Department of Clinical Medicine
Main objectives of research activities in the Department of Internal Medicine are to understand pathogenesis of tropical diseases and respiratory infectious diseases and to improve diagnosis, prevention and therapy for infectious diseases in developing countries. Various basic scientific research and international collaborative studies are on going as follows:
Members
- Professor Koya Ariyoshi
- Associate Professor Konosuke Morimoto
- Assistant Professor Kei Miyagi
- Research Associate Kiwao Watanabe
- COE Assistant Professor Hiroshi Nakaoka
- COE Researcher Mariko Saito
- COE Researcher Sei Nishimura
- Technician Miki Magome
- Technician Kanako Fujino
- Technician Chen Meng
- Secretary Rika Nogawa
- Postgraduate student Naho Tsuchiya
- Postgraduate student Masahiko Mori
- Postgraduate student Takayuki Oike
- Postgraduate student Toshitaka Sukizaki
- Postgraduate student Yoshiyasu Yoza
- Postgraduate student Vu Thi Thu Huong
- Postgraduate student Chiharu Kaji
- Postgraduate student Hiroaki Yoshii
- Postgraduate student Keita Oma
- Postgraduate student Nanae Taguchi
- Postgraduate student Takeshi Yamamoto
- Assistant Professor (Project) Lay Myint Yoshida
- Assistant Professor (Project) Motoi Suzuki
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Activities
Respiratory Infections.
Our goal is to better-understand mechanisms causing severe and treatment-refractory pneumonias at molecular levels toward development of a novel treatment strategy. We hypothesize that patients with severe and treatment-refractory pneumonia has an impaired process in inducing the cessation of inflammation and re-construction of damaged tissues. We, particularly, focus on the function of macrophage which is responsible for clearing apoptotic cells from the inflammation site using a mouse pneumonia model. We are also developing a rapid and comprehensive assay to identify pathogens causing respiratory infections.
Pediatric Infectious Diseases in Vietnam.
We have, so far, conducted studies on clinical and bacteriological diagnosis, antimicrobial susceptibility and molecular epidemiology in collaboration with National Institute of Hygiene and Epidemiology. Since 2005, we further collaborated with International Vaccine Institute and started a large-scale of census survey targeting all residents in Nha Trang city and its adjacent Nin Hoa district in the middle part of Vietnam. During the census, we also collect information regarding environment and diseases burden (particularly pneumona, diarrhea, dengue fever), health utilization pattern. Since 2006, a research clinician has been dispatched from our department and monitoring all pneumonia cases admitted to the pediatric ward at Kan Hoa General Hospital in the above city.
HIV cohort studies in northern Thailand.
In collaboration with National Institute of Health, Thailand and National Institute of Infectious diseases, Japan, a large scale of cohort study targeting HIV-infected individuals and their spouses has been established and maintained in Lampang Hospital, northern Thailand. So far, over 1200 people have participated. The main objectives of this cohort are to understand mechanisms of resistance to HIV infection among HIV-exposed but uninfected spouses living with HIV-infected patients and mechanisms of slow-progression among HIV-infected slowprogressors. These studies are being conducted in close collaboration with Thai counter parts and international experts in various fields such as hostgene polymorphisms, molecular immunology, molecular epidemiology and virology. Furthermore, based on this field setting, we are also conducting studies on frequencies of opportunistic infection, the effect of anti-retroviral drug therapy, and social need for children born to HIV-affected parents.
Studies of Dengue Disease in the Philippines.
In collaboration with St. Lukes Medical Center and San Lazaro Hospital in Metro-Manila, the Philippines, we have been studying pathogenesis and clinical and epidemiology aspects of dengue diseases. Our focus has been on mechanisms of thrombocytopenia, which is a characteristic feature of dengue virus infection.
Pathology of tropical diseases.
In collaboration with St. Lukes Medical Center and San Lazaro Hospital in Metro-Manila, the Philippines, we have been studying pathogenesis and clinical and epidemiology aspects of dengue diseases. Our focus has been on mechanisms of thrombocytopenia, which is a characteristic feature of dengue virus infection.
