Biomedical subjects

N Kurumatani

Publications and source records attributed to N Kurumatani.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed2004

Comparison of changes in jugular venous bulb oxygen saturation and cerebral oxygen saturation during variations of haemoglobin concentration under propofol and sevoflurane anaesthesia.

BACKGROUND: A severe reduction in haemoglobin concentration can lead to a decrease in jugular venous bulb oxygen saturation (Sj(O(2))). However, recent evidences suggests that cerebral oxygen saturation (Sc(O(2))) measured by near infrared spectroscopy decreased during even mild haemodilution. We therefore tested the hypothesis that the changes in Sc(O(2)) may not be parallel to those in Sj(O(2)) during haemodilution. In addition, as cerebral oxygen balance during the operation can vary depending on the anaesthetics used, the changes in Sj(O(2)) and Sc(O(2)) during haemodilution were compared between patients under propofol and isoflurane/nitrous oxide anaesthesia. METHODS: Forty-two patients with pre-donated autologous blood were randomly assigned to receive propofol (Group P) or sevoflurane/nitrous oxide (Group S) anaesthesia. A fibreoptic catheter was placed in the jugular bulb to measure Sj(O(2)). A cerebral oximeter, INVOS 4100S was used to monitor Sc(O(2)). Arterial and jugular bulb blood samples were drawn simultaneously at: (i) 10 min after the start of operation, (ii) after 400 ml of blood loss, (iii) after 800 ml of blood loss, (iv) just before the transfusion of pre-donated autologous blood, and (v) after 400 ml transfusion. RESULTS: Mean (sd) control values of Sj(O(2)) in Group P were significantly lower than those in Group S (55 (8)% vs 71 (10)%, respectively; P<0.05), whereas there was no significant difference in control values of Sc(O(2)) between the two groups. During the operation, haemoglobin (Hb) concentrations significantly deceased in the both groups compared with control values (from 9.8 to 7.6 g dl(-1) in Group P and from 9.9 to 8.0 g dl(-1) in Group S). During a reduction in Hb concentration, Sj(O(2)) values remained unchanged in both groups, whereas Sc(O(2)) values significantly decreased in both groups (from 57 to 51% in Group P and from 59 to 52% in Group S). CONCLUSION: The results indicated that, although the changes in Sj(O(2)) and Sc(O(2)) during a reduction in haemoglobin concentration were similar under propofol and sevoflurane/nitrous oxide anaesthesia, the changes in Sc(O(2)) were not parallel to those in Sj(O(2)). The discrepancy of the results in Sj(O(2)) and Sc(O(2)) may make the interpretation of their values difficult during haemodilution.

Adult↗

PubMed2000

Morphologic changes of the ankle in children as assessed by radiography and arthrography.

Chronological changes in the morphology of the ankle, a joint that consists primarily of chondral components in children, were investigated by arthrography and plain radiography. Arthrography was performed in 57 ankles of 40 patients with normal ankles (aged from 2 months to 3 years, 4 months; mean, 1 year, 7 months), and plain radiography was performed on 183 joints of 126 patients with normal ankles (aged from 3 years, 6 months to 14 years, 5 months (mean, 7 years, 8 months). The angle of the distal tibial joint surface was then measured on each radiograph. Despite being evident at birth, valgus inclination in the ankle rapidly changed during the first and second years of life. Thereafter, change continued gradually and spontaneously, and the ankles were in the neutral position by 3 years of age. However, the morphology of the ankles did not change much after that time. Normal ankles show valgus inclination at birth, but this configuration is changed naturally over time, and the ankles are in the neutral or slightly varus position by the age of bone maturity.

Adolescent↗

PubMed1999

Trends in oral cancer mortality in Japan: 1950-1993.

OBJECTIVES: To investigate trends in mortality rates of oral cancer patients in Japan between 1950 and 1993 by sex, age and cancer site, and compare the results with previous studies to determine whether there are any common characteristics of oral cancer patterns between Japan and European countries. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The mortality data obtained from the Japanese Vital Statistics were analyzed using the 5-year moving average method, and the mortality rates were adjusted to the 1990 world population by age and sex. Age-specific mortality rates were analyzed by birth cohort. RESULTS: The age-standardized mortality rates among the males increased from 1.14 per 100,000 person--years in 1952 to 1.84 in 1991, whereas the corresponding rate among females changed little over the same period. Cancer of the tongue was the most common cause of death in Japan among the five studied oral regions: lip, tongue, floor of the mouth, major salivary glands and oropharynx, males aged under 54 born in 1920 or later were found to have an increased risk of such disease. CONCLUSION: Further epidemiological investigations are necessary to clarify the etiology of oral cancer in Japan.

Adult↗

PubMed1999

Time trends in the mortality rates for tobacco- and alcohol-related cancers within the oral cavity and pharynx in Japan, 1950-94.

Mortality data of oral cancer over 40 years in Japan were analyzed to investigate time trends of the disease site-specifically and discuss the relation between these trends and the changing patterns of consumption of tobacco and alcohol beverages. Mortality rates were adjusted to the world standard population. In the males, overall oral cancer (ICD-9: 141-149) mortality rates have increased consistently from the lowest value of 1.25 (per 100,000 per year) in 1956 to 2.40 in 1992. The rates for females were constantly lower than those for males, and formed a modest peak of 0.96 in 1979. Regarding site-specific mortality rates, tongue cancer (141) presented a decreasing trend, while oro/hypopharyngeal (146, 148) and mouth (143-145) cancers showed increasing patterns, particularly in males. When the changing patterns of male truncated rates for ages 35-64 were compared with those of the annual consumption of cigarette and alcohol per capita, the time trend of oro/hypopharyngeal cancer mortality was analogous to cigarette consumption rather than to alcohol consumption, mouth cancer vice versa, and tongue cancer was not related to tobacco or alcohol consumption. The present findings suggest that tobacco and alcohol have different site-specific effects on the development of cancers within the oral cavity and pharynx.

Adult↗

PubMed1999

A historical cohort mortality study of workers exposed to asbestos in a refitting shipyard.

To investigate the risks of developing asbestos-related diseases we conducted a historical cohort mortality study on 249 ship repair workers (90 laggers and 159 boiler repairers) in a single U.S. Navy shipyard in Japan. We successfully identified the vital status of 87 (96.7%) laggers and 150 (94.3%) boiler repairers, and, of these, 49 (56.3%) and 65 (43.3%) died, respectively, during the follow-up period from 1947 till the end of 1996. Our in-person interviews with some of the subjects clarified that asbestos exposure was considered to be substantially high in the 1950-60s, decreased thereafter gradually but remained till 1979 in the shipyard. The laggers, who had handled asbestos materials directly, showed a significantly elevated SMR of 2.75 (95% C.I.: 1.08-6.48) for lung cancer. The risk developing the disease was greater in the laggers after a 20-year latency (SMR = 3.42). Pancreatic cancer yielded a greater SMR than unity (7.78, 90% C.I.: 2.07-25.19) in a longer working years group. Four laggers died from asbestosis. The boiler repairers, who had many chances for secondary exposure to asbestos and a few for direct exposure, showed no elevation of the SMR of lung cancer overall, but there was a borderline statistically significant SMR of 2.41 (90% C.I.: 1.05-5.45) in a longer working years group. One boiler repairer died from mesothelioma and four from asbestosis.

Adult↗

PubMed1999

Association of an insertion polymorphism of angiotensin-converting enzyme gene with the activity of lupus nephritis.

BACKGROUND: Lupus nephritis is a common manifestation of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). The pathogenesis of lupus nephritis has not been fully understood; however, immunological abnormalities have been considered in the development and activity of lupus nephritis. As angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) is implicated in various immunological phenomena, we investigated the correlation between insertion (I)/ deletion (D) polymorphism of the ACE gene and the activity of lupus nephritis. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Eighty-four patients with SLE and 100 healthy subjects were enrolled in this study. Following the extraction of genomic DNA from the peripheral blood, the ACE genotype was determined by the polymerase chain reaction. The patients were classified by the histological findings according to the WHO classification. In addition, the activity index and chronicity index were used to assess the severity of renal involvement. RESULTS: Individuals with II genotype showed a significantly increased activity of lupus nephritis. The allelic frequency was I/D = 0.84/0.16 in patients with WHO class IV renal lesions, and I/D = 0.36/0.64 in those with WHO class I lesions and 0.61/0.39 in patients with WHO class I or WHO class II. The difference in the allelic frequency between patients with WHO class IV and those with WHO class I or WHO class I + WHO class II was statistically significant (p = 0.00016 or p = 0.027, respectively). Moreover, lupus nephritis patients with II genotype showed significantly higher activity index than those with DD genotype (p = 0.0009). CONCLUSION: These results suggest that the insertion polymorphism of the ACE gene may correlate with the activity of lupus nephritis.

Adult↗

PubMed1998

Ultrastructural examination of corneal epithelium of spontaneously obese, hyperglycemic rats.

PURPOSE: Otsuka Long-Evans Tokushima fatty (OLETF) rats spontaneously become obese and hyperglycemic with age. We investigated whether the development of hyperglycemia would alter the ultrastructure of the corneal epithelium. METHODS: Scanning and transmission electron microscopy (SEM and TEM) were used to examine the morphology of corneal epithelial cells. Fourteen OLETF rats were evaluated, and 9 Long-Evans Tokushima Otsuka (LETO) rats were used as control. Non-hyperglycemic OLETF rats served as controls. RESULTS: SEM showed exfoliative changes in the surface of the central corneal epithelium of the hyperglycemic OLETF rats. These superficial epithelial cells were irregular in shape as compared to polygonal shapes of those of LETO and non-hyperglycemic OLETF rats. The mean anterior surface area of individual superficial epithelial cells was significantly smaller in the hyperglycemic OLETF than that of the LETO or the non-hyperglycemic OLETF rats. Central protrusion(s) could be found in some of the superficial cells of all rats examined, although this phenomenon was more common in the hyperglycemic rats than in the non-hyperglycemic rats. TEM revealed that there were numerous cytoplasmic vacuoles and wide intercellular spaces in the central corneal epithelium of the hyperglycemic OLETF rats, but not in the non-hyperglycemic rats. CONCLUSIONS: The development of spontaneous hyperglycemia in OLETF rats alters the ultrastructure of the corneal epithelium. The alterations included abnormalities of the corneal epithelial surface observed by SEM and the presence of intracellular vacuoles and enlarged intercellular spaces detected by TEM.

Animals↗

PubMed1998

Association of an insertion polymorphism of angiotensin-converting enzyme gene with the activity of systemic lupus erythematosus.

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) shows various clinical manifestations, which are characterized by inflammation in many different organ systems. The cause of SLE is still unclear; however, the immunological abnormalities are considered to be responsible for the pathogenesis of SLE. As angiotensin I-converting enzyme (ACE) has been reported to be associated with various immunological phenomena, we investigated the correlation between insertion (I)/deletion (D) polymorphism of the ACE gene and the disease activity of SLE. Ninety-three patients with newly diagnosed SLE were enrolled in this study. ACE genotype was determined by the polymerase chain reaction (PCR). We measured serum levels of anti-double-stranded (ds) DNA antibody (Ab) and serum levels of total complements (CH50) as the parameter for lupus activity. Moreover, we evaluated the clinical disease activity by calculating SLE disease activity index (SLEDAI). Individuals with II genotype showed a significant increase in SLE activity. Patients with the ACE II genotype showed a higher serum level of anti-dsDNA Ab (14.3 IU/ml (5.475, 74.6, median (25th centile, 75th centile)) than those with the DD genotype (4.65IU/ml (4.05, 6.8)) (P<0.01). Moreover, patients with the 11 genotype also showed lower levels of serum CH50 than those with the DD genotype (P < 0.01). Patients with the II1 or DI genotype had significantly higher SLEDAI score than those with the DD genotype (P < 0.01). These results suggest that the ACE genotype could be associated with the disease activity of SLE. ACE insertion polymorphism might be used as one of predictive factors for the activity of lupus.

Adult↗

PubMed1996

IL-6 mRNA synthesis by peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) in patients with chronic renal failure.

We measured levels of IL-6 mRNA in PBMC obtained from patients with chronic renal failure, using polymerase chain reaction (PCR). PBMC were isolated from 45 patients on haemodialysis (HD) at the start of HD. PBMC were also isolated from 35 patients on HD at the end of HD, 23 patients on continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD), 24 undialysed patients with chronic renal failure (CRF), and 19 healthy controls. Total RNA was extracted from PBMC with RNA zol and reverse transcribed into cDNA. To prepare samples containing identical amounts of beta-actin cDNA, we performed competitive PCR by co-amplifying serial dilutions of mutant templates containing a single point mutation which generated a unique Eco RI site. Next, to measure IL-6 cDNA semiquantitatively in the samples containing identical amounts of beta-actin (100 pg), we performed PCR amplification using 2 fg of the IL-6 mutant template containing a unique Eco RI site. Higher levels of IL-6 mRNA in the PBMC were observed in the HD patients than in the CAPD patients and healthy controls. The levels of IL-6 mRNA in the PBMC at the end of HD were not significantly higher than those at the start of HD. These results suggest that the dialysis session itself did not significantly affect IL-6 mRNA levels in the PBMC, but that chronic stimulation by maintenance HD may be associated with higher levels of IL-6 mRNA observed in HD patients.

Adult↗

PubMed1995

Ingested arsenic and internal cancer: a historical cohort study followed for 33 years.

A historical cohort study was conducted to investigate the long-term effect of exposure to ingested arsenic. The 454 residents who had been identified in a list made in 1959 were followed until 1992. They lived in an arsenic-polluted area, called Namiki-cho, Nakajo-machi, in Niigata Prefecture, Japan, and used well water containing inorganic arsenic. The exposure period was estimated to be about 5 years (1955-1959). Death certificates for the people who died between 1959 and 1992 were examined, and a total of 113 of the 454 residents were estimated to have drunk well water containing a high dose of arsenic (> or = 1 ppm). The standardized mortality rate ratios of these 113 residents were 15.69 for lung cancer (observed/expected = 8/0.51; 95% confidence interval (CI) 7.38-31.02) and 31.18 for urinary tract cancer (observed/expected = 3/0.10; 95% CI 8.62-91.75). Cox's proportional hazard analyses demonstrated that the hazard ratios of the highest exposure level group (> or = 1 ppm) versus the background exposure level group (0.001 ppm) were 1.74 (95% CI 1.10-2.74) for all deaths and 4.82 (95% CI 2.09-11.14) for all cancers. The analysis according to the skin signs of chronic arsenicism in 1959 showed that they were useful risk indicators for subsequent cancer development. In the development of lung cancer, there was evidence of synergism between arsenic intake and smoking habit.

Adolescent↗

PubMed1995

Seasonal distribution of adenoviruses, enteroviruses and reoviruses in urban river water.

In the 63-month period from January 1988 to March 1993, monthly levels of adenoviruses, enteroviruses (coxsackie B, polio, echo) and reoviruses in the urban river water in Nara Prefecture, Japan were in the range 0-25, 0-190 and 0-325, plaque forming units per liter (PFU/liter), and the average levels were 2.4, 40.6 and 56.2 PFU/liter, respectively. The peak reovirus level was found in winter during the cold weather months (Nov. to Mar.). The peak enterovirus level was found in summer (May to Sept.) but continued to be found in autumn-winter (Oct. to Jan.) from 1991 to 1993. The levels of adenoviruses were low throughout all 5 years, as compared to those of reoviruses and enteroviruses. Polioviruses were isolated following the administration of vaccine. Although a changing pattern of serotype prevalence was seen with the coxsackie B viruses and echoviruses from 1988 to 1993, this is not so for polioviruses, which remained almost unchanged for the five-year period. Adenoviruses were isolated throughout all five years, though in small numbers. Reoviruses were isolated most frequently throughout five years.

Adenoviridae↗

PubMed1995

[Exposure to blood during midwifery procedures--blood contact events to midwives occurred in a delivery room].

Midwives are often exposed to blood during delivery procedures. A study aimed at clarifying actual status of blood contact during midwifery procedures was performed. Observations in a delivery room were conducted to record blood contact events experienced by midwives from the time of episiotomy until 2 hour after expulsion of the placenta. All gloves used by midwives were collected and tested for holes. Blood contact was defined as any contact with blood of a parturition woman as recognized visually by an observer. During a one-month study period data was obtained from a total of 19 midwives (12 midwives and 7 student midwives) who assisted in 8 deliveries. All of the midwives wore gowns with long sleeves, gloves and caps but did not use eye protection or masks. None of the parturient women had Hepatitis B, Hepatitis C or acquired immunodeficiency syndrome. Deliveries caused widespread blood exposure to the midwives throughout the complete course. Protection from most of this exposure was provided by the gowns and gloves. However, direct blood contacts occurred to the fingers, hands or forearms in several midwives. These events were caused by partly because the midwives unintentionally performed procedures without gloves and partly because blood penetrated the gown and soaked to the skin. Direct blood contacts to the foot in two midwives and to the mouth in one also occurred. The overall perforation rate for gloves examined was 4 out of 154 (2.6%). Two gloves were broken during washing sharp instruments contaminated with blood, one was torn when wearing, and the remaining one appeared to have had a hole prior to use.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adolescent↗

PubMed1995

[Exposure to blood during midwifery operations--a questionnaire study].

A self-administered questionnaire was mailed to all midwives working in Nara Prefecture to investigate blood exposure events at delivery and to consider protective measures for the exposure. Out of the 203 midwives 193 responded to the questionnaire. The median number of deliveries in which the midwives had assisted within the past one year was 35 after excluding those who had not assisted in deliveries at all. The incidence of needle-stick injuries was estimated to be 86.2 per 100 persons within the past one year. The occurrence in the subgroup who had worked as midwife for less than 5 years was 2-3 times higher than that in those who worked for more than 5 years. Over 90% of the midwives had experiences of direct blood contact events to the skin while assisting in their 10 most recent deliveries. Blood contact events occurred in the finger-hand-arm area in 85% of the midwives, on the legs in 62%, in the face in 20% and in the eyes in 1%. Around 20% of the midwives had unintentionally sucked amniotic fluid when using a tracheal catheter on a newborn. The most common occasion where direct blood contact events occurred was while bathing an infant for removing blood and amniotic fluid. The midwives wore a disposal gown more often when assisting in labors of parturient women infected with blood-born infectious diseases than without the diseases, and similarly for wearing gloves when measuring blood loss and for usage of a mechanical device for sucking amniotic fluid in the tracheae of an infant. Based on the results obtained in this questionnaire study and our previous study about blood contact events observed in a delivery room, protective measures for midwives against exposure to blood at delivery are required and some ideas are presented.

Accidents, Occupational↗

PubMed1994

The effects of frequently rotating shiftwork on sleep and the family life of hospital nurses.

The effects of three frequently rotating shifts in an irregular sequence on the daily activities of 239 Japanese female hospital nurses were studied by the time-budget method. The nurses recorded their daily activities for several consecutive days. The questionnaire was returned by 80.8% of the participants, and recordings of 1016 days were analysed. A two-way analysis of variance clarified that the shift combination influenced the daily activities. The most distinct result was that nurses spent significantly more time on free-time activities on the day when they worked the night shift followed by the evening shift than they did on the day when they worked any other shift combination. Nurses offset sleep deprivation either by sleeping during the day before and after working the night shift (82-100%) or by sleeping 2 to 4 h later in the morning after working the evening shift and on days off. There was a strong positive correlation between total sleep time (including day sleep) and the length of the interval between two consecutive shifts (r = 0.95, p < 0.001). This result suggests that more than 16 h between work shifts is required to allow more than 7 h of total sleep time. In an analysis by household status, nurses who had young children (average age, 2.8 years) slept less and spent less time on free-time activities than did other nurses.

Activities of Daily Living↗

PubMed1993

[Estimation of asbestos exposure among workers repairing asbestos cement pipes used for conduits].

Asbestos cement pipes (ACPs) containing 15 to 20% chrysotile or crocidolite have been used for underground conduits. Even today 16.2% of all conduits in Japan are ACPs, though the production of ACPs was suspended in 1985. When such a conduit is accidentally damaged the workers belonging to the Waterworks Bureau of a local government cut off the damaged conduit using a high-speed disk cutter and replace it with a new conduit. This operation develops a cloud of dust and the workers involved run the risk of asbestos exposure. It was the aim of the present study to estimate asbestos exposure levels among these workers. First, in the experiment, we established the typical working conditions and requested an experienced worker to cut an ACP using a high-speed disc cutter in a hole dug in the ground as he routinely does. The experiment was repeated three times. During a bout of each experiment, dust was sampled at several points both inside and outside the hole. Second, a self-administered questionnaire survey was conducted to obtain information from the workers regarding their working conditions in cutting ACPs. The subjects of the survey were 1,048 men belonging to conduit repair sections of the Waterworks Bureau of 119 local governments. The results obtained can be summarized as follows. 1) Each bout of cutting ACPs required about five minutes. The concentration of asbestos fibers longer than 5 microns with 3:1 aspect ratio ranged from 48 to 170 fibers/ml (92 fibers/ml on an average) inside and 1.7 to 15 fibers/ml outside the hole. The concentration inside the hole exceeded the ceiling limit (10 fibers/ml) recommended for asbestos by the Japanese Association of Industrial Health. A concentration of 92 fibers/ml is equivalent to 0.96 fibers/ml as 8-h time-weighted average. 2) The number of subjects with experience of cutting ACPs was 849 (81.0%). The average length of service in conduit repair section was 14.2 yr. Based on the information obtained from each subject regarding the average working days per yr for each decade from 1946, the cumulative days to date expended in cutting ACPs was estimated to average 235 d, that is, 17 d per yr. Only 18.1% of the subjects used a protective respiratory device.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

Adult↗

PubMed1993

[Occupational dust exposure and prevalence of respiratory symptoms among conduit repair workers].

The amount of water supply in Japan was 16 billion ton as of 1989. Water from rivers and other sources is purified, sterilized and then supplied to the residents through conduits. When conduits are accidentally damaged, they must be repaired by the workers of the Waterworks Bureau of the local government. In this task, the workers are exposed to airborne dust which develops while digging and filling the ground and cutting the conduit and the concrete covering the road. The purpose of the present study was to estimate the airborne dust exposure level among the workers and to investigate its effect on their respiratory organs. First, we measured the total dust exposure concentration of 20 conduit repair workers and the total dust concentration in 10 office rooms. Second, we conducted a self-administered questionnaire survey to estimate the prevalence of respiratory symptoms among the employees of 119 Waterworks Bureaus. The subjects of the analysis were 322 conduit repair workers and as their controls 345 clerical/engineering workers. The results can be summarized as follows: 1) The average daily total dust exposure while repairing conduits ranged from 0.27 to 5.05 mg/m3 (mean = 0.91 mg/m3), while that while exchanging water meters from 0.23 to 0.52 mg/m3 (mean 0.41 mg/m3). These values were 4.6 and 2.1 fold higher than the total dust concentration in office rooms (mean = 0.20 mg/m3). 2) With the use of fluorescent X-ray method, iron and aluminum were detected in all samples collected while repairing conduits and the intensity of X-ray increased with increase in weight of collected dust. Iron exposure concentration ranged from 0.006 to 0.095 mg/m3, which is much higher than the levels in the air in urban areas. Iron and aluminum could not be detected by fluorescent X-ray method in most of the samples collected in office rooms. These findings indicate that the main element in the dust collected while repairing conduits is soil, while that in office rooms is tobacco smoke. 3) Among the smokers, the prevalence of cough and phlegm was significantly higher in conduit repair workers than in clerical/engineering workers. A similar tendency was observed among ex-smokers and non-smokers, but the difference was not significant.

Adult↗

PubMed1993

Urinary levels of IL-6 in patients with active lupus nephritis.

Using the IL-6 dependent hybridoma, MH60.BSF2, we measured urinary levels of interleukin 6 (IL-6) in 29 patients with active lupus nephritis. We detected IL-6 activity in the urine of 24 (83%) of 29 patients before the initiation of therapy. The median value of urinary IL-6 levels in patients with a histologic diagnosis of WHO class IV on renal biopsy was significantly higher than that in patients with other classes (p < 0.01). After treatment, urinary levels of IL-6 decreased significantly (p < 0.001). These data suggest that urinary levels of IL-6 may be a valuable tool for monitoring the progression of lupus nephritis.

Biomarkers↗

PubMed1992

Aerobic capacity of forestry workers and physical demands of forestry operations.

The present study aimed at evaluating the aerobic capacities of forestry workers and the physical demands of their occupation. A submaximal cycle ergometer test was conducted on 22 male forestry workers and 15 male sedentary office workers aged 40-59 years. The slope of the regression line of heart rates on given exercise intensities was significantly smaller in the forestry workers than in the office workers. The mean heart rate of the forestry workers was 9 beats.min-1 less than that of the office workers at the initial exercise intensity of 50 W. This difference increased to 25 beats.min-1 at 175 W. For 6 of the 22 forestry workers, heart rates were recorded continuously during a usual workday. The metabolic rates, as multiples of basal metabolic rate (in met) of various forestry activities were estimated from the average heart rate during the activity of interest and a predicted maximal oxygen consumption of the subject obtained from a submaximal cycle ergometer test. The mean energy expenditure was 4.5 met with a range of 3.3-6.3 met for an average of 509 min at a worksite. These results indicated that the forestry workers had high aerobic capacities and this was ascribed to the high physical demands of their occupation.

Adult↗