Kinetics of Cr(VI) adsorption on used black tea leaves

金沢大学大学院自然科学研究科エコサイクルシステム金沢大学工学部Kinetic investigations were carried out to evaluate the applicability of used black tea leaves (UBTLs) as a low-cost adsorbent to the removal of chromium(VI) from aqueous solutions. The effects of various kinetic parameters were investigated using a batch process. The adsorption of Cr(VI) on UBTLs occurs rapidly in the first day, followed by a slow process that requires more than 10 days to reach its equilibrium. The initial adsorption rate increases with increasing initial concentration of Cr(VI) in the solution and processing temperature. The adsorption kinetics follows Richie\u27s pseudo-second order rate equation better than the Lagergren\u27s pseudo-first order one. The rate constant of the pseudo-second order adsorption is affected by the processing conditions such as the initial Cr(VI) concentration, solution pH, temperature and foreign ions. The results of the kinetic experiments showed that the adsorption of Cr(VI) on UBTLs is an endothermic process and the activation energy of adsorption is 16.3 kJ mol-1. Copyright © 2005 The Society of Chemical Engineers, Japan

Effects of drug discontinuation after short-term daily alendronate administration on osteoblasts and osteocytes in mice

In order to determine whether osteoclastic bone resorption is restarted after withdrawn of bisphosphonates, we conducted histological examinations on murine osteoclasts, osteoblasts and osteocytes after discontinuation of a daily regimen of alendronate (ALN) with a dosage of 1 mg/kg/day for 10 days. After drug discontinuation, metaphyseal trabecular number and bone volume remained unaltered for the first 4 days. Osteoclast number did not increase, while the number of apoptotic osteoclasts was elevated. On the other hand, tissue non-specific alkaline phosphatase-immunoreactive area was markedly reduced after ALN discontinuation. In addition, osteocytes showed an atrophic profile with empty lacunar areas during and after ALN treatment. Interestingly, as early as 36 h after a single ALN injection, osteocytes show signs of atrophy despite the presence of active osteoblasts. Structured illumination microscopy system showed shortening of osteocytic cytoplasmic processes after drug cessation, suggesting a possible morphological and functional disconnection between osteocytes and osteoblasts. Taken together, it appears that osteoclastic bone resorption is not resumed after ALN discontinuation; also, osteoblasts and osteocytes hardly seem to recover once they are inactivated and atrophied by ALN. In summary, it seems that one must pay more attention to the responses of osteoblasts and osteocytes, rather focusing on the resuming of osteoclastic bone resorption after the ALN discontinuation

Exacerbation of daily cough and allergic symptoms in adult patients with chronic cough by Asian dust: A hospital-based study in Kanazawa

The health effects associated with Asian dust have attracted attention due to the rapid increase in the number of Asian dust events in East Asia in recent years. The aim of this study was to investigate the associations between Asian dust and daily cough, as well as allergic symptoms, in adult patients who suffer from chronic cough. We enrolled 86 adult patients from Kanazawa University Hospital, Japan, who were diagnosed with asthma, cough variant asthma, atopic cough or a combination of these conditions. From January to June 2011, subjects recorded their symptoms in a diary every day. Asian dust and non-Asian dust periods were defined according to the dust extinction coefficient, measured using the light detection and ranging (LIDAR). The daily levels of total suspended particulates, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and coexisting factors related to allergies, such as the Japanese cedar pollen count, were measured. McNemar\u27s test showed that there were significantly more cough-positive patients during Asian dust periods than during the non-Asian dust period (p = 0.022). In addition, during Asian dust periods when the daily levels of Japanese cedar pollen, Japanese cypress pollen and PAHs were elevated, there were significantly more patients who experienced itchy eyes than during the non-Asian dust period (p < 0.05). On the other hand, there were no significant differences in the allergic symptoms, including sneezing or a runny nose and nasal congestion. This is the first report to show that Asian dust triggers cough and allergic symptoms in adult patients with chronic cough. © 2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved

Effects of Asian dust on daily cough occurrence in patients with chronic cough: A panel study

Asian dust, known as kosa in Japanese, is a major public health concern. In this panel study, we evaluated the effects of exposure to kosa on daily cough occurrence. The study subjects were 86 patients being treated for asthma, cough variant asthma, or atopic cough in Kanazawa University Hospital from January 2011 to June 2011. Daily mean concentrations of kosa and spherical particles were obtained from light detection and ranging (LIDAR) measurements, and were categorized from Grade 1 (0μg/m3) to 5 (over 100μg/m3). The association between kosa and cough was analyzed by logistic regression with a generalized estimating equation. Kosa effects on cough were seen for all Grades with potential time lag effect. Particularly at Lag 0 (the day of exposure), a dose-response relationship was observed: the odds ratios for Grades 2, 3, 4, and 5 above the referent (Grade 1) were 1.111 (95% confidence interval (CI): 0.995-1.239), 1.171 (95% CI: 1.006-1.363), 1.357 (95% CI: 1.029-1.788), and 1.414 (95% CI: 0.983-2.036), respectively. Among the patients without asthma, the association was higher: the odds ratios for Grades 2, 3, 4 and 5 were 1.223 (95% CI: 0.999-1.497), 1.309 (95% CI: 0.987-1.737), 1.738 (95% CI: 1.029-2.935) and 2.403 (95% CI: 1.158-4.985), respectively. These associations remained after adjusting for the concentration of spherical particles or particulate matter with an aerodynamic diameter of less than 2.5μm (PM2.5). Our findings demonstrate that kosa is an environmental factor which induces cough in a dose-response relationship. © 2014 Elsevier Ltd

Reprint of: Effects of Asian dust on daily cough occurrence in patients with chronic cough: A panel study

金沢大学医薬保健研究域医学系Asian dust, known as kosa in Japanese, is a major public health concern. In this panel study, we evaluated the effects of exposure to kosa on daily cough occurrence. The study subjects were 86 patients being treated for asthma, cough variant asthma, or atopic cough in Kanazawa University Hospital from January 2011 to June 2011. Daily mean concentrations of kosa and spherical particles were obtained from light detection and ranging (LIDAR) measurements, and were categorized from Grade 1 (0 μg/m3) to 5 (over 100 μg/m3). The association between kosa and cough was analyzed by logistic regression with a generalized estimating equation. Kosa effects on cough were seen for all Grades with potential time lag effect. Particularly at Lag 0 (the day of exposure), a dose-response relationship was observed: the odds ratios for Grades 2, 3, 4, and 5 above the referent (Grade 1) were 1.111 (95% confidence interval (CI): 0.995-1.239), 1.171 (95% CI: 1.006-1.363), 1.357 (95% CI: 1.029-1.788), and 1.414 (95% CI: 0.983-2.036), respectively. Among the patients without asthma, the association was higher: the odds ratios for Grades 2, 3, 4 and 5 were 1.223 (95% CI: 0.999-1.497), 1.309 (95% CI: 0.987-1.737), 1.738 (95% CI: 1.029-2.935) and 2.403 (95% CI: 1.158-4.985), respectively. These associations remained after adjusting for the concentration of spherical particles or particulate matter with an aerodynamic diameter of less than 2.5 μm (PM2.5). Our findings demonstrate that kosa is an environmental factor which induces cough in a dose-response relationship. © 2014 Elsevier B.V.Embargo Period 12 month

ディーゼル排気ガスおよび黄砂由来化学物質暴露のバイオマーカー探索と健康影響評価

本研究課題では,ディーゼル排気ガスや黄砂(大気粉塵)の健康影響調査に用いる大気粉塵中多環芳香族炭化水素類(PAH)の分析法を開発し,基礎データを得ることを目的とした。大気粉塵中PAHの効率の良い分析法を開発し,毎日大気粉塵を捕集してデータを得ることができるようになった。大気粉塵濃度は冬より春に高く,PAH濃度は春より冬に高いことが分かった。大気粉塵濃度やPAH濃度は最大風速の風向が南西方面の時に高いことが分かった。The objectives of this study are the development of the method for polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) analysis to examine health effects of diesel exhaust emission and Asian dust (total suspended particulate: TSP) and the collection of basic data of change in TSP concentrations and PAH concentrations. Efficient analytical method of PAH in TSP was developed and data could be obtained using TSP which were collected everyday. The concentrations of TSP were higher in spring than in winter and the concentrations of PAH were higher in winter than in spring. The concentrations of TSP and PAH were higher when wind direction at maximum wind speed was southwest (containing south southwest and west southwest).研究課題/領域番号:22510027, 研究期間(年度):2010-201

大気粉塵中化学物質の喘息患者に対する健康影響評価およびその予防法の開発

金沢大学環境保全センター黄砂やPM2.5などの大気粉塵による健康影響が社会問題となっている。本研究では、大気粉塵中の重金属が成人慢性咳嗽（気管支喘息、咳喘息、アトピー咳）患者の目のかゆみや咳の悪化に関連していることを示した。重金属による症状の悪化は、血清IgEレベルの低い患者で強かった。重金属による影響は、アレルギー症状が弱い患者で強いことが示唆された。また、総浮遊粒子状物質とPM2.5で重金属の構成が異なっていた。特に、黄砂日では、総浮遊粒子状物質の重金属濃度は高くなったが、PM2.5では濃度があまり変わらない重金属もあった。粒子状物質による健康影響を考える上で、構成成分を考慮することが重要である。The health effect of ambient dust including Asian dust and PM2.5 becomes a social issue. In this study, we showed that heavy metals contained in ambient dust were associated with aggravation of symptoms (itchy eye, cough) of adult chronic cough (bronchial asthma, cough variant asthma, atopic cough) patients. The aggravation of symptoms by heavy metals was stronger in patients whose serum IgE level were low. It was suggested that the effect of heavy metals on symptoms of chronic cough patients is stronger in patients whose allergy symptoms were weak.Constituent of heavy metals was different between total suspended particulate and PM2.5. Especially, the concentrations of heavy metals contained in total suspended particulate became higher, but the concentrations of some heavy metals contained in PM2.5 were not changed in Asian dust days. When the health effect of particulate matters is considered, it is important to take account of their constituent.研究課題/領域番号:26340048, 研究期間(年度):2014-04-01 - 2017-03-3