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Biomedical subjects

M Morofuji

Publications and source records attributed to M Morofuji.

9 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1991

Prevalence of antibody to hepatitis C virus in hemodialysis patients.

The prevalence of hepatitis C virus infection in hemodialysis patients in Japan was examined using sera from 418 patients from six dialysis units in 1989. The authors made use of an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (Ortho Diagnostics). Antibody to hepatitis C virus (anti-HCV) was detected in 127 patients (30.4%), the frequency varying from 20.0% to 34.9% in different units. The mean prevalence of anti-HCV was 20 times higher than that in blood donors. Anti-HCV positivity was not associated with antibody to hepatitis B core antigen, which was not a surrogate marker for non-A, non-B hepatitis agents in this study. Another striking finding of this study was that 84.3% of the anti-HCV-positive patients had normal liver function. Anti-HCV positivity correlated positively with the number of blood transfusions and increased with the duration of hemodialysis; however, it was 22.1% even in 113 patients never given blood transfusion. Acquisition of hepatitis C virus by dialysis patients is, therefore, not only through blood transfusions but also because of hepatitis C virus present within the unit itself. Liver dysfunction in the anti-HCV-positive patients was rare.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1991

Long term observation of the effect of intradermal hepatitis B vaccination on mentally retarded patients.

Sixty-two patients of two institutions for mentally retarded patients were immunized intradermally with 4 micrograms doses of plasma-derived hepatitis B vaccine made in Japan, initially at month 0.1 and 6. The three vaccinations induced antibodies in 93.5% (90.9% in those with Down's syndrome (DS), 94.1% in other forms of mental retardation (OMR) of the vaccinees within 9 months after the first injection, and the percentage of geometric mean titers of antibody above 10 mIU/ml was 89.3% (81.8% DS, 84.3% OMR) within 9 months. Within 2 years, the seroconversion rate showed a significantly higher decrease in subjects with DS (54.5%) than in OMR (86.3%), and the percentage of vaccines with above 10 mIU/ml also showed a significantly higher decrease in subjects with DS (36.4%) than in those with OMR (74.5%) (p less than 0.05). In the OMR patients, the antibody response persisted for 2 years, decreased remarkably in the DS patients.

Adult↗
PubMed1991

Cost effectiveness of intradermal vs. subcutaneous hepatitis B vaccination for the mentally handicapped.

The currently available hepatitis B vaccine is being under utilized for reasons of cost and availability. To address this problem, we performed a recombinant hepatitis B vaccine trial comparing the currently recommended regimen of 10 micrograms subcutaneously (sc) in months 0, 1 and 6 with a more economical regimen of 2 micrograms intradermally (ID) in months 0, 1, 6. This trial assessed the immunogenicity of both regimens in 95 seronegative mentally handicapped patients. Forty four patients (aged 19-55 years, mean age 29.1 years) were vaccinated subcutaneously with recombinant vaccine and 51 (aged 19-52 years, mean age 28.3 years) were given intradermally. We found no significant difference in seroconversion between the subcutaneous group (93.2%) and the intradermal group (96.1%) 12 months after the first vaccination, but the antibody titres were lower in the intradermal group. We feel therefore that the dose should be increased slightly or further injections should be given. As the cost of intradermal vaccination is considerably lower than when using the subcutaneous route, underprivileged patients in institutions could the more readily be immunized against hepatitis B infection.

Adult↗
PubMed1990

Frequency of concurrence of hepatitis B surface antigen and antibody in a large number of carriers in Okinawa, Japan.

A large number of chronic hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) carriers in Okinawa, Japan were tested for antibody to HBsAg (anti-HBs), by both radioimmunoassay and enzyme immunoassay methods. Concurrence of HBsAg and anti-HBs was found in 166 (26.1%). We found no clear predominance of either liver damage or hepatitis B e antigen (HBeAg) in the concurrent carriers studied. Antibody to pre-S2 antigen (anti-pre-S2) was detected in 16 (9.6%) of 166 subjects with concurrent markers, 15 of these 16 carriers were positive for antibody to HBeAg (anti-HBe). Anti-pre-S2 was correlated with anti-HBe rather than with anti-HBs. The distribution of HBsAg subtypes among carriers determined to have subtypes was 76.7% adw, 22.0% adr, 0.2% ayr, 0.9% adwr, and 0.2% adyr. The distribution of anti-HBs subtypes among concurrent carriers was 51.5% anti-r, 21.4% anti-w, 15.5% anti-d, and 10.7% anti-y. Concurrent carriers had HBsAg of one subtype and heterotypic anti-HBs. Because the HBsAg subtype ay is rare in this area, it is hard to believe that the concurrent carriers with anti-y were infected with hepatitis B virus of which the HBsAg subtype was ay. A dual infection was highly unlikely. It seems that some of the concurrent carriers correlate with compound subtypes adwr and adyr.

Carrier State↗
PubMed1990

Marked decrease of hepatitis B virus infection among children in Okinawa, Japan.

During the period 1980-1989 in Okinawa, Japan, serologic markers of hepatitis B infection (hepatitis B surface antigen; HBsAg, antibody to hepatitis B core antigen; anti-HBc) were investigated in nursery school children (1-4 years of age). Prevalences of HBsAg were 1.1-1.5% in the period from 1980-1984, but decreased to under 1.0% in the period from 1985. In 1989 there were two carriers in nursery schools, both born in 1985 or fathers who were HBsAg carriers. Prevalences of anti-HBc were 3.3-7.1% in the period from 1980-1983 with a decrease to 0.5% by 1988. Since hepatitis B vaccine was available for neonates whose mothers were HBsAg carriers with hepatitis Be antigen (HBeAg) and for nursery school children in 1983, hepatitis B virus infection among nursery school children and HBsAg carriers due to transmission from mother-to-child were markedly reduced. This strategy for immunization is useful in endemic areas. Immunization for children whose fathers are HBsAg carriers may also be necessary.

Child, Preschool↗
PubMed1990

[An epidemiologic study of anti-ATLA (antibody to adult T-cell leukemia-associated antigen) by category of disease in the Karatsu and Higashimatsuura districts of northern Kyusyu by enzymeimmunoassay].

The Kyusyu district is known as an endemic area of HTLV-I. But the prevalence of anti-ATLA in Saga prefecture was reportedly relatively low. In this study, in order to determine the distribution of antibody to ATL-associated antigen (anti-ATLA) in the Karatsu and Higashimatsuura districts of the northern Kyusyu, the determination of anti-ATLA status of patients in Karatsu Red Cross Hospital was carried out from September to October, 1985. Sera from 757 patients were tested for presence of anti-ATLA by Enzyme immunoassay (EIA) prepared by Eisai Co., Ltd. Tokyo, Japan. Results obtained are as follows: 1) Overall prevalence of anti-ATLA was 13.7 per cent (104 of 757 individuals). Prevalence of anti-ATLA increased with age, reaching a maximum of 21.1 per cent for people from 60 to 69 years old. 2) Prevalence of anti-ATLA was 9.5 per cent (36 of 376) in males and 17.8 per cent (68 of 381) in females. A significant difference by sex was recognized. (p less than 0.001) 3) The positive rates of patients with non-malignant diseases were high in the Chinzei, Hizen, and Hamatama areas facing the Sea of Genkai. The positive rate of the seaside area was significantly higher than that of the mountain area. (p less than 0.001). 4) Anti-ATLA was most prevalent in the patients with neoplasms (26.1%). The positive rate of ATL patients was 100 per cent, and that of patients with malignancies other than ATL was 25.9 per cent. These results suggest that HTLV-I infection is likely to increase the incidence of other types of malignancy.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1990

[An epidemiological study of HBV and HTLV-I among high risk groups in Fukuoka City].

Sera from 69 adult prostitutes, 139 juveniles in the reformatory for boys, and 63 juveniles in the reformatory for girls, were collected between 1986 and 1987 in Fukuoka City. These samples were tested for the presence of antibody to human T-cell leukemia virus type-I (anti-HTLV-I), for hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg), and for antibody to hepatitis B core antigen (anti-HBc). The juveniles in the reformatory for girls were surveyed for the incidence of venereal diseases (VD) and for a history of intravenous drug use. Anti-HTLV-I was detected in 5.8% of the prostitutes, 0.7% of the boys, and 1.6% of the girls. Prevalence of anti-HTLV-I among the prostitutes was higher than that among the controls, but no significant difference was recognized. HBsAg was detected in 7.2% of the prostitutes, but was absent in the boys and girls. Prevalence of HBsAg among the prostitutes was higher than that among the controls, but no significant difference was recognized. Anti-HBs was detected in 39.1% of the prostitutes, 10.1% of the juvenile boys, and 17.5% of the juvenile girls. In each group prevalence of anti-HBc was higher than that in the controls. Especially between the prostitutes and the controls a significant difference was recognized (p less than 0.005). In the reformatory for girls anti-HBc was detected in 40.0% of 11 girls who were exposed to VD and in 7.0% of 43 girls who were not exposed to VD. Prevalence of anti-HBc among the exposed group was significantly higher than that among the non-exposed group (p less than 0.005).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adolescent↗
PubMed1990

[Therapeutic effect of recombinant interferon alpha on Takatsuki disease].

A case of Takatsuki disease, 57-year-old male associated with monoclonal IgA, lambda-type immunoglobulin was treated with recombinant alpha-interferon daily by intramuscular injection with an initial dose of 3 X 10(6) U/day. Four weeks later, gynecomastia was improved and breast pain disappeared. Increases of cholesterol from 84 mg/dl to 135 mg/dl and cholinesterase from 0.24 delta pH to 0.48 delta pH were observed, 8 weeks later. Though, there was no reduction in serum M protein, no decrease in the number of bone marrow tumor cell and no restoration of muscle atrophy and polyneuropathy. No predominant side effect was observed. We conclude that rIFN alpha has a some potential role in the treatment of Takatsuki disease and additional chemotherapy should be considered. Significance of the therapy against Takatsuki disease was discussed.

Humans↗