Evaluation of Carotid Arterial Intima-Media Thickness (IMT) and Its Relation to Clinical Parameters in Japanese Children

The aim of this study was to evaluate the carotid arterial intima-media thickness (IMT) and its relation to clinical parameters in Japanese children. Fifty-two healthy children (39 boys and 13 girls), aged 6-14 years, were enrolled in this cross-sectional investigation study. IMT of the common carotid artery was determined using ultrasonography. We also investigated anthropometric parameters, blood pressure (BP), lifestyles and blood examinations. The mean value of IMT was 0.4±0.1mm, which was lower than the normal value (1.0mm) in adults. IMT was positively correlated with age (r＝0.340) and height (r＝0.346) in boys, while it was positively correlated with body mass index (BMI) (r＝0.584) and diastolic BP (DBP) (r＝0.563) in girls. In addition, IMT was associated with sleeping hours and hours of watching television (TV) by using stepwise regression analysis. In conclusion, IMT increased with aging, and it was linked to some clinical parameters of atherosclerosis and lifestyles in children. Therefore, this reference data will be helpful for future assessment of age-related change in Japanese children in clinical practice, and IMT might be a good predictor of atherosclerosis in Japanese children

Influence of Cigarette Smoking on Estimated Glomerular Filtration Rate (eGFR) in Japanese Male Workers

The link between changes in estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) and cigarette smoking was evaluated in Japanese male workers with a 5-year follow-up. We examined the data of 456 Japanese male workers, aged 22-70 years, who were taking no medications, and from this group, 286 men (43.5±8.2 years) were followed for 5-years. Habits of cigarette smoking were obtained during interviews by well-trained staff. The influence of cigarette smoking on eGFR was evaluated. In the first analysis, there was no significant difference in eGFR between subjects with and without cigarette smoking. In the second analysis, eGFR was significantly reduced after 5 years in all subjects. Changes in eGFR in subjects with cigarette smoking (－1.90±12.31ml/min/1.73m2) were significantly smaller than those in subjects without cigarette smoking (－4.97±12.05ml/min/1.73m2). At follow-up, we found that eGFR was weakly and negatively correlated with the number of cigarettes smoked (/day). The present study indicated that cigarette smoking may be an important modifiable factor for eGFR in Japanese male workers who are not taking any medications

Ultrasonographic changes in quadriceps femoris thickness in women with normal pregnancy and women on bed rest for threatened preterm labor

This study aimed to evaluate the changes in quadriceps femoris muscle thickness during the pregnancy and postpartum periods and to elucidate the effect of bed rest for threatened preterm labor on muscle thickness. In 26 women with normal pregnancy, quadriceps femoris thickness was measured at 11–13, 26, 30, and 35 weeks’ gestation, and at 3–5 days and 1 month postpartum using ultrasonography. In 15 pregnant women treated with bed rest for threatened premature labor, quadriceps femoris thickness was measured at 30 and 35 weeks’ gestation and postpartum. In women with normal pregnancy, quadriceps femoris thickness increased, peaking at 35 weeks’ gestation, followed by a postpartum decrease. In women on bed rest, quadriceps femoris thickness showed no significant change during the pregnancy and postpartum periods, and the muscle was significantly thinner at 35 weeks’ gestation than that in women with normal pregnancy. In conclusion, a significant increase in quadriceps femoris muscle thickness during normal pregnancy was found using ultrasonography. Meanwhile, in pregnant women on bed rest treatment, the quadriceps femoris was significantly thinner in the late third trimester than that in normal pregnant women. Prolonged bed rest can affect normal changes in the quadriceps femoris muscle thickness during the pregnancy and postpartum periods

The New School Absentees Reporting System for Pandemic Influenza A/H1N1 2009 Infection in Japan

Objective: To evaluate the new Japanese School Absentees Reporting System for Infectious Disease (SARSID) for pandemic influenza A/H1N1 2009 infection in comparison with the National epidemiological Surveillance of Infectious Disease (NESID). Methods:We used data of 53,223 students (97.7%) in Takamatsu city Japan. Data regarding school absentees in SARSID was compared with that in NESID from Oct 13, 2009 to Jan 12, 2010. Results: Similar trends were observed both in SARSID and NESID. However, the epidemic trend for influenza in SARSID was thought to be more sensitive than that in NESID. Conclusion: The epidemic trend for influenza among school-aged children could be easily and rapidly assessed by SARSID compared to NESID. SARSID might be useful for detecting the epidemic trend of influenza

頸動脈硬化病変と生活習慣との関連性について : 過疎化、高齢化率の進んだ一地域、新見市千屋地区住民を対象として

健康長寿、QOLの向上は私たち誰もが持つ願望であり、健康日本21で示すように生活習慣病対策は個々人にとって重要な課題である。岡山県の山間、過疎地域の50歳から70歳の住民80名の希望対象者に頸動脈エコー検査を実施し、同時にライフスタイルチェックを行った。受検者76名(男性22名、女性54名)の平均年齢は男性63.1歳、女性62.2歳であった。男女別のライフスタイルチェックでは、日常生活活動、食生活習慣、休養習慣ともに女性の得点取得率が高く、運動習慣の男女平均取得率は7.5%と最も低かった(有意差なし)。頸動脈エコー検査結果は正常範囲群28名、軽度所見あり群41名、中等度以上の所見あり群7名(うち高血圧治療中3名)であった。頸動脈エコー検査結果からライフスタイルチェックをみると、正常範囲群と比較し中等度以上の所見あり群の平均得点取得率が高かった項目は、日常生活活動、食生活習慣、ライフスタイルチェックの合計点であり、中等度以上の所見あり群の方が生活習慣に関しては普段から十分注意していることが示唆された。Healthy long life and improvement of QOL are everybody\u27s desire. According to Project Healthy Japan 21, precautions against lifestyle-related diseases are important issues for individuals. We carried out carotid artery echo examinations and life style questionnaire to residents, from 50 years to 70 years of age, in a depopulated mountainous area of Okayama Prefecture. The average ages of the 76 examinees (22 males and 54 females) are 63.1 years of age for male and 62.2 for female. In the life style questionnaire to both genders, female examinees scored higher in sections such as daily life activities, dietary habits, and relaxation habits. The average percentage of who has regular exercise is 7.5% in both genders combined (no significant difference between the genders). Regarding the results of carotid artery echo examinations, 28 examinees were in the group of normal range, 41 in the group of minor findings, and 7 in the group of more than medium findings (including 3 persons under hypertension treatment. When we relate the results of carotid artery echo examinations to life style questionnaire, people in the group of more than medium findings score higher in categories of daily life activities, dietary habits and total scores of life style questionnaire. It can be noted that people who are in the group of more than medium findings are careful enough in their daily lives

短大教職員及び市役所事務系職員の仕事のストレス

職場におけるメンタルヘルス対策は重要な課題である。職業性ストレス簡易調査票を用いて短大教職員と事務系職員の職業性ストレスを比較した。対象者は旧A市役所職員300名(男性225名、女性75名)、短大教職員55名(男性21名、女性34名)。平均回収率54.9%。平均年齢は41.8歳(標準偏差±11.5歳)であった。短大教職員は事務系職員と比較し仕事の要求度(仕事の量、スピード、複雑さ)、仕事のコントロール(仕事の裁量権や自由度等)が有意に高かったが、同僚の支援は有意に低かった。上司の支援に有意の差はなかった。また、ストレスの量-コントロール判定図および職場の支援判定図からみた仕事のストレス判定図の結果、事務系職員の総合健康リスクは92.0、短大教職員は87.0であり、全国平均の総合健康リスク100と比較し事務系職員は8.0%、短大教職員は13.0%健康リスクが低くなっていた。Mental health at work has been an important subject. We have examined job stress among junior college staff in comparison with civil servants. Participants: 300 (225 males and 75 females) civil servants in a city government and 55 (21 males and 34 females) junior college staff. The average collection rate is 54.9%. The mean age was 41.84±11.5 years old. The present sample of junior college staff shows meaningfully higher job demands (amount of task, speed and complexity) and task control (discretion and flexibility of task performing) than civil servants. Junior college staff shows significantly lower support rate from their colleagues than civil servants. There is no significant difference on support rate from their bosses. In terms of stress levels which are shown in diagrams of stress measurement combined with diagrams of stress control and support, general health risk level of civil servants is 92.0, while that of junior college staff is 87.0. Compared with national average of general health risk level 100, the level of civil servants is 8.0% lower and that of college staff is 13.0% lower

Trichodermanins C–E, New Diterpenes with a Fused 6-5-6-6 Ring System Produced by a Marine Sponge-Derived Fungus

Trichodermanins C–E (1–3), new diterpenes with a rare fused 6-5-6-6 ring system, have been isolated from a fungus Trichoderma harzianum OUPS-111D-4 separated from a piece of a marine sponge Halichondria okadai, and these chemical structures have been established by spectroscopic analyses using IR, MASS, HRFABMS, and NMR spectra. We established their absolute stereostructures by application of the modified Mosher’s method. In addition, 1 inhibited the growth of cancer cell lines potently