Indoor air quality and thermal comfort in temporary houses occupied after the Great East Japan Earthquake.

UNLABELLED: Thermal conditions and indoor concentrations of aldehydes, volatile organic compounds (VOCs), and NO2 were investigated in 19 occupied temporary houses in 15 temporary housing estates constructed in Minamisoma City, Fukushima, Japan. The data were collected in winter, spring, and summer in January to July 2012. Thermal conditions in temporary log houses in the summer were more comfortable than those in pre-fabricated houses. In the winter, the indoor temperature was uncomfortably low in all of the houses, particularly the temporary log houses. Indoor air concentrations for most aldehydes and VOCs were much lower than the indoor guidelines, except for those of p-dichlorobenzene, acetaldehyde, and total VOCs. The indoor p-dichlorobenzene concentrations exceeded the guideline (240 µg/m(3)) in 18% of the temporary houses, and the 10(-3) cancer risk level (91 µg/m(3)) was exceeded in winter in 21% due to use of moth repellents by the occupants. Indoor acetaldehyde concentrations exceeded the guideline (48 µg/m(3) ) in about half of the temporary houses, likely originating from the wooden building materials. Indoor NO2 concentrations in the temporary houses were significantly higher in houses where combustion heating appliances were used (0.17 ± 0.11 ppm) than in those where they were not used (0.0094 ± 0.0065 ppm). PRACTICAL IMPLICATIONS: In the winter, log-house-type temporary houses are comfortable in terms of humidity, dew condensation, and fungi based on the results of questionnaires and measurements, whereas pre-fabricated temporary houses are more comfortable in terms of temperature. In the summer, log-house-type temporary houses are comfortable in terms of temperature and humidity. More comfortable temporary housing in terms of temperature and humidity year-round is needed. Indoor air concentrations of p-dichlorobenzene and NO2 were quite high in some temporary houses due to occupants' activities, such as use of moth repellents and combustion heating appliances. The government should provide recommendations for safe use of temporary houses by occupants.

Indoor air quality, air exchange rates, and radioactivity in new built temporary houses following the Great East Japan Earthquake in Minamisoma, Fukushima.

This study measured air exchange rates, indoor concentrations of aldehydes and volatile organic compounds (VOCs), and radioactivity levels at 19 temporary houses in different temporary housing estate constructed in Minamisoma City following the Great East Japan Earthquake. The 19 surveyed houses represented all of the companies assigned to construct temporary houses in that Minamisoma City. Data were collected shortly after construction and before occupation, from August 2011 to January 2012. Mean air exchange rates in the temporary houses were 0.28/h, with no variation according to housing types and construction date. Mean indoor concentrations of formaldehyde, acetaldehyde, toluene, ethylbenzene, m/p-xylene, o-xylene, styrene, p-dichlorobenzene, tetradecane, and total VOCs (TVOCs) were 29.2, 72.7, 14.6, 6.35, 3.05, 1.81, 7.29, 14.3, 8.32, and 901 µg/m(3), respectively. The levels of acetaldehyde and TVOCs exceeded the indoor guideline (48 µg/m(3)) and interim target (400 µg/m(3)) in more than half of the 31 rooms tested. In addition to guideline chemicals, terpenes (α-pinene and d-limonene) and acetic esters (butyl acetate and ethyl acetate) were often detected in these houses. The indoor radiation levels measured by a Geiger-Müller tube (Mean: 0.22 µSv/h) were lower than those recorded outdoors (Mean: 0.42 µSv/h), although the shielding effect of the houses was less than for other types of buildings.

Photocatalytic degradation of p-nitrophenol by zinc oxide particles.

The degradation of p-nitrophenol (PNP) by ZnO particles has been studied. With increasing PNP loading the degradation rate decreased. The mineralization of PNP was rather slow compared with the degradation. With a decrease in particle diameter or an increase in surface area, the degradation rate significantly increased. The degradation capability with solar irradiation was found to be superior to UV light irradiation. It was found that 30 mg L(-1) of PNP was completely degraded by solar light with the accumulated UV light of around 23 kJ L(-1) at ZnO dosage of 5 g L(-1). The degradation PNP by ZnO with UV light or solar light was faster than that by TiO(2).

Decolorization and mineralization of Oolong tea polyphenols in colored soft drink wastewater by photo Fenton reaction.

The decolorization and the mineralization of the colored soft drink wastewater including Oolong tea polyphenols by the photo Fenton reaction have been investigated. The decolorization of the colored soft drink wastewater including Oolong tea polyphenols by the photo Fenton reaction could be divided into 3 phases. Just after H2O2 was added to the solution, the color of the solution immediately increased from absorbance of 0.247 to 0.711 at the wavelength of 400 nm, which was defined as the 1st phase. Subsequently the significant decolorization by the photo Fenton reaction occurred at the 2nd phase. Finally, complete decolorization (the color attributed to the color of Fe3+) could be achieved in 180 min at the 3rd phase. The instantaneous and considerable color increase at the 1st phase could be attributed to the formation of intermediate colored compounds like quinones and soluble iron complexes produced by the Fenton reaction. About 95% mineralization of model colored soft drink wastewater with 229 mg L(-1) initial TOC concentration was achieved after 165 min.

Solubilization of excess sludge in activated sludge process using the solar photo-Fenton reaction.

The solubilization of excess sludge by the solar photo-Fenton reaction has been investigated for the reduction of excess sludge in the activated sludge process. The solubilization kinetics depended on the dosages of the Fenton reagents, Fe and H(2)O(2). Increases of initial Fe and H(2)O(2) concentrations in their ranges studied in this work continuously enhanced the sludge solubilization. Cell lysis by the photo-Fenton reaction caused the increase in dissolved chemical oxygen demand (COD) in the first step of sludge solubilization. The further oxidative decomposition of the discharged organic compounds by the photo-Fenton reaction led to the decrease in the dissolved COD as the second step of sludge solubilization. The increase of dissolved COD in the first step of sludge solubilization and the consumption of H(2)O(2) could be described by the pseudo-zero order kinetics based on the accumulated light energy. About 40% reduction of mixed-liquor suspended solids (MLSS) by the solar photo-Fenton reaction was found. It was found that solar light used as a light energy source instead of costly and hazardous artificial UV light was very effective. The dissolved COD for solar photo-Fenton reaction increased faster and by 1.5 times as compared with that by artificial UV light.

Innovative water treatment system coupled with energy production using photo-Fenton reaction.

The treatment of colored effluent coupled with energy production using a modified photo-Fenton process has been examined. Fe and carbon plates were employed as an anode and cathode, respectively. In acidic solution, Fe plates would corrode, which leads to elute ferrous ion from Fe plates into the solution and to yield hydrogen gas at the cathode and to generate an electric energy. The eluted ferrous ion could be used for the photo-Fenton reaction. As a result, decolorization of colored effluent and production of electricity and hydrogen could be carried out simultaneously and effectively. It was found that the Orange II concentration in the colored effluent flow decreased up to 84.2% of inlet concentration at 0.8 of relative position in the liquid flow path of continuous photo-reactor. In our proposed system, the energy production, such as an electric power and a hydrogen gas, can be generated at the same time as the decolorization of colored effluent. The produced electric power was 16.5 Wh kg(-1)-Fe(reacted). The produced hydrogen gas was estimated as 13 g-H(2) kg(-1)-Fe(reacted).

Frequent association of 22q11.2 deletion with tetralogy of Fallot.

Chromosome 22q11.2 deletion causes DiGeorge syndrome, velocardiofacial syndrome, conotruncal anomaly face syndrome with tetralogy of Fallot (TOF), and sporadic or familial TOF. To determine the prevalence and clinical importance of the 22q11.2 deletion in TOF, a series of 212 Japanese TOF patients was studied. The type of pulmonary blood supply, which may lead to various clinical outcomes, and other additional anomalies were evaluated clinically. The 22q11.2 deletion was diagnosed by fluorescence in situ hybridization with N25 and TUPLE1 probes. Of the 212 patients examined, 28 (13%) had a 22q11.2 deletion, the frequency being higher than that in TOF patients with trisomy 21. The prevalence of the deletion in TOF patients with pulmonary atresia (PA) plus major aortico-pulmonary collateral arteries (MAPCA) was significantly higher than the value in patients with PA plus patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) (P = 0.04) or with pulmonary stenosis (PS) (P < 0.0001). All 28 patients with 22q11.2 deletion had one or more extracardiac abnormalities. Four of 9 patients with the 22q11.2 deletion and TOF-PA-MAPCA suffered from bronchomalacia, while none of 19 patients with TOF-PA-PDA or TOF-PS manifested bronchomalacia (P = 0.006). These results indicate that 22q11.2 deletion is the most frequent cause of syndromic TOF, especially for TOF-PA-MAPCA, and bronchomalacia is the clinically most important associated anomaly in TOF-PA-MAPCA patients.

Influences of mothers' dieting behaviors on their junior high school daughters.

We investigated the influences of mothers' dieting behaviors on their junior high school daughters. We assessed dieting behaviors and eating habits in 221 pairs of mothers and their junior high school daughters using questionnaires. The subjects were classified into an extraordinary-diet (Ex-D) group, who attempted to diet rapidly with unhealthy methods, a structured-diet (St-D) group, who attempted to diet gradually with healthy methods, and a non-diet (N-D) group, using the questionnaire scores. 1) A significant correlation was observed in the distribution of dieting behavior groups between the mothers and their daughters. 2) The scores for dieting behavior of the mothers whose daughters were classified into the Ex-D group were significantly higher in several question items compared with those of the mothers whose daughters were classified into the N-D group. 3) The scores for eating consciousness of the mothers whose daughters were classified into the Ex-D group were significantly lower for the item "Cooking is a fun pastime" compared with those of the mothers whose daughters were classified into the St-D or N-D groups. 4) The number of experiences of conversation with daughters about diet for the mothers whose daughters were in the Ex-D group was significantly higher than that for the mothers whose daughters were classified into the N-D group. The mothers' dieting behavior, eating consciousness, and number of conversations with daughters about diet influenced dieting behaviors in their junior high school daughters. Appropriate education of mothers would be useful to prevent their daughters' inappropriate diet.

Impaired cardiorespiratory response to brief sudden strenuous exercise in the postoperative tetralogy of fallot patients: a ten-second pedaling test.

No studies of cardiorespiratory response to brief, sudden, strenuous exercise in patients after tetralogy of Fallot (TOF) repair have been reported. We investigated the exercise capacity of TOF patients using a ten-second pedaling test designed to study cardiorespiratory responsiveness to brief, sudden, strenuous exercise. We assessed exercise capacity using a ten-second pedaling test (ten seconds maximal of voluntary cranking as fast as possible against an ergometer's inertial resistance), coupled with a conventional ramp-type progressive exercise test at a constant rate to the limit of tolerance, in eight male postoperative TOF patients and eight male control subjects. In the ten-second pedaling test, there were no significant differences in the integrated areas of heart rate (HR) and oxygen uptake () responses between the TOF patients and controls, but there were significantly longer decreasing phase time constants of HR and responses in the TOF patients than in the controls. In the conventional exercise test, the endurance time, peak-HR, and peak- did not differ between the groups. The TOF group, with a normal exercise capacity assessed by a conventional exercise test, had an impaired cardiorespiratory response to brief, sudden, strenuous exercise assessed by a ten-second pedaling test.

Involvement of iNOS in postischemic heart dysfunction of stroke-prone spontaneously hypertensive rats.

We investigated the possible contribution of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) to postischemic heart dysfunction and injuries in stroke-prone spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHRSP). SHRSP, 13-14 wk of age, had significantly higher systolic blood pressure and greater heart weight than age-matched Wistar-Kyoto rats (WKY). Permanent occlusion of the left anterior descending coronary artery (LAD) caused significant and long-lasting increases in the activity and mRNA expression of myocardial iNOS in SHRSP compared with WKY. However, there was no significant difference in the LAD occlusion-induced expression of interleukin-1beta mRNA between SHRSP and WKY. Hemodynamic deterioration and myocardial fibrosis were also observed in SHRSP at 4 wk after LAD occlusion. Continuous administration of 2-amino-5,6-dihydro-6-methyl-4H-1,2-thiazin (AMT) completely blocked the LAD occlusion-induced increase in the myocardial iNOS activity of SHRSP. Moreover, postischemic heart dysfunction and injuries were also significantly ameliorated by 2-amino-5,6-dihydro-6-methyl-4H-1,2-thiazin (AMT). These results suggest that the increased activity of myocardial iNOS plays a pivotal role in the development of postischemic cardiac dysfunction and injuries in SHRSP with the hypertensive and hypertrophic heart.

Vasculitis associated with septicemia: case report and review of the literature.

We report an unusual case in which infectious endocarditis presented systemic vasculitis and glomerulonephritis as the initial manifestation of the disease. The patient was a 16-year-old girl with congenital cyanotic heart disease who presented with skin purpura, proteinuria, and hematuria. She had hypergammaglobulinemia, cryoglobulinemia, and positive circulating immune complexes. Renal biopsy revealed crescentic glomerulonephritis. Her serum C3 level, which was initially normal, became decreased, and prednisolone and azathioprine were administered with a tentative diagnosis of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Soon after, she developed fever and renal failure. Blood culture grew Streptococcus pyogenes, and the diagnosis of infectious endocarditis was made. Eight cases of systemic vasculitis and glomerulonephritis associated with infectious endocarditis have been described in the literature. Infectious endocarditis should be included in the differential diagnosis of systemic vasculitis and glomerulonephritis.

Behçet's disease presenting with a right atrial vegetation.

Behçet's disease (BD) is difficult to diagnose in children because patients often do not have characteristic symptoms and pediatricians have a low awareness of BD. We report on the case of BD in a 12-year-old boy that presented as endocarditis. Prednisolone, started after infective endocarditis had been ruled out, had a dramatic effect. Cardiac involvement in BD and the differential diagnosis of endocarditis are discussed.

White coat hypertension in two adolescents.

We describe two adolescent boys with white coat hypertension. Both patients had significantly high blood pressure documented on more than three occasions at clinic. No cause for hypertension or target organ damage was demonstrated. Twenty-four-hour mean ambulatory blood pressure values were normal for height and sex, which led to the diagnosis.

Ventricular septal defect associated with microdeletions of chromosome 22q11.2.

Microdeletions of chromosome 22q11.2 (del.22q11) cause DiGeorge syndrome, velo-cardio-facial syndrome, and conotruncal anomaly face syndrome, which are commonly associated with conotruncal heart anomalies. Approximately 15% of the patients manifest ventricular septal defect (VSD), and the conal septal type of VSD has been proposed to be associated with del.22q11, since it is categorized as a conotruncal anomaly. However, the types of VSD associated with del.22q11 remain poorly studied. The purpose of this study is to assess whether conal septal VSD or other types of VSDs are associated with del.22q11. We analyzed the chromosomes of 22 consecutive patients with conal-septal VSD, prospectively, and evaluated the types of VSD observed in 3 patients with del.22q11, retrospectively. Del.22q11 was not detected in any of the 22 patients with conal septal VSD. All the VSDs observed in the 3 patients with del.22q11 were a perimembranous type of VSD, which is not a conotruncal anomaly. Our results suggest that perimembranous VSD can be associated with del.22q11, but del.22q11 is not a common cause of conal-septal VSD.

Effect of intrathecal nocistatin on the formalin-induced pain in mice versus that of nociceptin/orphanin FQ.

The effect of intrathecal nocistatin on formalin-induced pain in mice was investigated and compared with that of nociceptin/orphanin FQ (Noc/OFQ) to get information on the functional relationship between nocistatin and Noc/OFQ in the spinal cord. Subcutaneous injection of formalin into the hindpaw induced biphasic pain behaviors. Nocistatin, 1 pg, given intrathecally 1 min before 2% formalin injection, significantly attenuated the first phase of the formalin-induced pain. Also, 10 to 1000 pg of nocistatin, given 10 min after formalin injection, significantly inhibited the second phase of the formalin test. Naloxone, 5 mg/kg i.p., failed to antagonize inhibitory effects of nocistatin on either phase of the formalin-induced pain, indicating that analgesic effects of nocistatin were unrelated to the classic opioid system. At 1 to 100 pg, Noc/OFQ exerted no influence on either phase of the 2% formalin-induced pain. However, at 1% formalin, Noc/OFQ significantly aggravated the second phase at 10 pg but not the first phase at 1 to 1000 pg. This aggravating effect of Noc/OFQ was completely reversed by 10 pg of nocistatin. At 0.3 and 1 microg, Noc/OFQ, but not nocistatin, significantly inhibited both phases of the 2% formalin-induced pain. Suppressive effects of 1 microg of Noc/OFQ on the formalin-induced pain were not affected by 1 microg of nocistatin. These results suggest that Noc/OFQ might be involved in the second phase of the mouse formalin test and that, under such pathophysiological conditions, nocistatin could exhibit antagonism against Noc/OFQ at the spinal level.