著者

Madoka NAKAJIMA Shigeki YAMADA Masakazu MIYAJIMA Kazunari ISHII Nagato KURIYAMA Hiroaki KAZUI Hideki KANEMOTO Takashi SUEHIRO Kenji YOSHIYAMA Masahiro KAMEDA Yoshinaga KAJIMOTO Mitsuhito MASE Hisayuki MURAI Daisuke KITA Teruo KIMURA Naoyuki SAMEJIMA Takahiko TOKUDA Mitsunobu KAIJIMA Chihiro AKIBA Kaito KAWAMURA Masamichi ATSUCHI Yoshihumi HIRATA Mitsunori MATSUMAE Makoto SASAKI Fumio YAMASHITA Shigeki AOKI Ryusuke IRIE Hiroji MIYAKE Takeo KATO Etsuro MORI Masatsune ISHIKAWA Isao DATE Hajime ARAI The research committee of idiopathic normal pressure hydrocephalus

出版者

The Japan Neurosurgical Society

雑誌

Neurologia medico-chirurgica (ISSN:04708105)

巻号頁・発行日

vol.61, no.2, pp.63-97, 2021 (Released:2021-02-15)

参考文献数

286

被引用文献数

88 189

---

Among the various disorders that manifest with gait disturbance, cognitive impairment, and urinary incontinence in the elderly population, idiopathic normal pressure hydrocephalus (iNPH) is becoming of great importance. The first edition of these guidelines for management of iNPH was published in 2004, and the second edition in 2012, to provide a series of timely, evidence-based recommendations related to iNPH. Since the last edition, clinical awareness of iNPH has risen dramatically, and clinical and basic research efforts on iNPH have increased significantly. This third edition of the guidelines was made to share these ideas with the international community and to promote international research on iNPH. The revision of the guidelines was undertaken by a multidisciplinary expert working group of the Japanese Society of Normal Pressure Hydrocephalus in conjunction with the Japanese Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare research project. This revision proposes a new classification for NPH. The category of iNPH is clearly distinguished from NPH with congenital/developmental and acquired etiologies. Additionally, the essential role of disproportionately enlarged subarachnoid-space hydrocephalus (DESH) in the imaging diagnosis and decision for further management of iNPH is discussed in this edition. We created an algorithm for diagnosis and decision for shunt management. Diagnosis by biomarkers that distinguish prognosis has been also initiated. Therefore, diagnosis and treatment of iNPH have entered a new phase. We hope that this third edition of the guidelines will help patients, their families, and healthcare professionals involved in treating iNPH.

著者

Shinichi Kuriyama Nobuo Yaegashi Fuji Nagami Tomohiko Arai Yoshio Kawaguchi Noriko Osumi Masaki Sakaida Yoichi Suzuki Keiko Nakayama Hiroaki Hashizume Gen Tamiya Hiroshi Kawame Kichiya Suzuki Atsushi Hozawa Naoki Nakaya Masahiro Kikuya Hirohito Metoki Ichiro Tsuji Nobuo Fuse Hideyasu Kiyomoto Junichi Sugawara Akito Tsuboi Shinichi Egawa Kiyoshi Ito Koichi Chida Tadashi Ishii Hiroaki Tomita Yasuyuki Taki Naoko Minegishi Naoto Ishii Jun Yasuda Kazuhiko Igarashi Ritsuko Shimizu Masao Nagasaki Seizo Koshiba Kengo Kinoshita Soichi Ogishima Takako Takai-Igarashi Teiji Tominaga Osamu Tanabe Noriaki Ohuchi Toru Shimosegawa Shigeo Kure Hiroshi Tanaka Sadayoshi Ito Jiro Hitomi Kozo Tanno Motoyuki Nakamura Kuniaki Ogasawara Seiichiro Kobayashi Kiyomi Sakata Mamoru Satoh Atsushi Shimizu Makoto Sasaki Ryujin Endo Kenji Sobue the Tohoku Medical Megabank Project Study Group Masayuki Yamamoto

出版者

日本疫学会

雑誌

Journal of Epidemiology (ISSN:09175040)

巻号頁・発行日

pp.JE20150268, (Released:2016-07-02)

参考文献数

64

被引用文献数

1 227

---

The Great East Japan Earthquake (GEJE) and resulting tsunami of March 11, 2011 gave rise to devastating damage on the Pacific coast of the Tohoku region. The Tohoku Medical Megabank Project (TMM), which is being conducted by Tohoku University Tohoku Medical Megabank Organization (ToMMo) and Iwate Medical University Iwate Tohoku Medical Megabank Organization (IMM), has been launched to realize creative reconstruction and to solve medical problems in the aftermath of this disaster. We started two prospective cohort studies in Miyagi and Iwate Prefectures: a population-based adult cohort study, the TMM Community-Based Cohort Study (TMM CommCohort Study), which will recruit 80 000 participants, and a birth and three-generation cohort study, the TMM Birth and Three-Generation Cohort Study (TMM BirThree Cohort Study), which will recruit 70 000 participants, including fetuses and their parents, siblings, grandparents, and extended family members. The TMM CommCohort Study will recruit participants from 2013 to 2016 and follow them for at least 5 years. The TMM BirThree Cohort Study will recruit participants from 2013 to 2017 and follow them for at least 4 years. For children, the ToMMo Child Health Study, which adopted a cross-sectional design, was also started in November 2012 in Miyagi Prefecture. An integrated biobank will be constructed based on the two prospective cohort studies, and ToMMo and IMM will investigate the chronic medical impacts of the GEJE. The integrated biobank of TMM consists of health and clinical information, biospecimens, and genome and omics data. The biobank aims to establish a firm basis for personalized healthcare and medicine, mainly for diseases aggravated by the GEJE in the two prefectures. Biospecimens and related information in the biobank will be distributed to the research community. TMM itself will also undertake genomic and omics research. The aims of the genomic studies are: 1) to construct an integrated biobank; 2) to return genomic research results to the participants of the cohort studies, which will lead to the implementation of personalized healthcare and medicine in the affected areas in the near future; and 3) to contribute the development of personalized healthcare and medicine worldwide. Through the activities of TMM, we will clarify how to approach prolonged healthcare problems in areas damaged by large-scale disasters and how useful genomic information is for disease prevention.

著者

Tsuyoshi Matsuda Yuji Iwadate Futoshi Mori Kota Takeda Makoto Sasaki

出版者

Japanese Society for Magnetic Resonance in Medicine

雑誌

Magnetic Resonance in Medical Sciences (ISSN:13473182)

巻号頁・発行日

pp.tn.2022-0053, (Released:2022-11-30)

参考文献数

24

---

Flip angle (FA) measurements using the actual flip angle imaging (AFI) method may induce significant errors in ultrahigh fields. We aimed to develop a method for detecting errors in FA measurements using phase information at 7 tesla. We performed computer simulations to elucidate the relationship between the FA calculation errors and the phase difference between the two AFI source images. We then examined whether a method based on the phase difference could detect FA calculation errors and determine the prescribed nominal FA of the scanner for accurate measurements in phantoms and healthy volunteers. The simulations confirmed that the calculated FA values erroneously decreased when the longitudinal magnetization and phase in one of the source images were inverted. Tests on phantoms and human subjects demonstrated that the phase difference information between the source images with a cut-off of 90° could readily detect FA calculation errors in the AFI method.

著者

Takumi KODAHARA Makoto SASAKI Yuichi KAWACHI Yuki JAJIMA Tatsuya KOBAYASHI Takuma YAMADA Hiroyuki ARAKAWA Akihide FUJISAWA

出版者

The Japan Society of Plasma Science and Nuclear Fusion Research

雑誌

Plasma and Fusion Research (ISSN:18806821)

巻号頁・発行日

vol.18, pp.1202036, 2023-06-05 (Released:2023-06-07)

参考文献数

9

被引用文献数

1

---

Multi-field singular value decompositions (SVDs) is applied to turbulence obtained in a cylindrical magnetized plasma, PANTA. This method enables us to obtain the spatial mode structures with common temporal evolution of different physical quantities, such as the fluctuations of density and flows. Turbulence driven particle transport is evaluated by the method. It is shown that only the coupling of the same mode drives the transport, which stems from the orthogonality of the SVD. Thanks to this characteristics, the number of degrees of freedom which plays roles for the transport dynamics could be significantly reduced.

著者

Kohsuke KUDO Timothé BOUTELIER Fabrice PAUTOT Kaneyoshi HONJO Jin-Qing HU Hai-Bin WANG Katsuya SHINTAKU Ikuko UWANO Makoto SASAKI

出版者

Japanese Society for Magnetic Resonance in Medicine

雑誌

Magnetic Resonance in Medical Sciences (ISSN:13473182)

巻号頁・発行日

vol.13, no.1, pp.45-50, 2014-03-01 (Released:2014-03-24)

参考文献数

21

被引用文献数

18 21

---

Purpose: We compared the performances of a Bayesian estimation method and oscillation index singular value decomposition (oSVD) deconvolution for predicting final infarction using data previously obtained from 10 cynomolgus monkeys with permanent unilateral middle cerebral artery (MCA) occlusion.Methods: We conducted baseline perfusion-weighted imaging 3 hours after MCA occlusion and generated time to peak, first moment of transit, cerebral blood flow, cerebral blood volume, and mean transit time maps using Bayesian and oSVD methods. Final infarct volume was determined by follow-up diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) scanned 47 hours after MCA occlusion and from histological specimens. We used a region growing technique with various thresholds to determine perfusion abnormality volume. The best threshold was defined when the mean perfusion volume matched the mean final infarct volume, and Pearson's correlation coefficients (r) and intraclass correlations (ICC) were calculated between perfusion abnormality and final infarct volume at that threshold. These coefficients were compared between Bayesian and oSVD using Wilcoxon's signed rank test. P-value < 0.05 was considered a statistically significant difference.Results: The Pearson's correlation coefficients were larger but not significantly different for the Bayesian technique than oSVD in 4 of 5 perfusion maps when final infarct was determined by specimen volume (P = 0.104). When final infarct volume was defined by DWI volume, all perfusion maps had a significantly higher correlation coefficient by Bayesian technique than oSVD (P = 0.043). For ICC, all perfusion maps had higher value in Bayesian than oSVD calculation, and significant differences were observed both on specimen- and DWI-defined volumes (P = 0.043 for both).Conclusion: The Bayesian method is more reliable than oSVD deconvolution in estimating final infarct volume.

著者

Atsushi Hozawa Kozo Tanno Naoki Nakaya Tomohiro Nakamura Naho Tsuchiya Takumi Hirata Akira Narita Mana Kogure Kotaro Nochioka Ryohei Sasaki Nobuyuki Takanashi Kotaro Otsuka Kiyomi Sakata Shinichi Kuriyama Masahiro Kikuya Osamu Tanabe Junichi Sugawara Kichiya Suzuki Yoichi Suzuki Eiichi N Kodama Nobuo Fuse Hideyasu Kiyomoto Hiroaki Tomita Akira Uruno Yohei Hamanaka Hirohito Metoki Mami Ishikuro Taku Obara Tomoko Kobayashi Kazuyuki Kitatani Takako Takai-Igarashi Soichi Ogishima Mamoru Satoh Hideki Ohmomo Akito Tsuboi Shinichi Egawa Tadashi Ishii Kiyoshi Ito Sadayoshi Ito Yasuyuki Taki Naoko Minegishi Naoto Ishii Masao Nagasaki Kazuhiko Igarashi Seizo Koshiba Ritsuko Shimizu Gen Tamiya Keiko Nakayama Hozumi Motohashi Jun Yasuda Atsushi Shimizu Tsuyoshi Hachiya Yuh Shiwa Teiji Tominaga Hiroshi Tanaka Kotaro Oyama Ryoichi Tanaka Hiroshi Kawame Akimune Fukushima Yasushi Ishigaki Tomoharu Tokutomi Noriko Osumi Tadao Kobayashi Fuji Nagami Hiroaki Hashizume Tomohiko Arai Yoshio Kawaguchi Shinichi Higuchi Masaki Sakaida Ryujin Endo Satoshi Nishizuka Ichiro Tsuji Jiro Hitomi Motoyuki Nakamura Kuniaki Ogasawara Nobuo Yaegashi Kengo Kinoshita Shigeo Kure Akio Sakai Seiichiro Kobayashi Kenji Sobue Makoto Sasaki Masayuki Yamamoto

出版者

Japan Epidemiological Association

雑誌

Journal of Epidemiology (ISSN:09175040)

巻号頁・発行日

vol.31, no.1, pp.65-76, 2021-01-05 (Released:2021-01-05)

参考文献数

34

被引用文献数

54 66

---

Background: We established a community-based cohort study to assess the long-term impact of the Great East Japan Earthquake on disaster victims and gene-environment interactions on the incidence of major diseases, such as cancer and cardiovascular diseases.Methods: We asked participants to join our cohort in the health check-up settings and assessment center based settings. Inclusion criteria were aged 20 years or over and living in Miyagi or Iwate Prefecture. We obtained information on lifestyle, effect of disaster, blood, and urine information (Type 1 survey), and some detailed measurements (Type 2 survey), such as carotid echography and calcaneal ultrasound bone mineral density. All participants agreed to measure genome information and to distribute their information widely.Results: As a result, 87,865 gave their informed consent to join our study. Participation rate at health check-up site was about 70%. The participants in the Type 1 survey were more likely to have psychological distress than those in the Type 2 survey, and women were more likely to have psychological distress than men. Additionally, coastal residents were more likely to have higher degrees of psychological distress than inland residents, regardless of sex.Conclusion: This cohort comprised a large sample size and it contains information on the natural disaster, genome information, and metabolome information. This cohort also had several detailed measurements. Using this cohort enabled us to clarify the long-term effect of the disaster and also to establish personalized prevention based on genome, metabolome, and other omics information.

著者

Junko Sato Sachio Suzuki Makoto Sasaki Toshiharu Otaka Mizuho Aoi Yuji Uchida

出版者

The Japanese Society for Neuroendovascular Therapy

雑誌

Journal of Neuroendovascular Therapy (ISSN:18824072)

巻号頁・発行日

pp.oa.2020-0118, (Released:2021-01-06)

参考文献数

19

被引用文献数

3

---

Objective: The aim of the present study was to evaluate the usefulness of the T2-weighted three-dimensional sequence method, known as “basi-parallel anatomical scanning (BPAS)-magnetic resonance imaging (MRI),” in demonstrating the running course of the obstructed middle cerebral artery (MCA) before acute mechanical thrombectomy.Methods: Patients whose M1 part and internal carotid artery (ICA) were occluded on preprocedural MRA, but well demonstrated on MCA anatomical scanning (MAS)-MRI were enrolled in this study. The MAS-MR images for patients in whom thrombectomy was performed were compared with the post-thrombectomy angiography. We compared the running course of the C1-M2 bifurcation on MAS-MRI and angiography after thrombectomy, and the results were classified into 3 groups (Excellent, Good, and Poor).Results: A total of 13 patients (range: 54–89) were enrolled, among whom 12 underwent thrombectomy. We compared MAS-MRI and post-thrombectomy angiography in 10. On comparison between MAS-MRI and post-procedural angiography, visualization was excellent in six (60%) patients. The mean age was 75.7 years, ranging from 54 to 89, and 6 were males. 3 patients had ICA occlusion and seven had MCA occlusion.Conclusion: MAS-MRI was considered useful to clarify the running course of the MCA before acute mechanical thrombectomy.

著者

Akinori Yamaguchi Kohsuke Kudo Ryota Sato Yasuo Kawata Niki Udo Masaaki Matsushima Ichiro Yabe Makoto Sasaki Masafumi Harada Noriyuki Matsukawa Toru Shirai Hisaaki Ochi Yoshitaka Bito

出版者

Japanese Society for Magnetic Resonance in Medicine

雑誌

Magnetic Resonance in Medical Sciences (ISSN:13473182)

巻号頁・発行日

pp.mp.2021-0015, (Released:2022-03-10)

参考文献数

28

被引用文献数

1

---

Purpose: Studies on quantitative susceptibility mapping (QSM) have reported an increase in magnetic susceptibilities in patients with Alzheimer’s disease (AD). Despite the pathological importance of the brain surface areas, they are sometimes excluded in QSM analysis. This study aimed to reveal the efficacy of QSM analysis with brain surface correction (BSC) and/or vein removal (VR) procedures.Methods: Thirty-seven AD patients and 37 age- and sex-matched, cognitively normal (CN) subjects were included. A 3D-gradient echo sequence at 3T MRI was used to obtain QSM. QSM images were created with regularization enabled sophisticated harmonic artifact reduction for phase data (RESHARP) and constrained RESHARP with BSC and/or VR. We conducted ROI analysis between AD patients and CN subjects who did or did not undergo BSC and/or VR using a t-test, to compare the susceptibility values after gray matter weighting.Results: The susceptibility values in RESHARP without BSC were significantly larger in AD patients than in CN subjects in one region (precentral gyrus, 8.1 ± 2.9 vs. 6.5 ± 2.1 ppb) without VR and one region with VR (precentral gyrus, 7.5 ± 2.8 vs. 5.9 ± 2.0 ppb). Three regions in RESHARP with BSC had significantly larger susceptibilities without VR (precentral gyrus, 7.1 ± 2.0 vs. 5.9 ± 2.0 ppb; superior medial frontal gyrus, 5.7 ± 2.6 vs. 4.2 ± 3.1 ppb; putamen, 47,8 ± 16.5 vs. 40.0 ± 15.9 ppb). In contrast, six regions showed significantly larger susceptibilities with VR in AD patients than in CN subjects (precentral gyrus, 6.4 ± 1.9 vs. 4.9 ± 2.7 ppb; superior medial frontal gyrus, 5.3 ± 2.7 vs. 3.7 ± 3.3 ppb; orbitofrontal cortex, –2.1 ± 2.7 vs. –3.6 ± 3.2 ppb; parahippocampal gyrus, 0.1 ± 3.6 vs. –1.7 ± 3.7 ppb; putamen, 45.0 ± 14.9 vs. 37.6 ± 14.6 ppb; inferior temporal gyrus, –3.4 ± 1.5 vs. –4.4 ± 1.5 ppb).Conclusion: RESHARP with BSC and VR showed more regions of increased susceptibility in AD patients than in CN subjects. This study highlights the efficacy of this method in facilitating the diagnosis of AD.

著者

Junko Sato Sachio Suzuki Makoto Sasaki Toshiharu Otaka Mizuho Aoi Yuji Uchida

出版者

The Japanese Society for Neuroendovascular Therapy

雑誌

Journal of Neuroendovascular Therapy (ISSN:18824072)

巻号頁・発行日

vol.15, no.7, pp.421-428, 2021 (Released:2021-07-20)

参考文献数

19

被引用文献数

3

---

Objective: The aim of the present study was to evaluate the usefulness of the T2-weighted three-dimensional sequence method, known as “basi-parallel anatomical scanning (BPAS)-magnetic resonance imaging (MRI),” in demonstrating the running course of the obstructed middle cerebral artery (MCA) before acute mechanical thrombectomy.Methods: Patients whose M1 part and internal carotid artery (ICA) were occluded on preprocedural MRA, but well demonstrated on MCA anatomical scanning (MAS)-MRI were enrolled in this study. The MAS-MR images for patients in whom thrombectomy was performed were compared with the post-thrombectomy angiography. We compared the running course of the C1-M2 bifurcation on MAS-MRI and angiography after thrombectomy, and the results were classified into 3 groups (Excellent, Good, and Poor).Results: A total of 13 patients (range: 54–89) were enrolled, among whom 12 underwent thrombectomy. We compared MAS-MRI and post-thrombectomy angiography in 10. On comparison between MAS-MRI and post-procedural angiography, visualization was excellent in six (60%) patients. The mean age was 75.7 years, ranging from 54 to 89, and 6 were males. 3 patients had ICA occlusion and seven had MCA occlusion.Conclusion: MAS-MRI was considered useful to clarify the running course of the MCA before acute mechanical thrombectomy.

著者

Shih-Lin Hsu Harumi Oda Saya Shirahata Mana Watanabe Makoto Sasaki

出版者

The Society of Physical Therapy Science

雑誌

Journal of Physical Therapy Science (ISSN:09155287)

巻号頁・発行日

vol.30, no.8, pp.1014-1018, 2018 (Released:2018-07-24)

参考文献数

10

被引用文献数

19

---

[Purpose] To investigate the effects of core strength training on core stability with and without the Valsalva maneuver. [Participants and Methods] Twenty-four students were randomly assigned to the training and control groups. Students in the training group undertook a 4-week training program that included exercises for the transverse abdominis, multifidus, diaphragm, and pelvic floor muscles, whereas students in the control group performed their usual activities. Participants were required to perform four types of task with and without the Valsalva maneuver. Seated stabilometry was assessed according to the center of pressure (COP). [Results] In the training group, the rectus area in the quiet sitting position with the Valsalva maneuver was enlarged and the length of trajectory during a sudden perturbation task was decreased. No significant changes to the COP were seen in the control group. [Conclusion] Some parameters of core stability improved after participants completed a 4-week core strength training program.

著者

Harumi Uto-Kondo Makoto Ayaori Kazuhiro Nakaya Shunichi Takiguchi Emi Yakushiji Masatsune Ogura Yoshio Terao Hideki Ozasa Makoto Sasaki Tomohiro Komatsu Grace Megumi Sotherden Tamaki Hosoai Masami Sakurada Katsunori Ikewaki

出版者

日本酸化ストレス学会

雑誌

Journal of Clinical Biochemistry and Nutrition (ISSN:09120009)

巻号頁・発行日

vol.55, no.1, pp.32-39, 2014 (Released:2014-07-01)

参考文献数

44

被引用文献数

11

---

Reverse cholesterol transport (RCT) is a mechanism critical to the anti-atherogenic property of HDL. Although citrulline contributes to the amelioration of atherosclerosis via endothelial nitric oxide production, it remains unclear whether it affects RCT. This study was undertaken to clarify the effects of citrulline on expressions of specific transporters such as ATP binding cassette transporters (ABC)A1 and ABCG1, and the cholesterol efflux from macrophages to apolipoprotein (apo) A-I or HDL in vitro and ex vivo. Citrulline increased ABCA1 and ABCG1 mRNA and protein levels in THP-1 macrophages, translating into enhanced apoA-I- and HDL-mediated cholesterol efflux. In the human crossover study, 8 healthy male volunteers (age 30–49 years) consumed either 3.2 g/day citrulline or placebo for 1 week. Citrulline consumption brought about significant increases in plasma levels of citrulline and arginine. Supporting the in vitro data, monocyte-derived macrophages (MDM) differentiated under autologous post-citrulline sera demonstrated enhancement of both apoA-I- and HDL-mediated cholesterol efflux through increased ABCA1 and ABCG1 expressions, compared to MDM differentiated under pre-citrulline sera. However, the placebo did not modulate these parameters. Therefore, in addition to improving endothelium function, citrulline might have an anti-atherogenic property by increasing RCT of HDL.

著者

Tomonori Ozeki Naotaka Ogasawara Shinya Izawa Mari Mizuno Kenichiro Yanamoto Hisatsugu Noda Noriko Okaniwa Atsushi Tanabe Makoto Sasaki Kunio Kasugai

出版者

一般社団法人 日本内科学会

雑誌

Internal Medicine (ISSN:09182918)

巻号頁・発行日

vol.52, no.11, pp.1183-1187, 2013 (Released:2013-06-01)

参考文献数

15

被引用文献数

4 10

---

A 63-year-old woman was admitted with symptoms of watery diarrhea and generalized edema lasting for five months. She had been administered 15 mg/day of lansoprazole. Laboratory findings revealed severe hypoproteinemia with normal liver, renal, thyroid and adrenal functions and no proteinuria. Colonoscopy revealed edematous mucosa, minor diminished vascular transparency and apparent longitudinal linear lacerations. The histopathological findings were compatible with a diagnosis of collagenous colitis (CC). Protein leakage from the colon was identified on 99mTc-human serum albumin scintigraphy. The results indicated CC associated with protein-losing enteropathy. Discontinuing lansoprazole ameliorated the watery diarrhea and generalized edema, increased the serum albumin level and improved the hypoproteinemia.

著者

Jun-ichi Oyama Toyoki Maeda Makoto Sasaki Kazuya Kozuma Ryuji Ochiai Ichiro Tokimitsu Sachiyo Taguchi Yoshihiro Higuchi Naoki Makino

出版者

The Japanese Society of Internal Medicine

雑誌

Internal Medicine (ISSN:09182918)

巻号頁・発行日

vol.49, no.23, pp.2553-2559, 2010 (Released:2010-12-01)

参考文献数

37

被引用文献数

13 32

---

Objective Several epidemiological investigations have reported that green tea reduces cardiovascular and cerebral vascular risks. Green tea catechins may improve peripheral endothelial dysfunction in smokers. The purpose of this study was to elucidate the beneficial effect of green tea catechins on the repair of endothelial dysfunction in smokers. Methods Thirty healthy male smokers divided into three groups ingested a green tea beverage containing 0 mg (control group), 80 mg (middle dose group) or 580 mg (high dose group) of green tea catechins (GTC) daily for two weeks, and endothelial-dependent vasodilatation was investigated by measuring forearm blood flow (FBF) response to reactive hyperemia (RH) by venous occlusion strain-gauge plethysmography. Results An acute effect was that the FBF response to RH significantly increased 2 hr after GTC intake in the high dose group. However, no increase was observed in the other groups. The chronic administration of GTC for one or two weeks ameliorated the FBF responses to RH in the high dose group. On the other hand, no significant increase was observed in the FBF responses to RH in the other groups. Moreover, the plasma concentration of 8-OHdG, IL-6, TNF-alpha, and soluble Fas decreased significantly for two weeks in the high dose group, however, the level of IL-1 beta remained unchanged over this period. Conclusion Green tea consumption over short and long periods appears to ameliorate endothelial dysfunction by scavenging free radicals with anti-inflammatory and anti-apoptotic properties in healthy male smokers.