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Asian sand dust (ASD) comprises soil particles, microorganisms, and various chemical components. We examined whether peptidoglycan (PGN), a structural cell wall component of Gram-positive bacteria, exacerbates ASD-induced allergic airway inflammation in mice.The ASD (median diameter ∼4 µm) used was a certified reference material from the National Institute for Environmental Studies in Japan, derived from Gobi Desert surface soil collected in 2011. BALB/c mice were intratracheally exposed to PGN, heat-inactivated ASD (H-ASD), and ovalbumin (OVA), individually and in combination. Twenty-four hours after the final intratracheal administration, bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) and serum samples were collected. Inflammatory cell count, cytokine levels in the BALF, OVA-specific immunoglobulin levels in the serum, and pathological changes in the lungs were analyzed.After OVA + PGN + H-ASD treatment, the number of eosinophils, neutrophils, and macrophages in the BALF and of eosinophils in the lung tissue was significantly higher than that after OVA + PGN or OVA + H-ASD treatment. Moreover, levels of chemokines and cytokines associated with eosinophil recruitment and activation were significantly higher in the BALF of this group than in that of the OVA + PGN group, and tended to be higher than those in the OVA + H-ASD group. Pathological changes in the lungs were most severe in mice treated with OVA + PGN + H-ASD.Our results indicate that PGN is involved in the exacerbation of ASD-induced allergic airway inflammation in mice. Thus, inhalation of ASD containing Gram-positive bacteria may trigger allergic bronchial asthma.

Background/Aims Calcium pyrophosphate dihydrate (CPPD) crystals are also one of the common types of crystals causing crystal-induced inflammatory arthritis. Several studies have elucidated important aspects of the molecular and cellular mechanisms of CPPD crystal formation. CPPD crystal deposition disease is a common arthritic disorder in mainly elderly patients. CPPD crystals are found in multiple joints (e.g. knee, wrist joints) in association with severe cartilage degeneration in osteoarthritis. However, there are few reports concerning about CPPD crystals in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). In this study, I investigated the relationship between CPPD crystal and operated RA of the knee. Methods Seventy-seven total knee arthroplasties were performed for RA knees from January 2016 to September 2021. I defined the lower extremity alignment (LEA) base on the femorotibial angle (FTA) as valgus (FTA Results CPPD crystals were detected from 19 RA knees (27.1%). There were no significant differences between CPPD(+) and (-) groups about age, gender, FTA, BMI, CRP, ESR and MMP-3. The more severe osteophyte formation showed higher CPPD(+) rate tendency; however, there was no significance. CPPD(+) rates were 34.2% in varus knees, 23.1% in valgus knees and 18.2% in neutral knees, respectively. We reported that age, valgus knee, severe osteophyte and low BMI were the risk factors of CPPD(+) in operated osteoarthritis (OA) knees, previously. In this study, there was no difference between CPPD(+) and (-) groups about these factors. Especially, CPPD(+) rate in RA valgus knees was one third of that of OA valgus knees. Conclusion It may be suggested that CPPD production mechanism in RA knees is different from that in OA knees. Disclosure M. Nishikawa: None.

A new environmental certified reference material (CRM) has been developed by the National Institute for Environmental Studies (NIES) to support research and development studies on trace heavy metals in landfill cover soils. The method of analysis requires the use of a 1 mol per L HCl solution to extract the metals of interest, the procedure being based on an official test method (Notification Method No. 19) of the Ministry of the Environment, Japan. Certified values for element concentrations have been issued for Al, Cd, Cr, Co, Cu, Pb, Mn, Ni, V and Zn, while reference values have been assigned to As, Fe and Hg. The efficiency of extraction for elements of interest was investigated using standard solutions of HCl (0.01, 0.1, 0.5, and 1 mol L−1) and ultrapure water (UPW) and wide variation in extraction efficiency was noted reflecting the importance of chemical speciation in the context of liberation of analytes from the host matrix. The extractability of Cd, Cu, Mn, and Pb was relatively high (over 50% relative to the total metal content) for acid strengths in the range 0.1 to 1.0 mol L−1, in contrast to that of Hg where the extraction efficiency was less than 5% even in 0.5 mol L−1. On the basis of submitted data, the CRM is considered appropriate for use in analytical quality control for element speciation and trace analysis as well as for evaluation of new or modified extraction procedures based on the official test method.

The substances associated with PM2.5-induced inflammatory response were investigated using an elimination method. PM2.5 were heated at temperatures of 120, 250, and 360°C. The results demonstrated microbial substances such as LPS and b-glucan, and chemicals including BaP, 1,2-NQ, and 9,10-PQ were reduced drastically in PM2.5 heated at 120°C. On the other hand, DBA, 7,12-BAQ, and BaP-1,6-Q were not noticeably reduced. Most of these substances had disappeared in PM2.5 heated at 250°C and 360°C. Metals (eg, Fe, Cu, Cr, Ni) in PM2.5 exhibited a slight thermo-dependent increase. RAW264.7 macrophages with or without NAC were exposed to unheated PM2.5, oxidative stress-related and unrelated inflammatory responses were induced. PM2.5-induced lung inflammation in mice is caused mainly by thermo-sensitive substances (LPS, b-glucan, BaP, 1,2-NQ, 9,10-PQ, etc.). Also, a slight involvement of thermo-resistant substances (DBA, 7,12-BAQ, BaP-1,6-Q, etc.) and transition metals was observed. The thermal decomposition method could assist to evaluate the PM2.5-induded lung inflammation.

During the 2000s, Asian sand dust (ASD) was implicated in the increasing prevalence of respiratory disorders, including asthma. We previously demonstrated that a fungus from ASD aerosol exacerbated ovalbumin (OVA)-induced airways inflammation. Exposure to heat-inactivated ASD (H-ASD) and either Zymosan A (ZymA, containing β-glucan) or lipopolysaccharide (LPS) exacerbated allergic airways inflammation in a mouse model, but the effects of co-exposure of LPS and β-glucan are unclear. We investigated the effects of co-exposure of LPS and ZymA in OVA-induced allergic airways inflammation with ASD using BALB/c mice. Exposure to OVA + LPS enhanced the recruitment of inflammatory cells to the lungs, particularly neutrophils; exposure to OVA + LPS + H-ASD potentiated this effect. Exposure to OVA + ZymA + H-ASD stimulated the recruitment of inflammatory cells to the lungs, particularly eosinophils, and serum levels of OVA-specific IgE and IgG1 antibodies, whereas exposure to OVA + ZymA did not affect most indicators of lung inflammation. Although exposure to OVA + LPS + ZymA + H-ASD affected a few allergic parameters additively or synergistically, most allergic parameters in this group indicated the same level of exposure to OVA + LPS + H-ASD or OVA + ZymA + H-ASD. These results suggest that LPS and ZymA play different roles in allergic airways inflammation with ASD; LPS mainly enhances neutrophil recruitment through H-ASD, and ZymA enhances eosinophil recruitment through H-ASD.

Background Lipopolysaccharide (LPS) often presents in high concentrations in particulate matter (PM), few studies have reported the enhancing effects of both LPS and PM on airway inflammation in mice and the role of toll-like receptors (TLRs) in this process. Asian sand dust (ASD) is observed most frequently during the spring. This study aimed to clarify the role of TLRs in murine lung eosinophilia exacerbated by ASD and LPS. Methods The effects of LPS and ASD co-treatment on ovalbumin (OVA)-induced lung eosinophilia were investigated using wild-type (WT), TLR2−/−, TLR4−/−, and adaptor protein myeloid differentiation factor 88 (MyD88)−/− BALB/c mice. ASD was heated (H-ASD) to remove the toxic organic substances. WT, TLR2−/−, TLR4−/− and MyD88−/− BALB/c mice were intratracheally instilled with four different combinations of LPS, H-ASD and OVA treatment. Subsequently, the pathological changes in lungs, immune cell profiles in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF), inflammatory cytokines/chemokines levels in BALF and OVA-specific immunoglobulin (Ig) in serum were analyzed. Results In WT mice, H-ASD + LPS exacerbated OVA-induced lung eosinophilia. This combination of treatments increased the proportion of eosinophils and the levels of IL-5, IL-13, eotaxin in BALF, as well as the production of OVA-specific IgE and IgG1 in serum compared to OVA treatment alone. Although these effects were stronger in TLR2−/− mice than in TLR4−/− mice, the expression levels of IL-5, IL-13, eotaxin were somewhat increased in TLR4−/− mice treated with OVA + H-ASD + LPS. In MyD88−/− mice, this pro-inflammatory mediator-induced airway inflammation was considerably weak and the pathological changes in lungs were negligible. Conclusions These results suggest that LPS and H-ASD activate OVA-induced Th2 response in mice, and exacerbate lung eosinophilia via TLR4/MyD88, TLR4/TRIF and other TLR4-independent pathways.

A simple method for estimating the contributions of mineral dust to PM 2.5 , PM 10 , or TSP is presented. The method is based on the assumption of external mixing of two types of particles with different PM 2.5 /PM 10 ratios. The method was applied to local and transported dust events observed in Tsukuba, Japan, and was compared with collocated polarization lidar measurements. The method was then applied to three dust events that occurred in Oki, Rishiri, and Ochiishi, Japan, in 2012. The results showed that the method was useful for detecting mineral dust and for qualitatively describing the mixing of dust with anthropogenic aerosols.

Level of Evidence: Level V.

Objectives: To clarify the effect of combining medial capsule interposition with modified scarf osteotomy for hallux valgus. Methods: A multicenter, retrospective study included 64 cases [59 osteoarthritis patients (excluding rheumatoid arthritis); age 68.8 years, range 40–93 years] of modified scarf osteotomy which were performed from 2013 to 2017 and followed for 26.6 (range, 13–50) months. Patients were treated by either (1) without medial capsule interposition (33 cases) or (2) combined with interposition (31 cases) at each senior surgeon’s discretion. The Japanese Society for Surgery of the Foot (JSSF) hallux metatarsophalangeal (MTP)-interphalangeal scale was evaluated along with radiographic parameters (hallux valgus angle [HVA], first and second metatarsals intermetatarsal angles, and Hardy grade). Results: All JSSF scale and radiographic parameters were similar at baseline and significantly improved at final follow-up in both groups (pre-operation vs. final follow-up: p p value between the two groups at final follow-up) for pain (without interposition: 19.4–34.2, interposition: 18.4–37.1; p = .02), function (without interposition: 20.8–33.6, interposition: 18.3–36.6; p = .005), total score (without interposition: 41.5–81.8, interposition: 38.5–88.5; p < .001), and the MTP joint space (without interposition: 1.4–1.5 mm, interposition: 1.6–2.6 mm; p < .001) with significant correlation between the total JSSF score (r = .40; p = .001). Conclusion: Combining medial capsule interposition with modified scarf osteotomy significantly improved mid-term clinical outcomes.

Objectives: To evaluate the effectiveness of add-on iguratimod (IGU) in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) who showed an inadequate response to tocilizumab (TCZ), especially patients who were ...

Bone stock reconstruction using allograft-bones, bone marrow (BM), and teriparatide (TPTD) is reported. Huge and extensive bone losses occurred in the medullary cavity of the femur and tibia of a 55-year-old female rheumatoid arthritis patient with severe osteoporosis after debridement of her infected total knee arthroplasty. Because of the risks of unstable prosthetic fixation and intra-operation fracture, we first reconstructed the bone stock. Chipped allograft bones mixed with BM were implanted in the bone defects, and TPTD was administrated for the osteoporosis therapy. Good bone formation was found by computed tomography after 4 months. Bone turnover markers and bone mineral density (BMD) were increased at 6 months. We confirmed good bone formation at the re-implantation surgery. The newly formed bone harvested during the re-implantation surgery showed active osteoblast-like lining cells. TPTD is known to enhance allograft bone union, mesenchymal stem cell differentiation into osteoblasts, and BMD. This tissue engineering-based technique might be improved by the various effects of TPTD. This method without any laboratory cell culture might be a good option for bone stock reconstruction surgery in ordinary hospitals.

The objectives of this study were to measure the morphometric parameters of preoperative distal femurs to determine the differences by diagnosis and gender after accounting for skeletal size. One-hundred and seventy-nine Japanese patients who underwent total knee arthroplasty (TKA) (25 males and 154 females) were assessed. The anteroposterior length (AP), mediolateral width (ML), aspect ratio (AR), surgical epicondylar axis (SEA) to posterior condylar axis (PCA) angle, and Whiteside to SEA angle were measured on preoperative computed tomography scans. The AP/ML, AR/ML, SEA/PCA, and Whiteside/PCA relationships were evaluated and compared by patient diagnosis and gender. The results were also compared with the sizes of 10 currently available TKA implants in Japan. The mean AP, ML, AR, SEA/PCA angle, and Whiteside/PCA angle were 58.8 mm, 64.7 mm, 0.91, external rotation (ER) 3.5°, and ER 1.6°, respectively. AP and AR each were significantly correlated with ML (p

Bjerkandera adusta (B. adusta) causes fungus-associated chronic cough. However, the inflammatory response is not yet fully understood. Recently, B. adusta was identified in Asian sand dust (ASD) aerosol. This study investigated the enhancing effects of ASD on B. adusta-induced lung inflammation. B. adusta was inactivated by formalin. ASD was heated to remove toxic organic substances. ICR mice were intratracheally instilled with saline, B. adusta 0.2 µg, or B. adusta 0.8 µg with or without heated ASD 0.1 mg (H-ASD), four times at 2-week intervals. Two in vitro experiments were conducted to investigate any enhancing effects using bone marrow-derived macrophages (BMDM) from Toll-like receptor (TLR) knockout mice and ICR mice. Co-exposure to H-ASD and B. adusta, especially at high doses, caused eosinophil infiltration, proliferation of goblet cells in the airway, and fibrous thickening of the subepithelial layer, and remarkable increases in expression of Th2 cytokines and eosinophil-related cytokine and chemokine expression in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid. In the in vitro study using BMDM from wild-type, TLR2-/-, and TLR4-/- mice, the TLR-signaling pathway for cytokine production caused by B. adusta was predominantly TLR2 rather than TLR4. H-ASD increased the expression of NF-κB and cytokine production by B. adusta in BMDM from ICR mice. The results suggest that co-exposure to H-ASD and B. adusta caused aggravated lung eosinophilia via remarkable increases of pro-inflammatory mediators. The aggravation of inflammation may be related, at least in part, to the activation of the TLR2-NF-κB signaling pathway in antigen presenting cells by H-ASD.

The quality and quantity of toxic materials adsorbed onto Asian sand dust (ASD) are different based on dust source regions and passage routes. The aggravating effects of two ASDs (ASD1 and ASD2) transported from the source regions of Inner Mongolia and northeast China on lung eosinophilia were compared to clarify the role of toxic materials in ASD. The ASDs contained different amounts of lipopolysaccharides (LPS) and β-glucan (ASD1ASD2) and SiO2 (ASD1ASD2). CD-1 mice were instilled intratracheally with ASD1, ASD2 and/or ovalbumin (OVA) four times at 2-week intervals. ASD1 and ASD2 enhanced eosinophil recruitment induced by OVA in the submucosa of the airway, with goblet cell proliferation in the bronchial epithelium. ASD1 and ASD2 synergistically increased OVA-induced eosinophil-relevant cytokines interleukin-5 (IL-5), IL-13 (ASD1ASD2) and chemokine eotaxin (ASD1ASD2) in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid. ASD2 aggravating effects on lung eosinophilia were greater than ASD1. The role of LPS and β-glucan in ASD2 on the production of pro-inflammatory mediators was assessed using in vitro bone marrow-derived macrophages (BMDMs) from wild type, Toll-like receptor 2-deficient (TLR2-/-), TLR4-/-, and MyD88-/- mice (on Balb/c background). ASD2-stimulated TLR2-/- BMDMs enhanced IL-6, IL-12, TNF-α, MCP-1 and MIP-1α secretion compared with ASD2-stimulated TLR4-/- BMDMs. Protein expression from ASD2-stimulated MyD88-/- BMDM were very low or undetectable. The in vitro results indicate that lung eosinophilia caused by ASD is TLR4 dependent. Therefore, the aggravation of OVA-related lung eosinophilia by ASD may be dependent on toxic substances derived from microbes, such as LPS, rather than SiO2.

Epidemiologic studies have reported that Asian sand dust (ASD) particles can affect respiratory health; however, the mechanisms remain unclear. We investigated the effects of ASD on airway epithelial cells and immune cells, and their contributing factors to the effects. Human airway epithelial cells were exposed to ASD collected on 1-3 May (ASD1) and on 12-14 May (ASD2) 2011 in Japan and heat-treated ASD1 for excluding heat-sensitive substances (H-ASD) at a concentration of 0, 3, 30 or 90 µg ml(-1) for 4 or 24 h. Furthermore, bone marrow-derived dendritic cells (BMDC) from atopic prone mice were differentiated by culture with granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) then these BMDC were exposed to the ASD for 24 h. Also splenocytes as mixture of immune cells were exposed to the ASD for 72 h. All ASD dose dependently reduced viability of airway epithelial cells. Non-heated ASD showed a dose-dependent increase in the protein release of interleukin (IL)-6 and IL-8. The raises induced by ASD1 were higher than those by ASD2. ASD1 and ASD2 also elevated ICAM-1 at the levels of mRNA, cell surface protein and soluble protein in culture medium. In contrast, H-ASD did not change most of these biomarkers. Non-heated ASD showed enhancement in the protein expression of DEC205 on BMDC and in the proliferation of splenocytes, whereas H-ASD did not. These results suggest that ASD affect airway epithelial cells and immune cells such as BMDC and splenocytes. Moreover, the difference in ASD events and components adhered to ASD can contribute to the health effects.

The Asian dust events in 2008 (May 24–June 4 in 2008) and in 2009 (March 12–25, October 13–26, and December 15–28 in 2009) were analyzed with the lidar network observations, surface observations in China, Korea, Japan, and Mongolia, and with the chemical transport model CFORS. Transport of Asian dust and mixing of dust with air pollution aerosols were studied. The event of May 24 to June 4 in 2008 was a significant event unusually late in the spring dust season. The dust event of March 12–25, 2009 was an interesting example of elevated dust layer, and transport of dust from the elevated dust layer to the ground by the boundary layer activity was observed with the lidars and surface observations in Japan. The concentration of air pollution aerosols was relatively high during the dust event, and the results suggest that vertical structure as well as transport path is important for the mixing of dust and air pollution aerosols. The dust events in October and December 2009 were examples of dust events in autumn and winter. The online mode CFORS reproduced the observation data generally well, except for the event of May 24 to June 4 in 2008. The results of the fourdimensional variational assimilation of the lidar network data reproduced the dust concentration in Korea and Japan reasonably in that event.

BackgroundEpidemiological studies have implicated Asian sand dust (ASD) in the increased prevalence of respiratory disorders, including asthma. It has been observed that fungal elements such as β-glucan can be adsorbed onto ASD. In the present study, the exacerbating effect of the combined exposure to zymosan A (ZymA) containing yeast β-glucan and heat-inactivated ASD on ovalbumin (OVA)-induced murine lung eosinophilia was investigated.MethodsBALB/c mice were repeatedly instilled intratracheally with one of eight immunogenic formulations consisting of various combinations of (1) ZymA, (2) ASD that was briefly heated to remove organic substances (H-ASD), and (3) OVA in normal saline, or each of the above alone. Pathologic changes, cytological alterations in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF), changes in inflammatory cytokines and chemokines in BALF, and OVA-specific IgE and IgG1 antibodies in serum were investigated.ResultsExposure to ZymA with or without OVA had no effect on most indicators of lung inflammation. Exposure to H-ASD with OVA increased the recruitment of inflammatory cells to the lungs and the serum levels of OVA-specific IgE and IgG1. The combination OVA+ZymA+H-ASD induced a marked recruitment of eosinophils and upregulation of T helper 2 (Th2) cytokines (interleukin [IL]-4 and IL-13), IL-6, eotaxin/CCL11, and monocyte chemotactic protein (MCP)-3/CCL7 in BALF and OVA-specific IgE in serum. This treatment also induced the most severe pathological changes in the lungs of mice. ZymA was found to boost the effects of H-ASD, thereby exacerbating the OVA-induced allergic inflammation, even though ZymA alone did not have such effect.ConclusionsThe results suggest that fungal elements such as β-1,3-glucan aggravate the allergic inflammation caused by ASD. Our findings may facilitate prophylaxis of some allergic diseases in Asia.

Tocilizumab (TCZ) shows good retention in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA), but no previous reports demonstrated hopeful treatment options against inadequate response to TCZ. Tacrolimus (TAC) has proved to show efficacy against inadequate response to tumor necrosis factor alpha inhibitors, yet its add-on effects on TCZ remain unknown.Twenty patients with RA (17 women, age 58.6 years, disease duration 12.1 years, prior TCZ duration 2.6 years, 18 intravenous [8 mg/kg/month] and 2 subcutaneous [324 mg/month] TCZ treatments, methotrexate 6.1 mg/week [70.0%]) who showed an inadequate response to TCZ (clinical disease activity index [CDAI] ≥ 5.8, 18 secondary non-responders) were additionally treated with TAC (1.1 mg/day), and enrolled in this 24-week, prospective study.Seventeen patients (85.0%) continued the treatment for 24 weeks. Statistically significant decreases in outcome measures were as follows: disease activity score based on 28 joints with C-reactive protein (DAS28-CRP) from 3.3 at baseline to 2.1 at week 24 (p 0.001), CDAI from 17.7 to 7.6 (p 0.001), and serum matrix metalloproteinase-3 levels from 232.8 to 66.2 ng/ml (p 0.001). About 15 patients (75%) achieved low disease activity or remission (DAS28-CRP ≤2.7 or CDAI ≤10) at week 24.Adding low-dose TAC to inadequate responders to TCZ may be a promising complementary treatment option.

Asian sand dust (ASD) event may result in a significant influence on an asthmatic patient. However, for obvious reasons, there is no experimental study in which asthmatic patients are exposed to ASD. This study was undertaken to clarify the effects of ASD on lung eosinophiliain mice immunized beforehand by ovalbumin (OVA). CD-1 mice were instilled intratracheally with OVA four times at 2-week intervals. Simultaneous intratracheal administration of OVA and ASD (OVA + ASD sim) at the last OVA treatment or intratracheal administration with ASD 1 day before (OVA + ASD pre) /after (OVA + ASD post) the last OVA treatment was performed to investigate the effects of OVA and ASD exposure timing. The three kinds of treatment (OVA + ASD pre; OVA + ASD sim; OVA + ASD post) aggravated allergic lung inflammation and proliferation of goblet cells in the airway epithelium in mice, as evidenced by the cellular profile of bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) and pathological examination. As an overall trend, these changes were paralleled with the expression of Th2-associated effecter molecules and eosinophil relevant cytokine chimokines in BALF as well as the production of OVA-specific IgG1 compared with OVA treatment alone. OVA + ASD sim aggravated lung eosinophilia remarkably compared with the other treatments. The order of the potency of the aggravation was OVA+ASD preOVA+ASD postOVA+ASD sim. These results indicate that ASD has a potent effect in activating lung eosinopilia in mice immunized beforehand by OVA. The simultaneous exposure of asthmatic patients to ASD and its antigen may have serious consequences for such individuals.

Polarization-sensitive Mie-scattering lidars were installed for dust storm monitoring at Sainshand and Zamyn-Uud in the Gobi Desert and at the Mongolian capital city of Ulaanbaatar in 2007. We studied the temporal and spatial distributions and transportation of dust, elevated dust, biomass burning smoke, and anthropogenic aerosol by using lidar measurements from the end of 2007 to the first half of 2010. The study results show that the maximum height of dust layers over the Gobi Desert of Mongolia during dust event periods varied from 0.5 to 5.5 km above the ground level (AGL). The 95th percentile level of dust vertical distribution was found at 4 and 4.5 km for Zamyn-Uud and Sainshand, respectively. The averaged maximum height of dust layers during dust events was 2.0–2.2 km AGL at those Gobi sites. The lidar measurements also revealed transport of dust layers elevated in the atmosphere. Base heights of elevated dust layers varied from 0.5 to 2.5 km AGL, while maximum heights from 2.5 to 4.5 km AGL. Backward air trajectory analyses suggested source areas of the elevated dust that transported from other source regions to southeastern Mongolia. A detail study was conducted of the dust event in 19–20 May 2008. Hourly maximum dust concentrations of PM10 (PM2.5) reached 1139–1409 (384–404) μg m−3 during the dust event episode. Dust concentration of PM10 had high correlations with visibilities. Threshold winds for dust emission were determined at Sainshand and Zamyn-Uud. The lidar measurements at the three sites detected vertical profiles of biomass burning smoke and anthropogenic aerosol with top heights of 3–4 km AGL.

Urban particulate matter (UPM) has been shown to have an aggravating effect on Th2-associated immune systems in adult mice. However, the effects of fetal exposure to UPM on immune response in offspring have not been elucidated. In the present study, we administered UPM (200 µg/animal) by intratracheal injection to pregnant dams on days 7 and 14 of gestation. Subsequently, 9- and 24-week-old male offspring were intratracheally injected with ovalbumin (OVA) (four times at 2-week intervals) to create a mouse model of bronchial asthma. We then evaluated the progression of allergic manifestations in the offspring through histological findings, the number of inflammatory cells in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF), and protein concentration of cytokines and chemokines in BALF 5, 10, 15, and 30 weeks after birth. Histological examination showed that fetal exposure to UPM alone caused slight eosinophil and lymphocyte infiltration in the submucosa of the airway and bronchial epithelium and significant increases in the number of macrophages. Moreover, postnatal intratracheal administration of OVA to offspring exposed to UPM in utero caused significant increases in the numbers of macrophages, eosinophils, and lymphocytes and in the concentrations of their relevant cytokines and chemokines, showing that fetal exposure to UPM aggravated the chemically sensitized immune system of male offspring.

Atmospheric pollution caused by airborne particulate matter in the winter season in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia is a very serious problem. However, there is a complete lack of scientific observation data to define the situation prior to any remediation. PM10 and PM2.5 average monthly values obtained by continuous monitoring showed the concentrations of particles of both size categories exceeded 100 μg m −3 during November to February (winter). PM10 particles were sampled with filters in January (i.e. during the heating period) and June (i.e.non-heating period) of 2008 in central Ulaanbaatar. To determine the composition of urban airborne particulate matter we analyzed a range of ionic components, multiple elements including heavy metals, and organic and inorganic carbon (soot). We also measured the stable carbon isotope ratio of the soot. Total carbon (sum of organic carbon and inorganic carbon) accounted for 47% of the mass of the PM10 during the heating period and 33% during the non-heating period, and was the largest component of urban airborne particulate matter in Ulaanbaatar. Stable isotope ratios (δ 13 C) of soot generated during the heating period (−23.4 ± 0.2‰) approximated the ratios for coal used in Ulaanbaatar (−21.3 to −24.4‰), while the ratios during the non-heating period (−27.1 ± 0.4‰) were clearly different from the coal values. In the heating period, a very high correlation was observed between soot and organic carbon, SO 4 2– , NO 3 − , F − , Zn, As, and Pb, and we concluded that they were derived from coal combustion along with soot. In addition, the concentrations and their ratios relative to each other of Al, Fe, Ca, K, Na, Mg, and Mn hardly differed between the heating period and the non-heating period, and it was concluded that they were derived from soil dust.

Dust mass concentrations of PM 10 and PM 2.5 from four monitoring stations in the Gobi Desert region of Mongolia were analyzed for a 16-month period in 2009–2010. Annual averaged PM 10 concentration ranged from 9 μg m − 3 to 49 μg m − 3 at these stations during 2009. Concentrations were high in winter owing to air pollution and in spring owing to dust storms; the monthly mean concentrations of PM 10 (PM 2.5 ) at the three stations except for Sainshand reached yearly maxima in December and January, ranging from 60 (38) μg m − 3 to 120 (94) μg m − 3 . Diurnal variations of PM 10 and PM 2.5 concentrations at two sites, Dalanzadgad and Zamyn-Uud, included two maxima in the morning and evening and two minima in the afternoon and early morning. However, at Erdene PM 10 maxima occurred in the afternoon and evening. Both PM 10 and PM 2.5 concentrations were enhanced from March to May by dust storms. Dust storms raised huge amounts of fine dust particles in the Gobi of Mongolia. Maximum daily mean PM 10 (PM 2.5 ) concentrations reached 821 (500) μg m − 3 at Dalanzadgad, 308 (129) μg m − 3 at Zamyn-Uud, and 1328 μg m − 3 at Erdene. Hourly maximum PM 10 (PM 2.5 ) concentrations were as high as 6626 (2899) μg m − 3 at Dalanzadgad during a dust storm.

We carried out short-term continuous monitoring of Asian dust every 2 hours in Beijing, China and Nagasaki, Japan and performed chemical analyses during 2 events where there were large differences in the characteristics of the Asian dust blowing into Nagasaki. The first involved typical Asian dust that originated in the Mongolian Gobi Desert on March 30, 2007 (abbreviated to TAD 2007). The second involved a polluted air parcel that arrived in Japan along with Asian dust on May 8, 2007. By comparing temporal changes in PM10 and particulate sulfur (sulfate ions) concentrations with the timing of the Asian dust arrival, we found in the April event (TAD 2007) that the polluted air parcel covering Beijing did not mix with an air parcel containing TAD 2007 coming from the north. In the May event, we inferred that mixing of the polluted air parcel and an air parcel containing Asian dust had occurred. The composition of aerosol particles in the air parcel reaching Nagasaki in the April event reflected the chemical composition of TAD 2007 itself, whereas that of the May event had high concentrations of chemical components originating in anthropogenic pollution, such as sulfate ions, zinc, lead and other heavy metals.

The main contributor of aerosol particulate soluble iron to Japan and the Pacific Ocean has been investigated using data obtained during the research campaign entitled “A Study on Dust and Sand Storms” conducted by the Ministry of the Environment, Japan. The concentration of particulate soluble iron was not correlated to total iron concentration. Particulate iron solubility ranged from less than 1% to 6%. It was low when the air mass was dominated by kosa aerosols, and high when the air mass was dominated by pollutants. Durations for the kosa and pollution events over Jeju Island, Matsue, and the Pacific Ocean in April and May 2007 were estimated using a Chemical Weather Forecasting System (CFORS). The estimated durations of the pollution events at Jeju and Matsue were slightly shorter than those of the kosa events. The calculated duration of the pollution event over the Pacific Ocean was only three hours, much shorter than that of the kosa event. Kosa aerosols are the main contributor of soluble iron to the Pacific Ocean; however anthropogenic aerosols should not be discounted as contributors of soluble iron to an area off the coast of the Asian continent.

Dust extinction coefficients near the ground surface, based on National Institute for Environmental Studies lidar network measurements, were directly compared with mass densities measured simultaneously by filter sampling during several heavy dust events in Japan. The ratio between them varied from 0.5 to 2 g m-1, and depended more on the observatory, than on the dust event being observed. This variation could not be accounted for by the change in particle size distribution during long-distance transport from the source region to Japan, but internal mixing of dust with spherical particles might explain the observed results.

Surface observation data taken in Mongolia, China, Korea and Japan during the Asian dust event of March 29 to April 2, 2007 were compared with a regional dust transport model assimilated with the lidar network data. The assimilated model reproduced the reported dust event in Mongolia and the observed PM10 concentrations in Korea and Japan very well. The mass/extinction conversion factor (MEF) obtained from the lidar dust extinction coefficient and PM10 concentration was also compared with the assimilated model for Seoul and Tsukuba where both the lidar and PM10 data were available. The MEFs for PM10 and PM2.5 (the ratio of dust-only PM10 or PM2.5 to the dust extinction coefficient) were calculated with the assimilated model. The modeled MEF for PM10 reproduced the observed MEF reasonably and exhibited spatial and temporal variations reflecting the variations in the dust particle size distribution. The modeled MEF for PM2.5 had much less variation. This indicates that the dust extinction coefficient has a higher correlation with dust PM2.5 and should be a useful index for studying the effect of dust on human health.

During the Typical Asian Dust episode from the end of March-early April 2007 (TAD-2007), the mass concentration of suspended particulate matter (SPM) began to increase rapidly on the morning of 1 April in Hokuriku and Tohoku but remained low in Kanto. Ground-level lidar and rawinsonde sounding in Hokuriku observed a dust layer at ∼2 km corresponding to the base of the temperature inversion. In Kanto, which is leeward of Japan's central mountain ranges, SPM increase began from the east coast and then advanced westward after 18 JST with easterly winds. Merged CloudSat and CALIPSO datasets indicated that clouds over mainland Japan and the Sea of Japan were located in the upper-level atmosphere (> 6 km). Continuous meteorological observations showed that cloud condensation and rainfall were not observed over the mountains during the daytime of 1 April. These results suggest that the delay in the SPM increase in Kanto was caused by dust being indirectly transported to that region by flowing around the central mountains.

Samples of the muscle of two species of tilapia (Oreochromis mossambicus and O. niloticus; 17–20 cm length) were obtained from at least one reservoir in each of the six river basins (Aruvi Aru, Kala Oya, Kirindi Oya, Ma Oya, Mahaweli, and Walawe Ganga catchments) in Sri Lanka. The metals Ca, Cu, Fe, K, Mg, Mn, Na, and Zn were consistently detected in the muscle tissue. Overall, there were few differences in the concentration of metals between the two species of fish, although there were also some statistically significant differences (p < 0.05) in the concentrations of some metals in fish obtained from some of the reservoirs. Aruvi Aru stands out as a river basin in which the two fish species have significantly lower concentration of metals when compared to other river basins. The concentration of the metals studied were below WHO and FSANZ guideline values for fish, suggesting that the consumption of the metals found in tilapia from these reservoirs poses little risk to human health.

The development of nanotechnology has increased the risk of environmental exposure to types of particles other than those derived from combustion, namely, industrial nanomaterials. Patients with bronchial asthma are sensitive to inhaled substances, including particulate matter. This study examined the effects of pulmonary exposure to a type of nano-sized carbon nanotube (single-walled nanotubes (SWCNT)) on allergic airway inflammation and sought their cellular mechanisms. In the in vivo experiments, ICR mice were divided into four experimental groups that were repeatedly administered vehicle, SWCNT (50 microg/animal), ovalbumin (OVA; an allergen), or OVA + SWCNT through an intratracheal route and thereafter assayed. SWCNT aggravated allergen-induced pulmonary inflammation with mucus hyperplasia. SWCNT with allergen amplified lung protein levels of T helper (Th) cytokines and chemokines related to allergy and exhibited adjuvant activity for allergen-specific IgG(1) (and IgE) compared with allergen alone. SWCNT accentuated the level/activity of oxidative stress-related biomarkers in the airways in the presence of allergen. In vitro, SWCNT can partially promote/strengthen the maturation/activation/function of bone marrow-derived dendritic cells (DC). Together, these results suggest that SWCNT can exacerbate murine allergic airway inflammation via enhanced activation of Th immunity and increased oxidative stress. In addition, this exacerbation may be partly through the inappropriate activation of antigen-presenting cells, including DC.

Dust emission estimated with a 4D-Var data assimilation system using ground-based lidar network data was compared with vegetation growth data based on visual observations in the Gobi desert in Mongolia in the spring of 2007. The dust emission flux estimated with the data assimilation system was less than that estimated without data assimilation in the dust event of May 21-30 and was the opposite in the event of March 25-April 3. The threshold surface friction velocity estimated from the results of the data assimilation was less than 0.3 m s-1 in the dust event of March 25-April 3 and was ∼0.36 m s-1 in the event of May 21-30. The difference between the two events was qualitatively explained by the vegetation growth data. The accumulated precipitation during the period was ∼2 mm. The results show that vegetation growth with slight precipitation in the Gobi desert may significantly reduce dust emission.

A candidate environmental certified reference material (CRM) for the determination of multielements in tea leaves and materials of similar matrix, NIES CRM No. 23 Tea Leaves II, has been developed and characterized by the National Institute for Environmental Studies (NIES), Japan. The origin of the material was tea leaves, which were ground, sieved through a 106-microm mesh, homogenized, and then subdivided into amber glass bottles. The results of homogeneity and stability tests indicated that the material was sufficiently homogeneous and stable for use as a reference material. The property values of the material were statistically determined based on chemical analyses by a network of laboratories using a wide range of methods. Sixteen laboratories participated in the characterization, and nine certified values and five reference values were obtained. These property values of the candidate CRM, which are expressed as mass fractions, were close to the median and/or mean values of the mass fractions of elements in various tea products. The candidate CRM is appropriate for use in analytical quality control and in the evaluation of methods used in the analysis of tea and materials of similar matrix.

We classified 182 consecutive patients (195 hips) treated by primary cementless minimally invasive total hip arthroplasty (MIS-THA) into 2 groups via the surgical approaches: direct anterior approach (DAA, 99 hips) and a mini-posterior approach (MPA, 96 hips). Ninety-nine percent of the cups in the DAA group and 91% in the MPA group had been implanted within the safe zone (P = .008). Patients in the DAA group could get single-leg stance of more than 5 seconds by 16.6 days (P = .0004), had positive Tredelenburg's sign by 29%, got 50-m walking time of 52.3 seconds (P = .017), and showed improvement in the use of assistive walking aids (P = .031) at 3 weeks postoperatively. The results of this study suggest more rapid recovery for hip function and gait ability after MIS-THA via a DAA when compared to an MPA.

The development of nanotechnology has increased the risk of exposure to types of particles other than combustion-derived particles in the environment, namely, industrial nanomaterials. On the other hand, patients with bronchial asthma are sensitive to inhaled substances including particulate matters. This study examined the effects of pulmonary exposure to a type of nano-sized carbon nanotube (multi-walled nanotubes: MWCNT) on allergic airway inflammation in vivo and their cellular mechanisms in vitro. In vivo, ICR mice were divided into 4 experimental groups. Vehicle, MWCNT (50 microg/animal), ovalbumin (OVA), and OVA+MWCNT were repeatedly administered intratracheally. Bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) cellularity, lung histology, levels of cytokines related to allergic inflammation in lung homogenates/BAL fluids (BALFs), and serum immunoglobulin levels were studied. Also, we evaluated the impact of MWCNT (0.1-1 microg/ml) on the phenotype and function of bone marrow-derived dendritic cells (DC) in vitro. MWCNT aggravated allergen-induced airway inflammation characterized by the infiltration of eosinophils, neutrophils, and mononuclear cells in the lung, and an increase in the number of goblet cells in the bronchial epithelium. MWCNT with allergen amplified lung protein levels of Th cytokines and chemokines compared with allergen alone. MWCNT exhibited adjuvant activity for allergen-specific IgG(1) and IgE. MWCNT significantly increased allergen (OVA)-specific syngeneic T-cell proliferation, particularly at a lower concentration in vitro. Taken together, MWCNT can exacerbate murine allergic airway inflammation, at least partly, via the promotion of a Th-dominant milieu. In addition, the exacerbation may be partly through the inappropriate activation of antigen-presenting cells including DC.

Samples of the muscle and liver of the Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) were obtained from a single reservoir in each of three Sri Lankan catchments (Kaudulla, Rajanganaya, and Udawalawe reservoirs in the Mahaweli, Kala Oya, and Walawe Ganga river basins, respectively) in 2002. The concentrations of 12 elements were consistently detected in the tilapia muscle and liver (Ca, Cd, Cu, Fe, Hg, K, Mg, Mn, Na, P, Sr and Zn). However, a three factorial principal components analysis suggested that there were no differences in the metal profiles (range of elements and concentration) of the fish obtained from any of the three reservoirs, although the chemistries of each tissue (muscle and liver) were different. Metal concentrations were below WHO and Food Standards Australia and New Zealand guideline values, and substantial quantities of tilapia would need to be consumed each week on a regular basis to exceed intake limits (e.g. more than 1.5 kg to exceed intake lits for Cu), suggesting consumption of tilapia from these reservoirs poses little risk to human health.

We attempted to elucidate seasonal variations in fossil-fuel-derived carbon (FC) and biomass-derived carbon (BC) in urban atmospheric aerosols. We undertook continuous measurements of the composition of fine particle (PM2.1) in central Tokyo, including the 14C/12C ratio. The percent modern carbon (pMC) contained in all samples averaged 43, and the highest was 54 in late December and the lowest was 31 in early August. From the observed carbonaceous component concentrations and the pMC we could calculate the content ratio of FC and BC in PM2.1 and investigate their seasonal variations. Although there was almost no seasonal variation in the ratio of FC, the ratio of BC was observed to rise in early winter. This indicates that FC is influenced by the emission sources without seasonal variations (such as automobiles driven in urban areas). Furthermore, there is significant correlation between BC and organic carbon (OC), and even for urban areas, it is considered that the contribution of biomass carbon to OC in PM2.1 is high.

The present paper is concerned with an asymptotics of a solution to the model system of radiating gas. The previous researches have shown that the solution converges to a travelling wave with a rate (1 + t)−1/4 as time t tends to infinity provided that an initial data is given by a small perturbation from the travelling wave in the suitable Sobolev space and the perturbation is integrable. In this paper, we make more elaborate analysis under suitable assumptions on initial data in order to obtain shaper convergence rates than previous researches. The first result is that if the initial data decays at the spatial asymptotic point with a certain algebraic rate, then this rate reflects the time asymptotic convergence rate. Precisely, this convergence rate is completely same as the spatial convergence rate of the initial perturbation. The second result is that if the initial data is given by the Riemann data, an admissible weak solution, which has a discontinuity, converges to the travelling wave exponentially fast. Both of two results are proved by obtaining decay estimates in time through energy methods with suitably chosen weight functions. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

For the emission gas concentration measurement of sublimable gas phase boron compounds, the optimal collector material applied to the inside stack sampler (the type-I stack sampler developed in our previous article) was examined. The collection efficiency of alkali impregnated filter paper of K2CO3, Na2CO3, LiOH and Ba(OH)2 was investigated by using artificial stack.It was revealed that K2CO3 and Na2CO3 filter papers have a high collection efficiency and fully applicable to the type-I stack sampler. However, LiOH and Ba(OH)2 filter papers have a restricted range of applicable condition.