Journal of Epidemiology
Online ISSN : 1349-9092
Print ISSN : 0917-5040
ISSN-L : 0917-5040
Volume 19, Issue 5
Displaying 1-11 of 11 articles from this issue
Original Article
  • Min Kyung Lim, Silvia Franceschi, Salvatore Vaccarella, Young-Hee Ju, ...
    2009 Volume 19 Issue 5 Pages 213-218
    Published: September 05, 2009
    Released on J-STAGE: September 05, 2009
    Advance online publication: August 01, 2009
    JOURNAL FREE ACCESS
    Background: In areas where hepatitis is endemic, little is known about the sexual transmission of HBV after introduction of an HBV vaccination program.
    Methods: We used a self-administered questionnaire and serological tests for HBsAg, anti-HBs, anti-HBc, and anti-HCV to examine the role of sexual activity, as well as sociodemographic status, lifestyle habits, and a history of vaccinations, transfusions, and surgery, in the transmission of HBV and HCV in Korea. The subjects were 865 female and 541 male university students (median age, 19 years; age range, 16–25).
    Results: Overall seropositivity was 8.1% for HBsAg, 69.3% for anti-HBs, 21.3% for anti-HBc, and 0.4% for anti-HCV. Regarding HBV, 8% of the subjects were chronic carriers or had recently been infected, 22.8% were never exposed and nonvaccinated, 16.6% were exposed noncarriers, and 52.7% had most likely been vaccinated. We found a significant association between HBsAg seropositivity and history of sexual intercourse (Odds Ratio, 1.8; 95% CI, 1.1–2.8). Students without serologic evidence of immunization against HBV were more likely to have become HBsAg-positive after becoming sexually active.
    Conclusions: Our findings suggest that sexual transmission does occur among adolescents and young adults who have not been vaccinated, whereas vaccination protects individuals from becoming an HBV carrier after becoming sexually active.
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  • Hiroharu Kamioka, Yosikazu Nakamura, Shinpei Okada, Jun Kitayuguchi, M ...
    2009 Volume 19 Issue 5 Pages 219-230
    Published: September 05, 2009
    Released on J-STAGE: September 05, 2009
    Advance online publication: August 15, 2009
    JOURNAL FREE ACCESS
    Background: Physical activity is known to prevent obesity and metabolic syndrome in middle-aged and elderly people; however, the effectiveness of a comprehensive health education program for male white-collar employees is uncertain.
    Methods: Forty-three men volunteered to participate in this study and were randomly assigned into 2 groups. The intervention group participated in a 2-hour program comprising comprehensive health education and hot spa bathing, offered once every 2 weeks, in addition to individualized programs once a week, for 24 weeks. The control group received only general health guidance. We compared their lifestyle characteristics and physical and mental health criteria at baseline, immediately after the intervention, and 1 year after the end of the intervention.
    Results: Rates of adherence to individualized programs were 60.0 ± 27.2% and 30.5 ± 29.6% at the end of the intervention and at 1 year after the end of the intervention, respectively. Significant (P < 0.05) interaction of criteria was observed for cluster of differentiation 4+ (CD4+) cells and the ratio of cluster of differentiation 4+ to 8+ (CD4/8) cells, which were used to represent the participants' immunological function. We divided the intervention group into 2 subgroups on the basis of their attendance. Among the resulting 3 groups, significant interaction of criteria was observed for CD4+ and CD4/8 cells. In addition, the high attendance group had the highest CD4+ count and CD4/8 ratio.
    Conclusions: Participants who attended classes and/or performed the supplementary individualized programs tended to maintain their immunological function and to experience a decrease in body fat percentage. However, few effects were noted in participants with poor adherence, even in the intervention group.
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  • Akatsuki Kokaze, Mamoru Ishikawa, Naomi Matsunaga, Kanae Karita, Masao ...
    2009 Volume 19 Issue 5 Pages 231-236
    Published: September 05, 2009
    Released on J-STAGE: September 05, 2009
    Advance online publication: August 08, 2009
    JOURNAL FREE ACCESS
    Background: Habitual coffee consumption has been reported to lower blood pressure in the Japanese population. The NADH dehydrogenase subunit-2 237 leucine/methionine (ND2-237 Leu/Met) polymorphism is associated with longevity and modifies the effects of alcohol consumption on blood pressure in the Japanese population. The objective of this study was to determine whether this polymorphism also modifies the effects of coffee consumption on blood pressure or the risk of hypertension in middle-aged Japanese men.
    Methods: A total of 398 men (mean age ± standard deviation, 53.8 ± 7.8 years) were selected from among individuals visiting the hospital for regular medical check-ups. Hypertension was defined as a systolic blood pressure ≥140 mm Hg, diastolic blood pressure ≥90 mm Hg, or antihypertensive drug treatment. Polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism using the restriction enzyme AluI was performed to determine ND2-237 Leu/Met genotype.
    Results: In subjects with ND2-237Leu, coffee consumption was significantly and negatively associated with diastolic blood pressure (P = 0.007). The odds ratio (OR) for hypertension was significantly lower in subjects with ND2-237Leu who consumed 2 or 3 cups of coffee per day than in those who consumed less than 1 cup of coffee per day (OR, 0.517; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.276 to 0.968; P = 0.039). After adjustment, the OR remained significant (OR = 0.399; 95% CI, 0.184 to 0.869; P = 0.020). Moreover, after adjustment, the OR was significantly lower in subjects with ND2-237Leu who consumed more than 4 cups of coffee per day than in those who consumed less than 1 cup of coffee per day (OR, 0.246; 95% CI, 0.062 to 0.975; P = 0.046). However, the association between ND2-237Met genotype and hypertension did not depend on coffee consumption.
    Conclusions: The present results suggest that the ND2-237 Leu/Met polymorphism modulates the effects of coffee consumption on hypertension risk in middle-aged Japanese men.
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  • Tetsuhisa Kitamura, Takashi Kawamura, Akiko Tamakoshi, Kenji Wakai, Ma ...
    2009 Volume 19 Issue 5 Pages 237-243
    Published: September 05, 2009
    Released on J-STAGE: September 05, 2009
    Advance online publication: August 01, 2009
    JOURNAL FREE ACCESS
    Background: Although there have been many studies on aging in a number of developed countries, data on the effects of aging during early senescence are scarce. We designed a study to investigate an age-specific cohort in a suburban Japanese city to determine the factors that contribute to living long and well.
    Methods: In every year from 1996 through 2005, residents of Nissin City, Japan who were about to reach the age of 65 years participated in health check-ups and completed a baseline self-administered questionnaire that included items on demographic and lifestyle characteristics, physical function, and quality of life. When the participants reached 70 years of age, they underwent secondary health check-ups at the same site, or received home visits from public health nurses, and their health-related outcomes were noted.
    Results: A total of 3073 64-year-olds were enrolled in the study (response rate, 43.9%). There was considerable intersexual variation in demographic and lifestyle factors. Among men and women, 24.3% and 3.0% were current smokers, respectively, and 68.7% and 19.5% were current alcohol drinkers. Cohort members were in slightly better physical condition than the Japanese general population: they were less likely to be obese and hypertensive and more likely to have 20 teeth or more. Follow-up of the cohort is ongoing.
    Conclusions: We have established a unique age-specific cohort with a consecutive entry–exit system. This project should provide data on early changes in health and related factors in this new era of longevity.
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  • Takakazu Kawase, Keitaro Matsuo, Akio Hiraki, Takeshi Suzuki, Miki Wat ...
    2009 Volume 19 Issue 5 Pages 244-250
    Published: September 05, 2009
    Released on J-STAGE: September 05, 2009
    Advance online publication: August 08, 2009
    JOURNAL FREE ACCESS
    Background: Epidemiological studies consistently indicate that alcoholic beverages are an independent risk factor for female breast cancer. Although the mechanism underlying this effect remains unknown, the predominant hypothesis implicates mutagenesis via the ethanol metabolite acetaldehyde, whose impact on the carcinogenesis of several types of cancer has been shown in both experimental models and molecular epidemiological studies. Many of the epidemiological studies have investigated genetic polymorphisms of alcohol dehydrogenase-1B (ADH1B) His48Arg and aldehyde dehydrogenase-2 (ALDH2) Glu504Lys, because of the strong impact these polymorphisms have on exposure to and accumulation of acetaldehyde. With regard to breast cancer, however, evidence is scarce.
    Methods: To clarify the impact on female breast cancer risk of the interaction of the effects of alcohol consumption and polymorphisms in the alcohol-metabolizing enzymes ADH1B and ALDH2, we conducted a case–control study of 456 newly and histologically diagnosed breast cancer cases and 912 age- and menopausal status-matched noncancer controls. Gene–gene and gene–environment interactions between individual and combined ADH1B and ALDH2 gene polymorphisms and alcohol consumption were evaluated.
    Results: Despite sufficient statistical power, there was no significant impact of ADH1B and ALDH2 on the risk of breast cancer. Neither was there any significant gene–environment interactions between alcohol drinking and polymorphisms in ADH1B and ALDH2.
    Conclusions: Our findings do not support the hypothesis that acetaldehyde is the main contributor to the carcinogenesis of alcohol-induced breast cancer.
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  • Keiko Asakura, Yuji Nishiwaki, Ai Milojevic, Takehiro Michikawa, Yurik ...
    2009 Volume 19 Issue 5 Pages 251-259
    Published: September 05, 2009
    Released on J-STAGE: September 05, 2009
    Advance online publication: August 22, 2009
    JOURNAL FREE ACCESS
    Background: The number of studies that use objective and quantitative methods to evaluate facial skin aging in elderly people is extremely limited, especially in Japan. Therefore, in this cross-sectional study we attempted to characterize the condition of facial skin (hyperpigmentation, pores, texture, and wrinkling) in Japanese adults aged 65 years or older by using objective and quantitative imaging methods. In addition, we aimed to identify lifestyle factors significantly associated with these visible signs of aging.
    Methods: The study subjects were 802 community-dwelling Japanese men and women aged at least 65 years and living in the town of Kurabuchi (Takasaki City, Gunma Prefecture, Japan), a mountain community with a population of approximately 4800. The facial skin condition of subjects was assessed quantitatively using a standardized facial imaging system and subsequent computer image analysis. Lifestyle information was collected using a structured questionnaire. The association between skin condition and lifestyle factors was examined using multivariable regression analysis.
    Results: Among women, the mean values for facial texture, hyperpigmentation, and pores were generally lower than those among age-matched men. There was no significant difference between sexes in the severity of facial wrinkling. Older age was associated with worse skin condition among women only. After adjusting for age, smoking status and topical sun protection were significantly associated with skin condition among both men and women.
    Conclusions: Our study revealed significant differences between sexes in the severity of hyperpigmentation, texture, and pores, but not wrinkling. Smoking status and topical sun protection were significantly associated with signs of visible skin aging in this study population.
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  • Yang Ping Cai, Kazuo Hayakawa, Reiko Nishihara, Kenji Kato
    2009 Volume 19 Issue 5 Pages 260-265
    Published: September 05, 2009
    Released on J-STAGE: September 05, 2009
    Advance online publication: August 22, 2009
    JOURNAL FREE ACCESS
    Background: Studies of the genetic and environmental influences on apolipoproteins have been conducted, but few have used data from Japanese twins. The aim of this study was to quantify and compare the genetic and environmental causes of individual differences in the serum concentrations of apolipoproteins in Japanese middle-aged twins.
    Methods: Apo A-I, apo A-II, apo B, apo C-II, apo C-III, and apo E were studied. A total of 142 twin pairs, aged 45 through 65 years, were enrolled: 85 monozygotic pairs (59 male, 26 female) and 57 same-sexed dizygotic pairs (43 male, 14 female). The intraclass correlation coefficient and structural equation modeling were used to estimate the best-fitting model and heritability.
    Results: Sixteen percent to 75% of the total variances of apo A-I, apo C-II, and apo C-III were attributable to genetic influence; apo A-I and apo C-II were influenced by dominant genetic factors. Twenty percent to 73% of the total variances of apo A-II, apo B, and apo E were attributable to additive genetic influence; apo B was clearly influenced by common environmental factors. Furthermore, the heritability of all apolipoproteins was higher among females than among males.
    Conclusions: Genetic factors, including additive genetic effects (A) and dominant effects (D), influence apolipoprotein levels. However, a common environment does not influence the variances of these apolipoproteins, with the exception of apo B. Furthermore, the heritability of apolipoprotein phenotypes differs by sex.
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Statistical Data
  • Kota Katanoda, Kunihiko Hayashi, Keiko Yamamoto, Tomotaka Sobue
    2009 Volume 19 Issue 5 Pages 266-270
    Published: September 05, 2009
    Released on J-STAGE: September 05, 2009
    Advance online publication: August 01, 2009
    JOURNAL FREE ACCESS
    Background: In 2003, the Japanese government halted the national mass screening program for neuroblastoma (NB), which had been running since the mid-1980s. It is not known whether the NB mortality rate subsequently increased or decreased.
    Methods: Utilizing vital statistics data from 1980 through 2006, we analyzed the secular trends in NB mortality by using cancer of the adrenal gland as a surrogate. We examined the validity of this substitution by comparing the results with data from death certificates. Using a joinpoint regression model, we examined the trends in age-specific mortality rates by calendar year and cumulative mortality rates by birth year. The cumulative mortality rate was analyzed for age under 1 or 2 years for infants born after the cessation of the mass screening program.
    Results: The number of deaths from cancer of the adrenal gland was closely correlated with the number of deaths from NB. Significant decreases in the mortality rate were observed from 1980 through 2006 by calendar year for those aged under 1 year, 1 to 4 years, and 5 to 9 years. The cumulative mortality rates by birth year also significantly decreased from the 1980 birth cohort. Although the cumulative mortality rates under the age of 2 appear to have increased after the 2003 birth cohort, the change was not statistically significant.
    Conclusions: No significant increase in the NB mortality rate was detected after the cessation of the mass screening program in Japan. However, continuous monitoring is still needed to fully evaluate this health policy decision.
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