Seroprevalence studies using a recombinant norwalk virus protein enzyme immunoassay

A recombinant Norwalk virus (NV) protein enzyme immunoassay was used to study the age of acquisition of NV IgG in various populations. In London, England, there was little evidence of infection during the first 2 years of life. However, the prevalence of NV IgG rose steadily throughout the period that children attend school, reaching a peak of 70% in the group aged 11–16 years. High levels of maternal antibody were detected in infants aged <3 months. Comparison of the acquisition of antibodies to three strains of human calicivirus in Japanese children in northern Japan indicated that although the majority had experienced infection with strains Japan and UK1 by the age of 12 years, only 22% possessed antibodies to NV. In Australian aborigines NV infection occurs early in life; by the age of 6 years over 90% of children were seropositive. © 1994 Wiley-Liss, Inc.     

肾复康治疗肾病综合征的临床研究

为观察肾复康（由雷公藤、黄芪、三七、益母草、山茱萸、茵陈等中药组成）对原发性肾病综合征的临床疗效、副作用,采用前瞻性随机对照方法,观察肾复康对肾病综合征患者（７０例）２４ｈ尿蛋白定量、血清白蛋白、胆固醇、肌酐和尿素氮等的影响,以及不同中医证型疗效的差别,并与３０例雷公藤多甙对照组进行比较。结果：肾复康组完全缓解１６例（１４．３％）吸效２８例（４０％）,无效１６例（３６．７％）,总有效率为７７．１％     

Prevalence of second generation antibody to hepatitis C virus among voluntary blood donors in Osaka,Japan

To clarify the demographic characteristics of the prevalence of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection in Osaka, Japan, where hepatocellular carcinoma is common, we investigated the screening data of antibody to HCV (anti-HCV, DAINABOTHCVPHA, second generation assay) in 197,600 voluntary blood donors residing in Osaka. The study found that age-standardized prevalence of anti-HCV was significantly higher than that of HBsAg (2.25cf 0.86 percent among males,P<0.001; 2.17cf 0.55 percent among females,P<0.001. It was much higher in the blood donors aged 55–64 years than in those aged 16–54 years (8.49cf 1.32 percent among males,P<10^–5; 7.26cf 1.42 percent among females,P<10^–5). The prevalence of anti-HCV among males was significantly higher than that of females in the younger (25–34 years) generations (1.02 to 1.49 percentcf 0.71 to 1.13 percent,P<0.05). A similar tendency was observed in the prevalence of high-titer (2¹²) anti-HCV. The number of coinfection (both HBsAg and anti-HCV seropositive) was very small, and it was not statistically different from the expected number.     

Poorer nutritional status of the older-generation in a Japanese farming village, as related to fewer types of food consumed

This study was carried out to determine whether the most recent nutritional improvements in Japanese farming villages were due to improvement in the diet of the young only or across all ages. Food duplicates for 24 h were collected. The number of food items and the adequacy of each nutrient level were compared between subgroups, by age of cooking and those eating meals. The older-generation used and ate fewer food items resulting in poorer nutrition. The most recent improvement in nutrition in the farming villages of Japan was found mainly to affect the younger-generation with the older-generations being more poorly nourished.     

Health status of male preparatory school students lodging at a dormitory in Japan

An investigation on the health status of 79 male preparatory school students lodging at a dormitory in Japan was carried out by questionnaire on lifestyles, subjective symptoms and mental status, as compared with two control groups: 73 medical students and 36 new employees. About 83 % of them slept less than 6 hours and 70 % of them did not exercise. Many students are troubled with back pain or lumbago(47%), sensation of incomplete bladder emptying(l6%), loss of visual acuity(55%) and eye fatigue(65%). Self-rating depression scale score of preparatory school students was not significantly higher than those of the control groups. The lifestyles of preparatory school students found to be very restricted and strained. However, no significant differences on mental adverse health effects was found among three groups.     

Gallbladder torsion: case report and review of 245 cases reported in the Japanese literature

We report here a case of torsion of the gallbladder in a 73-year-old woman. The patient was admitted to our hospital with right hypochondralgia. Ultrasonography and computed tomography demonstrated a distended gallbladder, with a multilayered wall, which contained no stones. Since the symptoms did not respond to antibiotics, laparotomy was performed. The gallbladder was found to be twisted around its pedicle and to be gangrenous. Cholecystectomy was performed, and the patient had an uneventful postoperative course. We also reviewed 245 cases reported in the Japanese literature. The clinical features of gallbladder torsion, which include low frequency of fever and jaundice, poor response to antibiotic therapy, and acute onset of abdominal pain, may be helpful in the differential diagnosis from acute cholecystitis. Moreover, a highly suggestive sign of gallbladder torsion observed by ultrasonography or computed tomography is a markedly enlarged "floating" gallbladder with a continuous hypoechoic line indicating edematous change in the wall. Received for publication on Feb. 8, 1999; accepted on April 21, 1999     

Factors associated with admission to a geriatric hospital in semisuburban southern Japan

A case-control study was conducted to evaluate the factors associated with admission to a geriatric hospital. Case studied were 13 Japanese elderly who were admitted to a geriatric hospital because their female caregivers had found it impossible to look after them at home. We used 35 pairs of elderly and female caregivers, who were receiving domiciliary visits by nurses, in the catchment area of the hospital. The present study revealed that elderly with dementia (vs without; Odds ratio = 6.69) and with moderately limited activities of daily living (Barthel Index 61 +) (vs severely limited activities of daily living: Barthel Index 0-60; Odds ratio = 6.62), caregivers being a daughter-in-law (vs other kinship; Odds ratio = 6.30), were risk factors.     

三草汤辅助早期妊娠药物流产96例临床观察

米非司酮配伍米索前列醇用于49天内的早孕药物流产,这一方法已广泛应用于临床,效果肯定,成功率在93％～95％左右,但与人工流产相比存在着完全流产率相对较低及出血时间较长的不足。在药物流产的同时加用中药可提高药物流产的成功率和缩短出血时间,在一定程度上弥补药物流产的不足。因此,我们对早孕妇女药物流产加用三草汤探讨其临床效果,报告如下。     

肾衰胶囊治疗慢性肾功能衰竭90例临床观察

目的:观察肾衰胶囊的临床疗效。方法;临床治疗组90例,在常规治疗的基础上,服用肾衰胶囊,每次10粒,每日3次口服;对照组60例,在常规治疗的基础上,服用尿毒清,每次1袋,每日4次。观察疗效及其对血脂、血浆内皮素(ET-1)、一氧化氮(NO)等的影响。结果;肾衰胶囊能改善慢性肾功能衰竭(CRF)患者临床症状,降低尿素氮(BUN)、血清肌酐(Scr)、尿蛋白/24h;升高血红蛋白(Hb)、内生肌酥清除率(Ccr);调节脂质代谢紊乱。降低血磷(P),升高血钙(Ca)。临床显效率52.22％,有效率86.67％,优于尿毒清组(P<0.05),两组直线回归斜率比较,差异有显著性(P<0.05);同时能降低患者ET-1水平,升高NO水平。结论:肾衰胶囊临床治疗CRF有效率达86.67％,作用机制是多方面的,与降低ET-1,升高NO水平有一定关系。