In 1976, we designed an original questionnaire, consisting of 111 questions, directed at the epidemiology of prostatic disease. A case-control study by matched-pair analysis was conducted on 100 controls matched for age within 1 year and for residence in the same prefecture. Patients with prostatic cancer were distinguished from the general population of men by the following characteristics: 1) belonging to middle or lower socioeconomical class, 2) marriage at a young age and a long married life, 3) precocity, 4) vigorous sexual life followed by a fall-off of sexuality in later life, and 5 ) Western food habits. Based on analysis of results obtained in this case-control study, a high-risk group for prostatic cancer was outlined.

The metabolic properties of cells are formed under the influence of environmental factors such as nutrients and hormones. Although such a metabolic program is likely initiated through epigenetic mechanisms, the direct links between metabolic cues and activities of chromatin modifiers remain largely unknown. In this study, we show that lysine-specific demethylase-1 (LSD1) controls the metabolic program in myogenic differentiation, under the action of catabolic hormone, glucocorticoids. By using transcriptomic and epigenomic approaches, we revealed that LSD1 bound to oxidative metabolism and slow-twitch myosin genes, and repressed their expression. Consistent with this, loss of LSD1 activity during differentiation enhanced the oxidative capacity of myotubes. By testing the effects of various hormones, we found that LSD1 levels were decreased by treatment with the glucocorticoid dexamethasone (Dex) in cultured myoblasts and in skeletal muscle from mice. Mechanistically, glucocorticoid signaling induced expression of a ubiquitin E3 ligase, JADE-2, which was responsible for proteasomal degradation of LSD1. Consequently, in differentiating myoblasts, chemical inhibition of LSD1, in combination with Dex treatment, synergistically de-repressed oxidative metabolism genes, concomitant with increased histone H3 lysine 4 methylation at these loci. These findings demonstrated that LSD1 serves as an epigenetic regulator linking glucocorticoid action to metabolic programming during myogenic differentiation.

A case control study was conducted on 100 patients with benign prostatic hypertrophy (BPH) and 100 controls matched by age and residence. Interviews were performed by welltrained urologists using an original questionnaire. Matched-pair analysis revealed the following characteristics and relative risks (RR) as being significantly (P < 0.05) different among the BPH patients versus the controls: higher educational background (RR = 2.77); not engaged in farming, forestry, or fishing (RR = 4.82); no environmental pollution at work (RR = 2.90); a present annual income of more than 2,400,000 yen (RR = 3.84); a previous annual income of more than 2,400,000 yen (RR = 3.82); practice the highest standard of living (RR = 4.24); more than two children (RR = 2.67); experienced first nocturnal emission before reaching the age of 20 (RR = 3.11); expending more than 10 min to complete one act of sexual intercourse (RR = 2.43); having no episode of sexual impotence that lasted more than 1 month (RR = 2.29); no family history of gastric ulcer (RR = 7.98); no family history of breast cancer (RR = 8.25); regular consumption of milk (RR = 2.25); irregular consumption of green and yellow vegetables (RR = 3.91); and pickles not consumed at every meal (RR = 1.99). Characteristics that did not achieve a high level of statistical significance (0.05 < P < 0.10) between cases and controls were as follows: past history of gonorrhea, urethritis, or prostatitis and syphilis (RR = 1.84, 2.76, and 4.26, respectively), and daily meat consumption (RR = 3.18). On the basis of interviews of the patients and cases reported in this study, we conclude that dietaly and sexual habits may be important factors which place individuals at a higher risk for developing BPH.

Aims/IntroductionGestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) is a risk for adverse perinatal outcomes, and patients with a history of GDM have an increased risk of impaired glucose tolerance (IGT). Here, we carried out two non‐interventional and retrospective studies of GDM patients in Japan.Materials and MethodsIn the first study, we enrolled 529 GDM patients and assessed predictors of the need for insulin therapy. In the second study, we enrolled 185 patients from the first study, and assessed predictors of postpartum IGT.ResultsIn the first study, gestational weeks at GDM diagnosis and history of pregnancy were significantly lower, and pregestational body mass index, family history of diabetes mellitus, 1‐ and 2‐h glucose levels in a 75‐g oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT), the number of abnormal values in a 75‐g OGTT, and glycated hemoglobin were significantly higher in participants receiving insulin therapy. In the second study, 1‐ and 2‐h glucose levels in a 75‐g OGTT, the number of abnormal values in a 75‐g OGTT, glycated hemoglobin, and ketone bodies in a urine test were significantly higher in participants with OGT. Logistic regression analysis showed that gestational weeks at GDM diagnosis, 1‐h glucose levels in a 75‐g OGTT and glycated hemoglobin were significant predictors of the need for insulin therapy, and 1‐h glucose levels in a 75‐g OGTT at diagnosis and ketone bodies in a urine test were significant predictors for postpartum IGT.ConclusionsAntepartum 1‐h glucose levels in a 75‐g OGTT was a predictor of the need for insulin therapy in pregnancy and postpartum IGT.

In 1976, we designed an original questionnaire, consisting of 111 questions, directed at the epidemiology of prostatic disease. A case-control study by matched-pair analysis was conducted on 100 controls matched for age within 1 year and for residence in the same prefecture. Patients with prostatic cancer were distinguished from the general population of men by the following characteristics: 1) belonging to middle or lower socioeconomical class, 2) marriage at a young age and a long married life, 3) precocity, 4) vigorous sexual life followed by a fall-off of sexuality in later life, and 5) Western food habits. Based on analysis of results obtained in this case-control study, a high-risk group for prostatic cancer was outlined.