Establishment and clinical applications of a portable system for capturing influenza viruses released through coughing.

Coughing plays an important role in influenza transmission; however, there is insufficient information regarding the viral load in cough because of the lack of convenient and reliable collection methods. We developed a portable airborne particle-collection system to measure the viral load; it is equipped with an air sampler to draw air and pass it through a gelatin membrane filter connected to a cone-shaped, megaphone-like device to guide the cough airflow to the membrane. The membrane was dissolved in a medium, and the viral load was measured using quantitative real-time reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction and a plaque assay.

Application of the Relapse Risk Scale to alcohol-dependent individuals in Japan: comparison with stimulant abusers.

Objective: To develop and validate the Alcohol Relapse Risk Scale (ARRS) for Japanese alcohol-dependent individuals and to compare the features of relapse risk for alcohol-dependent individuals with those for stimulant abusers.

Methods: The ARRS is a multidimensional self-rating scale consisting of 32 items based on the Stimulant Relapse Risk Scale (SRRS). Two hundred eighteen inpatients and outpatients with a history of alcohol dependence (181 males and 36 females) were recruited, provided informed consent, and were administered the ARRS.

Prostate apoptosis response 4 gene is not associated with methamphetamine-use disorder in the Japanese population.

Abnormal intracellular signaling molecules in dopamine signal transduction are thought to be associated with the pathophysiology of methamphetamine (METH)-use disorder. A recent study reported that a new intracellular protein, prostate apoptosis response 4 (Par-4), plays a critical role in dopamine 2 receptor signaling. We therefore analyzed the association between the Par-4 gene (PAWR) and METH-use disorder in a Japanese population (191 patients with METH-use disorder and 466 healthy controls).

Alpha4 and beta2 subunits of neuronal nicotinic acetylcholine receptor genes are not associated with methamphetamine-use disorder in the Japanese population.

The mesolimbic system is thought to be involved in the reinforcing action of many addictive drugs and the release of dopamine modulated by neuronal nicotine cholinergic receptors (nAChRs). Several investigations suggested that nAChRs on dopaminergic terminals play an important role in the development of some long-lasting adaptations associated with drug abuse. A majority of high-affinity nicotine binding sites in the brain have been showed in heteropentameric alpha4 (alpha4) and beta2 subunit (beta2) of nAChRs.

Glutamate cysteine ligase modifier (GCLM) subunit gene is not associated with methamphetamine-use disorder or schizophrenia in the Japanese population.

A recent study showed a significant association between schizophrenia in European samples and the glutamate cysteine ligase modifier (GCLM) subunit gene, which is the key glutathione (GSH)-synthesizing enzyme. Since the symptoms of methamphetamine (METH)-induced psychosis are similar to those of schizophrenia, the GCLM gene is thought to be a good candidate gene for METH-use disorder or related disorders. To evaluate the association between the GCLM gene and METH-use disorder and schizophrenia, we conducted a case-control study of Japanese subjects (METH-use disorder, 185 cases; schizophrenia, 742 cases; and controls, 819).

Detection of respiratory viruses in nasopharyngeal secretions and middle ear fluid from children with acute otitis media.

Conclusions: Our results suggest that various respiratory viruses contribute to the pathogenesis of acute otitis media (AOM).

Objective: AOM is one of the most common complications of viral upper respiratory tract infections in children. Recently, the importance of respiratory viruses has been stressed as causative agents of AOM.

Reduced CYP2D6 activity is a negative risk factor for methamphetamine dependence.

Because methamphetamine (METH) is metabolized by CYP2D6 at the first step of hydroxylation and demethylation, it is possible that functional variants of CYP2D6 alter susceptibility to methamphetamine-induced dependence. We genotyped CYP2D6*1, *4, *5, *10, and *14 for 202 patients with METH dependence and 337 controls in a Japanese population and found a significant association of the CYP2D6 gene with METH dependence (p=0.0299).

Acute otitis media associated with cytomegalovirus infection in infants and children.

Objective: Acute otitis media (AOM) is one of the most common complications of viral respiratory tract infections in children, but the role of each virus is still to be elucidated. We analyzed AOM associated with infection by cytomegalovirus (CMV), which is known as one of the major causes of viral respiratory tract infection.

Methods: Four hundred and ninety-five children (292 boys and 203 girls) diagnosed as having AOM in 2002 were studied.

The glycine transporter 1 gene (GLYT1) is associated with methamphetamine-use disorder.

Glycine transporter (GlyT)-1 plays a pivotal role in maintaining the glycine level at the glutamatergic synapse. Glycine is an allosteric agonist of N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptors. Because activation of NMDA receptors is an essential step for induction of methamphetamine dependence and psychosis, differences in the functioning of GlyT-1 due to genetic variants of the GlyT-1 gene (GLYT1) may influence susceptibility.

The dysbindin gene (DTNBP1) is associated with methamphetamine psychosis.

Background: The dysbindin (DTNBP1 [dystrobrevin-binding protein 1]) gene has repeatedly been shown to be associated with schizophrenia across diverse populations. One study also showed that risk haplotypes were shared with a bipolar disorder subgroup with psychotic episodes, but not with all cases. DTNBP1 may confer susceptibility to psychotic symptoms in various psychiatric disorders besides schizophrenia.

Development and validation of the Stimulant Relapse Risk Scale for drug abusers in Japan.

Objective: To develop and validate a multidimensional measure of relapse risk for stimulants in Japanese drug abusers.

Methods: A Stimulant Relapse Risk Scale (SRRS) was developed based on the Marijuana Craving Questionnaire and a discussion among three psychiatrists. We created 48 items after confirming the items including a variety of relapse risk, such as craving (expectancy, compulsivity, etc.

Reliability and validity of the Japanese version of the Addiction Severity Index (ASI-J).

The Addiction Severity Index (ASI) is a frequently used clinical and research instrument that collects data from substance abusers in seven problem areas: medical, employment, alcohol, drug use, legal, family-social functioning, and psychiatric status. In each area, the ASI provides a composite score and severity rating that estimate the seriousness of the problem and the client's need for treatment. In the present study, we investigated the reliability and validity of the Japanese version of the ASI (ASI-J).

[Treatment of substance dependence by a bio-cognitive model based on behavioral pharmacology].

We have introduced cognitive behavior therapy (CBT) into the treatment of substance dependence patients, which involves disease education and focused group therapy to obtain insight into the taking behavior and to establish concrete countermeasures to prevent relapse. We have created a bio-cognitive model based on biological aspects to explain the pathology of substance dependence. 'Dependence' is a term in behavioral pharmacology defined as reinforced drug seeking and taking behavior.

A missense variation in human casein kinase I epsilon gene that induces functional alteration and shows an inverse association with circadian rhythm sleep disorders.

Recent studies have shown that functional variations in clock genes, which generate circadian rhythms through interactive positive/negative feedback loops, contribute to the development of circadian rhythm sleep disorders in humans. Another potential candidate for rhythm disorder susceptibility is casein kinase I epsilon (CKIepsilon), which phosphorylates clock proteins and plays a pivotal role in the circadian clock. To determine whether variations in CKIepsilon induce vulnerability to human circadian rhythm sleep disorders, such as delayed sleep phase syndrome (DSPS) and non-24-h sleep-wake syndrome (N-24), we analyzed all of the coding exons of the human CKIepsilon gene.

Deactivation by benzodiazepine of the basal forebrain and amygdala in normal humans during sleep: a placebo-controlled [15O]H2O PET study.

Objective: The authors' goal was to identify differences in regional brain activity between physiological and benzodiazepine-induced sleep to clarify the brain structures involved in the drug's hypnotic effect.

Method: Using positron emission tomography, they compared regional cerebral blood flow during non-REM sleep in nine volunteers treated with placebo or triazolam, a short-acting benzodiazepine, in a double-blind, crossover design.

Results: Blood flow in the basal forebrain and amygdaloid complexes was lower during non-REM sleep when subjects were given triazolam than when they were given placebo.

Sleep and circadian rhythm disturbances in patients with delayed sleep phase syndrome.

Study Objectives: The objective of this study was to clarify sleep characteristics and pathophysiology in patients with delayed sleep phase syndrome (DSPS), which is a major circadian rhythm sleep disorder subtype.

Design: Polysomnography was performed for 2 consecutive nights and core body temperature was sampled for 7 consecutive days, including the polysomnography study period, in all subjects. Findings were compared and statistically analyzed between patients with DSPS and matched controls.

Napping predicts responsiveness to hypnotics in patients with primary circadian rhythm disorder.

It is hypothesized that one of the primary abnormalities of primary circadian rhythm disorder (PCRD) is the strong link between any episode of sleep and circadian rhythm. To test this hypothesis, the relationship between napping and responsiveness to hypnotics was examined in 12 patients with PCRD. A significant association was found (P = 0.

Physical symptoms under forced-phase advance treatment in a patient with delayed sleep phase syndrome: a case report.

The physical symptoms that are observed with forced waking in patients with delayed sleep phase syndrome (DSPS) often prevent the successful treatment of patients. Better understanding of these symptoms will assist in providing appropriate treatment in such patients. Herein, a 19-year-old female patient with DSPS is described, in whom headache, fatigue, and dizziness were observed under forced-phase advance treatment.

Mutation screening of the human Clock gene in circadian rhythm sleep disorders.

We tested whether the human Clock (hClock) gene, one of the essential components of the circadian oscillator, is implicated in the vulnerability to delayed sleep phase syndrome (DSPS) and non-24-hour sleep-wake syndrome (N-24). Screening in the entire coding region of the hClock gene with PCR amplification revealed three polymorphisms, of which two predicted the amino acid substitutions R533Q and H542R. The frequencies of the R533Q and H542R alleles in patients with DSPS or N-24 were very low and not significantly different from those in control subjects.