Levels of Toxic and Essential Elements and Associated Factors in the Hair of Japanese Young Children.

There is growing concern regarding the effects of toxic element exposure on the development of children. However, little is known about the level of toxic elements exposure in Japanese children. The purpose of this study was to assess the concentrations of multiple elements (aluminum, cadmium, lead, calcium, copper, iron, magnesium, sodium, zinc) in the hair of 118 Japanese young children and to explore the factors associated with their element levels.

Children's Hair Mercury Concentrations and Seafood Consumption in Five Regions of Japan.

Exposure to methylmercury (MeHg) during the foetal and postnatal periods is known to have adverse effects on children's development. However, little attention has been paid to MeHg exposure during early childhood in Japan. To examine the regional differences in MeHg exposure and seafood consumption and the association between MeHg exposure and seafood consumption and dental metal restorations, we measured the total mercury (T-Hg) concentration in hair as an MeHg exposure index, and using questionnaires, we measured the frequency and amount of seafood consumption and the presence of dental metal restorations in 118 children aged 3-6 years in five regions of Japan.

Regional cerebral blood flow changes associated with emotions in children.

Combining a wireless telemetry system and a portable near-infrared instrument, we developed a movable optical spectroscopy system for monitoring cerebral hemodynamic changes. The patient carries a miniaturized near-infrared spectroscopy instrument on the back, and data are sent by a wireless telemetry system to a computer, without restricting patient movement. We used this system to detect hemodynamic changes associated with being startled, anticipation, and pleasant and unpleasant emotions in the bilateral prefrontal cortices of 16 right-handed 4- to 6-year-old preschool children while they were watching a 21-minute video clip consisting of various scenes that elicited emotional responses, interpolated with neutral scenes for comparison.