Objectives: The reliability of surveys on smoking habits based on questionnaires was investigated, using the urinary cotinine content as an objective index. Methods: The subjects tested were 2,849 office workers of middle age, who responded to questions concerning their smoking status, and also their urinary cotinine was measured by the HPLC method. Results: The boundary value between smokers and non-smokers, determined by the histogram independent of the questionnaire, was 63.1 and 79.4 ng/mg of creatinine for males and females, respectively. The rate of misclassification of the non-smokers and former smokers as smokers was 1.3% for males and 1.8% for females, whereas that of current smokers as non-smokers was 6.3% and 2.1%. We also assessed the effect of smoke inhalation on the urinary cotinine value, and found a significant difference for males in the cotinine value by the presence of inhalation and also its depth. Conclusions: The rate of misclassification in this study was considered to be comparatively low. Several studies have also assessed the reliability of the questionnaire on smoking habits, and found different misclassification rates, indicating the dependence on the race and number of subjects tested. To our knowledge, there were only a few surveys on smoking among large groups, particularly in Japan, such as this one, therefore the results obtained in this study are meaningful.
Smoking ; Cotinine ; Indexes ; seconds ; Urine

The post-operatve course of amputees is poorly documented. This cross-sectional survey was unertaken to determine functional outcomes of 213 patients who had undergone either a below-knee or above-knee amputation from 2000 to 2002 in a state-hospital setting. The study comprises a self-constructed questionnaire and interview conducted by phone. Of the 213 amputees, 41 out of 61 documented telephone numbers of the patients were useful for contact. Only 30 amputees were available for the study as the remaining 11 had passed away. Included in the questionnaire was the modified Barthel Index, a measurement to assess the amputees' ability to carry out activities of daily living (ADL). It contains ten questions pertaining to ADL with a total score of 20 points. Two-thirds of the respondents (67%) use their prosthesis for less than six hours per day. The Barthel Index of 30 patients ranged from 9-20 (mean 17.7). However, the mean Barthel Index in those with and without prosthesis was 18.4 and 15.2 respectively, but this difference was not significant. Half of the respondents were unable to maintain their pre-amputation jobs, while the remaining 50% were still able to work. Forty seven percent of amputees took less than a year to return to their activities, while 33% took between one to two years. Regarding the adequacy of preamputation information provided by the doctors, 73% amputees responded in the affirmative, while 27% felt otherwise. Amputees were still facing substantial disabilities following major amputation of the lower limb. Although 80% of respondents surveyed own prosthesis, the full use of prosthesis is suboptimal due to prosthetic-related problems. Most amputees had a good functional outcome based on the modified Barthel Index. Some amputees were unhappy as they felt that they were insufficiently informed regarding post-amputation expectation prior to the amputation. Despite good support from family, the community support for amputees is still lacking.
Amputation ; Lower Extremity ; Indexes ; Prosthesis Implantation ; Surveys

Background: Diabetes is a common chronic glucide metabolic disorder affecting hundreds of millions of people around the world. In Vietnam, the number of people with risk of type 2 diabetes is approximately 5 million. \r\n', u'Objectives: To discover the changes of blood biochemical parameters and mean body mass index (SMIJ waist circumference in individuals with diabetic risk factors). \r\n', u'Method: 95 people with diabetic risk factors were selected by screening. One group was in Ngoc Trao or Phu Son wards (n=52) and other group was in Sa Dinh ward (n=43). \r\n', u'Results: In Ngoc Trao and Phu Son wards: the prevalence of blood glucose, cholesterol triglyceride, HDL, LDL disorders and SMI>23 were 65.3%, 32.7%, 46.2%, 1.9%, 36.5%, 61.5%, respectively. In Sa Dinh ward: those were 62.8%, 29.7%, 44.2%, 2.3%, 34.9% and 67.4%, respectively. \r\n', u'Conclusion: Disorders of blood biochemical parameters accounted for very high rate in individuals with diabetic risk factors and could be considered main risk factors. \r\n', u'
Blood biochemical parameters ; anthropometric indexes ; type 2 diabetes

The purpose of this report was to evaluate the effect of oral appliances (ORAP) on patients with obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS) patients and to examine problem with ORAP therapy. Five patients (3 men and 2 women) who had OSAS were treated by ORAP therapy. Each patient underwent polysomnography before and after ORAP therapy. Percutaneous arterial oxygen saturation (SpO2) and Apnea Hypopnea Index (AHI) were measured and were compared.SpO2 levels were decreased and AHI figures were increased after ORAP therapy. The results indicated ORAP therapy was an effective treatment for OSAS.
Therapeutic procedure ; Sleep Apnea, Obstructive ; Oral ; Effective ; Indexes