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Climate change, by its influence on the ecology of vectors might affect the occurrence of vector-borne diseases. This study examines the effects of meteorological factors in Japan on the occurrence of scrub typhus, a mite-borne zoonosis caused by Orientia tsutsugamushi. Using negative binomial regression, we analysed the relationships between meteorological factors (including temperature, rainfall, snowfall) and spring–early summer cases of scrub typhus in Yamagata Prefecture, Japan, during 1984–2014. The average temperature in July and August of the previous year, cumulative rainfall in September of the previous year, snowfall throughout the winter, and maximum depth of snow cover in January and February were positively correlated with the number of scrub typhus cases. By contrast, cumulative rainfall in July of the previous year showed a negative relationship to the number of cases. These associations can be explained by the life-cycle of Leptotrombidium pallidum, a predominant vector of spring–early summer cases of scrub typhus in northern Japan. Our findings show that several meteorological factors are useful to estimate the number of scrub typhus cases before the endemic period. They are applicable to establish an early warning system for scrub typhus in northern Japan. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

A Japanese family consisting of a mother and her two daughters, all experienced NMS on therapeutic or subtherapeutic doses of neuroleptics. The mother and the elder daughter had past histories of severe neuroleptic-induced extrapyramidal symptoms. The predisposition to this syndrome may be genetically transmitted. We suggest that neuroleptic treatment should be introduced with extreme caution to a patient with a family history of NMS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The effects of biperiden and piroheptine on the serum level of zotepine were studied in 15 schizophrenic and 6 mentally retarded in-patients. Neither of these anticholinergic drugs affected the serum level of zotepine nor caused significant side-effects. In the schizophrenics the total scores on the BPRS did not change significantly with either combination of drugs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A letter to the editor is presented describing a case of a 69-year-old depressed woman who had withdrawal symptoms after alprazolam withdrawal.

A case showing various involuntary movements during mianserin treatment and after a withdrawal of mianserin is described. This is the first case report of mianserin-induced involuntary movements. The report suggests that these symptoms can occur with a therapeutic dose of mianserin in certain susceptible patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A letter to the editor is presented to report on a case of crossover reaction between a neuroleptic and an antidepressant.

Background It has been shown that certain personality traits are related to mortality and disease morbidity, but the biological mechanism linking them remains unclear. Telomeres are tandem repeat DNA sequences located at the ends of chromosomes, and shorter telomere length is a predictor of mortality and late-life disease morbidity. Thus, it is possible that personality traits influence telomere length. In the present study, we examined the relationship of leukocyte telomere length with personality traits in healthy subjects. Subjects and methods The subjects were 209 unrelated healthy Japanese who were recruited from medical students at 4th–5th grade. Assessment of personality traits was performed by the Revised NEO Personality Inventory (NEO-PI-R) and the Temperament and Character Inventory (TCI). Leukocyte relative telomere length was determined by a quantitative real-time PCR method for a ratio of telomere/single copy gene. Results In the stepwise multiple regression analysis, shorter telomere length was related to lower scores of neuroticism ( P < 0.01) and conscientiousness ( P < 0.05) of the NEO-PI-R, and lower scores of harm avoidance ( P < 0.05) and reward dependence ( P < 0.05) of the TCI. Conclusions The present study suggests that leukocyte telomere length is associated with some personality traits, and this association may be implicated in the relationship between personality traits and mortality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]