Publications by authors named "Tomoko Imai"

Objective: Selenium, an essential mineral with antioxidant properties, can potentially prevent atherosclerosis and maintain cardiovascular health. However, the association between selenium and ischemic heart disease (IHD) remains unclear. This study aimed to determine the impact of selenium on global IHD incidence (IHDi) and mortality (IHDd) over a 28-year period from 1990 to 2018, using open data for global comparisons.

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Background: As the global population ages, extending not only the life expectancy (LE) but also the healthy life expectancy (HALE) has become a critical public health objective. Dietary choices, especially the intake of various fatty acids, may play a role in achieving good health.

Objective: The aim of this study was to describe the intake of fatty acid (FA) fractions across different countries and explore its associations with HALE and LE from 2010 to 2019 according to publicly available international data.

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Objective: Prevention and improvement of hypertension is one of the most important health issues worldwide. The traditional Japanese diet contributes to the prevention of some non-communicable diseases associated with hypertension. However, whether traditional Japanese dietary patterns are associated with hypertension prevalence and systolic blood pressure (SBP) worldwide remains unknown.

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Background: Reducing the environmental impact of the food supply is important for achieving Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) worldwide. Previously, we developed the Traditional Japanese Diet Score (TJDS) and reported in a global ecological study that the Japanese diet is associated with reducing obesity and extending healthy life expectancy etc. We then examined the relationship between the TJDS and environmental indicators.

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This study assessed the validity of dietary balance scores (DBSs) by investigating the association between DBSs and nutrient adequacy (NA) in two Japanese populations. The participants were 65 community-dwelling Japanese from Tokushima Prefecture and 2,330 community-dwelling Japanese from Aichi Prefecture. Based on food frequency questionnaires or 3-day dietary records, we obtained 18 food groups.

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Fractional nitric oxide (FeNO) is an index of eosinophilic airway inflammation. However, the effect of acute resistance exercise on FeNO is not completely known, in non-asthmatics. In this study, we aimed to assess the effects of acute resistance exercise on FeNO levels in non-asthmatics.

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Article Synopsis
  • - The relationship between egg consumption and ischemic heart disease (IHD) is still debated, with past research mainly limited to specific regions and no clear conclusions reached.
  • - A new study analyzed 28 years of global data (1990-2018) to explore the link between egg intake and IHD incidence (IHDi) and mortality (IHDd) across 142 countries with populations over one million.
  • - The findings indicate a significant negative association: higher egg intake is linked to lower IHDi and IHDd rates, suggesting that consuming eggs could potentially reduce the risk of IHD globally.
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Background: Though athletes have a high risk of respiratory disorders, effective prevention has not yet to be identified. Omega-3 (n-3) polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) have some practical anti-inflammatory effects in allergy, and therefore may reduce airway inflammation in athletes. This study aimed to assess whether n-3 PUFA intake affects airway inflammation in university athletes.

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Objective: Studies conducted on Japanese people have suggested that a traditional Japanese diet contributes to good health, longevity, and protection against several non-communicable diseases. However, it is unknown whether traditional Japanese dietary patterns are associated with all-cause mortality, cardiovascular disease, and cancer mortality globally. The purpose of this cross-sectional and longitudinal ecological study is to clarify the global association between the traditional Japanese diet score (TJDS) and all-cause, cardiovascular disease, and total cancer mortality.

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In previous observational studies, the association between coffee intake and risk of cardiovascular disease has reversed from positive to negative over time. This long-term international ecological study examined whether the association between coffee intake and mortality and incidence rates of ischemic heart disease (IHD) changed between 1990 and 2018 using multiple coherent data. We obtained data on coffee intake per capita, IHD mortality and incidence rates per 100,000 population, and socioeconomic and lifestyle indicators for each country from various publicly available databases.

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Background/objectives: To clarify the effects of intake of legumes and isoflavones on all-cause mortality in middle-aged and older Japanese.

Subject/methods: The subjects were 2136 randomly chosen community-dwelling Japanese men and women aged 40-79 years who participated in a first-wave survey (1997-2000; baseline). The subjects were followed from baseline to December 31, 2017 (mean period of 16.

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Background: There is a need for global public health strategies to effectively curb the ever-growing global diabetes population. This longitudinal ecological study was conducted to elucidate the country-specific trends of the age-standardised prevalence of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and their association with socioeconomic, lifestyle and health indicators.

Methods: Data pertaining to the age-standardised prevalence of T2DM (rates per 100 000) and socioeconomic, lifestyle and health indicators were obtained from several international databases.

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Background: The purpose of this study was to clarify the global relationship between the Mediterranean diet score (MDS) and country-wise incidence and mortality of ischaemic heart disease (IHD) using an international database.

Methods: We used population data from a global longitudinal database covering 137 countries with a population of over one million. MDS were evaluated based on the total score of the nine foods that comprise the Mediterranean diet.

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Background: The traditional Japanese diet is considered one of the important factors of health and longevity in Japanese people. Breast cancer is the most common cancer among women in the world. However, the association between the traditional Japanese diet and breast cancer is unclear.

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The hearts of three dogs, clinically diagnosed as having persistent atrial standstill syndrome (PAS), were studied post mortem. The most significant gross findings in the hearts of all three dogs were dilatation and marked reduction in the thickness of both atrial walls. Histopathologically, all three had widespread progressive loss of the atrial myocardium with replacement by fatty or fibrofatty tissue, consistent with atrial myopathy.

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We examined associations between dietary diversity and all-cause and cause-specific mortality in 386 men and 413 women (age range, 60-79 years at baseline) who took part in the National Institute for Longevity Sciences-Longitudinal Study of Aging study from 1997 to 2000. Dietary intake was assessed using three-day dietary records and photographs. The Quantitative Index for Dietary Diversity was used to determine the dietary diversity among thirteen food groups.

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Positive and negative associations with risk of cognitive decline have been reported for glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) level and green tea (GT) intake, respectively. This study aimed to assess whether the reduction in the risk of cognitive decline with GT intake depended on HbA1c level. The participants were aged ≥60 years at baseline in the cohort study, wherein examinations were conducted biennially from 2000 to 2012.

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Objective: To examine associations between protein intake per day and at different meals and skeletal muscle mass declines.

Design: Two-year prospective cohort study among older community dwellers.

Setting: National Institute for Longevity Sciences-Longitudinal Study of Aging (NILS-LSA) in Japan.

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Objective: To examine the association between green tea and coffee intake and cognitive decline in older adults.

Design: A prospective cohort study. The average intake of green tea and coffee in the previous year was assessed through a dietitian interview using a dietary questionnaire.

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The associations between meat/fish consumption, docosahexaenoic acid (DHA)/eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) intakes, and blood DHA/EPA levels, and mortality in Japan were examined as part of the National Institute for Longevity Sciences-Longitudinal Study of Aging: 520 men and 534 women (60-79 years at baseline) were followed from 1997-2017. Nutritional intakes were assessed using a 3-day dietary record and fasting venous blood samples were collected. Serum EPA/DHA concentrations, the EPA/arachidonic acid (ARA) ratio, EPA/DHA intakes, and fish/meat intakes were examined in tertiles as indicator variables, and hazard ratios (HR) were calculated to compare the risk of death across tertiles controlling for sex, age, body mass index, smoking status, alcohol drinking, physical activity, education, employment, and history of diseases.

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The augmented cerebral hemodynamic pulsatility could lead to the elevated risk of cerebrovascular disease. To determine the impact of an acute orthostatic challenge on a pulsatile component of cerebral hemodynamics, mild lower body negative pressure (LBNP, -30 mmHg) was applied to 29 men. Middle cerebral artery blood flow velocity (MCAv) was measured by transcranial Doppler technique.

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Objective: The aim of the present study was to clarify the global relationship between Mediterranean diet score (MDS) and the incidence of IHD by country using international statistics.

Design: The incidence of IHD by country was derived from the Global Burden of Disease (GBD) database. Average supplies of food (g/d per capita) and energy (kcal/d per capita) by country, excluding loss between production and household, were obtained from the FAOSTAT database.

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A 10-week-old miniature dachshund presented with acute onset of weakness. Electrocardiography showed sustained ventricular tachycardia, and thoracic and abdominal radiography revealed pleural and peritoneal effusion. Echocardiography revealed severely hypokinetic left and right ventricles.

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Food categories that significantly contribute to daily intake of total arsenic (TAs), inorganic arsenic (iAs), lead (Pb) and aluminium (Al) were statistically sought for the 949 duplicate diet samples collected from 319 households in Japan. Daily intakes of TAs, iAs, Pb and Al were calculated based on measured element concentration in duplicate diet samples and weight of the samples. Amounts of consumption of 12 food categories of each duplicate diet sample were self-reported (beverage), interviewed (fat and oil, spices, and sugar) and actually weighted (other 9 categories) at the time of diet sampling.

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