We studied the relationship between simple predictors of obesity and coronary heart disease (CHD) risk factors and nutrient in-take in collegiate women who were non-smokers and drank alcohol less than once a week. The obesity indices were weight, waist, hip, waist/hip ratio, waist/height ratio (W/Height), body mass index and percentage of body fat. The CHD risk factors measured were total cholesterol (TC), triglycerides, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), β-lipoprotein, TC/HDL-C ratio, systolic and diastolic blood pressures. When physical activity, maximal oxygen uptake, energy and fat intakes were included in the multiple regression analysis, waist and W/Height demonstrated the greatest correlations with the CHD risk factors. Moreover, waist was observed better correlated with the factors of maximal oxygen uptake and nutrient intake than W/Height.

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Background: Morphological and functional standards for the health evaluation of the elderly has not ever been established in our country. The health status of the cohort that might be served for this purpose has to be clearly specified. Study purposes: Comparisons of comorbidity and related risk factors of cardiovascular disorders were performed between two groups; health research volunteers (HRV) among New Elder Citizens at the Life Planning Center and subjects (GN) recruited in the Fifth National Survey of Cardiovascular Diseases (2000) . Subjects and Methods: All subjects were above the age of 70 years. HRV and GN groups consisted of 132 males and 122 females, and 635 males and 896 females, respectively. Selected cardiovascular disorders and related risk factors were as follows; stroke, myocardial infarction, angina pectoris, diabetes mellitus, hypercholesterolemia and smoking. Results: Prevalences of stroke, myocardial infarction, angina pectoris, diabetes mellitus and hypertension were significantly higher in GN than in HRV cohorts in both sexes. On the other hand, hypercholesterolemia was significantly more frequent in HRV than in GN, and more over, females revealed higher prevalence than males did in both cohorts. Surprisingly enough, prevalence of smokers were extremely low in males of HRV (4.5%) comparing in those of GN (29.5%) cohorts. Conclusions: In general, the health status with regard to cardiovascular disorders is thought to be more ideal in HRV than in GN cohorts in both sexes, and HRV cohort might be suitable candidate for giving morphological and functional standards of the elderly with regard to physical health assessment.

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In this lecture, governmental health movement termed“Health Japan 21”was introduced. This movement was aimed to prevent the occurrence of life style related diseases such as diabetes mellitus, hypertension, various cancers by modifying ways of living of Japanese.
Quitting the smoking and preventing obesity by taking healthy diets and by practicing physical exercise were stressed as the international movement to prolong a healthy life span. The Act to promote the Health was legalized in 2003, and many local government made their own plans to proceed the Health Japan 21 movement in their own areas.

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Subclinical thyroid dysfunction, defined as normal thyroid hormone levels associated with abnormal thyrotropin (TSH) concentrations, that are called as subclinical hypo- (SH) or thyrotoxicosis (ST) indicates mild thyroid failure. Thus thyroid hormone levels are not truly normal for that individual. SH is often reported to be associated with unfavorable lipid metabolism. Some studies sug-gest patients with SH had a significantly increased prevalence of myocardial infarctions in the elderly. The common view recommends that SH be treated with L-thyroxine when TSH concentrations are 10μU/ml or more to avoid cardiovascular events. In patients with ST atrial fibrillation reportedly develops at a substantial frequency. A population-based cohort study showed that low TSH in older individuals is associated with increased mortality, especially due to cardiovascular disease. These findings suggest the beneficial effects of treating ST. The overall prevalence of high and low TSH concentrations reportedly range from 2-10% and 0.2-3%, respectively, in large general population screening surveys. Most thyroid dysfunction was subclinical, but some was overt, in which treatment is essential. Hypothyroidism is seen more in older people, and hyperthyroidism develops most commonly in the third and forth decades in Japan. The frequencies of hypo- and hyperthyroidism are higher in women. Thyroid dysfunction can be treated rather easily using inexpensive drugs. These facts may warrant the screening for thyroid dysfunction using TSH in apparently healthy adults, especially in older women because of higher incidence of SH. However, clinical data suggest that in thyrotoxic patients, men are more susceptible to cardiovascular dysfunction than women. Furthermore, in younger people, thyroid dysfunction may exert adverse effects on various life events, especially on pregnancy. So everyone is recommended to have TSH determination. Thyroid palpation and careful monitoring of changes in liver function and lipid profile, which are useful indicators of thyroid dysfunc-tion, are essential to detect it and reduce fruitless TSH examination.

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As ultrasounds are easily interfered by gas echoes, it is rather difficult to interrogate all parts of the biliary tract. We should make the best use of the manipulation of the probe, different postures and different respiratory phases to get good images free from air in the gastrointestinal tract. It is also important to know about the characteristics of artifacts on ultrasonography and how to remove their influence.
In gallbladder lesions, we first classify the shape of the lesions on ultrasonography into the pedunclated type, broad based type and wall-thickened (flat) type. This classification is very important not only to make a differential diagnosis, but also to evaluate the depth of the invasion. Then, we evaluate their size, surface structure, internal echo texture, the layer structure of the gall bladder wall where tumors are attached, and so on. Those findings are useful to discriminate pseudotumor from cancer and adenoma.
In the extra hepatic bile duct and the papilla of Vater, it is much more difficult to detect lesions because of the complicated anatomical structure and air in the gastrointestinal tract. So, it is important to pick up indirect findings to suggest latent lesions. We can use bile duct dilatation, abnormal findings in the gallbladder, debris in bile ducts and lymph node. Abnormal findings in the gallbladder, which include distension with or without debris and impaired fullness, are most sensitive to the obstruction of the biliary tract. We sometimes use serial ultrasonography to assess characters of lesions in addition to evaluating the same findings, which we discussed in gallbladder lesions. If the lesions change their appearance on serial ultrasonography, they have a high possibility of being pseudotumor.
With improved skill using ultrasonography and accurate knowledge, ultrasonography could become much more effective on erraPnin Y of the hiliarv tract

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