著者

Chisato Noguchi Kazuyo Kamitori Akram Hossain Hiroshi Hoshikawa Ayako Katagi Youyi Dong Li Sui Masaaki Tokuda Fuminori Yamaguchi

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.238, no.2, pp.131-141, 2016 (Released:2016-01-30)

参考文献数

32

被引用文献数

32

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Glucose is a major energy source for mammalian cells and is transported into cells via cell-specific expression of various glucose transporters (GLUTs). Especially, cancer cells require massive amounts of glucose as an energy source for their dysregulated growth and thus over-express GLUTs. d-allose, a C-3 epimer of d-glucose, is one of rare sugars that exist in small quantities in nature. We have shown that d-allose induces the tumor suppressor gene coding for thioredoxin interacting protein (TXNIP) and inhibits cancer cell growth by G1 cell cycle arrest. It has also been reported that GLUTs including GLUT1 are over-expressed in many cancer cell lines, which may contribute to larger glucose utilization. Since d-allose suppresses the growth of cancer cells through the upregulation of TXNIP expression, our present study focused on whether d-allose down-regulates GLUT1 expression via TXNIP expression and thus suppresses cancer cell growth. Western blot and real-time PCR analyses revealed that d-allose significantly induced TXNIP expression and inhibited GLUT1 expression in a dose-dependent manner in three human cancer cell lines: hepatocellular carcinoma (HuH-7), Caucasian breast adenocarcinoma (MDA-MB-231), and neuroblastoma (SH-SY5Y). In these cell lines, d-allose treatment inhibited cell growth. Importantly, d-allose treatment decreased glucose uptake, as measured by the uptake of 2-deoxy d-glucose. Moreover, the reporter assays showed that d-allose decreased the expression of luciferase through the hypoxia response element present in the tested promoter region. These results suggest that d-allose may cause the inhibition of cancer growth by reducing both GLUT1 expression and glucose uptake.

著者

Akihito Usui Yusuke Kawasumi Kiyotaka Usui Yuya Ishizuka Kaito Takahashi Masato Funayama Haruo Saito

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.3, pp.183-192, 2017 (Released:2017-07-07)

参考文献数

12

被引用文献数

7

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Traditional autopsy has changed little in the past century. In Japan, the rate of forensic autopsy in cases of unusual death is very low. Therefore, multi-slice computed tomography (CT) has been used to obtain imaging data instead of or in addition to autopsy in suspicious forensic cases. In our institute, postmortem multi-slice CT has been performed since 2009, and by 2014 there were over 1,000 cases. Our extensive experience with postmortem CT shows that in many cases of death by drug overdose, stomach contents exhibit high X-ray absorption. This article reviews the relationship between CT findings of stomach contents and toxicological analysis results in 23 cases of death by drug overdose. All cases (12 females and 11 males, aged 44 ± 11 years) known to have orally ingested drugs were included in this study. We assessed the slices of all stomach areas on consecutive axial CT images. Twenty cases (87%) showed high X-ray absorption in the stomach, while the other three did not demonstrate radio-dense stomach contents even though drug analysis detected lethal concentrations of drugs in the blood. In conclusion, drugs were frequently, but not always, visualized as contents with high X-ray absorption in the stomach. Postmortem gastric CT images can provide useful information in cases of oral drug intoxication if there are empty drug packages or a suicide note at the death scene. However, precise determination of the cause of death requires full autopsy in cases where there is no indication of suicide at the death scene.

著者

Kae Okoshi Taro Minami Masahiro Kikuchi Yasuko Tomizawa

出版者

Tohoku University Medical Press

雑誌

The Tohoku Journal of Experimental Medicine (ISSN:00408727)

巻号頁・発行日

vol.243, no.1, pp.49-56, 2017 (Released:2017-09-21)

参考文献数

85

被引用文献数

6 11

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Playing musical instruments can bring joy to people, but can also cause a wide variety of health issues that range from mild disorders to potentially fatal conditions. Although sports medicine is an established medical subspecialty, relatively few studies have investigated the health issues associated with musical instruments. Here we present an overview of these health issues. These include infections due to microorganisms, allergic reactions, as well as mechanical injuries from sustained high pressures within the oral, mediastinal, thoracic, and abdominal cavities. For example, wind instruments can potentially harbor thousands of pathogenic organisms. If several players share the same instrument, these instruments present potential hazards in the spread of infections. A fatal case of hypersensitivity pneumonitis in a bagpiper is particularly noteworthy. Similarly, a case of gastrointestinal anthrax in an animal-hide drummer is a reminder of this rare but highly fatal disease. Although not fatal, hearing-related disorders, neuromuscular issues, musculoskeletal problems, and contact dermatitis are also very common among instrumentalists. This review aims to illuminate these under-recognized health issues by highlighting both the common conditions and the rare but fatal cases.

著者

Naoki Nakaya Toshimasa Sone Kumi Nakaya Yasutake Tomata Atsushi Hozawa Ichiro Tsuji

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.243, no.1, pp.27-33, 2017 (Released:2017-09-13)

参考文献数

25

被引用文献数

4

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Cancer diagnosis influences both patients and their closest relatives. This cross-sectional study examined psychological distress among individuals whose partners had cancer in a population-based sample. Participants in the survey were citizens residing in Ohsaki City, Miyagi, Japan. Spouse pairs were identified by information of participants’ relationship to the householder and address provided by municipality, and we collected self-report information on cancer history and current pain (but not the cause of pain). Psychological distress was evaluated using the Kessler 6 scale (K6). We identified 29,410 potential participants (14,705 couples), of which 23,766 (11,690 men and 12,076 women) were included in the analyses. A total of 1,374 participants (581 male and 793 female participants) had partners with history of cancer. Logistic regression analyses revealed that these participants, regardless of sex, did not show significantly higher risk of psychological distress (K6 score ≥ 13). When stratifying the analysis by partners’ current pain, men whose partners had cancer and pain showed greater odds of psychological distress (odds ratio = 1.5, p = 0.04), compared with men whose partners had no cancer and had pain. However, male subjects whose partners had cancer but no pain did not show greater odds of psychological distress compared with men whose partners had no cancer and no pain. By contrast, in women whose partners had cancer, psychological distress was not associated with pain status. In conclusion, men whose partners had cancer and pain have higher risk of psychological distress, and its screening to these individuals may reduce the risk.

著者

YOSHIDA YOSHIRO SATO TETSUO KANO ICHIKI FUKUDA MORIKUNI SASAKI TAKASHI HOSHINO HISAO TANAKA MOTONAO TERASAWA YOSHIO

出版者

Tohoku University Medical Press

雑誌

The Tohoku Journal of Experimental Medicine (ISSN:00408727)

巻号頁・発行日

vol.123, no.4, pp.329-335, 1977

被引用文献数

6

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Four patients with endocardial fibroelastosis were studied by two-dimensional and M-mcde echocardiography. The two-dimensional echocardiography showed the characteristic echo from the abnormally thickened endocardium of the left ventricle in every case. Of the 4 cases, 2 were still suffering from congestive heart failure at the time of the study and the other 2 had been already free from clinical symptoms. In the former group, the ultrasonic findings revealed an enlargement of the left ventricle (large left ventricular dimension index) and poor movement of the anterior mitral leaflet which was indicated by a decrease in the diastolic descent rate. The latter group presented almost normal findings concerning the above points. The ultrasonic method is thus proved to be very useful for the diagnosis and evaluation of clinical conditions in cases of endocardial fibroelastosis.

著者

Yuki Sato Hiroki Kato Risa Ebina-Shibuya Ari Itoh-Nakadai Ryuhei Okuyama Kazuhiko Igarashi

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.241, no.3, pp.175-182, 2017 (Released:2017-02-18)

参考文献数

37

被引用文献数

4

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Bach2 is a transcription factor which represses its target genes and plays important roles in the differentiation of B and T lymphoid cells. Bach2-deficient (KO) mice develop severe pulmonary alveolar proteinosis, which is associated with increased numbers of granulocytes and T cells. Bach2 is essential for the regulation of T cells, but its role in the regulation of granulocytes is not clear. Here, we observed increased numbers of eosinophils but not neutrophils in the bone marrow, spleen, peripheral blood, and bronchoalveolar lavage fluids of Bach2 KO mice compared with those of wild-type (WT) mice. Upon co-transplantation of the bone marrow cells from CD45.2 Bach2 KO and CD45.1/CD45.2 double-positive WT mice to irradiated WT CD45.1/CD45.2 mice, the reconstituted numbers of eosinophils were similar between Bach2 KO and WT cells. These results showed that the deficiency of Bach2 in eosinophils did not directly drive the differentiation of eosinophils. To investigate the effect of Bach2 KO CD4+ T cells upon eosinophils, we analyzed Rag2/Bach2-double deficient (dKO) mice which lack lymphocytes including CD4+ T cells. Rag2/Bach2 dKO mice did not show any increase in the numbers of eosinophils. Importantly, Bach2 KO mice showed an increase of interleukin-5 (Il-5) in the sera compared with WT mice. These results suggest that up-regulated functions of CD4+ T cells including secretion of Il-5 resulted in proliferation and/or migration to peripheral tissues of eosinophils in Bach2 KO mice. We propose that Bach2 controls homeostasis of eosinophils via restricting the production of Il-5 in CD4+ T cells.

著者

Hideo Sasai Nobuyuki Shimozawa Takahiko Asano Norio Kawamoto Takahiro Yamamoto Takeshi Kimura Minako Kawamoto Eiko Matsui Toshiyuki Fukao

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.237, no.4, pp.323-327, 2015 (Released:2015-12-04)

参考文献数

11

被引用文献数

2 9

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Cystathionine β-synthase (CBS) deficiency, well known as classical homocystinuria, is a rare autosomal recessive inborn error of homocysteine and sulfur metabolism. CBS converts homocysteine to cystathionine. The clinical features of untreated CBS deficiency include myopia, ectopia lentis, mental retardation, skeletal anomalies resembling Marfan syndrome, and thromboembolic events. Cerebral white matter lesions (CWMLs), identified in magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), are related to various clinical conditions including ischemia, inflammation, demyelination, infection, a tumor, and metabolic disorders such as phenylketonuria. The presence of CWMLs is, however, believed to be a very rare condition in CBS-deficient patients. Herein, we report reversible CWMLs associated with hypermethioninemia caused by poor protein restriction and betaine therapy in a 21-year-old male with pyridoxine-nonresponsive CBS deficiency. T2-weighted images (T2WI) and fluid-attenuated inversion-recovery (FLAIR) images showed diffuse high signal intensity in subcortical areas extending to the deep white matter. Diffusion-weighted images (DWI) showed high signal intensity, while apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) map demonstrated decreased ADC value in the lesions. The course of improvement after correct methionine restriction was successively followed by brain MRI. The CWMLs had regressed at 1 month after restriction, and disappeared after 5 months. ADC values were very low before proper methionine restriction, but normalized after 2 months. Use of betaine in the presence of elevated plasma methionine may increase the risk of reversible CWMLs in some CBS-deficient patients.

著者

Fatih Dede Elvin Dogan Mehmet Demir Didem Sener Mehmet Kös Murat Tad Erdal Eskioglu

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.210, no.1, pp.79-82, 2006 (Released:2006-09-06)

参考文献数

15

被引用文献数

5 6

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Tuberculosis is an important health problem in developing countries, with varying clinical presentations depending on the organs/systems involved. Tuberculosis is mostly seen in immuno-compromised individuals, such as those with acquired immune deficiency syndrome or malignancies. Here we report a case of a spleen tuberculoma in a 29-year-old male patient with no known immune deficiency. He first presented with abdominal pain, and subsequent ultrosonographic examination revealed a splenic lesion of 10 cm in diameter. A computerized tomography scan of the abdomen confirmed the presence of a solitary, hypodense, septated cystic lesion. Lack of evidence supporting the presence of a splenic infection or a primary/metastatic malignancy prompted explorative surgery where a septated abscess formation was discovered and splenectomy was performed. Histopathological examination revealed granulomatous inflammatory changes with Langerhans-type giant cells, which are consistent with tuberculosis. For a period of two months, antituberculosis therapy with four drugs, isoniazid, rifampicin, pyrazinamide, and ethambutol, was carried out. Pyrazinamide and ethambutol were quitted at the end of two months. Theraphy with isoniazid and rifampicin was planned for an additional 10 months. We would like to call attention to yet another atypical presentation of extrapulmonary tuberculosis.

著者

Yuan Tao Pengfei Jiang Yuhua Wei Ping Wang Xiaoling Sun Hong Wang

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.240, no.3, pp.209-214, 2016 (Released:2016-11-11)

参考文献数

44

被引用文献数

11

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Dry form of age-related macular degeneration (AMD) constitutes 90% of AMD cases, and it is characterized by the formation of drusen under the retina and the slow breakdown of the light-sensing cells in the macula, which causes a gradual loss of central vision. Since oxidative stress is involved in the pathogenesis of dry AMD, α-lipoic acid (LA) with antioxidant properties was selected, and its effect on anti-oxidative markers and visual quality in patients with dry AMD was assessed. A total of 100 dry AMD patients (60-83 years old) were randomly assigned to LA treatment group (n = 50) and placebo control group (n = 50). We measured the serum superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity, an important marker of antioxidant defense, best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA), contrast sensitivity, and Chinese-Version Low Vision Quality of Life (CLVQOL) before and after LA or placebo intervention. Pearson correlation coefficients were calculated to explore the relationship between contrast sensitivity values and CLVQOL scores. There was a statistically significant increase in serum SOD activity after LA intervention. The CLVQOL score was improved significantly after LA treatment. The contrast sensitivity measured at middle and low spatial frequency was significantly higher after LA treatment. CLVQOL scores were positively correlated with contrast sensitivity at low spatial frequency (3 cyc/degree) in LA-treated group. These results indicate that LA treatment improves vision-related quality of life in patients with dry AMD probably by increasing antioxidant activity. Thus, LA can be regarded as a promising agent for the treatment of AMD.

著者

Hongdeok Seok Jin-Ha Yoon Jong-Uk Won Wanhyung Lee June-Hee Lee Pil Kyun Jung Jaehoon Roh

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.238, no.1, pp.25-32, 2016 (Released:2015-12-15)

参考文献数

42

被引用文献数

5

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Concealing emotions at work can cause considerable psychological stress. While there is extensive research on the adverse health effects of concealing emotions and the association between allergic diseases and stress, research has not yet investigated whether concealing emotions at work is associated with allergic rhinitis. Allergic rhinitis is a common disease in many industrialized countries, and its prevalence is increasing. Thus, our aim was to determine the strength of this association using data from three years (2007-2009) of the 4th Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. Participants (aged 20-64) were 8,345 individuals who were economically active and who had completed the questionnaire items on concealing emotions at work. Odds ratio (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (95% CIs) were calculated for allergic rhinitis using logistic regression models. Among all participants, 3,140 subjects (37.6%) reported concealing their emotions at work: 1,661 men and 1,479 women. The OR (95% CIs) for allergic rhinitis among those who concealed emotions at work versus those who did not was 1.318 (1.148-1.512). Stratified by sex, the OR (95% CIs) was 1.307 (1.078-1.585) among men and 1.346 (1.105-1.639) among women. Thus, individuals who concealed their emotions at work were significantly more likely to have a diagnosis of AR in comparison to those who did not. Because concealing emotions at work has adverse health effects, labor policies that aim to reduce this practice are needed.

著者

Naoki Nakaya Akira Narita Naho Tsuchiya Tomohiro Nakamura Ichiro Tsuji Atsushi Hozawa Hiroaki Tomita

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.307-314, 2016 (Released:2016-08-10)

参考文献数

28

被引用文献数

6

---

Several studies have reported that not only patients with chronic diseases but also their partners are likely to face major psychosocial problems. This study examined the association between a partner’s ongoing treatment for chronic disease and the risk of psychological distress after the Great East Japan Earthquake (GEJE). In 2012, a questionnaire was distributed as part of a cross-sectional study of participants aged 20 years or older living in a municipality that had been severely inundated by the tsunami following the GEJE. We identified couples using the household numbers of the municipality and collected self-reported information on ongoing chronic disease treatment for stroke, cancer, myocardial infarction, and angina. Psychological distress was evaluated using the Kessler 6 scale (K6) and was defined as a score ≥ 5/24 points. Among 1,246 couples (2,492 participants) thus identified, 2,369 completed the K6. The number of participants whose partners were under treatment for chronic diseases was 209 (9%). Overall, participants with partners who were receiving treatment for chronic diseases (odds ratio [OR] = 1.3, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.95-1.8, P = 0.09) did not show a significantly higher risk of psychological distress using logistic regression analysis. Women, but not men, whose partners were receiving treatment for chronic diseases, had a higher risk of psychological distress (women: OR = 1.6, P = 0.02; men: OR = 1.0, P = 0.92). After the GEJE, only in women the presence of partners under treatment for chronic diseases appears to be a risk factor for psychological distress.

著者

Misa Yamamoto Toshihiko Yamauchi Kozue Okano Mutsuo Takahashi Shoji Watabe Yoshimi Yamamoto

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.217, no.3, pp.193-201, 2009 (Released:2009-03-13)

参考文献数

28

被引用文献数

11 18

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Neurofibromas are benign tumors that comprise primarily of Schwann cells and fibroblasts. Mast cells have been found scattered in the tumor tissue, and their role in promoting the proliferation of neurofibroma has been suggested. Tranilast (N-[3,4-dimethoxycinnamolyl]anthranilic acid) is an anti-allergic drug that inhibits release of the chemical mediators from mast cells and it used for the treatment of keloids and hypertrophic scars by its inhibition of growth-promoting transforming growth factor (TGF)-β1 from fibroblasts. We assumed that tranilast would suppress neurofibroma cell growth. In order to prove this hypothesis, we investigated the effectiveness of tranilast in inhibiting the tumor growth using a new cell culture system obtained from patients with neurofibromas. We called this culture system with the mixture of Schwann cells and fibroblasts “NF1 cells culture”. Mast cells were differentiated from CD34+ peripheral blood mononuclear cells of normal healthy subjects, and were co-cultured with NF1 cells. Three days after tranilast (10 ∼ 100 μM) added to the culture dishes, we counted viable cell numbers and measured the concentrations of TGF-β1, stem cell factor (SCF) and tryptase, which exists in the histamine granule, in the culture medium. Tranilast significantly suppressed proliferation of the NF1 cells and lowered the levels of TGF-β1, SCF and tryptase. These results suggest that tranilast retards tumor proliferation through not only suppression of cell growth factor, but also the inhibition of a chemical mediator released from mast cells. Thus, tranilast can be a potent therapeutic agent to inhibit the growth of neurofibromas.

著者

三浦 修

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.30, no.2, pp.196-202, 1936-12-30 (Released:2008-11-28)

参考文献数

2

被引用文献数

1 1

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Clitocybe acromelalga, Ichimura, ein giftiger Pilz, dessen Genuss bei Menschen Vergiftung mit heftigem Schmerz und Nekrose in den Extremitöten verursacht, ruft bei Höhnen eine nekrobiotische Verönderung des Kainmes and der Bartlappen, in denen sick eine hyaline Degeneration mikroskopisch nachweisen lösst, hervor, wöhrend er bei anderen Tierarten, wie Möusen, Ratten, Meerschweinchen und Kaninchen nicht imstande ist, eine solche Verönderung herbeizuführen. Die nekrobiotische Verönderung von Hahnenkömmen wird wie die Sensibilitötsstörung bei Möusen durch zwei verschiedene wasserlosliche Substanzen hervorgerufen, von denen die eine durch Bleiazetat geföllt und durch Kochen zersetzt wird, wöhrend die andere dagegen mit Bleiazetat keinen Niederschlag bildet und kochbestöndig ist. Für die technische Hilfe bei der Ausführung dieser Versuche bin ich Herrn Prof. S. Nasu im Pathologischen Institut zu Dank ver-pflichtet.

著者

AKIRA NAITO MICHIHIRO YAJIMA HIDEHIKO FUKAMACHI KOJI USHIKOSHI YING-JIE SUN YOSHIFUSA SHIMIZU

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.175, no.4, pp.285-288, 1995 (Released:2006-08-31)

参考文献数

13

被引用文献数

4 10

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NAITO, A., YAJIMA, M., FUKAMACHI, H., USHIKOSHI, K., SUN, Y.-J. and SHIMIZU, Y. Electromyographic (EMG) Study of the Elbow Flexors during Supination and Pronation of the Forearm. Tohoku J. Exp. Med., 1995, 175 (4), 285-288 - Activities of the elbow flexors during supination and pronation of the forearm in a normal human volunteer were studied by an electromyography (EMG). The volunteer performed the movement slowly or quickly holding elbow flexion at various angles with or without a load. The biceps brachii showed an increase and a decrease of EMG activities during supination and pronation, respectively. The brachialis and brachioradialis showed a reduction and an increment of EMU activities accompanied by an increase and a decrease of EMG activities in the biceps brachii, respectively. These findings seem to indicate that reciprocal contractions among the elbow flexors permit the biceps brachii to work for supination without an induction of elbow flexion.

著者

Yosuke Kakisaka Tomoichiro Ohara Hideo Tozawa Shun Sato Saori Katayama Tasuku Suzuki Naomi Hino-Fukuyo Shigeo Kure

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.228, no.2, pp.143-145, 2012 (Released:2012-09-22)

参考文献数

7

被引用文献数

2 9

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Gynecomastia or benign proliferation of the male breast glandular tissue is not uncommon for adolescent males. Its pathogenesis has been attributed to a transient imbalance between estrogens and androgens. Ginseng is a popular herb with a long history of medicinal use. Oriental folk medicine describes it as both a tonic for restoring strength and a panacea. The term “ginseng” generally refers to a plant, Panax ginseng. Based on estrogen-like actions of Panax ginseng due to its structural similarity with estradiol, this agent could be speculated to cause gynecomastia. Here we report a 12-year-old Korean-Japanese boy with bilateral enlargement of the breasts with tenderness in the right breast, which was noticed about 1 month before his first visit to our outpatient clinic. He was diagnosed with gynecomastia based on physical, laboratory, and ultrasound examinations. Detailed questioning about his medications and supplements revealed that he had been given red ginseng extract daily to enhance his performance for 1 month before his clinical presentation. He wanted to make his body stronger as an athlete. He was recommended from his grandmother to take Panax ginseng for his purpose. After stopping this, there was no further growth of the masses and no pain when his right breast was pressed. In conclusion, physicians should consider ginseng in the investigation of gynecomastia.

著者

Takafumi Hashiba Kenji Takeuchi Yoshihiro Shimazaki Toru Takeshita Yoshihisa Yamashita

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.235, no.1, pp.39-46, 2015 (Released:2015-01-09)

参考文献数

46

被引用文献数

1 13

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Chewing xylitol gum provides oral health benefits including inhibiting Streptococcus mutans plaque. It is thought to be especially effective in conditions where it is difficult to perform daily oral cleaning. Our study aim was to determine the effects of chewing xylitol gum on self-rated and objective oral health status under a condition interfering with oral hygiene maintenance. A randomized controlled intervention trial was conducted on 55 healthy ≥ 20-year-old men recruited from the Japan Ground Self Defense Force who were undergoing field training. Participants were randomly assigned to a test group (chewing gum; n = 27) or a control group (no gum; n = 28) and the researchers were blinded to the group assignments. The Visual Analog Scale (VAS) scores of oral conditions subjectively evaluated oral health, and the stimulated salivary bacteria quantity objectively evaluated oral health 1 day before field training (baseline) and 4 days after the beginning of field training (follow-up). VAS scores of all three oral conditions significantly increased in the control group (malodor: p < 0.001; discomfort: p < 0.001; dryness: p < 0.001), but only two VAS scores increased in the test group (malodor: p = 0.021; discomfort: p = 0.002). The number of salivary total bacteria significantly increased in the control group (p < 0.01), while no significant change was observed in the test group (p = 0.668). Chewing xylitol gum positively affects self-rated and objective oral health status by controlling oral hygiene under conditions that interfere with oral hygiene maintenance.

著者

Gordana Bogdanovic Ljudmila Stojanovich Aleksandra Djokovic Natasa Stanisavljevic

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.237, no.3, pp.193-199, 2015 (Released:2015-10-20)

参考文献数

31

被引用文献数

44

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Given the crucial events in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) such as joint and muscle pain, fatigue, depression, obesity and osteoporosis, the very thought of exercising can be challenging. This prospective study included 60 patients diagnosed with SLE in stable condition. A randomly selected group of 30 women had aerobic training on a bicycle ergometer for a period of 15 minutes, 3 times per week for 6 weeks, while the second group of 30 women performed isotonic exercises (to stretch and lengthen muscles and improve the range of motion) for 30 minutes, 3 times per week during the same period. Fatigue Severity Scale (FSS), Short Form 36 (SF36) questionnaire on the quality of life and Beck depression inventory (BDI) were analyzed at baseline and after 6 weeks. At baseline FSS score was 53.8 ± 5.7 and after the physical activity FSS score was 29.1 ± 7.8 (FSS ≥ 36; fatigue is present). The largest number of patients (66.7%) was in a moderate depressed state at the baseline, while after physical activities 61.7% of patients, had a mild mood disturbance. There were significant differences (p < 0.001) in values of all areas of quality of life questionnaire SF36 before and after the implementation of physical activity. The type of physical activity had no influence in FSS and BDI values. Continuous physical activity, regardless of its type, significantly improved quality of life of SLE patients. We recommend regular physical activity as an integral part of modern therapeutic approach in this patient population.

著者

Yingjie Zhong Ye Wang Jun Guo Haifeng Chu Yong Gao Limin Pang

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.237, no.3, pp.183-191, 2015 (Released:2015-10-17)

参考文献数

55

被引用文献数

1 14

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Juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) is the most common arthritis in the adolescents under the age of 16. Etanercept, an inhibitor of tumor necrosis factor, is often used to treat JIA despite its significant side effects. Homeopathic remedies, such as blueberries, have anti-inflammatory properties with fewer unwanted effects and should be considered as a primary treatment. We aimed to explore the efficacy and safety of combination therapy of blueberry and etanercept for JIA. Two hundred and one JIA patients were selected, and randomly and evenly assigned to three groups: ETA (50 mg of etanercept twice weekly), ETABJ (matched etanercept and 50 ml blueberry juice daily) and ETAPJ (matched etanercept and placebo juice). The severity of JIA was measured using American College of Rheumatology scales (ACR) 20, 50 and 70. The levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines, interleukin-1 (IL1) alpha and IL1 beta, and interleukin-1 receptor antagonist (IL1RA) were measured by qRT-PCR and ELISA. After a 6-month follow-up, the ACR20, ACR50 and ACR70 in an ETABJ group were higher than those in other two groups (P < 0.05), suggesting clinically meaningful improvement in JIA. Meanwhile, the symptoms and side effects were reduced significantly or absent in an ETABJ group, including mental diseases, retrobulbar optic neuritis, gaining weight, infection, cutaneous vasculitis, diarrhea, uveitis and pancytopenia. Blueberries reduced the levels of IL1 alpha and beta, and increased the level of IL1RA. Thus, a combination therapy of blueberry and etanercept can reduce the severity of JIA and should be developed as a new method for JIA therapy.

著者

Takashi Yokota Yasuo Kunii Shin Teshima Yasuo Yamada Toshihiro Saito Shu Kikuchi Hidemi Yamauchi

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.186, no.2, pp.121-130, 1998 (Released:2005-10-14)

参考文献数

16

被引用文献数

30 63

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A retrospective analysis was carried out on 93 patients with signet ring cell carcinoma of the stomach operated on between 1985 and 1995, to review the clinicopathologic characteristics from the database of gastric cancer at Sendai National Hospital. The results were compared with those for 590 patients with other types of gastric carcinoma. Women were afflicted as commonly as men in the signet ring cell carcinoma group. These patients tended to be younger and to have larger tumors. The histological type was commonly scirrhous and infiltrative. The survival of patients with signet ring cell carcinoma was worse than that of patients with other types of gastric cancer but the difference was not statistically significant. Patients with early signet ring cell carcinoma had a good prognosis, similar to that of the other groups. However, prognosis of patients with advanced signet ring cell carcinoma was poor compared with patients with other types of this disease. In multivariate analysis, the statistical significant prognostic factors were vascular microinvasion and tumor location. These findings suggest that signet ring cell carcinoma of the stomach should be regarded as a distinct type of gastric cancer.

著者

Ate Dijkstra Gülendam Hakverdioğlu Marta Muszalik Richtsje Andela Esra Akın Korhan Kornelia Kędziora-Kornatowska

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.235, no.3, pp.193-200, 2015 (Released:2015-03-05)

参考文献数

33

被引用文献数

13

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Many countries in Europe and the world have to cope with an aging population. Although health policy in many countries aims at increasing disability-free life expectancy, elderly patients represent a significant proportion of all patients admitted to different hospital departments. The aim of the research was to investigate the relationship between health-related quality of life (HRQOL) and the care dependency status among elderly hospital patients. In 2012, a descriptive survey was administered to a convenience sample of 325 elderly hospital patients (> 60 years) from The Netherlands (N = 125), from Poland (N = 100), and from Turkey (N = 100). We employed the Functional Assessment of Chronic Illness Therapy (FACIT) Measurement System and the Care Dependency Scale. FACIT is a collection of HRQOL questionnaires that assess multidimensional health status in people with various chronic illnesses. From demographic variables, gender (female) (r = −0.13, p < 0.05), age and informal care given by family members (r = −0.27 to 0.27, p < 0.01) were significantly correlated with the care dependency status for the whole samples. All HRQOL variables, hearing aid and duration of illness correlated with care dependency status (r = −0.20 to 0.50, p < 0.01). Moreover, the FACIT sum score (Poland and Turkey) and functional wellbeing (The Netherlands) are significantly associated with the decrease in care dependency status. Thus, the FACIT variables are the most powerful indicators for care dependency. The study provides healthcare professionals insight into improvement of quality of care in all three countries.