[Evaluation of the quality of public health nurses' community DOTS practices and its relationship with individual and organizational factors].

Objectives　By targeting the public health nurses (PHNs) who are expected to be actively involved in the implementation of community DOTS practices, we evaluated the quality of the regional DOTS practices based on the three aspects of "enhancing tuberculosis (TB) treatment adherence," "patient-centered support other than treatment," and "coordination with related organizations." We examined the individual and organizational factors that affect the quality of these practices. Further, we clarified the challenges related to the abilities of PHNs.

[The association between smoking and sputum smear-positive pulmonary tuberculosis in Osaka City].

Purpose: This study aimed to analyze and evaluate the association between tuberculosis (TB) and smoking in order to obtain basic information for the control of smoking.

Methods: Of the 637 patients with sputum smear-positive pulmonary tuberculosis who were newly registered in Osaka City in 2009, 581 patients whose smoking status was identified were selected as study subjects. Data on the following were collected: patient characteristics, presence or absence of underlying conditions, patient's delay and doctor's delay in the diagnosis of TB, presence or absence of cavities, and degree of smear positivity.

[Examination of onset cases in contact investigation].

Objectives: To analyze and evaluate onset cases of tuberculosis detected in contact investigations and to apply the results to future countermeasures.

Methods: Index and secondary cases in contact investigations in which the secondary cases occurred in Osaka City between 2005 and 2008 were enrolled. The tuberculin skin test or QFT (QuantiFERON-TB Gold) was conducted to diagnose whether the contacts were infected with tuberculosis.

[Comparative performance of tuberculin skin test and QuantiFERON TB-gold in contact investigations for tuberculosis].

Objectives: To evaluate the performances of the QuantiFERON TB-Gold assay (QFT) and tuberculin skin test (TST) and to examine how a latent tuberculosis infection (LTBI) should be diagnosed in contact investigations of children aged 6 to 17 years.

Methods: A total of 232 boys and girls aged 6 to 17 years who were in contact with 134 culture-confirmed pulmonary tuberculosis patients (index cases) were examined both with QFT and TST. Factors influencing the results of the tests and their interactions were evaluated with multivariate analyses.

[Assessment of self-discharge of homeless patients with tuberculosis].

Objectives: Factors responsible for the premature self-discharge of homeless tuberculosis (TB) patients from the hospital and the association between the self-discharge and treatment interruption were assessed.

Methods: A total of 205 homeless patients with TBs who were newly registered between January, 2007 and June, 2008 were evaluated. The subjects were divided into two groups (those who were discharged themselves from the hospital prematurely ["case" group] and those who were not [control group]), and the difference between the groups regarding the factors possibly responsible for the self-discharge was evaluated.

[An outbreak of tuberculosis in which environmental factors influenced tuberculosis infection].

Objective: We encountered a contact group investigation in which differences in environmental factors, including the ventilation frequency and the airflow, led to differences in the infection risk.

Materials And Methods: The index case was diagnosed with tuberculosis after cough and sputum persisted for 9 months. The patient was an instructor working at vocational schools A and B.

[Examination of latent tuberculosis infection treatment status].

Objective: To clarify factors involved in the refusal or discontinuation of treatment for latent tuberculosis infection (LTBI), we reviewed LTBI treatment.

Method: The subjects were 193 patients for whom LTBI treatment was indicated on a family contact investigation in 2006. We examined the subjects' backgrounds and reasons for treatment refusal or discontinuation.

[Tuberculosis infection by tuberculin skin test or QuantiFERON and related factors in contact investigations].

Objective: We investigated the factors related to secondary infections in contact group investigations.

Method: From March, 2008 to February, 2009, a total of 457 tuberculosis (TB) notifications were reviewed by the Health Examination Committee of the Health Centers of Osaka City over indications of a contact investigation. A contact investigation was considered necessary for 92 cases with 620 contacts.

[Investigation on "patient's delay" in TB detection].

Objective: The causes of delay in receiving medical examinations (for a period of more than 2 months between the appearance of tuberculosis symptoms and the first examination at a medical institution) were investigated.

Method: Interviews of 127 smear positive pulmonary tuberculosis patients (study period: June-December, 2008). Subjects were divided into 2 groups: those who showed delay in receiving medical examination (hereinafter referred to as "case") and those who did not show delay in receiving medical examination (hereinafter referred to as "control"), and the factors causing differences between the two groups were investigated.

Significance of matrix metalloproteinases in the pathophysiology of the ovary and uterus.

Matrix metalloproteinases (MMP) are capable of degrading a variety of extracellular matrix (ECM) proteins and are also involved in the processing of a number of bioactive molecules. Our findings indicate that the functions of MMP in the ovary and uterus are organ-specific and time-dependently vary during the reproductive cycle. Prolactin induces structural luteolysis indicated by loss of luteal weight, protein and DNA within 36 h after pretreatment with ergot alkaloid.

Secretion of keratinocyte growth factor by cultured human endometrial stromal cells is induced through a cyclic adenosine monophosphate-dependent pathway.

Objective: To evaluate the effects of known modulators of endometrial function on the production of keratinocyte growth factor by endometrial stromal cells.

Design: The effects of dibutyryl-cyclic adenosine monophosphate (db-cAMP), 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol 13-acetate (TPA), ethinyl estradiol-17alpha (EE), and medroxyprogesterone acetate (MPA) on the secretion of keratinocyte growth factor by endometrial stromal cells were investigated.

Setting: Research laboratory at a university medical school.