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Biomedical subjects

N Okabe

Publications and source records attributed to N Okabe.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed2001

Evaluation of a mass influenza vaccination campaign.

Kawaura, a rural town in Kumamoto Prefecture, Japan, population approximately 6,800, started a mass influenza vaccination campaign in the 1999-2000 season for all residents > or = 3 years of age. The town provided free vaccinations to children < or = 13 years and the elderly > or = 65 years. Only 900 yen (US$8.80) was charged to the other residents for two vaccinations. In the 1999-2000 season, a total of 5,563 doses of vaccine were administered to 2,952 residents. Over 90% of the vaccinees received two doses. The program resulted in a vaccination rate of 43% of all residents. The vaccination rates for females and males were 40.7% and 36.8%, and for those of 3-14 years, 15-64 years, and > or = 65 years population were 75%, 31%, and 55%, respectively. The town spent a total of 5.78 million yen (US$56,700) for the campaign. The per-shot cost was estimated as 1,683 yen (US$16.50). From December 1999 through March 2000, a total of 233 town residents (15-101 years old, median 72) were admitted to the town hospital. Of the 233 inpatients, 22 (66-98 years old, median 78) developed respiratory illness, with 4 fatal outcomes. Of these 22 cases, 3 had been vaccinated twice, while 19 had not been vaccinated at all. The relative risk of vaccinees' hospitalization due to respiratory illness decreased to 0.13 compared with that of non-vaccinees (3/1,203 versus 19/1,003, vaccine efficacy = 0.87). Likewise, the relative risk of vaccinees death due to respiratory illness decreased to 0.28 compared with that of non-vaccinees (1/1,203 versus 3/1,003). The results of the Kawaura town's initiative should be helpful for better modeling of mass influenza vaccination campaigns.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2000

Ankycorbin: a novel actin cytoskeleton-associated protein.

BACKGROUND: Actin cytoskeleton structures are essential for a wide variety of cell functions, including cell shape change, cell motility, cell adhesion, cell polarity and cytokinesis. Many actin filament (F-actin)-binding proteins have been isolated and implicated in the maintenance and reorganization of actin cytoskeleton structures. RESULTS: We purified here a novel protein with a molecular mass of about 125 kDa (p125) from rat liver. We cloned its cDNA from a mouse kidney cDNA library and determined its nucleotide and deduced amino acid sequences. p125 was a protein of 979 amino acids with a calculated Mr of 108 847. p125 contained six ankyrin repeats in the N-terminal region and a domain predicted to form a coiled-coil structure in the C-terminal region. We named p125 ankycorbin (ankyrin repeat- and coiled-coil structure-containing protein). Northern blot analysis indicated that ankycorbin was ubiquitously expressed in all the tissues examined. Immunofluorescence and immunoelectron microscope analyses revealed that ankycorbin was associated with the cortical actin cytoskeleton structures in terminal web and cell-cell adhesion sites and stress fibres. However, ankycorbin did not directly bind to F-actin as estimated by the F-actin co-sedimentation assay. CONCLUSIONS: These results indicate that ankycorbin is indirectly associated with the actin cytoskeleton structures, presumably through an unidentified factor and suggest that it is involved in their maintenance and/or reorganization.

3T3 Cells↗
PubMed2000

Association of Helicobacter pylori infection with atrophic gastritis and intestinal metaplasia.

AIMS: To evaluate the effect of Helicobacter pylori infection and aging on atrophy and intestinal metaplasia of the gastric mucosa. METHODS: One hundred and sixty-three patients were divided into three age groups and underwent an upper gastrointestinal endoscopy where no esophagitis, peptic ulcers, or malignancies were detected. Two biopsy specimens were obtained from the anterior and posterior walls of the antrum and of the fundus. These were used to evaluate the grade of gastritis, bacterial culture and histologic evidence of H. pylori infection. RESULTS: Helicobacter pylori infection was found to be directly associated with an increased risk of gastritis grade (odds ratio (OR) = 90 (95% CI; 30-270)). An age of 60 years and older along with H. pylori infection was also strongly associated with an increased risk of atrophy (OR = 6.6, (95% CI; 2.9-15.2)); OR = 9.8, (95% CI; 2.7-35.4)), as was intestinal metaplasia of the gastric mucosa (OR = 5.5, (95% CI; 1.7-17.6)); OR = 7.9, (95% CI; 2.8-46.1)). The prevalence of atrophic gastritis increased with advancing age in H. pylori-infected patients, but no such phenomenon was observed in H. pylori-uninfected patients. The prevalence of intestinal metaplasia significantly increased with advancing age, irrespective of the presence of H. pylori infection. In addition, H. pylori uninfected female patients had a decreased risk of intestinal metaplasia. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that atrophic gastritis is not a normal aging process, but instead is likely to be the result of H. pylori infection, while intestinal metaplasia is caused by both the aging process and H. pylori infection. A decreased risk of intestinal metaplasia found in uninfected female subjects may partly explain the lower prevalence of gastric cancer in females than in males.

Adult↗
PubMed2000

Influenza surveillance system of Japan and acute encephalitis and encephalopathy in the influenza season.

AIM: To understand the situation of influenza epidemics and neurologic complications during the influenza season in Japan. METHODS: The influenza surveillance system in Japan was reviewed and the data on influenza/influenza-like illness and neurologic complications, such as acute encephalitis/encephalopathy, were evaluated. RESULTS: From the data of the National Epidemiological Surveillance of Infectious Diseases (NESID), an increase in clinically diagnosed encephalitis/encephalopathy was clearly noted recently. Most cases reported were acute encephalitis/encephalitis. The number of cases of Reye's syndrome reported was stable and low in number, since the time of the recommendation of not using aspirin for pediatric febrile disease, particularly for influenza-like illness, in Japan. These acute encephalitis/encephalopathy cases were not correlated clearly with clinically diagnosed influenza patients before the 1997/98 influenza season from the surveillance data, although several case reports have shown a relationship. CONCLUSIONS: It is clarified from the NESID that neurologic complications such as acute encephalitis/encephalopathy, apart from Reye's syndrome, have occurred associated with influenza virus infection, especially among young children. Further investigation should be necessary to find the pathogenesis of this serious complication of influenza virus infection and whether this is unique in Japan, due to unclarified factor/factors, or whether it has not been recognized in other countries.

Acute Disease↗
PubMed2000

Surveillance of viral gastroenteritis in Japan: pediatric cases and outbreak incidents.

Surveillance results from pediatric cases and outbreaks of viral gastroenteritis in Japan are presented. In winter, both small round structured virus (SRSV, or Norwalk-like viruses) and rotavirus were detected from infants with gastroenteritis; however, in recent years, the prevailing time of SRSV infection has preceded that of rotavirus infection. Most nonbacterial gastroenteritis outbreaks were related to SRSV infection, and >60% of the outbreaks were caused by contaminated food. In small-sized outbreaks, raw oysters were the primary source of transmission. In large-sized outbreaks, school lunches and catered meals that were served at schools, banquet halls, and hospitals were most often implicated in the transmission of foodborne gastroenteritis.

Caliciviridae Infections↗
PubMed2000

catena-Poly[[diaqualithium(I)]-mu-[9H-purine-2,6(1H, 3H)-dionato-O2:N7]].

In the title compound, [Li(C(5)H(3)N(4)O(2))(H(2)O)(2)](n), the coordinate geometry about the Li(+) ion is distorted tetrahedral and the Li(+) ion is bonded to N and O atoms of adjacent ligand molecules forming an infinite polymeric chain with Li-O and Li-N bond lengths of 1.901 (5) and 2.043 (6) A, respectively. Tetrahedral coordination at the Li(+) ion is completed by two cis water molecules [Li-O 1.985 (6) and 1.946 (6) A]. The crystal structure is stabilized both by the polymeric structure and by a hydrogen-bond network involving N-H.O, O-H.O and O-H.N hydrogen bonds.

Chelating Agents↗
PubMed2000

Bis(mu-pyridine-2,6-carboxylato-O,N, O':O)bis[triaquamanganese(II)]-pyridine-2,6-dicarboxylic acid (1/2).

In the structure of the title compound, [Mn(2)(C(7)H(3)NO(4))(2)(H(2)O)(6)].2C(7)H(5)NO(4), a centrosymmetric dinuclear complex, hexaaaquabis(pyridine-2, 6-dicarboxylato)dimanganese(II) and free pyridine-2,6-dicarboxylic acid are present in a 1:2 ratio. In the complex, each Mn(2+) ion is coordinated by three O atoms and one N atom from the pyridine-2, 6-dicarboxylate ligands and by three water O atoms, resulting in a distorted pentagonal bipyramidal coordination. Within the centrosymmetric dinuclear complex, two Mn(2+) ions are bridged by two carboxylate O atoms. The crystal structure is stabilized by hydrogen bonds involving all the H atoms of the water ligands.

Crystallography, X-Ray↗
PubMed2000

[Current topics of acute encephalitis and encephalopathy: introductory remarks].

Encephalitis/encephalopathy is a neurological syndrome characterized by acute onset, symptoms of intracranial hypertension accompanying severe sequels or death. Encephalitis is caused by microbial infection of central nervous system, such as neurotrophic or conventional viruses. Infectious encephalopathy shows similar clinical symptoms to acute encephalitis, without any evidence of inflammation and microbial infection in brain tissues. The national epidemiological surveillance of the diseases is carried out to study the frequency and prognosis of patients with both diseases. The principal treatment is quite different in the both, in the former the eradication of microbial from the brain and in the latter the reduction of pressure of brain edema. Furthermore, the improvement of the brain with severe destruction requires such new step to reduce the activities of enzymes or cytokines to destroy brain tissues, as a mild hypothermia to lower body and brain temperature to 33-34 degrees C.

Acute Disease↗
PubMed2000

[Epidemiology--surveillance information].

Recent data of the National Epidemiological Surveillance of Infectious Diseases (NESID) showed that neurological complications associated with influenza virus infection, such as acute encephalitis/encephalopathy (excluding Reye's syndrome) have increased in number especially among young children. Further investigation is necessary to find the pathogenesis of these serious complications and clarify whether this phenomenon is due to unclarified factor(s) unique in Japan or it has reminded unrecognized in other countries.

Acute Disease↗
PubMed1999

Electronic network for monitoring travellers' diarrhoea and detection of an outbreak caused by Salmonella enteritidis among overseas travellers.

The Traveller's Diarrhoea Network, by which the Infectious Disease Surveillance Center is electronically connected with two major airport quarantine stations and three infectious disease hospitals, was launched in February 1988 in Japan. The data on travellers' diarrhoea detected is reported weekly by e-mail. Two clusters of infection among travellers returning from Italy were reported by two airport quarantine stations at the end of September 1998. A total of 12 salmonella isolates from 2 clusters were examined. All were identified as Salmonella enteritidis, phage type 4 and showed identical banding patterns on pulsed-field gel electrophoresis. A case-control study showed that the scrambled eggs served at the hotel restaurant in Rome were the likely source of this outbreak. This outbreak could not have been detected promptly and investigated easily without the e-mail network. International exchange of data on travellers' diarrhoea is important for preventing and controlling food-borne illnesses infected abroad.

Adult↗
PubMed1999

A new quadruple therapy for Helicobacter pylori: influence of resistant strains on treatment outcome.

BACKGROUND: There have been no reports concerning the efficacy and safety of a 1-week quadruple therapy regimen of omeprazole, amoxycillin, roxithromycin and metronidazole for Helicobacter pylori infections and the impact of primary resistance on the eradication rate. METHODS: One hundred and sixty-nine consecutive patients with peptic ulcer disease as well as gastritis with biopsy-proven H. pylori infection were entered into an open study of omeprazole 20 mg o.m., amoxycillin 500 mg t.d.s., roxithromycin 150 mg b.d., and metronidazole 250 mg t.d.s. Helicobacter pylori status was determined by urease test, histology and culture. Susceptibility to amoxycillin, metronidazole and roxithromycin was determined by the E-test. RESULTS: H. pylori was eradicated in 155 out of 169 (92%; 95% CI 88-96%) by intention-to-treat analysis, and in 155 out of 163 (95%; 95% CI 92-98%) by per protocol analysis. The prevalence of primary resistance against amoxycillin, roxithromycin and metronidazole was 2 out of 166 (1%), 16 out of 166 (10%) and 27 out of 166 (16%), respectively. H. pylori was eradicated in 25 out of 27 (93%) patients with metronidazole-resistant strains compared with 130 out of 136 (96%) in patients with metronidazole-sensitive strains of H. pylori. It was eradicated in 15 out of 16 (94%) patients with roxithromycin-resistant strains while in 140 out of 147 (95%) patients with roxithromycin-sensitive strains of H. pylori, and in two out of two (100%) patients with amoxycillin-resistant stains compared with 153 out of 161 (95%) in patients with amoxycillin-sensitive strains. H. pylori was eradicated in three out of four (75%) patients with double resistance against metronidazole and roxithromycin compared with 152 out of 159 (96%) patients with sensitive strains to metronidazole and or roxithromycin. None of these differences were statistically significant. Severe side-effects were found in only one out of 169 patients-anaphylaxis due to penicillin. CONCLUSIONS: The 1-week quadruple therapy with omeprazole, amoxycillin, metronidazole and roxithromycin was found to eradicate H. pylori in over 90% of all patients. This regimen was also found to be beneficial for patients with pre-treatment resistant strains to metronidazole, roxithromycin or amoxycillin, and was observed to be safe and well-tolerated.

Adult↗
PubMed1999

[Preventive effect of postoperative disinfection of endoscope on bacterial adhesion to endoscope].

We took culture of throat swab from 77 subjects who were negative for infection of HBV, HCV, HIV and syphilis infection before and after endoscopy. Moreover, the existence of bacterium including Helicobacter pylori at overcoat of endoscopic instrument was investigated right after examination and after disinfection of endoscope. Povidoneiodine, 70% alcohol and 1% benzalkonium chloride was used as a disinfectant for endoscope, and it took less than 10 minutes to wash by hand to disinfection. alpha-haemolytic streptococci, Staphylococcus epidermids, Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Enterococcus faecalis, Candida, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and MRSA were cultured in throat swab. The rate of adhesion of bacterium especially such as Candida, K. pneumoniae and S. epidermids to endoscope was considerably high. 23 of 77 subjects had H. pylori infection, and the adhesion of H. pylori to endoscope was found to be 65.2% of the subjects. On the contrast, no bacterium was detected from the endoscopic instrument after careful disinfection. These findings stress the importance of postoperative disinfection of the endoscope to prevent the chance to acquire bacterial infection.

2-Propanol↗
PubMed1999

Enterovirus 71 from fatal and nonfatal cases of hand, foot and mouth disease epidemics in Malaysia, Japan and Taiwan in 1997-1998.

Enterovirus 71 (EV71), one of the major causative agents for hand, foot and mouth disease (HFMD), is sometimes associated with severe central nervous system diseases. In 1997, in Malaysia and Japan, and in 1998 in Taiwan, there were HFMD epidemics involving sudden deaths among young children, and EV71 was isolated from the HFMD patients, including the fatal cases. The nucleotide sequences of each EV71 isolate were determined and compared by phylogenetical analysis. EV71 strains from previously reported epidemics belonged to genotype A-1, while those from recent epidemics could be divided into two genotypes, A-2 and B. In Malaysia, genotype A-2 was more prevalent, while in Japan and Taiwan, B genotype was more prevalent. Two isolates from fatal cases in Malaysia and one isolate from a fatal case in Japan were genotype A-2. However, all isolates from three fatal cases in Taiwan belonged to genotype B. The severity of the HFMD did not link directly to certain genotypes of EV71.

DNA Primers↗