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Background: To examine the association of intrahepatic fat with homeostasis model assessment-insulin resistance (HOMA-IR), a marker of insulin resistance, in Japanese adults, and whether intrahepatic fat is associated with insulin resistance independent of waist circumference and other measures of obesity.Methods: Fifty-three individuals aged 37-69 were studied. Spectrum obtained using a 3-T magnetic resonance imager was analysed with LC Model to quantify intrahepatic fat. Blood levels of insulin, glucose and other biochemical markers were obtained after 8 h or more fasting. Percent body fat was estimated by a bioelectrical impedance analyzer. HOMA-IR and intrahepatic fat content were log-transformed in the analysis.Results: We found a positive correlation between intrahepatic fat and HOMA-IR, which was independent of the anthropometric measures of obesity. In contrast, significant and positive correlations of body mass index, percent body fat, and waist circumference with HOMA-IR were largely explained by their associations with intrahepatic fat. Intrahepatic fat was positively associated with alanine transaminase and triglyceride seven after adjustment for HOMA-IR.Conclusion: Intrahepatic fat was associated with insulin resistance independent of age, sex, and measures of obesity in Japanese adults. Hypertriglyceridemia and liver injury may directly occur subsequent to intrahepatic fat accumulation. (C) 2013 Asian Oceanian Association for the Study of Obesity. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Background: This study aimed to investigate associations between central aortic pressure (CAP) and subclinical organ damage of the heart amongst the general population. Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional study in a community-based population, consisting of 3002 men and women aged between 40 and 79 years. The CAP was measured using the HEM-9000AI device, an automated tonometer. Electrocardiograms (ECG) were read according to the Minnesota Code. Subclinical organ damage in the heart was defined as measurable left high amplitude R waves (LHAR), major and minor ST-T abnormalities, and left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH). Results: Age-and sex-adjusted prevalence of LHAR, major and minor ST-T abnormalities, and LVH was higher for subjects in the highest tertile of CAP levels than those in the lowest tertile. After further adjustments for other cardiovascular risk factors, these associations did not change substantially. The multivariable odds ratios (ORs) (95% CI) of LHAR, major and minor ST-T abnormalities, and LVH for the highest tertile of CAP levels compared to the lowest tertile were 2.7(1.9-3.9), 1.8(1.1-2.9), 1.7(1.3-2.3) and 3.2(1.3-8.1), respectively. The positive associations with LHAR and minor ST-T abnormalities were observed primarily among non-hypertensive subjects. The respective corresponding ORs were 2.8(1.7-4.6) and 1.7(1.2-2.4) for non-hypertensive subjects, and 1.7(0.9-3.3) and 1.1(0.7-1.8) for hypertensive subjects. Conclusion: CAP levels were associated with subclinical organ damage of the heart independent of cardiovascular risk factors, and these associations were primarily seen in non-hypertensive subjects. (C) 2013 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.

Background: Elevated high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP), a marker of low-grade systemic inflammation, may be involved in the etiology of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). However, whether inflammation precedes development of T2DM independent of cigarette smoking and obesity remains to be confirmed. Methods: We studied 4213 civil servants in a local government in Japan aged 35-66years at baseline in 2002, who donated blood samples and were followed 6years. Hazard ratios (HR) of T2DM according to the hs-CRP quartiles [range Q1: 0.02-0.18 (reference), Q2: 0.18-0.33, Q3: 0.33-0.67 and Q4: 0.67-9.62mg/L) were estimated by Cox proportional hazards model adjusted for gender, age, body mass index, alcohol intake, smoking status (current, past and never), number of cigarettes per day, physical activity, family history of diabetes (Model 1) and variables in Model 1+glucose (Model 2). Results: The geometric mean [95% confidence interval (CI)] of hs-CRP was 0.36mg/L (0.34-0.37). During the follow-up, 156 new T2DM cases were confirmed. In total sample, Model 2 HRs (95% CIs) for hs-CRP quartiles Q2-Q4 compared with Q1 were 0.69 (0.36-1.26), 1.47 (0.91-2.39) and 1.78 (1.10-2.88), respectively (p for linear trend=0.014). Stratified analysis revealed that a statistically significant association was observed only in normal weight non-current smokers with Model 2 HRs (CIs) being 0.79 (0.29-2.17), 2.63 (1.25-5.56) and 3.19 (1.49-6.86) for Q2-Q4 compared with Q1, respectively (p for linear trend=0.0006). The relationship did not change materially after further adjusting for log-homeostasis model assessment or exclusion of past smokers. Conclusions: These findings imply that higher hs-CRP itself or existence of chronic systemic inflammation precedes onset of T2DM independent of obesity and smoking. © 2013 John Wiley &amp Sons, Ltd.

Background: We investigated the association of baseline body mass index (BMI) and weight change since age 20 years with liver cancer mortality among Japanese. Methods: The data were obtained from the Japan Collaborative Cohort Study for Evaluation of Cancer Risk (JACC Study). A total of 31 018 Japanese men and 41 455 Japanese women aged 40 to 79 years who had no history of cancer were followed from 1988 through 2009. Results: During a median 19-year follow-up, 527 deaths from liver cancer (338 men, 189 women) were documented. There was no association between baseline BMI and liver cancer mortality among men or men with history of liver disease. Men without history of liver disease had multivariable hazard ratios (HR) of 1.95 (95%CI, 1.07-3.54) for BMI less than 18.5 kg/m2 and 1.65 (1.05-2.60) for BMI of 25 kg/m2 or higher, as compared with a BMI of 21.0 to 22.9 kg/m2. BMI was positively associated with liver cancer mortality among women and women with history of liver disease. Weight change since age 20 years was positively associated with liver cancer mortality among women regardless of history of liver disease. Women with history of liver disease had a multivariable HRs of 1.96 (1.05-3.66) for weight gain of 5.0 to 9.9 kg and 2.31 (1.18-4.49) for weight gain of 10 kg or more, as compared with weight change of -4.9 to 4.9 kg. Conclusions: Both underweight (BMI &lt 18.5 kg/m2) and overweight (BMI &gt 25 kg/m2) among men without history of liver disease, and weight gain after age 20 (weight change =5 kg) among women with history of liver disease, were associated with increased mortality from liver cancer. © 2013 Japan Epidemiological Association.

Objective. To investigate an effect of smoking cessation on chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) mortality in Asians. Methods. The data was obtained from the Japan Collaborative Cohort Study for Evaluation of Cancer Risk (JACC Study). A total of 41465 Japanese men and 52662 Japanese women aged 40-79 years who had no history of COPD, asthma, other chronic lung diseases, cardiovascular disease or cancer were followed between 1988 and 2008. Results. During median 18-year of follow-up, there were 285 (251 men and 34 women) documented deaths from COPD. Multivariable-adjusted hazard ratios with 95% confidence intervals of COPD death were 4.46 (2.72-7.29) and 9.26 (4.19-20.5), respectively for current male and female smokers when compared to never smokers. Compared with current smokers, the multivariable HRs for 5-9 years and 10 years or more smoking cessation prior to baseline were 0.44 (0.22-0.87) and 0.36 (0.22-0.58) in men, respectively while the HR for never smokers was 0.30(0.16-0.57). There were an insufficient number of COPD deaths in women to clarify this association. Conclusion. Smoking cessation for ten years or more prior to enrollment reverses the excess risk of COPD mortality to a level similar to that observed among never smokers in men. 2012 Published by Elsevier Inc.