Increased body mass index above the upper normal limit is significantly associated with renal dysfunction among community-dwelling persons.

Purpose: Body mass index (BMI) is a simple index of weight-to-height that is commonly used to classify people as underweight, overweight or obesity, and high BMI has been clearly linked to increased risk of illness in adults. However, few studies have examined the significance of upper normal weight as a risk factor for the development of chronic kidney disease (CKD) in the general Japanese population.

Methods: We conducted a prospective cohort study designed as part of the Nomura study.

Total bilirubin independently predicts incident metabolic syndrome among community-dwelling women.

Background: Metabolic syndrome (MetS) is related to the increased risk of major cardiovascular diseases (CVD). The link between high serum total bilirubin (TBL) is cross-sectionally related to MetS and its components. However, whether serum TBL predicts incidence of MetS and its components remains inconclusive.

Serum uric acid to creatinine ratio is a useful predictor of renal dysfunction among diabetic persons.

Background: Serum uric acid (SUA) has been shown to be a predictor of renal disease progression in most but not all studies. This study aims to test whether renal function-normalized SUA {i.e, SUA/creatinine (Cr) ratio} is a predictor of decreased renal function among diabetic patients.

Serum Uric Acid to Creatinine Ratio Independently Predicts Incident Metabolic Syndrome Among Community-Dwelling Persons.

Background: Metabolic syndrome (MetS) is related to the increased risk of major cardiovascular disease. The link between high serum uric acid (SUA) and creatinine (Cr) levels is causally related to MetS and its components. However, whether renal function-normalized SUA [i.

Association of neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio with early renal dysfunction and albuminuria among diabetic patients.

Purpose: Neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) was widely studied as a prognostic marker in various medical and surgical specialties, but its significance in diabetic kidney disease is not yet established.

Methods: The subjects comprised 199 men aged 73 ± 11 (mean ± standard deviation) years and 187 women aged 77 ± 10 years from a rural hospital. We examined the relationship between NLR calculated by analyzing differential leukocyte count in complete blood picture and renal function evaluated by estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) using the Modification of Diet in Renal Disease Study Group equation and urinary albumin excretion (UAE).

Interactive association of serum uric acid and total bilirubin with renal dysfunction among community-dwelling subjects.

Purpose: Chronic kidney disease is a major public health concern. Serum uric acid (SUA) at high levels was oxidative stress agents, and total bilirubin (T-BiL) at mildly increased levels was potent antioxidants, but whether SUA and T-BiL produce an additive interaction for the risk of renal dysfunction remains unclear.

Methods: The subjects comprised 567 men aged 71 ± 8 (mean ± standard deviation) years and 853 women aged 70 ± 8 years from a rural village.

Gender difference in preference of specialty as a career choice among Japanese medical students.

Background: In Japan, the absolute deficiency of doctors and maldistribution of doctors by specialty is a significant problem in the Japanese health care system. The purpose of this study was to investigate the factors contributing to specialty preference in career choice among Japanese medical students.

Methods: A total of 368 medical students completed the survey giving an 88.

Factors associated with the choice of general medicine as a career among Japanese medical students.

Background: In Japan, there is a shortage of young physicians in various specialties; the present situation of general medicine or family medicine (GM/FM) in particular is risky. The factors influencing the career choice of Japanese medical students are poorly understood. This study aims to identify factors related to choosing GM/FM as a career.

Serum Uric Acid Is Positively Associated with Handgrip Strength among Japanese Community-Dwelling Elderly Women.

Serum uric acid (UA) has strong anti-oxidant properties. Muscle strength and mass decrease with age, and recently, this decrease has been defined as sarcopenia. Sarcopenia may be triggered by oxidative stress.

Handgrip strength is associated with metabolic syndrome among middle-aged and elderly community-dwelling persons.

The association of low muscle strength with cardio-metabolic risks remains controversial. The present study included 742 men aged 70 ± 9 years and 937 women aged 70 ± 8 years from a rural village. We examined the cross-sectional relationship between relative muscle strength defined by handgrip strength (HGS)/body weight (BW) ratio, and metabolic syndrome (MetS) based on the modified criteria of the National Cholesterol Education Program's Adult Treatment Panel (NCEP-ATP) III report and its components.

Mildly elevated serum total bilirubin levels are negatively associated with carotid atherosclerosis among elderly persons with type 2 diabetes.

Diabetes is strongly associated with several mechanisms of tissue damage such as oxidative stress. Serum bilirubin may have a beneficial role in preventing oxidative changes in cardiovascular disease (CVD). Limited information is available on whether serum bilirubin is an independent confounding factor for carotid atherosclerosis among elderly persons with type 2 diabetes.

Characteristics of Japanese medical students associated with their intention for rural practice.

Introduction: In Japan, the maldistribution of physicians between urban and rural areas is increasing. It is important to know the practice location expectations of future physicians.

Methods: The study was designed as a cross-sectional survey.

Association between serum bilirubin and estimated glomerular filtration rate among elderly persons.

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is a major public health problem. However, few studies have examined the significance of serum bilirubin as a risk factor for the development of CKD in the general Japanese population. The subjects comprised 413 men (mean age: 79±9 years; (range, 60-100 years) and 637 women (mean age: 81±8 years; range, 60-106 years) who visited the medical department of Seiyo Municipal Nomura Hospital.

Mildly elevated serum bilirubin levels are negatively associated with carotid atherosclerosis among elderly persons.

Serum bilirubin may have a beneficial role in preventing oxidative changes in atherosclerosis. Limited information is available on whether serum total bilirubin is an independent confounding factor for carotid atherosclerosis {for example, intima-media thickness (IMT), plaque} measured noninvasively by B-mode ultrasonography only among elderly persons. The study subjects were 325 men aged 79 ± 8 (mean ± standard deviation) years and 509 women aged 81 ± 8 years that were enrolled consecutively from patients aged ≥ 60 years in the medical department.

Changes in oxidized low-density lipoprotein cholesterol are associated with changes in handgrip strength in Japanese community-dwelling persons.

Nordic walking (NW), characterized by the use of two walking poles, has positive effects on several muscle groups. Muscle strength and mass decrease with age, and recently, this decrease is defined as sarcopenia. Sarcopenia may be triggered by oxidative stress.

Brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity is a predictor of walking distance in community-dwelling adults.

Arterial stiffness represents the cumulative effects of cardiovascular risk factors, including aging, on the arterial wall, and has been found to be a surrogate marker of cardiovascular disease. However, it remains unknown whether baseline arterial stiffness is independently associated with improvement in functional abilities after exercise training. The subjects were 72 adults (9 men and 63 women) aged 67 ± 7 years from a rural village.

Effect of weight loss on central systolic blood pressure in elderly community-dwelling persons.

Central blood pressure (BP) has been shown to strongly associate with cardiovascular disease and outcome. Recent studies have demonstrated a relationship between changes in body size by exercise training and peripheral BP; however, the effect on changes in central BP is unknown. The aim of this study was to assess whether changes in body size are independently related to changes in central BP in the elderly.

Carotid atherosclerosis as a surrogate maker of cardiovascular disease in diabetic patients.

Many studies have shown that carotid intima-media thickness (IMT) is associated with cardiovascular disease (CVD). Although it remains inconclusive whether assessment of carotid IMT is useful as a screening test for CVD in Japanese diabetic patients, a total of 271 patients (151 men aged 66 ± 10 (standard deviation) years and 220 women aged 71 ± 8 years) were divided into two groups based on the presence of CVD. We cross-sectionally assessed the ability of carotid IMT to identify CVD corresponding to treatment that was examined by receiver-operating characteristic (ROC) curve analyses.

Usefulness of combining serum uric acid and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein for risk stratification of patients with metabolic syndrome in community-dwelling women.

Metabolic syndrome (MetS) is associated with an increased risk of major cardiovascular events. In women, increased uric acid (UA) levels are associated with MetS and its components. High-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP) levels are also associated with MetS, and hsCRP levels could be modulated by UA.

A slightly low hemoglobin level is beneficially associated with arterial stiffness in Japanese community-dwelling women.

Pulse wave velocity (PWV) is a simple and noninvasive method of measuring arterial stiffness for the assessment of cardiovascular disease in high-risk populations. This association may be further confounded by hemoglobin status, which is involved in the development of atherosclerosis. We randomly recruited 120 men and 223 women aged 69 ± 9 and 68 ± 7 years, respectively, during their annual health examination in a single community.

Association between fasting plasma glucose and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein: gender differences in a Japanese community-dwelling population.

Background: High sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP) is an acute phase reactant and a sensitive marker of inflammation. Hyperglycemia can potentially promote the production of CRP. The aim of this study was to determine whether increased fasting plasma glucose (FPG) levels are associated with elevated hsCRP concentrations by gender.

Relationships between lipid profiles and metabolic syndrome, insulin resistance and serum high molecular adiponectin in Japanese community-dwelling adults.

Background: There are few studies to demonstrate the associations between newly addressed lipid profiles and metabolic syndrome (MetS)-associated variables.

Methods: Study participants without medications for hypertension, diabetes, or dyslipidemia {614 men aged 58 ± 14 (mean ± standard deviation; range, 20-89) years and 779 women aged 60 ± 12 (range, 21-88) years} were randomly recruited from a single community at the time of their annual health examination. The association between lipid profiles (total cholesterol (T-C), triglycerides (TG), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), non-HDL-C, T-C/HDL-C, TG/HDL-C, LDL-C/HDL-C ratio and MetS, Insulin resistance by homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR), and serum HMW adiponectin were analyzed.

Serum gamma-glutamyl transferase within its normal concentration range is related to the presence of impaired fasting glucose and diabetes among Japanese community-dwelling persons.

INTRODUCTION. Serum gamma-glutamyl transferase (GGT) activity changes in response to oxidative stress. Little data are available on the association between serum GGT and the prevalence of impaired fasting glucose (IFG) and diabetes among Japanese community-dwelling persons.

Serum high molecular weight adiponectin correlates with arterial stiffness in community-dwelling persons.

INTRODUCTION. Serum high molecular weight (HMW) adiponectin, an adipocytokine, which is a protein secreted specifically by adipose tissue, improves insulin sensitivity and plays an important role in the development of metabolic syndrome and cardiovascular disease (CVD). Pulse wave velocity (PWV) is a noninvasive method of measuring arterial stiffness for the assessment of CVD in high-risk populations.

High-sensitivity C-reactive protein and gamma-glutamyl transferase levels are synergistically associated with metabolic syndrome in community-dwelling persons.

Background: Metabolic syndrome (MetS) is associated with an increased risk of major cardiovascular events. Increased high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP) levels are associated with MetS and its components. Changes in gamma-glutamyl transferase (GGT) levels in response to oxidative stress are also associated with MetS, and the levels could be modulated by hsCRP.