Baseline and changes in serum uric acid independently predict 11-year incidence of metabolic syndrome among community-dwelling women.

Introduction: Metabolic syndrome (MetS) is associated with an increased risk of major cardiovascular events. In women, increased serum uric acid (SUA) levels are associated with MetS and its components. However, whether baseline and changes in SUA predict incidence of MetS and its components remains unclear.

Interaction between body mass index and serum uric acid in relation to blood pressure in community-dwelling Japanese men.

Background: Few data is available on the association between body mass index (BMI), serum uric acid (SUA) levels and blood pressure (BP) categories in the disease continuum, when efforts for its prevention may be applicable.

Methods: We performed a cross-sectional study to examine the association between BMI, SUA and BP in a community-dwelling sample of Japanese men. Individuals not on antihypertensive and uric acid lowering medications, and aged 50 to 90 years [817men aged 66 ± 9 (mean ± standard deviation) years] were recruited for the survey during a community based annual medical check-up.

Interaction between gender and uric acid on hemoglobin A1c in community-dwelling persons.

Introduction: Higher glycated hemoglobin (Hb) (HbA1c) is significantly associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD). Serum uric acid (SUA) levels are associated with glucose intolerance and type 2 diabetes. Whether gender-specific differences regarding the relationship between SUA levels and HbA1c exist is unknown.

Mildly elevated serum total bilirubin is negatively associated with hemoglobin A1c independently of confounding factors among community-dwelling middle-aged and elderly persons.

Abnormally high glycated hemoglobin (Hb) (HbA1c) is significantly associated with oxidative stress and an increased risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD). Serum total bilirubin (T-B) may have a beneficial role in preventing oxidative changes and be a negative risk factor of CVD. Limited information is available on whether serum T-B is an independent confounding factor of HbA1c.

Alanine Aminotransferase and Total Bilirubin Are Synergistically Associated with Metabolic Syndrome Among Middle-Aged and Elderly Japanese Women.

Background: Metabolic syndrome (MetS) is associated with an increased risk of major cardiovascular events. Alanine aminotransferase (ALT) at high levels and total bilirubin (T-BiL) at low levels were oxidative potentials, but it was uncertain whether ALT and T-BiL had an additive interaction for the risk of MetS.

Methods: From a single community, we recruited 864 women (70 ± 8 years) during their annual health examination.

Interactive association of serum uric acid and total bilirubin with renal dysfunction among community-dwelling subjects.

Purpose: Chronic kidney disease is a major public health concern. Serum uric acid (SUA) at high levels was oxidative stress agents, and total bilirubin (T-BiL) at mildly increased levels was potent antioxidants, but whether SUA and T-BiL produce an additive interaction for the risk of renal dysfunction remains unclear.

Methods: The subjects comprised 567 men aged 71 ± 8 (mean ± standard deviation) years and 853 women aged 70 ± 8 years from a rural village.

Gender difference in preference of specialty as a career choice among Japanese medical students.

Background: In Japan, the absolute deficiency of doctors and maldistribution of doctors by specialty is a significant problem in the Japanese health care system. The purpose of this study was to investigate the factors contributing to specialty preference in career choice among Japanese medical students.

Methods: A total of 368 medical students completed the survey giving an 88.

Factors associated with the choice of general medicine as a career among Japanese medical students.

Background: In Japan, there is a shortage of young physicians in various specialties; the present situation of general medicine or family medicine (GM/FM) in particular is risky. The factors influencing the career choice of Japanese medical students are poorly understood. This study aims to identify factors related to choosing GM/FM as a career.

Serum Uric Acid Is Positively Associated with Handgrip Strength among Japanese Community-Dwelling Elderly Women.

Serum uric acid (UA) has strong anti-oxidant properties. Muscle strength and mass decrease with age, and recently, this decrease has been defined as sarcopenia. Sarcopenia may be triggered by oxidative stress.

Handgrip strength is associated with metabolic syndrome among middle-aged and elderly community-dwelling persons.

The association of low muscle strength with cardio-metabolic risks remains controversial. The present study included 742 men aged 70 ± 9 years and 937 women aged 70 ± 8 years from a rural village. We examined the cross-sectional relationship between relative muscle strength defined by handgrip strength (HGS)/body weight (BW) ratio, and metabolic syndrome (MetS) based on the modified criteria of the National Cholesterol Education Program's Adult Treatment Panel (NCEP-ATP) III report and its components.

Mildly elevated serum total bilirubin levels are negatively associated with carotid atherosclerosis among elderly persons with type 2 diabetes.

Diabetes is strongly associated with several mechanisms of tissue damage such as oxidative stress. Serum bilirubin may have a beneficial role in preventing oxidative changes in cardiovascular disease (CVD). Limited information is available on whether serum bilirubin is an independent confounding factor for carotid atherosclerosis among elderly persons with type 2 diabetes.

Characteristics of Japanese medical students associated with their intention for rural practice.

Introduction: In Japan, the maldistribution of physicians between urban and rural areas is increasing. It is important to know the practice location expectations of future physicians.

Methods: The study was designed as a cross-sectional survey.

Association between serum bilirubin and estimated glomerular filtration rate among elderly persons.

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is a major public health problem. However, few studies have examined the significance of serum bilirubin as a risk factor for the development of CKD in the general Japanese population. The subjects comprised 413 men (mean age: 79±9 years; (range, 60-100 years) and 637 women (mean age: 81±8 years; range, 60-106 years) who visited the medical department of Seiyo Municipal Nomura Hospital.

Mildly elevated serum bilirubin levels are negatively associated with carotid atherosclerosis among elderly persons.

Serum bilirubin may have a beneficial role in preventing oxidative changes in atherosclerosis. Limited information is available on whether serum total bilirubin is an independent confounding factor for carotid atherosclerosis {for example, intima-media thickness (IMT), plaque} measured noninvasively by B-mode ultrasonography only among elderly persons. The study subjects were 325 men aged 79 ± 8 (mean ± standard deviation) years and 509 women aged 81 ± 8 years that were enrolled consecutively from patients aged ≥ 60 years in the medical department.

Effect of weight loss on central systolic blood pressure in elderly community-dwelling persons.

Central blood pressure (BP) has been shown to strongly associate with cardiovascular disease and outcome. Recent studies have demonstrated a relationship between changes in body size by exercise training and peripheral BP; however, the effect on changes in central BP is unknown. The aim of this study was to assess whether changes in body size are independently related to changes in central BP in the elderly.

Carotid atherosclerosis as a surrogate maker of cardiovascular disease in diabetic patients.

Many studies have shown that carotid intima-media thickness (IMT) is associated with cardiovascular disease (CVD). Although it remains inconclusive whether assessment of carotid IMT is useful as a screening test for CVD in Japanese diabetic patients, a total of 271 patients (151 men aged 66 ± 10 (standard deviation) years and 220 women aged 71 ± 8 years) were divided into two groups based on the presence of CVD. We cross-sectionally assessed the ability of carotid IMT to identify CVD corresponding to treatment that was examined by receiver-operating characteristic (ROC) curve analyses.

[A case of obturator hernia with overlooked Howship-Romberg sign and treated as sciatica].

We report a case of a patient with incarcerated obturator hernia who presented with right thigh pain. An 88-year-old woman who had experienced right thigh pain for the previous 3 years was given a diagnosis of sciatica at the orthopedic department. In July 2009, she was hospitalized with the chief complaint of appetite loss.

Serum gamma-glutamyl transferase levels are associated with metabolic syndrome in community-dwelling individuals.

Aim: Serum gamma-glutamyl transferase (GGT) activity changes in response to oxidative stress. Metabolic syndrome (MetS) is associated with an increased risk of major cardiovascular events. Few data are available on the association between serum GGT and the prevalence of MetS among community-dwelling individuals in Japan.

An association between body mass index and estimated glomerular filtration rate.

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is a major public health problem. However, few studies have examined the significance of body mass index (BMI) as a risk factor for the development of CKD in the general Japanese population. Study participants without a clinical history of stroke, transient ischemic attack, myocardial infarction, angina or renal failure (754 men aged 56+/-15 [mean+/-SD] years and 962 women aged 59+/-13 years) were randomly recruited from a single community at the time of their annual health examination.

Association of obesity and visceral fat distribution with intima-media thickness of carotid arteries in middle-aged and older persons.

Objective: The association between obesity and atherosclerotic disease is controversial. We examined whether common carotid intima-media thickness (IMT), a precursor to preclinical atherosclerosis, was associated with total body fatness or the accumulation of fat mass in the abdominal region in middle-aged and older persons.

Methods: Participants were consecutively enrolled from patients aged >or=50 years, and were 623 men aged 73+/-10 (mean+/-standard deviation) years and 835 women aged 76+/-10 years.

Carotid atherosclerosis in normal-weight metabolic syndrome.

Objective: To examine whether or not individuals with a normal body mass index (BMI) (18.5 kg/m(2)-24.9 kg/m(2)), but who also fulfill the criteria for the metabolic syndrome (MetS) class, can be associated with carotid atherosclerosis.

An association of 5,10-methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) gene polymorphism and ischemic stroke.

Plasma homocysteine (Hcy) concentration has been shown to be influenced by a mutation in the gene coding methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR). Although plasma Hcy has been shown to be related to atherosclerotic disorders, the association between MTHFR gene polymorphism and ischemic stroke remains controversial. In the present study we investigated the association between MTHFR gene polymorphism and risk factor-dependent augmentation for ischemic stroke in subjects with several risk factors for atherosclerosis, with special emphasis on the risk factor-gene interaction.

Preperitoneal fat thickness by ultrasonography and obesity-related disorders.

Purpose: To determine optimal cutoff values for preperitoneal fat thickness measured by ultrasonography as indicators for obesity-related disorders.

Methods: We studied 276 men aged 60 ± 13 years and 307 women aged 64 ± 11 years. Participants were consecutively enrolled from inpatients aged ≤75 years.

Metabolic syndrome, diabetes and subclinical atherosclerosis as assessed by carotid intima-media thickness.

Aim: Carotid intima-media thickness (IMT) is a useful surrogate marker of cardiovascular disease and is associated with cardiac events. We investigated cross-sectionally the association between carotid intima-media thickness (IMT), confounding risk factors, and metabolic syndrome (MetS) using the modified Japanese criteria.

Methods: Carotid IMT was evaluated on B-mode ultrasonography in 918 patients (394 men aged 66 +/- 15 years and 524 women aged 72 +/- 13 years).

Impact of C-reactive protein on the likelihood of carotid atherosclerosis in Japanese adults.

Objective: Several cohort studies have shown a link between serum C-reactive protein (CRP) and subsequent cardiovascular disease; however, the role of CRP as an independent risk factor remains controversial. We therefore investigated the association between CRP and sclerotic lesions of common carotid atherosclerosis.

Patients And Methods: We evaluated sclerotic lesions of common carotid arterial intima-media thickness (IMT) by ultrasonography in 139 men aged 67 +/- 15 years and 201 women aged 75 +/- 10 years.