We studied the thyroid dysfunction occurrence in the adult people who went through health examinations in Kutchan Kosei General Hospital between April 2, 2007 and March 31, 2008.Enrolled in this study were 1,647 adult men and 1,104 adult women. However, 17 men and 51 women were excluded from the study because they had histories of thyroid diseases.Serum FT3 and FT4 values were lower in women than in men. Likewise, serum TSH values for women were higher than those for men.Hypothyroidism (low serum FT3 and FT4 levels) occurred more frequently in women than in men. More women than men showed serum TSH values over 49.1μU/ml.
Human Females ; Male population group ; Adult ; Serum ; Desiccated thyroid

The estimated prevalence of sleep-disordered breathing (SDB) with an apnea-hypopnea index (AHI) of 5 or higher was 24 percent for men, and 4 percent of men in the middle-aged work force meet the minimal diagnostic criteria for the sleep apnea syndrome (SAS) (SDB with daytime hypersomnolence). However, there are few published data about this problem in our country.A random sample of 208 men 30 to 76 years old who were staying overnight for a complete physical examination were the subjects of this study. A portable sleep data acquisition device was used to determine the frequency of episodes of apnea and hypa-pnea in them. The prevalence of SDB was worked out and the clinical significance was discussed.The estimated prevalence of SDB was 76.4 percent and that of SAS was 12.5 percent. Compared with subjects with lower AHI values, those with higher levels of SDB and AHI included a significantly large number of individuals of advanced age and with hypertension, although their body mass index, Epworth sleepiness scale, and values of total cholesterol and triglycerides were not significantly high.These data revealed a remarkable high incidence of SDB in our country and suggested an association of SDB with risk factors of cardio-vascular events. We need a regular screening for sleep disorders by polysomnography or the portable device at least.
percent ; Prevalence aspects ; Sleep Apnea Syndromes ; Male population group ; SAS

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.
Cessation of life ; Life Style ; Male population group ; Related ; Total

Disease risk among elderly smokers is considered to be doubled due to their smoking habits and age as compared with elderly non-smokers. The investigators conducted risk assessments of smoking for respiratory symptoms among elderly people.A questionnaire survey on smoking habits and respiratory symptoms was conducted among 3, 000 persons of 56 years of age and over who were randomly selected from suburban residents in a prefecture in Japan in October, 1997. A total 1, 954 or 65.1% of individuals responded, consisting of 42.8% for men and 57.2% for women, with an average age of 73.6 years.In addition to descriptive analysis, multiple logistic regression analysis was conducted. The results are summarized as follows:Smokers accounted for 28.1% of men and 3.6% of women. Among all age-groups, the highest rate of smokers was observed in men of 56-69 years old (34.7%) which was lower than the national average rate for the 60-69 year-old group (56.1% of men and 14.5% of women in ‘97). The odds ratios and 95 percent confidence interval (95%CI) for “having phlegm every day” and “having phlegm for more than 4 days a week” among smokers were 2.06 (95%CI=1.41-3.01) and 2.77(95%CI=1.80-4.27). Significantly higher odds ratios among smokers were also observed for “wheezing” and “shortness of breath when hurrying”.Odds ratios for some respiratory symptoms including “having phlegm for more than 4 days per week” among inhalers were significantly high compared with non-smokers, whereas those among non-inhalers were not significantly different from 1.0.Odds ratios for symptoms of phlegm and wheezing were significantly higher (Odds ratio ≥2.0) among heavy smokers (Brinkman Index [B. I.] >900) compared to non-smokers, while odds ratios of the same symptoms were not different from 1.0 among light smokers (B.I. ≤500).
symptoms <1> ; Respiratory ; Smoking ; Elderly ; Male population group

Objective: The diagnostic criteria for the metabolic syndrome (MetS) were published in Japan in April 2005. However, there have been no large-scale studies in rural areas to confirm these criteria. We examined the prevalence of MetS in subjects who had undergone a routine medical health checkup at our hospital, located in a rural area. This data was used to investigate the appropriateness of the diagnostic criteria for MetS.Subjects and Methods: The MetS status was examined retrospectively in 2340 subjects (1408 men, 932 women ; mean age 49.6 ± 9.7 years) who underwent a routine medical health checkup at our hospital between April 2004 and March 2005.Results: Of the 1408 men and 932 women, 209 men (14.8%) and 23 women (2.5%) were diagnosed with MetS. Forty-four men (3.1%) and 4 women (0.4%) met all three diagnostic criteria for metabolic disorders. In the female group, only 8.7% of the 932 women met the waist circumference criterion of ≥90 cm. Because this waist circumference criterion was used during the first screening but was not met by most of the women, they were eliminated from our study. Using receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis, the cutoff values for waist circumference were 85.0 cm (sensitivity 0.750, specificity 0.564) in men and 79.5 cm (sensitivity 0.787, specificity 0.709) in women. If the women's waist circumference criterion had been set at the value of ≥79.5 cm, this would have resulted in 48 (5.2%) women meeting the criterion.Conclusion: From the viewpoint of preventive medicine, the Japanese male MetS diagnostic criteria are fairly appropriate. However, for the women, the waist circumference criterion of ≥90 cm has been set too high and was not met by most of the female subjects. Therefore, the Japanese MetS criteria for women, particularly the cutoff value for waist circumference, requires further verification.
Human Females ; Male population group ; diagnostic criteria ; Japanese language ; Health

parasitic ; Infection as complication of medical care ; Gays ; Syndrome ; Male population group

OBJECTIVETo analyze the geographic distribution and 10 years' change of spermarche in Chinese boys of Hangroup aged 11 - 18.

METHODSCalculate the average age of spermarche of Chinese boys who participated in National Physical Fitness and Health Surveillance in 2005 and 1995. The sample size of boys was 69 320 in 2005, 68 992 in 1995 National Physical Fitness and Health Surveillance, respectively. The geographic distribution of Chinese boys were categorized into 6 areas as north, northeast, east, south central, southwest and northwest by administrative divisions.

RESULTSThe average ages at spermarche were 13.98 and 14.22 years old for urban and rural boys in 2005, respectively. The average ages at spermarche were 13.57 and 13.72 years old for urban and rural boys who living in southwest of China. And the average ages at spermarche were 14.18 and 14.39 years old for urban boys who lived in northwest of China, and rural boys who lived in south central of China, respectively. The average age of spermarche of the top 5 provinces were Chongqing (13.28), Guizhou (13.47), Hainan (13.47), Sichuan (13.56) and Tianjin (13.61); and the last 5 provinces were Hubei (15.30), Qinghai (15.13), Liaoning (14.75), Guangxi (14.68) and Shanghai (14.55). The average ages of spermarche were 14.43 and 14.77 years old for urban and rural boys in 1995, respectively, and thus the ages of spermarche in 2005 were 0.45 and 0.55 years earlier than that of urban and rural boys in 1995.

CONCLUSIONThere was a large variation among different geographic areas. The onset of spermarche was generally earlier in urban than in rural boys, the earliest in southwest of China, and the latest in northwest and south central of China. Significant decline trend of age at spermarche could be found in Chinese boys, especially in rural areas.

Adolescent ; Age of Onset ; Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; Child ; China ; epidemiology ; Ejaculation ; Humans ; Male ; Puberty ; Rural Population ; Sexual Maturation ; Urban Population

OBJECTIVETo explore the knowledge, attitude and behavior of salt reduction among Chinese adults aged over 18 years old in 2010.

METHODSA total of 96 916 adults aged over 18 were recruited from 162 surveillance points in 2010, applying multi-stage stratified cluster random sampling method.Information about subjects salt reduction related knowledge, attitude and behavior were collected by face-to-face interview. After performing complex weighted analysis, the awareness, willingness and behavior rates were compared by different genders, age groups, urban, rural and different regions.

RESULTSThe unweighted salt reduction rate of the awareness, willingness and behavior among Chinese adults were 63.0%, 84.5% and 44.5%. After being weighted, the awareness rate was 62.9%, the awareness rate difference was not significant between males (62.4%) and females (63.4%) (χ(2) = 1.66, P > 0.05), but the urban areas (77.1%) were significantly higher than the rural areas (56.3%) (χ(2) = 85.11, P < 0.01) . The difference among different ages was significant (χ(2) = 228.68, P < 0.01) with descending order in 18-44, 45-59 and ≥ 60 years old (67.8%, 59.8%, 50.1%, respectively). The difference among different regions was not significant (χ(2) = 9.82, P < 0.01) in eastern, central and western China (68.2%, 61.3%, 57.1%, respectively). After being weighted, the willingness rate was 83.8%, the willingness rate in females (85.8%) was significantly higher than that in males (81.9%) (χ(2) = 61.92, P < 0.01) , and the urban areas (87.1%) were significantly higher than the rural areas (82.3%) (χ(2) = 15.49, P < 0.01) . The difference among different ages was significant (χ(2) = 74.50, P < 0.01) with descending order in 18-44, 45-59 and ≥ 60 years old (85.3%, 83.1%, 79.6%, respectively). The difference was not significant (χ(2) = 0.58, P > 0.05) among eastern, central and western China (84.3%, 84.0%, 82.9%, respectively). After being weighted, the behavior rate of salt reduction was 42.2%, the behavior rate in females (45.6%) was significantly higher than that in males (38.8%) (χ(2) = 107.74, P < 0.01), and urban areas (56.5%) were significantly higher than the rural areas (35.6%) (χ(2) = 74.38, P < 0.01) . The difference was not significant (χ(2) = 4.19, P > 0.05) among 18-44, 45-59 and ≥ 60 years old(41.5%, 43.6%, 42.2%, respectively). The behavior rate of salt reduction difference in eastern China(47.8%) was significantly higher than that in central (38.9%) and western (38.0%) (χ(2) = 7.22, P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONSThe rate of willingness to reduce salt is higher, but the awareness rate and the behavior rate of salt reduction are not high, especially among the population who are from rural area, or who are from central and western China.

Adult ; Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; China ; Diet, Sodium-Restricted ; Female ; Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice ; Humans ; Male ; Rural Population ; Urban Population

OBJECTIVETo investigate the age, gender and region specified milk consumption and its changing trends of Chinese 18 - 44 years old adults in 9 provinces (autonomous region) from 1991 to 2006.

METHODSThe data of 18 - 44 aged old adults investigated in Chinese Health and Nutrition Survey from 1991 to 2006 in 9 provinces (autonomous region) were utilized. The numbers of the subjects selected in 1991, 1993, 1997, 2000, 2004 and 2006 were 5593, 5491, 5334, 4188 and 3908, respectively. Changes of the percentage of milk consumption, average intake of daily milk and dietary calcium intake were analyzed across different groups of gender, income levels, and areas.

RESULTSThere was an increasing trend in the percentage of milk consumption and daily intake of milk from 1991 to 2006. The average percentage of Chinese adult milk consumption went up from 2.2% (123/5593) in 1991 to 7.6% (297/3908) in 2006 (Z = -22.16, P < 0.01). Specifically, urban adult and rural adult showed significant increase in the percentages from 9.7% (80/823) to 23.7% (112/472) (Z = -12.81, P < 0.01) and 0.1% (2/2937) to 1.8% (36/1987) (Z = -9.21, P < 0.01) respectively. Percentages of adult who ever drank milk at top income level and bottom income level increased from 4.7% (95/2006) to 14.6% (200/1373) (Z = -17.36, P < 0.01) and from 0.1% (2/1748) to 2.4% (28/1171) (Z = -9.58, P < 0.01), respectively. Meanwhile, the average daily intake of milk increased from (3.6 ± 24.6) g/d in 1991 to (11.8 ± 51.4) g/d in 2006 (F = 67.07, P < 0.01). The daily milk consumption among top income level adults and bottom income level adults increased from (8.5 ± 50.9) g/d to (23.1 ± 71.5) g/d and from (0.2 ± 6.5) g/d to (3.3 ± 23.5) g/d (F = 13.90, P < 0.01), respectively. From 1991 to 2006, milk consumers significantly promoted their percentage of achieving the Chinese dietary reference intake on calcium (800 mg/d) from 6.5% (8/123) to 12.8% (38/297) (Z = -1.67, P < 0.05), whereas this percentage increased from 1.6% (38/5470) to 3.6% (130/3611) among milk non-consumers (Z = -5.66, P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONChinese adult milk intake still remains in quite low level, and the situation of milk consumption among rural adults requires further promotion.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Animals ; Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; Calcium, Dietary ; analysis ; China ; Feeding Behavior ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Milk ; Nutrition Surveys ; Rural Population ; Suburban Population ; Urban Population ; Young Adult

The report of the M. pyramidalis was studied in 51 cadavers of Korean adults (male 33, female 18). Origin, insertion and number of this muscle were observed, and the length and breadth were also measured. The results were as follows : 1. The right pyramidal muscle was absent in one male cadaver, and the left pyramidal muscle was absent in two male cadavers. 2. In one male cadaver, pyramidal muscles of both sides had bifurcated origin. 3. In Korean adults, the average length of this muscle was 6.72cm in right, 7.05cm in left, and the breadth was about 2.0cm in both sides. The morphological index was 31.10 in right, and 29.55 in left. 4. In Korean male, the average length of this muscle was 1.93cm in right, 7.42cm in left, and the breadth was 1.93cm in right and 1.92cm in left. The morphological index was 28.70 in right and 26.58 in left. 5. In Korean female, the average length was 6.26cm in right, 6.38cm in left. and the breadth was 2.13cm in right and 2.12cm in left. The morphological index was 35.57 in right and 34.63 in left. 6. Compared with other human races, the pyramidal muscle was less frequently wanting in Asians (3.9%), including the Korean adults, than wanting in European (19.9%), American Whites (20.4%) and Negroes (15.1%). 7. The morphological index of this muscle was little differences existing in male of the human races, but this index was higher in Korean female (35.0) than in Japanese female (24.4) and in American female Whites (25.8). The morphological index was 32.3 in American female Negroes.
Adult* ; African Continental Ancestry Group ; Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; Cadaver ; Continental Population Groups ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Muscles