PubMed Health⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

T Izuno

Publications and source records attributed to T Izuno.

9 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1992

[Quantitative evaluation of stress using the Type A behavior pattern].

The problem of quantitative assessment of individual stress remains to be solved. The purpose of this study was to attempt to quantify the evaluation of stress using the Type A behavior pattern. A total of 1,101 factory workers, 602 male workers (aged 20-59) completed questionnaires regarding subjective symptoms, Type A behaviors, shift work, age, and lifestyles such as drinking habits and smoking habits. Using the results of our previous study, 3 component scores were calculated from the responses to 11 questions pertaining to the Type A behavior pattern. Stepwise logistic regression analysis of complaints of 8 stress-related subjective symptoms was performed, using shift work, age, drinking habits, and smoking habits as categorical independent variables, and 3 component scores as interval-scaled independent variables. The following conclusions were obtained. 1. The first component score, which represented overall irritability, was chosen as an independent variable for complaints of "hunger pains" and "tendency to have diarrhea." The first component score had a positive association with complaints of these stress-related subjective symptoms, and the association with "hunger pains" was statistically significant with P less than 0.05, though the association with "tendency to have diarrhea" was not significant. 2. The second component score, which represented relaxation, was chosen for complaints of "heartburn or gastric reflux" and "abnormal thirst." The second component score had a negative association with complaints of these stress-related subjective symptoms, and both associations were statistically significant with P less than 0.05.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adult↗
PubMed1992

Alcohol-related problems encountered by Japanese, Caucasians, and Japanese-Americans.

Using population-based survey data, personal-problematic and socioproblematic factors were examined among Japanese in Japan, Japanese-Americans in Hawaii, and Japanese-Americans; Caucasians in California were analyzed as a control group. Caucasian males were more likely to exhibit drinking-related social problems, whereas Japanese males showed more personal-problematic symptoms. Japanese-American men, both in Hawaii and California, were least likely among the three ethnic groups to have personal-problematic symptoms and were more likely to have socioproblematic symptoms than Japanese men. These differences might be explained by differences in the perception of social problems.

Adult↗
PubMed1992

Estimating a summarized odds ratio whilst eliminating publication bias in meta-analysis.

Publication bias is a recognized phenomenon, i.e. studies with statistically significant results are more likely to be published than those finding no difference between the groups studied. Summarized odds ratio calculated from odds ratios of published studies in a meta-analysis may be overestimated because of publication bias. This is a significant problem in research areas involving weak associations between causes and results. The magnitude of publication bias in a given research area cannot be determined directly. The present study enables us to calculate the summarized odds ratio of hypothetical unpublished studies from odds ratios of published studies indirectly, employing a moment method by assuming the natural logarithm value of the odds ratio to be distributed normally. We can then estimate summarized odds ratio in all studies, which include not only those published but also those unpublished. When these studies are homogeneous in quality and their odds ratios homogeneous in quantity, the method can eliminate publication bias.

Bias↗
PubMed1991

[Determination of the management level for a body mass index using multivariate analysis].

It is evident that obesity has adverse effects on health and longevity. The body mass index (BMI) is a simple measurement highly correlated with other estimates of fatness and is useful in determining the extent of obesity, but the management level of the BMI for Japanese remains to be evaluated. The purpose of this study is to determine the management level of the BMI for Japanese adjusted for individual life style factors such as smoking and drinking. Among 1,854 male workers in a financial company, those who had periodical health examinations, 1,445 workers (aged 40-58) were chosen. Excluded were those who were below 150 cm or above 180 cm in height or those who had stopped smoking or drinking. Stepwise logistic regression of the findings of 10 medical test items was performed, using age, the BMI, smoking habits, and drinking habits as independent variables. The following conclusions were obtained. 1. The BMI was chosen as independent variable in all medical test items except glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase. In contrast, age and drinking habits were chosen in 6 medical test items, and smoking habits were chosen in 3 medical test items. 2. When the BMI exceeded 24 (kg/m2), significantly higher odds ratios were observed in the following medical test items: total cholesterol, triglyceride, fasting blood glucose and uric acid. Thus, this level of the BMI should be used as the management level in the Japanese male. Taking life styles into consideration, the management level of the BMI seemed to be slightly lower than the ordinary level used in Japan. In order to conduct effective health counseling, this level should be used in health care.

Adult↗
PubMed1991

[A study of exercise programs and instructors for a fitness program in a corporate setting].

The objective of the study was to evaluate the importance of diversity in exercise programs and athletic instructors in a corporate physical fitness program. Subjects were 717 Japanese chemical factory employees (male 524, female 193) in Japan who were surveyed using a questionnaire, with a resultant response rate of 84%. Many employees who participated in regular physical activities on a voluntary basis were motivated to exercise for reasons other than health, with a variety of motivating factors suggested. The total number of sports programs in which male and female employees participated voluntarily were 31 and 15, respectively. For employees not yet participating in physical activities but expressing interest in joining a company sponsored sports class, the total number of programs in which interest was shown was 40 for males and 22 for females. Professional athletic instructors from outside fitness clubs appeared to have far more appeal to employees than athletic instructors who were recruited from company employees and given a short athletic instructor course to become health care leaders at the same factory in addition to their regular job. In order to enhance participation in and adherence to a corporate fitness program, it was suggested that the number of exercise programs be increased and that outside professional athletic instructors be employed.

Adult↗
PubMed1990

[Evaluation of waist size as a health risk indicator for obesity].

The purpose of this study is to evaluate waist size as an indicator of health risk among subjects considered to have normal body construction based on height-weight obesity indices. For estimating standard waist sizes based on height, a regression equation was formulated from 46 male subjects who had no abnormal findings in their health checkups. The regression equation was as follows: Standard waist size (cm) = 0.8 X height (cm)-57.7. The ratio of measured waist size to standard waist size was defined as the "waist ratio". The correlation coefficient between the waist ratio and the modified Broca's obesity index was 0.898 (N = 207, p less than 0.01). To clarify the meaning of the waist ratio, 95 male subjects were divided into three groups on the basis of the difference between their waist ratio and their obesity index. The group whose waist ratios were larger than their obesity indices had significantly worse findings than the group whose waist ratios were not in the following medical categories: systolic blood pressure, glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase levels, gamma glutamyl transpeptidase levels, uric acid levels, total bilirubin, electrocardiogram readings and optic funduscopic observation. Accordingly, the waist ratio derived from waist size might be useful for assessing obesity-related health risks even for subjects judged to be normal from the height-weight obesity index.

Adult↗
PubMed1990

[An epidemiological study of health behavior and health consciousness in smoking behavior modification].

Among health enhancement activities which have been promoted at various worksites smoking cessation is the most common but is seldom very successful. Smoking cessation programs have almost always neglected individual background factors. The main purpose of this study is to evaluate the factors critical to behavior modification with respect to smoking cessation at worksites. Five hundred and sixty-five chemical factory workers responded to questionnaires on their smoking behavior lifestyle, drinking habits, opinions on smoking, opinions on quitting smoking, knowledge about the effects of smoking on health, and type A behavior pattern. Two hundred thirty two male smokers (age 20-58) were chosen for the smoking cessation program, which was administered during the periodical health examinations. One year after receiving the anti-smoking education their smoking behaviors were again surveyed. Fifteen employees had quit smoking and 79 had reduced consumption by more than 10 cigarettes per day. A principal component analysis was performed in order to extract factors from the numerous items on the questionnaire. Principal component scores were compared between the group that had stopped smoking or had cut back by more than 10 cigarettes per day (Responsive Group) and the rest of the smokers (Unresponsive Group). Principal component scores, which appear to be related to levels of individual health consciousness and levels of regular exercise, were significantly higher in the responsive group than in the unresponsive group. No significant differences were noted between the two groups for principal component scores for knowledge of effects of smoking on health, drinking habits, opinions on smoking, opinions on quitting smoking, and type A behavior.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adult↗