Dissolution of functional materials and rare earth oxides into pseudo alveolar fluid.

The dissolution rates of rare earth oxides and two types of rare earth containing functional materials into water, saline solution, and Gamble's fluid were measured in order to evaluate the biological effects of rare earth-containing functional materials. The tested materials were yttrium, lanthanum, cerium and neodymium oxides, and neodymium-boron-iron magnet alloy (NdBFe) and lanthanum-mish-metal-nickel-cobalt (LmNiCo) hydrogen-containing alloy. The dissolution rates of the rare earth oxides were very low, resulting in concentrations of rare earth elements in the test solutions of the order of ppb.

Relationship between blood lead level and work related factors using the NIIH questionnaire system.

Over an 11-yr period (1990-2000), a questionnaire survey on work environmental management and environmental improvement was conducted on 259 lead-handling factories and 7,623 subjects. Labour Inspection Offices identified these factories as requiring environmental improvement, or possessing a desire to improve their working environment. We analyzed factors affecting blood lead levels (PbBs).

Characterization of an immortalized hepatic stellate cell line established from metallothionein-null mice.

Hepatic stellate (HS) cells were isolated from the livers of metallothionein (MT)-null and control mice and used to establish IMS/MT(-) and IMS/N cell lines, respectively, using SV40 virus transformation. Cellular morphology, incorporation of vitamin A and expression of alpha-SMA, desmin and SV40 T-antigen were used to confirm that both cell lines were immortal HS cells. The growth rates of both cell lines were similar and there was little difference between cell line sensitivity to zinc.

Effects of perinatal exposure to bisphenol A on brain neurotransmitters in female rat offspring.

Pregnant Sprague-Dawley (CD IGS) rats were orally administered doses of bisphenol A (BPA) at 4, 40, and 400 mg/kg, from gestation days 6 to postnatal day 20. Neurotransmitters such as dopamine (DA) and serotonin (5HT) were extracted from the brains of dams and female offspring, and measured using liquid chromatography. BPA at 400 mg/kg was toxic and dosed rats died.

Sensory nerve conduction velocities of median, ulnar and radial nerves in patients with vibration syndrome.

Objective: The present study aimed to clarify the range of involvement for hand-arm vibration syndrome (VS) in the median, ulnar and radial nerves of the hand.

Methods: Sensory nerve conduction velocities (SCVs) for 3 nerves in the hands and arms were examined for 34 patients with VS and 23 age-matched controls. Neuropathy types were classified by possible carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS), Guyon's syndrome and digital neuropathy in three nerves.

Epidemiology of needlestick and sharps injuries among nurses in a Japanese teaching hospital.

The epidemiology of needlestick and sharps injuries (NSIs) was investigated among a complete cross-section of 1,162 nurses from a large hospital in southern Japan (response rate 74.0%). Forty-six percent had experienced an NSI in the previous year.

Hand dermatitis risk factors among clinical nurses in Japan.

The purpose of this study was to establish hand dermatitis (HD) risk factors among Japanese nurses. A questionnaire was administered to 1,162 clinical nurses, from whom 860 replies were received (response rate of 74.0%).

[Japanese administrative control level of respirable dust and determination of crystalline silica in dust].

In Japan, there are two commonly used regulations on respirable dust concentration: the Occupational Exposure Limit (OEL), recommended by the Japan Society for Occupational Health, and the Administrative Control Level (ACL). Both depend on the crystalline silica content in dust. Until 2004, the ACL for respirable dust conformed to the OEL.

[Relationship between length of sleep and oxidative stress marker, urinary 8-hydroxy-2'-deoxyguanosine].

Objectives: In this study, we aim to examine whether the length of sleep modifies the level of urinary 8-hydroxy-2'-deoxyguanosine (8-OH-dG).

Methods: Subjects were 146 workers who were engaged in management, clerical work, laboratory work, or business at a certain company. We obtained information on the subjects concerning gender, body mass index, drinking and smoking habits, and the lengths of habitual and previous night sleep among others using self-reported questionnaires, which were then confirmed by interview.

Impact of psychosocial job stress on non-fatal occupational injuries in small and medium-sized manufacturing enterprises.

Background: Workers involved in manufacturing are known to comprise a high-risk population for occupational injury, and this risk is greater in small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). The purpose of this study was to examine the association between psychosocial job stress and occupational injuries among workers in SMEs.

Methods: One thousand forty-nine men and 721 women from 244 SMEs participated in this study.

Field evaluation of mercury vapor analytical methods: comparison of the "double amalgam method" and ISO 17733.

In this study, a gold amalgam method called the "Double amalgam method" was compared with the ISO 17733 method for mercury vapor analysis method. In terms of sensitivity and ease of operation, the amalgamation method is superior to the oxidation method. Two parallel samplings were carried out in this research at a button battery factory, where the mercury vapor level in the air was about 0.

Involvement of thyroxine in ovarian toxicity of di-(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate.

Forced ovulation induced by the administration of exogenous gonadotropin is a useful marker for studying the ovarian toxicity of chemicals in experimental animals. We examined the toxicity of di-(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP) in the ovaries of immature F344 female rats. Superovulation was induced by injections of equine chorionic gonadotropin (eCG) and human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) in rats dosed with 125, 250, 500, 1,000 or 2,000 mg/kg body weight of DEHP for 4 consecutive days.

A detailed analysis of musculoskeletal disorder risk factors among Japanese nurses.

Introduction: Although Musculoskeletal Disorders (MSD) represent a common occupational problem, few epidemiological studies have investigated MSD risk factors among Asian nurses, particularly those in Japan.

Method: We administered a modified Japanese-language version of the Standardized Nordic Questionnaire to 1,162 nurses from a large teaching hospital. MSD categories focused on the neck, shoulder, upper back, and lower back regions.

Indoor exposure to natural bright light prevents afternoon sleepiness.

Study Objectives: The present study examined the effects of indoor exposure to natural bright light on afternoon sleepiness.

Design: Participants took part in 3 experimental conditions: (1) a natural bright light condition in which they carried out performance and arousal tests sitting near a window (3260.0 +/- 1812.

Hand dermatitis among Korean nursing students.

We used a previously validated questionnaire survey, which was translated into Korean and given to 270 students from a university-based nursing school in Seoul. A total of 202 questionnaires were received. The students' hand dermatitis prevalence ranged from 6.

Tobacco smoking prevalence among a cross-section of dentists in Queensland, Australia.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the epidemiology of tobacco smoking among dentists in Queensland, Australia. We utilized an anonymous, self-reporting questionnaire which was posted to 400 dentists during 2004. The overall response rate was 72.

Musculoskeletal disorders among Chinese medical students.

We investigated the prevalence and distribution of Musculoskeletal Disorders (MSD) among Chinese medical students, by means of a questionnaire survey. A total of 207 questionnaires were successfully returned, giving a high response rate of 92.4%.

Needlestick and sharps injuries among nurses in a tropical Australian hospital.

Although needlestick and sharps injuries (NSI) represent a major hazard in nursing practice, most studies rely on officially reported data and none have yet been undertaken in tropical environments. Therefore, we conducted a cross-sectional NSI survey targeting all nurses within a tropical Australian hospital, regardless of whether they had experienced an NSI or not. Our overall response rate was 76.

Tobacco smoking habits among a cross-section of rural physicians in China.

Objective: To investigate the prevalence and distribution of tobacco smoking among rural Chinese physicians.

Design: A self-reporting survey adapted from previous international studies.

Setting: A teaching hospital in Hebei Province, China.

[VDT worker's posture and workload in free-address office system].

A free-address system is a new office layout in which a worker can freely sit in their favorite place with a computer and materials. Since this layout has recently been introduced in offices, we conducted a questionnaire survey which aimed to clarify the effects of the free-address system on visual display terminals (VDT) workers' posture and workload. A total of 203 male VDT workers who were system engineers aged 20 to 59 using a notebook computer were evaluated, of whom 150 used the free-address layout, and 53 used the fixed-address layout.

Prevalence of hand dermatitis among hospital nurses working in a tropical environment.

Background: Although hand dermatitis (HD) is a common occupational problem among hospital nurses, few epidemiological studies of this disease have been conducted in regional areas or tropical environments.

Aim: The aim of our investigation was, therefore, to investigate HD prevalence and correlates among nurses within a unique Australian setting.

Design: We recruited a cohort of 148 female nurses from a large tertiary hospital in north Queensland, Australia, and administered a previously validated, self-reporting HD questionnaire.

Cross talk of heat shock and heavy metal regulatory pathways.

Heavy metals induce transcription of human genes including those coding for metallothionein and heat shock protein 70 (HSP70). It has been suggested that these processes are mediated by metal-activated transcription factors, MTF-1 and HSF1, respectively, and are independent of each other. We raised an antibody against human MTF-1 which efficiently supershifts the protein-DNA complex formed by MTF-1 and its cognate binding sequence, MRE.

Pioneering figures in medicine: Albert Bruce Sabin--inventor of the oral polio vaccine.

Over ten years after his death, the Sabin oral vaccine continues its profound influence on public health throughout the world. The annual incidence of polio has fallen dramatically since its introduction, with more than 300,000 lives being spared each year and an annual global saving in excess of 1 billion US dollars. In many ways, the development of an effective oral vaccine and its subsequent regulation by the World Health Organization can serve as a model for medical researchers.

Needlestick and sharps injuries among a cross-section of physicians in Mainland China.

Background: Although needlestick and sharps injuries (NSI) represent a significant occupational hazard for physicians worldwide, their epidemiology has not been previously examined in Mainland China. This study describes the prevalence, distribution, and risk factors for NSI among a cross-section of Chinese physicians.

Methods: Data was obtained by an anonymous, self-reporting survey administered to all 361 physicians at a university teaching hospital, during 2004.

[Assessment of measured respirable dust sampler penetration and the sampling convention for work environment measurement].

The relationship between dust size and penetration for a static horizontal elutriator (Sibata C-30) was measured in calm air. The elutriator as a low-volume air sampler is widely used as a dust size classifier in work environment measurements. The actual penetrations were compared with the theoretical models of the sampler and with sampling convention for respirable dust in work environment measurement.