Estimated Elovl6 and delta-5 desaturase activities might represent potential markers for insulin resistance in Japanese adults.

Purpose: Results from a recent study indicated that lower stearic acid/palmitic acid (SA/PA) and arachidonic acid/dihomo-γ-linolenic acid (AA/DGLA) ratios were associated with metabolically unhealthy obesity. However, this has not been extensively studied in the Japanese population.

Methods: We recruited 291 Japanese subjects with serum free fatty acid profiles undergoing health examinations.

Usefulness of Triglyceride to High-Density Lipoprotein Ratio and Alanine Aminotransferase for Predicting Insulin Resistance and Metabolic Syndrome in the Japanese Population.

Considering the fact that both alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and the triglyceride (TG)/high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) ratio are useful markers for cardiovascular disease, insulin resistance (IR), and metabolic syndrome (MetS), the possible association of ALT and TG/HDL-C ratio is conceivable, but the association is not well studied. Moreover, assessment of IR and MetS by a combination lipid and liver biomarkers has rarely been carried out. A total of 11,808 Japanese subjects who underwent an annual health examination and who were not taking medications were recruited.

Relationship between Serum Antioxidative Vitamin Concentrations and Type 2 Diabetes in Japanese Subjects.

A high intake of green leafy vegetables rich in antioxidative nutrients such as vitamin C and β-carotene may protect against the risk of type 2 diabetes. Measurement of the circulating nutrient concentrations can indicate the nutrient status more directly, and vitamin C and carotenoids are recognized as good biomarkers for the intake of fruits and vegetables. The aim of this study was to investigate the relationships between serum antioxidative vitamin concentrations and type 2 diabetes in Japanese subjects.

Factors associated with serum total homocysteine level in type 2 diabetes.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to investigate the determinants of serum total homocysteine level (tHcy) in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM) according to sex.

Methods: A total of 1,276 Japanese, diabetics (n = 280) with a control group of non-diabetics (n = 996), were enrolled into the study from 2003 to 2005. This cross-sectional study was conducted for all the subjects, using personal data regarding clinical characteristics and lifestyle.

NADH dehydrogenase subunit-2 237 Leu/Met polymorphism modifies the effects of alcohol consumption on risk for hypertension in middle-aged Japanese men.

NADH dehydrogenase subunit-2 237 leucine/methionine (ND2-237 Leu/Met) polymorphism is associated with longevity in the Japanese population, and the ND2-237Met genotype may exert antiatherogenic effects. To investigate whether ND2-237 Leu/Met polymorphism is associated with risk of hypertension, we conducted a cross-sectional study of 398 Japanese male subjects. The frequency of hypertension was significantly higher in ND2-237Leu genotypic men than in ND2-237Met genotypic men.

Longevity-associated NADH dehydrogenase subunit-2 237 Leu/Met polymorphism influences the effects of alcohol consumption on serum uric acid levels in nonobese Japanese men.

NADH dehydrogenase subunit-2 237 leucine/methionine (ND2-237 Leu/Met) polymorphism is reportedly associated with longevity in the Japanese population. The ND2-237Met genotype may confer resistance to cardiovascular and cerebrovascular atherogenic diseases. Hyperuricemia is one of the risk factors for cardiovascular disease.

Personal features and dropout from diabetic care.

Objective: To investigate the personal features associated with dropout from regular outpatient care among persons with type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM).

Methods: A total of 160 DM patients were enrolled in the study. As a retrospective analysis, outpatient's clinical characteristics, lifestyle, or social features were gathered from their medical records or interview sheets.

Longevity-associated mitochondrial DNA 5178 C/A polymorphism is associated with fasting plasma glucose levels and glucose tolerance in Japanese men.

Mitochondrial DNA 5178 cytosine/adenine (Mt5178 C/A) polymorphism is reportedly associated with longevity in the Japanese population, and the Mt5178A genotype may resist the onset of type 2 diabetes. To investigate whether Mt5178 C/A polymorphism is associated with glucose tolerance, we conducted a cross-sectional study using the 75-g oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) in which non-diabetic Japanese male subjects were classified into three subgroups by body mass index (BMI): BMI<22 (n=91); 22< or =BMI<25 (n=138); and BMI> or =25 (n=67). The frequency of Mt5178A was significantly lower among 'BMI<22' subjects exhibiting impaired fasting glucose and impaired glucose tolerance than among those with normal glucose tolerance.

Longevity-associated NADH dehydrogenase subunit-2 polymorphism and serum electrolyte levels in middle-aged obese Japanese men.

Mitochondrial DNA 5178 cytosine/adenine polymorphism, which is also called NADH dehydrogenase subunit-2 237 leucine/methionine (ND2-237 Leu/Met) polymorphism is associated with Japanese longevity. This polymorphism is widely associated with blood pressure, serum lipid levels, hematological parameters, intraocular pressure, and serum protein fraction levels. However, there have been no reports on the association between ND2-237 Leu/Met polymorphism and serum electrolyte levels.

Interaction between longevity-associated mitochondrial DNA 5178 C/A polymorphism and cigarette smoking on hematological parameters in Japanese men.

Mitochondrial DNA 5178 C/A (mt5178 C/A), namely NADH dehydrogenase subunit 2 237 Leu/Met, polymorphism is as reported in literature associated with longevity and susceptibility to ischemic heart disease or cerebrovascular disorders in the Japanese population. Previous reports suggested that mt5178A genotype exerts antiatherogenic effects. The aim of this study was to investigate whether mt5178 C/A polymorphism is associated with hematological parameters, such as thrombogenic risk factors for myocardial infarction and stroke, in 321 healthy Japanese men.

Genotoxicity of 2-[2-(acetylamino)-4-[bis(2-hydroxyethyl)amino]-5-methoxyphenyl]-5-amino-7-bromo-4-chloro-2H-benzotriazole (PBTA-6) and 4-amino-3,3'-dichloro-5,4'-dinitro-biphenyl (ADDB) in goldfish (Carassius auratus) using the micronucleus test and the comet assay.

2-[2-(Acetylamino)-4-[bis(2-hydroxyethyl)amino]-5-methoxyphenyl]-5-amino-7-bromo-4-chloro-2H-benzotriazole (PBTA-6) and 4-amino-3,3'-dichloro-5,4'-dinitrobiphenyl (ADDB) are two compounds, which show strong mutagenicity toward bacteria, that have been identified as major mutagens in river water in Japan. In the present study, we examined the genotoxicity of PBTA-6 and ADDB in goldfish (Carassius auratus) by the micronucleus test and single-cell gel electrophoresis (comet assay). The frequencies of micronuclei in gill cells gradually increased until 96h after i.

Longevity-associated mitochondrial DNA 5178 A/C polymorphism is associated with intraocular pressure in Japanese men.

Background: Mitochondrial DNA 5178 adenine/cytosine (mt5178 A/C) polymorphism has been reported to be associated with longevity in Japanese individuals, with experimental findings concluding that mt5178 A is an anti-atherogenic genotype. The aim of this study was to determine whether mt5178 A/C polymorphism influences intraocular pressure (IOP), and its relationship with the development of arteriosclerosis.

Methods: Four hundred and forty-nine male volunteers who had visited a general hospital for medical check-up between August 1999 and August 2000 were enrolled.