Effect of dietary mineral sources and oil content on calcium utilization and kidney calcification in female Fischer rats fed low-protein diets.

We studied the effects of dietary mineral source and oil intake on kidney calcification in 4-wk-old female Fischer rats after consuming the AIN-76 purified diet (AIN-76). A modified AIN-76 mineral mixture was used, although the original calcium (Ca)/phosphorus (P) molar ratio remained unchanged. Rats were fed the modified diets for a period of 40 d before their kidneys were removed on the last day.

Relationship between RBC mercury levels and serum n3 polyunsaturated fatty acid concentrations among Japanese men and women.

Aims: To evaluate potential health risk and benefits of fish consumption, the association of fish consumption with total mercury levels in red blood cells (RBCs) and serum eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) concentrations was examined.

Subjects And Methods: Study subjects were 269 Japanese (98 men and 171 women) living in a remote island of Kagoshima, and their blood was drawn in 1994.

Results: Total mercury levels were related to weekly fish consumption among women (P = 0.

Correlation between bone mineral density and body composition in Japanese females aged 18-40 years with low forearm bone mineral density.

Objectives: To clarify the relationship between bone mineral density (BMD) and body composition in Japanese women aged 18-40 years with low forearm BMD.

Methods: The subjects were Japanese 199 women who had been selected for inclusion in the study based on a low forearm BMD determined at the Annual Women's Health Examination. The subjects' mean (+/- standard deviation) age, body height, body weight, and body mass index (BMI) were 33.

Effect of the protein and oil contents on calcium utilization in the diets of female Fischer rats that were fed by three different feeding methods.

We studied the effects of varying the protein and oil contents in the diet and three different feeding methods on the utilization of dietary calcium (Ca) in female Fischer rats. The experimental diets were based on the AIN-76 diet. Rats were fed one of nine experimental diets containing different levels of protein and oil.

Relationship between health status and psychological distress among the inhabitants in a methylmercury-polluted area in Japan.

This study examined the relationship between health parameters and psychological distress among inhabitants of methylmercury-polluted areas in Japan. The subjects were 133 inhabitants over the age of 40 yr living in two methylmercury-polluted villages. Information on demographic factors, health status, and mental health was obtained using questionnaires, including the General Health Questionnaire (GHQ).

Long-term follow-up study of health status in population living in methylmercury-polluted area.

At present, it is important to follow-up on the health condition of inhabitants living in a methylmercury-polluted area surrounding Minamata City, paying attention to subclinical disorders not only of the central nervous system, which have been concentrically studied for more than 40 years, but also to other health issues as well. We have performed annual follow-up multiple health examinations on about 1,500 persons of ages more than 40 years old in Tsunagi Town near Minamata City each summer from 1984 to 2004. Case-control studies were designed to estimate the role of risk factors for various health issues using geographical differences to compare the verified patients.

[Factors relating to the conditions and characteristics of mental health among the inhabitants in a methylmercury polluted area].

Objectives: Little attention has been paid to mental health of inhabitants of methylmercury-polluted areas. The objective of this study was to examine the factors relating to the conditions and characteristics of mental health of inhabitants residing in a methylmercury-polluted area.

Methods: The eligible subjects of the study were inhabitants over the age of 40 years (n=301) living in two fishing village districts that were polluted by high concentrations of methylmercury.

Correlation between forearm bone mineral density and body composition in Japanese females aged 18-40 years.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to clarify the relationship between forearm bone mineral density (BMD), body mass index (BMI), and body composition focusing on body fat percentage (BF%) in Japanese females 18 to 40 years old.

Methods: Subjects were 2,280 females 18-40 years old. Anthropometric measurements were taken, and a medical history was obtained by questionnaire, including age at the time of the study and age at menarche.

Social factors associated with psychological distress among inhabitants in a methyl-mercury polluted area in rural Japan.

Little attention has been paid to the mental health of inhabitants of methylmercury-polluted areas in Japan. This study examined the relationship between one's experience with Minamata disease (MD) (such as compensation issues) and psychological distress. The subjects were 133 (44.

Differential expression of basement membrane type-IV collagen alpha1, alpha2, alpha5 and alpha6 chains among the histological subtypes of adenoid cystic carcinoma.

Six distinct alpha(IV) chains in the basement membrane (BM) of adenoid cystic carcinoma (ACC) of the salivary gland were immunohistochemically examined by anti-alpha(IV) chain-specific antibodies, and their expressions were compared with the histological subtypes and the expressions of cytokeratin 19 (CK19), cytokeratin 14 (CK14) and alpha-smooth muscle actin (alpha-SMA) and Ki-67. In the BM of normal salivary ducts, alpha1(IV), alpha2(IV), alpha5(IV) and alpha6(IV) chains were continuously stained, but alpha3(IV) and alpha4(IV) chains were negative. In the tubular and cribriform subtypes of ACC, tubules with continuous staining of alpha5(IV) and alpha6(IV) chains showed the biphasic-staining pattern among the expressions of CK19, CK14 and alpha-SMA.

[Health and socio-economic condition of certified Minamata disease patients, 1999].

Objectives: To clarify the needs and to consider establishing a social support system for patients with Minamata disease (MD), or methylmercury poisoning, by investigating their health and socioeconomic conditions.

Methods: The total number of people certified as having MD in May 1999 by the Kumamoto and Kagoshima Prefecture Government Committees on MD was 2265. We sent two questionnaires to 917 individuals who were surviving at that time, which corresponded to 40.

Serial study on the association between body mass index and hypertension in rural Japanese.

The objective of this study was to examine the association between body mass index (BMI) and blood pressure. Two sets of cross-sectional data were obtained from annual health examinations for adults aged 40 years and over (n=1,327 in 1993; n=1,302 in 2000) in Tsunagi area of Kumamoto Prefecture, Japan. BMI was associated with mean blood pressure and with prevalence of hypertension both in 1993 and 2000.

Autonomic nervous functions in fetal type Minamata disease patients: assessment of heart rate variability.

In order to assess the cardiovascular autonomic nervous functions in patients with fetal type Minamata disease (FMD), we investigated blood pressure (BP), and conducted time and frequency domain analysis of heart rate variability (HRV). Subjects were 9 patients in Meisuien recognized as FMD, and 13 healthy age matched control subjects. HRV and BP were assessed after subjects rested in a supine position for 10 minutes.

Association between body composition and body mass index in young Japanese women.

The National Nutrition Survey of Japan indicated a trend toward a decreasing body mass index (BMI; kg/m2) among young Japanese women. Current studies suggest that not-high BMI often does not correlate with not-high body fat percentage. Recently, the classification of BMI in adult Asians was proposed by the International Obesity Task Force.

Skin problems among fiber-glass reinforced plastics factory workers in Japan.

Two surveys, one in winter the other in summer time, examined the skin problems of the entire manual workers (N=148) from 11 small-to-medium sized fiber-glass reinforced plastics (FRP) factories located in Kyushu, Japan. The workers were exposed to unsaturated polyester resin, including styrene and auxiliary agents such as cobalt naphthenate, hardeners such as methyl ethyl ketone peroxides, glass fiber and dust including shortened glass fiber and plastic particles. Eighty-seven workers (58.

Logistic model analysis of neurological findings in Minamata disease and the predicting index.

Objective: To establish a statistical diagnostic method to identify patients with Minamata disease (MD) considering factors of aging and sex, we analyzed the neurological findings in MD patients, inhabitants in a methylmercury polluted (MP) area, and inhabitants in a non-MP area.

Materials And Methods: We compared the neurological findings in MD patients and inhabitants aged more than 40 years in the non-MP area. Based on the different frequencies of the neurological signs in the two groups, we devised the following formula to calculate the predicting index for MD: predicting index = 1/(1+e(-x)) x 100 (The value of x was calculated using the regression coefficients of each neurological finding obtained from logistic analysis.