In the present work, sandwich‐structured composite sheets consisting of a core layer of carbon nanofiber (CNF)/polyimide (PI) and an outer layer of either pristine PI or hexagonal boron nitride ...(hBN)/PI were proposed and characterized for the possibility that they could enhance the effective thermal conductivity (TC) of PI composite sheets while also retaining their electrical insulation properties. The sandwiched structures were prepared using a dip coating method. The electrical insulation properties were evaluated via the breakdown voltage (BDV) of direct current. By using hBN with an average size of 0.5 μm as filler for the outer layer, a composite sheet with a highly effective level of TC was prepared. The BDV achieved more than 2 kV, when the outer layer had a total thickness of approximately more than 60 μm even at 30 vol% of hBN_0.5 content. The tensile strengths of the sandwich‐structured sheets indicated the values between each single layer of the 10 vol%‐CNF/PI and hBN_0.5/PI composites.
Full text
Available for:
BFBNIB, FZAB, GIS, IJS, KILJ, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, SAZU, SBCE, SBMB, UL, UM, UPUK
Although a growing body of evidence suggests a link between diabetes and cancer, it is not clear whether diabetes independently increases the risk of cancer. We conducted a comprehensive assessment ...of the association between pre‐existing diabetes and total and site‐specific cancer risk based on a pooled analysis of eight cohort studies in Japan (>330 000 subjects). We estimated a summary hazard ratio by pooling study‐specific hazard ratios for total and site‐specific cancer by using a random‐effects model. A statistically increased risk was observed for cancers at specific sites, such as colon (hazard ratio; HR = 1.40), liver (HR = 1.97), pancreas (HR = 1.85) and bile duct (HR = 1.66; men only). Increased risk was also suggested for other sites, and diabetes mellitus was associated with an overall 20% increased risk in total cancer incidence in the Japanese population. The association between these two diseases has important implications for reiterating the importance of controlling lifestyle factors and may suggest a possible strategy for cancer screening among patients with diabetes. Studies continuously investigating the risk factors for diabetes are also important.
Full text
Available for:
BFBNIB, FZAB, GIS, IJS, KILJ, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, SAZU, SBCE, SBMB, UL, UM, UPUK
Background
Laparoscopic low anterior resection for rectal cancer is considered to be more technically demanding than laparoscopic colectomy. This study aimed to analyze the learning curve for ...laparoscopic low anterior resection and to identify the factors that influence this learning curve.
Methods
Data from 250 consecutive patients undergoing laparoscopic low anterior resection for rectal cancer, excluding patients with a combined resection such as cholecystectomy, hepatectomy, hysterectomy, or gastrectomy, between December 1996 and April 2010 were analyzed. For operative time, the learning curve was analyzed using the moving average method. The conversion rate and the postoperative complication rate were evaluated in five groups of up to 50 patients each based on the number of cases required for analysis of operative time. In addition, risk factors that influenced conversion to open surgery and postoperative complications were analyzed.
Results
The learning curve analysis for operative time using the moving average method showed stabilization at 50 cases. The conversion rate decreased significantly by group 4 (151–200 cases). The postoperative complication rate decreased significantly by group 5 (201–250 cases). The significant factors for conversion to open surgery were male sex (odds ratio OR, 2.6094; 95% confidence interval CI, 1.1–6.4) and T stage (OR, 2.4793; 95% CI, 1.1–5.8). For postoperative complications, male sex (OR, 3.8590; 95% CI, 1.9–3.8) was significant. In addition, the risk factors for anastomotic leakage were male sex (OR, 15.7659, 95% CI, 3.2–284.8) and multiple firing (2 or more cartridges for rectal transection) (OR, 3.0589; 95% CI, 1.1–9.5).
Conclusions
The risk factors affecting the learning curve for laparoscopic low anterior resection were T stage and male sex. In laparoscopic low anterior resection, rectal transection in particular can be technically difficult, and standardization for accurate performance of the same technique for expanded indications is very important.
Full text
Available for:
EMUNI, FIS, FZAB, GEOZS, GIS, IJS, IMTLJ, KILJ, KISLJ, MFDPS, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, SBMB, SBNM, UKNU, UL, UM, UPUK, VKSCE, ZAGLJ
Sleep duration is emerging as an important modifiable risk factor for morbidity and mortality. We assessed the association between sleep duration and cancer incidence and mortality among Japanese ...adults using data from six population‐based cohorts with 271 694 participants. During a total follow‐up period of about 5.9 million person‐years, we identified 40 751 incident cancer cases and 18 323 cancer deaths. We computed study‐specific hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) using Cox proportional hazards regression models and pooled the estimates using random‐effects meta‐analysis. Sleep duration of ≥10 hours (vs 7 hours) was associated with increased risk of cancer incidence among women (HR 1.19, 95% CI 1.02‐1.38), but not men, and increased risk of cancer mortality among men (HR 1.18, 95% CI 1.00‐1.39) and women (HR 1.44, 95% CI 1.20‐1.73). Sleep duration of ≤5 hours (vs 7 hours) was not associated with cancer incidence and mortality. However, among postmenopausal women, sleep durations of both ≤5 and ≥10 hours (vs 7 hours) were associated with an increased risk of cancer mortality. Among Japanese adults, sleep duration of ≥10 hours is associated with increased risk of cancer incidence and mortality among women and cancer mortality among men.
What's new?
Habitual sleep is a critical determinant of health and a potential indicator of cancer outcome. The relationship between sleep duration and cancer morbidity and mortality, however, remains unclear. In this assessment of data from the Japan Cohort Consortium, the authors show that excess sleep is associated with increased cancer mortality in both men and women, as well as with elevated cancer incidence specifically in women. Among postmenopausal women, both long and short sleep durations were linked to increased cancer mortality. The findings indicate that sleep duration is an important variable in cancer, with implications for cancer prevention.
Full text
Available for:
BFBNIB, FZAB, GIS, IJS, KILJ, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, SAZU, SBCE, SBMB, UL, UM, UPUK
We reviewed epidemiological studies of soy intake and breast cancer among Japanese women. This report is one among a series of articles by our research group, which is evaluating the existing ...evidence concerning the association between health-related lifestyles and cancer.
Original data were obtained from MEDLINE searches using PubMed or from searches of the Ichushi database, complemented with manual searches. Evaluation of associations was based on the strength of evidence and the magnitude of association, together with biological plausibility.
Five cohort studies and six case-control studies were identified. Among the cohort studies, two studies observed that total soy intake (in terms of total amounts of soy foods or soy isoflavones) was associated with a moderate (0.5 ≤ relative risk ≤ 0.67 with statistical significance) or strong (relative risk ≤ 0.5 with statistical significance) risk reduction of breast cancer in postmenopausal women. Among the case-control studies, two studies reported a weak (0.67 ≤ odds ratio ≤ 1.5 with statistical significance or 0.5 ≤ odds ratio ≤ 0.67 without statistical significance) inverse association between total soy intake and the risk of breast cancer. In the former, this association was observed in all women combined-premenopausal and postmenopausal women-but in the latter, the association was confined to postmenopausal women. The associations of intakes of individual soy foods with the risk of breast cancer were generally null. There is some evidence that supports the biological plausibility of a protective effect of isoflavones on breast cancer risk.
We conclude that soy intake possibly decreases the risk of breast cancer among Japanese women.
Background: Although cigarette smoking is an established risk factor for bladder cancer, assessment of smoking impact on bladder cancer in Asian populations has been hindered by few cohort studies ...conducted in Asian populations. Therefore, we investigated the risk of bladder cancer associated with smoking status, cumulative smoking intensity, and smoking cessation in Japan.Methods: We analyzed data for 157,295 men and 183,202 women in 10 population-based cohort studies in Japan. The risk associated with smoking behaviors was estimated using Cox regression models within each study, and pooled hazard ratios (HRs) and their 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for the incidence of bladder cancer were calculated.Results: During 4,729,073 person-years of follow-up, 936 men and 325 women developed bladder cancer. In men, former smokers (HR 1.47; 95% CI, 1.18–1.82) and current smokers (HR 1.96; 95% CI, 1.62–2.38) had higher risk than never smokers. In women, current smokers had higher risk than never smokers (HR 2.35; 95% CI, 1.67–3.32). HRs in men linearly increased with increasing pack-years. Risk decreased with increasing years of smoking cessation in men, with a significant dose-response trend. Former smokers with a duration of more than 10 years after smoking cessation had no significantly increased risk compared with never smokers (HR 1.26; 95% CI, 0.97–1.63).Conclusion: Data from a pooled analysis of 10 population-based cohort studies in Japan clearly show an association between cigarette smoking and bladder cancer risk. The risk of smokers may approximate that of never smokers following cessation for many years.
Full text
Available for:
FFLJ, NUK, ODKLJ, UL, UM, UPUK
Coffee and green tea, two popular drinks in the Japanese, have recently drawn much attention as potential protective factors against the occurrence of liver cancer.
We systematically reviewed ...epidemiologic studies on coffee, green tea and liver cancer among Japanese populations. Original data were obtained by searching the MEDLINE (PubMed) and Ichushi databases, complemented with manual searches. The evaluation was performed in terms of the magnitude of association in each study and the strength of evidence ('convincing', 'probable', 'possible', or 'insufficient'), together with biological plausibility.
We identified four cohort and four case-control studies on coffee and liver cancer and six cohort and one case-control studies on green tea and liver cancer. All cohort and case-control studies on coffee reported a weak to strong inverse association, with a summary relative risk (RR) for one cup increase being 0.72 (95% confidence interval CI 0.66-0.79). Conversely, all studies but two cohort studies on green tea reported no association, with a corresponding summary RR of 0.99 (95% CI 0.97-1.01, P = 0.37).
Coffee drinking 'probably' decreases the risk of primary liver cancer among the Japanese population whereas the evidence on an association between green tea and liver cancer is 'insufficient' in this population.
Smoking has been consistently associated with the risk of colorectal cancer (CRC) in Western populations; however, evidence is limited and inconsistent in Asian people. To assess the association of ...smoking status, smoking intensity and smoking cessation with colorectal risk in the Japanese population, we performed a pooled analysis of 10 population‐based cohort studies. Study‐specific hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were estimated using Cox's proportional hazards model and then pooled using a random‐effects model. Among 363 409 participants followed up for 2 666 004 person‐years, 9232 incident CRCs were identified. In men, compared with never smokers, ever smokers showed higher risk of CRC. The HRs (95% CI) were 1.19 (1.10‐1.29) for CRC, 1.19 (1.09‐1.30) for colon cancer, 1.28 (1.13‐1.46) for distal colon cancer and 1.21 (1.07‐1.36) for rectal cancer. Smoking was associated with risk of CRC in a dose‐response manner. In women, compared with never smokers, ever smokers showed increased risk of distal colon cancer (1.47 1.19‐1.82). There was no evidence of a significant gender difference in the association of smoking and CRC risk. Our results confirm that smoking is associated with an increased risk of CRC, both overall and subsites, in Japanese men and distal colon cancer in Japanese women.
What's new?
Colorectal cancer (CRC) has been included in lists of tobacco‐related cancers. However, this inclusion has been based on data from Western populations. Studies of Asian populations have yielded conflicting results. In the current study, the authors conducted a pooled analysis of 10 cohort studies in Japan. They found that smoking is also associated with an increased risk of CRC (both overall and at subsites) in Japanese men, and of distal colon cancer in Japanese women. This increase in risk was dose dependent.
Full text
Available for:
BFBNIB, FZAB, GIS, IJS, KILJ, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, SAZU, SBCE, SBMB, UL, UM, UPUK
The association between meat consumption and colorectal cancer remains inconsistent among Asians. The present study systematically evaluated and meta-analyzed epidemiologic studies on the association ...between consumption of total and specific meats and colorectal cancer risk among Japanese.
Original data were obtained from MEDLINE searched using PubMed or from searches of the Ichushi database, complemented with manual searches. The associations were evaluated based on the strength of evidence, the magnitude of association and biologic plausibility. A meta-analysis was performed according to total meat, red and processed meat as well as poultry and site-specific cancers.
Six cohort studies and 13 case-control studies were identified. In cohort studies, most investigations found no association between total meat consumption and colon/rectal cancer, and several studies showed a weak-to-moderate positive association of red meat and processed meat consumption with colon/rectal cancer. The majority of case-control studies showed no association between total meat consumption and colon and rectal cancer; however, several ones reported a weak-to-strong positive association of red and processed consumption with colon and rectal cancer. In meta-analysis, the summary relative risks (95% confidence interval) for the highest versus lowest categories of red meat consumption were 1.16 (1.001-1.34) and 1.21 (1.03-1.43) for colorectal and colon cancer, respectively, and those for processed meat consumption were 1.17 (1.02-1.35) and 1.23 (1.03-1.47) for colorectal and colon cancer, respectively. Poultry consumption was associated with lower risk of rectal cancer; summary relative risk (95% confidence interval) was 0.80 (0.67-0.96).
High consumption of red meat and processed meat possibly increases risk of colorectal cancer or colon cancer among the Japanese population.
Abstract
Background
Increasing proportions of smokers in Japan smoke <10 cigarettes per day (CPD). Yet, the health risks of low-intensity smoking in Asia are poorly understood.
Methods
We performed a ...pooled analysis of 410 294 adults from nine population-based prospective cohort studies participating in the Japan Cohort Consortium. Cigarette-use data were collected at each study baseline in 1983–1994. Study-specific hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for all-cause and cause-specific mortality were calculated using multivariable-adjusted Cox regression by CPD among current smokers and by age at cessation among former smokers, with never smokers as the referent group. Pooled HRs and CIs were computed using a random-effect model.
Results
The smoking prevalence was 54.5% in men and 7.4% in women. About 15.5% of male and 50.4% of female current smokers smoked 1–10 CPD (low-intensity). Both male and female low-intensity smokers had higher all-cause mortality risks than never smokers. Risks were further higher with increasing CPD in a dose–response manner. HRs (95% CIs) were 1.27 (0.97–1.66), 1.45 (1.33–1.59) and 1.49 (1.38–1.62) for 1–2, 3–5 and 6–10 CPD, respectively, in men; 1.28 (1.01–1.62), 1.49 (1.34–1.66) and 1.68 (1.55–1.81) for 1–2, 3–5 and 6–10 CPD, respectively, in women. Similar associations were observed for smoking-related causes of death. Among former low-intensity smokers, younger age at cessation was associated with lower mortality risk.
Conclusions
Smoking very low amounts was associated with increased mortality risks in Japan. All smokers should quit, even if they smoke very few CPD.
PDF
