Relationship between Alcohol Intake and Risk Factors for Metabolic Syndrome in Men.

Objective: The precise relationship between alcohol intake and metabolic syndrome (MetS) is still unclear, and the results from previous studies have been inconclusive. Thus, we examined the effect of alcohol intake on the risk of MetS in men in order to gain more information on a potential relationship.

Methods: This study included 22,349 men who were divided into four groups according to their average alcohol intake [non-, light (less than 20 g ethanol/day), heavy (equal or more than 20 g and less than 60 g ethanol/day) and very heavy (equal and greater than 60 g ethanol/day) drinkers].

Prevalence and distribution of coronary calcium in asymptomatic Japanese subjects in lung cancer screening computed tomography.

Background: Coronary artery calcium (CAC) is associated with a risk of coronary heart disease. The prevalence and distribution of the CAC score have been examined in Western countries, but few studies have been performed in Asia, and especially in Japan. The goal of this study was to investigate CAC scores in an asymptomatic Japanese population.

Significance of oral glucose tolerance tests in non-alcoholic fatty liver disease patients with a fasting plasma glucose level of <126 mg/dL and HbA1c level of ≤ 6.4% in Japan.

Objective: The aim of this study was to clarify the indications for oral glucose tolerance tests (OGTT) in non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) subjects with a HbA1c level of ≤6.4%, fasting plasma glucose (FPG) level of <126 mg/dL and no history of diabetes.

Patients: A total of 569 NAFLD subjects underwent 75-g OGTT.

Prognostic factors for regression from impaired glucose tolerance to normal glucose regulation in Japanese patients with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease.

Objective: The aim of this retrospective cohort study was to assess the predictive factors for the regression from impaired glucose tolerance (IGT) to normal glucose regulation (NGR) in patients with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD).

Methods: A total of 164 NAFLD patients who had IGT in the first 75-g oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) and underwent a repeated OGTT five years later were enrolled. A multivariate logistic regression analysis was carried out to identify factors predicting the regression from IGT to NGR.

Potential impact of joint association of alanine aminotransferase and gamma-glutamyltransferase on insulin resistance in Japan: The Toranomon Hospital Health Management Center Study 19 (TOPICS 19).

Aim: To investigate the potential impact of joint association of alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and γ-glutamyltransferase (GGT) on insulin resistance and β-cell dysfunction in healthy Japanese individuals with a normal range of liver enzymes.

Methods: This study included 1010 individuals (545 men and 465 women) aged 20-89 years who underwent an oral glucose tolerance test for health screening. Participants were divided into four groups on the basis of median values for ALT and GGT: (i) both ALT and GGT low (both-low); (ii) ALT high and GGT low (ALT-high); (iii) ALT low and GGT high (GGT-high); and (iv) both ALT and GGT high (both-high).

Giant coronary artery aneurysms associated with Kawasaki disease detected on whole-heart magnetic resonance coronary angiographic screening.

Kawasaki disease (KD) is one of the most important causes of coronary artery aneurysms in children and young adults. However, the natural course of the disease and the patient prognosis remain obscure. A 72-year-old asymptomatic man with undiagnosed KD underwent whole-heart magnetic resonance coronary angiography during a health checkup.

Efficacy and safety in sitagliptin therapy for diabetes complicated by non-alcoholic fatty liver disease.

Aim: The aim of this case-control study was to assess the efficacy and safety of dipeptidyl peptidase-4 inhibitor (sitagliptin) for type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD).

Methods: Twenty NAFLD patients with T2DM treated by sitagliptin were retrospectively enrolled as the sitagliptin group. These patients were given sitagliptin between January 2010 and July 2011.

Low lung function and risk of type 2 diabetes in Japanese men: the Toranomon Hospital Health Management Center Study 9 (TOPICS 9).

Objective: To evaluate the effect of elevated fasting plasma glucose (FPG) and hemoglobin A(1c) (HbA(1c)) concentrations on lung dysfunction and to prospectively investigate whether reduced lung function would be independently predictive of diabetes.

Participants And Methods: From January 6, 1997, through December 22, 2008, we observed 5346 men with no history of diabetes or lung dysfunction. Hazard ratios (HRs) for incident diabetes (FPG ≥126 mg/dL, HbA(1c) ≥6.

Difference in malignancies of chronic liver disease due to non-alcoholic fatty liver disease or hepatitis C in Japanese elderly patients.

Aim:   Malignancies that include hepatocellular carcinoma often occurred in patients with chronic liver disease. The aim of this retrospective match control study was to assess the cumulative development incidence and predictive factors for total malignancies in elderly Japanese patients with non-alcoholic hepatic diseases (NAFLD) or hepatitis C virus (HCV).

Methods:   A total of 1600 NAFLD patients with age of ≥60 years were enrolled, and 1600 HCV patients with age of ≥60 years were selected as control by matching 1:1 with NAFLD group for age, sex, and follow-up period.

Large-scale long-term follow-up study of Japanese patients with non-alcoholic Fatty liver disease for the onset of hepatocellular carcinoma.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to determine the incidence and risk factors of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), and to elucidate the utility of two non-invasive predictive procedures for liver fibrosis: the aspartate aminotransferase (AST) to platelet ratio index (APRI) and the BARD score (which includes the following three variables: body mass index, AST/alanine aminotransferase ratio, and diabetes) in the prediction of HCC in a large population of Japanese patients with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD).

Methods: This was a retrospective cohort study conducted at a public hospital. Study subjects included 6,508 patients with NAFLD diagnosed by ultrasonography.

High serum uric acid level and low urine pH as predictors of metabolic syndrome: a retrospective cohort study in a Japanese urban population.

The objective of this study was to evaluate whether hyperuricemia, acidic urine, or their combination predicts metabolic syndrome (MetS). In study 1, 69,094 subjects who received a general health checkup between 1985 and 2005 were included in a cross-sectional study of serum uric acid (SUA) and urine pH in relation to MetS. In study 2, the association of SUA and urine pH with MetS development over a 5-year period was evaluated in 5617 subjects with body mass index less than 25 kg/m(2) at the first examination.

The development of chronic kidney disease in Japanese patients with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease.

Objective Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is present in patients with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). The aim of this retrospective study was to assess the cumulative development incidence and predictive factors for new onset of CKD in Japanese patients with NAFLD. Methods A total of 5,561 NAFLD patients without CKD were enrolled.

Efficacy and safety in sitagliptin therapy for diabetes complicated by chronic liver disease caused by hepatitis C virus.

Aim:   Diabetes is present in patients with chronic liver disease caused by hepatitis C virus (HCV). The aim of this case-control study is to assess the efficacy and safety of dipeptidyl peptidase-4 inhibitor (sitagliptin) for type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) with chronic liver disease caused by HCV.

Methods:   Sixteen HCV positive patients with T2DM treated by sitagliptin were retrospectively enrolled.

Virus clearance reduces bone fracture in postmenopausal women with osteoporosis and chronic liver disease caused by hepatitis C virus.

Osteoporosis is often present in postmenopausal women. The aim of this retrospective cohort study was to assess the cumulative incidence and predictive factors for bone fracture after cessation of interferon (IFN) in postmenopausal women with osteoporosis and chronic liver disease caused by hepatitis C virus (HCV). A total of 420 postmenopausal women treated with IFN monotherapy were enrolled.

Effects of diesel exhaust particles on human neutrophil activation.

Diesel exhaust particles (DEP) are associated with respiratory disease and exposure to diesel exhaust induces an inflammatory response associated with marked leukocytic infiltration in the lung. This study examined whether neutrophils are activated by the active component of DEP (methanol extract of DEP [me-DEP]). The authors demonstrated that neutrophils exposed to me-DEP had increased levels of the f-actin content, the surface expression of adhesion molecules, and the release of interleukin (IL-8) and leukotriene B4 (LTB4), superoxide, and matrix metalloproteinase (MMP-9).

Effects of initial passage of endotoxin through the liver on the extent of acute lung injury in a rat model.

We hypothesized that the extent of acute lung injury (ALI) caused by lipopolysaccharide (LPS) is modified with its initial passage through the liver. We tested this hypothesis by administering LPS, 5 mg/kg, or saline to 120 male Wistar rats via the portal vein (PV) or the inferior vena cava (IVC) over 1 h. Four experimental groups of rats were administered saline into the PV, saline into the IVC, LPS into the PV (LPS-PV group), and LPS into the IVC (LPS-IVC group), respectively.

Suppressive effects of diesel exhaust particles on cytokine release from human and murine alveolar macrophages.

Epidemiological studies have shown an increase in the number of hospital admissions for respiratory diseases in association with high concentrations of particulate matter smaller than 10 micro m (PM(10)). Diesel exhaust particles (DEP) are important components of PM(10). This study was designed to test the effect of DEP on the release of cytokines from alveolar macrophages (AMs).

Correlation between cysteinyl leukotriene release from leukocytes and clinical response to a leukotriene inhibitor.

Study Objectives: Antileukotriene drugs are widely used in patients with bronchial asthma, but not all patients show significant clinical improvements, and no factors have been identified that are correlated with the clinical response to these drugs. This study was designed to examine the factors correlated with a response to a leukotriene receptor antagonist, pranlukast, in patients with asthma.

Design: WBC counts, IgE, and ex vivo leukotriene release from leukocytes were measured, and 31 patients with asthma were treated with pranlukast, a leukotriene receptor antagonist, for 4 weeks.