| 1. Research on Minamata Disease |
This research project aims at clinical investigation of Minamata Disease
and methylmercury poisonings. In clinical research, we are studying about
the establishment of the diagnosis of the Minamata Disease, clinical signs
and symptoms of fetal-type Minamata Disease, and association of methylmercury
poisoning with aging. In basic research, we perform the neuropathological
study of the autopsy brains and the study about the neuronal death in the
methylmercury exposure rat and influence of the cognitive function and
brain monoamine metabolism on methylmercury. Sociologically, we perform
the research about the health-and-welfare activities for supporting reproduction
of the Minamata area, local reproduction, and social history of a pollution
birthplace region.
1. Study on the clinical features of Minamata Diease
2. Study on the pathology of Minamata Disease
3. Study on the late onset of methylmercury poisoning
4. Study of health care in fetal-type Minamata Disease patients
5.Study on the effect of cognitive impairment by methylmercury
6.Study for the effect of methylmercury on neurodegeneration induced by
Tau phosphorylation
7. Social history in Minamata area
8. Studies on the social impacts of Minamata Disease in a local community
and the regional restoration
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Minamata Disease causes certain pathological changes in the brain. The
red part in the picture indicates the area of the primary lesion and the
blue part indicates the area of secondary lesion in the brain of long time
sufferers from moderate to severe cases of Minamata Disease. |
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Mouse hippocampal neuron |
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