Assessment of Psychosocial Status among Short-stature Children with and without Growth Hormone Therapy and Their Parents

To evaluate the psychosocial status of short children with and without growth hormone therapy (GHT) and that of their parents, self-administered questionnaires were collected from patients and parents who regularly visit the outpatient clinics participating in the Child Health and Development Network. Completed questionnaires were received for one hundred and thirteen patients with GHT and 67 patients without GHT. According to the parents, both children with GHT and without GHT have no difficulty in their daily lives (89% vs. 95%) and are positive (56% vs. 65%), respectively. Ninety-eight percent of parents of children with GHT and 83% of parents of children without GHT had expected the current treatment strategy to be effective. Parents of children with GHT are more satisfied with the current therapy than those without GHT (79% vs. 50%), and feel less anxiety about the on-going therapy than (31% vs. 58%, respectively). Children treated with or without equally reported having no difficulty in their daily lives (90% vs. 93%), and being positive in their lives (81% vs. 75%, respectively) despite their short stature. Although less than one third of the patients have been bullied in their classroom (26% with GHT vs. 29% without GHT), younger and shorter children tend to be bullied more often. Short children undergoing GHT and their parents have anxiety regarding their height and expectations of the effect of GHT. It is important for doctors to inform their patients regarding realistic height expectations before starting GHT. Additionally, medical consultation is recommended for patients who remain below –2 SD in height despite GHT.     

Effect of the oral administration of Lactobacillus brevis subsp. coagulans on interferon-alpha producing capacity in humans.

This study was designed to determine whether the oral administration of Lactobacillus brevis subsp. coagulans modulates immunological responses in human subjects, and whether there are differences in response between live and heat-treated preparations.

The effect of the oral administration of Lactobacillus brevis subsp. coagulans (Labre) for 4 weeks on the interferon-alpha (IFN-alpha) producing capacity of apparently healthy subjects was evaluated. Sixty volunteers were divided into five groups for the determination of virus-induced IFN-alpha production in response to various doses of live and to heat-killed Labre. 2-5A synthetase activity was measured to detect trace amounts of IFN production. Routine blood tests were also performed to determine the state of health of the subjects involved in this study and to test any side effects of Labre treatment.

The oral administration of live Labre showed a statistically significant increase in IFN-alpha production at 2 weeks (p < 0.05) and at 4 weeks (p < 0.05) in the group receiving 600 million bacteria/day and at 4 weeks (p < 0.05) in the group receiving 300 million bacteria/day. In particular, IFN-alpha production in those with initially low levels rose significantly when either 300 million or 600 million bacteria/day were ingested. Consumption of heat-killed Labre 300 million bacteria/day did not result in a statistically significant change in IFN-alpha production. The level of 2-5A synthetase activity remained the same in the control and experimental groups.

Oral administration of live Labre significantly increased IFN-alpha production in a dose-dependent manner. Labre intake tended to be most beneficial in subjects with initially low levels of IFN-alpha production. Heat-treated Labre did not elicit a response similar to that of the live bacteria.     

The relationship between atopic dermatitis and indoor environmental factors: a cross-sectional study among Japanese elementary school children

Objectives

This study aimed to determine that home environmental factors were associated with atopic dermatitis in Japanese elementary school children.

Methods

In this cross-sectional study, a total of 4,254 children in 12 public elementary schools in Sapporo city in Hokkaido, Japan were examined. Atopic dermatitis was defined using the International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Childhood questionnaire. The questionnaires also contained 14 questions about the child’s home environment. To obtain multivariate-adjusted ORs for atopic dermatitis in relation to the home environment, we controlled for possible confounders including gender, school grade, parental history of allergies, number of siblings, and whether the child was firstborn. The study participants were then divided into two groups according to gender, and a stratified analysis was performed to obtain adjusted ORs for atopic dermatitis in relation to the home environment.

Results

The prevalence of atopic dermatitis in our sample was 16.7 %. Using fully adjusted models, the risk factors for atopic dermatitis were found to be the household use of a non-electric heating system without a ventilation duct to the outside (compared to the use of an electric heating system), having visible mould in the house, having a mouldy odour in the house, and condensation on the windowpanes in the house odds ratios (OR 1.25–1.54). In our stratified analysis, having visible mould and having a mouldy odour in the house were relevantly found to be risk factors for boys (OR 1.28–1.64). However, these associations were not found among girls.

Conclusions

To improve children’s health, further study is needed to corroborate the findings.     

Relation between alcohol consumption and arterial stiffness: A cross-sectional study of middle-aged Japanese women and men

Epidemiological data indicate the existence of a J–shaped association between alcohol consumption and cardiovascular mobility and mortality. However, studies assessing the relationship between alcohol consumption and pulse wave velocity (PWV) as a marker of arterial stiffness have provided inconsistent results. In addition, data regarding the effect of alcohol on arterial stiffness in women has been limited. This study aimed to clarify the relationship between alcohol consumption and PWV among female and male workers in Japan. Study participants were local government employees in Hokkaido, Japan, who underwent annual health check-ups. All data were collected using self-administered questionnaires. The average daily alcohol consumption of the previous month, based on the alcohol concentration of each beverage type (g/day, ethanol equivalent), was estimated according to the frequency and amount of consumption. Data from 3893 participants (812 women and 3081 men) were analyzed. In women, non-drinkers had significantly higher PWV than women who consumed <10 g/day of alcohol. In men, compared with those who reportedly drank 20–39 g/day, non-drinkers and those who drank <20 g/day and ≥60 g/day had significantly higher PWV. Alcohol consumption showed a J–shaped association with PWV in men (p for quadratic term < 0.036) and marginally in women (p < 0.056). The results of stratified analyses by age groups showed a significant J–shaped association, which was most notable for men ≥45 years (p < 0.005). In middle-aged Japanese women and men, light-to-moderate alcohol consumption is associated with lower PWV, which in turn correlates with a reduction in vascular stiffness.     

Clinical and radiographic study of dens invaginatus.

After a determination of the frequency of dens invaginatus by means of radiographic observations, various problems of its identification are discussed. The 188 teeth showing a distinct loop-shaped invagination apically on the radiograph were studied for the presence or absence of caries and periapical lesions. It was demonstrated that periapical lesions caused by caries are mostly due to interproximal caries and that the frequency of periapical lesions caused by caries in the dens invaginatus area was less than previously reported. Comments are made on the dens invaginatus cases having periapical lesions without caries and the parameters for future studies.     

Relationship of the mandibular canal to the lateral cortex of the mandibular ramus as a factor in the development of neurosensory disturbance after bilateral sagittal split osteotomy.

PURPOSE: This study evaluated the location of the mandibular canal in the ramus of the mandible before bilateral sagittal split ramus osteotomy and examined its relationship with postoperative neurosensory disturbance. PATIENTS AND METHODS: The subjects consisted of 20 patients undergoing bilateral sagittal split ramus osteotomy. Before surgery, the region from a plane containing the lowest point of the mandibular foramen to 22 mm below it was observed on transaxial computed tomograms acquired with a slice thickness of 2 mm and a slice interval of 2 mm. The relationship between the distance from the mandibular canal to the external cortical bone and neurosensory disturbance in the lower lip or mentum more than 1 year after surgery was evaluated. RESULTS: The mandibular canal came into contact with the external cortical bone on 10 sides (25%); neurosensory disturbance occurred on all these sides, an incidence significantly greater than that (20%) on the 30 sides (75%) without contact between the canal and the external cortical bone (P <.05). In patients with mandibular canal/external cortical bone contact, the vertical extent of contact ranged from 2 to 18 mm (mean, 10.6 +/- 4.9 mm). Neurosensory disturbance was significantly more likely to be present 1 year after surgery, when the width of the marrow space between the mandibular canal and the external cortical bone was 0.8 mm or less (P <.002). CONCLUSIONS: The increased risk of neurosensory disturbance associated when there is contact between the mandibular canal and the external cortical bone should be considered when sagittal split ramus osteotomy is performed.