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Biomedical subjects

H Teranishi

Publications and source records attributed to H Teranishi.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2002

Effects of maternal exposure to cadmium on pregnancy outcome and breast milk.

OBJECTIVE: The effects of cadmium (Cd) on birth weight have been discussed in the scientific literature. However, investigations on the effects of maternal body burden of Cd on the next generation during pregnancy and lactation have been limited. The relation between maternal exposure to Cd and pregnancy outcome or Cd in breast milk in Japanese mothers was investigated. METHODS: Cd concentrations in urine and colostrum milk samples of 57 mothers were measured by atomic absorption spectrophotometery. The relations between maternal urinary Cd and infant growth, gestational age at birth, and Cd in breast milk were investigated. RESULTS: The rate of perterm deliveries of mothers with higher urinary Cd (> or =2 nmol/mmol creatinine (Cr)) was higher than that of mothers with lower urinary Cd (<2 nmol/mmol Cr). The gestational age was significantly correlated with urinary Cd even after adjustment for maternal age. The height and weight of newborn infants of mothers with higher urinary Cd were significantly lower than those of the newborn infants of mothers with lower urinary Cd, but these decreases were ascribed to early delivery induced by Cd. The Cd in breast milk of mothers with higher urinary Cd was significantly higher than that of mothers with lower urinary Cd. A significant positive correlation was found between maternal urinary Cd and Cd in breast milk. CONCLUSION: Maternal exposure to Cd seems to increase early delivery, which leads to a lower birth weight. Also, the Cd is transferred in part to the next generation through breast milk after birth.

Adult↗
PubMed2001

Development of the fluorometric ELISA method for determination of alpha1-microglobulinuria in a cadmium-polluted area in Japan.

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the usefulness of a newly developed fluorometric enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (fluorometric ELISA) method for quantification of alpha1 -microglobulin (alpha1-m, protein HC) in an epidemiological study. METHODS: Urinary alpha1-m in 37 female inhabitants in a cadmium-polluted area, including seven cases with Itai-itai disease, and ten inhabitants in a non-polluted area in Japan were examined. The alpha1-m was measured by both the fluorometric ELISA and a commercially available enzyme immunoassay (EIA) method to evaluate correlation of the two measurements. Concentration of beta2-microglobulin (beta2-m) was also determined in the same samples. RESULTS: The detection limit of this method was 3 ng/ml or less of alpha1-m. A significant, high positive correlation was obtained between the alpha1-m concentrations measured with the fluorometric ELISA and that of EIA (r = 0.95, P < 0.0001). A significant association was also shown between the alpha1-m and beta2-m concentrations in the urine samples. The concentrations of urinary alphal-m of the inhabitants in the cadmium-polluted area (mean: 6.21 mg/l, 95% confidence interval (95% CI): 4.06-9.50 mg/l) were significantly higher than those of the reference area (mean: 2.19 mg/l, 95% CI: 1.90-2.67 mg/l). The urinary alpha1-m level of the Itai-itai patients was shown to be highest at 39.63 mg/l (95% CI: 28.27 55.55 mg/l). When the cut-off value of 10 mg/l was employed, alpha1-m had a sensitivity of 100% and specificity of 100% for Itai-itai disease. CONCLUSION: These results suggest that this fluorometric ELISA is a useful tool to determine urinary alpha1-m in the epidemiological survey of renal tubular dysfunction, especially in the cadmium-polluted area of Japan.

Aged↗
PubMed2001

Social class difference in catch up growth in a national British cohort.

AIM: To examine the influence of socioeconomic status on growth pattern in height from age 7 to 23 years. METHODS: Prospective cohort study. A total of 10 200 white singleton born children from the 1958 British birth cohort (National Child Development Study) were analysed. RESULTS: Differences in height by birth weight persisted throughout the follow up period. However, the mean differences in height between low birth weight infants (<2500 g) and adequate birth weight infants (>/=2500 g) were less notable in social classes I and II than in the lower social classes. The catching up of growth in height of low birth weight infants was also more pronounced in social classes I and II than in other social classes. That is, the mean height deficits of low birth weight infants were decreased from 2.9 cm at age 7, to 1.6 cm at age 16, and 2.5 cm at age 23; the significant difference disappeared after age 16 in social classes I and II. Although such improving tendency was more pronounced among the preterm born infants, a similar growth pattern was observed among the term infants. Such improvement was not observed in the other social classes. CONCLUSION: The growth retardation in height by birth weight can be overcome by improved social conditions and proper health care from childhood to adulthood.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2001

Renal tubular dysfunction in male inhabitants of a cadmium-polluted area in Toyama, Japan--an eleven-year follow-up study.

An eleven-year follow-up study was carried out to elucidate the changes in the level of environmental exposure to cadmium (Cd) from rice after soil replacement of polluted paddy fields and these effects on urinary excretion of Cd in male inhabitants of a Cd-polluted area in Toyama, Japan. In addition, the prevalence of renal tubular dysfunction (RTD) was examined to clarify the progress of Cd-induced RTD. One hundred and twenty-seven male inhabitants born between 1914 and 1929 in 11 districts of the Cd-polluted Jinzu River basin and 31 reference subjects in 2 adjacent districts were examined twice in 1985-86 and 1996-97. The geometric means of Cd concentrations in polished rice (Cd-R) in the Cd-polluted areas were 0.18 ppm in 1985 and 0.21 ppm in 1986; these values were significantly higher than those of the reference areas (0.13 ppm in 1985 and 0.12 ppm in 1986). After 11 years, the Cd-R levels were significantly decreased to approximately half (0.08 ppm in 1996, 0.12 ppm in 1997) due to soil replacement of polluted paddy fields, which has been carried out since 1980. The mean Cd levels in urine (Cd-U) were significantly reduced from 7.9 and 9.5 microg/g creatinine in the initial study to 6.9 and 6.8 microg/g creatinine in the follow-up study. However, the prevalence of RTD, which was determined by urinary beta2-microglobulin exceeding 1 mg/g creatinine and urinary glucose exceeding 150 mg/g creatinine, increased from 18 and 23% in the 1985-86 study to 25 and 32% in the 1996-97 study, and a total of 12 new cases (12%) of RTD were found. Whereas, only one subject (4%) in the reference control areas was identified as RTD. Cd-induced RTD was prevalent, progressive and irreversible for male inhabitants of the Cd-polluted Jinzu River basin, although the environmental exposure to Cd through rice was significantly reduced by soil replacement of polluted paddy fields.

Aged↗
PubMed2000

A novel avian hypothalamic peptide inhibiting gonadotropin release.

The neuropeptide control of gonadotropin secretion at the level of the anterior pituitary gland is primarily through the stimulatory action of the hypothalamic decapeptide, gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH), which was originally isolated from mammals and subsequently from non-mammals. To date, however, an inhibitory peptide of gonadotropin release is unknown in vertebrates. Here we show, in a bird, that the hypothalamus also contains a novel peptide which inhibits gonadotropin release. Acetic acid extracts of quail brains were passed through C-18 reversed-phase cartridges, and then the retained material was subjected to the reversed-phase and cation-exchange high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). The peptide was isolated from avian brain and shown to have the sequence Ser-Ile-Lys-Pro-Ser-Ala-Tyr-Leu-Pro-Leu-Arg-Phe-NH(2). Cell bodies and terminals containing this peptide were localized immunohistochemically in the paraventricular nucleus and median eminence, respectively. This peptide inhibited, in a dose-related way, gonadotropin release from cultured quail anterior pituitaries. This is the first hypothalamic peptide inhibiting gonadotropin release reported in a vertebrate. We therefore term it gonadotropin-inhibitory hormone (GnIH).

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1998

Isolation and characterization of a novel bioactive peptide, Carassius RFamide (C-RFa), from the brain of the Japanese crucian carp.

A novel bioactive peptide with the C-terminal RFamide was isolated from the brain of the Japanese crucian carp, Carassius auratus langsdorfii, by using the intestine of the fish as the bioassay system. The primary structure of the peptide was determined to be SPEIDPFWYVGRGVRPIGRFamide and it was designated Carassius RFamide (C-RFa). The sequence of C-RFa was found to be significantly homologous to the molluscan neuropeptide termed Achatina cardioexcitatory peptide 1 (ACEP-1). Both peptides have RPXGRFamide structure in their C-terminal moieties. C-RFa was found to have an excitatory effect on visceral muscle tissues of fish, newt, quail, and rat. In the stomach of the fish, Zacco temminckii, IGRFamide (C-RFa 17-20) was shown to be the minimal structure required for the excitatory effect and PIGRFamide (C-RFa 16-20) to be almost equipotent with the parent peptide C-RFa.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1998

[A follow-up study on renal tubular dysfunction in women living in the cadmium-polluted Jinzu River basin in Toyama, Japan. Part 1. Changes in the level of exposure to cadmium after soil replacement of polluted paddy fields and the related effects on the prognosis of renal tubular dysfunction].

A follow-up study on renal tubular dysfunction was carried out on 193 female inhabitants of the cadmium (Cd)-polluted Jinzu River basin and 40 reference subjects living in an adjacent area in 1994-95. They were 54 to 70 years old when the initial examination was conducted in 1983-84. In the Cd-polluted Jinzu River basin, extensive reclamation of polluted rice fields has been conducted since 1979; as a result, the average Cd concentrations in polished rice consumed by the subjects in the 1994-95 study (0.12 ppm in 1994, 0.14 ppm in 1995) were significantly lower than those in the 1983-84 study (0.26 ppm in 1983, 0.29 ppm in 1984). The average Cd levels in urine in the follow-up study (7.5 micrograms/g Cr. in 1994, 7.7 micrograms/g Cr. in 1995) were also significantly lower than those in the initial study (13.5 micrograms/g Cr. in 1983, 13.3 micrograms/g Cr. in 1984). However, the mean values for urinary excretion of beta 2-microglobulin (beta 2-m) (3.9 mg/g Cr. in 1994, 3.7 mg/g Cr. in 1995) and glucose (203 mg/g Cr. in 1994, 251 mg/g Cr. in 1995) in the follow-up study were significantly higher than those obtained at the initial examination (2.0 mg/g Cr. and 125 mg/g Cr. in 1983 and 1.1 mg/g Cr. and 78 mg/g Cr. in 1984 for beta 2-m and glucose excretion, respectively). The magnitude of increase in urinary excretion of beta 2-m and glucose in inhabitants of the Cd-polluted area was significantly higher than that of the inhabitants of the reference area. Moreover, an increase was observed in the prevalence of renal tubular dysfunction determined by urinary beta 2-m exceeding 10 mg/g creatinine and urinary glucose exceeding 150 mg/g creatinine only among inhabitants of the Cd-polluted area; it is noteworthy that 31 new cases of renal tubular dysfunction were observed in the follow-up study. These results indicate that renal tubular dysfunction among inhabitants of the Cd-polluted Jinzu River basin is irreversible and progressive, and many new cases of renal tubular dysfunction were also noted over a period of 11 years, despite the fact that Cd exposure had decreased over the past 11 years.

Aged↗
PubMed1997

[Comparison of predictive methods of Sugi (Cryptomeria) atmospheric pollen counts using mean temperature, solar radiation and male flowering index--an example of Toyama Prefecture].

The previous years mean temperature of July, total solar radiation of July and August and the male flowering index were used to predict atmospheric pollen counts. We examined the adaptability of these predictions and we get following results: 1. Following good harvest years of male flower, atmospheric pollen counts predicted by previous year's mean temperature of July and the total solar radiation of July and August are higher than the actual atmospheric pollen count. 2. Prediction of atmospheric pollen counts by factors within the previous five years are more exact because matured Cryptomeria forests are increasing yearly. 3. There are few errors in prediction by the flowering index because the flower index reflects the actual harvest of male flower.

Air↗
PubMed1996

Clinical manifestations of Japanese cedar pollinosis: an epidemiological study.

In an investigation of the clinical features of Japanese cedar pollinosis in Toyama Prefecture, Central Japan, an epidemiological study was carried out in 1991 by means of questionnaires. There were 1,720 female and 1,163 male patients, a total of 2,883 patients. In both female and male patients, the highest incidence was found in those in their thirties. The most frequent onset was 19th March 1991, when the maximum number of air-borne pollen was detected and also the highest temperature in March was recorded. The 236 patients in the children's group ranged in age from 5 to 15 years, and the number of male children was greater than that of female. The number of patients tended to increase only gradually up to the age of 11 years, and then rapidly from 12 to 15 years of age. The greatest number of patients developed symptoms at the age of 10 years. HD-RAST positivity was definitely higher in the children group than in the adult group. No significant association was found between the age of development of symptoms and HD-RAST positivity.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1995

Occupational allergy to adult chironomid midges among environmental researchers.

A case of occupational allergy to chironomid midges in research work is described. A researcher was exposed to adult chironomid midges during his research and developed allergic rhinitis after 10 years of such exposure. Using the midge extract of adult Chironomus plumosus (CP) (Linnaeus, 1758), both immediate skin test and the ophthalmic challenge test gave positive results. IgE antibody against adult CP was also demonstrated by the radioallergosorbent test. Four of the five serum samples of the environmental researcher examined showed a positive radioallergosorbent test to at least one of the adult midges breeding around eutrophic Japanese lakes. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay inhibition test and immunoblot experiments indicated that the remaining hemoglobin is one of the major allergens of adult CP. These results demonstrate that the exposure to adult chironomid midges is an important occupational hazard among environmental researchers.

Adult↗
PubMed1995

[Characteristics of pollen scattering from male sugi flowers in relation to occurring of symptoms in Japanese cedar pollenosis patients].

Generally, airborne scattering of sugi (Cryptomeria japonica D. Don) pollen begins to be observed coincidentally with the flowering of the male sugi flowers between February and April. However the male sugi flowers disperse a certain amount of pollen in early January, only small levels of which can be detected with a Durham's sampler. In some Japanese cedar pollinosis patients, allergic symptoms have been reported to occur in early January. Among 1,366 Japanese cedar pollinosis patients studied, 265 have experienced allergic symptoms before the first day of pollen scattering as determined with a Durham's sampler. Accordingly, it is suggested that substantial amounts of sugi pollen are scattered from early January, and that clinical symptoms can be induced in highly sensitive Japanese cedar pollinosis patients from early January, even before the flowering of sugi.

Allergens↗
PubMed1995

[Relationships between atmospheric Sugi (Japanese cedar)-pollen counts and indices of climatic conditions].

Atmospheric pollen surveys have been conducted using Durham's standard sampler for 12 years in Toyama Prefecture. The relationships between Sugi (Japanese cedar, Cryptomeria japonica D. Don) pollen and some indices of climatic conditions were analyzed. The results were as follows: 1. Total pollen counts showed a tendency to increase for 12 years, although the variation of the count was relatively large. 2. Significant correlations were found between pollen counts and some indices of the climatic conditions in July of the previous year, such as duration of sunshine, mean daily temperature and daily maximum, as well as minimum temperature. 3. Significant correlation was found between pollen count and duration of sunshine in January and March, and the amount of snowfall in March of the observed year using multiple regression analysis. Pollen counts were shown to be relatively high in years with short sunshine in January and long sunshine and heavy snow in March.

Climate↗
PubMed1994

Hypoproduction of erythropoietin contributes to anemia in chronic cadmium intoxication: clinical study on Itai-itai disease in Japan.

Itai-itai disease is a condition caused by long-term exposure of the inhabitants of Toyama prefecture, Japan, to cadmium intoxication. The characteristic clinical features of this disease include renal tubular dysfunction, osteomalacia, and anemia. In order to clarify the pathogenesis of the anemia, the red blood cell count, hemoglobin concentration, hematocrit, serum iron level, total iron-binding capacity, serum ferritin level, serum erythropoietin level, creatinine clearance, fractional excretion of beta 2-microglobulin, and bone marrow morphology were determined in ten patients with Itai-itai disease. Low serum iron or ferritin levels were not observed, and bone marrow aspiration did not reveal any specific hematological disorders. A close relationship was observed between the decrease in the hemoglobin level and the progression of renal dysfunction. Low serum erythropoietin levels were detected despite the presence of severe anemia. These results suggest an important role of renal damage in the anemia which develops in Itai-itai disease.

Aged↗
PubMed1994

[A study of thyroid hormone levels of inhabitants of the cadmium-polluted Kakehashi River basin].

We compared thyroid hormone levels of inhabitants (19 men and 16 women) of the cadmium (Cd)-polluted Kakehashi River basin in Ishikawa Prefecture, with those of subjects (23 men and 47 women) living in a non-polluted area. In addition, we investigated the relationships between the thyroid hormone levels and indices of renal dysfunction induced by Cd exposure. The following results were obtained: 1) The free T4 level of females was significantly lower than that of controls. 2) The T3 level of inhabitants of both sexes was significantly higher than that of controls. 3) The level of free T4 among females became lower with the increases of urinary beta 2-microglobulin (beta 2-MG), urinary protein, urinary sugar, urinary amino acids and serum creatinine (Cr) levels, and with decreases of creatinine-clearance (CCr) and %TRP. 4) We could not find any relationship between the increase of T3 and the indices of renal dysfunction induced by Cd exposure in either sex.

Cadmium↗
PubMed1993

[Abnormalities of calcium, phosphorous and vitamin D metabolism with proximal renal tubular dysfunction in subjects environmentally exposed to cadmium].

Calcium, phosphorus and vitamin D metabolism were examined in 21 male and 13 female subjects with renal tubular dysfunction in the cadmium-polluted Jinzu River basin in Toyama prefecture, Japan. Multiple proximal renal tubular dysfunction was detected in all subjects showing increased FE beta 2-m and FFua, generalized aminoaciduria and renal glucosuria. Reduced ability of tubular reabsorption of phosphate resulted in hypophosphatemia in 31% of the women. Despite decreased tubular reabsorption of calcium, the level of serum calcium remained normal in all subjects. Serum 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin-D [1,25(OH)2D], which is produced in the proximal tubules through 1 alpha-hydroxylation from 25-hydroxyvitamin-D [25OHD], was normal or increased to more than 60pg/ml. The serum level of 1,25(OH)2D was inversely related to creatinine clearance in both the men (p < 0.05) and women (p < 0.01). Serum iPTH was slightly increased to more than 0.9 mg/ml, whereas the levels of other hormones, including 25OHD, calcitonin, thyroxine (T4) and triiodothyronine (T3) were normal. The serum alkaline phosphatase activity and serum osteocalcin concentration were significantly increased compared to those of controls in both sexes. Bone loss detected by the measurement of bone density was prominent in female subjects. These results support the hypothesis that the serum phosphate concentration is more important than the serum concentration of 1,25(OH)2D for abnormalities of bone metabolism in cadmium-induced renal tubular dysfunction.

Aged↗
PubMed1993

Cadmium induces interleukin-8 production in human peripheral blood mononuclear cells with the concomitant generation of superoxide radicals.

Acute or chronic exposure to cadmium (Cd) causes severe organ damages with the infiltration of leukocytes, neutrophils in particular occurring in the acute phase. Interleukin-8 (IL-8), a novel neutrophil chemotactic and activating cytokine, is produced by various types of cells in response to a wide variety of inflammatory stimuli. The administration of an antibody against IL-8 has been shown to inhibit neutrophil infiltration in several animal models, indicating a causal relationship between IL-8 and neutrophil infiltration. Hence, in this study we investigated whether Cd induced IL-8 production in human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC). Cd, over a wide range of concentrations, did induce human PBMC to produce large amounts of bioactive IL-8, the maximal induction being observed at 10(-4) M. The production was inhibited specifically by a metal chelating agent, ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA). Steady level of IL-8 mRNA increased within 30 min after the addition of Cd and reached a maximal level at 2 h, decreasing thereafter. A protein synthesis inhibitor, cycloheximide, failed to inhibit IL-8 mRNA accumulation, indicating that new protein synthesis was not required for IL-8 mRNA induction. Concomitantly with the induction of IL-8, within 10 min Cd generated reactive oxygen intermediates (ROI) in human PBMC. A radical scavenger, N-acetyl-L-cysteine (NAC), inhibited both IL-8 production and the generation of ROI, implying the possible involvement of ROI in IL-8 production. This notion was also supported by our findings that a superoxide generating agent, paraquat, induced IL-8 production in human PBMC and that NAC blocked this paraquat-induced IL-8 production.

Base Sequence↗
PubMed1992

[Study of an outbreak of itai-itai disease].

We studied an outbreak of itai-itai disease in the Jinzu River basin, in Toyama, Japan. One hundred and fifty females recognized as itai-itai disease patients till by 1990 were studied for the ages and years of onset and residence in the cadmium-polluted area. 1. Cases were recognized from as early as 1929, increased gradually to the peak of 1955-1959 and rapidly decreased up to the 1970s. 2. It was found that the later the patients was born, the younger the age of onset, though there was no difference of ages of onset between the cases born in the 1910s and the cases born from 1920. 3. The onset of itai-itai disease was most frequently seen at 50-59 years of residence in the cadmium-polluted area. It was found that the later a person started to inhabit the cadmium-polluted area, the shorter the period of residence in the cadmium-polluted area up to onset of itai-itai disease. 4. Comparing the patients who inhabited the cadmium-polluted area from birth and those who had moved there from non-polluted areas, the age of onset was higher in the latter, but there were no significant differences in the period of residence up to onset. From these findings, it appeared that itai-itai disease was not caused by aging, but by cadmium exposure starting from the 1910s.

Cadmium Poisoning↗