Coffee consumption but not green tea consumption is associated with adiponectin levels in Japanese males.

PURPOSE: Coffee is among the most widely consumed beverages in the world. Numerous epidemiological studies have reported a significant inverse association between coffee consumption and risk of type 2 diabetes mellitus, but the underlying mechanisms are still not fully understood. Therefore, we conducted an epidemiological study to clarify the relationship between coffee consumption and adiponectin levels in Japanese males. We also evaluated whether green tea consumption affected adiponectin levels. METHODS: We carried out a cross-sectional study. The subjects were 665 male employees in Japan. Coffee consumption was assessed, using a self-administered questionnaire, as the number of times per week and cups per day respondents drank, and subjects were grouped into four levels (non, 1-5 times/week, 1-2 cups/day and ≥3 cups/day). RESULTS: The means of adiponectin levels were positively associated with coffee consumption. A dose-response relationship was found between coffee consumption and circulating adiponectin levels. The relationship remained significant after adjustment for potential confounding factors (P for trend <0.05). However, green tea consumption was not significantly associated with adiponectin levels (P for trend = 0.90). CONCLUSIONS: We not only revealed that habitual coffee consumption is associated with higher adiponectin levels in Japanese males but also found a dose-dependent association between coffee consumption and adiponectin levels. Therefore, our study suggested that coffee components might play an important role in the elevation of adiponectin level.

Is heat shock protein 60 associated with type 2 diabetes mellitus?

AIMS: HSP60 plays a protective role against heat, oxidative injury and ultraviolet. Recently, animal and clinical studies have suggested that HSP60 plays a role in various diseases. However, few epidemiological studies have demonstrated an association between HSP60 levels and type 2 diabetes mellitus. Therefore, an epidemiological study was conducted to examine the association of HSP60 with type 2 diabetes mellitus. METHODS: This study included 83 type 2 diabetes mellitus patients and 161 controls that were recruited from male employees who received annual health check-ups between 2005 and 2007. The serum HSP60 levels were measured using the ELISA method. RESULTS: Because the HSP60 levels were not detectable (<3.125 ng/mL) in 48.0% of the study subjects, HSP60 levels were divided into two categories (detectable or undetectable). A logistic regression analysis showed that the subjects in the undetectable had a 2.03 times higher risk of diabetes mellitus than those in the detectable after adjustment for age, BMI and rate of hypertension medication. CONCLUSIONS: This study was the first epidemiological study to demonstrate an association between type 2 diabetes mellitus and HSP60, thus suggesting that HSP60 may play an important role in the type 2 diabetes mellitus pathology.

[Clinical use of castable ceramics (OCC) crown].

The new ceramics material (OCC) was developed for the purpose of aesthetic restration which can be fabricated by an usual lost wax process and it produces accurate marginal fit. OCC possesses mechanical, chemical, and physical properties. This article is discussed utility and security of OCC complete crown on the clinical application from Dec, 1986 to Jun, 1989. The results may be summarized as follows: 1) 2 of 69 cases were broken down in the period from Dec, 1986 to Jun, 1989. These reasons are caused by the lack of occlusal thickness and unsuitable fit of crown. 2) Although 4 of 69 cases are stained by tobacco tar and 5 of 69 cases are suffered from plaque accumulation, these staining and plaque accumulation are improved by plaque control. 3) An allergic reaction or an abnormality of oral tissues haven't been recognized during test period of clinical use. Consequently OCC crown showed itself about safety and usefulness.