Gen Ohi

Efficacy of selenium in tuna and selenite in modifying methylmercury intoxication.

Abstract Efficacy of selenium naturally occurring in tuna was compared to that of selenium in selenite with respect to protection against the toxicity of methylmercury. Male weaning rats were fed diets for 70 days which contained 20 ppm methylmercury chloride (MMC) and graded concentrations of selenium originating from either tuna or sodium selenite. Regardless of its origin, selenium showed protective effect, generally corresponding to its added levels (0.5, 1.0, 1.5 ppm) in terms of survival rate, morbidity and growth rate. Efficacy of selenium in tuna, as compared to that of selenium in selenite, was roughly equivalent in growth rate but approximately half as effective in preventing neurological manifestations. Possible mechanisms were discussed as regards protection offered by selenium and the discrepancy of efficacy between tuna selenium and selenite selenium in preventing neurological signs. This study seems to warrant further investigations upon the protective activity of naturally occurring selenium against methylmercury toxicity, particularly in those fish known to contain high concentrations of both methylmercury and selenium.

End-of-Life Decisions and Advance Directives in Palliative Care: A Cross-Cultural Survey of Patients and Health-Care Professionals

In order to explore possible differences in the scope of end-of-life decisions and attitudes toward advance directives (AD) in palliative care, we conducted a survey of 159 patients in palliative care institutions and 93 health-care professionals experienced in palliative care in the United States, Germany, and Japan. Giving an AD in this clinical setting was considered important by patients and professionals. The prevalence of a formal written AD was 79% in the United States, 18% in Germany, and 9% in Japan. In Japan, there was a high prevalence of entrusting all decisions to the family (known as omakase). More than 80% of the patients had negative feelings toward their future decisions in the United States and Germany, in contrast to only 45% in Japan. Although favored by the professionals, there were no specific instruments for obtaining ADs. In Germany and Japan, some patients had given an informal AD. As a pilot content validity step, survey results were used to derive a checklist for content and procedural aspects in end-of-life decision-making. This checklist may provide the basis for developing an instrument to guide physicians, especially non-palliative care specialists, in communication with their patients and their families in this difficult clinical situation.

The pigeon, a sensor of lead pollution.

ConclusionDetermination of lead levels of the blood, femur and kidney and δ-aminolevulinic acid dehydratase activity of red blood cells made with adult street pigeons (total of 179) of locations in both downtown and suburban Tokyo demonstrated highly significant regional differences. It appears that the street pigeons are a handy and sensitive indicator of regional satunine pollution.

Original ArticleEnd-of-Life Decisions and Advance Directives in Palliative Care: A Cross-Cultural Survey of Patients and Health-Care Professionals☆

In order to explore possible differences in the scope of end-of-life decisions and attitudes toward advance directives (AD) in palliative care, we conducted a survey of 159 patients in palliative care institutions and 93 health-care professionals experienced in palliative care in the United States, Germany, and Japan. Giving an AD in this clinical setting was considered important by patients and professionals. The prevalence of a formal written AD was 79% in the United States, 18% in Germany, and 9% in Japan. In Japan, there was a high prevalence of entrusting all decisions to the family (known as omakase). More than 80% of the patients had negative feelings toward their future decisions in the United States and Germany, in contrast to only 45% in Japan. Although favored by the professionals, there were no specific instruments for obtaining ADs. In Germany and Japan, some patients had given an informal AD. As a pilot content validity step, survey results were used to derive a checklist for content and procedural aspects in end-of-life decision-making. This checklist may provide the basis for developing an instrument to guide physicians, especially non-palliative care specialists, in communication with their patients and their families in this difficult clinical situation.

Interaction of dietary methylmercury and selenium on accumulation and retention of these substances in rat organs.

Abstract Four groups of male Wistar rats were fed the following regimen for 40 days: (1) 20 ppm methylmercury chloride (MMC); (2) 20 ppm MMC + 3 ppm sodium selenite; (3) 3 ppm sodium selenite; (4) basal diet. The basal diet which contained 0.4 ppm “organic selenium” originating mainly from fish meal and wheat was resumed on day 41. Protective effect of selenite over toxicity of methylmercury was observed in terms of both growth rate and morbidity. Concentrations of total mercury, methylmercury and selenium were determined on Days 0, 20, 41, 47, 54, and 61 in the brain, liver, kidney, and blood. It was noted that methylmercury increased accumulation of selenium in all the organs analyzed while selenium retention varied according to the type of selenium and the organs. Modification by selenite, despite its protective effect, remained equivocal in regard to the organ accumulation of mercury and its retention therein.

Lead pollution in Tokyo—The pigeon reflects its amelioration

Abstract To monitor lead pollution in the Tokyo metropolitan area, we checked the feral pigeon Columba livia var. blood lead levels and δ-aminolevulinic acid dehydratase activities (ALA-D) of the erythrocytes over the period from 1971 to 1980. The pigeons gave much more magnified pictures of lead pollution than atmospheric lead concentrations indicated, even after addition of tetraethyl lead to the regular gasoline was totally banned in 1975. Since the biological half-life of lead in the pigeon was determined to be relatively short, this was considered mainly due to their habit of ingesting gizzard stones polluted with lead. The amelioration of lead pollution, reflected in the pigeons in downtown Tokyo, was observed with a few years of lag time after the improvement of the atmospheric lead concentration was first noted.

Quality of life : a possible health index for the elderly

To assess whether quality of life (QOL) could be employed as an outcome measure of health programs for elderly populations, we evaluated the relationship between subjective assessment of QOL (“morale scale”) and objective constituents of active life such as activities of daily living (ADL), instrumental ADL (IADL) and work status along with determination of active life expectancy (ALE) in a rural district in Japan (n=13, 529). The QOL scale was positively correlated with ADL, IADL and work status but not with age. Validity and test-retest reliability were satisfactory as regards the small subsamples of respondents. ALE of the elderly aged 60 to 64 was 15.2 years, while their life expectancy was 27.1 years. Factors associated with lower ADL included age, lower IADL and joblessness. The QOL measurement and the objective variables can be incorporated into an assessment of the health status of the elderly in addition to conventional indices based on mortality.

Correlation between history of contact with people living with HIV AIDS PWAs and tolerant attitudes toward HIV AIDS and PWAs in rural Thailand

This study examines the hypothesis that people who have more contact with PWAs people living with AIDS are more tolerant than those who have no contact with them. Four provinces with different incidence of AIDS in 4 different regions of Thailand were selected. Structured questionnaire interviews were conducted with village people, asking about their history of contact with PWAs, and knowledge and attitudes toward HIV AIDS and PWAs n =434 . An lAttitude Score , which indicates an accepting attitude or tolerance toward HIV AIDS and PWAs, was developed using the results of the questionnaire on attitudes. Six factors: sex, education, age, province, knowledge, and history of contact with PWAs were positively correlated with the Attitude Score. After a multiple regression analysis, contact with PWAs was significantly associated with Attitude Score. This study is one of the first analytical studies conducted in a non Western country to show that people s tolerant attitudes towards HIV AIDS and PWAs are positively related to their history of contact with HIV AIDS and PWAs. This finding should have important implications for future educational programmes and preventative intervention.

Organization and patients' perception of palliative care: a crosscultural comparison:

The hospice model of care for patients with advanced diseases exists in almost all industrialized countries. To date, there have been no international or crosscultural comparisons of the organization and patient outcomes associated with hospice services in different parts of the world. This survey evaluated 159 patients in the USA, Germany and Japan. There were differences between countries in the time of first contact, who recommended palliative care first, the underlying diagnoses, the location of patients, and how consent for hospice care was obtained. Across all countries, there were similar levels of comfort and satisfaction with care. We conclude that the hospice philosophy addresses the basic needs of dying patients which are independent of cultural background, but may be adapted to very different cultures.

Proposal for recommended level of dietary fiber intake in Japan

Abstract In this report, we attempt to propose a recommended level of dietary fiber (DF) for the Japanese from several epidemiological reports. The authors previously investigated the daily DF intake in 50 patients with colon polyp, 33 patients with colon diverticulosis, 45 patients with colorectal cancer, and two groups 84 and 45 control subjects; the values obtained were 18.2, 17.4, 14.9, and 21.1 and 19.9 g, respectively. In another study, of the 5 regions in Japan, in only one, Aomori, where the rate of the colon diverticulosis detection was the lowest, did the DF intake exceed 20 g. Furthermore, in Japan the incidence of colorectal cancer showed a marked increase after 1955. It was assumed that the period between the diagnosis of colorectal cancer and death was 15 years, and that the DF intakes at this time (before 1940) to had contributed to the development of the disease. However unfortunately daily DF intake before 1940 in Japan were unknown, and we have only data 25.0 g in 1946. Thus, it is proposed that the recommended level for daily DF intake in Japanese be set at about 20–25 g, i.e. 10 g per 1,000 kcal.