Therapeutic Strategies for yusho : History and Outlook for the Future

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  • Mitoma Chikage
    Research and Clinical Center for Yusho Dioxin, Kyushu University Hospital

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Other Title
  • 油症の治療 : 歴史と展望
  • ユショウ ノ チリョウ : レキシ ト テンボウ

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Abstract

The Yusho incident is an unprecedented mass food poisoning that occurred in the western area of Japan in 1968. The causal rice bran oil contained a various dioxins and dioxins-like compounds (dioxins). No less than 2,000 people took orally the oil, and have suffered from characteristic mucocutaneous manifestations associated with non-specific systemic, respiratory, and neurological symptoms since its onset. Nowadays, the severe symptoms seen in the acute phase had faded in the majority of the patients ; however, there are the patients who have still suffered from various symptoms probably caused by dioxins retaining in the body. The Yusho Group has been researching effective treatments for Yusho patients. Several clinical trials that could accelerate the excretion of dioxins from the body had failed to relieve symptoms of yusho. Dioxins-induced toxicity is considered to be induced by activation of aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AHR) signaling pathway. It has been revealed that a variety of phytochemicals and herbal extracts possess biological activities that suppress AHR activation, which suggests that these chemicals might be promising candidates of therapy for Yusho patients. We here describe the history of therapeutic strategies for Yusho patients and discuss prospects for treatments.

Journal

  • 福岡醫學雜誌

    福岡醫學雜誌 108 (3), 124-129, 2017-03-25

    Fukuoka Medical Association

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