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Biomedical subjects

K Nomiyama

Publications and source records attributed to K Nomiyama.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed1995

Autonomic and central nervous system effects of lead in female glass workers in China.

To clarify the effects of lead on autonomic and central nervous system functions, electrocardiographic R-R interval variability (CVRR) as well as visual and brainstem auditory evoked potentials (VEP and BAEP) were measured in 36 female workers exposed to lead (exposed group) and in 15 female textile workers (unexposed group). The C-CVLF, C-CVHF (two component CVs of the CVRR reflecting sympathetic and parasympathetic activities, respectively), and LF/HF ratio (indicator of sympatho-vagal balance) were also computed from component spectral powers by means of autoregressive spectral and component analyses. The exposed group had engaged in glass work for 2-17 (mean 7.8) years. Blood lead (BPb) concentrations were 25.8-79.3 (mean 55.6) micrograms/dl in the exposed group and 4.7-8.6 (mean 6.3) micrograms/dl in the unexposed group. The CVRR, C-CVLF, C-CVHF, and LF/HF ratio in the exposed group were significantly lower than those in the unexposed group. Also, the exposed group had more complaints of subjective symptoms and signs than did the unexposed group. On the other hand, no significant differences in either VEP or BAEP latencies were found between the two groups. It is suggested that autonomic nervous function is more susceptible to lead than visual and auditory nervous functions; lead affects sympathetic activity more strongly than parasympathetic activity.

Adult↗
PubMed1995

Incidence and risk factors of vascular dementia and Alzheimer's disease in a defined elderly Japanese population: the Hisayama Study.

We followed 828 nondemented residents of Hisayama Town, Kyushu, Japan, aged 65 years or older (88.3% of the elderly population) for 7 years starting in 1985 in order to determine the type-specific incidence of dementia and its risk factors in the general Japanese population. Only two subjects were lost to the follow-up, during which period 103 subjects developed dementia. Morphologic examination of the brains of 89 subjects (86.4%) was made by autopsy or CT. We made the initial diagnosis of dementia based on the DSM-III-R criteria, with the diagnoses of vascular dementia (VD) being based on the NINDS-AIREN criteria and Alzheimer's disease (AD) on the NINCDS-ADRDA criteria. The incidence of VD and AD increased with age for both sexes. The age-adjusted total incidence (per 1,000 person-years) of dementia was 19.3 for men and 20.9 for women. The corresponding rates for VD were 12.2 for men and 9.0 for women, and for AD, 5.1 for men and 10.9 for women. Among the VD subjects whose brain morphology we examined, the most frequent type of stroke was multiple lacunar infarcts (42%), but half these subjects lacked a stroke episode in their histories. Multivariate analysis showed that age, prior stroke episodes, systolic blood pressure, and alcohol consumption were significant independent risk factors for the occurrence of VD. In contrast, age and a low score on Hasegawa's dementia scale were significant risk factors for AD, and physical activity was a significant preventive factor for AD.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Aged↗
PubMed1995

[Cadmium].

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Cadmium↗
PubMed1994

The association of the insulin resistance syndrome with impaired glucose tolerance and NIDDM in the Japanese general population: the Hisayama study.

To elucidate the risk factors for initiating glucose intolerance, the relevant factors were explored in a cross-sectional survey conducted in a sample population aged 40-79 years old selected from a Japanese community, Hisayama, Japan in 1988. A 75-g oral glucose tolerance test was used to classify 1,073 men (72.5% of the entire population in the same age range) and 1,407 women (80.5%) into normal, impaired glucose tolerance and diabetes mellitus groups. In all age and sex groups with normal glucose tolerance, the sum of fasting and 2-h post-load insulin values varied widely and demonstrated significant positive correlations with triglycerides, body mass index, waist-hip ratio, systolic and diastolic blood pressure, while it negatively correlated to HDL cholesterol (p < 0.05). Insulin resistance was presumed to develop in normal glucose tolerance subjects with hyperinsulinaemia. The sum of the insulin concentrations, triglycerides, body mass index, waist-hip ratio and blood pressure levels was significantly associated with impaired glucose tolerance in all age and sex groups after adjustment for age (p < 0.05) and was also related to diabetes in either all or some age and sex groups, respectively (p < 0.05). It was shown that glucose intolerance in the general population was associated with the factors related to insulin resistance. These cross-sectional data, therefore, support the hypothesis that insulin resistance is the primary defect in the development of glucose intolerance in the Japanese general population. However, a further prospective study is still needed in order to confirm this hypothesis.

Adult↗
PubMed1994

[Mortality from major causes of death and its risk factors in the elderly--26-year follow-up study in Hisayama].

The authors studied mortality from major causes of death and risk factors in the elderly in a long-term prospective survey conducted in a Japanese suburban community, Hisayama. In the baseline survey in 1961, we scrutinized 1658 residents of the town aged 40 years or older accounting for 92% of the total population in this age range. Of those, 591 residents (245 men and 346 women) aged 60 years or older, who were free from major cardiovascular disease, were selected for the present study. They were followed-up for 26 years from 1961 to 1987. The average age was 67 years for men and 70 years for women, being significantly higher for women than for men. During the follow-up period, 529 subjects (89.5%) died, and 448 were autopsied (autopsy rate 84.7%). The all-cause mortality (per 1,000 person-years) after adjustment for age was 89.9 for men and 56.7 for women, the former being significantly higher than the latter (p < 0.01). The age-adjusted mortality from cerebrovascular disease was estimated to be 21.4 for men and 9.9 for women, i.e. 8.9 and 8.8 from heart disease, and 19.9 and 10.6 from neoplasm, and 18.1 and 12.2 from-pneumonia, respectively. There was significant sex difference in mortality from cerebrovascular disease, neoplasm and pneumonia (p < 0.01) but not from heart disease (p > 0.1). Multiple Cox's proportional hazards regression analysis showed systolic blood pressure and male sex to be significant risk factors for death by cerebrovascular disease. Systolic blood pressure was also a predictor for death by heart disease.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Age Factors↗
PubMed1994

Hyperinsulinaemia and blood pressure in a general Japanese population: the Hisayama Study.

OBJECTIVES: To study the relationship between serum insulin and blood pressure, as well as the prevalence of hypertension according to the insulin level in a general Japanese population. DESIGN: In 1988 a cross-sectional community survey was conducted among Hisayama residents aged 40-79 years. METHODS: A total of 1073 males and 1407 females (72.5 and 80.5% of the total population, respectively) underwent comprehensive investigation, including a 75-g oral glucose-tolerance test. Fasting and 2-h serum insulin levels were measured by radioimmunoassay. RESULTS: The sum of the fasting and 2-h postloading insulin levels was significantly correlated with the systolic blood pressure (SBP; r = 0.18 and 0.26 for males and females, respectively) and the diastolic blood pressure (DBP; r = 0.24 and 0.19, respectively) in the subjects not receiving antihypertensive drugs. In multiple regression analysis the correlation with blood pressure remained significant in both sexes even after controlling for age, body mass index, alcohol intake, smoking, a family history of hypertension, serum total cholesterol and fasting plasma glucose. The age- and sex-adjusted prevalence of hypertension (SBP > or = 160 mmHg or DBP > or = 95 mmHg, or both, or receiving drug treatment) increased significantly with an increase in the sum of fasting and 2-h postload insulin levels in both the non-obese subjects (body mass index < 25 kg/m2) and the obese subjects (body mass index > or = 25 kg/m2). Multiple logistic regression showed that the sum of fasting and 2-h postload insulin levels was a significant factor with an independent relationship to hypertension, even after taking the other risk factors into account. CONCLUSION: The present study suggests that hyperinsulinaemia is related to hypertension in a general Japanese population.

Adult↗
PubMed1994

A nine-year chronic toxicity study of cadmium in monkeys. II. Effects of dietary cadmium on circulatory function, plasma cholesterol and triglyceride.

The effects of long-term (9 y) po administration of daily low doses of cadmium on blood pressure, heart rate, electrocardiogram and plasma cholesterol and triglyceride concentrations were examined in rhesus monkeys. Thirty-five male rhesus monkeys were divided into 5 groups and fed pelleted food containing cadmium chloride at dosages of 0, 3, 10, 30 or 100 micrograms cadmium/g food (= ppm). The 100 ppm group had increased blood pressure during the initial 1 1/2 y. Thereafter, the expected increase in blood pressure that occurred due to aging in the control and 3 ppm groups was not evident in the 100 ppm group. No changes attributable to cadmium were detected in pulse rates or in electrocardiograms. Plasma cholesterol in the 2 highest dosage groups and triglyceride in the 100 ppm group were slightly lower than in controls after 2 1/2 y. Long-term exposure to cadmium contributed to the development of elevated blood pressure during the first and second years and then inhibited the hypertension expected due to aging.

Animals↗
PubMed1994

A nine-year chronic toxicity study of cadmium ingestion in monkeys. I. Effects of dietary cadmium on the general health of monkeys.

Thirty-five male rhesus monkeys (Macaca mulatta) 2-5 y-of-age were separated into 5 groups and fed 200 g solid food daily which contained 0, 3, 10, 30 or 100 micrograms cadmium/g (ppm) as cadmium chloride for 462 w (9 y). The control feed (0 ppm) contained 0.27 micrograms cadmium/g. Dietary zinc intake was limited to the minimum requirement of 6 mg zinc/day (control food concentration was 3 mg zinc/100 g) to avoid impacting cadmium toxicity due to excessive zinc intake. Urine was collected at 3-w intervals. Decreased development (reduced body weight and body length) was observed in groups that received 10 ppm cadmium or more. The 100 ppm group had glucose in the urine after 48 w, elevated urine protein at 98 w, and markedly increased urine volume after the 102nd week. No abnormalities in renal functions were noted in the 3 or 10 ppm groups. Despite the development of these clinical signs of renal dysfunction, none of the 100 ppm group had aggravated renal dysfunction or renal failure during the 9 y of study.

Animals↗
PubMed1993

Prevalence of type 2 (non-insulin-dependent) diabetes mellitus and impaired glucose tolerance in the Japanese general population: the Hisayama Study.

We determined the population-based prevalence of diabetes mellitus in members of the Japanese community, Hisayama aged 40-79 years old by a 75-g oral glucose tolerance test. The basic population used to calculate diabetic prevalence was 1,077 men (72.8% of the whole population in the same age range) and 1,413 women (80.8%) including ten diabetic patients on insulin therapy. In addition, we compared the prevalence of history of diabetes which was acquired by interview or questionnaire, between participants and non-participants in the 75-g oral glucose tolerance test, but they were not statistically different. The age-adjusted prevalence of diabetes to world population was 12.7% for men and 8.4% for women, and that of impaired glucose tolerance was 19.6% for men and 18.4% for women. These figures were much higher than those previously reported from several Japanese communities. The results obtained from the present study could reveal true prevalence of diabetes among the Japanese population. In addition, the reasons for the increasing prevalence of diabetes among the recent Japanese population are also discussed.

Adult↗
PubMed1993

Synthesis and evaluation of (piperidinomethylene)bis(phosphonic acid) derivatives as anti-osteoporosis agents.

Some (piperidinomethylene)bis(phosphonic acid) derivatives were prepared and their activity to inhibit a rise in serum calcium induced by parathyroid hormone in thyroparathyroidectomised rats was evaluated. Several (4-alkylidene-, 4,4-dialkyl-, or 4-alkyl-4-halopiperidinomethylene)bis(phosphonic acid) derivatives showed considerable inhibitory activity. But compounds having aromatic and polar substituents such as azido, hydroxy, amino and amido on the piperidine ring were generally inactive. In this study, two 4-alkylidene compounds (8a and 8b) and a 4,4-cyclic dialkyl compound (61) showed potent activity when administered either intravenously or perorally.

Animals↗
PubMed1993

[Present status of medical care for foreigners in Tochigi Prefecture, Japan (1). Survey at all clinics and hospitals].

The number of foreign workers in Japan has rapidly increased during the last several years, because of the nation's insufficient work force. The influx of laborers into Japan has brought various issues to the forefront of society, one of the most serious being their medical care. To clarify the present status of their medical care, we sent a questionnaire to 1,004 clinics and hospitals in Tochigi Prefecture. The response rate was 55.6%, and the results are summarized as follows: 1. Clinics were rather reluctant to accept foreign patients because of the language barrier and the consequent time-consuming medical care. 2. Two-thirds of foreign patients did not enroll in any health insurance system. Most clinics and hospitals requested foreign patients with no health insurance to pay 100% of the medical cost set by the national insurance system of Japan. Some hospitals required more than 200% of the set cost, while some clinics reduced the cost. 3. Only a few doctors can communicate with patients in English. It is very difficult for doctors to communicate with foreign patients, who speak only their own native language, but not English. Most doctors felt it necessary to have the assistance of translators or booklets for translation. 4. Foreign patients endured illness, that is, ignored illness, delayed or stopped medical care at clinics and hospitals, because of communication problems and high medical costs. Labor injury cases among foreign workers were more frequent than among Japanese workers. 5. The medical cost for foreign workers per year has been estimated to be 44 billion yen (370 million dollars).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adult↗
PubMed1993

[Present status of medical care for foreigners in Tochigi Prefecture, Japan (2). Illness behavior of foreign workers].

This study revealed certain health issues and illness behaviors of foreign workers living in Tochigi Prefecture, Japan. We collected responses to our questionnaires from 317 foreign workers from 41 factories. The results are summarized as follows: 1. The incidences of signs and symptoms of poor health were high among foreign workers. Most signs and symptoms seemed to be related to physical and psychological stresses in daily life and work. The incidences of work-related injury and disease were also high. 2. A quarter of the foreign workers polled did not visit clinics or hospitals regardless of their suffering from severe illness, mainly because of heavy work duties, language barriers and high medical costs. 3. Foreign workers most often visited clinics, pharmacies and hospitals, when they suffered from illness. They would not pay more than 10,000 yen for an outpatient medical visit or 100,000 yen for admission or for total medical costs. 4. Sixty percent of foreign workers had difficulty in communicating with doctors, even in English. This situation made foreign workers hesitant to visit clinics and hospitals in Japan. 5. Forty percent of foreign workers did not enroll in a health insurance system, but half of them felt it was necessary to do so. 6. Fifty-four percent of foreign workers were psychologically unstable. Emergency psychological care should be applied in some cases, such as potential suicide cases.

Adult↗
PubMed1993

[Hyperinsulinemia and hypertension in an elderly Japanese population--the Hisayama Study].

Hyperinsulinemia has been closely associated with hypertension in several epidemiological studies, but little is known about this condition in the elderly. The authors studied the relationship between serum insulin and blood pressure levels, and the prevalence of hypertension according to insulin levels in the elderly in a Japanese rural community, Hisayama. In 1988, 75 g oral glucose tolerance test was performed on 426 male and 567 female Hisayama residents aged 60 to 79 years. Fasting and 2 hr serum insulin values were measured by radioimmunoassay. In the subjects, excluding those receiving antihypertensive drugs, the sum of fasting and 2 hr postload insulin (sigma IRI) significantly correlated with systolic (r = 0.15 and 0.25 for males and females, respectively) and diastolic blood pressure (r = 0.20, 0.16). In multiple regression analyses, the correlation with systolic blood pressure remained significant in females after controlling for age, body mass index, alcohol intake, smoking habits, serum total cholesterol, HDL-cholesterol, triglycerides, and fasting plasma glucose. In contrast, sigma IRI did not remain as an independent variable relevant to blood pressure among males. The age-adjusted prevalence rates of hypertension (> or = 160/95 mmHg or receiving drug treatment) significantly increased with increasing quartiles of sigma IRI in females. The prevalence of hypertension which was not treated with drugs also increased significantly with increasing sigma IRI in females. However, no significant association was observed in males. In conclusion, the present study suggests that hyperinsulinemia can be related to hypertension in the female elderly in the general population of Japan.

Aged↗
PubMed1993

[Effects of treatment with rice bran fiber and cholestyramine on clinical and laboratory findings in Yusho patients].

To investigate the therapeutic effects of rice bran fiber (30 g/day) and cholestyramine (12 g/day) for Yusho, clinical signs and symptoms, and laboratory examinations were studied before, during and after 14 day-treatment in four patients with Yusho. The increases of bowel movements and abdominal distention were observed in two of these patients, although no effect was seen in physical findings. In peripheral blood cells, red blood cell counts decreased significantly, from 430 +/- 47 x 10(4)/mm3 (mean +/- SD) to 378 +/- 48 x 10(4)/mm3 (p < 0.01) after therapy. Hemoglobin as well as hematocrit levels were also reduced significantly afer the therapy. However, no significant effect of the treatment was observed in white blood cell counts or platelet counts. In biochemical parameters, a significant depression was observed in total cholesterol levels after the therapy (from 262 +/- 31 mg/dl to 179 +/- 33 mg/dl; p < 0.005). A significant elevations was observed in serum levels of alanine aminotransferase and sodium, while significant depressions were found in serum levels of cholinesterase, total protein, albumin, gamma-globulin, and potassium.

Benzofurans↗
PubMed1993

[Two cases of huge hepatic hemangioma].

We have experienced two cases of huge hepatic hemangioma. Case 1 was a 51-year-old man complaining of abdominal fullness and was shown low density area in the right hepatic lobe by abdominal computed tomography. He was treated with segmentectomy of the right hepatic lobe. The resected specimen was histologically diagnosed as cavernous hemangioma. Case 2 was a 61-year-old man who showed no symptom and was shown 10 x 6.5 cm hemangioma by abdominal ultrasonography. He have been untreated. For 10 years, 29 cases of huge hepatic hemangioma, including our two cases have been reported in Japan. The female to male ratio is 5:1. The incidence of huge hepatic hemangioma was frequent in the fifth and sixth decades of life. The majority of patients complained of palpable abdominal mass and abdominal pain. The dominant site of huge hepatic hemangioma was the anatomical right hepatic lobe.

Hemangioma, Cavernous↗
PubMed1992

Critical levels of blood and urinary cadmium, urinary beta 2-microglobulin and retinol-binding protein for monitoring cadmium health effects.

The critical levels for monitoring cadmium health effects in 358 workers engaged in ore crushing/roasting (cadmium concentration in the workplace air 2.5-6.5 mg/m3), dry smelting (10.8-23.3 mg/m3), cadmium melting (0.01-0.16 mg/m3), and ingot making (2.8-4.7 mg/m3), were investigated. Exposure parameters such as blood and urinary cadmium were determined, together with biological parameters such as proteinuria, amino acids, glucose, beta 2-microglobulin, retinol-binding protein, albumin, plasma beta 2-microglobulin, creatinine clearance, tubular reabsorption of beta 2-microglobulin and phosphate, and blood and urinary levels of zinc, copper and lead. Factor analysis and stepwise regression analysis were then applied to the data to classify parameters and to find the main contributing parameter. Blood and urinary cadmium, urinary beta 2-microglobulin, retinol-binding protein and the ratio of urinary beta 2-microglobulin to albumin were also subjected to multiple correlation analysis, multiple regression analysis and the Chi-square test was applied to contingency tables. It is concluded, based on the data, that cadmium health effects may be assessed by using the following critical levels: blood cadmium: 10 micrograms/l, urinary cadmium: 10 micrograms/g creatinine; urinary beta 2-microglobulin: 2000 micrograms/g creatinine, urinary retinol-binding protein: 200 micrograms/g creatinine and a ratio of urinary beta 2-microglobulin to albumin of 0.001.

Adult↗
PubMed1992

[A case of idiopathic hemochromatosis associated with gastric cancer].

A 76-year-old male was admitted to our hospital because of general fatigue in June 1987. He had received total gastrectomy against gastric carcinoma two years previously. The examinations revealed the elevation of GOT, GPT and gamma-GTP, and increased CT number of the liver. Specimen of the liver biopsy showed deposition of iron and slight fibrosis. He was diagnosed as idiopathic hemochromatosis. He was given deferoxamine, and his elevated GOT, GPT and gamma-GTP were normalized. Idiopathic hemochromatosis is frequently associated with various malignancies including hepatic carcinoma. However, only a few cases of idiopathic hemochromatosis associated with gastric carcinoma have been reported.

Adenocarcinoma↗