著者

Yoshihiro Yoshimura Hidetaka Wakabayashi Ryo Momosaki Fumihiko Nagano Sayuri Shimazu Ai Shiraishi

出版者

Tohoku University Medical Press

雑誌

The Tohoku Journal of Experimental Medicine (ISSN:00408727)

巻号頁・発行日

vol.252, no.1, pp.15-22, 2020 (Released:2020-08-25)

参考文献数

34

被引用文献数

4 16

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As Japan’s population ages, there is a growing interest in regional health care coordination. Our study aimed to evaluate whether the interval between onset and admission to convalescent rehabilitation wards (onset-admission) was associated with outcomes in ischemic stroke patients. We conducted a retrospective cohort study in a single rehabilitation hospital. Ischemic stroke patients consecutively admitted to the wards were eligible to enroll. Outcomes included Functional Independence Measure (FIM)-motor gain, the Food Intake Level Scale (FILS) and a discharge rate to home. FIM assesses functional independence, including motor (FIM-motor) and cognitive domains, and is a measure of activities of daily living (ADLs). The FIM-motor gain indicates the difference between the FIM-motor scores at admission and discharge. FILS is a 10-point observer-rated scale to measure swallowing. After enrollment, 481 patients (mean age 74.4 years; 45.7% women) were included. The median [interquartile range] onset-admission interval was 13 [10-20] days and the median National Institute of Health Stroke Scale score, a measure of stroke severity, was 8 [3-13]. In multivariate analysis, the onset-admission interval was independently associated with FIM-motor gain (β = −0.107, p = 0.024), FILS score at discharge (β = −0.159, p = 0.041), and the rate of discharge to home (odds ratio: 0.946, p = 0.032). In conclusion, a shorter interval between stroke onset and admission to convalescent rehabilitation wards contributes to improved outcomes, including ADLs, dysphagia, and a discharge rate to home, in ischemic stroke patients, regardless of stroke severity.

著者

Takehiro Suzuki Hiroaki Yamaguchi Motoi Kikusato Tetsuro Matsuhashi Akihiro Matsuo Takeya Sato Yuki Oba Shun Watanabe Daichi Minaki Daisuke Saigusa Hiroko Shimbo Nobuyoshi Mori Eikan Mishima Hisato Shima Yasutoshi Akiyama Yoichi Takeuchi Akinori Yuri Koichi Kikuchi Takafumi Toyohara Chitose Suzuki Masahiro Kohzuki Jun-ichi Anzai Nariyasu Mano Shigeo Kure Teruyuki Yanagisawa Yoshihisa Tomioka Masaaki Toyomizu Sadayoshi Ito Hitoshi Osaka Ken-ichiro Hayashi Takaaki Abe

出版者

東北ジャーナル刊行会

雑誌

The Tohoku Journal of Experimental Medicine (ISSN:00408727)

巻号頁・発行日

vol.236, no.3, pp.225-232, 2015 (Released:2015-06-26)

参考文献数

27

被引用文献数

2 34

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Mitochondria are key organelles implicated in a variety of processes related to energy and free radical generation, the regulation of apoptosis, and various signaling pathways. Mitochondrial dysfunction increases cellular oxidative stress and depletes ATP in a variety of inherited mitochondrial diseases and also in many other metabolic and neurodegenerative diseases. Mitochondrial diseases are characterized by the dysfunction of the mitochondrial respiratory chain, caused by mutations in the genes encoded by either nuclear DNA or mitochondrial DNA. We have hypothesized that chemicals that increase the cellular ATP levels may ameliorate the mitochondrial dysfunction seen in mitochondrial diseases. To search for the potential drugs for mitochondrial diseases, we screened an in-house chemical library of indole-3-acetic-acid analogs by measuring the cellular ATP levels in Hep3B human hepatocellular carcinoma cells. We have thus identified mitochonic acid 5 (MA-5), 4-(2,4-difluorophenyl)-2-(1H-indol-3-yl)-4-oxobutanoic acid, as a potential drug for enhancing ATP production. MA-5 is a newly synthesized derivative of the plant hormone, indole-3-acetic acid. Importantly, MA-5 improved the survival of fibroblasts established from patients with mitochondrial diseases under the stress-induced condition, including Leigh syndrome, MELAS (myopathy encephalopathy lactic acidosis and stroke-like episodes), Leber’s hereditary optic neuropathy, and Kearns-Sayre syndrome. The improved survival was associated with the increased cellular ATP levels. Moreover, MA-5 increased the survival of mitochondrial disease fibroblasts even under the inhibition of the oxidative phosphorylation or the electron transport chain. These data suggest that MA-5 could be a therapeutic drug for mitochondrial diseases that exerts its effect in a manner different from anti-oxidant therapy.

著者

Mohammed S. Razzaque

出版者

Tohoku University Medical Press

雑誌

The Tohoku Journal of Experimental Medicine (ISSN:00408727)

巻号頁・発行日

vol.251, no.3, pp.175-181, 2020 (Released:2020-07-09)

参考文献数

83

被引用文献数

22 51

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The novel coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is now officially declared as a pandemic by the World Health Organization (WHO), and most parts of the world are taking drastic measures to restrict human movements to contain the infection. Millions around the world are wondering, if there is anything that could be done, other than maintaining high personal hygiene, and be vigilant of the symptoms, to reduce the spread of the disease and chances of getting infected, or at least to lessen the burden of the disease, caused by the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). The National and International health agencies, including the National Institutes of Health (NIH), the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and the WHO have provided clear guidelines for both preventive and treatment suggestions. In this article, I will briefly discuss, why keeping adequate zinc balance might enhance the host response and be protective of viral infections.

著者

Susumu Fujii Yasuto Kunii Sayuri Nonaka Yumiko Hamaie Mizuki Hino Shinichi Egawa Shinichi Kuriyama Hiroaki Tomita

出版者

Tohoku University Medical Press

雑誌

The Tohoku Journal of Experimental Medicine (ISSN:00408727)

巻号頁・発行日

pp.2022.J111, (Released:2022-12-22)

被引用文献数

7

著者

Ki Hun Cho Min Kyu Kim Hwang-Jae Lee Wan Hee Lee

出版者

東北ジャーナル刊行会

雑誌

The Tohoku Journal of Experimental Medicine (ISSN:00408727)

巻号頁・発行日

vol.236, no.4, pp.273-280, 2015 (Released:2015-07-31)

参考文献数

33

被引用文献数

33

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Virtual reality training is considered as an effective intervention method of stroke patients, and the virtual reality system for therapeutic rehabilitation has emphasized the cognitive factors to improve walking function. The purpose of current study was to investigate the effect of virtual reality training with cognitive load (VRTCL) on walking function of chronic stroke. Chronic stroke patients were randomly assigned to the VRTCL group (11 patients, including 5 men; mean age, 60.0 years; post-stroke duration, 273.9 days) or control group (11 patients, including 2 men; mean age, 58.6 years; post-stroke duration, 263.9 days). All subjects participated in the standard rehabilitation program that consisted of physical and occupational therapies. In addition, VRTCL group participated in the VRTCL for 4 weeks (30 min per day and five times a week), while those in the control group participated in virtual reality treadmill training. Walking function under single (walking alone) and dual task (walking with cognitive tasks) conditions was assessed using an electrical walkway system. After the 4-week intervention, under both single and dual task conditions, significant improvement on walking function was observed in VRTCL and control groups (P < 0.05). In addition, in the dual task condition, greater improvement on walking function was observed in the VRTCL group, compared with the control group (P < 0.05). These findings demonstrated the efficacy of VRTCL on the walking function under the dual task condition. Therefore, we suggest that VRTCL may be an effective method for the achievement of independent walking in chronic stroke patients.

著者

Hisashi Yoshimoto Ayumi Takayashiki Ryohei Goto Go Saito Kyoko Kawaida Rika Hieda Yoshihiro Kataoka Maie Aramaki Naoto Sakamoto Tetsuhiro Maeno Yoshinao Kobayashi Yousuke C. Takemura

出版者

東北ジャーナル刊行会

雑誌

The Tohoku Journal of Experimental Medicine (ISSN:00408727)

巻号頁・発行日

vol.242, no.2, pp.157-163, 2017 (Released:2017-06-22)

参考文献数

30

被引用文献数

17

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Alcohol-related injuries in college students are a major public health problem worldwide. We clarified the association between excessive drinking and alcohol-related injuries in Japanese college students. This was a cross-sectional study with a self-administered questionnaire. From January to March 2013, we sampled all college students and graduate students aged 20 years or older during annual health examinations at three colleges in Mie Prefecture in Japan. The questionnaire assessed the frequency of alcohol drinking, amount of alcohol consumed per day, binge drinking during the past year, alcohol-related injuries during the past year, and demographic data. Logistic regression analysis was conducted on the association between excessive alcohol use and alcohol-related injuries. A total of 2,842 students underwent health examinations, of whom 2,177 (76.6%) completed the questionnaire. Subjects included 1,219 men (56.0%) and 958 women (44.0%). Eighty-eight men (7.2%) and 93 women (9.7%) were classified as excessive weekly drinkers, while 693 men (56.8%) and 458 women (47.8%) were determined to be binge drinkers. Eighty-one men (6.6%) and 26 women (2.7%) had experienced alcohol-related injuries during the past year. In the logistic regression analysis, binge drinkers (odds ratio 25.6 [8.05-81.4]) and excessive weekly drinkers (odds ratio 3.83 [2.41-6.09]) had a history of significantly more alcohol-related injuries, even after adjusting for age and sex. In conclusion, alcohol-related injuries in college students in Japan were strongly associated with excessive drinking. As a strategy for preventing such injuries in this population, an interventional study is required to identify effective methods for reducing excessive alcohol use.

著者

Tsubasa Suzuki Yasuhiko Ono Hidenori Maeda Yoshiki Tsujimoto Yugo Shobugawa Clyde Dapat Mohd Rohaizat Hassan Chihiro Yokota Hiroki Kondo Isolde C. Dapat Kousuke Saito Reiko Saito

出版者

Tohoku University Medical Press

雑誌

The Tohoku Journal of Experimental Medicine (ISSN:00408727)

巻号頁・発行日

vol.232, no.2, pp.97-104, 2014 (Released:2014-02-15)

参考文献数

31

被引用文献数

8 8

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Influenza vaccination is considered the single most important medical intervention for the prevention of influenza. The dose of trivalent influenza vaccine in children was increased almost double since 2011/12 season in Japan. We estimated the influenza vaccine effectiveness for children 1-11 years of age using rapid test kits in Isahaya City, involving 28,884 children-years, over two consecutive influenza seasons (2011/12 and 2012/13). Children were divided into two groups, vaccinated and unvaccinated, according to their vaccination record, which was obtained from an influenza registration program organized by the Isahaya Medical Association for all pediatric facilities in the city. There were 14,562 and 14,282 children aged from 1-11 years in the city in 2011 and 2012 respectively. In the 2011/12 season, the overall vaccine effectiveness in children from 1-11 years of age, against influenza A and B were 23% [95% confidence interval (CI): 14%-31%] and 20% [95% CI: 8%-31%], respectively. In the 2012/13 season, vaccine effectiveness against influenza A and B was 13% (95% CI: 4%-20%) and 9% (95% CI: −4%-21%), respectively. The vaccine effectiveness was estimated using the rapid diagnosis test kits. Age-stratified estimation showed that vaccine effectiveness was superior in younger children over both seasons and for both virus types. In conclusion, the trivalent influenza vaccine has a significant protective effect for children 1-11 years of age against influenza A and B infection in the 2011/12 season and against influenza A infection in the 2012/13 season in a community in Japan.

著者

Hiroaki Shimokawa Tomohiko Shindo Aiko Ishiki Naoki Tomita Sadamitsu Ichijyo Tasuku Watanabe Takashi Nakata Kumiko Eguchi Yoku Kikuchi Takashi Shiroto Jun Takahashi Satoshi Yasuda Hiroyuki Arai

出版者

Tohoku University Medical Press

雑誌

The Tohoku Journal of Experimental Medicine (ISSN:00408727)

巻号頁・発行日

pp.2022.J078, (Released:2022-09-15)

被引用文献数

8

著者

Zhihui Liu Pingying Qing Yi Zhao Yi Liu Tony N. Marion

出版者

Tohoku University Medical Press

雑誌

The Tohoku Journal of Experimental Medicine (ISSN:00408727)

巻号頁・発行日

vol.255, no.2, pp.143-146, 2021 (Released:2021-10-20)

参考文献数

11

被引用文献数

3

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Antibody deficiency is a type of primary immunodeficiency that often manifests as primary hypogammaglobulinemia, with or without repeated infections. Although primary immunodeficiency appears to be contrary to autoimmunity, they usually occur simultaneously, and the specific pathogenesis remains unknown. We herein describe an adult patient with autoimmune manifestations and recurrent infections. The case was characterized by a sustained decrease in serum immunoglobulin A, accompanied by decreased T lymphocytes, B lymphocytes, monocytes, and platelets in the peripheral blood and the presence of antinuclear and anti-SSA antibodies. Whole-exome sequencing for the patient revealed two spontaneous mutations in GATA2 (c.1084C>T) and STAT5B (c.1924A>C). This case report provides evidence that mutations in the GATA2 and STAT5B genes may be pathogenic in primary immunodeficiency and provides genetic evidence for the possible pathogenesis of primary immunodeficiency with autoimmune symptoms. However, further studies are needed to confirm the causal relationship.

著者

Maria Teresa Murillo-Llorente Carmen Fajardo-Montañana Marcelino Perez-Bermejo

出版者

Tohoku University Medical Press

雑誌

The Tohoku Journal of Experimental Medicine (ISSN:00408727)

巻号頁・発行日

vol.252, no.3, pp.185-191, 2020 (Released:2020-10-20)

参考文献数

34

被引用文献数

3

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Iodine deficiency in Spain is a persisting public health problem and the prescription of potassium iodide is recommended during pregnancy. The purpose of this study was to develop an Artificial Neural Network (ANN) to predict the risk factors of iodine deficiency during pregnancy, and compare the results obtained with a logistic regression model. Two hundred forty-four healthy pregnant women were included in a descriptive and prospective study in their first trimester of pregnancy. The women enrolled were asked specifically about their use of supplements containing potassium iodide, iron, folic acid and/or multivitamins during pregnancy. The consumption of iodine-rich foods was assessed through a food frequency questionnaire. A median UIC of 57.4 μg/L (IQR 32.8-99.3) was obtained, with 89.3% < 150 μg/L, the minimum recommended ioduria level by the WHO. There was no correlation between urinary iodine concentrations and maternal age, BMI or gestation week at recruitment. The urinary iodine concentrations were significantly higher in women who reported taking iodized supplements and/or iodized salt than those who did not. Number of gestations, age, body mass index, and intake of iodized supplements and iodized salt were the most important predictors of iodine deficiency. Based on Receiver Operating Characteristic analysis, the diagnostic performance of the ANN model was superior to the logistic regression model. The ANN model, with variables on pregnancy and the intake of iodine rich foods, iodized supplement and iodized salt may be useful for predicting iodine deficiency in the early pregnancy.

著者

Shinichi Yamashita Juntaro Koyama Takuro Goto Shinji Fujii Shigeyuki Yamada Yoshihide Kawasaki Naoki Kawamorita Koji Mitsuzuka Yoichi Arai Akihiro Ito

出版者

Tohoku University Medical Press

雑誌

The Tohoku Journal of Experimental Medicine (ISSN:00408727)

巻号頁・発行日

vol.252, no.3, pp.219-224, 2020 (Released:2020-11-03)

参考文献数

27

被引用文献数

12

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Testicular cancer occurs in the testes of the male reproductive system and is the most common cancer in adolescent and young adult (AYA) men. However, recently, there have been more cases of testicular cancer in men older than 40 years. Therefore, trends of testicular cancer during the past 40 years were retrospectively examined, focusing on age and histology. Patients who were diagnosed with testicular cancer at our institution between 1980 and 2019 were enrolled in this study. The patients were divided into groups by the year of diagnosis (1980s, 1990s, 2000s, and 2010s), age at diagnosis (14, 15 to 39, and older than 40 years), and histological type (seminoma and non-seminoma). A total of 563 patients were diagnosed with testicular cancer over the 40-year period. The median age at diagnosis increased continuously, from 28 years to 31 years, 34 years, and 38 years in each period, respectively (p < 0.001). Moreover, most testicular cancer patients were of the AYA generation, whereas the ratio of patients older than 40 years increased significantly since 2000 (p < 0.001). The relative proportion of seminoma also increased more than 50% since 2000. In the seminoma group, median age increased from 31 years to 41 years during the 40-year period (p < 0.001). In conclusion, the age at diagnosis is rising for testicular cancer patients. Clinicians should recognize that testicular cancer affects not only the AYA generation, but there has been a shift to older than 40 years, especially in seminoma.

著者

Eikan Mishima Naohiko Anzai Mariko Miyazaki Takaaki Abe

出版者

Tohoku University Medical Press

雑誌

The Tohoku Journal of Experimental Medicine (ISSN:00408727)

巻号頁・発行日

vol.251, no.2, pp.87-90, 2020 (Released:2020-06-12)

参考文献数

20

被引用文献数

47 60

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In light of the recent pandemic, favipiravir (Avigan®), a purine nucleic acid analog and antiviral agent approved for use in influenza in Japan, is being studied for the treatment of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Increase in blood uric acid level is a frequent side effect of favipiravir. Here, we discussed the mechanism of blood uric acid elevation during favipiravir treatment. Favipiravir is metabolized to an inactive metabolite M1 by aldehyde oxidase and xanthine oxidase, and excreted into urine. In the kidney, uric acid handling is regulated by the balance of reabsorption and tubular secretion in the proximal tubules. Favipiravir and M1 act as moderate inhibitors of organic anion transporter 1 and 3 (OAT1 and OAT3), which are involved in uric acid excretion in the kidney. In addition, M1 enhances uric acid reuptake via urate transporter 1 (URAT1) in the renal proximal tubules. Thus, favipiravir is thought to decrease uric acid excretion into urine, resulting in elevation of uric acid levels in blood. Elevated uric acid levels were returned to normal after discontinuation of favipiravir, and favipiravir is not used for long periods of time for the treatment of viral infection. Thus, the effect on blood uric acid levels was subclinical in most studies. Nevertheless, the adverse effect of favipiravir might be clinically important in patients with a history of gout, hyperuricemia, kidney function impairment (in which blood concentration of M1 increases), and where there is concomitant use of other drugs affecting blood uric acid elevation.

著者

Satoru Ebihara Toru Naito

出版者

Tohoku University Medical Press

雑誌

The Tohoku Journal of Experimental Medicine (ISSN:00408727)

巻号頁・発行日

vol.256, no.1, pp.1-17, 2022 (Released:2022-01-28)

参考文献数

194

被引用文献数

3

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Recent advances in dysphagia treatment have given us many methods of stimulating swallowing function, but no attempt has been made to systematically classify them all. In this review, we provide an exhaustive description of all the techniques and stimulatory substances that stimulate swallowing that have so far been reported in the scientific literature, irrespective of their level of evidence, and we have tried to classify them with the objective of encouraging the future development of research in this direction. The Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analysis were followed for retrieval of relevant research. A total of 237 records were screened for this literature review. One record was excluded for being published in a language other than English, and 59 articles were excluded for having no original data. Of the 177 records that were assessed for eligibility in this review, 31 were excluded for reasons related to other inclusion and exclusion criteria. Finally, 146 records were classified. We found stimuli related to swallowing published in the literature could be divided into physical and chemical stimuli. Each stimulus had both peripheral and central stimuli when we assessed the main site of action. Physical stimuli included electric, magnetic and thermal stimulations and acupuncture. Chemical stimuli included spices activating transient receptor potential channels, several categories of medications, taste and flavor, and olfactory stimulants. Medications modifying substance P and the dopaminergic system are thought to be peripheral and central stimuli, respectively. This classification may pave the way to discover means to improve swallowing.

著者

Harumi Hirata Kaori Kitamura Toshiko Saito Ryosaku Kobayashi Masanori Iwasaki Akihiro Yoshihara Yumi Watanabe Rieko Oshiki Tomoko Nishiwaki Kazutoshi Nakamura

出版者

東北ジャーナル刊行会

雑誌

The Tohoku Journal of Experimental Medicine (ISSN:00408727)

巻号頁・発行日

vol.239, no.2, pp.95-101, 2016 (Released:2016-05-25)

参考文献数

31

被引用文献数

19

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Diet and food intake play an important role in the development of osteoporosis. However, apart from calcium and vitamin D, how nutrients affect bone status is not fully understood. The purpose of this study was to determine cross-sectional and longitudinal associations between dietary intake and bone mineral density (BMD) in Japanese postmenopausal women. This 5-year cohort study included 600 community-dwelling women aged 55-74 years at baseline in 2005. Information on demographics, nutrition, and lifestyle was obtained through interviews, and nutritional and dietary intake was assessed using a validated food frequency questionnaire. BMD measurements were performed by dual energy X-ray absorptiometry. In 2010, 498 women underwent follow-up BMD examinations. Multiple linear regression analysis was performed to determine associations of predictor variables with BMD, adjusting for confounders. In cross-sectional analyses, coffee or black tea consumption was positively associated with lumbar spine (P = 0.004) and total hip (P = 0.003) BMD, and alcohol intake was positively associated with femoral neck (P = 0.005) and total hip (P = 0.001) BMD. In longitudinal analyses, vitamin K (P = 0.028) and natto (fermented soybeans) (P = 0.023) were positively associated with lumbar spine BMD, and meat or meat product consumption was inversely associated with total hip (P = 0.047) BMD. In conclusion, dietary factors other than calcium and vitamin D intake are predictors of bone mass and bone loss in Japanese postmenopausal women. In particular, natto intake is recommended for preventing postmenopausal bone loss on the basis of current evidence.

著者

Yusuke Morita Daisuke Matsubara Mitsuru Seki Daisuke Tamura Toshihiro Tajima

出版者

Tohoku University Medical Press

雑誌

The Tohoku Journal of Experimental Medicine (ISSN:00408727)

巻号頁・発行日

vol.258, no.3, pp.177-182, 2022 (Released:2022-10-25)

参考文献数

14

被引用文献数

2

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Perimyocarditis is a rare and serious cardiac complication following COVID-19 vaccination. Young males are most at risk after the second dose. With the introduction of the booster (third) dose, some reports have focused on the risk of perimyocarditis after a booster dose. However, no currently available report in Japan has comprehensively described this phenomenon. A healthy 14-year-old Japanese male, who had completed a two-dose primary series of the BNT162b2 (Pfizer-BioNTech) vaccine six months prior, developed fever and chest pain within 24 hours after a homologous booster dose. He was transferred to our institute because of worsening chest pain. A multiplex PCR test showed no evidence of active viral infections, including SARS-CoV-2. Electrocardiography revealed ST-segment elevation in almost all leads, suggesting pericarditis. Echocardiography showed normal systolic function. Laboratory data demonstrated C-reactive protein levels of 8.8 mg/dL and elevated cardiac damage markers (troponin T, 1.9 ng/mL; creatine phosphokinase, 1527 U/L; MB isoenzyme, 120 U/L), suggesting myocarditis. He was diagnosed with perimyocarditis associated with the booster dose, which was confirmed by cardiac magnetic resonance imaging four days after initial symptoms. Chest pain improved spontaneously along with a resolution of electrocardiographic findings and laboratory data within several days. He was discharged eight days after admission. Perimyocarditis is less frequent after a booster dose than after primary doses. In this case, the patient with booster-dose-associated perimyocarditis showed favorable clinical course without severe sequelae. The patient’s clinical course was consistent with findings on previous large-scale reports on primary-dose-associated perimyocarditis and case series on booster-dose-associated perimyocarditis.

著者

Hiroyuki Tsugita Maho Aoyama Noriaki Satake Makoto Saito Yusuke Hiratsuka Akira Inoue Shin Takayama Mitsunori Miyashita

出版者

Tohoku University Medical Press

雑誌

The Tohoku Journal of Experimental Medicine (ISSN:00408727)

巻号頁・発行日

vol.254, no.3, pp.155-161, 2021 (Released:2021-07-03)

参考文献数

20

被引用文献数

2

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Management of nausea is an important dimension of palliative care. The first choice for treating nausea is antiemetics, but their efficacy is inadequate. Acupressure intervention for nausea in cancer patients has been studied as a non-pharmacological therapy, and appears to have had some effect. However, such a therapy has not been well reviewed in patients with terminal cancer. The purpose of this study was to clarify the feasibility of acupressure intervention and examine its safety and preliminary efficacy. We recruited cancer patients that fulfilled the eligibility criteria and were admitted to the palliative care unit, from August 2018 to February 2019, in Tohoku University Hospital, Japan. We conducted a longitudinal assessment of acupressure intervention in a single arm. We identified the patient’s research accomplishments and evaluated possible fainting due to the vagal reflex and symptom severity. Descriptive statistics were used to calculate the completion rate for the feasibility and Wilcoxon signed-rank tests to compare the average of continuous variables for the safety and efficacy. Twelve patients participated in this study and completed the procedure. Their average age was 70 years (SD = 9.3), and the most common primary cancer sites were the rectum and pancreas. The blood pressure and pulse rate did not drop sharply. Four patients exhibited decreased nausea but there was no statistically significant difference (P = 0.5). We suggested that acupressure has high feasibility and safety, as an intervention for patients with terminal cancer. However, no significant differences were observed regarding its effect on nausea.

著者

Tsukasa Takahashi Daisuke Hori Tomohiko Ikeda Yu Ikeda Nagisa Shiraki Christina-Sylvia Andrea Yuh Ohtaki Shotaro Doki Yuichi Oi Shinichiro Sasahara Ichiyo Matsuzaki

出版者

Tohoku University Medical Press

雑誌

The Tohoku Journal of Experimental Medicine (ISSN:00408727)

巻号頁・発行日

vol.249, no.1, pp.57-64, 2019 (Released:2019-09-27)

参考文献数

34

被引用文献数

5 8

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Non-regular employment is increasing and its mental health impact is a globally important problem. In Japan, non-regularly employed researchers are increasing, especially within young age groups, because employment quotas were not sufficiently expanded against rapid increasing number of doctorate holders. It is therefore important to understand the relationship between non-regular employment and mental health. The significance of our research is to contribute to the improvement of researchers’ mental health by clarifying the influence of employment status on psychological distress. We conducted a cross-sectional, web-based survey in 2017 via an anonymous, self-administered questionnaire distributed to workers in Tsukuba Science City, Japan. The survey questionnaire items included employment status, psychological distress, occupational stress, sex, age, and income. We analyzed 2,762 valid responses in two categories (1,850 regular employment, 912 non-regular employment) and two subcategories based on age according to the definition of “young researcher” by the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare (20-39 years vs. 40-59 years). Psychological distress was defined as a total K6 score of 5 or greater. Binomial logistic regression was used to calculate odds ratios and 95% confidence intervals for psychological distress. Non-regular employment was significantly associated with psychological distress in the age 20-39 group but not in the age 40-59 group. At the age 20-39 group, a negative association was shown between psychological distress and reward from work (i.e., pride in their job, ability utilization, and sense of accomplishment). Support to increase psychological work rewards may be important in reducing psychological distress for young non-regularly employed researchers.

著者

Yuko Hino Michio Murakami Sanae Midorikawa Akira Ohtsuru Shinichi Suzuki Kumiko Tsuboi Tetsuya Ohira

出版者

東北ジャーナル刊行会

雑誌

The Tohoku Journal of Experimental Medicine (ISSN:00408727)

巻号頁・発行日

vol.239, no.4, pp.333-343, 2016 (Released:2016-08-18)

参考文献数

35

被引用文献数

1 26

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After the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear accident in 2011 and thyroid examinations of children in Fukushima, the Radiation Medical Science Center began “Explanatory meetings on thyroid examination” as a method of communication with residents such as the subjects themselves and their guardians. Through questionnaires, we examined the relationship between anxiety (regarding the effects of radiation on the thyroid) before the meetings and individual attributes including attitudes on radiation, and then verified the effects of the meetings using measures of anxiety, comprehension, and satisfaction, as the outcomes. Of the meetings in 2014-2015, 799 people attended 30 sessions in Kenchu, Kenpoku, Iwaki, Soso, and outside of Fukushima Prefecture, and 594 people responded the questionnaires before and after the meetings on the same day. Level of anxiety before the meetings varied depending on individual attributes (including attitudes regarding collection information on radiation, advisors on radiation, and levels of subjective understanding), highlighting the importance of presenting information about radiation in a manner that is easy to understand, as well as providing opportunities for the exchange of opinions. Participation in meetings reduced anxiety. This was largely attributed to explanations about general characteristics of cancer and objective facts, including doses; status of the Chernobyl accident; and comparison in results of thyroid examinations with other prefectures in Japan. An opportunity for a question-and-answer session also contributed to increased overall satisfaction. The lower number of meeting participants was associated with anxiety reduction and higher subjective comprehension. The present findings obtained will be useful to facilitate evidence-based risk communication.

著者

Tetsuya Akaishi Kei Fujiwara Tadashi Ishii

出版者

Tohoku University Medical Press

雑誌

The Tohoku Journal of Experimental Medicine (ISSN:00408727)

巻号頁・発行日

vol.259, no.1, pp.17-26, 2023 (Released:2022-12-13)

参考文献数

41

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The genome sequences of severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS)-related coronaviruses (sarbecoviruses) have been reported to include many long and complex insertions/deletions (indels) in specific genomic regions, including open reading frame 1a (ORF1a), S1 domain of the spike, and ORF8 genes. These indel hotspots incorporate various non-classical, long, and complex indels with uncertain developmental processes. A possible explanation for these complex and diversified indels at the hotspots is genetic recombination. To determine the possible association between recombination events and development of indel hotspots, this study investigated the genome sequences of many sarbecoviruses from different countries and hosts and compared the distributions of the indel hotspots and recombination sites by performing multiple sequence alignments and recombination analyses. The genomes of 19 SARS-related coronaviruses (15 coronaviruses that infect bats, two that infect humans, one that infects pangolins, and one that infects civets), including human-infecting SARS-CoV and SARS-CoV-2, were evaluated. Hotspots of complex indels with diverse RNA sequences around gaps were clustered in non-structural protein 2 (Nsp2) and Nsp3 of ORF1a, S1, and ORF8. Phylogenetic reconstructions revealed different structures of the inferred phylogenetic trees between genomic regions, and recombination analyses identified multiple recombination sites across ORF1ab and S genes. However, the nucleotide positions of the indel hotspots were not identical with the identified recombination sites in the recombinant viruses, suggesting the involvement of different developmental processes of indel hotspots and genetic recombination. Further research is required to elucidate the developmental mechanisms underpinning clustered complex indels and recombination events in the evolutionary history of sarbecoviruses.

著者

Tatsuo Koyanagi Shoji Yamada

出版者

Tohoku University Medical Press

雑誌

The Tohoku Journal of Experimental Medicine (ISSN:00408727)

巻号頁・発行日

vol.94, no.1, pp.63-68, 1968 (Released:2008-11-28)

参考文献数

16

被引用文献数

1 1

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The effects of supplementary feeding with niacin were investigated upon gastric acidity and vitamin B12 binding capacity of the gastric mucosa in rats which had been placed on two kinds of basal diets: low-protein diet composed of polished rice, fermented soy bean paste and cabbage, and a normal-protein diet sup-plemented with casein, gelatin and several amino acids. Five and half months after the feeding, hyperfunction of acid secreting cells associated with increased gastric acidity was observed in rats fed on the low-protein-niacin-deficient diet rather than in rats on the normal niacin-protein diet. Vitamin B12 binding capacity of the gastric mucosa of rats which has been said to be in parallel with the secretion of intrinsic factor was found to be higher in the low-protein-niacin-deficient group than in the normal-niacin-protein group.