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Biomedical subjects

S Kono

Publications and source records attributed to S Kono.

At least 163 records · Page 9Linked to original sources
PubMed1993

Serum lipids and gallstone disease. A study of self-defense officials in Japan.

Based on screening ultrasonography of the gallbladder in 2756 men who received a retirement health examination at the Self-Defense Forces Fukuoka Hospital, Japan, during the period of 1986 to 1990, we compared serum lipid levels among 61 men with gallstones, 38 who had the gallbladder removed previously, and 2494 with a normal gallbladder. In univariate analysis, men having gallstones and those who had had a cholecystectomy had lower concentrations of total and low-density-lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol than did control subjects, although the differences were not statistically significant. After adjustment for body mass index, smoking, alcohol use, and glucose tolerance, inverse associations of cholecystectomy with total and LDL cholesterol levels were more pronounced and statistically significant. There was no appreciable difference in high-density-lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol and triglycerides between control subjects and men either with gallstones or after cholecystectomy. The present study did not support a positive relation between gallstones and serum triglyceride levels and an inverse one to HDL cholesterol, which have been reported elsewhere. The findings on total and LDL cholesterol are consistent with some, but not all recent studies.

Cholecystectomy↗
PubMed1993

Relationship of diet to small and large adenomas of the sigmoid colon.

The relation of dietary factors to the risk of adenomas of the sigmoid colon was examined in men receiving a retirement health examination at the Self-Defense Forces Fukuoka Hospital between October 1986 and 1990. A total of 187 adenoma cases and 1557 controls with normal colonoscopy were identified in the series. Cases were further classified into small-adenoma (< 5 mm, n = 78) and large-adenoma (> or = 5 mm, n = 67) groups. The consumptions of selected foods and beverages were ascertained before colonoscopy by means of a self-administered questionnaire. After adjustment for smoking, alcohol use, rank and body mass index, low rice consumption and high meat intake were independently associated with an increased risk of large adenomas. The risk of small adenomas was not related to either rice consumption or meat intake. Adjusted odds ratios of large adenomas for the low, intermediate and high consumption levels of rice were estimated to be 1.0 (referent), 0.83 and 0.43, respectively (trend P = 0.08), and the corresponding figures for meat consumption were 1.0 (referent), 1.58 and 2.38, respectively (trend P = 0.02). The findings suggest that low rice consumption and high meat intake may promote the growth of colon adenomas, thereby increasing the risk of colon cancer.

Adenoma↗
PubMed1993

[[Population and women: a study of sex ratios in population and gender differentials in demographic and social participation]].

Data on women's socioeconomic status and fertility in selected countries are analyzed and compared. The author notes "the existence of some very tenacious discriminatory practices against women in the access to economic and social activities.... In some cases, discrimination prevents women from an access to their survival and health. Women, particularly in developing countries, do not receive...equal opportunities...in obtaining economic and social well-being." (SUMMARY IN ENG)

Demography↗
PubMed1993

Relationships of lipid and glucose metabolism with waist-hip ratio and physical fitness in obese men.

The waist-hip ratio (WHR) is an indirect index of abdominal type obesity which has been shown to be strongly correlated with the risk of coronary heart disease. Empirically, men who have a higher WHR seem to have a lower level of physical fitness. In the present study, the relationships of lipid and glucose metabolism with WHR and physical fitness were examined in 207 Japanese obese men. Physical fitness was evaluated by the oxygen uptake at the onset of blood lactate accumulation (OBLA-VO2; ml/kg/min) which corresponds to 4 mmol/l of blood lactate during graded exercise test and is one of the best indicators of the muscle oxidative capacity. The WHR and percentage of body fat (% body fat) were significantly correlated with OBLA-VO2. The WHR and % body fat were significantly related to each other. After adjusting for % body fat, a significant negative correlation was observed between the WHR and OBLA-VO2 (r = -0.24; P < 0.05). A multiple linear regression was calculated for parameters relating to lipids, and glucose and insulin areas separately, when the WHR, OBLA-VO2, % body fat and age were entered as independent variables. OBLA-VO2 significantly showed a negative relationship with triglyceride (TG), HDL-C/total cholesterol, and the insulin area, while the WHR was only independently related to TG. From these results, we conclude that the physical fitness level evaluated by OBLA-VO2, which represents the capacity of the aerobic metabolism in muscle, may thus be a determinant of lipid and glucose metabolism in obese men.

Adult↗
PubMed1992

Prevalence of gallstone disease in relation to smoking, alcohol use, obesity, and glucose tolerance: a study of self-defense officials in Japan.

Risk factors of gallstone disease were investigated in male self-defense officials who received, between October 1986 and December 1990, a retirement health examination at the Self-Defense Forces Fukuoka Hospital, Fukuoka, Japan. Gallbladder ultrasonography, successfully performed with 2,739 of 2,756 men, found 61 men with gallstones and 38 men with previous removal of the gallbladder; the overall prevalence of gallstone disease was 3.6%. Multiple logistic regression analysis assessed the risk of gallstone disease in relation to smoking, alcohol use, body mass index, glucose tolerance, and rank. Alcohol use was associated with a decreased risk, and body mass index was positively related to gallstone disease. Men with impaired glucose tolerance had a slightly elevated risk, whereas diabetes mellitus was not associated with gallstone disease. Analysis for prevalent gallstones and the postcholecystectomy state showed an inverse association of alcohol use with the latter; a positive association with impaired glucose tolerance was also confined primarily to the latter condition. These findings provide little support for a protective effect of alcohol use in the formation of gallstones. It was inconclusive whether impaired glucose tolerance was associated selectively with postcholecystectomy.

Alcohol Drinking↗
PubMed1992

Marked induction of hepatocyte growth factor mRNA in intact kidney and spleen in response to injury of distant organs.

Hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) is a potent mitogen for various epithelial cells, including mature hepatocytes and renal tubular cells. Here, HGF mRNA was found to be markedly increased in non-injured kidney and spleen, when the liver or kidney in rats was injured by 70% partial hepatectomy or unilateral nephrectomy. HGF mRNA increased to 3-4 fold higher level than the normal in the kidney and spleen as well as in the remnant liver after partial hepatectomy. Similarly, HGF mRNA markedly increased in the spleen as well as in the remnant kidney after unilateral nephrectomy. These results suggest that the onset of injury to the liver or kidney may be recognized by distal non-injured organs by the signalling of a humoral factor and that HGF derived from these organs may be involved in the regeneration of liver or kidney, through an endocrine mechanism.

Animals↗
PubMed1992

Insulin resistance in Werner's syndrome.

Insulin resistance in Werner's syndrome (WS) was studied using the glucose clamp technique, and compared with physiologically aged and young subjects. Fasting immuno-reactive insulin (IRI) was increased in patients with Werner's syndrome compared with aged and young subjects. Metabolic clearance rate (MCR) of glucose was decreased in the aged and WS. A rightward shift of the dose-response curves of insulin and MCR of glucose was observed in the aged and WS with a more pronounced shift in the latter. MCR of insulin was also decreased in WS. [125I]insulin binding to erythrocytes was similar in the three groups. These results suggest that insulin resistance associated with WS is due to a post-binding defect manifested by a rightward shift of the dose-response curve of insulin-induced glucose disposal and a decrease in insulin clearance rate.

Adult↗
PubMed1992

Monoclonal antibodies possibly recognize conformational changes in the human erythrocyte glucose transporter.

Two monoclonal antibodies (MAG17 and MAG20) were raised against the human erythrocyte glucose transporter, which was purified on an immunoaffinity column using a polyclonal antibody to the C-terminal peptide (residues 477-492) of the glucose transporter of HepG2 cells. To obtain antibodies which recognize the native glucose transporter integrated in the membrane, hybridomas were screened both by e.l.i.s.a. with purified glucose transporter and by dot-blotting with erythrocyte membranes. The antibodies immunoprecipitated D-glucose-inhibitable [3H]cytochalasin B-photoaffinity-labelled glucose transporters, but did not recognize the transporter on Western blotting. The presence of the C-terminal peptide did not inhibit the binding of these antibodies to the glucose transporter, suggesting that the antibodies recognized sites different from the transporter C-terminus. D-Glucose (0.1-100 microM) inhibited the binding of MAG17 and MAG20 to the transporter by 50%, indicating that the conformation of the epitopes was altered allosterically by D-glucose. Cytochalasin B inhibited the binding of MAG17 to the transporter, but enhanced the binding of MAG20 at low concentrations (less than 0.02 microM). These data suggest that the glucose transporter has high- and low-affinity binding sites for D-glucose and cytochalasin B, and that binding of D-glucose and cytochalasin B induces conformational changes in the transporter. Monoclonal antibodies which recognize the tertiary structure of the glucose transporter can be used for investigating its function and structure when integrated in the membrane.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1992

Green tea consumption and serum lipid profiles: a cross-sectional study in northern Kyushu, Japan.

METHODS. The relation between green tea consumption and serum lipid concentrations was examined using cross-sectional data on 1,306 males who received the retirement health examination at the Self-Defense Forces Fukuoka Hospital between October 1986 and December 1988. RESULTS. After adjustment for rank, smoking, alcohol use, physical activity, and body mass index, serum total cholesterol levels were found to be inversely related to the consumption of green tea while no association was noted with serum triglycerides and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol. Adjusted mean concentrations of total cholesterol were 8 mg/dl lower in men drinking nine cups or more per day than in those consuming zero to two cups per day. Serum cholesterol levels were inversely associated with traditional Japanese dietary habits (intake of rice and soy bean paste soup) and positively associated with Westernized habits. Additional adjustment for these dietary variables did not alter the inverse relation between green tea and total cholesterol.

Cholesterol↗
PubMed1992

Cigarette smoking, alcohol use and adenomatous polyps of the sigmoid colon.

The relationship of adenomatous polyps of the sigmoid colon with cigarette smoking and alcohol use was investigated in male self-defense officials in Japan. In the comparison between 116 cases and 930 controls, total ethanol intake was not at all associated with the risk of adenomatous polyps, but cigarette smoking was strongly related to adenomatous polyps. After adjustment for total ethanol intake, body mass index and rank, odds ratios (and 95% confidence interval) for the categories of 0, 1-399, 400-799, and 800 or more cigarette-years were 1.0 (referent), 2.3 (1.1-4.6), 2.9 (1.5-5.4) and 3.2 (1.6-6.5), respectively. Among five alcoholic beverages (sake, shochu, beer, whiskey including brandy, and wine), only whiskey consumption was weakly related to the risk of adenomatous polyps. Because the present findings disagree with an earlier observation on self-defense officials, we examined the association with smoking and alcohol use separately for small (less than 5 mm) and large (greater than or equal to 5 mm) adenomas, combining data from these two studies. Cigarette smoking was more strongly associated with small adenomas while the positive association with certain alcoholic beverages were largely confined to large adenomas. These findings suggest that cigarette smoking and alcohol use may be linked with the development of adenoma at different stages of colon tumorigenesis.

Adenoma↗
PubMed1992

Endothelial function in thrombosis and thrombolysis.

The localization of tissue factor (TF) in atherosclerotic plaques of human aortas was immunohistochemically examined using rabbit anti-IgG against recombinant TF, which was expressed in E. coli. TF, the initiator of the extrinsic coagulation pathway, was ubiquitously present in atherosclerotic intima, and was expressed mainly by macrophages, but not by endothelial cells. It has been suggested that some macrophages in atherosclerotic intima co-express both molecules of TF and platelet-derived growth factor-B chain. We have developed a morphometrically quantitative in vitro assay for angiogenesis, using endothelial cultures on collagen gel incorporating plasminogen. With this method, we have obtained findings suggesting that plasminogen and plasminogen activators (PAs), especially urokinase-type PA (uPA) derived from endothelial cells, enhance angiogenic activity, probably by increasing endothelial migration. uPA was immunohistochemically observed to be primarily cell-associated on the focal contract areas, probably via its receptors on endothelial cells. These findings may support the hypothesis that the activation and regulation of the pericellular fibrinolysis system is closely related to angiogenesis.

Animals↗
PubMed1992

[[The theory of demographic transition revisited]].

The author presents a brief discussion of the theory of demographic transition using data for Japan for the 1940s, 1950s, and 1960s. The conclusion is that "cultural differences gave rise to appreciable changes in fertility, but economic status differences did not cause much variation in fertility. This also...[indicates] that cultural factors through which fertility decline has been diffusing [among] classes are important in determining fertility behaviour in Japan." (SUMMARY IN ENG)

Asia↗
PubMed1992

Lifestyles, glucose tolerance and blood pressure in male self-defence officials in northern Kyushu, Japan.

Evidence on determinants of BP is mostly derived from studies in western populations. The relationship of BP with lifestyle variables and glucose tolerance was studied in 1,302 male self-defence officials aged 49-56 years who received a health examination before retirement at the Self-Defense Forces Fukuoka Hospital from October 1986 to December 1988. Those with treated hypertension or diabetes mellitus and those with conditions affecting BP levels were excluded from the study. In multiple regression analysis, alcohol use, body mass index and glucose intolerance were strongly associated with elevated BP while there was an inverse relation between cigarette smoking and BP. Physical activity expressed as the time spent in vigorous exercise was not associated with either systolic or diastolic BP. These findings indicate that alcohol use, obesity and glucose intolerance are also important determinants of BP in male Japanese, and that cigarette smoking is a potential covariate in the study of BP.

Alcohol Drinking↗
PubMed1991

Alcohol intake and nonfatal acute myocardial infarction in Japan.

The relation between alcohol and nonfatal acute myocardial infarction (AMI) was examined in a case-control study of 89 male patients and 271 control subjects in Fukuoka, Japan. Patients admitted for the first AMI at 2 hospitals in Fukuoka City were aged 40 to 69 years, and control subjects were recruited based on the telephone directory of the city. Information on alcohol drinking and potential coronary risk factors was obtained by using a self-administered questionnaire, and past drinkers were separated from lifelong abstainers in the analysis. After adjustment for age, occupation, cigarette smoking, strenuous exercise, body mass index, hypertension, diabetes mellitus and parental heart disease, the risk of AMI was progressively less with increasing levels of alcohol consumption. With those who never drank as a referent, adjusted odds ratios for current drinkers consuming less than 30, 30 to 59, and greater than or equal to 60 ml/day of alcohol were 1.11 (95% confidence interval 0.51 to 2.42), 0.31 (0.11 to 0.83), and 0.13 (0.05 to 0.36), respectively. These findings add to the body of data showing that alcohol drinkers are less likely to have AMI.

Adult↗
PubMed1991

Regulation of glucose transporter synthesis in cultured human skin fibroblasts.

The present study was designed to see the effects of glucose on glucose transporter expression and glucose transport activity using cultured human skin fibroblasts. When the cells were incubated with various concentrations of glucose (11.1-44.4 mM), no differences were found in the HepG2 glucose transporter mRNA, protein levels and basal and insulin-stimulated 2-deoxyglucose uptake. Glucose deprivation, however, resulted in approximately 4-fold increases in the mRNA and 3-fold increases in the protein and the basal 2-deoxyglucose uptake. Chronic exposure to insulin increased the glucose transporter protein levels to similar degrees in the cells incubated with 11.1, 22.2 and 44.4 mM glucose accompanied by increases in the glucose transport activity. Effects of insulin on the glucose transporter mRNA and protein levels, however, were not evident in the glucose-deprived cells. It is concluded that glucose transport activity correlates closely with HepG2 glucose transporter expression in cultured human fibroblasts and that glucose (11.1-44.4 mM) does not affect the glucose transporter expression and glucose transport activity.

Blotting, Western↗
PubMed1991

Physical activity, dietary habits and adenomatous polyps of the sigmoid colon: a study of self-defense officials in Japan.

Physical activity and dietary habits were compared between 80 men with adenomatous polyps of the sigmoid colon and 1148 men with normal colonoscopy among male retiring self-defense officials. Physical activity as expressed in terms of time spent doing strenuous activities during leisure time was inversely related to the risk of adenomatous polyps. Controlling for rank, smoking, alcohol and body mass index (BMI), odds ratios for the categories of 0, 1-59, 60-119 and greater than or equal to 120 minutes per week were 1.0, 0.88, 0.70 and 0.44, respectively (trend p = 0.015). Among a limited range of foods and beverages, the consumption of rice, green tea and instant coffee tended to be associated with a decreased risk of adenomatous polyps. Although the associations observed with dietary habits still need to be substantiated, the findings on physical activity lend further evidence to the hypothesis that physical activity may be protective in the development of colon cancer.

Body Mass Index↗
PubMed1991

Insulin-stimulated glucose uptake and fasting blood glucose.

Changes in insulin-stimulated glucose metabolism were studied in young and aged subjects, subjects with impaired glucose tolerance, and patients with NIDDM by means of the glucose clamp technique. The diabetic group includes obese and non-obese patients treated without insulin and non-obese patients treated with insulin. The glucose disposal rate (GDR) was decreased in aged subjects (5.8 +/- 0.4 mg/kg/min) compared with young controls (7.4 +/- 0.3 mg/kg/min). In patients with IGT, it was further decreased to 3.6 +/- 0.5 mg/kg/min, which was comparable to the rate in NIDDM without insulin treatment (3.3 +/- 0.4 mg/kg/min). There were no differences in the GDR between obese (3.0 +/- 0.3 mg/kg/min) and non-obese (3.4 +/- 0.6 mg/kg/min) diabetic patients. In insulin-treated diabetic patients, GDR ranged widely, but the mean value was partially normalized (5.2 +/- 0.9 mg/kg/min). In the diabetic group, no correlation was observed between fasting blood glucose and GDR. These results suggest that in the course of developing NIDDM, a decrease in insulin-stimulated glucose uptake precedes a rise in fasting blood glucose. Thus, as previously reported for Caucasian NIDDM patients, resistance to insulin-stimulated glucose uptake may be one of the basic defects in Japanese patients with NIDDM. The degree of glycemia, however, is not directly related to the magnitude of the defect in insulin action.

Adult↗