Visual functions and multimodal imaging of patients with idiopathic focal choroidal excavation.

This study aimed to evaluate visual function and perform multimodal imaging on patients with focal choroidal excavation without any chorioretinal disease (idiopathic focal choroidal excavation [iFCE]). Seventeen eyes of 15 patients with iFCE (8 men, 7 women; mean ± standard deviation age, 56.0 ± 10.

Microbial Contamination of Rubber Ducks Floating in Bathtubs of Bathing Facilities, and an Evaluation of Their Washing Methods.

Microbiological contamination inside rubber ducks floating in the bathtub at a "duck bath" of a bathing facility was analyzed by examining bacterial and amoebic counts. The results of microbial tests, such as standard plate count, heterotrophic plate count and Legionella-LAMP (Loopmediated isothermal amplification) , showed that microbial contamination increased in the rubber ducks over time. When the ducks were washed with sodium hypochlorite, those microbial contaminations were not detected; but when the ducks were washed with an electrolyzed water, the standard plate counts and the heterotrophic plate counts were detected in the amount of 10 per duck in the wipe samples.

Identification of novel fish sialidase genes responsible for KDN-cleaving activity.

2-keto-3-deoxy-D-glycero-D-galacto-nononic acid (KDN) is a minor component of sialic acids detected in vertebrates, such as human cancer cells, rat liver, and fish tissues. Although the enzyme activity of KDN-cleaving sialidase (KDN-sialidase) has been detected in rainbow trout, the gene responsible for its expression has not been identified in vertebrates. We evaluated sialidases in human and various fish for their KDN-cleaving activity using an artificial substrate, methylumbelliferyl-KDN (MU-KDN).

Recent research on the mechanism of heterosis is important for crop and vegetable breeding systems.

Heterosis or hybrid vigor is a phenomenon where hybrid progeny have superior performance compared to their parental inbred lines. This is important in the use of F hybrid cultivars in many crops and vegetables. However, the molecular mechanism of heterosis is not clearly understood.

Development of a Fully-automated On-line Oxidation Column-switching HPLC System for the Determination of Endogenous Melatonin in Human Clinical Samples.

A fully-automated on-line oxidation column-switching HPLC system has been developed for the determination of endogenous melatonin in human plasma and saliva. This HPLC system consists of four processes. In the first step, melatonin is fractionated using a reversed-phase C4 column (Proteonavi, 75 mm × 1.

Effect of losartan on serum uric acid in hypertension treated with a diuretic: the COMFORT study.

It has been shown that losartan, an angiotensin II receptor blocker (ARB), reduces serum uric acid levels. However, the effects of losartan on serum uric acid levels in the patients treated with a thiazide diuretic have not been fully elucidated. We have investigated the effects of losartan compared with other ARBs on blood variables and blood pressure control in hypertensive patients treated with a thiazide diuretic using data from the COMFORT study.

Effect of Postoperative Passive Motion on Rotator Cuff Reconstruction With Acellular Dermal Matrix Grafts in a Rat Model.

Background: Although postoperative rehabilitation is critical for rotator cuff tendon-to-bone healing and shoulder function recovery, no standardized protocol has been established.

Hypothesis: Postoperative immediate passive motion is detrimental to tendon-to-bone remodeling and tendon maturation after rotator cuff acellular dermal matrix (ADM) grafting, although postoperative delayed passive motion does no harm.

Study Design: Controlled laboratory study.

γ-Cyclodextrin-polyurethane copolymer adsorbent for selective removal of endotoxin from DNA solution.

Copolymer particles for removal of endotoxins (lipopolysaccharides, LPSs) were prepared by suspension copolymerization of γ-cyclodextrin (CyD) and 1,6-hexamethylenediisocyanate. The LPS-removing activity of the copolymer particles was compared with that of poly(ε-lysine)-immobilized Cellufine (cationic adsorbent) or polystyrene particles (hydrophobic adsorbent) by a batch method. When DNA was present in solution with LPSs under physiological conditions (pH 6.

CYP1A1, GSTM1, GSTT1 and NQO1 polymorphisms and colorectal adenomas in Japanese men.

Aim: To investigate the role of functional genetic polymorphisms of metabolic enzymes of tobacco carcinogens in the development of colorectal adenomas.

Methods: The study subjects were 455 patients with colorectal adenomas and 1052 controls with no polyps who underwent total colonoscopy in a preretirement health examination at two Self Defense Forces hospitals. The genetic polymorphisms studied were CYP1A1 2A (rs 4646903), CYP1A1 2C (rs 1048943), GSTM1 (null or non-null genotype), GSTT1 (null or non-null genotype) and NQO1 C609T (rs 1800566).

Impact of antihypertensive medication adherence on blood pressure control in hypertension: the COMFORT study.

Background: It has not been fully elucidated whether antihypertensive medication adherence affects blood pressure (BP) control in hypertension cases.

Aim: To investigate the association of adherence to antihypertensive drug regimens and BP control using data from the Combination Pill of Losartan Potassium and Hydrochlorothiazide for Improvement of Medication Compliance Trial (COMFORT) study.

Design: An observational analysis from a randomized controlled trial.

Effect of immobilization on rotator cuff reconstruction with acellular dermal matrix grafts in an animal model.

Introduction: Using a rat model we determined whether immobilization improves tendon-to-bone healing and tendon maturation after rotator cuff reconstruction with acellular dermal matrix (ADM) grafts.

Methods: Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly assigned to 3 equal groups. All rats were subjected to rotator cuff reconstruction and their shoulder was not immobilized (N-IM controls) or immobilized for 2- or 6 weeks immediately thereafter (2- and 6-IM groups, respectively).

Coffee consumption, serum γ-glutamyltransferase, and glucose tolerance status in middle-aged Japanese men.

Background: Recently, coffee consumption has been related to decreased risk of type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM) among those with high levels of serum γ-glutamyltransferase (GGT). We examined the association between coffee and glucose tolerance, determined by a 75 g oral glucose tolerance test, and the effect modification of serum GGT on the association.

Methods: The study subjects were 5320 men aged 46-60 years who received a health examination at two Self-Defense Forces hospitals from January 1997 to March 2004.

Does a combination pill of antihypertensive drugs improve medication adherence in Japanese? A randomized controlled trial.

Background: In order to achieve target blood pressure levels to prevent cardiovascular disease, combination therapy of antihypertensive drugs is often required, although it is thought that requiring a patient to take many different pills would reduce adherence to the medication regimen. Whether antihypertensive treatment with a single pill combining antihypertensive drugs would improve medication adherence and blood pressure control was investigated.

Methods And Results: A total of 207 hypertensive subjects were randomly assigned to a combination pill group (losartan 50mg/hydrochlorothiazide 12.

Methionine synthase and thymidylate synthase gene polymorphisms and colorectal adenoma risk: the self defense forces study.

Folate-mediated one-carbon metabolism has been implicated in colorectal carcinogenesis. We investigated associations of functional genetic polymorphisms of methionine synthase (MTR), MTR reductase (MTRR), and thymidylate synthase (TS) with colorectal adenomas. The study subjects were 455 cases of colorectal adenomas and 1052 controls with no polyp at colonoscopy.

Improvement of blood pressure control in a hypertension clinic in Japan: a 15-year follow-up study.

Many guidelines recommended strict blood pressure (BP) control to prevent cardiovascular events. However, BP control in a substantial majority of hypertensives remains to be insufficient. We have determined the trends of BP control of the same patients during 15 years in a hypertension clinic.

C-reactive protein and colorectal adenomas: Self Defense Forces Health Study.

Chronic inflammation has been implicated in colorectal carcinogenesis. Several studies have investigated the relationship between C-reactive protein (CRP), a biomarker of inflammation, and colorectal cancer and adenomas, resulting in inconsistent findings. The present study examined the relationship between circulating levels of high-sensitivity CRP and colorectal adenomas.

Severe emotional hypertension compatible with 95-year lifespan and little end-organ damage: 24-year record.

We report on an interesting case of longevity in an elderly Japanese woman whose blood pressure (BP) continued extremely high from her first recording at the age of 38 years to her first hospitalization at the age of 81. BP recordings taken by her physician indicated mostly severe or occasionally mild hypertension (HT): between 260/130 and 140/76 mmHg. No antihypertensive drugs were taken during the 25 year span between ages 56 and 80.

Chronoastrobiology: proposal, nine conferences, heliogeomagnetics, transyears, near-weeks, near-decades, phylogenetic and ontogenetic memories.

"Chronoastrobiology: are we at the threshold of a new science? Is there a critical mass for scientific research?" A simple photograph of the planet earth from outer space was one of the greatest contributions of space exploration. It drove home in a glance that human survival depends upon the wobbly dynamics in a thin and fragile skin of water and gas that covers a small globe in a mostly cold and vast universe. This image raised the stakes in understanding our place in that universe, in finding out where we came from and in choosing a path for survival.

Improvement of blood pressure control in a hypertension clinic: a 10-year follow-up study.

The objective of the study was to assess whether the publication of new guidelines, such as JNC VI 1997 and WHO/ISH 1999, and the development of new antihypertensive drugs have improved blood pressure (BP) control. A total of 150 patients (age 29-88, mean 66+/-11 years in 2001) who were followed at our hypertension clinic during 1991-2001 were retrospectively investigated. We compared the clinical characteristics of the patients in 2001 to those in 1991 and 1996, using the averaged BP determined at two occasions each year for our analysis.

A 17-year follow-up study of hypertensive and normotensive male university students in Japan.

The aim of the present study was to determine the disease course of hypertensive male university students followed for 8 to 26 years (average, 17 years) after graduation. Subjects were classified into two groups. 1) A hypertensive group (H-group) consisting of 338 conclusively hypertensive male students followed from 1973 to 1990 at the Institute of Health Science, Kyushu University.

Relationships of the systolic blood pressure response during exercise with insulin resistance, obesity, and endurance fitness in men with type 2 diabetes mellitus.

The purpose of the present study was to investigate the relationships among the resting systolic (SBP) and diastolic blood pressure (DBP) or SBP response during exercise with insulin resistance evaluated by a homeostasis model (HOMA-IR), abdominal fat accumulation (visceral fat area [VFA], subcutaneous fat area [SFA]) by computed tomography (CT), and an estimation of the maximal oxygen uptake (V*O2max) in 63 Japanese middle-aged male patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (type 2 DM). Body mass index (BMI) and waist-to-hip ratio (WHR) in type 2 DM subjects were significantly higher than in age-matched healthy male control subjects (n = 135) with normal glucose tolerance. Resting SBP (127.