Kazutomo Ohashi

Risk factors of paternal depression in the early postnatal period in Japan

This study investigated risk factors of depression in fathers at 4 weeks post-partum using a cross-sectional design. Mothers were recruited at the 4 week postnatal health check between March and July 2007. A total of 510 mothers agreed to participate in the study. One-hundred-and-fifty-six fathers and 181 mothers returned the questionnaires. The Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale and the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale were filled out to assess depressive symptoms. There was no association between paternal and maternal depression. According to the logistic regression analysis, paternal depression was associated with employment status, history of psychiatric treatment, and unintended pregnancy. Of eight fathers with unstable employment, seven were temporary employees and one was unemployed, suggesting that perinatal care-providers should independently screen for depression in fathers and mothers and focus attention on paternal employment status, especially temporary employment.

Triplet pregnancy involving complete hydatidiform mole andtwo fetuses: Genetic analysis by deoxyribonucleic acid fingerprint

A case of a triplet pregnancy involving a dizygous twin pregnancy and a complete hydatidiform mole after therapy with human menopausal gonadotropin and human chorionic gonadotropin is reported. Two female fetuses, two placentas in one mass with two amnions and two chorions, and a tumor mass with a grapelike appearance were spontaneously delivered at 19 weeks of gestation. The deoxyribonucleic acid fingerprints of the two placentas and tumor tissue were compared with those of the parents. The fingerprints of the placentas showed patterns different from each other; however, all their polymorphic fragments could be traced back to either the father or mother. All polymorphic fragments of the tumor tissue were inherited only from the father (androgenesis). These results indicated that this triplet pregnancy involved a dizygous twin pregnancy and a complete hydatidiform mole.

Quality of life evaluation in Japanese pregnant women with striae gravidarum: A cross-sectional study

BackgroundStriae gravidarum is a physiological skin change that many pregnant women experience during pregnancy. The striae are often accompanied by a reddish purple color during pregnancy, and then lose pigmentation and become atrophic in the long term after pregnancy. Striae gravidarum seems to be undesirable to many pregnant women. However, the impact of striae gravidarum on pregnant women who experience it has not been clarified. The aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of striae gravidarum on the generic and dermatology-specific quality of life (QOL) of pregnant women.MethodsA cross-sectional study was conducted at three private clinics in a typical urban area in Japan. We recruited 447 pregnant women at 36 weeks of gestation; One hundred and ninety-nine pregnant women at 36 weeks of gestation participated in the study and 179, consisting of 94 primiparae and 85 multiparae, were analyzed.We used and assessed Davey’s score for striae gravidarum, World Health Organization Quality of Life assessment questionnaire for generic QOL, and Skindex-29 for dermatology-specific QOL.ResultsThe prevalence of striae gravidarum was 39.1% (27.7% in primiparae, and 51.8% in multiparae). Although there were no differences in generic QOL scores between the presence and absence of striae gravidarum and with their severity, the whole group of pregnant women and the multiparae group showed significant differences in scores on emotion of Skindex-29 between the presence and absence of striae gravidarum (p = 0.012 and p = 0.011). Pregnant women with severe striae gravidarum showed significantly higher scores on emotion of Skindex-29 compared with those with absent or mild striae gravidarum (p < 0.001 and p = 0.005).ConclusionsThere was no difference in generic QOL of pregnant women between the presence and absence of striae gravidarum, although the occurrence and severity of striae gravidarum influenced their dermatology-specific QOL. Multiparae women were especially impaired by striae gravidarum and it is considered important to prevent or reduce the severity of striae gravidarum of the multiparae group.

Detection of monocyte chemotactic and activating factor (MCAF) and interleukin (IL)-6 in human seminal plasma and effect of leukospermia on these cytokine levels

PROBLEM: To demonstrate whether monocyte chemotactic and activating factor (MCAF) and interleukin‐6 (IL‐6) are present in the seminal plasma, and whether these presence is modulated by leukospermia.

The effectiveness of a sex education program facilitating social skills for people with intellectual disability in Japan

Abstract Background Sex education should include social skills, such as those that allow individuals to relate, socialise, and communicate with others, to assist people with intellectual disability (ID) to live life fully in the community. Objectives We administered and investigated the effects of a program involving 8 interactive sex education sessions that were aimed at improving the social skills of people with ID. Methods Participants were 17 people with ID and 17 control group participants in Japan. The evaluation was conducted with a questionnaire based on KiSS-18 (Kikuchis Scale of Social Skills: 18 items; Kikuchi, 2007). Results The score of KiSS-18 in the experimental group was 55.4 ± 12.9 before the administration of the program, as compared to a mean of 61.8 ± 13.2 after the program. A significant increase was identified. There was no significant difference between the first and second average score in the control group. Conclusion The sex education program involving social skills training for people with ID had significant effects.

Acrobeads test: a new diagnostic test for assessment of the fertilizing capacity of human spermatozoa.

OBJECTIVE To determine the effectiveness of the Acrobeads test for predicting the outcome of IVF. DESIGN Human spermatozoa express the CD46 molecule (membrane cofactor protein) on their heads after the acrosome reaction. CD46-positive spermatozoa formed a sperm-bead complex with immunobeads coated with anti-CD46 monoclonal antibody. In the Acrobeads test, fertilizing capacity was determined by assessing sperm-bead agglutination. SETTING Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Osaka University Hospital. PARTICIPANTS Thirty-seven donors of proven fertility and 88 male partners of infertile couples. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES We carried out the Acrobeads test and a sperm penetration assay (SPA) using zona-free hamster oocytes within 3 months before IVF and we then analyzed the results in relation to IVF outcome. RESULTS The sensitivity of the Acrobeads test and SPA was 100% and 88%, respectively, whereas the specificity was 43% and 52%, respectively. The negative predictive value of the Acro-beads test was 100%, whereas that of the SPA was 73%. These results indicate that there was no significant difference between these two tests in terms of predicting IVF outcome. CONCLUSION We suggested that the Acrobeads test be used to evaluate the fertilizing capacity of human spermatozoa because we should avoid using the SPA to prevent cruelty to animals.

Quality-of-life assessment in community-dwelling, middle-aged, healthy women in Japan

Objectives To determine the quality of life (QOL) of middle-aged Japanese healthy women during the menopausal transition, to identify the correlation between decreasing quality of life and the severity of menopausal symptoms in those women, and to evaluate the number of women who sought treatment/health-care support and their expectations for health-care services. Methods This was a community-based study, performed in collaboration with the Munakata Womens Midlife Health Project. The participants attended an annual medical check-up and cancer screenings, and led an everyday life without receiving medical treatment. Their quality of life was assessed with the World Health Organization QOL assessment (WHOQOL) and the severity of menopausal symptoms was assessed with the Kupperman index. Their expectations for health-care services were determined with an open-ended questionnaire. Results The mean scores of the Kupperman index in the peri- and postmenopausal states were significantly higher than that in the premenopausal states, whereas there was no significant difference of quality of life scored by the WHOQOL in the three groups. In spite of recruiting healthy middle-aged women, 24.4% of the perimenopausal and 26.6% of the postmenopausal women suffered from moderate or severe menopausal symptoms. The decreasing level of quality of life was correlated with the severity of the menopausal symptoms in the peri- and postmenopausal women. The participants did not receive medical support except in two cases, but 83.0% of them wished to participate in a seminar concerning menopause. Several of them sought treatment, health-care support and advice on how to maintain their health during and after the menopausal transition. Conclusions Nearly one-quarter of Japanese community-dwelling, healthy women in the peri- and postmenopausal states suffered from menopausal symptoms, which decreased their quality of life in everyday life.

Gene expression of macrophage colony-stimulating factor and its receptor in human placenta and decidua.

ABSTRACT: Macrophage colony‐stimulating factor (M‐CSF) induces proliferation of monocyte/macrophage progenitor cells and can also activate some functions of mature cells including fetally derived placental cells. To study the role of M‐CSF in the pregnant female reproductive tract, the expression of M‐CSF mRNA and its receptor, c‐fms proto‐oncogene, in human placenta and decidua was identified. M‐CSF and c‐fms mRNAs, 4.7Kb and 3.9Kb respectively, were detected by Northern blotting in the early stage placenta and subsequently increased during pregnancy. These mRNAs were not detected in the nonpregnant endometrium but were strongly induced in maternal decidua with the same mRNA size as in the placenta. Northern blot hybridization on the endometrium of a pseudopregnant uterus revealed that the expression of endometrial M‐CSF and c‐fms mRNAs is regulated by synergistic action of female sex steroid hormones. These findings indicate that, in an autocrine and/or paracrine manner, M‐CSF is deeply involved in the local proliferation and differentiation of cells at the materno‐fetal interface, and support the placental immunotrophism hypothesis.

HLA expression on human ejaculated sperm.

ABSTRACT: The expression of human leukocyte antigen (HLA) on human ejaculated sperm has been investigated by using cellular binding radioimmunoassay (CB‐RIA) with sperm samples purified by Percoll discontinuous gradient and monoclonal antibodies specific to the frame work of HLA molecules. The results in packed sperm obtained from ten healthy males indicated that HLA class II and its subclasses, DP, DQ, and DR, were expressed at a low level on human ejaculated sperm, while HLA class I was not detected. Furthermore, we could not detect the individual variation of HLA expression on ejaculated sperm in the cases of twenty healthy males.

Screening for periodontitis in pregnant women with salivary enzymes

Aim:  To develop a test for the screening of pregnant women for periodontitis using saliva prior to a dental examination.