1.Effects of Heavy Metals on Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase Pathways
Masato MATSUOKA ; Hideki IGISU
Environmental Health and Preventive Medicine 2001;6(4):210-217
The signaling pathways leading to cellular protection or cell death following exposure to heavy metals have not been fully clarified. Mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs), i.e., extracellular signal-regulated protein kinase (ERK), c-Jun NH2-terminal kinase (JNK) and p38 MAPK transmit extracellular signals into the nucleus, and have been shown to participate in a diverse array of cellular functions such as cell growth, differentiation and apoptosis. Treatment with cadmium, inorganic mercury or tributyltin can activate ERK, JNK and p38 MAPK, and induces the expression of c-fos and c-jun genes prior to the development of apoptosis. However, the members of the MAPK family appear to be differentially activated depending on the heavy metal and the cell type exposed. Consequently, various cellular responses may be caused by the distinct pattern of MAPKs activation. MAPKs may be one of the important cellular signal transduction pathways affected by various environmental pollutants, including heavy metals.
Metals, Heavy
;
Cellular biology
;
Protein Kinases
;
activate
;
Lower case sea
2.A Survey of Hospital and Community Pharmacists’ Knowledge and Awareness Regarding Clinical Trials
Katsuko Okazawa ; Masato Wakabayashi ; Yoshiki Matsuoka ; Shinichi Sasaki ; Hiroki Mizukoshi ; Emiko Takehara
Japanese Journal of Drug Informatics 2013;15(2):83-89
Objective: The present study investigated awareness and knowledge about clinical trials among pharmacists working in the Nagano Hokushin area as well as their contribution to the enlightenment of clinical trial.
Methods: A questionnaire survey of clinical trials was conducted to evaluate levels of interest, impressions, sources of information, and knowledge among hospital and community pharmacists.
Results: We received responses from 77 hospital and 67 community pharmacists. The levels of interest in clinical trials were not significantly different between hospital and community pharmacists. About impressions, hospital pharmacists thought that clinical trials were “a new development.” Contrarily, community pharmacists thought that clinical trials were “a field that they were seldom concerned with.” About sources of information, hospital pharmacists found that “study meetings” were the most informative. More community pharmacists than hospital pharmacists chose “general reports, for example, newspapers and televisions” as a source of information, and similarly more community pharmacists indicated that they had “few opportunities for obtaining information about clinical trials.” About knowledge, the percentage of correct answers about clinical trials between hospital and community pharmacists was not significantly different. A higher percentage of community pharmacists than hospital pharmacists answered unknown.
Conclusion: Hospital and community pharmacists had different impressions and knowledge about clinical trials probably because of differences in sources of information and its access. Henceforth, study meetings involving educational material about clinical trials should be held for discussing fundamental knowledge about the methods and structure of clinical trials and for discussing case studies wherein patients consult pharmacists about clinical trials.
3.A Study of Health Problems and Different Types of Agricultural Production
Takeshi Sugaya ; Shigeki Hayashi ; Masato Hayashi ; Tomio Matsuoka ; Shunji Okubo ; Akira Kotanagi
Journal of the Japanese Association of Rural Medicine 1983;32(2):65-71
A study was made to elucidate growing health problems confronting women in rural communities today amidst drastic changes in agriculture.
From the standpoint of production structure, the area covered by our survey was divided into single-crop (paddy-rice), paddy-rice and fruits (apple), paddy-rice and water melon, and fishing village districts. In each of these districts, we conducted a survey by the use of a questionnaire and a health examination.
1, About 45 to 70 % of women engaged in farming complained that they could not take enough time to sleep. Especially in the paddy-rice and water melon producing district, the percentage was high.
2. Female farmers who complained of pains in the legs and the lower part of the back accounted for 40-60 % of the total. The rates were high in the rice producing district, and the paddy-rice and water melon producing district. This is probably due to the nature of farm work. However, the cause of the complaints was not always clear in the paddy-rice district.
3. Depending on the working postures (work on the stepladden in the orchard, work on hillsides, work in the supine position, etc.), the ailing region they complained about differed.
4. Those women who take care of supplementary work when machines are employed said that they feel they are subordinate to mechnization.
5. When pesticides are used, 10-20 % of the subjects showed toxic symptoms. In the paddy-rice and apple growing district, high ratios were recorded.
6. Of the total, 52.7 % were found negative in the mass health screening. The rate was the highest in the paddy-rice and water melon producing district.
7. The obesity rate rose in proportion to the rise in age.
8. The incidence of hypertension (WHO criteria) was the lowest in the fishing community, followed by the paddy-rice and apple district, and the rice producing district in that order.
9. As regards the hemoglobin level, those who showed less than 12.0 g/dl accounted for 11 to 32%. The level was lowest in the paddy-rice and apple producing district, followed by the paddy-rice district and the fishing village. There were few who need medical treatment immediately.
10. Abnormality of liver function was found among some 5 % of the examined. Serum cholesterol levels were lower in the paddy-rice district than in the other districts.
4.Primary health care in a rural district, Akita prefecture.
Takeshi SUGAYA ; Masato HAYAHI ; Shunji OKUBO ; Kimio SAITO ; Kenichi HOSOYA ; Tomio MATSUOKA ; Akira KOTANAGI ; Takashi SATO ; Kenkichi TAKISAWA ; Seiko ISHINARI
Journal of the Japanese Association of Rural Medicine 1987;36(2):79-84
Investigation was made into the health care conditions in a rural district in Akita Prefecture. Topographically, the district is divided into two parts-one characterized by mountain and the other by flat terrain.
1. In remote, depopulated villages, per capita cost of public health is on the increase.
2. The number of health personell, particularly public health nurses, is not enough to carry on various health programs.
3. With the prospect of greater numbers of the aged in society, there is an urgent need for increased medical services along with the consolidation of primary health care. In order to meet the need, it is necessary to establish a regional community health system comprised of a hospital as a nucleus and neighborhood medical instituions such as clinics and health centers.
5.Studies on Low Back Pain Caused by Agricultural Work in Flat Villages of South District in Akita Prefecture and by Work of Fisherman in a Fishing Village in Iwate Prefecture
Takeshi Sugaya ; Shigeki Hayashi ; Masato Hayashi ; Tomio Matsuoka ; Atsuro Yoshizumi ; Shinji Okubo ; Hiroshi Kitahara ; Kazuhiro Watanabe ; Yukio Ito ; Akira Kotanagi
Journal of the Japanese Association of Rural Medicine 1983;32(4):817-826
As regards to low back pain of agricultural worker, there are many problems still as to a syndrom of “Nofusho” in rural medicine, a disease in ocupational medicine and clinic of orthopedic.
Agricultural worker who complained of low back pain varies with their country and farm products, and it tend to increase with adding to their age. Further, the female rate of low back pain showed slightly high tendency than the made rate, 8.5-12.5 % of male, 6.5-13.4 % of female always complained of low back pain.
According to the findings of roentogenographic examination of back bone, the deformed vertebrae was found clearly, especially, low back pain caused by a trauma of soft tissue and iscogenic pain showed in farmers. Therefor, it is necessary to be improved working posture and condition.
In comparrison with non-farmer, it is located in order of truck drivers. bus drivers and repairmen.
6.Health problems of women in mixed-farm households.
Takeshi SUGAYA ; Masato HAYASHI ; Shunji OKUBO ; Kimio SAITO ; Tomio MATSUOKA ; Shunichi OKABE ; Kazuhiro WATABE ; Shiro SASAKI ; Akira KOTANAGI ; Takashi SATO ; Seiko ISHINARI
Journal of the Japanese Association of Rural Medicine 1985;34(2):129-133
Investigations were made into the actual working and living conditions of adults, both men and women, in the families engaged in mixed farming.
The working conditions were analyzed according to the types of crops farmers are growing. The work study was necessary to probe into the causes of farmers' health disturbances.
A questionnaire revealed that farmers are short of sleep during the busiest season. Especially housewives are forced to cut down on their sleeping hours.
It also found that some farmers spray pesticides in quantity and expose themselves to the potentially health injurious chemicals with alarming frequency.
There was evidence to show that some ailments, notably low back pain, had been reduced due to imporovements on farmwork and working environment.
Health checkups showed that the incidences of hypercholesterolemia and obesity remain high. There was imbalance between carolic intake and consumption.
7.Effects of heavy metals on mitogen-activated protein kinase pathways.
Masato MATSUOKA ; Hideki IGISU
Environmental Health and Preventive Medicine 2002;6(4):210-217
The signaling pathways leading to cellular protection or cell death following exposure to heavy metals have not been fully clarified. Mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs), i.e., extracellular signal-regulated protein kinase (ERK), c-Jun NH(2)-terminal kinase (JNK) and p38 MAPK transmit extracellular signals into the nucleus, and have been shown to participate in a diverse array of cellular functions such as cell growth, differentiation and apoptosis. Treatment with cadmium, inorganic mercury or tributyltin can activate ERK, JNK and p38 MAPK, and induces the expression of c-fos and c-jun genes prior to the development of apoptosis. However, the members of the MAPK family appear to be differentially activated depending on the heavy metal and the cell type exposed. Consequently, various cellular responses may be caused by the distinct pattern of MAPKs activation. MAPKs may be one of the important cellular signal transduction pathways affected by various environmental pollutants, including heavy metals.
8.Incidence rates for hospitalized infections, herpes zoster, and malignancies in patients with ulcerative colitis in Japan: an administrative health claims database analysis
Katsuyoshi MATSUOKA ; Kanae TOGO ; Noritoshi YOSHII ; Masato HOSHI ; Shoko ARAI
Intestinal Research 2023;21(1):88-99
Background/Aims:
Patients with ulcerative colitis (UC) are at an increased risk of certain infections and malignancies compared with the general population. Incidence rates (IRs) of hospitalized infections, herpes zoster (HZ), and malignancies in patients with UC, stratified by treatment, in Japan were estimated.
Methods:
This retrospective study identified patients with UC treated with corticosteroids, immunosuppressants, or tumor necrosis factor inhibitors (TNFi) from 2 administrative databases (Japan Medical Data Center [JMDC] and Medical Data Vision [MDV]). IRs (unique patients with events per 100 patient‐years) were estimated for hospitalized infections, HZ, and malignancies, between June 2010 and May 2018.
Results:
Among 6,033 MDV patients with UC receiving corticosteroids, immunosuppressants, or TNFi, IRs (95% confidence intervals) were: hospitalized infections, 1.73 (1.52–1.93); HZ, 1.00 (0.85–1.16), and malignancies, 1.48 (1.29–1.66). Among 958 JMDC patients with UC receiving corticosteroids, immunosuppressants, or TNFi, IRs (95% confidence intervals) were: HZ, 1.82 (1.27–2.37) and malignancies, 1.35 (0.87–1.82). In both cohorts, IRs of malignancies were generally similar among patients receiving immunosuppressants, TNFi, or combination therapy (immunosuppressants and TNFi); this was also true for IRs of hospitalized infections and HZ in the MDV cohort. IRs of hospitalized infections, HZ, and malignancies were higher in patients receiving calcineurin inhibitors compared with immunosuppressants or TNFi, in both cohorts.
Conclusions
IRs of hospitalized infections, HZ, and malignancies among patients with UC were generally similar regardless of UC treatment, except for calcineurin inhibitors.
9.Influence of Water Properties on the Contents of Aconitine-Type Diester Alkaloids in the Decoctions of Unprocessed Aconite Root
Tsukasa FUEKI ; Masato YOSHIDA ; Koichiro TANAKA ; Koki CHIBA ; Tadanori KATO ; Takao NAMIKI ; Chikano SHIBAYAMA ; Kousuke FUJITA ; Takao SUNAGA ; Takanori MATSUOKA ; Masashi BEPPU ; Toshiaki MAKINO
Kampo Medicine 2018;69(4):336-345
The decoctions of unprocessed aconite root (uzu) were prepared with the tap water samples collected in Tianjin and Shanghai in China, and the contents of alkaloids in the decoctions were compared to those prepared with purified water or with tap water collected in Niigata, Japan. The contents of aconitine-type diester alkaloids (ADA) in the decoctions prepared with tap water collected in China were significantly lower than those with purified water or tap water in Niigata. It was speculated that this difference appeared by buffering effect of bicarbonic anion in tap water in China to decline pH of the decoction. When uzu was decocted with glycyrrhiza, ginger, or jujube, the contents of ADA in the decoctions exhibited the tendency to have higher levels than those prepared using unprocessed aconite root singly, and also this tendency was observed more remarkably when the decoctions were prepared with tap water collected in China. It was suggested that even the decocting period was fixed, unexpected change of the contents of ADAs might be induced by the differences in the properties of water used for decoction or the crude drugs decocted with aconite root. The physicians in the era when “Songban Shanghanlun” had established may have adjusted the contents of ADA in the decoction by carefully choosing the crude drugs combined to aconite root.