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Biomedical subjects

Hirotsugu Ueshima

Publications and source records attributed to Hirotsugu Ueshima.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2006

Alcohol consumption and coronary artery calcium in middle-aged Japanese men.

Epidemiologic studies have investigated the relation between alcohol intake and coronary calcification, with controversial results. Furthermore, the influence of heavy drinking has not been well elucidated. In the present study, a random sample of community-based Japanese men aged 40 to 49 years without a history of cardiovascular disease (n=245) were examined for coronary artery calcium (CAC) determined by electron-beam computed tomography and drinking status. There was a J-shaped association between alcohol intake and CAC. There was an increase of CAC in heavy drinkers (>or=46 g/day), and participants who were drinking>or=69 g/day showed a significant increase in CAC compared with never drinkers after adjusting for other cardiovascular risk factors.

Adult↗
PubMed2006

Dietary factors related to higher plasma fibrinogen levels of Japanese-americans in hawaii compared with Japanese in Japan.

OBJECTIVE: We investigated whether dietary factors explain higher plasma fibrinogen levels in Japanese emigrants living a Western lifestyle in Hawaii compared with Japanese in Japan. METHODS AND RESULTS: Plasma fibrinogen and nutrient intakes were examined by standardized methods in men and women 40 to 59 years of age from a Japanese-American sample in Hawaii (100 men and 106 women) and 4 population samples in Japan (569 men and 567 women). Multiple linear regression models were used to examine the relationship between dietary factors and the plasma fibrinogen difference between Hawaii and Japan. Average plasma fibrinogen was significantly higher in Hawaii compared with Japan (P<0.001 in both genders). In multiple linear regression analyses with each dietary variable considered separately, body mass index reduced the plasma fibrinogen difference between Hawaii and Japan by 20.4%; iron intake (mg/1000 kcal) and estimated total sugar intake (%kcal) reduced this difference by 30.0% and 14.4%, respectively. In a model that included body mass index, iron, estimated total sugars, and caffeine (also age and gender), this difference was reduced by 61.3% (from 42.2 to 16.3 mg/dL). CONCLUSIONS: Higher intake of iron, sugar, and caffeine, in addition to obesity, account largely for higher fibrinogen levels with Westernized lifestyle.

Adult↗
PubMed2006

The association between high-density lipoprotein cholesterol level and cholesteryl ester transfer protein TaqIB gene polymorphism is influenced by alcohol drinking in a population-based sample.

Cholesteryl ester transfer protein (CETP) is a key enzyme in high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol metabolism. We studied the association between CETP TaqIB polymorphism and the HDL cholesterol levels considering environmental factors in a population-based sample consisting of 1729 participants who did not use lipid-lowering agents (659 men and 1070 women). The CETP TaqIB genotypes were determined by PCR-RFLP analysis. The serum HDL cholesterol levels of female participants with the B2B2 genotype were significantly higher than those with other genotypes (p<0.001). Multiple regression analysis with covariates such as age, waist to hip (W/H) ratio, alcohol drinking, current smoking, non-HDL cholesterol, and logarithm of triglyceride revealed that the CETP TaqIB genotype was an independent determinant of HDL cholesterol levels in men (p=0.049) and women (p<0.001). Subgroup analysis revealed that an interaction was observed between the CETP TaqIB polymorphism and alcohol consumption in the regulation of HDL cholesterol levels in men (p=0.049) and women (p=0.022). No interactions were observed between the CETP TaqIB polymorphism and current smoking status, body mass index, or W/H ratio in the regulation of HDL cholesterol levels. The association between the CETP TaqIB polymorphism and HDL cholesterol levels was more evident in alcohol consumers than in non-drinkers.

Adult↗
PubMed2006

Assessment of analytical reproducibility of 1H NMR spectroscopy based metabonomics for large-scale epidemiological research: the INTERMAP Study.

Large-scale population phenotyping for molecular epidemiological studies is subject to all the usual criteria of analytical chemistry. As part of a major phenotyping investigation we have used high-resolution 1H NMR spectroscopy to characterize 24-h urine specimens obtained from population samples in Aito Town, Japan (n = 259), Chicago, IL (n = 315), and Guangxi, China (n = 278). We have investigated analytical reproducibility, urine specimen storage procedures, interinstrument variability, and split specimen detection. Our data show that the multivariate analytical reproducibility of the NMR screening platform was >98% and that most classification errors were due to urine specimen handling inhomogeneity. Differences in metabolite profiles were then assessed for Aito Town, Chicago, and Guangxi population samples; novel combinations of biomarkers were detected that separated the population samples. These cross-population differences in urinary metabolites could be related to genetic, dietary, and gut microbial factors.

Biomarkers↗
PubMed2006

Smoking scenes in popular Japanese serial television dramas: descriptive analysis during the same 3-month period in two consecutive years.

Japanese serial television dramas are becoming very popular overseas, particularly in other Asian countries. Exposure to smoking scenes in movies and television dramas has been known to trigger initiation of habitual smoking in young people. Smoking scenes in Japanese dramas may affect the smoking behavior of many young Asians. We examined smoking scenes and smoking-related items in serial television dramas targeting young audiences in Japan during the same season in two consecutive years. Fourteen television dramas targeting the young audience broadcast between July and September in 2001 and 2002 were analyzed. A total of 136 h 42 min of television programs were divided into unit scenes of 3 min (a total of 2734 unit scenes). All the unit scenes were reviewed for smoking scenes and smoking-related items. Of the 2734 3-min unit scenes, 205 (7.5%) were actual smoking scenes and 387 (14.2%) depicted smoking environments with the presence of smoking-related items, such as ash trays. In 185 unit scenes (90.2% of total smoking scenes), actors were shown smoking. Actresses were less frequently shown smoking (9.8% of total smoking scenes). Smoking characters in dramas were in the 20-49 age group in 193 unit scenes (94.1% of total smoking scenes). In 96 unit scenes (46.8% of total smoking scenes), at least one non-smoker was present in the smoking scenes. The smoking locations were mainly indoors, including offices, restaurants and homes (122 unit scenes, 59.6%). The most common smoking-related items shown were ash trays (in 45.5% of smoking-item-related scenes) and cigarettes (in 30.2% of smoking-item-related scenes). Only 3 unit scenes (0.1 % of all scenes) promoted smoking prohibition. This was a descriptive study to examine the nature of smoking scenes observed in Japanese television dramas from a public health perspective.

Adult↗
PubMed2006

The relationship between serum total cholesterol and all-cause or cause-specific mortality in a 17.3-year study of a Japanese cohort.

No study has shown a positive relationship between hypercholesterolemia and all-cause mortality in the Japanese population. Therefore, a cohort study of 17.3 years' duration was conducted on 9216 participants aged 30 years or older, selected randomly from throughout Japan. In both the lowest (<4.14mmol/L, 160mg/dl) and highest (>or=6.71mmol/L, 260mg/dl) total cholesterol (TC) groups, there was a positive association between TC and risk of all-cause mortality (hazard ratio (HR) 1.19; 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.03-1.37 and 1.36 (95% CI, 1.05-1.77), respectively). The lowest TC group had an increased risk of liver disease (HR 3.03; 95% CI, 1.70-5.43), whereas the highest TC group had an increased risk of coronary heart disease (HR 3.81; 95% CI, 1.70-5.43). After exclusion of deaths due to liver disease during the entire follow-up period and all-cause deaths within the first 5 years of follow-up, the increased HR in the lowest TC group disappeared (HR 1.05; 95% CI, 0.89-1.24). Although the cut-off point seemed to be higher than that for Western populations, hypercholesterolemia was shown to be positively associated with all-cause mortality in Japan.

Adult↗
PubMed2006

Association between protein intake and blood pressure: the INTERMAP Study.

BACKGROUND: Findings from epidemiological studies suggest an inverse relationship between individuals' protein intake and their blood pressure. METHODS: Cross-sectional epidemiological study of 4680 persons, aged 40 to 59 years, from 4 countries. Systolic and diastolic blood pressure was measured 8 times at 4 visits. Dietary intake based on 24-hour dietary recalls was recorded 4 times. Information on dietary supplements was noted. Two 24-hour urine samples were obtained per person. RESULTS: There was a significant inverse relationship between vegetable protein intake and blood pressure. After adjusting for confounders, blood pressure differences associated with higher vegetable protein intake of 2.8% kilocalories were -2.14 mm Hg systolic and -1.35 mm Hg diastolic (P<.001 for both); after further adjustment for height and weight, these differences were -1.11 mm Hg systolic (P<.01) and -0.71 mm Hg diastolic (P<.05). For animal protein intake, significant positive blood pressure differences did not persist after adjusting for height and weight. For total protein intake (which had a significant interaction with sex), there was no significant association with blood pressure in women, nor in men after adjusting for dietary confounders. There were significant differences in the amino acid content of the diets of persons with high vegetable and low animal protein intake vs the diets of persons with low vegetable and high animal protein intake. CONCLUSIONS: Vegetable protein intake was inversely related to blood pressure. This finding is consistent with recommendations that a diet high in vegetable products be part of healthy lifestyle for prevention of high blood pressure and related diseases.

Adult↗
PubMed2006

The inverse relationship between serum high-density lipoprotein cholesterol level and all-cause mortality in a 9.6-year follow-up study in the Japanese general population.

In populations with higher high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) levels and lower coronary mortality than Western populations, such as in Japan, the beneficial effect of HDL-C on all-cause mortality may be different. Furthermore, prior studies have not focused on very high level of HDL-C. A total of 7175 community Japanese residents without a past history of cardiovascular disease in 300 randomly selected districts were followed for 9.6 years. During follow-up, there were 636 deaths. The multivariate adjusted hazard ratio (HR) of HDL-C for all-cause or cause-specific mortality was calculated using a Cox proportional hazard model adjusted for other cardiovascular risk factors. The all-cause mortality suggested an inverse, graded relation with HDL-C categories; HR for the very high HDL-C category (> or = 1.82 mmol/L), compared with the reference group (1.04-1.55 mmol/L), was 0.73 (95% confidence interval, C.I., 0.50-1.06) for men, 0.63 (95% C.I., 0.41-0.94) for women and 0.70 (95% C.I., 0.53-0.93) when men and women were combined. Serum HDL-C as a continuous variable showed a significant inverse association with all-cause mortality. The cardiovascular mortality indicated a non-significant but inverse graded relation with HDL-C categories. As in the many Western populations, serum HDL-C levels were inversely associated with all-cause mortality in the Japanese general population.

Biomarkers↗
PubMed2006

Age-specific effects of systolic and diastolic blood pressures on mortality due to cardiovascular diseases among Japanese men (NIPPON DATA80).

OBJECTIVE: To clarify the relationship between mortality due to cardiovascular diseases (CVD) and systolic blood pressure (SBP) and diastolic blood pressure (DBP) in young and elderly Japanese men in the absence of antihypertensive treatments. DESIGN: A 19-year cohort study using the 1980 National Survey of Cardiovascular Diseases and the identification of the underlying causes of death using national vital statistics data. METHODS: In 1999, a 19-year follow-up study was conducted among participants randomly selected from the Japanese population for the 1980 National Survey of Cardiovascular Diseases. Among the male participants that were not receiving antihypertensive treatment, information was obtained for about 91.3% of the subjects (n = 3779). Age-adjusted mortality rates using the person-year method were calculated to compare the relationships of SBP and DBP levels with CVD mortality for different age groups (aged 30-64, 65-74, and 75 years or more). RESULTS: The total number of observed person-years was 64 598 and the number of CVD-related deaths after 19 years was 253. Both SBP and DBP levels were significantly and linearly related to CVD mortality in the age groups 30-64 years (P < 0.001 and P = 0.01, respectively) and 65-74 years (P < 0.001 and P = 0.03, respectively). In the group of participants that were at least 75 years old, however, no significant increase in the relative risk of CVD was observed with increasing DBP levels (P = 0.156), whereas the relative risk of CVD increased significantly with increasing SBP levels (P = 0.038). Multivariate analysis adjusting for major risk factors confirmed these relationships. Standardized hazard ratios (95% confidence intervals) of SBP were 1.53 (1.19-1.96) for 30-64 year olds, 1.70 (1.31-2.20) for 64-74 year olds, and 1.23 (1.03-1.47) for participants 75 years old or more, whereas those of DBP were 1.52 (1.12-2.06), 1.60 (1.21-2.10), and 1.10 (0.94-1.28), respectively. CONCLUSIONS: These data show that elevated SBP is an independent risk factor for CVD mortality for Japanese men of all ages, whereas elevated DBP is not an independent risk factor for CVD mortality for elderly men.

Adult↗
PubMed2006

Effect of conventional risk factors for excess cardiovascular death in men: NIPPON DATA80.

BACKGROUND: The present study examined how sex differences in conventional risk factors for cardiovascular disease (CVD), especially smoking, account for excess male mortality from CVD in Japan. METHODS AND RESULTS: In a 14-year follow-up study, causes of death were ascertained among 10,546 Japanese aged 30 years or older at the baseline. The proportion of the excess male risk of CVD explained by the differences in risk factors was estimated as (HR0-HR1)/(HR0-1), where HR0 is the age-adjusted hazard ratio (men vs women) and HR1 is the age and risk factor-adjusted hazard ratio. The age-adjusted male:female ratios were 1.60 (95% confidence interval (CI), 1.32-1.94) for CVD, 1.75 (95% CI, 1.33-2.30) for stroke, and 1.55 (95% CI, 0.97-2.49) for coronary heart disease. The proportion of excess male risk of CVD explained by smoking was 46% and excess risk explained by all risk factors including smoking was 36%. In men, drinking habits decreased the excess risk of CVD. Except for the association between drinking habits and CVD, the impact of the hazard ratios of conventional risk factors had no sex difference. CONCLUSIONS: Smoking contributes substantially to excess male mortality from CVD when the smoking rates vary substantially by sex.

Aged↗
PubMed2006

Gender and age effects on ventricular repolarization abnormality in Japanese general carriers of a G643S common single nucleotide polymorphism for the KCNQ1 gene.

BACKGROUND: The KCNQ1 single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP), G643S, is known to be associated with secondary long QT syndrome (LQTS) and to cause a mild reduction in KCNQ1 current. However, the precise incidence and its association with QT intervals remain unknown in the greater cohort of the population in Japan. METHODS AND RESULTS: The genotype was screened at codon 643 of KCNQ1 in 992 residents of a farming community. Eighty-eight individuals (female/male =52/36, 8.9%) were found to have a heterozygous G643S SNP. Matching both gender and age, we randomly selected 243 control (G643G) cases and compared the electrocardiogram parameters in both groups; QT, QTf (QT corrected by Fridericia's formula) intervals, the peak and the end of the T wave (Tpe) interval, and the Tpe/QT ratio. The latter 2 reflect the transmural dispersion of ventricular repolarization (TDR). In G643S carriers, both Tpe and Tpe/QT were significantly longer than in non-carriers, without significant QT prolongation. Both genders showed a tendency for an increase in QTf with aging. In females, both Tpe and Tpe/QT showed a similar significant increase with age, which was not observed in males. CONCLUSIONS: In elderly females, G643S might be an independent risk factor for secondary LQTS by causing a greater TDR.

Adult↗
PubMed2006

Chronic kidney disease is a risk factor for cardiovascular death in a community-based population in Japan: NIPPON DATA90.

BACKGROUND: Chronic kidney disease (CKD) has been identified as a risk factor for cardiovascular disease (CVD). METHODS AND RESULTS: The risk of cardiovascular death was evaluated in a large cohort of participants selected randomly from the overall Japanese population. Participants (mean age, 52.4 years) free of previous CVD were followed up for 10 years. Glomerular filtration rate (GFR) was estimated using the abbreviated equation developed at the Cleveland Clinic laboratory for the Modification of Diet in Renal Disease study. Of the 7,316 participants, 6.7% had CKD with a GFR<60 at baseline. Even after adjustment for other risk factors, the presence of CKD conferred an increased risk of cardiovascular death with a hazard ratio of 1.20 (95% confidence interval, 0.82-1.76). Furthermore, a negative, graded correlation between GFR and risk of cardiovascular death was observed: 1.09 (0.72-1.64) for a 60 or=90). The proportion of excess cardiovascular death due to CKD was 1.3%. CONCLUSION: CKD was an independent risk factor for cardiovascular death in a community-dwelling Japanese population.

Adult↗
PubMed2006

Combined cardiovascular risk factors and outcome: NIPPON DATA80, 1980-1994.

BACKGROUND: To examine the prognostic significance of the high-risk group with combined cardiovascular risk factors in the Japanese, we analyzed the relationship between the high-risk group with combined risks and coronary heart disease (CHD) and stroke mortality using the NIPPON DATA80 database. METHODS AND RESULTS: At baseline in 1980, those of age>or=30 years were randomly selected and 4,144 men and 5,318 women without CHD and/or stroke at baseline were followed for 14 years. The cutoff values for risk components obtained heuristically by Cox analysis were hypertension (systolic>or=130, or diastolic>or=85 mmHg, or on antihypertensive drugs), hypercholesterolemia (total cholesterol>or=200 mg/dl), hyperglycemia (>or=130 mg/dl, or self-reported diabetes) and obesity (body mass index>or=27 kg/m2). Subjects were divided into 3 groups (0, 1-2 and 3-4 risks). Compared with those men in the risk 0 group, the hazard ratios in men in the risk 3-4 for CHD mortality was 8.04 (95% confidence interval: 1.03-62.6), and the stroke mortality was 5.06 (1.53-16.7). In women, no statistically significant difference was found due to a lesser number of events. CONCLUSION: The high-risk group with combined risk factors is important risk for Japanese men.

Adult↗
PubMed2006

Electrocardiogram screening for left high R-wave predicts cardiovascular death in a Japanese community-based population: NIPPON DATA90.

Little is known about the efficacy of left ventricular hypertrophy diagnosed by electrocardiography for predicting cardiovascular disease in a general Japanese population. In a large cohort of participants selected randomly from the overall Japanese population, we attempted to evaluate the usefulness of a high amplitude R-wave (left high R-wave) on the electrocardiogram for predicting cardiovascular death. A total of 6,688 Japanese (mean age, 50.7 years old; 57% women) free of previous cardiovascular disease and use of antihypertensive agents at baseline were followed for 10 years, from 1990 to 2000. Left high R-wave on the electrocardiogram (the Minnesota Code, 3-1 or 3-3) was found in 9.4% of the 6,688 participants, in 14.6% of the 2,413 hypertensives and in 6.4% [corrected] of the 4,275 normotensives. During the follow-up period, 133 [corrected] participants died due to cardiovascular disease. After adjustment for systolic blood pressure and other risk factors, left high R-wave conferred an increased risk of cardiovascular death; the hazard ratio among all the participants was 1.88 (95% confidence interval, 1.22-2.89; p < 0.01), that among hypertensives was 1.97 (1.20-3.24; p = 0.01), and that among normotensives was 1.66 (0.69-3.98; p = 0.26). The population attributable risk percent of left high R-wave for cardiovascular death was 7.6% among all participants, 12.4% among hypertensives and 4.1% among normotensives. Left high R-wave on electrocardiogram, irrespective of the level of systolic blood pressure, was a predictive marker for cardiovascular death among community-dwelling Japanese.

Adult↗
PubMed2006

Effectiveness of a low-intensity intra-worksite intervention on smoking cessation in Japanese employees: a three-year intervention trial.

To test the effectiveness of a low-intensity intervention program for smoking cessation targeting the worksite environment in employees who had a low readiness to quit, we conducted an intervention trial at six intervention and six control worksites in Japan. A total of 2,307 smokers at baseline who remained at their worksite throughout the three-year study period were analyzed (1,017 in intervention and 1,290 in control groups). The multi-component program at the worksites consisted of (1) presenting information on the harms of tobacco smoking and the benefits of cessation by posters, websites, and newsletters; (2) smoking cessation campaigns for smokers; (3) advice on designation of smoking areas; and (4) periodic site-visits of the designated smoking areas by an expert researcher. At baseline, the intervention and control groups each had high prevalence of immotive or precontemplation, that reflected low readiness to quit (71.5% and 73.2%, respectively). The smoking cessation rate, as not having smoked for the preceding six months or longer, assessed at 36 months after the baseline survey by a self-administered questionnaire was significantly higher in the intervention group than the control group (12.1%, vs. 9.4%, p=0.021). The intervention program still had a significant effect on the smoking cessation rate after multiple logistic regression analysis adjusted for sex, age, type of occupation, age of starting smoking, quit attempts in the past, number of cigarettes per day, and readiness to quit (odds ratio: 1.38, 95% confidence interval: 1.05-1.81, p=0.02). The cost per additional quitter due to the intervention was calculated to be Yen 70,080. These findings indicate that this program is effective and can be implemented in similar workplaces where the prevalence of smoking is high and smokers' readiness to cease smoking is low.

Adult↗
PubMed2005

The determinants of plasma plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 levels differ for American and Japanese men aged 40-49.

BACKGROUND: Elevated plasma plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1) levels were associated with higher incidence of type II diabetes. Elucidating the determinants of PAI-1 in various ethnicities may help to understand the susceptibility to developing diabetes. The aim of our study was to compare PAI-1 levels between Americans and the Japanese in the post-war generation and to elucidate the determinants of the PAI-1 levels. METHODS: We conducted a cross-sectional study on a total of 198 men aged 40-49 in the US (Body mass index (BMI): 27.0+/-3.3 kg/m(2)) and Japan (BMI: 23.3+/-3.1 kg/m(2)). Examination included physique measurement (BMI and waist girth), blood analysis (lipid profiles, glucose, insulin, C-reactive protein, and PAI-1), and life-style assessment by self-administered questionnaires. RESULTS: PAI-1 levels were significantly lower in American than in Japanese men, even after adjustment for age, waist girth, cigarette smoking, habitual alcohol drinking, and other factors. In the Americans, waist girth, insulin, and cigarette smoking were significantly associated with PAI-1 levels, while waist girth and triglycerides were significantly associated with PAI-1 levels in the Japanese. CONCLUSIONS: PAI-1 levels were significantly lower in American than in Japanese men and the determinants of PAI-1 levels differ for American and Japanese men aged 40-49.

Adult↗
PubMed2005

Smoking and elevated blood pressure are the most important risk factors for subarachnoid hemorrhage in the Asia-Pacific region: an overview of 26 cohorts involving 306,620 participants.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: The cause of subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) is poorly understood and there are few large cohort studies of risk factors for SAH. We investigated the risk of SAH mortality and morbidity associated with common cardiovascular risk factors in the Asia-Pacific region and examined whether the strengths of these associations were different in Asian and Australasian (predominantly white) populations. METHODS: Cohort studies were identified from Internet electronic databases, searches of proceedings of meetings, and personal communication. Hazard ratios (HRs) for systolic blood pressure (SBP), current smoking, total serum cholesterol, body mass index (BMI), and alcohol drinking were calculated from Cox models that were stratified by sex and cohort and adjusted for age at risk. RESULTS: Individual participant data from 26 prospective cohort studies (total number of participants 306,620) that reported incident cases of SAH (fatal and/or nonfatal) were available for analysis. During the median follow-up period of 8.2 years, a total of 236 incident cases of SAH were observed. Current smoking (HR, 2.4; 95% CI, 1.8 to 3.4) and SBP >140 mm Hg (HR, 2.0; 95% CI, 1.5 to 2.7) were significant and independent risk factors for SAH. Attributable risks of SAH associated with current smoking and elevated SBP (> or =140 mm Hg) were 29% and 19%, respectively. There were no significant associations between the risk of SAH and cholesterol, BMI, or drinking alcohol. The strength of the associations of the common cardiovascular risk factors with the risk of SAH did not differ much between Asian and Australasian regions. CONCLUSIONS: Cigarette smoking and SBP are the most important risk factors for SAH in the Asia-Pacific region.

Adult↗