Validity of body impedance analysis for evaluating body composition in patients undergoing long-term hemodialysis.

[Purpose] This study assessed changes in body composition before and after dialysis in chronic hemodialysis patients and determined the relationships between various body composition parameters and blood lipid levels in these patients. [Subjects] The cross-sectional study included 19 dialysis outpatients (17 men and 2 women, aged 35-82 years). [Methods] Body mass index, body weight, percent body fat, and percent skeletal muscle were measured before and after dialysis by using body impedance analysis. Blood lipid levels were obtained from patients' clinical records. The body composition parameters before and after dialysis were compared using paired t-tests. Spearman's rank correlation coefficients were calculated to determine relationships between the body composition parameters, before and after dialysis, and the blood lipid levels. [Results] All body composition parameters differed significantly before and after dialysis. High-density lipoprotein cholesterol level significantly correlated with all the body composition parameters, whereas total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, and triglyceride levels significantly correlated with some of these parameters. The correlation coefficients revealed no major differences in the relationships between blood lipid parameters and body compositions before and after dialysis. [Conclusion] Our findings suggest that body composition parameters, whether measured before or after dialysis, can be used to evaluate obesity in longitudinal studies.

Prevalence of self-reported finger deformations and occupational risk factors among professional cooks: a cross-sectional study.

BACKGROUND: Previous studies have pointed out that the school lunch workers in Japan are suffering from work-related disorders including finger deformations. The purpose of this study was to investigate the prevalence of self-reported finger deformations and the association with job-related risk factors. METHODS: A cross-sectional questionnaire study of 5,719 subjects (response rate: 81%, 982 men and 4,737 women) was undertaken during September 2003 to February 2004. RESULTS: Finger deformations were found among 11.7% of the men and 35.6% of the women studied, with significant differences among sex, age and sex-age groups. For both men and women the pattern of finger deformations across the hand was similar for the right and the left hand. For women, the deformations were found in about 10% of the distal interphalangeal joints of all fingers. Based on multiple logistic regression analyses, the factors female sex, age, the number of cooked lunches per cook and cooking activities were independently associated with the prevalence of finger deformations. High prevalence odds ratios were found for those frequently carrying or using tools by hands such as delivering containers, distributing meals, preparing dishes, washing equipment, cutting and stirring foods. CONCLUSIONS: Among the school lunch workers studied, women had a higher prevalence of finger deformations on all joints of both hands. Various cooking tasks were associated with the prevalence of finger deformations. The results suggest that improvements in working conditions are important for preventing work-related disorders such as finger deformations.

Intake of trans fatty acid in Japanese university students.

Because trans fatty acids (TFAs) are a potent risk factor for coronary heart disease, it is important to know the amount of TFA consumed. We estimated TFA intakes of Japanese university students by direct measurement. Subjects included 118 students (57 males and 61 females) in two regions of Japan: Kanto (Tokyo area) and Okinawa. A dietary survey was conducted over six consecutive days using dietary records and photographic records. A single-day meal in the survey period was reproduced to measure TFA content by gas chromatography. The median values of TFA intakes (and energy percentage) estimated by the contents of reproduced meals for men were 0.43 g/d (0.22%) in Kanto and 0.30 g/d (0.14%) in Okinawa. Corresponding values for women were 0.49 g/d (0.29%) and 0.73 g/d (0.35%), respectively. Compared to the group with a low TFA intake, the subjects with a high TFA intake consumed significantly more energy from total fat and saturated fatty acids, and had a high ratio of TFA/linoleic acid. In addition, multiple regression analysis showed the intakes of TFA were positively associated with those of saturated fatty acids and groups of nonessential groceries such as cookies, cakes and pastries. In conclusion, the TFA intakes of these survey subjects were relatively lower than the WHO recommended energy ratio (<1%). However, nutritional education on dietary habits seems indispensable for those subjects who are consuming high volumes of TFA.

[Family support and quality of life of pregnant women during pregnancy and after birth].

PURPOSE: The primary purpose of this study was to measure family support for pregnant women after birth (PWAB) and to examine its relationships with quality of life (QOL), child care, and health conditions. METHOD: A self-administered questionnaire was distributed three times by mail to the women attending a maternity class in an urban hospital, during late pregnancy and one month and six months after birth (n=151). The objective was to assess family support (from husbands and parents), child care, health conditions, and QOL. An original QOL scale was developed using twelve items, revealing three factors: "Positive feeling", "contentment with the physical environment and financial situation (Surrounding factors)", and "satisfaction with lifestyle and relationships (Daily life)". We conducted path analysis to examine the correlates of the QOL scale. RESULTS: (1) The support score of husbands increased gradually over the period of the study, while parents were found to be most supportive one month after birth. Additionally, husbands and parents were found to compensate for each other in their support. (2) The more support the PWAB received in a given period, the higher the mean scores for child care, health conditions, and QOL. (3) "Positive feeling" was influenced by the husband's support during the whole study period (i.e., during pregnancy and one month and six months after birth). "Surrounding factors" correlated with the husband's support during pregnancy and at one month after birth. "Daily life" correlated with the support most strongly at six months after birth. CONCLUSION: Family support was shown to be a strong correlate for the QOL of PWAB. Providing family support could improve mothers' child care, health conditions, and QOL.

A pilot study of advice on physical activity in senior disabled individuals in rural Japan.

This study evaluates the effect of active implementation of the amount of physical activity on the double product (DP) in senior disabled individuals. Our study included 20 hemiplegic patients comprising an intervention group (IG; n = 10) who performed prescribed exercises daily for 12 weeks and a control group (CG; n = 10) for whom physical activity (PA) was measured without intervention. In the IG, the energy consumption during PA with multiple positions and intensity increased significantly as compared to that of the CG. In the IG0 to the CG, the DP decreased significantly. We concluded that advice regarding active implementation increases the amount of PA and improves the DP after a 12-week period.

Prevalence and risk factors for low back pain among professional cooks working in school lunch services.

BACKGROUND: The prevalence of self-reported low back pain among professional cooks was estimated to examine the effects of daily life conditions, job-related factors, and psychological factors on this disorder. METHODS: Data was collected using a mailed self-administered questionnaire. RESULTS: Of 7100 cooks, 5835 (82%) replied to the questionnaire, including 1010 men and 4825 women. The mean age was 41.4 for men and 47.5 for women. The prevalence of low back pain during a 1-month period was 72.2% among men and 74.7% among women, with no significant differences between groups. By logistic regression analyses, factors significantly associated with the prevalence of low back pain in 1 month were female gender (prevalence ratio [PR] 1.32; 95% CI, 1.03-1.68), current smoking (PR 1.57; 95% CI, 1.24-1.98), and past smoking (PR 1.35; 95% CI, 1.01-1.79). As for job-related factors, the number of cooked lunches per person (PR 1.28; 95% CI, 1.05-1.56), breaks in the morning session (PR 1.33; 95% CI, 1.13-1.56), kitchen environment (PR 1.09; 95%, CI, 1.03-1.15), and height of cooking equipment (PR 1.13; 95% CI, 1.08-1.19) were associated with the prevalence of low back pain. As for psychological factors, job satisfaction (PR 1.22; 95% CI, 1.03-1.45), stress at work (PR 1.68; 95% CI, 1.42-1.99), financial constraints (PR 1.23; 95% CI, 1.03-1.47), health-related stress (PR 1.31; 95% CI, 1.08-1.59) and worries about the future (PR 1.24; 95% CI, 1.01-1.52) were similarly associated. CONCLUSION: Daily life conditions, job-related factors, and psychological factors are associated with the occurrence of low back pain. It is important to take comprehensive preventive measures to address a range of work and life conditions that can be improved to decrease the incidence of low back pain for professional cooks.

Comparison of electrocardiogram findings and lifestyles between urbanized people and ger-living people in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia.

In Ulaanbaatar, lifestyles differ between urbanized people (group A) and ger (tent)-living people (group B). Group A earn high annual incomes and live in houses or apartments. Group B (who had moved to Ulaanbaatar from nomadic areas) earn low incomes and live in narrow gers. In 2002, we investigated daily food intake, health status, and electrocardiogram (ECG) in these groups. In total, 256 subjects (group A, 142; group B, 114) were enrolled. Group A ate meat, vegetables, and fruits high enough by a Western style. Group B consumed meat but ate only small amounts of vegetables and fruits. They took a lot of fat, however, the serum lipid levels of them were not so high. The fat source as energy was plant oil for cooking rather than meat. Several abnormal ECG findings including left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) were found in 32 (22.5%) of group A and 50 (43.9%) of group B (P < 0.001). LVH was also found more in group B than in group A. LVH in group A males was accompanied by high body weight (BW), hypertension, and high LDL-cholesterol, whereas LVH in group B males seemed to be related to an unbalanced diet, high salt intake, smoking, and some low socio-economic problems. In order to promote health condition, such risk factors should securely be eliminated from the lifestyles.

Prevalence of diego blood group Dia antigen in Mongolians: comparison with that in Japanese.

The Diego blood group is composed of Di(a) and Di(b) antigens. Prevalence of the Di(a) antigen is known to be different among races. The Di(a) antigen is generally found in Oriental people. Thus, it is called a Mongoloid factor. In Japanese, the prevalence of this antigen is 8.78%. However, the prevalence in Mongolians had not previously been examined. In September of 2002, we determined this antigen among inhabitants of Ulaanbaatar. It was found in 24 of 242 subjects (9.92%). This prevalence approximates that in Japanese. The Rh blood group phenotypes also showed patterns similar to those in Japanese. These results are not contrary to the presumption that Mongolians and Japanese may have a common racial background.

A survey of life-style diseases of inhabitants of Thailand.

To elucidate the way to prevent lifestyle-related diseases, such as diabetes mellitus and hypertension, in Asian countries, a comparative study between Mongoloids was conducted at Palau, in Oceania, the Republic of China, Thailand, Mongolia and Japan, from 1998 to October 2002. The survey comprised a social survey, nutrition survey, physical and medical examinations, biomedical analyses, urinalyses, and DNA analyses. This is an interim report for Thailand.