Growth-related disappearance of the childhood relationship between height and blood pressure levels.

CONTEXT: Although there is a positive relationship between height and blood pressure (BP) levels in children, there are no reports regarding the association between height and BP levels in adolescents and adults. OBJECTIVE: This study examined whether there is an association between height and BP levels in Japanese adolescents. METHODS: The source population was all fifth (10 and 11-year-olds) and ninth graders (14 and 15-year-olds) who attended 11 elementary schools and five junior high schools in the Iwata area from 2002-2008. School-based screenings were conducted annually by the local government from April to June. Data obtained from health examinations were analysed, including anthropometric measurements and BP levels, for 11 780 children (98.7% of the source population). RESULTS: Height showed significant positive relationships with systolic blood pressure (SBP) and diastolic blood pressure (DBP) in childhood and in adolescent males. In contrast, the relationship between height and SBP was significantly weaker in adolescent females than in childhood and there was no significant relationship between height and DBP in adolescent females. CONCLUSION: The relationship between height and SBP was attenuated by development in females and the relationship between height and DBP disappeared.

Effect of recovery from obesity on cardiovascular risk factors among Japanese schoolchildren: the Iwata population-based follow-up study.

BACKGROUND: The effect of recovery from obesity on cardiovascular risk factors is not well understood in Japanese children. METHODS: We analyzed follow-up data from the Iwata city population-based study of schoolchildren in Japan. The Iwata Board of Education conducted health screenings of children aged 10 and 14 years. A total of 914 children aged 10 years (451 boys and 463 girls, 87.1% of all children in the city in 1997) were followed until 14 years of age and classified by pattern of obesity as Normal, Recovered, Worsened, or Persistent. RESULTS: Of the 914 children, 111 (12%) were obese at 10 years of age. Of those children, 44 (40%) were no longer obese at 14 years (ie, Recovered). At follow-up, Recovered boys had the greatest decrease in non-HDL cholesterol (mean ± SE, -21.3 ± 3.6 mg/dL) among the 4 groups, and Recovered girls had a significantly lower level of non-HDL cholesterol (Recovered, 107.1 ± 5.4 mg/dL vs. Persistent, 126.1 ± 4.5 mg/dL). The Recovered boys also had a significantly higher level of HDL cholesterol at age 14 (Recovered, 67.2 ± 2.7 mg/dL vs. Persistent, 53.3 ± 2.1 mg/dL). In the Recovered group, 68% of children who were dyslipidemic at baseline had normal cholesterol levels at age 14. The recovery rate from dyslipidemia was significantly higher in the Recovered group (cumulative incidence rate ratio, 2.5; 95% confidence interval, 1.4-4.7) as compared with the Persistent group. CONCLUSIONS: Dyslipidemia was reversed in children who recovered from obesity. Our findings suggest that reducing obesity is beneficial to the health of Japanese schoolchildren.

Height-specific serum cholesterol levels in pubertal children: data from population-based Japanese school screening.

BACKGROUND: Inverse associations between height and serum lipid levels in pubertal children have been reported. To develop criteria for normal serum lipid levels stratified by height in pubertal children, we examined height-specific cholesterol levels, using data from a population-based school screening. METHODS: Serum levels of total cholesterol (TC) and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) were investigated in 10 151 children (98.9% of the target population) aged 10 and 14 years who attended public schools in Iwata City from 2002 through 2007. RESULTS: The 95th percentiles of TC in the lowest and highest quintiles of height were 221 and 219 mg/dL, respectively, in 10-year-old boys, 215 and 203 mg/dL in 14-year-old boys, 220 and 204 mg/dL in 10-year-old girls, and 226 and 214 mg/dL in 14-year-old girls. The fifth percentiles of HDL-C in the lowest and highest quintiles of height were 45 and 43 mg/dL in 10-year-old boys, 43 and 40 mg/dL in 14-year-old boys, 46 and 42 mg/dL in 10-year-old girls, and 47 and 44 mg/dL in 14-year-old girls. CONCLUSIONS: This study provided height-specific levels of serum lipids in 10-year-old and 14-year-old children. Height should be considered when evaluating cholesterol levels in pubertal children.

Trends in body mass index, blood pressure, and serum lipids in Japanese children: Iwata population-based annual screening (1993-2008).

BACKGROUND: Current trends in body size, blood pressure, and serum lipids in children are predictors of future disease prevalence. However, there have been no studies of blood pressure and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) levels in Japanese children. METHODS: We investigated trends in body mass index (BMI), systolic blood pressure (SBP), diastolic blood pressure (DBP), total cholesterol (TC), non-HDL-C, and HDL-C using data from annual screenings in 1993 through 2008. The subjects were 14 872 (98.8% of the target population) fifth-graders enrolled in all public schools in the Original Iwata area in Iwata City, Japan. The same examination protocol was used throughout to ensure the uniformity of quality control and the precision of assessment. Trends in the variables in relation to the calendar year were analyzed by using regression models. RESULTS: In boys, the 95th percentile of BMI increased by 0.09 kg/m(2)/year. In both sexes, the 5th percentile of BMI decreased by 0.02 to 0.03 kg/m(2)/year. There was a significant negative correlation between SBP and calendar year, and the 95th percentile of SBP decreased by 0.52 mm Hg/year in boys and by 0.40 mm Hg/year in girls. There was also a significant reduction DBP. However, there were no trends in TC, non-HDL-C, or HDL-C. CONCLUSIONS: The increase in obese and underweight children in Original Iwata was consistent with the findings of a nationwide survey. Although high blood pressure and related risk factors were formerly a serious problem in Japan, blood pressure levels have decreased in schoolchildren from Iwata over the past 15 years.

Relationship between height and blood pressure in Japanese schoolchildren.

BACKGROUND: Blood pressure examinations for health education use have been conducted at several schools in Japan. It has been reported that blood pressure is closely associated with bodyweight and height in US children. The aim of the present paper was to evaluate the association between height and blood pressure in Japanese schoolchildren. METHODS: In Iwata city in Japan, blood pressure screening was conducted by the school administration. A total of 98.9% (10,152/10,270 children) of all fifth (10-year-olds) and ninth graders (14-year-olds) residing in the Old Iwata area from 2002 to 2007 were analyzed. RESULTS: In 10-year-old and 14-year-old boys, regression analysis indicated that a positive correlation between weight and blood pressure was the strongest among the three body size indices (height, weight, and body mass index), but the association between height and blood pressure was also significant. For girls from both the 10 and 14 year age groups, the correlation of weight and blood pressure was stronger than those for the other body size indices, but there were also significant associations between height and blood pressure, except for height and diastolic blood pressure in the 14-year-olds. CONCLUSIONS: There is a significant positive relationship between height and blood pressure. Further study is necessary to provide a blood pressure reference based on height in the Japanese program to prevent children from developing lifestyle-related risk factors.

Depressive symptoms and life satisfaction in elderly women are associated with natural killer cell number and cytotoxicity.

Well-preserved natural killer (NK) cell cytotoxicity (NKCC) is associated with healthy aging. The objective of the survey was to investigate psychological factors related to NKCC and NK cell populations in elderly women. A cross-sectional study involving 181 participants was conducted using the Japanese version of the 28-item General Health Questionnaire (GHQ) and additional questions assessing psychological status and lifestyle. Spearman's rank test revealed a significant negative correlation between NKCC and the GHQ depression subscale (GHQ-D) scores. Significantly reduced NKCC was found in participants presenting high GHQ-D scores (12 < or = GHQ-D, n = 58) compared with those showing middle (8 < or = GHQ-D < or = 11, n = 55) or low (GHQ-D = 7, n = 68) scores. Adjusting for covariates regarding lifestyle, multiple logistic regression analysis was applied; consequently, significant associations were found between reduced NKCC and high depressive symptoms and between increased NK cell numbers and life satisfaction. These results indicated a clue to longitudinal studies in the future.

Trends in levels of cholesterol in Japanese children from 1993 through 2001.

BACKGROUND: Cardiovascular risk factors in children raise the possibility of cardiovascular disease later in life. We attempted to determine the current trends in cardiovascular risk factors among Japanese children. METHODS: We examined fifth-graders at all the elementary schools in Iwata city in Japan every year from 1993 through 2001. We examined 4,673 boys and 4,484 girls, aged 10-11 years. Height, body weight, body mass index, and serum total cholesterol concentrations were measured. Regression analysis was used to evaluate the trends. The independent variable was the calendar year of the examination. The dependent variables were the anthropometric values and the serum total cholesterol concentration in each individual. The relationships between the year and the prevalence of hyperlipidemia and the prevalence of obesity were also examined. RESULTS: Both the heights of the girls and the body weights of the both sexes were positively associated with the year. The body mass index in both girls and boys also showed positive relationships with the calendar year. In addition, there was an increase in the prevalence of obesity. Concerning the levels of cholesterol, positive regression coefficients were shown between the total cholesterol concentration and the year in both sexes. Furthermore, there was an increase in prevalence of hyperlipidemia. CONCLUSION: These results indicate that during the past decade among Japanese children involved in the study, both the body mass index and the serum total cholesterol concentrations increased.

Calorie restricted diet and urinary pentosidine in patients with rheumatoid arthritis.

Low-energy diets and fasting have suppressive effects on rheumatoid arthritis. It was reported recently that urine levels of pentosidine (i.e., an advanced glycation end product formed by glycosylation) is associated with the activity of rheumatoid arthritis. We conducted a regimen of caloric restriction combined with fasting in patients with rheumatoid arthritis, and then evaluated urinary pentosidine levels. Ten patients with rheumatoid arthritis underwent a 54-day caloric restriction program. Urinary pentosidine levels were measured and the Lansbury Index were determined by examining the clinical features, blood biochemistry and the inflammation activity of rheumatoid arthritis on days 0, 25 and 54. On day 0, the mean urinary pentosidine level of patients with rheumatoid arthritis was significantly higher than that of the control subjects. On day 54, the mean body weight had reduced due to caloric restriction. The mean values of the erythrocyte sedimentation rate and the Lansbury Index of patients both significantly decreased during the study. In addition, although the urinary pentosidine levels showed no significant difference between day 0 and 25, it was significantly decreased at the end of the study (day 54). The study showed that under a low energy diet a reduction of disease activity in rheumatoid arthritis was accompanied with a reduction of the urinary pentosidine.

Suppressive effects on delayed type hypersensitivity by fasting and dietary restriction in ICR mice.

Dietary restriction improves declining physiologic functions, prevents or lessens the severity of neoplasms and autoimmune diseases, and attenuates various inflammatory reactions. In the present study, we compared the effect on allergic dermatitis from repeated short-term fasting (every 3 days), and from moderate dietary restriction receiving 60% of the amount of food consumed by an ad libitum feeding group. In addition, we attempted to verify the involvement of corticosteroids and oxidative stress during nutritional deprivation. The overall food intake in mice undergoing moderate dietary restriction was less than that in mice undergoing repeated fasting. Nonetheless, moderate dietary restriction and repeated fasting showed similar suppressive effects on dermatitis. Furthermore, both the restricted-diet and fasted mice showed less oxidative stress than the mice fed ad libitum. In RU486 (a glucocorticoid receptor antagonist)-injected mice, no suppressive effect of fasting on dermatitis was seen. In conclusion, repeated fasting and moderate dietary restriction suppressed dermatitis in similar ways. Hypercorticism and reduced oxidative stress is associated with the suppression of dermatitis.

Accumulation of copper in kidney of spontaneously hypertensive rats, a preliminary study.

Mineral levels such as Cu, Fe, Zn, Ca and Mg in organs of spontaneously hypertensive osteogenic disorder Shionogi rat (SHR-od) were compared with those of normotensive osteogenic disorder Shionogi rat (ODS). The effect of vitamin C deficiency was also examined for both strains. Cu levels in kidney of SHR-od increased to 2.2 times and 5.0 times that of ODS at 6-week old and 30-week old, respectively, although the effect of vitamin C deficiency was not observed in Cu levels of five organs examined. The effect of vitamin C deficiency appeared in the change in the other mineral levels almost similarly for both SHR-od and ODS rats at 30-week old; the decrease of Fe in liver, spleen and lung, whereas the increase of Zn in liver, Ca in heart and Mg in spleen, respectively.

Negative relationships between growth in height and levels of cholesterol in puberty: a 3-year follow-up study.

BACKGROUND: Previously, there were only a few reports on the negative relationship between pubertal growth in height and levels of serum lipid in boys. Detailed information on both genders is needed. METHODS: We investigated the relationship between pubertal growth in height and serum lipid. Subjects were 1442 boys and 1350 girls followed up from age 10-11 years (the fifth grade level of elementary school) to age 13-14 years (the second year of junior high school). Anthropometric variables and serum lipids were measured by the same protocol at both ages. RESULTS: From cross-sectional analysis, at both ages negative relationships between total cholesterol levels and height were found in both genders. On longitudinal analysis, height at age 10-11 years was one of the factors predicting the level of total cholesterol at age 13-14 years. In addition, negative relationships between increase in height and change in serum lipids (total cholesterol and high density lipoprotein cholesterol) over the 3-year period were obtained in both genders. Thus, pubertal children who experience a large increase in height tended to show a decrease in serum lipids, and children who experience a small increase in height tended to show an increase in serum lipids. CONCLUSION: In both genders, total cholesterol level in pubertal children is negatively associated with height. Height velocity is inversely associated with dynamic changes in serum lipids during puberty.

An adult with atopic dermatitis and repeated short-term fasting.

It has been reported that nutritional stress, such as short-term fasting and long-term energy restriction, has a suppressive effect on allergic dermatitis in experimental animals. Furthermore, clinical study has demonstrated a positive association between weight loss by low-energy diet and improvement in patients with atopic dermatitis. In this report, a 23-year-old female with atopic dermatitis received a treatment of repeated short-term fasting. 24-hour fasting was conducted once a week for a period of 20 weeks. On the fasting day, the amount of energy intake was 200 kcal. No medication was administered during the trial period. Clinical symptoms were evaluated using the Scoring Atopic Dermatitis index, and IgE, lactase dehydrogenase-5, and number of eosinophils were measured. At the end of the trial, body weight was reduced and clinical symptoms improved, whereas no improvements in laboratory findings were shown. For sufficient evidence of the effects of fasting, additional controlled study is needed.

Cardiovascular risk factors in a tourist town: association with job-related factors.

Previous studies have shown that mortality from cardiovascular diseases in fishing villages was lower than that in farming villages. In contrast, few reports on the population living in a tourist village have appeared. Then, we report here the characteristic features of a tourist town, and that in fishing and farming towns. The rural farming town in Gunma prefecture had a population of 15,100. The population working in the primary industry was 17.1%, and the farming population was 17.0%. The fishing town in Shizuoka prefecture had a population of 11,700. The population working in the primary industry was 11.0%, and the fishing population was 10.2%. The rural tourist town in Shizuoka prefecture had a population of 17,800. The population working in the tertiary industry was 60.2%, and the wholesaling or retailing population was 16.6%. Standardized mortality ratios of cardiovascular diseases in the tourist town reported by Shizuoka health officials were higher than the fishing town. The rate of participation at ages of 50-59 years for the basic health examination in the tourist town was lower than the fishing and the farming towns. From the results of the health examination of residents at ages of 50-59 years, the high prevalence of obesity and hypertension in men and high prevalence of hypertension in women were found in the tourist town. In the tourist town, self-employed women at ages of 50-59 years had irregular time of meals and insufficient care of diet in comparison with employed women. Furthermore, the prevalence of hypertension in self-employed women was also higher than that of employed women. We could suggest that health status in communities might be associated with job-related factors.