Decision making and physician prescribing characteristics: a pilot study of Japanese physicians.

The factors that affect physicians' prescribing remain unclear. Although previous reports suggest that prescription decisions are associated with various clinical situation, most of these studies analyzed simulated patient models rather than actual clinical practice. Here, we retrospectively analyzed actual cases of statin prescription for hyperlipidemia at Tohoku University Hospital between Apr 1, 2004 and Mar 31, 2008.

Distribution patterns of BK polyomavirus (BKV) subtypes and subgroups in American, European and Asian populations suggest co-migration of BKV and the human race.

BK polyomavirus (BKV) is ubiquitous in the human population, infecting children asymptomatically and then persisting in the kidney. Based on serological and genotyping methods, BKV isolates worldwide are classified into four subtypes (I-IV), with subtype I prevalent throughout the world, subtype IV prevalent in Asia and part of Europe, and subtypes II and III rare throughout the world. Phylogenetic analyses of complete genome sequences have identified several geographically distinct subgroups of subtypes I and IV.

Accelerated tumor growth in mice deficient in DNAM-1 receptor.

Since the identification of ligands for human and mouse DNAM-1, emerging evidence has suggested that DNAM-1 plays an important role in the T cell- and natural killer (NK) cell-mediated recognition and lysis of tumor cells. However, it remains undetermined whether DNAM-1 is involved in tumor immune surveillance in vivo. We addressed this question by using DNAM-1-deficient mice.

Identification of the Fcalpha/muR isoform specifically expressed in the kidney tubules.

Fcalpha/muR is expressed not only in lymphoid, but also in non-lymphoid organs, including kidney. However, molecular and functional characteristics of Fcalpha/muR, particularly expressed in non-lymphoid organs, have remained unclear. Here we identified an isoform of Fcalpha/muR in the murine kidney on the C57BL/6J background.

Automated measurement of cardiothoracic ratio using an R package.

Enlarged cardiothoracic ratio (CTR) in chest X-ray is related to cardiac dysfunction. We developed a software program that provided an automated measurement of CTR from chest X-ray image files. With high accuracy, CTR was calculated from chest X-ray images taken in outpatient clinics.

Large scale intervention study to hypertension with information technology: Hypertension objective treatment based on Measurement by Electrical Devices of Blood Pressure (HOMED-BP) Study.

HOMED-BP study aims to establish an optimal target blood pressure (BP) level based on BP values self-measured at home (home BP), supported by information technology. Subjects are automatically randomized to either more intensive BP-lowering group or less intensive one and to regimens based on one of three initial drugs. BP values are collected via the Internet and study database is automatically updated.

The Medical Cells: for the spread of clinical knowledge management.

We designed an information management and sharing system using the Medical Cells(MCs), which clinicians can use to share appropriate medical information. This system enables the authorized users to create, edit and search clinical knowledge content directly from portal site. In this system, we assessed clinicians' impact and satisfaction with their use of the MCs.

Longitudinal effects of violent video games on aggression in Japan and the United States.

Context: Youth worldwide play violent video games many hours per week. Previous research suggests that such exposure can increase physical aggression.

Objective: We tested whether high exposure to violent video games increases physical aggression over time in both high- (United States) and low- (Japan) violence cultures.

[Recurrence of severe hypophosphatemia associated with tumor neogenesis in a patient with acute lymphocytic leukemia who experienced acute renal failure due to tumor lysis syndrome].

We report a 47-year-old male patient with acute lymphocytic leukemia (ALL) who showed recurrent severe hypophosphatemia. Chemotherapy for ALL induced tumor lysis syndrome requiring hemodialysis therapy. Thereafter, severe hypophosphatemia (serum phosphorus concentration less than 0.

Transcriptional control region rearrangements associated with the evolution of JC polyomavirus.

JC polyomavirus (JCV) isolates worldwide are classified into three super-lineages (A, B and C), with A and B further split into several lineages and sub-lineages. The transcriptional control region (TCR) of the JCV genome generally has the archetypal configuration, but rearranged TCRs have occasionally been detected in isolates from immunocompetent individuals. To investigate the phylogenetic significance of these rearrangements, we analyzed 298 TCR sequences all derived from complete JCV genomes directly cloned from the urine of non-immunocompromised individuals.

A new approach to medical and clinical knowledge management by using the Medical Cells strategy.

The authors previously designed managing and sharing medical information units called "Medical Cells". The authors measured clinicians' satisfaction with the Medical Cells, and experiences with the performance of the Medical Cells within an existing electronic medical record system. The Medical Cells were useful in obtaining correct medical knowledge, and had a significant impact on managing and sharing medical information within the EMRS.

An XML-based integration method for different types of patient data in cardiology.

Clinical data consist of a wide variety of information. Database software that covers all types of clinical data is ideal. Patient data in cardiology were converted into an XML-format by tags that cardiologist selected.

Iterative molecular assembly based on the cation-pool method. Convergent synthesis of dendritic molecules.

An iterative method for molecular assembly has been developed based on the cation-pool method using (trimethylsilyl)diphenylmethane as a building block. The silyl group works as both an activating group of the benzene ring in the Friedel-Crafts type reaction and an electroauxiliary in the subsequent low temperature anodic oxidation to generate dendritic diarylcarbenium ions, which were well characterized by low-temperature NMR spectroscopy. The convergent synthesis of dendritic molecules has been achieved by repeating the sequence.

LFA-1 decreases the antigen dose for T cell activation in vivo.

Leukocyte adhesion molecule leukocyte function-associated antigen (LFA)-1 not only mediates intercellular binding but also delivers co-stimulatory signals in T cells. LFA-1 has been shown to decrease the threshold of TCR signal and an antigen dose required for T cell activation and proliferation in vitro. However, physiological significance of the role of LFA-1 in TCR signal has remained unclear.

Conserved archetypal configuration of the transcriptional control region during the course of BK polyomavirus evolution.

BK polyomavirus (BKV) is widespread among humans, asymptomatically infecting children and then persisting in renal tissue. The transcriptional control region (TCR) of the BKV genome is variable among clinical isolates. Thus, archetypal TCRs with a common basic configuration generally occur in BKV isolates from the urine of immunocompromised patients, but rearranged TCRs that possibly arise from the archetypal configuration have also been detected in clinical specimens.

Impact of occult hepatitis B virus infection and prior hepatitis B virus infection on development of hepatocellular carcinoma in patients with liver cirrhosis due to hepatitis C virus.

Objective: Although hepatitis B virus (HBV) DNA can be detected in liver or sera of patients without serum hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg), its clinical relevance in hepatocarcinogenesis remains controversial. This observational cohort study was conducted to clarify the risk factors, including the presence of serum HBV DNA and hepatitis B core antibody (anti-HBc), for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in patients with hepatitis C virus (HCV)-related liver cirrhosis (LC).

Material And Methods: The study comprised 123 patients with LC due to HCV, and negative for HBsAg.

[Prevalence of chronic kidney disease (CKD) and significant contributors to CKD in HIV-infected patients].

We investigated the prevalence of CKD and factors associated with CKD in HIV-infected patients who were under stable medical control. We retrospectively abstracted the medical records of 748 HIV-infected outpatients(659 males and 89 females). Their mean age was 44.

Trypsin-catalyzed synthesis of dipeptide containing alpha-aminoisobutyric acid using p- and m-(amidinomethyl)phenyl esters as acyl donor.

Two series of inverse substrates, p- and m-(amidinomethyl)phenyl esters derived from N-(tert-butyloxycarbonyl)amino acid, were prepared as acyl donor components for enzymatic peptide synthesis. They were found to be readily coupled with an acyl acceptor such as L-alanine p-nitroanilide to produce dipeptide. An alpha-aminoisobutyric acid containing dipeptide was especially obtained in satisfactory yield.

[Chronic renal failure in patients successfully treated with hematopoietic cell transplantation].

Recent development of hematopoietic cell transplantation (HCT) has greatly improved the quality of life in critical patients with hematological malignancies. On the other hand, it is a fact that some HCT survivors suffer from chronic renal failure (CRF). We attempted to examine the clinical characteristics of CRF in patients who were successfully treated with HCT in Japan.

Potential prognostic benefits of radiotherapy as an initial treatment for patients with unresectable advanced hepatocellular carcinoma with invasion to intrahepatic large vessels.

Objectives: To examine the efficacy and prognostic benefits of radiotherapy (RT) in patients who have unresectable advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) with invasion to intrahepatic large vessels (IHLVs).

Methods: Sixty-eight patients who had advanced HCC with invasion to IHLVs were studied. Thirty-two consecutive patients initially received 3-dimensional conformal RT for HCC invasion to IHLVs.

Intrahepatic distant recurrence after radiofrequency ablation for a single small hepatocellular carcinoma: risk factors and patterns.

Background: The pathogenesis of frequent intrahepatic recurrence of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) after surgical resection or local ablation therapy remains uncertain. Risks and patterns of intrahepatic distant recurrence (IDR) of a single, primary HCC lesion after radiofrequency (RF) ablation were examined.

Methods: Ninety patients with a single primary HCC lesion of less than 3 cm who had complete RF ablation were enrolled in the study.

Expression of a splicing isoform of MAIR-V (CD300LF), an inhibitory immunoglobulin-like receptor on myeloid cells.

The myeloid-associated immunoglobulin-like receptor (MAIR) family consists of nine activating or inhibitory cell surface receptors preferentially expressed on myeloid cells, which are encoded by the genes in a small cluster on mouse chromosome 11. MAIR-Va, one of the inhibitory receptors in the family, has a splicing isoform, MAIR-Vb. However, the expression profile of MAIR-Va and MAIR-Vb has remained unclear.

[Nephrotic syndrome in patients after successful myeloablative allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation: clinical findings obtained from four transplanted patients].

We experienced four patients who suffered from nephrotic syndrome after a successful allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT). These cases were seen in the nineteen-year period from September, 1986 to June, 2005. Our data showed that the incidence of nephrotic syndrome was 0.

Occult hepatitis B virus infection as a risk factor for hepatocellular carcinoma in patients with chronic hepatitis C in whom viral eradication fails.

Aim: Recent studies have suggested that an occult hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection negative for HBsAg but positive for HBV-DNA contributes to hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) development in patients with chronic hepatitis C. Some follow-up studies have suggested the clinical importance of occult HBV infections in HCC development even after interferon (IFN) therapy, but a recent study denies the significance of the impact of occult HBV infection. Focusing on HCC development in patients in whom hepatitis C virus (HCV) eradication by interferon (IFN) therapy had failed, we conducted this study in order to assess the impact of occult HBV infections on HCC development in these patients.

Caspase-independent cell death by CD300LF (MAIR-V), an inhibitory immunoglobulin-like receptor on myeloid cells.

The myeloid-associated Ig-like receptor family (CD300) consists of nine activating or inhibitory cell surface receptors preferentially expressed on myeloid cells and are encoded by the genes in a small cluster on mouse chromosome 11. One of the receptors, CD300LF (MAIR-V), has a long cytoplasmic tail containing two consensus ITIMs and an immunoreceptor tyrosine-based switching motif, suggesting that CD300LF regulates the activation of myeloid cells. However, the functional characteristics of this receptor are still incompletely understood.