Biomedical subjects

Yoichi Inoue

Publications and source records attributed to Yoichi Inoue.

17 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed2006

Risk factors for open-angle glaucoma in a Japanese population: the Tajimi Study.

PURPOSE: To identify the risk factors associated with primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG) in the Tajimi Study. DESIGN: Population-based cross-sectional epidemiologic study. PARTICIPANTS: One hundred nineteen POAG patients and 2755 controls. METHODS: Univariate and multivariate comparison of ocular factors and systemic factors between POAG patients and controls. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Difference in factors between POAG patients and controls, factors associated with POAG patients, and their odds ratio (OR). RESULTS: Intraocular pressure (IOP), age, myopia, and history of hypertension differed between POAG patients and controls in univariate analyses. Multivariate analysis with logistic regression with stepwise selection of variables demonstrated that higher IOP (OR, 1.12 [95% confidence interval (CI), 1.04-1.21]), myopia (ORs, 1.85 [95% CI, 1.03-3.31] for low myopia and 2.60 [95% CI, 1.56-4.35] for moderate to high myopia), and older age (OR, 1.06 [95% CI, 1.04-1.08]) were associated with an increased risk of having POAG. CONCLUSIONS: Although the majority (92%) of POAG patients diagnosed in the Tajimi Study had IOP within the normal range, IOP was still identified as a significant risk factor for POAG. Together with IOP, myopia and age were significant risk factors for having POAG.

Age Factors↗

PubMed2006

[Ophthalmic surgery on Graves' ophthalmopathy].

We evaluated various ophthalmic surgeries for patients with Graves' ophthalmopathy. In 2005, surgical procedures were employed on 178 patients with Graves' ophthalmopathy (male 69, female 109). Eyelid surgery was indicated for treatment of various anterior eye changes. Eyelid surgery was employed on 121 eyes of 84 cases. Extraocular muscle surgery was performed on 138 eyes of 105 cases, simple type 86 cases and complex type 19 cases. The cicatrical adhesion to the surface of the affected muscle was always observed. Orbital decompression was performed on 57 eyes of 33 cases. Better results and few complications were considered attributable to the stabilization of orbitopathy before surgery.

Adolescent↗

PubMed2005

Erythrocyte ribavirin concentration for assessing hemoglobin reduction in interferon and ribavirin combination therapy.

BACKGROUND: Ribavirin-induced hemolytic anemia is one of the important adverse effects for the premature cessation of interferon and ribavirin combination therapy for hepatitis C virus clearance. To elucidate the mechanism of this matter, we examined the effects of plasma and erythrocyte ribavirin concentration on hemoglobin (Hb) reduction to assess hemolytic anemia in this combination therapy. METHOD: Nineteen patients, treated with the interferon alpha-2b and ribavirin combination therapy, were included. Plasma and erythrocyte ribavirin concentrations were monitored for the first 28 days of the combination therapy, in relation to changes in hematological parameters, Hb and hematocrit values. The initial dose of ribavirin was 11.5+/-1.5mg/kg/day. RESULTS: Steady-state plasma and erythrocyte ribavirin concentrations were 8.9+/-2.6 and 1218+/-270muM, respectively. Significant correlation was observed between erythrocyte ribavirin and Hb reduction (r=0.360, p<0.05), but not between plasma ribavirin and Hb reduction. The patients with higher levels of erythrocyte ribavirin (>/=1000muM) had greater Hb reduction compared to those with lower levels (<1000muM) (3.8+/-1.2g/dL versus 2.6+/-0.9g/dL, p<0.05). Nine cases out of 12 patients who developed anemia within the first 28 days of the combination therapy had higher levels of erythrocyte ribavirin (>/=1000muM). CONCLUSION: We confirmed that erythrocyte ribavirin was strongly associated with Hb reduction in interferon and ribavirin combination therapy.

Journal Article↗

PubMed2005

The prevalence of traumatic events in young Japanese women.

In an effort to address important cross-cultural considerations in the study of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), the present study is the first to assess the prevalence of a variety of potentially traumatic events among young Japanese women across life phases. Overall, our results proved similar to those reported in previous Western studies: Traumatic events were quite common among our participants (80.3%; n = 883). This finding is not surprising given that many of them lived through the 1995 Kobe earthquake. Yet our study found that even when "natural disaster" was excluded, the rate remained 53.1%. Comparing four life phases, we found the most consistent differences between preschool and other life phases. The prevalence of potentially traumatic events and the percentage of most distressing events that participants reported were significantly lower in the preschool phase.

Adolescent↗

PubMed2005

The Tajimi Study report 2: prevalence of primary angle closure and secondary glaucoma in a Japanese population.

PURPOSE: To determine the prevalence of primary angle-closure glaucoma (PACG), secondary glaucoma (SG), and all glaucoma in a Japanese population as a part of the Tajimi Study. DESIGN: Population-based epidemiological survey. PARTICIPANTS: A random sample of residents 40 years or older from Tajimi, Japan. INTERVENTION: Each subject underwent a screening program comprising an interview and an ophthalmic examination, including Goldmann applanation tonometry, slit-lamp examination, a van Herick test, fundus photography, and a screening visual field (VF) test using frequency-doubling technology. If glaucoma was suspected, the subject was referred for a definitive examination that included slit-lamp examination, gonioscopy, intraocular pressure measurement, a VF test, and optic disc and fundus examination. A diagnosis of PACG or SG was made based on slit-lamp examination, gonioscopy, optic disc appearance, and perimetric results. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Prevalences of PACG, SG, and all cases of glaucoma. RESULTS: Of 3870 eligible people, 3021 (78.1%) participated in the study. Estimated prevalences of PACG and SG in those over 40 years were 0.6% (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.4%-0.9%) and 0.5% (95% CI, 0.2%-0.7%), respectively. Prevalences of all glaucoma and glaucoma/suspected glaucoma were estimated to be 5.0% (95% CI, 4.2%-5.8%) and 7.5% (95% CI, 6.5%-8.4%), respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Prevalences were 0.6%, 0.5%, and 5.0%, respectively, for PACG, SG, and all glaucoma in subjects over 40 years from Tajimi, Japan.

Adult↗

PubMed2004

Detection of the novel autoantibody (anti-UACA antibody) in patients with Graves' disease.

Uveal autoantigen with coiled coil domains and ankyrin repeats (UACA) is an autoantigen in patients with panuveitis such as Vogt-Koyanagi-Harada disease. The prevalence of IgG anti-UACA antibodies in patients with uveitis is significantly higher than healthy controls, suggesting its potential role as an autoantigen. Originally, UACA was cloned from dog thyroid tissue following TSH stimulation. So, we presumed UACA could be a novel autoantigen in autoimmune thyroid diseases. We measured serum anti-UACA antibody titer using ELISA in patients with autoimmune thyroid diseases (Graves' disease, Hashimoto's thyroiditis, subacute thyroiditis, and silent thyroiditis). The prevalence of anti-UACA antibodies in Graves' disease group was significantly higher than that in healthy group (15% vs. 0%). Moreover, the prevalence of anti-UACA antibodies in Graves' ophthalmopathy was significantly higher than that in Graves' patients without ophthalmopathy (29% vs. 11%). Especially, 75% of severe ocular myopathy cases showed high UACA titer. Immunohistochemical analysis revealed that UACA protein is expressed in eye muscles as well as human thyroid follicular cells. Taken together, UACA is a novel candidate for eye muscle autoantigens in thyroid-associated ophthalmopathy.

Adult↗

PubMed2004

The prevalence of primary open-angle glaucoma in Japanese: the Tajimi Study.

PURPOSE: To assess the prevalence of primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG) and its association with intraocular pressure (IOP) in Tajimi City in central Japan. DESIGN: A cross-sectional epidemiologic study in a defined population. PARTICIPANTS: Subjects randomly selected from the population older than 40 years in Tajimi City. INTERVENTION: Each subject underwent a screening examination comprised of an interview and ophthalmic examinations, including measurement of IOP by a Goldmann applanation tonometer, central corneal thickness (CCT), slit-lamp examination, fundus photography, and a screening visual field test using frequency doubling technology. When ocular diseases were suspected, the subjects were referred for definitive examination. During the definitive examination, slit-lamp examination, IOP measurement, a visual field test using Humphrey Field Analyzer 30-2 SITA Standard program (Humphrey Instruments, San Leandro, CA), optic disc and fundus examination, and gonioscopy were performed and stereoscopic disc photographs were obtained. A diagnosis of glaucoma was made based on optic disc appearance, perimetric results, and other ocular findings. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Prevalence of POAG, mean IOP, and mean CCT. RESULTS: Of 3870 eligible people, 3021 (78.1%) participated in the study. The estimated prevalence of POAG in the population older than 40 years was 3.9% (95% confidence interval [CI]), 3.2%-4.6%). The prevalence of cases of POAG with IOP levels of 21 mmHg or less was 3.6% (95% CI, 2.9%-4.3%), whereas the prevalence for those with IOP levels of more than 21 mmHg was 0.3% (95% CI, 0.1%-0.5%). The average IOP for eyes with POAG was 15.4+/-2.8 (standard deviation) in the right eye (n = 115) and 15.2+/-2.8 mmHg in the left eye (n = 115), which was significantly higher than that of nonglaucoma subjects (14.5+/-2.5 in the right eye; n = 2759; P = 0.0004; and 14.4+/-2.6 mmHg in the left eye; n = 2757; P = 0.0026). The mean CCT of POAG eyes with IOP levels of 21 mmHg or less was 518+/-29 (n = 109) in the right eye and 519+/-29 microm (n = 110) in the left eye, levels that were not significantly different from that of nonglaucoma eyes (520+/-32 microm [n = 2690]; and 522+/-32 microm [n = 2692]; P>0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The prevalence of POAG in this population was 3.9%. In 92% patients with POAG, the IOP was 21 mmHg or less.

Adult↗

PubMed2004

Coronary artery bypass grafting in an immune thrombocytopenic purpura patient using off-pump techniques.

We performed an off-pump coronary artery bypass grafting (OPCABG) procedure on a 60-year-old woman with idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP) whose platelet count was 42 x 10(3) per microliter on admission. She was treated with immunoglobulin G (IgG) (0.5 g.kg(-1).d(-1)) for 4 days, resulting in a platelet count rise to 187 x 10(3) per microliter. She subsequently underwent an uneventful OPCABG procedure without requiring any blood transfusions. The combination of OPCABG and preoperative IgG therapy appears to be an ideal strategy for ITP patients requiring coronary revascularization.

Comorbidity↗

PubMed2004

Marked elevation of erythrocyte ribavirin levels in interferon and ribavirin-induced anemia.

BACKGROUND & AIMS: To elucidate the effects of blood ribavirin disposition on ribavirin-induced anemia, the relationship between erythrocyte ribavirin concentration and change in hematologic parameters was examined in interferon and ribavirin combination therapy for HCV eradication. METHODS: Nine HCV RNA-positive patients were treated with combination therapy including 11.3 +/- 1.2 mg.kg(-1).day(-1) of ribavirin. Blood concentrations of ribavirin and its phosphorylated metabolites were measured in plasma as well as erythrocyte. RESULTS: Blood ribavirin concentrations gradually increased to steady-state levels of 8.8 +/- 1.4 micromol/L and 1389 +/- 371 micromol/L in plasma and erythrocytes, respectively, within 3-4 weeks of initiating therapy. Erythrocyte phosphorylated metabolite levels (1215 +/- 302 micromol/L) were found to be exceedingly high, i.e., 87% of the measured erythrocyte ribavirin concentration. In contrast, plasma phosphorylated metabolite levels were undetectable. Positive correlation was found to exist between erythrocyte ribavirin concentrations and a decrease in hemoglobin (r = 0.620, P < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: We concluded that marked elevation of erythrocyte ribavirin including its phosphorylated metabolites was associated with hemoglobin reduction, leading to interferon and ribavirin-induced anemia.

Anemia↗

PubMed2004

Electrogastrography abnormality in eating disorders.

Eating disorders are common psychiatric disorders in young women. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the gastric electrical activity of patients with eating disorders and its relation to their symptoms. The electrogastrography (EGG) was performed before and after a water load test for outpatients with eating disorders (n = 36; 14 anorexia nervosa, 14 bulimia nervosa, eight eating disorder not otherwise specified) and healthy women (n = 19). A structured interview (Eating Disorder Examination) was used to assess clinical symptoms. The percentage of normal gastric myoelectrical power was significantly smaller in the eating disorder patients (44.5% vs 74.2%; P < 0.05), while the percentage of bradygastric power was significantly greater, both before and after the water load test compared with the control subjects (30.4% vs 10.4%; P < 0.05). In addition, moderate correlation was found between the duration of illness and the percentage of bradygastria (P < 0.05). In conclusion, it is suggested that longstanding abnormal eating in patients with eating disorders may induce disturbances to gastric motor function, resulting in their abnormal, eating-related behavior, and form a symptomatic vicious circle. The EGG may be a promising method for determining the pathophysiology of eating disorders and for developing effective therapeutic approaches.

Adolescent↗

PubMed2004

Liquid chromatography assay for routine monitoring of cellular ribavirin levels in blood.

Ribavirin-induced hemolytic anemia is one cause for cessation of combination therapy with alpha interferon 2b and ribavirin for hepatitis C infection. Determining cellular ribavirin levels in blood, including the levels of its phosphorylated metabolites, might be useful for predicting ribavirin-induced anemia, because the metabolites accumulate in erythrocytes. We simplified an assay method developed previously to make it suitable for routine monitoring of cellular ribavirin. Whole blood diluted with a sixfold volume of ice-cold distilled water was subjected to acid phosphatase digestion to convert phosphorylated ribavirin metabolites to free ribavirin. The resulting mixture, spiked with an internal standard, was treated by phenyl boronic acid column extraction, followed by reverse-phase high-performance liquid chromatography analysis. The calibration curve for ribavirin levels in whole blood was linear at concentrations of 5.3 to 1,024 microM (r(2) = 0.9999). Validation coefficients of variation for intra- and interday assays were 2.9 to 5.8% and 4.3 to 8.3%, respectively. We tested this method by monitoring blood ribavirin concentrations in two hepatitis C patients receiving alpha interferon 2b-plus-ribavirin combination therapy.

Antiviral Agents↗

PubMed2002

Psychological characteristics of eating disorders as evidenced by the combined administration of questionnaires and two projective methods: the Tree Drawing Test (Baum Test) and the Sentence Completion Test.

The objective of this study is to examine psychological/psychopathological characteristics of eating disorders and their subtypes through a combined administration of questionnaires and projective tests. Three questionnaires (Eating Disorder Inventory - 2, Social Adaptation Scale, Southern California University Eating Disorder Inventory - Revised) and two projective tests (the Tree Drawing Test [TDT, Baum Test], and the Sentence Completion Test [SCT]) were administered to 126 female patients between the ages of 15 and 30 years, with eating disorders according to DSM-IV criteria at our outpatient clinic, and to 54 sex- and age-matched control subjects. The purging subtypes of eating disorders (anorexia nervosa - binge-eating/purging type [ANBP] and bulimia nervosa - purging type [BNP]) were clearly differentiated from the controls, both by the questionnaires and the projective tests. Compared with the controls, ANBP/BNP showed more problematic profiles across the three questionnaires, drew smaller and poorer trees in TDT to a more left location on the drawing paper, and gave fewer positive, and more negative responses in SCT. In contrast, few significant differences were found between anorexia nervosa- restricting type (ANR) and the controls, and between ANBP and BNP. As a trend, however, ANR was consistently located between the controls and ANBP/BNP across the whole questionnaires and projective tests.

Adolescent↗

PubMed2002

T-cell-mediated immunity in thyroid-associated ophthalmopathy.

Thyroid-associated ophthalmopathy (TAO) is considered to be an autoimmune inflammatory disorder of the extraocular muscles and the orbital fat/connective tissue. Recent studies analyzing T cells infiltrating retrobulbar tissues generated important insights into the immunopathogenesis of TAO. The present review focuses on advances in our understanding of mechanisms responsible for the autoimmune inflammation in TAO, especially T cell migration to the inflammatory site, T cell activation by autoantigens and costimulatory signals and their cytokine profile. The elucidation of these processes might lead to the development of novel therapeutic strategies directed against autoreactive T cells.

Graves Disease↗

PubMed2002

Ophthalmic surgery in dysthyroid ophthalmopathy.

The major focus of this study is to evaluate the ophthalmic surgery performed to treat patients with various eye changes of dysthyroid ophthalmopathy (DO) in Japan. The medical charts of DO cases that underwent eye surgery at the Olympia Eye Hospital in 1999 were reviewed. In 1999, 898 patients underwent ophthalmologic examination at the thyroid eye clinic in our hospital, and 51 cases were excluded out of the first visiting cases because they were hyperthyroid only and not associated with ophthalmopathy. This study consists of 847 cases (151 male, 696 female), mean age of 40.9 +/- 14.7 years, age distribution of 10-84 years. Surgical therapy was used on 129 eyes of 93 cases (11%) among the 847 patients. Orbital decompression was performed on 26 eyes of 15 cases. Most Japanese patients are not associated with a strong degree of proptosis, showing on average less than 20 mm. Cases with 25 mm of proptosis were scarcely observed. Extraocular muscle surgery was performed on 84 eyes of 60 cases (bilateral 17 cases, unilateral 33 cases). Types of diplopia are as follows: upward gaze, 28 cases; outward gaze, 10 cases; downward gaze, 2 cases; and complex type, 10 cases. Concerning the pathogenesis of diplopia in DO, fibrotic change plays a dominant role, in which cicatrical adhesion to the surface of the muscle is always observed in extraocular muscle surgery. After removal of cicatrical adhesion, the forced duction is completely recovered. This explains the precise mechanism of this involvement. Eyelid surgery was used on 39 eyes of 30 cases (upper eyelid, 33 eyes; lower eyelid, 6 eyes). Eyelid surgery was indicated for treatment of various anterior eye changes including upper eyelid retraction, entropion of eyelids. Better results and few complications are considered attributable to the stabilization of orbitopathy.

Adult↗

PubMed2002

Demonstration of continuously seropositive population against Borna disease virus in Misaki feral horses, a Japanese strain: a four-year follow-up study from 1998 to 2001.

Borna disease virus (BDV)-specific antibodies were monitored in Misaki feral horses annually for 4 years using an electrochemiluminescence immunoassay (ECLIA). Among 130 horses examined, 35 (26.9%) with an ECLIA count above 1000 once or more were judged as BDV seropositive. Throughout the study period, p24 antibodies were more frequent than p40 antibodies in almost all positive animals. Among the 35 seropositive horses, the ECLIA count was consistently high in 12 cases. Eleven horses seroconverted from negative to positive and 7 underwent reversal. The count in the remaining 95 horses (73.1%) remained low for 4 years and these animals were judged as seronegative.

Aging↗

PubMed2002

Androgen- and estrogen-dependent sex differences in host resistance to Strongyloides venezuelensis infection in Wistar rats.

The effects of male and female sex hormones on the protective capacity of Wistar rats against infection with Strongyloides venezuelensis were investigated. Male rats were more susceptible than females in terms of worm recovery from the lungs. Orchidectomy of male animals significantly reduced the plasma testosterone concentration and increased host resistance to the migratory stages of S. venezuelensis larvae. In contrast, ovariectomy of female animals significantly decreased host resistance in association with a significant reduction of estrogen levels. To examine the direct effect of sex hormones, exogenous testosterone and estrogen were implanted into animals. Susceptibility significantly increased or decreased in ovariectomized females given testosterone or estrogen, respectively. These results suggest that male and female sex hormones are important in the down- and up-regulation of host resistance against S. venezuelensis in Wistar rats.

Animals↗

PubMed2002

Age- and sex-related changes in susceptibility of Wistar rats to Strongyloides venezuelensis infection.

The effects of host age and sex on susceptibility to Strongyloides venezuelensis in Wistar rats were examined by counting larvae recovered from the lungs of animals 3 days after infection. The susceptibility of female rats to S. venezuelensis rapidly decreased with age and elevated estrogen. Resistance in female rats inoculated at 6 and 10 weeks of age was nine and twenty-fold higher, respectively than that in the youngest group (3 weeks). In contrast, the susceptibility of male animals was lowest in the youngest group, then increased with age and elevated testosterone. Sex differences in susceptibility were not evident in the youngest group, but became apparent with age.

Age Factors↗