Pyrrole adducts in globin and plasma of workers exposed to hexane.

OBJECTIVES: Urinary excretion of 2,5-hexanedione is currently used to estimate the exposure levels of hexane occurring to an individual during the previous work shift. However, because hexane exposures and urinary 2,5-hexanedione levels can vary considerably from day to day, and subchronic to chronic exposures to hexane are required to produce neuropathy, this biomarker may not accurately reflect the risk of an individual for developing hexane neuropathy. This investigation examines the potential of hexane-derived pyrrole adducts produced on globin and plasma proteins as markers for integrating cumulative exposures. Because the pyrrole markers incorporate bioactivation of hexane to 2,5-hexandione and the initial step of protein adduction involved in hexane-induced neuropathy, they potentially can serve as biomarkers of effect through reflecting pathogenetic events within the nervous system. Additionally, pyrrole formation is an irreversible reaction suggesting that hexane-derived protein pyrroles can be used to assess cumulative exposures to provide a better characterization of individual susceptibilities. METHODS: To examine the utility of the proposed markers, blood samples were obtained from eleven workers who used hexane for granulating metal powders in a slurry to produce metal machining die tools and four non-exposed volunteers. Globin and plasma were isolated, and the proteins were digested using pepsin, reacted with Ehrlich's reagent and the level of pyrrole adducts were determined by absorbance at 530 nm. To determine the dose-response curve and dynamic range of the assay, erythrocytes were incubated with a range of 2,5-hexanedione concentrations and the net absorbance at 530 nm of isolated globin was measured. RESULTS: Pyrrole was detected in both the globin and plasma samples of the workers exposed to hexane and the levels of pyrroles in plasma were positively correlated with the levels of pyrroles in globin for most of the workers. CONCLUSIONS: This investigation demonstrates that detectable levels of hexane-derived protein pyrrole adducts are produced on peripheral proteins following occupational exposures to hexane and supports the utility of measuring pyrroles for integrating cumulative exposures to hexane.

Associations between chronotype and salivary endocrinological stress markers.

OBJECTIVES: To investigate the effect of chronotype on salivary cortisol or salivary α-amylase (sAA). METHODS: From 108 male university students, saliva samples were collected in the afternoon (between 15:00 and 17:00). The salivary cortisol and sAA levels were determined with commercial kits. Chronotype was quantitatively evaluated using the Horne and Östberg Morningness-Eveningness Questionnaire. Subjects were categorized into morning types and evening types. RESULTS: The sAA levels were lower in the morning types than in the evening types. We found no significant difference in salivary cortisol levels between the two groups. CONCLUSIONS: These findings suggest that the sAA levels may be associated with chronotype.

The change in lifestyle data during 9 years: the reliability and continuity of baseline health practices.

OBJECTIVES: To reveal change patterns in self-reported lifestyle data for 9 years, and examine the characteristics of changes by type of lifestyle and ageing. METHODS: The authors used the lifestyle data of 7,080 male workers aged 20-59 who received checkups for 9 years. The proportions of change patterns during the 9 years were determined in seven health practices; smoking, eating breakfast, sleeping hours, working hours, physical exercise, eating nutritional balanced diets, and mental stress. RESULTS: Among seven health practices, the keep rate of good health practice was highest for the non-smoking (90.8 %), followed by eating breakfast (69.0 %);and the lowest was physical exercise (13.7 %). The keep rate of poor health practice was highest for smoking (73.8 %), followed by non-physical exercise (67.1 %). The lowest rate of multiple changes during 10 years was smoking (7.1 %); the highest was mental stress (68.5 %). CONCLUSIONS: As for the life style on smoking and eating breakfast seemed to be stable, using the data obtained at a specific point in time wouldn't much affect the results. On the contrary, for other life styles, they showed poor continuity during 9 years, so it would be necessary to take into consideration the time point of data collection.

Daily intake of Lactobacillus casei Shirota increases natural killer cell activity in smokers.

Dietary probiotics supplementation exerts beneficial health effects. Since cigarette smoking reduces natural killer (NK) activity, we evaluated the effect of Lactobacillus casei Shirota (LcS) intake on NK cytotoxic activity in male smokers. The double-blind, placebo-controlled, randomised study was conducted on seventy-two healthy Italian blue-collar male smokers randomly divided for daily intake of LcS powder or placebo. Before and after 3 weeks of intake, peripheral blood mononuclear cells were isolated and NK activity and CD16⁺ cells' number were assessed. Daily LcS intake for 3 weeks significantly increased NK activity (P < 0.001). The increase in NK activity was paralleled by an increase in CD16⁺ cells (P < 0.001). Before intake, NK cytotoxic activity inversely correlated with the number of cigarettes smoked (R - 0.064). LcS intake prevented the smoke-dependent expected NK activity reduction. The analysis of the distribution of changes in smoke-adjusted NK activity demonstrated that the positive variations were significantly associated with LcS intake, while the negative variations were associated with placebo intake (median value of distributions of differences, 20.98 lytic unit (LU)/107 cells for LcS v. - 4.38 LU/107 cells for placebo, P = 0.039). In conclusion, 3 weeks of daily LcS intake in Italian male smokers was associated with a higher increase in cytotoxic activity and CD16⁺ cells' number in comparison to the placebo intake group.

Change of salivary stress marker concentrations during pregnancy: maternal depressive status suppress changes of those levels.

AIM: The aim of the present study was to show changes in salivary cortisol and chromogranin A/protein concentrations as stress markers during pregnancy and to clarify the effect of chronic stress on stress markers. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Salivary samples were collected from 69 pregnant women during pregnancy. Salivary cortisol levels and chromogranin A/protein titers were determined. We surveyed the women's chronic stress using the Zung self-rating depression scale and General Health Questionnaire-28. RESULTS: Cortisol levels in the saliva of pregnant women showed biphasic change during pregnancy. Chromogranin A/protein levels in the saliva of pregnant women increased in the second and the early third trimesters and decreased to the puerperal period. Salivary cortisol concentrations of the chronic high stress group were significantly lower compared with those of the normal group. Salivary chromogranin A/protein concentrations of the chronic high stress group were also significantly lower than those of the normal group. CONCLUSION: The titration of salivary cortisol concentrations and chromogranin A/protein levels is a useful tool to determine maternal stress levels. The elevation of cortisol and chromogranin A/protein in the saliva was suppressed in the chronic high stress group during pregnancy.

Assessment of accuracy of immediate blood separation method: a novel blood analysis strategy.

OBJECTIVES: This study assesses the accuracy of the immediate blood separation method, a novel blood sampling strategy that enables blood analysis in any possible location. METHODS: We conducted a cross-validation study between data from immediate blood separation and conventional methods. During the annual medical examinations in 2006 of a company located in an Osaka suburb, blood was drawn from workers (n = 256; males 200, females 56) by puncturing their middle finger as well as venipuncture of the antecubital vein, by medical personnel. The following nine parameters were evaluated by autoanalyzer: aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), γ-glutamyl transpeptidase (γGT), triglyceride, total cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol, urea nitrogen, uric acid, and creatinine. RESULTS: After comparing data from the two methods using correlation analysis and regression analysis, we found a close R (2) value (coefficient of determination) relationship that ranged from 0.996 to 1.000 for each item. The R (2) value was 0.998 for Log AST, 0.997 for Log ALT, 0.999 for Log Î³GT, 1.000 for Log triglyceride, 1.000 for total cholesterol, 0.999 for HDL cholesterol, 0.998 for urea nitrogen, 0.999 for uric acid, and 0.996 for creatinine. Relationship was satisfactory for all nine items tested. CONCLUSION: Our results prove the reliability of data from the immediate blood separation method in an occupational health setting. The method enables self-testing by medically unskilled people, which is an important process to prevent lifestyle-related diseases.

Levels of awakening salivary CgA in response to stress in healthy subjects.

OBJECTS: To determine the changes in salivary chromogranin A (CgA) levels upon awakening in response to of stress by investigating the relationship between salivary CgA levels and the stress response as assessed by GHQ-28 tests. METHODS: The study cohort comprised 40 healthy male university students (age range 19-22 years). Salivary CgA levels were measured at 7:00 a.m. (awakening) and at 7:30, 8:00, and 8:30 a.m. (after awakening). RESULTS: The salivary CgA level was 0.91 ± 0.20 and 0.42 ± 0.1 pmol/ml at 7:00 a.m. in students scoring low (n = 26) and high (n = 14), respectively, on the "severe depression" subscale. This difference in salivary CgA levels at 7:00 between high and low scorers was statistically significant (p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Our findings indicate that depression may influence secretions of salivary CgA via chronic stress-related attenuation of the sympathetic-adrenomedullary system activity.

Stress hormone levels in saliva after shogi competition are modified by stress coping strategies.

OBJECTIVE: Using shogi, a representative table game popular in Japan, to model a stress situation, we investigated the modulatory effects of player characteristics on changes in the levels of cortisol and testosterone in the saliva of the players. METHODS: Saliva samples were collected at the following time-points: (1) 30 min after awakening on the day of the shogi convention; (2) immediately before the game; (3) immediately after the game; (4) 30 min after the end of game; (5) 30 min after awakening the following morning. The study cohort comprised 90 healthy male university students who were members of a shogi club, who were subsequently classified into either the emotional strategy (Em) or cognitive strategy (Co) group based on their scores on a Lazarus-type stress coping inventory. RESULTS: Cortisol levels were significantly higher in the Em group than in the Co group the morning following the convention, and this difference was not affected by either outcome (victory or defeat) or perception (competitive or noncompetitive) of the match. A similar but non-significant trend was observed for testosterone levels. CONCLUSION: Our findings suggest that the Em group had a greater capacity to manage the stress from a shogi convention than the Co group.

Influence of personal patterns of behavior on the effects of Tai Chi: a pilot study.

OBJECTIVES: To investigate the influence of individual patterns of personality and behavior on the change in mood status after a brief period of Tai Chi exercise. METHODS: The mood status in 22 healthy females was evaluated before and after a period of Tai Chi exercise using the Profile of Mood States (POMS) score. Patterns of personal behavior were also assessed by written questionnaire. RESULTS: In the type A behavior pattern group, the score for total mood disturbance decreased significantly after a brief period (20 min) of Tai Chi exercise. No change was observed in the type B behavior pattern group. CONCLUSIONS: These findings suggest that a brief period of Tai Chi exercise is mentally beneficial, particularly to individuals with type A characteristics.

Effects of alcohol-drinking behaviour and ADH1B and ALDH2 polymorphisms on basal DNA damage in human mononuclear cells as determined by the comet assay.

The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of alcohol drinking and ADH1B and ALDH2 polymorphisms on basal DNA damage (measured by the alkaline comet assay) of mononuclear cells in 122 healthy Japanese workers. Our results showed that drinking frequency had a significant impact on the tail moment (TM) value, with the highest TM value observed in habitual drinkers. The presence of the ADH1B*2 or ALDH2*2 allele was associated with increased DNA damage in older habitual drinkers. Furthermore, habitual drinkers with a combined genotype of ADH1B*2/*2 and ALDH2*1/*2 demonstrated a significantly higher TM value than other groups. Moreover, the combination of drinking and smoking has a combined effect on DNA damage. Multiple regression analysis revealed that drinking frequency, smoking status, and ALDH2 polymorphisms significantly influence basal TM value, suggesting that these are important variables affecting individual basal DNA damage.

Relationship between indoor chemical concentrations and subjective symptoms associated with sick building syndrome in newly built houses in Japan.

OBJECTIVES: This study explored possible associations between chemical substances and sick building syndrome (SBS)-type symptoms of residents living in new houses in Japan. METHODS: We randomly sampled 5,709 newly built conventional homes. In the end, 1,479 residents in 425 households completed a questionnaire survey and agreed to environmental monitoring for indoor aldehydes and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) to be conducted in their homes. If the residents had complained about at least one SBS-related symptom, they were classified as suffering from SBS. Multiple logistic regression analysis was used to select predictive chemical factors of SBS symptoms. RESULTS: About 14% of the subjects suffered from SBS. Many aldehydes and VOCs were associated factors of optical, nasal, and gular symptoms in univariate analysis. After adjustment for other possible risk factors, formaldehyde dose-dependently showed to be a significant risk factor for SBS. Several chemicals had tendency to be associated with SBS symptoms. CONCLUSIONS: Chemicals detected in Japanese newly built houses tend to increase the risk of subjective symptoms in residents suffering from SBS.

Effect of gene polymorphisms and ethanol consumption on micronucleus frequency in human reticulocytes: a preliminary study.

OBJECTIVE: Results from previous studies suggest that alcohol consumption can be genotoxic on peripheral lymphocytes. The aim of our study was to examine the association of alcohol consumption and its genotoxic effect on hematopoietic stem cells in vivo. METHODS: We investigated 156 healthy Japanese males in a cross-sectional study. Lifestyles, including alcohol drinking behavior and cigarette smoking status, were investigated by means of a self-completed questionnaire. Polymorphisms of ADH1B and ALDH2 were identified by PCR-restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) analysis. The presence of micronuclei in transferrin-positive reticulocytes (MN-RET) was detected with a single-laser flow cytometer. Associations between the genetic polymorphisms, lifestyle factors, and MN-RET frequency were statistically analyzed. RESULTS: We found a significant difference in the mean frequencies of MN-RET between habitual drinkers and non-habitual drinkers (P = 0.043), and between the ALDH2*1/*1 and ALDH2*2/*2 genotype (P = 0.015). The ADH1B*2 and ALDH2*2 haplotype was estimated to have a significantly higher influence on MN-RET frequency than the ADH1B*2 and ALDH2*1 haplotype (P = 0.00035), and the frequency of alcohol consumption played a significant role in MN-RET frequency on the background of the ADH1B*2 and ALDH2*1 haplotype (P = 0.012). CONCLUSION: The results of our study suggest a possible association between the ADH1B and ALDH2 polymorphism and the genotoxic effects of alcohol drinking on hematopoietic stem cells.

[Effects of Tai Chi exercise on physical and mental health].

Recently, Tai Chi, which is one of the Chinese traditional martial arts, has been receiving attention. The main feature of Tai Chi is its flowing movements including loosening up, relaxing, and practicing meditation with slow abdominal respiration. Tai Chi is widely taken as part of health-promotion activities or rehabilitation training, and significant mental and physical effects have been reported so far. In this review report, Tai Chi was confirmed to be beneficial not only as a rehabilitation training for old people or patients with various diseases but also as an exercise for healthy people. These findings suggest the potential of Tai Chi as a complementary and alternative therapy.

Nationwide study of sick house syndrome: comparison of indoor environment of newly built dwellings between Sapporo city and Southern areas including those in Honshu and Kyushu.

OBJECTIVES: The aims of this study are to evaluate the associations between residential factors and sick house syndrome (SHS) in a cold region and in a temperate region in Japan. METHODS: A questionnaire survey was conducted on dwellings aged within 7 years from 2003 to 2004 in Sapporo and 'Honshu and northern Kyushu' including Fukushima, Aichi, Osaka, Okayama, and Kitakyushu. The questionnaire consisted of questions about the characteristics of dwellings, manner of living, and health problems of occupants. SHS was identified from the 'yes' responses to the questions on the five items on nasal, throat and respiratory, eyes, skin, and general symptoms that appeared frequently or sometimes at home and improved upon leaving the home. RESULTS: The dwellings with the SHS problem, where at least one inhabitant reported any symptoms of SHS, were 4.7% in Sapporo City and 3.3% in Honshu and northern Kyushu. Regarding ventilation, the principal method was the enforced ventilation in Sapporo and ventilation from open windows in Honshu and northern Kyushu. The sums of five signs of dampness were 0.8 +/- 1.0 in Sapporo and 1.3 +/- 1.0 in Honshu and northern Kyushu. The elevated scores were accompanied by the increased percentage of SHS in both groups. Condensation on both window panes and walls was strongly associated with SHS. CONCLUSIONS: Differences were found in the ventilation method and in the dampness state between Sapporo and Honshu and northern Kyushu. In both groups, the dampness state was associated with SHS.

The effects of bright light treatment via ear canals on quality of sleep and depressive mood among overworked employees: A randomized-controlled clinical trial.

BACKGROUND: Many overworked employees need tools to improve their depressive mood or sleep disorder. In Finland, a new device of bright light therapy was developed. OBJECTIVE: Our objective was to evaluate the effect of bright light treatment via ear canals on improving the depressive mood and sleep disorder. METHODS: We conducted a randomized, controlled, crossover designed, open-label trial. We examined 27 participants aged 23-52 years, assigned to either Early treatment or Later treatment groups. The Early treatment group used the device on weekdays for the first 4 weeks, followed by a 4-week observation period. The Later treatment group had an observation period for the first 4 weeks, followed by device treatment for the subsequent 4 weeks. Every Friday, the participants were asked to answer questionnaires: A Self-rating Depression Scale (SDS), an Athens Insomnia Scale (AIS), and a Profile of Mood States (POMS) Brief Form. RESULTS: While no significant effect was found on the SDS following treatment (p = 0.16), the AIS showed a significant improvement (p = 0.004), and the scores for the Depression (D) and Vigor (V) of POMs decreased significantly (p = 0.045, p = 0.006, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: Bright light treatment via ear canals may improve sleep quality and depressive mood.

Is habitual alcohol drinking associated with reduced electrophoretic DNA migration in peripheral blood leukocytes from ALDH2-deficient male Japanese?

Alcohol drinking-derived acetaldehyde is believed to cross-link DNA and induce sister chromatid exchanges in peripheral blood lymphocytes. However, little population data are available to illustrate effects of alcohol-derived acetaldehyde on DNA migration as assayed by the comet assay in peripheral lymphocytes. In the present study, we investigated lifestyle behaviours, including alcohol consumption, in 150 Japanese males by questionnaire, determined their aldehyde dehydrogenase 2 (ALDH2) family genotypes by polymerase chain reaction and measured the DNA migration in peripheral blood leukocytes by the alkaline comet assay. The results showed that habitual alcohol drinking is significantly negatively associated with DNA migration in peripheral blood leukocytes (r = -0.321, P = 0.005) of ALDH2-deficient, but not of ALDH2-proficient genotypes (r = 0.048, P = 0.683). The amount of pure alcohol consumed per time by the subjects showed a similar phenomenon (r = -0.257, P = 0.025 for the ALDH2-deficient, but r = -0.061, P = 0.606 for the ALDH2-proficient genotype). Further stepwise multiple regression analysis showed that alcohol drinking frequency was a significant predictor of DNA migration for subjects with ALDH2-deficient genotype, but not for subjects with ALDH2-proficient genotype. In summary, the present result suggests that frequent alcohol drinking is significantly associated with a reduced electrophoretic DNA migration in peripheral blood leukocytes from ALDH2-deficient male Japanese subjects.

Effects of lifestyle on micronuclei frequency in human lymphocytes in Japanese hard-metal workers.

OBJECTIVE: The risks of cardiovascular disease, cancer, and other major causes of mortality are largely attributable to lifestyle factors such as smoking, alcohol drinking, hours of working and sleeping, physical activity, diet, and stress. Earlier studies have suggested that an unhealthy lifestyle is also associated with increased lymphocyte sensitivity to mutagens, oxidative DNA damage level, and leukocyte DNA damage. In order to explore the genotoxicity of unhealthy lifestyle, we evaluated the effect of overall lifestyle as well as some individual lifestyle factors on micronuclei (MN) frequency in cultured human lymphocytes. METHOD: The study was conducted among 208 healthy adult (19 to 59 years) male Japanese hard-metal workers. The subjects were divided into groups according to their self-reported good, moderate, and poor lifestyles based on their responses to a questionnaire regarding eight health practices (cigarette smoking, alcohol consumption, sleeping hours, working hours, physical exercise, eating breakfast, balanced nutrition, and mental stress), the presence or absence of each of which was summed to obtain a health practice index (HPI: range 0-8). Peripheral blood was taken and the cytokinesis-block micronuclei (CBMN) assay was performed. RESULTS: Total lifestyle quality as measured by the HPI was strongly negatively associated with MN frequency in cultured human lymphocytes (p<0.01). Nutritional imbalance, lack of regular exercise (<2 times per week), insufficient sleep (< or =6 h per day), and overtime working (> or =9 h per day) each contributed significantly to higher MN frequency (all p<0.05). In the smoker group, a significantly higher MN frequency was only found in heavy smokers (p<0.05). On the other hand, mental stress, eating breakfast, and alcohol drinking had no effect on MN frequency. CONCLUSIONS: Taken together, these findings indicate that poor lifestyle habits significantly increase MN frequency in human lymphocytes.

Differential responses to mutagens among human lymphocyte subpopulations.

Many previous studies have described differential responses to mutagens among human lymphocyte subpopulations. However, there are some confusing data about the sensitivity to mutagens among lymphocyte subpopulations. In this paper we review the studies published to date reporting differential responses among CD4+ T-cells, CD8+ T-cells, B-cells and NK-cells exposed to different mutagens, using different assay methods, such as micronuclei (MN), sister chromatid exchanges (SCEs), single cell gel electrophoresis (SCGE), and fluorescence-activated cell sorting (FACS). These methods are mostly used for genetic biomonitoring of human populations exposed to potential mutagens. Thus, this review may provide a reference of target cells sensitive to mutagens that will be useful for genetic biomonitoring of human populations.

Effects of cigarette smoking, XRCC1 genetic polymorphisms, and age on basal DNA damage in human blood mononuclear cells.

The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of smoking, polymorphisms of XRCC1 codons 194 and 399, and age on levels of basal DNA damage (as measured by an alkaline comet assay) on mononuclear cells in 122 healthy Japanese workers. In the whole group of 122 individuals, the tail moment (TM) values of current smokers (P < 0.001) or former smokers (P = 0.03) were significantly higher than those of nonsmokers. Individuals bearing the XRCC1 399Gln variant allele showed significant increases in TM values in all subjects or in referent subgroups stratified by age or smoking status except in the current smokers group; in contrast, the TM values of individuals bearing the XRCC1 194Trp variant allele were significantly lower than those of individuals bearing wild-type Arg/Arg genotypes. Furthermore, older subjects (> or =47 years old) had significantly higher TM values than younger subjects (<47 years old) in all subjects (P = 0.008). Multiple regression analysis indicated that smoking habits, polymorphisms of XRCC1 codons 194 and 399, and age were important variables affecting individuals basal DNA damage.

The modulation of immunological activities in human NK cells by extracts of ginkgo.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the association between extracts of ginkgo and the immune system by determining changes in natural killer (NK) cell activity and surface markers in human NK cells and by analyzing for surface markers. METHODS: Natural killer cell activity was determined in peripheral blood samples of three subjects who received ginkgo daily (250 ml/day; (ginkgo concentration 40 mg/ml) for 14 days by the non-radioisotopic Europium (non-RI Eu) release assay. Peripheral blood samples were taken three times during the study period: before ginkgo sample ingestion, on day 7 after ginkgo ingestion, and on day 14 after ginkgo ingestion). The peripheral blood samples were also analyzed for surface markers (CD56, CD3, CD19, CD20, CD4, CD8) using a fluorescence-activated cell sorter (FACScalibur). RESULTS: The non-RI Eu release assay revealed that the ingestion of ginkgo extracts elevated NK cell activity in the subjects, with the highest activity recorded following treatment with an extract at a concentration of 400-800 µg/ml. The analysis for surface markers using the FACScalibur showed that the expression of CD56 (NK cell surface marker) was elevated and the expression of CD19 had dropped in our subjects by day 14 of ginkgo ingestion. There was no significant difference in surface markers after 7 days of ginkgo ingestion. CONCLUSION: Ginkgo extracts were found to affect immunological activities and surface markers (CD56) in human NK cells. Our results also reveal an optimal range of ginkgo concentration-from 400 to 800 µg/ml-within which its immunopotentiating activity is highest. It took at least 2 weeks to affect surface markers in human NK cells after ginkgo ingestion, and surface markers were not affected after 7 days of ginkgo ingestion.