Hayato Uchida

Anthropometric assessment is a simple, safe, and cost-efficient method to examine the health status of individuals. The Japanese obesity classification based on the sum of two skin folds (Sigma2SF) was proposed nearly 40 years ago, therefore its applicability to Japanese living today is unknown. The current study aimed to determine Sigma2SF cut-off values that correspond to percent body fat (%BF) and BMI values using two datasets from young Japanese adults (233 males and 139 females). Using regression analysis, Sigma2SF and height-corrected Sigma2SF (HtSigma2SF) values that correspond to %BF of 20, 25, and 30% for males and 30, 35, and 40% for females were determined. In addition, cut-off values of both Sigma2SF and HtSigma2SF that correspond to BMI values of 23 kg/m2, 25 kg/m2 and 30 kg/m2 were determined. In comparison with the original Sigma2SF values, the proposed values are smaller by about 10 mm at maximum. The proposed values show an improvement in sensitivity from about 25% to above 90% to identify individuals with > or =20% body fat in males and > or =30% body fat in females with high specificity of about 95% in both genders. The results indicate that the original Sigma2SF cut-off values to screen obese individuals cannot be applied to young Japanese adults living today and modification is required. Application of the proposed values may assist screening in the clinical setting.

OBJECTIVE: To test the a priori hypothesis that increase or maintenance of the level of cognitive activity would be independently associated with a subsequent beneficial impact (i.e. improvement or maintenance) on instrumental activity of daily living (IADL) functioning. METHODS: Observational study using 4-year longitudinal data from 1477 community-dwelling Japanese who were 66 years and older and living in Yoita town, a rural community located in the northwest along the Sea of Japan. Baseline assessment occurred in November 2000. Intellectual Activity and IADL were evaluated using the Tokyo Metropolitan Institute of Gerontology (TMIG) Index of Competence. RESULTS: Increase or maintenance of exposure to intellectual activities over a period of 2 years was associated with increased likelihood of better IADL functioning trajectory (i.e. improvement or stability) over the subsequent 2 years (OR: 1.63; 95% CI: 1.03-2.56; p = 0.035), even after adjustment for major confounders. CONCLUSION: This study documented a longitudinal, independent association of exposure to intellectual activities with better IADL functioning over time. These findings provide preliminary support for promotion of exposure to intellectual activities among older adults as an opportunity to prevent disability in the older segment of the population. Assessment of public health programs targeting such an opportunity is warranted.

We launched a new intervention study called REPRINTS in which senior volunteers engaged in reading picture books to children. Sixty-nine volunteers and 72 participants in a control group, all aged 60 years and over, living in three urban locations, participated in a baseline health checkup in June 2004. After completion of a three-month training seminar, volunteers visited public elementary schools and kindergartens in groups of 6 to 10 for an 18 month period. They were assessed again by a follow-up health checkup in March 2006. At the follow-up, social network scores (frequency of contact with grandchildren and others around the neighborhood) and self-rated health improved or was maintained at a significantly higher rate for the 37 individuals volunteering most intensively as compared to those who did not volunteer or volunteered minimally. In conclusion, through intensively being engaged in the intergenerational volunteer programs during 21 months, self-rated health and social networks were more likely to improve or be maintained among senior volunteers than controls.

BACKGROUND: To explore predictors of functional improvement or decline in instrumental activities of daily living (IADL) among community-dwelling older people. METHODS: Of all the residents (>or=65 years, n = 1,673) living in Yoita town, Niigata prefecture, Japan, in 2000, 1,544 subjects who participated in the baseline interview survey (T1) were followed up until 2002 (T2). A wide range of variables obtained in T1 was entered into the model predicting functional improvement or decline in IADL. RESULTS: Among 1,274 individuals who participated in both T1 and T2, 105 subjects showed improvement, 194 decline, and the remaining 975 showed stability in IADL. Multiple logistic regression analyses indicated that good self-rated health and cognitive function (MMSE >or=24) at T1 were good predictors of both improvement and protection against decline in IADL. Independence in basic activities of daily living predicted improvement in IADL. Advanced age and poor walking ability predicted decline in IADL. CONCLUSIONS: Good self-rated health and cognitive function predicted both improvement and protection against decline in IADL. Thus, intervention programs aiming at maintaining both good self-rated health and cognitive function should be able to improve IADL.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: We have launched a new intervention study, called "REPRINTS" (Research of productivity by intergenerational sympathy) in which senior volunteers aged 60 years and over engage in reading picture books to school children, regularly visiting public elementary schools since 2004. The purpose of this study was to clarify characteristics of images of older people held by elementary school children and factors associated with such images, as well as to examine changes in images through intervention by "REPRINTS" senior volunteers (volunteers) for the initial one year period. SUBJECTS & SETTING: Four to six volunteers as a group visited A elementary school in a suburb Kawasaki city (470 students) twice a week to read picture books. The baseline survey was conducted one month after launching the volunteer activity. First and second follow-up surveys were conducted at 6 month intervals after the baseline survey. MEASUREMENTS: Grade, gender, short version of emotional-like image scale of older adults assessed by the SD (Semantic Differential) method (6 items in the subscale for "evaluation" and 4 items in the subscale for "potency/activity"), experience of living with grandparents, experience of interchange with older people, frequency of interchange with volunteers and the social desirability scale for children. RESULT: Related variables for a higher score in the subscale for "evaluation" included lower grade and abundant experience of interchange with older people such as grandparents. Those for "potency/ activity" included lower grade, male gender, and a higher social desirability scale for children in the multiple logistic regression model. Students were divided into two groups in terms of frequency of interchange with volunteers (low and high-frequency groups) through three surveys. In the subscale for "evaluation", the general linear model demonstrated a significant interaction between the group and number of surveys adjusted for confounding factors. CONCLUSION: Although emotional images of older people significantly decline with advancing grade, those of students with a high frequency of interchange with volunteers were here found to be maintained more positively over one year compared to those with a low frequency.

OBJECTIVES: To determine applicability of the Japanese-translated versions of the Ben-Tovim Walker Body Attitudes Questionnaire (BAQ) and the Attention to the Body Shape Scale (ABS) in Japanese males and females. METHODS: The translated questionnaires were administered to Japanese living in Japan (84 males, 139 females) and also to 68 Japanese males living in Australia. The results were compared with 72 Australian males using the English version and also with previous results using Australian females. RESULTS: Alpha levels from the two questionnaires ranged 0.70 to 0.87. Japanese groups showed significant (p<0.05) differences in the scores obtained from the BAQ compared to Australian males. The inter-subscale correlations for the BAQ were comparable regardless of ethnicity. Both questionnaires also correlated with the 26-item Eating Attitudes Test scores (p<0.01). DISCUSSION: The current study suggests that both BAQ and ABS are adequate for use in Japanese males and females to assess their body attitudes.

目的 高齢者の道路横断時における車両スピード認知と心身機能との関係について明らかにするとともに,高齢者と若年者の間でこれらに差がみられるのかどうかについて検討する。方法 対象者は65歳以上の高齢者37名であり,対照群として19歳から24歳の若年者7名を選んだ。調査は2004年11月下旬,兵庫県立大学書写キャンパス内の直線道路(距離300m,幅員8.6m)で実施した。調査内容は,健康度自己評価,老研式活動能力指標,日常の移動能力,日常の歩行能力,眼鏡の使用の有無,過去1年間の転倒経験の有無,閉じこもりの有無,外出の頻度,体力テスト(握力,歩行テストほか),スピード認知(車両スピードが時速20km・40km・50km時の横断断念距離)とした。道路横断時の通過車両の横断断念距離と時間,体力テスト以外はすべて自記式アンケート調査により評価した。結果 高齢者と若年者における道路横断断念距離は,右左両側から,および各車両スピードのすべての場合において,若年者よりも高齢者の方が有意にそれらの距離は短かった。高齢者は左方向から接近する時速50キロ走行車両に対する見極めが悪く,歩行速度から判断すると,若年者は最大歩行速度であれば全員が渡れるのに対して,高齢者は59.5%(22名)が最大歩行速度であっても渡りきれないことが明らかになった。事故の危険性が低い群と高い群との間で,種々の心身機能を比較した結果,両群の間で年齢に有意な差はみられなかったが,「最大歩行時間」「通常・最大歩行時各歩幅」「普段,眼鏡を使っている・持ち歩き必要な時は常に使う」において有意な差がみられた。結論 高齢者の道路横断を考える際,車両の速度が速くなればなるほど若年者よりも危険であることを高齢者自身が認識し,体力を過信せず,外出時は眼鏡などを着用するといった心掛けが必要になることが示唆された。(著者抄録)

Objective&emsp;We have launched a new intervention study, called &ldquo;Research of Productivity by Intergenerational Sympathy (REPRINTS)&rdquo; in which senior volunteers engage in reading picture books to children. The &ldquo;REPRINTS&rdquo; program consistently involves social roles and intellectual activity, two higher-level functional capacities. This study reported findings and problems experienced through &ldquo;REPRINTS&rdquo; during the first year, ascertained potential effectiveness of social activity, and proposed methods for continued activity.<br/>Methods&emsp;Basic concepts of &ldquo;REPRINTS&rdquo;program include &ldquo;contribution to society&rdquo;, &ldquo;life-long learning&rdquo;, and &ldquo;group activity.&rdquo; Sixty seven volunteers and 74 controls, all aged 60 years and over living in three areas, ie., Chuo-ku, central Tokyo, Kawasaki city, suburb of Tokyo and Nagahama city, a local city, participated in a baseline health check-up in June, 2004. After completion of 3-month training seminars (once a week, 2 hr per session), volunteers visited public elementary schools and kindergartens in groups of 6-10 persons for 6 months. They were assessed again by follow-up health check-up in March, 2005.<br/>Results&emsp;At baseline, the proportion of those who had no grand children (41.8% vs. 20.3%, P=0.006), average school years (13.4&plusmn;2.5 vs. 12.3&plusmn;2.5 years, P=0.008), having any experience of volunteer activities (79.1% vs. 52.7%, P=0.001), and an usual walking speed (86.7&plusmn;12.3 vs. 81.3&plusmn;12.9 m/min, P=0.012) were significantly higher in volunteers than in controls. There was no significant difference in other baseline characteristics between the two groups. At follow-up, social network scores for 56 volunteers were significantly improved: frequency of contact with grandchildren and others around neighborhood and size of circles of friends and acquaintances were increased, as compared to controls. Social support scores for the volunteers significantly decreased in the receiving aspect, while increased in the giving aspect. In addition, consciousness of loving community and self-rated health were significantly enhanced and hand-grip strength showed significantly less decline in volunteers than in controls.<br/>Conclusions&emsp;Through engaging in the intergenerational and intellectual volunteer programs for 9 months, subjective health, social support and network, consciousness of loving community and some aspects of physical performance were significantly promoted in senior volunteers. Coordination of existing administrative services enabled us to establish this &ldquo;REPRINTS&rdquo; health promotion program for community-dwelling older adults.

OBJECTIVE: We have launched a new intervention study, called "Research of Productivity by Intergenerational Sympathy (REPRINTS)" in which senior volunteers engage in reading picture books to children. The "REPRINTS" program consistently involves social roles and intellectual activity, two higher-level functional capacities. This study reported findings and problems experienced through "REPRINTS" during the first year, ascertained potential effectiveness of social activity, and proposed methods for continued activity. METHODS: Basic concepts of "REPRINTS"program include "contribution to society", "life-long learning", and "group activity." Sixty seven volunteers and 74 controls, all aged 60 years and over living in three areas, ie., Chuo-ku, central Tokyo, Kawasaki city, suburb of Tokyo and Nagahama city, a local city, participated in a baseline health check-up in June, 2004. After completion of 3-month training seminars (once a week, 2 hr per session), volunteers visited public elementary schools and kindergartens in groups of 6-10 persons for 6 months. They were assessed again by follow-up health check-up in March, 2005. RESULTS: At baseline, the proportion of those who had no grand children (41.8% vs. 20.3%, P= 0.006), average school years (13.4 +/- 2.5 vs. 12.3 +/- 2.5 years, P= 0.008), having any experience of volunteer activities (79.1% vs. 52.7%, P=0.001), and an usual walking speed (86.7 +/- 12.3 vs. 81.3 +/- 12.9 m/min, P=0.012) were significantly higher in volunteers than in controls. There was no significant difference in other baseline characteristics between the two groups. At follow-up, social network scores for 56 volunteers were significantly improved: frequency of contact with grandchildren and others around neighborhood and size of circles of friends and acquaintances were increased, as compared to controls. Social support scores for the volunteers significantly decreased in the receiving aspect, while increased in the giving aspect. In addition, consciousness of loving community and self-rated health were significantly enhanced and hand-grip strength showed significantly less decline in volunteers than in controls. CONCLUSIONS: Through engaging in the intergenerational and intellectual volunteer programs for 9 months, subjective health, social support and network, consciousness of loving community and some aspects of physical performance were significantly promoted in senior volunteers. Coordination of existing administrative services enabled us to establish this "REPRINTS" health promotion program for community-dwelling older adults.

This cross-sectional study aimed to determine ethnic and environmental influences on the relationship between BMI and percentage body fat, using a sample of 144 Japanese and 140 Australian-Caucasian men living in Australia, and eighty-eight Japanese men living in Japan. Body composition was assessed by anthropometry using standard international methods (International Society for the Advancement of Kinanthropometry protocol). Body density was predicted using Durnin and Womersley's (1974) equation, and percentage body fat was calculated from Siri's (1961) equation. Significant (P<0.05) ethnic differences in stature, body mass and BMI were observed between Japanese and Australian men, but no ethnic differences were observed in their percentage body fat and height-corrected sum of skinfold thicknesses. No differences were found in the BMI-percentage body fat relationship between the Japanese subjects living in Australia and in Japan. Significant (P<0.05) ethnic differences in the BMI-percentage body fat relationship observed from a comparison between pooled Japanese men (aged 18-40 years, BMI range 16.6-32.8 kg/m2) and Australians (aged 18-39 years, BMI range 16.1-31.4 kg/m2) suggest that Japanese men are likely to have a greater percentage body fat than Australian men at any given BMI value. From the analyses, the Japanese men were estimated to have an equivalent amount of body fat to the Australian men at BMI values that were about 1.5 units lower than those of the Australians (23.5 kg/m2 and 28.2 kg/m2, respectively). It was concluded that Japanese men have greater body fat deposition than Australian-Caucasians at the same BMI value. Japanese men may therefore require lower BMI cut-off points to identify obese individuals compared with Australian-Caucasian men.

The aim of the study was to determine the nutritional status and nutrient intakes of young Japanese males living in Australia and compared with Japanese males living in Japan and Australian Caucasian males. Four-day dietary records were obtained from 65 Japanese living in Australia (JA), 81 Japanese living in Japan (JJ), and 70 Australian Caucasian males (AA) aged 18-30 years old, together with body composition and physical activity level assessments using anthropometry and the questionnaire. Australian males were significantly taller and heavier than the Japanese counterparts and also showed a greater percent body fat (%BF) and height-corrected sum of skinfolds compared with Japanese males living in Japan (%BF: JJ = 16.6 +/- 5.2, AA = 18.7 +/- 5.6; height corrected sum of skinfolds: JJ = 78.8 +/- 37.3, AA = 96.0 +/- 39.5) (P<0.05). A greater proportion of Australian Caucasian males (98.6%) were involved in vigorous physical exercise than Japanese males (JA = 72.3%; JJ = 85.2%). The JA group consumed a greater amount of energy from protein and fat sources as well as greater calcium, iron, dietary fibre and niacin equivalents intakes than the JJ group (P<0.05). The results suggest that Japanese males living in Australia consumed more energy-dense westernised diet than Japanese males living in Japan. Because of lower physical activity level than Australian males, consumption of energy-dense diet may increase the risk of weight gain among Japanese males who stay in Australia for a long-term.

BACKGROUND: A simple instrument has been developed to measure brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity (baPWV). The aim of the present study was to use this instrument to study the relationship between baPWV and conventional atherosclerotic risk factors. METHODS: Community-dwelling Japanese (632) living in a rural area (234 men and 398 women) participated in a municipal medical health survey that included baPWV measurement and a traditional clinical examination, conducted in June, 2002. RESULTS: Men had a significantly higher baPWV than women. No interaction between gender and age on baPWV was identified. Multiple linear regression analysis indicated that age, hemodynamic factors (diastolic blood pressure, pulse pressure, and heart rate), hemoglobinA1c, current drinking and smoking status, and mild retinal changes had significant independent influences on higher baPWV. CONCLUSIONS: In this rural population, age, gender, and hemodynamic factors were independently associated with baPWV, along with traditional atherosclerotic risk factors, although no significant associations between baPWV and histories of atherosclerotic diseases or subclinical atherosclerosis except for mild retinal changes were demonstrated.

This study was conducted in order to find a way to manage the health care for elementary and junior high school pupils on the basis of the relation between psychosomatic symptoms and their stress for life event and living behavior. The subjects were the third-year junior high school pupils in 45 boys and 38 girls, who went to the one of three public junior high schools in Y town, near Himeji City in Hyogo Prefecture. The initial investigation was carried out in February 1996, when the subjects were the fifth-year elementary school pupils. The second investigation was conducted in July 1999. Psychosomatic symptoms were assessed by the questionnaire, consisting of fourteen conditions including &ldquo;abdominal pain&rdquo;, &ldquo;orthostatic dizziness&rdquo;, &ldquo;sleeplessness&rdquo; and &ldquo;pains in upper or lower extremities&rdquo; etc. According to the symptoms, the rates of &ldquo;feeling oppressed in breathing&rdquo;, &ldquo;general malaise&rdquo;, &ldquo;orthostatic dizziness&rdquo; and &ldquo;bad feeling in the morning&rdquo; significantly increased among boys (P<0.01, respectively). In addition, the rates of &ldquo;feeling oppressed in breathing&rdquo;, &ldquo;general malaise&rdquo;, &ldquo;orthostatic dizziness&rdquo;, &ldquo;bad feeling in the morning&rdquo;, &ldquo;feeling strained in the eyes&rdquo; and &ldquo;feeling stiff in the shoulders&rdquo; significantly increased among girls (P<0.01, respectively). The rates of &ldquo;carsickness&rdquo; and &ldquo;sleeplessness&rdquo; in girls were significantly larger than those in boys during elementary school period (P<0.05, respectively). The multivariate analysis, which uses Hayashi's quantification method I, indicated that &ldquo;not having breakfast&rdquo; in boys and &ldquo;high stress score for not enough time to sleep&rdquo; in girls were the most highly correlated with increase in the number of psychosomatic symptoms among elementary school pupils. In junior high school pupils, &ldquo;going on a diet&rdquo; in boys and &ldquo;high stress score for not enough time to play&rdquo; in girls were the most highly correlated with increase in the number of psychosomatic symptoms. These results suggest that an effective prevention strategy for decreasing the level of psychosomatic symptoms in junior high school pupils would be controlling sleep time and eating habits with careful consideration.

小学生時と中学生時における不定愁訴(1週間に1回以上の腹痛,食欲不振等の14症状)の有訴率を調査した.対象者は,兵庫県南西部Y町(人口約2万人)のA中学校の3年生全員.第1回目の調査は対象者が小学校5年生時の1996年2月に行い,有効回答者数は男45名,女38名.第2回目は中学校3年生時の1999年7月に実施し,有効回答者数は男43名,女40名.各検討項目を小学校5年生時と中学校3年生時の両者間で比較検討した結果,男は不定愁訴数が2.6±2.8個から4.7±2.9個,女子は2.8±2.7個から5.5±2.4個と有意に増加していた.症状別では男が「息苦しい」,「身体だるい」,「立ち眩み」,「朝不調」,女は「身体だるい」,「立ち眩み」,「朝不調」,「疲れ目」,「肩こり」の有訴率が有意に高くなっていた.男女差は小学校5年生時において,女の「車酔い」と「不眠」の有訴率が,男より有意に高くなっていた

100歳以上の男性のADLと彼らの生活背景との関連及び老人医療費と社会的・経済的背景との関連を検討した二つの研究成果を紹介した.超高齢者のADLの維持と老人が健やかに老い,健やかに天寿を全うするための要因の解析には,社会的・経済的な幅広い分析が必要であり,その成果は今日の急速に増大する医療費の抑制策に活用されることが期待されている

最も多い疲労自覚症状は,朝が男女とも「集中力がない」(男子61.7%,女子69.1%),午後は男子が「体のどこかがだるい」(42.5%),女子は「座りたい」,「何もしたくない」(各52.7%)であった.疲労自覚症状の増加には,朝,午後とも男子が「部活動が厳しくてやめたい,もしくはやめた」,女子は「先生についての不満度が高い」が大きく影響していた

This study was designed to clarify the characteristics of height, body weight, body composition and grip strength in Chinese baseball players, and also to examine whether the differences in physical profiles existed by position as the basic data in the country developing a baseball.<br>The subjects were 35 baseball players (19.8&plusmn;2.3 years) consisting of the champion and the upper distinguished teams in the highest level of baseball tournament in China. The survey was carried out in July and August of 1996 in Tianjin City, China. The mean values of height, body weight and lean body weight (LBW) of Chinese baseball players were 179.7&plusmn;4.7cm, 77.3&plusmn;8.6kg and 67.0&plusmn;6.5kg. Those values were significantly taller and heavier than the average of 20-year-old male persons which lived in Beijing City, China; that is 6.9cm, 18.7kg and 16.1kg, respectively (P<0.01). Chinese pitchers were taller and heavier than Chinese players of other positions. The mean values of height and LBW of Chinese pitchers, infielders and outfielders were significantly smaller (P<0.01) and lighter (P<0.05) than those of professional players in the United States, respectively. Although no significant differences were observed in the mean height and LBW between Chinese pitchers and those of collegiate pitchers in the United States, the mean value of LBW of Chinese pitchers were significantly heavier than those of Japanese collegiate and professional pitchers (P<0.05, respectively).<br>These results are as follows:<br>1. Baseball players in China are selected based on body muscle mass.<br>2. Pitchers are selected especially than the players of other positions.<br>3. As for body muscle mass, there is no difference of body muscle mass between China of developing country and Japan and the states of most developed countries.

There is little information on anthropometric measures (i.e., length, breadth and girth of body's parts) related to throwing ability. To clarify the influence of the physique on the throwing ability, the relationships between physique and throwing distance, as well as ball speed were investigated. The subjects were fourty-nine high school baseball players, and thirty-eight high school volleyball players, football players and canoeists served as a control group.<br>The throwing distance was significantly related to lean body mass (r=.290), chest girth (r=.416), upper arm girth (r=.307), abdominal girth (r=.288), thigh girth (r=.327) and lower leg girth (r=.285) in baseball players group (p<0.05-0.01). A significant relationship between the throwing distance and foot length in control group (r=.329, p<0.05) was demonstrated. Significant relationships between ball speed and standing height in the baseball players group (r=.354, p<0.01) and that between ball speed and Impedance in the control group (r=-.288, p<0.05) were observed.<br>These findings indicate that the throwing distance is influenced by quantity of body muscle in baseball players. There was no relation between physique and throwing ability in unskilled players.