Strong association between serum hepatocyte growth factor and metabolic syndrome.

Hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) is one of the adipocytokines. We evaluated whether serum levels of HGF are related to the metabolic syndrome. A total of 1474 subjects of a general population free of liver, kidney, and lung diseases received a health examination. We measured blood pressure, waist circumference, body mass index, fasting plasma glucose, lipid profiles, serum insulin, liver enzymes, and HGF concentrations. Uni- and multivariate analyses for determinant of HGF were performed. In univariate analysis, all of the components (waist circumference, triglycerides, high-density lipoprotein-cholesterol, blood pressure, and fasting plasma glucose) of the metabolic syndrome and liver enzymes were significantly related to HGF levels. By the use of multiple stepwise regression analysis, HGF levels were significantly related to waist circumference (P < 0.001), high-density lipoprotein-cholesterol (P < 0.05, inversely), and liver enzymes (P < 0.001). HGF levels were higher (P < 0.05) in proportion to the accumulation of the number of the component of the metabolic syndrome. A significant association (P < 0.05) was shown between quartiles of HGF levels and the degree of abnormality of the component of the metabolic syndrome. In conclusion, our results indicate that serum HGF levels are strongly associated with the metabolic syndrome, independent of liver function.

Plasma endothelin-1 level is related to renal function and smoking status but not to blood pressure: an epidemiological study.

OBJECTIVE: Endothelin-1 (ET-1) is a potent vasoconstrictor derived from the endothelium. Several studies with small numbers of humans have showed high plasma ET-1 levels in hypertension, but other studies have not. Furthermore, it has been shown in a small number of subjects that ET-1 is elevated in uraemic patients. However, there have been no epidemiological surveys as to whether ET-1 level is related to hypertension or end-organ damage. METHODS: A total of 1492 subjects received a health examination in 1999. The data for fasting ET-1 of 1450 individuals were obtained. A specific radioimmunoassay was used to measure ET-1 levels. We also measured body mass index (BMI), systolic and diastolic blood pressure (BP), haemoglobin A1c, cholesterol, blood urea nitrogen (BUN), creatinine and uric acid. We performed carotid B-mode ultrasonography and electrocardiography. Smoking habit was evaluated by questionnaire. RESULTS: Mean ET-1 was 4.93 +/- 1.73 pg/ml in men and 4.84 +/-1.54 pg/ml in women. ET-1 increased with age (P < 0.001). Systolic (P < 0.001) and diastolic (P < 0.05) BP, hypertensive medication (P < 0.05), BUN (P < 0.01), creatinine (P < 0.001), uric acid (P < 0.001), intimal-medial thickness (P < 0.001), smoking (P < 0.05) and age (P < 0.001), were significantly associated with ET-1 by univariate analysis. By the use of multiple stepwise regression analysis, age (P < 0.001), creatinine (P < 0.001) and smoking (P < 0.05) remained significant. However, no relation was shown between ET-1 and BP. CONCLUSION: Our data suggest that high ET-1 is not related to hypertension, but to subclinical renal dysfunction and smoking.

Plasma homocysteine levels and atherosclerosis in Japan: epidemiological study by use of carotid ultrasonography.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: We examined whether hyperhomocysteinemia is an independent risk factor for increased carotid artery intimal-medial wall thickness (IMT) in a large, randomly selected community in Japan where the dietary habit is different and the incidence of coronary artery disease is lower compared with those of western countries. METHODS: In 1111 cases (452 men, 659 women) aged 63+/-10 years old (range, 40 to 94 years) recruited from a population-based survey performed in 1999, we measured fasting plasma total homocysteine levels and performed bilateral carotid B-mode ultrasound. The participants underwent measurements of other blood chemistries (total cholesterol, HDL cholesterol, glycosylated hemoglobin A(1c), and creatinine). RESULTS: For the total population, the mean total homocysteine level was 10.9 micro mol/L. Total homocysteine levels were higher in men than in women and increased with aging. With multiple linear regression analysis after adjustments for age and sex, the most powerful determinant of total homocysteine levels was serum creatinine (P<0.001). With multiple stepwise regression analysis after adjustments for age, sex, and other confounding factors, total homocysteine was significantly (P<0.05) related to IMT. Furthermore, when mean values of IMT adjusted for age, sex, and other related factors were analyzed across total homocysteine quartiles, IMT (P<0.05) showed a significant trend as total homocysteine level increased. CONCLUSIONS: Plasma total homocysteine levels in Japan are similar to those reported in western countries. Mild hyperhomocysteinemia is an independent risk factor for increased carotid artery wall thickness in Japan as well.