High Aspartate Aminotransferase/Alanine Aminotransferase Ratio May Be Associated with All-Cause Mortality in the Elderly: A Retrospective Cohort Study Using Artificial Intelligence and Conventional Analysis.

Low serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT) activity and high aspartate aminotransferase (AST)/ALT ratio may be associated with high mortality in the elderly. We aimed to confirm this in an 8-year retrospective cohort study. Clinical data for 5958 people living in a city aged 67−104 years were analyzed for their relationships with all-cause mortality using artificial intelligence (AI) and conventional statistical analysis.

Association of Serum High-Density Lipoprotein Cholesterol with High Blood Pressures at Checkup: Results of Kanagawa Investigation of Total Checkup Data from the National Database-9 (KITCHEN-9).

Background: although high-density lipoprotein has cardioprotective effects, the association between serum high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) and hypertension is poorly understood. Therefore, we investigated whether high and low concentrations of HDL-C are associated with high blood pressure (HBP) using a large healthcare dataset.

Methods: in a community-based cross-sectional study of 1,493,152 Japanese people (830,669 men and 662,483 women) aged 40-74 years who underwent a health checkup, blood pressures automatically measured at healthcare center were investigated in nine HDL-C groups (20-110 mg/dL or over).

Fasting biochemical hypoglycemia and related-factors in non-diabetic population: Kanagawa Investigation of Total Check-up Data from National Database-8.

Background: In healthy people, the lowest daily blood glucose concentration is usually observed in the early morning, after overnight fasting. However, the clinical relevance and the prevalence of fasting biochemical hypoglycemia (FBH) are poorly understood in people who do not have diabetes, although the clinical implications of such hypoglycemia have been extensively studied in patients with diabetes. FBH can be influenced by many factors, including age, sex, body mass, smoking, alcohol drinking, exercise levels, medications, and eating behaviors, such as breakfast skipping and late-night eating.

Association between extremely high high-density lipoprotein-cholesterol and hypertensive retinopathy: results of a cross-sectional study from Kanagawa Investigation of Total Checkup Data from the National Database-6 (KITCHEN-6).

Objectives: Doubt has been cast on the atheroprotective effect of very high high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C). Hypertensive retinopathy (HR) is caused by persistent systemic hypertension. Therefore, we aimed to investigate the association between extremely high HDL-C (EH-HDL) and HR.

High Concentration of Serum Aspartate Aminotransferase in Older Underweight People: Results of the Kanagawa Investigation of the Total Check-Up Data from the National Database-2 (KITCHEN-2).

Background: Aspartate aminotransferase (AST) is pivotal in amino acid metabolism. However, the serum activity of AST, which leaks from multiple organs, including liver and skeletal muscle, is unknown in older underweight people, who are at high risk of skeletal muscle mass loss. Therefore, we measured the serum activities of AST and alanine aminotransferase (ALT), a liver-specific transaminase, in a large, community-based cross-sectional study.

High Incidence of Diabetes in People with Extremely High High-Density Lipoprotein Cholesterol: Results of the Kanagawa Investigation of Total Checkup Data from the National Database-1 (KITCHEN-1).

Background: It is unknown whether extremely high high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) has a protective effect against diabetes, which plays a key role in cardiovascular disease.

Methods: In a community-based cohort study of 387,642 subjects (40⁻68 years old) without diabetes, the incidence of diabetes 6 years later was determined according to baseline HDL-C (≤39, 40⁻49, 50⁻59, 60⁻69, 70⁻79, 80⁻89, 90⁻99, 100⁻109, or ≥110 mg/dL).

Results: At baseline, HDL-C ≥100 mg/dL was present in 12,908 subjects (3.

Kanagawa Investigation of the Total Check-up Data from the National database (KITCHEN): protocol for data-driven population-based repeated cross-sectional and 6-year cohort studies.

Introduction: The unmitigated incidence of cardiometabolic diseases, such as type 2 diabetes and metabolic syndrome, has gained attention in Japan. 'Big data' can be useful to clarify conflicting observations obtained from studies with small samples and about rare conditions that are often neglected. We epidemiologically address these issues using data from health check-ups conducted in Kanagawa Prefecture, the prefecture with the second largest population in Japan, in the Kanagawa Investigation of the Total Check-up Data from the National Database (KITCHEN).

Daily Yogurt Consumption Improves Glucose Metabolism and Insulin Sensitivity in Young Nondiabetic Japanese Subjects with Type-2 Diabetes Risk Alleles.

This study investigated whether the association between postprandial plasma glucose (PPG) is affected by five type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) susceptibility genes, and whether four weeks of yogurt consumption would affect these responses. We performed a single-arm intervention study in young nondiabetic Japanese participants, who consumed 150 g yogurt daily for four weeks, after which a rice test meal containing 50 g carbohydrate was administered. PPG and postprandial serum insulin (PSI) were measured between 0 and 120 mins at baseline and after the intervention.

Perioperative nutrition management as an important component of surgical capacity in low- and middle-income countries.

Needs for surgical care are growing in low- and middle-income countries. Existing surgical care capacity indicators, focusing on the availability of equipment, personnel, and operation and anaesthetic skills, are not intended to evaluate perioperative nutrition management, which influences surgical outcomes. In this narrative review, we describe the prevalence of malnutrition and its clinical consequences among surgical patients in low- and middle-income countries, suggest potential measures to improve nutrition management and discuss the necessity of considering nutrition management as a component of surgical care capacity.

Evaluation of postprandial glucose excursion using a novel minimally invasive glucose area-under-the-curve monitoring system.

Objective: To develop a minimally invasive interstitial fluid extraction technology (MIET) to monitor postprandial glucose area under the curve (AUC) without blood sampling, we evaluated the accuracy of glucose AUC measured by MIET and compared with that by blood sampling after food intake.

Methods: Interstitial fluid glucose AUC (IG-AUC) following consumption of 6 different types of foods was measured by MIET. MIET consisted of stamping microneedle arrays, placing hydrogel patches on the areas, and calculating IG-AUC based on glucose levels in the hydrogels.

Anti-hypoalbuminemic effect of branched-chain amino acid granules in patients with liver cirrhosis is independent of dietary energy and protein intake.

Aim:   A multicenter prospective intervention study was conducted in 204 patients with uncompensated liver cirrhosis to explore the influence of dietary intake and patient clinical characteristics on improvement of hypoalbuminemia at weeks 12 and 24 of treatment with branched-chain amino acid (BCAA) granules.

Methods:   The primary endpoint set in this study was improvement of hypoalbuminemia in patients with liver cirrhosis. The dietary energy and protein intake per day were estimated based on the results of a survey on diet during a 3-day period preceding the start of the study.

Nutritional policies and dietary guidelines in Japan.

The national government settled on "Healthy Japan 21" as the premier preventive policy of lifestyle related diseases in 2000. In 2005, the effectiveness of the campaign was conducted, but the results did not turn out as expected. The Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare made the "Japanese Food Guide Spinning Top (JFG-ST)" as a practical and easy way to improve eating habits for all of the people.

Norlichexanthone isolated from fungus P16 promotes the secretion and expression of adiponectin in cultured ST-13 adipocytes.

Adiponectin, an adipose-derived protein, shows insulin-sensitizing, anti-diabetic and anti-atherogenic activities, which implies that the protein represents a potential target to improve lifestyle-related diseases like type 2 diabetes. Based on our hypothesis that agents that cause adipocyte differentiation could also act as adiponectin secretion enhancers, we screened butanol extracts of 96 fungus culture extracts for their differentiation-inducing activity in ST-13 preadipocytes. We found that the butanol extract of a fungus P16 culture extract possessed such an activity, and isolated norlichexanthone as an active compound through activity-guided fractionation.

Possible regulatory factors for intra-abdominal fat mass in a rat model of Parkinson's disease.

Objective: Patients with Parkinson's disease (PD) lose body weight primarily due to decreased body fat mass. The purpose of this study was to elucidate possible factors related to reduction in the intra-abdominal fat mass of 6-hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA)-treated rats, which are frequently used as an animal model for PD.

Methods: Sham-operated (NPD: n = 4) and unilaterally 6-OHDA-injected (PD: n = 4) 14-wk-old male Sprague-Dawley rats were fed a relatively high-fat diet for 2 wk, during which food intake and body weight were measured.

A system for nutritional consulting using quick questionnaires on diet and unidentified complaints.

The aging of society and ongoing health care cost-control policy set the trend for the self-medication which leads to the growing interest in health promotion and prolongation of healthy life expectancy through self-health management. We developed a self-medication support system to provide comprehensive support to consumers at pharmacies and drug stores. This system facilitates the effective use of information and knowledge based on medicine and health.

The integration of school nutrition program into health promotion and prevention of lifestyle-related diseases in Japan.

After World War II, Japan has imported food from other countries to solve malnutrition, and then dietitians provided nutrition education to people for effective food utilization. Flour and skimmed milk imported from the United State were distributed to the school lunch program. Dietitians were trained to encourage the people to adapt western style dietary habits.

Overweight and obesity increase the risk for liver cancer in patients with liver cirrhosis and long-term oral supplementation with branched-chain amino acid granules inhibits liver carcinogenesis in heavier patients with liver cirrhosis.

We conducted a multicenter, randomized, controlled trial to investigate the effect of long-term oral supplementation with branched-chain amino acids (BCAA) on the event-free survival in 622 patients with decompensated cirrhosis. In the present study, the development of liver cancer was analyzed as an endpoint in particular. Subjects received either treatment with BCAA at 12g/day or dietary therapy containing the matched daily energy and protein intake.

Effects of oral branched-chain amino acid granules on event-free survival in patients with liver cirrhosis.

Background & Aims: Nutritional intervention with branched-chain amino acid (BCAA) is reported to increase serum albumin concentration in patients with decompensated cirrhosis. However, a definite conclusion on whether it can improve patients' survival has not yet been reached. The present study aimed to test possibilities of improving survival of patients with decompensated cirrhosis by using a BCAA preparation that is suitable for long-term oral administration.

Clinical comparison of branched-chain amino acid (l-Leucine, l-Isoleucine, l-Valine) granules and oral nutrition for hepatic insufficiency in patients with decompensated liver cirrhosis (LIV-EN study).

This multicenter study compared the effects of branched-chain amino acid granules (Livact((R)) Granules, LIV) and an enteral nutrient for chronic hepatic failure (Aminoleban((R)) EN, EN) on serum albumin in patients with decompensated liver cirrhosis. This study enrolled "patients with decompensated liver cirrhosis associated with hepatic encephalopathy who were suffering from hypoalbuminemia in spite of adequate food intake," a condition for which both drugs are indicated. Enrolled patients were randomized to the two groups according to the central registration method.