Prevention of upper respiratory tract infections by gargling: a randomized trial.

Background: Gargling to wash the throat is commonly performed in Japan, and people believe that such hygienic routine, especially with gargle medicine, prevents upper respiratory tract infections (URTIs). Its effectiveness, however, has not been established by clinical trials.

Design: Randomized controlled trial carried out in 2002-2003 winter season and analyzed in 2003 and 2004.

[Prognosis of patients with progressive supranuclear palsy].

Survival and prognosis were investigated in 45 patients with progressive supranuclear palsy (including 10 autopsy cases) from April, 1991 to March, 2003 in Higashi Nagoya National Hospital. The subjects were 28 males, and 17 females. Mean age at onset was 64.

Relationship between body mass index and the risk of ovarian cancer in the Japanese population: findings from the Japanese Collaborate Cohort (JACC) study.

Aim: The incidence of ovarian cancer in Japan has increased since the 1970s. The many studies that have assessed the relationship between body mass index (BMI) and the risk of ovarian cancer have produced contradictory results. Here we investigated this relation using data from the Japan Collaborative Cohort Study for the Evaluation of Cancer Risk, which was initiated in 1988.

Possible interactions of the endothelial constitutive nitric oxide synthase genotype with alcohol drinking and walking time for high serum uric acid levels among Japanese.

A variable number of tandem repeat polymorphism located in intron 4 of the gene for endothelial constitutive nitric oxide synthase (ecNOS) is reported to be significantly associated with the nitric oxide level, which influences serum uric acid (SUA). To cast light on any association between the polymorphism and hyperuricemia, as well as gene-environment interactions, a cross-sectional study was conducted for 703 health checkup examinees (213 men and 490 women). The age-adjusted odds ratio (aOR) of hyperuricemia (> or =7 mg/dL) for ecNOS 4/4, 4/5, or 5/6 genotypes (non-5/5 group) as compared with the 5/5 genotype was 2.

The relationships between interest for and participation in health screening and risk of mortality: the Japan Collaborative Cohort Study.

Background: This study examined whether the interest in participation in health screening is associated with reduced mortality in Japan.

Methods: A total of 68,825 subjects, 40-79 years old, in 29 Japanese communities responded to a questionnaire including interest level and participation status in health screening during 1988-1990. Systematic surveillance was completed until the end of 1999, with 660,682 person-years of follow-up, and the causes of death were determined.

Use of duplex PCR-CTPP methods for CYP2E1RsaI/IL-2 T-330G and IL-1B C-31T/TNF-A T-1031C polymorphisms.

Background: Two duplex polymerase chain reaction (PCR) with confronting two-pair primer (PCR-CTPP) methods were designed for cytochrome P450 (CYP) 2E1 RsaI and interleukin (IL-2) T-330G, and for IL-1B C-31T and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-A) T-1031C. The four polymorphisms are considered to be functional, and the three cytokines reportedly inhibit CYP2E1 expression. Many studies have reported associations between the above polymorphisms and risk of diseases including cancers and inflammatory diseases.

Dietary intakes of fat and fatty acids and risk of breast cancer: a prospective study in Japan.

To examine the possible association of dietary fat and fatty acids with breast cancer risk in a population with a low total fat intake and a high consumption of fish, we analyzed data from the Japan Collaborative Cohort (JACC) Study. From 1988 to 1990, 26 291 women aged 40-79 years completed a questionnaire on dietary and other factors. Intakes of fat or fatty acids were estimated by using a food frequency questionnaire.

Dietary habits and stomach cancer risk in the JACC Study.

Background: Despite a declining incidence, stomach cancer is still a dominant cancer in Japan. The association between dietary habits and stomach cancer risk was investigated in a large prospective study in Japan.

Methods: Data were obtained using a self-administered questionnaire from 1988 through 1990.

Mortality and incidence rates of stomach cancer in the JACC Study.

Background: The objective of this study was to examine the mortality and incidence of stomach cancer in the Japan Collaborative Cohort Study (JACC Study), and compare them with those of the general population of Japan.

Methods: The cohort study involved 127,477 people living in 45 municipalities in Japan. The deaths due to stomach cancer were ascertained by death certificates.

Association of serum carotenoid concentration and dietary habits among the JACC Study subjects.

Background: We wished to determine the validity of the association between serum carotenoid concentrations and dietary habits obtained from a food frequency questionnaire in the Japan Collaborative Cohort Study (JACC Study) for Evaluation of Cancer Risk sponsored by the Ministry of Education, Science, Sports and Culture of Japan (Monbusho).

Methods: The subjects were 866 male and 569 female controls in nested case-control studies for evaluating the risk of lung, colorectal, and urothelial cancers as parts of the JACC Study. Dietary habits were assessed using a food frequency questionnaire, and serum samples were obtained at baseline.

Smoking, alcohol drinking and esophageal cancer: findings from the JACC Study.

Background: Using a large-scale cohort of about 110,000 people established in 45 areas throughout Japan from 1988 through 1990, the study attempted to uncover the joint effects of combined smoking and alcohol intake on esophageal cancer mortality.

Methods: A cohort established from 1988 through 1990 included 46,465 men and 64,327 women aged 40 years and older and younger than 80. The number of female smokers and drinkers was low, and women were excluded from the analysis for that reason.

Risk factors for kidney cancer in a Japanese population: findings from the JACC Study.

Background: The incidence of kidney cancer is high in Western and Northern Europe and North America, and low in Asia. Although the incidence of kidney cancer in Japan is lower than the rates in the other industrialized countries, there is no doubt that it is increasing.

Methods: We evaluated the risk factors for kidney cancer death using the database of the Japan Collaborative Cohort (JACC) Study (i.

Association of serum phytoestrogen concentration and dietary habits in a sample set of the JACC Study.

Background: Phytoestrogens may be associated with a reduced risk of hormone dependent neoplasms such as prostate and breast cancers. We tried to determine the validity of the association between serum phytoestrogen concentrations and dietary habits obtained from a food frequency questionnaire used in the Japan Collaborative Cohort Study (JACC Study) for Evaluation of Cancer Risk sponsored by the Ministry of Education, Science, Sports and Culture of Japan (Monbusho).

Methods: The subjects were 151 male controls who were selected for a nested case-control study for evaluating prostate cancer risk as part of the JACC Study.

Dietary habits and risk of urothelial cancer incidence in the JACC Study.

Background: The relationships between dietary habits and urothelial cancer have been discussed in many epidemiologic studies, however, they have not been sufficiently elucidated. In the present study, the associations of dietary habits with the risk of urothelial cancer incidence were evaluated taking into consideration sex, age, and smoking habits.

Methods: The Japan Collaborative Cohort Study (JACC Study) was planned in the late 1980s as a large-scale cohort study surveying people comprehensively and detailing their lifestyles, and the study subjects were followed up until the end of 1997.

Colorectal cancer and serum C-reactive protein levels: a case-control study nested in the JACC Study.

Background: Recently, it has been hypothesized that inflammation increases the risk of colorectal cancer. We investigated whether serum levels of C-reactive protein (CRP), a biomarker of inflammation, are associated with colorectal cancer, using serum samples collected in the Japan Collaborative Cohort Study (JACC Study).

Methods: We conducted a nested case-control study in the JACC Study, investigating the relationship between the risk for colorectal cancer and serum levels of CRP determined by a high-sensitivity CRP enzyme immunoassay.

Glucose intolerance and colorectal cancer risk in a nested case-control study among Japanese People.

Background: Glucose intolerance may increase the risk of developing colorectal cancer.

Methods: In a sero-epidemiological nested case-control study, conducted as part of the Japan Collaborative Cohort Study (JACC Study) for Evaluation of Cancer Risk, we measured serum glycoalbumin in 123 patients with colorectal cancer and 279 controls. Conditional logistic regression was used to evaluate the risk of colorectal cancer.

Alcohol consumption and colorectal cancer risk: findings from the JACC Study.

Background: Because alcohol drinking is a potential risk factor for colorectal cancer, the trend in alcohol consumption in Japan may partly explain the increase in incidence and mortality rates of this malignancy until 1990-1995.

Methods: We analyzed data from the Japan Collaborative Cohort Study. From 1988 to 1990, 23,708 men and 34,028 women, aged 40-79 years, completed a questionnaire on lifestyle factors including drinking habits.

Medical history of circulatory diseases and colorectal cancer death in the JACC Study.

Background: Host factors expressed by individual past medical history of hypertension, stroke, and myocardial infarction may have a relationship with colorectal cancer.

Methods: As part of the Japan Collaborative Cohort Study (JACC Study) for the Evaluation of Cancer Risk sponsored by the Ministry of Education, Science, Sports and Culture of Japan (Monbusho), we conducted a follow-up study of 110,792 Japanese inhabitants aged 40-79 years to reveal the relationship of past medical history of hypertension, stroke, and myocardial infarction at the baseline in 1988-1990 with colorectal cancer death for about 10 years up to the end of 1999.

Results: Past medical history of hypertension associated with an increased risk of female rectal cancer when analyzing all cancer cases with adjustment for age, body mass index, and exercise (hazard ratio [HR]=1.

Overview of the epidemiology of pancreatic cancer focusing on the JACC Study.

Background: The objective of this article was to overview the epidemiology of pancreatic cancer. We summarize the results of the Japan Collaborative Cohort Study (JACC Study) and some previous studies.

Methods: References were mainly in a Medline search through Pub Med database.

Overview of epidemiology of bile duct and gallbladder cancer focusing on the JACC Study.

Background: This review discusses the epidemiologic features of bile duct and gallbladder cancer in Japan, mainly focusing on results of Japan Collaborative Cohort Study (JACC Study) for Evaluation of Cancer Risk Sponsored by the Ministry of Education, Science, Sports and Culture of Japan (Monbusho) in comparison with results of other studies.

Methods: The theses and papers derived from JACC Study on bile duct and gallbladder cancer were all collected for this review. Hirayama's cohort study, which is a representative epidemiologic study, and a large scale case-control study on bile duct and gallbladder cancer in Japan by Kato et al.

Lung cancer mortality and serum levels of carotenoids, retinol, tocopherols, and folic acid in men and women: a case-control study nested in the JACC Study.

Background: Lung cancer mortality is inversely associated with high serum carotenoid levels and high intake of vegetables and fruits rich in carotenoids. The Japan Collaborative Cohort (JACC) Study was conducted to investigate whether serum levels of carotenoids, retinol, tocopherols, and folic acid were associated with risk for lung cancer death with follow-up through 1997. To examine the association by sex, we extended the follow-up and analyzed additional serum samples.

Updated information on risk factors for lung cancer: findings from the JACC Study.

Background: In Japan, lung cancer is the top cause of cancer death in men and the third leading cause in women. Updated information on risk factors for lung cancer, therefore, is of great importance. The Japan Collaborative Cohort Study, a large prospective study started in 1988, has provided such information.

Serum pepsinogen values and Helicobacter pylori status among control subjects of a nested case-control study in the JACC study.

Background: Helicobacter pylori infection and serum pepsinogen values are strongly related with stomach cancer. The aim of this study was to know what were these factors among general population.

Methods: Subjects were randomly selected 633 control subjects in a nested case-control study for risk of stomach cancer.

Serum levels of insulin-like growth factor I, II, and binding protein 3, transforming growth factor beta-1, soluble fas ligand and superoxide dismutase activity in stomach cancer cases and their controls in the JACC Study.

Background: The prognosis of stomach cancer with advanced stage remains poor. New biomarkers of the disease that may contribute to establish the potential screening strategy would be of value for the early detection of individuals at high risk of the disease.

Methods: We conducted a prospective, nested case-control analysis among apparently healthy men and women who were followed for up to 8 years in the Japan Collaborative Cohort (JACC) Study, to evaluate serum levels of insulin-like growth factor I, II, and binding protein 3 (IFG-I, IGF-II, and IGFBP-3), transforming growth factorbeta-1 (TGFbeta1), soluble fas (sFas) and superoxide dismutase activity (SOD) in 210 stomach cancer cases diagnosed in the JACC Study in relation to those levels in their 410 controls.

Cigarette smoking and mortality due to stomach cancer: findings from the JACC Study.

Background: Several epidemiologic studies reported the positive association between cigarette smoking and stomach cancer. The prevalence of smoking in men remains high in Japan compared to other developed countries. It is therefore of great importance to determine the impact of cigarette smoking on stomach cancer among the Japanese population.