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Letter to the Editor

The Japanese baseline series (JBS), established in 1994, was updated in 2008 and 2015. The JBS 2015 is a modification of the thin-layer rapid-use epicutaneous (TRUE) test (SmartPractice Denmark, Hillerød, Denmark). No nationwide studies concerning the TRUE test have previously been reported.To determine the prevalence of sensitizations to JBS 2015 allergens from 2015 to 2018.We investigated JBS 2015 patch test results using the web-registered Skin Safety Care Information Network (SSCI-Net) from April 2015 to March 2019.Patch test results of 5865 patients were registered from 63 facilities. The five allergens with the highest positivity rates were gold sodium thiosulfate (GST; 25.7%), nickel sulfate (24.5%), urushiol (9.1%), p-phenylenediamine (PPD; 8.9%), and cobalt chloride (8.4%). The five allergens with the lowest positivity rates were mercaptobenzothiazole (0.8%), formaldehyde (0.9%), paraben mix (1.1%), mercapto mix (1.1%), and PPD black rubber mix (1.4%).Nickel sulfate and GST had the highest positivity rates. The JBS 2015, including a modified TRUE test, is suitable for baseline series patch testing.

Whereas progress has been made in identifying neural signals related to rapid, cued decisions1–4, less is known about how brains guide and terminate more ethologically relevant deliberations, where an animal’s own behavior governs the options experienced over minutes5–8. Drosophila search for many seconds to minutes for egg-laying sites with high relative value9, 10 and neurons, called oviDNs, exist whose activity fulfills necessity and sufficiency criteria for initiating the egg-deposition motor program11. Here we show that oviDNs express a calcium signal that rises over seconds to minutes as a fly deliberates whether to lay an egg. The calcium signal dips when an egg is internally prepared (ovulated), rises at a rate related to the relative value of the current substrate being experienced, and reaches a consistent peak just prior to the abdomen bend for egg deposition. We provide perturbational evidence that the egg-deposition motor program is initiated once this signal hits a threshold and that sub-threshold variation in the signal regulates the time spent deliberating and, ultimately, the option chosen. These results argue that a rise-to-threshold signal guides Drosophila to lay eggs on substrate options with high relative value, with each egg-laying event representing a self-paced decision similar to real-world decisions made by humans and other mammals.

Goal-directed navigation is thought to rely on the activity of head-direction cells, but how this activity guides moment-to-moment actions remains poorly understood. Here we characterize how heading neurons in the Drosophila central complex guide moment-to-moment navigational behavior. We establish an innate, heading-neuron-dependent, tethered navigational behavior where walking flies maintain a straight trajectory along a specific angular bearing for hundreds of body lengths. While flies perform this task, we use chemogenetics to transiently rotate their neural heading estimate and observe that the flies slow down and turn in a direction that aims to return the heading estimate to the angle it occupied before stimulation. These results support a working model in which the fly brain quantitatively compares an internal estimate of current heading with an internal goal heading and uses the sign and magnitude of the difference to determine which way to turn, how hard to turn and how fast to walk forward.

Background There is controversy over late and long-lasting reactions to gold sodium thiosulfate (GST). Objectives To study the GST patch-test reaction by observing the application site after 1 month, and to clarify the relevance of GST sensitization by piercings and dental metals. Patients A retrospective analysis was performed on 746 patients (143 male; 603 female) who were patch tested using GST of the TRUE Test. We conducted a questionnaire on the presence of piercings or dental metals in these patients. Results The GST positive rate was 27.9% at day (D)3 and/or D7 and 40.3% up to the 1-month reading. The positive rate was significantly higher in female patients and increased with age. Sixty-two percent of cases with a positive reaction at D7 continued to show a positive reaction after 1 month. Eleven percent of cases with a negative reaction at D3 and D7 showed a late reaction. Both piercings and dental metals were related to gold sensitization. Conclusions The GST of the TRUE Test had a high positive and low false-negative rate. The 1-month reading after the patch test was important for identifying late reactions. Piercing history and dental metal were associated with gold sensitization.

Shrimp is a causative food that elicits food-dependent exercise-induced anaphylaxis (FDEIA). In this study, we sought to identify IgE-binding allergens in patients with shrimp-FDEIA. Sera were obtained from eight patients with shrimp-FDEIA and two healthy control subjects. Proteins were extracted from four shrimp species by homogenization in Tris buffer. Immunoblot analysis revealed that IgE from patient sera bound strongly to a 70-kDa and a 43-kDa protein in a preparation of Tris-soluble extracts from Litopenaeus vannamei. Mass spectrometry identified the 70-kDa and 43-kDa proteins as a P75 homologue and fructose 1,6-bisphosphate aldolase (FBPA), respectively. To confirm that the putative shrimp allergens were specifically recognized by serum IgE from shrimp-FDEIA patients, the two proteins were purified by ammonium sulfate precipitation followed by reversed-phase HPLC and/or anion-exchange hydrophobic interaction chromatography and then subjected to immunoblot analysis. Purified P75 homologue and FBPA were positively bound by serum IgE from one and three, respectively, of the eight patients with shrimp-FDEIA, but not by sera from control subjects. Thus, P75 homologue and FBPA are identified as IgE-binding allergens for shrimp-FDEIA. These findings could be useful for the development of diagnostic tools and desensitization therapy for shrimp-FDEIA patients.

SummaryBackground In Japan, allergic contact dermatitis caused by hair colouring agents is a considerable problem for those occupationally exposed and also for consumers. Over the last 20 years, p-phenylenediamine (PPD) has been a common allergen, with ∼7% positive patch test reactions. Objectives To investigate which ingredients caused allergic contact dermatitis related to hair dye and perming solutions in Japan, to assess whether PPD is suitable for screening for hair dye allergy, and to propose allergens for a Japanese hairdresser series. Methods We selected 19 hair cosmetic allergens, including PPD, Bandrowski's base, cysteamine HCl, and ammonium thioglycolate. Altogether 203 patients (26 males and 177 females) with suspected contact allergy to hair colouring or perming solutions at 14 hospitals in Japan were included. Results The highest prevalence of positive reactions (35.1%) was for PPD. p-Methylaminophenol and o-aminophenol were often positive, both in the PPD-positive and in the PPD-negative patients. Moreover, cysteamine HCl often yielded positive test reactions. Conclusions PPD is insufficient to diagnose contact allergy caused by to hair dyes. We recommend 13 allergens to be included in a Japanese hairdresser series.

Background Food allergy is a growing health problem worldwide because of its increasing prevalence, life-threatening potential, and shortage of effective preventive treatments. In an outbreak of wheat allergy in Japan, thousands of patients had allergic reactions to wheat after using soap containing hydrolyzed wheat protein (HWP). Objectives The aim of the present study was to investigate genetic variation that can contribute to susceptibility to HWP allergy. Methods We conducted a genome-wide association study of HWP allergy in 452 cases and 2700 control subjects using 6.6 million genotyped or imputed single nucleotide polymorphisms. Replication was assessed by genotyping single nucleotide polymorphisms in independent samples comprising 45 patients with HWP allergy and 326 control subjects. Results Through the genome-wide association study, we identified significant associations with the class II HLA region on 6p21 (P = 2.16 × 10−24 for rs9271588 and P = 2.96 × 10−24 for HLA-DQα1 amino acid position 34) and with the RBFOX1 locus at 16p13 (rs74575857, P = 8.4 × 10−9). The associations were also confirmed in the replication data set. Both amino acid polymorphisms (HLA-DQβ1 amino acid positions 13 and 26) located in the P4 binding pockets on the HLA-DQ molecule achieved the genome-wide significance level (P Conclusions Our data provide the first demonstration of genetic risk for HWP allergy and show that this genetic risk is mainly represented by multiple combinations of HLA variants.

While navigating their environment, many animals track their angular heading via the activity of heading-sensitive neurons. How internal heading estimates are used to guide navigational behavior, however, remains largely unclear in any species. We found that normal synaptic output from heading neurons in Drosophila is required for flies to stably maintain their trajectory along an arbitrary direction while navigating a simple virtual environment. We further found that if the heading estimate carried by these neurons is experimentally redirected by focal stimulation, the fly typically turns so as to rotate this internal heading estimate back towards the initial angle, while also slowing down until this correction has been made. These experiments argue that flies compare an internal heading estimate with an internal goal angle to guide navigational decisions, highlighting an important computation underlying how a spatial variable in the brain is translated into navigational action.One Sentence SummaryFlies compare an internal heading estimate with an internal goal angle to guide navigation.

In Japan, allergic contact dermatitis caused by hair colouring agents is a considerable problem for those occupationally exposed and also for consumers. Over the last 20 years, p-phenylenediamine (PPD) has been a common allergen, with ∼7% positive patch test reactions.To investigate which ingredients caused allergic contact dermatitis related to hair dye and perming solutions in Japan, to assess whether PPD is suitable for screening for hair dye allergy, and to propose allergens for a Japanese hairdresser series.We selected 19 hair cosmetic allergens, including PPD, Bandrowski's base, cysteamine HCl, and ammonium thioglycolate. Altogether 203 patients (26 males and 177 females) with suspected contact allergy to hair colouring or perming solutions at 14 hospitals in Japan were included.The highest prevalence of positive reactions (35.1%) was for PPD. p-Methylaminophenol and o-aminophenol were often positive, both in the PPD-positive and in the PPD-negative patients. Moreover, cysteamine HCl often yielded positive test reactions.PPD is insufficient to diagnose contact allergy caused by to hair dyes. We recommend 13 allergens to be included in a Japanese hairdresser series.

Many animals keep track of their angular heading over time while navigating through their environment. However, a neural-circuit architecture for computing heading has not been experimentally defined in any species. Here we describe a set of clockwise- and anticlockwise-shifting neurons in the Drosophila central complex whose wiring and physiology provide a means to rotate an angular heading estimate based on the fly's angular velocity. We show that each class of shifting neurons exists in two subtypes, with spatiotemporal activity profiles that suggest different roles for each subtype at the start and end of tethered-walking turns. Shifting neurons are required for the heading system to properly track the fly's heading in the dark, and stimulation of these neurons induces predictable shifts in the heading signal. The central features of this biological circuit are analogous to those of computational models proposed for head-direction cells in rodents and may shed light on how neural systems, in general, perform integration.

Anti-tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α therapy is used for the treatment of psoriasis, with varying outcomes. However, the specific cause of inadequate response or treatment failure remains unknown. The aim of the present study was to identify useful clinical biomarkers for predicting therapeutic responses or to serve as new drug targets for refractory psoriasis cases. We performed a genome-wide association study (GWAS) of 65 psoriasis patients who were prospectively followed after beginning anti-TNF-α therapy using Human Omni Express-8 v1.2 Beadchips. Patients were enrolled at the dermatology departments of Kobe University Hospital and six collaborative hospitals. Associations between single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP) and changes in the Psoriasis Area and Severity Index (PASI) after 12 weeks of treatment were evaluated. After genome data collection and quality control, a total of 731 442 SNPs were identified in 65 Asian psoriasis patients who were treated with adalimumab or infliximab. Here, we present 10 SNPs, such as those in JAG2 and ADRA2A, that were associated with treatment responses to anti-TNF-α agents (strongest effect, P < 7.11E-06). This is the first GWAS to examine SNP associated with treatment responses in psoriasis patients. In addition, we identified other SNP that exhibited potential associations with anti-TNF-α treatment response, which merit further study. Of these, rs11096957 on TLR10, which is associated with increased TNF-α production, was previously reported to be associated with treatment responses to TNF-α inhibitors.

Background: Wheat protein and its derivatives can cause protein contact dermatitis (PCD), which mainly occurs in bakers. Few studies have attempted to identify the allergens responsible for wheat PCD. Objectives: The aim of this study was to identify allergenic wheat proteins in patients with wheat PCD. Methods: Water-soluble and water-insoluble wheat flour proteins were separated by 1- or 2-dimensional gel electrophoresis. IgE-binding proteins were detected by immunoblotting with sera from 3 wheat PCD patients and identified by N-terminal amino acid sequence analysis. The IgE-binding proteins were recombinantly expressed in Escherichia coli and tested against patients' sera. Results: IgE antibodies from the patients' sera reacted with water-soluble proteins rather than water-insoluble proteins, and the 2-dimensional electrophoresis and immunoblotting produced individual IgE-binding patterns. Analysis of the N-terminal amino acid sequence of the IgE-binding proteins from the 2-dimensional gel led to the identification of three glycoproteins, wheat 27-kDa allergen, peroxidase, and purple acid phosphatase. No specific IgE antibodies to their non-glycosylated recombinant proteins were observed. Conclusions: We identified wheat 27-kDa allergen, peroxidase and purple acid phosphatase as candidate allergens for wheat PCD. Our results suggest that glycan moieties in these proteins are involved in IgE binding.

Rice bran was found to effectively adsorb pesticides in artificial gastric fluid. Equilibrium adsorption isotherms conformed to the Freundlich type (loglog linear). Pretilachlor and esprocarb were successfully removed in artificial gastric fluid with an average removal efficiency of 85.5% and 95.8%, respectively after 90min when rice bran (10g/l) was added to samples containing from 0.05 to 5mg/l of pesticides. The removal of pesticides by rice bran was attributed to the uptake by intracellular particles called spherosomes.

The effectiveness of spherosomes for reducing pesticide accumulation in cucumbers and for the control of Aphis gossypii Glover was studied. Spherosomes could efficiently reduce the uptake of imidacloprid in cucumbers. In the case of imidacloprid with spherosomes, the number of Aphis gossypii Glover, surprisingly, became zero after 3 and 7 days, and showed almost the same effect as imidacloprid without spherosomes, although the concentration of imidacloprid in cucumbers decreased by about 1/5 in comparision with that without spherosomes. It seems more likely that spherosomes might have a role as adsorbent materials for removal of imidacloprid in soil. The application of spherosomes to farmland is a useful and effective method to keep the concentration of pesticides in crops at a low level, resulting in sustainable agriculture.

The object of this work was to investigate several adsorbents to determine their effective removal of benzene from wastewater. Tea and coffee lees were found to effectively adsorb benzene. Equilibrium adsorption isotherms conformed to the Freundlich isotherm (log-log linear). Adsorption of benzene by tea or coffee lees was observed in the pH range of 1 to 11. At equilibrium, the adsorption efficiency of tea or coffee lees for benzene was lower than that of activated carbon. The removal of benzene by tea or coffee lees was attributed to the uptake by intracellularparticlescalledspherosomes. Ninetyminutes after application of lees to wastewater (pH 10) containing 0.1g/l of benzene, 75 to 82% of the benzene had been removed.

The fate of pretilachlor and esprocarb in soil with or without spherosomes was investigated for 71 days. The estimated half-lives of pretilachlor in nonsterile soil with and without spherosomes were calculated to be 35.6 and 54.3 days, respectively, while those of esprocarb in nonsterile soil with and without spherosomes were 35.5 and 44.8 days, respectively. The degradation of these pesticides appeared to be essentially due to the biological activity of the soil. Spherosomes should enhance the rate of pretilachlor and esprocarb destruction.

Rice bran was found to effectively adsorb pdichlorobenzene. The amount of p-dichlorobenzene adsorbed was plotted against the equilibrium concentration of substsnces in solution on a logarithmic scale, and a linear relationship was obtained, indicating that the adsorption reaction was Freundlichtype. Adsorption of p-dichlorobenzene by rice bran wa so bserved in the pH range 1–12. The removal of p-dichlorobenzene by rice bran was attributed to the uptake by intracellular particles called spherosomes.

The ripening inhibitor (rin) mutant tomato yields non-ripening fruit, and the rin hybrid fruit (RIN/rin) shows an intermediate phenotype between the wild and mutant fruit, that is, red-ripe and extended shelf life. We found by a microarray analysis that the genes encoding possible allergenic proteins were expressed at a significantly lower level in the rin hybrid fruit than in the wild-type fruit. These allergenic proteins, which were beta-fructofuranosidase and polygalacturonase 2A (PG-2A), were confirmed to accumulate at a lower level in the rin hybrid fruit than in the wild-type fruit. The immunoglobulin E (IgE) in serum from a tomato-allergic patient showed lower reactivity to the extract of the rin hybrid fruit than to that of the wild fruit. These results suggest that the rin gene has the potential to regulate allergen accumulation in tomato fruit.

The efficiencies of rice-bran for removing pesticides from vegetables was studied. Chlorothalonil was successfully removed from commercial eggplant and cucumber with an average removal efficiency of 95% after 5 min when vegetables were pickled in rice-bran paste. Moreover, tetradifon was removed from commercial eggplant, commercial cucumber, and cultivated cucumber with an average removal efficiency of 80% after 10 min. The mechanism of pesticides removal by rice bran was attributed to the uptake of pesticides into intracellular particles called spherosomes.

Rice bran was found to adsorb Fe3+ effectively over the range of pH 1-12. Therefore rice bran is applicable for uses in the food industry over a wide pH range. Fe3+ was successfully removed from water samples with an average removal efficiency of 88.5% after 90 min when rice bran was added to water samples containing 5 mg/l Fe3+. The removal of Fe3+ by rice bran was attributed to the chelating properties of phytic acid. Here, we report a fundamental study on the efficiency of rice bran for the removal of Fe3+ using a batch system on a laboratory scale and describe the elucidation of the mechanism of Fe3+ removal by rice bran.

Hypersensitivity to mosquito bites is characterized by severe systemic as well as local symptoms, and associated with chronic active EBV infection and NK cell lymphocytosis. In this HEN disease, we investigated the response of PBMC to MSG extracts. PBMC were taken from three defined cases of HEN disease, three borderline cases, five individuals with simple exaggerated reactions to mosquito bites without systemic symptoms (simple responders), and eight healthy donors. PBMC, or purified CD4+, CD8+ or CD56+ cells, were cultured with MSG extracts prepared from each of five mosquito species to examine their proliferation and cytokine secretion. The patients with HEN disease had high stimulation indices with variations in responses to the extracts from Aedes albopictus, Aedes aegypti, Anopheles sinensis and Culex pipiens pallens. However, a non-Japan-habitant species Anopheles stephensi did not stimulate the patients’ PBMC. Some borderline or simple responders showed moderate proliferation, and healthy donors had no reactive PBMC. In HEN disease, both CD56+ NK cells (producing IFN-γ) and CD4+ Th0 cells (producing IL-4 and IFN-γ) were increased in the blood. CD4+ cells, but not CD56+ NK cells or CD8+ cells, propagated in response to MSG extracts. However, this response of CD4+ cells and their IL-4 production were strongly enhanced by coexisting CD56+ cells. We suggest that the CD4+ T cell serving as the primary responder to MSG antigen and the NK cell functioning as the enhancer are both pathogenic in the development of HMB. (Cancer Sci 2005; 96: 519 –526)

Rice bran was evaluated for the prevention of bulking in the activated sludge process. After the addition of rice bran to the aeration tank of a food plant, a decrease in the sludge volume index was observed. Both biochemical oxygen demand and chemical oxygen demand showed significant decreases relative to that before the addition of rice bran. Rice bran accelerated the growth of the effective microorganism and thus inhibited the growth of filamentous organisms that cause bulking. The results suggest that phytic acid in rice bran is useful in controlling filamentous bulking in laboratory-scale investigations.

Background Various skin lesions occur in association with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Observation We report a distinctive skin lesion observed in 4 patients with RA. All patients had RA for many years and developed asymptomatic, irregularly shaped erythema over the swollen elbow joints and the nearby part of the forearm. Histopathologically, all cases showed massive aggregates mainly composed of histiocytes in markedly dilated vessels in the dermis, accompanied by a dermal infiltrate of lymphocytes, plasma cells, neutrophils, or a combination of these. A total of 9 cases, including ours, showing similar histopathologic findings have been reported in the literature, of which 7 were associated with RA and presented relatively common clinical appearance. Conclusion In spite of some disagreement as to whether the dilated vessels are blood vessels or lymphatics, it is most likely that these 7 cases belong to the same clinical entity closely associated with RA.

The effect of residual chlorine on the growth of Selenastrum capricornutum was investigated by an algal growth test to evaluate toxicity. Significant reductions in growth due to monochloramine were observed in the green alga, Selenastrum capricornutum; however, algal growth was not inhibited in the medium containing rice bran because of the disappearance of monochloramine. The removal of monochloramine by rice bran was attributed to the chemical’s decomposition by direct reaction with the rice bran. In contrast, no significant reduction in growth was observed in the medium containing free chlorine. The decomposition rate of monochloramine was slower than that of free chlorine in the medium.

We report a case of an Epstein-Barr virus (EBV)-associated nasal-type natural killer cell lymphoma (NKCL) preceded by benign panniculitis, which arose in a 48-year-old woman with an asymptomatic human T-cell leukemia/lymphoma virus type-1 (HTLV-1) infection. A biopsy of the initial panniculitis lesion demonstrated lobular panniculitis with a germinal center composed of benign mononuclear cells with a phenotype of CD4+CD45RO+CD5sCD3+ cCD3 epsilon + T-cell intracellular antigen-1 (TIA-1)- and granzyme B-. One year after oral prednisolone therapy, the patient developed subcutaneous nodules composed of atypical lymphoid cells with a phenotype of CD4-CD45RO+CD56+sCD3-cCD3 epsilon + (TIA-1)+ and granzyme B+. In the initial panniculitis lesion, neither EBV-encoded RNA (EBER-1) nor clonal proliferation of EBV-infected cells was identified. In later lesions, however, a large number of atypical cells were positive for EBER-1, and a clonal expansion of EBV-infected cells was detected. No clonal rearrangement of T-cell receptor-alpha, -beta, or -gamma genes was found in either specimen. This patient was an asymptomatic carrier of human T-cell leukemia/lymphoma virus type-1 (HTLV-1) without clonal integration of proviral HTLV-1 in neither the peripheral blood nor the skin lesions. These observations suggest that EBV-associated NKCL occurred subsequently in the clinical course of benign panniculitis under the influence of immunosuppression caused by prednisolone treatment and HTLV-1 infection.

A 59-year-old woman who had had several episodes of contact urticaria after hair treatment, developed anaphylaxis after vaginal application of povidone-iodine solution for disinfection. Prick tests showed wheal-and-flare responses to both povidone-iodine (0.1% aqueous) and polyvinylpyrrolidone (povidone, PVP) (0.001% aq.), but not to iodine or polyoxy-ethyrenenonylphenyl ether, both of which are also contained in povidone-iodine solution. We confirmed that basophils from her peripheral blood released considerable amounts of histamine on stimulation by PVPs. It appeared that both the shampoo and the permanent-wave solution contained polyvinylpyrrolidone N, N-dimethyl aminoethyl methacrylic acid copolymer diethyl sulphate solution and polyvinylpyrrolidone styrene-copolymer emulsion. Both these agents in the hair care products provoked an immediate skin response on prick testing. We speculate that sensitization to PVP had been established by these hair care products at a beauty parlor. She was recommended to avoid PVP-containing products and remained free from symptoms thereafter.

Rice bran, wheat bran, rapeseed, linseed, okara, and sakekasu were evaluated for correlations between their effectiveness in adsorbing organochlorine compounds such as chloroform, dichloromethane or benzene and the number of spherosomes. Wheat bran contained the highest concentration of spherosomes, with a mean level of 4.37 × 1010 spherosomes/g. The lowest was sakekasu, with a mean level of 2.28 × 1010 spherosomes/g. There was a high correlation between removal efficiency and the number of spherosomes.

A 50-year-old woman developed anaphylaxis 8 h after application of a paraformaldehyde-containing root canal disinfectant. Radioallergosorbent test showed that she had a high level of formaldehyde-specific IgE in her serum. Prick tests to formaldehyde and paraformaldehyde showed immediate-type responses to both. We reviewed the literature describing cases with anaphylaxis/angioedma caused by formaldehyde in root canal disinfectants and found that about 1/2 of the reported cases developed symptoms over 2 h after dental treatment. We speculated that the delay in the manifestation of her symptoms was possibly due to gradual formaldehyde release from paraformaldehyde and time lag of penetrating and diffusing of formaldehyde outside the dentin. Patch testing showed that she also had delayed-type allergy to formaldehyde, paraformaldehyde and eugenol. Physicians should pay attention to root canal disinfectants, even if anaphylaxis occurs several hours after dental treatment.

Rice bran was found to effectively adsorb several organic compounds, such as dichloromethane, chloroform, carbon tetrachloride, trichloroethylene, tetrachloroethylene, and benzene. Equilibrium adsorption isotherms conformed to the Freundlich type (log-log linear). The adsorption of dichloromethane and chloroform by rice bran was observed over the range of pH 1-11. Therefore, rice bran is applicable for treatment of wastewater over a wide pH range. Dichloromethane was successfully removed from water samples with an average removal efficiency of 70% after 60 min when rice bran was added to water samples containing from 0.006 to 100 mg/L dichloromethane. The removal of these organochlorine compounds and benzene by rice bran was attributed to the uptake by intracellular particles called spherosomes. Here, we report the results of a fundamental study of the efficiency of rice bran for removal of organochlorine compounds and benzene using a batch system on the laboratory scale, and describe elucidation of the mechanism of removal of these compounds by rice bran.

A simple and sensitive method for the determination of chloroform in vegetables was established by using a gas chromatograph equipped with an electron capture detector. The proposed method includes solvent trapping of chloroform, and gas chromatographic separation with a detection system. The recoveries of added chloroform in various vegetable samples were 96.7 and 109.3%, within 8.6% of the coefficient variation. The detection limit is 1 μg/kg. The procedure can be used to determine chloroform at low levels in a variety of foods including mayonaise, fish, oil, and cream, as well as vegetables.

Defatted seeds effectively adsorbed organochlorine compounds such as chloroform, dichloromethane and trichloroethylene. The amounts of these compounds adsorbed was plotted against the equilibrium concentration of substances in solution on a logarithmic scale. A linear relationship was obtained, indicating that the adsorption reactions were Freundlich type. The adsorption of these compounds by defatted seed was observed over the range of pH 1-11. Chloroform was successfully removed from tap water with an average removal efficiency of 70% after 60 min when rapeseed was added to tap water that contained 0.0073 mg/l chloroform. The removal of these organochlorine compounds by defatted seed was attributed to the uptake by intracellular particles called spherosomes.

Rice bran effectively removed pesticides from an aqueous solution. The removal by rice bran was examined using 22 different pesticides. The removal efficiencies varied from 22.2% to 98.8%. The variation in the removal efficiency of different pesticides was studied, and the pesticidese with high lipophilicity were found to be easily removed by rice bran. The amount of captan adsorbed was plotted against the equilibrium concentration of substances in solution on a logarithmic scale, and a linear relationship was obtained, indicating that the adsorption reaction was a Freundlich-type. The mechanism of pesticides removal by rice bran was attributed to the uptake into intracellular particles called spherosomes.

To study the origin of chloroform in vegetables, a simple and sensitive method was established using a gas chromatograph equipped with an electron capture detector. The method includes solvent trapping of chloroform, and gas chromatographic separation with a detection system. The average concentrations in vegetables, tea leaves and frozen vegetables were 30.9, 62.9 and 15.7 µ/kg, respectively. Tea leaves contained the highest amount, followed by vegetables. The former was 2 times the latter. There was no significant difference between chloroform levels in vegetables grown in tap water (chloroform : 19.7‐25.0 µg/L) and those in boiled distilled water. On the other hand, there was a high correlation between the number of cultivation days and chloroform levels in vegetables grown in both tap water and boiled distilled water.

Subacute vanadium toxicity was investigated in rats. Female Wistar strain rats, weighing 180g (approximately 6 weeks old), were divided into three groups of seven each. They were fed a base diet with addition of various concentrations of vanadium (0, 50 or 100ppm) for 10 weeks. The amounts of vanadium found in kidney and liver increased in response to vanadium exposure. A significant increase in metallothionein (MT) was observed in kidney of both the 100ppm and 50ppm vanadium-fed groups. Significant decreases in hemoglobin, hematocrit and leukocyte counts were also observed in the former, as well as decreased lymphocyte counts, B cells and immunoglobulin G and M levels.