Current Topics of Infectious Diseases in Japan and Asia

It is a great pleasure to present Current Topics of Infectious Diseases in Japan and Asia. This is a memorable scienti? c publication for Showa University, prepared in conjunction with the 6th Annual Meeting, Showa International Symposium for Life Sciences, held at the university in 2009. This symposium was supported in part by Grants for the Pro- tion of the Advancement of Education and Research in Graduate School. On behalf of Showa University, it is a privilege to see the publication of this volume of scienti? c research articles for the advancement of knowledge about infectious diseases in Japan and Asia. Akiyoshi Hosoyamada, M.D., Ph.D. President Showa University, Tokyo, Japan February 2010 Preface The 6th Annual Meeting, Showa International Symposium for Life Sciences, hosted by Showa University, was held in the university's Kamijo Hall on September 19, 2009. The symposium was entitled "Current Topics of Infectious Diseases in Japan and Asia" and focused on various infectious diseases in the region. Two prominent researchers from overseas -- Dr. Lee Ching Ng from Singapore and Dr. Guanghui Li from China -- and eight Japanese speakers gave lectures, which were followed by productive discussions, with special comments by Dr. Patricio N. Abinales of Kyoto University Front Matter....Pages I-IX Front Matter....Pages 1-1 Features of Enteric Infections in Asia....Pages 3-23 Molecular epidemiology of Vibrio cholerae and campylobacters isolated in Asian countries....Pages 25-43 Diarrheal Diseases and Probiotics....Pages 45-58 Dengue and chikungunya virus infection in Southeast Asia: active governmental intervention in Republic of Singapore....Pages 59-77 Front Matter....Pages 79-79 Current global situation of tuberculosis, with a focus on Japan....Pages 81-94 Tuberculosis among the poor....Pages 95-106 The status and trends of HIV/AIDS epidemics in Asia and the Pacific....Pages 107-117 Front Matter....Pages 119-119 Disease Characteristics and Treatment of 2009 H1N1 Influenza....Pages 121-126 Drug-resistant respiratory pathogens in Japan....Pages 127-132 This century may be called the era of infectious diseases, which are still the major cause of death in developing countries around the world. Focusing not only on such diseases as cholera, colitis, dengue, and bacterial intestinal infections, this book also addresses the current status of infectious diseases in Japan and Asia - particularly, the new approaches to the H1N1 influenza pandemic and antibiotic-resistant pneumonia. One section covers the microbiological and social aspects of infectious diseases; another section discusses the epidemiology of infections such as tuberculosis and HIV/AI