Biomedical subjects

Fujiko Ando

Publications and source records attributed to Fujiko Ando.

52 records · Page 3Linked to original sources

PubMed2002

Association of polymorphisms of the estrogen receptor alpha gene with bone mineral density of the femoral neck in elderly Japanese women.

The estrogen receptor alpha gene is a candidate locus for genetic influence on bone mass. The possible association between two polymorphisms in the first intron of this gene, alone or in combination, and bone mineral density at various sites was examined in participants in the National Institute for Longevity Sciences Longitudinal Study of Aging, a population-based prospective cohort study of aging and age-related diseases. The relationship of the TC ( PvuII) and AG ( XbaI) polymorphisms in the first intron of the estrogen receptor alpha gene to bone mineral density was determined in 2230 subjects (1120 men, 1110 women) and in 2238 subjects (1128 men, 1110 women), respectively, all of whom were community-dwelling individuals aged 40-79 years. Bone mineral density at the radius was measured by peripheral quantitative computed tomography and that for the lumbar spine, right femoral neck, right trochanter, right Ward's triangle, and total body was measured by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry. Estrogen receptor alpha genotypes were determined with an automated fluorescent allele-specific DNA primer assay system. Analysis of the TC ( PvuII) polymorphism revealed that bone mineral density for the total body, femoral neck, and trochanter was significantly lower in women aged 60 years or over with the CC genotype than in those with the TT genotype, but statistical significance was not achieved after adjustment for age, body mass index, and smoking status. Analysis of the AG ( XbaI) polymorphism revealed that bone mineral density for the femoral neck was significantly lower in women aged 60 years or over with the GG genotype than in those with the AA genotype. After adjustment for age, body mass index, and smoking status, bone mineral density for the femoral neck was significantly lower in women aged 60 years or over with the GG genotype than in those with the AA or AG genotypes. Analysis of combined genotypes in women aged 60 years or over revealed that bone mineral density for the femoral neck was significantly lower in women with the CC/ GG genotype than in those with the TT/ AA or TC/ AA genotypes. After adjustment for age, body mass index, and smoking status, bone mineral density for the femoral neck was significantly lower in women aged 60 years or over with the CC/ GG genotype than in those with other genotypes. No differences in bone mineral density at the various sites were detected among TC ( PvuII), AG ( XbaI), or combined genotypes in women aged under 60 years or in men. These results suggest that the estrogen receptor alpha gene is a susceptibility locus for bone mass, especially for the femoral neck, in elderly Japanese women.

Absorptiometry, Photon↗

PubMed2002

Association of a polymorphism of the CC chemokine receptor-2 gene with bone mineral density.

The possible association of the 190G-->A (Val64Ile) polymorphism of the CC chemokine receptor-2 gene (CCR2) with bone mineral density (BMD) was examined in 2215 subjects (1125 men, 1090 women), all of whom were community-dwelling individuals aged 40 to 79 years. Among men aged < 60 years, BMD for the distal radius, lumbar spine, or Ward's triangle was significantly greater in those with the AA genotype than in those with the GG or GA genotypes. For postmenopausal women, BMD for the distal radius or femoral neck was significantly greater in those with the AA genotype than in those with the GG or GA genotypes. In contrast, for men aged > or =60 years and for premenopausal women, BMD was not associated with the CCR2 genotype. These results suggest that CCR2 may be a new candidate for a susceptibility locus for bone mass in middle-aged men and postmenopausal women.

Aged↗

PubMed2002

Association of a polymorphism of the transforming growth factor-beta1 gene with blood pressure in Japanese individuals.

Transforming growth factor-beta1 (TGF-beta1) is an important regulator of blood pressure (BP) and vascular remodeling, and thus may contribute to the pathogenesis of hypertension. A T-->C transition at nucleotide 869 of the TGF-beta1 gene results in a Leu-->Pro substitution at amino acid 10 of the signal peptide. We have now examined the possible association of the 869T-->C polymorphism of the TGF-beta1 gene with BP and the prevalence of hypertension in 2241 community-dwelling Japanese individuals (1126 men and 1115 women). TGF-beta1 genotype was determined by an allele-specific polymerase chain reaction method. For women, both systolic and diastolic BP was significantly higher in individuals with the CC genotype than in those with the TT or TC genotype. No significant association between TGF-beta1 genotype and BP was detected in men. The frequency of the CC genotype was significantly higher in women with hypertension than in those with normal BP. These results suggest that the TGF-beta1 gene at chromosome 19q13.1 may be a candidate susceptibility locus for hypertension in Japanese women.

Adult↗

PubMed2002

Changes in serum lipid levels during a 10 year period in a large Japanese population. A cross-sectional and longitudinal study.

To determine the recent secular trends in serum lipid levels and characterize their influence on the aging process, we examined a large cohort of Japanese cross-sectionally and longitudinally. The participants included 80331 Japanese men and women 20-79 years of age, who had received annual health examinations from 1989 to 1998. In cross-sectional analysis, an increase in total and LDL cholesterol as well as triglyceride levels was observed in the population during the period of 1989-1998. The longitudinal changes showed that total and LDL cholesterol increased with age in men between the birth cohorts of the 1920s and 1960s. In women, these cholesterol levels increased in the 1930s and younger cohorts. HDL cholesterol decreased in men of all birth cohorts. However, HDL cholesterol increased in women of the 1940s and younger cohorts. Triglyceride levels increased in men of the 1940s and younger cohorts but decreased in the 1930s and older. Triglyceride levels increased in women of the 1930s and younger. Longitudinal analysis also suggested a birth cohort effect except for the triglyceride level for women. These results suggest that Japanese serum lipid levels continue to increase and that there exist birth cohort effects regarding serum lipid levels in the Japanese population.

Adult↗

PubMed2002

Association of a polymorphism of the matrix metalloproteinase-1 gene with bone mineral density.

Matrix metalloproteinase-1 (MMP-1) is a key mediator of the degradation of collagen, which is abundant in bone matrix. A nucleotide polymorphism (G --> GG) at position -1607 in the promoter of the MMP-1 gene is associated with increased gene transcription. The possible relation of the -1607G --> GG polymorphism of the MMP-1 gene to bone mineral density (BMD) was examined in a population-based study with 1095 women and 1127 men. BMD for the distal radius was significantly lower in postmenopausal women with the GG/GG genotype than in those with the G/GG or those with the G/G or G/GG genotype; these differences were not apparent in premenopausal women. No significant differences in BMD at other sites were detected among MMP-1 genotypes for women. Men did not exhibit any significant differences in BMD among MMP-1 genotypes. The MMP-1 gene may thus be a susceptibility locus for reduced BMD at the distal radius in postmenopausal women.

Bone Density↗

PubMed2002

The relationship between age and intraocular pressure in a Japanese population: the influence of central corneal thickness.

PURPOSE: Previous cross-sectional Japanese studies have shown that intraocular pressure (IOP) decreases with age. However, central corneal thickness (CCT) variation should also be considered when examining the relationship between age and IOP, since tonometry has an inherent measurement error due to CCT variations. This study investigates the influence of CCT variation on the age-IOP relationship in a Japanese population. METHODS: The right eyes of 1317 subjects from 40 to 80 years old selected from a general population using a random sampling method were assessed in cross-section. The IOP was measured with a non-contact tonometer, and CCT was measured with a specular microscope. The relationships between age, IOP, and CCT were assessed using correlation analyses, while the relationship between age and IOP controlled for CCT, blood pressure, and body mass index was investigated using multivariate regression analyses. RESULTS: The mean (+/- SD) IOP value was 13.6 (+/- 2.6) mmHg in men and 13.3 (+/- 2.6) mmHg in women. The IOP correlated inversely with age in men (r = -0.14, p < 0.001), but showed only a marginal inverse correlation in women (r = -0.07, p = 0.066). The mean (+/- SD) CCT value was 518.3 (+/- 33.2) microm in men and 511.1 (+/- 33.0) microm in women. Only in men was an inverse correlation seen between CCT and age (r = -0.10, p = 0.009), but both genders had positive correlations between CCT and IOP (man: r = 0.44, p < 0.001; woman: r = 0.48, p < 0.001). In multivariate analyses, CCT was shown to have an effect on IOP measurement, however, it was shown that IOP still decreases with age in both sexes even when adjusted for CCT (p = 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: The IOP decreases with age in the Japanese, and CCT variation has practically no effect on the unique age-IOP relationship.

Adult↗

PubMed2002

Effect of aging on serum uric acid levels: longitudinal changes in a large Japanese population group.

BACKGROUND: Serum uric acid (SUA) is related not only to an increased risk of gout, but also to an increased risk of cardiovascular diseases. However, real age-related changes in SUA remain unknown. METHODS: Longitudinal population-based study of epidemiological follow-up data of SUA, body mass index (BMI), and alcohol intake was conducted at a health examination center between 1989 and 1998. The subjects were 80,506 Japanese office workers or their families (50,157 men and 30,349 women) with an average age of 44.5 years for the men and 43.7 years for the women. RESULTS: SUA increased with age in all birth cohorts examined in men, and in women except for the youngest birth cohort (1960-1969). BMI and alcohol consumption positively contributed to the longitudinal changes of SUA. However, SUA also increased with age in the model controlled for BMI and alcohol consumption. There were birth cohort effects of SUA; at most ages, there were higher SUA levels in younger cohorts in men and lower SUA levels in younger cohorts in women, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: SUA levels in men and women increased with advancing age, despite changes in drinking and in the BMI. There are birth cohort effects for SUA levels in the Japanese population.

Adult↗

PubMed2002

Prevalence of hyperesthesia detected by current perception threshold test in subjects with glucose metabolic impairments in a community.

OBJECTIVE: Recent studies reported that hyperesthesia may be an indicator of early diabetic polyneuropathy. Using the current perception threshold (CPT) test, which stimulates peripheral sensory nerve fibers by three different frequencies (2,000, 250, and 5 Hz), we investigated the relationship between hyperesthesia and glucose metabolic impairment in a community. METHODS: The number of subjects, aged 40 to 79 years, was 2,074. The CPT values at each frequency were classified into three categories (hyperesthesia, normal, and hypoesthesia). Subjects were also subgrouped into three groups (normal, insulin resistance, and diabetes) according to glucose metabolic status, and those with hypoesthesia at each frequency were excluded in the analyses. RESULTS: The prevalence of hyperesthesia at 2,000, 250, and 5 Hz in male diabetic subjects were 14.1, 15.6, and 7.7%, respectively, and 22.2, 24.5, and 16.4% respectively in female diabetic subjects. In logistic regression analysis adjusted for age, females with diabetes showed a significantly high odds ratio (OR) for hyperesthesia at 2,000 Hz (OR, 2.42; 95% confidence interval (95%CI), 1.18 to 4.97) and 250 Hz (OR, 2.65; 95%CI, 1.31 to 5.37). In male diabetic subjects, a significantly high odds ratio for hyperesthesia was seen at 250 Hz (OR, 2.09; 95%CI, 1.07 to 4.05). CONCLUSION: Our results suggested that hyperesthesia may emerge coupled with developing diabetes, supporting the precedent hypothesis.

Adult↗

PubMed2002

[Trends geriatric disease research evaluated by long-term longitudinal study].

The number of patients with geriatric diseases will rapidly increase in our aging society. Geriatric diseases tend to progress chronically and disturb the daily activity of the elderly patients. Care for the elderly patients requires a great deal of manpower. The prevention and treatment of geriatric disease are urgent issues that must be addressed. A comprehensive longitudinal study of aging and geriatric disease was started at the National Institute for Longevity Sciences (NILS) in 1997. The participants of the NILS longitudinal study of aging (NILS-LSA) were 2,267 men and women from a local community population. The participants are examined at the NILS and followed up every two years. An outline of the system and examinations of the NILS-LSA is shown. The latest results from the NILS-LSA research including geriatric disease-related genotypes and risk factors for mild cognitive impairment (MCI) are also presented.

Aged↗

PubMed2002

[Relation between destination on discharge in the elderly patients and comprehensive geriatric assessment at admission in the ward of the Geriatric Department of University Hospital].

To determine the factors related to the destination on discharge from the geriatric ward of Nagoya University Hospital, we analyzed the relationship between the scores of comprehensive geriatric assessment at admission and the destination in patients who had dwelled in home. The scores of basic activity of daily living (Barthel index), instrumental activity of daily living (Lowton scale), and cognitive function (Mini-Mental State Examination) were significantly lower in the patients who moved to institutions than those in the patients who returned home. The proportion of disabilities in all items, except eating, in the Barthel index, and all items but washing in the Lowton scale were significantly higher in patients who moved to institutions than in patients who returned home. Space orientation, calculation, and drawing in the Mini-Mental State Examination were related to the destination. In items for social life communication and group behavior were related to the destination. In multiple logistic regression models, it was suggested that activity of daily living, specifically independence of excretion, and ability in communication were significantly related to the destination on discharge.

Activities of Daily Living↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Visual acuity in a community-dwelling Japanese population and factors associated with visual impairment.

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to describe the distribution of visual acuity and investigate the predictors of visual impairment in a Japanese population. METHODS: Best-corrected visual acuity was measured in 2263 subjects aged 40-79 years randomly selected from a local community. Relations between visual impairment and possible risk factors were investigated. RESULTS: Among these subjects, 41 individuals (1.8%) were identified as visually impaired (best-corrected visual acuity in the better eye <0.5). Both sexes in the older age groups had a higher frequency of visual impairment (Mantel-Haenszel chi-square test: P<0.001). A multiple logistic regression indicated that an increase in age of 10 years [odds ratio (OR) 3.9; 95% confidence interval (CI) 2.3-6.7] and myopia (OR 2.9; 95%CI 1.4-6.0) were independent risk factors for visual impairment. Individuals with the highest level of education (college or higher) had a lower risk of visual impairment (OR 0.1; 95%CI 0-0.7) compared to individuals with the lowest level of education. CONCLUSIONS: As expected, visual impairment increased with advancing age, although the prevalence of visual impairment in our population was lower than in other surveys. Racial and regional differences and differences in study design may be responsible for discrepancies between surveys. It is noteworthy that myopia was a significant risk factor for visual impairment, although the reasons for this association are uncertain and need further investigation.

Adult↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Relationship between astigmatism and aging in middle-aged and elderly Japanese.

PURPOSE: To study the effect of aging on astigmatism in adult Japanese. METHODS: Measurements of refractive errors and keratometry were performed on 2161 randomly selected subjects (aged 40-79 years). The relation between age and the net value in diopters (D) of astigmatism was evaluated with a trend test. The relation between age and the polar value was also examined by linear regression analysis. RESULTS: The mean (+/-SD) value of total and corneal astigmatism was -0.97 +/- 0.72 D and -0.86 +/- 0.63 D, respectively, and the net value of both increased with age (P trend < 0.001). The prevalence of either type of astigmatism also increased with age, according to the Cochran-Mantel-Haenzel test (P < 0.0001 for total and P < 0.01 for corneal astigmatism). The prevalence of against-the-rule astigmatism increased with age for either type of astigmatism (P < 0.0001 for total, P < 0.0001 for corneal). According to the analysis of polar values by age, the regression coefficient (+/-SE) for total and corneal astigmatism was -0.024 +/- 0.002 (P < 0.0001) and -0.028 +/- 0.002 (P < 0.0001), respectively. There was no statistical difference between these two regression coefficients. CONCLUSIONS: The prevalence of astigmatism increases and the axis turns to against-the-rule with age. The result of the linear regression analysis indicates that the age-related change in astigmatism is mainly associated with changes in the cornea.

Adult↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Refractive errors and factors associated with myopia in an adult Japanese population.

PURPOSE: To investigate the refractive status and factors associated with myopia by a population-based survey of Japanese adults. METHODS: A total of 2168 subjects aged 40 to 79 years, randomly selected from a local community, were assessed in a cross-sectional study. The spherical equivalent of the refractive error was calculated and used in a multiple logistic regression analysis to evaluate the relationships between myopia and possible related factors. RESULTS: The mean (+/- SD) of the spherical equivalent was -0.70 +/- 1.40 diopters (D) in men, and -0.50 +/- 1.44 D in women. Based on +/- 0.5 D cutoff points, the prevalence of myopia, emmetropia, and hypermetropia were 45.7%, 40.8%, and 13.5% in men, and 38.3%, 43.1%, and 18.6% in women, respectively. A 10-year increase in age was associated with reduced risk of myopia [men: odds ratio (OR) = 0.53, 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.44-0.62; women: OR = 0.65, 95% CI: 0.54-0.78]. In men, myopia was significantly associated with higher education (high school: OR = 1.6, 95% CI: 1.1-2.3; college: OR = 2.0, 95% CI: 1.3-3.1) and management occupations (OR = 1.6, 95% CI: 1.0-2.4). For women, high income (OR = 1.5, 95% CI: 1.1-2.2), and clerical (OR = 1.5, 95% CI: 1.0-2.4) and sales/service occupations (OR = 1.7, 95% CI: 1.1-2.6) were also associated with myopia. CONCLUSIONS: The prevalence of myopia in a Japanese population was similar to that in other Asian surveys but higher than in black or white populations. Our study confirmed a higher prevalence of myopia among younger vs. older populations, and a significant association with education levels and socioeconomic factors.

Adult↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Age-related change in contrast sensitivity among Japanese adults.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the age-related change in contrast sensitivity seen in a middle-aged to elderly Japanese population. METHODS: Contrast sensitivity and visual acuity were measured in subjects aged 40 to 79 years randomly recruited from a community in Aichi prefecture near Nagoya, Japan. Contrast sensitivity tests were performed using the Vistech contrast sensitivity test chart (VCTS 6500). The results were statistically analyzed relative to age. RESULTS: A statistically significant decrease in contrast sensitivity was seen with advancing age at each spatial frequency (Cochran-Mantel-Haenszel: P<.001). This trend was detected even when the subjects were limited to only those having a corrected visual acuity of 1.0 or better (Cochran-Mantel-Haenszel: P<.001). Overall, 9.4% of the eyes with good visual acuity had poor contrast sensitivity at a high spatial frequency, while in the 70-79-year-old group, the percentage with poor contrast sensitivity reached 21.1%. CONCLUSIONS: The age-related decrease in contrast sensitivity was confirmed at all frequencies in our population, even when adjusted for visual acuity. Our results suggest that contrast sensitivity tests, especially at high frequencies, assess aspects of visual function that cannot be determined in the elderly population from visual acuity tests alone.

Adult↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Cognitive function in Japanese elderly with type 2 diabetes mellitus.

The current study was conducted to investigate the cognitive function in Japanese elderly with type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM). Participants included 69 diabetic and 27 nondiabetic subjects (60 to 85 years old). The cognitive functional tests conducted were the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE), Word Lists Recall (immediate, delayed), Digit Symbol Test (Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale-Revised [WAIS-R]), and the Stroop Color Word Test. Hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) was measured as the index of glycemic control, and information about recent hypoglycemic episodes was gathered by using questionnaires. Student's t test showed that DM subjects had significantly lower scores in the MMSE (P<.01) and Digit Symbol Test (P<.05) than non-DM subjects. The scores of the Digit Symbol Test in diabetes subjects had a significant negative relationship with HbA1c (r=-.433; P<.001), and insulin-use had a significant relationship with the scores of the MMSE and Digit Symbol Test. Subjects in the DM group were further divided by insulin use. Comparison of insulin-treated DM subjects, non-insulin-treated DM subjects, and nondiabetic subjects by analysis of variance followed by Bonferroni's post hoc test showed that insulin-treated DM subjects had significantly lower scores in the MMSE and Digit Symbol Tests than both non-insulin-treated DM subjects (P<.05) and nondiabetic subjects (P<.01). Our study suggests that Japanese elderly DM subjects, especially those with insulin treatment, have poor cognitive function.

Aged↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Association of cholecystokinin-A receptor gene polymorphism with alcohol dependence in a Japanese population.

AIMS: Cholecystokinin (CCK), one of the most abundant neurotransmitter peptides, interacts with dopamine. Dopaminergic neurotransmission between the ventral tegmental area and the limbic forebrain is a critical neurobiological component of alcohol and drug self-administration. CCK modulates dopamine release in the nucleus accumbens via the CCK-A receptor (R). We recently determined the transcriptional start site of the human CCK-AR gene, and detected two sequence changes (-81A/G and -128G/T) in the promoter region. The aims of the present study were to determine the prevalence of the -81A/G and -128G/T polymorphism of the CCK-AR gene between alcoholics and normal control subjects and the occurrences of the polymorphisms in subtypes of alcoholics. METHODS: The above polymorphisms were examined in 435 alcoholics and 1490 control subjects. We excluded subjects with inactive ALDH2 and employed the subjects with ALDH2*1/2*1 (384 alcoholics and 792 controls). RESULTS: The allelic frequency of -81G in the CCK-AR gene polymorphism (-81A/G) was significantly higher in alcoholics than in control subjects. However, there were no differences between the two groups with respect to the frequency of -128G/T. Alcoholic patients with antisocial personality disorder and with first-degree alcoholic relatives were significantly associated with a higher frequency of the -81G allele. In addition, the age of onset of alcohol dependence was significantly earlier in patients with this allele. CONCLUSIONS: The CCK-AR gene -81A/G polymorphism, especially in the -81G allele, may be associated with intractable alcoholism.

Adult↗