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Objective: The aim of the study is to clarify the longitudinal association between teleworking and physical health changes of Japanese workers before and during the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods: Participants were in a certain company who received mandatory health examinations in 2019 and 2020. In June 2020, the participants were asked about frequency of teleworking, which was introduced owing to the COVID-19. Whether physical health differed by the frequency of teleworking was analyzed. Results: The participants were 3689 workers. Frequency of teleworking were associated with more deleterious changes in diastolic blood pressure, antilipidemic drag use, low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol, Glutamic Oxaloacetic Transaminase(GOr), Glutamic Pyruvic Transaminase(GPT), metabolic syndrome, and insufficient walking time among men. In contrast, no significant changes were observed in women. Conclusions: Male workers who teleworked more frequently were more likely to experience a deterioration in their physical health within 1-year compared with those who worked at the office. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Cerebral white matter hyperintensities (WMHs) are commonly found in the aging brain and have been implicated in the initiation and severity of many central nervous system diseases. Furthermore, an increased WMH volume indicates reduced brain health in older adults. This study investigated the association between WMH volume and physical activity in older adults with depressive symptoms (DS) and mild memory impairment (MMI). Factors associated with the WMH volume were also investigated. Methods: A total of 57 individuals aged over 65 years with DS and MMI were included in this study. The participants underwent magnetic resonance imaging to quantify WMH volumes. After WMH volume was accumulated, normalized to the total intracranial volume (TIV), the percentage of WMH volume was calculated. In addition, all participants wore a triaxial accelerometer for 2 weeks, and the average daily physical activity and number of steps were measured. The levels of blood biomarkers including cortisol, interleukin-6 (IL-6), brain-derived insulin-like growth factor-1, and brainderived neurotrophic factor were measured. Motor and cognitive functions were also assessed. Results: Faster maximum walking speed and longer time spent engaged in moderate physical activity were associated with a smaller percent of WMH volume, whereas higher serum IL-6 levels were associated with a larger percent of WMH volume. The number of steps per day, time spent engaged in low levels of physical activity, cognitive function, and all other measured biomarkers were not significantly associated with percent of WMH volume. Discussion: Higher blood inflammatory cytokine levels, shorter duration of moderate physical activity, and lower maximum walking speed were associated with a higher percent of WMH volume. Our results provide useful information for maintaining brain health in older adults at a high risk of developing dementia and may contribute to the development of preventive medicine for brain health. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We assessed whether the impact of cabotegravir plus rilpivirine on inflammation reduction differs from that of oral antiretrovirals, using real-world data. Inflammatory biomarkers and lipid profiles were followed from baseline to 8 months after switching. Seventy-eight participants were analyzed. The CD4/CD8 ratio and C-reactive protein did not change. There were transient decreases in CD8 and CD4 counts in the group that switched from the dolutegravir-based regimen, but not in the tenofovir alafenamide-based regimen group. High-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol increased, resulting in a decrease in the total-cholesterol to HDL cholesterol ratio, whereas there was no significant change in low-density lipoprotein cholesterol. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Obesity, a chronic disorder caused by excessive energy intake leading to fat accumulation in adipose tissue, increases the risk of severe diseases. Brassica rapa L. is known as a traditional vegetable in the Nagano area of Japan. C57BL/6 mice were randomly assigned to three groups, with different diets as follows: a normal diet, a Western diet (WD), and a WD plus B. rapa L. powder (BP) in a 56-day experiment. Brassica rapa L. supplementation reduced the body weight gain and lipid accumulation of mice significantly. The BP group also had higher fecal bile acid, total cholesterol, and triglyceride excretion levels compared with those in the other groups. The antiobesity effects of B. rapa L. were due to its binding with cholesterol and fat, and possibly enhancing the bile acid excretion and modulating gut microbiota, suggesting that B. rapa L. could be a functional vegetable with potential uses in targeting obesity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim was to examine associations among metabolic health, weight status, and various physical fitness (PF) components in 1744 Japanese adolescents aged 13–14. Anthropometric measurements and PF tests (20 m shuttle run test [20mSRT], handgrip strength/body mass [HG], standing long jump [SLJ], and sit ups [SU]) were administered. The bottom sex-specific quintile of PF indicated "low fit". Participants were classified as non-overweight (non-OW) or overweight/obese (OW) according to the International Obesity Task Force. Clustered metabolic risk was defined as the sum of Z scores for mean arterial pressure, non-high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, and HbA1c, divided by three, and ≥ 1 SD. Combination of weight status and scores for HG or SU were additively associated with clustered metabolic risk. Compared with the non-OW-moderate-high fit group, the OW-low HG group was 3.05 (95%CI: 1.88–4.97) times more likely to have clustered metabolic risk although risk was not significantly elevated in the OW-moderate-high HG group (1.52 [95%CI: 0.88–2.62]). A similar association was observed between OW and low SU scores but not between OW and low 20mSRT or SLJ scores. Adolescents with OW and moderate-high HG or SU scores had a lower prevalence of an unfavourable metabolic state than those with OW and low HG or SU results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Waist circumference is often used for the diagnosis of visceral obesity and metabolic syndrome. In Japan, obesity in women is defined by the government as a waist circumference of ≥90 cm and/or BMI of ≥25 kg/m2. However, there has been a controversy for almost two decades as to whether waist circumference and its above-optimal cutoff are appropriate for the diagnosis of obesity in health checkups. Instead of waist circumference, the waist-to-height ratio has been recommended for the diagnosis of visceral obesity. In this study, the relationships between the waist-to-height ratio and cardiometabolic risk factors, including diabetes, hypertension and dyslipidemia, were investigated in middle-aged Japanese women (35~60 years) who were diagnosed as not having obesity according to the above Japanese criteria of obesity. The percentage of subjects showing normal waist circumference and normal BMI was 78.2%, and about one-fifth of those subjects (16.6% of the overall subjects) showed a high waist-to-height ratio. In subjects with normal waist circumference and normal BMI, odds ratios of high vs. not high waist-to-height ratio for diabetes, hypertension and dyslipidemia were significantly higher than the reference level. A considerable proportion of women who have a high cardiometabolic risk might be overlooked at annual lifestyle health checkups in Japan. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: To determine the association of fasting glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) and glucose dependent insulinotropic polypeptide (GIP) with dyslipidemia in newly diagnosed diabetes (NDD). Method: This collaborative prospective interventional clinical study was carried out by the Biochemistry Department, at the University of Karachi-Pakistan, Baqai Institute of Diabetology and Endocrinology, Karachi-Pakistan and Kansai Electric Power Medical Research Institute, Osaka, Japan. The study duration was from March 2019 to May 2020. Participants were identified on the basis of oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) results. Of 34 participants, 17 were NDD and 17 were healthy. Demographics and anthropometric details were noted on a predesigned questionnaire. Blood samples were collected at fasting state for plasma glucose, lipid profile, HbA1c, and hormones (GIP and GLP-1). Results: The healthy participants included nine males and eight females, and the NDD participants included ten males and seven females. Mean age was 50.78±2.44 years and BMI was 28.41±0.76 kg/m2. Among healthy participants, both GIP and GLP-1 showed non-significant weak correlation for biochemical parameters. In NDD participants, GIP showed significantly negative moderate correlation with age and non-HDL and positive moderate correlation with LDL only. However, GLP-1 showed significantly positive moderate correlation with total cholesterol (r = 0.564, p = 0.018), LDL (r = 0.498, p = 0.042), HDL (r = 0.50, p = 0.041) and non-HDL (r = 0.503, p = 0.047) in NDD participants. Conclusion: The effect of GIP and GLP-1 measures on dyslipidemia were substantially different among NDD participants in our population. In the NDD group, GLP-1 is significantly moderately associated with dyslipidemia compared to GIP. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The ratio of gamma-glutamyltransferase to high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (GGT/HDL-C) has been highlighted in nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) by previous studies. However, there have been fewer investigations into the correlation between the GGT/HDL-C ratio and type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) incidence. Our secondary analysis used published data from a Japanese population and aimed to investigate the role of the GGT/HDL-C ratio in the incidence of T2DM. Methods: The research was a longitudinal cohort study completed by Okamura, Takuro et al. We obtained the data from the DATADRYAD website and used it for secondary analysis only. The participants recruited from a medical program called the NAGALA database received regular medical examinations and standardized questionnaires to obtain the baseline variables. Abdominal ultrasound was used to diagnose fatty liver disease. The participants were followed up, and the duration and occurrence of T2DM were documented. The GGT/HDL-C ratio evaluated at baseline served as the independent variable, while the occurrence of diabetes served as the dependent variable. Results: A total of 15,453 cases (8,419 men and 7,034 women) were included in our study. After adjusting for age, sex, BMI, DBP, SBP, ALT, AST, TG, TC, HbA1C, FPG, drinking status, smoking status, exercise status, and fatty liver, we observed that the GGT/HDL-C ratio was positively associated with the incidence of T2DM (hazard ratio = 1.005, 95% confidence interval: 1.000 to 1.010, P = 0.0667). The results were consistent when the GGT/HDL-C quartile was used as a categorical variable (P for trend < 0.00396). A curvilinear relationship with a threshold effect was identified between the GGT/HDL-C ratio and the risk of incident T2DM. On the left of the point, a one-unit increase in the GGT/HDL-C ratio was associated with a 1.5-fold increase in the risk of incident T2DM (hazard ratio 2.57, 95% confidence interval 1.20 to 5.49). On the right of the point, when GGT/HDL-C was greater than 6.53, their relationship became saturated. Conclusion: The GGT/HDL-C ratio correlated with the incidence of T2DM in a curvilinear form with a threshold effect. Their positive relationship could be observed when GGT/HDL-C was less than 6.53. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bile acids are a category of steroids biosynthesized from cholesterol in the liver. Inborn errors of their metabolism are inherited in an autosomal recessive manner, resulting in enzyme deficiencies affecting the bile acid biosynthetic pathway. These defects in the pathway cause accumulation of unusual bile acids or bile alcohols. Unusual bile acids are highly cytotoxic, causing injury to the liver. These unusual bile acids damage hepatocytes, resulting in cholestatic liver injury beginning in infancy. Except for cerebrotendinous xanthomatosis and some secondary defects, various inborn errors of bile acid metabolism (IEBAM) have been reported from Japan, affecting eight patients including three with 3β‐hydroxy‐Δ5‐C27‐steroid dehydrogenase/isomerase deficiency, three with Δ4‐3‐oxosteroid 5β‐reductase deficiency, one with oxysterol 7α‐hydroxylase deficiency, and one with bile acid‐CoA: amino acid N‐acyltransferase deficiency. Distinctive laboratory findings in patients with 3β‐hydroxy‐Δ5‐C27‐steroid dehydrogenase/isomerase deficiency, Δ4‐3‐oxosteroid 5β‐reductase deficiency, and oxysterol 7α‐hydroxylase deficiency include normal serum γ‐glutamyltransferase and total bile acids concentrations despite presence of cholestasis (elevated serum direct bilirubin) from infancy. Pediatricians and pediatric surgeons who suspect a case of IEBAM should obtain urinary and serum bile acid analyses using gas or liquid chromatography‐mass spectrometry as well as genetic analyses. Available treatments include oral cholic acid, chenodeoxycholic acid, glycocholic acid, and ursodeoxycholic acid; fat‐soluble vitamin supplementation; and liver transplantation. Early diagnosis and treatment can offer a good outcome. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: To study age at death (AD) and its determinants in cohorts of middle-aged men followed-up until extinction. Material and methods: A total of 9063 middle-aged men enrolled in 10 cohorts of 6 countries (USA, Finland, the Netherlands, Italy, Greece and Japan) within the Seven Countries Study were examined and then followed up for 60 years until extinction. AD was computed and a small number of risk factors were tested through multiple linear regression as possibly related to attained AD. Results: AD ranged across cohorts from 71.8 years in East Finland and 80.5 years in Crete with levels roughly lower in the USA and Northern Europe and higher elsewhere. Across cohorts, the correlation coefficients of systolic blood pressure (R = −0.58) and of CVD prevalence (R = −0.65) versus average AD were the only significant ones. At the individual level in the pool of all cohorts, a multiple linear regression model showed that age, vigorous physical activity, never and ex-smokers were favorably related to AD, while the reverse was true for systolic blood pressure, heart rate, serum cholesterol, CVD prevalence and silent ECG abnormalities. BMI had a parabolic relationship with AD. The predicting power of single risk factors, expressed in years gained or lost, was relatively small, but arbitrary combinations of several of them produced large differences in AD. Conclusions: A small number of CVD risk factors were strongly associated with AD in a life-long follow-up. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Stroke is a progressive disease with remissions and exacerbations; it significantly reduces the quality of life of patients and their family and caregivers. Primary prevention is necessary to reduce the growing incidence of stroke globally. In this study, we determined the risk factors for cerebral infarction in elderly Japanese residents and proposed a primary care strategy to prevent cerebral infarction. We investigated the relationship between the incidence of cerebral infarction and the results of checkups 10 years ago. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was performed to determine the variables related to the occurrence of cerebral infarction in biochemical tests and questionnaires administered ten years ago. Hypertension and abnormal creatinine levels were related to increased risk of cerebral infarction based on our findings of the health checkups conducted 10 years previously. Furthermore, weight gain or loss of >3 kg over the last year and habit of eating an evening meal within 2 h before going to bed were associated with an increased risk of cerebral infarction based on the questionnaire results from the specific health checkups. Long-term, large-scale prospective studies are required to determine the specific health items related to increased risk of cerebral infarction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The association of obesity with breast cancer is clear. Although body mass index (BMI) is used as an indicator of obesity, its accuracy remains questionable. Although, there factors for diagnosing metabolic syndrome are caused by obesity, the association with breast cancer has not been clarified. Methods: Women who underwent breast cancer screening with mammography and measurements of metabolic syndrome factors, including waist circumference, blood glucose, triglycerides, HDL (high-density lipoprotein) cholesterol levels, and systolic and diastolic pressure, twice within a 2-year period were enrolled (n = 314), with a final sample size of 256. To determine the presence of mammary gland disease, 2 expert physicians interpreted radiogram findings, with category 3 or higher shown by mammography considered to indicate an abnormality. Results and Conclusions: Waist circumference at the initial measurement was marginally significant as a risk factor for onset of mammary gland disease (odds ratio [OR] = 1.036, P =.045) and thus was concluded to be a risk factor for disease onset. Although not significant, a 2-year increase in systolic and diastolic blood pressure has been presumed to be risk factors (systolic: OR = 1.020, P =.085, diastolic: OR = 1.040, P =.065), while high levels of HDL cholesterol have been presumed to protect against the disease (OR = 0.982, P =.064). Based on these results, waist circumference and blood pressure are speculated to be related to development of mammary gland disease. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cholesteryl esters (CE) are sterols comprising various fatty acyl chains attached to a cholesterol hydroxyl moiety. CEs are often considered plasma biomarkers of liver function; however, their absolute concentrations in the plasma of Japanese preadolescents have not been well explored. This study aimed to determine the plasma CE levels in Japanese preadolescents of different sexes, ages, and body weights living in Hokkaido, Japan using targeted liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry. The analysis was performed on the non-fasting plasma of preadolescents aged 9-12 years (n = 339 healthy volunteers; 178 boys and 161 girls) from Sapporo, Hokkaido, Japan. The analysis results showed that the total CE levels in boys and girls were 871 ± 153 and 862 ± 96 pmol/μL, respectively. CE 18:2 (41 ± 2.9 %) was found to be the most abundant species followed by CE 18:1 (16 ± 1.5 %) and CE 16:0 (13 ± 1.1 %). The ω-3 fatty acid-containing CEs such as CE 18:3 and CE 20:5 were significantly lower in girls than in boys. Despite the different ages, CEs were tightly regulated in the plasma of children's, and the total CEs ranged between 844 and 906 pmol/μL in boys and 824 and 875 pmol/μL in girls. The participants were further classified into three groups based on their body mass index underweight (n = 237), normal weight (n = 94), and overweight (n = 8). Most of the quantified CEs were accumulated in the overweight group. Interestingly, CE 18:3 was significantly upregulated in the overweight group compared to that in the normal range, and the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve was 0.73, suggesting that it could be a possible marker for obesity. This study marks the initial investigation of absolute CE levels in the plasma of children and can help elucidate the relationship between CEs and childhood obesity., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Objectives: Infants born small for gestational age (SGA) with no catch-up growth (No-CU) are at high risk of intellectual and developmental disabilities. However, factors leading to No-CU among SGA infants are unclear. This study aimed to examine the association between maternal total cholesterol (TC) in mid-pregnancy and No-CU at 3 years among full-term SGA infants. Study Design: The Japan Environment and Children's Study (JECS) is a nationwide prospective birth cohort study. We extracted a total of 2,222 mothers and full-term SGA infants (length and/or weight <-2 standard deviation [SD]) without congenital abnormalities from the original JECS cohort comprising a total of 104,062 fetal records. According to the distribution of maternal TC in the entire cohort, participants were classified into nine groups per each fifth percentile with the 20th-79th percentiles (204-260 mg/dl) as the reference group. No-CU was defined by a Z-score of height at 3 years <-2 SD according to the growth standard charts for Japanese children. Multivariable-adjusted logistic regression models were carried out using multiple imputations. Additionally, a multipleadjusted restricted cubic spline model was performed in the complete dataset. Results: A total of 362 (16.3%) children were No-CU at 3 years. After adjusting for the Zscore of birth weight, age of mother, smoking status, weight gain during pregnancy, breastfeeding and meal frequency at 2 years, and parents' heights, the odds ratio (95% confidence intervals) of No-CU was 2.95 (1.28-6.80) for children whose maternal TC levels were in the highest category (=294 mg/dl), compared to the reference group. A multiple-adjusted restricted cubic spline model showed a non-linear trend of the significant association between high maternal TC and No-CU (p for linear trend = 0.05, p for quadratic trend <0.05). Conclusion: High maternal TC at mid-pregnancy was associated with No-CU among SGA infants. Such infants should be carefully followed up to introduce appropriate growth hormonal treatment. The findings may support previous animal experimental studies which indicated that maternal high-fat diet exposure induces impairment of growth and skeletal muscle development in the offspring. Future studies are required to elucidate the detailed mechanism. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Changes in serum cholesterol levels during childhood may affect the risk of cardiovascular disease in adulthood. However, cholesterol level changes in Japanese children and adolescents and the factors that influence them have not been completely elucidated. This study aimed to determine whether cholesterol levels changed due to the effects of growth and identify factors. This cohort study included elementary-school children in the fourth grade (9–10-year-old) who underwent assessments of cholesterol levels and demographic and lifestyle characteristics. The participants were followed up in their first year of junior high school with the same laboratory, demographic, and lifestyle assessments. From the fourth year of elementary school to the first year of junior high school, children's cholesterol levels decreased (p < 0.0001). Regarding bowel movements, cholesterol level reduction was significant in individuals with regular bowel movements but not significant in those with infrequent bowel movements. Weight was the factor that most strongly negatively predicted cholesterol level reduction (p < 0.001). The study demonstrated the significance of lifestyle factors for growth-related changes of total cholesterol levels and identified weight as the factor that most strongly influenced total cholesterol level changes. Guidance regarding lifestyle improvements should be imparted to children from the fourth grade of elementary school. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Lactoferrin (bLF) is an iron-binding multifunctional protein that is abundant in milk. In mice, it inhibits catechol-O-methyltransferase (COMT) activity and increases blood levodopa levels. However, the clinical effects are unknown. Objective: The objective of this study was to determine the effect of bLF on the kinetics of levodopa in blood. Design: The effects of the concomitant administration of a combined formulation of levodopa and an aromatic amino acid decarboxylase inhibitor and bLF on the concentration of levodopa in blood and its metabolism were assessed in eight healthy subjects. In addition, we analyzed the association with clinical factors and evaluated whether clinical factors affected the COMT inhibitory activity of bLF in vitro. Results: Although not statistically significant, the peak plasma concentration (Cmax) of levodopa increased by 18.5%. From the results of the stratified analysis of total cholesterol, a relationship with ΔCmax was predicted. Therefore, bLF was reacted with cholesterol in the presence of lecithin and sodium deoxycholate in vitro to evaluate COMT inhibitory activity, and an increase in inhibitory activity was observed. By contrast, the ester compound cholesteryl oleate had no effect. The inhibitory activity of free fatty acids, which are known to interact with bLF, was also enhanced. Conclusion: The COMT inhibitory activity of bLF is not effective in elevating blood levodopa levels. However, in humans with high lipid levels, such as cholesterol, interactions may enhance the inhibitory effect, resulting in the enhanced absorption of levodopa. Trial registration: ID, UMIN000026787, registered 30 March 2017; URL, Trial registration: UMIN Japan identifier: UMIN000026787 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Context: Maternal cholesterol is important for fetal development. Whether maternal serum total cholesterol (maternal TC) levels in midpregnancy are associated with small SGA) or large (LGA) for gestational age independent of prepregnancy body mass index (BMI) and weight gain during pregnancy is inconclusive. Objective: This work aimed to prospectively investigate the association between maternal TC in midpregnancy and SGA or LGA. Methods: The Japan Environment and Children's Study is a nationwide prospective birth cohort study in Japan. Participants in this study included 37 449 nondiabetic, nonhypertensive mothers with singleton birth at term without congenital abnormalities. Birth weight for gestational age less than the 10th percentile and greater than or equal to the 90th percentile were respectively defined as SGA and LGA by the Japanese neonatal anthropometric charts. Results: The mean gestational age at blood sampling was 22.7 ± 4.0 weeks. After adjustment for maternal age, sex of child, parity, weight gain during pregnancy, prepregnancy BMI, smoking, alcohol drinking, blood glucose levels, household income, and study areas, 1-SD decrement of maternal TC was linearly associated with SGA (odds ratio [OR]: 1.20; 95% CI, 1.15-1.25). In contrast, 1-SD increment of maternal TC was linearly associated with LGA (OR: 1.13; 95% CI, 1.09-1.16). Associations did not differ according to prepregnancy BMI and gestational weight gain (P for interaction > .20). Conclusion: Maternal TC levels in midpregnancy were associated with SGA or LGA in a Japanese cohort. It may help to predict SGA and LGA. Favorable maternal lipid profiles for fetal development must be explored. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND: Rice α‐globulin has been reported to have serum cholesterol‐lowering activity in rats. However, it is still unclear whether α‐globulin exerts this effect when taken as one of the dietary components. In the present study, we investigated the effect of two cultivars of rice, low glutelin content (LGC)‐1 and LGC‐Jun, on reducing serum cholesterol in exogenously hypercholesterolemic (ExHC) rats. LGC‐1 is enriched in α‐globulin (10.6 mg g−1 rice flour, which is an approximately 1.5 times higher α‐globulin content than in Koshihikari a predominant rice cultivar in Japan), whereas LGC‐Jun is a globulin‐negative cultivar. METHODS: ExHC rats, the model strain of diet‐induced hypercholesterolemia, were fed 50% LGC‐1 or LGC‐Jun and 0.5% cholesterol‐containing diets for 2 weeks, followed by measurement of cholesterol metabolism parameters in serum and tissues. RESULTS: Serum cholesterol and non‐high‐density lipoprotein cholesterol levels were significantly lower in the LGC‐1 group compared to the LGC‐Jun group. Cholesterol intestinal absorption markers, hepatic and serum levels of campesterol and β‐sitosterol, and lymphatic cholesterol transport were not different between the two groups. Levels of 7α‐hydroxycholesterol, an intermediate of bile acid synthesis, showed a downward trend in the livers of rats that were fed LGC‐1 (P = 0.098). There was a significant decrease in the hepatic mRNA expression of Cyp7a1 (a synthetic enzyme for 7α‐hydroxycholesterol) in the LGC‐1 group compared to the LGC‐Jun group. CONCLUSION: Dietary LGC‐1 significantly decreased serum cholesterol levels in ExHC rats. The possible mechanism for the cholesterol‐lowering activity of LGC‐1 is partial inhibition of bile acid and cholesterol synthesis in the liver. © 2021 Society of Chemical Industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The sedimentation of organic carbon in the Ulleung Basin, in the southwestern East Sea (Japan Sea) was investigated using radiocarbon and sterols. The accumulation rates of organic carbon and the contents of brassicasterol and dinosterol were higher on the slope than in the central basin, reflecting the surface water productivity, whereas cholesterol showed similar or higher contents in the central basin. The coprostanol concentration in surface sediments reflected the dispersion of sewage dumped in this region. The vertical distribution showed that the coprostanol concentration was the highest in the top 5-cm layer near the Korea Strait, close to one of the two dumping sites. A high coprostanol concentration was also found near the coast further north, where the content peaked at ∼10 cm depth. The vertical distribution of coprostanol helped to estimate the sediment accumulation rate at sites where radiocarbon gradient was too small or the values were too variable., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Ayu-narezushi, a traditional Japanese fermented food, comprises abundant levels of lactic acid bacteria (LAB) and free amino acids. This study aimed to examine the potential beneficial effects of ayu-narezushi and investigated whether ayu-narezushi led to improvements in the Tsumura Suzuki obese diabetes (TSOD) mice model of spontaneous metabolic syndrome because useful LAB are known as probiotics that regulate intestinal function. In the present study, the increased body weight of the TSOD mice was attenuated in those fed the ayu-narezushi-comprised chow (ayu-narezushi group) compared with those fed the normal rodent chow (control group). Serum triglyceride and cholesterol levels were significantly lower in the Ayu-narezushi group than in the control group at 24 weeks of age. Furthermore, hepatic mRNA levels of carnitine-palmitoyl transferase 1 and acyl-CoA oxidase, which related to fatty acid oxidation, were significantly increased in the ayu-narezushi group than in the control group at 24 weeks of age. In conclusion, these results suggested that continuous feeding with ayu-narezushi improved obesity and dyslipidemia in the TSOD mice and that the activation of fatty acid oxidation in the liver might contribute to these improvements. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infection causes various extragastric diseases. Its transmission route has still not been clarified. However, no large‐scale studies have examined the extragastric diseases caused by H. pylori in adolescents. This study aimed to examine the association of H. pylori infection with anemia, serum cholesterol levels, physique, and birth delivery method (vaginal or cesarean) in a large number of Japanese adolescents. Methods: From 2016 to 2018, we screened 2,399 adolescents (aged 13–15 years) in their second and third years of junior high school using an enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay‐based antibody test. Red blood cells, hemoglobin, hematocrit, total cholesterol, high‐density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol, and serum antibody levels were measured. Results: Hemoglobin and hematocrit levels were significantly lower in the H. pylori antibody‐positive group than in the H. pylori antibody‐negative group in both sexes (boys: P = 0.0004 and 0.0022; girls: P = 0.0019 and 0.0005, respectively). Total cholesterol and non‐HDL cholesterol levels were significantly higher in the H. pylori‐positive group than in the H. pylori‐negative group among boys (P = 0.0370 and 0.0293 respectively). There was no significant difference in body mass index percentile and birth delivery method between the H. pylori‐positive and H. pylori‐negative groups in both boys and girls. Conclusions: Among Japanese junior high school students, H. pylori antibody‐positive status was associated with anemia in both sexes while total cholesterol and non‐HDL cholesterol levels were associated among boys. There was no association between H. pylori antibody status, body mass index percentile, and birth‐delivery method. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Obesity in children is a public health concern in Japan. To evaluate the current state of the obesity problem and inform future directions, we aimed to provide an updated account of secular trends in the percentage of overweight (POW) children by gender and school grade, and evaluate changes in POW after participation in the obesity health screening. Methods: The current study utilized aggregated data from the Setagaya Ward, Tokyo, public elementary and middle school populations from 2009 to 2018. Data on the percentage of overweight ≥ 30% (POW‐30) and percentage of abnormal blood test results were examined by year, gender, and school grade level. Individual‐level data from 2015 to 2017 in children who participated in a follow‐up obesity health screening were evaluated for changes in median POW. Results: A decreasing trend in students with a POW‐30 was observed from 2009 to 2011, with rates stabilizing thereafter. The highest proportions of POW‐30 were observed in 2010 (4.8% in middle school boys; 2.8% in middle school girls). From third grade, the difference in percentage by gender appeared to get increasingly larger until the beginning of middle school. Among obesity health screening participants, abnormal blood tests for total cholesterol and triglycerides showed a slightly increasing trend over time, and changes in POW after screening were greatest for middle school students. Conclusions: Increases in obesity were not observed in Setagaya Ward public school students since 2010, but disparities exist by gender and grade level, suggesting that tailored intervention strategies may be useful to optimize aspects of the obesity health screening program. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Over 30% of the population of Okinawa Prefecture have a high body mass index. The incidence of hypertension and dyslipidaemia has also increased in recent years. We found that Ooitabi (Ficus pumila L.), a plant native to Okinawa, was useful for hypertension. During ancient times, the extracts of Ooitabi leaves were used for making Ishimaki tea in some areas of Okinawa Prefecture. The plants in Okinawa are rich in antioxidants, and four flavonoid glycosides, including rutin, have been identified in Ooitabi. Methods: In the present study, we conducted clinical verification tests on the effects of drinking Ishimaki tea on outpatients with hypertension and dyslipidaemia. Of 3814 Japanese patients who underwent medical check‐ups in Okinawa, 38 individuals with high blood pressure, dyslipidaemia, liver dysfunction and gout visited our hospital as outpatients and were asked to drink Ishimaki tea. Results: After 3 months, there were significant reductions in body mass index, systolic and diastolic blood pressure, total cholesterol, low‐density lipoprotein cholesterol, γ‐glutamyltrans peptidase, uric acid and ratio of blood vessel insulin resistance. Conclusions: Ooitabi extract can lower blood pressure and improve lipid abnormalities and has likely contributed to the well‐known health and longevity of the population in Okinawa. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: It is unclear whether habitual intake of soy or isoflavones induces long-term changes in the concentrations of blood lipids and glycaemia. We examined the associations of soy food and isoflavone consumption with changes in blood lipids and HbA1c concentrations over 5 years among Japanese adults. Methods: This cohort study included 7252 subjects with no known history of major chronic disease at baseline. Soy intake was measured using a food frequency questionnaire; while the concentrations of serum lipids and HbA1c were measured using standard laboratory methods. We used multivariable linear mixed-effects models to examine the associations of changes in lipids and HbA1c concentrations with intakes of soy food and isoflavones. Results: Among the participants, mean age was 61 years, 67% were females and median intakes of soy and isoflavones were 95.3 g/day and 47.4 mg/day, respectively. Soy food and isoflavone intakes were not associated with 5-year changes in blood lipids or HbA1c concentrations. However, stratified analyses showed inverse associations between fermented soy intake and serum lipids among obese/overweight subjects. In particular, intake of 20 g/day of natto was associated with a reduction of 1.4 (95% CI 0.3, 2.5) mg/dL in TC, 1.5 (95% CI 0.4, 2.6) mg/dL in non-high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, 1.0 (95% CI − 0.0, 2.0) mg/dL in low-density lipoprotein cholesterol and 4.0 (95% CI 0.6, 7.5) mg/dL in triglycerides. Conclusions: Overall, habitual consumption of soy or isoflavones was not associated with changes in serum lipids or HbA1c concentrations. The negative associations between intake of natto and changes in serum lipids among overweight/obese subjects deserve further investigation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lifestyle disease is a general term from habits related to personal activities such as stress, overeating, and lack of exercise. Typical examples are hypertension, hyperlipidemia, diabetes, obesity, and cancer. In Japan, lifestyle diseases account for about 30% of annual medical expenses and about 60% of annual deaths. Therefore, it is necessary to reflect lifestyle habits in order to prevent lifestyle diseases accurately. Diabetes mellitus has no symptom in hyperglycemia itself, and symptoms appear only after the vascular disorder that progresses as hyperglycemia persists. In the 2016 National Health and Nutrition Survey conducted by the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare, the total number of persons who are strongly suspected of having diabetes and persons who cannot deny the possibility of diabetes is estimated to be 20 million. Since the health condition of individuals is regularly examined at each stage in Japan, this paper employs the results of the regular check-up for predicting future lifestyle diseases by machine learning. From the results of analytics, the characteristics of the potential person were extracted. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: This study aimed to evaluate the changes in glycemic control and diabetic complications over time in Japanese patients with juvenile-onset type 1 diabetes mellitus and to clarify the factors associated with the progression of diabetic complications., Methods: We tracked 129 patients with type 1 diabetes mellitus (21.8 ± 4.1 years old [mean ± SD] with a diabetes duration of 12.6 ± 5.7 years) for up to 19 years and analyzed data on glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) and indicators related to the severity of diabetic complications (estimated glomerular filtration rate [eGFR], urinary albumin excretion rate [UAE], carotid intima-media thickness [CIMT], and brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity [baPWV]) using linear mixed model and decision tree analysis., Results: Although the HbA1c and UAE levels improved over time, the eGFR, CIMT, and baPWV worsened. Decision tree analysis showed that HbA1c and the glycoalbumin/HbA1c ratio for eGFR; HbA1c and systolic blood pressure for UAE; low-density lipoprotein cholesterol/high-density lipoprotein cholesterol ratio, glycoalbumin/HbA1c ratio, and body mass index (BMI) for CIMT; and HbA1c for baPWV were associated factors., Conclusions: In this retrospective observational study, glycemic control and albuminuria improved; however, renal function and arteriosclerosis worsened over time. HbA1c levels, glycemic excursion, and blood pressure are associated with nephropathy progression. HbA1c levels, glycemic excursion, lipid levels, and BMI are associated with the progression of atherosclerosis., (© 2023 The Authors. Journal of Diabetes published by Ruijin Hospital, Shanghai Jiaotong University School of Medicine and John Wiley & Sons Australia, Ltd.)

The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of unsalted tomato juice intake on cardiovascular risk markers in local Japanese residents. Four hundred and eighty‐one local residents in Kuriyama, Japan, were enrolled in this study. Throughout the year of the study, they were provided with as much unsalted tomato juice as they wanted. Participants were screened for cardiovascular risk markers, such as blood pressure (BP), serum lipid profile, and glucose tolerance, before and after the study period. Of the study participants, 260 participated in a detailed study of their lifestyle factors. The average ages of the 184 male and 297 female participants were 56.3 ± 13.3 (mean ± SD) and 58.4 ± 11.7 years, respectively. BP in 94 participants with untreated prehypertension or hypertension was significantly lowered (systolic BP, 141.2 ± 12.1–137.0 ± 16.3 mmHg, p = 0.003; diastolic BP, 83.3 ± 10.1–80.9 ± 11.1 mmHg, p = 0.012, paired t test). Further, the serum low‐density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL‐C) level in 125 participants with untreated dyslipidemia significantly decreased (155.0 ± 23.2–149.9 ± 25.0 mg/dl, p = 0.005, paired t test). These beneficial effects were not different between sexes and among the different age groups. No significant difference in lifestyle was found before and after the study. Unsalted tomato juice intake improved systolic and diastolic BP and serum LDL‐C level in local Japanese residents at risk of cardiovascular conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: In the current meta-analysis, we aimed to systematically review and summarize the eligible studies evaluating the association between dietary acid load in terms of potential renal acid load (PRAL) and net-endogenous acid production (NEAP) with anthropometric parameters and serum lipids in adult population. Methods: In a systematic search from PubMed, Scopus, Web of Sciences and Cochrane electronic databases up to December 2018, relevant studies were included. Cross-sectional, case control or cohort studies evaluating the association between PRAL and NEAP with the mean values of body mass index (BMI), waist circumference (WC), low and high density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL, HDL), triglyceride (TG), total cholesterol (TC) and the prevalence of obesity were included. Results: According to our results, having higher dietary acid load content in terms of high PRAL scores was associated with higher triglyceride concentrations (weighted mean difference (WMD): 3.468; confidence interval (CI): -0.231, 7.166, P = 0.04) and higher obesity prevalence (30% and 27% in highest versus lowest categories). Accordingly, being in the highest category of NEAP was associated with higher prevalence of obesity (25% and 22% in highest versus lowest category). In subgroup analysis, higher PRAL scores was associated with higher BMI in women (WMD: 0.122; CI: -0.001, 0.245; P = 0.049) and higher NEAP in men (WMD: 0.890; CI: 0.430, 1.350; P < 0.001). There was no association between dietary acid load and other studied parameters. Conclusions: In the current meta-analysis, high dietary acid load content was associated with higher serum triglyceride concentrations and higher obesity prevalence. Reducing dietary acid load content might be a useful preventive strategy against obesity and metabolic disorders. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Precise monthly achievement rates for reaching guideline targets for HbA1c, blood pressure (BP), and lipid levels remain unknown. We evaluated achievement rates on a monthly basis in persons with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and explored related factors.Research Design and Methods: This retrospective study initially analyzed data on 104,601 persons with T2DM throughout Japan. Patients whose HbA1c, BP, and LDL cholesterol were measured ≥12 times during a 24-month period were included. We evaluated monthly achievement rates. Achieved targets were defined as HbA1c <7%, BP <130/80 mmHg, and LDL cholesterol <100 mg/dL. Achievement of all targets was expressed as the "all ABC achievement."Results: A total of 4,678 patients were analyzed. The achievement rates of all ABC, HbA1c, BP, and LDL cholesterol were lowest in winter, with those for systolic BP (SBP) being particularly low (all ABC, summer 15.6%, winter 9.6%; HbA1c, 53.1%, 48.9%; SBP, 56.6%, 40.9%; LDL cholesterol, 50.8%, 47.2%). In winter, age ≥65 years (odds ratio 0.47 [95% CI 0.34-0.63]) was independently related to decreased achievement rates for SBP, BMI ≥25 kg/m2 (BMI 25-30 kg/m2, 0.45 [0.29-0.70]; BMI ≥30 kg/m2, 0.35 [0.22-0.57]), and diabetes duration ≥10 years (0.53 [0.37-0.76]) were independently related to lower achievement rates for HbA1c. Insulin use and sulfonylurea use were independently associated with the decreased all ABC achievement rates in both summer and winter.Conclusions: The all ABC achievement rate for guideline targets changed on a monthly basis. Seasonal variations in the all ABC achievement rate should be considered when managing T2DM in ordinary clinical practices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Shiitake (Lentinula edodes) extract, eritadenine, has been shown to reduce cholesterol levels, and its hypocholesterolemic actions are involved in the metabolism of methionine. However, the mechanisms by which eritadenine affects cholesterol metabolism in animals fed a high-fat diet containing different sources of lipids have not yet been elucidated in detail. This study was conducted to investigate the effects of shiitake supplementation on serum lipid concentrations in rats fed a diet including a high amount of a plant oil (HO [high oil] and HOS [high oil with shiitake] groups), animal fat (HF [high fat] and HFS [high fat with shiitake] groups), or MCT- (medium-chain triglyceride-) rich plant oil (HM [high MCT] and HMS [high MCT with shiitake] groups). Rats in the HOS, HFS, and HMS groups were fed shiitake. When rats were fed a diet containing shiitake, serum triglyceride, cholesterol levels, and LCAT (lecithin-cholesterol acyltransferase) activities were lower in rats given MCT-rich plant oil than in those that consumed lard. The lipid type in the diet with shiitake also affected serum cholesterol levels and LCAT activities. The diet containing MCT-rich plant oil showed the greatest rates of decrease in all serum lipid profiles and LCAT activities. These results suggest that shiitake and MCT-rich plant oil work together to reduce lipid profiles and LCAT activity in serum. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Assessment of infection-related mortality remains inadequate in patients undergoing peritoneal dialysis. This study was performed to develop a risk model for predicting the 2-year infection-related mortality risk in patients undergoing peritoneal dialysis. Methods: The study cohort comprised 606 patients who started and continued peritoneal dialysis for 90 at least days and was drawn from the Fukuoka Peritoneal Dialysis Database Registry Study in Japan. The patients were registered from 1 January 2006 to 31 December 2016 and followed up until 31 December 2017. To generate a prediction rule, the score for each variable was weighted by the regression coefficients calculated using a Cox proportional hazard model adjusted by risk factors for infection-related mortality, including patient characteristics, comorbidities, and laboratory data. Results: During the follow-up period (median, 2.2 years), 138 patients died; 58 of them of infectious disease. The final model for infection-related mortality comprises six factors: age, sex, serum albumin, serum creatinine, total cholesterol, and weekly renal Kt/V. The incidence of infection-related mortality increased linearly with increasing total risk score (P for trend <0.001). Furthermore, the prediction model showed adequate discrimination (c-statistic = 0.79 [0.72–0.86]) and calibration (Hosmer–Lemeshow test, P = 0.47). Conclusion: In this study, we developed a new model using clinical measures for predicting infection-related mortality in patients undergoing peritoneal dialysis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims: The study aimed to investigate low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) goal achievement rates in patients receiving LDL-C-lowering therapy using recent real-world data, following the 2017 revision of the Japan Atherosclerosis Society Guidelines for Prevention of Atherosclerotic Cardiovascular Diseases (JAS GL2017)., Methods: Patients with documented LDL-C test results were extracted from the Medical Data Vision claims database between July 2018 and June 2021 and divided into three groups according to JAS GL2017: primary prevention high risk (Group I, LDL-C goal ＜120 mg/dL), secondary prevention (Group II, LDL-C goal ＜100 mg/dL), and secondary prevention high risk (Group III, LDL-C goal ＜70 mg/dL)., Results: The mean LDL-C value was 108.7 mg/dL (n=125,235), 94.4 mg/dL (n=57,910), and 90.6 mg/dL (n=33,850) in Groups I, II, and III, respectively. Intensive statin monotherapy (pitavastatin, rosuvastatin, or atorvastatin) was the most frequently prescribed lipid-lowering treatment (21.6%, 30.8%, and 42.7% in Groups I, II, and III, respectively), followed by ezetimibe (2.5%, 7.1%, and 8.5% in Groups I, II, and III, respectively). LDL-C goals were achieved by 65.5%, 60.6%, and 25.4% of patients overall in Groups I, II, and III, respectively. Achievement rates were 83.9%, 75.3%, and 29.5% in patients prescribed intensive statin monotherapy and 82.3%, 86.4%, and 46.4% in those prescribed statin and ezetimibe combinations in Groups I, II, and III, respectively. In Group III, the proportion of patients with familial hypercholesterolemia prescribed statin and ezetimibe combinations achieving LDL-C goals was low (32.5%)., Conclusions: The proportion of patients achieving LDL-C goals for secondary prevention in the high-risk group remains low even with statin and ezetimibe combination therapy.

Background: The prevalence of overweight and obesity are well known risk factors of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD). We aimed to examine the association between body mass index (BMI) and ASCVD over a 23-year follow-up in young adults. We also qualified how much of the effects of obesity on ASCVD were mediated through blood pressure, cholesterol, and glucose., Methods: Data are from the Korean Life Course Health Study, a cohort study of 226,955 Korean young adults aged 20-39. At baseline, the participants undertook routine health assessments where their BMI was measured in 1992-1994; and the metabolic mediators including systolic blood pressure (SBP), fasting serum glucose (FSG), and total cholesterol (TC) were re-measured in 2002-2004. The main outcomes of the study include incident events of ischemic heart disease (IHD), stroke, and ASCVD between 2005 and 2015. Cox proportional model was used to calculate adjusted hazard ratios (HRs) for ASCVD., Results: In both men and women, the direct effect of BMI on ASCVD was greater than the indirect effect. The percentage of excess HR of BMI mediated by all of the metabolic mediators, including SBP, FSG, and TC, was 45.7% for stroke and 18.7% for IHD in men and 27.5% for stroke and 17.6% for IHD in women., Conclusion: High BMI in young adults increases the risk of metabolic mediators in their middle age, and metabolic mediators explain the adverse effects of high BMI on stroke risk than IHD risk.

This study aimed to investigate the associations between cord serum total cholesterol (TC) and triglyceride (TG)levels and perinatal factors and determine the reference levels of cord blood TC and TG in Japanese neonates. This was a prospective birth cohort study using data from the Japan Environment and Children's Study, which included data on births from 2011 to 2014 in Japan. TC and TG levels were determined in cord blood samples. A total of 70,535 pairs of neonates (male: 36,001, female: 34,524) and mothers were included. The mean cord blood TC and TG levels were 72.2 mg/dL and 24.4 mg/dL, respectively. Multiple regression analyses revealed that gestational age and birth weight were significantly associated with cord blood TC (coefficient -2.35, 95% confidence interval [CI] -2.40 - -2.22 and coefficient 0.002, 95% CI 0.002-0.003, respectively) and TG (coefficient 3.09, 95% CI 3.01-3.17 and coefficient - 0.009, 95% CI - 0.009-0.008, respectively) levels. Mean cord blood TG and TC levels decreased over the preterm period; however, these parameters increased during the term. Furthermore, the mean cord blood TC and TG levels decreased over the entire range of birth weight categories.    Conclusion: Mean cord blood TG and TC levels decreased over the preterm period; however, these parameters increased during the term. Furthermore, the mean cord blood TC and TG levels decreased over the entire range of birth weight categories in Japanese newborns. Maternal complications such as maternal parity, HDP, PROM, maternal obesity and income level were associated with cord TC and TG levels. What is Known: • No studies have ascertained the reference levels of cord blood lipid levels in Japan. What is New: • Mean cord blood TG and TC levels decreased over the preterm period; however, these parameters increased during the term., (© 2023. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature.)

Background: Japanese cedar pollinosis (JCP) is a challenging public health problem in Japan. Altered gut microbiota is associated with several diseases, including allergic diseases. However, only a few studies have focused on JCP and the underlying mechanisms for probiotic effects remain unclear. In addition, this study is the first observation of the correlation between the gut microbiota and blood lipid in JCP. Methods: Faecal samples from JCP subjects were collected before and after treatment with ( n = 14) and without ( n = 11) LGG-TMC0356-fermented milk for 10 weeks. Gut microbiota composition was characterized from faecal DNA using sequencing of 16S rRNA genes. Results: 16S rRNA-based operational taxonomic unit clustering of the microbiota revealed that LGG-TMC0356-fermented milk significantly altered gut microbiota after 10 weeks of milk consumption, and eight dominant genera of microbes were detected. During the JCP season, the Bacteroidetes/ Firmicutes ratio, when compared to baseline, was significantly decreased in subjects at end of the study. Bacteroidetes showed positive correlation with LDL- and HDL-cholesterol levels, whereas Firmicutes showed negative correlation with total cholesterol, LDL- and HDL- cholesterol. Conclusions: The altered gut microbiota through supplementation of fermented milk containing the study probiotics may be a prospective target for protection against JCP, with beneficial effects on blood lipid levels. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Helicobacter pylori infection is a known risk factor for duodenal ulcers, gastritis, and gastric cancer. The eradication of H. pylori is successful in treating these disorders; however, the success rate of eradication therapy is declining. There may be an interaction with nutrient intake to account for this decline. Objective: We investigated the influence of food and nutrient intake on H. pylori eradication therapy. Design: In this study, 4014 subjects underwent endoscopy, were tested for serum antibodies to H. pylori (2046 positive; 51.0%), and had their food intake assessed with the use of a food-frequency questionnaire (FFQ). Of the positive subjects, endoscopies showed that 389 (19.0%) had gastritis and/or duodenal ulcers and were also positive for a 13C-urea breath test (UBT). These 389 subjects received 1-wk H. pylori eradication therapy with lansoprazole, amoxicillin, and clarithromycin and a second UBT 8 wk after treatment. Complete demographic characteristics, serum lipid, insulin, glycated hemoglobin, C-reactive protein (CRP), and creatinine concentrations as well as complete FFQs were available for 352 subjects. Multivariate logistic regression analyses were performed to determine factors that were associated with successful H. pylori eradication therapy. Results: The success rate of eradication therapy was 60.4% (235 of 389). Factors associated with the failure of eradication therapy included increased age (P = 0.02), higher CRP concentrations (P < 0.01), higher dietary cholesterol (P < 0.01) or egg intake (P < 0.01), higher ω-3 (n-3) fatty acid (P = 0.02) or fish intake (P = 0.01), and higher vitamin D intake (P = 0.02). Moreover, the higher vitamin D intake was strongly linked to higher fish intake. A limitation of the study is that we did not assess the antibiotic resistance of H. pylori. Conclusions: Our results indicate that higher egg and fish intake may be negatively correlated with successful H. pylori eradication therapy in H. pylori-positive subjects with gastritis and/or duodenal ulcers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background It remains unclear whether treatment of dyslipidemia with 3-hydroxy-3-methyl-glutaryl-coenzyme A reductase inhibitors (statins) reduces the risk of developing hypertension. Objective In this post-hoc analysis of the Management of Elevated Cholesterol in the Primary Prevention Group of Adult Japanese (MEGA) Study, a large-scale primary prevention trial with pravastatin, we examined the preventive effect of pravastatin on the future development of hypertension in patients with hypercholesterolemia. Methods Of the overall (MEGA) Study population, 3397 nonhypertensive patients at baseline were enrolled in this study. The patients were randomly assigned to either the diet alone group (n = 1722) or the diet plus pravastatin group (n = 1675) and then were followed-up for a median of 36 months to determine new-onset hypertension. Results During the follow-up period, 1595 patients developed hypertension (49.1% in the diet alone group and 44.7% in the diet plus pravastatin group). After adjusting for multiple covariates, the diet plus pravastatin group showed a 10% reduction in the risk of developing hypertension (hazard ratio 0.90, 95% confidence interval 0.81–0.998), compared with the diet alone group. Subgroup analyses revealed that the preventive effect of pravastatin on the development of hypertension was pronounced in patients aged ≥60 years, men, those with chronic kidney disease or diabetes mellitus and those without obesity. Conclusions Pravastatin reduced the risk of developing hypertension in Japanese patients with hypercholesterolemia. The risk reduction of cardiovascular disease with statins could be partly explained by their preventive effect on the development of hypertension. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Objectives: Arterial stiffness is a leading cause of cardiovascular disease (CVD), and it is considered to be affected by dietary intake. However, few studies have examined the relationship between major dietary patterns and brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity (baPWV) among Japanese middle-aged subjects. We studied whether major dietary patterns were associated with baPWV in this population.Methods and Study Design: Between 2009 and 2012, 70 Japanese middle-aged subjects (39 men and 31 women) with no history of stroke, coronary heart disease, or cancer were studied. Dietary intake was documented using a validated food-frequency questionnaire, and dietary patterns were generated using factor analysis. Correlational analyses were performed between baPWV and identified dietary patterns and between baPWV and individual risk factors (total cholesterol, triglyceride, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol [LDL-C], high-density lipoprotein cholesterol [HDL-C], non- HDL-C, LDL/HDL ratio, and augmentation index).Results: Two dietary patterns were identified: a rice-rich pattern (high in rice, breads, oils and fats, meats, and confectionery) and a vegetable-rich pattern (high in vegetables, fruit, fish, and seaweed). The rice-rich pattern was not associated with baPWVor other risk factors. A significant inverse correlation was found between baPWV and the vegetable-rich dietary pattern (p<0.05).Conclusions: Our findings suggest that a dietary pattern characterized by high consumption of vegetables, seafood, seaweed, fruit, and pulse is inversely associated with arterial stiffness measured by baPWV. This diet offers an additional nutritional approach to the prevention and treatment of arterial stiffness. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims: To examine temporal changes in health system performance for the control of diabetes and related risks for vascular complications in Japan over a decade.Methods: Data of 51,128 individuals aged ≥20years were obtained from the National Health and Nutrition Surveys in 2003-2012. Diabetes was defined as currently being treated by insulin or oral hypoglycaemic agents or having a glycated haemoglobin (HbA1c) level ≥6.5% (≥48mmol/mol). We estimated the prevalence and proportions of people with diabetes being treated and achieving target goals of HbA1c <7.0% (<53mmol/mol), blood pressure <130/80mmHg, and non-high-density lipoprotein cholesterol <130mg/dL. All estimates were age-standardized using the Japanese population in 2010.Results: The age-standardized prevalence of diabetes remained constant at approximately 8% and was significantly higher in men (P<0.001) and in individuals age ≥65years (P<0.001) throughout the study period. The proportion of people with diabetes being treated significantly increased from 41.8% (95% confidence interval, 37.2-46.5%) in 2003 to 54.9% (51.9-57.8%) in 2012, and the proportion of those having controlled HbA1c significantly increased from 13.4% (10.3-17.3%) in 2003 to 28.8% (26.3-31.5%) in 2012. These two rates were significantly higher in age ≥65years compared with younger adults in most of the survey years (P<0.05). The control rates of blood pressure and non-high-density lipoprotein cholesterol remained around 20% and 30-40%, respectively.Conclusions: Diabetes management in Japan has improved over the past decade but is still inadequate for prevention of vascular complications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The prevalence of smoking in patients with schizophrenia is higher than that in the general population and is an important medical issue. Short-term smoking cessation tends to worsen psychiatric symptoms in patients with schizophrenia but decreases sympathetic nervous system activity and improves plasma cholesterol levels in healthy people. Few studies have assessed the long-term effects of smoking cessation in patients with schizophrenia. Methods: Subjects were 70 Japanese patients with schizophrenia (38 smokers, 32 non-smokers). We compared the following clinical parameters between the two groups at baseline (before smoking cessation) and in each group separately between baseline and at three years after smoking cessation: autonomic nervous system activity, plasma cholesterol levels, body weight, drug therapy, and Global Assessment of Functioning scores. We also compared the mean changes in clinical parameters throughout this study between the groups at both time points. Autonomic nervous system activity was assessed by power spectral analysis of heart rate variability. Results: Parasympathetic nervous system activity and the doses of antiparkinsonian drugs in smokers were significantly higher than those in non-smokers at baseline. Smoking cessation was associated with significantly decreased sympathetic nervous system activity and decreased doses of antipsychotics and antiparkinsonian drugs at three years after smoking cessation. However, there was no significant difference in the mean change in clinical factors scores, except for Global Assessment of Functioning scores, between smokers and non-smokers at three years after smoking cessation. Conclusions: Our results suggest that smoking reduces both autonomic nervous system activity and the effectiveness of drug therapy with antipsychotics and antiparkinsonian drugs in patients with schizophrenia, but that both factors could be ameliorated over the long term by smoking cessation. Taken together with the findings of previous studies, smoking cessation in patients with schizophrenia has many long-term positive physiological effects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: This study aimed to examine the sex-associated differences in the relationship between dyslipidemia and severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) spike immunoglobulin (Ig)G antibodies among BNT162b2 vaccine recipients., Methods: Participants were staff members (aged 21-75 years) of a medical and research institution who underwent an anti-SARS-CoV-2 spike IgG antibody test after the second (n = 1872) and third doses (n = 1075) of the BNT162b2 vaccine. Dyslipidemia was defined as triglyceride level ≥150 mg/dl, high-density lipoprotein-cholesterol level <40 mg/dl, low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol level ≥140 mg/dl, or lipid-lowering medication use. Multivariable linear regression was used to calculate the ratio of means for SARS-CoV-2 spike IgG titre according to dyslipidemia status., Results: The prevalence of dyslipidemia was 38.0% in men and 19.6% in women. The relationship between dyslipidemia and SARS-CoV-2 spike IgG titres after the second dose differed markedly by sex (P for interaction <0.001). In men, dyslipidemia was associated with significantly lower IgG titres: the ratio of means (95% confidence interval) was 0.82 (0.72-0.93). However, this association disappeared after the third dose (0.96 [0.78-1.18]). Of the dyslipidemia components, hypertriglyceridemia was inversely associated with SARS-CoV-2 spike IgG antibody titre after both the second and third doses (ratio of means: 0.82 [0.70-0.95] and 0.73 [0.56-0.95], respectively). In women, IgG titres did not differ according to dyslipidemia or hypertriglyceridemia status after either dose., Conclusions: These results suggest a detrimental role of hypertriglyceridemia in the humoral immune response to the BNT162b2 vaccine for COVID-19 in men but not in women., (© 2022 John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)

Purpose: Low-carbohydrate diets (LCD) are a popular dietary strategy for weight reduction. The effects of LCD on long-term outcome vary depending on type of LCD, possibly due to the fact that effects on cardiometabolic risk factors may vary with different types of LCD. Accordingly, we studied these relations. Methods: We assessed serum concentrations of high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDLc), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDLc), high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (CRP), total cholesterol, glycated hemoglobin, and uric acid, and nutrient intakes by standardized methods in men and women ages 40-59 years from four population samples of Japanese in Japan (553 men and 544 women, combined). For people consuming usual, animal-based, and plant-based LCDs, we calculated LCD scores, based on relative level of fat, protein, and carbohydrate, by modifying the methods of Halton et al. Instead of calculating scores based on animal or vegetable fat, we used saturated fatty acids (SFA) or monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFA) + polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA). Results: In multivariate regression analyses with adjustment for site, age, sex, BMI, smoking, alcohol intake, physical activity, and years of education, all three LCD scores were significantly positively related to HDLc (all P < 0.001), but not to LDLc. The plant-based LCD score was significantly inversely related to log CRP (coefficient = −0.010, P = 0.018). Conclusions: All three LCD scores were significantly positively related to HDLc. The plant-based LCD score was significantly inversely related to CRP. Carbohydrate intake below 50 % of total energy with higher intakes of vegetable protein and MUFA + PUFA, and lower intakes of SFA may be favorable for reducing cardiometabolic risk factors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim Metabolic syndrome is associated with periodontal disease and dental caries; however, little attention has been given to the association between metabolic syndrome and tooth loss, which is the endpoint of these two diseases. This study examined this association in middle-aged adults over a 5-year period. Methods A retrospective study was performed in 2107 participants (1718 males and 389 females) aged 35-60 years who underwent annual dental check-ups, to evaluate tooth loss and metabolic components, including obesity, elevated triglycerides, blood pressure, fasting glucose, and reduced high-density lipoprotein. Logistic regression analysis was performed to evaluate the association between metabolic syndrome (≥3 components) at the baseline examination and tooth loss. Results Over a 5-year period, 10.8% of the participants lost at least one tooth. Compared to those with no metabolic components, participants with ≥3 components had an increased risk of tooth loss (odds ratio = 1.54; 95% confidence interval: 1.01-2.37), adjusting for age, gender, dental caries experience, attachment loss, oral hygiene status, number of teeth, tooth brushing frequency, smoking, and occupational status. Conclusions Metabolic syndrome was associated with the incidence of tooth loss among middle-aged adults. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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. We investigated whether serum UA is associated with handgrip strength (HGS), which is a useful indicator of sarcopenia, among Japanese community-dwelling elderly persons. The present study included 602 men aged 72 ± 7 years and 847 women aged 71 ± 6 years from a rural village. We examined the cross-sectional relationship between serum UA and HGS. In both genders, HGS increased significantly with increased serum UA levels. A multiple linear regression analysis using HGS as an objective variable and various confounding factors as explanatory variables showed that in men age, drinking status, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), and estimated glomerular filtration ratio (eGFRCKDEPI) were independently and significantly associated with HGS, and in women, serum UA as well as age, body mass index, drinking status, diastolic blood pressure, and eGFRCKDEPI were independently and significantly associated with HGS. In women, age and multivariate-adjusted HGS were significantly higher in the Quartile-3 (4.8–5.4 mg/dL) and Quartile-4 groups (5.5–9.3 mg/dL) of serum UA than in the lower groups (0.7–4.7 mg/dL). These results suggest that serum UA may have a protective role in aging-associated decline in muscle strength in community-dwelling elderly women. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Few epidemiological studies have assessed the relationship between the traditional Japanese dietary pattern and longitudinal changes in cardiovascular disease risk factors among Japanese people. We designed a 3-year longitudinal study of 980 subjects living in Japan to evaluate how the Japanese dietary pattern is related to longitudinal changes in well-recognized risk factors for cardiovascular disease among apparently healthy Japanese adults. Methods: Dietary consumption was assessed via a validated food frequency questionnaire. Principal component analysis was used to derive three major dietary patterns-'Japanese,' 'sweets-fruits-cooked wheaten food,' and 'Izakaya (Japanese Pub)' from 39 food groups. Results: After adjustment for potential confounders, the mean (95 % confidence interval) for the change per year in diastolic blood pressure for men, systolic blood pressure, and diastolic blood pressure for women related to the 'Japanese' dietary pattern factor score tertiles were 0.89 (0.10, 1.68), 2.25 (0.19, 4.31), and 0.75 (−1.00, 2.50) for the lowest tertile, 0.77 (−0.02, 1.56), 1.01 (−1.13, 3.15), and 0.44 (−1.38, 2.26) for the middle tertile and − 0.04 (−0.81, 0.72), −0.48 (−2.52, 1.56), and −0.77 (−2.51, 0.96) for the highest tertile (trend P value = 0.03, <0.01, and 0.04, respectively). A significant detrimental relationship was found between the 'Izakaya (Japanese Pub)' pattern factor score tertiles and the longitudinal change in serum triglyceride concentration only in men (trend P value = 0.02). Conclusions: Greater adherence to a traditional Japanese diet was independently related to a decreased change every year in diastolic blood pressure in men and women and in systolic blood pressure in women over a 3-year follow-up period. The findings suggest that the 'Japanese' dietary pattern appeared to be related to a fall in blood pressure, which might have a beneficial effect on cardiovascular disease. A randomized trial is required to clarify the underlying mechanism. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims: This open-label, randomized, parallel-group comparative study compared the efficacy of rosuvastatin (5mg/day) and atorvastatin (10mg/day) for reduction of small dense low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (sd LDL-C) levels in Japanese patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM).Methods: Patients with T2DM and hypercholesterolemia with detectable sd LDL-C after receiving 10mg/day atorvastatin for ≥ 24 weeks were randomly assigned to receive rosuvastatin (5mg/day; switched treatment) or atorvastatin (10mg/day; continued treatment) for 12 weeks. The primary endpoints were changes in sd LDL-C levels and sd LDL-C/total LDL-C ratio evaluated using the LipoPhor AS(®) system.Results: There were no significant percent changes from baseline for LDL-C levels between the switched (n=55) and the continued treatment group (n=56). However, the former group exhibited a statistically significant reduction from baseline of sd LDL-C levels, sd LDL-C/total LDL-C ratio compared with the latter group (-3.8 mg/dL vs. -1.4 mg/dL, p=0.014; -2.3% vs. -0.6%, p=0.004, respectively). Multiple regression analysis among all subjects revealed that independent factors contributing to the reduction in sd LDL-C levels were a change in LDL-C (p=0.003) and triglyceride (TG) levels (p=0.006), treatment group (the switched group=1, the continued group=0; standard coefficient=-1.2, p=0.034) and baseline glycated hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) (p=0.045), respectively.Conclusion: Switching from 10mg atorvastatin to 5mg rosuvastatin may be a useful therapeutic option to reduce sd LDL-C levels in Japanese hypercholesterolemic patients with T2DM. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Growing evidence has shown that lack of organizational justice (i.e., procedural justice and interactional justice) is associated with coronary heart disease (CHD) while biological mechanisms underlying this association have not yet been fully clarified. Purpose: The purpose of the present study was to investigate the cross-sectional association of organizational justice with physiological CHD risk factors (i.e., blood pressure, high-density lipoprotein [HDL] cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein [LDL] cholesterol, and triglyceride) in Japanese employees. Methods: Overall, 3598 male and 901 female employees from two manufacturing companies in Japan completed self-administered questionnaires measuring organizational justice, demographic characteristics, and lifestyle factors. They completed health checkup, which included blood pressure and serum lipid measurements. Multiple logistic regression analyses and trend tests were conducted. Results: Among male employees, multiple logistic regression analyses and trend tests showed significant associations of low procedural justice and low interactional justice with high triglyceride (defined as 150 mg/dL or greater) after adjusting for demographic characteristics and lifestyle factors. Among female employees, trend tests showed significant dose-response relationship between low interactional justice and high LDL cholesterol (defined as 140 mg/dL or greater) while multiple logistic regression analysis showed only marginally significant or insignificant odds ratio of high LDL cholesterol among the low interactional justice group. Neither procedural justice nor interactional justice was associated with blood pressure or HDL cholesterol. Conclusion: Organizational justice may be an important psychosocial factor associated with increased triglyceride at least among Japanese male employees. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]