The number and function of circulating CD34(+)CD133(+) progenitor cells decreased in stable coronary artery disease but not in acute myocardial infarction.

Objective: Circulating CD34(+)CD133(+) cells are one of the main sources of circulating endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs). Age is inversely related to the number and function of CD34(+)CD133(+) progenitor cells in stable coronary artery disease (CAD), but the relationship remains unclear in acute myocardial infarction (AMI). The authors aimed to clarify how ageing affects the number and function of mobilised CD34(+)CD133(+) progenitor cells in AMI.

Optimal starting time of acquisition and feasibility of complementary administration of nitroglycerin with intravenous beta-blocker in multislice computed tomography.

Objectives: We determined the optimal starting time of acquisition after sublingual nitroglycerin (NTG) administration and evaluated the effects on multislice computed tomographic (MSCT) images of a complementary administration of sublingual NTG with beta-blocker.

Methods: Sixty patients who underwent MSCT coronary angiography (CA) were randomly divided into 2 groups as follows: 30 patients given an intravenous administration of beta-blocker (landiolol hydrochloride, mean dose of 0.032 mg/kg per minute; group B); and 30 patients given a coadministration of intravenous beta-blocker and sublingual NTG (0.

Feasibility of intravenous administration of landiolol hydrochloride for multislice computed tomography coronary angiography: initial experience.

Background: The feasibility of using landiolol hydrochloride in multislice computed tomography (MSCT) coronary angiography (CAG) was investigated in the present study.

Methods And Results: Landiolol hydrochloride was continuously administered intravenously to 145 patients before starting MSCT CAG. Hemodynamic changes [blood pressure (BP), heart rate (HR)], adverse effects, image quality using a 5-point scale, and accuracy of detecting significant stenoses (>or=50% reduction in lumen diameter) were evaluated.

Self-reported medical history was generally accurate among Japanese workplace population.

Objective: To assess the validity of self-reported medical history of several diseases among the Japanese population, and to clarify to what extent the self-reported year of diagnosis for chronic diseases is different from the physician's reports.

Study Design And Setting: Subjects were 8,947 persons who responded to questions about medical history in a self-administered questionnaire. Of them, 854 subjects reported one or more medical histories and gave permission to contact their physician.

Use of landiolol hydrochloride, a new beta-blocker, in coronary computed tomography angiography.

We investigated the usefulness of landiolol hydrochloride, an ultrashort-acting beta(1)-selective agent, for coronary computed tomography angiography (CTA). Intravenous landiolol was administered to 133 patients before coronary CTA. Hemodynamic changes, adverse effects, image quality, and diagnostic accuracy for detection of coronary stenoses were evaluated.

Contribution of adipocytokines to low-grade inflammatory state as expressed by circulating C-reactive protein in Japanese men: comparison of leptin and adiponectin.

Background: Circulating C-reactive protein (CRP) is a marker of inflammation and is associated with the incidence of cardiovascular events. Although it has been known that adiponectin protects, whereas leptin accelerates, the development of atherosclerotic diseases, the comparative strength of their reciprocal effects on circulating CRP remains unclear.

Methods: We studied a population of 2049 Japanese men aged 35 to 66.

Association between low birth weight and elevated white blood cell count in adulthood within a Japanese population.

Background: Epidemiological studies have demonstrated the association between low birth weight and increased adulthood risk for cardiovascular and metabolic diseases. However, the precise mechanism underlying the association remains poorly understood. We investigated the association between birth weight and adult white blood cell (WBC) count in a Japanese population.

Eating fast leads to insulin resistance: findings in middle-aged Japanese men and women.

Objective: To examine relationships between speed of eating and insulin resistance.

Methods: Cross-sectional study of 2704 male (mean age and BMI: 48.2 y and 23.

Smoking status and adiponectin in healthy Japanese men and women.

Background: Recent studies promisingly indicate that adiponectin plays an important and fundamental role in the development and progression of metabolic and atherosclerosis disorders. Smoking is known as one of the most important risk factors of atherosclerosis, and its relation with metabolic disorders has also been reported. We therefore investigated the association between cigarette smoking and adiponectin concentration in a large sample of Japanese men and women.

Adiponectin level and left ventricular hypertrophy in Japanese men.

A recent study has demonstrated that adiponectin inhibited hypertrophic signaling in the myocardium of mice, implying that a decrease in the blood adiponectin level could cause cardiac muscle hypertrophy. We hypothesized that a relationship might exist between the serum adiponectin level and electrocardiographically diagnosed left ventricular hypertrophy (ECG-LVH), and we examined this hypothesis by epidemiological study of 2839 Japanese male workers who were not taking medications for hypertension. ECG-LVH was defined as meeting Sokolow-Lyon voltage criteria and/or Cornell voltage-duration product.

The transition to menopause reinforces adiponectin production and its contribution to improvement of insulin-resistant state.

Objective: To evaluate the influence of menopausal status on the serum adiponectin concentration and investigate whether the contribution of adiponectin to insulin resistance is modified by menopausal status.

Subjects: We conducted a population-based, cross-sectional study of 207 premenopausal and 206 postmenopausal Japanese women.

Measurements: Data on anthropometric characteristics, fasting serum adiponectin, glucose and insulin concentrations were used.

A positive association between leptin and blood pressure of normal range in Japanese men.

The results of previous studies on the relationship between leptin and blood pressure are discordant. We investigated to what extent the serum leptin level was related to blood pressure independent of the degree of insulin resistance. The subjects were 1916 men aged 34-69 years whose mean body mass index (BMI) was 23.

Eating fast leads to obesity: findings based on self-administered questionnaires among middle-aged Japanese men and women.

Background: Few epidemiologic studies have examined the association between the rate of eating and obesity. In this study, we cross-sectionally examined the association of the self-reported rate of eating with current Body Mass Index (BMI), and BMI-change from 20 years of age to the current age.

Methods: Subjects were 3737 male (mean age +/- standard deviation and mean BMI +/- standard deviation: 48.

Low birth weight is associated with reduced adiponectin concentration in adult.

Purpose: Low birth weight has been associated with metabolic and vascular diseases, but the precise mechanism is debated. Adiponectin is one of the key molecules in metabolic disease, and a decrease in level precedes the onset of type 2 diabetes and development of atherosclerosis. Our aim is to examine whether low birth weight is associated with adiponectin concentration in adult.

Association between parental histories of hypertension, diabetes and dyslipidemia and the clustering of these disorders in offspring.

Background: Familial aggregation of hypertension, diabetes and dyslipidemia has been well reported. However, only a few studies have assessed to what extent parental histories were involved in the clustering of these diseases.

Method: In 2002, associations between parental histories of hypertension, diabetes and dyslipidemia and the clustering of high blood pressure, hyperglycemia and dyslipidemia in individuals were assessed on the basis of 5010 Japanese men and women aged 33-66 years.

Birth weight and adult hypertension: cross-sectional study in a Japanese workplace population.

Background: Low birth weight has been associated with adult hypertension in several Western populations. This association needs to be evaluated in Japanese people.

Methods And Results: A population-based cross-sectional study of 3,107 subjects (2,303 males and 804 females) aged 35-66 years was conducted.

Comparison of circulating adiponectin and proinflammatory markers regarding their association with metabolic syndrome in Japanese men.

Background: Anti-inflammatory and proinflammatory molecules purportedly play an important role in developing metabolic syndrome (MetS). However, little is known as to the relative importance of these molecules in the association with MetS.

Methods And Results: We studied 624 middle-aged Japanese men without medical history of cardiovascular disease or cancer and investigated the associations of circulating tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha), interleukin-6 (IL-6), C-reactive protein (CRP), and adiponectin with MetS.

Inverse association between adiponectin and C-reactive protein in substantially healthy Japanese men.

Objective: An inverse association between adiponectin and C-reactive protein (CRP) has been shown in certain pathological states including obesity, diabetes, and coronary artery disease, which themselves might have confounded this association. This study investigated the association between adiponectin and CRP among substantially healthy subjects.

Methods And Results: A population of 2347 middle-aged Japanese men with no medical history of cardiovascular disease, cancer, diabetes, hypertension, or hyperlipidemia was evaluated.

Long-term body weight fluctuation is associated with metabolic syndrome independent of current body mass index among Japanese men.

Background: The relation between weight fluctuation and the risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD) is fairly consistent, although the physiologic basis for the relationship is uncertain. In the present study the association between long-term weight fluctuation and the development of metabolic syndrome (MS), a potent CVD risk factor, was investigated.

Methods And Results: A cross-sectional study of 664 Japanese men aged 40-49 years was conducted.