For the prevention or improvement of lifestyle related disease an 8-week exercise program involving a bench step exercise was arranged. Methods: Thirty-three employees who had been recommended to change their lifestyle following a routine health check were enrolled. Before and after the program, their physical performance was evaluated, and their waistline, total cholesterol value and blood pressure was recorded and compared. There were no dietary restrictions. The 33 subjects were randomly divided into two groups: an exercise group and a control group. The exercise group was instructed to execute a bench-stepping exercise over ten consecutive minutes three times a day (i. e. twenty-one times a week) at a bench height and stepping rate that varied depending on each individual's lactate threshold as determined by an exercise stress test. Results: Only 11.8% of the participants completed the step exercise program as planned (21 times/week), but 42.2% executed it 14 or more times a week. These participants showed not only an improved physical performance, but experienced a significant reduction in weight, waistline size and total cholesterol value. Furthermore, the blood pressure of those participants suffering from hypertension was lowered. Conclusion: The step exercise over 8weeks at the lactate intensity threshold leads to a significant reduction in waistline, total cholesterol value and blood pressure. We recommend executing the step exercise at the lactate intensity threshold more than twice a day (i. e.14 or more times/week).

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This study was performed to clarify the relationship between smoking or alcohol drinking and the frequency of risk factors for coronary heart disease. Methods: The subjects were 10,543 Japanese men who underwent a physical checkup during 2003-2004. Information regarding current medication, smoking status, alcohol consumption and physical activity was obtained by questionnaire. Results: The frequencies of hypertension (systolic ≥30mmHg and/or diastolic≥85mmHg), hypertriglycridemia(≥150mg/dl), hypoHDLcholesterolemia (<40mg/dl), fasting hyperglycemia(≥110mg/dl), obesity (body mass index ≥25) were 40.0%,23.8%,6.5%,10.8% and 27.2%, respectively. Multiple logistic regression analysis demonstrated that smokers had higher ratios of hypertriglyceridemia, hypoHDLcholesterolemia and obesity, and a lower ratio of hypertension than non-smokers. There was no significant difference other than the ratio of obesity between nonsmokers and past smokers. In contrast, drinkers had higher ratios of hypertension, hypertriglyceridemia, and hyperglycemia, and a lower ratio of hypoHDLcholesterolemia. Both smoking and alcohol drinking had the strongest effect on HDLcholesterol. Conclusion: A strong relationship was observed between smoking or alcohol drinking and the frequency of risk factors for coronary heart disease. Quitting smoking and consuming an appropriate amount of alcohol were suggested to be important to prevent coronary heart disease.

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Objective: Unruptured cerebral aneurysms were studied by ECG-triggered MR angiogram (MRA). Changes in the diameter of aneurysms and morphological changes in portions of the aneurysmal walls were examined. Methods: Twenty-nine patients (14males; 15 females) with 31 aneurysms were examined by ECG-triggered MRA between April 2004 and December 2005. Regarding the distribution of unruptured aneurysms,13 were in the middle cerebral artery area,11 in the internal carotid artery area,6 in the anterior communicating/ anterior cerebral artery area and 1 in the vertebro-basilar artery area. Changes in the aneurysms were thought to be significant if the ratio of the longitudinal diameter of the aneurysm during the systolic phase to that in the diastolic phase was larger than those ratios in the normal arteries around the aneurysm and if there were prominent morphological changes in the aneurysmal walls during the systolic phase compared with findings during the diastolic phase, such as bulging or dilation of portions of the aneurysmal wall. Results: 6 of 31 aneurysms(19%)demonstrated significant changes in diameter, and 13 of 31 aneurysms(42%)showed morphological changes. The aneurysms showing changes in diameter were often located in the internal carotid artery area. The aneurysms showed morphological changes were located in the anterior communicating artery and middle cerebral artery area. Conclusions: We speculated that aneurysms showing morphological changes during the systolic phase on ECG-triggered MRA would have a greater risk of rupture than aneurysms that did not show such changes.

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Objective: In Japan, the number of workers dispatched overseas is increasing. In particular, the expansion of Japanese companies to neighboring Asian countries is unprecedented, and many workers stay for a long period. Workers who apply for a visa to China are required to present a health certificate issued by a national or public hospital. Our center receives many requests for pre-travel health check-up before going to China. In this study, we introduce the present status of these health check-up, and discussed the appropriate state of health check-up in workers dispatched overseas. Methods: Of 2,138 workers who visited the travel clinic of our center between October 2005 and March 2006,428 who underwent health check-up to apply for a visa to China were enrolled in this study. The results of health check-up performed based on the items of the health certificate form prescribed by the Chinese government were analyzed. Results: The 428 workers consisted of 290 males and 138 females with a mean age of 36.7 years. The cities they would stay were Shanghai, Beijing, and Dalian, and the most frequent duration of stay was 3 years. As abnormal findings, those on electrocardiograms were often observed but did not require treatment. However, obesity was noted inl9%, and the possibility of metabolic syndrome was very high in some workers. Conclusion: The problems of health check-up in workers dispatched overseas are difficulty in the observation of the course, and the possible aggravation of chronic disorders due to changes in the diet and environment overseas. Occupational health physicians in each company should play a central role in the reinforcement of the follow-up system and improvement of health status before going overseas.

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