Serological and genetic analysis of leptospirosis in patients with acute febrile illness in kandy, sri lanka.

Leptospirosis has emerged as an important infectious disease in Sri Lanka and little information is available on circulating leptospiral species and serogroups in this country. Therefore, we studied circulating leptospiral species and serogroups in patients with acute febrile illness using polymerase chain reaction and the microscopic agglutination test, respectively. Anti-leptospiral antibodies were detected in 26 of 107 serum samples studied (24.

Relationships between lifestyle and dental health behaviors in a rural population in Japan.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to determine associations of lifestyle with dental health behaviors such as tooth brushing frequency, use of extra cleaning devices, and regular dental visits to a dentist.

Methods: Data were collected from 1182 dentate residents 18 years of age or older who resided in a typical farming district. The data included data on the demographic factors, dental health behavior, and various aspects of lifestyle, i.

[A review of health economic assessment for liver transplantation--toward social acceptance of liver transplantation in Japan].

This paper reviews the literature on health economics assessment (HEA) for liver transplantation (LT) in Europe and USA, and considers prospects in Japan where HEA is currently rarely performed. LT is one of the most expensive health technologies but the health outcome is generally good. It provides the only well-established treatment for end-stage liver disease (ESLD) in the Western world, while in Japan it has yet to be fully implemented because public acceptance is still very low.

Association between a variant of the glutathione S-transferase P1 gene (GSTP1) and hypertension in pregnancy in Japanese: interaction with parity, age, and genetic factors.

Hypertension in pregnancy (HP), including preeclampsia (PE), is known to be a multifactorial disease. Recently, an Ile105Val variant of the glutathione S-transferase P1 gene ( GSTP1) was shown to be associated with PE in The Netherlands. We therefore performed an association study of the Ile105Val variant comparing 131 patients with HP and 327 normal pregnant controls in Japan.

[Possibility of invasion of Echinococcus into Honshu with pet dogs from Hokkaido and overseas].

Purpose: The number of pet dogs moving with their owners to Honshu, the main island of Japan, from Hokkaido, and the number of dogs imported from overseas were examined, and the possibility of invasion of Echinococcus multilocularis and E. granulosus with these dogs was discussed.

Methods: The number of pet dogs moving to Honshu-island from Hokkaido was examined with the movement notifications based on the Rabies Prevention Act in 29 prefectures during the period from 1996 to 2001.

[WHO's Framework Convention on Tobacco Control potential impact on tobacco control in Japan].

Objective: The objective of the paper are to introduce the current global tobacco control measures undertaken by WHO and other international organizations, and to describe the impact on domestic tobacco control in Japan.

Methods: Publications and documents, mainly for WHO, were reviewed especially with reference to the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC).

Results: WHO has been promotion comprehensive tobacco control globally as well as regionally in order to assist and promote its national health policy.

[How can we prevent alveolar echinococcosis? Ecosystem and risk management viewpoints].

Purpose: This article focuses on understanding epidemiological features of alveolar echinococcosis and discussing its prevention and control, especially from a viewpoint of the ecosystem and risk management.

Method: Publications on alveolar echinococcosis throughout the world were systematically reviewed with special reference to ecology, epidemiology and countermeasures.

Results: Alveolar echinococcosis, caused by accidental infection with larva of the parasite Echinococcus multilocularis is fatal to humans unless diagnosed at an early stage.