Search

Gamma‐ray glows are observational evidence of relativistic electron acceleration due to the electric field in thunderclouds. However, it is yet to be understood whether such relativistic electrons contribute to the initiation of lightning discharges. To tackle this question, we started the citizen science "Thundercloud Project," where we map radiation measurements of glows from winter thunderclouds along Japan's sea coast area. We developed and deployed 58 compact gamma‐ray monitors at the end of 2021. On 30 December 2021, five monitors simultaneously detected a glow with its radiation distribution horizontally extending for 2 km. The glow terminated coinciding with a lightning flash at 04:08:34 JST, which was recorded by the two radio‐band lightning mapping systems, FALMA and DALMA. The initial discharges during the preliminary breakdown started above the glow, that is, in vicinity of the electron acceleration site. This result provides one example of possible connections between electron acceleration and lightning initiation. Plain Language Summary: Thunderstorms are natural particle accelerators. The strong electric field inside thunderclouds accelerates relativistic electrons, which emit gamma rays via interaction with the atmosphere. High‐energy photons generated in this process have been observed as radiation enhancements called gamma‐ray glows. Winter thunderclouds along the sea of Japan are an ideal target for monitoring glows because their altitudes are usually sufficiently low for the generated gamma‐ray photons to reach the ground. We started a new citizen science "Thundercloud Project" in this area, where we distributed radiation detectors to citizen supporters to observe glows and to reveal their relationship with the aerological condition and lightning discharges. On 30 December 2021, five of those sensors detected a glow from a single thundercloud. Two of them recorded a sudden termination of the glow coinciding with a lightning flash, which was monitored by our two radio mapping systems of FALMA and DALMA. The initial discharges of the flash started at a location about 1.6 km above the glow region with an unusually fast downward progression. This paper is the first report of our citizen science project. We discuss the possibility that accelerated electrons contribute to the initiation of lightning discharges. Key Points: We started the citizen science "Thundercloud Project," a multi‐point observation campaign of gamma‐ray glows from thunderstormsOn 30 December 2021, five radiation monitors detected a 2‐km‐long size gamma‐ray glow, which suddenly terminated with a lightning flashTwo radio mapping systems of lightning identified the initiation of the discharges, which started at a location above the glow region [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The causes for forearc basin and megathrust rupture zone segmentation are controversial. The Nankai forearc, Japan, is separated into five domains based on topography: Enshu, Kumano, Muroto, Tosa, and Hyuga. The boundaries of these domains correspond to the rupture limits of large earthquakes. We examined the geologic structure of the boundary region between the Kumano and Muroto domains off the Kii Peninsula using multichannel seismic reflection data to evaluate the role of upper plate composition in controlling segmentation. The results suggest that thick cover sediments and underlying accretionary prism are obliquely thrust landward over the igneous basement complex rock in the region of offshore of Cape Shionomisaki and separate the forearc basin. The igneous basement complex rocks directly overlying the plate interface in the hypocentral regions of 1944 Tonankai and 1946 Nankai earthquakes. The 1944 earthquake originated at the base of the complex, and the rupture extent slipped past its basement boundary, whereas the 1946 event nucleated at the updip boundary of the basement complex. The dense igneous rocks might have worked as a heavily loaded barrier on the seismogenic megathrust and separated the rupture area of both the earthquakes. Upper plate geology may be an important factor in controlling seismogenesis in the Nankai Trough and may serve as an example for understanding the controls on megathrust slip in other subduction zones. Plain Language Summary: The Nankai Trough, Japan is the place where quakes nucleate in the margin and tsunamis repeatedly devastated circum‐Pacific societies. When, where, why, and how the quakes were started in the trench is a central scientific question but unsolved. The historical records of earthquakes suggest that the rupture started around Cape Shionomisaki of the Kii Peninsula, where there is also a topographic segment boundary of the ∼2,000 m deep basin in the middle continental slope. Our research of the geologic structure beneath the earthquake epicenters indicates a dense and hard rock mass situated upon the hypocenters of 1944, and 1946 megaquakes off Cape Shionomisaki. The rock mass might have worked as a heavy load and barrier on the low angle dipping plate boundary fault when the fault slipped the large rupture was propagated in the Nankai Trough. Key Points: The Nankai forearc basin is separated off the Kii Peninsula owing to the existence of middle Miocene igneous basement in the upper plateThe rupture areas of the 1944 Tonankai, 1946 Nankai, and 2016 off‐Mie earthquakes appear to be controlled by the igneous basementThe shallow distribution of very low‐frequency earthquakes and tremors are related to the geological heterogeneity of the upper plate [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To investigate structural characteristics associated with variations in slip behavior on the plate boundary in the Nankai subduction zone, we conducted seismic reflection surveys in the central‐western Nankai Trough. Data were processed by pre‐stack depth migration. The resulting depth map of the top of the subducting Philippine Sea plate shows detailed topographic features of the plate boundary, including subducting seamounts and large‐scale undulations of the plate surface. We report the presence of a structurally anomalous region, potentially with low velocity, in the overriding plate at the boundary between the zone of large coseismic slip during the 1946 Nankai earthquake and the area producing slow earthquakes. This anomaly appears to be related to depth‐dependent variations in plate boundary slip style and plate coupling in the central‐western Nankai Trough. Plain Language Summary: The central‐western Nankai Trough off southwestern Japan is one of the best locations to study variations in slip style on the plate boundary fault in subduction zones because the fault slip distribution during the latest great earthquake, the distribution of slow earthquakes, and interplate coupling are known from previous studies. We conducted seismic surveys along densely distributed survey lines to image detailed subsurface structures in the central‐western Nankai Trough. A three‐dimensional map of the plate boundary fault geometry was created from seismic profiles used in this study. We found a structural anomaly, interpreted as a low‐velocity zone in the overriding plate, at the boundary between the slip zone of great earthquakes and the zone of slow earthquakes. This anomaly might be related to the variation of the plate boundary fault slip styles. Key Points: The topography of the subducting plate is mapped with densely spaced seismic profiles in the central‐western Nankai TroughAn arcuate structural anomaly in the overriding plate ∼100 km long with potentially low velocity coincides with the Tosabae TroughThe arcuate anomaly is located at the boundary between regions of strong and weak plate coupling [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Winter thunderstorms in Japan have been recognized as an ideal target to observe high‐energy atmospheric phenomena thanks to low‐charge‐center cloud structures. During four winter seasons in Japan (from 2016 October to 2020 March), seven downward terrestrial gamma‐ray flashes (TGFs) were detected by gamma‐ray and broadband low‐frequency (LF: 0.8–500 kHz) monitors. All the detected TGFs took place at the initial stage of lightning flashes. Based on the LF observation, the seven downward TGFs in the present study can be classified into two types: energetic‐bipolar and small‐bipolar types. Three of them are energetic‐bipolar events, coincident with a high peak‐current LF pulse that originates from a negative return stroke with a peak current larger than 100 kA. The others are small‐bipolar events, followed by a negative bipolar LF pulse with a moderate peak current. Three of the four small‐bipolar events are multi‐pulse TGFs, while all of the energetic‐bipolar events in this study are single‐pulse TGFs. Plain Language Summary: Terrestrial gamma‐ray flashes (TGFs) are a transient high‐energy emission from lightning discharges. While a lot of upward TGFs have been detected by satellites, a few downward TGF have been detected by ground‐based experiments. Our detection network in Japan has detected seven downward TGFs in winter thunderstorms for 4 years. Lightning discharges associated with the downward TGFs were also monitored in the low‐frequency radio band. The low‐frequency pulses associated with the downward TGFs can be classified into two types. Correlation analysis of downward TGFs with gamma‐ray and low‐frequency observations is a powerful approach to reveal the production mechanism of TGFs. Key Points: Downward terrestrial gamma‐ray flashes (TGFs) in winter thunderstorms of Japan can be classified into two types based on low‐frequency (LF) observationsThree events were single‐pulse TGFs coincident with high peak‐current LF pulses of return strokesFour events were followed by moderate peak‐current LF pulses, and three of them are multi‐pulse TGFs [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Seismic wave extractions have been performed using ambient noise records observed by distributed acoustic sensing (DAS) technology. Extractions of microseisms can be investigated at a local scale using such DAS records observed in the ocean. Here, we show P and Scholte wave extractions from ambient seafloor noise observed by DAS along a submarine cable deployed off Cape Muroto in the Nankai subduction zone, Japan. The P waves can be observed at a frequency band of 0.1–0.3 Hz and up to a distance of 8 km. The distance at which the P waves can be observed is controlled by the P incident angle and the DAS sensitivity to the observable apparent velocity. Effective extractions of P and Scholte waves, corresponding to large intensity of wave‐wave interaction at the sea surface, are performed, indicating that the waves are originated from pressure field at the sea surface. Plain Language Summary: The density of seismic observations on land is typically higher than that in the ocean. However, higher‐density observations in both land and ocean regions can be made using the recently developed distributed acoustic sensing (DAS). In this study, we focus on the waves persistently propagating through the Earth, which are excited by ocean swell and are called microseisms. Ocean swell at the sea surface primarily excites surface waves: however, P and S waves excited by ocean swell, especially during tropical storms, were observed on a global scale. Because this indicates that body waves may be locally excited by sea surface disturbances, we investigate the problem using DAS records. Our results show that large amplitudes of P waves occur when an atmospheric low pressure passes through Japan, and those amplitudes become weak when the wave‐wave interaction intensity at the ocean surface is weak. Although many previous studies at global or regional scales have indicated that microseisms are originated from fluid disturbances at the sea surface, the current study observed the excitation of P and surface waves right beneath the sea surface disturbances. Key Points: P waves were extracted from ambient seafloor noise records observed by distributed acoustic sensing (DAS) at a frequency band of 0.1–0.3 Hz and up to a distance of 8 kmExtraction of P waves depends on weather conditions, particularly for wave‐wave interaction intensity at the sea surfaceThe distance at which the P waves emerge is controlled by the P incident angle and the DAS sensitivity to apparent velocities [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Acral melanoma (AM) is an epidemiologically and molecularly distinct entity that is underrepresented in clinical trials on immunotherapy in melanoma. We aimed to analyze the efficacy of anti-programmed cell death 1 (anti-PD-1) antibodies in advanced AM. We retrospectively evaluated unresectable stage III or stage IV AM patients treated with an anti-PD-1 antibody in any line at 21 Japanese institutions between 2014 and 2018. The clinicobiologic characteristics, objective response rate (ORR, RECIST), survival estimated using Kaplan–Meier analysis, and toxicity (Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events 4.0.) were analyzed to estimate the efficacy of the anti-PD-1 antibodies. In total, 193 patients (nail apparatus, 70; palm and sole, 123) were included in the study. Anti-PD-1 antibody was used as first-line therapy in 143 patients (74.1%). Baseline lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) was within the normal concentration in 102 patients (52.8%). The ORR of all patients was 16.6% (complete response, 3.1%; partial response, 13.5%), and the median overall survival (OS) was 18.1 months. Normal LDH concentrations showed a significantly stronger association with better OS than abnormal concentrations (median OS 24.9 versus 10.7 months; P < 0.001). Although baseline characteristics were similar between the nail apparatus and the palm and sole groups, ORR was significantly lower in the nail apparatus group [6/70 patients (8.6%) versus 26/123 patients (21.1%); P = 0.026]. Moreover, the median OS in this group was significantly poorer (12.8 versus 22.3 months; P = 0.03). Anti-PD-1 antibodies have limited efficacy in AM patients. Notably, patients with nail apparatus melanoma had poorer response and survival, making nail apparatus melanoma a strong candidate for further research on the efficacy of novel combination therapies with immune checkpoint inhibitors. • Acral melanoma is a distinct entity that is underrepresented in clinical trials on immunotherapy in melanoma. • We retrospectively examined advanced-stage acral melanoma patients treated with an anti-PD-1 antibody. • Anti-PD-1 antibodies have limited efficacy in Japanese acral melanoma patients. • Patients with nail apparatus melanoma had poorer response and survival than patients with palm and sole melanoma. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to examine the efficacy of an ovarian tissue transportation network for fertility preservation (FP) for cancer patients in Japan. Methods: PubMed was searched for papers on transportation of human ovarian tissue for FP. We analyzed population, area, number of cancer patients for ovarian tissue cryopreservation (OTC), quality control/assessment and safety, cost of a cryopreservation center for the building for 30 years, and medical fees of cancer patients (operation, cryopreservation, and storage of ovarian tissue). Results: More than twenty babies have been born in Denmark and Germany through a transportation system. Up to 400 new patients a year need OTC. The fees for removal, cryopreservation, and storage for 5 years, and transplantation of ovarian tissue are around €5,000, €4,000, and €5,000, respectively. It costs more than €5 million to establish and maintain one cryopreservation center for 30 years. If we have a few cryopreservation centers in Japan, we can cryopreserve 400 patients' ovarian tissue per year by safer slow freezing and maintain quality control/assessment. We need to lighten the patients' burden for easy to use FP by a government subsidy and medical insurance coverage. Conclusions: This model has been termed the Danish model ('the woman stays - the tissue moves'). This is truly patient-centered medicine. We can have maximum effects with the minimum burden. A transportation network like those of Denmark and Germany is the best strategy for FP in Japan. It may be the best system for cancer patients, medical staff, and the Ministry of Health, Labor, and Welfare. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Objective During orthodontic tooth movement (OTM), periodontal ligament (PDL) is remodeled dynamically, which requires sufficient blood supply for the regeneration of PDL. However, little is known about the remodeling of blood vessels during OTM. In this study, we hypothesized that the orthodontic tensile strain upregulates matrix metalloproteinase-12 (MMP-12) expression in the tension zone and induces angiogenesis via degradation of type IV collagen (Col-IV) in vascular endothelial basement membrane during the early stage of OTM. Material and Methods Temporal and spatial MMP-12 expression in the tension zone of PDL, during the early stage of OTM, were examined by immunohistochemistry in rats. Continuous tensile strain was applied to cultured human immortalized PDL cell lines (HPL cells) and MMP-12 expression was examined in vitro. Colocalization of MMP-12 and Col-IV in vivo were examined by immunohistochemistry. To investigate whether MMP-12 produced by HPL cells could degrade Col-IV, recombinant Col-IV was incubated in the culture supernatants of HPL cells. Intact Col-IV in vitro was also examined by western blot analysis. Finally, the changes in blood vessels in the PDL were examined by micro-computed tomography analysis with perfused contrast agents and by conventional histological analysis. Results Orthodontic tensile strain induced MMP-12 expression in PDL cells in vivo and in vitro. Immunohistochemistry revealed that MMP-12-positive cells were observed adjacent to the Col-IV-positive tubular area in the tension zone of PDL. MMP-12 in culture supernatant of HPL cells degraded recombinant Col-IV, and specific MMP-12 inhibitor blocked the Col-IV degradation. Micro-computed tomography analysis and conventional histological analysis demonstrated that the areas of blood vessels were increased in the tension zone of the PDL after OTM. Conclusion We discovered that the orthodontic tensile strain upregulates MMP-12 expression in the tension zone of PDL and induces angiogenesis via degradation of Col-IV in the vascular endothelial basement membrane. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) constitutes a huge burden for patients and studies show that IBD patients have difficulties remaining in employment. Because there is no data about the unemployment of IBD patients in Japan.Methods: We surveyed a representative sample of 1068 Japanese IBD patients regarding their employment status.Results: We found that the labor force participation rate is lower and unemployment higher for patients with IBD compared to the general population. Factors associated with unemployment in the IBD sample are older age, female gender, and the prevalence of depression.Discussion: IBD constitutes a high burden for patients in Japan regarding employment outcome. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Accessible summary What is known on the subject? Empowerment of family caregivers of adults with mental health issues has received increasing attention among mental health nurses in Japan and has been recognized as a new goal of family interventions., The Family Empowerment Scale ( FES) was originally developed to measure the empowerment status of parents of children with emotional disorders. However, it was later applied to broader health issues., What this paper adds to existing knowledge? We developed a Japanese version of the FES for family caregivers of adults with mental health issues ( FES- AMJ) and examined the validity and reliability among parents. Results showed that the FES- AMJ had acceptable concurrent validity and reliability; however, insufficient construct validity was found, especially for the subscale regarding the service system., What are the implications for practice? Further studies need to modify the scale. Clarification of ideal family empowerment status in the service system through discussion with mental health nurses and family caregivers may be important., Abstract Introduction The Family Empowerment Scale ( FES) was originally developed for parents of children with emotional disorders. In Japan, family empowerment is gaining increasing attention and may be one goal of nursing interventions. Aim To develop a Japanese version of the FES for family caregivers of adults with mental health issues and to study the validity and reliability of this scale among parents. Method We translated the FES into Japanese and administered this self-report questionnaire to 275 parents. Results The multitrait scaling analysis revealed acceptable convergent validity and insufficient discriminant validity among all subscales. In particular, all items of the Service system subscale had insufficient discriminant and/or convergent validity. Each subscale significantly correlated with the indicator of empowerment. The intraclass correlation coefficients of each subscale were .855-.917. Cronbach's alpha of each factor ranged from .867 to .895. Discussion The Service system subscale may not linearly reflect family empowerment, and instead may depend on unclear roles of family caregivers of adults, disorder severity or insufficient services. Implications for practice Further studies need to modify the scale. Clarification of ideal family empowerment status in the service system through discussion with mental health nurses and family caregivers may be important. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Objective The periodontal ligament ( PDL) is characterized by rapid turnover, high remodeling capacity and high inherent regenerative potential compared with other connective tissues. Periostin, which is highly expressed in the fibroblasts in the PDL, has been widely discussed in relation to collagen fibrillogenesis in the PDL. Recently, several reports have indicated periostin in cell migration. The aim of this study was to examine whether human PDL fibroblasts ( hPDLFs) with high levels of periostin expression promote the migration of human bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells ( hMSCs). Material and Methods The migration of hMSCs was examined by transwell chamber migration assay under different conditions: medium alone, hPDLFs, human dermal fibroblasts, recombinant periostin, integrin αvβ3 blocking antibody (anti- CD51/61 antibody) and inhibitors of FAK ( PF431396) and PI3 K ( LY294002). Phosphorylation of FAK and Akt in hMSCs under stimulation of periostin was examined by western blotting. Results The migration assay revealed that the number of migrated hMSCs by hPDLFs was significantly larger than those by dermal fibroblasts, periostin small interfering RNA hPDLFs and medium alone. Furthermore, recombinant periostin also strongly induced hMSC migration. The addition of anti- CD51/61 antibody, PF431396 and LY294002 caused a significant reduction in the number of migrated hMSCs respectively. The anti- CD51/61 antibody inhibited both FAK and Akt phosphorylations under periostin stimulation. PF431396 inhibited both FAK and Akt phosphorylations. LY294002 inhibited only Akt phosphorylation, and FAK phosphorylation was not influenced under periostin stimulation. Conclusion Periostin expression in hPDLFs promotes the migration of hMSCs through the αvβ3 integrin/ FAK/ PI3 K/ Akt pathway in vitro. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background/Objectives:There have been few studies on the association of fruit and vegetable (FV) intake with cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk in Asian populations where both dietary habits and disease structure are different from western countries. No study in Asia has found its significant association with stroke. We examined associations of FV intake with mortality risk from total CVD, stroke and coronary heart diseases (CHDs) in a representative Japanese sample.Methods:A total of 9112 participants aged from 24-year follow-up data in the NIPPON DATA80, of which baseline data were obtained in the National Nutrition Survey Japan in 1980, were studied. Dietary data were obtained from 3-day weighing dietary records. Participants were divided into sex-specific quartiles of energy adjusted intake of FV. Multivariate-adjusted hazard ratios (HRs) were calculated between strata of the total of FV intake, fruit intake and vegetable intake. The adjustment included age, sex, smoking, drinking habit and energy adjusted intakes of sodium and some other food groups.Results:Participants with higher FV intake were older, ate more fish, milk and dairy products and soybeans and legumes and ate less meat. Multivariate-adjusted HR (95% confidence interval; P; P for trend) for the highest versus the lowest quartile of the total of FV intake was 0.74 (0.61-0.91; 0.004; 0.003) for total CVD, 0.80 (0.59-1.09; 0.105; 0.036) for stroke and 0.57 (0.37-0.87; 0.010; 0.109) for CHD.Conclusions:The results showed that higher total intake of FVs was significantly associated with reduced risk of CVD mortality in Japan. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study aims to improve medical systems by designing objective safety assessment criteria for rugby competitions. We evaluated 195 competitions between 2002 and 2011 using an original safety scale comprising the following sections: 1) competence of staff such as referees, medical attendants and match day doctor; 2) environment such as weather, wet bulb globe temperature and field conditions; and 3) emergency medical care systems at the competitions. Each section was subdivided into groups A, B and C according to good, normal or fair degrees of safety determined by combinations of the results. Overall safety was assessed as A, B and C for 110, 78 and 7 competitions, respectively. The assessments of individual major factors were mostly favorable for staff , but the environment and medical care systems were assessed as C in 25 and 70, respectively, of the 195 competitions. Medical management involves not having a match day doctor, but also comprehensive management including preventive factors and responses from the staff , environment and medical-care systems. 6 cases of severe injuries and accidents occurred between 2002 and 2011, which were observed in Grade A competition. These cases revealed better prognosis without obvious impairment, thus confirming the value of the present assessment scale. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: Changes in bone turnover markers with weekly 56.5 μg teriparatide injections for 24 weeks were investigated in women with osteoporosis. Changes in bone turnover markers 24 h after each injection of teriparatide were constant. During the 24 week period, bone formation markers increased and baseline bone resorption marker levels were maintained. Introduction: This study aimed to clarify the changes in bone turnover markers during 24 weeks of once-weekly teriparatide injections in postmenopausal women with osteoporosis. Methods: The 24 h changes in pharmacokinetics (PK), calcium metabolism, and bone turnover markers (serum osteocalcin, procollagen type I N-terminal propeptide (P1NP), urinary cross-linked N-telopeptide of type I collagen (NTX), deoxypiridinoline (DPD)) after each injection of 56.5 μg teriparatide at the data collection weeks (0, 4, 12, and 24 weeks) were investigated. The changes were evaluated by comparison with the data at 0 h in each data collection week. Results: Similar 24 h changes in each parameter after injection of teriparatide were observed in each data collection week. Serum calcium increased transiently, and intact PTH decreased 4-8 h after injection; serum calcium subsequently returned to baseline levels. Calcium and intact PTH levels decreased for 24 weeks. Although serum osteocalcin decreased at 24 h, it was significantly increased at 4 weeks. P1NP decreased transiently and then increased significantly at 24 h. P1NP was significantly increased at 4 weeks. Urinary NTX and DPD were significantly increased transiently and then decreased at 24 h. The urinary DPD level decreased significantly at 4 weeks. Conclusions: Twenty-four hour changes in PK, calcium metabolism, and bone turnover markers showed the same direction and level after once-weekly teriparatide injections for 24 weeks, with no attenuation of the effect over time. After 24 weeks, the bone formation marker, serum osteocalcin, increased significantly, but the serum P1NP, did not. Bone resorption markers decreased or remained the same. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Long periods of sedentary behaviour may adversely affect health irrespective of overall physical activity levels. This study compared the effects of sitting, standing and walking on postprandial lipaemia in healthy normolipidaemic Japanese men. 15 participants, aged 26.8 ± 2.0 years (mean ± SD), completed 3, 2-day trials in a random order: 1) sitting (control), 2) standing, and 3) walking. On day 1 of the sitting trial, participants rested. On day 1 of the standing trial, participants stood for six, 45-min periods. On day 1 of the walking trial, participants walked briskly for 30 min at approximately 60 % of maximum heart rate. On day 2 of each trial, participants rested and consumed test meals for breakfast and lunch. Venous blood samples were collected in the morning and afternoon on day 1, and in the fasted state (0 h) and at 2, 4 and 6 h postprandially on day 2. On day 2 area under the serum triacylglycerol concentration vs. time curve was 18 % lower on the walking trial than the sitting and standing trials (1-factor ANOVA, P = 0.015). Hence postprandial lipaemia was not reduced after standing but was reduced after low-volume walking compared with sitting in healthy normolipidaemic Japanese men. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Turin TC, Kita Y, Rumana N, Nakamura Y, Takashima N, Ichikawa M, Sugihara H, Morita Y, Hirose K, Okayama A, Miura K, Ueshima H. Is there any circadian variation consequence on acute case fatality of stroke? Takashima Stroke Registry, Japan (1990-2003). Acta Neurol Scand: 2012: 125: 206-212. © 2011 John Wiley & Sons A/S. Background - Circadian periodicity in the onset of stroke has been reported. However, it is unclear whether this variation affects the acute stroke case fatality. Time of the day variation in stroke case fatality was examined using population-based stroke registration data. Methods - Stroke event data were acquired from the Takashima Stroke Registry, which covers a stable population of ≈55,000 in Takashima County in central Japan. During the period of 1990-2003, there were 1080 (549 men and 531 women) cases with classifiable stroke onset time. Stroke incidence was categorized as occurring at night (midnight-6 a.m.), morning (6 a.m.-noon), afternoon (noon-6 p.m.), and evening (6 p.m.-midnight). The 28-day case fatality rates and 95% confidence intervals (95% CI) were calculated by gender, age, and stroke subtype across the time blocks. After adjusting for gender, age at onset, and stroke severity at onset, the hazard ratios for fatal strokes in evening, night, and morning were calculated, with afternoon serving as the reference. Results - For all strokes, the 28-day case fatality rate was 23.3% (95% CI:19.4-27.6) for morning onset, 16.9% (95% CI:13.1-21.6) for afternoon onset, 18.3% (95% CI:13.6-24.1) for evening onset, and 21.0% (95% CI:15.0-28.5) for the night onset stroke. The case fatality for strokes during the morning was higher than the case fatality for strokes during afternoon. This fatality risk excess for morning strokes persisted even after adjusting for age, gender, and stroke severity on onset in multivariate analysis. Conclusion - In the examination of circadian variation of stroke case fatality, 28-day case fatality rate tended to be higher for the morning strokes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The influence of pelagic larval duration (PLD) and egg type dispersal capabilities of 35 demersal and pelagic-spawning tropical fish species is examined in relation to their abundance on the temperate coasts of Japan. The PLDs of pelagic spawners were significantly longer than those of demersal spawners, and a high occurrence of pelagic spawners on the temperate coasts suggests that these fishes are more easily transported to temperate coasts than demersal spawners. For demersal spawners, the common species on the temperate coasts had significantly longer PLDs than the rare species; this suggests that PLD is a major factor influencing the distribution patterns of tropical demersal spawners on temperate coasts. Moreover, a negative correlation between PLD and the abundance of some species of pelagic and demersal spawners suggests the presence of reproductively active fishes in northern subtropical and even in temperate waters. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Choi JW, Arai C, Ishikawa M, Shimoda S, Nakamura Y. Fiber system degradation, and periostin and connective tissue growth factor level reduction, in the periodontal ligament of teeth in the absence of masticatory load. J Periodont Res 2011; 46: 513-521.© 2011 John Wiley & Sons A/S Background and Objective: The periodontal ligament (PDL), which is interposed between the alveolar bone and roots, supports teeth against mechanical stress. Periostin and connective tissue growth factor (CTGF) might play essential roles in maintaining PDL fiber integrity under mechanical stress. However, this relationship has not been studied at the protein and gene levels. Therefore, the aim of this study was to assess the PDL fiber system without masticatory load to determine the structural changes in the PDL in the absence of mechanical stress. Material and Methods: The study included 45 Wistar male rats (12 wk of age) whose upper-right first molars were relieved from occlusion for 24 h, 72 h, 7 d or 21 d. The PDL was examined histologically, and changes in the gene and protein levels of periostin and CTGF were investigated. Results: The PDL space width was reduced significantly. Histologically, an initial reduction in the fiber number and thinning of PDL fibers were observed, followed by disarrangement of the PDL fibers and their attachments to the alveolar bone; finally, the PDL fibers lost their meshwork structure. Real-time RT-PCR results revealed sharp down-regulation of the periostin and CTGF mRNA levels at 24 and 72 h, respectively, which continued throughout the experiment. Immunohistochemical analysis revealed that periostin localized to both the cellular elements and the extracellular matrix, whereas CTGF localized only to the cellular elements. Periostin and CTGF immunoreactivities became very weak without masticatory load. Conclusion: In the absence of mechanical stress, the PDL fiber system undergoes degradation concomitantly with a reduction in the periostin and CTGF levels in the PDL. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bordetella pertussis is the aetiologic agent of whooping cough, a common cause of severe respiratory illness in children and prolonged mild cough in adults. To understand some of the reasons for differences in clinical symptoms between adults and children, we measured B. pertussis DNA loads in nasopharyngeal swabs (NPS) from 19 adults and 40 children (including 14 infants) by quantitative IS481 realtime PCR. All cases had been pre-diagnosed with the B. pertussis-specific loop-mediated isothermal amplification method. The mean PCR threshold cycles for adult and child NPS were 34.9 and 27.1, respectively, indicating a significantly lower B. pertussis DNA load in adults than in children (p <0.001). Moreover, adults had very low DNA loads during both early and later stages of the disease. When corresponding bacterial loads in NPS were calculated for B. pertussis Tohama cells using a standard curve, the mean number of bacterial cells taken with a rayon-tipped swab from an adult, older child and infant was estimated to be 320 (95% CI 120-910), 2.1 × 104 (95% CI 5.3 × 10³ to 8.3 × 104) and 1.1 × 106 cells (95% CI 1.2 × 105 to 8.9 × 106), respectively. This indicates that the B. pertussis load in NPS is closely correlated with patient age. Our observations suggest that adult pertussis is characterized by a lower bacterial load in the nasopharynx, resulting in milder symptoms and negative cultures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Malignant melanomas clinically and/or histologically associated with melanocytic nevi have been reported worldwide. Approximately 20% of malignant melanomas in Caucasians, most of which are found on the trunk and proximal extremities, develop in association with pre-existing melanocytic nevi. In Japan, however, over half of all melanomas are acral lentiginous melanomas (ALMs) on the hands and feet; melanomas on sunexposed areas are seen less frequently in Japanese people than in Caucasians. As ALMs are not usually accompanied by melanocytic nevi and there have been no reviews of the literature or statistical data regarding Japanese cases of melanomas with melanocytic nevi, dermatologists in Japan have few opportunities to see melanomas associated with pre-existing melanocytic nevi. Methods Here we report a case of a superficial spreading melanoma that was formed on a melanocytic nevus on the trunk, and we review for the first time the case reports from the Japanese literature. Results and Conclusions With regard to the reported cases, melanomas associated with melanocytic nevi were mainly superficial spreading melanomas and nodular melanomas on the trunk or extremities; ALMs were rarely associated with nevi, indicating a trend similar to that observed in Caucasians. These findings suggest that the low frequency of associations between melanomas and melanocytic nevi in Japan reflects racial differences in the frequencies of each type of melanoma. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background In Japan, stroke mortality and incidence started to decline during the 1960s. The recent unfavourably diverging trends in risk factors make it uncertain whether the decline will continue. Few comprehensive stroke registries of long research duration exist in Japan to illustrate the trends in stroke incidence. Objective We examined 12-year stroke registration data to evaluate the current trend in a Japanese population. Methods Data were obtained from the Takashima Stroke Registry, covering approximately 55 000 residents of Takashima County in central Japan. We calculated the age-adjusted stroke incidence rates (/100 000 person-years) and 95% confidence intervals for 1990–1992, 1993–1995, 1996–1998, and 1999–2001. We applied the direct method to adjust for the age distribution among the four periods. The incidence time trend was determined by calculating the average annual change across the study years using negative binomial regression analysis. Results There were 1453 (men: 771 and women: 682) registered first-ever stroke cases during 1990–2001. The diagnosis was established by neuro-imaging in 93·6% of the cases. The average age was 69·4 years in men and 74·2 years in women. The age-adjusted incidence rates of stroke across the four observation periods were 143·1 (confidence interval: 127·4–158·8) in 1990–1992, 147·4 (confidence interval: 131·9–162·8) in 1993–1995, 120·4 (confidence interval: 106·7–134·0) in 1996–1998, and 122·9 (confidence interval: 109·6–136·2) in 1999–2001. The stroke incidence across the study years showed an insignificant time trend, with an average annual change of −0·33% (confidence interval: −2·44 to 1·78) per year. Similar trends were observed for both men and women and stroke subtypes. Conclusions The previously reported declining trend in stroke incidence may have levelled off or slowed down considerably in the Japanese population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: We examined the circadian periodicity of ischaemic stroke (IS) onset and its relationship with conventional risk factors using 14-year stroke registration data. Methods: Ischaemic stroke event data were acquired from the Takashima Stroke Registry, which covers a stable population of ≈55 000 in Takashima County in central Japan. During 1990–2003 there were 637 (353 men and 284 women) cases with classifiable onset time. IS incidence was categorized as occurring at night (midnight to 6 am), morning (6 am to noon), afternoon (noon to 6 pm), and evening (6 pm to midnight). The OR (with 95% CI) of having an IS in the morning, afternoon, and evening were calculated, with night serving as reference. Results: There was significant diurnal variation in IS incidence ( P < 0.001). The proportion of events was highest in the morning (40.7; 95% CI: 36.9–44.5), and lowest in the night (14.0; 95% CI: 11.5–16.9). In the morning an excess incidence of IS was observed in both genders, in subjects <65 years and ≥65 years, and in all IS subtypes. The morning excess of IS incidence was similar across seasons and days of the week. For all IS, morning excess was higher (odds ratio: 2.91; 95% CI: 2.29–3.70) compared to the night period. Similar trends persisted after adjusting for age, gender, and risk factors. Conclusion: In the examination of circadian variation of IS onset, a predominant morning peak independent of conventional risk factors was observed in a Japanese population with similar pattern across seasons of the year and days of the week. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Background: In Japan, living donor renal transplantation has gained momentum due to an increased number of patients with end-stage renal disease. Living donation not only provides better outcomes, but also the recipients usually need less medications, thereby increasing the quality of life and reducing the potential side effects of immunosuppression. Materials and Methods: For the past 25 years, our center had performed 140 open donor nephrectomy (OPNx) renal transplantations. Since July 2003, we changed our procurement operation to living hand-assisted laparoscopic donor nephrectomy (HALNx) in 49 cases. Our operative technique consisted of two 12-mm ports placed in the midaxillary line at the superior and inferior levels of the umbilicus. Next, a 5-cm incision was made in the midline periumbilicus and the hand port system fitted through a midline abdominal incision. Results: In 49 cases, HALNx was completed successfully; no patient required conversion to laparotomy. The estimated blood loss was 33.0 ± 43.4 g and no patient required blood transfusion. In comparison, in OPNx the blood loss was 426.5 ± 247.6 g (P < .001). The mean operative times were 167.4 ± 39.7 minutes for HALNx and 228.4 ± 35.7 minutes for OPNx (P < .001). The postoperative hospital stays were 9.1 ± 3.8 days for HALNx and 13.0 ± 1.9 days for OPNx (P < .001). For 3 years prior to introduction of HALNx, we had performed only 10 living donor renal transplantations. Since the introduction of HALNx in 2003, the number of living donors has tripled during the following 3 years. Conclusions: Herein we have reported that HALNx was superior in terms of less operative time and blood loss, postoperative pain and recovery, and shorter hospital stay. Overall donor patient satisfaction was also better in the HALNx group. HALNx is a safe procedure that makes kidney donation more appealing to potential live donors and has increased the living donor pool at our center. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The Los Angeles classification system is the most widely employed criteria associated with the greatest interobserver agreement among endoscopists. In Japan, the Los Angeles classification system has been modified (modified LA system) to include minimal changes as a distinct grade of reflux esophagitis, rather than as auxiliary findings. This adds a further grading M defined as minimal changes to the mucosa, such as erythema and/or whitish turbidity. The modified LA system has come to be used widely in Japan. However, there have been few reports to date that have evaluated the interobserver agreement in diagnosis when using the modified LA classification system incorporating these minimal changes as an additional grade. A total of 100 endoscopists from university hospitals and community hospitals, as well as private practices in the Osaka-Kobe area participated in the study. A total of 30 video clips of 30–40 seconds duration, mostly showing the esophagocardiac junction, were created and shown to 100 endoscopists using a video projector. The participating endoscopists completed a questionnaire regarding their clinical experience and rated the reflux esophagitis as shown in the video clips using the modified LA classification system. Agreement was assessed employing kappa (κ) statistics for multiple raters. The κ-value for all 91 endoscopists was 0.094, with a standard error of 0.002, indicating poor interobserver agreement. The endoscopists showed the best agreement on diagnosing grade A esophagitis (0.167), and the poorest agreement when diagnosing grade M esophagitis (0.033). The κ-values for the diagnoses of grades N, M, and A esophagitis on identical video pairs were 0.275–0.315, with a standard error of 0.083–0.091, indicating fair intraobserver reproducibility among the endoscopists. The study results consistently indicate poor agreement regarding diagnoses as well as fair reproducibility of these diagnoses by endoscopists using the modified LA classification system, regardless of age, type of practice, past endoscopic experience, or current workload. However, grade M reflux esophagitis may not necessarily be irrelevant, as it may suggest an early form of reflux disease or an entirely new form of reflux esophagitis. Further research is required to elucidate the pathophysiological basis of minimal change esophagitis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To evaluate the relationship between blood pressure and cerebrovascular death depending on body mass index (BMI) levels, we analysed a database of 9338 subjects from the National Integrated Project for Prospective Observation of Non-communicable Disease and its Trends in the Aged, which was originally conducted a baseline survey in 1980 and followed up in 1999. Relative risk (RR) and a 95%confidence interval (CI) of death from total stroke, cerebral infarction, and intracerebral haemorrhage after adjusting for age, sex, serum cholesterol, albumin, glucose, the use of antihypertensive agents, a past history of diabetes, BMI, smoking, and drinking were estimated with the Cox-proportional hazard model in the BMI tertile groups of a representative Japanese population. Cutoff points of BMI tertiles are 21.2 and 23.8?kg/m2. The results indicated that a 10?mmHg systolic blood pressure (SBP) increase was associated with mortality from intracerebral haemorrhage at low and middle BMI groups (RR=1.38 and 1.23; 95%CI=1.17-1.62 and 1.03-1.47, respectively). SBP was positively associated with mortality from cerebral infarction in middle and high BMI groups (RR=1.19 and 1.21; 95%CI=1.06-1.33 and 1.06-1.38, respectively). The effects of diastolic blood pressure on intracerebral haemorrhage and infarction had the same tendency as those of SBP. These results suggested that the causal effect of blood pressure on stroke subtypes might be modified by BMI.Journal of Human Hypertension (2005) 19, 285-291. doi:10.1038/sj.jhh.1001817 Published online 20 January 2005 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims: Papillary thyroid carcinoma (FTC) is classified into two subgroups--common type and other histological variants. Correlations between further subgrouping of the common type and patient prognosis are not well documented. Aims: To introduce two novel histological parameters to characterise PIC--loss of cellular polarity and loss of cellular cohesiveness. To investigate a new subgroup of common type PTC with possible prognostic value. Methods: In total, 213 patients with PTCs larger than 1 cm were studied. Histological characteristics of these PTCs, including tumour growth pattern, encapsulation, extrathyroidal invasion, loss of cellular polarity, and loss of cellular cohesiveness were examined and correlated with disease free survival (DFS). Results: Multivariate analysis revealed that invasive growth of unencapsulated PTC, in addition to sex (male) and tumour size (>4 cm) were significant and independent parameters for poor DFS, whereas loss of cellular polarity and cohesiveness, old age (>60 years), extrathyroid invasion, and completeness of surgery were significant only in univariate analysis. PTCs that showed expansive growth and retained cellular polarity had a favourable course, with no recurrence and no cancer related deaths. In contrast, PTCs exhibiting loss of cellular polarity and/or invasive growth with no tumour capsule had a higher risk of recurrence. Conclusion: Cytological features alone cannot predict patient outcome in PTC. This study indicates for the first time that loss of cellular polarity and the tumour growth pattern are useful parameters for identifying the so called low risk group in common type PTC and in predicting patient outcome in terms of tumour recurrence and cancer related death. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: To observe the distribution of PCDD/Fs and Co-PCBs in samples of human breast milk collected in Japan. Methods: Using high-resolution gas chromatography, milk samples for polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins (PCDDs; 14 congeners), polychlorinated dibenzofurans (PCDFs; 15 congeners) and coplanar polychlorinated biphenyls (Co-PCBs; 12 congeners) from 240 mothers residing in Tokyo were analysed. There were 120 donors each of primiparae and secundiparae, each group including 60 donors aged 25 to 29 y ("the younger group") and 60 aged 30 to 34 y ("the older group"). Individual milk samples (about 50 ml) were obtained 30 d after delivery in 1999 and in 2000. Results: The mean toxic equivalent (TEQ) level of PCDD/Fs (the sum of PCDDs and PCDFs) was 14.9 pg TEQ/g fat, of Co-PCBs 10.6 pg TEQ/g fat, and the total sum of PCDD/Fs and Co-PCBs was 25.6 pg TEQ/g fat. The mean TEQ levels of PCDD/Fs, Co-PCBs, and total PCDD/Fs and Co-PCBs were higher in primiparae than in secundiparae. In each of these, the levels were higher in the subgroup of older mothers. In the secundiparae, the mean levels were lower in the group of mothers who had breastfed their first babies than in those who bottle-fed or partly bottle-fed their first born. Conclusions: The concentrations of PCDD/Fs and Co-PCBs in the breast milk of Japanese women were slightly lower than those described in previous studies conducted in Japan and other countries; and the concentrations of PCDD/Fs and Co-PCBs in the breast milk were influenced mainly by the mother's age and nursing history. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Vertical flux of organic matter and rates of sediment oxygen consumption (SOC) were measured in summer 2000 at a muddy sediment site (21 m depth) in the Seto Inland Sea, Japan. During the 26-day experimental period (15 July to 9 August), a diatom bloom occurred, lasting for about a week. The vertical flux of organic carbon and chlorophyll a (FC and Fchl), measured at 12.5 m depth, showed a sharp peak following the development of the bloom. Under these conditions, SOC ranged from 1.4 to 3.0 mmol O2 m−2 h−1, and it was strongly influenced by the biomass of macrozoobenthos present in the experimental chambers used for SOC measurements. However, macrozoobenthic oxygen consumption made up only 5% of SOC. SOC variations were not coupled with corresponding changes in FC or Fchl. The effects of other factors, such as water temperature, as well as levels of sediment chlorophyll a and bacterial abundance, were minor, presumably because these parameters did not vary strongly during the study period. The average SOC value corrected for macrozoobenthos oxygen consumption (1.8 mmol O2 m−2 h−1) and converted into the decomposition rate of organic material was nearly balanced with the FC averaged over the experimental period (0.7 C m−2 day−1). This indicates that this muddy sediment area in the Seto Inland Sea plays an important role in the degradation of organic material supplied from the water column. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Chronic inflammatory bowel diseases (IBDs), specifically Crohn's disease (CD) and ulcerative colitis (UC), have increased significantly in western countries and Japan over the last decade, but very little is known about their pathogenesis. A candidate-gene approach recently identified NOD2/CARD15 as one susceptibility gene from the IBD1 locus on chromosome 16. Alterations in this gene were found in many Caucasian patients with CD; in particular, two nonsynonymous substitutions (R702W and G908R) and a frameshift mutation (1007fs) were shown to be independent risk factors for CD. We investigated DNA from 483 Japanese CD patients to detect those three mutations in NOD2/CARD15 by appropriate genotyping techniques, but found only an R702Q substitution in a single patient. Direct sequencing of DNA from 96 of our patients in the regions containing the three reported major mutations detected no sequence alterations of consequence. Our findings indicate that the NOD2/CARD15 gene is not a major contributor to CD susceptibility in the Japanese population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Forty-five elements were determined in mantle muscle and liver of juvenile Japanese common squid, Todarodes pacificus, collected from three locations in and near Japanese coasts, using a high-resolution inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometer (HR-ICP-MS) and an inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectroscope (ICP-AES). Multivariate statistical techniques were applied to discriminate populations of squids from these three locations by treating absolute and relative concentrations of trace elements. Significant differences were found in the concentrations of elements, particularly for some alkaline and alkaline earth elements in the muscle and liver and for some 3d transition elements in the liver of three groups of squids. Squids from the Pacific Ocean could be distinguished from those of the Sea of Japan by discriminant function analysis of elemental concentrations. Based on the analysis, the squids collected from the Nemuro Strait in Japan were predicted to belong to those from the Sea of Japan. Elemental concentrations and discriminant function analysis can be used to identify subpopulations and migratory routes of squids. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We present here a series of high-density maps of single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) detected in genes encoding three organic-anion transporters, three organic anion-transporting polypeptides, and three nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide, reduced:ubiquinone oxidoreductase flavoproteins. A total of 258 SNPs were identified among these nine genes through systematic screening of DNA from 48 Japanese individuals: 17 in 5′ flanking regions, three in 5′ untranslated regions, 13 in coding regions, 211 in introns, six in 3′ untranslated regions, and 8 in 3′ flanking regions. By comparing our data with SNPs deposited in the dbSNP database in the National Center for Biotechnology Information, we determined that 236 (91.5%) were novel. In addition, 46 genetic variations of other types were discovered within these loci. These high-resolution maps will serve as a useful resource for analyzing potential associations between variations in these nine genes and differences in human susceptibilities to common diseases or response to drug therapies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highly dense catalogs of human genetic variations, in combination with high-throughput genotyping technologies, are expected to clarify individual genetic differences in pharmacological responsiveness and predispositions to common diseases. Here we report single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) present among 48 Japanese individuals at the locus for the human ATP-binding cassette transporter A1 (ABCA1) gene. ABCA1 plays a key role in apolipoprotein-mediated cholesterol transport, and mutations in this gene are responsible for Tangier disease and familial high-density lipoprotein deficiency associated with reduced cholesterol efflux. We identified a total of 162 SNPs, 149 of which were novel, within the 150-kb region encompassing the entire ABCA1 gene. Eight of the SNPs lie within coding elements, two in 5′ flanking regions, 147 in introns, and five in 3′ untranslated regions, but none were found in 5′ untranslated or 3′ flanking regions. The ratio of transitions to transversions was approximately 2.37 to 1. Our dense SNP map of this region could serve as a powerful resource for studies of complex genetic diseases that may be associated with ABCA1 and of individual responses to drug therapy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We provide here 29 genetic variations, including 28 novel ones, in five genes that are potentially involved in the excitement of cardiomyocytes: we found 4 in KCNA10, 2 in KCNK1, 8 in KCNK6, 11 in SLC18A1 (VMAT1), and 4 in SLC6A2 (norepinephrine transporter). We also examined their allelic frequencies in a Japanese population of long QT syndrome-affected and nonaffected individuals. These data would be useful for genetic association studies designed to investigate acquired arrhythmias. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: The purpose of this study is to investigate oral care practice and awareness of it among caregivers in Japanese nursing homes.Methods: Caregivers were surveyed by means of a self-administered questionnaire designed to elicit the following information: awareness of oral care, its importance, the burden involved in oral care, and systematization of oral care.Results: The results showed that most caregivers are adequately informed of the importance of oral care, but are inadequately educated in oral care and have little training in systematic oral care.Conclusion: The importance of providing appropriate and systematic oral care training must be stressed among caregivers along with the need to develop equipment to simplify and support oral care. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Human microsomal and soluble epoxide hydrolases (mEH and sEH) are enzymes that metabolize xenobiotic molecules. We screened DNA from 48 Japanese individuals for single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in both genes by direct sequencing of the entire genomic regions containing EPHX1 and EPHX2, except for repetitive elements. This approach identified 33 SNPs in the EPHX1 gene; 6 of them were located in the 5' flanking region, 17 in introns, 8 in exons, and 2 in the 3' flanking region. In the EPHX2 gene, we identified 36 SNPs, including 4 in the 5' flanking region, 24 in introns, 5 in exons, and 3 in the 3' flanking region, as well as one insertion/deletion polymorphism in the 5' flanking region. These variants may contribute to a more precise understanding of the nature of correlations between genotypes and disease-susceptibility phenotypes that have been postulated in regard to human microsomal and soluble epoxide hydrolases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract We report here 20 single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs), including 15 novel ones, in six genes that are considered to be candidates for long QT syndrome (LQTS): 2 SNPs in KCNB1, 3 in KCND3, 3 in KCNJ11, 7 in ABCC9, 3 in ADRB1, and 2 in SLC18A2. We also examined their allelic frequencies in a Japanese sample population of LQTS-affected and nonaffected individuals. These data will be useful for genetic association studies designed to investigate acquired arrhythmias. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Unlabelled: To investigate the incidence of recurrent Kawasaki disease, and to discuss some of the potential risk factors, data of the 13th and 14th nationwide surveys of Kawasaki disease in Japan were analyzed. To calculate the rate of recurrence, 10679 patients with 31501.9 person-years were observed. The mean observation period was 2.95 y. The rate of recurrence was 6.89 per 1000 person-years, with a high incidence within the 12 mo following the first episode.Conclusion: The incidence was high among those under 3 y of age and those with cardiac sequelae during the first episode. None of the other factors affected the incidence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract The human Rad51 gene, HsRAD51, is a homolog of RecA of Escherichia coli and functions in recombination and DNA repair. BRCA1 and BRCA2 proteins form a complex with Rad51, and these genes are thought to participate in a common DNA damage response pathway associated with the activation of homologous recombination and double-strand break repair. Additionally, we have shown that the pattern of northern blot analysis of the Rad51 gene is closely similar to those of the BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes. It is therefore possible that alterations of the Rad51 gene may be involved in the development of hereditary breast cancer. To investigate this possibility, we screened Japanese patients with hereditary breast cancer for Rad51 mutations and found a single alteration in exon 6. This was determined to be present in the germline in two patients with bilateral breast cancer, one with synchronous bilateral breast cancer and the other with synchronous bilateral multiple breast cancer. In both patients, blood DNAs showed a G-to-A transition in the second nucleotide of codon 150, which results in the substitution of glutamine for arginine. As this alteration was not present in any patients with breast or colon cancer examined, we assume that this missense alteration is likely to be a disease-causing mutation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract We examined mutations of the doublecortin (DCX) gene, which is responsible for X-linked subcortical laminar heterotopia (SCLH) and lissencephaly, in eight unrelated Japanese patients, four with SCLH and four with isolated lissencephaly sequence (ILS). Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) disclosed a deletion of part of the DCX gene in one male ILS patient. Single-strand conformational polymorphism analysis and subsequent sequence analysis were carried out in the remaining seven patients. One male ILS patient had a nonsense mutation in exon V, which would result in premature termination of the gene product. One female SCLH patient had a missense mutation in exon IV. Our results indicate that in the Japanese, as has been seen elsewhere, abnormality of the DCX gene is the common cause of SCLH and ILS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Presents information on a study which examined the distribution and abundance of Japanese common squid or Todarodes pacificus paralarvae collected off southern Kyushu Island, Japan in relation to water types in the region. Methodology of the study; Results and discussion on the study.

Abstract Alagille syndrome (AGS) is a congenital anomaly syndrome that affects liver, heart, pulmonary artery, eyes, face, and skeleton. Recently, mutations of the JAG1 gene, which encodes a ligand for the Notch receptor, have been identified in AGS patients. We investigated the JAG1 gene for genetic alterations in eight Japanese AGS patients, using fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH), single strand conformation polymorphism (SSCP) analysis, and direct sequencing. Subtle genetic alterations were identified in six of the eight patients, including three frameshift mutations, two splice donor mutations, and one nonsense mutation. All alleles with identified mutations can be expected to produce non-functional truncated proteins without a transmembrane domain. There was no apparent correlation between the genotypes of the patients and their affected organs, although the phenotypes of the patients with mutations at the splice donor site were found to be less severe. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Investigates whether children with Kawasaki disease have a higher death rate than the age-matched healthy population. Study methods and results; Number of deaths from Kawasaki disease reported in Japan during a two-year period; Sex and age distribution of the study patients; Characteristics of the patients who died; More.

Describes the performance and operation of a beam chopping system for a cyclotron with multiturn extraction. Beam chopping system at the Japan Atomic Energy Research Institute; Review of the chopping process; Performance of each chopper; Single-pulse beams and multiturn extraction.

Abstract We examined 64 normal Japanese chromosomes to determine the heterozygosities and allelic frequencies of 358 dinucleotide-repeat marker loci spanning the whole human genome. Comparisons of the data for each marker in the Japanese population sample with data for the same markers among Caucasian samples in the Genome Database (GDB) revealed a slightly lower average of heterozygosity in Japanese (71% vs 79%). Although the majority of the markers were as informative as in Caucasians, some in our sample were uninformative due to low heterozygosity; 38 loci revealed heterozygosities lower than 50% and 11 of these were less than 30%. Furthermore, allelic distributions at many of the marker loci were quite different in the two racial groups. Since such differences will influence statistical analyses between markers and disease loci, our data will be essential for linkage analyses, sib-ship pair analyses, and association studies involving the Japanese population. Therefore we have archived this database on a home page on the Internet (http://www.ims.u-tokyo.ac.jp/nakamura/Yamane.html). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Unlabelled: In spite of many reports of recurrent Kawasaki disease, little information about the risk factors associated with recurrence is available. We conducted a case-control study on 150 cases of recurrent Kawasaki disease and 1173 pair-matched controls selected from the database of nationwide surveys of the same disease in Japan. Items observed were: sex, age, use of intravenous gamma globulin, and cardiac sequelae at the first episode. Sex and cardiac sequelae did not affect the risk of recurrence. One- to 2-year-old children were more likely to be affected again than infants (odds ratio [OR] = 1.42; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.94-2.13), and children who were 3 years of age or older were less likely to experience a recurrence than infants (OR = 0.59; 95% CI, 0.34-1.02). Intravenous gamma globulin therapy at the first episode increased the risk for recurrence of Kawasaki disease within 12 months (OR = 2.66, 95% CI, 1.06-6.66). However, it did not affect recurrences 12 months after the first episode (OR = 1.02; 95% CI, 0.53-1.97).Conclusion: Patients with Kawasaki disease treated with intravenous gamma globulin are 2.66 times as likely to be affected by the disease again within 12 months as those treated without intravenous gamma globulin. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article discusses a report on the cases of Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (CJD) linked to dural grafts in Japan from 1978 to 2008. The report suggests that, because of the long incubation period between graft receipt and symptom onset, continued surveillance in Japan might identify additional CJD cases associated with dural grafts. The report also notes that the number of persons identified with CJD associated with cadaveric dura mater grafts increased.

The article presents a study on the association between angiotensinogen M235T and the &x03B1;-adducin G460W polymorphisms and hypertension in a community-based population in Japan. The two polymorphism was reportedly linked to sodium retention where salt consumption by the Japanese is relatively high compared to other populations.