Diet and nutrition in psoriasis: analysis of the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) in the United States.

BACKGROUND: There is limited research examining the association between psoriasis, dietary intake and nutritional status in the general U.S. population. OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to compare levels of vitamins and carotenoids as well as intake of protein, fats, sugar, carbohydrates and total calories between individuals with and without psoriasis. METHODS: We used data from the 2003-2006 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) in the U.S. Demographic information, physical examination, serum laboratory values and questionnaires on past medical history and dietary intake were used to determine the relationship between psoriasis and nutritional status and diet. RESULTS: The cohort consisted of 6260 participants who provided responses to their psoriasis status. Prior psoriasis diagnosis was reported in 156 (2.49%) of the respondents. Based on multivariate regression analysis, psoriasis was significantly associated with increased vitamin A level (OR: 1.01; CI: 1.00-1.02; P = 0.03), increased α-carotene level (OR: 1.02; CI: 1.01-1.04; P = 0.01), lower sugar intake (OR: 0.998; CI: 0.996-1; P = 0.04), increased body mass index (OR: 1.04; 95% CI: 1.02-1.07; P = 0.0003) and arthritis (OR: 2.31; CI: 1.37-3.90; P = 0.002). Non-Hispanic black (OR: 0.56; CI: 0.34-0.96; P = 0.03) and Hispanic race (OR: 0.37; CI: 0.19-0.75; P = 0.005) were inversely associated with a diagnosis of psoriasis compared with non-Hispanic white race. CONCLUSION: Psoriasis is significantly associated with elevated serum levels of vitamin A and α-carotene and reduced intake of sugar. Longitudinal monitoring of nutritional status in psoriasis patients is necessary to determine the effect of nutrition on psoriasis progression and the modifying role of treatments.

Association between psoriasis and viral infections in the United States: focusing on hepatitis B, hepatitis C and human immunodeficiency virus.

BACKGROUND: No published data in the U.S. population regarding an association between viral infections and psoriasis are currently available. Assessment of infection and immunosuppression risk is critical in managing psoriasis patients. OBJECTIVES: To examine the association between psoriasis and viral infections including hepatitis B, hepatitis C and human immunodeficiency viral infections in the general U.S. population. METHODS: Population data representative of the U.S. cohort were analysed from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES), 2003-2006. Hepatitis B, hepatitis C, and human immunodeficiency antibodies status were ascertained from laboratory evaluations. Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed to assess the associations between psoriasis and these viral infections. RESULTS: Among 6532 participants aged 20-59 years who provided responses to their psoriasis status, 162 patients reported having psoriasis. Based on multivariate regression analyses, psoriasis was not significantly associated with positive serology for hepatitis B core [odds ratio (OR), 0.83; 95% confidence interval (CI), 0.32-2.17; P = 0.7060], hepatitis B surface [OR, 7.89; CI, 0.52-119; P = 0.1355], hepatitis C [OR, 0.24; CI, 0.03-2.01; P = 0.1915], or human immunodeficiency virus [OR, 0.73; CI, 0.09-5.93; P = 0.7646] antibodies, after adjusting for age, gender, race and smoking status. CONCLUSIONS: From the limited sample of the NHANES database on psoriasis and viral infections, psoriasis does not appear to be associated with an increased risk of hepatitis B, hepatitis C, or HIV infection in the U.S. population. Epidemiology of these viral infections in psoriasis needs to be continually studied and updated given their importance in management considerations.

A new approach to assess low frequency noise in the working environment.

To assess high-level low frequency noise in the working environment, adverse extra-aural effects caused by the noise should be taken into account. The human body vibration induced by low frequency noise, 'noise-induced vibration', was measured on the body surface and the equal-acceleration level contours of the vibration were tentatively estimated. With these contours, we can predict the magnitude of noise-induced vibration at every measuring position on the body surface. This is helpful in relating the total dosage of low frequency noise with the physical symptoms caused by the noise. But some important points in the contours remain to be investigated and improved. When these points are dealt with, the equal-acceleration level contours will be useful for assessing high-level low frequency noise in the working environment from the standpoint of predicting the adverse extra-aural effects.

Application of Carbopol to controlled release preparations I. Carbopol as a novel coating material.

We investigated the application of Carbopol(R) (CP) as a novel coating material prepared with various grades of CP having different degrees of cross-linking and molecular weights. Viscosity and spray mist size of CP aqueous solutions at various concentrations of CP were measured. Core tablets containing theophylline (TP), as a model drug, were coated with CP at various coating ratios. The TP release profile from the CP-coated tablets was studied by the JP13 paddle method. CP tablets were prepared by compressing CP powder, and the swelling behavior of the CP tablets in JP 1st fluid, purified water, and JP 2nd fluid was observed. The spray mist size of all CP aqueous solutions was small at a concentration of 1% and below, and drastically increased over a concentration of 1%. This result suggests that the appropriate concentration of the CP solution for coating is 1% or below. Sustained release of TP from the CP-coated tablets at a coating ratio of only 3% was observed in the JP 1st fluid and purified water, although fast release was observed in the JP 2nd fluid. The fast release in the latter fluid may be due to the fact that CP is an acid material. These results suggest that it is feasible to control the drug release by use of an extremely small amount of CP coating and that CP is useful as a novel coating material.

Whole-body vibration perception thresholds of recumbent subjects--Part 1: Supine posture.

The objective of the present study was to determine perception thresholds for whole-body vibration in the recumbent supine posture in vertical and horizontal directions and to compare the present results with ones obtained at the same laboratory in 1984 and also with ISO frequency weighting curves both in ISO 2631-1 and in ISO 2631-2. The frequency characteristic and thresholds values of the present results are similar to previous results. Weighting curves of ISO, however, show quite different characteristic in both vertical and horizontal directions compared to the present characteristics. It is not suitable to apply weighting curves Wk for the vertical direction, Wd for the horizontal direction and combined curves in ISO to recumbent posture from the results of this present study.

Whole-body vibration perception thresholds of recumbent subjects--Part 2: Effect of vibration direction.

This paper presents the results of laboratory experiment concerned with perception thresholds for whole-body vibration on recumbent subjects. Thresholds of subjects exposed to x-, y- and z-axis sinusoidal vibration were determined for supine, prone, lying on the left side and lying on the right side subjects (from 1 to 80 Hz). It was clear that the threshold curves, as a function of frequency, had different characteristics for vertical vibrations than for horizontal vibrations in the recumbent postures. Significant differences were found between perception thresholds for vertical vibrations and horizontal vibrations on recumbent subjects.

A pilot study on the human body vibration induced by low frequency noise.

To understand the basic characteristics of the human body vibration induced by low frequency noise and to use it to evaluate the effects on health, we designed a measuring method with a miniature accelerometer and carried out preliminary measurements. Vibration was measured on the chest and abdomen of 6 male subjects who were exposed to pure tones in the frequency range of 20 to 50 Hz, where the method we designed was proved to be sensitive enough to detect vibration on the body surface. The level and rate of increase with frequency of the vibration turned out to be higher on the chest than on the abdomen. This difference was considered to be due to the mechanical structure of the human body. It also turned out that the measured noise-induced vibration negatively correlated with the subject's BMI (Body Mass Index), which suggested that the health effects of low frequency noise depended not only on the mechanical structure but also on the physical constitution of the human body.

Experimental studies of subjective response to road traffic-induced building vibration.

The road traffic-induced building vibration was recorded continuously for 24 hr in three orthogonal axes outside and inside the building. Several alternative objective methods of quantifying the severity of exposures to whole-body road traffic-induced building vibration are used. The relationship between the results of all objective evaluation methods of vibration-induced by road traffic and the subjective responses to building vibration are compared. It was conducted that the ISO 2631-2 z-axis frequency weighting combined with a measure of vibration dose value (VDV = [integral of a4(t) dt)]1/4 may use a practicable objective evaluation procedure in buildings than L10 percentile vibration levels. It was also cleared that the L10 percentile vibration levels at the ground boundary of the regulation law of Japan Environmental Agency must be low levels.

Prediction of TTS for hand intermittent vibration.

Temporary Threshold Shift (TTS) is often used as an indicator of the effect of hand-transmitted vibration on the human body. An experiment for the prediction of TTS in exposure to intermittent vibration was conducted in the present study to examine the exposure equivalent rule, as well as the equations for growth and recovery TTS. It was found that the prediction of TTS obtained here was in good agreement with measured TTS. This estimation procedure for predicting TTS was compared with the notification of the Labor Ministry in Japan, in which control of the operation time and the rest time for hand-vibrating tools was described. The results suggest that the rest time of five minutes for a continuous exposure time of 30 minutes with low-level of vibration tools should be extended to 10 minutes of rest time.

Formation of water-insoluble gel in dry-coated tablets for the controlled release of theophylline.

Sodium alginate (ALNa) of a natural polysaccharide is known to form a water-insoluble gel when combined with a bivalent metal. In this study, we prepared tablets containing ALNa and calcium gluconate (GLCa) as a bivalent metal, and studied the application of the water-insoluble gel involving the controlled release of a test drug by permeation of water. Dry-coated tablets containing theophylline (TP) as a model drug, ALNa and GLCa were prepared by the dry power compression method. The controlled release of TP was evaluated by the dissolution test according to JP XIII. The release rate was extremely high for the tablets which contained only TP and GLCa. A zero order or sigmoidal release profile was observed for the tablets that contained only TP and ALNa. On the other hand, the lowest dissolution rate and a sigmoidal release profile were observed for the tablet containing TP and GLCa in its core and ALNa in its outer phase. These results suggest that dry-coated tablets containing ALNa and GLCa and prepared by the direct powder compression method would be useful for the controlled release of drugs.

A comparison of vibrotactile thresholds on the finger obtained with ISO type equipment and Japanese equipment.

A vibrotactile threshold measurement system that enables the thresholds at the fingertips to be determined more rapidly and precisely has been developed. This system was studied to assess the impact of various factors on the obtained values. An experiment using two different types of equipment was also conducted to assess the repeatability of measurement. One system was similar to that required by International Standard (System A), and the other system was of the currently used in Japan (System B). The subjects were nine males and one female, measurements were taken on three different days. This paper compares the structure of the equipment used internationally (ISO/CD13091) and the equipment typically used in Japan and the measurements of vibrotactile thresholds taken at a 125 Hz frequency using Systems A and B. The measurement method and conditions adopted were almost the same as those outlined in the ISO draft. The results of this experiment showed that there were some differences between the two systems. The vibrotactile thresholds measured using System B showed higher values than did those measured using System A. The results also indicated that equipment that satisfies ISO standards provides sufficient repeatability for use as a diagnostic aid. Also, this paper is shown the vibrotactile measurement equipment conditions must be considered when using vibrotactile threshold measurement equipment in Japan.

An infrasound experiment system for industrial hygiene.

An infrasound experiment system has been constructed in order to investigate the effects of infrasound on human health from the point of view of industrial hygiene and to establish a method to assess it in working environments. Some measurements were carried out to evaluate the acoustic performance of the system in the low frequency sound range, including infrasound, and to clarify the points to be improved. As a result, it was found that the system had some weak points in the audible frequency range. They were considered to be caused by the large capacity of the test chamber, and some countermeasures were required. On the other hand, in the infrasound range, it appeared that the higher harmonics of infrasound possibly affected the experiments and some limitations might be found necessary. But the frequency response of the chamber and the spatial uniformity of the reproduced infrasound proved to be satisfactory for the experiments in this range. Consequently it was concluded that the system could contribute to the study of infrasound.

Human response to shock-type vibration on hand.

Points of subjective equality between continuous vibration and shock-type vibration (repeated vibration) were examined in hand-transmitted vibration to find a tendency of human response to shock-type vibration (repeated vibration with short duration). On time and off time of the repeated vibrations were changed from 10 ms to 5s. Each adjustment involved a 10 second exposure to the repeated vibration and subsequent 10 second exposure to the continuous vibration. Frequencies of the vibrations were 8, 16, 31.5 and 100 Hz. Subjective magnitude of the shock-type vibrations (repeated vibrations) decreased with increase of off-time and with decrease of on-time of the repeated vibrations. Results of this experiment were compared with calculated r.m.s. values, r.m.q. values and other quantity. R.m.s. values underestimated the repeated vibration and r.m.q. values overestimated the vibration compared with human responses.

Vibrotactile TTS of fingertip vibratory sensation from hand-transmitted vibration having the same equal equivalent tool vibration levels according to the JIS B 4900 determination method.

The purpose of this paper is to clarify the temporary threshold shifts in fingertip vibratory sensation produced by hand-transmitted vibrations that have the same equivalent tool vibration levels according to the JIS B 4900 determination method. The JIS B 4900 standard is based on vibration exposure dose values. Therefore, even though the vibration exposure pattern is varied, the severity of vibration at the end of vibration exposure has a same value if the equivalent tool vibration level is unchanged. The experiment was conducted by using four kinds of hand-transmitted vibration patterns as stimuli. As a result, although the vibration transmitted to the hand by steady continuous vibration, intermittent vibration with short pauses, intermittent vibration with long pauses and repeated single bursts of vibration all have the same equivalent tool vibration levels (equal vibration exposure dose value) according to the JIS B 4900 determination method, the TTS after vibration exposure did not produce the same value. Therefore, these results suggest that the determination methods of the JIS B 4900 standard are not adequate for describing the vibration exposure dose value.

Vibrotactile temporary threshold shifts induced by hand-transmitted vibration during underwater work.

The purpose of this paper is to clarify the temporary threshold shifts (TTS) of fingertip vibratory sensation produced by hand-transmitted vibration in an underwater work environment. The hand-transmitted vibration was applied with a pneumatic tool to the right hand of four experienced male SCUBA divers. The threshold of 125 Hz vibratory sensation was measured at the tip of the right forefinger before and after vibration exposure in the atmosphere and underwater. Vibration exposure at a 4 m depth produced greater TTS than in the atmosphere. The recovery time of TTS after vibration exposure in an underwater were affected by the underwater pressure.

An ergonomic evaluation of lens accommodation related to visual circumstances.

This study is intended to make clear the relationships between a number of external conditions (target luminance, size, etc.), dynamic responsiveness of the lens accommodation, and microfluctuation. Further, the effects of ageing and the difference between monocular and binocular observations are examined. These studies established that age factors have a large bearing on the ability of the lens to focus on an object, as well as affecting such abilities as the responsiveness of the lens accommodation, amplitude of lens accommodation response, microfluctuation, and contraction and relaxation time. Of these accommodation functions, such factors as contraction and relaxation time clearly reflect the ease of seeing an object. Clear relationships between the amount of diopter and the ease of seeing an object were also observed. Further, it was established that a binocular observation is more responsive (velocity of contraction) than a monocular one. As to the microfluctuation, on the other hand, clear effects of age on its spectrum distribution were recognized but no definite correlations concerning the ease of seeing an object were observed.

[Report on clinico-pathological examinations in Meikai University (formerly Josai Dental University) Hospital (4)].

This clinico-pathological study was conducted to examine biopsies and surgical specimens for histopathological diagnosis from April 1983 to March 1988 in Meikai University (formerly Josai Dental University) Hospital. The following statistical results were obtained: 1) The total number of the specimens examined was 2705, 2026 from the dental clinic and 679 from the medical clinic. 2) Concerning age distribution, most specimens from the dental clinic were from patients in the 40's age bracket, whereas most from the medical clinic were from those under 10 years of age. With regard to sex distribution, the difference between males and females was not so much in the dental clinic specimens, but the number from the medical clinic was greater for males than for females. 3) Concerning classification of the tumors from the dental clinic, 181 cases were benign; and of them 41 were odontogenic and 140 were non-odontogenic tumors. Among the odontogenic tumors, ameloblastoma, cementoma, and odontoma were the most numerous. Among non-odontogenic tumors, fibroma was the most common, followed by pleomorphic adenoma. Malignant tumors comprised 77 cases. Of them squamous cell carcinoma was the most commonly found, with the grade-2 type being most numerous. Of the medical clinic tumors, nevus was the most common benign tumor observed; and adenocarcinoma, the most common malignant one. 4) Concerning the distribution of main lesions in the dental clinic specimens, most specimens were cysts or cystic lesions, followed by inflammatory lesions and tumors. Among medical clinic specimens, inflammatory lesions were the most common. 5) Regarding the dental clinic specimens, the most frequently observed case was the radicular cyst (301 samples) among the odontogenic cysts (514 samples); and among non-odontogenic cysts (290 samples), the most common was the mucous cyst (159 samples). 5) In terms of the distribution by location, tissue or organ, most tumors from the dental clinic were from the jaws, followed in descending frequency by those from gingiva and alveolar mucosa, maxillary sinus, lip, buccal mucosa, and tongue. Among the medical clinic tumors, the paranasal cavity and tonsils were the most frequent locations.