Clinical Characteristics of Steatotic Liver Disease Categories in a Large Cohort of Japanese Health Checkup Participants.

Background And Aims: The clinical characteristics and risk factors involved in the development of liver fibrosis in the subtypes of steatotic liver disease (SLD) remain unknown. We examined the clinical characteristics of SLD subtypes using a large Japanese cohort.

Methods: We performed a cross-sectional analysis (total n = 108,446).

Identification of atmospheric ozone generated from seismic activity during the occurrence of multiple earthquakes across Japan in 2022.

Ground-level atmospheric ozone (tropospheric ozone) is a well-known indicator of photochemical air pollution. Atmospheric ozone may also be an indicator of earthquake generation. Ground-level observations of atmospheric ozone at multiple sites were conducted in this study at the time of multiple earthquake occurrences in Japan in 2022.

Prevalence and associated metabolic factors of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease in the general population from 2014 to 2018 in Japan: A large-scale multicenter retrospective study.

Aim: The prevalence of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is increasing worldwide. The aim of this study was to determine the recent prevalence and clinical characteristics of NAFLD in Japan.

Methods: This study initially included 410 061 retrospectively enrolled adults from the medical health checkup registry for metabolic syndrome, chronic kidney disease, and fatty liver in Japan (MIRACLE-J; UMIN-CTR no.

Distribution and phylogeny of mercury methylation, demethylation, and reduction genes in the Seto Inland Sea of Japan.

Mercury (Hg) adversely affects human and environmental health. To evaluate the mercury (Hg) speciation (methylation, demethylation, and reduction) of microorganisms in coastal seawater, we analyzed the microbial functional gene sets involved in Hg methylation (hgcA and hgcB), demethylation (merB), and reduction (merA) using a metagenomic approach in the eastern and western parts (the Kii and Bungo channels, respectively) of the Seto Inland Sea (SIS) of Japan. We determined the concentration of dissolved total mercury (dTHg) and methylated mercury (dMeHg) in seawater.

Contamination, dynamics, and health risk assessment of pesticides in seawater and marine samples from the Seto Inland Sea, Japan.

We assessed the contamination, dynamics, and health risks of the pesticides cyanazine, simetryn, fenarimol, isoprothiolane, diazinon, irgarol, fenitrothion, and diuron in marine samples (seawater, sediments, plankton, fish, and other edible organisms) at various locations in the Seto Inland Sea in Japan in 2016 and 2017. Pesticide concentrations were highest at sampling sites close to the coastline, and mean concentrations in seawater were slightly higher in surface water than in bottom water. All eight pesticides were detected in plankton.

Dynamics and Mass Balance of Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons in and Around the Seto Inland Sea, Japan.

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) were analyzed to elucidate the distribution, ecological risk, pathways, and fluxes of these pollutants in and around the Seto Inland Sea, an industrialized coastal region of Japan. High molecular weight PAHs (5-6 rings) were primarily found in regions close to the bay estuaries, and their proportions decreased at distances further from the estuaries (offshore areas), where low molecular weight PAHs (2-4 rings) were more ubiquitous. Screening-level risk assessments revealed that the PAHs found in the sediments should have no adverse effects on benthic communities.

Optical properties of dissolved organic matter in Japanese rivers and contributions to photoformation of reactive oxygen species.

The optical properties of dissolved organic matter (DOM) from five rivers (Kokubu, Kurose, Ohta, Yamato, and Yodo) in Japan were investigated and contributions of DOM to photoformation of three reactive oxygen species (ROS) (hydroxyl radicals (OH), nitric oxide radicals (NO), and singlet oxygen (O)) were assessed. The lowest and highest mean dissolved organic carbon concentrations were for the Ohta River (0.95 (mg C) L) and Yamato River (2.

Ecotoxicological and human health risk assessment of selected pesticides in Kurose River, Higashi-Hiroshima City (Japan).

This study conducted an integrated approach combining monitoring and risk assessment of pesticides in Kurose River and its catchment area, Japan. Water samples (n = 168) were collected every month for 1 year (March 2016 to February 2017). Pesticides (cyanazine, simetryn, fenarimol, isoprothiolane, and diazinon) were extracted by Sep-Pack C18 cartridges and analyzed using a reversed-phase HPLC-UV system.

Rotor Syndrome: Glucuronidated Bile Acidemia From Defective Reuptake by Hepatocytes.

Organic anion transporting polypeptide (OATP) 1B1 (gene, solute carrier organic anion transporter family member 1B1 []) and OATP1B3 () serve as transporters for hepatic uptake of important endogenous substances and several commonly prescribed drugs. Inactivation of both proteins together causes Rotor syndrome. How this OATP1B1/1B3 defect disturbs bile acid (BA) metabolism is largely unknown.

Photochemically generated nitric oxide in seawater: The peroxynitrite sink and its implications for daytime air quality.

In this study, we experimentally investigated the magnitude of the peroxynitrite sink: a radical-radical consumption mechanism for photochemically generated nitric oxide (NO) in surface seawater that describes NO reactions with co-generated superoxide (O) to yield peroxynitrite (ONOO). Measurements of photochemically generated NO, O and ONOO were conducted on seawater samples obtained from the Seto Inland Sea, Japan. Nitrite, dissolved organic carbon, chromophoric dissolved organic matter and pH were also measured in the same samples using standard analytical methods.

A fluorescence method for the determination of photochemically generated peroxynitrite in seawater.

Peroxynitrite (ONOO) is a reactive species which can degrade several classes of organic compounds via both oxidation and nitration reactions. Despite the fact that the photochemical precursors; superoxide (O·) and nitric oxide (NO·) radicals, have been measured in seawater under simulated solar radiation, there is no published report on actual measurements of photoformed peroxynitrite in seawater. Hence, this attempt was made to develop a fluorescence method by using coumarin boronic acid (CBA) as a chemical probe.

Heavy metals in urban dusts from Alexandria and Kafr El-Sheikh, Egypt: implications for human health.

A total of 23 road-dust and 9 house-dust samples were collected from Alexandria and Kafr El-Sheikh cities, Egypt in 2016 to investigate heavy metal (Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, Mn, Ni, Pb, and Zn) contamination, spatial distribution, sources, and health risks. The mean concentrations (mg kg) of Cd (road-dust (RD) = 0.33, house-dust (HD) = 0.

A simple, inexpensive method for gas-phase singlet oxygen generation from sensitizer-impregnated filters: Potential application to bacteria/virus inactivation and pollutant degradation.

Airborne infectious diseases such as the new Coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19) pose serious threat to human health. Indoor air pollution is a problem of global environmental concern as well. Singlet oxygen (O) is a reactive oxygen species that plays important role in bacteria/virus inactivation and pollutant degradation.

Heterogeneity and potential aquatic toxicity of hydrogen peroxide concentrations in selected rivers across Japan.

Hydrogen peroxide (HO) is a reactive oxygen species formed in natural water. It is reportedly toxic to aquatic organisms with a predicted no-effect concentration (PNEC) of about 380 nM. In this study, a countrywide investigation of HO concentrations in selected rivers across Japan was conducted to identify rivers that pose toxicity concerns.

Singlet Oxygen Photogeneration in Coastal Seawater: Prospect of Large-Scale Modeling in Seawater Surface and Its Environmental Significance.

Chromophoric-dissolved organic matter (CDOM) acts as the precursor to singlet oxygen (O) in natural waters, while water acts as the main scavenger. In this study, we showed that O in coastal seawater can be successfully predicted from CDOM parameters. The O steady-state concentration [O] and photoformation rate (O) varied by a factor of 6 across 13 sampling stations in the Seto Inland Sea, Japan, ranging from 1.

Carbaryl residue concentrations, degradation, and major sinks in the Seto Inland Sea, Japan.

The fate of carbaryl in the Seto Inland Sea (west Japan) was predicted using a mass distribution model using carbaryl concentrations in river and sea water samples, degradation data, and published data. The predicted carbaryl concentrations in water in Kurose River and the Seto Inland Sea were 4.320 and 0.

Factors controlling the degradation of hydrogen peroxide in river water, and the role of riverbed sand.

Diurnal changes of HO in river water during mid-summer were investigated. HO in river water increased with the increase in intensity of solar radiation in the morning, and reached a maximum at 14:00, although solar radiation reached a maximum around 12:00. In the afternoon, a gradual decrease in HO was observed, and HO reached a minimum just before sunrise.

Photoformation of reactive oxygen species and their potential to degrade highly toxic carbaryl and methomyl in river water.

Reactive oxygen species (ROS) including singlet oxygen (O) and hydroxylradicals (OH) photogenerated in natural waters play important roles in indirect photolysis of man-made pollutants. This study was conducted to investigate how the generation of these two ROS influences the degradation of two highly toxic insecticides (methomyl and carbaryl) in river water. To accomplish this, the reaction rate constants of O and OH with carbaryl and methomyl were determined; the degradation rate constants of the tested insecticides in ultrapure water (direct photolysis) and in river water in the presence and absence of O and OH scavengers were also measured.

Kinetics of photocatalytic removal of imidacloprid from water by advanced oxidation processes with respect to nanotechnology.

In this study, the kinetics of photocatalytic removal of imidacloprid, a systemic chloronicotinoid insecticide, from water using two advanced oxidation systems (ZnO(normal)/HO/artificial sunlight and ZnO(nano)/HO/artificial sunlight) were investigated. Moreover, the effects of pH, insecticide concentration, catalyst concentration, catalyst particle size, and water type on the photocatalytic removal of imidacloprid were evaluated. Furthermore, total mineralization of imidacloprid under these advanced oxidation systems was evaluated by monitoring the decreases in dissolved organic carbon (DOC) concentrations and formation rate of inorganic ions (Cl and NO ) with irradiation time using total organic carbon (TOC) analysis and ion chromatography to confirm the complete detoxification of imidacloprid in water.

Temporal trends in organophosphorus pesticides use and concentrations in river water in Japan, and risk assessment.

We reviewed organophosphorus pesticide use in Japan between 1982 and 2016 using data from the National Institute of Environmental Studies. Organophosphorus pesticide concentrations in river water throughout Japan were taken from the literature, and risk assessments were performed for some organophosphorus pesticides based on risk quotients and hazard quotients. Assessments were performed for 20 common pesticides, including insecticides, fungicides, and herbicides.

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in urban road dust, Afghanistan: Implications for human health.

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) were analyzed in road and aerial dust to assess their concentration, composition profile, distribution, emission sources, and potential human health risks. Sixteen priority PAHs and Benzo [e]pyrene (BeP) were analyzed in 13 aerial dust samples from Jalalabad, and 78 road dust samples from Kabul and Jalalabad cities, Afghanistan. The mean concentration of ∑17PAHs in road dust from Kabul and Jalalabad were 427  μg kg and 288  μg kg, respectively whereas ∑17PAHs in aerial dust from Jalalabad averaged 200  μg kg.

Spatio-temporal variations of selected pesticide residues in the Kurose River in Higashi-Hiroshima city, Japan.

This study investigated spatio-temporal variations of selected pesticide residues in the Kurose River in Higashi-Hiroshima city (Hiroshima Prefecture), Japan. Water samples were collected from the river at seven sites every month for 1 year (March 2016 to February 2017). Pesticide residues were extracted from the samples by a solid phase extraction using Sep Pack C cartridges.

Nanomolar Determination of Hydrogen Peroxide in Coastal Seawater Based on the Fenton Reaction with Terephthalate.

A non-enzymatic fluorescence method for the determination of hydrogen peroxide (HO) was investigated. This method is based on the hydroxylation reaction of terephthalate (TP) by hydroxyl radical formed from reaction between HO and Fe(II), resulting in the formation of a strongly fluorescent 2-hydroxyterephthalate (HTP). Under optimized conditions, a 3 nM detection limit and 1.