Accidental plant poisoning and identification of Datura seed

Recently an accidental plant poisoning occurred in Niigata. In order to identify the actual cause of poisoning, we analyzed the remaining sample, which caused the poisoning. Based on the patient\u27s symptoms such as a dilatation of the pupil, thirst, and others, the poisoning was recognized as being caused by an anticholinergic substance. Furthermore, compressed-reniform shape and the buff color of the sample suggested the origin to be derived from the seeds of Datura (Solanaceae) . The studies were carried out by comparing the external features and anatomical characteristics of the seeds with four comparative materials, namely D. innoxia, D. metel, D. stramonium, and D. stramonium f. inermis. These four materials could be distinguished from each other externally based on the differences in the color and texture, and anatomically by the structure of the sclerenchymatous epidermal cells. In conclusion, the poisoning was confirmed to be caused by an accidental intake of the seeds of D. innoxia. 新潟で中毒事故が発生した。この中毒の真の原因を明らかにするため,我々は患者が摂取した残りの食物試料を分析した。患者の諸症状,即ち,瞳孔散大,口渇等から,この中毒は抗コリン性物質により引き起こされたものと考えられた。また,患者が摂取した残りの試料は,扁平かつ腎臓形で黄土色を呈していたことから,ナス科 Datura 属の種子が原因と考えられた。そこで,比較材料4種即ち,D.inoxia ,D.metal ,D.sramonium f.inermis とともに,組織形態を含む比較形態学的研究を行った。これら4分類群(taxa)の種子は外部形態的には色と質感,内部形態的には表皮の構造の違いによって区別しえた。結論として,この中毒はD.inoxia の種子の誤摂取によって引き起こされたものと確証した

Trend and Risk Factors of Diverticulosis in Japan: Age, Gender, and Lifestyle/Metabolic-Related Factors May Cooperatively Affect on the Colorectal Diverticula Formation

<div><p>Background</p><p>Despite the marked increase of diverticulosis, its risk factors have not been adequately elucidated. We therefore aim to identify significantly associated factors with diverticulosis. We also aim to investigate the present state of diverticulosis in Japan.</p><p>Methods</p><p>We reviewed the medical records from 1990 to 2010 that included the data of consecutive 62,503 asymptomatic colonoscopy examinees from the general population in Japan. Most recent 3,327 examinees were analyzed with 16 background factors.</p><p>Results</p><p>Among the 62,503 subjects (47,325 men and 15,178 women; 52.1 ± 9.2 years old), diverticulosis was detected in 11,771 subjects (18.8%; 10,023 men and 1,748 women). The incidences of diverticulosis in 1990-2000 and 2001-2010 were respectively 13.0% (3,771 of 29,071) and 23.9% (8,000 of 33,432): the latter was much higher than the former in all age groups and for both genders. Considering the anatomical locations of colorectal diverticula, left-sided ones have markedly increased with age but not significantly changed with times. Univariate analyses of the 3,327 subjects showed significant association of diverticulosis with four basic factors (age, sex, body mass index, blood pressure), three life style-related factor (smoking, drinking, severe weight increase in adulthood), and two blood test values (triglyceride, HbA1c). The multiple logistic analysis calculating standardized coefficients (β) and odds ratio (OR) demonstrated that age (β = 0.217-0.674, OR = 1.24-1.96), male gender (β = 0.185, OR = 1.20), smoking (β = 0.142-0.200, OR = 1.15-1.22), severe weight increase in adulthood (β = 0.153, OR = 1.17), HbA1c (β = 0.136, OR = 1.15), drinking (β = 0.109, OR = 1.11), and serum triglyceride (β = 0.098, OR = 1.10) showed significantly positive association with diverticulosis whereas body mass index and blood pressure did not.</p><p>Conclusions</p><p>The large-scale data of asymptomatic colonoscopy examinees from the general population from 1990 to 2010 indicated that the prevalence of diverticulosis is still increasing in Japan. Age, male gender, smoking, severe weight increase in adulthood, serum HbA1c, drinking, and serum triglyceride showed significant positive association with diverticulosis.</p></div

Anatomical locations of colorectal diverticula in the six age groups of the 29,071 colonoscopy examinees from 1990 to 2000 and 33,432 colonoscopy examinees from 2001 and 2010 in Japan.

<p>Anatomical locations of colorectal diverticula in the six age groups of the 29,071 colonoscopy examinees from 1990 to 2000 and 33,432 colonoscopy examinees from 2001 and 2010 in Japan.</p