Eight-Year Trends in the Effect of the Great East Japan Earthquake on Obstetrics Outcomes: A Study from the Fukushima Health Management Survey

Information regarding the longitudinal effects of natural/environmental disasters on obstetrics outcomes is limited. This study aimed to analyze the longitudinal changes in obstetrics outcomes over 8 years after the Great East Japan Earthquake and the Fukushima power plant accident. We used data from the first 8 years of the Pregnancy and Birth Survey by the Fukushima prefectural government, launched in 2011. We compared data on obstetrics outcomes by year and divided Fukushima Prefecture into six districts based on administrative districts. Longitudinal changes in the occurrence of preterm birth before 37 gestational weeks, low birth weight, and anomalies in newborns were accessed using the Mantel-Haenszel test for trends in all six districts. Overall, 57,537 participants were included. In 8 years, maternal age, conception rate after sterility treatment, and cesarean section delivery incidence increased. Although significant differences were observed in preterm birth and low birth weight occurrence among districts, there was no significant trend in the occurrence of preterm birth, low birth weight, and anomalies in newborns in all six districts of Fukushima Prefecture. The Great East Japan Earthquake and Fukushima power plant accident were associated with increased cesarean section delivery incidence but had no significant adverse effects on obstetrics outcomes.

Identification of the chromatin regions coated by non-coding Xist RNA

Xist non-coding RNA (ncRNA) is essential for X chromosome inactivation (XCI). Some genes can escape from XCI, but how this occurs is unknown. We developed a modified RNA tagging and recovery of associated proteins (TRAP) method to study the association between Xist RNA and its target genes. In mouse cells, Xist RNA was detected on the Uba1 gene, but not on Jarid1c and Utx genes, which escape from XCI. Using this technique we were able to show that the Xist RNA molecule is not present on active genes that escape from XCI, but is present on genes inactivated by XCI, suggesting that this method is a powerful tool for functional analysis of ncRNA.

Retroperitoneoscopic treatment of a retrocaval ureter

BACKGROUND

Retroperitoneoscopic surgery was performed on a 41-year-old man with a retrocaval ureter.

METHODS

The retrocaval segment of the ureter was retroperitoneoscopically separated and the ureter was reanastomosed using an automatic suture device.

RESULTS/DISCUSSION

He returned to normal activities four days postoperatively. Postoperative excretory urography showed improvement of hydronephrosis and no residual stenosis.

Endoscopic management of upper urinary tract disease using a 200-microm holmium laser fiber: initial experience in Japan

OBJECTIVES

To study the clinical effectiveness of the 200-microm holmium laser fiber for endoscopic management of upper urinary tract lesions.

METHODS

From January 1997 to March 1998, we performed retrograde endoscopic treatment in 25 patients with urinary tract lesions using a 200-microm holmium laser fiber. Nineteen patients had 20 stones (16 ureteral, 3 lower calyx, and 1 middle calyx), 4 had bleeding lesions in the lower calyx, 1 had transitional cell carcinoma involving the renal pelvis and upper calyx, and 1 had a ureteral stricture associated with an impacted ureteral stone. We used a 7.5F flexible ureterorenoscope for renal and upper ureteral lesions, and a 6.9F rigid ureteroscope for mid and lower ureteral lesions. For treatment, we used a holmium:yttriumaluminum-garnet laser generator and a 200-microm flexible quartz fiber.

RESULTS

All stones were successfully fragmented, including three lower caliceal stones. Lower caliceal bleeding spots were successfully cauterized for hemostasis in all 4 patients, and the pelvic tumor was successfully vaporized and ablated. In 1 patient, we had previously failed to treat a ureteral stricture with a 365-microm fiber because of inadequate visualization, but it was successfully incised using the 200-microm fiber. There were no significant complications such as ureteral obstruction or stenosis.

CONCLUSIONS

The improved flexibility of the new 200-microm holmium laser fiber facilitates treatment of stones, tumors, strictures, and lesions in the lower calyx, where access is difficult when using the previously available 365-microm fiber.

Significant decreased insulin secretion in a diabetic patient with clinically probable multiple sclerosis

A 39-year-old man with chief complaints of aphasia, disorientation and acalculia was admitted to our hospital. He was diagnosed as a clinically probable case of multiple sclerosis (MS) and his symptoms improved while on steroid pulse therapy. The patient had been diagnosed as having diabetes mellitus 16 years before the onset of MS and his insulin secretion further decreased with time. Slight insulin resistance was observed during a euglycemic hyperinsulinemic clamp study. These results suggested that this patient developed diabetes mellitus mainly due to the decrease of insulin secretion.

[Clinical experience of extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy with lithodiagnost M for upper urinary tract stones]

Between August 1995 and March 1997, 197 patients underwent 257 treatments for 217 stones by extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy (ESWL) using a Lithodiagnost M (Philips, Holland). There were 149 males and 48 females with an average age of 50.6 years, ranging from 15 to 85 years. There were 53 stones located in the renal pelvis and calices (R2), 20 stones at the pelvi-ureteric junction (PUJ) (R3), 101 stones in the upper ureter (U1), 15 stones in the middle ureter (U2) and 28 stones in the lower ureter (U3). The average number of sessions was 1.18 and the average number of shock waves per stone was 3,546. Efficacy was evaluated 3 months after the final ESWL. The success rate was 95.4% (207/217), with complete disappearance of stones in 71.4% (155/217) and residual stones of less than 4 mm diameter in 24% (52/217). No severe complications, except for subcapsular renal hematoma in one patient, were observed. These results indicate that almost all upper urinary tract stones can be successfully treated by ESWL monotherapy.