Objective: We studied the relation between pulse wave velocity (PWV) measurement and lifestyle related diseases in ningen dock. Methods: Objects were 352 cases who underwent PWV measurement in our center's ningen dock in 2004. Using PWV measurement we distinguished normal group (143 cases) from atherosclerosis group (209cases). We studied the relation between PWV measurement and risk factors of lifestyle related disease in each group. Next, we studied the frequency of the second prevention and the third prevention in each group. Results: Compared with normal group, the age was significantly higher and the respective frequency of high blood pressure, high fasting glucose level and high triglyceride level was significantly higher. The respective frequency of high total-cholesterol level and low HDL-cholesterol level was not significant. The frequency of obesity was not significant. Compared with normal group, the frequency of metabolic syndrome was significantly higher. Compared with normal group, the respective frequency of the second prevention and the third prevention was significantly higher. Conclusions: In consideration of the fact that PWV measurement was strongly related to lifestyle related disease, we need to carry out adequate post-guidance and follow up.

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Objective: In addition to the conventional method of gynecological bimanual pelvic examination and cervical Papanicolau smear, in 2002 we began using the additional method of transvaginal ultrasonography for screening of asymptomatic women who participated in regular gynecological check ups. The purpose of this study was to analyze the efficacy of transvaginal ultrasonography for detecting ovarian tumors in ningen dock. Methods: Results of gynecological regular check ups before (1999-2001) and after (2002-2003) the additional use of transvaginal -ultrasonography were compared. For the transvaginal ultrasonography, the SONOVISTA MSC transvaginal probe (5.0-7.5 MHz) was used. We regarded ovarian size of more than 30 mm in diameter as ovarian tumors or ovarian cysts. All examinees with ovarian tumors or cysts were followed up through questionnaire. Results: Among average annual examinees of 1650,2 (0.11%) to 11 cases (0.68%) of ovarian tumors or cysts were found annually before the use of transvaginal ultrasonography. In contrast, during the two years when transvaginal sonography was used,50 (2.96%) to 66 cases (4.27%) of ovarian tumors or cysts were found annually. Among 14 subjects who were suspected to have ovarian lesions before the use of transvaginal ultrasonography and answered the questionnaire,4 normal cases,1 case of ovarian cyst,2cases of ovarian tumor and 1 case of uterine myoma were found by further examinations. Among 95 subjects who were suspected of having ovarian lesions during the period with the additional use of transvaginal ultrasonography and who answered the questionnaire,34normal cases,26 cases of ovarian cysts,14 cases of ovarian tumors and 8 cases of uterine myoma were found by further examinations. Subjects treated by surgical operations were one before the use of transvaginal ultrasonography and 7 during the period with additional routine use of transvaginal ultrasonography. Conclusion: By routine additional use of transvaginal ultrasonography, the detection rate of ovarian lesions increased by about ten times. Transvaginal ultrasonography is a useful tool as a supplement to bimanual pelvic examination and cervical cytology in gynecological regular check ups.

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Purpose: One of the risk factors of atherosclerosis is homocysteinemia. We evaluated the association between various risk factors of atherosclerosis including homocysteine(tHcy)and the maximum thickness of the intima-media complex (MaxIMT) measured by carotid ultrasonography using logistic analysis (LogR) and simple regression analysis (SR). Methods: The subjects were 614 non-smokers (338 males,52.8± 10.4 years; 276 females,54.3± 9.4 years) who underwent brain dock at the Kantoh Rousai Hospital Medical Screening Center between August 1,2001 and March 31,2005, had no history of cerebrovascular disease, coronary disease, hypertension, hyperlipidemia, diabetes mellitus, or obstructive atherosclerosis, and were neither receiving treatment on an outpatient basis nor using vitamins. MaxIMT, tHcy, age, systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure (DBP), total cholesterol(C), LDL-C, HDL-C, triglycerides, fastening blood sugar, HbA1c, body mass index and lipoprotein(a) were analyzed. Results: LogR using MaxIMT as a criterion variable and the other items as explanatory variables showed age (p< 0.0001), DBP(p< 0.007), and tHcy (p< 0.016) as significant variables (p< 0.05). SR between tHcy and the other variables showed no correlation. Conclusion: tHcy is a risk factor of atherosclerosis that is independent of the other factors evaluated in this study. There is a possibility that tHcy at the upper limit of the standard concentration or the maintenance of a slightly high tHcy concentration induces progression of atherosclerosis. When risk factors of atherosclerosis are evaluated, tHcy should also be measured.

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Objective and Methods: Plasma B type natriuretic peptide (BNP) concentration has been recently measured as a useful index for diagnosing heart failure. In this study, we evaluated the relationship between the changes in plasma BNP during 4 years and metabolic syndrome-related factors (body mass index: BMI, lipid, glucose, and blood pressure), which is recognized as a state that predisposes to the development of cardiovascular disease. The subjects were 194 university staff (142 men,52 women, mean age; 50 years old) who underwent measurement of plasma BNP at the annual check-up in both 1999 and 2003. Results: The correlation coefficient of plasma BNP between 1999 and 2003 was 0.588, and we found 4 cases whose plasma BNP values were more than 40 pg/ml (cut-off value for detecting heart disease) in both years and 10 cases whose plasma BNP values worsened to more than 40 pg/ml in 2003. Among these 14 cases, the 8 male subjects showed accumulation of metabolic syndrome-related factors, but the 6 female subjects did not. Moreover,13 male subjects whose BNP values were above the normal value (≤18.4pg/ml) during 4 years showed a significantly higher frequency of hypertension and metabolic syndrome-related factors in 2003 than 100 male subjects whose BNP values were below the normal value. However, the same was not observed in women. Conclusions: We found a sex difference in the relationship between annual changes in plasma BNP concentration and the accumulation of metabolic syndrome-related factors, and this relation was clear in men but not in women.

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Objective: It has been known by experience at the health checks that the total cholesterol levels are high especially for schoolteachers who have school lunches served with milk, and the levels decrease when they stop to drink milk and eat eggs. Methods: The investigation has been conducted on the levels of total cholesterol for persons with hypercholesterolemia when they stop to eat eggs and drink milk for more than a week. Results and Conclusions: The total cholesterol levels decreased of 97 subjects (male 37, female 60. age 59±9 years)from 266±15mg/dl to 231±25mg/dl. The higher the total cholesterol levels were, the more the levels decreased. Also the similar results were obtained for those who took cholesterol-lowering drugs, that the total cholesterol levels decreased from 265±39mg/dl to 220 ± 27mg/dl.

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