Search

Purpose:The increasing amounts of evidence with abnormal aging process have been involved in the pathogenesis of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF). Mice with deficient protein L-isoaspartate (D-aspartate)O-methyl transferase 1 (PCMT1) expression reveal acceleration of aging and result in the increased proportion of D-aspartate (D-Asp) residues and dysfunction in proteins. Furthermore, mitochondrial morphology and functions are associated with COPD and IPF pathogenesis. The purpose of the current study was to investigate the role of PCMT1 on mitochondrial morphology using A549 cells.Materials and Methods:We investigated PCMT1, prohibitin1 (PHB1), mitochondrial membrane proteins expression, mitochondrial morphology, and the proportion of D-Asp residues in PHB1 in A549 cells with (PCMT1-KD) and without the context of decreased PCMT1 expression (PCMT1-Cont) using electron microscopy, fluorescence staining, Western blot analysis, and the ATP content per cells. To investigate the effects of the PCMT1-KD cells, we developed double-transfected cell lines containing either the cytosolic or the endoplasmic isoform of PCMT1.Results:We found a significantly higher proportion of D-Asp residues in PHB1 in PCMT1-KD cells than that in PCMT1-Cont cells. The PCMT1-KD cells without cigarette smoke extract exposure were characterized by a significantly increased proportion of the D-Asp residues in PHB1, damaged mitochondrial ultrastructure, and a tendency toward the fission direction of the mitochondrial dynamics followed by a significant decrease in the cellular ATP content.Conclusions:The increased proportion of the D-Asp residues may contribute to COPD pathogenesis, via irreversible protein conformational changes, followed by mitochondrial dysfunction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: Although the relative risk of lung cancer due to smoking is reported to be lower in Japan than in other countries, few studies have examined the characteristics of Japanese cigarettes or potential differences in smoking patterns among Japanese smokers. Methods: To examine tar, nicotine and carbon monoxide (TNCO) emissions from ten leading cigarettes in Japan, machine smoking tests were conducted using the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) protocol and the Health Canada Intense (HCI) protocol. Smoking topography and tobacco-related biomarkers were collected from 101 Japanese smokers to examine measures of exposure. Results: The findings indicate considerable variability in the smoking behavior of Japanese smokers. On average, puffing behaviors observed among smokers were more similar to the parameters of the HCI protocol, and brands with greater ventilation that yielded lower machine values using the ISO protocol were smoked more intensely than brands with lower levels of ventilation. The smokers of 'ultra-low/low' nicotine-yield cigarettes smoked 2.7-fold more intensively than those of 'medium/high' nicotine-yield cigarette smokers to achieve the same level of salivary cotinine ( p = 0.024). CO levels in expiratory breath samples were associated with puff volume and self-reported smoking intensity, but not with nominal values of nicotine-yield reported on cigarette packages. Conclusions: Japanese smokers engaged in 'compensatory smoking' to achieve their desired nicotine intake, and levels of exposure were greater than those suggested by the nominal value of nicotine and tar yields reported on cigarette packages. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A novel separation method of urinary 8-hydroxy-2'-deoxyguanosine (8-OHdG) was developed. The C18and the strong cation-exchange (SCX) columns were employed to separate urinary 8-OHdG. The major interfering substances were removed by the consecutive processes of the C18and the SCX columns. This newly developed procedure allows researchers to quantitatively measure urinary 8-OHdG by high performance liquid chromatography-electrochemical detector (HPLC–ECD) successfully. The newly developed separation method produces the optimized procedure of 8-OHdG measurement, and followed by the evaluation of its basic performance. The optimized measurement was highly reproducible (CV = 2.0–2.9%, n= 10). A correlation was observed between the proposed HPLC–ECD method and the column switching method (r= 0.96). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A new method for the determination of carbonyls in air using 2,4-dinitrophenylhydrazine (DNPH) has been developed. The traditional method for the measurement of carbonyl compounds, using DNPH to form the corresponding 2,4-dinitrophenylhydrazone (DNPhydrazone) derivatives, is subject to analytical errors because DN-Phydrazones form both E- and Zgeometrical isomers as a result of the C=N double bond. To overcome this issue, a method for transforming the C=N double bond into a C-N single bond, using reductive amination of DNPhydrazone derivatives, has been developed. Reductive amination of aldehyde DNPhydrazones was carried out by adding 2-picoilne borane acetonitrile solution in eluate through the DNPH-cartridge. The amination reactions of C1-C10 aldehyde DNPhydrazones were completely converted into the reduced forms within 40 min in the presence of 1 mmol/L 2-picoline borane and 20 mmol/L of phosphoric acid. These reduced forms were very stable and did not change when stored for 2 weeks at room temperature. The absorption maximum wavelengths of the reduced forms from C1-C10 aldehyde DNPhydrazones were 351-352 nm and shifted 6-7 nm toward shorter wavelengths when compared to the corresponding DNPhydrazones, and the molar absorption coefficients were 1.5 × 104 (C1) to 2.2 × 104 L/mol/cm (C10). Complete separation between C1-C10 aldehyde DNPhydrazones and the corresponding reduced forms can be achieved by operating the HPLC in gradient mode using an Ascenlis RP-Amide column (150 mm × 4.6 mm i.d.). The RSDs of DNPhydrazone (Z + E) peak areas ranged from 0.40-0.66 and those of the corresponding reduced forms ranged from 0.26-0.41. It was shown that the reductive amination method gave improved HPLC analytical precision because of the absence of isomers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A d-alanine (d-Ala) sensor for the monitoring of a fermentation process was developed using flow injection analysis (FIA). The FIA system consisted of a d-amino acid oxidase (d-AAOx) reactor, a Pyruvate oxidase (PyOx) electrode and a contrast electrode in the flow cell, and through the oxidation of d-amino acids in the d-AAOx reactor, pyruvic acid was formed only from d-Ala. The pyruvic acid was further oxidized with PyOx via the d-AAOx reaction. The amount of oxygen consumed in the PyOx reaction was proportional to the amount of d-Ala. It was possible to continuously repeat the assay up to 60 times at pH 6.8 and a flow rate of 0.18-ml min−1. A linear relationship was obtained in the range of 0.1–1 mM d-Ala with a correlation coefficient of 0.987 and the detection limit was 0.05 mM. The relative standard deviation (R.S.D.) was 4.9% (n=5) for 0.5 mM d-Ala. The d-Ala content in some fish sauces was also determined using the proposed sensor system. The results obtained indicated a linear relationship between the amounts of d-Ala determined by the proposed sensor system and the conventional method. From the results, even if the substrate specificity of the enzyme (d-AAOx) was low, it was evident that the concentration of the original material (d-Ala) could be determined specifically when the first reaction product was changed by the second reaction (PyOx). [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Given the new recommendations for occupational eye lens doses, various lead glasses have been used to reduce irradiation of interventional radiologists. However, the protection afforded by lead glasses over prescription glasses (thus over-glasses-type eyewear) has not been considered in detail. We used a phantom to compare the protective effects of such eyewear and regular eyewear of 0.07 mm lead-equivalent thickness. The shielding rates behind the eyewear and on the surface of the left eye of an anthropomorphic phantom were calculated. The left eye of the phantom was irradiated at various angles and the shielding effects were evaluated. We measured the radiation dose to the left side of the phantom using RPLDs attached to the left eye and to the surface/back of the left eyewear. Over-glasses-type eyewear afforded good protection against x-rays from the left and below; the average shielding rates on the surface of the left eye ranged from 0.70-0.72. In clinical settings, scattered radiation is incident on physicians' eyes from the left and below, and through any gap in lead glasses. Over-glasses-type eyewear afforded better protection than regular eyewear of the same lead-equivalent thickness at the irradiation angles of concern in clinical settings. Although clinical evaluation is needed, we suggest over-glasses-type Pb eyewear even for physicians who do not wear prescription glasses., (© 2024 Society for Radiological Protection. Published on behalf of SRP by IOP Publishing Limited. All rights reserved.)

Purpose: The objective of this study was to compare the temperature dependence of a scintillation survey meter with and without the temperature compensation function. Investigation of temperature dependence is important to make precise measurements in various environments., Method: The experiment was conducted using the NaI (Tl) scintillation survey meter with the temperature compensation function (TCS-1172) and the NaI (Tl) and CsI (Tl) scintillation survey meters without the temperature compensation function (TCS-171, PDR-111). In all, 1 cm dose equivalent rate (µSv/h) was measured by changing the room temperature from 10 to 40 degree Celsius., Result: The results showed that the scintillation survey meter with the temperature compensation function had almost no change in the measured values with changes in room temperature, whereas the 1 cm dose equivalent rate of the scintillation survey meter without the temperature compensation function changed by a maximum of -7.2 (%/10°C) as temperature increased., Conclusion: This study confirms that the scintillation survey meter with the temperature compensation function was less dependent on temperature, and stable measurement was possible. However, it was suggested that the scintillation survey meter without the temperature compensation function might cause a drop in the measured value as the temperature rises.

Background: Plastic additives have adverse effects on human health. Children frequently use toys that contain various substances found in paints, plasticizers, and other materials, which heighten the risk of specific chemical exposure. Infants are particularly prone to chemical exposure through the "mouthing" behavior because of the possibility of placing toys in their mouths. Thus, this vulnerability should be considered during risk assessments of chemical exposure., Methods: This study performed a comprehensive analysis of the chemical components in various 84 plastic toys including "designated toys" (toys that may be harmful to infant health if in contact with their mouths: Article 78 of the Enforcement Regulations of the Food Sanitation Law by the Minister of Health, Labor and Welfare) such as dolls, balls, blocks, bathing toys, toy vehicles, pacifiers, and household items, purchased in the Japanese market by nontargeted and targeted analysis., Results: Plasticizers, flame retardants, and fragrances were the main compounds in almost all the toy products. The results showed that plastic products made in China tended to contain high levels of phthalate esters. In particular, hazardous plasticizers, such as diisodecyl, di-n-octyl, and diisononyl phthalates were detected above the regulatory limit (0.1%) in used products manufactured before regulations were passed in Japan. Furthermore, we detected alternative plasticizers, such as acetyl tributyl citrate (ATBC; 52%), diisononyl adipate (DINA; 50%), and di(2-ethylhexyl) terephthalate (DEHT; 40%). ATBC was detected at high concentrations in numerous toy products. Thus, infants with free access to indoor plastic toys might be exposed to these chemicals., Conclusions: This study observed that the chemical profiles of toy products were dependent on the year of manufacture. Furthermore, the detection of currently regulated plasticizers in secondhand products manufactured before regulations were enforced, along with the increasing trend of using alternative substances to regulated phthalate esters in products, suggests the potential exposure of infants to these plasticizers through the use of toys. Therefore, regular fact-finding surveys should continue to be conducted for the risk assessment and safety management of domestic toy products.

A moment magnitude (Mw) 7.5 earthquake (the Global IDentifire (GLIDE) number: # Q-2024-000001-JPN) struck the Noto Peninsula of Ishikawa Prefecture on 1 January 2024 at 16:10 (Japan Standard Time). The reversed fault, 150 km in length and subducting beneath the peninsula, resulted in maximum seismic intensity 7 shaking, triggered the tsunami, destroyed over 43 thousand buildings, and disrupted roads and lifelines. The disaster claimed 236 deaths, including 15 indirect disaster deaths as of Jan. 28, 2024. There were Disaster Base Hospitals (DBHs) in the region, which survived structurally but suffered from impaired functions and the surge of medical needs of affected people. The disaster medical system of Japan immediately responded and coordinated the hundreds of emergency medical teams (EMTs), i.e., the Japan Disaster Medical Assistance Team (DMAT), from all over the country. Tohoku University Hospital, which had the experience of the 2011 Great East Japan Earthquake (GEJE), joined the coordinated response, dispatching a chain of DMATs, which helped the medical and public health coordination in Wajima City. The medical and public health needs included injuries, non-communicable diseases, infectious diseases, mental health issues, and maternal and child health issues, which were similar in the affected communities in GEJE. Although the actual damage far exceeded expectations, the structural retrofitting and business continuity plans of DBHs and the coordinated response of the national disaster medical system enhanced the effectiveness of medical and public health response.

Purpose: Skin injury in patients due to radiation exposure has been a complication in percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) for a long time. To the best of our knowledge, there have been no reports comparing radiation dose by treatment area with diagnostic reference levels (DRLs) 2020, although the radiation dose varies by treatment area in PCI., Methods: In this study, the treatment areas were classified into four segments (i.e., AHA #1-3, AHA #4, AHA #5-10, and AHA #11-15), and each segment was compared with DRLs 2020. This retrospective study included 984 consecutive patients with single-vessel disease and non-chronic total occlusion. PCI was performed on a single device., Results: The median radiation dose was 1640.8 mGy, and the radiation dose for AHA #4 was 2732.0 mGy, which was significantly higher than the other treatment areas (p<0.001). In AHA #4, the radiation dose increased due to the heavy use of the left cranial view, and the patient background contributed to the increased lesion complexity. Therefore, it was challenging to evaluate AHA #4 and the other treatment areas with a uniform DRL value., Conclusion: Establishing a subdivided index for each treatment area is crucial if DRLs are used as a reference during procedures and as a guide for dose optimization.

Here we investigated the cellular response of normal human fibroblasts to repeated exposure to low-dose radiation. In contrast to acute single radiation, low-dose fractionated radiation (FR) with 0.01 Gy/fraction or 0.05 Gy/fraction for 31 days increased in mitochondrial mass, decreased cellular levels of the antioxidant glutathione and caused persistent accumulation of mitochondrial reactive oxygen species (ROS). Excess ROS promoted oxidative inactivation of protein phosphatase PP2A which in turn led to disruption of normal negative feed-back control of AKT/cyclin D1 signaling in cells treated with long-term FR. The resulting abnormal nuclear accumulation of cyclin D1 causes growth retardation, cellular senescence and genome instability in low-dose irradiated cells. Thus, loss of redox control and subsequently elevated levels of ROS perturb signal transduction as a result of oxidative stress. Our study highlights a specific role of mitochondrial ROS in perturbation of AKT/cyclin D1 cell cycle signaling after low-dose long-term FR. The antioxidants N-acetyl-L-cysteine, TEMPO and mitochondrial-targeted antioxidant Mito-TEMPO provided protection against the harmful cell cycle perturbations induced by low-dose long-term FR.

Objective: The World Health Organization (WHO) Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC) reported that understanding the use and impact of smokeless tobacco (SLT) products is complicated by product diversity. Many different SLT products with different characteristics are used worldwide. ZERO STYLE STIX(TM) (sold by Japan Tobacco Inc.) is a brand of snuff, a type of smokeless tobacco. Our objective was to determine the constituents of the gas from SLT and analyze the ingredients in tobacco fillers., Methods: ZERO STYLE STIX smokeless tobacco was released in the Japanese market in 2010. Nicotine, menthol, and tobacco-specific nitrosamines in the smokeless tobacco fillers were determined by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC/MS) and liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC/MS/MS). The gaseous compounds were collected by a smoking machine using two smoking protocols, i.e., the ISO and Health Canada Intense methods. Nicotine and menthol in the gas were determined by GC/MS., Results: Nicotine, menthol, and the total tobacco-specific nitrosamines were detected in the tobacco fillers. The level of menthol in the snuff was more than ten times that of nicotine. The determined levels of the two components of the gas from the snuff were higher when using the Health Canada Intense protocol than when using the ISO protocol. In addition, flavors other than menthol were emitted from the smokeless tobacco., Conclusion: The new type of snuff introduced in the Japanese market in 2010 contained added flavors, and was attractive smokeless tobacco. Flavors in tobacco products need to regulate on the basis of FCTC 9 and 10 in JAPAN.

Objective: Some Japanese smokers imported Japanese cigarette brands from other Asian countries for personal use because of the increase in tobacco tax in 2010, which meant that privately importing the cigarettes was cheaper than purchasing them in Japan. We assumed that the health hazards of locally made cigarettes were different from those of privately imported cigarettes, despite the brands being the same. In this study, we carried out a comparative toxicological analysis of domestic and privately imported cigarettes., Methods: Privately imported cigarettes of five brands and domestic cigarettes of the brand named "MILD SEVEN ORIGINAL" were selected for the study. The level of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in mainstream smoke was determined by high-performance liquid chromatography using fluorescence detection. The mutagenicity of mainstream smoke was assessed using the Salmonella typhimurium strains TA100, TA98, and YG1024 with the metabolic activation system (S9mix) by preincubation assay. The levels of heavy metals in cigarette fillers were determined by inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry., Results: The level of PAH in the mainstream smoke from the privately imported cigarettes was higher than that in the smoke from the domestic cigarettes. However, the mutagenic activity of the mainstream smoke from the privately imported cigarettes was equivalent to that from the domestic cigarettes. The levels of nickel and cadmium in the fillers of the privately imported cigarettes were higher than those in the domestic cigarettes., Conclusion: The levels of constituents in the fillers and mainstream smoke from the privately imported cigarettes were higher than those in the fillers and mainstream smoke from the domestic cigarettes. The majority of Japanese smokers are unaware of these findings. The guidelines regulating tobacco products recommend that articles 9 and 10 of the World Health Organization (WHO) Framework Convention on Tobacco Control should be fully implemented in Japan.

The World Health Organization (WHO) Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC) requires member countries to implement measures aimed at reducing the demand for tobacco products. FCTC article 11 describes the important forms of health communication and packaging regulations. And this article recommends on large pictorial health warnings and encourages more effective forms of disclosure on constituents and emissions. Furthermore, article 11 recognizes the importance of the package as a promotional vehicle for tobacco companies and requires the removal of potentially misleading packaging information, including the terms "light" and "mild." The Conference of the Parties (COP) adopted guidelines for implementation of article 11 on "Packaging and labelling of Tobacco Products". Some countries, such as Canada, the U.S.A., Australia, EU countries etc. positively promoted tobacco control by implementing countermeasures such as the graphic health warning labels and plain packages. These countermeasures showed the significant effects of decreasing smoking rate and preventing smoking initiation in young people. Furthermore, these warning labels were effective for the literally challenged. However, the Japanese government has not implemented these countermeasures, and only limited texts are shown on Japanese tobacco packaging. Therefore, Japan should emulate approaches taken by other countries, and promote the tobacco control policy in accordance with FCTC.

In Japan, ultralow-nicotine cigarette brands with ventilation holes on the cigarette filters have been widely marketed to smokers. The use of these cigarette brands leads to compensation smoking. Menthol cigarette brands that have a cooling and numbing effect are also sold. In 2013, smokeless tobacco products similar to the Swedish snus, which is banned for sale in the European Union except in Sweden, were released in Japanese markets. These tobacco products have "toxicity," have a "ventilation filter," are "attractive," and promote "dependence." Tobacco smoke and smokeless tobacco are classified into "Group 1: Carcinogenic to humans" by the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC). The purpose of Articles 9 and 10 of the World Health Organization Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (WHO FCTC) is to regulate the contents of tobacco products as well as to regulate tobacco product disclosures. The implementation of some other articles has gradually advanced in Japan. However, that of Articles 9 and 10 is late. Japanese governmental authorities are being urged to immediately implement Articles 9 and 10.

Objectives: Indoor air quality (IAQ) is a major concern, because people on average spend the vast majority of their time indoors and they are repeatedly exposed to indoor air pollutants. In this study, to assess indoor air quality in Chiba City, gaseous chemical compounds were surveyed using four types of diffusive sampler., Methods: Gaseous chemical compounds such as carbonyls, volatile organic compounds (VOC), acid gases, basic gases, and ozone were measured in indoor and outdoor air of 50 houses throughout Chiba City in winter and summer. Four types of diffusive sampler were used in this study: DSD-BPE/DNPH packed with 2,4-dinitrophenyl hydrazine and trans-1,2-bis(2-pyridyl)ethylene-coated silica for ozone and carbonyls; VOC-SD packed with Carboxen 564 particles for volatile organic compounds; DSD-TEA packed with triethanolamine-impregnated silica for acid gases; and DSD-NH3 packed with phosphoric acid-impregnated silica for basic gases., Results: Almost all compounds in indoor air were detected at higher concentrations in summer than in winter. However, the nitrogen dioxide concentration in indoor air particularly increased only in winter, which well correlated with the formic acid concentration (correlation coefficient=0.974). The compound with the highest concentrations in indoor air was p-dichlorobenzene, with recorded levels of 13,000 μg m(-3) in summer and 1,100 μg m(-3) in winter in indoor air., Conclusions: p-Dichlorobenzene in summer and nitrogen dioxide in winter are detected at markedly high concentrations. Pollution control and continuous monitoring of IAQ are indispensable for human health.

Objective: The tobacco tax in Japan was increased in October, 2010. Subsequently, the quantity of sales of domestic cigarette products decreased temporarily. However, smokers could import cigarettes directly through the internet. Because of the high value of the yen and the low price of foreign cigarettes, an individual could import cigarettes easily; however, the contents and emissions from privately imported cigarettes have not been investigated yet. In this study, we carried out a comparative analysis of domestic and privately imported cigarettes., Methods: Privately imported cigarettes from five brands and domestic cigarettes from the brand "Mild Seven" were selected for the study. For the fillers of the cigarettes, the levels of nicotine and tobacco-specific nitrosamines (TSNAs) were determined by methods that are usually used for cigarette products. For the mainstream smoke, the levels of tar, nicotine, carbon monoxide, and TSNAs were also determined by the methods used for cigarettes., Results: The average nicotine and TSNA levels in the fillers of the domestic cigarettes were 15.1 ± 0.19 mg/g and 1,920 ± 85.1 ng/g, respectively. The amounts of nicotine and tar in the mainstream smoke from the privately imported cigarettes were lower than those from the domestic cigarettes. However, the levels of TSNAs in the mainstream smoke from the privately imported cigarettes were higher than those from the domestic cigarettes., Conclusions: The amounts of TSNAs in the fillers of and mainstream smoke from the privately imported cigarettes were higher than those from the domestic cigarettes. Japanese smokers should be careful about consuming privately imported cigarettes because there is a variation in the amount of hazardous constituents in these cigarettes, even when they are from the same brand.

Objective: To determine constituents of fillers and mainstream smoke from Neo Cedar., Methods: Neo Cedar is a second-class over-the-counter (OTC) drug and similar to cigarettes in a number of ways. In particular, the design and usage are very similar to those of cigarettes. For the fillers of the drug, the levels of nicotine, tobacco-specific nitrosamines (TSNA), and heavy metals, and mutagenicity were determined using the methods for cigarette products. For the mainstream smoke, the levels of tar, nicotine, carbon monoxide (CO), TSNA, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH), and carbonyl compounds were also determined using the methods for cigarettes. The mainstream smoke from the drug were collected with a smoking machine using two smoking protocols (ISO and Health Canada Intense methods)., Results: The nicotine and total TSNA levels in the fillers of the drug averaged 2.86 mg/g and 185 ng/g, respectively. The nine species of heavy metals were also detected in the fillers of the drug. The levels of nicotine, tar, CO, TSNA, PAH, and carbonyl compounds of mainstream smoke from the drug were higher when determined using the HCI regime than when using the ISO regime. The mutagenicity of the mainstream smoke determined using the HCI regime was also higher than that determined using the ISO regime., Conclusion: In this study, all constituents of Neo Cedar were determined by methods for cigarette products. The drug had a ventilation hole on its filter. Thus, its constituents are different from those determined by the smoking protocols. Neo Cedar users should be careful of higher exposure to the hazardous gases owing to smoking patterns.

Objective: To measure the nicotine and tobacco-specific nitrosamine (TSNA) contents in whole tobacco from a variety of Japanese domestic cigarette brands and to determine mutagencity., Methods: The test cigarettes were the top ten best selling cigarette brands in Japan in 2006. The nicotine content in whole tobacco was measured by a modified version of the CORESTA Recommended method. The level of TSNA was measured by a modified version of the Health Canada method. Mutagenicity was assessed using the Salmonella typhimurium strains TA100, TA98 and YG1024 with the metabolic activation system (S9mix) by preincubation assays., Results: The nicotine content in the test cigarettes averaged 15.7±1.2 mg/g, and was in the range between 13.7 and 17.2 mg/g. The level of TSNA averaged 1,750 ng/g, and was in the range between 931 and 2,490 ng/g. Mutagenicity was pseudopositive in several samples of the YG1024 tester strain with and without S9mix., Conclusion: The cigarettes brands were categorized into four groups (Ultra-low, Low, Medium, and High) based on the nominal nicotine yield figures printed on the cigarette packets. The nicotine content in whole tobacco of the High group was the highest. However, the level of TSNA of the high group was the lowest. The analyses of hazardous chemical compounds in whole tobacco can contribute to the reduction and regulation of the toxicity of tobacco products.

Objective: Currently, cardiac interventional radiology equipment has tended toward using flat-panel detectors (FPDs) instead of image intensifiers (IIs) because FPDs offer better imaging performance. However, the radiation dose from an FPD in cardiac interventional radiology is not clear. The purpose of our study was to measure the radiation doses during cineangiography and fluoroscopy of many cardiac radiology systems that use FPDs or IIs, in clinical settings., Materials and Methods: This study examined 20 radiology systems in 15 cardiac catheterization laboratories (11 used FPD and nine used II). The entrance surface doses with digital cineangiography and fluoroscopy were compared for the 20 systems using acrylic plates (20-cm thick) and a skin dose monitor., Results: For fluoroscopy, the average entrance surface doses of the 20-cm-thick acrylic plates were identical for FPD (average +/- SD, 16.63 +/- 7.89 mGy/min; range, 5.7-26.4 mGy/min; maximum/minimum, 4.63) and II (17.81 +/- 12.52 mGy/min; range, 6.5-42.2 mGy/min; maximum/minimum, 6.49) (p = 0.799). For digital cineangiography, the average entrance surface dose of the 20-cm-thick acrylic plate was slightly lower with FPD (29.68 +/- 16.40 mGy/10 s; range, 8.9-58.5 mGy/10 s; maximum/minimum, 6.57) than with II (38.50 +/- 33.71 mGy/10 s; range, 15.2-117.1 mGy/10 s; maximum/minimum, 7.70), although the difference was not significant (p = 0.487)., Conclusion: We found that the average entrance doses of cineangiography and fluoroscopy in FPD systems were not significantly different from those in II systems. Hence, FPDs did not inherently reduce the radiation dose, although FPDs possess good detective quantum efficiency. Therefore, to reduce the radiation dose of cardiac interventional radiology systems, even FPD systems, practical measures are necessary.

At present, interventional radiology (IVR) tends to involve long procedures (long radiation duration), and physicians are near to the source of scattered radiation. Hence, shielding is critical in protecting physicians from radiation. Protective aprons and additional lead-shielding devices, such as tableside lead drapes, are important means of protecting the physician from scattered radiation. The purpose of this study was to evaluate whether non-lead aprons are effective in protecting physicians from radiation during IVR procedures. In this study, the radiation protection effects of commercially available protective lead and non-lead aprons, when exposed to diagnostic X rays, are compared. The performance of these non-lead and lead aprons was similar for scattered X rays at tube voltages of 60-120 kV. Properly designed non-lead aprons are thus more suitable for physicians because they weigh approximately 20% less than the lead aprons, and are non-toxic.

A novel sensor system equipped with a reactor packed with beads containing immobilized beta-1,3-glucanase and glucose oxidase was developed for the amperometric determination of laminarin concentration. The proposed sensor system consisted of a reactor, an oxygen electrode, a flow cell, a pump, a buffer tank, and a recorder. The measurement was performed with a flow injection system. The optimum conditions for the sensor system were as follows: transfer solution, pH 7.0; 0.1 M phosphate buffer solution; flow rate, 0.15 ml/min; and sample volume, 50 microl. The response was correlated to the laminarin concentration. The calibration curve was obtained between 50 and 0.5 mg/ml laminarin (R2 = 0.994). The detection limit was 50 microg/ml laminarin (the ratio of signal/noise = 3). The relative standard deviations were 2.0% (n = 15) and 2.5% (n = 15) for 0.4 and 1.0 mg/ml laminarin solutions, respectively. One assay was completed within 5 min. Results suggest that the sensor can be used not only for the analysis of seaweed and health-enhancing foods but also for monitoring the initial pollution of the marine environment.