ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: The present study was designed to find useful markers for detecting the severity of smoking effects on the human body from conventional laboratory tests used in community health check-ups. METHODS: The subjects were 18,576 persons who visited Tokai University Hospital Health Check Clinic between January 5, 2000, and December 28, 2000. The data on their life-style information and laboratory tests were analyzed by multiple regression analysis and logistic analysis. RESULTS: White blood cell counts (WBC), the numbers of lymphocytes (Ly), hemoglobin concentration (Hb), mean corpuscular volume of red blood cells (MCV), and carcinoembriogenic antigen (CEA) were positively correlated with numbers of cigarettes consumed, while high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) was negatively correlated, with statistically significant difference. Although the relationship between the grade of smoking habit and MCV, HDL-C and CEA was affected by alcohol intake, the WBC, MCV, HDL-C and CEA were shown to be the grading index for smoking effect regardless of drinking habit. Logistic analysis indicated that an accumulation of these marker abnormalities was not useful for differentiating smokers from non-smokers as compared with a single marker abnormality. CONCLUSION: WBC, MCV, HDL-C and CEA can be the grading index for smoking effect. Abnormalities in one or some of those values observed in healthy smokers indicate some effects of smoking on their bodies.
Subject(s)
Biomarkers/metabolism , Clinical Laboratory Techniques , Smoking/blood , Adult , Aged , Alcohol Drinking , Blood Chemical Analysis , Diagnostic Tests, Routine , Female , Humans , Life Style , Male , Middle Aged , Regression AnalysisABSTRACT
A total of 67,214 men participated in screening for prostate cancer (PC) using serum prostate-specific antigen (PSA) from April 1996 to March 2003 at Tokai University Hospital. In 3.5% (2330 / 67,214) of the men, an elevated PSA level (> 4.0 ng/ml) was found and 68.1% (1586/2330) of these subjects were examined at our Urological Outpatient Clinic. Re-testing of PSA showed that 8.4% (133/1586) had a normal level. Needle biopsy of the prostate was performed in 45.2% (633/1453) of the remaining men. As a result, 142 PCs were found and the detection rate was 0.2% (142 / 67,214). The age of the patients with PC was over 50 years. During this period, 135 individuals with voiding dysfunction were also diagnosed as having PC. Comparison of the patients detected by screening with those found at the outpatient clinic revealed significant differences of the age (64.8 vs. 71.9 years, p < 0.0001), serum PSA level (14.6 vs. 154.9 ng/ml, p < 0.0001), and clinical stage (p < 0.0001). In conclusion, a health screening program that includes serum PSA testing is useful for detection of PC at an earlier stage and in younger individuals. We recommend that all men aged 50 years or older undergo testing for PSA to detect PC at an early stage.
