Uterine leiomyomata: a retrospective study of correlations with hypertension and diabetes mellitus from the Japan Nurses’ Health Study

We performed a scrutiny survey of self-reported uterine leiomyomata (UL) to investigate the associations of parental history with hypertension and personal history of hypertension in the UL cases in Japanese women. Questionnaires that included items on the sites of UL determined by imaging techniques and surgical procedure were mailed to 2015 women with a self-reported UL at a baseline survey of the Japan Nurses’ Health Study (n = 15,019). We found that women with a past history and a maternal history of hypertension had an increase in their risk of UL. A maternal history of hypertension was significantly associated with an increase in the risk of UL in women without a past history of hypertension but not in the women with a past history of hypertension. A past history and a parental history of diabetes mellitus were not associated with an increase in the risk of UL. Women of reproductive age with a maternal history of hypertension may be at a higher risk for hypertension and UL.Impact Statement What is already known on this subject? A positive association of uterine leiomyomata (UL) with a past history of hypertension has been found but the association of a parental history of hypertension with UL has not yet been clarified. What do the results of this study add? Maternal hypertension, as well as a personal history of hypertension, was associated with an increased risk of UL and a past history and a parental history of diabetes mellitus were not associated with an increase in the risk of UL. What are the implications of these findings for clinical practice and/or further research? Women of a reproductive age with a maternal history of hypertension may be at a higher risk for hypertension and UL

Blood pressure-lowering effect of Shinrin-yoku (Forest bathing): a systematic review and meta-analysis

Abstract Background Shinrin-yoku (experiencing the forest atmosphere or forest bathing) has received increasing attention from the perspective of preventive medicine in recent years. Some studies have reported that the forest environment decreases blood pressure. However, little is known about the possibility of anti-hypertensive applications of Shinrin-yoku. This study aimed to evaluate preventive or therapeutic effects of the forest environment on blood pressure. Methods We systematically reviewed the medical literature and performed a meta-analysis.Four electronic databases were systematically searched for the period before May 2016 with language restriction of English and Japanese. The review considered all published, randomized, controlled trials, cohort studies, and comparative studies that evaluated the effects of the forest environment on changes in systolic blood pressure. A subsequent meta-analysis was performed. Results Twenty trials involving 732 participants were reviewed. Systolic blood pressure of the forest environment was significantly lower than that of the non-forest environment. Additionally, diastolic blood pressure of the forest environment was significantly lower than that of the non-forest environment. Conclusions This systematic review shows a significant effect of Shinrin-yoku on reduction of blood pressure

Gastroduodenal Ulcers and ABO Blood Group: the Japan Nurses’ Health Study (JNHS)

Background: Although several studies have shown that blood type O is associated with increased risk of peptic ulcer, few studies have investigated these associations in Japan. We sought to investigate the association between the ABO blood group and risk of gastroduodenal ulcers (GDU) using combined analysis of both retrospective and prospective data from a large cohort study of Japanese women, the Japan Nurses’ Health Study (JNHS; n = 15,019). Methods: The impact of the ABO blood group on GDU risk was examined using Cox regression analysis to estimate hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CI), with adjustment for potential confounders. Results: Compared with women with non-O blood types (A, B, and AB), women with blood type O had a significantly increased risk of GDU from birth (multivariable-adjusted HR 1.18; 95% CI, 1.04–1.34). Moreover, the highest cumulative incidence of GDU was observed in women born pre-1956 with blood type O. In a subgroup analysis stratified by birth year (pre-1956 or post-1955), the multivariable-adjusted HR of women with blood type O was 1.22 (95% CI, 1.00–1.49) and 1.15 (95% CI, 0.98–1.35) in the pre-1956 and post-1955 groups, respectively. Conclusion: In this large, combined, ambispective cohort study of Japanese women, older women with blood type O had a higher risk of developing GDU than those with other blood types