Evaluation of the effects of shift work on nutrient intake: a cross-sectional study

The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of shift work on nutrient intakes, including macronutrient intake and micronutrient intake, in a large sample size. The study population included 2,254 male manual workers, 20-59 yr of age, employed in a factory. A self-administered diet history questionnaire was used. The subjects were classified into 3 groups according to their work schedule: (i) fixed day workers; (ii) shift workers without midnight shifts; and (iii) shift workers with midnight shifts. The nutrient intakes of the groups were compared by age group. There was a significant difference in nutrient intakes between subjects aged 20-29 yr and those aged 30 yr and over. Among subjects aged 20-29 yr, the energy density value for saturated fat and the energy adjusted intakes of calcium, potassium, vitamin A, and vitamin B1 were the lowest among shift workers with midnight shifts. Among subjects aged 30 yr and over, the total energy intake was the highest among shift workers with midnight shifts; the difference was significant compared to fixed day workers. Shift workers with midnight shifts had the highest intake of cereals among subjects 30 yr of age and older. In conclusion, there were no significant differences in nutrient intakes between fixed day workers and shift workers without midnight shift. Shift work, particularly midnight shift work, affected nutrient intake. The impact of shift work on nutrient intakes differed by age and the type of shift work.     

2,3,7,8-Tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin in maternal breast milk and newborn head circumference

Dioxins are known to affect infant growth and neurodevelopment in both humans and animals. In this study, we examined the relationship between neonatal head circumference, which is related to fetal brain development, and the concentration of dioxins in breast milk as an indicator of maternal exposure. A total of 42 milk samples were obtained on the fifth to eighth postpartum day from mothers in Japan exposed to dioxins in the environment. The levels of seven dioxins and 10 furan isomers were measured in each milk sample using an HR-GC/MS system. The relationships between the concentration of each dioxin isomer and newborn size, including head circumference, were then investigated after adjustment for confounding factors. The concentration of 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD), the most toxic dioxin isomer, negatively correlated with newborn head circumference, even after adjustment for gestational age, infant sex, parity and other confounding factors. However, there were no significant relationships between the concentration of other dioxin and furan isomers in maternal breast milk and infant height, weight and chest circumference at birth. These facts suggested that fetal brain development might be influenced by maternal exposure to TCDD in the environment.     

Increased urinary β2-microglobulin and mortality rate by cause of death in a Cadmium-polluted area

To clarify the effect of environmental cadmium (Cd) exposure on the life prognosis of inhabitants living in a Cd-polluted area, the standardized mortality ratio (SMR) according to cause of death in urinary β 2-microglobulin (β2-MG)-positive subjects (≥1000 μg/gCr) was compared to that of the Japanese general population and β2-MG-negative subjects (β 1000 μg/gCr). The SMR for all causes of death of both sexes was higher than that of the Japanese general population and β 2-MG-negative subjects. Among women, the SMR for malignant neoplasms was higher than that of β 2-MG-negative subjects. For cardiovascular disease and cerebrovascular disease, especially heart failure and cerebral infarction, SMRs were significantly higher in both sexes. The SMR for renal diseases was significantly high in the men and tended to be high in the women.     

Primary lymphoma of the uterine corpus: an unusual location for a common disease--case report

A case of a primary uterine corpus lymphoma in a 75-year-old woman is described. Immunohistochemical studies showed diffuse large B-cell type one. Primary lymphoma of the uterine corpus is considered to be an unusual location for a common disease.     

Evaluation of Rhubarb using antioxidative activity as an index of pharmacological usefulness

We attempted to estimate the pharmacological activity by measuring the concentrations of a composition ingredient using a multivariate statistical analysis method. Medicinal herb of Rhubarb has been many largely unrecognized biochemical and pharmacological effect components. Therefore, we attempted to estimate the antioxidative activity of Rhubarb on low-density lipoprotein (LDL) of its components. Thirty specimens of Rhubarb from various origins were used, chose nine components of anthraquinones, two components of anthrones, two components of flavan-3-ols, one component of procyanidin, one component of naphthalene, two components of phenylbutanones and one component of stilbene. Quantitative analysis of 18 components was performed with high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and antioxidative activities were measured with plasma taken from spontaneous familial hypercholesterolemia model rabbits. There was considerable variation among the specimens in the concentration of components and antioxidative activities on LDL. As a result of multiple regression analysis, significant multiple correlation coefficient for antioxidative activities on LDL (R=0.914, P<0.01) was found in relation to the concentrations of five components: aloe-emodin, chrysophanol, emodin 1-O-beta-D-glucoside, lindleyin and 6-hydroxymusizin 8-O-beta-D-glucoside. Three of the five components were not active in promoting antioxidative activity and there was no significant correlation between the concentrations of the most active component and the activity. We consider this a useful method for selecting of Rhubarb and propose a new scientific approach for the selection of natural medicines.     

Multifunctional cytotoxic agents from Anacardium occidentale

The effects of anacardic acids and cardols isolated from the cashew nut and apple Anacardium occidentale (Anacardiaceae) on murine B16‐F10 melanoma cells were tested. Although anacardic acids and cardols were found to inhibit tyrosinase, a key enzyme in melanin synthesis, melanogenesis in melanocytes was not suppressed in cultured cells but rather enhanced. Both anacardic acids and cardols exhibited moderate cytotoxicity. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Effect of shift work on body mass index and metabolic parameters

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this cohort study was to investigate the effects of shift work on changes in parameters related to metabolic disturbances. METHODS: The study population included 1529 male blue-collar workers, aged 19-49 years at baseline, working in a sash and zipper factory in Japan. The participants were divided into four groups according to the work schedule at baseline, the end point being workers doing fixed daytime work in both years (day-day), workers who changed from shift work to fixed daytime work (shift-day), workers who changed from fixed daytime work to shift work (day-shift), and workers doing shift work in both years (shift-shift). The changes in body mass index (BMI), blood pressure, serum cholesterol, and glycosylated hemoglobin A1c over a period of 10 years were compared among the groups by work schedule. RESULTS: The age-adjusted mean increase in BMI was 1.03 kg/m(2) for the day-shift workers, and it was significantly larger than that of the day-day workers and shift-day workers. The shift-shift workers showed a significantly larger increase in BMI than the day-day workers. These tendencies remained after adjustment for age and all other confounding factors, such as BMI, smoking, drinking, and leisure-time physical activity at baseline. The increase in total cholesterol tended to be higher among the shift-shift workers and the day-shift workers, but there were no significant differences. Blood pressure and hemoglobin A1c did not differ among the four groups. CONCLUSIONS: Shift work is considered to be a risk factor for excess weight. However, no significant difference in the biomarkers was found between daytime workers and shift workers.