In 1999, Japan Society for the Study of Obesity revised the criteria for obesity based on BMI. Briefly, persons with a BMI≥26.4 were classified as “obese”according to the old criteria, while those with a BMI≥25.0 are now obese based on the new criteria. The influence of this change was investigated in the present study. The incidence of obesity increased froml5.2%based on the old criteria to28.0%based on the new criteria. At our center, both BMI (new criteria)and percent body fat are taken into consideration when classifying obesity into types.
In the male group, the relative incidence of obesity was as follows; true obesity with an increase of both BMI and percent body fat (20.2%) >apparent obesity with an increase of BMI alone (11.3%) >latent obesity with an increase of percent body fat alone (9.3%). In the female group, the relative incidence of obesity was as follows; latent obesity (17.0%) >true obesity (14.9%) >apparent obesity (1.4%). The incidence of apparent obesity, which was common in the male group, was very low in the female group.
We plan to conduct further studies on sex differences in the types of obesity and the clinical significance of such differences.

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As for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease(COPD), the patients are increasing in number with an aged society. The pathophysiological state of this disorder is irreversible. Therefore, the prognosis is poor in many cases. In order to rise the sensitivity of diagnosing the preclinical state of COPD at the medical check, we studied the standard value of V₂₅/HT. The outpatients for two years(the total amount is 1852men)were used to analyze in order to set up a new standard value. This is 0.8 × the standard value of lower limit to diagnosis pneumoconiosis. As a result, about 11-12%of the total patients were classified as obstructive pulmonary disorder. This new standard value is a useful clinical index to find out the preclinical state of COPD.

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To promote the anti-smoking campaign, we estimated smoking prevalence by age and occupation among male adults who entered the Kyoto Katsura Hospital multiphasic examination in 2000. Smoking rate was assessed by a self-reporting questionnaire. Male adults were recruited from five arbitrarily chosen occupational groups, i. e. sales, local public service, teaching, fire fighting, and private business. Smoking prevalence by occupation was 65.1%,45.2%,43.5%,41% and 37.5%, respectively. Smoking rate by age was 60%,45.2 47.5 35.9% and 24.1%, respectively for ages below 40,40s,50s,60s and 70 or older. Smokers declined with age among people in private business, whereas the smoking rate of persons in other occupations remained unchanged throughout the age groups. Both age and occupation were related to smoking prevalence. We conclude anti-smoking programs should be tailored not only by age but also by occupation.

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We analyzed 651 human dry dock patients, and revealde close relationship between fatty liver and beta-fraction of serum electrophoresis. Factor analysis and correlation analysis revealed the independence of this factor. Laboratory diagnosis of fatty liver, we can use this factor.

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The degree of satisfaction for brain medical check was estimated based on customer's answers in the questionnaire survey made immediately before and after the medical check. The survey subjects consisted of 191 subjects(Group I ) whose medical expenses were completely supported by their own companies and 115 subjects(GroupII) who had to pay of the expense. The degree of satisfaction was rated with a score,0-100in 10 increments and a score of 90 or more was assessed as “satisfactory”. The number of subjects who answered, “I have worries”in the prior survey were 3 times more in GroupIIthan Group I. In both groups, more than 90%of subjects answered “satisfactory”regardless of worries and the score of satisfaction was less than 90 for the subjects in whom abnormality was disclosed by MRI/MRA. However, more than90%of subjects with no abnormality in MRI/MRA answered “satisfactory”in both groups. Therefore, it seemed important to make careful follow-up observation for raising the degree of satisfaction to the brain medical check.

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To assess the effectiveness of the under supper group-based health education program for clients of the human dry dock, changes in lifestyles, and anthropometrical or laboratory findings among a total of 300 participants(250 men and 50 women)after the program were analyzed. It was found that drinking, smoking, dietary and exercise habits were improved toward more favorable direction after participation in the program, and that body mass index, hepatobiliary function levels, and serum lipid and glucose levels were all decreased after the program. In the program, a doctor's lecture was followed by frank discussion between the doctor and the clients, resulting in two houres or more to complete the education program. As a result, close rerationship between doctor and client tends to occur through the program, with marked increase in health consciousness among the participants.
We conclude that the human dry dock system accompanied by snch intensive health education program can offer effective health care services not only for early detection of diseases but also for primary prevention of life-style related diseases and health promotion.

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To elucidate the recognition of stress sense for the health examinations in 154 patients of one-day medical overhaul course, we obtained the informations through the questionnairers. The 145 of patients (94%) answered these questionnaires. Stresses were classified by two types, such as positive-or negative stress. Generally, medical examinations (80%<) and the correspondance of examiners (90%<) were accepted as positive stresses. Otherwise, some of examinations and medical staff's attitudes were recognized as negative stresses, such as digital rectal examination (16%), barium meal test (12%), gynecological internal examinations and surgical (palpation of breasts) exams (5 %), anamnesis repeated by the same questions (7 %), orders by radiological technicians ( 5 %) and introductions by secretary (5%). These results reveal that we must try to estimate their physical and psychological discomforts raised from the patients feelings of shames. Then we-medical staffs as the members of health assesments should have much efforts of relaxing or lightening the negative stresses felt by patients.

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The purpose of this study was to evaluate the clinical effects of Soy Isoflavone Aglycones (IFA) on menopausal symptoms. IFA were administered to fourteen postmenopausal women aged 48-56 years at a dose of 40mg/day for three months periods. The scores of menopausal symptoms were monitered using check-sheets by Tokyo Medical and Dental University, before IFA intake, and after one, two and three months. Serum IFA level, estradiol E2, FSH and other biochemical factors were measured at the same time. Three months after first trial (wash-out period), the same women were administered tablets without IFA, and studied the same way as placebo groups. The scores of menopausal symptoms in IFA groups were significantly decreased from 30.82±12.92 to 23.46±10.55 and 20.64±9.9, respectively, after two and three months as compared with placebo groups (p< 0.01). The severity and frequency of hot flashes were also reduced from 6.36±3.14 to 2.73±2.49 and 2.18± 1.4 by the score (p < 0.01). Associating with these improving menopausal symptoms, serum IFA levels were increased from baseline level by 1.62±0.75, μ mol/L,1.64±0.7, μ mol/L and 1.49±1.37, μ mol/L after one, two and three months, respectively (p < 0.01). There was no difference in serum estradiol, FSH and other biochemical factors. These results demonstrated beneficial effects of IFA on improving menopausal symptoms.

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Results of annual health examination of the workers in a food processing company were evaluated. This company has two factories and both factories were operated 24 hours by day and night shift workers. Health conditions of the workers in the two factories, of day and night shifts, and of various types of work were compared, and the effects of working conditions on the health conditions were examined. It was found that the working conditions had less effect on their health conditions than their home lives. Slight differences were observed only on the health conditions of the workers of day and night shift. That is, night-shift works seemed to have the high incidences of high blood pressure, and day-shift works seemed to have the high incidences of hepatopathy of male workers. This tendency of hepatophathy was not seen in female workers. These results suggest that health conditions was caused not by their working conditions but by their home lives of day-shift male workers who had higher tendency to drink after works than night-shift male workers and female workers. Incidences of diabetes, nephropathy, hyperlipemia, and anemia were not different between working conditions.

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High-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs CRP) was measured twice one year apart from the same individuals. Apparently healthy 4844 subjects (female 1824 male 3020) were subjected to measure hs-CRP levels. Annual variation in changes of hs-CRP were quite minimal in low concentration in the subjects below 0.2mga. This variation tended to increase in the subject over 3.0mga. and the degree of variation could indicate many factors possibly affecting the hs-CRP levels.

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[in Japanese]

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