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Biomedical subjects

K Nogawa

Publications and source records attributed to K Nogawa.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed1999

Associations of the angiotensinogen gene (M235T, T174M) and the angiotensin I-converting enzyme gene (I/D) with blood pressure in Japanese workers.

Blood pressure may be influenced by several polymorphisms associated with hypertension, such as the angiotensinogen gene (M235T, T174M) and the angiotensin I-converting enzyme gene (I/D). We investigated the associations of these polymorphisms with blood pressure and components of the renin-angiotensin system in Japanese workers. Additionally, we examined whether the polymorphisms were independently associated with blood pressure when other factors were taken into consideration in a general linear model. The study population, which was entirely Japanese, consisted of 196 male subjects. Subjects were selected from workers who received a company health examination. Systolic blood pressure of the M235T MM genotype was significantly higher than that of the MT genotype. Diastolic blood pressure of the M235T MM genotype was significantly higher than that of the MT or TT genotypes. Serum ACE activity of the ACE II genotype was significantly lower than that of the ID or DD genotypes. Multivariate analysis using a general linear model, including age and body mass index, demonstrated that the M235T MM genotype was one of the independent factors affecting blood pressure. The present study demonstrated that the M235T MM genotype was independently associated with systolic blood pressure and diastolic blood pressure in Japanese male workers.

Adult↗
PubMed1999

Relationship between shift work and onset of hypertension in a cohort of manual workers.

OBJECTIVES: This study investigated the possibility of a relationship between blood pressure level and rotating 3-shift work in a prospective follow-up of workers in a zipper and aluminum sash factory in Japan. METHODS: Altogether 1551 men aged 18-49 years were followed prospectively for 5 years, and the cumulative incidence of hypertension among 3-shift workers was compared with that of day workers. A multiple logistic analysis was used for adjusting for base-line characteristics such as age, body mass index, blood pressure, and drinking habit. RESULTS: In the younger age group, the relative risk of the rotating 3-shift workers during the observational period was increased compared with that of day workers after adjustment for the confounding factors. In the older group, the cumulative incidence of hypertension was not higher for workers who had continued shift work. However, a relatively high risk of hypertension was found for workers who converted from 3-shift work to day work when compared with those who remained on shift work and day work. CONCLUSIONS: It is suggested that there is an association between 3-shift work and blood pressure.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1998

Urinary excretion levels of sodium and potassium in environmental cadmium-exposed subjects.

The urinary excretion levels of sodium (Na) and potassium (K) in cadmium (Cd)-exposed subjects as related with urinary beta2-microglobulin (beta2-MG) and Cd concentrations were investigated. The target population comprised of 3164 inhabitants of Japan who were more than 50 years of age and who lived in cadmium-polluted areas and 294 inhabitants who lived in non-polluted areas of Japan. A significant increase in urinary excretion of K was shown in Cd-exposed subjects although there was no significant difference in urinary excretion of Na between the Cd-exposed and non-exposed subjects. Urinary K concentrations in both sexes were significantly correlated with age, urinary beta2-MG and Cd concentrations by multiple regression analysis. Urinary Na concentration was significantly correlated with age, beta2-MG and Cd in men, but in women it was significantly associated with only the urinary beta2-MG concentration. The present study demonstrated that increased K excretion was a more sensitive effect of cadmium exposure than increased Na excretion.

Aged↗
PubMed1998

Association between renal effects and cadmium exposure in cadmium-nonpolluted area in Japan.

Renal effects of cadmium exposure in people living in a cadmium-nonpolluted area in Japan were investigated. The population consisted of 1501 inhabitants (558 men and 743 women) over 50 years of age. Urinary cadmium was employed as an indicator of internal dose, and total urinary protein, beta 2-microglobulin, and N-acetyl-beta-glucosaminidase were used as indicators of renal dysfunction. Multiple regression analysis and a logistic regression analysis were performed to study the relationship between urinary cadmium excretion and these indicators of renal dysfunction. In both procedures, urinary cadmium concentrations were significantly associated with indicators of renal dysfunction. These results suggest the existence of renal dysfunction induced by exposure to environmental cadmium in a cadmium-nonpolluted area in Japan.

Acetylglucosaminidase↗
PubMed1997

Lead levels in 24-h urine in Japanese adults.

Samples of 24-h urine were collected from 278 subjects (159 males and 119 females) in 1985, and 321 subjects (161 males and 160 females) in 1993 in the same factory with no occupational exposure to lead (Pb) in Japan. The age range of the subjects was 20-59 years. The urinary Pb concentrations were analyzed by flameless atomic absorption spectrophotometry after wet digestion followed by solvent extraction. The Pb levels in 24-h urine were distributed log-normally with geometric means (geometric S.D.) of 4.74 (1.46) and 2.67 (1.98) micrograms/day for males; and 3.22 (1.42) and 2.14 (2.05) micrograms/day for females in 1985 and 1993, respectively. No age-related changes in Pb levels in 24-h urine in either sex from 20 to 59 years were apparent. Pb levels in 24-h urine were significantly higher in males than in females (P < 0.01). Analysis of male smokers together with age-matched non-smokers failed to show an elevation of Pb levels in 24-h urine as related to smoking habits. Comparison of the Pb levels in 24-h urine in 1985 and 1993 disclosed that the Pb levels in 24-h urine were significantly lower in 1993 than in 1985 in both sexes (P < 0.01).

Adult↗
PubMed1997

Ten-year follow-up study on the relation between the development of non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus and occupation.

To investigate the relation between occupation and the development of non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM), we undertook a 10-year follow-up survey of male employees of a zipper and aluminum sash factory in Japan. Of 1,218 employees we followed 1,087 subjects. We classified the subjects into five occupations: managers, technical workers, clerical workers, workers in transport, and laborers. NIDDM incidence was 3.1% for 10 years. The age-adjusted incidence of the workers in transport was the highest and that in laborers was the lowest. We used a multiple logistic analysis for adjustment with baseline characteristics such as age, BMI, fasting plasma glucose, and family history of diabetes mellitus. Adjusted relative risk of the workers in transport compared with the laborers was significantly high (3.95). Our work suggests that occupation is related to the development of NIDDM.

Adult↗
PubMed1997

Concentration of cadmium in rice and urinary indicators of renal dysfunction.

OBJECTIVES: (1) To examine the relation between concentrations of cadmium (Cd) in rice and urinary concentrations of indicators of renal dysfunction and the prevalence of abnormalities in urine in areas polluted by Cd. (2) To establish the maximum allowable concentration of Cd in rice from these findings. METHODS: The target population consisted of 1703 inhabitants (832 men and 871 women) aged over 50 years who consumed home grown rice and had lived in the same hamlet in areas polluted by Cd in the Kakehashi River basin in Ishikawa Prefecture, Japan for at least 30 years. The correlation coefficients between concentrations of Cd in rice and several urinary substances, the prevalence of abnormalities in urine and sex in hamlets polluted by Cd were calculated. Finally, regression analysis was performed for significant indicators to calculate the maximum allowable concentration of Cd in rice based on values in a control group. CONCLUSIONS: Significant correlations between concentration of Cd in rice and concentrations of urinary beta 2-microglobulin, metallothionein, glucose, and aminonitrogen were established. Similarly, there were significant correlations between concentration of Cd in rice and the prevalence of beta 2-microglobulinuria, metallothioneinuria, glucosuria, proteinuria, proteinuria with glucosuria, and aminonitrogenuria. The highest maximum allowable concentration of Cd in rice calculated for these indicators was 0.34 ppm/l and 0.29 ppm/g creatinine. Both values are lower than 0.4 ppm, the tentative limit prescribed by the Japanese government.

Aged↗
PubMed1995

Significance of elevated urinary human intestinal alkaline phosphatase in Japanese people exposed to environmental cadmium.

Urinary human intestinal alkaline phosphatase (IAP), beta 2-microglobulin (beta 2-MG) and N-acetyl-beta-D-glucosaminidase (NAG) were analyzed in 40 Japanese environmental-cadmium (Cd)-exposed and 40 non-exposed subjects to evaluate early biological markers for Cd-induced renal damage. All urinary indicators were significantly higher in the Cd-exposed subjects than non-exposed subjects. A fourth-order function was fitted for the relationship between beta 2-MG and IAP or NAG. The beta 2-MG concentration corresponding to the inflexion point for IAP was smaller than that for NAG. This result may support the contention that the cells containing IAP are damaged earlier than those containing NAG, and that IAP is a useful marker for detecting renal tubular dysfunction in people moderately exposed to Cd. However, in the stage of severe renal damage, the combination of IAP and beta 2-MG is considered to be more useful.

Acetylglucosaminidase↗
PubMed1993

Dose-response relationship between total cadmium intake and metallothioneinuria using logistic regression analysis.

The dose-response relationship for environmental cadmium exposure was assessed using logistic regression analysis. The prevalence of metallothioneinuria was employed as a response variable, while age and total cadmium intake, calculated from the average cadmium concentration in rice and duration of residence in the cadmium-polluted area, were used as explanatory variables. The target population comprised of 1843 cadmium-exposed and 240 non-exposed inhabitants of Ishikawa, Japan. The individuals were divided into 96 subgroups by sex, age (4 categories), cadmium concentrations in rice (3 categories) and length of residence in the polluted area (4 categories). Only total cadmium intake had a significant association with the prevalence of metallothioneinuria. In the non-exposed subjects total cadmium intakes corresponding to 2.5% prevalence of metallothioneinuria were calculated. Based on metallothionein levels expressed as either microgram/l urine or microgram/g creatinine, the total intakes were: 2.221 or 2.207 g in men and 2.365 or 0.319 g in women, respectively. Most of these values were similar to those reported by us previously, employing simple regression analysis. It is concluded, therefore, that a maximum allowable intake of about 2 g cadmium is a reasonable estimate for preventing the cadmium-induced renal dysfunction.

Age Factors↗
PubMed1993

Biological monitoring of cadmium exposure in itai-itai disease epidemiology.

Cadmium (Cd) concentrations in blood and urine were significantly higher in itai-itai disease patients, suspected patients and inhabitants in Cd-polluted areas in Japan. Urinary Cd concentrations were mainly related to the body burden of Cd and did not decrease for several years following cessation of Cd exposure. There was a close association between urinary Cd excretion and the occurrence of beta 2-microglobulinuria (beta 2-mg-uria). Probit regression analysis between urinary Cd excretion and, beta 2-mg-uria indicated that the threshold value may be set around 4 micrograms/g creatinine (cr.). Studies on inhabitants in Cd-polluted areas showed that urinary, beta 2-mg levels of more than 1000 micrograms/l or 1000 micrograms/g cr. were irreversible, while increased urinary excretion of beta 2-mg was associated with increased mortality. At present, beta 2-mg in urine is not a suitable indicator for monitoring renal tubular dysfunction in the general population since the significance of slightly increased excretion of urinary beta 2-mg has yet to be clarified.

Adult↗
PubMed1993

Synthesis of 2,3-di-O-phytanyl-1-O-(alpha-D-glucopyranosyl)-sn-glycerol derivatives, analogues of polar lipids isolated from a halophilic bacterial strain.

2,3-Di-O-phytanyl-1-O-glucopyranosylglycerol and polar derivatives of its 6'-glucose moiety have been synthesized. The target molecule contains the diphytanyl-sn-glycerol moiety which is alpha-linked to glucose. The key step in its synthesis involves the coupling of phytanyl bromide and isopropylidene threitol. We also demonstrated that the 6'-hydroxyl group of glycolipids can be functionalized without protection of the sugar moiety.

Bacteria↗
PubMed1993

Dose-response relationship between total cadmium intake and beta 2-microglobulinuria using logistic regression analysis.

The dose-response relationship between total cadmium intake and beta 2-microglobulinuria was investigated using logistic regression analysis in order to consider the effect of age on this association. The target population consisted of 1850 inhabitants of the cadmium-polluted Kakehashi River basin in Ishikawa prefecture, Japan. They were divided into 58 subgroups (27 in the men and 31 in the women) by four factors of sex, age, rice cadmium concentration and length of residence in cadmium-polluted areas. Logistic regression analysis was performed for this dose-response relationship, and both age and total cadmium intake were significantly associated with beta 2-microglobulinuria. It was confirmed that total cadmium intake had a significant association with beta 2-microglobulinuria, independent of the aging effect.

Age Factors↗
PubMed1992

The renal handling of sodium and potassium in environmental cadmium-exposed subjects with renal dysfunction.

To clarify using clearance methods the renal handling of sodium and potassium in a population with environmental cadmium (Cd)-induced renal dysfunction, 76 Cd-exposed subjects (32 men and 44 women) and 36 non-exposed subjects (18 men and 18 women) were selected. Fractional excretions of potassium and beta 2-microglobulin were higher in the Cd-exposed subjects than in the non-exposed subjects, while the fractional excretion of sodium in the Cd-exposed subjects was equal to that of the non-exposed subjects. The urinary excretion rate of sodium was significantly lower in the Cd-exposed subjects than in the non-exposed subjects, while no significant difference was found in the urinary potassium excretion rate. Fractional excretion of sodium showed a significant correlation with age in all the subjects, while that of potassium significantly correlated with serum beta 2-microglobulin. These results indicate that increases in the fractional excretion of sodium or potassium do not directly signify increased urinary excretion of sodium or potassium in Cd-induced renal tubular dysfunction. The fractional excretion of potassium may be more affected by Cd-induced renal dysfunction, while that of sodium appears to be more related to age.

Aged↗
PubMed1992

Impairment of vitamin D metabolism due to environmental cadmium exposure, and possible relevance to sex-related differences in vulnerability to the bone damage.

To determine whether depleted serum 1 alpha,25-dihydroxyvitamin D (VD) concentrations are associated with cadmium (Cd)-induced renal damage, the relationships between four indices of renal function and two indicators of bone metabolism, that is, serum VD and parathyroid hormone (PTH) concentrations, were analyzed in 30 male and 44 female subjects exposed to environmental Cd. Also, these associations were compared in male and female subjects to evaluate sex-related differences in vulnerability to the bone damage observed in Cd-exposed persons. Serum VD decreased significantly with declines in creatinine clearance and percentage tubular reabsorption of phosphate, and with increases in serum creatinine and serum beta 2-microglobulin (beta 2m) concentrations in the female subjects exposed to Cd, but not in the male subjects. The correlation between serum VD and PTH levels was also significant only in the females. Correlation coefficients between serum beta 2m and VD and those between serum PTH and VD in both sexes were significantly different. These results suggest that renal damage due to Cd exposure leads to the decreases in the serum VD level and increases in serum PTH level, and that the more marked changes in serum VD and PTH in the women may play a role in the development of sex-related differences in Cd-induced bone injury.

Aged↗
PubMed1992

Dose-response relationship for renal dysfunction in a population environmentally exposed to cadmium.

Two epidemiological studies aimed at investigating the dose-response relationship of environmental cadmium exposure were performed in a population living in the Kakehashi River basin, a cadmium-polluted area in Japan. In the first, the average cadmium concentration in rice from each village was used as an indicator of exposure and metallothioneinuria or beta 2-microglobulinuria as an index of renal tubular dysfunction. Dose-related increases in both the latter indices were observed. The total cadmium intake resulting in both metallothioneinuria and beta 2-microglobulinuria was calculated to be approximately 2 g for both sexes. In the second study, the dose-response relationship between urinary cadmium and metallothioneinuria or beta 2-microglobulinuria was evaluated in the same population. Prevalence rates increased proportionally with increasing urinary cadmium (Cd-U). The values of Cd-U corresponding to the prevalence rates of metallothioneinuria in the non-exposed population were calculated to be 4.2 micrograms/g creatinine for men and 4.8 micrograms/g creatinine for women; for beta 2-microglobulinuria the corresponding figures were 3.8 micrograms/g creatinine for men and 4.1 micrograms/g creatinine for women.

Aged↗
PubMed1991

Dose-response relationship between dietary cadmium intake and metallothioneinuria in a population from a cadmium-polluted area of Japan.

An epidemiological study to examine the dose-response relationship for environmental cadmium exposure was performed in 1843 cadmium-exposed and 240 non-exposed inhabitants of the Kakehashi River basin in Ishikawa, Japan. The average cadmium concentration in rice from each village was employed as an indicator of cadmium exposure and the individuals were grouped according to the length of residence in the polluted area. Metallothioneinuria was used as an index of renal tubular dysfunction produced by the chronic exposure to cadmium. A dose-related increase in metallothioneinuria was observed. The chronic total cadmium intake resulting in metallothioneinuria in this population was calculated to be approximately 2 g for both men and women. The cumulative lifetime dose of 2 g cadmium over a 50-year period, means an average daily intake of 110 micrograms. Thus, these values may be regarded as the maximum allowable lifetime and daily intake limits, respectively for chronic dietary exposure to cadmium.

Administration, Oral↗
PubMed1991

Assessment of cadmium-induced osteopenia by measurement of serum bone Gla protein, parathyroid hormone, and 1 alpha,25-dihydroxyvitamin D.

To assess the osteopenia induced by environmental cadmium (Cd) exposure by measurement of serum bone Gla protein (BGP), parathyroid hormone (PTH) and 1 alpha,25-dihydroxyvitamin D (1 alpha,25(OH)2D), 29 men and 41 women who lived in a Cd-polluted area and showed renal tubular dysfunction were selected. To evaluate the degree of osteopenia, microdensitometry (MD) was used. Compared with the non-exposed subjects, the levels of serum creatinine and BGP, urinary Cd and beta 2-microglobulin and blood Cd were higher, while the levels of serum inorganic phosphorus and MD indicators were lower in the Cd-exposed group. In simple correlation matrix, BGP showed significant correlations with serum alkaline phosphatase (S-Al-p) and MD indicators in the Cd-exposed men, and also correlations with S-Al-p and 1 alpha-25(OH)2D in the Cd-exposed women. Applying multivariate analysis to the Cd-exposed subjects, BGP, %TRP and base excess were found to show significant associations with the MD indicators in the men. In the women, PTH, age, blood Cd and BGP were associated significantly with the MD indicators. Only serum BGP showed a significant correlation in both sexes of the Cd-exposed subjects, and a sex difference was found in the relationship between bone metabolic markers and osteopenia. These results suggest that serum BGP has a close independent association with the osteopenia induced by Cd exposure and that BGP, which has a different biological function from that of PTH or 1 alpha,25(OH)2D, may be a useful indicator to detect bone damage in Cd-exposed subjects.

Adult↗