcohol (p < 0.05). This study can be valued because of the attempt to focus not on the homeless who use services but on the homeless who stayed in the city. But the number of the targeted homeless people was small and there was selection bias that is not easy to be excluded in this type of research. Further studies on the impact of alcohol etc. should be developed to improve their lives.

Adult↗
PubMed1998

[Value of transtracheobronchial ultrasonography in the assessment of mediastinal lymphadenopathy in patients with lung cancer].

In patients with lung cancer, decisions regarding treatment can depend on the diagnosis of hilar and mediastinal nodal involvement. We prospectively compared the diagnostic value of computed tomography (CT) with that of transtracheobronchial ultrasonography (TUS) in the evaluation of lymphadenopathy. Five patients with resectable lung cancer were studied. TUS was done with EU-M 20 or M 30 and lymph nodes located at #3, #4, #7, ipsilateral #10, and #11 were observed and measured. TUS findings, CT findings, and histological findings were evaluated and compared. The sizes of lymph nodes as measured by TUS were similar to or slightly smaller than their sizes as measured by CT. Hilar lymph nodes and lymph nodes located at right #4 were clearly observed with TUS, but were sometimes unclear with CT. Diagnosis of model involvement by TUS needs further study.

Bronchoscopy↗
PubMed1998

[Ultrasonographic findings of diseases in peripheral lung fields using transtracheobronchial endoscopic ultrasonography (TUS)].

Nineteen patients with diseases in peripheral lung fields, including 14 with lung cancer, 1 brochiectasis, 1 with pleural effusion, 1 with sclerosing haemangioma and 2 with inflammatory lung diseases were examined with transtracheobronchial endoscopic ultrasonography (TUS) using an Olympus EU-M 20 and UM-2 R (12 MHz) or UM-3 R (30 MHz). The internal structures of the lesions, including necrosis and bronchial tissues, were readily observable, as were the intrapulmonary lymph nodes, including the swollen and heterogenous internal structures of metastatic lymph nodes. TUS is useful for diagnosis of peripheral lung diseases.

Endosonography↗
PubMed1997

Differentiation dependent expression and distinct subcellular localization of the protooncogene product, PEBP2beta/CBFbeta, in muscle development.

The Pebpb2/Cbfb gene encodes the non-DNA binding subunit of the heterodimeric transcription factor, PEBP2/CBF. To examine the expression of the PEBP2beta/CBFbeta protein in vivo, we carried out immunohistochemistry using the tissues from adult mice as well as embryos. Although PEBP2beta/CBFbeta was detected in various tissues to various degrees, interesting features of expression were observed in the skeletal myogenic cells. Here PEBP2beta/CBFbeta was found mainly to occur as cytoplasmic staining and the intensity of this staining increased depending on the differentiation stage of the cells. In the undifferentiated myoblasts PEBP2beta/CBFbeta was undetectable, whereas moderate levels of PEBP2beta/ CBFbeta were detected in the elongated and aligned myocytes. PEBP2beta/CBFbeta appeared to accumulate further when the cells fused to each other to become multinucleated myotubes. Once the muscle fibers were established, PEBP2beta/CBFbeta was relocated onto or around the Z-lines. PEBP2beta/CBFbeta was also detected in the cytoplasm of cardiac myocytes and in the smooth muscle cells of the digestive tract. In all the above, the skeletal myotubes were the only case that showed both nuclear and cytoplasmic staining of PEBP2beta/CBFbeta. Thus, we could show differentiation dependent pattern of PEBP2beta/CBFbeta expression in muscle development and establish PEBP2beta/CBFbeta to be a cytoplasmic as well as nuclear protein in vivo.

Actinin↗
PubMed1997

Estimated prevalence and incidence of adult Still's disease: findings by a nationwide epidemiological survey in Japan.

To estimate prevalence and incidence of adult Still's disease in Japan, and to describe the epidemiological features of the patients, a nationwide epidemiological survey was conducted in 1994. The study consisted of two questionnaires which were distributed to the heads of the relevant departments, randomly sampled, in hospitals throughout Japan. Following major epidemiological findings emerged from the study: (a) The total annual number of patients treated for adult Still's disease was estimated as 1,100 in 1993 in Japan. The estimated crude prevalence among those aged 16 years or older were calculated as 0.73 and 1.47 per 100,000 population for males and females, respectively, with the corresponding crude incidence rate of 0.22 and 0.34. (b) The sex ratio (female to male) of the reported patients was 2.1. This female predominance might be specific to Japan, though additional surveys in other countries will be warranted. The mean age of the patients was 38.1 years, and female patients tended to be older than male ones; 50% of the female patients aged 40 years or older, while so did only 28% of the male patients.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1997

[Smoking prevalence of nurses in national hospitals of Japan].

We surveyed nurses in 14 randomly sampled national hospitals about their smoking behavior and some relating factors. The main results were as follows: 1) The prevalence of smoking among male and female nurses was 67.8% and 18.5% respectively. These figures are higher than in the general population. 2) The smoking prevalence of female nurses was highest among those in their thirties and lowest among those in their twenties, and 56% of those who smoke daily started smoking between the age of 20 and 24. 3) Smoking was more prevalent among practical nurses than among registered nurses. 4) Smoking was more prevalent among nurses who where not satisfied with their career choice than those who stated that they were satisfied with being nurses. 5) Among smokers, 80% had considered quitting, 44% had seriously tried to quit smoking, and 80% wanted to quit smoking. For this reason, it is important to provide smoking cessation programs for nurses. 6) The nurses surveyed, 93% agreed with the opinion that women should not smoke for the sake of both their own and their infant's health. However only 30% agreed with the opinion that nurses should not smoke as medical professionals.

Adult↗
PubMed1996

Cigarette smoking among junior and senior high school students in Japan.

PURPOSE: To estimate the smoking prevalence among junior and senior high school students in Japan. METHODS: We conducted a nationwide survey of adolescent smoking habits in 1990. Sample schools were selected by single random sampling. Self-administered anonymous questionnaires were sent to sample schools for all students to fill out. Seventy junior high schools and 33 senior high schools responded. A total of 57,189 students responded. RESULTS: The current smoking rate (the proportion of students who had smoked at least once during the previous month) was much higher among boys than girls. The current smoking rate among seventh graders was 4.0% for boys and 1.5% for girls, and it increased with age to reach 25.5% for boys and 4.9% for girls in the twelfth grade. The percentage of regular smokers in the seventh grade was less than 1% for both sexes, but it increased to 20.3% for boys and 2.2% for girls in twelfth grade. Among current smokers, the proportion of boys smoking 1-9 cigarettes per day decreased, and the proportion of boys smoking 10 or more cigarettes per day increased, as age increased. Most current smokers buy their cigarettes from cigarette vending machines or tobacconist shops. CONCLUSIONS: Since this survey reveals that smoking prevalence among students is not low even in junior high school, health education about smoking must start earlier and carry a greater emphasis within the curriculum. These results also indicate the importance of urging families to have greater concern for the smoking behavior of their children, of banning cigarette vending machines, and of preventing illegal sale of cigarettes to anyone under the age of 20 years.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1996

Health information system.

Outline of selected ones among a number of nationwide surveys related to health and welfare services (90 surveys as of 1995) conducted mainly by the Ministry of Health and Welfare periodically in Japan is described. That is, history, purpose, coverage, date, contents, data collection procedure, tabulation and publication were explained in regard to : (1) Population Census, (2) Vital Statistics, (3) Patient Survey, (4) Infectious Disease Surveillance System, (5) Comprehensive Survey of Living Conditions of People on Health and Welfare, (6) Census on Medical Care Institutions, (7) Hospital Report, (8) Survey on Physicians, Dentists and Pharmacists, (9) Statistical Report on Public Health Administration Services, (10) Survey on Social Welfare Institutions, and (11) National Nutrition Survey. On-line data service system of the Ministry of Health and Welfare is also briefly mentioned.

Demography↗
PubMed1996

Epidemiology of diseases of unknown etiology, specified as "intractable diseases".

In Japan, epidemiological studies on intractable diseases have been undertaken and greatly promoted for more than 20 years by the Research Committee on Epidemiology of Intractable Diseases, with the financial supports from the Ministry of Health and Welfare of Japan. In this paper, chronological history of development of the Research Committee and some scientific accomplishments by the recent Research Committee (1993-1995) were summarized, mainly focusing on descriptive, analytical and other epidemiological studies. Hoped is that the readers are to be acquainted with the recent research activities by the Research Committee and seek for possible international collaborations in epidemiological studies on intractable diseases.

Epidemiologic Methods↗
PubMed1996

Descriptive epidemiology of chronic fatigue syndrome based on a nationwide survey in Japan.

In order to clarify the epidemiological features of chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS), a nationwide survey was conducted using the Japanese version of the CDC Criteria prepared by the CFS Research Group of Japan. All clinical departments of internal medicine, pediatrics, psychiatry and neurology at university hospitals and at ordinary hospitals with 200 or more beds were surveyed. Major results were as follows: (1) Period prevalence adjusted for response rate was 0.85 (0.63 for males and 1.02 for females) per 100,000 population during the year 1992; (2) Based on the first and final dates of hospital visits, the prevalences on January 1 of 1992 and 1993 were 0.40 and 0.60 per 100,000 population, respectively, suggesting an increasing trend; (3) Reported new cases during 1992 were 301, and the response adjusted-incidence was estimated to be 0.46 per 100,000 person-years; (4) The proportion of post-infectious CFS cases was 14.8% for both sexes, and tended to be slightly higher among females than males, but was not related to age. Three clusterings of two cases were reported.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1996

[Present international status and basic approach of lung and heart-lung transplantation].

Lung transplantation has been established as an optional treatment for variable irreversible diffuse lung diseases. To date, more than 5,000 patients have underwent lung transplantation, and nearly 1,000 procedures a year are performed recently. Although heart-lung transplantation has also been technically established, this procedure is confined to quite limited conditions due to the severe shortage of donors and many difficulties in operative procedure and the patient management. Preservation, post-transplantation edema, diagnosis of rejection, chronic rejection, shortage of donor organs, are principal problems in clinical lung transplantation, 24-hour preservation proved to be possible in several recent experimental studies, and the reperfusion injury has been revealed to be one of causes of post-transplantation edema. Establishment of methods for long-term pulmonary preservation and for the treatment of post-transplantation edema may be promising in the near future. Shortage of donor lung is one of major limiting factors. Research works on xenotransplantation and cadaver lung transplantation are on going, and these may help in solving this problem.

Heart-Lung Transplantation↗
PubMed1995

[Development of a quality of life rating scale for patients with chronic neurological diseases].

A significant concern among health care personnel is the assessment of the quality of life (QOL) among patients with chronic neurological diseases such as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, spinocerebellar degeneration and Parkinson disease, which are designated as intractable diseases by the Ministry of Health and Welfare of Japan. A purposes for the assessment of QOL of patients with intractable diseases is to allow evaluation of whether the increased QOL resulted from remission of clinical symptoms, social support, or improvement in ADL and environment. QOL for these patients was defined an attainment of a desirable life, which is reflected in acceptance of their own disease, satisfaction in their life, and morale. An item-pool consisting of 87 questions was derived from our observation of the patients, reviews of previous literature and suggestions from specialists in the field. Based on a preliminary test administered to 88 patients living in communities, 27 items were selected for the final QOL scale through factor analysis. Correlation coefficients between QOL score and each item were in the range of 0.192 to 0.655 and Cronbach's alpha-coefficient was 0.871, showing a moderate and high internal consistency, respectively. In an extended survey administered to 259 patients including those for the preliminary test, high test-retest reliability was demonstrated (r = 0.854). The factor structure of the questionnaire assessed by a factor analysis with Varimax rotation was consistent with our original concept of QOL, suggesting a high validity of the QOL scale.

Aged↗
PubMed1994

[Risk factors for neonatal and postneonatal mortality--a record-linkage study based on vital statistics].

This study examines the effects of biological, demographic and social variables, as reported on birth certificates, on neonatal and postneonatal mortalities. Examination of both birth and infant death certificates was performed for infants born in 1989 to residents of Tohoku, Tokai and Kyushu regions (n = 409,679), i.e. about a third of the total number of infants born in Japan. Record linkage rates in the neonatal and postneonatal periods were 99% and 92% respectively. The neonatal and postneonatal mortality rate of the cohort including unlinked deaths were 2.65/1,000 live-born infants and 2.02/1,000 neonatal survivors respectively. Both neonatal mortality rate and postneonatal mortality rate increased exponentially as birth weight decreased. Infant's sex and gestational period exerted significant influences on neonatal mortality after controlling for birth-weight by logistic regression. However, no overall effect on neonatal mortality was seen for maternal age, live-birth order, previous stillbirths and marital status, when birth-weight was taken into account. This suggests that the effect of social-demographic disadvantage on neonatal mortality is predominantly mediated through a downward shift in the birth-weight distribution. On the other hand, postneonatal mortality was influenced substantially by socio-demographic factors. Maternal age of less than 20 years and more than 35 years, one or more previous live-birth and unmarried marital status were all significantly related to increased risk of postneonatal death after controlling for birth-weight. Occupational type classification of the household, also, had a significant effect on postneonatal mortality, with agriculture, self-employed, or blue collar employee being related to increased risk.

Birth Weight↗
PubMed1994

[A record-linkage study on risk factors for cause-specific infant mortality].

Infant death certificates were linked with birth certificates for infants born to residents of Tohoku, Tokai and Kyushu regions in 1989 (n = 409, 679, or about one-third of all births in Japan), to examine the effects of variables, as reported on birth certificates, on cause-specific infant mortality. "Certain conditions originating in the perinatal period" and "congenital anomalies" accounted for nearly 90 percent of neonatal deaths, while "congenital anomalies", "injuries and poisoning" and "sudden infant death" were responsible for about 65 percent of postneonatal deaths. Mortality rates for almost all causes of infant deaths, except injuries and poisonings, increased as birth weight decreased not only in the neonatal period but also in the postneonatal period. This suggests that low birth weight places some infants at higher risk of death, and conditions that lead to low birth weight independently contribute to the risk of infant death. Cox's proportional hazards linear model was used to assess the effects of variables on infant mortalities by causes of death. An extremely strong birth weight effect was noted for "certain conditions originating in the perinatal period" and "congenital anomalies". Being a male infant and late order of birth in multiparity were other risk factors for deaths from "congenital anomalies", while being a male infant, resident of Tohoku region and maternal stillbirth experience related to deaths from "certain conditions originating in the perinatal period". Elevated risks of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS), of which mortality rate in Japan was considerably lower than those in most developed Western countries, i.e. 0.23 per 1,000 live births in 1989, were associated with low birth weight, being a male infant, low maternal age, late order of birth in multiparity and illegitimacy. Low maternal age, late order of birth in multiparity and illegitimacy, also, related significantly to increased risk of infant deaths for "injuries and poisoning". These results suggest the independent contributions of socioeconomic factors to infant mortality, especially postneonatal mortality, from SIDS, "injuries and poisonings".

Adult↗