Association between serum sodium level within normal range and handgrip strength in relation to hypertension status: a cross-sectional study

Serum sodium concentration within the normal range could act as an indicator of age-related changes such as decrease in muscle strength and impairment of capillary function. Since endothelial injury stimulates endothelial repair by enhancing CD34-positive cell production, the level of serum sodium may be inversely associated with that of circulating CD34-positive cells, thus indicating the degree of age-related endothelial injury. We conducted a cross-sectional study of 246 elderly Japanese men aged 60–69 years. Subjects were stratified by hypertension status because hypertension should act as a strong confounding factor for the analyses performed in this study. Serum sodium concentration was positively associated with handgrip strength in non-hypertensive subjects [standardized parameter estimate (β) = 0.29; p = 0.003], but not for hypertensive subjects (β = 0.01; p = 0.878), while it was inversely associated with circulating CD34-positive cell levels in non-hypertensive subjects [simple correlation coefficient (r) = − 0.28; p = 0.002] but not for hypertensive subjects (r = − 0.07; p = 0.454). For non-hypertensive elderly subjects, serum sodium concentration within the normal range is positively associated with handgrip strength and inversely associated with CD34-positive cells, thus partly indicating the degree of age-related endothelium injury. These associations could prove to be an efficient tool for clarifying the background mechanism governing the decrease in age-related muscle strength

Gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase (γ-GTP) has an ambivalent association with hypertension and atherosclerosis among elderly Japanese men: a cross-sectional study

Background: Even though there is bidirectional association between hypertension and atherosclerosis, atherosclerosis itself is involved in the process of endothelial repair. To clarify the association of endothelial repair with hypertension, a cross-sectional study was conducted. Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional study of 562 elderly Japanese men aged 60-69. As gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase (γ-GTP) could act as a marker of oxidative stress that injures endothelial cell and higher levels of CD34-positive cell indicate a higher activity of endothelial repair, we therefore performed a CD34-positive level specific analysis of γ-GTP on atherosclerosis and hypertension. Results: In the present study population, hypertension was independently and positively associated with atherosclerosis (multivariable odds ratio (OR) = 2.09 (1.30, 3.35)). Among participants with high CD34-positive cells, γ-GTP showed significant and positive association with atherosclerosis (OR of the log-transformed value of γ-GTP (OR) = 2.26 (1.32, 3.86)) but not with hypertension (OR = 0.77 (0.51, 1.17)). Among participants with low CD34-positive cells, even γ-GTP showed no significant association with atherosclerosis (OR = 0.92 (0.51, 1.68)), but was significantly and positively associated with hypertension (OR = 1.99 (1.27, 3.12)). Conclusions: γ-GTP revealed to have ambivalent association with hypertension and atherosclerosis. Active endothelial repair that is associated with atherosclerosis might have beneficial association with hypertension

Tooth Loss and Carotid Intima-Media Thickness in Relation to Functional Atherosclerosis: A Cross-Sectional Study

Structural arterial stiffness can be evaluated with carotid intima-media thickness (CIMT). Functional arterial stiffness can be evaluated with cardio-ankle vascular index (CAVI). A positive association between CIMT and tooth loss has been reported, but no studies have evaluated the association between CIMT and tooth loss in relation to functional arterial stiffness (functional atherosclerosis). A cross-sectional study of 1235 Japanese individuals aged 40–89 years was conducted. Tooth loss was defined as being in the lowest tertile for the number of remaining teeth (≤20 in men and ≤19 in women). Functional atherosclerosis was defined as CAVI ≥ 9.0. Independent of known confounding factors, CIMT was positively associated with tooth loss only in participants without functional atherosclerosis. Adjusted odds ratios for tooth loss and a 1 standard deviation increment in CIMT were 1.27 (1.04–1.55) for participants without functional atherosclerosis and 0.99 (0.77–1.26) for participants with functional atherosclerosis. CIMT and functional atherosclerosis had a significant effect on tooth loss; the fully adjusted p-value for the interaction on tooth loss was 0.019. Independent of known confounding factors, CIMT is positively associated with tooth loss only in participants without functional atherosclerosis. This finding helps clarify the influence of the progression of arterial stiffness on tooth loss because the progression of structural atherosclerosis might have a beneficial influence on the maintenance of the microcirculation

Association of serum gamma-glutamyltransferase (GGT) and diabetes with triglycerides-to-HDL cholesterol ratio in Japanese subjects: The Nagasaki Study

Background: Although we reported in a previous study that diabetes with a high serum triglycerides to high-density lipoproteincholesterol (TG-HDL) ratio constitutes a risk for atherosclerosis, associations in terms of TG-HDL ratio between diabetes and gamma-glutamyltransferase (GGT), which is also known as an independent risk factor for atherosclerosis, have not yet been clarified. The purpose of this study was to test the hypothesis that a positive association between GGT and diabetes may be confined to high TG-HDL. Methods: This was a cross-sectional study of 2,302 Japanese subjects who were undergoing a general health check in 2014. All subjects were divided into TG-HDL level tertiles and serum GGT and diabetes status were investigated. Results: Of 207 diabetes patients identified in this study, 94 had high TG-HDL, 63 intermediate TG-HDL, and 50 low TG-HDL. Independent of classical cardiovascular risk factors, serum GGT showed a positive association with diabetes in patients with high TG-HDL, but not in patients with intermediate and low TG-HDL diabetes. The multivariable adjusted odds ratios (OR) and 95% coincidence intervals (95%CI) of diabetes for 1 standard deviation (SD) increment of GGT were 1.64 (95%CI: 1.16-2.31) for high TG-HDL, 1.46 (95%CI: 0.95-2.26) for intermediate TG-HDL, and 1.04 (95%CI: 0.60-1.79) for low TG-HDL diabetes. Conclusion: Serum GGT is positively associated with diabetes in patients with high TG-HDL but not with intermediate or low TG-HDL diabetes. This finding may prove to be an efficient tool for estimating atherosclerotic risk in diabetes patients

Hemoglobin as a response marker of endothelial cell damage in elderly nonoverweight non-anemic subjects.

　An independent positive correlation between hemoglobin level and risk of hypertension has been reported for non-anemicnon-overweight men and women. Additionally, serum hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) concentration in hypertensive subjects was reported to be significantly higher than in normotensive subjects. However no studies have reported on the correlation betweenhemoglobin and HGF. A cross-sectional study of 695 elderly non-overweight non-anemic Japanese subjects (231 men and 464 women; range 60-92 years old; Body mass index (BMI)<25kg/m2; Hemoglobin (Hb)?13g/dL for men and Hb?12g/dL for women) who were undergoing general health checkups in 2014 was conducted. Multiple linear regression analysis adjustment for classical cardiovascular risk factors showed a significant positive correlation between hemoglobin and serum HGF concentration(parameter estimate (β) =31.8, P<0.001) for men and (β=21.7, P<0.001) for women. An independent positive correlation between hemoglobin and HGF was observed in elderly non-anemic non-overweight Japanese subjects. Since HGF level may become elevated in response to endothelial cell damage (vascular remodeling), these findings suggest that measuring hemoglobin level is clinically relevant for estimating the response to endothelial cell damage

VEGF Polymorphism rs3025039 and Human T-Cell Leukemia Virus 1 (HTLV-1) Infection among Older Japanese Individuals: A Cross-Sectional Study

Previous studies have reported a close correlation between vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), which plays an important role in angiogenesis, and human T-cell leukemia virus 1 (HTLV-1). However, an association between genetic characteristics related to VEGF and HTLV-1 infection has not yet been reported. Because the VEGF polymorphism rs3025039 is inversely associated with serum concentrations of VEGF, we focus on rs3025039 in the present study. To clarify the association between the VEGF polymorphism rs3025039 and HTLV-1 infection, a cross-sectional study of 1924 Japanese individuals aged 60–79 years who participated in general health check-ups was conducted. Using logistic regression, odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for HTLV-1 infection in relation to rs3025039 genotype were calculated with adjustment for known confounders. Compared with rs3025039 CC-homozygotes, (T) allele carriers had a significantly lower OR for HTLV-1 infection. The adjusted OR and 95% CI for HTLV-1 infection was 0.70 (0.54–0.91) (p = 0.009). Genetic characteristics related to lower angiogenesis activity might be associated with a lower chance of establishing HTLV-1 infection. Although further investigation is necessary, angiogenesis might play a crucial role in the establishment of HTLV-1 infection

Circulating CD34+ cells and active arterial wall thickening among elderly men: A prospective study

Age-related physical changes, such as low-grade inflammation and increased oxidative stress, induce endothelial repair and cause active arterial wall thickening by stimulating the production of CD34+ cells (the principal mediators of atherosclerosis). Despite this, aggressive endothelial repair (progressing atherosclerosis) might cause a wasting reduction in CD34+ cells, which could result in a lower capacity of endothelial repair and hypertension. As yet, no prospective study has clarified the association of circulating CD34+ cells with active arterial wall thickening. We conducted a prospective study of 363 men aged 60?69 years who participated in a general health check-up at least twice from 2014?2017. The circulating CD34+ cell count was significantly positively associated with active arterial wall thickening among subjects without hypertension (n = 236), but not among subjects with hypertension (n = 127). The fully adjusted odds ratios (ORs) of active arterial wall thickening for the logarithmic circulating CD34+ cell count were 1.83 (1.19, 2.84) and 0.69 (0.36, 1.32) for subjects without and with hypertension, respectively. Circulating CD34+ cells are positively associated with active arterial wall thickening in subjects without hypertension. This study demonstrates a means to clarify the mechanisms of endothelial repair in elderly subjects

Low-Density Lipoprotein Cholesterol, Structural Atherosclerosis, and Functional Atherosclerosis in Older Japanese

Aggressive endothelial repair results in the progression of both structural and functional atherosclerosis, while insufficient endothelial repair worsens functional but not structural atherosclerosis. Aging increases the risk of inadequate endothelial repair. Since low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDLc) activates endothelial repair, LDLc may be positively associated with structural atherosclerosis but inversely associated with functional atherosclerosis in older individuals. This cross-sectional study analyzed 1458 participants aged 60 to 79 years. We defined structural atherosclerosis as a carotid intima-media thickness (CIMT) of at least 1.1 mm and functional atherosclerosis as a cardio-ankle vascular index (CAVI) of at least 9.0. LDLc was significantly positively associated with structural atherosclerosis and significantly inversely associated with functional atherosclerosis, independently of known cardiovascular risk factors. For 1 standard increment of LDLc (28 mg/dL for men and 29 mg/dL for women), the odds ratios and 95% confidence intervals after adjustment for known cardiovascular risk factors were 1.28 (1.10, 1.50) for structural atherosclerosis and 0.85 (0.75, 0.96) for functional atherosclerosis. LDLc activates endothelial repair, which results in the development of structural atherosclerosis but maintains endothelial function in older individuals. To evaluate atherosclerosis in clinical practice, the combination of structural and functional assessment of atherosclerosis could be informative

Short stature-related single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) activates endothelial repair activity in elderly Japanese

Background: Hypertension and atherosclerosis are bidirectionally related, while platelet count could serve as an indicator of endothelial repair. Therefore, high platelet counts could be associated with hypertension by indicating more intense endothelial repair activity. Furthermore, short stature has been shown to constitute a risk of atherosclerosis. Since inflammation-related single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP(rs3782886)) is reportedly associated with myocardial infarction and short stature, rs3782886 could be associated with a high platelet count and thus more intense endothelial repair activity. Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional study of 988 elderly Japanese who participated in a general health check-up. Short stature was defined as a height of at or under the 25th percentile of the study population, and high platelet count as the highest tertiles of the platelet levels. Results: High platelet counts were found to be independently and positively associated with hypertension while rs3782886 was independently associated with high platelet levels and short stature. The classical cardiovascular risk factor-adjusted odds ratio (OR) and 95% confidence interval (CI) of high platelet count for hypertension was 1.34 (1.02, 1.77). With non-minor homo of the rs3782886 as the reference group, the adjusted OR and 95% CI for high platelet count and short stature of minor home were 2.40 (1.30, 4.42) and 2.21 (1.16, 4.21), respectively. Conclusion: SNP (rs3782886) was shown to be associated with high platelet count and short stature. This result partly explains how a genetic factor can influence the impact of height on endothelial repair

Associations of carotid atherosclerosis and hyperuricemia with height in relation to drinking status of rural Japanese men: The Nagasaki Islands study.

Background; Several studies have identified a positive, independent association between uric acid and atherosclerosis whereas uric acid was once considered to be a major antioxidant in human plasma with possible beneficial anti-atherosclerotic effects. Several other studies have found an inverse association between height and stroke, while a previous study of ours detected a positive association between height and hyperuricemia. However, even though uric acid levels may be strongly affected by alcohol consumption and serum creatinine, no published study has examined the possible associations between hyperuricemia and carotid atherosclerosis while taking both height and drinking status into account.Methods; We conducted a cross-sectional study of 1,337 men aged 30-89 years undergoing a general health check-up to investigate the associations of hyperuricemia and carotid atherosclerosis with height in relation to drinking status.Results; Of the total study population, 312 men were diagnosed with carotid atherosclerosis (carotid intima-media thickness (CIMT)?1.1 mm) and 365 men with hyperuricemia (serum uric acid>7.0mg/dL). For shorter non-drinkers, a significantly positive association between these two abnormalities was detected, which was independent of classical cardiovascular risk factors except for serum creatinine. However, this association ceased to exist after further adjustment for serum creatinine. However, while the age-adjusted model showed no significant association for taller drinkers, adjustment for serum creatinine produced a significantly inverse association.Conclusion; Our study established that hyperuricemia is associated with carotid atherosclerosis for Japanese men, while body height, drinking status and serum creatinine are important determining factors for this association