Body Mass Index and the Risk of Persistent Proteinuria in Middle-Aged Men: The Kansai Healthcare Study.

Introduction: Proteinuria is a risk factor for end-stage renal failure. However, it is not known whether body mass index (BMI) is prospectively associated with the risk of future developing proteinuria, taking into account transient proteinuria.

Methods: We enrolled 9,320 nondiabetic Japanese middle-aged men who had no proteinuria, an estimated glomerular filtration rate ≥60 mL/min/1.

Habitual Alcohol Intake Modifies Relationship of Uric Acid to Incident Chronic Kidney Disease.

Background: Previous studies showed that higher serum uric acid levels increased the risk of chronic kidney disease (CKD), but moderate alcohol consumption decreased it. The comparative importance of serum uric acid levels and habitual alcohol consumption as risk factors for CKD remain undefined. We therefore evaluated the relationship of baseline serum uric acid level in combination with daily alcohol consumption to the incidence of CKD.

Serum Gamma-Glutamyltransferase, Daily Alcohol Consumption, and the Risk of Chronic Kidney Disease: The Kansai Healthcare Study.

Background: Serum gamma-glutamyltransferase has been recognized as the risk factor of cardiovascular and metabolic diseases. However, the association between serum gamma-glutamyltransferase and the risk of chronic kidney disease is not well known, and no prospective studies have examined separately the relationship of serum gamma-glutamyltransferase with the risk of proteinuria versus that of low estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR).

Methods: We prospectively followed 9,341 Japanese men who did not have low eGFR, proteinuria, or diabetes, and did not take antihypertensive medications at entry for the analysis of proteinuria, and we followed 9,299 men for the analysis of low eGFR.

The Association Between Metabolically Healthy Obesity and the Risk of Proteinuria: The Kansai Healthcare Study.

Background: Metabolically healthy obesity seems to be a unique phenotype for the risk of cardiometabolic diseases. However, it is not known whether this phenotype is associated with the risk of proteinuria.

Methods: Study subjects were 9,185 non-diabetic Japanese male workers aged 40-55 years who had no proteinuria, an estimated glomerular filtration rate ≥60 mL/min/1.

Blood pressure components and the risk for proteinuria in Japanese men: The Kansai Healthcare Study.

Background: We examined prospectively which of the four blood pressure (BP) components (systolic BP [SBP], diastolic BP [DBP], pulse pressure [PP], and mean arterial pressure [MAP]) was best in predicting the risk of proteinuria.

Methods: This prospective study included 9341 non-diabetic Japanese middle-aged men who had no proteinuria and an estimated glomerular filtration rate ≥60 mL/min/1.73 m and were not taking antihypertensive medications at entry.

Sleep duration and the risk of future lipid profile abnormalities in middle-aged men: the Kansai Healthcare Study.

Background: Although short sleep duration has been reported to be associated with future cardiometabolic diseases, it is not fully understood whether sleep duration is prospectively associated with the risk of each lipid profile abnormality.

Methods: Subjects were nondiabetic Japanese, 40-55 years of age, who were not taking oral lipid-lowering medications: for the incidence of low high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), 7627 men with an HDL-C level ≥ 40 mg/dL; for high triglycerides, 6973 men with a triglyceride level <200 mg/dL; for high low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), 7273 men with an LDL-C level <160 mg/dL; for high non-HDL-C, 7415 men with a non-HDL-C level <190 mg/dL; and for high total cholesterol (TC), 7196 men with a TC level <240 mg/dL. Lipid profile abnormalities were defined according to the Adult Treatment Panel III guidelines of the National Cholesterol Education Program.

Effectiveness and safety of 1-year ad libitum consumption of a high-catechin beverage under nutritional guidance.

Background: It has been reported that a continuous intake of a catechin beverage will reduce body fat. Traditionally, improvement of eating and exercise habits has been the basis for prevention and reduction of obesity. In this study, we conducted a trial involving human subjects who ingested a catechin beverage for 1 year under nutritional guidance.

Antihypertensive effects of sesamin in humans.

Sesamin, one of the lignans contained in sesame, has been considered to have medicinal effects. It has been reported that sesamin suppressed the development of hypertension in rats. In this study, using a double-blind, cross-over, placebo-controlled trial, we investigated the effect of 4-wk administration of sesamin on blood pressure (BP) in mildly hypertensive humans.

[Measurement of spontaneous blinks with a high-speed blink analyzing system].

Purpose: In order to analyze spontaneous blink kinematics easily and circumstantially, we developed a new method using an intelligent vision system (IVS) camera with a 1 KHz sampling rate, and evaluated the efficacy of this system.

Method: Eleven healthy male volunteers were examined after obtaining informed consent. Eyelid movements in the primary eye position were recorded with an IVS camera twice, for 30 seconds each.