Southwest Part Of Japan Research Articles

Community-Acquired Pneumonia Incidence in Adults Aged 18 Years and Older in Goto City, Japan: A Prospective Population-Based Study

Community-Acquired Pneumonia Incidence in Adults Aged 18 Years and Older in Goto City, Japan: A Prospective Population-Based Study

An improved apparent polar wander path for southwest Japan: post-Cretaceous multiphase rotations with respect to the Asian continent

To construct the Mesozoic apparent polar wander path (APWP) for the inner arc of the southwestern Japanese islands (referred to as southwest Japan) and compare it to that of East Asia, a 110 Ma paleomagnetic pole for southwest Japan was determined. Mudstone and sandstone samples were collected from 16 sites for paleomagnetic analysis in the Lower Cretaceous Inakura Formation of the Inakura area in the central part of southwest Japan. A high-temperature magnetization component, with unblocking temperatures of 670–695 °C, was isolated from 12 sites of red mudstone. Of these, 11 sites revealed a primary remanent magnetization during the Early Cretaceous. The primary directions combined with the previously reported ones provide a new mean direction (D = 79.7°, I = 47.4°, α95 = 6.5°, N = 17), and a corresponding paleomagnetic pole that is representative of southwest Japan (24.6° N, 203.1° E, A95 = 6.8°). The Early Cretaceous paleomagnetic pole, together with the Late Cretaceous and Cenozoic poles, constitute a new APWP for southwest Japan. The new APWP illustrates a standstill polar position during 110–70 Ma, suggesting tectonic quiescence of this region. This standstill was followed by two large tracks during the Cenozoic. We interpret these tracks as clockwise tectonic rotations of southwest Japan that occurred twice during the Cenozoic. The earlier tectonic rotation occurred for a tectonic unit positioned below northeast China, the Liaodong and Korean Peninsulas, and southwest Japan (East Tan-Lu Block) during the Paleogene. The later rotation took place only under southwest Japan during the Neogene. Cenozoic multiphase rifting activity in the eastern margin of the Asian continent was responsible for the tectonic rotations that are observed from the paleomagnetic studies. Intermittent rifting may constitute a series of phenomena due to asthenospheric convection, induced by the growth of the Eurasian mega-continent in the Mesozoic.

Molecular phylogenetic analysis of bovine papular stomatitis viruses detected in Saga, Japan.

In this study, we performed a molecular phylogenetic analysis of six bovine papular stomatitis virus (BPSV) field strains detected from Japanese beef calves kept on a farm in Saga prefecture, a southwest part of Japan, from 2017 to 2020. The phylogenetic analysis based on a partial B2L gene (554-nt) showed that these field strains were divided into two lineages, a lineage (A-lineage) constructed by a Saga strain and strains obtained from various regions of Japan and the world, and other lineage (B-lineage) constructed by five Saga strains and strains obtained from France, USA and Iwate prefecture (a north part of Japan). Furthermore, a Saga field strain named BPSV_SAGAbv2 and strains obtained from USA and Iwate prefecture belonged to a sub-lineage blanched from B-lineage. This is the first report elucidating molecular epidemiological characters of field BPSVs obtained from Saga prefecture. The existence of the multiple lineages was thought to be related to a history of calf introduction from various regions of Japan into Saga prefecture.

Detection of viral RNA in diverse body fluids in an SFTS patient with encephalopathy, gastrointestinal bleeding and pneumonia: a case report and literature review

BackgroundSevere fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome (SFTS) is an emerging infectious disease that commonly has a lethal course caused by the tick-borne Huaiyangshan banyang virus [former SFTS virus (SFTSV)]. The viral load in various body fluids in SFTS patients and the best infection control measure for SFTS patients have not been fully established.Case presentationA 79-year-old man was bitten by a tick while working in the bamboo grove in Nagasaki Prefecture in the southwest part of Japan. Due to the occurrence of impaired consciousness, he was referred to Nagasaki University Hospital for treatment. The serum sample tested positive for SFTSV-RNA in the genome amplification assay, and he was diagnosed with SFTS. Furthermore, SFTSV-RNA was detected from the tick that had bitten the patient. He was treated with multimodal therapy, including platelet transfusion, antimicrobials, antifungals, steroids, and continuous hemodiafiltration. His respiration was assisted with mechanical ventilation. On day 5, taking the day on which he was hospitalized as day 0, serum SFTSV-RNA levels reached a peak and then decreased. However, the cerebrospinal fluid collected on day 13 was positive for SFTSV-RNA. In addition, although serum SFTSV-RNA levels decreased below the detectable level on day 16, he was diagnosed with pneumonia with computed tomography. SFTSV-RNA was detected in the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid on day 21. By day 31, he recovered consciousness completely. The pneumonia improved by day 51, but SFTSV-RNA in the sputum remained positive for approximately 4 months after disease onset. Strict countermeasures against droplet/contact infection were continuously conducted.ConclusionsEven when SFTSV genome levels become undetectable in the serum of SFTS patients in the convalescent phase, the virus genome remains in body fluids and tissues. It may be possible that body fluids such as respiratory excretions become a source of infection to others; thus, careful infection control management is needed.

Effect of the 2016 Kumamoto earthquakes on preventable hospital admissions: a retrospective cohort study in Japan

Background and objectivesThe Kumamoto earthquakes struck Kumamoto prefecture, in the southwest part of Japan in April 2016. Physical and mental disorders presenting to hospital increased after the 2016 Kumamoto earthquakes....

Characterization of a mini core collection of Japanese wheat varieties using single-nucleotide polymorphisms generated by genotyping-by-sequencing.

A core collection of Japanese wheat varieties (JWC) consisting of 96 accessions was established based on their passport data and breeding pedigrees. To clarify the molecular basis of the JWC collection, genome-wide single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) genotyping was performed using the genotyping-by-sequencing (GBS) approach. Phylogenetic tree and population structure analyses using these SNP data revealed the genetic diversity and relationships among the JWC accessions, classifying them into four groups; “varieties in the Hokkaido area”, “modern varieties in the northeast part of Japan”, “modern varieties in the southwest part of Japan” and “classical varieties including landraces”. This clustering closely reflected the history of wheat breeding in Japan. Furthermore, to demonstrate the utility of the JWC collection, we performed a genome-wide association study (GWAS) for three traits, namely, “days to heading in autumn sowing”, “days to heading in spring sowing” and “culm length”. We found significantly associated SNP markers with each trait, and some of these were closely linked to known major genes for heading date or culm length on the genetic map. Our study indicates that this JWC collection is a useful set of germplasm for basic and applied research aimed at understanding and utilizing the genetic diversity among Japanese wheat varieties.

Intermediate P/T-type regional metamorphism of the Isua Supracrustal Belt, southern west Greenland: The oldest Pacific-type orogenic belt?

The 3.7–3.8Ga Isua Supracrustal Belt (ISB), southwest Greenland, might be the oldest accretionary complex on Earth. Regional metamorphism of the ISB has a potential to constrain the tectonothermal history of the Earth during the Eoarchean. Chemical and modal analyses of metabasite in the study area (i.e., the northeast part of the ISB) show that the metamorphic grade increases from greenschist facies in the northern part of the study area to amphibolite facies in the southern part. To determine the precise metamorphic P–T ranges, isochemical phase diagrams of minerals of metabasite were made using Perple_X. A synthesis of the estimated metamorphic P–T ranges of the ISB indicates that both the metamorphic pressure and temperature increase systematically to the south in the study area from 3kbar and 380°C to 6kbar and 560°C. The monotonous metamorphic P–T change suggests that the northeast part of the ISB preserves regional metamorphism resulting from the subduction of an accretionary complex although the ISB experienced metamorphic overprints during the Neoarchean. Both the presence of the regional metamorphism and an accretionary complex having originating at subduction zone suggest that the ISB may be the oldest Pacific-type orogenic belt. The progressive metamorphism can be considered as a record of intermediate-P/T type geothermal gradient at the subduction zone in the Eoarchean. Intermediate-P/T type geothermal gradient is typical at the current zones of subducting young oceanic crust, such as in the case of the Philippine Sea Plate in the southwest part of Japan. Considering the fact that almost all metamorphisms in the Archean are greenschist–amphibolite facies, the intermediate-P/T type geothermal gradient at the ISB might have been worldwide in the Archean. This would indicate that the subduction of young micro-plates was common because of the vigorous convection of hot mantle in the Archean.

Clonal spread in Eastern Asia of ciprofloxacin-resistant Escherichia coli serogroup O25 strains, and associated virulence factors

A significant problem in the field of infectious diseases is the increase in fluoroquinolone (FQ)-resistant Escherichia coli. Although mutation of strains and clonal dissemination are supposed to be the cause of this increase, little is known about the prevalence of this organism. We investigated 219 FQ-resistant E. coli strains in Japan and nine Asian countries by serotyping and genotyping. Seventy-one strains (32.4%) were serogroup O25, which was prevalent in South Korea, China and Japan, especially in the southwest part of Japan. Aerobactin, a virulence factor in uropathogenic and avian pathogenic E. coli, was associated with the presence of FQ-resistant O25 strains of E. coli. Seven of the seventy-one FQ-resistant E. coli O25 had extended-spectrum β-lactamase genes (six CTX-M-14 and one SHV-12), however, we were unable to find any E. coli O25-ST131 clone that produced CTX-M-15, which was previously reported to have emerged across continents. These data demonstrate that a clonal group of FQ-resistant and virulent E. coli recently became prevalent at least in East Asia and suggest that this might become a public health problem because the strains may acquire resistance to other antimicrobial agents.

Bath-related deaths in Kagoshima, the southwest part of Japan

In Japan, sudden death in the bathroom (what we call 'bath-related death') has been reported to occur particularly in the elderly population in the winter. This investigation aimed to obtain a better understanding of the factors associated with bath-related deaths. For this purpose, a retrospective review of the inquest records in Kagoshima Prefecture, the southwest part of Japan, during 2006-2007 was performed. There were 338 cases of bath-related death, which corresponds to a crude mortality rate of 9.7 per 100,000 persons per year. The occurrence of bath-related death was similar to that of other prefectures in Japan, despite the warm environment in Kagoshima. The victims' ages ranged from 37 to 101 years (mean 76.6 years) and 88.8% of patients were over 65 years. The associated factors included winter season (56.2%) and a medical history of hypertension (37.3%). These demographic and circumstantial factors correlated with previous studies in Japan. These results suggest that the Japanese method of bathing, in addition to cold bathrooms in winter, contributes to the high rate of bath-related death in Japan. In addition, the mortality rate of people who lived alone was significantly higher than that of those who lived with their families. Most cases occurred in the home bathroom (84.9%) at the time when elderly people usually bathe (48.7%). Our results indicate that bath-related death occurs most often during the normal daily life of the aged. Protective activities of the Japanese government and society should aim to reduce the number of these tragic deaths in the bathroom. Further, no autopsies were performed on the cases in this study. Therefore, the rate of autopsies in bath-related death should be increased in order to accumulate data based on objective evidence.

Development of the off-Toyohashi seafloor cabled observatory

The existence of fluid in seismogenic zones plays a key role in great earthquakes. Data on electrical conductivity structures obtained by electromagnetic surveys across the great earthquake zones show that the seismically locked zones correspond to low conductive zones. This low conductivity is possibly interpreted as relatively low fluid content in rock or sediment. For more discussion on the role of fluid in earthquake occurrence, we have recently started an electromagnetic and seismological monitoring project using long submarine cables off Toyohashi, in the southwest part of Japan's main island. The cables are located on the Tokai seismogenic zone, where both slow-slipping and locked zones are obvious by GPS observation. We constructed a seafloor observatory at the tip of the western cable, including a seismometer, pressure gauges, a magnetometer, voltmeters, and thermometers. These sensors measure and transfer data on the seafloor environment in real time. The data will be used for passive and active monitoring below the seafloor, including in the Tokai seismogenic zone.

Effects of dioxins on stress-responsive systems and their relevance to toxicity

Summary Background: Dioxins and related compounds, exemplified by 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin, are recognized as widespread, persistent and highly toxic environmental pollutants. Although numerous studies have been performed to clarify the mechanisms governing dioxin toxicity, these are not yet fully understood because of their complexity. In 1968, subacute poisoning by polychlorinated biphenyls, called ‘Yusho’, occurred in the southwest part of Japan. Although many of the Yusho patients appear to be free from any of the symptoms produced by the pollutant at present, they remain at high risk of dioxin toxicity because of the high concentrations present in the body. To date, no effective method for combating this toxicity has been developed. Objective: In this review, we summarize dioxin toxicity by focusing on the quenching systems of reactive oxygen species and chaperone proteins. In addition, the possibility of the development of protective and therapeutic treatments for dioxin toxicity is discussed.

Physical criterion to evaluate seismic activity associated with the seismic cycle of great interplate earthquakes

A new criterion is introduced to judge if the vicinity of the source region of a great interplate earthquake is in an ‘active period’. It is based on the stress change caused by the great earthquake. A region is regarded as being in an active period of seismicity if the occurrence rate of earthquakes on faults in the stress shadow of the great earthquake is significantly higher than in the early stage of the seismic cycle, and if the stressing rate of these faults is sufficiently low. This criterion was applied to the seismicity in the central part of southwest Japan before and after the 1944 Tonankai and 1946 Nankai earthquakes. The results show that before the 1944 Tonankai earthquake, the region was in an active period from at least 1927.The region was in a quiet period for almost50 years after the 1946 Nankai earthquake.Data after 1995 show that the region is once more in an active period of seismicity preceding the next great interplate earthquakes along the Nankai trough,although the total number of earthquakes has not yet significantly increased. Our results indicate that earthquake probability in the central part of southwest Japan will become high in the coming decades until the next great interplate earthquakes along the Nankai trough.

Similarity of Amino Acid Composition of Grape Berries Produced in Different Years and Locations.

Free amino acids in the juice of four table grape cultivars ('Campbell Early', 'Kyoho', 'Muscat Bailey A', and 'Neo Muscat') grown in eight locations, primarily in the southwest part of Japan, were analyzed in 1992 and 1993. In each cultivar, total amino acids content ranged between 1.0 to 1.8 mM. To compare the similarity in the amino acid composition of berries produced in different years and locations, the pattern similarity index (PSI) was calculated. The PSI is defined as a cosine of the angle (θ) between the amino acid composition of environment A for vector OA (aAsp, aThr, …, aArg=a1, a2, …, an) and that of environment B for vector OB (bAsp, bThr, …, bArg=b1, b2, …, bn) in n dimensional space : [numerical formula] With regard to the amino acid composition (pattern), the PSI value consisted of the intuitive judgment of similarity on the pattern. As the number of significantly differentiated amino acids increased, the PSI correspondingly tended to be lower. Based on the PSI value, the criterion of classification for pattern similarity of amino acid composition was proposed as follows : over 0.980 as more ; below 0.979 as less similar. The percentage frequencies of more patterns, with respect to PSI values, 'Campbell Early', 'Muscat Bailey A', 'Neo Muscat', and 'Kyoho' were 75, 73, 72, and 69%, accounting for about 70% of all pairwise comparisons (nC2). They suggest that the amino acid composition in grape berries is highly similar even if the years and/or locations are different. Each pattern of amino acid composition in the cultivars examined are visually different from each other. When mean concentrations of the individual amino acid were calcuated by averaging two years in Fukuoka, the PSI values were 0.959 in 'Kyoho', 0.899 in 'Muscat Bailey A', and 0.753 in 'Neo Muscat' in contrast with 'Campbell Early'. 'Kyoho' vs. 'Muscat Bailey A', 'Kyoho' vs. 'Neo Muscat' and 'Muscat Bailey A' vs. 'Neo Muscat' gave less patterns with the PSI vaules of 0.979, 0.882, and 0.933, respectively. These results indicate that the amino acid composition in grape berries is a useful marker for ampelographic work.

Effect of Chlorella, Spirulina and Chlorophyllin on Fecal Excretion of Polychlorinated Dibenzo-p-dioxins in Rats.

The present paper presents the liver distribution and fecal excretion of polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins (PCDDs) congeners, such as 1, 2, 3, 7, 8-P5CDD, 1, 2, 3, 6, 7, 8-H6CDD, 1, 2, 3, 7, 8, 9-H6CDD and 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 7, 8-H7CDD, in male rats fed with Chlorella, Spirulina and chlorophyllin. The objective of this study is to evaluate the effect on PCDD excretion by the chlorophyllin foods. The rats were given some treatment diets containing 20% Chlorella. 20% Spirulina, 0.2, 2% chlorophyllin, 10% rice-bran fiber or 0.2% chlorophyllin + 10% rice-bran fiber for 5 d. Then, the animals were administered 4 g of each diet containing 0.5 ml of the causal rice-bran oil of Yusho that had occurred in the Southwest part of Japan in 1968 and kept on the same diet for another 5 d. The rice-bran oil contaminated with 1, 2, 3, 7, 8-P5CDD (6.86 ng/ml), 1, 2, 3, 6, 7, 8-H6CDD (31.4 ng/ml), 1, 2, 3, 7, 8, 9-H6CDD (22.4 ng/ml) and 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 7, 8-H7CDD (121.7 ng/ml) was used for the animal experiments. PCDD congeners in the feces and liver were analyzed by high resolution gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. The fecal excretion of 1, 2, 3, 7, 8-P5CDD in the groups fed with Chlorella, Spirulina and 2% chlorophyllin were 7.4, 7.1 and 11.0 times higher (p<0.01), respectively, than that in the control group. Moreover, the fecal excretion of 1, 2, 3, 6, 7, 8-H6CDD, 1, 2, 3, 7, 8, 9-H6CDD and 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 7, 8-H7CDD in the same groups were 4.4-5.3, 2.7-3.7 and 1.7-2.8 times higher, respectively, than that in the control group. These findings suggest that administration of Chlorella, Spirulina and chlorophyllin is useful as a new approach in the treatment of patients exposed to lipophilic xenobiotics.

Congenital Hydrocephalus in Japan 1969–1982: Secular Trends, Geographical and Social Class Variations

ABSTRACT Nation‐wide data in Japan between 1969–1982 on 3,650 cases of fetal death and 2,397 cases of postnatal death caused by congenital hydrocephalus were analyzed. The prevalence rate of congenital hydrocephalus decreased yearly. This reduction is attributed to prenatal detection and selective abortion among fetal deaths, and surgical correction of hydrocephalus postnatally. The prevalence rate per 1,000 births was 0.22 in urban areas and 0.25 in rural areas between 1969–1982, and the difference was significant. The prevalence rate was slightly higher in the southwest part of Japan than in the northeast. Social class variation in the prevalence rate was present.

Congenital Hydrocephalus in Japan I 969–1982: Secular Trends, Geographical and Social Class Variations

Abstract Nation‐wide data in Japan between 1969–1982 on 3,650 cases of fetal death and 2,397 cases of postnatal death caused by congenital hydrocephalus were analyzed. The prevalence rate of congenital hydrocephalus decreased yearly. This reduction is attributed to prenatal detection and selective abortion among fetal deaths, and surgical correction of hydrocephalus postnatally. The prevalence rate per 1,000 births was 0.22 in urban areas and 0.25 in rural areas between 1969–1982, and the difference was significant. The prevalence rate was slightly higher in the southwest part of Japan than in the northeast. Social class variation in the prevalence rate was present.

富山県魚津地域に分布する太美山層群の古地磁気とフィッション・トラック年代 西南日本東部における第三紀の回転運動に関連して

富山県魚津地域に分布する太美山層群の古地磁気とフィッション・トラック年代 西南日本東部における第三紀の回転運動に関連して

Two Pythium Diseases on Bentgrass Greens found in South-West Part of Japan

Two Pythium Diseases on Bentgrass Greens found in South-West Part of Japan

Monoclonal integration of human T-cell leukemia provirus in all primary tumors of adult T-cell leukemia suggests causative role of human T-cell leukemia virus in the disease.

The genome of human T-cell leukemia virus (HTLV) was surveyed in fresh tumor cells of 163 patients with lymphoma and leukemia from the southwest part of Japan where adult T-cell leukemia (ATL) is endemic. Leukemic cells of all 88 cases of ATL tested so far were found to contain the provirus genome and also found to be monoclonal with respect to the integration site of provirus genome. In most cases of ATL, leukemic cells contained one or two copies of the complete HTLV provirus genome, and it was shown that the single species of HTLV with a fully determined sequence is typical in ATL. Some cases of T-cell malignancies, diagnosed as chronic lymphocytic leukemia or non-Hodgkin lymphoma, also had the provirus genome in their tumor cells, whereas some cases with the same diagnosis did not. No cases of other types of lymphoma or leukemia contained the provirus genome in their tumor cells. Monoclonal integration of the HTLV provirus genome in all primary tumor cells of ATL not only indicates that HTLV directly interacts with target cells, which become leukemic, and that integration of the provirus genome is a prerequisite for development of ATL and possibly other related diseases but also indicates that the virus is not associated with other types of lymphoma or leukemia.

Ketamine hydrochloride: a potent analgesic.

<h3>Background and objectives</h3> The Kumamoto earthquakes struck Kumamoto prefecture, in the southwest part of Japan in April 2016. Physical and mental disorders presenting to hospital increased after the 2016 Kumamoto earthquakes. Impaired access to primary care due to the earthquakes may have contributed to this increase. However, it is not known whether the 2016 Kumamoto earthquakes affected access to primary care. The objective of the present study was to investigate the impact of the 2016 Kumamoto earthquakes on short-term health conditions by analysing ambulatory care sensitive conditions (ACSCs), using administrative data from Kumamoto prefecture. <h3>Design</h3> A retrospective cohort study. <h3>Setting</h3> Residents enrolled in National Health Insurance or Late Elders’ Health Insurance from Kumamoto prefecture, Japan. <h3>Participants</h3> All hospital admissions due to ACSCs between 15 March and 16 May in each year from 2013 to 2016. <h3>Outcome measures</h3> ACSCs are defined as conditions for which appropriate primary care interventions could prevent admission to the hospital. <h3>Results</h3> We identified a total of 7921, 18 763 and 85 436 admissions for vaccine, acute and chronic preventable ACSCs, respectively, during the study period. Admissions within 7 days after the 2016 Kumamoto earthquakes increased to 32.6% (10.2, 59.5), 44.1% (27.0, 63.5) and 27.7% (20.2, 35.6) for vaccine-preventable, acute and chronic ACSCs, respectively. However, admissions for ACSCs did not change significantly 30 days after the earthquakes. <h3>Conclusion</h3> The 2016 Kumamoto earthquakes were associated with increased hospital admissions for ACSCs. The impact of the earthquakes on admissions for ACSCs did not persist for more than 7 days.