Effects of work burden, job strain and support on depressive symptoms and burnout among Japanese physicians.

Objectives: Days off, on call, night duty, working hours and job stress can affect physicians' mental health, and support from supervisors and co-workers may have a buffering effect. This study elucidates whether job strain and job factors affect physicians' mental health, and whether support from supervisors and co-workers has a protective effect on their mental health.

Material And Methods: The subjects included 494 physicians.

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.

Job stress and burnout among urban and rural hospital physicians in Japan.

Objective: To elucidate the differences in job stress and burnout status of Japanese hospital physicians between large cities, small cities, and towns and villages.

Design: Cross-sectional study.

Setting: Postal self-administered questionnaires were distributed to 2937 alumni of Asahikawa Medical University.

Matrix metalloproteinase-13 promotes recovery from experimental liver cirrhosis in rats.

Objective: To evaluate the role of matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-13 gene expression in the early phase of recovery from liver fibrosis/cirrhosis.

Methods: Liver fibrosis was induced in male Wistar rats by administration of carbon tetrachloride (CCl(4)) for 10 weeks. Recombinant adenovirus-mediated human MMP-13 gene transfer (RAdMMP-13) was performed via the femoral vein on day 3 after the last CCl(4) injection.

Dampness, food habits, and sick building syndrome symptoms in elementary school pupils.

Objectives: We investigated dampness/mold in schools and dwellings, and food habits and subjective symptoms in elementary school pupils, in order to clarify the effect of dampness and food habits on subjective symptoms in elementary school pupils.

Methods: Questionnaires were used to investigate dampness in classrooms and dwellings in Hokkaido, Japan, and its effect on subjective symptoms in 1,077 pupils in 8 elementary schools. We used a dampness index for both the home and classroom; the index was the sum of the presence of four dampness indicators: (1) visible mold, (2) moldy odor, (3) water leakage, and (4) condensation on windowpanes.

Association between lifestyle habits and bone mineral density in Japanese juveniles.

Objectives: We explored the relationship between bone mineral density (BMD) and lifestyle in juveniles to identify factors leading to higher peak bone mass and prevention of osteoporosis in later life.

Methods: Juveniles (1,364 students: 770 boys and 594 girls, aged 6-18 years) attending school in Hokkaido prefecture, Japan, were asked to complete a brief self-administered diet history questionnaire for 10-year-olds (BDHQ10y) providing information about personal history, lifestyle, and intake of nutritional elements. In addition, BMD and grip strength were measured.

Activation of two distinct MAPK pathways governs constitutive expression of matrix metalloproteinase-1 in human pancreatic cancer cell lines.

Elevated matrix metalloproteinase-1 (MMP-1) expression is known to correlate with poor prognosis of pancreatic cancer. We investigated the molecular mechanisms of constitutive expression of MMP-1 in pancreatic cancer cell lines. Expression of MMP-1 mRNA and protein as well as its enzymatic activity were observed in three pancreatic cancer cell lines.

Glycyrrhizin and its metabolite inhibit Smad3-mediated type I collagen gene transcription and suppress experimental murine liver fibrosis.

Aims: Glycyrrhizin has been widely used for the treatment of chronic hepatitis C. It decreases the serum levels of aminotransferases, and suppresses progression of liver fibrosis as well as subsequent occurrence of hepatocellular carcinoma. Although previous studies have shown that glycyrrhizin and its metabolite inhibit collagen gene expression, its underlying mechanisms are virtually unknown.

A novel role of the NRF2 transcription factor in the regulation of arsenite-mediated keratin 16 gene expression in human keratinocytes.

Background: Inorganic sodium arsenite (iAs) is a ubiquitous environmental contaminant and is associated with an increased risk of skin hyperkeratosis and cancer.

Objectives: We investigated the molecular mechanisms underlying the regulation of the keratin 16 (K16) gene by iAs in the human keratinocyte cell line HaCaT.

Methods: We performed reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction, luciferase assays, Western blots, and electrophoretic mobility shift assays to determine the transcriptional regulation of the K16 gene by iAs.

Comparative study of simple semiquantitative dust mite allergen tests.

Objective: Two simple, commercially available and semiquantitative dust mite allergen tests, namely, the Acarex test(®) and Mitey Checker(®), were compared using 2 and 10 μg of Der 1 allergen per gram of dust, as evaluated by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), to clarify which method is better suited for practical use.

Methods: Mite allergen exposure levels of 106 floor, bed and sofa surfaces were evaluated by the Acarex test(®), Mitey Checker(®), and ELISA. A template of 100 cm×100cm was placed on the same surfaces to identify the examined areas.

c-Jun NH2-terminal kinase pathway is involved in constitutive matrix metalloproteinase-1 expression in a hepatocellular carcinoma-derived cell line.

Transcription factor c-Jun serves for cellular proliferation, survival, differentiation and transformation and is recognized as an important factor in cancer development, including hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). The purpose of present study is to determine the involvement of c-Jun in matrix metalloproteinase-1 (MMP-1) expression, which is previously reported by us to be expressed only in the early stage of human HCC showing stromal invasion. Of 5 human HCC cell lines examined, only HLE cells revealed mRNA and protein expression as well as enzymatic activity of MMP-1.

Aldehyde dehydrogenase 2 and beta3-adrenergic receptor gene polymorphisms: their association with elevated liver enzymes and metabolic syndrome.

Recent studies indicate that some patients with nonalcoholic fatty liver have ongoing liver injury that may progress from steatosis to steatohepatitis or fibrosis. The present study was designed to clarify the clinical features of liver dysfunction observed in the course of workplace physical check-ups in relation to multiple risk factor syndrome including obesity, hyperlipidemia, hypertension, and impaired glucose tolerance, and to clarify the involvement of aldehyde dehydrogenase 2 (ALDH2) and beta(3)-adrenergic receptor (beta3-AR) gene polymorphisms in elevation of liver enzymes. One hundred forty-eight male workers 35 years of age were enrolled.

Effect of ethanol and docosahexaenoic acid on nerve growth factor-induced neurite formation and neuron specific growth-associated protein gene expression in PC12 cells.

It is known that prenatal and postnatal exposure to ethanol can result in hyperactive behavior and learning disturbance in offspring. We have previously shown that docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) ameliorated hyperactivity induced by in utero ethanol exposure in rat pups. The present study is designed to clarify the effects of DHA on neurite outgrowth and gene expression of GAP-43 and SCG10, neuron specific growth-associated proteins (GAPs) in PC12 cells treated with ethanol.