Displaying publications 41 - 60 of 62 in total

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  1. Eating disorders in the Far East
    Tsai G
    Eat Weight Disord, 2000 Dec;5(4):183-97.
    PMID: 11216126
    OBJECTIVE: To investigate eating disorders (EDs) prevalence rates among Asian populations and identify characteristics that distinguish them from their Western counterparts.

    METHOD: Potential references were identified through an English-language literature search using Medline, Psychinfo, Dissertation Abstracts (1966 to 1999) and through extensive manual searching of textbooks, reviews and reference lists.

    RESULTS: The majority of studies related to EDs were conducted in Japan and China and a few were conducted in Singapore, Malaysia, Taiwan, and Korea whereas there was none in the Philippines, Laos, Vietnam, Cambodia, Myanmar, Indonesia and Thailand. Prevalence rates in Japan range from 0.025 to 0.030% for anorexia nervosa (AN) and from 1.9 to 2.9% for bulimia nervosa (BN). Community studies in China have found the AN prevalence to be 0.01% and BN rates ranging from 0.5% to 1.3%. These rates are lower than ED rates in the West (particularly the U.S. and Britain). Body dissatisfaction (BD) and dieting rates, however, were similar to those in the West. BD rates ranged from 68% (Taiwan) to 81% (Korea) and dieting rates ranged from 34% (Taiwan) to 68% (Japan). Sociocultural and developmental risk factors were relevant to this population.

    CONCLUSIONS: EDs in Asian populations have received little attention because they have been predominantly viewed as associated with Western culture. Classified by many as a "culture-bound syndrome" of the West, they may really be a culture-change syndrome.

    Matched MeSH terms: Japan/epidemiology
  2. Genetic diversity of enterovirus 71 isolated from cases of hand, foot and mouth disease in Yokohama City between 1982 and 2000
    Munemura T, Saikusa M, Kawakami C, Shimizu H, Oseto M, Hagiwara A, et al.
    Arch Virol, 2003 Feb;148(2):253-63.
    PMID: 12556991
    Enterovirus 71 (EV71) is known as one of the major causative agents of hand, foot and mouse disease (HFMD) and is also associated with neurological manifestations such as aseptic meningitis, polio-like paralysis and encephalitis. Recently, large HFMD outbreaks, involving severe neurological complications, have been experienced in Malaysia, Taiwan and some other countries in the Western-Pacific region. To investigate the genetic diversity of EV71 isolates in a single community in Japan, nucleotide sequences of the VP4 region of 52 EV71 isolates in Yokohama City from 1982 to 2000 were determined and the phylogenetic relationship was compared with other referential EV71 strains in Japan and in the world. There were two major genotypes of EV71 in Yokohama City through the 1980's and 1990's. Six EV71 isolates in the early 1980's in Yokohama City were closely related to those from HFMD outbreaks in Japan and from outbreaks of polio-like paralysis in Europe in the 1970's. During recent HFMD outbreaks in 1997 and 2000, two distinct genotypes of EV71 were co-circulating in Yokohama City as in HFMD outbreaks in Malaysia and Taiwan. However, the genetic diversity of EV71 in Yokohama City was not directly correlated with the severity of HFMD. The results confirmed the circulation of two distinct genotypes of EV71 over the past 20 years in Japan.
    Matched MeSH terms: Japan/epidemiology
  3. Mortality from cardiovascular diseases in Chinese, Malays and Indians in Singapore, in comparison with England and Wales, USA and Japan
    Hughes K
    Ann Acad Med Singap, 1989 Nov;18(6):642-5.
    PMID: 2624412
    Age-standardised death rates, for ages 35-64 years in both sexes, from ischaemic heart disease, cerebrovascular disease, and hypertensive disease for Chinese, Malays, and Indians in Singapore (1980-84) have been compared with those in England and Wales, USA and Japan (1982). For ischaemic heart disease Indians have the highest mortality, then Malays, with Chinese less than the Western countries but more than Japan. For cerebrovascular disease the Malays have highest mortality, then Indians, then Chinese, followed by Japan, England and Wales, and USA in that order. For hypertensive disease it is again Malays, then Indians, then Chinese, but followed by the different order of USA, England and Wales, and Japan. The differences are discussed in the light of declining trends in mortality from these disease in Singapore over the preceding 25 years. The special problems of ischaemic heart disease in Indians and hypertension and it's sequelae in Malays are highlighted.
    Matched MeSH terms: Japan/epidemiology
  4. Fulltext Multilevel analysis of hemodialysis-associated infection among end-stage renal disease patients: results of a retrospective cohort study utilizing the insurance claim data of Fukuoka Prefecture, Japan
    Jamal A, Babazono A, Li Y, Yoshida S, Fujita T
    Medicine (Baltimore), 2020 May;99(18):e19871.
    PMID: 32358355 DOI: 10.1097/MD.0000000000019871
    The presence of comorbid conditions along with heterogeneity in terms of healthcare practices and service delivery could have a significant impact on the patient's outcomes. With a strong interest in social epidemiology to examine the impact of health services and variations on health outcomes, the current study was conducted to analyse the incidence of hemodialysis-associated infection (HAI) as well as its associated factors, and to quantify the extent to which the contextual effects of the care facility and regional variations influence the risk of HAI.A total of 6111 patients with end-stage renal disease who received hemodialysis treatment between 1 October 2015 and 31 March 2016 were identified from the insurance claim database as a population-based, close-cohort retrospective study. Patients were followed for one year from April 1, 2016 to March 31, 2017. A total of 200 HAI cases were observed during the follow-up and 12 patients died within 90 days of the onset of HAI. Increased risks for HAI were associated with moderate (HR 1.73, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.00-2.98) and severe (HR 1.87, 95% CI 1.11-3.14) comorbid conditions as well as malignancy (HR 1.36, 95% CI 1.00-1.85). Increased risk was also seen among patients who received hemodialysis treatment from clinics (HR 2.49, 95% CI 1.1-5.33). However, these statistics were no longer significant when variations at the level of care facilities were statistically controlled. In univariate analyses, no statistically significant association was observed between 90-day mortality and baseline patients, and the characteristics of the care facility.The results of the multivariate, multilevel analyses indicated that HAI variations were only significant at the care facility level (σ 2.07, 95% CI 1.3-3.2) and were largely explained by the heterogeneity between care facilities. The results of this study highlight the need to look beyond the influence of patient-level characteristics when developing policies that aim at improving the quality of hemodialysis healthcare and service delivery in Japan.
    Matched MeSH terms: Japan/epidemiology
  5. Fulltext Whole Genome Sequencing-Based Molecular Epidemiologic Analysis of Autochthonous Dengue Virus Type 1 Strains Circulating in Japan in 2014
    Tajima S, Nakayama E, Kotaki A, Moi ML, Ikeda M, Yagasaki K, et al.
    Jpn J Infect Dis, 2017 Jan 24;70(1):45-49.
    PMID: 27169954 DOI: 10.7883/yoken.JJID.2016.086
    Cases of autochthonous infections of dengue virus type 1 (DENV-1) were detected in Japan after a 70-year period devoid of dengue outbreaks. We previously showed that E gene sequences are identical in 11 of the 12 DENV-1 strains autochthonous to Japan. However, the E sequence represents only 14% of the DENV-1 genome. In the present study, we have sequenced the entire genome of 6 autochthonous DENV-1 strains that were isolated from patients during the 2014 outbreak. Sequencing of 5 Yoyogi group strains with identical E sequences and 1 Shizuoka strain with a different E sequence revealed that the first Yoyogi group strain differed from the Shizuoka strain by 18 amino acid residues. Furthermore, 2 Yoyogi group strains had different genomic sequences while the other 3 had identical genomes. Phylogenetic analyses indicated that the Hyogo strain, a Yoyogi group strain, was the first to diverge from the other 4 Yoyogi group strains. The E gene sequence of the Yoyogi group strains exhibits the highest homology to those of the strains isolated in Malaysia and Singapore between 2013 and 2014. The patient infected with the Hyogo strain visited Malaysia before the onset of dengue fever, suggesting that this was a case of dengue infection imported from Malaysia.
    Matched MeSH terms: Japan/epidemiology
  6. Enterovirus 71 from fatal and nonfatal cases of hand, foot and mouth disease epidemics in Malaysia, Japan and Taiwan in 1997-1998
    Shimizu H, Utama A, Yoshii K, Yoshida H, Yoneyama T, Sinniah M, et al.
    Jpn J Infect Dis, 1999 Feb;52(1):12-5.
    PMID: 10808253
    Enterovirus 71 (EV71), one of the major causative agents for hand, foot and mouth disease (HFMD), is sometimes associated with severe central nervous system diseases. In 1997, in Malaysia and Japan, and in 1998 in Taiwan, there were HFMD epidemics involving sudden deaths among young children, and EV71 was isolated from the HFMD patients, including the fatal cases. The nucleotide sequences of each EV71 isolate were determined and compared by phylogenetical analysis. EV71 strains from previously reported epidemics belonged to genotype A-1, while those from recent epidemics could be divided into two genotypes, A-2 and B. In Malaysia, genotype A-2 was more prevalent, while in Japan and Taiwan, B genotype was more prevalent. Two isolates from fatal cases in Malaysia and one isolate from a fatal case in Japan were genotype A-2. However, all isolates from three fatal cases in Taiwan belonged to genotype B. The severity of the HFMD did not link directly to certain genotypes of EV71.
    Matched MeSH terms: Japan/epidemiology
  7. The Fabry disease-causing mutation, GLA IVS4+919G>A, originated in Mainland China more than 800 years ago
    Liang KH, Lu YH, Niu CW, Chang SK, Chen YR, Cheng CY, et al.
    J Hum Genet, 2020 Jul;65(7):619-625.
    PMID: 32246049 DOI: 10.1038/s10038-020-0745-7
    The Fabry disease-causing mutation, the GLA IVS4+919G>A (designated GLA IVS4), is very prevalent in patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy in Taiwan. This X-linked mutation has also been found in patients in Kyushu, Japan and Southeast Asia. To investigate the age and the possible ancestral origin of this mutation, a total of 33 male patients with the GLA IVS4+919G>A mutation, born in Taiwan, Japan, Singapore, Malaysia, Vietnam, and the Fujian and Guangdong provinces of China, were studied. Peripheral bloods were collected, and the Ilumina Infinium CoreExome-24 microarray was used for dense genotyping. A mutation-carrying haplotype was discovered which was shared by all 33 patients. This haplotype does not exist in 15 healthy persons without the mutation. Rather, a wide diversity of haplotypes was found in the vicinity of the mutation site, supporting the existence of a single founder of the GLA IVS4 mutation. The age of the founder mutation was estimated by the lengths of the mutation-carrying haplotypes based on the linkage-disequilibrium decay theory. The first, second, and third quartile of the age estimates are 800.7, 922.6, and 1068.4 years, respectively. We concluded that the GLA IVS4+919G>A mutation originated from a single mutational event that occurred in a Chinese chromosome more than 800 years ago.
    Matched MeSH terms: Japan/epidemiology
  8. Isolation of an influenza C virus introduced into Japan by a traveler from Malaysia
    Matsuzaki Y, Sato K, Sugawara K, Takashita E, Muraki Y, Morishita T, et al.
    J Clin Microbiol, 2005 Feb;43(2):993-5.
    PMID: 15695727
    An influenza C virus was isolated from a Japanese traveler who had visited Malaysia in April 1999. Phylogenetic analysis indicated that the genome composition of this virus was distinct from that of any other strain isolated in Japan. The possibility that a genetically unique influenza C virus was introduced into Japan by a traveler is shown.
    Matched MeSH terms: Japan/epidemiology
  9. Prescribing patterns of low doses of antipsychotic medications in older Asian patients with schizophrenia, 2001-2009
    Xiang YT, Dickerson F, Kreyenbuhl J, Ungvari GS, Wang CY, Si TM, et al.
    Int Psychogeriatr, 2012 Jun;24(6):1002-8.
    PMID: 22300452 DOI: 10.1017/S1041610211002791
    This study examined the use of low doses of antipsychotic medications (300 mg/day CPZeq or less) in older Asian patients with schizophrenia and its demographic and clinical correlates.
    Matched MeSH terms: Japan/epidemiology
  10. Fulltext Frequencies of hepatitis B and C infections among haemodialysis and peritoneal dialysis patients in Asia-Pacific countries: analysis of registry data
    Johnson DW, Dent H, Yao Q, Tranaeus A, Huang CC, Han DS, et al.
    Nephrol Dial Transplant, 2009 May;24(5):1598-603.
    PMID: 19096083 DOI: 10.1093/ndt/gfn684
    The impact of dialysis modality on the rates and types of infectious complications has not been well studied. The aim of the present investigation was to evaluate the rates of hepatitis C virus (HCV) and hepatitis B virus (HBV) infections in peritoneal dialysis (PD) and haemodialysis (HD) patients in the Asia-Pacific region.
    Matched MeSH terms: Japan/epidemiology
  11. Prevalence and correlates of erectile dysfunction (ED) and treatment seeking for ED in Asian Men: the Asian Men's Attitudes to Life Events and Sexuality (MALES) study
    Tan HM, Low WY, Ng CJ, Chen KK, Sugita M, Ishii N, et al.
    J Sex Med, 2007 Nov;4(6):1582-92.
    PMID: 17908233 DOI: 10.1111/j.1743-6109.2007.00602.x
    INTRODUCTION: There have been limited multiregional studies in Asia examining the parameters of men's general and sexual health and quality of life in the general population vs. those in clinical cohorts of patients with erectile dysfunction (ED).
    AIMS: The aims of the Asian Men's Attitudes to Life Events and Sexuality (Asian MALES) study were to investigate the prevalence of ED, associated health conditions, and ED treatment-seeking patterns in the general male population in five regions of Asia (China, Japan, Korea, Malaysia, and Taiwan).
    MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE: Standardized questionnaire previously used in a similar multiregional study and modified to ensure culturally appropriate content for Asia.
    METHODS: Phase I of the study involved 10,934 adult men, aged 20-75 years, who were interviewed using the standardized questionnaire. Phase II of the study involved men with self-reported ED recruited from Phase I and via physician referral, invitations in general practitioner offices, and street interception (total Phase II sample, N = 1,209).
    RESULTS: The overall prevalence of self-reported ED in the Phase I study population was 6.4%. ED prevalence varied by region and significantly increased with age (P < 0.01). Men with ED reported significantly greater rates of comorbid illness (P < 0.0001) and a reduced quality of life (P = 0.0001), compared with men without ED. Phase II of the study revealed that fewer than half of men with self-reported ED had sought treatment for their problem. Men were more likely to seek help for erection difficulties from Western doctors than from traditional medicine practitioners (P = 0.0001). A man's partner/spouse was the most common influencer of treatment seeking in all regions except Malaysia.
    CONCLUSION: The findings confirm those of existing research on ED in both Asian and non-Asian males: ED is a prevalent condition; the prevalence of ED increases with age and is strongly associated with comorbid conditions; and the majority of men have never sought treatment for their condition. This study highlights a substantial need for the evaluation and treatment of ED in Asian men.
    Matched MeSH terms: Japan/epidemiology
  12. Surveillance of antibiotic resistance in Neisseria gonorrhoeae in the WHO Western Pacific Region, 2005
    WHO Western Pacific Gonococcal Antimicrobial Surveillance Programme
    Commun Dis Intell Q Rep, 2006;30(4):430-3.
    PMID: 17330383
    The World Health Organization Western Pacific Region Gonococcal Antimicrobial Surveillance Programme examined about 8,700 isolates of Neisseria gonorrhoeae from 15 countries for resistance to antibiotics in 2005. High to very high rates of resistance to penicillins and quinolones persisted in most centres. Increasing numbers of gonococci with decreased susceptibility to third generation cephalosporins were found in several countries. There were infrequent instances of spectinomycin resistance.
    Matched MeSH terms: Japan/epidemiology
  13. Type 2 diabetes in youth from the Western Pacific region: glycaemic control, diabetes care and complications
    Eppens MC, Craig ME, Jones TW, Silink M, Ong S, Ping YJ, et al.
    Curr Med Res Opin, 2006 May;22(5):1013-20.
    PMID: 16709323 DOI: 10.1185/030079906X104795
    OBJECTIVE: To describe the glycaemic control, diabetes care and prevalence of complications in youth with type 2 diabetes from the Western Pacific Region.
    RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS: Cross-sectional, clinic-based audit of 331 patients aged < 18 years from 56 centres in Australia, China-Beijing, China-Shanghai, China-Hong Kong, Indonesia, Japan, South Korea, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, Taiwan and Thailand. Clinical and management data were recorded along with glycated haemoglobin (HbA(1c)), lipids and complication rates.
    MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Glycaemic control, complications, diabetes management.
    RESULTS: Median age was 14.9 years (interquartile range 13.2-16.4 years) and median diabetes duration 2.3 years (1.4-3.6 years). Median HbA(1c) was 7% (5.9-9.9%) and HbA(1c) was > 7.5% in 40% of patients. In multiple regression analysis, glycaemic control varied significantly between countries (p = 0.02); higher HbA(1c) was associated with fewer home blood glucose measurements (p = 0.005) and higher insulin dose/kg (p < 0.0001). Blood glucose monitoring was performed by 65% of patients (range 33-96% by country). In 25% of patients, management consisted of diet alone or no treatment (range 0-53% by country); oral anti-diabetic drugs alone were used in 49%, insulin alone in 11% and both in 15%. Microalbuminuria was found in 8% and hypertension in 24%. The risk of hypertension increased with higher BMI (OR 1.16, 95% CI 1.09-1.24, p < 0.0001); antihypertensive agents were used in 4% of patients.
    CONCLUSIONS: The management of type 2 diabetes in youth from the Western Pacific Region varies widely. Hypertension and microalbuminuria were frequent, but not commonly treated. Further investigation into the natural history and risk factors for complications in youth with type 2 diabetes is required to assist in developing evidence based management guidelines.
    Matched MeSH terms: Japan/epidemiology
  14. Risk factors associated with outcomes of very low birthweight infants in four Asian countries
    Wariki WM, Mori R, Boo NY, Cheah IG, Fujimura M, Lee J, et al.
    J Paediatr Child Health, 2013 Jan;49(1):E23-7.
    PMID: 23282105 DOI: 10.1111/jpc.12054
    The study aims to determine the risk factors associated with mortality and necrotising enterocolitis (NEC) among very low birthweight infants in 95 neonatal intensive care units in the Asian Network on Maternal and Newborn Health.
    Matched MeSH terms: Japan/epidemiology
  15. Traceback systems used during recent epizootics in Asia
    Ozawa Y, Ong BL, An SH
    Rev. - Off. Int. Epizoot., 2001 Aug;20(2):605-13.
    PMID: 11548530
    Traceback systems in most countries of Asia are not well developed, as indicated by responses to a questionnaire by veterinary officials in thirteen countries. Marking of animals for traceback is practised only in a limited number of countries in specific areas or zones and for specific purposes only. In Malaysia, traceback has been undertaken by marking farm code tattoos on pigs. This enables the identification of the farm of origin of pigs found to be infected by Nipah virus in sero-surveillance programmes. The origin of the foot and mouth disease (FMD) virus that surfaced in the Republic of Korea in March 2000 was investigated through several epidemiological studies of suspected sources of contamination such as imported hay, yellow sand, milk collection trucks and feed delivery trucks. None of these studies gave results that indicated the origin of the FMD virus. The origin of the FMD virus that was recorded in Japan in March 2000 was also investigated in epidemiological studies; in this case, imported wheat straw was incriminated as the most likely source of infection. Comparative studies of the pathogenicities of FMD (type O) viruses isolated in Taipei China, the Republic of Korea and Japan, suggest that these viruses might have originated as vaccine strains used in a third country.
    Matched MeSH terms: Japan/epidemiology
  16. A new rhabditoid nematode species in Asian sciurids, distinct from Strongyloides robustus in North American sciurids
    Sato H, Torii H, Une Y, Ooi HK
    J Parasitol, 2007 Dec;93(6):1476-86.
    PMID: 18314696 DOI: 10.1645/GE-1106.1
    Strongyloides callosciureus n. sp. (Nematoda: Rhabditoidea), from Asian sciurids, is described based on morphology, morphometry, and the small and large subunit (SSU/LSU) ribosomal RNA gene (rDNA) sequences. This new species was collected from Pallas's squirrels (Callosciurus erythraeus) in the central part of mainland Japan (Honshu), which were originally introduced from Taiwan some decades ago, and plantain squirrels (Callosciurus notatus) imported from Malaysia as personal pets. For comparison, Strongyloides robustus Chandler, 1942 was collected from American red squirrels (Tamiasciurus hudsonicus) and southern flying squirrels (Glaucomys volans) imported from the United States as personal pets. The parasitic females found in North American and Asian sciurids shared some key morphological features such as the ovary running spirally around the gut, and the shapes of the stoma in the apical view and the tail. However, morphometric features of parasitic females in North American and Asian sciurids differed significantly from each other; the former was larger than the latter, and the relative position of the vulva to the whole body length from the mouth was different. The SSU/LSU rDNA sequences supported the division of sciurid Strongyloides isolates by geographical distribution of the host and morphological features, leading us to propose the erection of new species.
    Matched MeSH terms: Japan/epidemiology
  17. Reinfection of adult cattle with rotavirus B during repeated outbreaks of epidemic diarrhea
    Hayashi M, Murakami T, Kuroda Y, Takai H, Ide H, Awang A, et al.
    Can. J. Vet. Res., 2016 Jul;80(3):189-96.
    PMID: 27408331
    Rotavirus B (RVB) infection in cattle is poorly understood. The objective of this study was to describe the epidemiological features of repeated outbreaks of epidemic diarrhea due to RVB infection in adult cattle on a large dairy farm complex in Japan. In October 2002, approximately 550 adult cows and approximately 450 in February 2005 had acute watery diarrhea at several farms on the complex. Four months before the first outbreak, RVB antibody-positive rates at subsequently affected farms were significantly lower than at non-affected farms (30% to 32% versus 61% to 67%). During the acute phase of both outbreaks, RVB antibody-positive rates in diarrheal cows tested were as low as 15% to 26%. Most of the farms affected in the second outbreak were also involved in the first outbreak. Some adult cows with RVB diarrhea in the first outbreak showed not only RVB seroresponse, but also RVB shedding in the second outbreak, although none of these cows developed diarrhea. Nucleotide sequences of the VP7 and VP4 genes revealed a close relationship between RVB strains in both outbreaks. Taken together, these results indicate that outbreaks of epidemic RVB diarrhea in adult cows might be influenced by herd immunity and could occur repeatedly at the same farms over several years. To our knowledge, this is the first report on repeated RVB infections in the same cattle.
    Matched MeSH terms: Japan/epidemiology
  18. Fulltext The incidence of IDDM in Singapore children
    Lee WW, Ooi BC, Thai AC, Loke KY, Tan YT, Rajan U, et al.
    Singapore Med J, 1998 Aug;39(8):359-62.
    PMID: 9844497
    To determine the incidence of insulin dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM) in children 0-12 years of age in Singapore, which has a population of 2.9 million.
    Matched MeSH terms: Japan/epidemiology
  19. Fulltext Association and interaction between dietary pattern and VEGF receptor-2 (VEGFR2) gene polymorphisms on blood lipids in Chinese Malaysian and Japanese adults
    Yap RW, Shidoji Y, Hon WM, Masaki M
    Asia Pac J Clin Nutr, 2012;21(2):302-11.
    PMID: 22507619
    Dietary pattern and genetic predisposition of each population have different impacts on lifestyle-related chronic diseases. This study was conducted to evaluate the association and interaction between dietary patterns and VEGFR2 or KDR gene polymorphisms on physical and biochemical risk factors of cardiovascular disease in two Asian populations (179 Chinese Malaysian and 136 Japanese adults).
    Matched MeSH terms: Japan/epidemiology
  20. Emerging and re-emerging epidemic encephalitis: a tale of two viruses
    Wong KT
    Neuropathol. Appl. Neurobiol., 2000 Aug;26(4):313-8.
    PMID: 10931364
    Two major epidemics of viral encephalitis occurred in Asia in 1997 and 1998. The first was a re-emergence of neurovirulent strains of enterovirus 71, which caused severe encephalomyelitis in children in Malaysia, Taiwan and Japan, on a background of hand, foot and mouth disease. Necropsy studies of patients who died of enterovirus 71 infection showed severe perivascular cuffing, parenchymal inflammation and neuronophagia in the spinal cord, brainstem and diencephalon, and in focal areas in the cerebellum and cerebrum. Although no viral inclusions were detected, immunohistochemistry showed viral antigen in the neuronal cytoplasm. Inflammation was often more extensive than neuronal infection, suggesting that other factors, in addition to direct viral cytolysis, may be involved in tissue damage. The second epidemic of viral encephalitis was the result of a novel paramyxovirus called Nipah, which mainly involved pig handlers in Malaysia and Singapore. Pathological evidence suggested that the endothelium of small blood vessels in the central nervous system was particularly susceptible to infection. This led to disseminated endothelial damage and syncytium formation, vasculitis, thrombosis, ischaemia and microinfarction. However, there was also evidence of neuronal infection by the virus and this may also have contributed to the neurological dysfunction in Nipah encephalitis. Some patients who seemed to recover from the acute symptoms have been re-admitted with clinical findings suggestive of relapsing encephalitis. As these two epidemics indicate, the emergence and re-emergence of viral encephalitides continue to pose considerable challenges to the neuropathologist, in establishing the diagnosis and unravelling the pathogenesis of the neurological disease.
    Matched MeSH terms: Japan/epidemiology
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