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Biomedical subjects

A Asaka

Publications and source records attributed to A Asaka.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed1994

[Study on the association between risk factors for osteoporosis and bone mineral density].

The relationship between bone mineral density (BMD) and risk factors for osteoporosis was investigated on 146 females (23-68 years old) in Enzan city, Yamanashi prefecture. BMD was measured by DEXA (Dual Energy X-ray Absorptiometry) method. Information regarding menstruation, health status, life-style, quantities of nutrient intake and frequencies of food intake were obtained by questionnaire. Fitness level was determined by exercise test and daily energy expenditure by calorie-counter. The results were as follows; 1) No relationship between physical activities or daily energy consumption and BMD was found. 2) No relationship between calcium intake or vitamin D intake and BMD was found, but a significant and positive correlation coefficient between intake frequency of milk products and BMD was observed. 3) Significant influences of age, BMI, presence of lumbago and food frequency score on BMD were indicated by multiple regression analysis. Food frequency score were defined as values weighted in each of three food category, obtained by factor analysis. 4) Significant influences of height decrement rate per year and number of years postmenopausal on BMD reduction rate per year were indicated by multiple regression analysis. These results suggest that these significant factors are useful in indications of risk for osteoporosis.

Adult↗
PubMed1994

[Development of a troublesome behavior scale (TBS) for elderly patients with dementia].

A rating scale for assessing troublesome behavior associated with dementia illnesses was developed. This instrument, named the troublesome behavior scale (TBS), is designed to be completed by family and professional caregivers. It is comprised of 14 questions assessing a variety of types of disruptive or burdensome behavior. Two of the 14 questions differ in their assessment for outpatients and that for inpatients. Each of the 14 items is rated with 5 possible responses corresponding to the frequency of the behavior in the preceding month (from 0 = never, to 4 = once every day or more). Thus, higher scores indicate more disturbance. The TBS was administered to 146 outpatients and 167 inpatients with dementia based on the DSM III-R criteria in order to test its reliability and validity. The data were analyzed separately for outpatients and inpatients. The reliability of the scale, based on calculation of perfect agreement rates and kappa values, indicated high test-retest and inter-rater reliability for both samples. Validity, by confirmatory factor analysis of the data from the outpatients, revealed three main factors, namely, "behavior toward caregivers", "self-absorbed behavior" and "elaborate behavior". The same analysis of data from inpatients resulted in a different set of three factors: "behavior interfering with care work", "behavior necessitating watchful protection" and "behavior resulting in missing articles". From these findings TBS appears to be a reliable and valid instrument for assessing troublesome behavior of patients with dementia.

Aged↗
PubMed1993

Physical growth of Japanese twins.

The present study aimed at clarifying the characteristics of twins' physical growth. First, 557 pairs of normal Japanese twins were analyzed according to the following three life stages: (1) intrauterine growth, (2) body weight and height from birth to 6 years, and (3) body weight and height at school age (from 6 to 11 years). The following results were obtained. 1. Intrauterine growth of twins was very different from that of singletons, especially as regards weight, so twins should be estimated by twin standards. 2. Size deficit at birth was appropriately recovered over the first 6 years. 3. No size deficit was observed by school age. Second, the similarity of bodyweight and height according to zygosity was analyzed using 605 pairs of normal Japanese twins, 427 monozygotic (MZ), 113 same-sexed dizygotic (DZ) and 65 opposite-sexed DZ pairs. The similarity between MZ and DZ pairs was almost the same at birth. However, MZ pairs became increasingly more similar with age, whereas DZ pairs became more dissimilar. This tendency was very clearly seen through early infancy, thus suggesting that genetic factors became more apparent during this life stage.

Birth Weight↗
PubMed1993

Zygosity diagnosis of twins by questionnaire for twins' mothers.

Subjects were 74 twin pairs, 61 MZs and 13 same-sexed DZs who entered the High School affiliated with Tokyo University, Japan. Their mothers also participated. The twins' zygosity was previously identified by many genetic markers. This study aimed at clarifying the effectiveness of zygosity diagnosis by questionnaires distributed to twins' mothers. The questionnaire consisted of three questions concerning the degree of similarity of twins at one year of age; whether they were confused, and if so, by whom. It was slightly modified from that reported earlier by Ooki et al [11] for twins themselves. According to the degree of similarity of the twins, points were allotted thus: from 1 to 3 points for answers to questions (1) and (2) and from 1 to 4 points for answers to questions (3). The sum of the points was calculated, then ranged from 3 to 10. Zygosity was determined by the sum of these points. If the sum was 3-6, the twin pairs were considered MZ and if the sum was 7-10 DZ. It was revealed that more than 90% of twins were identified correctly as MZ or DZ by applying this cutting point and this result was in accordance with that obtained by use of discriminant function analysis. Moreover, the accuracy of the mothers' responses was nearly the same as that obtained by the questionnaire for twins themselves. It was concluded, therefore, that the information from twins' mothers is as correct as that from twins themselves. This questionnaire is simple, practical and especially useful when twins are still too young to participate personally.

Diagnosis↗
PubMed1992

The effect of aging on cell-cycle kinetics and X-ray-induced chromosome aberrations in cultured lymphocytes from patients with Down syndrome.

To evaluate the effects of aging on cytogenetic characteristics of lymphocytes from Down syndrome (DS), cell-cycle kinetics after PHA stimulation and chromosome-type aberration frequencies after X-ray exposure were investigated in vitro in the lymphocytes derived from 4 (or 3 for X-ray treatment) age groups of DS patients and age-matched controls. The results clearly showed higher mitotic and proliferation index levels in younger groups compared to older groups at the various culture intervals, whether the lymphocytes were from the DS patients or controls. The age-related changes of the proliferation index were mainly attributed to a delayed response to PHA as age increased. The changes of PHA responses seemed to be particularly marked during adolescence. Nonetheless, no significant differences were observed between the DS patients and age-matched controls for each age group. In all age groups, frequencies of both chromosome-type exchanges and deletions were elevated in the DS patients by about 1.3 times in comparison with the controls. The magnitude of radiosensitivity, however, seemed to decrease slightly in the 40-49-year group. To our knowledge, the present study is the first report in the literature to deal with the effect of aging on the greater radiosensitivity of DS lymphocytes.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1992

Genetic and environmental factors of bone mineral density indicated in Japanese twins.

To evaluate the effects of genetic and environmental factors on the bone mass, we determined the bone mineral density (BMD) in the total body, the lumbar spine and in the femoral neck in 23 Japanese twin pairs including 21 monozygotic (MZ) pairs, applying dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry. In MZ pairs aged 20-49 years, highly significant intraclass correlation coefficients, ranging from 0.775 to 0.926, were observed at several sites, including the lumbar spine and the femoral neck, which suggests considerable contributions of genetic factors to the BMD. Neither intraclass correlation coefficients nor intrapair differences were found to change with increasing age in the present analysis. In female MZ pairs, exercises both at the present time and in the past were correlated with the BMD at several sites as well as body mass index in multiple regression analyses.

Absorptiometry, Photon↗
PubMed1990

Fetal deaths with birth defects among Japanese multiples, 1974.

Source of data is "Survey on Socio-Economic Aspects of Vital Events-Plural Births in 1975", including 12,392 twin pairs, 124 triplet sets, 7 quadruplet sets and 1 quintuplet set. Fetal deaths were 3,285 for twins, 141 for triplets, 17 for quadruplets, and 5 for quintuplets, among which the number of birth defects were 78, 3, 0, and 0 respectively. Concordant twin pairs with the same category of birth defect were 20 among 56 pairs (0.36). As for the remaining 36 pairs, 2 pairs had different category of birth defects, 27 pairs had liveborn cotwins, and 7 pairs were both fetal deaths among which a twin had birth defect. The second-born twins had birth defects more frequently than the first-born twins among fetal deaths (28 vs 6).

Congenital Abnormalities↗
PubMed1990

The influence of birth injuries in first-born and second-born twins.

This study showed that biological handicap with many complications at birth was much more recognized in the second-born than in the first-born twins. One of the most prominent intrapair differences was, for example, the weight at birth. However, intrapair differences, which were observed also in other physical measurements, diminished gradually with age. Moreover, as for intellectual ability, which was represented by the scores of the entrance examination test or standard achievement test, no remarkable influences due to handicap of the second-born were identified. Thus, it was concluded that the biological handicap seen in the second-born twin at birth did not give any significant effect on later development.

Birth Injuries↗
PubMed1990

Zygosity diagnosis of twins by questionnaire.

Subjects were 189 twin pairs, 165 MZ and 24 same-sexed DZ, who entered the junior high school affiliated to Tokyo University (sample T), and 93 twin pairs, 71 MZ and 22 same-sexed DZ, who were registered at Kinki University (sample K). The zygosity was previously identified by many genetic markers, and this study aimed at zygosity diagnosis by questionnaire. The latter included three questions: "How are you alike?", "How often are you mistaken?", and "By whom are you mistaken?". According to the degree, 1-3 points, 1-3 points, and 1-4 points were given for each question, and the sum of the points of each pair of twins was calculated. Zygosity was determined by the sum of points, distributed from 6 to 20. Namely, if the sum was 6-13, the twin pair was considered MZ, and if the sum was 14-20, DZ. More than 90% of twins were diagnosed correctly by use of this cutting point. This result was in accordance with that obtained by use of discriminated function analysis. It is concluded that zygosity diagnosis by questionnaire is convenient and useful, in particular for epidemiological research.

Discriminant Analysis↗
PubMed1990

Relationship between blood uric acid level and personality traits.

The present study deals with the relationship between blood uric acid level and human behavior. Subjects were 37 MZ and 7 DZ twins aged from 18 to 45 years. In males, blood uric acid level increased with age, while it decreased with age in females. Blood uric acid level was corrected and standardized using regression lines separately for males and females. The distribution of standardized uric acid level corresponded well with the theoretical curve of normal distribution. The intraclass correlation coefficient for standardized uric acid level was r = 0.370 (P less than 0.05) for the 37 MZ twins, but not significant for the 7 DZ twins. These findings suggest that blood uric acid level is genetically controlled. By the analysis of 12 personality traits in YG (Yatabe-Guilford) character test, it was revealed that "General activity" was more controlled by genetically than environmentally. In the evaluation of the correlation between standardized uric acid level and the YG 12 personality traits, significant correlation was observed in "Lack of agreeableness" and "Rhathymia". Since these two personality traits include the factor of "activity", it is concluded that the plasma uric acid level and activity in a broader sense are under genetic control. This conclusion is consistent with the generally accepted view that persons with high uric acid level are more active and energetic than those with low level.

Adult↗
PubMed1989

[Family study on mitochondrial DNA polymorphism].

Mitochondrial DNA restriction fragment length polymorphisms (mtDNA RFLPs) were surveyed among 19 Japanese families with 67 individuals including twins. A mother and children, and siblings of each family showed the same pattern of mtDNA RFLPs. Samples from Japanese war orphans remained in China and their probable relatives were also surveyed and one pair indicating a high probability to be siblings using other genetic markers possessed the same variant of mtDNA. Moreover mtDNA RFLPs was applied for maternity test among two families. The data suggested that parents mistook their children for each other at birth.

Adult↗
PubMed1984

Blood uric acid level and IQ: a study in twin families.

Applying newly devised model, heritability (VA/VP) of plasma uric acid level, corrected for age and sex and standardized, was estimated at 0.8 in families consisting of twin parents, spouses and children. Correlation between spouses due to common genotype (rho) was approximately 0.1, and variance due to common familial environment (VEC/VP) was -0.3. Analysis of families of selected twin children and their parents resulted in two estimates of heritability: approximately 0.7 and 0.3, rho being 0.34 and 0.04, and VEC/VP being 0.04 and 0.34, respectively. Regression of IQ (y) on corrected and standardized plasma uric acid level (x) in the twin children was y = 5.56x + 123, correlation being 0.334 (p less than 0.025). The result indicates a genetic basis of blood uric acid level, which may have resulted from polymorphisms in purine metabolism pathway, end product of which is uric acid in man. The significant correlation between plasma uric acid level and IQ suggests a contribution of partly common gene loci to the two quantitative traits.

Adolescent↗