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Biomedical subjects

Y Miyake

Publications and source records attributed to Y Miyake.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2007

Fat and fish intake and asthma in Japanese women: baseline data from the Osaka Maternal and Child Health Study.

OBJECTIVE: It remains controversial whether the intake of n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids and fish is preventive against asthma. This cross-sectional study investigated the relationship between fat and fish intake and the prevalence of asthma using baseline data from a prospective study. DESIGN: The subjects were 1002 pregnant Japanese females. A diet history questionnaire was used to assess dietary habits. Current asthma and asthma after age 18 were defined as present if subjects had been treated with medications at some time in the previous 12 months and after reaching the age of 18, respectively. RESULTS: Fish consumption was independently associated with a decreased prevalence of asthma after age 18 and current asthma. A significant inverse relationship was observed between the ratio of n-3 to n-6 polyunsaturated fatty acid intake and the prevalence of current asthma, but not asthma after age 18. Intake of total fat, saturated, monounsaturated, n-3 polyunsaturated and n-6 polyunsaturated fatty acids, cholesterol, meat, eggs or dairy products was not evidently related to either outcome for asthma. CONCLUSION: Our results suggest that fish consumption and the high ratio of n-3 to n-6 polyunsaturated fatty acid intake may be associated with a reduced prevalence of asthma in young female Japanese adults.

Adult↗
PubMed2006

Persistent elevation of serum alanine aminotransferase levels leads to poor survival and hepatocellular carcinoma development in type 1 autoimmune hepatitis.

BACKGROUND: Although the prognosis of type 1 autoimmune hepatitis is generally good with immunosuppressive treatment, the disease progresses in some patients despite the treatment. The prognosis may be determined by the clinical course. AIM: To evaluate the long-term prognosis and assess the predictive factors for a serious event, including the development of hepatocellular carcinoma or death. METHODS: Sixty-nine patients with type 1 autoimmune hepatitis were prospectively followed up regularly, with a median follow-up period of 96 months (49-201 months). RESULTS: During the follow-up period, three patients (4%) developed hepatocellular carcinoma, and two of these three patients died. Another patient died of liver failure. The 10-year survival rate was 98%, and the 10-year hepatocellular carcinoma-free rate was 93%. The four patients experiencing a serious event received higher maintenance doses of corticosteroid during their follow-up periods than those did not. However, serum alanine aminotransferase levels during the follow-up period were higher in these four patients than in the others. CONCLUSIONS: Persistent elevation of serum alanine amniotransferase levels during the follow-up period, rather than factors existing prior to medical treatment is considered to be an important prognostic factor, and it is indicated that poor outcomes may result from the resistance to immunosuppressive treatment.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2006

Clinical features of Japanese male patients with type 1 autoimmune hepatitis.

BACKGROUND: Recently, unusual patients with autoimmune hepatitis, such as male patients, have increased. AIM: To assess clinical feature of Japanese males with type 1 autoimmune hepatitis compared with females. METHODS: We investigated consecutive 160 patients with type 1 autoimmune hepatitis, who consisted of 20 males and 140 females, with a median age of 55 (16-79) years. RESULTS: Compared with females, males had a lower frequency of definite diagnosis according to the revised scoring system proposed by the International Autoimmune Hepatitis Group (40% vs. 85%) and lower serum levels of immunoglobulin G [1932 (1085-3850) mg/dL vs. 2624 (1354-6562) mg/dL]. However, they were similar in age, form of clinical onset, symptomatic concurrent autoimmune disease, human leucocyte antigen DR status and frequency of cirrhosis at the time of diagnosis. The normalization of serum alanine aminotransferase levels within 6 months after the introduction of corticosteroid treatment was lower in males compared with females (73% vs. 93%). CONCLUSIONS: In male patients, a diagnosis of autoimmune hepatitis should be made carefully. In Japanese patients with a dominant frequency of human leucocyte antigen DR4, gender may affect the response to corticosteroid treatment.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2006

Observation and control of transverse energy-transport barrier due to the formation of an energetic-electron layer with sheared ExB flow.

Off-axis electron-cyclotron heating in an axisymmetric barrier mirror produces a cylindrical layer with energetic electrons, which flow through the central cell and into the end region. The layer, producing a localized bumped ambipolar potential Phi(C), forms a strong shear of radial electric fields E(r) and peaked vorticity with the direction reversal of E(r)xB sheared flow near the Phi(C) peak. Intermittent vortexlike turbulent structures near the layer are suppressed in the central cell by this actively produced transverse energy-transport barrier; this results in T(e) and T(i) rises surrounded by the layer.

Journal Article↗
PubMed2006

Clinical characteristics of fulminant-type autoimmune hepatitis: an analysis of eleven cases.

BACKGROUND: Although a few adult cases of fulminant-type autoimmune hepatitis have been reported, their clinical features and prognosis have remained uncertain. AIM: To assess the clinical features and prognosis of patients with fulminant-type autoimmune hepatitis. METHODS: Eleven patients (10%) diagnosed with fulminant-type autoimmune hepatitis in accordance with the 1999 criteria of the International Autoimmune Hepatitis Group were analysed. RESULTS: All 11 patients were female, with a median age of 53 years. Five patients survived without liver transplantation, one received a liver transplantation, and five died without liver transplantation. Nine patients (82%) survived for 2 weeks or more following diagnosis, without liver transplantation. Except for the patient receiving a liver transplantation, serum total bilirubin levels measured during the clinical course were significantly higher in non-survivors than in survivors, although the accompanying serum alanine aminotransferase levels measured for the two groups were similar. Most significantly, serum total bilirubin levels in non-survivors worsened during days 8-15, while levels in survivors improved during the same period. CONCLUSIONS: The short-term prognosis for patients with fulminant-type autoimmune hepatitis may be good. However, patients whose serum total bilirubin levels worsen during days 8-15 should be considered for liver transplantation.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2006

Exclusive measurement of the nonmesonic weak decay of the lambda(5)He hypernucleus.

We performed a coincidence measurement of two nucleons emitted from the nonmesonic weak decay of lambda(5)He formed via the 6Li(pi+, K+) reaction. The energies of the two nucleons and the pair number distributions in the opening angle between them were measured. In both np and nn pairs, we observed a clean back-to-back correlation coming from the two-body weak reactions of lambda p --> np and lambda n --> nn, respectively. The ratio of the nucleon pair numbers was N(nn)/N(np) = 0.45 +/- 0.11(stat) +/- 0.03(syst) in the kinematic region of cos theta(NN) < -0.8. Since each decay mode was exclusively detected, the measured ratio should be close to the ratio of gamma(lambda p --> np)/gamma(lambda n --> nn). The ratio is consistent with recent theoretical calculations based on the heavy meson and/or direct-quark exchange picture.

Journal Article↗
PubMed2006

Dietary fat and meat intake and idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis: a case-control study in Japan.

SETTING: There is sparse epidemiologic information regarding the role of dietary factors in the development of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF). OBJECTIVE: To examine the relationship between specific types of fatty acids and selected foods high in fat and IPF in Japan. DESIGN: Included were 104 cases aged > or = 40 years who had been diagnosed in the last 2 years in accordance with the most recent criteria. Controls aged > or = 40 years consisted of 56 hospitalised patients diagnosed as having acute bacterial pneumonia and four out-patients with common cold. RESULTS: Intake of saturated fatty acids, mono-unsaturated fatty acids, n-6 polyunsaturated fatty acids and meat was independently associated with an increased risk of IPF. Specifically, the multivariate OR for comparison of the highest with the lowest quartile of intake of saturated fatty acids was 6.26 (95%CI 1.79-24.96, P for trend = 0.01) and for meat it was 7.19 (95%CI 2.15-27.07, P for trend = 0.02). Intake of cholesterol, n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids, fish, eggs and dairy products was not related to the risk. CONCLUSION: These findings suggest that consumption of saturated fatty acids and meat may increase the risk of IPF.

Adult↗
PubMed2005

Relationship between distance of schools from the nearest municipal waste incineration plant and child health in Japan.

In Japan, the main source of dioxins is incinerators. This study examined the relationship between the distance of schools from municipal waste incineration plants and the prevalence of allergic disorders and general symptoms in Japanese children. Study subjects were 450,807 elementary school children aged 6-12 years who attended 996 public elementary schools in Osaka Prefecture in Japan. Parents of school children completed a questionnaire that included items about illnesses and symptoms in the study child. Distance of each of the public elementary schools from all of the 37 municipal waste incineration plants in Osaka Prefecture was measured using geographical information systems packages. Adjustment was made for grade, socioeconomic status and access to health care per municipality. Decreases in the distance of schools from the nearest municipal waste incineration plant were independently associated with an increased prevalence of wheeze, headache, stomach ache, and fatigue (adjusted odds ratios [95% confidence intervals] for shortest vs. longest distance categories =1.08 [1.01-1.15], 1.05 [1.00-1.11], 1.06 [1.01-1.11], and 1.12 [1.08-1.17], respectively). A positive association with fatigue was pronounced in schools within 4 km of the second nearest municipal waste incineration plant. There was no evident relationship between the distance of schools from such a plant and the prevalence of atopic dermatitis or allergic rhinitis. The findings suggest that proximity of schools to municipal waste incineration plants may be associated with an increased prevalence of wheeze, headache, stomach ache, and fatigue in Japanese children.

Age Factors↗
PubMed2005

Temperament and job stress in Japanese company employees.

BACKGROUND: This study aims to demonstrate the relevance of temperament to job stress. METHOD: The subjects were 848 male and 366 female Japanese company employees. Temperament Evaluation of Memphis, Pisa, Paris and San Diego-Autoquestionnaire version (TEMPS-A) and Munich Personality Test (MPT) were administered to assess temperaments, and the NIOSH Generic Job Stress Questionnaire (GJSQ) to assess job stress. We used hierarchical multiple linear regression analysis in order to demonstrate whether temperament variables added any unique variance after controlling the effects of other predictors such as gender, age and job rank. RESULTS: In all subscales of the GJSQ, temperament predicted a large share of the variance in job stress. Remarkably, for interpersonal relationship stressors, the temperament variables added greater variance than that predicted by gender, age and job rank. Summary of the hierarchical linear regression analysis showed that the irritable temperament was associated with the most prominent vulnerability, followed by cyclothymic and anxious temperaments. The schizoid temperament had difficulty in the area of social support. On the other hand, the hyperthymic temperament displayed significant robustness in facing most job stressors; the melancholic type showed a similar pattern to a lesser degree. LIMITATION: The findings may be different in a clinical Japanese sample, or a cohort of healthy employees from a different cultural background. CONCLUSIONS: Temperament influences job stress significantly-indeed, it impacts on such stress with greater magnitude than age, gender and job rank in most areas examined. Temperament influences interpersonal relationship stressors more than workload-related stressors. Interestingly, in line with previous clinical and theoretical formulations, the hyperthymic and melancholic types actually appear to be "hyper-adapted" to the workplace.

Adult↗
PubMed2005

Performance of the improved version of monte Carlo code A3MCNP for large-scale shielding problems.

A3MCNP (Automatic Adjoint Accelerated MCNP) is a revised version of the MCNP Monte Carlo code, which automatically prepares variance reduction parameters for the CADIS (Consistent Adjoint Driven Importance Sampling) methodology. Using a deterministic 'importance' (or adjoint) function, CADIS performs source and transport biasing within the weight-window technique. The current version of A3MCNP uses the three-dimensional (3-D) Sn transport TORT code to determine a 3-D importance function distribution. Based on simulation of several real-life problems, it is demonstrated that A3MCNP provides precise calculation results with a remarkably short computation time by using the proper and objective variance reduction parameters. However, since the first version of A3MCNP provided only a point source configuration option for large-scale shielding problems, such as spent-fuel transport casks, a large amount of memory may be necessary to store enough points to properly represent the source. Hence, we have developed an improved version of A3MCNP (referred to as A3MCNPV) which has a volumetric source configuration option. This paper describes the successful use of A3MCNPV for a concrete cask neutron and gamma-ray shielding problem, and a PWR dosimetry problem.

Algorithms↗
PubMed2005

CXCL12 and CXCR4 expression by human gingival fibroblasts in periodontal disease.

CXCL12 is a CXC chemokine that is related to lymphocyte infiltration and angiogenesis in inflammatory sites such as arthritis. However, the expression and roles of CXCL12 in periodontal disease are uncertain. The aim of this study was to assess the expression of CXCL12 and its receptor, CXCR4, in periodontal tissue and to investigate the properties of CXCL12 and CXCR4 expression by human gingival fibroblasts (HGF). RT-PCR analysis revealed that CXCL12 and CXCR4 mRNA were expressed in both normal gingival tissues and periodontal diseased tissues. Immunohistochemistry disclosed that CXCL12 was expressed and CXCR4 positive cells were found in both normal and periodontal diseased gingival tissues. Our in vitro experiments elucidated that HGF constitutively produced CXCL12, and the levels were enhanced by stimulation with tumour necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha), interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma), transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-beta), regulated upon activation normal T cell expressed and secreted (RANTES) and macrophage inflammatory protein 3(alpha) (MIP-3(alpha)). On the other hand, heat killed Porphyromonas gingivalis (P. gingivalis) and P. gingivalis LPS reduced the CXCL12 production by HGF. Flow cytometry analysis clarified that CXCR4 was highly expressed on HGF, and CXCR4 expression was abrogated by TNF-alpha, IFN-gamma and P. gingivalis LPS. Moreover, CXCL12 induced vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) production by HGF. Our results demonstrated that CXCL12 might be related to CXCR4+ cells infiltration and angiogenesis both in normal periodontal tissues and periodontal diseased tissue. P. gingivalis, a known periodontal pathogen, inhibits the production of CXCL12 and the expression of CXCR4 by HGF. This fact means that P. gingivalis may inhibit CXCR4+ cells infiltration and neovascularization in periodontal tissue and escape from the immune response.

Cells, Cultured↗
PubMed2005

Recessive mutations in the CYP4V2 gene in East Asian and Middle Eastern patients with Bietti crystalline corneoretinal dystrophy.

BACKGROUND: Bietti crystalline corneoretinal dystrophy (BCD) is an autosomal recessively inherited disorder characterised by tiny yellowish glittering retinal crystals, choroidal sclerosis, and crystals in the peripheral cornea, associated with progressive night blindness. CYP4V2, encoding a member of cytochrome p450 (CYP450) protein family, was recently identified as the causative gene. METHODS: We recruited 11 unrelated patients with BCD and characteristic clinical features; eight of Japanese, two of Middle Eastern, and one of Chinese ancestry. Genomic DNA was extracted from peripheral blood leucocytes, and all 11 exons and the flanking intron splice sites of the CYP4V2 gene were amplified and sequenced. A complete ophthalmological examination was performed. RESULTS: We found recessive mutations in the CYP4V2 gene in all of the 11 patients. Two novel mutations, L173W and Q450X, were identified in a Japanese patient and two unrelated patients from Middle Eastern countries, respectively. Each patient was a homozygote. A previously reported mutation IVS6-8_810delinsGC was identified in seven unrelated Japanese patients and the Chinese patient with BCD. All patients with BCD shared a characteristic fundus appearance with numerous intraretinal crystal deposits and atrophy of the retinal pigment epithelium. However, the clinical findings, including elecroretinograph recordings, indicated that there was considerable variation in the degree of visual dysfunction even among patients of similar ages carrying the same mutation. CONCLUSIONS: Defects in CYP4V2 are the main cause of BCD. The IVS6-8_810delinsGC mutant allele may be especially prevalent among patients with BCD in East Asian countries, resulting from a single founder. Variation of disease severity suggests that environmental or additional genetic factors influence the course of the retinal disease.

Adult↗
PubMed2004

Relationship between active and passive smoking and total serum IgE levels in Japanese women: baseline data from the Osaka Maternal and Child Health Study.

BACKGROUND: Many studies have shown that cigarette smoking is associated with elevated concentrations of total serum IgE. Few studies, however, have examined total IgE in relation to passive smoking exposure, especially in adults. This cross-sectional study investigated the association of active and passive smoking exposure with levels of total serum IgE in Japan. METHODS: Study subjects were 981 pregnant women in Osaka. Total IgE levels were measured using UniCAP 1000 and were defined as elevated if they exceeded 170 ml/UI. Age, gestation, parity, family history of asthma, atopic eczema and allergic rhinitis, indoor domestic pets, family income, education and the mite allergen level in house dust were selected as potential confounding factors. RESULTS: Current smoking of at least 15 cigarettes a day and 8.0 or more pack-years of smoking were independently related to an increased prevalence of elevated total serum IgE (adjusted odds ratios 3.40 and 2.51, 95% confidence intervals 2.12-5.47 and 1.55-4.06, respectively), and both cigarette smoking status and pack-years of smoking were significantly positively associated with total serum IgE levels, especially in subjects with a positive familial allergic history. There was no measurable association of exposure to environmental tobacco smoke (ETS) at home or at work with total serum IgE concentrations among those who had never smoked. CONCLUSIONS: Our results corroborate a positive relationship between active smoking and total serum IgE levels; however, this study failed to substantiate a positive association of ETS exposure with total IgE. Investigations with more precise and detailed exposure measurements are warranted.

Adult↗
PubMed2004

Cross-sectional study of allergic disorders in relation to familial factors in Japanese adolescents.

AIM: The roles of heredity and the household environment in the development of allergic disorders are not clearly established. This study examined the relationship between selected familial factors and the prevalence of symptoms of wheeze, atopic eczema and rhinoconjunctivitis in Japanese adolescents. METHODS: Study subjects were 5539 students aged 12-15 y in Suita City. A questionnaire ascertained gender, grade, number of older siblings, maternal age at childbirth, smoking in the household, domestic pets and parental history of allergy, as well as signs and symptoms of allergy in the previous 12 mo. The latter were based on diagnostic criteria from the International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Childhood. RESULTS: Male gender was independently associated with an increased prevalence of wheeze and a decreased prevalence of atopic eczema. The prevalence of rhinoconjunctivitis, but not wheeze or atopic dermatitis, significantly increased with advancing grade. A significant inverse dose-response relationship between the number of older siblings and the prevalence of rhinoconjunctivitis, but not wheeze or atopic dermatitis, was observed. Maternal age at childbirth, smoking in the household and domestic pets were not apparently related to any of the allergic disorders. A positive maternal allergic history was more evidently associated with an increased prevalence of wheeze and rhinoconjunctivitis, but not atopic eczema, than a positive paternal allergic history. CONCLUSION: The findings suggest that the factors associated with allergic disorders in Japan are largely the same as those already identified in Western populations.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2004

Comparative analysis and development of microsatellite markers on swine (Sus scrofa) chromosome 1qter.

Several quantitative trait loci (QTL) have been detected on SSC1qter (Sus scrofa chromosome 1qter), including QTL for the number of vertebrae, as reported in our previous study. To provide the tools for analysis of QTLs on SSC1qter, we constructed a comparative map of swine and human. In addition, we identified 26 swine STSs and mapped 16 of them on SSC1qter using the INRA - University of Minnesota porcine radiation hybrid (IMpRH) panel. We screened a BAC library using these swine STSs and developed 35 new polymorphic microsatellite markers from the BAC clones, of which 26 were informative in our reference family. We also mapped nine microsatellite markers we had isolated previously. Consequently a total of 44 new polymorphic microsatellite markers were located within a 60-cM region of SSC1qter, spanning from SW1092 to the telomere.

Animals↗
PubMed2004

A new scoring system for Perthes' disease based on combined lateral and posterior pillar classifications.

We have devised a combined pillar score (CPS) system, based on the lateral pillar (LP) and the posterior pillar (PP) classifications, together with the age at onset of Perthes' disease, and examined its correlation with prognosis. The correlation coefficient of the Catterall classification, LP, PP, and CPS systems with the Stulberg system was 0.39, 0.52, 0.50, and 0.70, respectively. Overall 21 of the 22 hips (95.4%) with a CPS of 0 to 1 point had a good outcome and 12 of the 13 hips (92.3%) with a CPS of 3 points or more had a fair or poor outcome. None with a CPS of 2 points, had a poor outcome. The study shows that an accurate prediction of the prognosis is not possible with the LP classification alone for patients classified as belonging to group B (LP height 50% to 100% of contralateral height). The CPS system does allow accurate prediction of outcome.

Age of Onset↗