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Background In patients with cancer, hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) is elevated and is a predictor of prognosis. We investigated whether serum HGF was a predictive marker for cancer death in a population of community-dwelling Japanese. Methods We studied 1492 apparently healthy Japanese adults who underwent health examinations in 1999. Those who reported a history of liver disease or malignancy on a baseline questionnaire were excluded, and plasma HGF was measured in the remaining 1470 participants, who were followed periodically for 10 years. Multivariate proportional hazards regression was used to estimate cancer mortality. Results A total of 169 participants died during follow-up (61 from cancer, 32 from cerebrocardiovascular disease, and 76 from other diseases). Mean HGF at baseline was significantly higher among decedents than among survivors (0.26 ± 0.11 vs 0.23 ± 0.09 ng/ml, respectively; P < 0.01). The Cox proportional hazards model showed that age, systolic blood pressure, HGF (hazard ratio, 1.27; 95% CI, 1.06–1.52; P = 0.009), albumin level, smoking status, and creatinine were independent predictors of all-cause death. Age, HGF (hazard ratio, 1.31; 95% CI, 1.04–1.65; P = 0.02), and total cholesterol were independent predictive markers for cancer death. Conclusions Serum HGF was a predictor of cancer death in an apparently healthy population of community-dwelling Japanese.

Objective Ghrelin is a novel gastric peptide identified in 1999 as a ‘hunger hormone’. Plasma ghrelin level is decreased in human obesity. Factors associated with ghrelin have been mainly investigated in western countries where the prevalence of obesity is high. The aim of this study is to examine factors associated with plasma ghrelin in a Japanese general population where obesity is not so common. Methods Fasting ghrelin levels were measured by ELISA in 638 subjects in 2005–2007. We measured body mass index (BMI), waist circumference and blood pressure. Blood was drawn in the morning after a 12-h fast for determinations of ghrelin, lipid, glucose (FPG), insulin, estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) and uric acid levels. Univariate and multiple stepwise regression analyses were performed to find out factors associated with ghrelin. Results In our population, the mean BMI was 23·8 kg/m2, indicating a nonobese population. Results of univariate analysis showed that age (P

BACKGROUND Remnant-like lipoprotein particle cholesterol (RLP-C) is a highly atherogenic factor. RLP-C induces endothelial dysfunction and is associated with hyperinsulinemia. This study was designed to determine whether high plasma RLP-C levels predispose to the development of hypertension in subjects with normal blood pressure (BP). METHODS A total of 1,485 subjects aged >40 years in a Japanese Cohort of the Seven Countries Study received health examinations. We examined BP, anthropometric parameters, and blood chemistries, including fasting RLP-C levels. RLP-C levels were measured by an immune-separation method. We excluded from the analysis 676 subjects who had hypertension (BP ≥ 140/90mm Hg), or were on antihypertensive medication, and/or were on antihyperlipidemic medication at baseline. Ten years later, 681 subjects were re-examined. RESULTS Of 681 normotensive subjects at baseline, 303 subjects had developed hypertension 10 years later. Baseline RLP-C level was significantly higher (P < 0.01) in the subjects who developed hypertension than in those who remained normotensive (3.7±1.9 vs. 3.3±1.6mg/dl). Multivariable logistic regression analysis demonstrated that baseline RLP-C was a significant factor for incident hypertension after adjustments for homeostasis model assessment index and other hypertension-related factors (odds ratio = 1.05, 95% CI = 1.00-1.10; P = 0.04). CONCLUSIONS A high level of plasma RLP-C in normotensive subjects may predispose to the development of hypertension in a population of community-dwelling Japanese.

Aldosterone plays a role in hypertension, and hypertension is prevalent in patients with insulin resistance. Cross-sectional studies have reported that plasma aldosterone levels are higher in patients with insulin resistance. However, it is not known whether plasma aldosterone levels predict the development of insulin resistance. Subjects of the present study were 1235 local residents (490 men and 745 women) who participated in health screenings in Japan in 1999. Plasma aldosterone levels were measured by radioimmunoassay. We investigated the cross-sectional relationship between plasma aldosterone levels and insulin resistance (homeostasis model assessment index ≥1.73 according to the diagnostic criteria used in Japan) in 1088 nondiabetic participants. At the 10-year follow-up, 141 subjects had died, and 260 subjects refused re-examination. We performed a prospective analysis of 564 subjects to predict incident insulin resistance. We found a significant ( P P

Background Monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1) plays a role in cardiovascular disease (CVD) and renal injury. Recent clinical studies have suggested that circulating levels of MCP-1 could be a biomarker of atherosclerosis and future cardiovascular events in humans. Because chronic kidney disease (CKD) is one of the risk factors of CVD, it is conceivable that elevated MCP-1 levels may link the increased risk of CVD in CKD patients. However, as far as we know, in addition to well-known traditional risk factors for atherosclerosis, whether renal dysfunction could be independently associated with the elevation of MCP-1 levels in a general population remains unknown. Therefore, we examined here which anthropometric and metabolic variables, including renal function, could be independent correlates of circulating levels of MCP-1 in a general population. Hypothesis We hypothesized that renal function was one of the independent correlates of serum MCP-1 levels. Methods A total of 860 Japanese residents (318 males and 542 females, mean age 65.4 ± 9.8 years) in a small fishing community underwent a complete history and physical examination with determination of blood chemistries, including serum levels of MCP-1. Results Mean MCP-1 levels were 281.4 pg/mL. Multiple stepwise regression analyses revealed that male sex (P < 0.0001), age (P = 0.03), estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) (P < 0.0001, inversely), and white blood cell count (P = 0.037) were independently associated with MCP-1 levels. Conclusions The present study demonstrated for the first time that other than white blood cell count, eGFR was an independent correlate of serum levels of MCP-1 in a Japanese general population. Elevated MCP-1 levels may partly explain the increased risk of CVD in CKD patients. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. The authors have no funding, financial relationships, or conflicts of interest to disclose.