First determination of Pu isotopes (239Pu, 240Pu and 241Pu) in radioactive particles derived from Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant accident

Radioactive particles were released into the environment during the Fukushima Dai-ichi Nuclear Power Plant (FDNPP) accident. Many studies have been conducted to elucidate the chemical composition of released radioactive particles in order to understand their formation process. However, whether radioactive particles contain nuclear fuel radionuclides remains to be investigated. Here, we report the first determination of Pu isotopes in radioactive particles. To determine the Pu isotopes (239Pu, 240Pu and 241Pu) in radioactive particles derived from the FDNPP accident which were free from the influence of global fallout, radiochemical analysis and inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry measurements were conducted. Radioactive particles derived from unit 1 and unit 2 or 3 were analyzed. For the radioactive particles derived from unit 1, activities of 239+240Pu and 241Pu were (1.70-7.06)×10-5 Bq and (4.10-8.10)×10-3 Bq, respectively and atom ratios of 240Pu/239Pu and 241Pu/239Pu were 0.330-0.415 and 0.162-0.178, respectively. These ratios were consistent with the simulation results from ORIGEN code and measurements from various environmental samples. In contrast, Pu was not detected in the radioactive particles derived from unit 2 or 3. The difference in Pu contents is clear evidence towards different formation processes of radioactive particles, and detailed formation processes can be investigated from Pu analysis

Identification and characterization of the RNA helicase activity of Japanese encephalitis virus NS3 protein

AbstractThe NS3 protein of Japanese encephalitis virus (JEV) contains motifs typical of RNA helicase/NTPase but no RNA helicase activity has been reported for this protein. To identify and characterize the RNA helicase activity of JEV NS3, a truncated form of the protein with a His-tag was expressed in Escherichia coli and purified. The purified JEV NS3 protein showed an RNA helicase activity, which was dependent on divalent cations and ATP. An Asp-285-to-Ala substitution in motif II of the JEV NS3 protein abolished the ATPase and RNA helicase activities. These results indicate that the C-terminal 457 residues are sufficient to exhibit the RNA helicase activity of JEV NS3

Genetic variants in antioxidant pathway: Risk factors for hepatotoxicity in tuberculosis patients

Tuberculosis (TB) treatment can cause serious sequelae including adverse effects such as anti-TB drug-induced hepatotoxicity (ATDH). We performed a candidate gene-based association study between single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in 10 genes in the antioxidant pathway and ATDH susceptibility. The subjects comprised 100 Japanese patients with pulmonary TB who received a treatment regimen including isoniazid and rifampicin. Out of them, 18 patients had ATDH. Thirty-four tag SNPs in 10 genes were analyzed by PCR-restriction fragment length polymorphism or PCR-direct DNA sequencing. The frequencies of alleles and genotypes between patients with and without ATDH were compared in three different genetic models. Statistical analyses revealed that a C/C genotype at rs11080344 in NOS2A, a C/C genotype at rs2070401 in BACH1, and a G/A or A/A genotype at rs4720833 in MAFK independently conferred ATDH susceptibility. Remarkably, the association of the latter two tag SNPs with ATDH susceptibility was highly statistically significant (P = 0.0006) with an odds ratio of 9.730. This study is the first report to demonstrate that NOS2A, BACH1, and MAFK appear to be genetic determinants of ATDH in Japanese patients with TB. Furthermore, a combination of BACH1 and MAFK polymorphisms may be useful as new biomarkers to identify high-risk Japanese TB patients for ATDH

Environmental Contamination from the Fukushima Nuclear Disaster

Part I Transport of Radioactive Materials in the Environment で、1.6 Effects of Radioactive Substances on Humansおよび 5.8 Pollution of Marine Fish and Shellfishを執

反復性女子膀胱炎患者に認められた膀胱三角部の扁平上皮化生について

膀胱鏡に膀胱三角部に白斑を示した44例の反復性膀胱炎の女子の同部生検をおこない検討した.組織学的に白斑部の上皮はさまざまなGradeの扁平上皮化生を示し, 粘膜下は線維下傾向を示したが, その傾向は, 頻回な膀胱炎症状既往を有する例ほど著しかった.軽～中等度の扁平上皮化生を示した群では尿道部細菌を認めたが, 重症な扁平上皮化生を示した群ではそれを認めなかった.以上よりみて, 尿道部細菌は扁平上皮化生の発生や初期の進展のひとつの要因と見做しうるが, 一層進展した上皮化生は, 同部細菌とは無関係に, 単に頻回な症状のくり返しのみで生じうることが推測されたUrocystic mucosal biopsies of the white patch on the trigone in 44 women complaining of dysuria and frequency with or without bacteriuria showed varying degrees of squamous metaplasia as well as submucosal fibrosis. The patients with more frequent episodes of such symptoms in the past had more severe squamous metaplasia with submucosal fibrosis. Introital bacteria were found in almost all patients with mild or moderate development of squamous metaplasia, but not in those with severe lesions. These facts suggest that introital bacteria may be one of the causative factors for the initiation and early development of these abnormal mucosal changes. However, the further progression to severe mucosal alteration seems to be independent of any bacteria and this severe mucosal alteration may result in recurrence of such symptoms

A comparative study of the acute and long-term prognosis for mouse models undergoing laparoscopic surgery under continuous intra-abdominal perfusion with either CO2 gas or saline

Background: We developed a water-filled laparoendoscopic surgery (WaFLES) method using an isotonic irrigant like physiological saline instead of carbon dioxide (CO2) insufflation. Although surgical experimentation in porcine models has revealed some advantages, the effect of perfusate absorption remains uncertain. Here, we examined the acute and long-term prognosis of this method in mouse models. Materials and methods: CO2 gas or physiological saline was continuously perfused into mice for 1 h. Body-weight fluctuation was observed for 100 days in the two groups and control anesthesia group of mice. In addition, the induction of stress proteins and cytokines was evaluated immediately after perfusion. Results: Mice perfused with saline showed a temporary 30% increase in body weight during perfusion; however, this increase was not significant when assessed one day later. There was no significant increase in either IL6 or TNFα levels in the peritoneal lavage fluid obtained from any of the three groups. There were no significant changes in the expression of HSP70 or BiP. All mice survived over the long-term observation period of 100 days without any evidence of body-weight fluctuation (P = 0.7408, N = 5 for each group). Conclusion: WaFLES showed a good prognosis in a mouse model, thus indicating significant potential for clinical application