Association of maternal smoking during pregnancy and infant neurobehavioral status.

The association of maternal smoking during pregnancy with neurobehavioral status was examined in 344 Japanese infants. Based on a questionnaire, their mothers were classified into three groups, Nonsmokers, Exsmokers, and Smokers. The Neonatal Behavioral Assessment Scale was administered three days after birth.

[Acute pancreatitis during the treatment of relapsed acute promyelocytic leukemia with As2O3].

A 77-year-old man suffered from acute pancreatitis during the treatment of relapsed acute promyelocytic leukemia with As2O3. He presented with epigastralgia on day 25 during the treatment with As2O3. Pancreatic enzyme levels were elevated and the computed tomography scan of the abdomen showed swelling of the pancreas.

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.

The Tohoku Study of Child Development: A cohort study of effects of perinatal exposures to methylmercury and environmentally persistent organic pollutants on neurobehavioral development in Japanese children.

Several birth cohort studies have shown adverse effects of perinatal exposures to methylmercury (MeHg) and environmentally persistent organic pollutants (POPs). These chemicals are ingested mainly through fish consumption, but little is known about the hazardous effects in Japanese, whose fish consumption is high. The present study, the Tohoku Study of Child Development, was designed to examine the effects of perinatal exposures to MeHg, polychlorinated biphenyls (PCB), dioxins, pesticides, and other chemicals in Japanese children.

Estimation of daily mercury intake from seafood in Japanese women: Akita cross-sectional study.

We estimated daily mercury intakes from seafood in 154 mothers residing in several cities and towns in Akita, Japan, to address the relationships between the reference dose (RfD of 0.1 microg/kg body weight per day, derived by US EPA) and daily mercury intakes, combined with hair mercury levels. The frequency and volume of seafood ingested by them were examined using a food frequency questionnaire (FFQ) with 25 kinds of full-scale pictures including fish and shellfish items.

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.

Estimation of isoelectric points of human plasma proteins employing capillary isoelectric focusing and peptide isoelectric point markers.

Synthetic UV-detectable peptide pI markers were used to estimate isoelectric point (pI) values of proteins separated by capillary isoelectric focusing (CIEF) followed by cathodic mobilization in the absence of denaturing agents. The pI calculation and quantitative analysis of purified proteins showed the feasibility of these peptides as pI markers and internal standards in CIEF separation of proteins. Estimation of pI values of major proteins in human plasma was performed using the peptide pI markers, and the values were compared with those previously obtained by gel isoelectric focusing (IEF).