baPWV測定を用いた動脈硬化症予防の健康教育の提案

動脈硬化の１次予防はわが国の未来と保健衛生を考える上で大変重要である．本研究では日常感じ得ない動脈硬化の指標である，橈骨動脈足背動脈脈波伝播速度（baPWV）測定を健康教育に組み込んだ．baPWV測定という刺激によって，動脈硬化症予防への動因及び目標にする基準を被験者に与えることが，動脈硬化を予防する保健行動を被験者に起こさせる動機付けになり得る．そのうえで，健康教育を行うことによって検査の結果と行動変容の必要性を結びつけることでより保健行動の改善が起こるのではないかと考えた．そこで本研究ではbaPWV測定を用いた健康教育の保健行動・身体的指標に対する効果及びbaPWVを変化させる要因に対する検討を行った．研究に同意が得られた１０５名のうち，第１期調査と３ヵ月後の第２期調査を行うことができた８７名を研究対象として，対照群及び実験群への割付は無作為に行った．保健行動の変化についてProchaskaの変化ステージ理論を参考に，動脈硬化症に影響を与える１１の保健行動と服薬及び既往歴について問診した．質問紙調査，身長・体重を測定後，baPWV測定を行い，その結果を紙面と口頭で説明した．その後，健康教育群には動脈硬化症予防の健康教育を１対１の対話形式で行った．３ヵ月後の第２期調査では１回目と同じ順序で，保健行動に関する問診とbaPWV測定を行った．結果として保健行動では統計学的に有意な結果は出なかったが，実験群の方が対照群と比較して運動，塩分，糖分について動脈硬化予防に望ましい保健行動をしていた．検査結果の異常群の行動変化は，早食い，糖分について見られた．各群の身体的指標の前後比較において，収縮期血圧は実験群で有意な低下を示し，対照群でも減少傾向を示した．baPWVは実験群でのみ減少傾向を示した．以上の結果から，baPWV測定を用いた健康教育は動脈硬化予防を目的とした保健行動の改善に有効となる可能性が認められた．また，実験群では収縮期血圧値が有意に減少し，baPWVも減少傾向を示したことから，身体的にも改善されている可能性があった．The present study investigates the effect of a behavioral change induced by health education with a view to preventing arteriosclerosis. We examined physical data obtained by measuring brachialankle Pulse Wave Velocity（baPWV）and factors that alter baPWV values. We randomly assigned ８７ individuals to either an experimental or a control group and asked them about their health behavior. The height, weight and baPWV of all participants were measured and then education relative to the prevention of arteriosclerosis was provided to all in the experimental group. Three months later, baPWV was measured and all participants answered the same questionnaire as described above. The two groups did not statistically differ in terms of behavioral changes related to health, but systolic blood pressure significantly decreased in the experimental group（p＜０．０５）, and tended to decrease in the control group. The results indicate that a health education strategy using baPWV measurement could alter behavior and help to prevent arteriosclerosis. Moreover, physical condition could be improved by changing their behaviors because systolic blood pressure significantly decreased and baPWV tended to decrease in the experimental group

Behavioral factors to include in guidelines for lifelong oral healthiness: an observational study in Japanese adults

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to determine which behavioral factors to include in guidelines for the Japanese public to achieve an acceptable level of oral healthiness. The objective was to determine the relationship between oral health related behaviors and symptoms related to oral disease and tooth loss in a Japanese adult community. METHODS: Oral health status and lifestyle were investigated in 777 people aged 20 years and older (390 men and 387 women). Subjects were asked to complete a postal questionnaire concerning past diet and lifestyle. The completed questionnaires were collected when they had health examinations. The 15 questions included their preference for sweets, how many between-meal snacks they usually had per day, smoking and drinking habits, presence of oral symptoms, and attitudes towards dental visits. Participants were asked about their behaviors at different stages of their life. The oral health examinations included examination of the oral cavity and teeth performed by dentists using WHO criteria. Odds ratios were calculated for all subjects, all 10 year age groups, and for subjects 30 years or older, 40 years or older, 50 years or older, and 60 years or older. RESULTS: Frequency of tooth brushing (OR = 3.98), having your own toothbrush (OR = 2.11), smoking (OR = 2.71) and bleeding gums (OR = 2.03) were significantly associated with number of retained teeth in males. Frequency of between-meal snacks was strongly associated with number of retained teeth in females (OR = 4.67). Having some hobbies (OR = 2.97), having a family dentist (OR = 2.34) and consulting a dentist as soon as symptoms occurred (OR = 1.74) were significantly associated with number of retained teeth in females. Factors that were significantly associated with tooth loss in both males and females included alcohol consumption (OR = 11.96, males, OR = 3.83, females), swollen gums (OR = 1.93, males, OR = 3.04, females) and toothache (OR = 3.39, males, OR = 3.52, females). CONCLUSION: Behavioral factors that were associated with tooth retention were frequency of eating snacks between meals, tooth brushing frequency, having one's own toothbrush, smoking and drinking habits, having hobbies, having a family dentist and when they had dental treatment. Clinical factors included bleeding gums, swollen gums, and toothache

The HPB-AML-I cell line possesses the properties of mesenchymal stem cells

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>In spite of its establishment from the peripheral blood of a case with acute myeloid leukemia (AML)-M1, HPB-AML-I shows plastic adherence with spindle-like morphology. In addition, lipid droplets can be induced in HPB-AML-I cells by methylisobutylxanthine, hydrocortisone, and indomethacin. These findings suggest that HPB-AML-I is similar to mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) or mesenchymal stromal cells rather than to hematopoietic cells.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>To examine this possibility, we characterized HPB-AML-I by performing cytochemical, cytogenetic, and phenotypic analyses, induction of differentiation toward mesenchymal lineage cells, and mixed lymphocyte culture analysis.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>HPB-AML-I proved to be negative for myeloperoxidase, while surface antigen analysis disclosed that it was positive for MSC-related antigens, such as CD29, CD44, CD55, CD59, and CD73, but not for CD14, CD19, CD34, CD45, CD90, CD105, CD117, and HLA-DR. Karyotypic analysis showed the presence of complicated abnormalities, but no reciprocal translocations typically detected in AML cases. Following the induction of differentiation toward adipocytes, chondrocytes, and osteocytes, HPB-AML-I cells showed, in conjunction with extracellular matrix formation, lipid accumulation, proteoglycan synthesis, and alkaline phosphatase expression. Mixed lymphocyte culture demonstrated that CD3⁺T-cell proliferation was suppressed in the presence of HPB-AML-I cells.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>We conclude that HPB-AML-I cells appear to be unique neoplastic cells, which may be derived from MSCs, but are not hematopoietic progenitor cells.</p

Research Activities in the Department of Medical Engineering

The Department of Medical Engineering is dedicated to the research and educational activities to fulfill its mission as educating medical professionals in medical engineering under the diploma policy and curriculum policy, that is, "research and education aiming for fostering professionals competent in comprehensive resolving capacity based upon a wide field of knowledge and vision in clinical engineering, which can be attained by wearing the basic knowledge of medical science and engineering." For this reason, the Faculty of the Department of Medical Engineering is composed of the two areas; PhDs in engineering-based clinical medicine, and mainly MDs in medical sciences and clinical medicine. To summarize the research activities at the Department of Medical Engineering, the authors will describe the overview of research activities being performed in the Department of Medical Engineering Fields, by dividing into 1) Research in Biomedical Engineering Fields, and 2) Research in Medical Science and Clinical Engineering Fields