Rie Horiuchi

Lower eicosapentaenoic acid and higher arachidonic acid levels in Sera of young adults in the Netherlands than in Japan.

To survey risk factors in coronary heart disease, we compared serum fatty acid composition and lipids for university students in Japan (33 males and 29 females) and in the Netherlands (20 males and 19 females). No significant differences were found between the mean levels of cholesterol (Chol) and triglycerides (TG) between the subjects in the two countries. The mean levels of polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA), monounsaturated fatty acid (MUFA) and saturated fatty acid (SFA) of Japanese students were similar to those of the Dutch students. In both countries, the levels of Chol showed a positive correlation with the levels of PUFA, n-6 PUFA, linoleic acid (C18:2n-6), and arachidonic acid (AA, C20:4n-6) but no correlation with the percentages of PUFA and the ratio of PUFA/SFA. On the other hand, the TG levels correlated inversely with the percentage of PUFA and the ratios of PUFA/SFA in both countries. When compared to those of Japanese students, low eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA, C20:5n-3) and high AA were found in the Dutch students (p < 0.001, respectively). The total amounts of n-3 PUFA in the Dutch were significandy lower than those in the Japanese (p < 0.001) but no differences among those of n-6 PUFA. The ratios of EPA/AA and n-3/n-6 PUFA of the Dutch students were lower than those of the Japanese students (p < 0.001, respectively). The ratio of EPA/AA showed a positive correlation with EPA but not with AA in both countries. The levels of Toc which will decrease the risk of coronary vascular disease (CVD) were lower in Japan than those in the Dutch in both sexes (p < 0.01, respectively). These results suggest that the low EPA and high AA levels and the low n-3/n-6 PUFA ratio may lead to greater incidence of CVD.

Can gravitational waves predispose neuro-cardiovascular circadian rhythms?

Received: October 21, 2016; Accepted: November 11, 2016; Published: November 14, 2016 Environmental factors such as geomagnetic forces, Western diet, physical inactivity, tobacco and alcoholism are primary risk factors for physical, social, spiritual and mental diseases of the individuals and populations [1]. Late night eating and late night sleep as well as sleep deprivation due to any cause can predispose circadian disruption of cardiovascular rhythms resulting in increased risk of cardiovascular diseases and diabetes [1-3]. These risk factors and risky behaviors are not given much consideration, which could be important confounders during clinical trials with drugs. Majority of the trials try to compare two agents; intervention and placebo showing that one therapy is superior to another without much consideration of these risk factors, hence final results are open to bias. The beneficial effects attributed to therapy in the intervention group could be due to these confounders. A poor mental and spiritual health can promote neuropsychiatric dysfunctions characterized with wars and terrorism among social groups, politicians and public as well as cardiovascular diseases; hypertension, sudden cardiac death, acute coronary syndromes and strokes [3-7]. It is possible that these socio-political problems may be prevented by treating chronobiological risk factors; late night sleep, late night eating, heavy meals, variability in biological functions according to 24-hour cycle. Physical activity, diet characterized with a low w-6/w-3 ratio Mediterranean style diet may also be a confounder in many trials. This view point aims to highlight these confounders for identification during planning of the clinical trials and to emphasize that gravitational waves can influence neuro-cardiac function which could be unknown confounders.

A Survey on the Prevalence of Allergic Diseases in Senior High School Students

Senior high school students (177 boys, 284 girls) were asked to answer a questionnaireon the prevalence of allergic diseases. Of the students, 54.7% lived in the city, 19.7% insuburban areas and 25.6% in the countryside.1) The percent of students with an allergic disease since birth were 49.2% of the boysand 46.5% of the girls. Within one-year, the percent of students with an allergic diseasewas 67.6% of the boys and 67.4% of the girls. The development of an allergic diseasewas “irregular” in 49.1% of the boys and 46.3% of the girls, “seasonal” for 32.1% ofthe boys and 25.3% of the girls and “perennial” in 9.9% of the boys and 15.1% of thegirls.2) Within one-year, the percentage of allergic rhinifis in the boys was the highest, 38.4%, followed by 16.5% with atopic dermatitis, and 13.5% with conjunctivitis andpollen allergy.For the girls, the percentage of allergic rhinifis was also the highest, 30.3%, followed by atopic dermatitis (18.6%), urticaria (17.1%) and pollen allergy (11.7%).3) When asked about the cause of their allergic disease, 53.4% answered house dustand ticks, 49.8% pollen, 21.5% food ingredients, 14.6% pets and 11.4% stress. Withrespect to therapy within one-year, 66.7% responded “no treatment”, 37.9% “visit-ed a doctor”, and 24.7% “used medicine” .4) Of those with allergic diseases since birth, a higher intake of sweets and snacks wasreported by the boys and of eggs and meat by the girls when compared with thosewithout allergies.5) Of the boys with allergic diseases since birth, defecation was reported at less thanthree times per week (8.1%) and was irregular (15.1%), which tended to be higher thanthose of the non-allergic boys (1.1% and 6.8%, respectively). Boys (67.9%) with aller-gic diseases since birth answered that they thought constipation could affect their healthwith less frequency than the non-allergic boys (85.4%).