Takeyuki Numata

Comparison of serum uric acid levels between Japanese with and without metabolic syndrome

OBJECTIVE The link between uric acid levels and metabolic syndrome was investigated. METHODS We used data for 997 men and 1290 women. Metabolic syndrome was defined by a new criterion in Japan and uric acid was measured. RESULTS Subjects who did not drink alcohol were evaluated. Uric acid was significantly higher in subjects with metabolic syndrome compared with subjects without the syndrome in both sexes. The presence of abdominal obesity and dyslipidemia in men and abdominal obesity in women revealed positive impacts on uric acid levels. CONCLUSION High serum uric acid may be often associated with metabolic syndrome in Japanese people, which accelerates the development of cardiovascular disease from metabolic syndrome.

Re-evaluation of waist circumference in metabolic syndrome: a comparison between Japanese men and women

We re-evaluated the criteria for waist circumference to predict the accumulation of the components of metabolic syndrome. We used data for 3,185 Japanese, aged 20-79 years. Metabolic syndrome has recently been redefined by a new criterion in Japan, in which waist circumference cutoff points, i.e. 85 cm for men and 90 cm for women, are employed. Among the 3,185 Japanese considered in the present study, 335 men (26.8%) and 69 women (3.6%) were diagnosed as having metabolic syndrome. A cutoff point as a predictor for 2 or more components of metabolic syndrome was evaluated by sensitivity/specificity and a receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve. The optimal point was estimated as being approximately 85 cm of waist circumference in men and 75 cm in women. We therefore recommend a cutoff value, 75 cm of waist circumference, for the criterion of metabolic syndrome in women.

Relationship between Changes in Body Weight and Waist Circumference in Japanese

ObjectivesWe investigated the correlation between changes in body weight and body composition parameters.MethodsWe used the data of 2635 Japanese (40.2±12.2 years) at baseline and at 1-year follow-up from a database of 13522 subjects, which is available at the Okayama Southern Institute of Health in Okayama prefecture, Japan. Body weight, waist circumference at the umbilical level, hip circumference, and body fat percentage were used in the analyses.ResultsBody composition parameters were significantly reduced after 1 year. Changes in body weight significantly correlated with changes in waist circumference, changes in hip circumference, and changes in body fat percentage. A decrease in body weight of 3 kg corresponded to a 3.45 cm decrease in waist circumference in men and a 2.83 cm decrease in that in women.ConclusionA decrease in body weight of 3 kg corresponded to an almost 3 cm decrease in waist circumference at the umbilical level in Japanese men and women.

Does Cardiorespiratory Fitness Modify the Association between Birth Weight and Insulin Resistance in Adult Life

Objective Lower birth weight is associated with higher insulin resistance in later life. The aim of this study was to determine whether cardiorespiratory fitness modifies the association of birth weight with insulin resistance in adults. Methods The subjects were 379 Japanese individuals (137 males, 242 females) aged 20–64 years born after 1943. Insulin resistance was assessed using a homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR), which is calculated from fasting blood glucose and insulin levels. Cardiorespiratory fitness (maximal oxygen uptake, VO2max) was assessed by a maximal graded exercise test on a cycle ergometer. Birth weight was reported according to the Maternal and Child Health Handbook records or the subject’s or his/her mother’s memory. Results The multiple linear regression analysis revealed that birth weight was inversely associated with HOMA-IR (β = −0.141, p = 0.003), even after adjustment for gender, age, current body mass index, mean blood pressure, triglycerides, HDL cholesterol, and smoking status. Further adjustments for VO2max made little difference in the relationship between birth weight and HOMA-IR (β = −0.148, p = 0.001), although VO2max (β = −0.376, p<0.001) was a stronger predictor of HOMA-IR than birth weight. Conclusions The results showed that the association of lower birth weight with higher insulin resistance was little modified by cardiorespiratory fitness in adult life. However, cardiorespiratory fitness was found to be a stronger predictor of insulin resistance than was birth weight, suggesting that increasing cardiorespiratory fitness may have a much more important role in preventing insulin resistance than an individual’s low birth weight.

Serum Interleukin-18 Levels Are Associated with Physical Activity in Japanese Men

Objective To investigate the link between serum interleukin-18 (IL-18) levels and physical activity in Japanese men. Methods A total of 81 men (45.7±17.6 years old) was enrolled in this cross-sectional investigation study. We assessed anthropometric and body composition parameters. Serum IL-18 levels, physical activity by uniaxial accelerometers, peak oxygen uptake and metabolic risk parameters were also evaluated. Results Serum IL-18 levels were 179.4±84.7 pg/mL. Physical activity evaluated by Σ[metabolic equivalents × h per week (METs⋅h/w)]was significantly and negatively correlated with serum IL-18 levels (r = −0.252, p = 0.0235). These associations remained even after adjusting for age, peak oxygen uptake and other confounding factors. Conclusion Serum IL-18 levels were closely associated with physical activity independent of peak oxygen uptake in Japanese men.

Two cases of small cell carcinoma of the lung associated with carcinomatous leptomeningitis.

肺小細胞癌69例の治療経過中に2例の癌性髄膜症を経験した.症例1は, 化学療法により完全寛解を得た後, 癌性髄膜症で再発し, 発症後7週間で死亡した.剖検時, 腫瘍細胞は髄膜のみに認められ, 癌性髄膜症の発症がなければさらに長期の生存が可能と思われた.症例2は, 化学療法による部分寛解中に癌性髄膜症を発症し, 脳脊髄への放射線照射と抗癌剤髄腔内投与が著効を示し, 発症後9ヶ月間の長期にわたり癌性髄膜症を管理し得た.