Development of the Anger Children's Cognitive Error Scale and the Anger Children's Automatic Thought Scale.

Background: Empirical studies between anger and anger-provoking cognitive variables in children and adolescents are lacking, despite numerous studies on internalising and externalising problems.

Aim: The purpose of this study was to develop new questionnaires for anger-provoking cognitive errors and automatic thoughts, and examine relationships between anger, cognitive errors, and automatic thoughts in children and adolescents.

Method: Participants were 485 Japanese children and adolescents aged 9-15 years old (254 females; average age 12.

Pain sensitivity after low-level clenching is influenced by preloading eccentric exercise.

Purpose: To examine the effect of preloading eccentric exercise on pain sensitivity in healthy volunteers.

Methods: In 20 healthy volunteers, pain-related sensations (6 items: pain, unpleasantness, fatigue, stiffness, tension, and soreness during maximum biting), and pain intensities induced by repeated electrical stimuli on the masseter and the hand palm were evaluated using a visual analog scale (VAS) of 0-100 mm. Eccentric exercise (6 min-test) or gum chewing (6 min-control) was used as preloading exercise to evaluate the effect on pain sensitivities before and after low-level clenching (15 min) performed 2 days after the preloading exercise.

The influence of thickeners of food on the particle size of boluses: a consideration for swallowing.

The purpose of this study was to examine the influence of thickeners with different levels of thickness on the sizes of particles in food boluses. In medical and nursing care, thickeners are used to make food safe for patients with dysphagia. However, the effect of thickeners on the foods they are added to, especially during swallowing, is still unclear.

Efficacy of interferon-beta plus ribavirin combination treatment on the development of hepatocellular carcinoma in Japanese patients with chronic hepatitis C.

Aim: Although there is much evidence of an antitumor effect of pegylated interferon (IFN)-α-based treatment, limited data is available about that of IFN-β-based treatment. Our goal was to evaluate the impact of IFN-β plus ribavirin (RBV) treatment on the suppression of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).

Methods: This retrospective, multicenter study consisted of 124 chronic hepatitis C patients who were treated with IFN-β plus RBV treatment, including 61 with advanced fibrosis and five with pretreatment HCC.

Bacterial infection as an adverse effect of telaprevir-based triple therapy for chronic hepatitis C infection.

Objective: There is little information regarding the incidence of bacterial infections as an adverse effect of telaprevir (TVR)-based triple therapy. This study was performed in order to evaluate the baseline and on-treatment predictors of bacterial infections in patients treated with TVR-based triple therapy.

Methods: This multicenter study evaluated 430 patients with chronic hepatitis C who received 12 weeks of TVR in combination with 24 weeks of pegylated interferon α2b plus ribavirin.

Efficacy and safety of splenectomy in telaprevir-based triple therapy for chronic hepatitis C patients with thrombocytopenia and advanced fibrosis.

Background And Aim: Thrombocytopenia (TCP) of chronic hepatitis C patients with cirrhosis has a negative impact on the management of interferon-based treatment. The aim of this study is to evaluate the efficacy and safety of telaprevir-based triple therapy for patients who have undergone splenectomy (Spx).

Methods: This prospective, multicenter study consisted of 80 patients, including 32 Spx and 48 non-Spx/TCP (platelet count: 60-99 × 10(9) /L) patients with advanced fibrosis infected with hepatitis C virus genotype 1b.

Influence of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol on virological response to telaprevir-based triple therapy for chronic HCV genotype 1b infection.

Elevated serum low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) level has been associated with sustained virological response (SVR) by chronic hepatitis C patients treated with pegylated-interferon (PEG-IFN) α and ribavirin (RBV). The aim of this study was to investigate the relation between the baseline LDL-C level and the treatment outcome from telaprevir (TVR)-based triple therapy. This prospective, multicenter study consisted of 241 treatment-experienced patients infected with HCV genotype 1b.

Clinical milestones for the prediction of severe anemia by chronic hepatitis C patients receiving telaprevir-based triple therapy.

Background & Aims: Anemia is a common adverse effect of telaprevir (TVR) in combination with pegylated interferon (PegIFN)α and ribavirin (RBV) therapy. It occurs at a higher incidence with the TVR relative to PegIFNα and RBV alone. We herein evaluate the baseline and on-treatment predictors of the development of severe anemia by chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) patients receiving TVR-based triple therapy.

Telaprevir can be successfully and safely used to treat older patients with genotype 1b chronic hepatitis C.

Background & Aims: This study was performed to evaluate the efficacy of a triple therapy in older Japanese patients; telaprevir (TVR) was added to pegylated interferon α2b and ribavirin.

Methods: This prospective study enrolled 120 genotype 1b patients with chronic hepatitis C who received 12 weeks of triple therapy followed by a 12-week dual therapy that included pegylated interferon α2b and ribavirin. Patients were categorized according to age: group A, 64 patients aged >60 and group B, 56 patients aged ⩽60.

Efficacy of pegylated interferon alpha-2b and ribavirin treatment on the risk of hepatocellular carcinoma in patients with chronic hepatitis C: a prospective, multicenter study.

Background & Aims: The effects of pegylated interferon (PegIFN) α and ribavirin (RBV) treatment of chronic hepatitis C on the incidence of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) have not been well established. This study investigated the impact of treatment outcome on the development of HCC by chronic hepatitis C patients treated with PegIFNα2b and RBV.

Methods: This large-scale, prospective, multicenter study consisted of 1013 Japanese chronic hepatitis C patients with no history of HCC (non-cirrhosis, n=863 and cirrhosis, n=150).

An inadequate dose of ribavirin is related to virological relapse by chronic hepatitis C patients treated with pegylated interferon alpha-2b and ribavirin.

The aim of this large-scale analysis was to assess the effect of 48-week pegylated interferon (PEG-IFN) α-2b and ribavirin (RBV) therapy on virological relapse by patients infected with hepatitis C virus (HCV) genotype 1. The relationship between virological relapse and the dose of PEG-IFNα-2b and RBV was investigated in 619 patients who had once cleared HCV RNA during PEG-IFNα-2b and RBV treatment for 48 weeks. The overall virological relapse rate was 34.

Pegylated interferon α-2b plus ribavirin for Japanese chronic hepatitis C patients with normal alanine aminotransferase.

Aim:   To investigate the efficacy and safety of a pegylated interferon (PEG-IFN) α-2b plus ribavirin (RBV) combination treatment for patients with chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection who have persistently normal alanine aminotransferase (NALT).

Methods:   This multicenter study included 989 patients with HCV genotype 1 (114 with NALT and 875 with elevated ALT) who received weight-based doses of PEG-IFN α-2b plus RBV for 48 weeks. We compared the sustained viral response (SVR) rates of patients with NALT and elevated ALT who received at least 80% or more of the target dosage of PEG-IFN α-2b and 60% or more of the target RBV (minimum acceptable dosage).

Evaluation of the adverse effect of premature discontinuation of pegylated interferon α-2b and ribavirin treatment for chronic hepatitis C virus infection: results from Kyushu University Liver Disease Study.

Background And Aims: Pegylated interferon (PEG-IFN) α-2b and ribavirin (RBV) treatment of chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is associated with a substantially elevated risk of discontinuation. The aim of this study is to evaluate the reason for premature discontinuation during PEG-IFN α-2b and RBV treatment due to adverse effects in patients with chronic HCV infection.

Methods: A total of 2871 Japanese patients who had chronic HCV infection treated with PEG-IFN α-2b and RBV were screened.

Polymorphism of the apolipoprotein B gene and association with plasma lipid and lipoprotein levels in the Mongolian Buryat.

Allele frequencies at six RFLP sites (Ins/Del, ApaLI, AluI, XbaI, MspI, and EcoRI) of the apolipoprotein B gene (APOB) and the relationship of genotypes with plasma lipid and lipoprotein levels in the Mongolian Buryat were investigated. Common alleles at these sites in 110 Buryat subjects were I, G, A-, X-, M+, and E+; the frequencies of 0.809-0.

Mitochondrial DNA data indicate an introduction through Mainland Southeast Asia for Australian dingoes and Polynesian domestic dogs.

In the late stages of the global dispersal of dogs, dingoes appear in the Australian archaeological record 3500 years BP, and dogs were one of three domesticates brought with the colonization of Polynesia, but the introduction routes to this region remain unknown. This also relates to questions about human history, such as to what extent the Polynesian culture was introduced with the Austronesian expansion from Taiwan or adopted en route, and whether pre-Neolithic Australia was culturally influenced by the surrounding Neolithic world. We investigate these questions by mapping the distribution of the mtDNA founder haplotypes for dingoes (A29) and ancient Polynesian dogs (Arc1 and Arc2) in samples across Southern East Asia (n = 424) and Island Southeast Asia (n = 219).

Pegylated interferon α-2b plus ribavirin for older patients with chronic hepatitis C.

Aim: To analyze the efficacy and safety of a combination therapy of pegylated interferon (PEG-IFN) α-2b plus ribavirin (RBV) in older Japanese patients (65 years or older) infected with hepatitis C virus (HCV).

Methods: This multicenter study included 938 patients with HCV genotype 1 who received 1.5 μg/kg per week PEG-IFN α-2b plus RBV 600-1000 mg/d for 48 wk and 313 HCV genotype 2 patients who received this treatment for 24 wk.

Laparoscopic splenectomy may be a superior supportive intervention for cirrhotic patients with hypersplenism.

Background And Aims: To evaluate and compare laparoscopic splenectomy and partial splenic embolization as supportive intervention for cirrhotic patients with hypersplenism to overcome peripheral cytopenia before the initiation of and during interferon therapy or anticancer therapy for hepatocellular carcinoma.

Methods: Between December 2000 and April 2008, 43 Japanese cirrhotic patients with hypersplenism underwent either laparoscopic splenectomy or partial splenic embolization as a supportive intervention to facilitate the initiation and completion of either interferon therapy or anticancer therapy for hepatocellular carcinoma. We reviewed the peri- and post-intervention outcomes and details of the subsequent planned main therapies.

Association between the treatment length and cumulative dose of pegylated interferon alpha-2b plus ribavirin and their effectiveness as a combination treatment for Japanese chronic hepatitis C patients: project of the Kyushu University Liver Disease Study Group.

Aim: The aim of the present study was to investigate the association between the length of the treatment period and the cumulative dose of pegylated interferon alpha-2b (peg-IFN alpha-2b) plus ribavirin (RBV) and their effectiveness in the treatment of chronic hepatitis C.

Methods: Seven hundred and fifteen patients received peg-IFN alpha-2b plus RBV treatment for 48 weeks and 24 weeks for genotypes 1 (n = 586) and 2 (n = 129), respectively.

Results: Sustained virological responses (SVR), defined as serum hepatitis C virus (HCV)-RNA undetectable at 24 weeks after the end of treatment, were 42.

Beta-globin gene cluster haplotype frequencies in Khalkhs and Buryats of Mongolia.

Beta-globin gene cluster haplotype frequencies of 169 Khalkhs and 145 Buryats were estimated, and their characteristics were compared with those of Evenkis, Oroqens, Koreans, Japanese, and three Colombian Amerindian groups. The present study suggests that Colombian Amerindians diverged first from Asian populations and then Buryats diverged from other Asian populations.

Effects of lamivudine on serum albumin levels correlate with pretreatment HBV-DNA levels in cirrhotic patients.

Background: Lamivudine treatment has been recently demonstrated to increase the serum albumin levels in cirrhotic patients with hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection, but the precise mechanism remains unclear. We hypothesized that the improvement of hypoalbuminemia by lamivudine may be attributable to the reduction of HBV replication itself, rather than to cessation of hepatitis. In order to confirm this hypothesis, in this study we evaluated factors which correlated with the increase in serum albumin levels.

Phylogenetic studies of dogs with emphasis on Japanese and Asian breeds.

The first domestication of the dog occurred in East Asia, and major ancestor of the dog was a wolf subspecies, Canis lupus chanco. This finding derives from data on the nucleotide sequences of mtDNA and the frequency of genes controlling blood protein polymorphisms in various subspecies of wolves and dog breeds around the world. The results of the allele frequency distribution of genes controlling 16 blood protein polymorphisms, and the incidence of dogs possessing erythrocytes with high potassium (HK) in Japan, East Asia and Europe allowed us to posturate the following hypothesis about the origins of Japanese dogs and the history of their development.

Interferon alpha plus ribavirin combination treatment of Japanese chronic hepatitis C patients with HCV genotype 2: a project of the Kyushu University Liver Disease Study Group.

Aim: To determine the efficacy of an interferon alpha and ribavirin combination treatment for Japanese patients infected with hepatitis C virus (HCV) of genotype 2, a multi-center study was retrospectively analyzed.

Methods: In total, 173 patients with HCV genotype 2 started to receive interferon-alpha subcutaneously thrice a week and 600-800 mg of ribavirin daily for 24 wk.

Results: The overall sustained virological response (SVR), defined as undetectable HCV RNA in serum, 24 wk after the end of treatment, was remarkably high by 84.

Long-term lamivudine treatment for chronic hepatitis B in Japanese patients: a project of Kyushu University Liver Disease Study.

Aim: To determine the efficacy of long-term lamivudine treatment of a large number of Japanese patients with chronic hepatitis B.

Methods: In this retrospective, multi-center trial, 318 Japanese patients with chronic hepatitis B received 100 mg of lamivudine daily for up to 36 (median 21) mo. Virological response was a decline to a serum HBV DNA level less than 3.

Relationship between body surface area and ALT normalization after long-term lamivudine treatment.

Aim: To further evaluate the relationship between BSA and the effects of lamivudine in a greater number of cases and over a longer period of observation than in our previous evaluation.

Methods: We evaluated 249 patients with chronic hepatitis B. The effects of treatment for one year (n = 249), two years (n = 147), and three years (n = 72) were evaluated from the levels of serum ALT and HBV-DNA, as biological and virological effects (undetectable levels by PCR), respectively.