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Background: The current understanding of ventilator efficiency variables during ramp exercise testing in the normal Japanese population is insufficient, and the responses of tidal volume (VT) and minute ventilation (VE) to the ramp exercise test in the normal Japanese population are not known. Methods: A total of 529 healthy Japanese subjects aged 20-78 years underwent cardiopulmonary exercise testing using a cycle ergometer with ramp protocols. VT and VE at rest, at anaerobic threshold, and at peak exercise were determined. The slope of VE versus carbon dioxide (VCO 2 ) (VE vs. VCO 2 slope), minimum VE/VCO 2 , and oxygen uptake efficiency slope (OUES) were determined. Results: For males and females in their 20 s, peak VT (VTpeak) was 2192 AE 376 and 1509 AE 260 mL (p < 0.001), peak VE (VEpeak) was 80.6 AE 18.7 and 57.7 AE 13.9 L/min (sex differences p < 0.001), the VE vs. VCO 2 slope was 24.4 AE 3.2 and 25.7 AE 3.2 (p = 0.035), the minimum VE/VCO 2 was 24.2 AE 2.3 and 27.0 AE 2.8 (p < 0.001), and the OUES was 2452 AE 519 and 1991 AE 315 (p < 0.001), respectively. VTpeak and VEpeak decreased with age and increased with weight and height. The VE vs. VCO 2 slope and minimum VE/VCO 2 increased with age, while conversely, the OUES decreased with age. Conclusions: We have established the normal range of VT and VE responses, the VE vs. VCO 2 slope, the minimum VE/VCO 2 , and the OUES for a healthy Japanese population. Some of these parameters were influenced by weight, height, sex, and age. These results provide useful reference values for interpreting the results of cardiopulmonary exercise testing in cardiac patients.

Psoriasis is characterized by T‐helper 17 cell‐dominant abnormal immunity, and hyperproliferation and abnormal differentiation of epidermal keratinocytes. Some patients are associated with arthritis. Dietary habits can modulate the pathogenesis of psoriasis. Previous studies in Western countries showed higher body mass indices, higher intake of fat and lower intake of fish or vegetables in psoriatic patients compared with the reference groups. We evaluated dietary habits in adult Japanese psoriatic patients, using a validated brief‐type self‐administered dietary history questionnaire, and compared the results to those of age‐ and sex‐matched healthy controls. The results in psoriatic patients with arthritis were compared with those in the patients without. Japanese psoriatic patients showed higher body mass indices, higher intake of fish/shellfish, pulses, sugar/sweeteners, vitamin B12 and vitamin D, and lower intake of meat, compared with those of healthy controls. The logistic regression analysis showed that psoriasis was associated with high body mass index and low intake of meat. The intake of confection in patients with high Psoriasis Area and Severity Index was higher than that in those with low index. The intake of β‐carotene, vitamin A and green/yellow vegetables in psoriatic patients with arthritis were higher than those in the patients without. The dietary habits in Japanese psoriatic patients are rather different from those in Western patients. This is the first study showing the differences in dietary habits between psoriatic patients with arthritis and those without. Further studies should elucidate the relationships of these results with skin and joint lesions in psoriatic patients.

Dietary habits can modulate the pathogenesis of atopic dermatitis. We evaluated these habits in adult Japanese patients with atopic dermatitis using a validated, brief‐type self‐administered diet history questionnaire and compared the results to those of age‐ and sex‐matched healthy controls. Patients with atopic dermatitis showed higher intakes of carbohydrate and potatoes and lower intakes of alcohol, niacin, meat and oils/fats compared with those of the healthy controls. The results of logistic regression analysis showed that the intake of alcohol was negatively associated with atopic dermatitis (odds ratio, 0.905; 95% confidence interval, 0.832–0.983; P = 0.0181). The intakes of vitamin B6 and fruit were positively correlated with the severity scoring of atopic dermatitis. Multiple regression analysis revealed that vitamin B6 intake was a predictor of the severity scoring of atopic dermatitis (β = 26.98508709, t = 2.3995292, P = 0.01933781). The intakes of vegetable fat, n‐6 polyunsaturated fatty acid, and confections were lower in the severe atopic dermatitis group (severity scoring of atopic dermatitis, ≥33) than those in the mild group. Atopic dermatitis is negatively associated with alcohol intake, and intake of vitamin B6 is a predictor of severity scoring of atopic dermatitis. The intake of n‐6 polyunsaturated fatty acid is lower in the severe atopic dermatitis group than that in the mild group. Further study is warranted on the relationships of these results with abnormal immune responses, impaired skin barrier or pruritus in atopic dermatitis.

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