Loneliness and Increased Hazardous Alcohol Use: Data from a Nationwide Internet Survey with 1-Year Follow-Up.

We aimed to examine the association between loneliness and developing alcohol dependence or hazardous alcohol use. A cohort study was conducted utilizing data from a nationwide internet survey in 2021 and 2022 in Japan. A total of 15,854 follow-up participants (55% men, with a mean age of 52.

Risk factors for pre-heart failure or symptomatic heart failure based on NT-proBNP.

Aims: Evidence on the risk factors for incident heart failure in Asia has been limited. We sought to identify the risk factors for pre-heart failure or symptomatic heart failure, based on N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP), in the Japanese general population.

Methods: We performed a retrospective cohort study based on the Circulatory Risk in Communities Study involving 5335 Japanese individuals whose NT-proBNP levels were measured between 2010 and 2015.

Trends for the Association between Body Mass Index and Risk of Cardiovascular Disease among the Japanese Population: The Circulatory Risk in Communities Study (CIRCS).

Aim: This study aimed to investigate whether the impact of body mass index (BMI) on the risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD) has changed among the 1960s, 1970s, 1980s, 1990s, and early 2000s in Japan.

Methods: The study population consisted of residents in Japan aged 40-69 years who had no history of CVD. The baseline surveys have been conducted every year since 1963.

Problem drinkers and high risk-taking behaviors under the stay-at-home policy of the COVID-19 emergency declaration.

Background: To the best of the authors' knowledge, this is the first study to examine whether problem drinkers have had high risk-taking behaviors during the stay-at-home policy (e.g., dining out at a bar) under the COVID-19 emergency declaration.

Serum High-Sensitivity Cardiac Troponin T as an Independent Predictor for Incident Coronary Heart Disease in the Japanese General Population: The Circulatory Risk in Communities Study (CIRCS).

Aims: Epidemiological evidence is extremely limited about high-sensitivity cardiac troponin T (hs-cTnT) and future coronary heart disease (CHD) events for the general population in countries with low mortality from CHD. Therefore, we investigated the association between hs-cTnT levels and the risk of incident CHD using a nested case-control study in a large Japanese cohort study.

Methods: The participants were residents of four Japanese communities in the Circulatory Risk in Communities Study (CIRCS).

Optimal Cut-off Points of Nonfasting and Fasting Triglycerides for Prediction of Ischemic Heart Disease in Japanese General Population: The Circulatory Risk in Communities Study (CIRCS).

Aims: We investigated the optimal cut-off points of nonfasting and fasting triglycerides in Japanese individuals with lower average triglyceride levels than westerners.

Methods: Residents aged 40-69 years without a history of ischemic heart disease or stroke were enrolled between 1980 and 1994 and followed. Serum triglyceride concentrations were measured from 10851 nonfasting (＜8 h after meal) and 4057 fasting (≥ 8 h) samples.

Brief self-exercise education for adults with chronic knee pain: A randomized controlled trial.

Objectives: Effective brief instructions for self-management of chronic knee pain are needed.

Methods: Forty-six participants with chronic knee pain were randomly allocated into two programmes: material-based education alone or brief self-exercise education (brief-See), which comprised a 100-minute instruction for self-exercise combined with compact pain education. Total function (KOOS4, 4-subscale average of knee injury and osteoarthritis outcome score), pain intensity (NRS, numeric rating scale), self-efficacy (PSEQ, pain self-efficacy questionnaire), and health-related quality of life (EQ-5D, European quality of life-5 dimensions) were evaluated at baseline and 4 and 12 weeks after the initial intervention.

Dietary fiber intake and risk of incident disabling dementia: the Circulatory Risk in Communities Study.

Objectives: It has been hypothesized that dietary fiber intake has a beneficial impact on prevention of dementia, but the epidemiological evidence is scant. We sought to examine whether dietary fiber intake is inversely associated with risk of dementia requiring care under the national insurance (disabling dementia).

Methods: The study setting was the Circulatory Risk in Communities Study, involving 3739 Japanese individuals aged 40-64 years at the dietary surveys (1985-99).

Prediction of Lifetime Risk of Cardiovascular Disease Deaths Stratified by Sex in the Japanese Population.

Background Lifetime risk is an informative estimate for driving lifestyle and behavioral changes especially for young adults. The impact of composite risk factors for cardiovascular disease on lifetime risk stratified by sex has not been investigated in the Japanese population, which has a much lower mortality of coronary heart disease compared with the Western population. We aimed to estimate lifetime risk of death from cardiovascular disease attributable to traditional risk factors.

Risk Classification for Metabolic Syndrome and the Incidence of Cardiovascular Disease in Japan With Low Prevalence of Obesity: A Pooled Analysis of 10 Prospective Cohort Studies.

Background It is uncertain whether risk classification under the nationwide program on screening and lifestyle modification for metabolic syndrome captures well high-risk individuals who could benefit from lifestyle interventions. We examined the validity of risk classification by linking the incidence of cardiovascular disease (CVD). Methods and Results Individual-level data of 29 288 Japanese individuals aged 40 to 74 years without a history of CVD from 10 prospective cohort studies were used.

Synergistic Effect of History of Cardiovascular Disease and Mental Distress on Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder after the Great East Japan Earthquake: The Fukushima Health Management Survey.

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) and mental distress have been suggested to be associated with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), but the effect of their combination on PTSD is unknown. We reviewed the synergistic effects of the history of CVD and mental distress on the possibility of PTSD among residents in Fukushima after the Great East Japan Earthquake. This cross-sectional study was conducted among 38,392 participants aged 40-74 years in the evacuation area who applied for the Fukushima Health Management Study in Fiscal Year 2011.

A case of intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasm developing in the native pancreas after pancreas transplantation treated by total pancreatectomy.

Post-transplant patients reportedly have a higher risk of de novo neoplasms. However, intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasm (IPMN) of the native pancreas after pancreas transplantation (PTx) has not been well investigated. The choice of treatment, especially invasive treatment, for de novo neoplasms in transplant patients should consider their impaired immunity.

Height and Mortality from Aortic Aneurysm and Dissection.

Aims: Reports on the association between height and aortic disease have been modest, and there are only a few studies investigating the association between height and mortality from specific aortic disease types or by sex.

Methods: We conducted the Japan Collaborative Cohort Study, a prospective study of 99,067 Japanese (41,730 men and 57,337 women) aged 40-79 years old. Height was self-reported, and the participants were followed up from 1988-1989 to the end of 2009.

Dietary intake of tocopherols and risk of incident disabling dementia.

Tocopherols, strong antioxidants, may be useful in preventing dementia, but the epidemiological evidence is insufficient. We performed a community-based follow-up study of Japanese, the Circulatory Risk in Community Study, involving 3739 people aged 40-64 years at baseline (1985-1999). Incident disabling dementia was followed up from 1999 through 2020.

Current state of pancreas transplantation in Japan based on the nationwide registry.

In Japan, 437 pancreas transplantations (PTx) were carried out between 2000 and 2019. Clinical data for all PTx cases are registered in the Japan Pancreas Transplant Registry of the Japan Society for Pancreas and Islet Transplantation. Here we analyzed the registry data to describe the current status of PTx in Japan.

Remote Reminiscence Using Immersive Virtual Reality May Be Efficacious for Reducing Anxiety in Patients with Mild Cognitive Impairment Even in COVID-19 Pandemic: A Case Report.

To prevent cognitive decline, non-pharmacological therapies such as reminiscence for mild cognitive impairment (MCI) are required, however, the use of nursing homes was limited due to coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Therefore, the demand for remote-care is increasing. We hypothesized that immersive virtual reality (iVR) could be used more effectively than conventional reminiscence for anxiety.

Impact of Perceived Social Support on the Association Between Anger Expression and the Risk of Stroke: The Circulatory Risk in Communities Study (CIRCS).

Background: Anger has been suggested as a risk factor for stroke. Perceived social support (PSS) may relieve anger, thus reducing the risk of stroke; however, evidence supporting this is limited. We aimed to examine whether PSS modifies the risk of stroke associated with anger expression.

Impact of Major Cardiovascular Risk Factors on the Incidence of Cardiovascular Disease among Overweight and Non-Overweight Individuals: The Circulatory Risk in Communities Study (CIRCS).

Aim: We aimed to examine the impact of high-risk levels of cardiovascular risk factors on the incidence of cardiovascular disease (CVD) in overweight and non-overweight individuals without treatment for the risk factors.

Methods: A total of 8,051 individuals aged 40-74 years without a history of CVD and/or without treatment for hypertension, diabetes, hyperlipidemia, and kidney disease at baseline in 1995-2000 were followed up for a median of 14.1 years.

Seaweed Intake and Risk of Cardiovascular Disease: The Circulatory Risk in Communities Study (CIRCS).

Aim: Seaweed contains soluble dietary fibers, potassium, and flavonoids and was recently reported to be inversely associated with the risk of coronary heart disease and mortality from stroke. However, epidemiological evidence on this issue has remained scarce.

Methods: At the baseline survey of four Japanese communities between 1984 and 2000, we enrolled 6,169 men and women aged 40-79 years who had no history of cardiovascular disease.

Immersive Virtual Reality Reminiscence Reduces Anxiety in the Oldest-Old Without Causing Serious Side Effects: A Single-Center, Pilot, and Randomized Crossover Study.

Dementia is one the major problems of aging societies, and, novel and effective non-drug therapies are required as interventions in the oldest-old to prevent cognitive decline. This study aims to examine the efficacy and safety of reminiscence using immersive virtual reality (iVR reminiscence) focusing on anxiety that often appears with cognitive decline. The secondary objective is to reveal the preference for VR image types for reminiscence: live-action (LA) or computer graphics (CG).

Possible mechanisms underlying the association between human T-cell leukemia virus type 1 (HTLV-1) and hypertension in elderly Japanese population.

Background: Human T-cell leukemia virus type 1 (HTLV-1) activates inflammatory cascades by activating the NF-κB pathway. The minor allele of single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) in breast cancer suppressor BRCA1-associated protein (BRAP), which has a common etiology with HTLV-1 infection, has been reported to be positively associated with carotid atherosclerosis, but inversely associated with hypertension. Therefore, HTLV-1 infection may be inversely associated with hypertension by activating endothelial maintenance, including atherosclerosis.

Clinical impact of pancreas donor age on outcomes following pancreas transplantation: Analysis of a nationwide registry in Japan.

Objectives: Clinical impact of pancreas donor age on pancreas transplantation (PTx) outcome has not been well investigated. Here we analyzed the nationwide PTx registry in Japan to assess posttransplant outcomes in donor age-stratified groups.

Methods: This study included 410 cases of PTx performed in Japan between 2000 and 2019.

Pancreas transplantation for type 1 diabetes in Japan: past, present and future prospects.

In Japan, the first pancreas transplantation was performed in 1984 from a brain-dead donor; subsequently, however, the concept of brain death became a social issue. Thereafter, the "Organ Transplant Act", which enables brain-dead transplantation, was enacted in 1997, and then revised in 2010 so that donation after brain death became possible only with the consent of the family. Under the recipient selection and registration system developed after the enactment of the "Organ Transplant Act", more than 400 pancreas transplants have been carried out at facilities certified for brain-dead pancreas transplantation in Japan.

Serum Albumin and Risks of Stroke and Its Subtypes - The Circulatory Risk in Communities Study (CIRCS).

Background: Few studies have investigated the association between serum albumin levels and the risk of stroke subtypes among the general Japanese population.

Methods and results: In this study, 5,071 men and 7,969 women aged 40-74 years, initially free from stroke, coronary artery disease, and kidney and hepatic failure, and residing in 4 Japanese communities completed a baseline risk factor survey between 1985 and 1994. During the 24-year follow-up, 528 men and 553 women experienced stroke.