28 results match your criteria: "Saitama City Institute of Health Science and Research[Affiliation]"

Ciguatera poisoning (CP) is one of the most frequent seafood poisonings across the globe. CP results from the consumption of fish flesh that has accumulated principal toxins known as ciguatoxins (CTXs), and it mainly occurs in tropical and subtropical regions. In Japan, incidents of CP have been reported primarily from Okinawa and Amami Islands in the subtropical area.

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An inter-laboratory study involving 24 laboratories was conducted to validate the modified analytical method for the migration solution of heptane for the determination of bisphenol A migrating from polycarbonate food processing materials. In this study, two concentrations of samples were blindly coded. Each laboratory determined the analyte (bisphenol A, phenol and p-tert-butylphenol) concentration in each sample according to the established protocol.

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Article Synopsis
  • - An emerging enteropathogen has been linked to several foodborne outbreaks in Japan, but most foods associated with these outbreaks remain unidentified, highlighting the need for accurate detection methods.
  • - The study developed a real-time PCR assay (EA-rtPCR) specifically targeting a gene of the pathogen, demonstrating its effectiveness with a detection limit of 2.0-3.2 log CFU/mL in enriched chicken samples.
  • - Comparative testing showed that EA-rtPCR was more sensitive than nested-PCR in detecting the pathogen in chicken meat, with multiple positive findings in retail chicken and carcasses, indicating its potential to enhance food safety and research on infections.
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Congenital adrenal hyperplasia is a category of disorders characterized by impaired adrenocortical steroidogenesis. The most frequent disorder of congenital adrenal hyperplasia is 21-hydroxylase deficiency, which is caused by pathogenic variants of and is prevalent between 1 in 18,000 and 20,000 in Japan. The clinical guidelines for 21-hydroxylase deficiency in Japan have been revised twice since a diagnostic handbook in Japan was published in 1989.

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Migration test of food utensils, containers, and packaging is an important test method for confirming the safety and their compliance to the standards. However, there is little report on inter-laboratory study which was performed to evaluate the entire migration test, including migration operations and quantification. An interlaboratory study was performed participating 22 laboratories using 8 types of model synthetic resin samples containing 10 substances with a wide range of Log P values to evaluate the accuracy of the entire migration test.

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Article Synopsis
  • The acylcarnitine profile in dried blood spots (DBS) is essential for screening inborn errors of metabolism, but hematocrit (Ht) levels can influence the results.
  • A study analyzed DBS samples from 77 very-low-birth-weight infants and found significant positive correlations between Ht and several acylcarnitines, particularly C2 (r=0.59).
  • The findings highlight the importance of considering Ht when interpreting acylcarnitine profiles to ensure accurate metabolic screening results.
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Residual Analysis of Aflatoxins in Spice by HPLC Coupled with Solid-Phase Dispersive Extraction and Solid-Phase Fluorescence Derivatization Method.

J AOAC Int

November 2020

Hoshi University, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Department of Analytical Chemistry, 2-4-41, Ebara, Shinagawa-ku, Tokyo 142-8501, Japan.

Background: Aflatoxins (AFs) are carcinogenic mycotoxins. A simple, quick, and accurate method for the micro-analysis of AFs in foodstuffs, especially spices, is needed.

Objective: A sophisticated pretreatment method that combines solid-phase dispersive extraction (SPDE) and solid-phase fluorescence derivatization using immunoaffinity (IA) gel as the solid phase was developed to analyze AFs in spices simply, quickly, and sensitively by liquid chromatography with fluorescence detection.

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Enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli (ETEC) causes acute diarrhea and is transmitted through contaminated food and water; however, systematic procedures for its specific detection in foods have not been established. To establish an efficient detection method for ETEC in food, an interlaboratory study using ETEC O148 and O159 as representative serogroups was first conducted with 13 participating laboratories. A series of tests including enrichment, real-time PCR assays, plating on selective agars, and concentration by immunomagnetic separation followed by plating onto selective agar (IMS-plating methods) were employed.

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Human-to-human transmission of PA I38 mutant influenza A(H3N2) viruses with reduced baloxavir susceptibility has been reported in Japan. In December 2019, we detected a PA E23K mutant A(H1N1)pdm09 virus from a child without baloxavir treatment. The PA E23K mutant virus exhibited reduced baloxavir susceptibility but remained susceptible to neuraminidase inhibitors.

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Streptococcus pyogenes (group A streptococcus; GAS) is an important gram-positive human pathogen capable of causing diseases ranging from mild superficial skin and pharyngeal infections to more severe invasive diseases, including streptococcal toxic shock syndrome (STSS). GAS produces a T protein, and T serotyping has considerable discriminatory power for epidemiological characterization of GAS. To clarify the relationship between STSS and pharyngitis in Japan, we examined the T serotypes of GAS strains isolated from clinical specimens of streptococcal infections (STSS, 951 isolates; pharyngitis, 16268 isolates) from 2005 to 2017.

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Enterohaemorrhagic Escherichia coli (EHEC) is an important human pathogen worldwide. Although serotype O157 is currently the most dominant and important EHEC strain, serotypes O26, O111, O91, O103 and O121 are also recognized as serious pathogens that affect public health. EHEC outbreaks often occur in nurseries and elderly care facilities.

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It has been reported that polymorphisms within the gene-encoding enzymes related to alcohol metabolism are associated with levels of serum HDL-cholesterol (HDL-C) in East Asian populations. We evaluated the effects of genetic variants within the aldehyde dehydrogenase-2 (ALDH2) gene and the alcohol dehydrogenase-1B (ADH1B) gene on changes in the lipid profile in an 11-year longitudinal study. We genotyped rs1229984 within ADH1B and rs671 within ALDH2.

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An interlaboratory study was performed to evaluate the equivalence between an official method and a modified method of evaporation residue test using heptane as a food-simulating solvent for oily or fatty foods, based on the Japanese Food Sanitation Law for food contact products. Twenty-three laboratories participated, and tested the evaporation residues of nine test solutions as blind duplicates. In the official method, heating for evaporation was done with a water bath.

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An interlaboratory study was performed to evaluate the equivalence between an official method and a modified method of evaporation residue test using three food-simulating solvents (water, 4% acetic acid and 20% ethanol), based on the Japanese Food Sanitation Law for food contact products. Twenty-three laboratories participated, and tested the evaporation residues of nine test solutions as blind duplicates. For evaporation, a water bath was used in the official method, and a hot plate in the modified method.

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Occurrence and assessment of the risk of ultraviolet filters and light stabilizers in Victorian estuaries.

Environ Sci Pollut Res Int

April 2018

Future Farming Systems Research Division, Department of Environment and Primary Industries, DEPI Queenscliff Centre, Queenscliff, Victoria, 3225, Australia.

This reconnaissance study was undertaken to examine the occurrence of common ultraviolet filters (UVF) and light stabilizers (UVLS), and preservatives in four different estuaries in Port Philip Bay, Victoria, for the first time. In total, 11 UV filters, 10 UV stabilizers, 12 preservatives and a metabolite, and one fragrance were screened in grab samples of water and sediment using a combination of solid phase extraction and gas and liquid chromatography mass spectrometry measurement techniques. In that context, 16 of the UVF and UVLS and 5 of the preservatives screened were observed in water and/or sediment samples.

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Streptococcal toxic shock syndrome (STSS) is a severe invasive infection characterized by the sudden onset of shock, multiorgan failure, and high mortality. Although STSS is mainly caused by Streptococcus pyogenes, group G streptococcus identified as S. dysgalactiae subsp.

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Contribution of pharmaceuticals and personal care products (PPCPs) to whole toxicity of water samples collected in effluent-dominated urban streams.

Ecotoxicol Environ Saf

October 2017

Graduate School of Integrated Arts and Sciences, Tokushima University, Tokushima 770-8502, Japan; National Institute for Environmental Studies, Tsukuba-City, Ibaraki 305-8506, Japan. Electronic address:

Water samples were collected from effluent-dominated urban streams in Tokushima, Kyoto, and Saitama in Japan to roughly determine the contribution of pharmaceuticals and personal care products (PPCPs) and surfactants to whole toxicity of the water. Approximately 100 PPCPs including anionic surfactants such as linear alkylbenzene sulfonate (LAS), were chemically analyzed. Using 14 water samples, chronic or sub-chronic toxicity tests were conducted on three aquatic species, the green alga Raphidocelis subcapitata, the cladoceran Ceriodaphnia dubia, and the zebrafish Danio rerio.

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Purpose: It has been reported that adipocytes secrete vascular endothelial growth factor. Therefore, we conducted a 5-year longitudinal epidemiological study to further elucidate the association between vascular endothelial growth factor levels and temporal changes in body mass index.

Methods: Our study subjects were Japanese male workers, who had regular health check-ups.

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This study was performed to determine the prevalence, antimicrobial susceptibility, and genetic relatedness of Salmonella enterica subsp. enterica and Campylobacter spp. in poultry meat, and to analyze the association of genetic types of these bacteria with their geographical distribution and antimicrobial resistance profiles.

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Vibrio parahaemolyticus is an important pathogen that causes gastroenteritis in humans, generally associated with the consumption of contaminated seafood, particularly raw shellfish. There are many serotypes in V. parahaemolyticus resulting from a combination of O and K antigens.

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Background/objectives: Most of the studies that have investigated the association between coffee consumption and hepatic steatosis have been experimental and small-scale clinical studies. As a result, epidemiological studies are scarce. To clear the association, we conducted a cross-sectional study and investigated the effects of coffee consumption with those of green tea consumption.

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Occurrence of preservatives and antimicrobials in Japanese rivers.

Chemosphere

July 2014

Graduate School of Environmental and Information Sciences, Yokohama National University,79-7 Tokiwadai, Hodogaya-ku, Yokohama 240-8501, Japan.

We established a method for the simultaneous analysis of seven preservatives and five antimicrobials in water. These chemicals are widely used in cosmetics, and their presence in river water is of concern. We used the method to test 13 sites in Japanese rivers and streams contaminated by domestic wastewater, effluent, or industrial wastewater.

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Culture temperature affects gene expression and metabolic pathways in the 2-methylisoborneol-producing cyanobacterium Pseudanabaena galeata.

J Plant Physiol

February 2014

Graduate School of Science and Engineering, Saitama University, 255 Shimo-Okubo, Sakura-ku, Saitama City, Saitama 338-8570, Japan; Institute for Environmental Science and Technology, Saitama University, 255 Shimo-Okubo, Sakura-ku, Saitama City, Saitama 338-8570, Japan. Electronic address:

A volatile metabolite, 2-methylisoborneol (2-MIB), causes an unpleasant taste and odor in tap water. Some filamentous cyanobacteria produce 2-MIB via a two-step biosynthetic pathway: methylation of geranyl diphosphate (GPP) by methyl transferase (GPPMT), followed by the cyclization of methyl-GPP by monoterpene cyclase (MIBS). We isolated the genes encoding GPPMT and MIBS from Pseudanabaena galeata, a filamentous cyanobacterium known to be a major causal organism of 2-MIB production in Japanese lakes.

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The effects of processing to produce various types of tea or infusion on the levels of pesticide residues in tea were investigated for three insecticides (chlorfenapyr, pyrimiphos-methyl, and clothianidin). Tea plants were sprayed with one of the three pesticides and cultivated under cover. The levels of pesticide residues in tea decreased after processing according to the time and temperature of heating, as well as fermentation.

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Streptococcus agalactiae (group B streptococcus; GBS) is a common cause of neonatal sepsis and meningitis. Intrapartum antibiotic prophylaxis is effective in reducing neonatal GBS disease. Penicillin is recommended for intrapartum antibiotic prophylaxis; however, other antibiotics are administered to pregnant women with penicillin allergy.

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