RESUMO
Sterigmatocystin is a genotoxic and hepatocarcinogenic mycotoxin that contaminates foods and environments worldwide. Sterigmatocystin is produced as a precursor to aflatoxin B1 or as an end product by certain Aspergilli. Aspergillus section Versicolores is one of the major sections including sterigmatocystin-producing species and is thus a potential health and environmental hazard. Recently, the taxonomy of this section was revised and classified into 14 species on the basis of molecular phylogenetic analysis. However, investigation of the distribution and sterigmatocystin production of each species has been limited; in particular, its distribution in foods has been scarcely reported. In this study, we collected isolates of Aspergillus section Versicolores from various foods and environments in Japan and investigated their distribution and sterigmatocystin production. The isolates were classified into nine species or species groups, which revealed that A. creber, A. puulaauensis/tennesseensis and A. sydowii are the main species/species groups in Japan. In addition, A. versicolor sensu stricto was detected with some frequency, specifically in foods. Furthermore, the two species A. creber and A. versicolor sensu stricto frequently produced sterigmatocystin. It is therefore important for food safety to intensively monitor these two species and distinguish them from other species, especially A. sydowii, which is not considered to produce sterigmatocystin.
RESUMO
OBJECTIVES: The prevention of metabolic syndrome (MetS) is one of the main targets of health promotion activities in the workplace. The present study aimed to clarify the incidence of MetS and associated lifestyle factors in a worksite male population. METHODS: The study subjects consisted of 948 working men (mean age: 44 yr old) who did not meet the Japanese criteria for MetS during the annual health examination at a precision instrument development plant in Kanagawa, Japan, 2005. New-onset MetS was followed using the health examination data from 2006 to 2009. The incidence of MetS according to the combination of the presence of abdominal obesity and the number of other components of MetS (elevated blood pressure, dyslipidemia, and elevated fasting glucose) at baseline were calculated. The incidence of MetS was also compared among the groups with regard to differences in lifestyles (dietary habits, smoking status, sleep duration, exercise habits, and alcohol intake). A Cox proportional hazard model was used to identify independent factors contributing to an increased risk of MetS. RESULTS: New-onset MetS was observed in 76 subjects during a mean follow-up period of 3.7 yr. The incidence of MetS was 2.2/100 person-years and the 4-year incidence of MetS according to Kaplan-Meier analysis was 8.5%. The highest 4-year incidence of MetS was found in the group without abdominal obesity but with two or more components of MetS (37.9%) and the second highest incidence was found in the group with abdominal obesity and one other component of MetS (24.6%). The presence of abdominal obesity and each increase in the number of other components of MetS had an increased age-adjusted hazard ratio for an increased risk of MetS (5.23 and 4.79, respectively, both p<0.001). Similarly, sleep duration 5 h or less, current smoking, and ethanol intake 300 g/wk or more had an increased age-adjusted hazard ratio for an increased risk of MetS. CONCLUSIONS: The present study showed a high incidence of MetS in not only the group with abdominal obesity, but also the group without abdominal obesity but with two or more components of MetS. Sleep deprivation, current smoking, and excess alcohol intake were found to be factors contributing to an increased risk of MetS among several lifestyle factors examined. The usefulness of health promotion activities that preferentially target subjects who have such medical conditions and/or lifestyles are therefore expected to reduce the incidence of MetS in the workplace, from a high-risk strategy viewpoint.
