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Genetic alphabet expansion of DNA by introducing unnatural bases (UBs), as a fifth letter, dramatically augments the affinities of DNA aptamers that bind to target proteins. To determine whether UB-containing DNA (UB-DNA) aptamers obtained by affinity selection could spontaneously achieve high specificity, we have generated a series of UB-DNA aptamers (KD: 27−182 pM) targeting each of four dengue non-structural protein 1 (DEN-NS1) serotypes. The specificity of each aptamer is remarkably high, and the aptamers can recognize the subtle variants of DEN-NS1 with at least 96.9% amino acid sequence identity, beyond the capability of serotype identification (69−80% sequence identities). Our UB-DNA aptamers specifically identified two major variants of dengue serotype 1 with 10-amino acid differences in the DEN-NS1 protein (352 aa) in Singaporeans’ clinical samples. These results suggest that the high-affinity UB-DNA aptamers generated by affinity selection also acquire high target specificity. Intriguingly, one of the aptamers contained two different UBs as fifth and sixth letters, which are essential for the tight binding to the target. These two types of unnatural bases with distinct physicochemical properties profoundly expand the potential of DNA aptamers. Detection methods incorporating the UB-DNA aptamers will facilitate precise diagnoses of viral infections and other diseases.

Serologic tests to detect specific IgGs to antigens related to viral infections are urgently needed for diagnostics and therapeutics. We present a diagnostic method for serotype-specific IgG identification of dengue infection by a competitive enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), using high-affinity unnatural-base-containing DNA (UB-DNA) aptamers that recognize the four categorized serotypes. Using UB-DNA aptamers specific to each serotype of dengue NS1 proteins (DEN-NS1), we developed our aptamer-antibody sandwich ELISA for dengue diagnostics. Furthermore, IgGs highly specific to DEN-NS1 inhibited the serotype-specific NS1 detection, inspiring us to develop the competitive ELISA format for dengue serotype-specific IgG detection. Blood samples from Singaporean patients with primary or secondary dengue infections confirmed the highly specific IgG detection of this format, and the IgG production initially reflected the serotype of the past infection, rather than the recent infection. Using this dengue competitive ELISA format, cross-reactivity tests of 21 plasma samples from Singaporean Zika virus-infected patients revealed two distinct patterns: 8 lacked cross-reactivity, and 13 were positive with unique dengue serotype specificities, indicating previous dengue infection. This antigen-detection ELISA and antibody-detection competitive ELISA combination using the UB-DNA aptamers identifies both past and current viral infections and will facilitate specific medical care and vaccine development for infectious diseases. Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR) National Research Foundation (NRF) Published version This work was supported by the Institute of Bioengineering and Bioengineering (Biomedical Research Council, Agency for Science, Technology and Research, Singapore) and the National Research Foundation of Singapore (NRF-CRP17-2017-07).

Background and Aim No previous study has performed multivariate analysis of the risk factors of fatty liver disease (FL), focusing on the effect of weight gain of ≥ 10 kg since the age of 20, and no analysis model exists that simultaneously evaluates body mass index (BMI) and body fat percentage (BFP) as adjustment variables. Methods To investigate these, we collected anthropometric data from health checkups, and conducted a cross-sectional study (targeting 1851 males and 1259 females aged 30 years or over). Results Regardless of sex, weight gain of ≥10 kg since the age of 20 was positively associated with FL. Our stratified analysis of BFP into two categories, to evaluate the interaction between BMI and BFP in FL, indicated an approximately fivefold increase in the odds ratio in the male group with high BMI and BFP values compared to those with low BMI and BFP values, with a synergy index of 1.77 > 1. On the other hand, females demonstrated no significant additive interaction, with a synergy index of 0.49

Maternal nutritional status during pregnancy is an important determinant of fetal growth. Although the effects of several nutrients and foods have been well examined, little is known about the relationship of overall maternal diet in pregnancy to fetal growth, particularly in non-Western populations. We prospectively examined the relationship of maternal dietary patterns in pregnancy to neonatal anthropometric measurements at birth and risk of small-for-gestational-age (SGA) birth among 803 Japanese women with live-born, singleton, term deliveries. Maternal diet in pregnancy was assessed using a validated, self-administered diet history questionnaire. Dietary patterns from thirty-three predefined food groups (g/4184 kJ) were extracted by cluster analysis. The following three dietary patterns were identified: the ‘meat and eggs’ (n 326), ‘wheat products’, with a relatively high intake of bread, confectioneries and soft drinks (n 303), and ‘rice, fish and vegetables’ (n 174) patterns. After adjustment for potential confounders, women in the ‘wheat products’ pattern had infants with the significantly lowest birth weight (P = 0·045) and head circumference (P = 0·036) among those in the three dietary patterns. Compared with women in the ‘rice, fish and vegetables’ pattern, women in the ‘wheat products’ pattern had higher odds of having a SGA infant for weight (multivariate OR 5·2, 95 % CI 1·1, 24·4), but this was not the case for birth length or head circumference. These results suggest that a diet high in bread, confectioneries, and soft drinks and low in fish and vegetables during pregnancy might be associated with a small birth weight and an increased risk of having a SGA infant.

Purpose The effects of formaldehyde (FA) exposure on allergic disorders are not clearly understood. This cross-sectional study examined the relationship between FA exposure and the prevalence of allergic disorders in Japan. Metohds Subjects were 998 pregnant women. Participants were considered to have asthma, atopic eczema, or allergic rhinitis (including cedar pollinosis) if they had received any medical treatment for any of these allergic disorders during the previous 12 months. Passive air sampling tubes were worn for 24 hours and analyzed for FA. Results When FA levels were categorized into four groups, there was a tendency for a positive exposure-response relationship between FA levels and the prevalence of atopic eczema, although the adjusted odds ratio for highest vs. lowest FA categories did not reach statistical significance. When FA levels were categorized into two groups to assess the effects of exposure to high levels of FA on allergic disorders, FA levels of 47 ppb or more were independently associated with an increased prevalence of atopic eczema (adjusted odds ratio = 2.25; 95% confidence interval, 1.01–5.01). The positive association was more pronounced in women with a negative familial allergic history than in those with a positive familial allergic history. No clear association was found between FA levels and the prevalence of asthma or allergic rhinitis. Conclusions FA exposure may be associated with an increased prevalence of atopic eczema in Japanese pregnant women.

It remains uncertain whether intake of fish or n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids is preventive against allergic disorders. This cross-sectional study investigated the association of intake of selected high-fat foods and specific types of fatty acids with the prevalence of allergic rhinitis in Japan where intake of fish is high.Study subjects were 1002 Japanese pregnant females. Allergic rhinitis (including cedar pollinosis) was defined as present if subjects had received drug treatment at some point during the previous 12 months. Information on dietary factors was collected using a validated self-administered diet history questionnaire. Adjustment was made for age, gestation, parity, cigarette smoking, passive smoking at home and at work, indoor domestic pets, family history of asthma, atopic eczema, and allergic rhinitis, family income, education, mite antigen level in house dust, changes in diet in the previous month, season when data were collected, and body mass index.There was a tendency for an inverse dose-response association between fish intake and allergic rhinitis although the adjusted odds ratio for comparison of the highest with the lowest quartile was not statistically significant (p for trend = 0.09). Intake of eicosapentaenoic and docosahexaenoic acids was independently associated with a decreased prevalence of allergic rhinitis: the multivariate odds ratio for the highest quartile was 0.56 (95% confidence interval: 0.32-0.96, p for trend = 0.03). Intake of n-6 polyunsaturated fatty acids in the third quartile but not the second and fourth quartiles showed a tendency for an inverse association with the prevalence of allergic rhinitis. No measurable relationship was found between consumption of meat, eggs, dairy products, total fat, saturated, monounsaturated, and n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids, and cholesterol or the ratio of n-3 to n-6 polyunsaturated fatty acids and allergic rhinitis.Our findings suggest that the intake of eicosapentaenoic and docosahexaenoic acids may be associated with a reduced prevalence of allergic rhinitis.

In order to examine the actual condition of health problems of workers working at new special nursing homes for the aged, we conducted an interview survey with the managers and a questionnaire survey among the workers. Subjects of the interview survey were managers at the 7 nursing homes. Subjects of the questionnaire survey were 362 workers employed at the 7 nursing homes, 214 care workers (CWs) and 104 workers other than care workers (non-CWs); 299 questionnaires were returned. The response rate was 82.6%. We asked the managers "How many CWs are complaining of low back pain (LBP) and upper extremity pain at your nursing home?" One manager answered that 80% of CWs were complaining of LBP, but other managers answered that a few but no more than 5 CWs were complaining of LBP. On the other hand, the prevalence of LBP among CWs by the questionnaire survey was high. The point prevalence of LBP was 70.0%, the one month prevalence of LBP was 81.6%, and the period prevalence of LBP in present job was 88.6%. The managers had less interest in upper extremity pain than in LBP. But more than 60% of CWs had complained of upper extremity pain in the previous 1 month. Seventy-three percent of CWs had not received any education about work-related musculoskeletal disorders although about half of them had got some education or training to minimize the risk of injury in training school. Regarding female workers (77% of all CWs, 73% of all non-CWs), the percentages of current smokers and night shift workers were higher in CWs than in non-CWs with statistically significant differences. The percentages of workers working without work breaks and working overtime were higher in non-CWs than in CWs with statistically significant differences. For prevalence of LBP among female CWs and female non-CWs, the workers having LBP now, having had LBP in present job, and having first experienced LBP in present job were higher in CWs than in non-CWs with statistically significant differences. All nursing homes surveyed had provided no special health examination for LBP. For managers to grasp the actual condition of musculoskeletal disorders of workers working at the nursing homes for the aged, we recommend that care workers should have a special health examination for LBP.

We present a remodeling method for high-affinity unnatural-base DNA aptamers to augment their thermal stability and nuclease resistance, for use as drug candidates targeting specific proteins. Introducing a unique mini-hairpin DNA provides robust stability to unnatural-base DNA aptamers generated by SELEX using genetic alphabet expansion, without reducing their high affinity. By this method, >80% of the remodeled DNA aptamer targeting interferon-γ (KD of 33 pM) survived in human serum at 37 °C after 3 days under our experimental conditions and sustainably inhibited the biological activity of interferon-γ.

Air pollution in the cabins of 101 Japanese cars due to organic compounds diffusing from the interior materials has been described in our previous report. In the present study, the influence of the manufacturer, specifications and usage status of these cars on the interior air pollution was evaluated by covariance analysis. Also, the levels of air pollution in the initial phases of delivery as a new car were estimated using previous data for the time-courses of interior concentrations of organic compounds measured in another new car. The findings showed greater air pollution in the cabins of luxury cars, with leather seats or leather steering wheels, or high-end catalogue prices. Differences in the specifications contributed more markedly to interior air pollution than differences in manufacturers. Also, usage status, such as everyday ventilation affected the long-term interior air quality. The sum values of interior concentrations of 154 compounds, for which there were time-course data, were estimated to be approximately 1700 μg·m-3 as a median (max. 11,000 μg·m-3) at 1 month from delivery (interior temperature, 32°C; interior humidity, 45%).

The types and concentrations of organic compounds in the interior air of 101 different types of Japanese domestically produced private-use cars were examined. All the vehicles had been registered in the summer season as new cars and were less than 3 years old. The airborne compounds in the cabins were collected for 24h under static condition with the engine stopped and the windows, doors and vents closed. A total of 275 organic compounds, including many aliphatic hydrocarbons and aromatic hydrocarbons, were identified, and 242 of them could be quantitated for each cabin. The sum of the concentrations of 241 compounds excluding formaldehyde was approximately 600 g·m-3 as a median, ranging from 136 to 3968 g·m-3 for the tested cars. The findings demonstrated that the air in the cabin of these cars was contaminated by high concentrations of a large variety of organic compound diffusing from the interior materials.

Purpose It may be worthwhile to assess the possible protective effect of the traditional Japanese diet on allergic disorders. This cross-sectional study investigated the relationship between dietary intake of seaweed, vegetables, fruit, antioxidants, fiber, and minerals and the prevalence of allergic rhinitis. Methods Study subjects were 1002 Japanese pregnant women. Allergic rhinitis (including cedar pollinosis) was defined as present if subjects had received drug treatment at some point during the previous 12 months. Information on dietary factors was collected by using a self-administered diet history questionnaire. Results Seaweed intake was associated independently with a decreased prevalence of allergic rhinitis. Significant inverse dose-response relationships were found between calcium and phosphorus intake and allergic rhinitis prevalence. There also was a tendency for an inverse association between magnesium consumption and allergic rhinitis. Additional adjustment for calcium or magnesium intake apparently did not influence the inverse association with seaweed consumption. Consumption of vegetables, fruit, vitamins C and E, fiber, and zinc showed no association with allergic rhinitis, whereas a significant positive relationship was observed between beta-carotene intake and allergic rhinitis. Conclusions High dietary intake of seaweed, calcium, magnesium, and phosphorus may be associated with a decreased prevalence of allergic rhinitis.

The cabin of an automobile can be considered to be a part of the living environment because many people spend long periods of time during business, shopping, recreation or travel activities. However, little is known about the interior air contamination due to organic compounds diffusing from the interior materials used in the interior of automobiles. In the present study, the compounds in the interior air of a new car were identified, and the time courses of their concentrations were examined for over 3 years after the delivery (July, 1999). A total of 162 organic compounds, involving many aliphatic hydrocarbons and aromatic hydrocarbons, were identified. High concentrations of n-nonane (458 μg/m3 on the day following delivery), n-decane (1301 μg/m3), n-undecane (1616 μg/m3), n-dodecane (716 μg/m3), n-tridecane (320 μg/m3), 1-hexadecene (768 μg/m3), ethylbenzene (361 μg/m3), xylene (4003 μg/m3) and 2,2′-azobis(isobutyronitrile) (429 μg/m3) were detected, and the sum of the concentrations determined for all compounds excluding formaldehyde (TVOC) was approximately 14 mg/m3 on the day after the delivery. The concentrations of most compounds decreased with time, but increased with a rise of the interior temperature. The TVOC concentration in the next summer (July, 2000) was approximately one-tenth of the initial concentration. During the 3-year study period, the TVOC concentrations in summer exceeded the indoor guideline value (300 μg/m3) proposed by Seifert (1995) [Seifert B. Volatile organic compounds. In: Maroni M, Seifert B, Lindvall T, editors. Indoor air quality. A comprehensive reference book. Air quality monographs, vol. 3. Netherlands: Elsevier Science; 1995. p. 819–21]. The interior temperature and days lapsed after delivery were the main factors affecting the interior concentrations of most compounds according to multiple linear regression analysis. The results of this study offer useful fundamental data for investigations on air pollution in automotive cabins due to the organic compounds diffusing from the interior materials. Keywords: Interior temperature, Interior humidity, Number of lapsed days, Multiple linear regression analysis, Indoor air pollution

Background It has been hypothesized that isoflavones reduce the risk of many chronic diseases, but there are no data on the effects of dietary soy and isoflavone consumption on allergic disorders. Objective This cross-sectional study examined the relationship between dietary soy products and isoflavone intake and the prevalence of allergic rhinitis. Methods Study subjects were 1002 Japanese pregnant women. Allergic rhinitis (including cedar pollinosis) was defined as present if subjects had received drug treatment at some point during the previous 12 months. Adjustment was made for age; gestation; parity; cigarette smoking; passive smoking at home and at work; indoor domestic pets; family history of asthma, atopic eczema, and allergic rhinitis; family income; education; mite allergen level in house dust; changes in diet in the previous month; season when data were collected; and body mass index. Results Compared with dietary intake of total soy product, soy protein, daidzein, and genistein in the first quartile, consumption of these substances in the fourth quartile was independently associated with a reduced prevalence of allergic rhinitis, although no significant dose-response relationships were observed. A clear inverse linear trend for miso intake across quartiles was found, whereas the adjusted odds ratio for comparison of the highest with the lowest quartile was not statistically significant. Consumption of tofu, tofu products, fermented soybeans, boiled soybeans, and miso soup was not related to the prevalence of allergic rhinitis. Conclusion A high intake of soy and isoflavones may be associated with a reduced prevalence of allergic rhinitis.

The analytical method for identifying hinokitiol (HN) in antimicrobial/deodorant processed textiles was examined by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) with a photo diode array detector. The detection limit at 240nm wavelength was 3ng as S/N=5. First, the presence of HN in hiba oil was determined, and then the extraction method from hiba oil filled microcapusules was examined. Second, HN in the hiba oil filled microcapusules which adhered to the cloth was analyzed. As a result, HN was surely found in the cloth immediately after processing. To analyze the level of HN in antimicrobial/deodorant processed textiles, HN was extracted from samples with methanol under reflux at 70°C. To remove the polar materials, 20mM phosphate buffer (pH=2.4) was added to the extract, and HN was then reextracted into cyclohexane from the methanolic phase. After the extract was concentrated, it was applied to a C18 cartridge column, HN was then eluted with methanol. After concentration, the elute was applied to the HPLC. Although good recoveries of HN were developed in each operating step, the overall recoveries from textiles fortified at 10μg and 100μg were only 10∼14% and 40∼55%, respectively. Probably, the cause of such low recoveries was due to the photolysis and sublimation ability of HN. Therefore, quantitative analysis of HN was difficult using this method, but qualitative analysis was possible above the range of 10μg. Five brands of antimicrobial/deodorant processed textiles using HN were analyzed by this method, however HN was not detected in any of the samples. Consequently, it is doubtful that the antimicrobial effect of those products was dependent on the activity of HN.

In order to grasp the actual conditions of use of three kinds of organoiodine compounds, 3-iodo-2propynylbutylcarbamate (IPBC), 1-bromo-3-ethoxycarbonyloxy-1,2-diiodo-1-propene (BECDIP), and 4-chlorophenyl3-iodopropargylformal (CPIP), which are used as household antimicrobial/antifungal agents and wood preservatives, an analytical method using a gas chromatograph equipped with a flame ionization detector (FID-GC) and gas chromatography mass spectrometry (GC/MS) was employed. The calibration curve (peak area) by FID-GC showed good linearity in the range from 20 µg/ml to 100 µg/ml (correlation coefficient R = 0.99 or more). A purification method using a liquid‐liquid partition by n-hexane/water and the cartridge column (florisil or alumina) was established, and the addition recovery exceeded 90% by this method. By employing this method, the analysis was carried out for 18 commercially available samples. As a result, IPBC was detected from 2 samples of aerosol type fungicides, BECDIP from 4 samples of wood preservatives, and CPIP from one sample of an aerosol type antifungal/ insecticidal paint.

To reduce formaldehyde in indoor environments, non-formalin products for wallpaper adhesives have been increased in number. In this study, an analysis method using gas chromatography (GC) and gas chromatography mass spectrometry (GC/MS) specific to each of several antimicrobial agents (2-methyl-4-isothiazolin-3-one (MIT), 5-chloro-2-methyl-4-isothiazolin-3-one (Cl-MIT), 1,2-benzisothiazolin-3-one (BIT), 2-n-octyl-4-isothiazolin-3-one (OIT) and 2,4,5,6-tetrachloro-isophthalonitrile (TPN)) was developed aiming to clarify the actual states of utilization of these agents. These antimicrobials have been reported to induce health impairments such as contact dermatitis. Furthermore, seven non-formalin adhesives for wallpaper sold as building materials were analyzed according to the established method. The present results demonstrated that these adhesives contained a combination of antimicrobials (MIT, Cl-MIT, OIT and TPN), and one of them contained TPN at a high concentration (2,480 µg/g), which is highly contact-allergenic.

Dear Editor, Recently, Tabuchi et al. (Cancer Sci 2015; 106: 108–14)1 investigated “determinants of prostate-specific antigen (PSA)-based screening participation while simultaneously taking into account factors associated with fecal occult blood test (FOBT).” They found “three factors related to healthy-user bias: i.e., older age, a technical or junior college education, and adherence to doctors’ suggestions,” and concluded that “it may be necessary to increase participation in the former (FOBT) and decrease it in the latter (PSA testing).” However, their observations appeared to be associated with the characteristics of screenees, but do not seem to be a solid reason for reducing participation in PSA-based screening. It appears that no problem exists in the statement for FOBT, but seems at least premature for PSA testing. Prostate cancer (PCa) was very rare 30–40 years ago in Japan. The incidence has been rapidly growing,2 and PCa is now one of the major cancers. It is predicted to become the second most common cancer by 2020, following lung cancer, according to Globocan 2012.3 Not only primary prevention but also secondary prevention is crucial. However, because no definite preventive or risk factors for PCa are known,4 convincing primary prevention is unavailable at present. Thus, there is nothing else to adopt for early detection and treatments, including digital rectal examination, transrectal ultrasound examination, and PSA testing. Of these, PSA-based screening seems the most useful. Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) were conducted to evaluate a PCa mortality-lowering effect of PSA testing; the findings were controversial in two major RCTs carried out in European countries (European Randomized Study of Screening for Prostate Cancer [ERSPC]),5 and the USA (US Prostate, Lung, Colorectal, and Ovarian [PLCO] Cancer Screening Trial).6 Both RCTs should be criticized in view of their limitations, statistical power, observation period, or biases. The higher contamination (or self-selection) of participation in PSA testing in the control arm in the US PLCO Cancer Screening Trial, in particular, poses a serious problem.7 Formerly, the Japanese Urological Association recommended PSA testing8 in line with the results of the ERSPC study, which were confirmed by the inclusion of follow-up data up to 13 years.9 On the other hand, as also discussed by the authors, the US Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) declared an opposite statement,10 mostly based on the findings of the US PLCO Cancer Screening Trial. According to the guideline, which depended on a systematic literature review by a research group11 under the auspices of the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare, Japan, the Ministry decided not to include PSA testing as a population-based screening program for PCa.12 For the PSA test performance with a cut-off figure of 4.0 ng/mL, the sensitivity was reported to be approximately 20%, specificity ∼90%, and a positive predictive value of ∼30%.13 The values appear rather low, but are acceptably robust. Problems include the fact that it detects certain latent/low-risk PCa along with prostate hypertrophy and inflammation as well as PCa to be treated; that is, there are some over-diagnoses and over-treatments. However, the USPSTF acknowledged: “This recommendation does not include the use of the PSA test for surveillance after diagnosis or treatment of PCa,”10 suggesting that the test is useful. Accordingly, PSA testing appears to be a double-edged sword, so we must handle it properly. At least two proposals could be made regarding PSA-based screening. Provided that RCT is actually impractical, a case–control study should be conducted to assess the effectiveness of PSA screening in Japanese men having specific genetic backgrounds and lifestyle factors, while the prevalence of PCa and PSA testing remain low/lower. In order to reduce PCa mortality, prolong patients’ healthy life, and improve quality of life, while lessening undue medical expenditure, risk communication (informed decision-making) on the screening should be undertaken among physicians, patients, and responsible parties, including work-site, municipal, and governmental health sectors.

In order to evaluate the safety of antimicrobial/deodorant agents, a research on totally 1113 kinds of commercially available products in 47 stores has been performed in cooperation with the public health institutes and the administrative departments of Osaka prefecture for 6 years since 1991. For the classification of these research products, a new classification on household products was made. Furthermore, the results of this research were gathered in"the data base (DB) on commercially available products research, "which is a component of"the DB system on antimicrobial/deodorant agents."The DB system includes the DB on active ingredients (AIs) and so on. As a result of this research, AIs were directly shown in the labellings of 226 out of 1113 products investigated (20.3%). And then, AIs could be estimated from the names of processing in the labellings of 210 out of 1113 products (18.9%). Namely, consumers may be informed of AIs in only 39.2% of processed products. In other words, the results of our research revealed that AIs of antimicrobial/deodorant agents in commercially available products were inadequately informed of package labellings. Therefore, consumers cannot obtain enough information on antimicrobial/deodorant agents in commercially available products. Moreover, the results of this research have been utilized in the beginning of other investigations such as analytical investigation and so on, and have been used for the maintenance of the safety management of household products.

Background Several studies have reported that individualized residential place-based discrimination (PBD) affects residents’ health. However, studies exploring the association between institutionalized PBD and health are scarce, especially in Asian countries including Japan. Methods A cross-sectional study was conducted with random two-stage sampling of 6191 adults aged 25–64 years in 100 census tracts across Osaka city in 2011. Of 3244 respondents (response rate 52.4%), 2963 were analyzed using multilevel logistic regression to examine the association of both individualized and institutionalized PBD with self-rated health (SRH) after adjustment for individual-level factors such as socioeconomic status (SES). An area-level PBD indicator was created by aggregating individual-level PBD responses in each tract, representing a proxy for institutionalized PBD, i.e., the concept that living in a stigmatized neighborhood affects neighborhood health. 100 tracts were divided into quartiles in order. The health impact of area-level PBD was compared with that of area-level SES indicators (quartile) such as deprivation. Results After adjustment for individual-level PBD, the highest and third area-level PBD quartiles showed odds ratio (OR) 1.57 (95% credible interval: 1.13-2.18) and 1.38 (0.99-1.92), respectively, for poor SRH compared with the lowest area-level PBD quartile. In a further SES-adjusted model, ORs of area-level PBD (highest and third quartile) were attenuated to 1.32 and 1.31, respectively, but remained marginally significant, although those of the highest area-level not-home-owner (census-based indicator) and deprivation index quartiles were attenuated to 1.26 and 1.21, respectively, and not significant. Individual-level PBD showed significant OR 1.89 (1.33-2.81) for poor SRH in an age, sex, PBD and SES-adjusted model. Conclusion Institutionalized PBD may be a more important environmental determinant of SRH than other area-level SES indicators such as deprivation. Although it may have a smaller health impact than individualized PBD, attention should be paid to invisible and unconscious aspects of institutionalized PBD to improve residents’ health.

Event-related potentials were recorded for 29 patients with multiple cerebral infarcts (MCI) (mean age, 65.7 years) during visual discrimination tasks to clarify the relationship between computed tomographic findings (CT) and P300 component. P300 latency in patients with MCI was significantly longer than that of 15 age-matched normal subjects (mean age, 65.4 years), although no significant difference was found in P300 amplitude between the two groups. There was a significant negative correlation between P300 latency and mental status as determined by the Hasegawa's Dementia Scale. Significant correlation was also found between P300 latency and the degree of ventricular dilatation or severity of periventricular lucency (PVL) on CT scan. P300 latency was not significantly correlated with the number of infarcts. P300 latency in patients with MCI thus appears related to the severity of PVLs and degree of ventricular dilatation in addition to mental status.

Epidemiological evidence regarding dental status and its relationship to diet and nutritional status has been limited. The present cross-sectional study examined the relationship between intake of vegetables, fruit, grains, antioxidants, and fiber and the prevalence of tooth loss. Study subjects were 1,002 pregnant Japanese women. Tooth loss was defined as the previous extraction of 1 or more teeth. Adjustment was made for age, gestation, parity, cigarette smoking, passive smoking at home and at work, family income, education, changes in diet in the previous 1 mo, season when data were collected, and body mass index. Of the 1,002 subjects, 256 women had lost 1 or more teeth. Compared with intake of vegetables other than green and yellow vegetables in the lowest quartile, consumption of the other vegetables in the highest quartile was independently associated with a decreased prevalence of tooth loss, showing a clear inverse dose-response relationship. There was a marginally significant inverse dose-response relationship between the intake of insoluble fiber and tooth loss. No association was observed between intake of green and yellow vegetables, soluble fiber, or antioxidant nutrients and tooth loss. These findings suggested that consumption of vegetables other than green and yellow vegetables and insoluble fiber may be related to a decreased prevalence of tooth loss among young Japanese women.

Purpose Many studies have shown a positive association between cigarette smoking and oral diseases. Few studies, however, have focused on the relationship between passive smoking exposure and oral health in adults. We investigated the association of active and passive smoking exposure with tooth loss in Japan. Methods Study subjects were 1002 pregnant women. Tooth loss was defined as previous extraction of one or more teeth. Adjustment was made for age, gestation, parity, family income, education, and body mass index. Results Of the 1002 subjects, 256 women had lost one or more teeth. Current light smoking was independently related to an increased prevalence of tooth loss, showing a significant exposure-related association with smoking status. A significant positive association of 8 or more pack-years of smoking with the prevalence of tooth loss was observed. Also, a significant positive relationship was found between current heavy passive smoking at home and tooth loss, but not with pack-years of passive smoking at home. No measurable association between passive smoking exposure at work and tooth loss was indicated. Conclusions The present findings suggest that passive as well as active smoking may be associated with an increased prevalence of tooth loss in Japanese young adult women.

Background: Many studies have shown that cigarette smoking is associated with elevated concentrations of total serum IgE. Few studies, however, have examined total IgE in relation to passive smoking exposure, especially in adults. This cross-sectional study investigated the association of active and passive smoking exposure with levels of total serum IgE in Japan. Methods: Study subjects were 981 pregnant women in Osaka. Total IgE levels were measured using UniCAP 1000 and were defined as elevated if they exceeded 170 ml/UI. Age, gestation, parity, family history of asthma, atopic eczema and allergic rhinitis, indoor domestic pets, family income, education and the mite allergen level in house dust were selected as potential confounding factors. Results: Current smoking of at least 15 cigarettes a day and 8.0 or more pack-years of smoking were independently related to an increased prevalence of elevated total serum IgE (adjusted odds ratios 3.40 and 2.51, 95% confidence intervals 2.12–5.47 and 1.55–4.06, respectively), and both cigarette smoking status and pack-years of smoking were significantly positively associated with total serum IgE levels, especially in subjects with a positive familial allergic history. There was no measurable association of exposure to environmental tobacco smoke (ETS) at home or at work with total serum IgE concentrations among those who had never smoked. Conclusions: Our results corroborate a positive relationship between active smoking and total serum IgE levels; however, this study failed to substantiate a positive association of ETS exposure with total IgE. Investigations with more precise and detailed exposure measurements are warranted.

Environment pollution by 1,3-butadiene had considerably increased in Japan. The main cause of the pollution is the automotive exhaust gas, and leaks from factories, smoking, and burning of rubber and plastic products are considered to be minor sources. The object of this study was to determine the contamination levels of airborne 1,3-butadiene in factories processing rubber and plastics containing 1,3-butadiene. The concentrations of airborne 1,3-butadiene were measured in 21 plants (10 rubber processing plants and 11 plastics processing plants) in Osaka. 1,3-Butadiene in air was collected for 10 minutes with a charcoal tube and a portable small pump adjusted to a 250 ml/min flow rate. In each plant, indoor air samples at five points and an outdoor air sample at one point outside the plant were collected. The samples were subjected to gas chromatography/mass spectrometry after thermal desorption from the charcoal. The concentrations of airborne 1,3-butadiene in the rubber processing plants and the plastics processing plants were 0.14-2.20 micrograms/m3 (geometric mean: 0.48 microgram/m3) and 0.23-4.51 micrograms/m3 (geometric mean: 0.80 microgram/m3), respectively. In all plants examined, indoor 1,3-butadiene concentrations were higher than the outdoor concentrations around the plants. Therefore, 1,3-butadiene was considered to arise from the processing of rubber or plastics, but the indoor 1,3-butadiene concentrations were much lower than the PEL-TWA (1 ppm = 2.21 mg/m3) of OSHA and the TLV-TWA (2 ppm) of ACGIH. The concentrations in the plants with closed room conditions without ventilation were higher than the concentrations in the other plants. It was suggested that ventilation affected the 1,3-butadiene concentration in the plants.

In clinical medicine the use of neutralizing antibodies has revolutionized the treatment of a number of diseases and improved the quality of like of thousands of patients. However the use of these antibodies is not with out problems, including the development of an immune response to the antibodies themselves. DNA aptamers may be an alternate approach to antibodies for targeting cytokines where cytokine expression is directly contributing to disease pathogenesis, In this study we report the development and characterization of DNA aptamers for the neutralization of Interferon-gamma (IFN-g). A DNA aptamer has been developed for human IFN-g as reported by Kimoto and co-workers (Kimoto et al. 453–57, 2013 Nature Biotechnology). DNA aptamers are small single strand molecules that have high affinities for their target proteins. Modifying the DNA aptamer, by the addition of a few non-natural hydrophobic bases as a fifth base, greatly increases the affinity to IFN-g (Kd = 38 pM). These modified aptamers demonstrate increased stability in binding to IFN-g in the presence of mouse or human serum and efficiently neutralize the ability of IFN-g to induce the phosphorylation of STAT1. Furthermore, they appear to act by directly binding to IFN-g and preventing the interaction of IFN-g with its cell surface receptor. Thus DNA aptamers offer the intriguing possibility of small molecule inhibitors of cytokine signaling as an alternative to the use of neutralizing antibodies.

A simple lung model (mucosal blood flow and metabolism model, MBM model) was developed to describe the uptake of organic solvents and investigate the role of mucosal blood flow and metabolism. The model separates the lung into four compartments, the peripheral bronchial tract (gas phase), the mucus layer lining the wall surface of the tract, the alveolar space (gas phase), and the alveolar blood. Solvent molecules are absorbed in the mucus layer during inhalation and released during exhalation. The deposited solvent diffuses radially into the mucosal tissue of the respiratory tract and transfers to the mucosal blood flow. To describe this behavior, a hypothetical mucosal blood flow throughout the mucus layer was used. The solvent in the mucosal tissue may be also metabolized, and a hypothetical metabolism in the mucus layer was used. The rate of the hypothetical mucosal blood flow was determined to be 5.2 ml/min based on the best fitting of previously obtained data for seven polar organic solvents. The MBM model predicts that as the blood-air partition coefficient (lambda(B)) increases from 0.1 to 20, the relative end-exhalation (E(end)) will decrease from 0.89 to 0.07, and as lambda(B) increases to 500, E(end) will increase to 0.33. After lambda(B) = 500, E(end) is predicted to decrease again, and at lambda(B) = 10000, E(end) is 0.09. The model also predicts that as lambda(B) increases from 0.1 to 10, the relative uptake (U) increases from 0.08 to 0.61, and as lambda(B) increases to 150, U decreases to 0.50. After lambda(B) = 150, U increases again, and at lambda(B) = 10,000, U is 0.8. The predictions show good agreement with values observed in human experimental studies. The MBM model predicts that uptake by the mucosal blood (U(Al)) would be equal to uptake by the alveolar blood (U(Mu)) at lambda(B) of 1000 and U(Al) is more than 90% of total uptake at lambda(B)10,000. The model also shows that U is significantly increased by the mucosal metabolism at lambda(B) between 50 and 5000. Especially, U in the case of CL(Mu) = 100 ml/min is higher by 0.3 than that in the nonmucosal metabolism.

165 (18.1%) out of 910 rats captured at restaurants in 14 buildings in downtown Tokyo were positive for Staphylococcus aureus. The 165 S. aureus strains isolated were biotyped into A, B, C, D, G, and untypable groups (UT1 and UT2). The UT1 was the most frequent (72 strains, 43.6%), followed by biotype G (33 strains, 20.0%). The strains were classified into coagulase types I, II, III, IV, V, VI, VII, VIII, and an untypable group. Coagulase type V was the most frequent (92 strains, 55.8%), followed by coagulase type VII (25 strains, 15.2%). Enterotoxins A, B, C, or D were produced by 35 strains. Enterotoxins A and B were the most frequent (13 strains each). Toxic shock syndrome toxin-1 was produced by 3 strains. 65 strains were resistant to ampicillin, 2 to oxytetracycline, and 1 to erythromycin.

In order to evaluate the load on the low back of teachers in nursery schools, basic activity, working posture, child-lifting, and desk-lifting were analyzed for eight nursery teachers using video recording. The trunk inclination angle (TIA) was also measured continuously during full workshifts for 20 nursery teachers using an inclination monitor. The nursery teachers in the 0-1 (year) age class more often adopted low working postures, "sitting on the floor" and "kneeling," while teachers in the 4-5 age class more frequently adopted high working postures, "standing" and "sitting on a chair." The mean of TIA among all subjects was 20 degrees. The time spent at a TIA of more than 20 degrees represented 43% of the workshift. The mean and time distribution of TIA did not differ between the age classes. The frequency of trunk-lifting from severe bending forward (TIA45 degrees) was 86 times/hour on average. The frequency of trunk-lifting was highest in the 0-1 age class. The number of times of child-lifting was 46 in the 0-1 age class, while it was 1 in the 4-5 age class.

An assessment of the employee's exposures to industrial hazardous substances using the proposed method described earlier was conducted on 49 workers exposed to lead. As it is assumed that the daily exposure averages are lognormally distributed, geometric standard deviation (sigma g) representing true interday fluctuations of the daily exposures was estimated by personal exposure measurements of every worker for two consecutive days. The estimates (Sg) ranged from 1.00 to 5.35 with a median of 1.4 and a 90% upper limit of 2.4. According to a classification scheme in the proposed method, exposure levels (I to III) were calculated using sigma g of 1.4 and 2.4. An exposure class based on a single day measurement was evaluated and compared to that based on measurements for two consecutive days. As a result, the decision of the exposure levels and classes from only one day monitoring could be made by using both sigma g of 1.4 and 2.4, representing ordinary and high interday fluctuations, respectively. More accurate estimate of geometric standard deviation of interday fluctuations by exposure monitorings would provide a more reliable assessment of the worker's long-term exposure situation.

Background Evidence remains inconclusive as to whether smoking is a risk factor for allergic disorders in adults. Objective To investigate the relationship between active and passive smoking exposure and allergic disorders in pregnant Japanese women. Methods This cross-sectional study included 1,002 pregnant women. Participants were classified as having asthma after the age of 18 years if they had used an asthma medication at any time after reaching the age of 18 years. Current atopic eczema and allergic rhinitis (including cedar pollinosis) were defined as being present if participants had received any drug treatment during the previous 12 months. Adjustment was made for age; gestation; parity; family history of asthma, atopic eczema, and allergic rhinitis; indoor domestic pets; family income; education; and the mite antigen level in house dust. Results Current smoking, but not environmental tobacco smoke exposure, was independently related to an increased prevalence of asthma after the age of 18 years (adjusted odds ratio [OR], 2.66; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.30-5.38). A significant positive association of current passive smoking exposure at home (adjusted OR, 1.89; 95% CI, 1.10-3.30) and at work (adjusted OR, 2.50; 95% CI, 1.29-4.76) with the prevalence of current allergic rhinitis was observed, whereas no measurable association with active smoking exposure was found. Neither active nor passive smoking was statistically significantly related to the prevalence of current atopic eczema. Conclusions These findings suggest that active smoking and environmental tobacco smoke exposure may increase the likelihood of asthma and allergic rhinitis, respectively, in pregnant Japanese women.