Tomoyuki Kawada

Bio: Tomoyuki Kawada is an academic researcher from Nippon Medical School. The author has contributed to research in topics: Medicine & Diabetes mellitus. The author has an hindex of 35, co-authored 1039 publications receiving 5981 citations. Previous affiliations of Tomoyuki Kawada include Gunma University.

Visiting a Forest, but Not a City, Increases Human Natural Killer Activity and Expression of Anti-Cancer Proteins:

Abstract: We previously reported that a forest bathing trip enhanced human NK activity, number of NK cells, and intracellular anti-cancer proteins in lymphocytes. In the present study, we investigated how long the increased NK activity lasts and compared the effect of a forest bathing trip on NK activity with a trip to places in a city without forests. Twelve healthy male subjects, age 35-56 years, were selected with informed consent. The subjects experienced a three-day/two-night trip to forest fields and to a city, in which activity levels during both trips were matched. On day 1, subjects walked for two hours in the afternoon in a forest field; and on day 2, they walked for two hours in the morning and afternoon, respectively, in two different forest fields; and on day 3, the subjects finished the trip and returned to Tokyo after drawing blood samples and completing the questionnaire. Blood and urine were sampled on the second and third days during the trips, and on days 7 and 30 after the trip, and NK activity, numbers of NK and T cells, and granulysin, perforin, and granzymes A/B-expressing lymphocytes in the blood samples, and the concentration of adrenaline in urine were measured. Similar measurements were made before the trips on a normal working day as the control. Phytoncide concentrations in forest and city air were measured. The forest bathing trip significantly increased NK activity and the numbers of NK, perforin, granulysin, and granzyme A/B-expressing cells and significantly decreased the concentration of adrenaline in urine. The increased NK activity lasted for more than 7 days after the trip. In contrast, a city tourist visit did not increase NK activity, numbers of NK cells, nor the expression of selected intracellular anti-cancer proteins, and did not decrease the concentration of adrenaline in urine. Phytoncides, such as alpha-pinene and beta-pinene were detected in forest air, but almost not in city air. These findings indicate that a forest bathing trip increased NK activity, number of NK cells, and levels of intracellular anti-cancer proteins, and that this effect lasted at least 7 days after the trip. Phytoncides released from trees and decreased stress hormone may partially contribute to the increased NK activity.

Forest Bathing Enhances Human Natural Killer Activity and Expression of Anti-Cancer Proteins:

Abstract: In order to explore the effect of forest bathing on human immune function, we investigated natural killer (NK) activity; the number of NK cells, and perforin, granzymes and granulysin-expression in peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBL) during a visit to forest fields. Twelve healthy male subjects, age 37-55 years, were selected with informed consent from three large companies in Tokyo, Japan. The subjects experienced a three-day/two-night trip in three different forest fields. On the first day, subjects walked for two hours in the afternoon in a forest field; and on the second day, they walked for two hours in the morning and afternoon, respectively, in two different forest fields. Blood was sampled on the second and third days, and NK activity; proportions of NK, T cells, granulysin, perforin, and granzymes A/B-expressing cells in PBL were measured. Similar measurements were made before the trip on a normal working day as the control. Almost all of the subjects (11/12) showed higher NK activity after the trip (about 50 percent increased) compared with before. There are significant differences both before and after the trip and between days 1 and 2 in NK activity. The forest bathing trip also significantly increased the numbers of NK, perforin, granulysin, and granzymes A/B-expressing cells. Taken together, these findings indicate that a forest bathing trip can increase NK activity, and that this effect at least partially mediated by increasing the number of NK cells and by the induction of intracellular anti-cancer proteins.

Ankle-Brachial Blood Pressure Index Predicts All-Cause and Cardiovascular Mortality in Hemodialysis Patients

Abstract: A reduction in ankle-brachial BP index (ABPI) is associated with generalized atherosclerotic diseases and predicts cardiovascular mortality and morbidity in several patient populations. However, a large-scale analysis of ABPI is lacking for hemodialysis (HD) patients, and its use in this population is not fully validated. A cohort of 1010 Japanese patients undergoing chronic hemodialysis was studied between November 1999 and May 2002. Mean age at entry was 60.6 +/- 12.5 yr, and duration of follow-up was 22.3 +/- 5.6 mo. Patients were stratified into five groups ( or = 0.9 to or = 1.0 to or = 1.1 to or = 1.3) by ABPI measured at entry by an oscillometric method. The frequency distribution of ABPI was 16.5% of patients or = 0.9 to or = to or 1.1 to or = 1.3). The relative risk of a history of diabetes mellitus (DM), cardiovascular, and cerebrovascular disease was significantly higher in patients with lower ABPI than those with ABPI > or = 1.1 to or = 0.9 to or = 1.3) also had poor prognosis (HR, 2.33 [1.11 to 4.89] and 3.04 [1.14 to 8.12] for all-cause and cardiovascular mortality, respectively). Thus, the present findings validate ABPI as a powerful and independent predictor for all-cause and cardiovascular mortality among hemodialysis patients.

A forest bathing trip increases human natural killer activity and expression of anti-cancer proteins in female subjects.

Abstract: We previously reported that forest bathing trips enhanced human NK activity, number of NK cells, and intracellular anti-cancer proteins in lymphocytes, and that the increased NK activity lasted for more than 7 days after the trip in male subjects. In the present study, we investigated the effect of forest bathing trip on human NK activity in female subjects. Thirteen healthy nurses, age 25-43 years, professional career 4-18 years, were selected with informed consent. The subjects experienced a three-day/two-night trip to forest fields. On day 1, the subjects walked for two hours in the afternoon in a forest field; on day 2, they walked for two hours each in the morning and afternoon in two different forest fields; and on day 3, the subjects finished the trip and returned to Tokyo after drawing blood and completing a questionnaire. Blood and urine were sampled on the second and third days during the trip, and on days 7 and 30 after the trip. NK activity, numbers of NK and T cells, and granulysin, perforin, and granzymes A/B-expressing lymphocytes in the blood samples, the concentrations of estradiol and progesterone in serum, and the concentrations of adrenaline and noradrenaline in urine were measured. Similar control measurements were made before the trip on a normal working day. The concentrations of phytoncides in the forests were measured. The forest bathing trip significantly increased NK activity and the numbers of NK, perforin, granulysin, and granzymes A/B-expressing cells and significantly decreased the percentage of T cells, and the concentrations of adrenaline and noradrenaline in urine. The increased NK activity lasted for more than 7 days after the trip. Phytoncides, such as alpha-pinene and beta-pinene were detected in forest air. These findings indicate that a forest bathing trip also increased NK activity, number of NK cells, and levels of intracellular anti-cancer proteins in female subjects, and that this effect lasted at least 7 days after the trip. Phytoncides released from trees and decreased stress hormone levels may partially contribute to the increased NK activity.

I and i

Abstract: There is, I think, something ethereal about i —the square root of minus one. I remember first hearing about it at school. It seemed an odd beast at that time—an intruder hovering on the edge of reality. Usually familiarity dulls this sense of the bizarre, but in the case of i it was the reverse: over the years the sense of its surreal nature intensified. It seemed that it was impossible to write mathematics that described the real world in …

Standards of Medical Care in Diabetes

Abstract: XI. STRATEGIES FOR IMPROVING DIABETES CARE D iabetes is a chronic illness that requires continuing medical care and patient self-management education to prevent acute complications and to reduce the risk of long-term complications. Diabetes care is complex and requires that many issues, beyond glycemic control, be addressed. A large body of evidence exists that supports a range of interventions to improve diabetes outcomes. These standards of care are intended to provide clinicians, patients, researchers, payors, and other interested individuals with the components of diabetes care, treatment goals, and tools to evaluate the quality of care. While individual preferences, comorbidities, and other patient factors may require modification of goals, targets that are desirable for most patients with diabetes are provided. These standards are not intended to preclude more extensive evaluation and management of the patient by other specialists as needed. For more detailed information, refer to Bode (Ed.): Medical Management of Type 1 Diabetes (1), Burant (Ed): Medical Management of Type 2 Diabetes (2), and Klingensmith (Ed): Intensive Diabetes Management (3). The recommendations included are diagnostic and therapeutic actions that are known or believed to favorably affect health outcomes of patients with diabetes. A grading system (Table 1), developed by the American Diabetes Association (ADA) and modeled after existing methods, was utilized to clarify and codify the evidence that forms the basis for the recommendations. The level of evidence that supports each recommendation is listed after each recommendation using the letters A, B, C, or E.

2015 ESC Guidelines for the management of acute coronary syndromes in patients presenting without persistent ST-segment elevation: Task Force for the Management of Acute Coronary Syndromes in Patients Presenting without Persistent ST-Segment Elevation of the European Society of Cardiology (ESC)

Abstract: ESC Guidelines for the management of acute coronary syndromes in patients presenting without persistent ST-segment elevation : The Task Force for the management of acute coronary syndromes (ACS) in patients presenting without persistent ST-segment elevation of the European Society of Cardiology (ESC).

ESC Guidelines for the management of acute coronary syndromes in patients presenting without persistent ST-segment elevation

Abstract: ABOARD : Angioplasty to Blunt the Rise of Troponin in Acute Coronary Syndromes Randomized for an Immediate or Delayed Intervention ACC : American College of Cardiology ACE : angiotensin-converting enzyme ACS : acute coronary syndromes ACT : activated clotting time ACUITY : Acute Catheterization and Urgent Intervention Triage strategY AF : atrial fibrillation AHA : American Heart Association APPRAISE : Apixaban for Prevention of Acute Ischemic Events aPTT : activated partial thromboplastin time ARB : angiotensin receptor blocker ARC : Academic Research Consortium ATLAS : Anti-Xa Therapy to Lower Cardiovascular Events in Addition to Aspirin With or Without Thienopyridine Therapy in Subjects with Acute Coronary Syndrome BARI-2D : Bypass Angioplasty Revascularization Investigation 2 Diabetes BMS : bare-metal stent BNP : brain natriuretic peptide CABG : coronary bypass graft CAD : coronary artery disease CI : confidence interval CK : creatinine kinase CKD : chronic kidney disease CK-MB : creatinine kinase myocardial band COX : cyclo-oxygenase CMR : cardiac magnetic resonance COMMIT : Clopidogrel and Metoprolol in Myocardial Infarction Trial CPG : Committee for Practice Guidelines CrCl : creatinine clearance CRP : C-reactive protein CRUSADE : Can Rapid risk stratification of Unstable angina patients Suppress ADverse outcomes with Early implementation of the ACC/AHA guidelines CT : computed tomography CURE : Clopidogrel in Unstable Angina to Prevent Recurrent Events CURRENT : Clopidogrel Optimal Loading Dose Usage to Reduce Recurrent Events CYP : cytochrome P450 DAPT : dual (oral) antiplatelet therapy DAVIT : Danish Study Group on Verapamil in Myocardial Infarction Trial DES : drug-eluting stent DTI : direct thrombin inhibitor DIGAMI : Diabetes, Insulin Glucose Infusion in Acute Myocardial Infarction EARLY-ACS : Early Glycoprotein IIb/IIIa Inhibition in Non-ST-Segment Elevation Acute Coronary Syndrome ECG : electrocardiogram eGFR : estimated glomerular filtration rate ELISA : Early or Late Intervention in unStable Angina ESC : European Society of Cardiology Factor Xa : activated factor X FFR : fractional flow reserve FRISC : Fragmin during Instability in Coronary Artery Disease GP IIb/IIIa : glycoprotein IIb/IIIa GRACE : Global Registry of Acute Coronary Events HINT : Holland Interuniversity Nifedipine/Metoprolol Trial HIT : heparin-induced thrombocytopenia HORIZONS : Harmonizing Outcomes with RevasculariZatiON and Stents in Acute Myocardial Infarction HR : hazard ratio hsCRP : high-sensitivity C-reactive protein ICTUS : Invasive vs. Conservative Treatment in Unstable coronary Syndromes INR : international normalized ratio INTERACT : Integrilin and Enoxaparin Randomized Assessment of Acute Coronary Syndrome Treatment ISAR-COOL : Intracoronary Stenting With Antithrombotic Regimen Cooling Off ISAR-REACT : Intracoronary stenting and Antithrombotic Regimen- Rapid Early Action for Coronary Treatment i.v. : intravenous LDL-C : low-density lipoprotein cholesterol LMWH : low molecular weight heparin LV : left ventricular LVEF : left ventricular ejection fraction MB : myocardial band MDRD : Modification of Diet in Renal Disease MERLIN : Metabolic Efficiency With Ranolazine for Less Ischemia in Non-ST-Elevation Acute Coronary Syndromes MI : myocardial infarction MINAP : Myocardial Infarction National Audit Project MRI : magnetic resonance imaging NNT : numbers needed to treat NSAID : non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug NSTE-ACS : non-ST-elevation acute coronary syndromes NSTEMI : non-ST-elevation myocardial infarction NT-proBNP : N-terminal prohormone brain natriuretic peptide OASIS : Organization to Assess Strategies for Ischaemic Syndromes OPTIMA : Optimal Timing of PCI in Unstable Angina OR : odds ratio PCI : percutaneous coronary intervention PENTUA : Pentasaccharide in Unstable Angina PLATO : PLATelet inhibition and patient Outcomes PURSUIT : Platelet Glycoprotein IIb/IIIa in Unstable Angina: Receptor Suppression Using Integrilin Therapy RCT : randomized controlled trial RE-DEEM : Randomized Dabigatran Etexilate Dose Finding Study In Patients With Acute Coronary Syndromes (ACS) Post Index Event With Additional Risk Factors For Cardiovascular Complications Also Receiving Aspirin And Clopidogrel REPLACE-2 : Randomized Evaluation of PCI Linking Angiomax to reduced Clinical Events RIKS-HIA : Register of Information and Knowledge about Swedish Heart Intensive care Admissions RITA : Research Group in Instability in Coronary Artery Disease trial RR : relative risk RRR : relative risk reduction STE-ACS : ST-elevation acute coronary syndrome STEMI : ST-elevation myocardial infarction SYNERGY : Superior Yield of the New Strategy of Enoxaparin, Revascularization and Glycoprotein IIb/IIIa Inhibitors trial SYNTAX : SYNergy between percutaneous coronary intervention with TAXus and cardiac surgery TACTICS : Treat angina with Aggrastat and determine Cost of Therapy with an Invasive or Conservative Strategy TARGET : Do Tirofiban and ReoPro Give Similar Efficacy Outcomes Trial TIMACS : Timing of Intervention in Patients with Acute Coronary Syndromes TIMI : Thrombolysis In Myocardial Infarction TRITON : TRial to Assess Improvement in Therapeutic Outcomes by Optimizing Platelet InhibitioN with Prasugrel–Thrombolysis In Myocardial Infarction UFH : unfractionated heparin VKA : vitamin K antagonist VTE : venous thrombo-embolism Guidelines summarize and evaluate all available evidence, at the time of the writing process, on a particular issue with the aim of assisting physicians in selecting the best management strategies for an individual patient, with a given condition, taking into account the impact on outcome, as well as the risk–benefit ratio of particular diagnostic or therapeutic means. Guidelines are no substitutes but are complements for textbooks and cover the European Society of Cardiology (ESC) Core Curriculum topics. Guidelines and recommendations should help the physicians to make decisions in their daily practice. However, the final decisions concerning an individual patient must be made by the responsible physician(s). A great number of Guidelines have been issued in recent years by the ESC as well as by other societies and organizations. Because of the impact on clinical practice, quality criteria for the development of guidelines have been established in order to make all decisions transparent to the user. The recommendations for formulating and issuing ESC Guidelines can be found on the ESC website (http://www.escardio.org/guidelines-surveys/esc-guidelines/about/Pages/rules-writing.aspx). ESC Guidelines represent the official position of the ESC on a given topic and are regularly updated. Members of this Task Force were selected by the ESC to represent professionals involved with the medical care of patients with this pathology. Selected experts in the field undertook a comprehensive review of the published evidence for diagnosis, management, and/or prevention of a given condition according to ESC Committee for Practice Guidelines (CPG) policy. A critical evaluation of diagnostic and therapeutic procedures was performed including assessment of the risk–benefit ratio. Estimates of expected health outcomes for larger populations were included, where data exist. The level of evidence and the strength of recommendation of particular treatment options were weighed and graded according to pre-defined scales, as outlined in Tables 1 and 2 . …