The Influence of Olfactory Stimulation by Essential Oils on Salivary Alpha-Amylase Activity and State Anxiety Level / 日本補完代替医療学会誌

It is considered that olfactory stimulation by fragrance inhalation is one of the methods of relaxation. We examined the possibility by using fragrance inhalation essential oils, such as sweet orange oil and peppermint oil. We measured salivary alpha-amylase activity and state anxiety levels in undergraduate students before and after inhalation. Salivary alpha-amylase activity levels have been utilized to assess the sympathetic nervous activity.<br> Our results indicate that both salivary alpha-amylase activity and state anxiety levels are significantly reduced after fragrance inhalation of the sweet orange oil. Consequently, our research suggests that sweet orange essential oil has a relaxation effect.<br>

Ovarian cancer mortality among women aged 40-79 years in relation to reproductive factors and body mass index: latest evidence from the Japan Collaborative Cohort study / 부인종양

OBJECTIVE: This study mainly aimed to investigate the association of ovarian cancer mortality with reproductive factors and body mass index among Japanese women aged 40-79 years. METHODS: The source of the data was the Japan Collaborative Cohort (JACC) study which covered the period of 1988 to 2009. A representative sample of 64,185 women was used. Cox model was used to estimate the relative risk (RR) and 95% confidence interval (CI). RESULTS: The total number of ovarian cancer deaths was 98, with a mortality rate of 9.30 per 100,000 person-years. Women with single marital status revealed significantly higher age-adjusted RR (RR, 4.11; 95% CI, 1.66 to 10.23; p=0.005) as compared to married women. The effect of single marital status was stronger among older women aged 50+ years (RR, 4.58; 95% CI, 1.65 to 12.72; p=0.003) than younger women. An elevated risk was found for both nulliparous and nullipregnant women. Similarly, an increased risk of ovarian cancer mortality was estimated among overweight among aged 50 years or less. CONCLUSION: Out of many factors only single marital status indicated a higher risk for ovarian cancer mortality. All other factors provided inconclusive results, which imply further epidemiological investigations.

Lifestyle-Related Risk Factors for Total and Cancer Mortality in Men and Women

We conducted a 14−year follow−up study to analyze the hazard ratio(HR) of mortality regarding lifestyle−related factors in Saga Prefecture, Japan. The subjects included 2, 170 people, who were randomly selected from men and women aged from 40 to 69 years old, and who also completed the standardized questionnaire on lifestyle in 1983. Information about death and corresponding data were obtained either by mail and/or through the city offices in 1997. We found that a lower body weight, a lower physical fitness level, not consuming a balanced diet, and cigarette smoking to be significantly elevated risks for all−causes of death in males after adjustment by age and health status. In addition, these results did not change even after excluding subjects for early death. The HR of the female subjects who quit smoking was significantly high, although it changed to insignificant after excluding subjects for early death. These results suggested that being underweight might be an index of a positive risk of death, while maintaining a higher physical fitness level, being careful to consume a more balanced diet, and non smoking all appear to be indexes of a negative risk of death. In addition, these results might also be considered good evidence for improving poor health habits in health promotion activities.