The objectives of this research were to improve and standardize a relatively easy, highly sensitive and highly accurate method of measuring nicotine, cotinine and trans-3'-hydroxycotinine in the urine of non-smokers exposed to environmental tobacco smoke (ETS) and to clarify the reliability of this method. Blinded studies using this analytical method were conducted in two universities. Standard solutions of nicotine, cotinine and trans-3'-hydroxycotinine were prepared at one university, divided in two parts and sent to another two universities for analyses by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC/MS) without revealing the concentrations. It was found that the assay lower limit was at a level that could be used in passive smoking surveys and good results were obtained in crosschecks of samples of unknown concentration between the two universities. Since this method was considered to be useful for analyzing these urinary substances, ETS exposure experiments were performed in three universities using urinary nicotine, cotinine and trans-3'-hydroxycotinine as specific biomarkers of the urine. Non-smokers were exposed to ETS in an exposure room in each university. It was found that the nicotine concentrations in the urine of the subjects exposed to ETS reached a peak at about 2 hours after the end of exposure, which was somewhat later than that in active smokers. Because cotinine and trans-3'-hydroxycotinine in the urine are metabolites of nicotine, it was evident that the quantities were lower and the increasing rates were also less than that of nicotine. When the deceases in nicotine/ creatinine, cotinine/creatinine and trans-3'-hydroxycotinine/creatinine ratios in the urine were calculated using theoretical curves, the half-life times were calculated to be 13.9, 20.0 and 63.0 hours, respectively.

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This study reports a work-environmental assessment and workers' exposure in a major prebake type aluminium smelter in India. Levels of known health hazards in and near the main smelting operations viz., the Potroom, the Carbon area, the Butt section, the Rodding shop, the Bath preparing area and the Casthouse were measured. Dustiness in general was high to excessively high. Mean levels of respirable dust (PM₁₀) in air in the three dustiest areas were 24.07mg/m³ in the Carbon areas, 27.57mg/m³ in the Bath preparing and 4.44mg/m³ in the Rodding shop. 40-60% of the particles were less than 5μm in size.0.5-2.82% particulate fluoride was obtained in the size fraction 0.4-4.7μm of the Potroom air. Naturally, exposures to total dusts were very high in these processes. The background levels of NO_x and SO₂ and fluorides (gaseous and particulate) were found to be within the prescribed Indian Standards. Higher exposures to gaseous and particulate fluoride, 3.85 and 6.53mg/m³ respectively, were observed among the Rodding shop workers. The levels of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) were deemed to be excessive in the Carbon area. Measurements of heat stress were made in winter and were found to be lower than the prescribed limit.

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A quantification method for analysis of individual ether-type phospholipids is important in studies of the regulation of membrane lipid biosynthesis in Archaea. For ester-type lipid of Bacteria and Eucarya, a densitometric method has been established for simultaneous quantification of individual phospholipids visualized with molybdenum blue reagent on a TLC plate. In this study, we developed a TLC densitometric method for rapid quantitative determination of 6 kinds of main ether-type phospholipids in a methanogenic archaeon and an extremely halophilic archaeon. It has been reported previously that on densitometric quantification the values of molar absorptivities are approximately the same among most ester-type phospholipids. On the other hand, we found significant disparity in the molar absorptivity of archaeal ether-type lipids and serine-containing ester-type lipid. Therefore, analysis should be accomplished by use of each standard mixture. Compared with a previous method (preparative TLC method) that is measurement of inorganic phosphate of silica gel powder scraped off from spots of phospholipids on a TLC plate, the TLC densitometry is accomplished at one tenth the sample size in a short time.

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Overcommitment is formulated in the Effort-Reward Imbalance occupational stress model as a critical coping pattern in individuals, and refers to a strong tendency to commit oneself to work activities. Motivation in working life is related to employees' productivity and good mental health. A total of 556 employees completed a questionnaire package relating to overcommitment and motivation in working life, as well as the 28-item version of the General Health Questionnaire. Path analysis revealed that motivation and overcommitment are positively related to each other but that the health consequences are different. It is justifiable to draw a distinction between overcommitment and high motivation at work, as modifying a coping pattern of overly committing to work on the one hand and enhancing motivation on the other may lead to improved mental health for employees.

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The purpose of our study was to examine the effects of job stress factors on oxidative DNA injuries among female workers. The levels of urinary 8-hydroxydeoxyguanosine (8-OH-dG) were measured along with a survey on work conditions and environments. The result showed that female workers in shift work excreted increased levels of 8-OH-dG in comparison with the result of those who were engaged in part time work (P<0.01). Moreover, the nurses who marked higher depressive scores excreted significantly increased levels of urinary 8-OH-dG than the nurses who scored lower depressive states. The result revealed a positive correlation between 8-OH-dG levels of nurses in the 35-45 age group and the individual scores of their depressive states (r=0.32, P<0.05). Together, it was suggested that a heavy burden of work in addition to daily domestic roles increases urinary excretion levels of 8-OH-dG.

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'Obesity Disease for Japanese Children' was defined in 2002, and very recently 'Metabolic Syndrome (MS) for Japanese Children' was also defined. We therefore aimed to determine the prevalence of these two among the obese pediatric outpatients at our university hospital. The subjects were 97 children, 58 boys and 39 girls, ranging in age from 5 to 15 years. A child was considered to be obese when the body weight exceeded 120% of the standard body weight. All the subjects exceeded 120% overweight, and 58 children (35 boys and 23 girls) were over 150% overweight. Eighty five children (53 boys and 32 girls) were diagnosed with obesity disease (87.6%). Sixteen children (12 boys and 4 girls) were diagnosed with metabolic syndrome, which was 16.5% of all the subjects and 18.8% of the children with obesity disease. Fourteen of the 16 children with MS were over 10 years old. Obesity disease is diagnosed when the child has an obesity disease score of more than 6. The obesity disease score was significantly correlated with the waist circumference and the visceral adipose tissue area measured by computed tomography. The mean score of the children with MS was significantly higher than that of the non-MS group (30.2 vs. 12.3 points). In this study, it was clear that about 90% of our clinic patients are in the obesity disease group, and need therapeutic interventions. The prevalence of MS in the pediatric age is very low compared with that of adults, but MS is a high-risk category of obesity disease.

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A 56-year-old woman underwent FDG-PET screening, which demonstrated delayedphase uptake in the lower part of the left breast. The findings of mammography, ultrasonography, MRI and cytological examination were compatible with ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS), but core needle biopsy showed no evidence of malignancy. Therefore, partial resection of the left breast with sentinel lymph node biopsy was performed to make a definite diagnosis. Histological examination showed that this tumor was low grade DCIS. FDG-PET is a very useful examination to detect malignant diseases, but it is quite difficult to distinguish them from benign ones. It is suggested that delayed-phase uptake of FDG-PET is useful for diagnosis of DCIS.

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Sleepiness and inattention caused by sleep and circadian rhythm disorders or inadequate sleep habits adversely affect workers in many industries as well as the general public, and these disorders are likely to lead to public health and safety problems and adversely affect civilian life. Evidence is accumulating that these sleep related problems are contributing factors not only in many errors of judgement and accidents, but also related to some highly prevalent diseases, such as diabetes, obesity and hypertension. For each of these societal concerns, sleep science must be translated to the general public and to those in policy positions for improving public policy and public health awareness. In the United State, the National Commission for Sleep Disorders Research (established by the US Congress in 1998) completed a comprehensive report of its findings in 1993 to address these problems. The commission estimated that sleep disorders and sleepiness cost the United States $50 billion and called for permanent and concentrated efforts in expanding basic and clinical research on sleep disorders as well as in improving public awareness of the dangers of inadequate sleep hygiene. As a result of these efforts, the number of sleep centers has increased steadily and the total of the NIH (National Institutes of Health) funding for sleep research has also grown. In response to this progress in the US (together with appeals by Japanese Sleep Specialists), the Science Council of Japan published "The Recommendation of Creation of Sleep Science and Progression of Research" in 2002. In this article, we introduce and detail to the Japanese readers the US Government's efforts focusing on the report of the National Commission for Sleep Disorders Research, and we believe that the US Government's effort is a good example for the Japanese society to follow.

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Recently, we reported the effectiveness of a health education activity for multi-risk workers. In this study, we investigated whether or not the efficacy of the 1-year health education program persists in the medium run. BMI, systolic blood pressure and triglyceride out of 5 items which improved significantly after a 1-year health education program, persisted after 3-5 years. Total cholesterol improved additionally while systolic blood pressure deteriorated. A γ-GTP, which did not show betterment significantly, was enhanced after 3-5 years. The percentage of those who are following a good lifestyle regarding excise, alcohol and nutrition, increased after 3-5 years than before the education program. The efficacy of the health education activity for multi-risk workers continues in the medium run.

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The purpose of this research was to find out the state of nursing skill education and tools available to the students in their clinical practice of adult nursing (acute period). The research was carried out between 2005 and 2007, and the subjects were 111 third or fourth degree nursing students who had finished the clinical practice of adult nursing (acute period). The research method was to measure the degree of learning experience and self-appraisal during clinical practice of adult nursing (acute period). This research covered 11 areas of nursing study and 50 items in nursing skills which consisted of "fundamental nursing skills which students do in clinical and practical training", suggested by the investigative commission on the shape of nursing skills by the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare, and the basic nursing skill of new graduates which was determined. The result showed that there had been more learning experience during the clinical practice of 『management of safety』, 『prevention of infection』, 『support of cleaning and changing clothes』 and 『observation of symptoms and function of the body』 However, there had been less learning experience in 『support of evacuations』 and 『help of breathing and circulation』. The result also showed that there was a significant positive correlation between the learning experience in the clinical practice and self-appraisal of the 8 nursing study areas, whereas there was none in the 3 areas of 『support of eating』, 『support of cleaning and changing clothes』 and 『help of breathing and circulation』 From the research, it is concluded that it is necessary to devise ways and means to increase the application of nursing skills by the nursing students in clinical practice.

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