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  1. Article ; Online: Shoulder Joint Hybrid Assistive Limb Treatment for Chronic Stroke Patients with Upper Limb Dysfunction

    Masakazu Taketomi / Yukiyo Shimizu / Hideki Kadone / Shigeki Kubota / Yuta Kagai / Yoshitaka Okamoto / Yasushi Hada / Masashi Yamazaki

    Journal of Clinical Medicine, Vol 12, Iss 1215, p

    2023  Volume 1215

    Abstract: Upper extremity dysfunction after stroke affects quality of life. Focusing on the shoulder joint, we investigated the safety and effectiveness of rehabilitation using a shoulder joint hybrid assistive limb (HAL). Eight patients with chronic stroke and ... ...

    Abstract Upper extremity dysfunction after stroke affects quality of life. Focusing on the shoulder joint, we investigated the safety and effectiveness of rehabilitation using a shoulder joint hybrid assistive limb (HAL). Eight patients with chronic stroke and upper extremity functional disability were enrolled and used a shoulder joint HAL, which assisted shoulder movement based on the user’s intention, through myoelectric activation of the shoulder flexor. Ten training sessions of 30–40 min each were performed to assist voluntary movement of upper limb elevation on the affected side through triggering the deltoid muscle. All patients completed the interventions without shoulder pain. Surface electromyography evaluation indicated post-intervention improvement in coordinated movement of the affected upper extremity. Significant improvements in voluntary and passive shoulder joint range of motion were obtained after the intervention, suggesting improvement in shoulder muscle strength. A significant decrease in the modified Ashworth scale and improvements in functional scores in the upper limb were also observed. Along with safe use for our study patients, the shoulder HAL provided appropriate motor learning benefits. Improvements in shoulder joint function and whole upper limb function were observed, suggesting that HAL could be an optimal treatment method.
    Keywords hybrid assistive limb (HAL) ; shoulder ; rehabilitation ; robotic rehabilitation ; stroke ; upper limb impairment ; Medicine ; R
    Subject code 796 ; 616
    Language English
    Publishing date 2023-02-01T00:00:00Z
    Publisher MDPI AG
    Document type Article ; Online
    Database BASE - Bielefeld Academic Search Engine (life sciences selection)

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  2. Article ; Online: Complement Factor H Is an Early Predictive Biomarker of the Therapeutic Efficacy of Sublingual Immunotherapy for Japanese Cedar Pollinosis

    Riyo Yoneda / Tomohisa Iinuma / Daiju Sakurai / Junya Kurita / Tomoyuki Arai / Yuri Sonobe / Syuji Yonekura / Yoshitaka Okamoto / Toyoyuki Hanazawa

    Pathogens, Vol 11, Iss 1280, p

    2022  Volume 1280

    Abstract: Sublingual immunotherapy for Japanese cedar pollinosis can improve the symptoms of allergic rhinitis and modify its natural course. However, sublingual immunotherapy requires a long treatment period and some patients do not respond to treatment. In this ... ...

    Abstract Sublingual immunotherapy for Japanese cedar pollinosis can improve the symptoms of allergic rhinitis and modify its natural course. However, sublingual immunotherapy requires a long treatment period and some patients do not respond to treatment. In this study, we aimed to identify biomarkers that could predict the efficacy of sublingual immunotherapy at an early stage. In this study, 40 patients from phase III trials were recruited and divided into good and poor response groups. Using peripheral blood mononuclear cells from before and two months after the start of medication, microarray, discriminant analysis, and real-time polymerase chain reaction were performed to extract candidate genes that could be biomarkers. Furthermore, these genes were validated in 30 patients in general clinical practice. Complement factor H was upregulated in the good response group and downregulated in the poor response group. Complement factor H may be a useful biomarker for predicting the efficacy of sublingual immunotherapy for Japanese cedar pollinosis at early time points after treatment initiation.
    Keywords sublingual immunotherapy ; Japanese cedar pollinosis ; biomarker ; Medicine ; R
    Subject code 610
    Language English
    Publishing date 2022-11-01T00:00:00Z
    Publisher MDPI AG
    Document type Article ; Online
    Database BASE - Bielefeld Academic Search Engine (life sciences selection)

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  3. Article ; Online: DNA Methylation and HPV-Associated Head and Neck Cancer

    Takuya Nakagawa / Tomoya Kurokawa / Masato Mima / Sakiko Imamoto / Harue Mizokami / Satoru Kondo / Yoshitaka Okamoto / Kiyoshi Misawa / Toyoyuki Hanazawa / Atsushi Kaneda

    Microorganisms, Vol 9, Iss 801, p

    2021  Volume 801

    Abstract: Head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC), especially oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma (OPSCC), has recently been found to be significantly associated with human papillomavirus (HPV) infection. The incidence of OPSCC has been increasing and ... ...

    Abstract Head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC), especially oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma (OPSCC), has recently been found to be significantly associated with human papillomavirus (HPV) infection. The incidence of OPSCC has been increasing and surpassed the number of cervical cancer cases in the United States. Although HPV-associated OPSCC has a relatively better prognosis than HPV-negative cancer, approximately 20% of HPV-associated HNSCC patients show a poor prognosis or therapeutic response, and the molecular mechanism behind this outcome in the intermediate-risk group is yet to be elucidated. These biological differences between HPV-associated HNSCC and HPV-negative HNSCC are partly explained by the differences in mutation patterns. However, recent reports have revealed that epigenetic dysregulation, such as dysregulated DNA methylation, is a strikingly common pathological feature of human malignancy. Notably, viral infections can induce aberrant DNA methylation, leading to carcinogenesis, and HPV-associated HNSCC cases tend to harbor a higher amount of aberrantly methylated DNA than HPV-negative HNSCC cases. Furthermore, recent comprehensive genome-wide DNA-methylation analyses with large cohorts have revealed that a sub-group of HPV-associated HNSCC correlates with increased DNA methylation. Accordingly, in this review, we provide an overview of the relationship between DNA methylation and HPV-associated HNSCC.
    Keywords human papillomavirus ; head and neck squamous cell carcinoma ; oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma ; DNA methylation ; Biology (General) ; QH301-705.5
    Subject code 610
    Language English
    Publishing date 2021-04-01T00:00:00Z
    Publisher MDPI AG
    Document type Article ; Online
    Database BASE - Bielefeld Academic Search Engine (life sciences selection)

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  4. Article ; Online: Serum Concentrations of Antigen-Specific IgG4 in Patients with Japanese Cedar Pollinosis

    Shiori Kitaya / Nobuo Ohta / Atsushi Yuta / Yukiko Ogawa / Yusuke Suzuki / Seiya Ichihara / Ryoukichi Ikeda / Tadao Enomoto / Hideaki Kouzaki / Takeshi Shimizu / Junya Ono / Kenji Izuhara / Yoshitaka Okamoto

    Allergies, Vol 1, Iss 13, Pp 140-

    2021  Volume 149

    Abstract: Purpose: To elucidate the usefulness of Japanese cedar pollen (JCP)-specific antigen-specific immunoglobulin (IgG) 4 as a biomarker for predicting the efficacy of sublingual immunotherapy for cedar pollen-induced allergic rhinitis. Methods: We divided a ... ...

    Abstract Purpose: To elucidate the usefulness of Japanese cedar pollen (JCP)-specific antigen-specific immunoglobulin (IgG) 4 as a biomarker for predicting the efficacy of sublingual immunotherapy for cedar pollen-induced allergic rhinitis. Methods: We divided a total of 105 cases with Japanese cedar pollinosis into three groups: “SLIT Successful,” SLIT Unsatisfactory,” and “SCIT” groups. The SLIT group patients were treated with JCP Droplet (Torii Pharmaceutical Co. Ltd., Tokyo, Japan) for one year from 2015 and were divided into two groups, the SLIT Successful group or the SLIT Unsatisfactory group. The SLIT Successful group ( n = 16) were subjects treated by SLIT only, who were able to experience control of their naso-ocular symptoms without the need for antiallergic rescue agents during the peak season of atmospheric pollen. The SLIT Unsatisfactory group ( n = 76) comprised subjects treated with SLIT only, who did not respond successfully, and were administered with rescue agents to control their naso-ocular symptoms. The SCIT group had been treated with standardized JCP extract (Torii Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd., Tokyo, Japan) for three years from 2012, and were also able to experience control of their symptoms during the peak pollen season without the need for antiallergic rescue agents. We determined the serum level of JCP-specific immunoglobulin E (IgE), IgG, and IgG4 used in the 3gAllergy-specific IgE assay (3gAllergy). The serum levels of periostin and SCCA2 were measured using established ELISA procedures (clones SS18A and SS17B; Shino-Test, Japan) following the manufacturer’s instructions. We then made ROC curves for each group and assessed which index was best able to predict the efficacy of sublingual immunotherapy. Results: Serum JCP-specific IgE was significantly lower in the SCIT group than in the SLIT Successful group and the SLIT Unsatisfactory group ( p < 0.05). Serum JCP-specific IgG was significantly higher in the SCIT group and the SLIT Successful group than in the SLIT Unsatisfactory group ( p ...
    Keywords sublingual immunotherapy ; Japanese cedar pollinosis ; IgG4 ; subcutaneous immunotherapy ; periostin ; Medicine ; R
    Subject code 630
    Language English
    Publishing date 2021-07-01T00:00:00Z
    Publisher MDPI AG
    Document type Article ; Online
    Database BASE - Bielefeld Academic Search Engine (life sciences selection)

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  5. Article: A scenario analysis of future energy systems based on an energy flow model represented as functionals of technology options

    Kikuchi, Yasunori / Seiichiro Kimura / Yoshitaka Okamoto / Michihisa Koyama

    Applied energy. 2014 Nov. 01, v. 132

    2014  

    Abstract: The design of energy systems has become an issue all over the world. A single optimal system cannot be suggested because the availability of infrastructure and resources and the acceptability of the system should be discussed locally, involving all ... ...

    Abstract The design of energy systems has become an issue all over the world. A single optimal system cannot be suggested because the availability of infrastructure and resources and the acceptability of the system should be discussed locally, involving all related stakeholders in the energy system. In particular, researchers and engineers of technologies related to energy systems should be able to perform the forecasting and roadmapping of future energy systems and indicate quantitative results of scenario analyses. We report an energy flow model developed for analysing scenarios of future Japanese energy systems implementing a variety of feasible technology options. The model was modularized and represented as functionals of appropriate technology options, which enables the aggregation and disaggregation of energy systems by defining functionals for single technologies, packages integrating multi-technologies, and mini-systems such as regions implementing industrial symbiosis. Based on the model, the combinations of technologies on both energy supply and demand sides can be addressed considering not only the societal scenarios such as resource prices, economic growth and population change but also the technical scenarios including the development and penetration of energy-related technologies such as distributed solid oxide fuel cells in residential sectors and new-generation vehicles, and the replacement and shift of current technologies such as heat pumps for air conditioning and centralized power generation. The developed model consists of two main modules; namely, a power generation dispatching module for the Japanese electricity grid and a demand-side energy flow module based on a sectorial energy balance table. Both modules are divided and implemented as submodules represented as functionals of supply- and demand-side technology options. Using the developed model, three case studies were performed. Required data were collected through workshops involving researchers and engineers in the energy technology field in Japan. The functionals of technologies were defined on the basis of the availability of data and understanding of the current and future energy systems. Through case studies, it was demonstrated that the potential of energy technologies can be analysed by the developed model considering the mutual relationships of technologies. The contribution of technologies to, e.g., the reduction in greenhouse gas emissions should be carefully examined by quantitative analyses of interdependencies of the technology options.
    Keywords air conditioning ; case studies ; economic development ; electricity ; energy balance ; energy flow ; fuel cells ; greenhouse gas emissions ; heat pumps ; industrial symbiosis ; infrastructure ; models ; power generation ; prices ; quantitative analysis ; stakeholders ; supply balance ; Japan
    Language English
    Dates of publication 2014-1101
    Size p. 586-601.
    Publishing place Elsevier Ltd
    Document type Article
    ZDB-ID 2000772-3
    ISSN 0306-2619
    ISSN 0306-2619
    DOI 10.1016/j.apenergy.2014.07.005
    Database NAL-Catalogue (AGRICOLA)

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  6. Article ; Online: Therapeutic Effects and Biomarkers in Sublingual Immunotherapy

    Takashi Fujimura / Yoshitaka Okamoto / Masaru Taniguchi

    Journal of Allergy, Vol

    A Review

    2012  Volume 2012

    Keywords Immunologic diseases. Allergy ; RC581-607 ; Specialties of internal medicine ; RC581-951 ; Internal medicine ; RC31-1245 ; Medicine ; R ; DOAJ:Allergy and Immunology ; DOAJ:Medicine (General) ; DOAJ:Health Sciences
    Language English
    Publishing date 2012-01-01T00:00:00Z
    Publisher Hindawi Publishing Corporation
    Document type Article ; Online
    Database BASE - Bielefeld Academic Search Engine (life sciences selection)

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  7. Article ; Online: Immunosuppressive property of submandibular lymph nodes in patients with head and neck tumors

    Daiju Sakurai / Ryosuke Uchida / Fumie Ihara / Naoki Kunii / Takuya Nakagawa / Hideaki Chazono / Toyoyuki Hanazawa / Shinichiro Motohashi / Yoshitaka Okamoto

    BMC Research Notes, Vol 11, Iss 1, Pp 1-

    differential distribution of regulatory T cells

    2018  Volume 6

    Abstract: Abstract Objective Different sensitizations and immune responses are thought to be induced in response to antigens at different mucosal sites between the oral floor and nose. The aim of this study was to investigate differences in the distributions of ... ...

    Abstract Abstract Objective Different sensitizations and immune responses are thought to be induced in response to antigens at different mucosal sites between the oral floor and nose. The aim of this study was to investigate differences in the distributions of lymphocyte subsets in the submandibular (SM) and upper jugular (UJ) lymph nodes (LNs), which are supposed to be regional LNs of the oral floor and nasal mucosa, respectively. SMLNs and UJLNs were collected from patients with head and neck tumors who underwent surgical resection. The populations of T cells, Natural Killer (NK) cells, Natural Killer T (NKT) cells, regulatory T cells (Tregs) and dendritic cells (DCs) in LNs without metastasis were analyzed by flow cytometry. The high-affinity IgE receptor (FcεRI) expression of LN cells were also evaluated. Results The proportions of CD4+CD25+Foxp3+ Tregs, CD4+CD45RA−Foxp3high effector Tregs and FcεRIα+CD33+CD11c+ DCs were significantly larger in SMLNs compared with UJLNs, while those of CD3+ T cells, CD3−CD56+ NK cells, CD3+Vα24+Vβ11+ NKT cells, and CD123+CD303+ DCs did not show any significant differences between SMLNs and UJLNs. The differential distributions of CD4+CD25+Foxp3+ Tregs were observed regardless of tumor region, LN metastasis and clinical staging. These data indicate that SMLNs may have immunosuppressive properties compared with UJLNs.
    Keywords Cervical lymph node ; Dendritic cells ; FcεRI ; Head and neck tumor ; Regulatory T cells ; Submandibular lymph nodes ; Medicine ; R ; Biology (General) ; QH301-705.5 ; Science (General) ; Q1-390
    Subject code 610
    Language English
    Publishing date 2018-07-01T00:00:00Z
    Publisher BMC
    Document type Article ; Online
    Database BASE - Bielefeld Academic Search Engine (life sciences selection)

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  8. Article ; Online: Japanese Society of Allergology task force report on standardization of house dust mite allergen vaccines – Secondary publication

    Toshiro Takai / Yoshitaka Okamoto / Kimihiro Okubo / Makoto Nagata / Masahiro Sakaguchi / Yuma Fukutomi / Akemi Saito / Hiroshi Yasueda / Keisuke Masuyama

    Allergology International, Vol 64, Iss 2, Pp 181-

    2015  Volume 186

    Abstract: Background: In the 1990s, the Japanese Society of Allergology (JSA) standardized Japanese cedar pollen allergen vaccines. In the present study, the task force for house dust mite (HDM) allergen standardization of the Committee for Allergens and ... ...

    Abstract Background: In the 1990s, the Japanese Society of Allergology (JSA) standardized Japanese cedar pollen allergen vaccines. In the present study, the task force for house dust mite (HDM) allergen standardization of the Committee for Allergens and Immunotherapy of JSA reports the standardization of HDM allergen vaccines in Japan. Methods: In vivo allergenic potency was determined by intradermal testing of 51 Japanese adults with positive serum specific IgE to HDM allergens. In vitro total IgE binding potency was analyzed by competition ELISA using a pooled serum, with sera obtained from 10 allergic patients. The amounts of HDM group 1 (Der 1) and group 2 major allergens in eight HDM allergen extracts were measured by sandwich ELISAs. Correlation between the in vitro total IgE binding potency and major allergen levels was analyzed. Results: We selected a JSA reference HDM extract and determined its in vivo allergenic potency. The in vitro total IgE binding potency significantly correlated with Der 1 content, group 2 allergen content, and their combined amount, indicating that measurement of major allergen contents can be used as a surrogate in vitro assay. Conclusions: The task force determined the in vivo allergenic potency (100,000 JAU/ml) and Der 1 content (38.5 μg/ml) of the JSA reference HDM extract, selected the measurement of Der 1 content as the surrogate in vitro assay, and decided that manufacturers can label a HDM allergen extract as having a titer of 100,000 JAU/ml if it contains 22.2–66.7 μg/ml of Der 1.
    Keywords House dust mite allergen standardization ; Intradermal testing ; In vivo allergenic potency ; Major allergen content ; Surrogate in vitro assay ; Medicine ; R ; Internal medicine ; RC31-1245 ; Specialties of internal medicine ; RC581-951 ; Immunologic diseases. Allergy ; RC581-607
    Subject code 610
    Language English
    Publishing date 2015-04-01T00:00:00Z
    Publisher Elsevier
    Document type Article ; Online
    Database BASE - Bielefeld Academic Search Engine (life sciences selection)

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  9. Article ; Online: Characteristics of the Chiba Environmental Challenge Chamber

    Sawako Hamasaki / Yoshitaka Okamoto / Syuji Yonekura / Yusuke Okuma / Toshioki Sakurai / Tomohisa Iinuma / Heizaburo Yamamoto / Daiju Sakurai / Shigetoshi Horiguchi / Masahiko Yokota

    Allergology International, Vol 63, Iss 1, Pp 41-

    2014  Volume 50

    Abstract: Background: An environmental challenge chamber (ECC), which we refer to as the α-chamber, was built at Chiba University in 2008. The aim of this study was to validate the functionality of the ECC. Methods: The stability of the pollen distribution and ... ...

    Abstract Background: An environmental challenge chamber (ECC), which we refer to as the α-chamber, was built at Chiba University in 2008. The aim of this study was to validate the functionality of the ECC. Methods: The stability of the pollen distribution and concentration in the ECC and symptoms of patients with Japanese cedar pollinosis induced by cedar pollen exposure were examined. Carryover effects of symptoms induced by different exposure protocols and correlations between symptoms induced in the ECC and those in the natural cedar pollen season were also determined. All the studies using the α-chamber were conducted out of the cedar pollen season. Results: The severity of symptoms in the chamber reached a peak about 2 hours after the start of pollen exposure and plateaued thereafter. After subjects left the chamber, the symptoms persisted for several days. There was no significant difference between the severity of symptoms at exposure levels of 8000 and 12000 grains/m3. The symptoms were significantly increased by exposure for 3 consecutive days; however, there were no carryover effects in a study performed with a two-week interval. The total nasal symptom score (TNSS) in the natural pollen season showed a weak correlation with the mean TNSS on the day of exposure and the following 3 days. Symptoms in the ECC also had weak correlations with those in the early natural pollen season. Conclusions: The ECC under well-controlled conditions is suitable for clinical studies and might accelerate development of treatment for seasonal allergic rhinitis. A complete evaluation requires inclusion of the persistent reaction after subjects leave the ECC.
    Keywords environmental challenge chamber (ECC) ; Japanese cedar pollinosis ; seasonal allergic rhinitis (SAR) ; validation study ; α chamber ; Medicine ; R ; Internal medicine ; RC31-1245 ; Specialties of internal medicine ; RC581-951 ; Immunologic diseases. Allergy ; RC581-607
    Subject code 333
    Language English
    Publishing date 2014-01-01T00:00:00Z
    Publisher Elsevier
    Document type Article ; Online
    Database BASE - Bielefeld Academic Search Engine (life sciences selection)

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  10. Article ; Online: Complementary and alternative medicine for allergic rhinitis in Japan

    Syuji Yonekura / Yoshitaka Okamoto / Daiju Sakurai / Toshioki Sakurai / Tomohisa Iinuma / Heizaburou Yamamoto / Toyoyuki Hanazawa / Shigetoshi Horiguchi / Yuichi Kurono / Kohei Honda / Yuichi Majima / Keisuke Masuyama / Noriaki Takeda / Shigeharu Fujieda / Mitsuhiro Okano / Satoshi Ogino / Kimihiro Okubo

    Allergology International, Vol 66, Iss 3, Pp 425-

    2017  Volume 431

    Abstract: Background: Complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) is extensively used in patients with allergic diseases worldwide. The purpose of this study was to investigate the actual situation of CAM practice in the treatment of allergic rhinitis. Methods: ... ...

    Abstract Background: Complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) is extensively used in patients with allergic diseases worldwide. The purpose of this study was to investigate the actual situation of CAM practice in the treatment of allergic rhinitis. Methods: We distributed questionnaires to otolaryngologists at 114 facilities in Japan. The subjects who participated in this study included children <16 years of age and adults ≥16 years of age diagnosed with allergic rhinitis by otolaryngologists. The survey was performed in the period from September 2007 to August 2009. Furthermore, we performed the same investigation out of the hospital setting, such as during general health examinations. All questionnaires were returned to Chiba University and analyzed. Results: The proportions of patients who had ever experimented with CAM in the hospital survey were 7.1% (225/3170) and 19.2% (1416/7363) of children and adults, respectively. Approximately 36.2% of the adult patients thought that the treatments were effective. The main reasons for CAM use were safety, convenience and low price. However, the group who spent more than $1000 on CAM felt more dissatisfaction and anxiety related to treatment at the hospital. The situation of CAM practice was not consistent and was instead influenced by the backgrounds of the subjects. Conclusions: Many patients who receive CAM report feeling that the effects of treatment provided by hospitals are insufficient and have concerns about the side effects of such treatments. Information regarding standard treatments, as described in the guidelines, should become widely known and diffused, and strong communication with patients should be considered.
    Keywords Allergic rhinitis ; Complementary and alternative medicine ; Conventional treatments ; Questionnaire ; Unconventional treatments ; Immunologic diseases. Allergy ; RC581-607
    Language English
    Publishing date 2017-07-01T00:00:00Z
    Publisher Elsevier
    Document type Article ; Online
    Database BASE - Bielefeld Academic Search Engine (life sciences selection)

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