Association between serum uric acid level and chronic liver disease in the United States.

Unlabelled: Elevated serum uric acid (UA) levels strongly reflect and may even cause oxidative stress, insulin resistance, and metabolic syndrome, which are risk factors for the progression of liver disease. We sought to determine whether serum UA levels are associated with the development of cirrhosis or the presence of elevated serum liver enzymes. We used cohort data from the first National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES I) to determine whether the baseline serum UA level was associated with the incidence of hospitalization or death due to cirrhosis among 5518 participants during a mean follow-up of 12.

Early mortality experience in a large military cohort and a comparison of mortality data sources.

Background: Complete and accurate ascertainment of mortality is critically important in any longitudinal study. Tracking of mortality is particularly essential among US military members because of unique occupational exposures (e.g.

Risk of diabetes in U.S. military service members in relation to combat deployment and mental health.

Objective: Few prospective data exist on the risk of diabetes in individuals serving in the U.S. military.

Long-term effectiveness of screening for hearing loss: the screening for auditory impairment--which hearing assessment test (SAI-WHAT) randomized trial.

Objectives: To evaluate the effect of hearing screening on long-term hearing outcomes in a general population of older veterans.

Design: Hearing loss in the elderly is underdetected and undertreated. Routine hearing screening has been proposed, but it is not clear whether screening identifies patients who are sufficiently motivated to adhere to treatment.

Intra-abdominal fat accumulation is greatest at younger ages in Japanese-American adults.

Aims: We evaluated whether changes over 10-11 years in weight, subcutaneous abdominal fat (SQAF), and intra-abdominal fat (IAF) differ by age and contrasted age-related adiposity changes by gender.

Methods: This is a prospective cohort study of non-diabetic, Japanese-American men and women aged 34-74 years. IAF and SQAF were measured by CT scan at baseline and 10-11-year follow-up visits.

Insulin resistance is the best predictor of the metabolic syndrome in subjects with a first-degree relative with type 2 diabetes.

Although obesity is associated with insulin resistance and the metabolic syndrome (MetS), some obese individuals are metabolically healthy. Conversely, some lean individuals are insulin resistant (IR) and at increased cardiometabolic risk. To determine the relative importance of insulin sensitivity, BMI and waist circumference (WC) in predicting MetS, we studied these two extreme groups in a high-risk population.

Influenza vaccination rates of children in households with high-risk adults.

Objectives: Household contacts of people at high risk for influenza complications should receive yearly influenza vaccination to reduce potential viral transmission. We evaluated influenza vaccine coverage among children to determine whether or not living with a high-risk adult predicts the likelihood of being vaccinated.

Methods: Using the 2006 National Health Interview Survey, we examined influenza vaccination rates among children (aged 1-17 years) who did and did not reside in a household with an adult at high risk for influenza-related complications.

Latent class analysis of the metabolic syndrome.

Attempts to explain the associations among metabolic syndrome (MetS) features using factor analysis to identify unobserved potential causes have resulted in inconsistent findings. We examined whether an unobserved categorical factor explains the associations among MetS features using latent class analysis. A cross-sectional analysis of 499 non-diabetic Japanese-Americans who underwent measurements of fasting blood, waist circumference (WC) and CT-measured intra-abdominal fat (IAF) area was conducted.

Insulin resistance predicts mortality in nondiabetic individuals in the U.S.

Objective: Insulin resistance is a suspected causative factor in a wide variety of diseases. We aimed to determine whether insulin resistance, estimated by the homeostasis model assessment for insulin resistance (HOMA-IR), is associated with all-cause or disease-specific mortality among nondiabetic persons in the U.S.

A prospective study of depression following combat deployment in support of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Objective: We investigated relations between deployment and new-onset depression among US service members recently deployed to the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Methods: We included 40 219 Millennium Cohort Study participants who completed baseline and follow-up questionnaires and met inclusion criteria. Participants were identified with depression if they met the Primary Care Evaluation of Mental Disorders Patient Health Questionnaire criteria for depression at follow-up, but not at baseline.

Newly reported respiratory symptoms and conditions among military personnel deployed to Iraq and Afghanistan: a prospective population-based study.

Concerns about respiratory conditions have surfaced among persons deployed to Iraq and Afghanistan. Data on 46,077 Millennium Cohort Study participants who completed baseline (July 2001-June 2003) and follow-up (June 2004-February 2006) questionnaires were used to investigate 1) respiratory symptoms (persistent or recurring cough or shortness of breath), 2) chronic bronchitis or emphysema, and 3) asthma. Deployers had a higher rate of newly reported respiratory symptoms than nondeployers (14% vs.

Diabetes mellitus and urinary tract infection: epidemiology, pathogenesis and proposed studies in animal models.

Purpose: We reviewed the current state of knowledge about urinary tract infection in patients with diabetes from the clinical and basic science perspectives. We identified key knowledge gaps and areas for further research.

Materials And Methods: We performed a focused literature search on certain topics, including clinical studies related to etiology and pathophysiology of urinary tract infection in patients with diabetes, urinary tract infection studies in animal models of diabetes and basic science studies of the molecular mechanisms of urinary tract infection.

Newly reported hypertension after military combat deployment in a large population-based study.

High-stress situations, such as combat deployments, are a potential risk factor for hypertension. Although stress is postulated to increase blood pressure, the underlying role of stress on hypertension is not well established. We sought to determine the relations between combat deployment-induced stress and hypertension.

Self-reported health symptoms and conditions among complementary and alternative medicine users in a large military cohort.

Purpose: To describe medical symptom and condition reporting in relation to complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) use among members of the US military.

Methods: CAM was defined as health treatments not widely taught at US medical schools or typically available at US hospitals. By using data from the Millennium Cohort Study, we included participants who completed a survey from 2004 to 2006 (n=86,131) as part of this cross-sectional analysis in which we sought to identify demographic characteristics and types of health-related symptoms and conditions associated with CAM use.

Body mass index is associated with increased creatinine clearance by a mechanism independent of body fat distribution.

Context: Although obesity has been, in general, associated with glomerular hyperfiltration, visceral adiposity has been suggested to be associated with reduced glomerular filtration.

Objective: The aim of the study was to evaluate the differential effects of obesity and body fat distribution on glomerular filtration.

Design And Setting: We conducted a cross-sectional study of the Japanese-American community in Seattle, Washington.

Vaginal symptoms in postmenopausal women: self-reported severity, natural history, and risk factors.

Objective: This study aimed to examine factors other than estrogen deficiency influencing the development and persistence of vaginal dryness, itching, and painful sexual intercourse after menopause.

Methods: We analyzed data from a 2-year, population-based cohort of 1,017 postmenopausal women aged 55 to 75 years. Vaginal symptoms were assessed by interviewer-administered questionnaire, and vaginal swabs were performed to assess vaginal pH and microbial flora at baseline, 12 months, and 24 months.

Characteristics of uninsured Americans with chronic kidney disease.

Background: In the United States, public health insurance is available for nearly all persons with end-stage renal disease (ESRD). Little is known about the extent of health insurance coverage for persons with non-dialysis dependent chronic kidney disease (CKD).

Objective: To describe patterns of health insurance coverage for adults with non-dialysis dependent CKD and to examine risk factors for progression of CKD to ESRD and management of hypertension among those lacking insurance.

Disordered eating and weight changes after deployment: longitudinal assessment of a large US military cohort.

The effect of military deployments to combat environments on disordered eating and weight changes is unknown. Using longitudinal data from Millennium Cohort Study participants who completed baseline (2001-2003) and follow-up (2004-2006) questionnaires (n=48,378), the authors investigated new-onset disordered eating and weight changes in a large military cohort. Multivariable logistic regression was used to compare these outcomes among those who deployed and reported combat exposures, those who deployed but did not report combat exposures, and those who did not deploy in support of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Adipokines, inflammation, and visceral adiposity across the menopausal transition: a prospective study.

Context: Postmenopausal women have greater visceral adiposity compared with premenopausal women. Adipokines are associated with increased adiposity, insulin resistance, and atherosclerosis.

Objective: The objective of the study was to assess changes in adipokines and inflammatory markers through the menopausal transition and correlate them with changes in visceral adiposity.

Oral disposition index predicts the development of future diabetes above and beyond fasting and 2-h glucose levels.

Objective: We sought to determine whether an oral disposition index (DI(O)) predicts the development of diabetes over a 10-year period. First, we assessed the validity of the DI(O) by demonstrating that a hyperbolic relationship exists between oral indexes of insulin sensitivity and beta-cell function.

Research Design And Methods: A total of 613 Japanese-American subjects (322 men and 291 women) underwent a 75-g oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) at baseline, 5 years, and 10 years.

Foot ulcer risk and location in relation to prospective clinical assessment of foot shape and mobility among persons with diabetes.

Aims: We assessed baseline clinical foot shape for 2939 feet of diabetic subjects who were monitored prospectively for foot ulceration.

Methods: Assessments included hammer/claw toes, hallux valgus, hallux limitus, prominent metatarsal heads, bony prominences, Charcot deformity, plantar callus, foot type, muscle atrophy, ankle and hallux mobility, and neuropathy. Risk factors were linked to ulcer occurrence and location via a Cox proportional hazards model.