Search PubMed⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

H Kasuga

Publications and source records attributed to H Kasuga.

At least 55 records · Page 3Linked to original sources
PubMed1989

High incidence of pulmonary tuberculosis in pathologists at Tokai University Hospital: an epidemiological study.

Between 1935 and 1950 tuberculosis was the most common cause of death in Japan. Subsequently, the mortality rate, incidence, and prevalence of tuberculosis have decreased remarkably due to socioeconomic improvements and development of specific chemotherapy. It has been suspected that the incidence and prevalence of pulmonary tuberculosis in hospital workers, particularly those employed in pathology divisions, may be higher than those for other health care workers. However, there have been no reports on this subject. We conducted a questionnaire survey to assess and compare the incidence of pulmonary tuberculosis in pathologists at Tokai University Hospital with that in other employees of the University. Data on history of treatment for tuberculosis were obtained. The incidence of pulmonary tuberculosis in pathologists was significantly higher than that in other university employees, including clinical doctors who see patients with tuberculosis. These findings suggest that specific environmental conditions in the Pathology Division represent an occupational hazard although the infection might be contracted from other hospital staff.

Adult↗
PubMed1989

[Effect of short-term hypoxia on blood platelet function tests of normal subjects].

We studied how smoking and hypoxia affected blood platelet functions. Eighteen normal subjects (ten nonsmokers and eight smokers) inspired 13% oxygen gas and underwent platelet function tests (blood platelet count, MPV, maximum platelet aggregation rate, plasma beta-TG, plasma PF-4) measured just before inspiration and 30 minutes and 60 minutes after inspiration of the gas. Four principal results were obtained. First, breathing room air, blood platelet count and maximum platelet aggregation rate of smokers were significantly increased compared to those of non-smokers. Second, platelet counts and MPV were not affected by hypoxia in either group. Third, the maximum platelet aggregation rate of smokers was significantly decreased by hypoxia. Fourth, in both groups, the plasma levels of beta TG and PF-4 were decreased 30 minutes after inspiration of the 13% oxygen gas. In non-smokers, 60 minutes after inspiration, these plasma levels recovered to the primary levels. Our study showed that blood platelet functions of normal subjects were affected by hypoxia, and the effects of hypoxia on these functions in these two groups were markedly different.

Adult↗
PubMed1988

Experience with an enzyme-linked immuno sorbent assay for the quantitation of urinary desmosine.

An enzyme-linked immuno sorbent assay has been set up for the quantitation of the elastin crosslink desmosine. With the assay desmosine could be detected in the range 0.01-10 ng (the amount is corresponding to 0.4-400 ng/ml) in standard solutions. One hundred percent crossreactivity with isodesmosine was found. The low titer rabbit antiserum used in this inhibition immunoassay was less suitable for the measurement of desmosine in urinary hydrolysates, because a number of unknown urinary substances interfered with the measurement. Interfering substances could not be removed completely with a column purification method. Future research is needed to determine the applicability of the higher titer anti-desmosine antiserum from a second rabbit.

Amino Acids↗
PubMed1988

Urinary hippuric acid excretion in everyday life.

The biological monitoring for exposure to toluene is based on the measurement of urinary hippuric acid concentration (HA-U). In occupational health, workers exposed to toluene are examined for HA-U, because collection of urine samples is easy. The HA-U of some designers in a great household electrical products corporation who did not use toluene occupationally showed relatively high values. From statistical analyses, it was revealed that the HA-U values of the designers who lived without family members were higher than those with family members and that the values on Monday were higher than those on Friday. Some factors which elevate the HA-U level are considered in individuals living alone and/or in life at weekends. These may be to drink many soft drinks, especially low calorie ones, in which benzoic acid is used as a preservative.

Adult↗
PubMed1987

[Effects of smoking on asbestos-related pulmonary and pleural changes].

A radiologic study was made on 184 male asbestos workers in order to determine the effects of smoking on asbestos-related pulmonary and pleural changes. The effects of smoking on the prevalence of pleural changes could not be demonstrated, but the prevalence of pulmonary changes significantly increased with length of smoking history (p less than 0.01). It was found that smoking elevated the prevalence of asbestos-related pulmonary changes. These findings are of great importance in the health management of asbestos workers.

Asbestos↗
PubMed1987

Determinants of indoor NO2-concentration and the personal exposures of children and their mothers in Japanese homes.

In February and in July 1986 the personal exposures to NO2 of 60 children and their mothers were measured and NO2-concentrations in their homes were measured. In the summer also the NO2-concentration in the kitchen was determined during the time that the mother was in the kitchen. The mothers were asked to keep a diary of the activities of her and her child during that day and of the time that the heating appliances, cooking range, etc. were used. In the winter indoor NO2-concentrations and personal exposures of mother and child were much higher than in the summer. In the winter in many cases the Japanese Ambient Air Quality Standard is exceeded. The elevated levels in the winter can be related to the use of NO2-producing heating appliances especially the gas- or oilstove without a flue. Appliance of a flue still causes the indoor NO2-concentrations to be elevated. The division of a study population into two exposure categories on the basis of presence of a non-vented gasstove is therefore inappropriate. An instantaneous gas fired water heater may also contribute to elevated indoor NO2-concentrations and personal exposures, although the present survey could not provide detailed information about the use of a flue and the location of the geyser. The time that a gasrange is being used may influence the indoor NO2-concentrations, but the results from this survey were not clear. Ventilation in the kitchen reduces the indoor NO2-concentrations, although this seems especially true in case the gas range is being used for a long time. In houses with smokers higher NO2-concentrations were found than in houses with non smokers. In the winter the non-vented gas stove is the most important indoor NO2-source. The present study was not able to demonstrate the effect of outdoor NO2-concentrations on the indoor air concentrations. A longer time span would be necessary. The housestructure, i.e. the construction of the house and the number of rooms influence the indoor NO2-concentrations and personal exposure. In the winter all indoor NO2-concentrations are highly intercorrelated and also highly correlated with the personal exposures of mother and child. Multiple regression models based on either measured or time-weighted NO2-concentrations explain about 85 percent of the variance in the personal exposures of child and mother in the winter. The exposures calculated from the time-weighted NO2-concentrations correlate very well with the measured personal exposures. This was not the case in the summer.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

Adult↗
PubMed1987

Impact of smoking on the concentration and activity of alpha-1-antitrypsin in serum in relation to the urinary excretion of hydroxyproline.

The impact of active and passive smoking on the serum levels of alpha 1-AT, the trypsin inhibitory capacity (TIC), the trypsin inhibitory activity (TIA) and the urinary hydroxyproline to creatinine ratio (HOP-ratio) was studied. The subjects used in the study on active smoking were 167 healthy adult men and in the study on passive smoking 189 healthy primary school children. Serum levels of alpha 1-AT in active smokers were significantly higher than those in non-smokers. The TIC as well as the TIA in active smokers decreased with increasing number of cigarettes smoked. The urinary HOP-ratio increased significantly with increasing number of cigarettes smoked. On the other hand, in the case of passive smokers a significant difference was obtained only for the HOP-ratio. The correlations between all markers in active smokers were significant. Less significant correlations were found in the case of passive smokers. These results suggest that the urinary excretion of hydroxyproline can be considered as a marker for the imbalance between proteases and anti-proteases as a result of smoking.

Adult↗
PubMed1987

Urinary hippuric acid excretion after use of spray ski-wax and remover.

The biological monitoring for exposure to toluene is based on the measurement of urinary hippuric acid concentration (HA-U). In occupational health, workers exposed to toluene are examined for HA-U, because collection of urine samples is easy. The HA-U data of an engineer who did not use toluene occupationally showed relatively high values. It was indicated that he went to ski every weekend in winter and had used spray ski-wax and remover which contained toluene. The ski-club members of Tokai University, School of Medicine who used such sprays were examined for HA-U at the ski training camp. It was revealed that the use of these sprays elevated the HA-U values remarkably. Therefore, the use of sprays, especially in the winter season, can be one of confounding factors for biological monitoring of occupational exposure to toluene based on measurement of HA-U.

Adult↗
PubMed1986

Pulmonary asbestosis: CT study of subpleural curvilinear shadow. Work in progress.

High-resolution computed tomographic scans of 19 patients with pulmonary asbestosis revealed a subpleural curvilinear shadow (SCLS) parallel to the inner chest wall in the lungs of 15 (78.9%) patients. Most (46.7%) SCLS measured greater than 5 cm but less than 10 cm in length and occurred less than 1 cm from the inner chest wall in all cases. SCLS was distributed mainly in the lower lobe in patients with mild pulmonary fibrosis and in segments where fibrosis was mild in patients with honeycomb shadows. This may reflect initiation of pulmonary fibrosis leading to the formation of a honeycomb shadow. Radiologic-pathologic correlation, achieved in one postmortem specimen, seemed to indicate that SCLS was associated with the initial change of fibrosing bronchioloalveolitis, which is characteristic of pulmonary asbestosis.

Asbestosis↗
PubMed1986

[Behavior of urinary hydroxyproline and the effect of cigarette smoking in silicosis].

This study was conducted through regular pneumonoconiosis examination according to the law on 1,096 employees of medium and small-sized ceramic enterprises in Tokai district in 1981-82. Interview examination with BMRC questionnaire, X-ray examination and measurement of urinary hydroxyproline to creatinine ratio (HOP ratio) were carried out in order to elucidate the relationship between silicosis and urinary HOP ratio and to demonstrate the effect of smoking on pneumofibrosis. Grade of silicosis was classified into five types (0 to 4) based on the Japanese Classification of Radiographs of Pneumoconioses. In evaluating the behavior of urinary HOP ratio, when smoking factor is added in the early grade of pneumofibrosis (type 1 and type 2), collagen decomposition rate is rapidly repressed and fibroplastic conditions develop to the final grade as type 3 and 4, although smoking itself does not seem to induce pneumofibrosis. To exclude the effects of smoking, nonsmoking group was used for measurement of HOP ratio by grade. The HOP ratio in type 0 was lowest and HOP ratio increased in the order of type 1 and type 2. The turning point was found in type 2 and their HOP ratio decreased one after another. The turning point shifted from type 2 to type 3 in the case of non-smokers without any index symptoms by BMRC questionnaire and also shifted to type 1, in the case of non-smokers with them. Shifting of turning point suggests that index symptoms also promote fibroplastic activities.

Adult↗