[Allergy and immunotoxicology in preventive and clinical medicine from theory to practice: Environmental factors in bronchial asthma].

Background: According to the gene-environment interactions concept, the mechanism of health impairment can be explained by genetic factors, environmental factors, or their interaction. Physical and mental health effects resulting from environmental exposure may be classified either as toxicity, immune response, and allergic reaction. Moreover, despite the already established therapeutic approaches to bronchial asthma and decreasing mortality due to bronchial asthma, patients with difficult and severe asthma are increasing in number.

Microplastics in the Asia-Pacific Region in the Plasticene Era: Exposures and Health Risks.

Within the broader Anthropocene Epoch resides the Plasticene Era, where humans are subjected pervasively to nano- and microplastics (NMPs). Human's widespread exposure with NMPs occurs through the air we breathe, water we drink, and food we eat. NMP sources are wide and varied; atmospheric NMPs are largely attributed to fibres from car tyres and synthetic clothing, while particles from food packaging, personal care products, and plastic manufacturing contribute significantly to food and water contamination.

[Allergy and immunotoxicology in preventive and clinical medicine from theory to practice: Occupational allergy and isocyanate-induced asthma].

Genetic and environmental factors and their interactions cause diseases and deteriorate health (Genetic and Environmental Interaction). Exposure to environmental factors plays a major role in the deterioration of health in the workplace.Occupational asthma (OA) is a common disorder in the workplace.

Lead In Food And Its Correlation With Blood Lead Levels Among Pregnant Women Of Sindh, Pakistan.

Background: With increasing control of lead (Pb) in gasoline, food has emerged as an important secondary pathway for Pb exposure globally. This study assessed Pb levels in food duplicates and blood. Furthermore, it assessed the correlation of Pb in food duplicates and blood Pb levels with common food items taken by pregnant women of Sindh, Pakistan.

Concentration of folic acid (FA) in serum of Japanese pregnant women.

Objectives Exposure to inorganic arsenic (iAs) is a world-wide health concern. We reported that Japanese children and pregnant women are exposed to moderate levels of iAs through food. Reducing iAs contamination from foods of high iAs is an important issue unique in Japan.

Exposure Assessment of Cadmium in Female Farmers in Cadmium-Polluted Areas in Northern Japan.

Akita prefecture is located in the northern part of Japan and has many cadmium-polluted areas. We herein performed an exposure assessment of cadmium in 712 and 432 female farmers in two adjacent cadmium-polluted areas (A and B, respectively), who underwent local health examinations from 2001-2004. We measured cadmium concentrations in 100 food items collected from local markets in 2003.

Exploratory analysis of plasma cytokine/chemokine levels in 6-year-old children from a birth cohort study.

This study aimed to reveal a new dimension of allergy profiles in the general population by using machine learning to explore complex relationships among various cytokines/chemokines and allergic diseases (asthma and atopic dermatitis; AD). We examined the symptoms related to asthma and AD and the plasma levels of 72 cytokines/chemokines obtained from a general population of 161 children at 6 years of age who participated in a pilot birth cohort study of the Japan Environment and Children's Study (JECS). The children whose signs and symptoms fulfilled the criteria of AD, which are mostly based on questionnaire including past symptoms, tended to have higher levels of the two chemokine ligands, CCL17 and CCL27, which are used for diagnosis of AD.

Oral exposure to lead for Japanese children and pregnant women, estimated using duplicate food portions and house dust analyses.

Background: Lead is a toxic metal abundant in the environment. Consumption of food contaminated at low levels of lead, especially by small children and pregnant women, raises a health concern.

Methods: Duplicated food portions and drinking water were collected over 3 days from 88 children and 87 pregnant women in Shimotsuke, Tochigi, Japan.

Augmentation of cadmium-induced oxidative cytotoxicity by pioglitazone in renal tubular epithelial cells.

The aim of this study was to examine whether a peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR)-γ agonist could affect cadmium (Cd)-induced cytotoxicity via the increased expression of megalin, one of the uptake pathways, using renal epithelial LLC-PK1 cells. The treatment with 1 µM Cd for 24 h was not cytotoxic; however, when the cells were pretreated with 0.1 µM pioglitazone for 12 h and then exposed to 1 µM Cd for 24 h, significant accumulation of Cd and cytotoxicity were detected, with an increase in megalin mRNA expression.

Hijiki seaweed consumption elevates levels of inorganic arsenic intake in Japanese children and pregnant women.

Although exposure to inorganic arsenic is a health concern, especially in developing foetuses and children, dietary exposure levels among pregnant women and children have not been extensively studied in Japan. To address this shortcoming, we completed a 3-day duplicate diet study for 104 children and 101 pregnant women in two cities, Shimotsuke, Tochigi and Asahikawa, Hokkaido. The levels of intake of total and inorganic arsenic were estimated using the concentrations of total and inorganic arsenic in food and drinking water measured by inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry.

Regional differences in infant 25-Hydroxyvitamin D: Pilot study of the Japan Environment and Children's Study.

Background: In recent years, a resurgence in the number of infants with vitamin D deficiency has been noted. In addition to seasonal differences in exposure to ultraviolet (UV) rays, regional differences in dietary habits and lifestyles may affect susceptibility to vitamin D deficiency. No studies have been conducted, however, on infants in multiple regions of Japan to determine the extent of differences in vitamin D status.

The cardiac glycoside ouabain activates NLRP3 inflammasomes and promotes cardiac inflammation and dysfunction.

Cardiac glycosides such as digoxin are Na+/K+-ATPase inhibitors that are widely used for the treatment of chronic heart failure and cardiac arrhythmias; however, recent epidemiological studies have suggested a relationship between digoxin treatment and increased mortality. We previously showed that nucleotide-binding oligomerization domain-like receptor family pyrin domain-containing 3 (NLRP3) inflammasomes, which regulate caspase-1-dependent interleukin (IL)-1β release, mediate the sterile cardiovascular inflammation. Because the Na+/K+-ATPase is involved in inflammatory responses, we investigated the role of NLRP3 inflammasomes in the pathophysiology of cardiac glycoside-induced cardiac inflammation and dysfunction.

Lead Exposure Assessment among Pregnant Women, Newborns, and Children: Case Study from Karachi, Pakistan.

Lead (Pb) in petrol has been banned in developed countries. Despite the control of Pb in petrol since 2001, high levels were reported in the blood of pregnant women and children in Pakistan. However, the identification of sources of Pb has been elusive due to its pervasiveness.

External lead contamination of women's nails by surma in Pakistan: Is the biomarker reliable?

Adverse health effects of heavy metals are a public health concern, especially lead may cause negative health impacts to human fetal and infantile development. The lead concentrations in Pakistani pregnant women's nails, used as a biomarker, were measured to estimate the lead exposure. Thirteen nail samples out of 84 nails analyzed contained lead higher than the concentration (13.

Heavy metal exposure, in combination with physical activity and aging, is related with oxidative stress in Japanese women from a rural agricultural community.

This study aimed to evaluate the relationships between oxidative stress and heavy metal exposure (lead [Pb] and cadmium [Cd]), as well as co-factors such as physical activity and age, in Japanese women. This study was conducted with female subjects from a rural agricultural community in Japan. Subjects were asked to complete lifestyle-related questionnaires and undergo a group health examination.

Exposure assessment of lead from food and airborne dusts and biomonitoring in pregnant mothers, their fetus and siblings in Karachi, Pakistan and Shimotsuke, Japan.

Aim: Exposure assessment of lead (Pb) and Arsenic (As) from food, water, and house dust intake were assessed among pregnant women, their children and fetuses in Pakistan and Japan, as well as their body burden of the metals in their blood.

Method: Fifty families which included a pregnant woman, a fetus and the 1-3-year-old siblings were recruited in Karachi and Khairpur in Pakistan, and Shimotsuke and Asahikawa in Japan, respectively. Their dietary exposure to Pb and As was measured in 3-day food duplicates and drinking water by ICP-MP.

Relieving pain and distress during venipuncture: Pilot study of the Japan Environment and Children's Study (JECS).

Pain management for needle-related procedures is poor in Japan. In many countries the use of lidocaine/prilocaine cream for the relief of pain associated with venipuncture has been approved. In children, a psychological approach has also been shown to be effective in reducing pain with venipuncture.

A study of the association between urinary aluminum concentration and pre-clinical findings among aluminum-handling and non-handling workers.

Background: Aluminum is considered to be a relatively safe metal for humans. However, there are some reports that aluminum can be toxic to humans and animals. In order to estimate the toxicity of aluminum with respect to humans, we measured the aluminum concentration in urine of aluminum-handling and non-handling workers and investigated the relationships between their urinary aluminum concentrations and pre-clinical findings.

Biomonitoring of mercury, cadmium, and lead exposure in Japanese children: a cross-sectional study.

Objectives: To measure current Hg, Cd, and Pb exposure in Japanese children, and to estimate dietary intakes of foods responsible for high body burden.

Methods: Blood, hair, and urine samples were collected from 9 to 10-year-old 229 children in Asahikawa and measured for Hg, Cd, and Pb in these matrices. Diet history questionnaire was used to estimate intake of marine foods and other food items.

Relationships of gamma-glutamyltransferase and beta 2-microglobulin on high sensitivity C-reactive protein among Japanese elementary school children.

Recent studies reported that gamma-glutamyltransferase (GGT) and beta 2-microglobulin (β2M) are possible markers of cardiovascular disease in adults, however, their roles among children have not been fully elucidated. We have examined the relationships of GGT and β2M on C-reactive protein (CRP) among 326 healthy elementary school children. To investigate the relationships of serum GGT and β2M levels on measuring of CRP, multiple regression analysis and analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) were performed.

Rationale and study design of the Japan environment and children's study (JECS).

Background: There is global concern over significant threats from a wide variety of environmental hazards to which children face. Large-scale and long-term birth cohort studies are needed for better environmental management based on sound science. The primary objective of the Japan Environment and Children's Study (JECS), a nation-wide birth cohort study that started its recruitment in January 2011, is to elucidate environmental factors that affect children's health and development.

Suppression of erythropoietin induction by diethylstilbestrol in rats.

Diethylstilbestrol is an estrogenic endocrine disrupter that has diverse health effects in humans. Bisphenol A is another estrogen-like chemical with possible similar effects to diethylstilbestrol, which has been increasingly used for industry to lead to globally widespread human exposure to it. Hematopoiesis is another of their possible targets, since estrogen suppresses erythropoietin induction to induce anemia.