Effects of a Low-Salt and High-Potassium Diet on Arterial Stiffness and Left Ventricular Function in Indigenous Papuans.

Background A sodium-restricted diet represents a potential non-pharmacological strategy for improving blood pressure, arterial stiffness, and left ventricular (LV) diastolic function. We investigated age-related differences in LV structure and function and the relationship between LV function and central hemodynamics in an indigenous Papuan population, who maintain a traditional lifestyle, including a low-salt and high-potassium diet. Methods and Results We measured LV dimensions, transmitral blood flow, and mitral annular tissue velocities through echocardiography and Doppler imaging.

Oral health status in relation to cognitive function among older Japanese.

Epidemiologic data examining the relationship between oral health status and cognitive status are sparse, especially in Asian populations. This study aimed to assess whether periodontal disease and tooth loss were related to cognitive impairment among older Japanese. Study participants were 291 Japanese (101 men and 190 women, average age: 80.