Associations of maternal employment and three-generation families with pre-school children's overweight and obesity in Japan.

BACKGROUNDS: Maternal employment has been shown to be associated with childhood overweight and obesity (Ow/Ob), but the presence of family members who care for children in place of the mothers might influence children's Ow/Ob and lifestyles. The influence of maternal employment on children's Ow/Ob should be examined together with the presence of caregivers such as grandparents. OBJECTIVES: The effects of maternal employment and the presence of grandparents on lifestyles and Ow/Ob in Japanese pre-school children were investigated. DESIGN/SUBJECTS: Cross-sectional study on 2114 children aged 3-6 years who attended all childcare facilities in a city and primary caregivers was conducted. MEASUREMENTS: Children's weight and height, family environments (family members, maternal employment, single parent, number of siblings and parental Ow/Ob) and lifestyles (dietary, physical activity and sleeping habits) were surveyed using a self-administered questionnaire. Ow/Ob was defined by the International Obesity Task Force cut-offs. RESULTS: The eligible participants were 1765 children. The prevalence of Ow/Ob was 8.4% in boys and 9.9% in girls. Maternal employment was associated positively with irregular mealtimes, unfixed snacking times, bedtime after 10 p.m. and nighttime sleep duration of less than 10 h, whereas three-generation families were associated negatively with irregular mealtimes after adjustment for children's characteristics and family environments. Irregular mealtimes (OR (95% CI); 2.03 (1.36, 3.06)) and nighttime sleep duration of less than 10 h (1.96 (1.28, 3.01)) were associated with increased risks of being Ow/Ob. Both maternal employment and three-generation families were significantly associated with children's Ow/Ob. However, three-generation families maintained a significant association (1.59 (1.08, 2.35)) after adjustment for maternal employment. CONCLUSIONS: These study results suggest that the grandparents who care for pre-school children in place of mothers are more likely to contribute to childhood Ow/Ob than maternal employment. The family-focused lifestyle strategies to prevent childhood Ow/Ob must include grandparents who care for children.

Inhibition of renin-angiotensin system affects prognosis of advanced pancreatic cancer receiving gemcitabine.

BACKGROUND: The renin-angiotensin system (RAS) is thought to have a role in carcinogenesis, and RAS inhibition may prevent tumour growth. METHODS: We retrospectively investigated the impact of angiotensin I-converting enzyme inhibitors (ACEIs) and angiotensin II type-1 receptor blockers (ARBs) in 155 patients with pancreatic cancer receiving gemcitabine monotherapy. Patients were divided into three groups: the ACEI/ARB group (27 patients receiving an ACEI or ARB for hypertension (HT)), the non-ACEI/ARB with HT group (25 patients receiving antihypertensive drugs other than ACEIs or ARBs), and the non-HT group (103 patients receiving no antihypertensive drugs). RESULTS: Patient characteristics were not different, except for age and HT medications. Progression-free survival (PFS) was 8.7 months in the ACEI/ARB group, 4.5 months in the non-ACEI/ARB with HT group, and 3.6 months in the non-HT group. Overall survival (OS) was 15.1 months in the ACEI/ARB group, 8.9 months in the non-ACEI/ARB with HT group, and 9.5 months in the non-HT group. The use of ACEIs/ARBs was a significant prognostic factor for both PFS (P=0.032) and OS (P=0.014) in the multivariate analysis. CONCLUSIONS: The ACEIs/ARBs in combination with gemcitabine might improve clinical outcomes in patients with advanced pancreatic cancer. Prospective trials are needed to test this hypothesis.

Correlation between dietary glycemic index and cardiovascular disease risk factors among Japanese women.

OBJECTIVE: To examine the correlation between dietary glycemic index (GI) and cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factors among subjects who consume white rice as a staple food. DESIGN: A cross-sectional study was conducted to explore the associations between dietary GI, dietary glycemic load (GL) and dietary intakes, and CVD risk factors. Dietary GI and GL were calculated from a 3-day (including two consecutive weekdays and one holiday) dietary records. SETTING: A weight-reduction program at a municipal health center in Tokyo, Japan. SUBJECTS: A total of 32 women aged 52.5+/-7.2 y participated in the weight-reduction program. RESULT: The GI food list made for the current study calculated for 91% of carbohydrate intakes measured. The mean dietary GI was 64+/-6, and the mean dietary GL was 150+/-37. Individuals in the highest tertile of GI consumed more carbohydrate, mostly from white rice (P<0.001), and less fat (P<0.01). Individuals in all three groups by tertile of GL showed similar tendencies. In the lowest GI tertile, the highest concentration of HDL-cholesterol and lowest concentration of triacylglycerol and immunoreactive insulin were observed (P<0.01). In the lowest GL tertile, the highest concentration of HDL-cholesterol and the lowest concentration of triacylglycerol were observed (P<0.05). CONCLUSION: Calculated dietary GI and GL were positively associated with CVD risk factors among the Japanese women who consumed white rice as a staple food.

Effect of long-term body weight change on the incidence of hypertension in Japanese men and women.

OBJECTIVE: To elucidate the effect of long-term body weight changes on the subsequent incidence of hypertension in a large sample of community-residing Japanese males and females. METHODS: Subjects were 3431 men and 2409 women, between 30 and 69 y old, who underwent annual periodic health examinations from 1987 (baseline year) until 1996. They were free from hypertension during the first 5 y from the baseline year. Body weight change index between 1987 and 1992 was the body mass index (BMI) (weight (kg) over height (m) squared) slope. Multiple logistic analysis was performed to assess the effect of BMI slope on the incidence of hypertension during the subsequent 5 ys (1992-1996), while controlling for baseline age, BMI, systolic blood pressure (SBP), diastolic blood pressure (DBP) and smoking habit. RESULTS: During the first 5 y, the prevalence of overweight males (25.0< or =BMI<30.0) significantly increased from 18.4 to 23.5% in males and from 10.4 to 14.1% in females. In all, 11.7% of the males and 8.9% of the females developed hypertension between 1992 and 1996. Those who developed hypertension had a significantly higher baseline age, BMI, SBP and DBP both in males and females. The baseline smoking rate among the females who developed hypertension was significantly lower than those who did not develop the hypertension. After adjustment of these covariables by the multiple logistic analysis, the BMI slope was positively correlated with the incidence of hypertension both in females and males significantly. CONCLUSIONS: Weight gain increased the risk of developing hypertension independent of age and blood pressure level among relatively lean Japanese men and women.