External dose measurements to investigate the body-size dependence of personal dosemeter responses in areas affected by the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear accident.

To formulate necessary protective measures after a large-scale nuclear accident, it is crucial to understand the levels of radiation to which persons living in radionuclide-contaminated areas are exposed. Individual monitoring using personal dosemeters (PDs) plays a role in this, although PDs were not originally intended to be used by members of the public. The present study investigated PD responses in areas highly affected by the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear accident, as well as the dependence of those measurements on body size. Three types of commercially available electronic PDs, including D-shuttle, which has often been used in Fukushima, were placed on the front surfaces of three age-specific anthropometric phantoms imitating a 5-y-old, a 10-y-old and an adult male, and these phantoms were then exposed to radiation in an open field in the affected area. In the case of D-shuttle, the ratios of PD readings to the ambient dose rate for the 5-y-old phantom and the adult male phantom were 0.79 and 0.72, respectively. The ratios were somewhat higher for the other PDs; any PDs showed higher readings than the effective doses estimated by simulations based on the assumed ground deposition of 134Cs and/or 137Cs over the affected areas.

COMPARATIVE STUDY ON PERFORMANCE OF VARIOUS ENVIRONMENTAL RADIATION MONITORS.

After the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant accident, the radiation dose for first responders was not evaluated accurately due to lack of the monitoring data. It has been important to evaluate a radiation dose for workers in emergency response at a nuclear accident. In this study, a new device which can evaluate both of external and internal exposure doses was developed and the performance of various environmental radiation monitors including commercially available monitors were tested and compared from the viewpoint of an environmental monitoring at emergency situation. Background counts of the monitors and the ambient dose equivalent rate were measured in Fukushima Prefecture. The detection limit for beta particles was evaluated by the method of ISO11929. The sensitivity for gamma-rays of the dust monitor using a ZnS(Ag) and a plastic scintillator was high, but that of the external exposure monitor using a silicon photodiode with CsI(Tl) crystal was relatively low. The detection limit ranged 190-280 Bq m-3 at 100 µSv h-1, exceeding the detection limit of 100 Bq m-3 in the minimum requirement by the National Regulation Authority in Japan. Use of the shielding with lead is necessary to achieve the minimum requirement. These results indicate that the dust monitor using a ZnS(Ag) scintillator and a plastic scintillator is suitable for the external exposure monitor and the developed internal exposure monitor is for the internal exposure monitor at emergency situation among the evaluated monitors. In the future study, the counting efficiency, the relative uncertainty and the performance of the detection for alpha particles will be evaluated, and it will be considered which type of a monitor is suitable after taking the portability into account.

EVALUATIONS OF INVENTORY AND ACTIVITY CONCENTRATION OF RADIOCESIUM IN SOIL AT A RESIDENTIAL HOUSE 3 YEARS AFTER THE FUKUSHIMA NUCLEAR ACCIDENT.

Soil samples from the surface to a 5 cm depth were collected at a residential house in Koriyama City, Fukushima Prefecture using a scraper plate every three months from March 2014 to September 2014 to evaluate the vertical distribution profiles and inventories of 134Cs and 137Cs in soil. The vertical distribution profiles of radiocesium (134Cs and 137Cs) in soil showed that greater than 86% of the total radiocesium was absorbed in the upper 2 cm 3 years after the accident. Radiocesium in the surface layer seems to move to the lower layer over time. The migration of radiocesium in surface layer might be influenced by the ground surface runoff by rainfall. Radiocesium inventories in June increased significantly over the short period between March and June. In contrast, the radiocesium inventories in September did not increase significantly compared to the values in June. Radiocesium resuspension and deposition caused by decontamination work and meteorological events might be one possible reason for the increased radiocesium inventories observed in June.

INVESTIGATION OF EXTERNAL RADIATION DOSES DURING RESIDENTS' TEMPORAL STAY TO NAMIE TOWN, FUKUSHIMA PREFECTURE.

Namie Town in Fukushima Prefecture, the majority of which was an evacuation area as a result of the effects of the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant accident, carried out a 'temporal stay' in September 2016 so that residents could check their houses. Therefore, in cooperation with the town authorities, the authors distributed personal dosemeters and behaviour record forms to record the personal dose equivalent rate and investigate the relationship between residents' external radiation dose and their behaviour. When the personal dose equivalent rate was calculated from the measured personal dose equivalent per hour, the median was 0.12 µSv h-1, the maximum value and the minimum value were 0.58 and 0.06 µSv h-1, respectively. Meanwhile, since personal fluctuations were observed in personal dose equivalent, grasping the relationship between residents' behaviour and exposed dose can be applied to risk communication.

CHARACTERISTICS OF INDOOR RADON AND THORON CONCENTRATIONS IN CAVE DWELLINGS IN GANSU PROVINCE, CHINA.

Short-term measurements were made in four different types of Chinese cave dwellings, 'ground', 'open-cut', 'aboveground' and 'underground', located in Gansu Province, China, in order to evaluate the diurnal and seasonal variations in indoor radon (222Rn) and thoron (220Rn) concentrations. As a result, in most of the 'ground' and 'open-cut' cave dwellings in summer, the indoor 222Rn concentrations during the nighttime were higher than those during the daytime. In the winter, such fluctuation was not observed. The daily indoor 222Rn concentrations in summer were higher than those in winter, excluding the 'aboveground' cave dwelling, and these concentrations depended on dwelling type, exhalation from the building materials and ventilation. In contrast with 222Rn, there seemed to be only very slight clear variations in 220Rn.

COMPARISON OF BACTERIAL FLORA IN RIVER SEDIMENTS FROM FUKUSHIMA AND AOMORI PREFECTURES BY 16S RDNA SEQUENCE ANALYSIS.

Monitoring of radioactive materials has been reported in rivers and soil in Fukushima post the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant accident in March 2011. However, there are few reports on the influence of this event on bacteria in forest soils and rivers. Therefore, through amplicon sequencing of 16S rDNA we compared the bacterial flora in river sediment soils from Fukushima prefecture and from an area not exposed to radioactive contamination, Aomori prefecture. The bacterial composition in the Aomori prefecture soil and Fukushima soil were found to be very similar at the phylum level. However, Fukushima soil had significantly fewer Bacteroidetes than the Aomori soil (p = 0.014), while the content of Firmicutes and Latescibacteria (WS3) was significantly higher (p = 0.001, 0.013 respectively). However, no increase in the content of radioactive-resistant bacteria was observed. In future studies, it is necessary to standardise the conditions for soil collection to assess its content of radioactive substances.

CHANGES OF ABSORBED DOSE RATE IN AIR BY CAR-BORNE SURVEY IN NAMIE TOWN, FUKUSHIMA PREFECTURE AFTER THE FUKUSHIMA DAIICHI NUCLEAR POWER PLANT ACCIDENT.

The latest car-borne survey was carried out by Hirosaki University in order to grasp the local distribution of the absorbed dose rate in air after the evacuation order was lifted on Namie Town in 2017. The car-borne survey of absorbed dose rate in air was carried out on most of the roads which were accessible by car in Namie Town using a 3-in × 3-in NaI(Tl) scintillation spectrometer. The range of the absorbed dose rate in air was calculated to be 0.041-11 µGy h-1. The distribution maps of the absorbed dose rate in air were drawn based on the data obtained during the surveys in 2011, 2015 and 2017. The comparison of these absorbed dose rates in air suggests that the elevated absorbed dose rate in air in Namie Town caused by the FDNPP accident may be decreasing faster than natural decline which includes weathering effect and physical decay due to the artificial decontamination.

Comparative dosimetry for radon and thoron in high background radiation areas in China.

The present study focuses on internal exposure caused by the inhalation of radon and thoron progenies because the internal exposures have not yet been clarified. For their dose assessment, radon, thoron and thoron progeny concentrations were measured by passive monitors over a long period (for 6 months). Consequently, radon, thoron and equilibrium equivalent thoron concentrations were given as 124 ± 78, 1247 ± 1189 and 7.8 ± 9.1 Bq m(-3), respectively. Annual effective doses are estimated to be 3.1 ± 2.0 mSv for radon and 2.2 ± 2.5 mSv for thoron. Total dose are estimated to be 5.3 ± 3.5 mSv a(-1). The present study has revealed that the radon dose was comparable with the thoron dose, and the total dose was ∼2 times higher than the worldwide average.

Natural radioactivity and radon exhalation rates in man-made tiles used as building materials in Japan.

Man-made tiles frequently used in Japan were collected, and activity concentrations and radon ((222)Rn) exhalation rates in these tiles were measured. Dose estimations for inhabitants living in houses built using these tiles were also carried out. The activity concentrations of (226)Ra, (228)Ra and (40)K in the man-made tiles were 31-170, 35-110 and 260-980 Bq kg(-1), respectively. The (222)Rn exhalation rates in the tiles were 8.8-21 µBq m(-2) s(-1). The ranges of experimental activity concentrations and (222)Rn exhalation rates were almost identical to those of natural rocks used as typical building materials in Japan. The maximum value of effective dose to inhabitants living in houses built with the man-made tiles was 0.14 mSv y(-1), which is lower than the reference level range (1-20 mSv y(-1)) for abnormally high levels of natural background radiation published in the ICRP Publication 103.

A novel 5-HT3 receptor agonist, YM-31636, increases gastrointestinal motility without increasing abdominal pain.

We examined the effects of YM-31636 (2-(1H-imidazol-4-ylmethyl)-8H-indeno[1,2-d]thiazole monofumarate), a novel 5-HT3 receptor agonist, on gastrointestinal functions including visceral pain reflex in rats. Injection of YM-31636 increased the number of fecal pellets. This effect was completely inhibited by ramosetron, a 5-HT3 receptor antagonist. YM-31636 also increased the intracolonic pressure measured in both conscious and anesthetized rats. In isolated distal colon, YM-31636 increased the short-circuit current response. This effect was abolished by ramosetron. Both the maximal response and the potency of YM-31636 were weaker than those of other 5-HT3 receptor agonists. In two visceral pain reflex models, YM-31636 neither changed the magnitude of pressor response to colonic distension in anesthetized rats nor affected the visceromotor threshold to colorectal distension in conscious rats. In conclusion, YM-31636 facilitated defecation without increasing visceral pain. Consequently, 5-HT3 receptor agonists like YM-31636 would be promising in the treatment of chronic constipation.

Investigation of the effects of YM-31636, a novel 5-HT3 receptor agonist, on defecation in normal and constipated ferrets.

We examined the effects of YM-31636 (2-(1H-imidazol-4-ylmethyl)-8H-indeno[1,2-d]thiazole monofumarate), a newly synthesized 5-HT(3) receptor agonist, on defecation in normal and constipated ferrets, and evaluated it as an agent against constipation. YM-31636 facilitated defecation without inducing diarrhea or emetic episodes. This effect occurred within 1 h after oral administration, mostly within 30 min, whereas sodium picosulfate, a widely used laxative, tended to increase the frequency of defecation for several hours with much lower peak incidence than that of YM-31636, and induced diarrhea. UK14304 (brimonidine), an alpha2 receptor agonist, and morphine reduced the frequency of defecation and YM-31636 restored it. These effects of YM-31636 were antagonized by ramosetron, a 5-HT(3) receptor antagonist. These results suggest that YM-31636 could be promising in the treatment of constipation. Because of an early and reliable onset of action compared with sodium picosulfate, YM-31636 could make it easier to control the time of defecation.

Pharmacological profile of YM-31636, a novel 5-HT3 receptor agonist, in vitro.

We investigated the in vitro pharmacological profile of YM-31636 (2-(1H-imidazol-4-ylmethyl)-8H-indeno[1,2-d]thiazole monofumarate). In cloned human 5-HT3A receptors, YM-31636 had a pKi value of 9.67 vs. ramosetron and pKi values for other 5-HT3 receptor agonists were less than 7. YM-31636 showed very low affinities for other receptors. YM-31636 induced contraction of isolated guinea pig distal colon. The intrinsic activity was approximately 0.90 compared with 5-hydroxytryptamine's (5-HT) 1.0, and the potency was 26 times greater than that of 5-HT. YM-31636 increased short-circuit current (Isc) in the isolated guinea pig distal colon. In this case, the relative intrinsic activity was approximately 0.19. In isolated guinea pig right atrium, YM-31636 induced tachycardia with the relative intrinsic activity of approximately 0.23. All these effects of YM-31636 were antagonized by ramosetron, a selective 5-HT3 receptor antagonist. These results suggest that YM-31636 is a potent and selective 5-HT3 receptor agonist, preferentially acting on the contraction of the colon.

Synthesis of the selective 5-hydroxytryptamine 4 (5-HT4) receptor agonist (+)-(S)-2-chloro-5-methoxy-4-[5-(2-piperidylmethyl)-1,2,4-oxadiazol-3-y l]aniline.

In a search for novel 5-hydroxytryptamine 4 (5-HT4) agonists focusing on the linker group of benzamide derivatives, 2-chloro-5-methoxy-4-[5-(2-piperidylmethyl)-1,2,4-oxadiazol-3-yl]a niline (2) was prepared and its optical isomers were separated. The S isomer 2(S) showed high affinity for the human 5-HT4 receptor without affinity for the human 5-HT3 receptor, and potent 5-HT4 agonistic activity in longitudinal muscle myenteric plexus (LMMP) preparations of guinea pig ileum. The R isomer 2(R) showed opposite selectivity. As a result of other receptor binding studies, 2(S) (YM-53389) was shown to be a highly selective 5-HT4 agonist.

[Clinical statistics on inpatients and operations during a ten-year period (1983, 10-1993, 12) at Department of Urology, Fukui Medical School].

A clinical statistic survey was carried out on the patients, diseases and operations experienced at the ward of the Department of Urology, Fukui Medical School between 1983 and 1993. The numbers of inpatients and operations have been increasing since 1991. The majority of the inpatients are those with neoplastic disorders, and the number is steadily increasing every year. After the development of new endourological technology and ESWL, the mode of operation has dramatically changed during the 10 years, trending toward minimally invasive surgery and improvement of the patient's quality of life.

[Treatment of advanced prostate cancer].

The treatment against hormone relapsing prostate cancer was examined clinically, experimentally and by a review of the literature. Conventional systemic chemotherapy should be appreciated as one of the symptomatic treatment options; and suramin might be an effective chemotherapeutic agent, if severe and the wide spectrum of side effects were concurred. Intermittent administration of suramin is beneficial at present, with monitoring of its concentration in the blood. Some patients with wide spread bone metastases, especially if they are symptomatic, would be the candidates for hemiskeletal irradiation. Low dose of fractionated radiation was found to be more effective than high dose of single radiation. Bisphosphonate was found to protect bone resorption and destruction from the inoculated prostatic cancer cells in nude mice. In the clinic, the compound would be effective to the aggravation of bone metastasis, especially in combined use with irradiation.

Plasma lipid and lipoprotein profile in elderly female runners.

Plasma lipid and lipoprotein profiles were compared in elderly female runners (RU: n = 15, aged 66 +/- 5 years, body fat 20 +/- 4%, training distance 35 +/- 15 km week-1, VO2max 36 +/- 4 ml kg-1 min-1, mean +/- SD) and age-matched untrained women (UT: n = 28, 66 +/- 4 years, body fat 26 +/- 6%, VO2max 26 +/- 3 ml kg-1 min-1). There were insignificant differences in total cholesterol (RU: 5.04 +/- 0.60 vs. UT: 5.48 +/- 0.85 mmol l-1), HDL-cholesterol (RU: 1.97 +/- 0.41 vs. UT: 1.91 +/- 0.36 mmol l-1) and LDL-cholesterol (RU: 2.72 +/- 0.59 vs. UT: 3.03 +/- 0.80 mmol l-1) between the two groups. Plasma triglyceride concentration of the runners was significantly lower than that of the untrained women (RU: 0.80 +/- 0.27 vs UT: 1.14 +/- 0.36 mmol l-1, P less than 0.01). No difference was observed in the LDL-cholesterol/HDL-cholesterol ratio between the two groups (RU: 1.45 +/- 0.51 vs UT: 1.64 +/- 0.53 units). These results suggest that regularly performed running of 35 km week-1 in elderly women does not further elevate their HDL-cholesterol level which is already high compared to the levels found in elderly men. However, elderly female runners appear to be protected against age-related increases in the levels of triglyceride and LDL-cholesterol.

Plasma lipid and lipoprotein profiles in pre- and post-menopausal middle-aged runners.

Plasma lipid and lipoprotein profiles were compared in middle-aged trained and untrained women before and after menopause. Subjects were assigned to one of four groups: (1) pre-menopausal trained (Pre-T: n = 17, aged 42 +/- 5 years, body fat 19 +/- 5%, training distance 53 +/- 20 km week-1, VO2max 49 +/- 4 ml kg-1 min-1, mean +/- SD); (2) pre-menopausal untrained (Pre-UT: n = 26, 42 +/- 5 years, 24 +/- 7%, 34 +/- 6 ml kg-1 min-1); (3) post-menopausal trained (Post-T: n = 16, 54 +/- 3 years, 20 +/- 4%, 43 +/- 19 km week-1, 41 +/- 5 ml kg-1 min-1); and (4) post-menopausal untrained (Post-UT: n = 15, 55 +/- 3 years, 25 +/- 6%, 31 +/- 3 ml kg-1 min-1). There were no significant differences in total cholesterol (range 173-194 mg dl-1), triglyceride (56-72 mg dl-1), and HDL-cholesterol (HDLC: 76-85 mg dl-1) among the four groups. LDL-cholesterol (LDLC) in the post-menopausal women (Post-T: 96 +/- 32 mg dl-1; Post-UT: 104 +/- 23 mg dl-1) tended to be higher than in the premenopausal women (Pre-T: 86 +/- 25 mg dl-1, Pre-UT: 81 +/- 23 mg dl-1).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Characteristics of leg extensor muscle in a world champion masters jumper. A case study.

To examine the characteristics of a world champion masters jumper (aged 71 yr), a study was undertaken which included a muscle biopsy and measurement of mechanical force production. Comparisons were made to biopsy data obtained from the literature and to force data on 7 active males (63-81 yrs). Cross-sectional areas of vastus lateralis muscle of the jumper's dominant thigh were 3.43 (type I), 3.32 (type IIA) and 2.34 (type IIB) microns 2 X 10(3). This is smaller than what is reported from sedentary young and old. The torque-time curve of maximal isometric knee extension indicates that the jumper had the highest value per body weight from the onset to the peak (3.48 Nm/kg; 58.2% higher than age-matched controls). These results suggest that the daily training of the jumper has a specific effect on the rate of force production despite his relatively small muscle fiber areas.

Relation of running distance to plasma HDL-cholesterol level in middle-aged male runners.

This study examined the relation of training distance to plasma high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDLC) concentration in runners. Forty-eight male endurance runners, aged from 30 to 57 years, were classified into three groups according to training distance (Grade I: n = 12, 30 km/week; Grade II: n = 22, 60 km/week; Grade III: n = 14, 100 km/week in average running distance), with 12 non-lean and 12 lean subjects as age-matched untrained controls. There were no significant differences in plasma total cholesterol among the groups (194-208 mg/dl on average). HDLC level was significantly higher in the untrained, lean group than in the untrained, non-lean men (63 +/- 13 vs. 46 +/- 8 mg/dl, mean +/- SD). HDLC levels in all the runner groups were significantly higher than in untrained, lean subjects, and no differences were observed among Grade I, II and III runner groups (76 +/- 15, 76 +/- 13, 77 +/- 11 mg/dl, respectively). This study suggests that further increases in HDLC could not occur in response to further elevation of training distance in well-trained runners.

Cardiovascular changes associated with decreased aerobic capacity and aging in long-distance runners.

Fifty-five male runners aged between 30 to 80 years were examined to determine the relative roles of various cardiovascular parameters which may account for the decrease in maximal oxygen uptake (VO2max) with aging. All subjects had similar body fat composition and trained for a similar mileage each week. The parameters tested were VO2max, maximal heart rate (HRmax), cardiac output (Q), and arteriovenous difference in oxygen concentration (Ca-Cv)O2 during graded, maximal treadmill running. Average body fat and training mileage were roughly 12% and 50 km.week-1, respectively. The average 10-km run-time slowed significantly by 6.0%.decade-1 [( 10-km run-time (min) = 0.323 x age (years) + 24.4] (n = 49, r = 0.692, p less than 0.001]. A strong correlation was found between age and VO2max [( VO2max (ml.kg-1.min-1) = -0.439 x age + 76.5] (n = 55, r = -0.768, p less than 0.001]. Thus, VO2max decreased by 6.9%.decade-1 along with reductions of HRmax (3.2%.decade-1, p less than 0.001) and Q (5.8%.decade-1, p less than 0.001), while no significant change with age was observed in estimated (Ca-Cv)O2. It was concluded that the decline of VO2max with aging in runners was mainly explained by the central factors (represented by the decline of HR and Q in this study), rather than by the peripheral factor (represented by (Ca-Cv)O2).