A genetic analysis of twins at school was undertaken using as variables urinary concentrations of... more A genetic analysis of twins at school was undertaken using as variables urinary concentrations of kallikrein, catecholamines, sodium and potassium which have been demonstrated to be associated with blood pressure levels. In addition to these variables, urinary concentrations of urea nitrogen and inorganic sulfate sulfur which are indices of protein intake were investigated. 35 pairs of monozygotic twins and 19 pairs of dizygotic twins aged from 6 to 14 years were examined. Variance and correlation tests for genetic analysis indicated that in school children, hereditary factors play a role in the control of urinary potassium, sodium and kallikrein excretion. However, with regard to the urinary excretion of catecholamines, urea nitrogen and inorganic sulfate sulfur, hereditary control is not so apparent.
Objectives: To describe the distribution of subjective daytime sleepiness among local residents u... more Objectives: To describe the distribution of subjective daytime sleepiness among local residents using the Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS) and estimate the prevalence of excessive daytime sleepiness (EDS) in a general Japanese adult population. Methods: Subjects consisted of all residents aged 20 years and over from a self-governing body of approximately 10,000 people located in the Hokkaido region. Questionnaires, which included a Japanese version of the ESS, were distributed and later collected by a health promoter who visited subjects' residences between October and December 2000. Subjects of the analysis were restricted to those who answered five items or more out of a total of eight items. Means and standard deviations of the ESS global score were calculated for each age group by gender. And differences with reference to sex and age were examined by ANOVA. The prevalence of EDS in the Japanese general population was estimated from this study's results by direct age adjustment using the Japanese census figures for 2000. Factors related to EDS were also examined. Results: A total of 5,327 residents responded to the survey (86.0%). Of these, 4,412 (71.2%) were entered for analysis. The average (+/- standard deviation) ESS global score were with 5.18 +/- 3.75 (males 5.25 +/- 3.89, females 5.12 +/- 3.75). Differing significantly age, regardless of sex (P<0001). From the overall prevalence of EDS of 9.2% (males 9.6%, females 8.8%), the estimated prevalence in the Japanese general population was to be 8.9% (males 9.3%, females 8.4%). EDS was found to be related to age, sleep duration under six hours and to snoring (P=0.002, P=0.008 and P<0.001). Conclusion: This study provided baseline data for the distribution by sex and age group of subjective daytime sleepiness in a community using the ESS and was used to generate the first ever estimated prevalence of EDS in the general Japanese adult population. The finding should prove useful for clinicians and researchers interested in (1) screening for daytime sleepiness, (2) evaluating changes between pre and post-interventions, (3) comparing epidemiological findings across studies, and lastly, (4) making of health policy. Daytime sleepiness estimated by ESS differs with the sex and age, possibly related to bio-medical and socio-medical factors. Further research is need to detail this problem.
The energy intake of 6 year old Japanese girls has increased every year from 1430 kcal (5983 KJ) ... more The energy intake of 6 year old Japanese girls has increased every year from 1430 kcal (5983 KJ) in 1954 to a high of 1884 kcal (7882 KJ) in 1971, and then gradually decreased reaching 1627 kcal (6807 KJ) in 1994. The proportion of food energy from carbohydrate of 6 year old Japanese girls has decreased every year from 73%
Experimental and Clinical Endocrinology & Diabetes, Oct 31, 2007
It is still unclear whether patients with diabetes feel excessive daytime sleepiness or dose/slee... more It is still unclear whether patients with diabetes feel excessive daytime sleepiness or dose/sleep during driving in patients more frequently. A population-based cross-sectional survey was conducted in a rural town. Multivariable-adjusted logistic regression models were used to explore the association between prevalent diabetes cases and excessive daytime sleepiness or dose/sleep during driving. Of 4540 participants, a total of 470 diabetes cases were identified. Compared with those in the never doze/sleep category, multivariate-adjusted odds ratios of diabetes was 0.41 (95%CI, 0.12-1.35) in slight category of dozing or sleeping when stopped for a few minutes in traffic while driving and 2.97 (95%CI, 1.19-7.41) in the moderate to high categories of dozing or sleeping when stopped for a few minutes in traffic while driving. This association remained significant after adjusting for the presence of poor sleep quality defined by the global Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index score equal or greater than 5. Compared to individuals without diabetes, patients with diabetes experienced excessive daytime sleepiness or dozing/sleeping when stopped for a few minutes in traffic while driving more often independent of poor sleep quality. From the public health perspective, all patients with diabetes should be asked about a history of excessive daytime sleepiness or dozing/sleeping while driving, which is a known risk factor for future traffic accidents.
International Journal of Environmental Health Research, Feb 1, 2005
The objective of this study was to evaluate the association between living close to traffic and h... more The objective of this study was to evaluate the association between living close to traffic and health related quality of life (HRQOL) that is important to the health outcome. We administered a questionnaire including the Medical Outcome Study Short Form-36-item Health Survey to all 6197 residents living in Naie, aged 20 years and older, and received 5107 (82.4%) responses. The respondents were classified into three groups: those whose bedrooms were located to an arterial road (AR), located to other roads (OR), and not located to any road (NR). We used analysis of covariance to estimate the mean differences among the three groups for each SF-36 domain. HRQOL scores of the AR and the OR group were lower than those of the NR group in all domains. The adjusted mean scores of the AR group on &amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;quot;mental health&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;quot; and &amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;quot;vitality&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;quot; domains were significantly lower than those of the NR group. This study suggests that the HRQOL is an effective tool for evaluating the many impacts of road transportation on aspects of health.
A genetic analysis of twins at school was undertaken using as variables urinary concentrations of... more A genetic analysis of twins at school was undertaken using as variables urinary concentrations of kallikrein, catecholamines, sodium and potassium which have been demonstrated to be associated with blood pressure levels. In addition to these variables, urinary concentrations of urea nitrogen and inorganic sulfate sulfur which are indices of protein intake were investigated. 35 pairs of monozygotic twins and 19 pairs of dizygotic twins aged from 6 to 14 years were examined. Variance and correlation tests for genetic analysis indicated that in school children, hereditary factors play a role in the control of urinary potassium, sodium and kallikrein excretion. However, with regard to the urinary excretion of catecholamines, urea nitrogen and inorganic sulfate sulfur, hereditary control is not so apparent.
Objectives: To describe the distribution of subjective daytime sleepiness among local residents u... more Objectives: To describe the distribution of subjective daytime sleepiness among local residents using the Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS) and estimate the prevalence of excessive daytime sleepiness (EDS) in a general Japanese adult population. Methods: Subjects consisted of all residents aged 20 years and over from a self-governing body of approximately 10,000 people located in the Hokkaido region. Questionnaires, which included a Japanese version of the ESS, were distributed and later collected by a health promoter who visited subjects' residences between October and December 2000. Subjects of the analysis were restricted to those who answered five items or more out of a total of eight items. Means and standard deviations of the ESS global score were calculated for each age group by gender. And differences with reference to sex and age were examined by ANOVA. The prevalence of EDS in the Japanese general population was estimated from this study's results by direct age adjustment using the Japanese census figures for 2000. Factors related to EDS were also examined. Results: A total of 5,327 residents responded to the survey (86.0%). Of these, 4,412 (71.2%) were entered for analysis. The average (+/- standard deviation) ESS global score were with 5.18 +/- 3.75 (males 5.25 +/- 3.89, females 5.12 +/- 3.75). Differing significantly age, regardless of sex (P<0001). From the overall prevalence of EDS of 9.2% (males 9.6%, females 8.8%), the estimated prevalence in the Japanese general population was to be 8.9% (males 9.3%, females 8.4%). EDS was found to be related to age, sleep duration under six hours and to snoring (P=0.002, P=0.008 and P<0.001). Conclusion: This study provided baseline data for the distribution by sex and age group of subjective daytime sleepiness in a community using the ESS and was used to generate the first ever estimated prevalence of EDS in the general Japanese adult population. The finding should prove useful for clinicians and researchers interested in (1) screening for daytime sleepiness, (2) evaluating changes between pre and post-interventions, (3) comparing epidemiological findings across studies, and lastly, (4) making of health policy. Daytime sleepiness estimated by ESS differs with the sex and age, possibly related to bio-medical and socio-medical factors. Further research is need to detail this problem.
The energy intake of 6 year old Japanese girls has increased every year from 1430 kcal (5983 KJ) ... more The energy intake of 6 year old Japanese girls has increased every year from 1430 kcal (5983 KJ) in 1954 to a high of 1884 kcal (7882 KJ) in 1971, and then gradually decreased reaching 1627 kcal (6807 KJ) in 1994. The proportion of food energy from carbohydrate of 6 year old Japanese girls has decreased every year from 73%
Experimental and Clinical Endocrinology & Diabetes, Oct 31, 2007
It is still unclear whether patients with diabetes feel excessive daytime sleepiness or dose/slee... more It is still unclear whether patients with diabetes feel excessive daytime sleepiness or dose/sleep during driving in patients more frequently. A population-based cross-sectional survey was conducted in a rural town. Multivariable-adjusted logistic regression models were used to explore the association between prevalent diabetes cases and excessive daytime sleepiness or dose/sleep during driving. Of 4540 participants, a total of 470 diabetes cases were identified. Compared with those in the never doze/sleep category, multivariate-adjusted odds ratios of diabetes was 0.41 (95%CI, 0.12-1.35) in slight category of dozing or sleeping when stopped for a few minutes in traffic while driving and 2.97 (95%CI, 1.19-7.41) in the moderate to high categories of dozing or sleeping when stopped for a few minutes in traffic while driving. This association remained significant after adjusting for the presence of poor sleep quality defined by the global Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index score equal or greater than 5. Compared to individuals without diabetes, patients with diabetes experienced excessive daytime sleepiness or dozing/sleeping when stopped for a few minutes in traffic while driving more often independent of poor sleep quality. From the public health perspective, all patients with diabetes should be asked about a history of excessive daytime sleepiness or dozing/sleeping while driving, which is a known risk factor for future traffic accidents.
International Journal of Environmental Health Research, Feb 1, 2005
The objective of this study was to evaluate the association between living close to traffic and h... more The objective of this study was to evaluate the association between living close to traffic and health related quality of life (HRQOL) that is important to the health outcome. We administered a questionnaire including the Medical Outcome Study Short Form-36-item Health Survey to all 6197 residents living in Naie, aged 20 years and older, and received 5107 (82.4%) responses. The respondents were classified into three groups: those whose bedrooms were located to an arterial road (AR), located to other roads (OR), and not located to any road (NR). We used analysis of covariance to estimate the mean differences among the three groups for each SF-36 domain. HRQOL scores of the AR and the OR group were lower than those of the NR group in all domains. The adjusted mean scores of the AR group on &amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;quot;mental health&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;quot; and &amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;quot;vitality&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;quot; domains were significantly lower than those of the NR group. This study suggests that the HRQOL is an effective tool for evaluating the many impacts of road transportation on aspects of health.
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