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Teruo Nagaya

Publications and source records attributed to Teruo Nagaya.

13 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2006

Associations between 5,10-methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase codon 677 and 1298 genetic polymorphisms and environmental factors with reference to susceptibility to colorectal cancer: a case-control study in an Indian population.

Although the incidence rate of colorectal cancer is very low, and rectal cancer remains more common in India, a significant increase in its incidence has been reported for both men and women over the last 2 decades. We evaluated MTHFR genetic susceptibility and common environmental risk factors in the development of colon and rectal cancer, and assessed the interactions between gene and environmental factors with colorectal cancer in a case-control study in the Indian population. The study included 59 colon cancer cases, 243 rectal cancer cases and 291 controls. The variant MTHFR 677T allele is rare, while the 1298C allele is common among Indians. MTHFR 677T showed no association with colon cancer (OR = 0.82; 95% CI 0.28-2.05) and a nonstatistically significantly elevated risk with rectal cancer (OR = 1.51; 95% CI 0.86-2.68), and MTHFR 1298 CC genotype was found to be associated with a significantly decreased risk for both colon cancer (OR = 0.30, 95% CI 0.09-0.81) and rectal cancer (OR = 0.43, 95% CI 0.23-0.80). High intake of nonfried vegetables or fruits was inversely associated with both colon and rectal cancer risk. Especially, the combination of a high intake of nonfried vegetables and MTHFR 1298CC genotype was associated with the lowest rectal cancer risk (OR = 0.22, 95% CI 0.09-0.52). Regarding alcohol consumption, indigenous Indian alcohol drinkers (OR = 2.26, 95% CI 0.86-6.36), and those consuming alcohol for duration more than 20 years (OR = 1.55, 95% CI 0.73-3.33), were at a somewhat higher rectal cancer risk. Moreover, the consumed alcohol amount (gram-years) may be also associated with colon or rectal cancer risk.

5,10-Methylenetetrahydrofolate Reductase (FADH2)↗
PubMed2006

Policemen and firefighters have increased risk for type-2 diabetes mellitus probably due to their large body mass index: a follow-up study in Japanese men.

BACKGROUND: Policemen/firefighters may have increased risk for mortality from ischemic heart disease and from all causes. We compare incidence of type-2 diabetes mellitus (DM), a well-known predictor for mortality, in policemen/firefighters with that in two other worker-groups. METHODS: A follow-up study of 5,130 healthy Japanese men aged 30-49 years at baseline consisted of three worker-groups; 3,111 clerical workers, 1,122 manual/production and transport/communication workers, and 897 policemen/firefighters. Incident DM was identified by "fasting serum glucose >or=7.00 mmol/L" or/and "under medical treatment for DM." Hazard ratio (HR) and 95% confidence interval (95% CI) for incident DM was estimated by Cox's proportional hazard models using clerical workers as a reference group (HR=1.00). Baseline age, body mass index (BMI, kg/m(2)), drinking, smoking, exercise, and education were computed as confounders. RESULTS: During mean follow-up periods of 8.4 years, 155 clerical workers, 51 manual/production and transport/communication workers, and 74 policemen/firefighters had incident DM (5.9, 5.7, and 9.6 per 1,000 person-years, respectively; P=0.001 by chi(2)-test). Policemen/firefighters had significantly increased risk for incident DM against clerical workers (age-adjusted HR (95% CI): 1.65 (1.25, 2.18)), but the significance disappeared after adjustments for BMI (age- and BMI-adjusted HR (95% CI): 1.16 (0.87, 1.54)). Manual/production and transport/communication workers had no increased risk. CONCLUSIONS: Policemen/firefighters have increased risk for DM probably due to their large BMI. Body weight control may be more efficient for prevention of DM and DM-related health problems in policemen/firefighters than in other workers.

Adult↗
PubMed2005

Plasma carotenoid, alpha-tocopherol and retinol concentrations and risk of colorectal adenomas: A case-control study in Japan.

To investigate associations between plasma carotenoids, alpha-tocopherol and retinol with colorectal adenomas risk, we measured concentrations in 224 asymptomatic colorectal adenoma cases and 230 population-based controls matched for age and sex. After adjustment for age, history of colorectal adenomas and cancers, BMI, smoking, drinking status, multivitamin consumption and plasma total cholesterol, the risk of colorectal adenomas in the highest quartile was approximately half of that of men in the lowest quartile for alpha-carotene (OR=0.38; 95% CI: 0.18-0.84; P(trend)=0.01), beta-carotene (OR=0.51; 95% CI: 0.24-1.07; P(trend)=0.03) and total carotenoids (OR=0.48; 95% CI: 0.22-1.03; P(trend)=0.04). In addition, a protective association for alpha-carotene in women was also indicated, but which did not reach statistical significance (OR=0.53; 95% CI: 0.19-1.52; P(trend)=0.35). Our findings suggest a protective effect of carotenoids against the development of colorectal adenomas.

Adenoma↗
PubMed2004

A chronological decrease in type A behavior patterns among Japanese male workers in 1995-1999.

We examined the chronological change in Type A behavior pattern (TABP) among Japanese male workers for 5 yr. A brief questionnaire to measure TABP was administered to 21,711 male workers who underwent health check-ups at least once during the period from 1995 to 1999 and were born in 1936-1965. The mean TABP scores decreased year by year linearly. Then the repeated measurement analysis of variance was performed with the data of 5,689 subjects who completed the questionnaire successively through the study period. Both year and the age effects were highly significant (p<0.001, respectively), whereas the time trends were comparable by baseline age. In conclusion, TABP among Japanese male workers decreased in all generations during the period from 1995 to 1999.

Adult↗
PubMed2003

Seasonal variation in consumption and plasma concentrations of fatty acids in Japanese female dietitians.

OBJECTIVE: To study seasonal variation in intake and plasma concentrations of fatty acids (FAs) in Japanese female dietitians. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: We assessed consumption of FAs based on four season 7 consecutive day weighed diet records from 71 Japanese female dietitians in 1996-1997. Using overnight fasting venous blood, plasma concentrations of FAs were analyzed by gas chromatography. Seasonal variation in consumption and plasma concentrations was examined by ANOVA for repeated values, followed by Tukey's multiple t-test. We calculated Spearman's partial rank correlation coefficients (CCs) between intake and plasma concentrations of FAs. Furthermore, we computed inter-seasonal Spearman's partial rank CCs for consumption and plasma concentrations of FAs. RESULTS: Statistically significant seasonal differences were observed in consumption for most FAs, except for myristic acid, monounsaturated FAs, oleic acid, n-6 polyunsaturated FAs (PUFAs), linoleic acid, gamma-linolenic acid, alpha-linolenic acid, PUFAs/saturated FAs, and n-6 PUFAs/n-3 PUFAs, and for most plasma concentrations, except for stearic acid, gamma-linolenic acid, n-3 PUFAs, alpha-linolenic acid, eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and n-3 highly unsaturated FAs (HUFAs). However, statistically significant Spearman's partial rank CCs between intake and plasma concentrations were observed for EPA, DHA, n-3 HUFAs, n-6 PUFAs/n-3 PUFAs and n-6 PUFAs/n-3 HUFAs for almost all seasons. CONCLUSIONS: Seasonal variation exists in consumption and plasma concentrations of FAs, so that this should be taken into account in epidemiological analyses, including case-control and cohort studies.

Adult↗
PubMed2003

Plasma concentrations of (n-3) highly unsaturated fatty acids are good biomarkers of relative dietary fatty acid intakes: a cross-sectional study.

A cross-sectional study was conducted to clarify the associations of lifestyle factors (habitual exercise, alcohol intake and smoking habit) and plasma fatty acid (FA) concentrations as biomarkers of dietary FA intakes. We collected 7-d weighed diet records, lifestyle information and blood samples from 15 male and 79 female Japanese dietitians, and estimated dietary FA intakes and analyzed plasma FA concentrations. Plasma concentrations of eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and (n-3) highly unsaturated FA (HUFA) derived from marine foods, but not linoleic and alpha-linolenic acid from plant origins, demonstrated positive correlations with dietary intakes (r = 0.303-0.602, P < 0.05) in both genders. Multiple linear regression analyses adjusted for age, BMI, total energy intake, fat (or respective FA) consumption and lifestyle factors showed that dietary intakes of EPA, DHA and (n-3) HUFA were positively associated with age in men (P < 0.05) and negatively associated with BMI in women [P < 0.01 for DHA and (n-3) HUFA]. The plasma concentrations of EPA, DHA and (n-3) HUFA in women were found to be positively associated with age and marine oil (or respective FA) intake (P < 0.01), and negatively associated with total energy intake [P < 0.05 for EPA and (n-3) HUFA]. Lifestyle factors were not associated with dietary FA intakes and plasma FA concentrations. These findings suggest that the plasma concentrations of EPA, DHA and (n-3) HUFA might be useful biomarkers for the assessment of relative FA intakes without considering associations with habitual exercise, alcohol intake and smoking habit.

Adult↗
PubMed2002

Markers of insulin resistance in day and shift workers aged 30-59 years.

OBJECTIVES: To examine relationships between shift work and markers (metabolic abnormalities) of insulin resistance (IR). METHODS: A cross-sectional study of 2,824 day and 826 shift workers. All the subjects were male blue-collar workers aged 30-59 years. Four IR markers [(1) hypertension (systolic blood pressure >or=140 mmHg or diastolic blood pressure >or=90 mmHg or under treatment for hypertension); (2) hyperglycemia (fasting serum glucose >or=7.00 mmol/l or under treatment for diabetes); (3) hypertriglyceridemia (fasting serum triglyceride >or=1.70 mmol/l or under treatment for hyperlipidemia); (4) hypo-HDL-cholesterolemia (fasting serum HDL-cholesterol <1.04 mmol/l)] were checked. Subsequently, IR syndrome, a cluster of IR markers, was expediently diagnosed by the number (N) of IR markers found in each worker. N>or=1, N>or=2 or N>or=3 was used as a cutpoint for the diagnosis. The prevalence of each IR marker and IR syndrome was compared between the two worker groups. Age, body mass index (kg/m(2)), job, drinking, smoking, and exercise were used as confounding factors. Job, work schedule and lifestyles were based on self-administered questionnaires. RESULTS: Hypertriglyceridemia (28.7% in day workers, 31.2% in shift workers) was most prevalent (4.6%), and hyperglycemia (5.4%) was least, in the four IR markers in both worker groups. Approximately half of the subjects had at least one IR marker in both groups (N>or=1; 46.0% and 46.6%, respectively). However, a full cluster of IR markers was rare in both groups (N=4; 0.2% and 0.1%, respectively). Prevalence of IR syndrome by any cutpoints increased with age in day workers, but shift workers aged 50 years or older had lower prevalence than shift workers younger than 50 years. In subjects younger than 50 years, all IR markers (except for hypo-HDL-cholesterolemia) and IR syndrome by any cutpoints were more prevalent in shift workers than in day workers. Contrariwise, in subjects aged 50 years or older, lower prevalence of all IR markers and IR syndrome in shift workers than in day workers was found. These results were not influenced by statistical adjustments for the confounding factors by multiple logistic regression analysis. CONCLUSIONS: Shift work may be associated with IR syndrome in workers younger than 50 years. These relations may be underestimated mainly by broad definition of shift work and healthy-worker effects.

Adult↗
PubMed2002

Cross-cultural validation of the Beck Depression Inventory-II in Japan.

The Beck Depression Inventory has undergone substantial revision recently as the BDI-II to correspond to DSM-IV criteria. We developed the Japanese version of the BDI-II and examined its psychometric properties. The linguistic equivalence was verified by a back-translation method. The final translation was administered to the visitors at a public health care center, and the responses of 766 adults (age = 24-82 years, women = 40%) were analyzed. Half of the participants completed the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale (CES-D) as well. A high level of internal consistency reliability (Cronbach's alpha = 0.87) and item homogeneity was confirmed. Exploratory factor analysis showed a two-factor structure (cognitive and somatic-affective), which was almost identical to the original model demonstrated by Beck et al. (1996, Manual for the Beck Depression Inventor Psychological Corporation, San Antonio, TX, USA). The following confirmatory factor analysis also supported the two-factor structure. Adequate correlation (r = 0.69, P < 0.001) between the total score of the BDI-II and that of the CES-D was observed. A higher score for women compared to men, without significant age differences, was consistent with the results of previous reports. We conclude that the Japanese version of the BDI-II is psychometrically robust and can be used to assess depressive symptoms in Japanese people.

Adult↗
PubMed2002

Reproducibility of a semi-quantitative food frequency questionnaire in Japanese female dietitians.

OBJECTIVE: To examine reproducibility of assessed intake of foods and nutrients according to a semi-quantitative food frequency questionnaire (SQFFQ) in Japanese female dietitians. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: An SQFFQ was self-administered to 106 (21 male and 85 female) Japanese dietitians in Aichi prefecture in autumn 1996 and the same questionnaire was repeated in autumn 1997. Reproducibility was evaluated in terms of consumption of 15 foods and energy and 30 macro- and micro-nutrients based on the SQFFQ from 84 Japanese female dietitians. RESULTS: For intake of foods, Pearson's correlation coefficients (CCs) with log-transformation and energy adjustment (minimum-median-maximum) ranged from 0.35 (beverages)-0.61-0.71 (dairy products). ANOVA intraclass correlation coefficients (ICCs) with log-transformation and energy adjustment ranged from 0.49 (beverages)-0.74-0.82 (dairy products). Spearman's rank CCs with energy adjustment ranged from 0.43 (confectionery)-0.57-0.76 (dairy products). Weighted kappa statistics with energy adjustment ranged from 0.34 (confectionery)-0.49-0.71 (dairy products). For consumption of nutrients, Pearson's CCs with log-transformation and energy adjustment ranged from 0.23 (zinc)-0.55-0.74 (insoluble dietary fiber). ANOVA ICCs with log-transformation and energy adjustment ranged from 0.37 (zinc)-0.70-0.84 (insoluble dietary fiber). Spearman's rank CCs with energy adjustment ranged from 0.25 (zinc)-0.56-0.74 (magnesium). Weighted kappa statistics with energy adjustment ranged from 0.25 (zinc)-0.50-0.68 (insoluble dietary fiber). CONCLUSIONS: Substantially high reproducibility of consumption of foods and nutrients was attained from an SOFFQ self-administered to Japanese female dietitians.

Analysis of Variance↗
PubMed2002

Daily, weekly, seasonal, within- and between-individual variation in nutrient intake according to four season consecutive 7 day weighed diet records in Japanese female dietitians.

OBJECTIVE: To study daily, weekly, seasonal, within- and between-individual variance in intake of selected nutrients and minimal days necessary for assessing true intake with a specified degree of error based on four season consecutive 7 day weighed diet records (WDRs). SUBJECTS AND METHODS: We evaluated consumption of energy and 30 nutrients based on four season consecutive 7 day WDRs from 80 Japanese female dietitians in 1996-1997. We examined daily, weekly, seasonal, within- and between-individual variation in nutrient intake, relative contributions of their variances to total variance, and minimal days required to estimate a person's nutrient intake within 10% and 20% of their true mean with 95% confidence intervals. RESULTS: The relative contributions of variation for all nutrients by person were larger than those by day, week and season. Within-individual variances were greater than the between-individual variances. The ratios of within- vs. between-individual variances thus ranged from 1.3-26.9. Minimal days necessary for estimating nutrient consumption per person within 10% (20%) of the true mean with 95% confidence intervals ranged from 10-35 (3-9) days for energy and major nutrients and 15-640 (4-160) days for micro-nutrients. CONCLUSIONS: The relative contributions of variability by person were largest for all nutrients, followed by those due to sequence of days, season and day of week. Within-individual variation was greater than between-individual variation. Minimal days necessary for ascertaining major nutrients were in general fewer than micro-nutrients.

Adult↗
PubMed2000

Japanese versus Mediterranean Diets and Cancer.

Morbidity and mortality statistics, including incidences of fat-related cancers (FRCs), and dietary intake and sources of fats and oils were compared for Japanese, Mediterranean and American people. Incidences of FRCs, except for steeply increasing colon cancer, have remained low in Japan. Similarly, Mediterranean people enjoy relatively low risks of FRCs compared with American people. The low risks of FRCs in Japanese may be explained by limited intake of fats and oils as a whole, and a low ratio of n-6 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) versus n-3 PUFAs through consumption of the latter from marine foods. They also frequently consume vegetables and fruit, and dietary fiber. Mediterranean people moderately consume fats and oils from a large amount of olive oil, containing not only oleic acid but also polyphenols (including flavonoids), &mgr;-tocopherol and carotenoids (including &mgr;-carotene), which are antioxidants and anti-carcinogenic as in red wine, vegetables (including herbs) and fruit. The diet also features medium intake of fish and shellfish along with cereals/pasta/bread. From the standpoint of intake of total fat, the low risks of FRCs in Japanese seem "plausible," while the low risks in Mediterranean people may be termed "paradoxical." In summary, limited consumption of fats and oils, moderate intakes of marine foods, and vegetables and fruit, in line with a modest intake of energy may be advocated for promoting health, prolonging life and prevention of lifestyle-related diseases including FRCs.

Journal Article↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Alexithymia, depression and social support among Japanese workers.

BACKGROUND: A number of studies have shown that social support has a direct beneficial effect on well-being and also serves as a buffer to protect people from health problems due to excessive stress. Although preliminary studies report a positive relationship of alexithymia both with depression and reduced social support, there is no study examining whether the beneficial effect of social support on depression differs with the presence of alexithymia. METHODS: A total of 120 workers aged 19-39 completed the 20-item Toronto Alexithymia Scale (TAS-20) to measure alexithymia, the Beck Depression Inventory-II (BDI-II) to evaluate depressive symptomatology, and the Job Content Questionnaire (JCQ) to assess job strain based on Karasek's demand-control-support model. The interrelationship among TAS-20, BDI-II and 3 subscales of JCQ (job demand, control, and support) were examined. RESULTS: A significant association of depression with low support and high alexithymia was observed. Alexithymia was also associated with reduced support. Further, a statistically significant interaction between alexithymia and support in terms of their effect on depression was observed. Nonalexithymic individuals with low support showed a significantly higher depression score than those who received high support, while alexithymics did not differ in their depression score depending on the degree of support. Consistent results were obtained from the logistic regression analysis examining the odds ratio for depression by support by alexithymia; a significantly increased odds ratio for depression associated with low social support was observed only among nonalexithymics. CONCLUSIONS: Alexithymic individuals might be unable to benefit from social support because of their cognitive deficits of emotion.

Adult↗