Preparedness response to hazard and toxic incidents and food terrorism

The nerve gas sarin has been responsible for tragic disasters in Matsumoto city, Nagano in 1994 and in the Tokyo subway system in 1995, which was a terrorist attack against non-military citizens. These chemical weapons exposures shocked the world, and have become sources of social concern. Thereafter there were several toxic substance-evoked incidents in Japan, specifically a poisoning due to curry containing arsenite at Wakayama city and foods and drinks containing other toxic chemicals. Following these tragic events, the Japanese government started to prepare a risk and medical management system for countering chemical and biological terrorism by developing a network of nationwide highly-sophisticated analytical instruments in police research institutes and emergency hospitals. Various ministries and National Research Institutes also provide information, guidelines and treatments for chemical and biological agents. In the event of an emergency such as a mass chemical exposure or mass food poisoning, information on "when, where, who, whom, what, how" should be reported rapidly and accurately to the first responding national organizations, such as police and fire departments, health care centers, and hospitals. Pharmaceutical scientists and pharmacists have been educated and trained on the handling of toxic chemical substances as well as drugs, and thus in the case of an event, they can become advisers for risk assessment and the analysis of drugs and chemicals. Japan has experienced food- and drink-poisonings as terrorism-like attacks. Poisonings caused by the herbicide paraquat and other pesticides including organophosphate insecticides, potassium cyanate and the above-mentioned arsenite-poisoned curry food have occurred. Because of easy access to internet-aided purchases of toxic substances and the import and export of foods, we must pay attention to possible massive exposures through foods and develop emergency management measures to counter them.     

Recovery from Lymphocytopenia Following Extracorporeal Circulation: Simple Indicator to Assess Surgical Stress

This study investigated whether the lymphocyte count is a useful indicator to assess surgical damage following extracorporeal bypass. In Study 1, to investigate the correlation between extracorporeal circulating time (ECCT) and lymphocyte counts, 40 elective CABG patients were studied retrospectively. The lymphocyte recovery ratio (LRR), which represented the actual lymphocyte count divided by the preoperative lymphocyte count, was determined preoperatively, and on postoperative day (POD) 1, POD 3, and POD 5. In Study 2, the correlation between the interleukin-8 (IL-8) level and LRR was examined prospectively in elective CABG patients (n = 20). We measured the LRR and serum IL-8 levels preoperatively and during extracorporeal circulation (ECC) at 5 min, at the end of ECC, and 1, 3, and 12 h following ECC termination. Study 1 showed that the LRR decreased until POD 1 and gradually increased thereafter. The LRR had a negative correlation with the ECCT. In Study 2, the IL-8 level demonstrated a time course opposite to that of the LRR; it increased until 3 h after ECC termination and declined thereafter. There was a significant negative correlation between the LRR on POD 3 and the IL-8 level at 3 h after ECC termination. In summary, long-term ECC induced significant and prolonged lymphocytopenia. The LRR had a negative correlation with IL-8. These results indicated that the LRR may represent the degree of surgical stress following ECC; therefore, the counting of lymphocytes can be a quite useful bedside monitor to assess surgical damage and prognosis.     

Structure-activity relationships in allergic contact dermatitis induced by methacrylates

Some methacrylates are known to be strong contact sensitizers. To determine the effect of side-chain length on sensitizing potential, we examined 11 derivatives with linear side chains from C₁ to C₁₈ in an experimental sensitization test in guinea pigs. The results showed an increase in the sensitizing potential with increasing length of the alkyl side chain from Q to C₁₂. The C₁₂ derivative, lauryl methacrylate, showed the strongest sensitizing potential. Further elongation of the alkyl side chain of methacrylates resulted in a decrease in the potential. With respect to the side-chain-length-dependent sensitizing potential, the present results correspond well with the findings obtained with other compounds like primin, catechols, phenols, hydroquinones, and gallates.     

Amygdala-kindled and pentylenetetrazole-induced seizures in glutamate transporter GLAST-deficient mice

The glutamatergic system has been shown to be important for the induction of epileptiform activity and the development of epileptogenesis. To investigate the role of the astroglial glutamate transporter GLAST in epileptogenesis, we examined amygdala (AM)-kindled and pentylenetetrazole (PTZ)-induced seizures in GLAST-deficient mice (GLAST(-/-)) and compared them to those observed in wild-type mice (GLAST(+/+)) and maternal C57Black6/J (C57) mice. AM-kindling resulted in no significant differences in afterdischarge threshold or in the seizure responses induced by first stimulation between these groups. In addition, although no significant differences were seen in kindled seizure development, the generalized seizure duration of AM-kindled seizures in GLAST(-/-) mice was significantly prolonged (approximately 35%) compared with that of C57 mice. Furthermore, GLAST(-/-) mice showed more severe stages of PTZ-induced seizures than GLAST(+/+) mice, and the latency to the onset of seizures was significantly shorter for the mutant mice. These results indicate that GLAST is one of factors determining seizure susceptibility.     

Replacing sedentary time with physical activity: effects on health-related quality of life in older Japanese adults

Background

The isotemporal substitution (IS) approach can be used to assess the effect of replacing one activity with the equal duration of another activity on relevant outcomes. This study examined the associations of objectively assessed sedentary behavior (SB) and physical activity (PA) with health-related quality of life (HRQOL) in older Japanese adults, using the IS approach.

Methods

Participants were 287 older Japanese adults (aged 65–84?years) who wore accelerometers for at least 7 days. We calculated the average daily time spent in SB (≤1.5 METs); light-intensity PA (LPA: >?1.5 to <?3.0 METs); and moderate- to vigorous-intensity PA (MVPA: ≥3.0 METs) per day. HRQOL was assessed using the Medical Outcomes Survey Short Form-8 questionnaire.

Results

The IS models showed replacing SB or LPA with MVPA to be significantly associated with better physical component summary scores. Replacing SB with MVPA was marginally associated with better mental component summary scores.

Conclusion

These findings indicate that replacing SB with the same amount of MVPA may contribute to better physical HRQOL in older adults.

     

Reduction of CXC chemokine receptor 3 in an in vitro model of continuous exposure to asbestos in a human T-cell line, MT-2

Because patients with silicosis who are chronically exposed to silica particles develop not only pulmonary fibrosis, but also complications involving autoimmune diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis and systemic sclerosis, exposure to asbestos may affect the human immune system. This immunologic effect may impair antitumor immune function because cancer complications such as lung cancer and malignant mesothelioma are found in patients exposed to asbestos. To elucidate the antitumor immune status caused by CD4(+) T cells exposed to asbestos, an in vitro T-cell model of long-term and low-level exposure to chrysotile asbestos was established from a human adult T-cell leukemia virus-1-immortalized human polyclonal T cell line, MT-2, and the resulting six sublines showed resistance to asbestos-induced apoptosis after more than 8 months of continuous exposure. The results of DNA microarray analysis showed that the expression of 139 genes was altered by long-term and low-level exposure to asbestos, and the profile was almost similar among the six sublines when compared with the original MT-2 cells that had never been exposed to asbestos. Pathway and network analysis indicated a down-regulation of IFN-γ signaling and expression of CXC chemokine receptor 3 (CXCR3) in the sublines, whereas ELISA and flow cytometry analysis demonstrated a reduction in Th1-related IFN-γ production and cell-surface CXCR3 expression. These findings suggest that chronic exposure to asbestos may reduce antitumor immune status in CD4(+) T cells, and that an in vitro T-cell model may be useful in identifying molecules related to the impairment of antitumor immune function.     

Immunological effects of silica/asbestos

Silica and asbestos cause pneumoconioses known as silicosis and asbestosis, respectively, that are each characterized by progressive pulmonary fibrosis. On the other hand, silicosis patients often suffer from a type of immunological dysregulation that gives rise to autoimmunity. These epidemiological findings suggest that silica may affect the immune system in humans. In addition, as asbestos itself is a mineral silicate, it may possess generalized immunotoxicological effects similar to those associated with silica particles. Because asbestos-exposed patients are well-known to often develop malignant diseases such as lung cancer and mesothelioma, one silica-like dysregulatory outcome that needs to be considered (apart from autoimmunity) is an alteration in host tumor immunity. In this review, the immunotoxicological effects of both silica and asbestos are presented and discussed in terms of immune system dysregulation as manifested by the onset of autoimmunity or alterations in host tumor immunity.     

Association of Enjoyable Childhood Mealtimes with Adult Eating Behaviors and Subjective Diet-related Quality of Life

ObjectiveThis study examined whether the experience of enjoyable mealtimes at home during childhood was related to eating behaviors and subjective diet-related quality of life in adulthood.MethodsThe study used data (n = 2,936) obtained from a research program about Shokuiku (food and nutrition education) conducted by the Cabinet Office in Japan in November and December 2009. The study employed logistic regression adjusted for all predictor variables.ResultsEnjoyable eating experiences in childhood were positively associated with a balanced diet (meals with 3 dishes; odds ratio [OR]: 1.78, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.45-2.19), eating vegetable dishes (OR: 1.71, 95% CI: 1.37–2.12), and subjective diet-related quality of life scores (OR: 3.84, 95% CI: 3.14-4.70) in adulthood.Conclusions and ImplicationsThis study suggests that enjoyable eating experiences at home during childhood appear to promote healthy eating habits and the development of a positive diet-related quality of life in the future.