Kami-Ube Pediatric Clinic

29 March, 2011

3.12. Fukushima nuclear plant disaster: Simulation of atmospheric dispersion of the radioactive plume

March 11th Earthquake and tsunami damaged the nuclear power plant at Fukushima,
where 4 of 6 nuclear reactors have been troubles, leaking the radioactive substances
to the air.

Institute de Radioprotection et de Sûreté Nucléaire(＝IRSN) has published information
on its french website regarding the status of the nuclear reactors at the Fukushima Daiichi
nuclear plant, and the consequences of the crisis.
     http://www.irsn.fr/EN/news/Pages/201103_seism-in-japan.aspx
   http://www.irsn.fr/EN/news/Documents/irsn-simulation-dispersion-en.pdf
It includes :
1) Dispersion of radioactive releases in the air
   http://www.irsn.fr/FR/popup/Pages/animation_dispersion_rejets_19mars.aspx
2) Whole body doses likely to be received by a one-year old infant with no protection
   during the releases
     http://www.irsn.fr/FR/popup/Pages/animation_doses_corps_entiers_19mars.aspx
3) Doses to the thyroid likely to be received by a one-year old infant with no protection
   during the releases
   http://www.irsn.fr/FR/popup/Pages/animation_doses_corps_thyroide_19mars.aspx

Thank you, French IRSN

Keiji Hagiwara, MD
Kami-Ube Pediatric Clinic,
Ube 755-0097, Japan
keijihagiwara@gmail.com

28 March, 2011

3.11. Tohoku・Kantou Earthquake (M 9.0) and Tsunami

11th March, earthquake(M 9.0) and Tsunami attacked north-west Japan.
Tsumani swept the costal area of Tohoku and Kanto, where many fishing ports and
town are there, were destroyed.

see the footage: NHK; http://www3.nhk.or.jp/news/jishin0311/
BBC; http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-pacific-12722187

Death Toll = 10,804 (confirmed. 28 March)
Missing = 18,000

In addition, Earthquake and tsunami damaged the nuclear power plant at Fukushima,
where 4 of 6 nuclear reactors have been troubles, leaking the radioactive substances
to the air. The evacuation zone, set by the government, was 20km.

Quake also damaged other electric power plants and resulted the power shortage of

Greater Tokyo area. ( 60c/s 100v is the west half of Japan and the east half Japan is
50c/s 100v. Fuji river is dividing border). There are few capacity of 60c/s to 50c/s
conversion of currency.

24 February, 2011

Rapid diagnostic test for influenza

Rapid tests for influenza virus infection:

upper: influenza A

lower: influenza B

In Japan, rapid tests for influenza virus infection are routinely used by Physicians.
10 more products are marketing.

The sensitivities, when compared with viral culture, or reverse transcription

polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR)are approximately 85~98 %.

The specificities are approximately 90~99%.

Both A and B are week positive: false results.

There are several sites to obtain the samples:
---------- 1) Nasopharyngeal swab: the best
---------- 2) Throat swab
---------- 3) Nasal swab

------------ New England Journal of Medicine -------

upper: classical cotton swab

middle: thin cotton swab

lower: Tip flocked with Nylon fiber

Any questions: write to

--------------------Keiji Hagiwara, MD

--------------------Kami-Ube Pediatric Clinic, Ube 755-0097, Japan.

22 February, 2011

Relenza: a inhalation drug for Flu

Zanamivir ( Relenza, GlaxoSmithKline) is a oral inhalation drugs, used in the treatment
and prophylaxis of influenza caused by influenza A virus and influenza B virus.

The recommended dose of RELENZA in adults and pediatric patients
aged 7 years and older is 10 mg twice daily (approximately 12 hours apart) for 5 days.
• Two doses should be taken on the first day of treatment
whenever possible provided there is at least 2 hours between doses.
• On subsequent days, doses should be about 12 hours apart
(e.g., morning and evening) at approximately the same time each day.

12-year-old boy, influenza A infection

10-year-old girl, influenza B infection

Any questions; Keiji Hagiwara,

Kami-Ube Pediatric Clinic, Ube 755-0097, Japan.

keijihagiwara@gmail.com

12 February, 2011

Bird Flu (Avian influenza) in Tokiwa park

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February 9th. a black swan was found in dead at Tokiwa lake. The tests showed influenza

A, H5 subtype, suggesting Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza A (H5N1) Virus.

➙ Avian influenza : resources for health professionals (CDC)

From 9th to 11th, except for Pelicans, 322 swans and 14 ducks have been slaughtered

for preventing further spreads of Flu. The swans came from Rotterdam in 1957---------

----- A sad ending.

Swans in Tokiwa park, Ube city

Swans

white swan

Black swans

Questions?

-------------------- Keiji Hagiwara, keijihagiwara@gmail.com

09 February, 2011

Japanese encephalitis

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Japanese encephalitis
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
i) agent: Japanese encephalitis virus( RNA virus).
ii) transmission: the bite of an infected mosquito, primarily Culex species.

mosquito; carrier of Japanese encephalitis virus(Culex tritaeniorhynchus)
---------- Department of Medical Entomology, NIID, Japan

iii) Disease: a few than 1% of human develop the encephalitis. Most peoples

------ are symptom-free. Case–fatality ratio is around 20%–30%.

------ Among survivors, 30%–50% may have significant neurological sequelae.

iv) Incidence of Japanese encephalitis:

----- In Japan, fewer than 10 patients/ year.

----- This virus is the most common cause of encephalitis in Asia,

----- occurring throughout most of Asia and parts of the western Pacific.

----- The virus has not been locally transmitted in Africa, Europe, or USA.

------ Centers for Disease Control and Prevention -------

v) prevention: If you work or travel rural area during summer or rainy seasons,
----------- where mosquito bites are there ,
-----------Japanese encephalitis vaccine( 3 times; 0, 1~4 weeks, 1 year) should
----------- be administered.

Inactivated Vero Cell Culture-Derived JE Vaccine

Any questions;
Keiji Hagiwara, MD keijihagiwara@gmail.com

18 December, 2010

Plastic bottle tower in Tokiwa park

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The tower was certified by Guinness World Records as the world's tallest sculpture which is made from plastic bottles in 17th November. It was
designed by Yamaguchi University students. 12,120 Plastic bottles of Use.
The height is 11.37m.

A Night scene: a view from east entrance of Tokiwa park

Plastic bottles tower, illuminated by LED light.

The height is 11.37m.

12,120 Plastic bottles of Use.

Any questions: write to Keiji Hagiwara, keijihagiwara@gmail.com

14 November, 2010

Funnel chest(hollowed chest)

Funnel chest (hollowed chest)

Pectus excavatum (hollowed chest)is the most common congenital deformity of
the anterior wall of the chest.

The Nuss procedure is a minimally-invasive procedure, invented by Dr. Donald
Nuss (Children's Hospital of The King's Daughters, in Norfolk, Virginia) for
treating pectus excavatum.

A concave stainless steel bar is slipped under the sternum, through the incisions
in the side of the chest. The bar is then flipped, and the sternum pops out.

To support the bar and keep it in place a metal plate called a stabilizer may be
inserted with the bar on one side of the torso.

After a period of two to four years, the surgical stainless steel bar is removed
from the patient's chest.

Any Questions: write to
Keiji Hagiwara, MD
Kami-Ube Pediatric Clinic,
e-mail: keijihagiwara@gmail.com

Brugge, Belgium

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Brugge is located in the northwest of Belgium. It is worth to visit.

Many medieval buildings and old canals are well preserved.

Brussels(Bruxelles)

A metro(subway) station of Brussels

A view of central Brussels, photo taken in 1985.

European Commission, Brussels

Cinquantenaire, Brussels

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Clos Chapelle aux Champs, Bruxelles

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Avenue Emile Vandervelde, Bruxelles

Clos Chapelle aux Champs

The apartment where we lived.

Any Questions: write to

Keiji Hagiwara, MD

Kami-Ube Pediatric Clinic,

e-mail: keijihagiwara@gmail.com

Université catholique de Louvain

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The Catholic University of Leuven, or Louvain, is the largest, oldest university in Belgium.
The university was founded in 1425. In 1968, the university split to two :

1) Dutch-speaking " Katholieke Universiteit Leuven", located in Leuven
2) French-speaking "Université catholique de Louvain", situated in Louvain-la-Neuve
and Brussels.
Attention: If you arrive in the Brussels International airport(Zaventem airport) and ask the
taxi driver to go to Louvain university, He may be go to Katholieke Universiteit Leuven in
Leuven.

From 1985 to 87, I studied at the medical research institute of Université catholique de Louvain in Brussels( de Duve Institute, ICP 75.50 Avenue Hippocrate 75, B-1200 Brussels).