Anthropometric dimensions of 738 medical students at Kyushu University in Japan were analyzed to determine secular changes of height and body proportions during a 20-year period. Since 1961, means of standing height, leg length, and ratio of leg length to standing height have increased, although the rate of increase from 1971 to 1981 has been rather slow. On the contrary, the mean sitting height X 100/standing height has declined during this same period. Compared with data on the Japanese general population, the medical students were considerably taller, but the difference has decreased.

Since 1945, the Japanese physique has changed a great deal. Physical examinations of medical students at Kyushu University have been carried out on an annual basis since 1939. We investigated changes in body proportions using data on 813 medical students examined from 1961 to 1986. During these 26 years, standing height has increased by 4.69 cm, arm length by 2.58 cm, and sitting height by 0.79 cm. Thus, the Japanese have grown taller and their extremities are longer, yet the trunk has not changed significantly. This study also shows a 10-year delay in increase in length of the upper extremities.

The relationships of gallstones and the postcholecystectomy state with serum total cholesterol, serum triglycerides, glucose tolerance, and obesity were examined in male officials of the Self-Defense Forces in northern Kyushu, Japan. The study population had rather low rates of gallstones (2%) and prior cholecystectomy (3%). A strong relationship between obesity and gallstones was confirmed. Glucose intolerance was associated with the risk of gallstones independent of obesity. No relation between gallstones and either serum total cholesterol or triglycerides after adjustment for obesity and glucose tolerance was evident. However, the serum concentration of total cholesterol among men having had a cholecystectomy was less than that of those without gallstones.

Chronic toxicity, including tumorigenicity, of gallium arsenide (GaAs) and arsenic trioxide (As203) were studied using Syrian golden hamsters given intermittent intratracheal instillations. GaAs particles (0.25 mg x 15 timedanimal) were likely to produce relatively severe lung damage and the survival of the animals was shortened significantly compared with a control group. The tumor incidence of each group examined was GaAs (3.3%), As,O, (3.3%) respectively, at a dose of 3.75 mg total metal given during 15 weeks. In this experiment, both arsenic trioxide and gallium arsenide had no apparent carcinogenicity or tumorigenicity.