Kyushu And Okinawa Population Study Research Articles

Relationship between the cholesterol and triglyceride content of lipoprotein subclasses and carotid intima-media thickness: Results from the Kyushu and Okinawa Population Study (KOPS)

Background and Aims : The association between 20 lipoprotein cholesterol and triglycerides subclasses and carotid intimal medial thickness (cIMT) progression has not been evaluated fully. Our goal was to assess which lipoprotein subclasses were associated with max cIMT levels.

Kyushu and Okinawa Population Study (KOPS): a large prospective cohort study in Japan

PurposeThe Kyushu and Okinawa Population Study (KOPS) was established to investigate gene–environmental interactions in non-communicable diseases in Japan. Besides collecting blood samples and anthropometric measurements, we also obtained medical histories,...

Relationship between dietary vitamin D intake, obesity, and twenty lipoprotein subclasses: Results from the Kyushu and Okinawa Population Study (KOPS)

Background and Aims: The correlation between serum vitamin D deficiency, obesity, and various diseases has been reported, however, there were few investigations on the role of dietary vitamin D intake on obesity and dyslipidemia.

Abstract P493: Small Dense Low-density Lipoprotein Cholesterol and Carotid Intimal Medial Thickness Progression

Introduction: Carotid intimal medical thickness (cIMT) is associated with cardiovascular disease (CVD). The association between atherogenic lipoproteins including small dense low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (sdLDL-C) and carotid intimal medial thickness (cIMT) progression has not been fully evaluated in a prospective cohort study. Hypothesis: We assessed the hypothesis that sdLDL-C is the most atherogenic lipoproteins with regard to cIMT progression. Methods: Kyushu and Okinawa Population Study (KOPS) is a community-based, prospective, and observational study in Japan which has been underway since 2004 and a total of 18,762 participants have been enrolled. For this study, we included 2,030 male and female participants (median age 59 years at baseline) who were free of CVD and off cholesterol lowering medication, and had cIMT measured at both baseline and after 5 years follow-up survey. Using plasma samples obtained from those subjects after overnight fast, we measured total cholesterol, direct low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), sdLDL-C, LDL-triglycerides (LDL-TG), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), HDL2-C, HDL3-C, triglycerides, Lp(a), adiponectin and high sensitivity C reactive protein (hs CRP). Their cIMT levels were measured by B-mode ultrasonography with a 10 MHz probe at far walls of their both right and left common carotid arteries. Results: Median cIMT at baseline was 0.63 mm and median 5 year progression was 0.18 mm. After adjustment for standard CVD risk factor including age, gender, systolic blood pressure, total cholesterol, HDL-C, smoking, diabetes, and hypertension treatment, only LDL-C, sdLDL-C, and the sdLDL-C/LDL-C ratio were associated with cIMT progression. Even in subjects with direct LDL-C < 100 mg/dL, considered to be at low CVD risk, elevated sdLDL-C were associated with cIMT progression ( P for trend = 0.009) in a model with established CVD risk factors, although the sdLDL-C/LDL-C ratio did not. Conclusions: In conclusion, both sdLDL-C and direct LDL-C are significantly associated with cIMT progression. Moreover sdLDL-C has stronger relationship with cIMT progression than does LDL-C; therefore, measurement of sdLDL-C may allow for the formulation of optimal therapy to cIMT progression.

Association of the Serum Endostatin Level, Renal Function, and Carotid Atherosclerosis of Healthy Residents of Japan: Results from the Kyushu and Okinawa Population Study (KOPS).

Aim: To analyze associations among the serum endostatin level, renal function, and carotid atherosclerosis of healthy residents of Japan.Methods: Among 1,057 Japanese residents who attended free public physical examinations between 2010 and 2011, we evaluated the data of 648 healthy residents (200 men and 448 women, age 24 to 84 years) for whom the serum endostatin level and common carotid intima-media thickness (IMT) were measured. Renal function was assessed by estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR). Multiple linear regression analysis was done to determine the association of eGFR and serum endostatin level after adjustment for known covariates. Mediation analysis was done using Baron and Kenny's regression approach.Results: The median endostatin level was 63.7 ng/mL (interquartile range: 49.7–93.2). The mean eGFR was 78.4 ± 14.8 mL/min/1.73m2. Univariate analysis showed that age (r = −0.37, P < 0.01), non current smoking (85.8 ± 13.0 vs. 77.5 ± 14.8 mL/min/1.73 m2, P < 0.01), hemoglobin A1c (r = −0.08, P = 0.05), low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol (r = −0.13, P < 0.01), uric acid (r = −0.15, P < 0.01), carotid IMT (r = −0.11, P < 0.01), and log-transformed endostatin (r = −0.36, P < 0.01) were significantly associated with eGFR. In multiple linear regression analysis, log-transformed endostatin was significantly associated with eGFR (beta = −0.24, P < 0.01). While, carotid IMT was no longer significant. Mediation analysis showed serum endostatin level to be a mediator in the association between carotid IMT and eGFR.Conclusions: The association between carotid IMT and eGFR is mediated by the serum endostatin level of healthy individuals.

Correlation between Thyroid Stimulating Hormone and Renal Function in Euthyroid Residents of Japan: Results from the Kyushu and Okinawa Population Study (KOPS).

Aim: The present large-scale Japanese population study was performed to evaluate the relation between the serum thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) level and renal function.Methods: Out of 1,374 residents who participated in a free public physical examination between 2010 and 2011, we evaluated the data of 888 participants for whom the serum TSH level and estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) were successfully measured. The participants were categorized into three groups based on TSH levels (normal TSH, ≤ 2.4; high-normal TSH, 2.5–4.4; and subclinical hypothyroid, ≥ 4.5 µIU/mL). Multiple linear regression analysis adjusted for cardiovascular risk factors was performed to determine the relationship between serum TSH level and renal function.Results: The mean ± SD TSH level was 2.0 ± 1.4 µIU/mL, and 75.9% (n = 674) of the participants had normal, 17.9% (n = 159) had high-normal, and 6.2% (n = 55) had subclinical hypothyroid TSH levels. The mean eGFR significantly decreased with increased TSH levels (normal TSH, 79.3 ± 14.1; high-normal TSH, 77.4 ± 13.0; and subclinical hypothyroid, 72.3 ± 12.2 mL/min/1.73 m2: P for trend < 0.01). Multiple linear regression analysis extracted log-transformed TSH level as an independent factor correlated with eGFR in the high-normal TSH group (beta = −0.18, P = 0.02).Conclusions: Our findings demonstrated a significant correlation between serum TSH levels and eGFR in high-normal TSH participants. In healthy individuals, high-normal TSH levels indicate increased the risk of chronic kidney disease.

The Relation between Serum Endostatin Level and Carotid Atherosclerosis in Healthy Residents of Japan: Results from the Kyushu and Okinawa Population Study (KOPS).

Aim: To examine the association between the serum endostatin levels and subclinical atherosclerosis independent of traditional risk factors in a healthy Japanese population.Methods: Among 1,057 residents who attended free public physical examinations between 2010 and 2011, we evaluated the data of 648 healthy residents for whom the serum endostatin level and common carotid intima-media thickness (IMT) were successfully measured.Results: The median endostatin level was 63.7 ng/mL (interquartile ranges: 49.7–93.2 ng/mL), and the mean carotid IMT was 0.68 ± 0.12 mm. Residents with above median endostatin had significantly higher carotid IMT than did those with below median endostatin (0.71 ± 0.14 vs. 0.65 ± 0.09 mm, P < 0.001). Multiple linear regression analysis demonstrated that increased serum endostatin is significantly associated with carotid IMT (above vs. below median endostatin level; beta = 0.11, P = 0.03), independent of the known covariates of age, sex, body mass index, drinking and smoking status, systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure, hemoglobin A1c, low density lipoprotein cholesterol, estimated glomerular filtration rate, and log-transformed high sensitive C-reactive protein.Conclusions: A higher serum endostatin level reflected subclinical atherosclerosis in this Japanese population.

Serum endostatin is correlated to renal function independently of carotid atherosclerosis: Results from the Kyushu and Okinawa Population Study (KOPS)

Serum endostatin is correlated to renal function independently of carotid atherosclerosis: Results from the Kyushu and Okinawa Population Study (KOPS)

Correlation of thyroid stimulating hormone to kidney function of healthy residents: Results from the Kyushu and Okinawa Population Study (KOPS)

Correlation of thyroid stimulating hormone to kidney function of healthy residents: Results from the Kyushu and Okinawa Population Study (KOPS)

Correlation of high-sensitive CRP, carotid intima-media thickness, and the chronic kidney disease of healthy residents: Results from the Kyushu and Okinawa Population Study (KOPS)

Correlation of high-sensitive CRP, carotid intima-media thickness, and the chronic kidney disease of healthy residents: Results from the Kyushu and Okinawa Population Study (KOPS)

The association of an elevated serum endostatin level and carotid atherosclerosis: Results from the Kyushu and Okinawa Population Study (KOPS)

The association of an elevated serum endostatin level and carotid atherosclerosis: Results from the Kyushu and Okinawa Population Study (KOPS)

The relation of postprandial plasma glucose and serum endostatin to the urinary albumin excretion of residents with prediabetes: results from the Kyushu and Okinawa Population Study (KOPS).

Previous clinical studies have shown that the circulating level of endostatin is related to kidney injury. We hypothesized that the impact of HbA1c, fasting, and postprandial plasma glucose on urinary albumin excretion would be related to the serum endostatin level. A cross-sectional, community-based population study of 1057 Japanese residents was conducted. Of these subjects, 162 with a fasting plasma glucose value between 5.5 and 6.9mmol/L and an HbA1c level of <6.5% received an oral glucose tolerance test, had serum endostatin measured, and had the urinary albumin/creatinine ratio (UACR) calculated. In multivariate analysis, 2-h postprandial plasma glucose (β=0.26, P<0.01) was significantly associated with log-transformed UACR, independently of fasting plasma glucose (β=0.14, P=0.28) and HbA1c (β=-0.08, P=0.57). When divided by the median value of endostatin (82.2ng/mL), 2-h postprandial plasma glucose (β=0.38, P=0.01) remained significantly associated with the log-transformed UACR of the participants below the median, while the fasting plasma glucose (β=0.34, P=0.046) was independently associated with the log-transformed UACR of participants above the median. Postprandial plasma glucose was independently associated with the urinary albumin excretion of the residents with prediabetes. Moreover, this relationship was limited to residents with a serum endostatin level below the median.

Subclinical carotid atherosclerosis and triglycerides predict the incidence of chronic kidney disease in the Japanese general population: Results from the Kyushu and Okinawa Population Study (KOPS)

Objective: To examine whether or not subclinical atherosclerosis independently predicts the incidence of chronic kidney disease (CKD) in the Japanese general population. Methods: This study is part of the Kyushu and Okinawa Population Study (KOPS), a survey of vascular events associated with lifestyle-related diseases. Participants who attended both baseline (2004–2007) and follow-up (2009–2012) examinations were eligible. The common carotid intima-media thickness (IMT) was assessed for each participant at baseline. The end point was the incidence of CKD, defined as an estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) < 60 mL/min/1.73 m2 during the follow-up of participants without CKD at baseline. Results: During the five-year follow-up, 224 of the 1824 participants (12.3%) who developed CKD had higher carotid IMT (0.74 ± 0.22 vs. 0.65 ± 0.14 mm, P < 0.001), higher triglycerides (1.6 ± 0.8 vs. 1.3 ± 0.7 mmol/L, P < 0.001), and lower high density lipoprotein cholesterol (1.5 ± 0.4 vs. 1.6 ± 0.4 mmol/L, P < 0.001) at baseline than those who did not. In logistic regression analysis adjusted for significant covariates, eGFR (Odds ratio [OR] 0.83, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.80–0.85, P < 0.001), carotid IMT (0.10 mm increase: OR 1.17, 95% CI 1.04–1.33, P = 0.010), and triglycerides (OR 1.35, 95% CI 1.06–1.73, P = 0.015) at baseline were independent predictors for the development of CKD. Conclusions: Higher carotid IMT and hypertriglyceridemia were independently associated with the development of CKD in the population studied.

PP117-SUN: Outstanding abstract: Hypertriglyceridemia and Subclinical Carotid Atherosclerosis Predicts the Incident of Chronic Kidney Disease in General Populations: Results from the Kyushu and Okinawa Population Study (KOPS)

PP117-SUN: Outstanding abstract: Hypertriglyceridemia and Subclinical Carotid Atherosclerosis Predicts the Incident of Chronic Kidney Disease in General Populations: Results from the Kyushu and Okinawa Population Study (KOPS)

A population-based epidemiological survey of human parvovirus B19 infection: a project of the Kyushu and Okinawa Population Study (KOPS)

Human parvovirus B19 infection occurs by droplet nuclei through the respiratory tract and causes a wide range of diseases. It can be transmitted through blood transfusion from asymptomatic blood donors. This study was done to investigate the parvovirus B19 infection rate of a group of healthy Japanese residents. Of 2,081 blood samples tested, 15 (0.72%) were positive for parvovirus B19 IgM, 1,412 (67.9%) for B19 virus IgG, and 4 (0.2%) for parvovirus B19 DNA. About half of all women of childbearing age were susceptible to parvovirus B19 infection. No relationship was found between the frequency of symptoms and the prevalence of parvovirus B19 IgG and IgM, suggesting that there are asymptomatic carriers in the healthy Japanese population. There is a risk of parvovirus B19 infection by blood transfusion from asymptomatic donors and that pregnant women are at high risk for parvovirus B19 infection.

The serum undercarboxylated osteocalcin level and the diet of a Japanese population: results from the Kyushu and Okinawa Population Study (KOPS)

The elevated serum undercarboxylated osteocalcin (ucOC) level is related to osteoporosis. In Japan, vitamin K intake is lower, and the incidence of hip fractures noticeably higher in northern Kyushu than in other areas. The study was done to determine the serum ucOC levels in a Japanese population and its association with diet and glucose metabolism. The data of 3,658 healthy adults aged 40-69 (1,373 men and 2,285 women) who lived in northern Kyushu area were analyzed. The data included anthropometric measurements and a self-reported personal interview on daily intake of foods. The serum ucOC level of each participant was measured by electrochemiluminescence immunoassay. Glycohemoglobin A1c (HbA1c), fasting plasma glucose, and serum insulin concentrations were measured. The median serum ucOC level of the women (4.65 ng/mL) was significantly higher than that of the men (3.04 ng/mL) (P = 0.0021). The age-specific ucOC levels of the men decreased significantly with age. In contrast, the ucOC levels of the women aged ≥50 were elevated, but the levels varied markedly within the other age groups. For both men and women, multivariate analysis identified a daily diet rich in vitamin K and HbA1c level as independently having a significant, negative relationship to serum ucOC level. Our study indicates that the serum ucOC decreases with age in men, increases postmenopausally in women, and correlates inversely with dietary consumption of certain foods and with fasting glucose and HbA1c level.

Utility of glycated albumin for the diagnosis of diabetes mellitus in a Japanese population study: results from the Kyushu and Okinawa Population Study (KOPS)

Glycated albumin is a measure of the mean plasma glucose concentration over approximately 2-3 weeks. We determined reference values for glycated albumin, and assessed its utility for the diagnosis of type 2 diabetes mellitus in the general population. We studied 1,575 men and women (mean age, 49.9 years; range, 26-78 years) who participated in a periodic health examination in a suburban Japanese town. HbA(1c) and fasting plasma concentrations of glucose (FPG) and glycated albumin were measured. Participants with FPG ≥ 7.0 mmol/l or HbA(1c) ≥ 6.5% (48 mmol/mol) were diagnosed as having diabetes. In our laboratory, the glycated albumin assay had intra-assay and inter-assay CVs of 1.1% and 1.6%, respectively. Glycated albumin levels were significantly correlated with HbA(1c) levels (r = 0.766, p < 0.001) and FPG (r = 0.706, p < 0.001). The presence of diabetes was significantly higher in participants with glycated albumin levels between 15.0% and 15.9% (five of 276, 1.81%) than in those with glycated albumin <14% (three of 672, 0.45%) (p = 0.037), and was markedly increased in those with a glycated albumin level >16% (58 of 207, 28.0%). Receiver operating characteristic curve analysis indicated that a glycated albumin level of ≥15.5% was optimal for predicting diabetes, with a sensitivity of 83.3% and a specificity of 83.3%. There is merit to further investigating the potential for glycated albumin to be used as an alternative measure of dysglycaemia for future research and clinical practice.

Risk Factors for and the Prevalence of Peripheral Arterial Disease and its Relationship to Carotid Atherosclerosis: The Kyushu and Okinawa Population Study (KOPS)

Peripheral arterial disease (PAD) is associated with cerebrovascular disease, ischemic heart disease, and other cardiovascular disease. We investigated the prevalence of and factors related to PAD to clarify the relationship between PAD and carotid atherosclerosis in a cross-sectional population-based study. The study included 2,402 (900 males and 1,502 females; mean+/-SD=64.9+/-10.9 years) of 3,862 residents of two Japanese rural areas who reported for a free health examination in 2005 or 2006. An ankle brachial index value < or =0.9 was considered to be PAD. The carotid artery intima-media thickness (CA-IMT) was measured by carotid ultrasound. The prevalence of PAD was 1.71% (n=41) of all participants. The risk factors independently associated with a significantly higher risk of PAD, identified by multivariate analysis, are as follows: For males, age, dyslipidemia, and CA-IMT, and for females, age, waist circumference, and dyslipidemia. The prevalence of PAD in Japan was confirmed to be lower than that of similar studies performed in other countries. PAD was strongly correlated with age and dyslipidemia in both sexes, carotid atherosclerosis in males, and abdominal fat in females.