Aedes albopictus Strain and Dengue Virus Serotype in the Dengue Fever Outbreaks in Japan: Implications of Wolbachia Infection.

From August 27 to October 15, 2014, a dengue fever outbreak with 158 autochthonous cases occurred after nearly 70 years of no reports of autochthonous cases in Japan. The most competent mosquito vector for dengue virus (DENV) transmission in Japan is Aedes albopictus. Since A.

[TREATMENT SUPPORT AND TREATMENT QUTCOMES OF PULMONARY TUBERCULOSIS IN PATIENTS WITH HIV INFECTION IN OSAKA CITY].

[Objective] To contribute to countermeasures against pulmonary tuberculosis in patients with HIV infection through analyzing and evaluating its treatment outcomes and patient management. [Methods] The 'subjects were pulmonary tuberculosis patients newly registered between 2008 and 2014 in whom concomitant HIV infection was detected. For the control, sex- and generation-matched pulmonary tuberculosis patients newly registered in Osaka City -between 2012 and 2014 were adopted.

Impact of individual components and their combinations within a family history of hypertension on the incidence of hypertension: Toranomon hospital health management center study 22.

Although a family history (FH) of hypertension is a risk factor for the development of hypertension, only a few studies have investigated in detail the impact of individual components of an FH on incident hypertension. We investigated the impact of individual components and their combinations on the presence or development of hypertension considering obesity, smoking habits, physical activity, and other metabolic parameters.Studied were 12,222 Japanese individuals without hypertension (n = 9,766) and with hypertension (n = 2,456) at the baseline examination.

[DOTS AND TREATMENT RESULTS IN PATIENTS WITH EXTRA-PULMONARY TUBERCULOSIS IN OSAKA CITY].

[Purpose] To improve the treatment outcomes by analyzing/evaluating the association between DOTS and treatment outcomes in patients with extra-pulmonary tuber- culosis. [Methods] The subjects were patients with extra-pulmonary tuberculosis newly registered in Osaka City between 2012 and 2014. As controls, patients with pulmonary tuberculosis during this period were enrolled.

[USE OF QuantiFERON® TB-GOLD IN-TUBE IN A CONTACT INVESTIGATION TO DETERMINE THE ONSET OF TUBERCULOSIS WITH OR WITHOUT LATENT TUBERCULOSIS INFECTION TREATMENT].

Purpose: QuantiFERON® TB-Gold In-Tube (3G) testing was performed on tuberculosis-positive index cases and their contacts. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the relationship between 3G test results and the subsequent development of tuberculosis, and to identify effective strategies to prevent the onset of tuberculosis.

Methods: Index cases and their contacts were subjected to 3G testing in a contact investigation in Osaka City in 2011-2012.

Assessment of kidney dysfunction with cystatin C- and creatinine-based estimated glomerular filtration rate and predicting type 2 diabetes: Toranomon Hospital Health Management Center Study 21.

Objective: Whether early stages of kidney dysfunction assessed by the estimated glomerular filtration rate from cystatin C measurements (eGFRCysC) rather than from creatinine measurements (eGFRCr) would more precisely reflect the risk of developing type 2 diabetes (T2D) has not been clarified. We compared the risk of developing T2D associated with renal dysfunction indicated by eGFRCysC or eGFRCr measurements.

Methods: Studied were 2131 Japanese individuals without diabetes.

[TUBERCULOSIS SCREENING BY CHEST RADIOGRAPHY AMONG INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS AT JAPANESE LANGUAGE SCHOOLS IN OSAKA CITY].

Purpose: With a broader aim of controlling pulmonary tuberculosis (TB) among foreigners, here, we have reported the findings of chest radiography screening for TB among international students at Japanese language schools in Osaka city.

Methods: Between April 2011 and December 2013, 4,529 international students from 19 Japanese language schools in Osaka city underwent chest radiography for TB screening. The chest radiographs were studied in reference to the student's sex, age, nationality, and date of entry to Japan as well as any health conditions present at the time of screening.

[EXAMINATION OF TUBERCULOSIS OUTBREAK INDEX CASES IN OSAKA CITY].

Objective: To analyze tuberculosis outbreak index cases in order to improve preventative measures.

Methods: Outbreaks reported in Osaka City between 2008 and 2014 were investigated. The index cases were examined according to category group, sex, age, chest radiograph findings, sputum smear examination, patient delay, doctor delay, total delay in case finding, and adherence to regular health examinations.

[RATES OF COMPLETION AND TREATMENT OUTCOMES FOR TYPE OF COMMUNITY DOTS].

Aim: To investigate the relationship between completion rates for community directly observed treatment short-course (DOTS) and treatment outcomes, according to implementation tactics, to improve the treatment outcomes.

Methods And Subjects: We evaluated 529 newly registered patients with smear-positive pulmonary tuberculosis who underwent community DOTS (checking medication at least once per week) during 2010 and 2011 in Osaka City. DOTS completion was defined as checking medication 3 times or more per month, with checking medication missed less than 3 consecutive times.

Trajectory of body mass index before the development of type 2 diabetes in Japanese men: Toranomon Hospital Health Management Center Study 15.

Aims/introduction: We aimed to investigate the long-term trajectory of general adiposity assessed by the body mass index (BMI) before the onset of type 2 diabetes in Japanese individuals.

Materials And Methods: We retrospectively examined data on 1,553 Japanese men without diabetes. Mean BMI and incident cases of diabetes (diabetes indicated by fasting glucose concentrations ≥7.

Circulating malondialdehyde-modified LDL-related variables and coronary artery stenosis in asymptomatic patients with type 2 diabetes.

Aims: To elucidate the levels of malondialdehyde-modified LDL (MDA-LDL)-related variables for predicting coronary artery stenosis (CAS) by coronary CT angiography (CCTA) in asymptomatic patients with type 2 diabetes (T2DM).

Methods: Enrolled were 36 Japanese patients with T2DM who underwent CCTA and in whom MDA-LDL levels were measured. Definition of CAS was luminal narrowing of ≥50%.

Simple self-reported behavioral or psychological characteristics as risk factors for future type 2 diabetes in Japanese individuals: Toranomon Hospital Health Management Center Study 14.

Aims/introduction: Depression, anger, sleep disorders and cognitive impairment are regarded as presenting a high risk for diabetes. We investigated whether responses to single statements on a self-report questionnaire on the presence of each of these four factors were associated with the development of type 2 diabetes.

Materials And Methods: We investigated 3,211 Japanese individuals without diabetes.

Role of body mass index history in predicting risk of the development of hypertension in Japanese individuals: Toranomon Hospital Health Management Center Study 18 (TOPICS 18).

It has not been clarified whether overall adiposity in early adulthood or at the lifetime maximum weight would confer a residual risk of hypertension after considering the risk associated with current adiposity. Studied were 6121 Japanese without hypertension. The risk of developing hypertension 4 years after a baseline examination was investigated using the body mass index in the early 20s, at the lifetime maximum, or at the baseline examination.

Metabolically healthy obesity, presence or absence of fatty liver, and risk of type 2 diabetes in Japanese individuals: Toranomon Hospital Health Management Center Study 20 (TOPICS 20).

Objective: We investigated whether the metabolically healthy obese (MHO) phenotype was associated with an increased risk of the development of diabetes. If so, we aimed to determine what factors could explain this finding.

Design, Setting, And Participants: Studied were 8090 Japanese individuals without diabetes.

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).

Comparison of the Framingham risk score, UK Prospective Diabetes Study (UKPDS) Risk Engine, Japanese Atherosclerosis Longitudinal Study-Existing Cohorts Combine (JALS-ECC) and maximum carotid intima-media thickness for predicting coronary artery stenosis in patients with asymptomatic type 2 diabetes.

Aims: To compare the efficacy of Framingham Risk Score (FRS), UK Prospective Diabetes Study (UKPDS) risk engine, a risk score based on the Japanese Atherosclerosis Longitudinal Study-Existing Cohorts Combine (JALS-ECC), the maximum intima-media thickness (max-IMT) determined on coronary computed tomography angiography (CCTA) and their combination in asymptomatic patients with type 2 diabetes.

Methods: A total of 116 Japanese patients with type 2 diabetes underwent CCTA. The risk of coronary heart disease was calculated according to the FRS, UKPDS and JALS-ECC.

Effect of postmenopausal status and age at menopause on type 2 diabetes and prediabetes in Japanese individuals: Toranomon Hospital Health Management Center Study 17 (TOPICS 17).

Objective: Findings on the effect of menopause or age at menopause on the presence of hyperglycemia are controversial, and why women after menopause have a higher probability of having hyperglycemia than men in the same age range remains unknown.

Research Design And Methods: We reviewed data on 29,189 men, 6,308 premenopausal women, and 4,570 postmenopausal women in Japan. Odds ratios (ORs) for diabetes or prediabetes indicated by American Diabetes Association criteria were calculated for men and for pre- and postmenopausal women.

Use of high-normal levels of haemoglobin A(1C) and fasting plasma glucose for diabetes screening and for prediction: a meta-analysis.

Background: Using high-normal levels of haemoglobin A1C (Abnormal-A1C ) or fasting plasma glucose (FPG) (Abnormal-FPG) for diabetes screening are expected to improve the ability to detect persons with or at high risk of diabetes. We assessed the diagnostic and predictive capacity for diabetes of Abnormal-A1C and Abnormal-FPG. We compared these to the combined use of the two measures to the single use of either measurement.

Quality and accuracy of Internet information concerning a healthy diet.

The Internet is used by many consumers interested in healthy living. The aim of the present study was to explore the variations among Internet information concerning a healthy diet and to evaluate the potential for misleading information. To conduct a descriptive analysis, the search term "healthy diet" was entered into three search engines and the first 100 results were examined.

[Effect of smoking on diabetes mellitus and dyslipidemia (effect of smoking on glucose and lipid metabolism)].

Smoking is one of the important risk factors of cardiovascular disease. Its effects on arteriosclerotic diseases act not only directly but indirectly, by worsening control of blood pressure, lipid metabolism and glucose metabolism. And in patients with diabetes, it affects both macroangiopathy and diabetic microangiopathy(especially diabetic nephronpathy) adversely.

Development of a screening score for undiagnosed diabetes and its application in estimating absolute risk of future type 2 diabetes in Japan: Toranomon Hospital Health Management Center Study 10 (TOPICS 10).

Objective: The objective of the study was to develop a screening score for undiagnosed diabetes by eliciting information on noninvasive clinical markers and to assess its effectiveness for identifying the presence of diabetes and predicting future diabetes.

Design, Setting, And Participants: A screening score was cross-sectionally developed for 33 335 Japanese individuals aged 18-88 years without known diabetes who underwent a health examination. We validated its utility and compared it with existing screening tools in an independent population (n = 7477).

Carotid artery plaque and LDL-to-HDL cholesterol ratio predict atherosclerotic status in coronary arteries in asymptomatic patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus.

Aims: To investigate the clinical predictors of coronary atherosclerosis and to assess the utility of maximum-IMT for predicting coronary atherosclerosis in asymptomatic type 2 diabetic patients.

Methods: One hundred one Japanese patients with type 2 diabetes underwent computed tomography coronary angiography. Definitions of coronary artery stenosis and vulnerable coronary plaque were luminal narrowing of ≥50% and any coronary plaque with positive vessel remodeling and low attenuation, respectively.

Role of alcohol drinking pattern in type 2 diabetes in Japanese men: the Toranomon Hospital Health Management Center Study 11 (TOPICS 11).

Background: Findings of past studies on the effect of drinking patterns on diabetes risk have been inconsistent.

Objective: We aimed to investigate the role of drinking frequency and usual quantity consumed in the development of type 2 diabetes.

Design: Enrolled were 1650 Japanese men without diabetes (diabetes: fasting plasma glucose ≥7.