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The melon fly, Bactrocera cucurbitae, is one of the most destructive pests of cucurbit crops. Its distribution extends into Africa, India, Southeastern Asia and the Pacific Islands including Hawaii. A pilot project to eradicate the melon fly by using the “sterile insect technique” was initiated on Kume Island in 1972, and the fly was successfully eradicated in 1978 Iwahashi 1977, Ito and Koyama. The eradication program in the Okinawa Islands, which include the largest island, Okinawa Island, in the Ryukyu Archipelago, was begun in 1986. The control strategy was based on an estimation of the wild population density and the number of sterile flies to be released for eradication which was derived from the simulation model. No wild fly had been captured and no infested fruits had been detected since December 1989. On the basis of trap and host fruit surveys, the government announced the eradication of the melon fly in the Okinawa Islands in November 1990.

Summary Background & aims The associations between dietary magnesium intake and stroke and coronary heart disease (CHD) incidences are inconsistent and not established in Asian. We aimed to determine the association between dietary magnesium intake and the risk of stroke and CHD in a Japanese population. Subjects/Methods We studied 85,293 Japanese subjects by questionnaire at baseline (age 45–74 years, without cardiovascular disease or cancer in 1995 and 1998 for Cohorts I and II, respectively). The participants were followed until the end of 2009 and 2010 in Cohorts I and II, respectively. Dietary magnesium intake was estimated from a self-administered 138-item food-frequency questionnaire. Results After 1,305,738 person-years of follow-up, 4110 strokes and 1283 cases of CHD were documented. The multivariable-adjusted hazard ratios (HRs, 95% confidence intervals, 95%CIs) of CHD for the fourth and fifth quintiles of dietary magnesium intake were 0.70 (0.50–0.99) and 0.66 (0.44–0.97) in men (P for trend = 0.036), respectively, and third quintile of dietary magnesium intake was 0.61 (0.39–0.96) in women (P for trend = 0.241), compared with the lowest quintile in men and women. We observed no decreased risks of incident stroke in men or women with higher dietary magnesium intakes. Conclusions Higher dietary magnesium intake was associated with a reduced risk of CHD in Japanese men.

A finding between dietary pattern and cancer may provide visions beyond the assessment of individual foods or nutrients. We examined the influence of dietary pattern with colorectal cancer (CRC) among a Japanese population.A total of 93,062 subjects (43,591 men, 49,471 women) who participated in the Japan Public Health Center-based Prospective Study were followed from 1995-1998 to the end of 2012, during which 2482 cases of CRC (1514 men, 968 women) were newly identified. Dietary data was obtained from a validated food-frequency questionnaire between 1995 and 1998.Three dietary pattern was derived from principal components factor: prudent, westernized, and traditional pattern. After controlled for potential confounders, the prudent pattern showed a decreased association of CRC risk in men (HR for highest quintile vs lowest: 0.85; 95% CI: 0.72-1.00; P trend0.05), slightly more strongly with distal colon cancer (P trend0.05); but an increased risk of rectal cancer in women (P trend0.05). The westernized pattern showed a significant positive linear trend for colon (P trend0.05) and distal cancer (P trend0.05) in women. There was no apparent association of traditional Japanese dietary pattern on the overall or any specific sites risk of CRC.A prudent dietary pattern showed an inverse association with CRC risk in men, and a westernized pattern was related with a higher risk of colon and distal cancer in women.

Aims Coping strategies may be significantly associated with health outcomes. This is the first study to investigate the association between baseline coping strategies and cardiovascular disease (CVD) incidence and mortality in a general population cohort. Methods and results The Japan Public Health Center-based prospective Study asked questions on coping in its third follow-up survey (2000–04). Analyses on CVD incidence and mortality included 57 017 subjects aged 50–79 without a history of CVD and who provided complete answers on approach- and avoidance-oriented coping behaviours and strategies. Cox regression models, adjusted for confounders, were used to determine hazard ratios (HRs) according to coping style. Mean follow-up time was 7.9 years for incidence and 8.0 years for mortality. The premorbid use of an approach-oriented coping strategy was inversely associated with incidence of stroke (HR = 0.85; 95% CI, 0.73–1.00) and CVD mortality (HR = 0.74; 95% CI, 0.55–0.99). Stroke subtype analyses revealed an inverse association between the approach-oriented coping strategy and incidence of ischaemic stroke (HR = 0.79; 95% CI, 0.64–0.98) and a positive association between the combined coping strategy and incidence of intra-parenchymal haemorrhage (HR = 2.03; 95% CI, 1.01–4.10). Utilizing an avoidance coping strategy was associated with increased mortality from ischaemic heart disease (IHD) only in hypertensive individuals (HR = 3.46; 95% CI, 1.07–11.18). The coping behaviours fantasizing and positive reappraisal were associated with increased risk of CVD incidence (HR = 1.24; 95% CI, 1.03–1.50) and reduced risk of IHD mortality (HR = 0.63; 95% CI, 0.40–0.99), respectively. Conclusion An approach-oriented coping strategy, i.e. proactively dealing with sources of stress, may be associated with significantly reduced stroke incidence and CVD mortality in a Japanese population-based cohort.

Background and aims Higher intake of fish or n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) has been associated with reduced risk of coronary heart disease (CHD). However, it is unclear whether increased blood levels of n-3 PUFAs are associated with reduced risk of CHD in the Japanese population. Methods The relationship between circulating levels of n-3 PUFAs (eicosapentaenoic acid + docosapentaenoic acid + docosahexaenoic acid) and risk of CHD was examined in a nested case-control study among participants in the Japan Public Health Center (JPHC)-based Study Cohort. Plasma n-3 PUFA phospholipid levels were measured at baseline by gas chromatography in 209 cases with CHD and 418 controls matched for sex, age, date of blood draw, time elapsed since last meal before blood collection, and study location. The CHD cases (n = 209) comprised 168 cases of myocardial infarction and 41 of sudden cardiac death, otherwise classified as 157 non-fatal and 52 fatal coronary events, respectively. Mean duration of follow-up was 13.5 years. Results Multivariate conditional logistic analysis showed no significant association between n-3 PUFAs and risk of total CHD. The odds ratio (OR) for the highest versus lowest quartiles of plasma n-3 PUFAs was 0.79 (95% confidence interval [95% CI]: 0.41–1.51, p for trend = 0.51). Subtype analysis of CHD revealed that the multivariate ORs for the highest versus lowest quartiles for n-3 PUFAs were 0.91 (95% CI: 0.43–1.89, p for trend = 0.90) for myocardial infarction, 0.08 (95% CI: 0.01–0.88, p for trend = 0.04) for sudden cardiac death, 0.89 (95% CI: 0.42–1.89, p for trend = 0.97) for nonfatal coronary events, and 0.12 (95% CI: 0.02–0.75, p for trend = 0.03) for fatal coronary events. Conclusions Plasma n-3 PUFA levels were not associated with risk of total CHD but were inversely associated with risks of sudden cardiac death and fatal coronary events among middle-aged Japanese individuals.

Background.—Increases in arterial oxygen saturation (SaO2) in response to intermittent hypoxic exposure (IHE) are well established. However, IHE protocols have historically involved static hypoxic environments. The effect of a dynamic hypoxic environment on SaO2 is not known. Objective.—The purpose of this study was to examine the effect of dynamic IHE conditioning on SaO2 using the Cyclical Variable Altitude Conditioning Unit. Methods.—Thirteen trained participants (9 males, age 30.1 9.2 years; 4 females, age 30.3 8.9 years) residing at or near sea level were exposed to a 7-week IHE conditioning protocol (mean total exposure time 30.8 hours). Participants were exposed to a constantly varying series of hypobaric pressures simulating altitudes from sea level to 6858 m (22 500 feet) in progressive conditioning tiers, creating a dynamic hypoxic environment. SaO2 was evaluated using pulse oximetry (SpO2) 4 times: at 2740, 3360, and 4570 m, prior to and following the first 3 weeks of IHE, and at 4570, 5490, and 6400 m at the start and end of the final 4 weeks. Results.—SpO2 improved 3.5%, 3.8%, and 4.1% at 2470, 3360, and 4570 m, respectively (P .05), and 3.3%, 3.4%, and 5.9% at 4570, 5490, and 6400 m, respectively (P .05). At 4570 m, SpO2 increased from 81.7% 6.5% to 89.1% 3.2% over the entire 7-week conditioning period. Discussion.—The dynamic intermittent hypoxic conditioning protocol used in the present study resulted in an acclimation response, such that SpO2 was significantly increased at all altitudes tested, with shorter exposure times than generally reported.

We examined the association between green tea consumption and mortality due to all causes, cancer, heart disease, cerebrovascular disease, respiratory disease, injuries, and other causes of death in a large-scale population-based cohort study in Japan.We studied 90,914 Japanese (aged between 40 and 69 years) recruited between 1990 and 1994. After 18.7 years of follow-up, 12,874 deaths were reported. The association between green tea consumption and risk of all causes and major causes of mortality was assessed using the Cox proportional hazards regression model with adjustment for potential confounders.Hazard ratios for all-cause mortality among men who consumed green tea compared with those who drank less than 1 cup/day were 0.96 (0.89-1.03) for 1-2 cups/day, 0.88 (0.82-0.95) for 3-4 cups/day, and 0.87 (0.81-0.94) for more than 5 cups/day (P for trend.001). Corresponding hazard ratios for women were 0.90 (0.81-1.00), 0.87 (0.79-0.96), and 0.83 (0.75-0.91; P for trend.001). Green tea was inversely associated with mortality from heart disease in both men and women and mortality from cerebrovascular disease and respiratory disease in men. No association was found between green tea and total cancer mortality.This prospective study suggests that the consumption of green tea may reduce the risk of all-cause mortality and the three leading causes of death in Japan.

Results are reported of a questionnaire survey relating to a scale for general health, the Todai Health Index, in a town, bordering on a large U.S. airbase in the Ryukyus. The level of aircraft noise exposure, in the town, expressed by WECPNL, ranges from 75 to 95 or more. The sample size was 1200, including a 200 person “control” group. Results of the analysis of the responses in terms of the noise exposure suggest that the exposed residents suffer psychosomatic effects, especially perceived psychological disorders, due to the noise exposure to military aircraft, and that such responses increase with the level of noise exposure.

We propose the quark mean field model including derivative coupling between quarks and scalar mesons in nuclear matter. This model concisely interprets an increasing size of the nucleon as well as a modification of coupling constant in the nuclear environment.

Purpose: The purpose of this report was to review three cases of clinically significant rhabdomyolysis that developed in research subjects after completing an eccentric exercise protocol. All three cases occurred in subjects who reported use of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRI). Methods: Sixty-three subjects enrolled in the study. Subjects performed 15 sets of 15 repetitions of maximal eccentric contractions of the elbow flexors. Subjects were then monitored on a daily basis for development of delayed onset muscle soreness (DOMS). Subjects received either microcurrent electrical neuromuscular stimulation (MENS) or sham treatment. Results: Three subjects developed clinically significant rhabdomyolysis after performing this exercise protocol. Affected subjects were the only subjects who reported use of SSRI during the study period. Conclusion: This report raises suspicion of SSRI use as a predisposing factor to muscle injury after eccentric exercise.

Slideboard exercise is consistent with the American College of Sports Medicine guidelines for exercise intensity of 55% to 90% of maximal heart rate or 40% to 85% of maximal oxygen uptake.To determine if slideboard exercise while in a leg harness increases the metabolic and cardiorespiratory demands.Repeated-measures design.Athletic Training Research Laboratory.Sixteen volunteers from the university community.Subjects performed 2 graded slideboard exercise tests with and without the leg harness, each 2-minute stage ranging from 46 to 90 slides per minute.We measured maximal oxygen uptake, heart rate, blood lactate, respiratory exchange ratio, ratings of perceived exertion, and total time to exhaustion during each session.Significant decreases in maximal oxygen uptake and blood lactate were observed when the leg harness was used.Performance was hindered when subjects wore the leg harness during the slideboard exercise.

In health care setting, transmission of M. tuberculosis (TB) is considerable risk not only to patients but to health care workers (HCWs). The total number of registered TB cases in Okinawa prefecture was 1,202 in 1993-1995 (incidence rate 28.3 per 100,000 in 1995) and that of HCWs was 23. Using data from TB registration system, relative risk of tuberculous disease of nurses was estimated to be 2.3 higher than general population. Nosocomial transmission of TB to HCWs in a general hospital was occurred in 1993. After 2 nurses in the same ward were diagnosed as active pulmonary TB by routine screening chest X-ray, a contact investigation was performed in their family, friends and the ward staffs. On the result of initial evaluation of PPD test, 22 of 26 HCWs were suspected to be infected and preventive therapy with isoniazid were given to 16 HCWs. Follow-up chest radiographs for 3 years revealed 5 HCWs were active TB. According to RFLP analysis of M. tuberculosis isolates, 3 HCWs and 1 patient had identical RFLP pattern to 65-year-old female SLE patient, who was admitted for fever in Nov. 1993 and was diagnosed as miliary tuberculosis after 2 weeks admission. As she had no cough and sputum, the infectiousness of the case was suspected to be increased by cough-inducing procedure. The following TB infection control measures were conducted in the hospital; (1) Education and training to all HCWs for early identification of TB patient and adequate treatment (2) Surveillance and reporting system of TB patient from laboratory and ward to infection-control committee (3) Introduction of PPD test program for HCWs (4) Use of HEPA masks as personal respiratory protection. We need further evaluation of engineering controls e.g. ventilation and isolation room.

A collaborative group for studying vertical transmission of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-1 in pregnant women and their babies was established in Japan in 1989. Forty-two infants, including 13 HIV-1-infected, 25 uninfected and four of undetermined status and 15 control children born to HIV-1 negative mothers were diagnosed and followed from birth to 1.5 years. All strains from HIV-positive infants were either clade E (eight infants, 61.5%) or B (five infants, 38.5%) according to DNA sequencing specific for the HIV-1 C2-V3 region. The 42 mothers with HIV-1 were women with sexual-risk behavior from all regions, but were concentrated in the Kanto District. In this group of HIV-infected children, there was no significant difference between the transmissibility of their mother's clade E and B viruses. Eight (61.5%) of the 13 virus-infected babies were Japanese and five (62.5%) of the eight were positive for HIV-1 clade E. The V3 loop region of the clade E virus of the babies was conserved but approximately 60% of the sequences which showed a substitution of aspartic acid by asparagine at position 29. The results suggest that HIV-1 clade E may be predominant in vertical transmissions and are phenotypically different from HIV-1 in persons with various other risk behaviors in Japan.

Summary Recombinant Mengo viruses expressing heterologous genes have proven to be safe and immunogenic in both mice and primates, and to be able to induce both humoral and cellular immune responses (Altmeyer et al. , 1995, 1996). Several recombinant Mengo viruses expressing either a large region (aa 65-206) of the HIV1 nef gene product, or cytotoxic T lymphocyte (CTL) epitopic regions from the SIV Gag (aa 182-190), Nef (aa 155178) and Pol (aa 587-601) gene products were engineered. The heterologous antigens were expressed either as fusion proteins with the Mengo virus leader (L) protein, or in cleaved form through autocatalytic cleavage by the foot-and-mouth disease virus 2A protein. Rhesus macaques and BALB/c mice inoculated with the Mengo virus SIV recombinants failed to develop CTL responses against the SIV gene products, while one of the HIV-Nef recombinants induced a weak CTL response in mice directed to an HIV1 Nef peptide spanning positions 182–198. In contrast, BALB/c mice immunized with vaccinia virus recombinants expressing HIV1 Nef developed a strong CTL response to the 182–198 peptide and also responded to a second peptide spanning positions 73–81. These results indicate that Mengo virus recombinants expressing HIV1 Nef and SIV CTL epitopes are weak immunogens. One of the fusion recombinants expressing SIV CTL epitopes failed to infect macaques even when used at high doses, while the recombinant expressing HIV1 Nef as a fusion protein failed to infect BALB/c mice. These results demonstrate that the expression of certain heterologous sequences as fusion proteins with L can result in the loss of the ability of the recombinant to infect normally susceptible animals.

We experienced a case of spontaneous rupture of the esophagus which was successfully managed by suture of the ruptured site and pedicled omental covering. A 47-year-old male was referred to our department in unstable condition 60 hours after the onset of acute symptoms. Upon presentation to the hospital, the patient was in shock and complained of severe chest pain and dyspnea, the onset of which followed vomiting after consumption of alcohol. A diagnosis of spontaneous rupture of the esophagus was made on the basis of the history of the episode and chest X-ray and chest CT findings. After construction of a pedicled omentum created during laparotomy, left-sided thoracotomy and debridment of the mediastinum was performed, which was seen to contain necrotic tissue and purulental fluid. The site of esophageal rupture, nearly 3 cm in length, was sutured shut and reinforced with a pedicled omental covering, the postoperative course was uneventful, and oral intake was resumed 20 days following the surgery. The pedicled omental covering procedure was useful for reinforcing sutures at the site of rupture and for control of infection in this patient for whom institution of surgical therapy for spontaneous esophageal rupture was delayed following the acute onset of symptoms.

The relationship between strongyloidiasis and HTLV-I was investigated in Okinawa, an area where both conditions are endemic. Thirty-six patients with strongyloidiasis were seropositive for HTLV-I and suffered from several related clinical complications. Fourteen of these patients (39%) were shown to have monoclonal integration of HTLV-I proviral DNA in their blood lymphocytes, a condition designated as "smouldering" adult T-cell leukaemia (ATL). Monoclonal integration of proviral DNA correlated with an increased CD4/CD8 ratio and the presence of abnormal lymphocytes in the peripheral blood, and with a trend for greater severity of the parasitic infection. Although the immunodeficiency caused by HTLV-I could predispose to hyperinfestation by Strongyloides, it is also possible that both the parasitic and the retroviral infestations are important co-factors leading to the development of ATL.

In order to investigate the relationship between neuronal size and axonal length, we compared the size of chick propriospinal neurons in several segmental levels. As the index of neuron size, the cross sectional areas of somata were measured. After unilateral implantation of solidified HRP into the lumbar enlargement (2 cases) or the cervical enlargement (1 case) in the 2-4 day post-hatch chick under Nembutal anesthesia, propriospinal neurons projecting to the enlargement were visualized by TMB method. Labeled cells found in complete serial transverse sections were all traced onto tracing papers put on photomicrographs under examination with the microscope (Fig. 2). In several successive sections in the cervical cord, the cervical enlargement, the lumbar and the sacral cord, the cross sectional areas of their 3601 somata were measured on traced drawings of final magnification X243 by means of a computer system graphic analyzer (Cosmo Zone, Nikon) (Fig. 1). As a control case, cross sectional areas of somata were also measured in Nissl preparations in laminae V-VIII, where vast majority of propriospinal neurons are located, and also lamina IX. In Nissl preparations, the cross sectional areas of neurons in laminae V-VIII had a wide range distribution from 50 to 1600 micron 2. Over 90% of them were distributed from 50 to 600 micron 2. Among them, the neurons with somata of 150-250 micron 2 were most numerous. The distribution pattern was almost the same in all segments examined. The cross sectional areas of neurons in lamina IX were also distributed in a wide range from 150 to 1600 micron 2 (Fig. 3).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

We have experienced case involving a 63-year-old patient with a pulmonary carcinoma, who was given an enterectomy following a lobectomy, due to minimal intestinal metastasis. In this case, using flow cytometry, the cancer cell nuclear DNA content was analyzed for the primary tumor focus, the mediastinal lymph node metastatic focus, and the small intestinal metastatic focus. For the primary focus, a cancer cellular population of polyploidy with 2 ploidies of DNA content was observed, while for both the metastatic foci, only a single cancer cellular population was observed, indicating the heterogeneity of the nuclear DNA content between the primary focus and metastatic foci. These 2 metastatic foci had DNA contents completely corresponding to that for a ploidy with a high DNA content in the primary focus, suggesting a metastasis of only the above population from the primary focus. The present case apparently formed metastatic foci in other organs than the lungs but only by cancer cells more susceptible to metastasis among the cancer cells found in the primary focus.

Our previous study with 3H-thymidine autoradiography showed that neurons of the zona spongiosa, the nucleus proprius of the dorsal horn, the zona intermedia and the ventralhorn differentiated earlier than those of the substantia gelatinosa and the neck and the base of the dorsal horn, and that neurons of the substantia gelatinosa which were the last to differentiate reached their final position at stage 36 (Fig. 1). In the upper cervical cord of chick embryos at stage 36 when all spinal neurons finished cell migration and the cytoarchitecture similar to that of the cat spinal cord (Rexed, 1952) could be recognized (cf. Figs. 1, 3B), we studied the distribution of synapses by the electron microphotomontage (Fig. 3 A) and the morphology of axon collaterals coming from the white matter by the Golgi method (Fig. 4), in order to examine i) which spinal neurons have synaptic contacts at this stage and ii) what part of the axon collateral makes synaptic contacts. In the white matter, synapses were numerous around the gray matter and they were few in the peripheral part along the external surface of the cord. The paucity of synapses in the peripheral part was explained by a finding that dendrites reaching the external surface of the cord were few in number at this stage (cf. Fig. 3 C). In the gray matter, synapses were more numerous and denser in the zona intermedia and the ventral horn than in the dorsal horn.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

A 60-year-old man born in Okinawa was admitted to our hospital because of epigastralgia. Physical examination revealed general lymphadenopathy, mild hepatomegaly and skin eruption. The peripheral blood leukocyte count was 168,600/microliters, with 93% abnormal lymphocytes showing convoluted or lobulated nuclei. Anti HTLV-1 antibody was positive with titer of 1: 1280 (PA). Leukemic cells had typical ATL cells' surface markers (OKT3; 97.2%, T4; 93.3%, T8; 2.8%, OKIA1; 39.6%, IL-2R; 41.8%) and complete monoclonal HTLV-1 provirus DNA. Endoscopic examination with biopsy revealed massive involvement of ATL cells into gastric mucosa. In the course of the treatment, he had extremely massive melena, and was saved by emergency operation. Multiple ulcers were found in the resected colon. Histological examination showed the marked infiltration of the ATL cells into the mucous or submucous membrane. Thereafter, he was treated well with ALG (Anti Lymphocyte Globulin), until hypercalcemia occurred. He died of acute renal failure after hypercalcemia.