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Biomedical subjects

M Miyao

Publications and source records attributed to M Miyao.

At least 91 records · Page 5Linked to original sources
PubMed1994

Implications for dynamic visual acuity with changes in aged and sex.

Using a Landolt ring with a gap of 40' of arc which moved at a decreasing velocity until the gap was discriminated, we measured the dynamic visual acuity of 826 subjects, males and females ages 5 to 92 years, and found rapid development between the ages of 5 and 15 years. This experiment showed that dynamic discrimination peaked at age 15 and then declined at a constant rate from age 20 on. The discrimination of male subjects was superior to that of female subjects at most ages, but a significant sex difference was observed only at age 5. We speculate that males may have better discrimination than females but variability is substantial.

Acceleration↗
PubMed1994

Effect of a low dose of alcohol on dynamic visual acuity.

An experiment was carried out to investigate the relationship between dynamic visual acuity and a low dose of alcohol. For the study, 18 subjects ranging from 18 to 25 years of age were chosen. The subjects' dynamic visual acuities were compared before and after drinking 16.5 ml of alcohol, the amount in one standard can of beer. It was found that the acuity improved 30 min. after consuming this low volume of alcohol.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1994

[Effect of warm bathing on short-term and 24-hour blood pressure in bedridden elderly patients].

The effects of the bathing on short-term and ciracadian blood pressure (BP) in bedridden elderly patients were investigated in 10 bedridden patients (4 male: 6 female) living in a community home. The mean age of the subjects was 78.7 years old and causes of bedridden status were cerebrovascular disease in 9 and spinal damage in one. To study the short-term hemodynamic effect of bathing, BP and pulse rate were measured every 2 minutes from 10 minutes before bathing to 14 minutes after. Blood samples were collected before and after bathing for measurements of plasma catecholamine and plasma renin activity. To study the effect of warm bathing on circadian, BP, ambulatory BP was non-invasively monitored every 15 minutes for 24 hours on days with and without bathing. In the short-term phase, BP temporally elevated when washing the body outside the bathtub accompanied with a decline soaking in warm water (38 degrees C). Plasma catecholamine did not change after warm bathing. In the study of circadian change of BP, systolic BP on days of warm bathing remained at a lower level for 12 hours after bathing compared to days without bathing. In conclusion, hypotensive effects after bathing were prolonged in the bedridden elderly patients.

Aged↗
PubMed1994

Medical consultation rate of allergic rhinitis and pollinosis surveillance in Aichi, Japan.

The medical consultation rate of allergic rhinitis (AR) was analysed using Japan National Health Insurance records of Aichi Prefecture for May 1989. Data collected from 88 cities, towns and villages were tabulated and divided into five-year age groups. The standardized medical consultation rate (SMCR) of AR in each municipality was then calculated. It was found that SMCR of AR did not correlate well with the pollen count for Japanese cedars, Japanese cypresses or gramineae, respectively, but a weak correlation with the mean yearly levels of nitrogen dioxide was suggested by the data. There was a significant positive correlation between SMCR of AR and the mean yearly levels of suspended particulate matter, the major element of which is diesel exhaust particulate.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1994

[Bacterial endophthalmitis].

Bacterial endophthalmitis is generally considered to be the most severe and vision-threatening form of ocular infection. It may follow ocular surgery, trauma or microbial keratitis, -exogenous endophthalmitis-, or derived from a blood borne organism-endogenous endophthalmitis. The most common organisms causing exogenous endophthalmitis were gram positive bacteria, including Coagulase negative Staphylococcus, Staphylococcus aureus. Streptococcus pneumoniae and other streptococcal species. On the other hand, endogenous cases were mainly due to gram negative bacteria, including Klebsiella pneumoniae and Escherichia coli. Antimicrobial agents should be chosen based on the usual sensitivity of known or suspected pathogens. Aminoglycosides are almost universally used, combined with cephems and fluoroquinolone topically, subconjunctivally, parenterally and intravitreally. Vancomycin is applied in MRSA infection. In severe cases, vitrectomy with intravitreal antibiotics, corticosteroid are performed most effectively.

Adult↗
PubMed1993

Family clusters of pulmonary tuberculosis in a suburban area of Japan.

A survey was conducted in a metropolitan suburb to examine family clusters of pulmonary tuberculosis patients and related factors. Firstly, a descriptive study was done based on the review of tuberculosis registration cards over a 11-yr period. Of 1106 cases, 109 (9.9%) were found to occur in households which had already had one or more pulmonary tuberculosis patient during the period. The most affected were four- and eight-member families with infants and adolescents accounting for most of the second or later patients. Secondly, a home visit survey was performed to investigate factors associated with family clusters of phthisis. Results showed that significant variables were the length of patient's delay (interval between perception of physical symptoms and visit to the physician), the number of rooms, and lack of self-motivation to seek treatment. Log-linear analyses revealed interaction among these variables.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1993

Comparison of readability between liquid crystal displays and cathode-ray tubes.

Flat-panel displays, especially liquid crystal displays (LCDs), are almost universally used today. Do LCDs assure better readability than cathode-ray tubes (CRTs)? Two experiments were carried out to determine which type of display is better using a newly developed device. Four types of displays were tested; negative and positive CRTs, and LCDs with and without backlighting. Variables were the type of display, age, and gender. At first, analyses of readability using eye movements were conducted. Middle-aged subjects showed slower reading speed than young subjects. Then, experiments of pupillo-accommodative functions were carried out. Non-backlit LCDs reduced focusing speed among young subjects and reading performance in middle-aged subjects. Since middle-aged workers have more difficulties than young workers, they should have their vision properly corrected for VDT viewing, more appropriate displays and a more comfortable illuminance environment than young workers.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1993

Do liquid crystal displays assure better readability than cathode-ray tubes?

Flat-panel displays, especially liquid crystal displays (LCDs), are now firmly established as important devices for information displays. But do LCDs assure better readability than cathode-ray tubes (CRTs)? We carried out an experiment using four types of displays: negative and positive CRTs, and LCDs with and without backlighting. A syllable-checking task using the Japanese katakana alphabet was conducted among fifteen healthy workers. They were divided into three groups; Group 1 had five young males aged 25 to 29, Group 2 was made up of five young females aged 18 to 24, and Group 3 consisted of five middle-aged workers who were 40 to 50 years old. We used four ambient light levels: 200 lx, 500 lx, 1250 lx without reflected glare, and 500 lx with reflected glare, on the display screens from behind. The illuminance of the glare was approximately 200 cd/m2. Multiple regression analysis showed that non-backlit LCDs reduced reading performance in middle-aged subjects significantly. Since middle-aged workers have more difficulties than young workers, they need more appropriate displays and a more comfortable illuminance environment than younger workers.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1993

[Musculoskeletal symptoms and working postures in pear and apple orchard workers].

Musculoskeletal symptoms in pear and apple orchard workers were studied in relation to working postures, particularly arm elevation and head extension. The same forty-six female workers were examined three times; in May while thinning pears, in June while bagging pears, and in July while bagging apples. Musculoskeletal symptoms in the neck and shoulders were predominant in thinning and bagging pears when compared with bagging apples. When thinning pears, there was a significantly higher prevalence of complaints of stiffness and pain in the neck and shoulders, pain in the upper and lower back, muscle tenderness in the shoulders and forearm, and decreased back muscle power. When bagging pears, there was a significant difference in complaints of stiffness and pain in the neck and shoulders, muscle tenderness in the shoulders, and pain in motion of the neck joint. Pear tasks require more arm elevation and head extension than apple tasks. The working postures of arm elevation and head extension were considered to be a dominant causative factor in shoulder-neck disorders of the workers examined. The low back pain from thinning pears may be related with continuous backward bending of the back associated with the thinning work.

Agriculture↗
PubMed1993

Morbidity of allergic rhinitis based on the National Health Insurance records of Japan.

The morbidity of allergic rhinitis (AR) based on Japan National Health Insurance records was calculated from 1981 to 1990. The data shows a three-fold increase of the rate for AR patients in those 10 years. Additionally, Aichi Prefecture's morbidity of AR was analysed for May 1991. When cross-sectional methods were used for May 1991, it was found that the morbidity of AR showed little correlation with the pollen count for Japanese cedars and Japanese cypresses. However, the results suggested possible correlations between the morbidity of AR and the mean yearly levels of the pollutant components SPM and NO2.

Air Pollutants, Occupational↗
PubMed1993

An experimental study on the objective measurement of accommodative amplitude under binocular and natural viewing conditions.

A high resolution optometer makes it possible to measure changes in refractive power objectively using reflected light from the fundus of the eye. There are limitations in that the subject has to see the target monocularly through a hole in the instrument. In the present study, we attempted to measure the accommodation and pupillary response with a newly developed device as a means to measure these factors in both binocular and natural viewing conditions. We compared the subjective accommodative amplitude levels obtained from the near-point distance with those of objective accommodative amplitude obtained in earlier studies using a monocular internal target. The amplitude of accommodation of the cases with binocular, natural viewing conditions was approximately 0.7 D larger than with monocular, internal target gazing. In previous studies, the difference between the subjective amplitude of accommodation and the results of the objective measurements, had been reported to be approximately 2 D, and was explained by the depth of focus. However, the difference between the subjective and objective amplitude of accommodation under binocular, natural viewing was smaller than that between the subjective and objective measurements (under monocular internal target gazing) from previous studies. This leads us to believe that besides the depth of the focus, we should consider the fact that the advantageous conditions inherent in binocular, natural viewing may increase the amplitude of accommodation. In the measurement of accommodative amplitude, the use of objective measuring methods are not affected by the subjects' subjective judgement.

Accommodation, Ocular↗
PubMed1993

Differences in dynamic visual acuity between athletes and nonathletes.

We surveyed the dynamic visual acuity of 53 university athletes and 46 nonathlete university students, using a Landolt C ring as a target. The target moved from left to right on screen initially at the maximum angular velocity of 300 degrees/sec. and then gradually decreased in velocity until the subject recognized the direction of the gap in the Landolt C ring. The angular velocities at which the subject correctly recognized the direction of the gap were used as the parameters of the acuity measure. When the sizes of the gap in the Landolt C ring were 42' and 28', there were no differences in the performances of the athletes and nonathletes. However, when the gap sizes were 14' and 8', athletes could recognize the gap at significantly higher velocities than the nonathletes. In this case the dynamic visual acuity of athletes was superior to that of the nonathletes.

Adult↗
PubMed1993

Psychology of computer use: XXX. Effects of presentation speed on pupil size using negative and positive CRTS.

The effects of presentation speed and both positive and negative CRT (cathode ray tube) displays on pupil size were studied. The pupillary areas of 12 female student volunteers were measured by infrared videopupillography. The three presentation speeds were no change for 12 sec., a change every 2 sec. for 12 sec., and a change every 1/2 sec. for 12 sec. Two-way analysis of variance showed that the pupil size in the negative displays was significantly larger than that in the positive displays. A difference in pupillary area results from different display speeds, irrespective of a difference in polarity.

Adult↗
PubMed1993

Analysis of various factors affecting vibration-induced white finger.

Forty-one stone quarriers were studied with regard to various factors affecting vibration-induced white finger (VWF), i. e., age, total operating time (TOT), body mass index (BMI), smoking, drinking, past history of diseases and sensitivity to cold in childhood. Subjects were asked about these factors by interview according to a questionnaire. TOT and BMI were significantly different between subjects with VWF (VWF group) and those without VWF (NON-VWF group). TOT was considered to be a great factor in stone quarriers. BMI was 21.6 (kg/m2) in VWF group against 24.0 (kg/m2) in NON-VWF group, which suggests that lean subjects may be susceptible to VWF. As for other factors such as age, smoking, drinking, past history of diseases and sensitivity to cold in childhood, our findings showed no significant difference between VWF group and NON-VWF group.

Body Mass Index↗
PubMed1993

[The relation between blood pressure variation and daily physical activity in early morning surge in blood pressure].

Morning rise in blood pressure (morning surge; MS) has been shown to be associated with the occurrence of myocardial ischemic events and stroke. This study aimed to elucidate the incidence and the mechanism of MS in hypertensive patients (HT). We monitored ambulatory blood pressure (BP) and physical activity in 68 untreated HTs using TM2421 (A & D Co. Ltd.) and ACTIVETRACER (GMS Ltd.) for detection of MS. MS was defined as a rise in BP > 50 mmHg (90% tile of 35 normotensives) during early morning (4:00 to 9:00 A.M.) compared with the lowest basal BP at night. MS was seen in 41 patients (52.6%) and was classified into two groups; MS1: BP rose steeply after waking up (27 patients) and MS2: BP started to rise gradually during sleep (14 patients). The mean age of MS1 was significantly higher than that of MS2 (72 vs. 62 years, p < 0.01). BP reached its basal value earlier in MS2 than in MS1 at night though the basal BP values were comparable between the two groups. Mean 24-hour BP and physical activity were similar between the two groups, though significantly higher incidence of cases with a correlation between SBP and activity was seen in MS1. In conclusion, there are two types of MS, the mechanisms of which may differ. MS occurring immediately after waking up was more common in older HTs, and possibly was related to augmented arousal response in BP, while MS beginning gradually during sleep was more common in younger HTs and was characterized by reaching basal BP earlier at night.

Activities of Daily Living↗
PubMed1993

An international analysis of smoking control levels in relation to health, social and economic indicators.

The relationship was examined between government smoking control levels and eight health, social and economic indicators in 93 countries. Governmental smoking control levels were quantified by assigning a point to each control measure. The controls were as follows: health warning on cigarette package; tar, nicotine or carbon monoxide level indications on cigarette package; ban on advertising on TV or radio; and prohibiting sales to minors. The eight indicators were annual rate of population increase, infant mortality rate, population per hospital bed, number of TV sets per 1000 people, protein supply per capita per day, military expenditure as % of GNP, gross national product (GNP) and % of primary school enrollment. We analyzed predictors of the smoking control level using multiple linear regression analysis with these eight indicators. This regression model indicates that the higher the GNP is, the stronger the smoking control level is, and GNP alone accounts for 42% of the variance in smoking control levels. The set of eight indicators explained 49% of it. GNP had the largest partial regression coefficient in the standardized model. Therefore, a low GNP might be an important factor behind the difficulty in strengthening government controls on smoking.

Health Status Indicators↗
PubMed1993

The relationship of high-density lipoprotein cholesterol to obesity, drinking and smoking habits.

Subjects were a total of 726 Japanese male transport service workers between the ages of 35 and 50. They were analyzed for obesity and drinking or smoking habits in relation to their HDL-cholesterol level and total cholesterol concentration. The cases were 100 low HDL-cholesterol (less than 40 mg/dl) and 121 high total cholesterol (greater than 230 mg/dl) subjects. We used a multiple logistic regression analysis. As for abnormally high total cholesterol, it was determined that the odds ratios at 40, 45, and 50 years of age were 1.95, 2.23, and 2.65, respectively, when 35-year-olds were considered the baseline. Abnormally high total cholesterol showed an odds ratio of 0.27 among thin subjects with a Body Mass Index (BMI) less than 21.0, when subjects with a standard BMI were calculated as the baseline. With reference to low HDL-cholesterol, the odds ratio for lean subjects was 0.30 against those who had standard habitus, while subjects with a BMI of more than 25.1 had an odds ratio of more than double. Compared with nondrinkers, low HDL-cholesterol exhibited odds ratios of 0.16 and 0.23, respectively, for moderate and heavy drinkers. In cases of low HDL-cholesterol, the odds ratios for mild and heavy smokers were 1.91 and 2.27, respectively, versus nonsmokers.

Adult↗