Several studies have shown that low cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) or heavy alcohol consumption is risks of total or certain types of cancer death. However, the combined influence of CRF and drinking habits on total cancer mortality is not clear. The purpose of this study was to investigate the joint effect of CRF and drinking habits on total cancer mortality among Japanese men. We evaluated the CRF and drinking habits on risk of total cancer mortality in 8,760 Japanese men (age: 19-59 yr) who were given a submaximal exercise test, a medical examination test, and questionnaires on their health habits. CRF was measured using a cycle ergometer test, and the men were classified into two categories by CRF levels based on the reference value of CRF (R-CRF) in “Physical Activity Reference for Health Promotion 2013” (Under R-CRF and Over R-CRF). Also, the men were assigned to Non Drinking, Moderate Drinking, and Heavy Drinking categories. There were 178 cancer deaths during the 20-yr follow-up period. Relative risk and 95% confidence intervals for total cancer mortality were obtained using the Cox proportional hazards model while adjusting for age, body mass index, systolic blood pressure, and smoking habits. Using the Under R-CRF & Heavy Drinking group as reference, the relative risk and 95% confidence intervals were 0.37 (0.16–0.85) for the Over R-CRF & Non Drinking group. This result suggests that Japanese male with a high CRF and a low drinking habit have a lower risk of total cancer mortality.

Three human taeniid species, Taenia solium, Taenia saginata and Taenia asiatica are distributed in Indonesia. A field survey conducted in Bali from 2002 to 2006 showed that the prevalence of taeniasis was highly variable among four districts (1.1-27.5%), and only two cysticercosis cases due to T. solium infection were detected. All tapeworms (n = 66) expelled from 66 tapeworm carriers were confirmed to be T. saginata by mitochondrial DNA analysis. A total prevalence of 13.0% (19⁄146) for T. solium taeniasis was found in Jayawijaya District, Papua (Irian Jaya). It included 14 of 88 (15.9%) in 1999 and 5 of 58 (8.6%) in 2001, while the seroprevalence of cysticercosis in humans by sub-district in Papua ranged from 0.0% in a non-endemic area to 48.5% in an endemic area from 1996 to 2005. The seroprevalence of cysticercosis in pigs and dogs in Jayawijaya ranged from 8.5% to 70.4% (1998-1999) and 4.9% to 33.3% (2000-2002), respectively. A 2003-2006 survey of 371 local people in Samosir island, north Sumatra revealed 6 of 240 (2.5%) to be infected with T. asiatica; 2 of 58 (3.4%) and 4 of 182 (2.2%) cases were detected in 2003 and 2005, respectively. This brief review summarizes the present situation of taeniasis and cysticercosis, the distribution of three human taeniid species, and the risk factors⁄transmission aspects of these tapeworm infections in Bali, Papua, and north Sumatra regions of Indonesia.