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Biomedical subjects

S Kono

Publications and source records attributed to S Kono.

At least 55 records · Page 3Linked to original sources
PubMed2000

Job strain, Type A behavior pattern, and the prevalence of coronary atherosclerosis in Japanese working men.

OBJECTIVE: To examine the relation of type A behavior pattern and job strain to angiographically documented coronary stenosis. METHODS: Subjects were 197 male Japanese patients with a full-time job. A questionnaire-based interview elicited psychosocial and other factors. Type A behavior pattern was measured by 12 questions, and job strain by the method of Karasek. Significant coronary stenosis was defined when a 75% or greater luminal narrowing occurred at one or more major coronary arteries or when a 50% or greater narrowing occurred at the left main artery. Logistic regression analysis was used to calculate odds ratio (OR) and 95% confidence interval (CI) with adjustment for traditional coronary risk factors and job type. RESULTS: Type A behavior pattern was related to a statistically non-significant lower prevalence of the coronary stenosis especially in the absence of job strain (adjusted OR 0.6, 95% CI 0.3-1.2). Job strain was non-significantly associated with a modestly increased prevalence of coronary stenosis (OR 1.7, 95% CI 0.6-5.2). CONCLUSION: These findings suggest that both the behavioral pattern and psychosocial work environment may be related to coronary artery stenosis.

Adult↗
PubMed2000

Relation between green tea consumption and the severity of coronary atherosclerosis among Japanese men and women.

PURPOSE: To examine the relation between green tea consumption and arteriographically determined coronary atherosclerosis. METHODS: Study subjects were 512 patients (302 men and 210 women) aged 30 years or older who underwent coronary arteriography for the first time at four hospitals in Fukuoka City or one hospital in an adjacent city between September 1996 and August 1997. Lifestyle characteristics including green tea consumption were ascertained before arteriography by a questionnaire supported with interview. RESULTS: 117 men (38.7%) and 50 women (23.8%) had significant stenosis of one or more coronary arteries. Green tea consumption tended to be inversely associated with coronary atherosclerosis in men, but not in women. An evident, protective association between green tea and coronary atherosclerosis was observed in a subgroup of 262 men excluding those under dietary or drug treatment for diabetes mellitus. In this subgroup, after adjustment for traditional coronary risk factors and coffee, odds ratios of significant stenosis for consumption of 2-3 cups and 4 or more cups per day were 0.5 (95% confidence interval 0.2-1.2) and 0.4 (0.2-0.9), respectively, as compared with a consumption of one cup per day or less. CONCLUSIONS: The results indicate that green tea may be protective against coronary atherosclerosis at least in men.

Adult↗
PubMed2000

Retrospective analysis of type of hepatic resection for hepatocellular carcinoma.

BACKGROUND: Hepatic resection for hepatocellular carcinoma is now considered a relatively safe procedure, owing to refined surgical techniques and management. METHODS: Three hundred different types of hepatic resection performed in one hospital were reviewed retrospectively. The operative morbidity and mortality rates and long-term survival were assessed. RESULTS: Tumours were extirpated by lobectomy or extended lobectomy in 48 patients, by segmentectomy in 53, by subsegmentectomy in 94 and by partial resection in 105. The overall hospital mortality rate was 4 per cent (13 of 300). No operative death occurred after lobectomy or extended lobectomy. Segmentectomy and subsegmentectomy were associated with high postoperative complication and hospital mortality rates. There was a significant difference in survival rate between patients with and without a cancer-free surgical margin of more than 1.0 cm. The overall 5- and 9-year survival rates were 51 and 9 per cent respectively. Rates were 56 and 24 per cent for lobectomy or extended lobectomy. CONCLUSION: For tumours of 2.1 cm or more in size lobectomy appears to carry the least risk of postoperative complications and death in hospital and best achieves a cancer-free surgical margin.

Carcinoma, Hepatocellular↗
PubMed2000

Moyamoya disease.

Moyamoya disease is a specific chronic cerebrovascular occlusive disease first reported by Japanese surgeons in 1957. The disease is characterized by stenosis or occlusion of the terminal portions of the bilateral internal carotid arteries and abnormal vascular network in the vicinity of the arterial occlusion. It may cause ischemic attacks or cerebral infarction, which is more frequent in children than in adults. In adults, cerebral hemorrhage may occur. The disease is distributed in all age groups, but the highest peak is in childhood at less than 10 years of age. The characteristic histopathologic features of the steno-occlusive arteries are fibrocellular thickening of the intima containing proliferated smooth muscle cells and prominently tortuous and often duplicated internal elastic lamina. There is usually no atheromatous plaque in the arterial wall. Etiology of the disease is still unknown; however, multifactorial inheritance is considered possible because of a higher incidence of the disease in Japanese and Koreans and approximately 10% of familial occurrence among the Japanese. Recent genetic studies suggest some responsible genetic foci in chromosomes 3, 6 and 17.

Carotid Artery, Internal↗
PubMed2000

Physical model-based indirect measurements of blood pressure and flow using a centrifugal pump.

This article describes a technique offering indirect measurements of pump pressure differential and flow with certain accuracy independent of changes in blood viscosity. This technique is based on noninvasive measurements of the motor current and rotation speed using the physical model equations of the centrifugal pump system. Blood viscosity included in the coefficients of the dynamic equations is first estimated, and then substitution of the estimated viscosity into the steady equations of the model provides pump flow and pressure differential. In vitro tests using a Capiox pump showed a sufficient linear correlation between actual values and their estimates for pressure differential and pump flow. An in vivo test using a 45 kg sheep showed that the proposed algorithm needs robustness for the convergence of estimates of viscosity. An overall evaluation, however, of the developed algorithm/model showed indications of success in terms of efficient computation and modeling.

Algorithms↗
PubMed2000

Multimodality treatment for patients with hepatocellular carcinoma: a single institution retrospective series.

BACKGROUND: The main therapeutic options for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) are hepatic resection, transcatheter arterial embolization (TAE), percutaneous ethanol injection therapy (PEIT) and regional chemotherapy (RC). METHODS: This study retrospectively examined the results of primary treatment of 600 patients with hepatocellular carcinoma selected according to the treatment guidelines of our facility and the results of various combination therapies for recurrent cases. The selection criteria of therapeutic options included the number and size of tumours and hepatic function. RESULTS: The selected primary treatment was hepatic resection for 53.7% of the cases, TAE for 31.5%, PEIT for 8.2% and RC for 6.6%,. The treatment for post-resection recurrence was TAE alone for 62.4% of the cases, TAE + RC for 4.0%, PEIT for 15.2%, TAE + PEIT alone for 4.8%, RC for 8.0% and hepatic resection for 5.6%. The treatment for post-TAE recurrence was TAE alone for 83% of the cases, TAE + PEIT for 9%, TAE + RC for 3%, RC alone for 3% and PEIT alone for 2%. For post-PEIT, therapy was PEIT alone for 71.4% of the cases and PEIT + TAE for 28.6%. For post-RC, RC alone was used for 92.5% and RC + PEIT for 7.5%. The cumulative 3 and 5-year survival rates were 84.4% and 70.6%, respectively for stage I; 61.5% and 48.6% for stage II; 52.7% and 20.5% for stage III; and 22.8% and 17.1% for stage IVA. The cumulative 5 and 7-year survival rates after the primary treatments were 52.% and 40.1%, respectively, for hepatic resection; 46.5% and 38.7%, for TAE; 49.6% and 33.1% for PEIT; and 16.7% and 8.3% for RC. CONCLUSIONS: To improve the treatment results for HCC, early detection is essential and various modalities of treatments in combination should be used for recurrence after primary treatment.

Adult↗
PubMed2000

Relationship between serologically diagnosed chronic atrophic gastritis, Helicobacter pylori, and environmental factors in Japanese men.

BACKGROUND: Whereas chronic atrophic gastritis is known to be an intermediate stage in gastric carcinogenesis, information is sparse about factors associated with this precancerous lesion except for Helicobacter pylori. METHODS: In a cross-sectional study of 566 men aged 50-55 years in the Japan Self-Defense Forces, we examined the relation of H. pylori infection, smoking, alcohol use, and dietary factors to the prevalence of chronic atrophic gastritis as determined by serum pepsinogen I and pepsinogen II (I/II ratio < 3.0. and pepsinogen I < 70 ng/ml). Chronic atrophic gastritis was classified as severe when the pepsinogen I/II ratio was < 2.0, and as moderate otherwise. RESULTS: The overall prevalence of chronic atrophic gastritis was 35.7% (202 of 566). The seropositivity of H. pylori was associated with a 10-fold increase in the risk of chronic atrophic gastritis, and the association was much stronger for moderate atrophic gastritis. Neither cigarette smoking nor alcohol consumption was related to the overall risk of chronic atrophic gastritis. Consumption of vegetables and fruits was each unrelated to chronic atrophic gastritis whether examined as a whole or separately for moderate and severe atrophic gastritis. Green tea was related to decreased risk of severe atrophic gastritis, although not statistically significant, whereas garlic consumption showed no protective association. CONCLUSIONS: The findings corroborate that H. pylori infection has an important role in the development of chronic atrophic gastritis in middle-aged Japanese men. Green tea consumption may be protective against the advance of atrophic gastritis. Vegetables, fruits, or garlic had no protective effect against the development of atrophic gastritis in the study.

Alcohol Drinking↗
PubMed2000

Vegetables, cereals and colon cancer mortality: long-term trend in Japan.

Vegetables, cereals and meat are foods of interest in the aetiology of colon cancer. While vegetable consumption is considered to be protective against colon cancer, the role of cereals in colon carcinogenesis remains controversial. Colon cancer mortality has rapidly increased in Japan since the 1950s. We examined the trend of consumption of vegetables, cereals and meat in Japan during the period from 1950 to 1995. Vegetable consumption has been almost constant during the period, whereas cereal consumption has declined drastically. Meat consumption increased up until the 1970s, but the increase has been minimal thereafter. These consumption patterns suggest that cereals are an important dietary factor determining the risk of colon cancer in Japan.

Colonic Neoplasms↗
PubMed2000

Relationships between cigarette smoking, alcohol drinking, the ALDH2 genotype and adenomatous types of colorectal polyps in male self-defense force officials.

Alcohol drinking as well as cigarette smoking has been associated with development of colorectal polyps, Asians such, as Japanese, Chinese and Korean have high frequency of genetic polymorphism in low Km aldehyde dehydrogenase (ALDH2) gene which greatly regulates alcohol intake. In the present study, we investigated associations of this polymorphism and lifestyles with colorectal polyps in self-defense forces personnels in Japan. All subjects received colonoscopy at a retirement health examination. The ALDH2 genotype was determined using polymerase chain reaction and restriction fragment length polymorphism method. Frequency of the ALDH2 genotype was not different between those with colorectal polyps (n=69) and those without the polyps (n=131). Smoking was associated with development of colorectal polyps (OR=4.7, 95% confidence interval=1.9-11.5) in the ALDH2 proficient genotype. The association appeared to be enhanced by drinking alcohol since a synergistic effect of smoking and alcohol drinking (> or =60 ml/day) was indicated (OR=9.9, 95% confidence interval=2.9-34.1) by logistic regression analysis. In the ALDH2 deficient genotype, however, we could not evaluate interactions of smoking and alcohol drinking on colorectal polyp development because of the small sample size of heavy alcohol drinkers. The genotype analysis would be useful in evaluating effects of environmental factors on outcomes for each genetically defined subpopulation.

Adenomatous Polyps↗
PubMed2000

Prediction of crude fat content of longissimus muscle of beef using the ratio of fat area calculated from computer image analysis: comparison of regression equations for prediction using different input devices at different stations.

Crude fat content of longissimus (ribeye) muscle of beef cattle was predicted from a ratio of fat area (RFA) to area of ribeye muscle calculated from computer image analysis (CIA). Cross sections of 64 ribeyes taken from the 6-7th rib from cattle at experiment station A and cross sections of 94 ribeyes taken from the 6-7th rib from cattle at Experiment Station B were used in this study. Slices (1 to 1.5 cm in thickness) of just the Longissimus dorsi were homogenized and sampled for chemical estimation of crude fat content using petroleum ether. Crude fat content as determined from chemical analysis was used as the true estimate of fat content. A CCD (charge-coupled device) camera was used as the input device at Experiment Station A, and a single-lens reflex camera was used at Experiment Station B to photograph ribeyes for CIA. The contour comparison method, which assigns a threshold value for each marbling particle, was used to obtain accurate binarization in this study. Minimum and maximum of chemical measurements of crude fat were 2.1 and 39.8%, and for CIA calculation of the RFA were 6.1 and 56.8%, respectively. This range covered almost the complete range of the beef marbling standard used in carcass grading in Japan. The equation for the regression of the crude fat content (Y) on RFA (X) calculated from CIA for all of the data was Y = .793X-3.04 with r2 = .96. Regression equations for prediction of crude fat percentage from RFA taking into consideration the effect of experiment station were Y = .741X-2.22 with r2 = .91 for Experiment Station A, and Y = .782X-2.54 with r2 = .91 for Experiment Station B. Analysis of covariance showed that the effects of experiment stations on intercepts and slopes were not significant (P > .10). The ranges of differences between actual and predicted crude fat content from the prediction equation that was calculated without consideration of the effect of station were -6.4 to 4.0%. CIA of cross sections of the ribeye muscle seems to have potential for prediction of crude fat content.

Adipose Tissue↗
PubMed2000

[Development of molecular targeting drugs for the treatment of cancer-therapeutic potential and issues to be addressed in global development].

A survey of cancer treatment in a sample of hospitals > 100 beds conducted in 1998 compared with experience in the US showed that good progress has been achieved in Japan in the screening and early treatment of gastric cancer, and that the prognosis for breast cancer is better than in the West. Although in the past, the cytotoxic therapies available to physicians in Japan vs the West have been different, recent acceleration of regulatory review will result in a convergence of treatment paradigms and some improvement in acute response in many tumour types. However, world wide there is a need for new improved therapies in all cancers evaluated. Particular needs are in the management of NSCLC, advanced disease and cancers which form micrometastases. The eventual hope is that cancer can be turned from a lethal disease into a chronic disease where patients maintain a good QOL. Apart from anti hormonal therapies, the usual approach has been to kill the cancerous cells. However, the new approaches to intervening in the growth and migration of cancerous cells or the host tissue response by molecular targeting offer the promise of achieving a step change in therapy. Although EGF tyrosine Kinase inhibitors such as ZD 1839 have been shown to cause a conventional tumour response in NSCLC, many of these new approaches are unlikely to show a short term response even if they have the capacity to affect tumour development and increase disease free survival. Some compounds will require combination therapy with a conventional cytotoxic or radiotherapy to show their full benefit. For conventional cytotoxics, the usual approach to development has been to select the maximum tolerated dose and then evaluate the efficacy in advanced disease. However, for the new approaches which will not have such severe dose limiting toxicities, it will be necessary to select a surrogate marker of the intended biological effect to select the optimal biological dose (OBD) and dose regimen in phase I/II studies for further evaluation in phase II or III studies which are designed to show the expected patient benefit. The tumour target, the stage of the disease and the possible need for concomitant therapy will also have to be considered according to the mechanism of action of the product.

Angiogenesis Inhibitors↗
PubMed1999

Measurement of the directional distribution of incident particles in the Shuttle-Mir mission orbit.

The measurement of the directional distribution of incident particles was made by using the Real time Radiation Monitoring Device (RRMD)-III placed inside the Space Shuttle STS-84 cruised at an altitude of 400 km and an inclination angle of 51.6 degrees, which are the same as the cruising orbit of the International Space Station (ISS). The directional distributions of incident particles were evaluated over the observed linear energy transfer (LET) range (1-100 keV/micrometers). The pitch angle distribution is also obtained using the geomagnetic model of IGRF-95. The result is roughly in good agreement with the distribution obtained by the VF1-MIN anisotropy model calculation within the present experimental errors, if the shielding distribution is assumed to be uniform.

Anisotropy↗
PubMed1999

[A comparative long-term trial of sodium cerivastatin, a new HMG-CoA reductase inhibitor, in patients presenting with primary hypercholesterolemia].

Cerivastatin sodium a synthetic and pure enantiomeric 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaril-coenzyme A (HMG-CoA) reductase inhibitor, is considered effective in the treatment of mild-to-moderate primary hypercholesterolemia (total cholesterol < or = 220-259 mg/dL) at a daily dose of 0.15 mg. We compared the efficacy and tolerability of a dosage of 0.3 mg/d with those of a dosage of 0.15 mg/d in patients with severe primary hypercholesterolemia (serum total cholesterol > or = 260 mg/dL). After a minimum of 4 week's lead-in with placebo, 73 patients with severe primary hypercholesterolemia were randomly assigned to receive either 0.15 or 0.3 mg of cerivastatin sodium once daily after the evening meal for 12 weeks. In 58 patients, the same drug was continued at a flexible dosage for an additional 36 weeks or longer to assess the long-term efficacy and tolerability of cerivastatin sodium. During the 12-week treatment period, serum total cholesterol levels decreased significantly from baseline in both dosage groups, but the percentage reduction was significantly greater in the 0.3-mg group (range, 24.4% to 25.6%) than in the 0.15-mg group (range, 19.4% to 21.6%). The percentage reduction in levels of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, triglycerides, and apolipoprotein B and the percentage increase in levels of high-density lipoprotein cholesterol were significantly greater in the 0.3-mg group than in the 0.15-mg group. When the results for the 0.3- and 0.15-mg groups were combined, the percentage of change in serum lipid levels at 48 weeks remained as stable as at 12 weeks. No serious adverse reactions were observed. We concluded that the higher dose of cerivastatin sodium was more effective than the lower dose, with comparable tolerability, in the treatment of patients with severe primary hypercholesterolemia.

Adult↗
PubMed1999

Relationship of coffee consumption with serum lipids and lipoproteins in Japanese men.

PURPOSE: To examine the relationship of instant coffee and brewed coffee with serum lipids and lipoproteins in Japanese men. METHODS: Study subjects were 4587 male self-defense officials aged 48-56 years who had a preretirement health examination at one of the three hospitals of the Self-Defense Forces from October 1986 to December 1992. A self-administered questionnaire ascertained lifestyle characteristics including consumption of a limited number of foods and beverages by all of the men. Serum concentrations of total cholesterol (TC), triglycerides (TG), and high density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol were measured, and low density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol levels were calculated from the values of TC, TG, and HDL cholesterol. RESULTS: While the consumption of brewed coffee was unrelated to any parameter of serum lipids and lipoproteins, instant coffee consumption showed a highly significant positive association with serum LDL cholesterol levels and an inverse association with serum TG levels. After adjustment for body mass index, smoking, alcohol use, green tea consumption, rank, and hospital, for each cup of instant coffee per day, LDL cholesterol levels were 0.82 mg/dl (95% confidence interval (CI) 0.29-1.35) higher, and TG levels in a natural log-scale were 0.014 mg/dl (95% CI 0.006-0.022) lower. There was also a tendency for a positive association between instant coffee intake and serum TC levels (trend p = 0.09). HDL cholesterol levels were unrelated to instant coffee consumption. These associations did not change after additional adjustment for selected foods and beverages associated with serum lipids and lipoproteins. CONCLUSIONS: The findings suggest that instant coffee, not brewed coffee, may be associated with raised levels of serum LDL cholesterol and decreased levels of serum TG.

Coffee↗
PubMed1999

Coffee drinking and serum gamma-glutamyltransferase: an extended study of Self-Defense Officials of Japan.

PURPOSE: To examine the effect of coffee drinking on serum gamma-glutamyltransferase (GGT) level in relation to alcohol drinking, smoking, and degree of obesity in middle-aged Japanese men. METHODS: From 1986 to 1994, a total of 7,637 male officials of the Self-Defense Forces of Japan aged 48-59 years received a preretirement health examination. Coffee drinking was ascertained by a self-administered questionnaire, and serum GGT level was measured. After excluding 1,360 men with a possible pathologic condition influencing liver enzyme levels and 182 former alcohol drinkers, effect of coffee drinking on serum GGT was examined by a multiple linear regression model and analysis of variance adjusting for alcohol drinking, smoking, and body mass index (BMI). RESULTS: The adjusted percentage of difference in serum GGT was -4.3 (95% CI = -5.0; -3.5) per cup of coffee. The inverse coffee-GGT relation was most prominent among men drinking > or = 30 ml of ethanol and smoking > or = 15 cigarettes daily; and positive associations of alcohol and smoking with GGT were attenuated by coffee drinking, more clearly among men with BMI > or = 25.00 kg/m2. Adjusted percentages of difference in serum GGT were -2.6% (p = 0.0003) per cup of brewed coffee, and -5.1% (p = 0.0001) per cup of instant coffee, independently of each other. CONCLUSIONS: The present study suggests that coffee consumption may weaken GGT-induction by alcohol, and possibly by smoking. These effect modifications by coffee may differ according to the degree of obesity.

Alcohol Drinking↗
PubMed1999

Impaired glucose tolerance, diabetes mellitus, and gallstone disease: an extended study of male self-defense officials in Japan.

Few studies have investigated the relation between glucose tolerance status and ultrasonographically determined gallstone disease. Using a 75-g oral glucose tolerance test, we examined the association of impaired glucose tolerance (IGT) and non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM) with gallstone disease in Japanese men. Subjects were men aged 48 to 59 of the Japan Self-Defense Forces who received a preretirement health examination between October 1986 to December 1994. After exclusion of 12 men under insulin treatment in the consecutive series of 7637 men, 174 were found to have gallstones; 103 were at the state of postcholecystectomy, and 6899 had normal gallbladder. IGT and NIDDM were associated with a modestly increased risk of gallstone disease; adjusted odds ratios were 1.3 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.9-1.8) for IGT and 1.3 (95% CI: 0.8-2.0) for NIDDM after adjustment for hospital, rank, smoking, alcohol use, and body mass index. Adjusted odds ratio for IGT and NIDDM combined was 1.3 (95% CI: 1.0-1.7, p=0.08). When prevalent gallstones and postcholecystectomy were considered separately, NIDDM showed a significant, positive association with postcholecystectomy, but not with prevalent gallstones. The findings add to evidence that glucose intolerance is associated with a modest increase in the risk of gallstone disease.

Cholecystectomy↗
PubMed1999

Gallstone disease risk in relation to body mass index and waist-to-hip ratio in Japanese men.

OBJECTIVE: To examine the relation of body mass index (BMI) and waist-to-hip ratio (WHR) to gallstones and postcholecystectomy risk in middle-aged Japanese men. DESIGN: Cross-sectional study. SUBJECTS: We used 174 men with prevalent gallstones, 104 with postcholecystectomy and 6909 with normal gallbladder in the consecutive series of 7637 men aged 48-59y receiving a preretirement health examination at four hospitals of the Japan Self-Defense Forces between 1986 and 1994. MEASUREMENTS: Gallbladder status was assessed by abdominal ultrasonography after an overnight fast. BMI was calculated as weight in kilogram divided by height in square meters, and WHR was used as a measure of central obesity. Analysis of the WHR was limited to a subset of data for the period 1991-1994 (gallstones 113, postcholecystectomy 66 and normal gallbladder 4410). RESULTS: After adjustment for hospital, rank in the Self-Defense Forces, cigarette smoking, alcohol use and glucose tolerance, BMI was significantly associated with an increased risk of both prevalent gallstones and postcholecystectomy. WHR also showed a significant positive association with each of the two conditions. When BMI and WHR were mutually adjusted for, both of the obesity indices tended to be associated positively with prevalent gallstones and postcholecystectomy. CONCLUSION: These findings indicate that obesity is associated with increased gallstone risk in men.

Asian People↗