The Japanese regulatory system of "Foods for Specified Health Use (FOSHU)" was set up to approve the statements made on food labels concerning the effect of the food on the human body in 1991 and that of "Foods with Nutrient Function Claims (FNFC)" standardized the nutrient function claims of vitamins and minerals in 2001. The International guideline of the Nutrient Function Claim, the Other Functional Claim and the Disease Risk Reduction Claims were adopted by the Codex Committee in 2004. The Structure/Function Claim, which is similar to the Other Function Claim, was enacted by the Dietary Supplement Health and Education Act in the U.S in 1994. Most of the statements of the Japanese FOSHU are close to the category of Structure/Function Claims in the U.S. or the Other function claim in Codex. The health claim on foods should always be based on scientific evidence and be in harmony with international standards.

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

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

In the studies of physical motion analysis the multiple photographic method with a stroboscope or the fast motion picture which has been used, are not sufficient to pursue a motion of some kinds of sports and of some hidden physical spot only from one direction and difficult to synchronize picture obtaind from three direction.
To make use of electrical engineering from the points of Physiology and Kinesiology, it is worthy of pursuing a physical motion on three dimensions, up & down, right & left and before & behind at once, and furthermore, physiological phenomena in electrocardiogram and electromyogram with connection to the above analyzer.
For that purpose a physical locomotion pursuit analyzer (SN-type, refered to PLPA later on) was devised.
The present devised analyzer is composed of a three dimensions-accelerometor in a gyroscope, a preamplifier, a integration amplifier and a pen-writing recorder.
As already known in the principle of physics, velocity can be obtained by single integration of acceleration rate and displacement by double integration of a acceleration rate.
In above the PLPA, therefore, acceleration rate, velocity and displacement, each of three dimensions can be determined. Capacity of the present analyzer was as follows; Frequency rate : 1.5-20.0 HZ (Static accelerated component under 1.5 HZ was cut by differentiation circuit of DC-cut), time constant of electrical integration circuit : about 0.2sec.
In the present report the outline of PLPA and some data of our experiments obtained by use of it were dealt.
The problems of the telemetering system of this analyzer and digital exhibition by connection to computer require further study.

Since manifestation of exercise proteinuria was reported by Leube (1878), the nature of exercise urinary protein has been extensively studied. The physiological mechanisms of increased excretion of urinary protein during and after exercise still remain to be obscured. The investigation presented here, were performed for the purpose of knowing the decreasing rate of soccer players body weight in each position during the soccer game, which was considered as a prolonged heavy exercise, of identifing the excretion of exercise proteinuria after performance of the game, and of studying the relation among urinary total protein at that time and its fraction in disc-electrophoresis.
The protein fractions of urine by disc-electrophoresis, compared with serum, manifested slight albumin fraction at rest, but it much increased after the game, and furthermore α₁-, α₂-globulin, transf errin and γ-globulin were observed.
The decreasing rate of body weight, total protein level and its albumin fraction mutually have the parallel relationship. Urine albumin fraction could have a relation to the decrease of body weight of athlete in each position rather than total protein.
These results mentioned above would suggest the exsistence of some relationship between the total volume of exercise and excretion of urine protein, especially albumin.

Taking charge of in-vitro fertilization and embryo transfer in the laboratory per se amounts to a form of clinical support. To infertile patients, it would be of great benefit if laboratory technicians make direct contact with them and give a full account of the procedure.The apprehensions entertained by them regarding infertility treatment would be removed by hearing what they want to know.In hopes of dispelling the patients' fears and doubts, we have recently started to dialogue with the patients. The face-to-face interview has made us feel confident in what we are doing aside from the lab work and feel a sense of responsibility. Moreover, we have become aware of the need to further devote ourselves to reproductive medicine in order to improve the treatment outcome.One third of the questions frequently asked by patients concerns the quality of embryos and the risk of birth defects, which are issues that challenge us involved in reproductive medicine. To give answers to these and other questions most aptly, it is necessary to share all the up-to-date information, data and knowledge among members of the staff concerned.As the tasks to be grappled with fromnow on, there are problems with unsuccessful cases after repeated IVF trials and an increasing number of patients rangingin age from 45 to 49 years. Where the infertility treatment stops is yet to bedecided in the case of elder women.For providing information and psychological support sought by patients, we keenly felt that there is a necessity to establish a closer collaborative inter-departmental relationship.
Clinical ; Fertilization ; Laboratory culture ; Support ; therapeutic aspects

OBJECTIVESThe reliability of surveys on smoking habits based on questionnaires was investigated, using the urinary cotinine content as an objective index.

METHODSThe 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.

RESULTSThe 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.

CONCLUSIONSThe 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.

The Japanese Society of Hepato-Biliary-Pancreatic Surgery launched the clinical practice guidelines for the management of biliary tract cancers (cholangiocarcinoma, gallbladder cancer, and ampullary cancer) in 2007, then published the 2nd version in 2014. In this 3rd version, clinical questions (CQs) were proposed on six topics. The recommendation, grade for recommendation, and statement for each CQ were discussed and finalized by an evidence-based approach. Recommendations were graded as grade 1 (strong) or grade 2 (weak) according to the concepts of the grading of recommendations assessment, development, and evaluation system. The 31 CQs covered the six topics: (1) prophylactic treatment, (2) diagnosis, (3) biliary drainage, (4) surgical treatment, (5) chemotherapy, and (6) radiation therapy. In the 31 CQs, 14 recommendations were rated strong and 14 recommendations weak. The remaining three CQs had no recommendation. Each CQ includes a statement of how the recommendations were graded. This latest guideline provides recommendations for important clinical aspects based on evidence. Future collaboration with the cancer registry will be key for assessing the guidelines and establishing new evidence.