Kazuyo Oishi

Association of increased platelet-associated immunoglobulins with thrombocytopenia and the severity of disease in secondary dengue virus infections

Severe thrombocytopenia and increased vascular permeability are two major characteristics of dengue haemorrhagic fever (DHF). To develop a better understanding of the roles of platelet‐associated IgG (PAIgG) and IgM (PAIgM) in inducing thrombocytopenia and its severity of disease in patients with secondary dengue virus infection, the relationship between the PAIgG or PAIgM levels and disease severity as well as thrombocytopenia was examined in 78 patients with acute phase secondary infection in a prospective hospital‐based study. The decrease in platelet count during the acute phase recovered significantly during the convalescent phase. In contrast, the increased levels of PAIgG or PAIgM that occurred during the acute phase of these patients decreased significantly during the convalescent phase. An inverse correlation between platelet count and PAIgG or PAIgM levels was found in these patients. Anti‐dengue virus IgG and IgM activity was found in platelet eluates from 10 patients in an acute phase of secondary infection. Increased levels of PAIgG or PAIgM were significantly higher in DHF than those in dengue fever (DF). An increased level of PAIgM was associated independently with the development of DHF, representing a possible predictor of DHF with a high specificity. Our present data suggest that platelet‐associated immunoglobulins involving antidengue virus activity play a pivotal role in the induction of thrombocytopenia and the severity of the disease in secondary dengue virus infections.

Initiation of breastfeeding within 120 minutes after birth is associated with breastfeeding at four months among Japanese women: A self-administered questionnaire survey

BackgroundThe proportion of mothers in Japan who breastfeed exclusively has been low since the 1970s. The purpose of this study was to examine the association between the time of first breastfeed after birth and the proportion of mothers fully breastfeeding up to four months postpartum.MethodsA survey was conducted using a self-administered questionnaire. The participants were 318 mothers who participated in a physical examination of their four month old infants in Nagasaki City, Japan in 2003.ResultsThe time of first breastfeeding up to 120 minutes was significantly associated with the proportion of mothers fully breastfeeding during their stay in the clinic/hospital (p = 0.006), at one month (p = 0.004) and at four months after birth (p = 0.003). There was no significant difference in the proportion of full breastfeeding in mothers who first breastfed between the period of less 30 minutes after birth and that of between 31 and 120 minutes after birth. Logistic regression analysis indicated that the proportion of mothers who continued full breastfeeding at four months was significantly higher in those who breastfed their baby within 120 minutes compared with more than 120 minutes (OR 2.5, p = 0.01), but was not significantly different in those who breastfed within 30 minutes compared with more than 30 minutes (OR 1.8, p = 0.06). Early breastfeeding was affected by caesarean section, premature delivery and severe bleeding during delivery.ConclusionCommencement of early breastfeeding was associated with the proportion of mothers who fully breastfed their infants up to four months. Early breastfeeding, especially within two hours, is recommended for child and maternal health.

Knowledge, experience, and potential risks of dating violence among Japanese university students: a cross-sectional study

BackgroundThe Domestic Violence Prevention Act came into effect in Japan in 2001, but covers only marriage partner violence and post-divorce partner violence, and does not recognize intimate partner violence (IPV). The present study was performed to determine the experience of harassment, both toward and from an intimate partner, and recognition of harassment as IPV among Japanese university students.MethodsA self-administered questionnaire survey regarding the experience of harassment involving an intimate partner was conducted as a cross-sectional study among freshman students in a prefectural capital city in Japan.ResultsA total of 274 students participated in the present study. About half of the subjects (both male and female students) had experience of at least one episode of harassment toward or had been the recipient of harassment from an intimate partner. However, the study participants did not recognize verbal harassment, controlling activities of an intimate partner, and unprotected sexual intercourse as violence. Experience of attending a lecture/seminar about domestic violence and dating violence did not contribute to appropriate help-seeking behavior.ConclusionsAn educational program regarding harassment and violence prevention and appropriate help-seeking behavior should be provided in early adolescence to avoid IPV among youth.

Fetal response to induced maternal emotions.

This study investigated the relationship between fetal movements and acute maternal emotional changes during pregnancy. Two empirically validated feature film clips were used for the external generation of two subjectively and facially well-characterized target emotions: happiness and sadness. We simultaneously monitored separate fetal arm, leg, and trunk movements by means of two ultrasound apparatuses while maternal emotions were manipulated by film clip presentation. The number of fetal arm movements, but not the duration, was increased when pregnant women were being shown a happy film. Both the number and the duration of fetal arm movements decreased with the sad film presentation. Neither the presentation of happiness nor the presentation of sadness affected fetal leg or trunk movements. These findings suggest that induced emotions in pregnant women primarily affect arm movements of their fetuses, and that positive and negative emotions have the opposite effects on fetus movement.

Association of maternal pre-pregnancy weight, weight gain during pregnancy, and smoking with small-for-gestational-age infants in Japan.

AIM The aim of this study was to evaluate the associations of maternal pre-pregnancy body mass index (BMI), weight gain during pregnancy, and smoking, with small-for-gestational-age (SGA) births among Japanese women. MATERIALS AND METHODS Subjects were pregnant women who gave birth to single, term infants (37-42 weeks) at a clinic and hospital in the Nagasaki area between 2012 and 2013. To examine associations with SGA, 49 underweight (BMI<18.5 kg/m(2)) and 579 normal-weight (18.5 ≤ BMI<25.0 kg/m(2)) Japanese women with either appropriate-for-gestational-age or SGA infants were selected and analyzed. RESULTS The prevalence of SGA infants was 6.8%. Seven percent of women were current smokers. Prevalence of pre-pregnancy underweight and gestational weight gain less than recommendation were 20.8% and 16.7%, respectively. Multivariate logistic regression was performed to assess factors affecting SGA infants in the pregnant women. After adjusting for covariates, the amount of maternal weight gain below recommendation (odds ratio (OR), 2.72; 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.37-5.39) and maternal smoking status (OR, 2.80; 95% CI, 1.14-6.91) were significantly and independently associated with SGA births. Pre-pregnancy maternal weight status showed a borderline association (OR, 1.91; 95% CI, 0.96-3.83, p=0.067). CONCLUSION To prevent SGA births, education regarding the adequate nutrition and the adverse effect of maternal smoking is important for the women of reproductive age.

Oxytocin Mediates a Calming Effect on Postpartum Mood in Primiparous Mothers

OBJECTIVES The current study sought to characterize changes in salivary oxytocin (OT) secretion patterns across the breastfeeding cycle, and to evaluate whether breastfeeding has a positive effect on mood disturbances related to postpartum depression, via endogenous OT release. MATERIALS AND METHODS Twenty-four primiparous mothers who delivered vaginally at term and were exclusively breastfeeding were examined 4-5 days postpartum. Salivary OT was measured using enzyme immunoassays at 30 minutes before breastfeeding (baseline), during breastfeeding (feeding), and 30 minutes after completing breastfeeding (postfeeding). In addition, maternal mood changes were evaluated at baseline and postfeeding using the Profile of Mood States (POMS) questionnaire. RESULTS OT levels rose significantly during feeding (pcorr < .05) and postfeeding (pcorr < 0.05), compared with baseline. POMS scores for Tension-Anxiety were decreased postfeeding compared with baseline (p < 0.001). This decrease was significantly associated with increased OT (feeding minus baseline: r = -0.52, rpart = -0.51, postfeeding minus baseline: r = -0.53, rpart = -0.52, ps < 0.05). POMS scores for Fatigue and Confusion also decreased, while Vigor significantly increased. Significant correlations were found between Fatigue decreases and OT increases (feeding minus baseline: r = -0.48, rpart = -0.53, postfeeding minus baseline: rpart = -0.60, ps < 0.05). This result partially contradicted with the finding of no correlation between increased Vigor and increased OT. CONCLUSIONS OT is released across the breastfeeding cycle and can be detected with salivary measurement. This OT release exhibited a temporary anxiolytic-like calming effect on postpartum maternal mood disturbances.

Errata to “Associations among anthropometric measures, food consumption, and quality of life in school-age children in Tanzania”[J Rural Med 12(1): 38-45]

[This corrects the article on p. 38 in vol. 12, PMID: 28593016.].

Associations among anthropometric measures, food consumption, and quality of life in school-age children in Tanzania

Objectives: The factors associated with quality of life (QOL) and anthropometric measurements as outcomes of food consumption were examined among school-age children in Tanzania. Methods: A cross-sectional study was undertaken in September 2013 in Tanzania. Anonymous self-administered questionnaire surveys were conducted in the Kiswahili language among primary school children in the fifth and/or sixth grade aged 10–14 years. The survey probed sociodemographic characteristics such as age, gender, living with family members, number of meals/snacks per day, food consumption in the previous 24 hours, and QOL, as well as anthropometric measurements (height and weight). The Rohrer index was calculated based on height and weight. After presenting the mean and standard deviation (SD) of height, weight, and the Rohrer index score by age and gender, the Rohrer index score was categorized into three groups (low weight, normal weight, and overweight) and analyzed according to sociodemographic characteristics and food consumption using the chi-square test. Furthermore, the QOL score was analyzed using the t test. Multivariate linear regression analysis was used to analyze the associations between the QOL score and sociodemographic characteristics and food consumption. Results: A total of 694 children (male: 312; female: 382) participated in this study. According to the Rohrer index, 273 (39.3%) children were classified as low weight, 353 (50.9%) were normal weight, and 68 (9.8%) were overweight. A total of 459 (66.1%) children reported having had three or more meals and/or snacks on the day before the study. In addition, 127 (18.3%) children had not eaten any protein-rich food on the day before the study, although almost all had eaten at least one carbohydrate-rich food per day. Regardless of region, location, gender, and age, living without parents was associated with short stature (P = 0.010). A high QOL score was associated with having three or more meals and/or snacks per day (P < 0.001). Conclusions: The security of physiological needs such as a guarantee of three meals per day could contribute to higher QOL among underserved children.