A widely used non-invasive measurement employing nearinfrared radiation provides valuable information in the clinical and basic medical research field. The Astrim, a portable non-invasive monitoring device recently developed, evaluates peripheral circulation as well as hemoglobin levels. The present study conducted several examinations to scrutinize the reproducibility of results, efficacy, and validity of the device. Our data demonstrated the usefulness of the non-invasive monitoring device in diverse clinical circumstances and its applicability to basic physiological and medical research fields.

View full abstract

Relations among various obesity markers and data of physiological, biochemical and hematological examinations were investigated. Eighty-five male and female volunteers aged 40 to 60 were examined their body fat percentages, fat distributions by computed tomography, waist, waist to hip circumference ratio and waist to height ratio as well as data of their physiological, biochemical and hematological examinations. Correlation coefficients among the parameters related fat distributions, obesity and all clinical data were calculated and the clinical significances of body fat to health conditions were discussed.
Results and Conclusions: It was found that high triglycerides caused only the increase of offal fat and that high insulin caused increases of both offal and subcutaneous fat equally. It was found in female that the increase of offal fat caused the decline of liver functions, that the increase of subcutaneous fat caused the decline of renal functions, and that the increase of blood sugar only contributed to the increase of offal fat, although these functions were not clear in male because of the interferences of other factors. Among waist, waist/hip, and waist/height used as simple indicators of obesity, waist was found to reflect on subcutaneous fat best but not so on offal fat. Metabolic rate as well as calorie consumption did not correspond to the amount of fat but corresponded to the body weight, suggesting that energy sources consumed were not specified. It was also found that the increase of offal fat caused the increase of blood pressure, and that the increase of subcutaneous fat caused the decrease of blood pressure. LDL cholesterol was found to be correlated to Body Mass Index.

View full abstract

Many of the ningen dock participants are healthy, and their clinical data are normal. To find out age deviations of normal data, clinical data of our ningen dock participants were examined. Clinical data of our ningen dock participants all through 2005 were divided into groups by participant's sexes, ages and months examined, and their mean values, standard deviations and maximal and minimal values were calculated. Body Mass Index in all ages were found to be unchanged. Heights and weights were found to decrease slightly after ages 30, suggesting that the peak of body activities was in ages 30. Blood pressures were found to increase after ages 30 especially in men. HDL cholesterols were found to be unchanged, but LDL cholesterols were found to increase, and reach plateau in ages 40 for men and ages 50 for women. Their increases were higher for women than for men. Renal functions were found to be unchanged in all ages. GOT and GPT were also unchanged, but γ-GTP were increased and reached their highest in ages 40 to 60 for men. Blood sugar levels increased and reached to their peaks in ages 50-60. Blood data were found to be unchanged. Monthly deviations were generally small, but seasonal changes were found in systolic blood pressures and % pulmonary capacities. γ-GPT were found different by months in men. Large standard deviations of clinical date suggested that our ningen dock participants included not only healthy but also unhealthy populations.

View full abstract