Prevalence and distribution of coronary calcium in asymptomatic Japanese subjects in lung cancer screening computed tomography.

BACKGROUND: Coronary artery calcium (CAC) is associated with a risk of coronary heart disease. The prevalence and distribution of the CAC score have been examined in Western countries, but few studies have been performed in Asia, and especially in Japan. The goal of this study was to investigate CAC scores in an asymptomatic Japanese population. METHODS: CAC score and risk factors were analyzed in 1834 asymptomatic subjects who underwent lung cancer screening computed tomography. RESULTS: CAC was present in 26.9% of all the subjects, 29.8% of the males, and 17.1% of the females. In all age groups, the CAC score was higher in males. In multivariate analysis, male gender [odds ratio (OR) 2.461, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.361-4.452, p=0.002], aging (OR 1.102, 95% CI 1.081-1.123, p<0.001), dyslipidemia (OR 1.740, 95% CI 1.216-2.490, p=0.002), and fasting glucose (OR 1.008, 95% CI 1.002-1.015, p=0.012) were significantly associated with a CAC score >100. CONCLUSION: The results of this study provide a pattern of CAC distribution based on age and gender in asymptomatic Japanese subjects. This pattern was similar to that in Western countries, although the absolute CAC scores were lower. High CAC scores were associated with male gender, aging, dyslipidemia, and fasting glucose.

Surveillance of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease in high-risk individuals by using regional lung cancer mass screening.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) are at risk for lung cancer; the diseases have common etiologies, including cigarette smoking. We aimed to clarify the effectiveness of COPD detection using a regional mass-screening program for lung cancer. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 7,067 residents of Togane, Chiba, Japan received lung cancer screening between May and July, 2011. We defined four groups of possible COPD candidates: group A (n=358), positive smoking history, positive chronic respiratory symptoms; group B (n=766), positive smoking history, positive lifestyle-related disease; group C (n=75), passive smoking history, positive chronic respiratory symptoms; and group D (n=301), passive smoking history, positive lifestyle-related disease. Candidates underwent on-site pulmonary function testing (PFT). RESULTS: The criteria for COPD candidates were fulfilled in 1,686 of 7,067 individuals (23.9%); 1,500 participants underwent PFT (89%), and 171 (11.4%) were diagnosed with COPD. The overall COPD detection rate was 2.4%. The frequency of COPD was significantly higher in groups A and B than in groups C and D (P=0.048); however, the distribution of COPD grades was similar among the groups (P=0.372). Multiple logistic regression analysis identified male sex, age 60 years or greater, and positive smoking history as risk factors for COPD. CONCLUSION: COPD screening using a community-based lung cancer-screening program may be effective for disease detection. Individuals who are 60 years of age or older with a positive smoking history should undergo PFT to detect COPD.

Exploring the link between standard lifestyle questionnaires administered during specific medical check-ups and incidence of metabolic syndrome in Chiba Prefecture.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to clarify the relationship between standard lifestyle questionnaires and the development of metabolic syndrome (MetS). METHODS: We analyzed the data on 278,989 people (111,524 males and 167,465 females) living in Chiba Prefecture who underwent consecutive medical check-ups in 2008 and 2009. The standard lifestyle questionnaire administered during the check-ups consisted of 10 items, including three on exercise behaviors, four on dietary behaviors, and one each on drinking, smoking, and sleeping behaviors. An individual was assigned to the "developing MetS" category if there was no diagnosis of MetS in 2008, followed by a diagnosis of MetS or pre-MetS in 2009. We calculated the odds ratios for developing MetS adjusted for gender and age. Developing MetS was the dependent factor in a multiple logistic regression analysis used to examine its relationship to responses on the lifestyle questionnaire. RESULTS: In men, the odds of developing MetS were significantly lower for participants who exercised regularly ("walking fast," OR=0.88, 95% CI [0.83-0.93]; and "higher physical activity," 0.85, [0.80-0.90]), but were significantly higher for those who engaged in _ dietary behaviors and drinking ("eating fast," 1.49, [1.40-1.59]; "having a habit of eating late-night snacks," 1.15, [1.05-1.27]; "having a late night meal," 1.15, [1.08-1.23]; and "drinking every night," 1.08, [1.02-1.14]). In women, the odds of developing MetS were significantly lower for subjects who reported engaging in regular exercise and drinking ("walking fast," 0.74, [0.70-0.78]; "higher physical activity," 0.92, [0.87-0.98]; and "drinking every night," 0.80, [0.71-0.90]), but were significantly higher for those who had such dietary behaviors as "eating fast" (1.48, [1.39-1.58]), "having a habit of eating late-night snacks" (1.15, [1.05-1.26]), "having a late night meal" (1.19, [1.10-1.29]), and "not having breakfast" (1.21, [1.07-1.36]). CONCLUSION: These results show that poor dietary or exercise habits as determined by the standard lifestyle questionnaire were associated with the development of MetS.

Study of experiment on leaching of bisphenol A from infant books to artificial saliva.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the risk of bisphenol A (BPA) exposure when infants suck or chew infant books, the concentration of BPA leaching from infant books published by Japanese makers to artificial saliva was measured. METHODS: The concentration of BPA leaching from 10 infant books to 15 ml artificial saliva or water was measured at 37 degrees C for 20 hrs. BPA concentration was measured by high-performance liquid chromatography-electrochemical detection (HPLC-ECD) with solid-phase extraction. RESULTS: BPA was leached from all books when pieces of them were dipped both into saliva and water for 20 hrs. The highest concentration of BPA leaching from one out of 10 books was 43.4 ng/ml (for 2 hrs) in saliva, which was estimated to be approximately 0.052 mg/kg body weight/day for infants aged 6-10 months. CONCLUSION: As BPA has endocrine-disrupting effects and poses higher risks in infants than in adults, it is desired to reduce BPA use in the printing of infant books from the viewpoint of child health.

Effects of bisphenol A on the development, growth, and sex ratio of the housefly Musca domestica.

The effects of bisphenol A (BPA) on the life cycle of the housefly Musca domestica were examined. The sex ratio of the imago shifted in favor of males when eggs and larvae were exposed to BPA in culture media at concentrations of 1,000 microg kg(-1) for five generations and 100 microg kg(-1) for seven generations. Notably, at an initial concentration of 100 microg kg(-1), BPA levels in the growth medium decreased 61% at 4 h after egg inoculation, and no BPA was detected after 24 h. Pupal weight increased upon exposure to 100 microg kg(-1) BPA but decreased after exposure to 1,000 microg kg(-1), suggesting highly variable concentration-dependent toxicity. Both the survival ratio of eggs to the third instar larval stage and the ratio of pupae to larvae decreased, indicating that BPA affected both eggs and larvae. A delay in the timing of emergence typically was observed in insects exposed to >100 microg kg(-1) BPA. Compared to the control group, juvenile hormones II and III levels were elevated significantly in larvae between days 4 and 7 in medium spiked with 100 microg kg(-1) BPA. These results suggest that exposure to environmentally relevant concentrations of BPA during the early stages of the housefly life cycle can result in various disorders (pupal weight and sex ratio) that may be a consequence of endocrine disruption.

Determination of Bisphenol A (BPA) in Plasma of Hemodialysis Patients Using Three Methods: LC/ECD, LC/MS, and ELISA.

ABSTRACT Bisphenol A (BPA) values were compared in plasma of hemodialysis patients and in recycling solvents using LC/MS, LC/electrochemical detector (ECD), and enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). BPA values in the plasma and the solvent were 0-8.4 ng/ml and 0-0.8 ng/ml for LC/ECD, 0-4.9 ng/ml and 0-0.8 ng/ml for LC/MS, and 0-15.5 ng/ml and 0-3.1 ng/ml for ELISA, respectively. There was no significant difference among BPA values both in the plasma and the solvents using three methods. Single correlation coefficients between LC/ECD and LC/MS, LC/ECD and ELISA, and LC/MS and ELISA were, respectively, 0.373 (p < 0.002), 0.347 (p < 0.002), and 0.945 (p < 0.001) in the plasma (n = 68-109) and 0.916 (p < 0.001), 0.431 (p > 0.05), and 0.332 (p > 0.05) in the solvents (n = 19). An unknown substance present in the plasma of patients but not healthy volunteers influenced the LC/ECD values of plasma repeated freezing and thawing. The results indicate that LC/MS and ELISA are appropriate for BPA analysis in plasma and both LC/MS and LC/ECD in the recycling solvents and handling with plasma before analysis is important to the analysis of BPA in patients' plasma using LC/ECD.

[Relationship of normal levels of activity of daily living and daily habits among elderly women at home].

PURPOSE: The relationship of activities of daily living (ADL) with daily habits and age was investigated with a focus on the results of measurements of the normal speed (ordinary level: OL) and maximum speed (maximum capacity: MC) in performing items on a functional fitness test. The significance of the measurement of the ordinary level was also discussed. METHODS: The subjects were 69 women, aged 60-90 years old, who participated in a health workshop for the elderly sponsored by a local municipality and who performed at least 4 items on a functional fitness test. Public health nurses asked subjects about habitual life style, subjective health status and degree of satisfaction in daily life. The ADL level was measured using the tests of functional fitness developed by Oida et al and partially revised by ourselves and physical fitness tests (grip strength, sit and reach, and balancing on one leg with opened eyes). OL was measured as the time needed to perform functional fitness items at normal speed, and MC as the time needed when performing these tasks as quickly as possible. RESULTS: All functional fitness items were accomplished significantly faster with MC than OL. Correlation coefficient values between OL and MC were high significant. Age was found to be significantly related to the hand working test (Hand-T) to evaluate dexterity and the rope working test (Rope-T) to evaluate self-care, except with the MC. An analysis of covariance with age as the covariant revealed that, with OL, there were relationships between Hand-T and Rope-T and the item "active at home," and between the zigzag walking (Zigzag-T) and Rope-T and "walking or riding a bicycle to go shopping." With MC, there were relationships between Hand-T and "active at home," and between Zigzag-T and "walking of riding a bicycle to go shopping." Regarding physical capacity, relationships were seen between both hands and "high level of physical fitness" and "walking fast" and grip strength (Left hand), respectively. CONCLUSION: The ADL items measured in the preset study were related to the daily activities of elderly people. As the OL and MC results demonstrated a high correlation and the ADL items related with OL were found to have almost the same link with MC, we conclude that OL is suitable for testing with the advantage of safety. However, we could not explain differences in relationships between measurements and daily activities, pointing to a need for further research. Elderly people must maintain their capacity for ADL to support a good quality of life, and we have demonstrated the utility of measurements that include normal levels of activity as indicators.