Biomedical subjects

N Tokui

Publications and source records attributed to N Tokui.

23 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

PubMed1991

Single breath assessment of bronchial responsiveness: a comparison with the astograph method.

Bronchial responsiveness to inhaled doubling concentrations of acetylcholine using the astograph and single breath techniques was assessed in 7 males and 11 females (mean age 22.7, SD = 2.05 and 21.2, SD = 1.11 years for male and female respectively) healthy volunteers. Eleven (61%) of the subjects had neither a history of allergy nor wheezes. Five (28%) had allergic rhinitis and two (11%) had asthma. Seven (64%) of the normal subjects, all asthmatic and subjects with allergic rhinitis responded to inhaled acetylcholine. Respiratory conductance (Grs) and the one second forced expired volume (FEV1) expressed as percentages of the baseline values were compared on a semilogarithmic scale against cumulative dose. In most subjects the pattern of the curves showed close similarities in the two methods. The bronchial sensitivity i. e. minimum cumulative dose of acetylcholine just sufficient to start a fall in the FEV1 and Grs (CminS and CminA respectively), showed good correlation (r = 0.750, P less than 0.01). The results indicate that bronchial responsiveness can be reliably assessed using the simple single breath method as well as the more complex astograph method.

Acetylcholine↗

PubMed1990

Perioperative blood transfusion and gastric cancer: adverse effects or unfavourable conditions of pretreatment?

The use of perioperative blood transfusion (PBT), the immunological status pre-operatively and at discharge from hospital, and the clinical course were examined retrospectively in 124 patients who underwent 'curative' resection for gastric cancer at Shinkokura Hospital, Japan from 1979 to 1988. The general condition of patients with PBT was worse than that of those without PBT and the pre-operative immunological status of patients with PBT was less favourable than that of those without PBT. At the time of discharge from hospital the immunological condition remained worse for patients who had been given PBT. The clinical course of patients with PBT was significantly worse. A dose-response relationship was evident but the types of blood products did not influence the outcome. Cox regression analysis adjusting for potentially confounding prognostic factors revealed that the clinical course was not altered by perioperative blood transfusion itself. These observations do not support the idea of adverse effects of perioperative blood transfusion on outcome of patients undergoing 'curative' resection for gastric cancer.

Actuarial Analysis↗

PubMed1988

[Epidemiological study on socio-psychological factors to affect the change in life style].

A cohort with the general population of 5698 was established to clarify the association between individual life style and health. This study investigated the association between life style and socio-psychological factors by means of a cross-sectional study of 1005 males aged 30 to 59 years. The health practice index consisted of 5 health practices, 1) smoking 2) drinking 3) physical activity 4) Quetelet's index, and 5) sleep. The subjects were divided into two groups, group I (aged 30 to 44 years) and group II (aged 45 to 59 years). Path analysis was used to clarify the relationship between various socio-psychological factors relating to the health practice index. In group I, the health locus of control and perceived daily life stress were directly related to the health practice index. In group II, the only health locus of control was directly related to the health practice index. It was found that the social support network formed the basis of these two factors. These results suggested that it is very important to consider individual socio-psychological factors when promoting good health practice.

Adult↗

PubMed1984

[Review on dietary methods for epidemiologic studies].

Different dietary methods have been used for epidemiologic studies on nutrition, diet and disease. Methods so far reported are classified into dietary record method (including weighing method), recall method, Burke's method, frequency method, and semiquantitative frequency method. The recall method and frequency method are considered to be unsuitable when the average intake of nutrients and foods of individuals is to be assessed. It is difficult for a person to recall food intake over several days, and the 24-hour recall method is unable to evaluate the average intake. Quantitative assessment of intake is hardly possible in the frequency method. Dietary evaluation in case-control studies has limitations in terms of difficulties in retrospective dietary assessment and the change in dietary habit over a long period of time. Current epidemiologic knowledge on diet and disease stimulates cohort studies using the 7-day dietary record or semiquantitive frequency method.

Diet Surveys↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Prospective study of diabetes mellitus and liver cancer in Japan.

BACKGROUND: Previous studies have identified the association between diabetes mellitus and liver cancer. However, the detail of this association is still unclear, in terms of confounding factors, the trend according to the duration of diabetes, and the interaction between diseases associated with the liver cancer and this association. The purpose of the present study was to examine the association between diabetes and liver cancer in view of the trend and the interaction. METHODS: The baseline survey was conducted during the period 1986-1989 among the general population of Fukuoka Prefecture, Japan (15 417 persons aged 30-79 years). The respondents were assessed for history of diabetes, age at which they had had diabetes, and other covariates by means of a baseline questionnaire. A total of 7308 persons aged 40-79 years were retrieved for the main analysis and 4902 persons for a subcohort from which the information on history of diseases associated with liver cancer were obtained. The relative risks (RRs) and their 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were estimated using the Cox proportional hazards model. RESULTS: After adjustment for smoking, alcohol and the diseases associated with liver cancer, the RR for liver cancer was 2.06 (95% CI=1.01-4.19). Diabetes increased the risk of liver cancer in persons with hepatitis and/or cirrhosis (RR=2.90, 95% CI=1.13-7.41). However, the RR of diabetes for liver cancer was 1.35 (95% CI=0.41-4.43) in persons without hepatitis and cirrhosis. The trend according to the duration of diabetes was not seen. CONCLUSIONS: A significant association between diabetes and liver cancer was observed. Moreover, this association was modified by hepatitis and cirrhosis.

Adult↗