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Biomedical subjects

M Toyota

Publications and source records attributed to M Toyota.

At least 73 records · Page 4Linked to original sources

[A questionnaire study on improving occupational safety and health services provided by part-time industrial physicians].

In order to evaluate factors improving part-time industrial physicians' services, a questionnaire study on occupational safety and health services was conducted on 237 part-time industrial physicians (PIPs) and 628 enterprises in Kochi. PIPs who received physician's fees visited enterprises and consulted with employees about their health conditions, communicated with employers and licensed occupational health supervisors (LOHSs) in enterprises more frequently than PIPs who did not receive physician's fees (p < 0.1-0.001). The rates of performing regular duties related on occupational safety and health, and PIPs' participations in health promotion programs and health consultations with employees among enterprises which paid physician's fees were significantly higher than those among enterprises which did not pay physician's fees (p < 0.05-0.001). Significantly higher rates of health consultation with employees and communications with employers and LOHSs, participation in occupational safety and health committees, recommendations of health promotion programs were found where physicians visited enterprises frequently(p < 0.1-0.01). Although no significant changes in PIPs' occupational safety and health services were observed for hazardous risk factors in enterprises, the rates of performing regular duties on occupational safety and health, and walk-through inspections by LOHSs and PIPs, estimating PIPs' advice and suggestions in enterprises with hazardous risk factors were significantly higher than those in enterprises without hazardous risk factors (p < 0.05-0.001). It is important for PIPs to have a written contract concerning physicians' fees and occupational safety and health services with enterprises and visit enterprises frequently in order to improve PIPs' occupational safety and health services and promote occupational safety and health programs in enterprises.

Fees and Charges↗

A retrospective cohort study on retirement and mortality for male employees of a local government of Japan.

This retrospective cohort study describes the mortality pattern after retirement and examines associations of the last job position and work status immediately after retirement with the mortality for male employees who retired from Kochi prefectural government. The subjects include 514 retirees over the 1977-1981 period, who were followed for 9.8 years after retirement, and 721 retirees over the 1982-1986 period, who were followed for 5.8-9.8 years. All subjects were hypothesized to have retired at a normal retirement age. Mortality risk was stable through the follow-up period subdivided into two-year intervals in both cohorts of retirees. In both cohorts, men who did not work immediately after retirement had increased mortality within the first two years of retirement compared with those who worked immediately after retirement. This finding is consistent with the mortality pattern explained by health related selection into working after retirement. The present study does not show a meaningful mortality fluctuation over the post-retirement period among male employees of the local government. Lack of information on ages and health status at retirement of individual subjects hampers discussion about causality of observed associations between two study variables concerning pre- and post-retirement characteristics and post-retirement mortality.

Aged↗

Clinical characteristics differentiating bacteriologically positive pulmonary tuberculosis patients from negative ones in Mongolia.

The objective of this study is to clarify clinical characteristics which differentiate bacteriologically positive pulmonary tuberculosis patients from negative ones in Mongolia. The subjects include 338 patients aged 16 years and older who had undergone bacteriological examinations. Of them, 107 patients (31.7%) were confirmed bacteriologically. The proportion of bacteriological positive results increased significantly among patients who had cavities in the roentgenographic examination, cough at diagnosis and the family history of tuberculosis. Addressing these clinical characteristics will contribute to raising not only the sensitivity of the sputum examination, but also the specificity of the roentgenographic examination in the diagnostic process of tuberculosis.

Adult↗

[Time trend in incidence and mortality of tuberculosis and characteristics of notified tuberculosis patients in urban area of Mongolia].

Recent Mongolian political, social and economic changes have had a great impact on its health care system and tuberculosis control program. The objective of this study is to assess time trend in incidence and mortality of tuberculosis and characteristics of notified tuberculosis cases in Mongolia. 1) Data on statistics of tuberculosis are obtained from reports of the National Tuberculosis Center in Mongolia. The mortality of tuberculosis in Mongolia shows a downward trend during 1985-1995. The number of notified tuberculosis cases had gradually decreased during 1985-1989. It suddenly dropped in 1990 and was the lowest in 1993. After that, about two fold increase in the notified cases was observed in recent three years from 1993 to 1995. Such a large fluctuation in the number of notified cases after 1990 is unlikely to be associated with the epidemiologic situation of tuberculosis, but rather due to a reporting bias. The shortage of drugs and economic hardship prevented patients from consulting medical facilities. The shortage of drugs also prevented doctors from notifying patients to the tuberculosis registry, because the notification did not lead to treating the disease. The improvement of health care system and the supply of essential drugs since 1994 seems to contribute to the increase in the number of notified cases. 2) The study subjects include 618 patients who were diagnosed as active tuberculosis at ten tuberculosis specialized facilities in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia from May 1995 to March 1996. Patients were interviewed about their demographic factors and their medical records were reviewed. Fifty one percent of the cases were female. The mean age was 26.9 years old. Ninety percent of the cases underwent chest X-ray examination, while 72% of the cases underwent bacteriological examination and only 21% were confirmed bacteriologically. It is necessary to improve the quality control of sputum smear examination and the validity of diagnosis of tuberculosis in Mongolia. As for treatment regimens, only 29% of the cases were being treated with at least four drugs (isoniazid, rifampicin, pyrazinamide, ethambutol and/or streptomycin). It is needed to provide directly observed treatment using the WHO recommended standard regimen to at least smear positive tuberculosis cases.

Adolescent↗

Expression and identification of aberrant c-kit transcripts in human cancer cells.

We have previously cloned and sequenced a novel 3.5 kb c-kit mRNA expressed in a colon carcinoma cell line Colo201. Here we examined the expression of this truncated form of c-kit in 14 gastrointestinal cancer cells and 16 hematopoieic cancer cells by RT-PCR. Expression of the aberrant c-kit transcript was observed in various cancer cell lines. Furthermore, a new transcript which is 78 bp shorter than the transcript previously described was identified and characterized. These results indicate that two kinds of aberrant c-kit transcript produced by alternative promoter in intron 15 are expressed in human cancer cells.

Adenocarcinoma↗

Genetic changes induced by heterocyclic amines.

Clarification of the mutational fingerprints of HCAs offers a promising approach in the investigation of the role of heterocyclic amines (HCAs) in human carcinogenesis. We analyzed mutations in the tumor related genes of tumors induced by HCAs, 2-amino-3,4-dimethylimidazo[4,5-f]quinoline (MeIQ), 2-amino-3-methylimidazo[4,5-f]quinoline (IQ), and 2-amino-1-methyl-6-phenylimidazo[4,5-b]pyridine (PhIP), which mainly yield DNA-adducts of C8-guanine. The G-->T transversion at codon 13-2nd position in Ha-ras was predominantly observed in mouse forestomach and rat Zymbal gland tumors induced by MeIQ. In contrast, various types of mutation were detected in the ras family genes of rat Zymbal gland tumors induced by IQ; the presence of a methyl group at position 4 of imidazo[4,5-f]quinoline gave rise to a remarkable difference in the mutational fingerprint. Apc mutations were detected in PhIP- and IQ-induced rat colon tumors, with incidences of 50% (4/8) and 15% (2/13), respectively. All five mutations detected in the four PhIP-induced tumors consisted of a guanine deletion from the 5'-GGGA-3' sequence, in contrast with T to C and C to T mutations in IQ-induced tumors. Four of these five mutations shared seven common nucleotides, -GTGGGAT- surrounding the guanine; indicating that PhIP leaves a characteristic mutational fingerprint in Apc. Colon tumors induced by PhIP were also found to have mutations in their microsatellite sequences, and similar results were detected in mammary gland tumors induced by PhIP, contrasting with no mutations in IQ-induced colon tumors and a very low frequency of mutations in 7,12-dimethylbenz[a]anthracene (DMBA)-induced mammary tumors. Although the mechanisms involved in the induction of microsatellite mutations are not known yet, microsatellite mutations which can also be detected in sporadic human tumors, including colon and breast tumors, were indicated to be a characteristic of PhIP. Mammary tumors induced by PhIP showed loss of heterozygocity (LOH) at the distal part of chromosome 10, which shows synteny with the distal part of human chromosome 17, where LOH frequently occurs in human breast cancer. In conclusion, each heterocyclic amine leave a mutational fingerprint which is specific to each compound. Since the tumor-related genes involved in PhIP-induced tumors have characteristics in common with those in human cancers, further detailed analysis will provide us with useful information on mutational fingerprints, and on the possible contribution of PhIP to human colon cancer.

9,10-Dimethyl-1,2-benzanthracene↗

Differing influence on delays in the case-finding process for tuberculosis between general physicians and specialists in Mongolia.

The objective of this study is to compare the influence on delays in the tuberculosis case-finding process according to the types of medical facilities initially visited. The subjects include 107 patients 16 years and older who were diagnosed with bacteriologically confirmed pulmonary tuberculosis at nine tuberculosis specialized facilities in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia from May 1995 to March 1996. Patients were interviewed about their demographic and socioeconomic factors and their medical records were reviewed for measuring delays. Fifty-five patients initially consulted general physicians and the remaining 52 patients initially visited other types of facilities including tuberculosis specialized facilities. Patients who initially consulted general physicians had shorter patient's delays and longer doctor's delays than those who had visited other facilities first. Since the reduction of patient's delay outweighs the extension of doctor's delay among patients who initially consulted general physicians, their total delay was shorter than that of patients who visited other facilities first. The beneficial influence of consulting general physicians first on the total delay was observed after adjusting for patient's age, sex, residence area, family income and family history of tuberculosis. This finding indicates that general physicians play an important role in improving the passive case-finding process in Mongolia.

Adolescent↗

A follow-up study of preventive effects on low back pain at worksites by providing a participatory occupational safety and health program.

Low back pain is still a common and serious issue at worksites. In order to evaluate preventive effects on low back pain by providing a participatory occupational safety and health program, we conducted a 10 year follow-up study at the Tokyo Metropolitan Bureau of Waste Management and examined yearly changes in the number of compensated and claimed low back pain. The participatory occupational safety and health program is based on a small-sized group and joint employee-employer involvements. This program includes analysis of occupational accidents, revision of the safety procedure manual, participatory training classes, improving and evaluating working procedures and personal protective equipment , and so on. The number of compensated low back pain from 1984 to 1994 has decreased from 318 to 87, and the number of claimed low back pain has decreased from 343 to 92. These results suggest that the participatory occupational safety and health program is effective in prevention of low back pain.

Follow-Up Studies↗

A rat genetic map constructed by representational difference analysis markers with suitability for large-scale typing.

Representational difference analysis (RDA) was applied to isolate chromosomal markers in the rat. Four series of RDA [restriction enzymes, BamHI and HindIII; subtraction of ACI/N (ACI) amplicon from BUF/Nac (BUF) amplicon and vice versa] yielded 131 polymorphic markers; 125 of these markers were mapped to all chromosomes except for chromosome X. This was done by using a mapping panel of 105 ACI x BUF F2 rats. To complement the relative paucity of chromosomal markers in the rat, genetically directed RDA, which allows isolation of polymorphic markers in the specific chromosomal region, was performed. By changing the F2 driver-DNA allele frequency around the region, four markers were isolated from the D1Ncc1 locus. Twenty-five of 27 RDA markers were informative regarding the dot blot analysis of amplicons, hybridizing only with tester amplicons. Dot blot analysis at a high density per unit of area made it possible to process a large number of samples. Quantitative trait loci can now be mapped in the rat genome by processing a large number of samples with RDA markers and then by isolating markers close to the loci of interest by genetically directed RDA.

Alleles↗

Genetic alterations in rat colon tumors induced by heterocyclic amines.

BACKGROUND: In rat colon tumors induced by the cooked food mutagens 2-amino-1-methyl-6-phenylimidazo[4,5-b]pyridine (PhIP) and 2-amino-3-methylimidazo[4,5-f]quinoline (IQ), ras and p53 alterations are rarely detected. To investigate the roles of the APC gene and microsatellite instability (MI) in PhIP-induced colon carcinogenesis, mutations of the APC gene and alterations of microsatellites were examined. METHODS: Complimentary DNA sequence of the rat APC gene were determined by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) using primers based on the human APC sequence. PCR-single strand conformation polymorphism (SSCP) analysis was performed using primers based on sequences of flanking introns and exon 15. Microsatellite alterations were also analyzed using 85 microsatellite sequences dispersed through most of the rat chromosomes. RESULTS: Five mutations in the APC gene were detected in four of eight PhIP-induced rat colon tumors. All five mutations involved deletion of a guanine base in a 5'-GGGA-3' sequence. Only 2 of 13 IQ-induced colon tumors had mutations of the APC gene and these were base substitution mutations. Seven of eight PhIP-induced colon tumors had microsatellite alterations in at least one locus, whereas no alterations were observed in the IQ-induced colon tumors. CONCLUSIONS: The specific 5'-GGGA-3' to 5'-GGA-3' mutation and MI demonstrated in this study are strong evidence of a mutational fingerprint of PhIP.

Animals↗

Microsatellite instability and loss of heterozygosity on chromosome 10 in rat mammary tumors induced by 2-amino-1-methyl-6-phenylimidazo[4,5-b]pyridine.

Microsatellite instability (MI) and loss of heterozygosity (LOH) were examined in mammary tumors induced in Sprague-Dawley x F344 F1 female rats by 2-amino-l-methyl-6-phenylimidazo[4,5-b]pyridine (PhIP). Examination of 62 microsatellite loci revealed MI in nine of 15 (60%) PhIP-induced mammary tumors, and five of these MI-positive tumors had mutations in more than one microsatellite locus. In contrast, two of 12 (17%) 7,12-dimethylbenz[a]anthracene (DMBA)-induced mammary tumors were MI positive but had mutations at only one locus each. Further, by using 37 polymorphic markers specific LOH was observed in four of 15 PhIP induced mammary tumors on distal parts of rat chromosome 10, which is homologous to human chromosome 17q with no background level of LOH. Similarly, DMBA-induced mammary tumors showed specific LOH on the same region of chromosome 10. These data suggest that mismatch-repair deficiency and loss of chromosome 10 are involved in carcinogenesis of PhIP-induced rat mammary tumors.

Animals↗

Gastric antral vascular ectasia causing severe anemia.

Gastric antral vascular ectasia (GAVE) that caused continuous gastrointestinal bleeding is reported in a 76-year-old woman who had been treated with repeated blood transfusions because of severe anemia. Endoscopic examination was performed and diffuse speckled telangiectasia of the entire antrum was observed. Laboratory data showed SGOT > SGPT, decreased chE level and the increased levels of serum gastrin and ICG at 15 min. Anti-HCV antibody was positive. Image examination revealed splenomegaly. There was no family history of telangiectasia, and no telangiectasia was found in other organs. The diagnosis was established as GAVE with liver cirrhosis. Surgical resection of the distal stomach resulted in termination of the bleeding, and the cirrhotic changes of the surface of the liver were revealed at that time, providing further evidence of liver cirrhosis. Although the pathogenesis of GAVE is unknown, liver cirrhosis and hypergastrinemia are thought to be associated with the condition. Importantly, this condition is a cause of severe gastrointestinal bleeding in elderly patients.

Aged↗

Identification of 29 rat genetic markers by arbitrarily primed polymerase chain reaction.

The number of genetic markers for the rat is still limited, in spite of its wide use in cancer research. To facilitate accurate mapping of both established and novel rat genetic markers, we constructed a linkage map by genotyping 105 F2 rats from ACI/N (ACI) and BUF/Nac (BUF) crosses. This map consists of 120 genetic markers that had been previously reported, mainly by two research groups, but had not been integrated. To find new genetic markers, the arbitrarily primed polymerase chain reaction (AP-PCR) was applied to detect polymorphic bands between ACI and BUF rats. After testing 56 single primers and 12 combinations of primers, we found 36 bands produced by 16 single primers and two combinations to be reliably polymorphic between ACI and BUF rats. The 36 bands were typed in the 105 F2 rats, and 29 of them could be linkage-mapped. AP-PCR is thus useful to detect new genetic markers in laboratory strains of rats.

Animals↗

Human exposure to carcinogenic heterocyclic amines and their mutational fingerprints in experimental animals.

Heterocyclic amines (HCAs) are mutagens/carcinogens to which humans are exposed on almost a daily basis. 2-Amino-1-methyl-6-phenylimidazo[4,5-b]pyridine (PhlP) is the most abundant of the various carcinogenic HCAs (present at a level of 0.56 to 69.2 ng/g of cooked meat or fish), with 2-amino-3,8-dimethylimidazo[4,5-f]quinoxaline (MelQx) following it at 0.64 to 6.44 ng/g. HCAs have been found in the urine of healthy people who consume ordinary diets, while patients receiving parenteral alimentation lack, for example, PhlP and MelQx in their urine. Based on the concentrations of PhlP and MelQx in urine samples from 10 healthy volunteers, daily intake of MelQx in Japanese was calculated to be 0.3 to 3.9 micrograms/person, while that of PhlP was 0.005 to 0 micrograms. The Japanese consume more MelQx than Americans, whereas Japanese intake of PhlP was about one-third that of Americans. MelQx-DNA adducts have also detected in Japanese Kidney, colon, and rectum samples using the 32P-postlabeling method followed by identification using high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) analysis; the levels were 0.18, 1.8, and 1.4 per 10(9) nucleotides, respectively. In addition, we elucidated the mutational fingerprints of Phlp by analyzing Apc mutations in rat colon cancers induced by this carcinogen. Four of eight tumors had a total of five mutations in the Apc gene, four of which featured a guanine deletion from 5'-GTGGGAT-3' sequences. This specific mutation spectrum may be used as a fingerprint of PhlP in evaluating its risk potential for human colon carcinogenesis. Mutations were not found in similar 2-amino-3-methylimidazo[4,5-f]quinoline-induced colon lesions. Microsatellite instability was detected in both colon and mammary tumors induced by PhlP. The mechanisms involved in this development of microsatellite instability in PhlP. The mechanisms involved in this development of microsatellite instability in PhlP-induced cancers remain to be elucidated.

Amines↗