Prognostic Factors after Resection of Lung Metastasis from Head and Neck Cancer / 日本農村医学会雑誌

We retrospectively evaluated 21 patients with resected lung metastases from head and neck cancers (oral cavity, pharynx, larynx, and others) in our department between April 2009 and December 2016. The 5-year overall survival after lung resection was 56.7％ and median survival time was 21 months, which was good compared with findings in the literature. Tumor size of lung metastatic lesion≥2.0cm was a significant prognostic factor (p＝0.0157). No independent prognostic factors were identified in multivariate analysis. Aggressive resection was suggested to contribute to prognosis, especially for pulmonary metastasis with diameter<2.0cm. These findings may have wide implications for social medicine.

Differences in the Levels of Gastric Cancer Risk Factors Between Nanjing and Minqing Counties, China / 예방의학회지

OBJECTIVES: In Fujian Province, China, gastric cancer is one of the leading causes of mortality among all malignant tumors. Nanjing county and Minqing county are located in inland Fujian and have similar general demographics. However, the adjusted mortality rate of gastric cancer in Minqing was found to be much higher than that in Nanjing. We sought to explore factors associated with this increased risk of gastric cancer between the two counties. METHODS: We recruited 231 and 224 residents from Nanjing and Minqing, respectively, and analyzed differences between their dietary habits, Helicobacter pylori infection rates, and concentrations of serum pepsinogen I, pepsinogen II, gastrin-17, and ratio of pepsinogen I:II. RESULTS: Subjects in Minqing had more first-degree relatives who had been diagnosed with upper gastrointestinal tumor, more unhealthy dietary habits, a higher Helicobacter pylori positive rate, and greater proportion of abnormal serum gastrin-17 than those in Nanjing did. CONCLUSIONS: The factors that differed between these two counties might indicate that residents in Minqing have a higher risk for developing gastric cancer than those in Nanjing do.

Differences in the Levels of Gastric Cancer Risk Factors Between Nanjing and Minqing Counties, China / 예방의학회지

OBJECTIVES: In Fujian Province, China, gastric cancer is one of the leading causes of mortality among all malignant tumors. Nanjing county and Minqing county are located in inland Fujian and have similar general demographics. However, the adjusted mortality rate of gastric cancer in Minqing was found to be much higher than that in Nanjing. We sought to explore factors associated with this increased risk of gastric cancer between the two counties. METHODS: We recruited 231 and 224 residents from Nanjing and Minqing, respectively, and analyzed differences between their dietary habits, Helicobacter pylori infection rates, and concentrations of serum pepsinogen I, pepsinogen II, gastrin-17, and ratio of pepsinogen I:II. RESULTS: Subjects in Minqing had more first-degree relatives who had been diagnosed with upper gastrointestinal tumor, more unhealthy dietary habits, a higher Helicobacter pylori positive rate, and greater proportion of abnormal serum gastrin-17 than those in Nanjing did. CONCLUSIONS: The factors that differed between these two counties might indicate that residents in Minqing have a higher risk for developing gastric cancer than those in Nanjing do.

Effects of cow's milk on reproduction in ICR male mice / 生物医学与环境科学（英文）

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To study the effects of Cow's milk on the reproduction in male mice.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Twenty-four male mice were divided randomly into two groups: milk group (M) and control group (C). Each mouse was given 10 mL milk per day from 4 to 16 weeks in the group M. At the age of 17 weeks, all the mice were sacrificed.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Serum testosterone was decreased in the group M (P=0.037). No significant difference was found in weight of testes, seminal vesicle or adrenal gland of mice between the groups C and M. However, the weight of seminal vesicle decreased when expressed in g/100 g body weight in the group M. Epididymal sperm concentration, motility, morphology, and sperm head number were not affected by milk.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Cow's milk has adverse effects on the reproductive system in ICR male mice. Further studies are needed to clarify the specific effects of milk on reproductive health.</p>

Correlation between the arsenic concentrations in the air and the SMR of lung cancer

<p><b>OBJECTIVES</b>To verify whether the concentrations of arsenic (As) and its compounds in the air (referred to here as arsenic concentrations) affect the standardized mortality ratio (SMR) associated with lung cancer.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Using monitoring survey data on arsenic concentrations published by the Ministry of the Environment, we classified the municipalities for which arsenic concentrations were measured (measured municipalities) into ten groups according to the average arsenic concentration. We then determined the SMR of lung cancer, stomach cancer, pneumonia, cerebrovascular disease and cardiac disease for each group using socio-demographic data, such as the national census and demographic trends. The relationships between these factors were compared and investigated by statistical means.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>No effect of arsenic concentrations on stomach cancer, cerebrovascular disease or cardiac disease was observed, and while significant differences in pneumonia were observed among several of the male subjects, there were no significant effects of arsenic concentration. However, lung cancer and arsenic concentration showed a significantly positive correlation for both males and females (males: Spearman r = 0.709, P < 0.05; females: Spearman r = 0.758, P < 0.05). The probability of type alpha error was less than 5% in areas with more than 1.77 ng As/m(3) (71st percentile) and less than 1% in areas with more than 2.70 ng As/m(3) (91st percentile). These results confirm that the SMR of lung cancer tends to be higher than the national average in areas of higher arsenic concentrations.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>The SMR of lung cancer is significantly higher in areas with arsenic concentrations of 1.77 ng/m(3) or more.</p>

Seroprevalences ofHelicobacter pylori infection and chronic atrophic gastritis in the united Republic of Tanzania and the Dominican Republic

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>The aim of this survey was to compare the seroprevalences ofHelicobacter Pylori (H. pylori) and chronic atrophic gastritis (CAG) in Tanzania and the Dominican Republic, both of which are tropical countries, and thereafter compare the prevalences in Tanzania and the Dominican Republic with prevalences from our previous studies done in Japan (1991) and China (1996/97).</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Community-based study in which 573 inhabitants of Tanzania and 1,215 inhabitants of the Dominican Republic answered detailed questionnaires on upper digestive tract diseases, and then underwent screening for gastric cancer by serum pepsinogen and testing for antibody toH. pylori.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>After adjusting to the 'Age-Standardized Rate' (ASR) using the world population in 1995, the seroprevalences ofH. pylori infection in male and female subjects for Tanzania (m=85.3% & f=88.2%) were very high compared to those for the Dominican Republic (m=63.5% & f=62.4%) and Japan (m=62.0% & f=46.8%), and similar to those of China (m=78.0% & f=77.3%). Also, the agestandardized prevalences of CAG in males and females for Tanzania (m-0.237& f=0.458). were higher than those of the Dominican Republic (m=0.168 & f=0.211) and China (m=0.111 & f=0.107) and compared well with those of Japan (m=0.266 & f=0.352).</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>Although Tanzania and the Dominican Republic are both developing countries, Tanzania had a very high age-standardized prevalence ofH. pylori and CAG compared to that of the Dominican Republic, which showed a trend similar to that of Japan.</p>

EFFECTS OF ANKLE PLANTAR AND DORSAL FLEXION ON LOWER EXTREMITIES' DYNAMICS AND CRANK TORQUE IN PEDALING / 体力科学

The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of ankle plantar and dorsal flexion on the lower extremities' dynamics and crank torque in pedaling movements. Twelve males (6 cyclists and 6 non-cyclists) pedaled at the rate of 90 and 120 rpm for a power output of 200W. Subjects were divided into two groups according to the different ankle movement patterns in one crank rotation. The first group (Gr1) showed a one time plantar and dorsal flexion movement in one rotation. The second group (Gr2) showed two plantar and dorsal flexion movements in one rotation. It was assumed that the exertion of positive plantar flexor power in the upstroke phase could provide the difference of the ankle movement patterns. The following results were shown in Gr2 as compared with Grl. 1) The positive crank torque time ratio was extended due to dorsal flexor torque produced near the top dead center. 2) Continuous muscle contraction of the same muscle was avoided and reduction in a burden was brought about due to plantar flexion in the upstroke phase. 3) Reduction of hip extensor torque was shown. These results suggest that two dorsal and plantar flexion movements in one rotation in pedaling could be a more effective pattern in terms of muscle work.

Seroprevalences of \it{Helicobacter pylori} Infection and Chronic Atrophic Gastritis in the United Republic of Tanzania and the Dominican Republic

Objective: The aim of this survey was to compare the seroprevalences of Helicobacter Pylori (H. pylori) and chronic atrophic gastritis (CAG) in Tanzania and the Dominican Republic, both of which are tropical countries, and thereafter compare the prevalences in Tanzania and the Dominican Republic with prevalences from our previous studies done in Japan (1991) and China (1996/97). Methods: Community-based study in which 573 inhabitants of Tanzania and 1,215 inhabitants of the Dominican Republic answered detailed questionnaires on upper digestive tract diseases, and then underwent screening for gastric cancer by serum pepsinogen and testing for antibody to H. pylori. Results: After adjusting to the ‘Age-Standardized Rate’ (ASR) using the world population in 1995, the seroprevalences of H. pylori infection in male and female subjects for Tanzania (m=85.3% & f=88.2%) were very high compared to those for the Dominican Republic (m=63.5% & f=62.4%) and Japan (m=62.0% & f=46.8%), and similar to those of China (m=78.0% & f=77.3%). Also, the age-standardized prevalences of CAG in males and females for Tanzania (m=0.237 & f=0.458) were higher than those of the Dominican Republic (m=0.168 & f=0.211) and China (m=0.111 & f=0.107) and compared well with those of Japan (m=0.266 & f=0.352). Conclusions: Although Tanzania and the Dominican Republic are both developing countries, Tanzania had a very high age-standardized prevalence of H. pylori and CAG compared to that of the Dominican Republic, which showed a trend similar to that of Japan.