This research aims to establish the effect of working conditions on the appearance of varicose veins. The epidemiological study was carried out on 1,324 examinees, 530 males and 794 females, employed in 5 highly represented groups of professional activities in Rijeka (catering, trade, light industry, heavy industry and finances). The data were collected by survey and clinical examination. Varicose veins were more prevalent in the trade than in the office workers (odds ratio (OR) = 2.08; 95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.31-3.31), and more prevalent in catering industries than in the office workers (OR = 1.56; 95% CI = 1.001-2.43). chi 2-testing suggested that standing in the workplace (OR = 1.35; 95% CI = 0.95-1.92), weight handling while working (OR = 1.29; 95% CI = 1.01-1.64) and working indoors (OR = 1.61; 95% CI = 1.02-2.53) were risk factors for varicose veins. By multiple logistic regression, the following risk factors were isolated in the total population: female sex (OR = 1.92; 95% CI = 1.37-2.67), workplace (OR = 0.89; 95% CI = 0.78-0.99), age (OR = 1.05; 95% CI = 1.03-1.07), body mass index (OR = 1.04; 95% CI = 1.01-1.07) and family history of the disease (OR = 1.99; 95% CI = 1.55-2.57).
en-copyright= kn-copyright= en-aut-name=KontosicIvica en-aut-sei=Kontosic en-aut-mei=Ivica kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=1 ORCID= en-aut-name=VukelicMihovil en-aut-sei=Vukelic en-aut-mei=Mihovil kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=2 ORCID= en-aut-name=DrescikIvan en-aut-sei=Drescik en-aut-mei=Ivan kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=3 ORCID= en-aut-name=Mesaros-KanjiskiElika en-aut-sei=Mesaros-Kanjiski en-aut-mei=Elika kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=4 ORCID= en-aut-name=MaterljanEris en-aut-sei=Materljan en-aut-mei=Eris kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=5 ORCID= en-aut-name=JonjicAnto en-aut-sei=Jonjic en-aut-mei=Anto kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=6 ORCID= affil-num=1 en-affil= kn-affil=University of Rijeka affil-num=2 en-affil= kn-affil=University of Rijeka affil-num=3 en-affil= kn-affil=Clinical Hospital Centre Rijeka affil-num=4 en-affil= kn-affil=Clinikal Hospital Centre Rijeka affil-num=5 en-affil= kn-affil=University of Rijeka affil-num=6 en-affil= kn-affil=University of Rijeka en-keyword=varicose vein kn-keyword=varicose vein en-keyword=lower extremities kn-keyword=lower extremities en-keyword=risk factor kn-keyword=risk factor en-keyword=profession kn-keyword=profession en-keyword=work condition kn-keyword=work condition END start-ver=1.4 cd-journal=joma no-vol=54 cd-vols= no-issue=1 article-no= start-page=1 end-page=8 dt-received= dt-revised= dt-accepted= dt-pub-year=2000 dt-pub=200002 dt-online= en-article= kn-article= en-subject= kn-subject= en-title= kn-title=Improved HPLC determination of acidic opines by phenylisothiocyanate derivatization and its application to marine animals. en-subtitle= kn-subtitle= en-abstract= kn-abstract=We present here a reliable and sensitive method for the determination of acidic opines such as meso-alanopine, beta-alanopine, tauropine and strombine in biological samples. Interfering primary amino acids were eliminated by reaction with o-phthalaldehyde, and the derivatized compounds were passed through Sep-Pak Plus PS-1 cartridges. The acidic opines were recovered by flushing the cartridges with water, then determined by high performance liquid chromatography after a second derivatization with phenylisothiocyanate. All 4 acidic opines were detected within 30 min. This method ensured good separation and guaranteed almost full recovery of all acidic opines. This method was applied to analyze opines in marine animals and to test whether opines are metabolized in the livers of the rat and fish.
en-copyright= kn-copyright= en-aut-name=EmdadulHaque M en-aut-sei=Emdadul en-aut-mei=Haque M kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=1 ORCID= en-aut-name=FujisawaTomomi en-aut-sei=Fujisawa en-aut-mei=Tomomi kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=2 ORCID= en-aut-name=YamamotoMasamichi en-aut-sei=Yamamoto en-aut-mei=Masamichi kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=3 ORCID= en-aut-name=OhmoriShinji en-aut-sei=Ohmori en-aut-mei=Shinji kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=4 ORCID= affil-num=1 en-affil= kn-affil=Okayama University affil-num=2 en-affil= kn-affil=Okayama University affil-num=3 en-affil= kn-affil=Okayama University affil-num=4 en-affil= kn-affil=Tsuyama National College of Technology en-keyword=opines kn-keyword=opines en-keyword=high-performance liquid chromatography determination kn-keyword=high-performance liquid chromatography determination en-keyword=marine animals kn-keyword=marine animals en-keyword=phenylisothiocyanate kn-keyword=phenylisothiocyanate en-keyword=Sep-Pak cartridge kn-keyword=Sep-Pak cartridge END start-ver=1.4 cd-journal=joma no-vol=54 cd-vols= no-issue=1 article-no= start-page=21 end-page=32 dt-received= dt-revised= dt-accepted= dt-pub-year=2000 dt-pub=200002 dt-online= en-article= kn-article= en-subject= kn-subject= en-title= kn-title=Forensic study of sex determination using PCR on teeth samples. en-subtitle= kn-subtitle= en-abstract= kn-abstract=In this study, sex determination using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) on tooth material was evaluated from the viewpoint of forensic medicine. The sensitivity of PCR for detection of the Y chromosome-specific alphoid repeat sequence and the X chromosome-specific alphoid repeat sequence was 0.5 pg of genomic DNA. Sex could be determined by PCR of DNA extracted from the pulp of 16 freshly extracted permanent teeth and dentine including the surface of the pulp cavity of 6 freshly extracted milk teeth. Sex could be determined using the pulp in all 20 teeth (10 male and 10 female) preserved at room temperature for 22 years. For the pulp of teeth stored in sea water, the sex could be determined in all 8 teeth immersed for 1 week and in 5 of 6 teeth immersed for 4 weeks. In the remaining 1 tooth, in which sex determination based on the pulp failed, the sex could be determined correctly when DNA extracted from the tooth hard tissue was examined. For teeth stored in soil, the sex could be determined accurately in all 8 teeth buried for 1 week, 7 of 8 teeth buried for 4 weeks, and in all 6 teeth buried for 8 weeks. When teeth were heated for 30 min, sex determination from the pulp was possible in all teeth heated to 100, 150, and 200 degrees C, and even in some teeth heated to 250 degrees C. When this method was applied to actual forensic cases, the sex of a mummified body estimated to have been discovered half a year to 1 year after death could be determined readily by examination of the dental pulp. In the skeletons of 2 bodies placed under water for approximately 1 year and approximately 11 years and 7 months, pulp tissues had been dissolved and lost, but sex determination was possible using DNA extracted from hard dental tissues. These results indicate that this method is useful in forensic practices for sex determination based on teeth samples.
en-copyright= kn-copyright= en-aut-name=MurakamiHiroki en-aut-sei=Murakami en-aut-mei=Hiroki kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=1 ORCID= en-aut-name=YmamamotoYuji en-aut-sei=Ymamamoto en-aut-mei=Yuji kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=2 ORCID= en-aut-name=YoshitomeKei en-aut-sei=Yoshitome en-aut-mei=Kei kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=3 ORCID= en-aut-name=OnoToshiaki en-aut-sei=Ono en-aut-mei=Toshiaki kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=4 ORCID= en-aut-name=OkamotoOsamu en-aut-sei=Okamoto en-aut-mei=Osamu kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=5 ORCID= en-aut-name=ShigetaYoshiaki en-aut-sei=Shigeta en-aut-mei=Yoshiaki kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=6 ORCID= en-aut-name=DoiYusuke en-aut-sei=Doi en-aut-mei=Yusuke kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=7 ORCID= en-aut-name=MiyaishiSatoru en-aut-sei=Miyaishi en-aut-mei=Satoru kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=8 ORCID= en-aut-name=IshizuHideo en-aut-sei=Ishizu en-aut-mei=Hideo kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=9 ORCID= affil-num=1 en-affil= kn-affil=Okayama University affil-num=2 en-affil= kn-affil=Okayama University affil-num=3 en-affil= kn-affil=Okayama University affil-num=4 en-affil= kn-affil=Okayama University affil-num=5 en-affil= kn-affil=Okayama University affil-num=6 en-affil= kn-affil=Okayama University affil-num=7 en-affil= kn-affil=Okayama University affil-num=8 en-affil= kn-affil=Okayama University affil-num=9 en-affil= kn-affil=Okayama University en-keyword=personal identification kn-keyword=personal identification en-keyword=sex determination kn-keyword=sex determination en-keyword=tooth kn-keyword=tooth en-keyword=deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA). polymerase chain reaction kn-keyword=deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA). polymerase chain reaction END start-ver=1.4 cd-journal=joma no-vol=54 cd-vols= no-issue=1 article-no= start-page=15 end-page=20 dt-received= dt-revised= dt-accepted= dt-pub-year=2000 dt-pub=200002 dt-online= en-article= kn-article= en-subject= kn-subject= en-title= kn-title=Increase in Cerebral Blood Flow as a Predictor of Hyperbaric Oxygen-Induced Convulsion in Artificially Ventilated Rats en-subtitle= kn-subtitle= en-abstract= kn-abstract=In spontaneously breathing rats, a transient increase in cerebral blood flow (CBF) has been shown to be a predictor of hyperbaric oxygen (HBO)-induced convulsion. In the present study, we evaluated whether artificially ventilated animals also show an increase in CBF prior to the onset of HBO-induced convulsion. Rats were ventilated with 100% oxygen in 5 atmospheres. CBF, blood pressure, and an electroencephalogram were monitored continuously. Convulsion was observed at 41 +/- 12 min after the initiation of HBO treatment. A single abrupt increase in CBF, reaching 223 +/- 39% of the control level, was observed at 29 +/- 13 min after the initiation of HBO exposure and lasted until the onset of convulsion 12 +/- 2 min later. The time of the increase in CBF correlated strongly with the onset of convulsion (r = 0.99, P < 0.001). Further, the logistic regression curve demonstrated a close relationship between the duration of increased CBF and percentage of epileptiform electrical-discharge incidence (r = 0.92, P < 0.006). The durations of increased CBF causing convulsion in 10%, 50%, and 90% of the rats were 8.4 min, 11.7 min, and 15.1 min, respectively. These results indicate that an increase in CBF is a predictor of HBO-induced convulsion in artificially ventilated rats. The increase in CBF may be involved in the pathogenesis of HBO-induced convulsion. en-copyright= kn-copyright= en-aut-name=KurasakoToshiaki en-aut-sei=Kurasako en-aut-mei=Toshiaki kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=1 ORCID= en-aut-name=TakedaYoshimasa en-aut-sei=Takeda en-aut-mei=Yoshimasa kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=2 ORCID= en-aut-name=HirakawaMasahisa en-aut-sei=Hirakawa en-aut-mei=Masahisa kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=3 ORCID= affil-num=1 en-affil= kn-affil=Department of Anesthesiology and Resuscitology, Okayama University Medical School affil-num=2 en-affil= kn-affil=Department of Anesthesiology and Resuscitology, Okayama University Medical School affil-num=3 en-affil= kn-affil=Department of Anesthesiology and Resuscitology, Okayama University Medical School en-keyword=oxygen toxicity kn-keyword=oxygen toxicity en-keyword=laser-Doppler flowmetry kn-keyword=laser-Doppler flowmetry en-keyword=seizures kn-keyword=seizures en-keyword=electroencephalogram kn-keyword=electroencephalogram en-keyword=artificial ventilation kn-keyword=artificial ventilation END start-ver=1.4 cd-journal=joma no-vol=54 cd-vols= no-issue=1 article-no= start-page=9 end-page=14 dt-received= dt-revised= dt-accepted= dt-pub-year=2000 dt-pub=200002 dt-online= en-article= kn-article= en-subject= kn-subject= en-title= kn-title=Effects of thyroxine on L-cysteine desulfuration in mouse liver. en-subtitle= kn-subtitle= en-abstract= kn-abstract=The effect of exogenous thyroxine (T4) administration on the activity of rhodanese, cystathionase, and 3-mercaptopyruvate sulfurtransferase (MPST) in the mitochondrial and cytosolic fractions of mouse liver was investigated. Three groups of mice were treated for 6 consecutive days with subcutaneous injections of T4 (50 micrograms, 100 micrograms, and 250 micrograms per 100 g of body wt, respectively). The other 3 groups were given 100 micrograms of T4 per 100 g of body wt for 1, 2, or 3 days. The dose of 100 micrograms T4 per 100 g of body wt given for 6 days exerted the strongest effect on the activity of all of the investigated enzymes. In comparison to the control, rhodanese activity diminished in the mitochondrial fraction by 40% (P < 0.05), cystathionase activity diminished in the cytosolic fraction by 15% (P < 0.05), and MPST activity in the mitochondrial fraction was reduced by 34% (P < 0.05), whereas cytosolic MPST activity was unaltered. Simultaneously, in the liver homogenate, elevated levels of ATP and sulfate were observed after 6 days of T4 administration. Thus, the present results seem to suggest that in the mouse liver, after 6 days of administration of 100 micrograms T4 per 100 g of body wt, the desulfuration metabolism of L-cysteine is diminished, which is probably accompanied by an increase in oxidative L-cysteine metabolism. The dose of 100 micrograms per 100 g of body wt administered for a shorter period, and the use of a lower dosage (50 micrograms T4 per 100 g of body wt) for 6 days had a stimulatory effect upon MPST activity level, and an increased level of sulfane sulfur was observed.
en-copyright= kn-copyright= en-aut-name=WrobelMaria en-aut-sei=Wrobel en-aut-mei=Maria kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=1 ORCID= en-aut-name=UbukaToshihiko en-aut-sei=Ubuka en-aut-mei=Toshihiko kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=2 ORCID= en-aut-name=YaoWen-Bin en-aut-sei=Yao en-aut-mei=Wen-Bin kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=3 ORCID= en-aut-name=AbeTadashi en-aut-sei=Abe en-aut-mei=Tadashi kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=4 ORCID= affil-num=1 en-affil= kn-affil=Jagiellonian University affil-num=2 en-affil= kn-affil=Kawasaki University of Medical Welfare affil-num=3 en-affil= kn-affil=Beijing Tong-Ren Hospital affil-num=4 en-affil= kn-affil=Okayama University en-keyword=thyroxine kn-keyword=thyroxine en-keyword=rhodanese kn-keyword=rhodanese en-keyword=3-mercaptopyruvate kn-keyword=3-mercaptopyruvate en-keyword=sulfurtransferase kn-keyword=sulfurtransferase en-keyword=cystathionase kn-keyword=cystathionase en-keyword=sulfane sulful kn-keyword=sulfane sulful END start-ver=1.4 cd-journal=joma no-vol=54 cd-vols= no-issue=1 article-no= start-page=45 end-page=48 dt-received= dt-revised= dt-accepted= dt-pub-year=2000 dt-pub=200002 dt-online= en-article= kn-article= en-subject= kn-subject= en-title= kn-title=Influence of exposure to new circumstances on pharmacokinetics of plasma drugs concentrations in rats. en-subtitle= kn-subtitle= en-abstract= kn-abstract=The influences of emotional changes induced by being exposed to a new environment on the pharmacokinetics of plasma drug concentration were studied in male Wistar rats. Transfer from a familiar home cage to a new home cage was considered to induce psychological (non-physical) emotional changes. First, nicorandil and zonisamide, drugs that act on the peripheral system and central nervous systems, were used, respectively. Immediately after oral administration of nicorandil (10 mg/kg) or zonisamide (50 mg/kg), the animals were transferred to new home cages. Plasma nicorandil and zonisamide concentrations were determined by high-performance liquid chromatography at 1 and 4 h after administration. Plasma nicorandil concentration in the group transferred to new home cages was significantly decreased relative to levels in the non-transferred control group. However, zonisamide concentrations were unchanged. These findings suggest that the pharmacokinetics of nicorandil, but not those of zonisamide, tend to be influenced by non-physically induced emotional changes.
en-copyright= kn-copyright= en-aut-name=HashimotoYasuhiko en-aut-sei=Hashimoto en-aut-mei=Yasuhiko kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=1 ORCID= en-aut-name=KawasakiHiromu en-aut-sei=Kawasaki en-aut-mei=Hiromu kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=2 ORCID= en-aut-name=GomitaYutaka en-aut-sei=Gomita en-aut-mei=Yutaka kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=3 ORCID= affil-num=1 en-affil= kn-affil=Okayama University affil-num=2 en-affil= kn-affil=Okayama University affil-num=3 en-affil= kn-affil=Okayama University en-keyword=psychologically induced emotional changes kn-keyword=psychologically induced emotional changes en-keyword=drug plasma concentration kn-keyword=drug plasma concentration en-keyword=nicorandil kn-keyword=nicorandil en-keyword=zonisamide kn-keyword=zonisamide END start-ver=1.4 cd-journal=joma no-vol=54 cd-vols= no-issue=1 article-no= start-page=39 end-page=44 dt-received= dt-revised= dt-accepted= dt-pub-year=2000 dt-pub=200002 dt-online= en-article= kn-article= en-subject= kn-subject= en-title= kn-title=Helicobacter pylori infection: relationship between seroprevalence and dietary preference in a rural area. en-subtitle= kn-subtitle= en-abstract= kn-abstract=In order to evaluate the relationship between Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infection and dietary preference, a cross-sectional study was performed among 626 residents in a rural area of Japan. Seropositive rates were 88.7% in males and 71.4% in females, and these increased with age for both sexes [male P < 0.05 and female P < 0.01]. The relationship between H. pylori-seropositivities and salted-food intake, after adjustment for age, demonstrated a significant result in the "almost every day" group in males with an odds ratio (OR) of 8.39 and with 95% confidence intervals (CI) of 1.02-69.30. As regards an association between seropositivities of H. pylori and levels of serum pepsinogens for the screening of chronic atrophic gastritis (low pepsinogen values used were a pepsinogen I level below 70 ng/ml and a pepsinogen I/pepsinogen II ratio below 3.0), the ORs of H. pylori-seropositivities for low pepsinogen cases were 6.32 [95% CI: 1.42-28.03] in males and 12.72 [95% CI: 4.57-35.46] in females. With regard to the relationship between low pepsinogen cases and light-colored vegetables intake, a significant low OR for the low pepsinogen cases was obtained in the "almost every meal" group in females after adjustment for age and seropositivities of H. pylori with an OR of 0.37 and with 95% CI of 0.15-0.92.
en-copyright= kn-copyright= en-aut-name=MiyazakiMotonobu en-aut-sei=Miyazaki en-aut-mei=Motonobu kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=1 ORCID= en-aut-name=UneHiroshi en-aut-sei=Une en-aut-mei=Hiroshi kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=2 ORCID= en-aut-name=AoyamaHideyasu en-aut-sei=Aoyama en-aut-mei=Hideyasu kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=3 ORCID= affil-num=1 en-affil= kn-affil=Fukuoka University affil-num=2 en-affil= kn-affil=Fukuoka University affil-num=3 en-affil= kn-affil=Okayama University en-keyword=Helicobacter pylori kn-keyword=Helicobacter pylori en-keyword=chronic atrophic gastritis kn-keyword=chronic atrophic gastritis en-keyword=dietary preference kn-keyword=dietary preference END