Takenori Yamauchi

ADRB3 Polymorphism Associated with BMI Gain in Japanese Men

Objective. The aim of this study was to evaluate the association between the Trp64Arg polymorphism in the beta3-adrenergic receptor gene (ADRB3: rs4994) and BMI and serological and anthropometric data in healthy Japanese. Methods. Healthy Japanese recruited in a large-scale integrated manufacturing facility in Japan (N = 1355; age: 37.25 ± 9.43; BMI: 22.86 ± 3.46) were eligible for analysis. The anthropometric data and serological data were measured during a comprehensive health check, and a self-reporting questionnaire was used to assess lifestyle habits (current exercise, smoking status, alcohol intake, and working style) and weight at age 20. Genotyping for the ADRB3 polymorphism was performed by PCR-RFLP method. Results. Among 1355 participants, the genotype frequencies of the Trp/Trp, Trp/Arg, and Arg/Arg variants were 920 (67.9%), 394 (29.1%), and 41 (3.05%), respectively. In the multivariate analysis, a multiple linear regression model in men for the adjustment of age, drinking habits, smoking habits, exercise habits, working status and serological measurements statistically showed an overall weak significance between annual BMI gain from age 20 and age, LDL or ADRB3 polymorphism. Conclusions. The level of LDL, age, and ADRB3 polymorphism (Arg/Arg genotype) were statistically associated with annual BMI gain in Japanese men.

Shift-work disorder and sleep-related environmental factors in the manufacturing industry.

The aim of this study was to examine the relationship between shift-work disorder (SWD) and environmental and somatic factors related to falling asleep among rapidly rotating shift workers in a manufacturing industry.A total of 556 male workers were recruited to complete a self-administered questionnaire regarding age, shift work experience, lifestyle, and family structure; the Epworth sleepiness scale (ESS); the Pittsburgh sleep quality index (PSQI); and the Horne and Ostberg questionnaire, a questionnaire for environmental and somatic factors related to falling asleep. We classified workers according to having SWD or not, and compared workers with SWD with those without this disorder in terms of all items covered in the aforementioned questionnaires. A total of 208 workers (62.8%) working rapidly rotating shifts were diagnosed with SWD. The ESS and PSQI scores and scores for environmental and somatic factors were significantly higher in workers with SWD than in those without this disorder. The ESS scores and scores for environmental and somatic factors were also associated with SWD in the logistic regression analyses. We suggest that susceptibility to SWD in the manufacturing industry may be associated with environmental and somatic factors related to falling asleep.

Possible production of arsenic hemoglobin adducts via exposure to arsine.

Possible production of arsenic hemoglobin adducts via exposure to arsine: Takenori YAMAU‐CHI, et al. Department of Public Health Faculty of Medicine, University of Miyazaki

Occupational Exposure Limits of lead, dimethylamine, n-butyl-2,3-epoxypropyl ether, and 2-ethyl-1-hexanol and carcinogenicity and occupational sensitizer classification.

The Committee for Recommendation of Occupational Exposure Limits, Japan Society for Occupational Health Kenichi Azuma, Ginji Endo, Yoko Endo, Kunio Hara, Koji Harada, Hajime Hori, Seichi Horie, Hyogo Horiguchi, Masayoshi Ichiba, Gaku Ichihara, Masayuki Ikeda, Tatsuya Ishitake, Akiyoshi Ito, Satoko Iwasawa, Michihiro Kamijima, Kanae Karita, Toshio Kawai, Toshihiro Kawamoto, Akio Koizumi, Shinji Kumagai, Yukinori Kusaka, Muneyuki Miyagawa, Yasuo Morimoto, Kasuke Nagano, Tamie Nasu, Tetsuo Nomiyama, Kazuyuki Omae, Kazuhiro Sato, Hirokazu Okuda, Haruhiko Sakurai, Tomotaka Sobue, Yasushi Suwazono, Toru Takebayashi, Tatsuya Takeshita, Akito Takeuchi, Masatoshi Tanaka, Shigeru Tanaka, Teruomi Tsukahara, Masashi Tsunoda, Susumu Ueno, Yuko Yamano, Takenori Yamauchi and Eiji Yano

Seasonal changes in serum oxidative stress biomarkers in dairy and beef cows in a daytime grazing system

This study aims to evaluate the oxidative stress during hot summer season using serum oxidative stress biomarkers and elucidate the effects of serum antioxidant vitamin levels in dairy and beef cows in a daytime grazing system. Blood samples were collected once a month from eight Holstein Friesian (HF) and 10 Japanese Black (JB) cows from November 2013 to October 2014. Serum values of derivatives of reactive oxygen metabolites (d-ROMs) tended to be higher in March in both breeds and those in HF cows were kept at higher (P<0.001) levels than those in JB cows during the study period. Serum levels of biological antioxidant potential (BAP) in both breeds were maintained at almost the same values during study period. The OSI [(d-ROMs/BAP) × 100] values in both breeds showed similar seasonal changes, i. e. increase from December to March and decrease from March to August or September. In addition, the OSI values in HF cows were kept at higher (P<0.01) levels than those in JB cows during the study period. Serum concentrations of α-tocopherol, β-carotene, blood urea nitrogen and total cholesterol showed similar seasonal changes in both breeds, low in the winter and high from spring to summer, which may be attributed to the pasture grass intake. Opposite changes in OSI values and serum concentrations of α-tocopherol and β-carotene indicated that antioxidant vitamin levels could affect oxidative stress status.

Assessing the chronic respiratory health risk associated with inhalation exposure to powdered toner for printing in actual working conditions: a cohort study on occupationally exposed workers over 10 years

Background Little epidemiological evidence exists regarding the chronic respiratory effects of inhaled powdered toner exposure in humans, although several case reports have suggested the existence of lung disorders that might be related to exposure to toner dust. Objective We aimed to estimate the chronic health risk to humans associated with routine toner dust exposure in copier industry workers under current actual work conditions. Design A prospective observational cohort study of occupational population. Methods Changes in chest radiogram, spirometry measurements and serum and urine biomarkers of biomedical responses to extrinsic stress, as well as subjective symptoms were longitudinally observed for up to 10 years in Japanese copier industry workers responsible for the manufacturing, maintenance or recycling of powdered toner or toner-using machines. A total of 694 subjects who did not change their work category during the follow-up and were free from chronic respiratory diseases at the baseline survey provided reliable results on at least three survey occasions during 3 years or more of follow-up. Results Typical fibrosis findings associated with pneumoconiosis was not observed on chest radiograms. No significant differences associated with toner exposure were noted in the frequency of new incidence of either non-specific findings on chest radiogram or serum fibrosis biomarkers (sialylated carbohydrate antigen KL-6 and surfactant protein D). However, the exposed subjects tended to show increases in the frequency of respiratory symptoms and reduced spirometry results during the follow-up compared with the control group, although significant differences were only seen in chronic cough. Conclusions Under the current reasonably controlled work environmental conditions, lung fibrotic changes caused by inhaled dust exposure, including powdered toner, appear to be relatively uncommon; however, non-specific temporal irritation causing subjective symptoms and inflammatory responses might exist.

Histopathological changes in the pancreas of cattle with abdominal fat necrosis

The association between pancreatic disorder and abdominal fat necrosis in cattle remains unclear. The pancreases of 29 slaughtered cattle with or without fat necrosis were collected to investigate pathological changes. Japanese Black (JB) cattle were classified into the FN group (with abdominal fat necrosis; n=9) and N group (without fat necrosis; n=5). The pancreases were also collected from 15 Holstein Friesian (HF) cows. All JB cattle showed high body condition scores. Regarding the pathological findings, fatty pancreas which involves adipocyte infiltration into the pancreas and fat necrosis (saponification) were observed in 25 and 27 cases, respectively. Immunohistochemical staining with anti-Iba-1 antibody showed large numbers of macrophages surrounding the saponified fat in the pancreas. CD3-positive T cells were significantly more common in the pancreas of both the FN and N groups compared with the HF group (P<0.05). Furthermore, fibrosis in the pancreas exhibited a correlative tendency with the formation of necrotic fat mass in the peritoneal cavity (P<0.1). These results indicate that obesity leads to increased severity of pancreatic disorder, including fatty pancreas and pancreatitis. The pathological lesions in the pancreas may play a key role in abdominal fat necrosis through the inflammatory process.

Occupational exposure limits for ethylene glycol monobutyl ether, isoprene, isopropyl acetate and propyleneimine, and classifications on carcinogenicity, occupational sensitizer and reproductive toxicant

The Committee for Recommendation of Occupational Exposure Limits, Japan Society for Occupational Health Kenichi Azuma, Ginji Endo, Yoko Endo, Tetsuhito Fukushima, Kunio Hara, Hajime Hori, Seichi Horie, Hyogo Horiguchi, Masayoshi Ichiba, Gaku Ichihara, Masayuki Ikeda, Tatsuya Ishitake, Akiyoshi Ito, Yuki Ito, Satoko Iwasawa, Michihiro Kamijima, Kanae Karita, Takahiko Katoh, Toshio Kawai, Toshihiro Kawamoto, Reiko Kishi, Shinji Kumagai, Yukinori Kusaka, Akiko Matsumoto, Muneyuki Miyagawa, Hiroyuki Miyauchi, Yasuo Morimoto, Kasuke Nagano, Hisao Naito, Tamie Nakajima, Tetsuo Nomiyama, Hirokazu Okuda, Kazuyuki Omae, Haruhiko Sakurai, Kazuhiro Sato, Tomotaka Sobue, Yasushi Suwazono, Toru Takebayashi, Tatsuya Takeshita, Akito Takeuchi, Ayano Takeuchi, Masatoshi Tanaka, Shigeru Tanaka, Teruomi Tsukahara, Masashi Tsunoda, Susumu Ueno, Jun Ueyama, Yumi Umeda, Yuko Yamano, Takenori Yamauchi and Eiji Yano

Clinical impact of undersized- versus oversized-stenting approaches in ST-elevation myocardial infarction.

BACKGROUND Primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) is the standard treatment in patients with ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI). However, some patients still develop ST re-elevation during PCI, resulting in further myocardial damage and a poor outcome. An undersized-stenting approach may prevent ST re-elevation. We aimed to determine the association between final stent area and ST re-elevation during primary PCI for STEMI. METHODS Overall, 102 consecutive STEMI patients who underwent primary PCI under integrated backscatter intravascular ultrasound guidance were enrolled. The stent-reference (SR) ratio was defined as the stent cross-sectional area (CSA) divided by the average CSA of the 5-mm proximal and distal reference lumens. The patients were divided into two groups according to the SR ratio: undersize group (SR<1.0, n=62) and oversize group (SR≥1.0, n=40). The incidences of ST re-elevation and total ST resolution (STR) were compared. RESULTS The oversize group showed a higher incidence of ST re-elevation (32.5 vs. 9.7%, p=0.004) and a lower total STR (22.4±62.7 vs. 43.4±38.6%, p=0.04). After adjustment, the oversized-stenting approach was independently associated with ST re-elevation [odds ratio: 3.74, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.27-12.1, p=0.02]. The peak creatine kinase-MB level was higher in the oversize group (341±259 vs. 242±208IU/l, p=0.04). The incidences of stent thrombosis and restenosis were similar between the two groups. CONCLUSIONS An oversized-stenting approach in patients with STEMI was associated with a higher incidence of ST re-elevation and a lower total STR, resulting in increased myocardial damage.