Paradoxical increases in serum levels of highly chlorinated PCBs in aged women in clear contrast to robust decreases in dietary intakes from 1980 to 2003 in Japan

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>Exposure to polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) is considered to have culminated between 1950 and 1970 in Japan, and exposure through diet, the major exposure route, has decreased significantly over the last 10 years. The primary goal of the present study was to investigate the long-term trends and congener profiles of serum and dietary levels of PCBs using historical samples.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Using banked samples collected in 1980, 1995, and 2003 surveys, we determined the daily intakes and serum concentrations of 13 PCB congeners (#74, #99, #118, #138, #146, #153, #156, #163, #164, #170, #180, #182, and #187) in women.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The total daily PCB intake [ng/day, geometric mean (geometric standard deviation)] decreased significantly from 523 (2.5) in 1980 to 63 (3.2) in 2003. The serum total PCB level (ng/g lipid) in women <40 years of age decreased significantly from 185 (1.8) in 1980 to 68 (1.8) in 2003. In contrast, the level in women >50 years of age increased significantly from 125 (1.7) in 1980 to 242 (1.7) in 2003. Specifically, the serum concentrations of hexa (#138, #146, #153, #156, #163, and #164) and hepta (#170, #180, #182, and #187) congeners increased significantly. A comparison of the serum PCB levels of women born from 1940 to 1953 revealed that their serum total PCB level was significantly higher in the 2003 survey [242 (1.7), n = 9] than in the 1995 [128 (2.0), n = 17] surveys. This increase in the total PCB level was attributable to increases in the hepta congener groups.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Present results suggest a decreased rate of elimination of hepta congeners with aging in females, rather than a birth-generation phenomenon.</p>

Axillary Artery Perfusion in Arteriosclerotic Thoracic Aortic Aneurysm / 日本心臓血管外科学会雑誌

Between 1996 to 2000, 12 patients with arteriosclerotic thoracic aortic aneurysm underwent surgery with cardiopulmonary bypass using the right axillary artery as an arterial inflow. All patients received total arch replacement with selective cerebral perfusion and deep hypothermic circulatory arrest. One patient with occlusion of the left carotid artery died of postoperative stroke. There were no postoperative complications or deaths related to axillary artery perfusion except for cerebrovascular accidents. Perfusion through the axillary artery, providing antegrade aortic flow, is a safe and effective procedure to avoid stroke owing to retrograde arterial perfusion. We believe that the axillary artery could be an alternative to conventional femoral artery cannulation in the setting of aortic arch operations.

Endovascular Stent-Grafting in a Patient with Concomitant Descending Thoracic Aortic Aneurysm and Cancer of the Right Lung / 日本心臓血管外科学会雑誌

A 75-year-old woman underwent endovascular stent-grafting for a descending thoracic aortic aneurysm, followed by video-assisted thoracoscopic right upper lobectomy for concomitant lung cancer in a later procedure. Two custom-made endovascular spiral Z stents covered with woven Dacron (DuPont Co., Wilmington, DE, USA) were delivered via the femoral artery under local anesthesia using pull-through technique. Intraoperative angiograms showed successful exclusion of the aneurysm without any endoleakage. Conventional surgical treatments for both diseases in this patient would have required bilateral thoracotomy either in a simultaneous or staged fashion and entail risks of postoperative pulmonary dysfunction and progression of the cancer. Endovascular stent-grafting offered potential superior operative results and quality of postoperative life in this patient with concomitant descending thoracic aortic aneurysm and cancer of the right lung.

EFFECT OF PHYSICAL EXERCISE ON MINERAL METABOLISM / 体力科学

Urinary mineral excretions were measured on five healthy 19-years-old female students in domestic sciences course of a woman's college and five healthy 18-19-years-old female students in physical training course, during the training camp of ski events.<BR>The examination for the female students in domestic sciences course was done on 22 December as of ordinary time at school and on 23-25 December 1969 in training camp of ski event at a skiing ground. For the female students in physical training course the examination was done on 9-13 January 1970 in training camp at the same skiing ground and on 3-5 February 1970 in ordinary time at school. Every three hours urine was collected during the examination periods.<BR>(1) Whole urine volume per 24 hours decreased in training camp in comparison with that in ordinary school time, while the excretion increased after the physical exercise and decreased during the sleeping hours.<BR>(2) Creatinine excretion per 24 hours increased in the training camp and diurnally the excretion increased after the physical exercises. The variation of creatinine excretion seemed to be effected by the physical exercise.<BR>(3) Decrease of Na excretion and increase of K excretion were observed in the students of domestic sciences course in training camp. Increase pattern of Na and K excretion with diurnal variation in training camp was observed with physical exercises.<BR>(4) Urinary excretion of Ca and Mg increased by the female students of physical training course in training camp. On the diurnal pattern, the increase of Ca and Mg excretion caused by physical exercise showed some time lag of the peak compared to that of Na and K.<BR>(5) Phosphorus excretion increased both in the students of domestic sciences course and of physical training course in training camp. The decrease of P excretion in the daytime and the increase in the sleeping hours was commonly observed for both groups.<BR>(6) Following up the diurnal variations of urine volume and urinary excretions of Na, K, Ca and Mg in the female students of physical training course through the training camp for five days, difference between the increase of the excretions after, physical exercises and the decrease in sleeping hours got less day by day. Such a change seems to be the physiological adaptation of human body in order to control excess excretions of the important substances.<BR>(7) Although the value of Na f K ratio fell in both student groups during training camp, the decrease was smaller for the physical training course group than for the domestic sciences course group. The fact that more excretions of urine volume and creatinine and less lowering of Na/K ratio than those of the domestic sciences course students were observed in the physical training course students seemed to be the effect of the daily training.

EFFECT OF PHYSICAL EXERCISE ON MINERAL METABOLISM / 体力科学

Six healthy boatmen of students were examined their mineral metabolism in urine and serum over three different periods consisting of three successive days in every two weeks, during the training camp of boat race event. The first examination period (I) was 11-14 June as ordinary time while attending school, the second period (II) 25-28 June as relatively light exercise time in training camp while attending school, and the third period (III) in summer vacation 9-12 July as hard physical exercise time. Every two hour urine was collected during the three days of each period and the blood from the cubital vein of the examinees was sampled at noon of the second day in each period.<BR>[A] Urinary excretions per 24 hours in the three different periods.<BR>(1) No definite variation was seen in pH. The value of the Donaggio's reaction was found greater in periods II and III compared to that of period I.<BR>(2) Urine volume did not show any significant variation, but the water metabolism probably rose in periods II and III. Creatinine increased significantly in III.<BR>(3) No significant variation of Na was observed but the total excretion including the sweat was to be much greater in periods II and III increasingly, and the difference of Ca and Mg between I and II was not significant, while total excretion significantly rose in III.<BR>(4) The Na/K ratios fell in periods II and III. The fall seems to be caused by promotion in K excretion and in Na retention relatively, in which the rise of the function of the adrenal cortex is suggested.<BR>[B] Serum contents of Na, K, P, Ca and Mg in the three different periods.<BR>The fall of Na in periods II and III was significantly greater, in which the effect of the sweat excretion is considered, while K rose significantly in the same periods. The increase of P was in II and III. Both Ca and Mg showed a tendency to increase in III.<BR>[C] Diurnal pattern of the urinary excretions in the three different periods.<BR>(1) The increase of the urine excretion was showen with about 2 hours lag after the morning exercise and the increase pattern by the afternoon and evening exercises were also shown. Two peak pattern of creatinine in period II was similar to that of the urine volume.<BR>(2) Increase patterns of Na, K, Ca and Mg excretion in periods II and III were also observed with the physical exercise. In the morning exercise the increase appeared 2 hours after the exercise, though in the afternoon and the evening exercises the increase appeared from the time of exercise. The pattern of Na and K showed that the increase after the morning exercise was greater than that by the afternoon and the evening exercises. The variation pattern of Ca and Mg showed that the time lag in the increase existed in comparison with that of Na and K, in which the greater increase by the afternoon and the evening exercises was observed noticeably compared with that of the morning.<BR>(3) Regarding to P excretion, the decrease during the daytime, and the increase in the sleeping time was common through the three periods. The increase in the evening by the evening exercise in periods II and III was remarkable.