Economic recession and health inequalities in Japan: analysis with a national sample, 1986-2001.

OBJECTIVE: Little is known about whether economic crises widen health inequalities. Japan experienced more than 10 years of economic recession beginning in the 1990s. The question of whether socioeconomic-based inequality in self-rated health widened after the economic crisis was examined. DESIGN, SETTING AND PARTICIPANTS: Repeated cross-sectional survey design. Two pooled datasets from 1986 and 1989 and from 1998 and 2001 were analysed separately, and temporal change was examined. The study took place in Japan among the working-age population (20-60 years old). The two surveys consisted of 168 801 and 150 016 people, respectively, with about an 80% response rate. RESULTS: The absolute percentages of people reporting poor health declined across all socioeconomic statuses following the crisis. However, after controlling for confounding factors, the odds ratio (OR) for poor self-rated health (95% confidence intervals) among middle-class non-manual workers (clerical/sales/service workers) compared with the highest class workers (managers/administrators) was 1.02 (0.92 to 1.14) before the crisis but increased to 1.14 (1.02 to 1.29) after the crisis (p for temporal change = 0.02). The association was stronger among males. The adjusted ORs among professional workers and young female homemakers also marginally increased over time. Unemployed people were twice as likely to report poor health compared with the highest class workers throughout the period. Self-rated health of people with middle to higher incomes deteriorated in relative terms following the crisis compared with that of lower income people. CONCLUSIONS: Self-rated health improved in absolute terms for all occupational groups even after the economic recession. However, the relative disparity increased between the top and middle occupational groups in men.

Budgets of major ionic species and nutrients on a dam reservoir in forested watershed.

To evaluate the role of a dam reservoir in the runoff of pollutant loadings from a forested watershed, the input-output budgets in the Ikuno dam reservoir had been investigated for eight years since 1996. The T-N, T-P, TOC and major ionic species in the bulk precipitation, stream water, and outflow were measured. The residence time calculated by using the data of the inflow and outflow was 0.3 year. The average precipitation was 1,772 mm during the investigation period (1996-2004). The direct deposition to water surface was less than one percentage to total loadings of nutrients and major ionic species. The ratios of output to input of TOC, TN, and TP were 1.04 to 1.42, and those of major ionic species were from 0.83 to 0.99 except for NO3(-), which was 1.12. However, the ratios of output to input of major ionic species except for NO3(-) at the Ikuno dam reservoir will be larger, and those of NO3(-), TOC, TN, and TP will be smaller, if we also include rain events. These results suggested that the dam reservoir played a role as a sink for pollutants in forested watershed, and that the pollutant loadings to downstream may decrease.

Assessment of cytochrome P450 sequences offers a useful tool for determining genetic diversity in higher plant species.

To investigate and develop new genetic tools for assessing genome-wide diversity in higher plant-species, polymorphisms of gene analogues of mammalian cytochrome P450 mono-oxygenases were studied. Data mining on Arabidopsis thaliana indicated that a small number of primer-sets derived from P450 genes could provide universal tools for the assessment of genome-wide genetic diversity in diverse plant species that do not have relevant genetic markers, or for which, there is no prior inheritance knowledge of inheritance traits. Results from PCR amplification of 51 plant species from 28 taxonomic families using P450 gene-primer sets suggested that there were at least several mammalian P450 gene mammalian-analogues in plants. Intra- and inter- specific variations were demonstrated following PCR amplifications of P450 analogue fragments, and this suggested that these would be effective genetic markers for the assessment of genetic diversity in plants. In addition, BLAST search analysis revealed that these amplified fragments possessed homologies to other genes and proteins in different plant varieties. We conclude that the sequence diversity of P450 gene-analogues in different plant species reflects the diversity of functional regions in the plant genome and is therefore an effective tool in functional genomic studies of plants.

Radiographic assessment of scapular rotational tilt in chronic shoulder impingement syndrome.

This study presents an objective evaluation of both scapular upward and axial rotational tilts in shoulder impingement syndrome, using a scapular spine line defined on antero-posterior (AP) radiographs of the shoulder as the referential line. Twenty-seven patients with unilateral shoulder motion pain, who were diagnosed as having chronic shoulder impingement syndrome, were enrolled in the study. Scapular upward and axial rotational tilts were compared between the affected and contralateral shoulders. AP radiographs were obtained at shoulder abduction angles of 0 degrees, 45 degrees, and 90 degrees, and the X-ray films were digitized by computer. The upward and axial rotational tilts of the scapula were then evaluated on the digital images. In shoulder impingement syndrome, both upward and axial external rotations of the scapula were impaired at the painful arc angle of abduction. This tended to be more apparent for the axial rotation of the scapula than for the upward rotation. These reductions in scapular rotations reduce available clearance for the rotator cuff and humeral greater tuberosity as the shoulder is abducted.

Assessment of secondary necrosis of Jurkat cells using a new microscopic system and double staining method with annexin V and propidium iodide.

Using a new system developed by us for acquiring microscopic images automatically, we compared the morphological changes that apoptotic cells undergo with changes in the staining pattern of annexin V-enhanced green fluorescent protein (AV-EGFP) and propidium iodide (PI) in individual cells. Jurkat cells were treated with 5 mM CaCl2 alone, anti-Fas antibody and heating at 42 degrees C for 30 min or 46 degrees C for 60 min, and then were incubated in medium with 5 mM CaCl2. Time-lapse DNA fragmentation analysis and morphological observation revealed that the anti-Fas antibody and heating at 42 degrees C for 30 min induced typical apoptosis in the cells, and heating at 46 degrees C for 60 min induced typical necrosis. Time-lapse observation of individual cells stained with AV-EGFP and PI confirmed that apoptotic cells were stained at first with AV-EGFP alone, and thereafter also with PI when the cellular membrane ruptured and the cell underwent secondary necrosis. Most of the cells which underwent necrosis were stained simultaneously with AV-EGFP and PI. There was a significant time interval between the staining of individual cells with AV-EGFP, indicating apoptosis, and staining of these cells with PI, which indicated the occurrence of secondary necrosis. These results suggest that time-lapse examinations are necessary to distinguish apoptosis, secondary necrosis and necrosis in cells from one another. This study presents direct evidence that apoptotic cells undergo secondary necrosis, which could be recognized with PI.

Removal and inactivation of hepatitis B virus from contaminated pooled plasma in a large-scale manufacturing process for factor VIII and human serum albumin.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: The Japanese Red Cross Society recalled one lot of monoclonal-antibody-purified factor VIII (F VIII) and two lots of human serum albumin (HSA) 5 months after preparation of the final products, because of a procedural error that led to contamination by a unit of plasma positive for hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg). We evaluated the effectiveness of virus inactivation/removal in a large-scale process for manufacturing F VIII and HSA. MATERIALS AND METHODS: HBV DNA in the retained samples in process was measured by the polymerase chain reaction (PCR). The kinetics of virus inactivation by solvent-detergent (S/D) treatment was examined using model viruses. We also did a look-back survey of the patients who received corresponding products. RESULTS: Contaminated hepatitis B virus (HBV) DNA became undetectable beyond fraction S IV-I in the albumin process and immunoaffinity chromatography in the F VIII process, respectively. The model viruses were inactivated within 5 s by S/D treatment. There is no evidence that patients were infected by HBV after transfusion of these products. CONCLUSION: We conclude that virus inactivation/removal was effectively achieved in a large-scale manufacturing process for F VIII and HSA.

Assessment of the significance of virulence factors of uropathogenic Escherichia coli in experimental urinary tract infection in mice.

Four Escherichia coli strains, isolated from cystitis patients, belonging to serotype 02:H- and possessing different combinations of urovirulence factors were examined in an experimental pyelonephritis mouse model to assess the relative importance of virulence factors in causation of urinary tract infections (UTI). The results suggest not only that the each virulence factor has a role in causation of UTI but also that the presence of P fimbriae and production of hemolysin significantly reduced the LD50 and ID50 of the strains in the mouse model. The results also demonstrate that the presence of additional virulence factors acts in an additive or synergetic fashion enhancing the cumulative impact of the strain.

[Clinical assessment of meningeal carcinomatosis; from the viewpoint of the analysis of intracranial pressure].

Meningeal carcinomatoses (MC) have been mainly studied from the viewpoint of the analysis of intracranial pressure (ICP). From the CT findings, ten patients were divided into two groups: group I, six patients showed characteristics of MC; group II, four showed normal characteristics. Ventricular fluid pressure (VFP) was continuously measured by a controlled ventricular drainage tube using a Spectramed P-10EZ at 3.1 +/- 2.1 months after the onset of the neurological symptoms. At the same time as VFP monitoring, the CBF by 133Xe method was measured in 5 cases and RI cisternography was performed in 9 cases. "A" wave was observed in 5 cases of group I and in 3 cases of group II. "B" wave was observed in all cases of both groups. In all 10 cases, the occurrence rate of both A and B waves (ORA, ORB) were high, averaging 2.34 +/- 0.54 times/hour, 74.0 +/- 16.6% time, respectively. Mean resting pressure(R) and mean peak pressure(P) tended to be high, averaging 28.8 +/- 12.2mmHg, 58.9 +/- 13.7mmHg, respectively. Mean cerebral perfusion pressure corresponding with R and P (CPPR, CPPP) was markedly reduced, averaging 79.1 +/- 15.9mmHg, 50.9 +/- 12.7mmHg, respectively. Both ORA and ORB in group I were higher, and both CPPR and CPPP in group 1 were lower, than in group II. Statistically, this is significant. Both R and P in Group I tended to be higher than in group II. This has no statistical significance. CBF in all 5 cases averaged 34.8 +/- 8.4ml/100g/min. No significant difference in the impairment of CBF was found between both groups. RI cisternography showed delayed clearance in all 9 cases.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

[Assessment of right ventricular afterload in mitral valve diseases with radionuclide angiography].

Right ventricular function at rest and during exercise was studied in 33 patients with mitral valve disease by equilibrium gated radionuclide angiography using 99mTc in vivo labeled red blood cells. Radionuclide measurements of right ventricular ejection fraction (RVEF) were correlated with mean pulmonary arterial pressure (mPAP). RVEF decreased significantly with exercise. There was no significant correlation between RVEF at rest and mPAP. However, mPAP showed significant negative correlation with RVEF during exercise and with the changes of RVEF from rest to exercise. It is concluded that RVEF during exercise in mitral valve disease is affected by right ventricular afterload, and the measurements of RVEF at rest and during exercise by equilibrium gated radionuclide angiography is useful to assess right ventricular afterload.

Assessment of the alpha 1 beta 2 contact structure of valency hybrid hemoglobins by ultraviolet difference spectra.

We have developed a rapid and useful method for purification of valency hybrid hemoglobins (alpha 2+ beta 2 and alpha 2 beta 2+: + denotes ferric heme) from a hemoglobin solution oxidized partially with ferricyanide by preparative high-performance liquid chromatography. This method does not involve the separation of hemoglobin subunits and the reconstitution of ferric and partner ferrous subunits. Using the valency hybrid hemoglobins thus prepared, the effect of the ferric spin state on the alpha 1 beta 2 subunit boundary structure was investigated by measuring the ultraviolet difference absorption spectra between the deoxy and the oxy valency hybrids associated with various ferric ligands (fluoride, aquo, azide and cyanide). All derivatives of both alpha 2+ beta 2 and alpha 2 beta 2+ showed the difference spectra characteristic of R-T quaternary structural transition. However, the magnitude of the difference spectral peak observed near 288 nm was larger for high-spin derivatives than for low-spin ones. The magnitude of the peak for the valency hybrid hemoglobin was closely correlated with the difference in the free energy of oxygen binding between the R and T states. Since the R state of high-spin hybrids is considered to be identical to that of low-spin hybrids, we concluded from these results that the alpha 1 beta 2 subunit boundary structure plays an important role in regulating the oxygen affinity of deoxy T state.