Re-evaluation of waist circumference in metabolic syndrome: a comparison between Japanese men and women

We re-evaluated the criteria for waist circumference to predict the accumulation of the components of metabolic syndrome. We used data for 3,185 Japanese, aged 20-79 years. Metabolic syndrome has recently been redefined by a new criterion in Japan, in which waist circumference cutoff points, i.e. 85 cm for men and 90 cm for women, are employed. Among the 3,185 Japanese considered in the present study, 335 men (26.8%) and 69 women (3.6%) were diagnosed as having metabolic syndrome. A cutoff point as a predictor for 2 or more components of metabolic syndrome was evaluated by sensitivity/specificity and a receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve. The optimal point was estimated as being approximately 85 cm of waist circumference in men and 75 cm in women. We therefore recommend a cutoff value, 75 cm of waist circumference, for the criterion of metabolic syndrome in women

Comparison of hepatic enzymes between japanese men with and without metabolic syndrome

We compared the levels of hepatic enzymes in 220 Japanese men with metabolic syndrome with those in age and sex-matched subjects without the syndrome. Metabolic syndrome was defi ned by the new criteria published in Japan, and hepatic enzymes, i.e., aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and &#947;-glutamyl transpeptidase (&#947;GTP), were measured. AST, ALT and &#947;GTP in subjects with metabolic syndrome were signifi cantly higher than those in subjects without the syndrome, and metabolic syndrome was closely associated with hepatic enzymes in this cohort of Japanese men.</p

Relationship between body composition changes and the blood pressure response to exercise test in overweight Japanese subjects.

We investigated the link between changes in body composition and the blood pressure (BP) response to exercise in overweight Japanese by a retrospective clinical study carried out over a 3-year period. We analyzed data for 38 overweight Japanese aged 22-69 years (47.8 +- 11.4) at baseline. Among the participants, 32 overweight subjects (body mass index : BMI, 29.0 +- 3.0 kg/m2) were further analyzed with a 3-year follow up. BP at rest, the BP response to an exercise test, the aerobic exercise-level determined ventilatory threshold (VT), and body composition were evaluated at an interval of 1 year. During the study period, there were 6 drop outs, who started to receive anti-hypertensive drugs because of the development of hypertension. Based on analysis of follow up data, parameters of body composition were significantly reduced over the 3 years. Systolic BP (SBP) at rest and at VT was also reduced. In addition, delta SBP (? : delta represents positive change in parameters) at VT was positively correlated with ?parameters of body composition over the 3 years. In overweight subjects with increased body weight, there was a significant time (pre vs year 3) effect and interactions by 2 factor-factorial ANOVA. The present study indicates that changes in body composition are closely linked to the SBP response to an exercise test. </p

住民の福祉活動参加プロセスとその要因 ─精神保健福祉ボランティアに焦点化した質的分析─

わが国の社会福祉の歴史的展開を振りかえると,常に「住民参加」や「主体形成」が重要な概念として位置づいており,戦後の早い段階から地域福祉を推進する主要な概念とされていた。住民参加の重要性を考えた際,どのような方法論で住民参加を促し,主体形成を促進していくかという具体的な議論を構築していくことが今日的な重要課題となる。 本研究では,効果的な住民参加と主体形成の促進方法を模索するための実際的な理論の構築にむけて,その内実を実証的に明らかにした。M - GTA を用いた質的調査により,地域福祉実践への示唆を,主体形成促進への視座から,1)住民の主体形成をプロセスで捉える視座,2)住民の内的変容と当事者性の視座,3)他者との相互作用性への着目とゆらぎを保障する視座,4)多様な福祉教育を展開する視座,5)活動参加への関心傾向と参加促進を提示した。When we look at the historical development of social welfare in Japan, "citizens\u27 participation in municipal affairs" and "subject formation" are two important concepts found in promoting communitywelfare that can be seen even at an early postwar stage.When the importance of citizens participation in municipal affairs is considered, it is crucial to construct concrete arguments indicating the kinds of methods that can be utilized to encourage citizens\u27participation in municipal affairs as well as subject formation.Through this research, it was possible to give clear empirical proof of the reality of constructing a practical theory for groping with the issue of encouraging effective citizens\u27 participation in municipalaffairs and subject formation.By qualitative investigation using M-GTA, suggestions for community welfare practice from the perspective of encouraging subject formation, the following viewpoints were clarified: 1) perceiving the process of citizens\u27 subject formation, 2) citizens\u27 inner change and the nature of the parties concerned, 3) guaranteeing the attention to the mutual interaction with others, and guaranteeing the citizens\u27psychological fluctuation, 4) development of diverse welfare education, and 5) the tendency of interest toward activity participation as well as the encouragement of participating

Comparison of muscle strength between Japanese men with and without metabolic syndrome

We compared muscle strength between Japanese men with and without metabolic syndrome. We used data for 323 Japanese men with metabolic syndrome and 893 Japanese men without the syndrome. Metabolic syndrome was defined by a new criterion in Japan, and the parameters for muscle strength, i.e. grip strength, leg strength were measured. Leg strength was found to be significantly higher in subjects with metabolic syndrome than in those without, while muscle strength per body weight was significantly lower in subjects with the syndrome. Lower muscle strength per body weight may be one of the characteristic features in subjects with metabolic syndrome.</p

Linkage between Oxygen Uptake at Ventilatory Threshold and Muscle Strength in Subjects with and without Metabolic Syndrome

We evaluated the linkage between oxygen uptake at the ventilatory threshold (VT) and muscle strength in subjects with and without metabolic syndrome. We used data of 226 Japanese men with metabolic syndrome and 265 Japanese men without the syndrome. Metabolic syndrome has recently been defined by a new criterion in Japan. Oxygen uptake at VT and muscle strength, i.e. grip strength and leg strength were measured. Oxygen uptake at VT and muscle strength/body weight were found to be significantly lower in subjects with metabolic syndrome than in those without the syndrome. However, the differences did not reach significant levels after adjusting for leg strength/body weight or oxygen uptake at VT. A combination of aerobic exercise and resistance training might be considered for preventing and improving metabolic syndrome.</p

FMD and eGFR Slope in Males and Females

Aims: It is known that there are sex differences in vascular endothelial function and the development of chronic kidney diseases; however, it remains unclear whether sex differences influence the association between vascular endothelial function and renal prognosis. Methods: To clarify the relationship between vascular endothelial function and longitudinal eGFR changes in male and female patients with cardiovascular risk factors, we retrospectively evaluated 341 patients (176 males and 165 females) with cardiovascular risk factors in whom vascular function was assessed by flow-mediated dilation (FMD) and brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity (baPWV) and in whom 24-month longitudinal eGFR values were recorded after the vascular function examinations. Associations of values of FMD and baPWV with values of eGFR slope were statistically analyzed. Results: Simple regression analysis showed that the value of FMD was positively associated with eGFR slope in females (p=0.001) and non-smoking males (p=0.033) but not in smoking males. Multiple regression analysis showed that the value of FMD remains a positive contributor for eGFR slope in females (p=0.001) and non-smoking males (p=0.045) but not in smoking males. In contrast, values of baPWV had no significant association with eGFR slope regardless of sex and cigarette smoking. Conclusions: In individuals with cardiovascular risk factors, evaluation of vascular endothelial function enables prediction of renal prognosis in females and non-smoking males

離島集団検診における未受診者の課題

五島奈留町において昭和46年から毎年継続して集団検診を行ってきて，平成10年で27年になる．総合検診が確立した昭和60年から平成7年までの11年間の集団検診のデータを基に調査を行い，昭和60年から平成2年の6年間を前期，平成3年から平成7年の5年間を後期とした．癌死亡率の推移を見ると，前期平均31.1％，後期平均27.3％と有意（P. We thus concluded this long term general mass screening program to be an effective community measure for reducing the mortality rate of cancers. However, various issues remain regarding non-participants in the mass screening program among inhabitants who live in such a medically depopulated area. We carried out a questionnaire survey and an interview both by telephone and home visits, on a total of 882 individuals (males:427, females:455) who had not participted in the mass screening program for at least 5 years and were all over 40 years of age and residents of Naru town. The objective of this story was to evaluate the non-participants in this mass screening program

Heparin cofactor II reduces albuminuria

Aims/Introduction: Thrombin exerts various pathophysiological functions by activating protease-activated receptors (PARs). Recent data have shown that PARs influence the development of glomerular diseases including diabetic kidney disease (DKD) by regulating inflammation. Heparin cofactor II (HCII) specifically inactivates thrombin; thus, we hypothesized that low plasma HCII activity correlates with DKD development, as represented by albuminuria. Materials and Methods: Plasma HCII activity and spot urine biomarkers, including albumin and liver-type fatty acid-binding protein (L-FABP), were determined as the urine albumin-to-creatinine ratio (uACR) and the urine L-FABP-to-creatinine ratio (uL-FABPCR) in 310 Japanese patients with diabetes mellitus (176 males and 134 females). The relationships between plasma HCII activities and those DKD urine biomarkers were statistically evaluated. In addition, the relationship between plasma HCII activities and annual uACR changes was statistically evaluated for 201/310 patients (115 males and 86 females). Results: The mean plasma HCII activity of all participants was 93.8 ± 17.7%. Multivariate-regression analysis including confounding factors showed that plasma HCII activity independently contributed to the suppression of the uACR and log-transformed uACR values (P = 0.036 and P = 0.006, respectively) but not uL-FABPCR (P = 0.541). In addition, plasma HCII activity significantly and inversely correlated with annual uACR and log-transformed uACR increments after adjusting for confounding factors (P = 0.001 and P = 0.014, respectively). Conclusions: The plasma HCII activity was inversely and specifically associated with glomerular injury in patients with diabetes. The results suggest that HCII can serve as a novel predictive factor for early-stage DKD development, as represented by albuminuria