Serum Ferritin, Insulin Resistance, and β-cell Dysfunction: A Prospective Study in Normoglycemic Japanese Men.

The present cohort study investigated the relationship between serum ferritin levels and indices of insulin resistance and β-cell dysfunction in a normoglycemic population without iron overload disorders. The study participants included 575 normoglycemic Japanese men aged 35-57 years with serum ferritin levels of 400 μg/L or less. Insulin resistance and β-cell dysfunction were estimated at baseline and after 3 years by the homeostasis model assessments of insulin resistance and β-cell function (HOMA-IR and HOMA-β, respectively).

A pooled analysis of the association of isolated low levels of high-density lipoprotein cholesterol with cardiovascular mortality in Japan.

Low levels of serum high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) have been shown to be associated with increased risk of coronary heart disease (CHD). However, because this is usually observed in the context of other lipid abnormalities, it is not known whether isolated low serum HDL-C levels are an independent risk factor for CHD. We performed a large pooled analysis in Japan using data from nine cohorts with 41,206 participants aged 40-89 years who were free of cardiovascular disease at baseline.

Dietary carbohydrate intake, presence of obesity and the incident risk of type 2 diabetes in Japanese men.

Aims/introduction: The present cohort study assessed the risk among Japanese men for developing type 2 diabetes, based on the percentage of energy intake from carbohydrates and degree of obesity.

Participants And Methods: The participants were 2,006 male factory employees, and the macronutrient intake of each patient was measured using a self-administered diet history questionnaire. The incidence of diabetes was determined in annual blood examinations over a 10-year period.

Sex Differences in Associations Among Obesity, Metabolic Abnormalities, and Chronic Kidney Disease in Japanese Men and Women.

Aims: The present study aimed to investigate relationships among abdominal obesity, metabolic abnormalities, and the prevalence of chronic kidney disease (CKD) in relatively lean Japanese men and women.

Participants And Methods: The participants included 8133 men and 15 934 women between 40 and 75 years of age recruited from the government health check-up center in Kanazawa City, Japan. The prevalence of abdominal obesity, high blood pressure, dyslipidemia, and high fasting plasma glucose levels were assessed according to the Japanese criteria for metabolic syndrome.

Serum γ-glutamyltransferase and Mortality due to Cardiovascular Disease in Japanese Men and Women.

Aim: Whether the association between serum γ-glutamyltransferase (γ-GTP) levels and total cardiovascular disease (CVD) mortality is independent of alcohol drinking in East Asian populations is not well known. We conducted a pooled analysis of Japanese men and women that enabled an analysis restricted to never-drinkers.

Methods: A total of 15,987 men and 25,053 women aged 40-79 years, pooled from seven cohort studies throughout Japan, were followed-up to examine sex-specific relationship between serum γ-GTP levels and total CVD mortality.

Elevated Serum Gamma-glutamyl Transpeptidase Levels and Fatty Liver Strongly Predict the Presence of Carotid Plaque.

Aim: There is a strong relationship between carotid atherosclerosis and future cardiovascular disease (CVD). This study sought to clarify the association of fatty liver and an elevated serum gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase (GGT) level with carotid atherosclerosis.

Methods: We reviewed the medical records of subjects who underwent medical checkups at our institute.

Associations between Inflammatory Markers and Subclinical Atherosclerosis in Middle-aged White, Japanese-American and Japanese Men: The ERA-JUMP Study.

Aim: To examine whether the inflammatory markers C-reactive protein (CRP) and fibrinogen are associated with biomarkers of atherosclerosis [carotid intima-media thickness (IMT) and coronary artery calcification (CAC)] in the general male population, including Asians.

Methods: Population-based samples of 310 Japanese, 293 Japanese-American and 297 white men 40-49 years of age without clinical cardiovascular disease underwent measurement of IMT, CAC and the CRP and fibrinogen levels as well as other conventional risk factors using standardized methods. Statistical associations between the variables were evaluated using multiple linear or logistic regression models.

HOMA-IR and the risk of hyperuricemia: a prospective study in non-diabetic Japanese men.

Aims: To examine the relation of insulin resistant status determined by homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) with the risk of incident hyperuricemia.

Methods: The study participants included 2071 Japanese men without hyperuricemia and diabetes, aged 35-54 years. The participants had undergone annual heath examinations for 6 years to compare incident hyperuricemia (serum uric acid >416.

Overall sleep status and high sensitivity C-reactive protein: a prospective study in Japanese factory workers.

We investigated the relation between overall sleep status based on the modified Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) global score and subsequent changes in serum high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP) in a population of Japanese factory workers, who were predominantly female. A total of 991 Japanese with inflammation classified as low cardiovascular risk (baseline hsCRP < 1.0 mg L(-1) ) were grouped according to the presence or absence of unfavourable sleep, defined as a modified PSQI global score > 5.

Family history of diabetes, lifestyle factors, and the 7-year incident risk of type 2 diabetes mellitus in middle-aged Japanese men and women.

Aims/introduction: This cohort study of middle-aged Japanese participants investigated the relationship between family history of diabetes, the incident risk of type 2 diabetes and the interaction of these variables with other factors.

Materials And Methods: Study participants were 3,517 employees (2,037 men and 1,480 women) of a metal products factory in Japan. Baseline health examinations included questions about medical history, physical examination, anthropometric measurements, questions about lifestyle factors, such as smoking, alcohol consumption and habitual exercise, and a self-administered diet history questionnaire.

Association between a serum thyroid-stimulating hormone concentration within the normal range and indices of obesity in Japanese men and women.

Objective: This cross-sectional study investigated the associations between the serum thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) concentration and indices of obesity in middle-aged Japanese men and women.

Methods: The participants were 2,037 employees (1,044 men and 993 women; age, 36-55 yr) of a metal products factory in Japan. Clinical examinations were conducted in 2009.

The effect of age on the relationships between work-related factors and heavy drinking.

Aims: The aim of this study was to investigate age-related differences in the relationship between work-related factors and heavy drinking.

Methods: This study in 3,398 male workers at a factory in Japan examined data on heavy drinking, defined as an alcohol consumption >40 g/day, and work-related factors including occupation, shift work, and job stress evaluated using the Japanese version of the Karasek's Job Content Questionnaire (JCQ). In the present cross-sectional study, alcohol consumption was assessed using a self-administered diet history questionnaire (DHQ).

Long-chain n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids intake and cardiovascular disease mortality risk in Japanese: a 24-year follow-up of NIPPON DATA80.

Background: Dietary intake of long-chain n-3 PUFA (LCn3FA) among Japanese is generally higher than that in Western populations. However, little is known whether an inverse association of LCn3FA with cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk exists in a population with higher LCn3FA intake.

Objective: To investigate the association between LCn3FA intake and the long-term risk of CVDs in a Japanese general population.

Prognostic values of bundle branch blocks for cardiovascular mortality in Japanese (24year follow-up of NIPPON DATA80).

Aims: Left bundle branch block (LBBB) is generally considered to be associated with a poorer prognosis in comparison with normal controls. However, there are some studies that showed no difference in prognosis of LBBB in comparison with normal controls.

Methods And Results: We studied prognostic values of BBBs on cardiovascular disease (CVD) and total mortality using the NIPPON DATA80 database with a 24-year follow-up.

Nicotine dependence and cost-effectiveness of individualized support for smoking cessation: evidence from practice at a worksite in Japan.

Given the lack of economic studies evaluating the outcomes of smoking cessation programs from the viewpoint of program sponsors, we conducted a case study to provide relevant information for worksites. The present study was carried out between 2006 and 2008 at a manufacturing factory in the Toyama Prefecture of Japan and included subjects who voluntarily entered a smoking cessation program. The program included face-to-face counselling followed by weekly contact to provide encouragement over six months using e-mail or inter-office mail.

Association between J-point elevation and death from coronary artery disease--15-year follow up of the NIPPON DATA90.

Background: An early repolarization pattern, characterized by an elevation of the QRS-ST junction (J-point) on 12-lead electrocardiography (ECG) is associated with cardiac and sudden death. However, little is known about the prognostic significance of J-point elevation for various disease-specific cardiovascular outcomes, including coronary artery disease (CAD).

Methods And Results: To investigate the association between the presence of J-point elevation≥0.

Correlation between shift-work-related sleep problems and heavy drinking in Japanese male factory workers.

Aims: To investigate the effects of shift work on increased alcohol intake associated with poor sleep quality.

Methods: This cross-sectional survey evaluated the correlation between work schedule, poor sleep quality and heavy drinking among 909 factory workers aged 35-54 years in Japan. Subjects included 530 day workers, 72 shift workers who did not work at night and 290 shift workers who engaged in night work.

Long-term risk of BP values above normal for cardiovascular mortality: a 24-year observation of Japanese aged 30 to 92 years.

Objective: In Western populations, blood pressure (BP) measured at baseline has been reported to predict long-term (over 20 years) risk of mortality from cardiovascular diseases (CVDs). However, corresponding evidence is scarce in Asia where stroke is dominant. We investigated the association between baseline BP and 24-year mortality risk due to CVD, in a representative Japanese general population.

Impact of visceral adipose tissue and subcutaneous adipose tissue on insulin resistance in middle-aged Japanese.

Aim: The enlargement of visceral adipose tissue (VAT) is considered to mediate the close relationship between obesity and insulin resistance. We aimed to determine whether a stronger association of VAT compared to subcutaneous adipose tissue (SAT) with insulin resistance could be confirmed and generalized in non-diabetic Japanese men and women.

Methods: Participants were 912 non-diabetic Japanese (636 men and 276 women, mean age 52.

Blood pressure categories and long-term risk of cardiovascular disease according to age group in Japanese men and women.

Blood pressure (BP) categories defined by systolic BP (SBP) and diastolic BP (DBP) are commonly used. However, the BP category-specific risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD) has not been thoroughly investigated in different age groups. The aim of this study was to assess long-term CVD risk and its impact according to BP categories and age group.

Self-reported speed of eating and 7-year risk of type 2 diabetes mellitus in middle-aged Japanese men.

Objective: This cohort study investigated the association between eating speed and the incidence of type 2 diabetes in middle-aged Japanese men.

Materials/methods: Participants were 2,050 male employees of a metal products factory in Japan. We measured self-reported categorical eating speed.

Exposure to particulate matter and long-term risk of cardiovascular mortality in Japan: NIPPON DATA80.

Aim: It remains uncertain whether chronic exposure to particulate air pollution is associated with increased mortality in Japan because Japan has a different distribution pattern of cardiovascular disease and its risk factors compared to Western countries. We investigated the association between long-term exposure to particulate matter (PM) and cardiovascular mortality risk using a representative Japanese cohort.

Methods: A total of 7,250 participants aged 30 years and older from 232 districts throughout Japan were followed from 1980 to 2004.

Prognostic value of ST-T abnormalities and left high R waves with cardiovascular mortality in Japanese (24-year follow-up of NIPPON DATA80).

Little is known about the prognostic value of ST-segment depression and/or T wave (ST-T abnormalities) with or without left high R waves on electrocardiogram recorded at rest for death from cardiovascular disease (CVD) in Asian populations. Japanese participants without a history of CVD and free of major electrocardiographic (ECG) abnormalities were followed for 24 years. Subjects were divided into 4 groups based on baseline ECG findings: isolated left high R waves, isolated ST-T abnormalities, ST-T abnormalities with left high R waves, and normal electrocardiogram.