Association between metabolic disorders and impaired kidney function thereafter in the Japanese general population.

Introduction: Metabolic syndrome (MetS) and chronic kidney disease are both important risk factors for cardiovascular disease and are closely related to each other. We retrospectively investigated whether MetS or its components increase the risk of development of impaired kidney function in the Japanese general population.

Methods: This is a retrospective cohort study　which enrolled 14917 participants who visited our hospital for physical checkups from 2008 to 2018 and had normal estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR≥60 mL/min/1.

Fibrosis-4 index is closely associated with future development of hypertension in the Japanese general population.

The fibrosis-4 index, a noninvasive method for evaluating liver fibrosis, is closely associated with cardiovascular events. In this study, we tested the hypothesis that the fibrosis-4 index is associated with new-onset hypertension in the general population. A total of 15,502 individuals (51.

Significance of blood pressure variability in normotensive individuals as a risk factor of developing hypertension.

Purpose: Visit-to-visit blood pressure variability is a strong predictor of the incidence of cardiovascular events and target organ damage due to hypertension. The present study investigated whether year-to-year blood pressure variability predicts the risk of hypertension in the Japanese general population.

Materials And Methods: This study analysed 2806 normotensive individuals who participated in our physical check-up program for five years in a row from 2008 to 2013.

Impact of medical checkup parameters on major adverse cardiovascular events in the general Japanese population.

Medical checkups play a role in the identification of individuals at increased cardiovascular risk. However, the impact of each medical examination parameter on the incidence of major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) has not been intensively studied. Here we assessed the predictors of MACE among parameters examined during medical checkups in the general Japanese population.

Urinary Na/K ratio is a predictor of developing chronic kidney disease in the general population.

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is a major risk factor for cardiovascular diseases as well as end-stage kidney disease. Increased dietary sodium (Na) or decreased dietary potassium (K) deteriorates kidney function; however, findings regarding the association of dietary Na/K ratio with kidney function are limited and conflicting. Therefore, the present study investigated the impact of urinary Na/K ratio on the development of CKD, defined as estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) < 60 mL/min/1.

Dietary salt intake predicts future development of metabolic syndrome in the general population.

Excessive dietary salt consumption is one of the most important risk factors for hypertension. Metabolic disorders often coexist with hypertension, and excess salt intake has been reported to underlie metabolic disorders, such as insulin resistance. Therefore, we tested the hypothesis that excessive dietary salt causes metabolic syndrome in the general population.

Blood pressure variability and the development of hypertensive organ damage in the general population.

Increasing blood pressure variability (BPV) has been reported to be a strong predictor of cardiovascular events in patients with hypertension. However, the effects of BPV in the general population have not been intensively studied. The present study was designed to investigate a possible relationship between year-to-year BPV and hypertensive target organ damage (TOD) in a relatively low-risk general population.

Increased Impact of Serum Uric Acid on Arterial Stiffness and Atherosclerosis in Females.

Aims: Serum uric acid increases with metabolic disorders; however, whether the effects of uric acid on atherosclerosis are different in females and males has not been sufficiently evaluated. Therefore, this study compared the impact of uric acid on arterial stiffness and atherosclerosis between females and males.

Methods: We enrolled 10196 untreated middle-aged subjects (46±8 years, 3021 females and 7175 males) who underwent periodic health check-ups.

A body shape index could serve to identify individuals with metabolic syndrome and increased arterial stiffness in the middle-aged population.

Background: A body shape index (ABSI) is a novel anthropometric measure calculated using waist circumference (WC), body mass index (BMI), and body height. This study investigated the usefulness of ABSI to identify individuals with metabolic syndrome (MetS) and increased arterial stiffness in the middle-aged population.

Methods: Middle-aged workers who underwent periodic health check-ups and who were without previous cardiovascular events were enrolled (n = 10,182).

Dietary salt intake increases with age in Japanese adults.

Excess salt intake is linked to cardiovascular disease as well as hypertension, but whether individual salt intake increases with age has not been studied. The present study was designed to test the hypothesis that individual salt intake increases with age in Japanese adults. In this retrospective observational follow-up study, men and women age ≥30 years who participated in a baseline health checkup (2008-2009) at our center and had a health checkup 10 years later (n = 2598) were enrolled and salt intake was estimated by spot urine analysis.

Analytical evaluation of serum non-transferrin-bound iron and its relationships with oxidative stress and cardiac load in the general population.

Excessive iron accumulation provokes toxic effects, especially in the cardiovascular system. Under iron overload, labile free non-transferrin-bound iron (NTBI) can induce cardiovascular damage with increased oxidative stress. However, the significance of NTBI in individuals without iron overload and overt cardiovascular disease has not been investigated.

Current status and recent changes in blood pressure and dietary salt consumption in Japanese individuals.

: Treatment of hypertension has recently shown remarkable advances. It is quite important to survey the current general status of blood pressure (BP) and recent changes to verify whether people are benefitting from these advances. The present study aimed to investigate the current status of, and recent changes in, BP, the prevalence and treatment rate of hypertension, the achievement rate of target BP, and salt intake in Japanese individuals.

Examination of Large Artery Atherosclerosis could Reveal Small Artery Retinopathy in Untreated Middle-Aged Individuals.

Aims: Small arteries can be visualized in the ocular fundus, and findings of retinopathy based on Scheie classification are often applied to evaluate the impact of hypertension and atherosclerosis. However, the relationship between damage in the large and small arteries has not been investigated sufficiently, especially in the early stages. The present study investigated possible associations between large artery atherosclerosis and small artery retinopathy in untreated middle-aged individuals.

Relationship of pulmonary function with myocardial microdamage and oxidative stress in the Japanese population without a history of cardiopulmonary disease.

An association between pulmonary and cardiovascular impairment has been reported, but studies are lacking that focus on individuals without advanced impairment in the pulmonary or cardiovascular system. We aimed to investigate the relationship between myocardial microdamage and reduced pulmonary function in the Japanese population without a history of cardiopulmonary disease and to assess whether oxidative stress links the 2 features.We enrolled patients undergoing an annual health check-up and measured serum high-sensitivity cardiac troponin I (hs-cTnI) and derivatives of reactive oxygen metabolites (d-ROM) to evaluate myocardial microdamage and oxidative stress.

Central blood pressure predicts the development of hypertension in the general population.

Although elevated blood pressure results in arterial stiffening, the converse could also be true. Previous studies have suggested that increased arterial stiffness precedes the development of hypertension. Since central blood pressure is augmented following arterial stiffening, the predictive value of central blood pressure for detecting new-onset hypertension was investigated in the general population.

Close Association between Subclinical Atherosclerosis and Pulmonary Function in Middle-Aged Male Smokers.

Aims: Cigarette smoking provokes deleterious influences on cardiovascular and pulmonary systems, although the underlying relationship has not been sufficiently investigated especially in early-stage disease. The present study investigated possible associations between subclinical atherosclerosis and pulmonary function in middle-aged male smokers.

Methods: Male smokers undergoing their periodic health check-up were enrolled in this study (n=3,775, 45±8 years).

Home blood pressure on winter mornings could be exaggerated: A comparison with summer mornings.

Self-measured blood pressure at home (HBP) is quite important for the management of hypertension. We hypothesized that winter HBP measured according to the recommendation of the guidelines, but not HBP measured inside bed before getting up, is elevated in response to cold ambient temperatures in winter. This study aimed to investigate differences in HBP measured before and after getting up in winter and summer.

Indices of left ventricular voltage on electrocardiogram are closely associated with serum cardiac troponin I levels in normotensive Japanese individuals.

The high-sensitivity cardiac troponin I (hs-cTnI) in serum can increase due to an increase in left ventricular (LV) overload in individuals with hypertension. Since LV voltage on an electrocardiogram (ECG) reflects LV load, it is possible that LV voltage is closely associated with hs-cTnI in individuals without hypertension. This study investigated the association between LV voltage indices and serum hs-cTnI levels in normotensive Japanese individuals.

Impacts of lifestyle behavior and shift work on visceral fat accumulation and the presence of atherosclerosis in middle-aged male workers.

Work style, and particularly shift work, can affect an individual's circadian rhythms. Moreover, lifestyle habits, including dietary and exercise routines, might be altered by irregular shift hours. The present study investigated how lifestyle and shift work affect the accumulation of visceral fat and the presence of atherosclerosis in middle-aged male workers.

Factors associated with longitudinal changes in serum concentrations of Mac-2 binding protein: A prospective 3-year observational study.

Background And Aims: Mac-2 binding protein (M2BP) plays an important role in cell adhesion. In a recent cross-sectional study we reported that serum M2BP concentrations may reflect silent atherosclerosis. The aim of the present prospective follow-up study was to investigate possible relationships between changes in concentrations of M2BP and other factors over a >3-year period.

Relationships of Obesity-Related Indices and Metabolic Syndrome with Subclinical Atherosclerosis in Middle-Aged Untreated Japanese Workers.

Aim: Obesity is a social problem due to the prevalence of the Western lifestyle. In particular, visceral fat accumulation, which is a main component of metabolic syndrome, is closely associated with the progression of atherosclerosis. This study aimed to investigate the relationships of obesity-related indices and metabolic syndrome with subclinical atherosclerosis in middle-aged untreated workers.