Increased Waist Circumference after One-Year Is Associated with Poor Chewing Status.

BACKGROUND: This study aimed to investigate the relationship between an increase in waist circumference (WC) after 1 year and self-reported chewing status in 10,870 Japanese adults who had received health checkups. Subsequently, 8068 participants were included in the final analysis. METHODS: We defined an increase in WC ≥ 5 cm after 1 year as an unhealthy increase; in total, 613 (7.5%) respondents met this criterion. Chewing status was evaluated using a self-reported questionnaire at baseline; 1080 (13%) respondents were diagnosed with poor chewing status. RESULTS: After adjusting for age, gender, WC, body mass index (BMI), and chewing status, an increase in WC ≥ 5 cm was found to be positively associated with gender (females: odds ratios [ORs]: 1.206; 95% confidence intervals [CIs]: 1.008-1.443), WC (ORs: 0.967; 95% CIs: 0.954-0.981), BMI (≥25 kg/m2; ORs: 2.194; 95% CIs: 1.715-2.808), and chewing status (poor; ORs: 1.356; 95% CIs: 1.084-1.697). CONCLUSIONS: These findings suggest that increased WC after 1 year was associated with self-reported poor chewing status in Japanese adults.

Ruptured Occipital Artery Aneurysm Following Craniotomy in a Patient with Neurofibromatosis Type 1: Case Report.

Objective: Neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1) is associated with vascular fragility, which results in aneurysms, arteriovenous fistulas, and dissections. Here, we describe a case of endovascular treatment of a ruptured occipital artery aneurysm that occurred after a craniotomy in a patient with NF1. Case Presentation: A 46-year-old man with a history of NF1 underwent a right lateral suboccipital craniotomy to remove a cavernous hemangioma in the right middle cerebellar peduncle. Severe bleeding occurred in the occipital artery during the craniotomy. Due to vessel fragility, coagulation and ligation were not possible, and pressure hemostasis was achieved using cellulose oxide and fibrin glue. On postoperative day 12, the patient developed a sudden swelling on the right side of the neck as well as tracheal compression. Contrast-enhanced CT revealed a ruptured aneurysm in the right occipital artery. Transarterial embolization was performed under general anesthesia the same day. Right external carotid angiography showed an 18-mm-diameter fusiform aneurysm in the occipital artery. The aneurysm ruptured inferiorly to form a large pseudoaneurysm with significant jet flow. An arteriovenous fistula was also observed in a nearby vein. A microcatheter was inserted into the fusiform aneurysm under proximal blood flow control, and embolization was performed using coils and N-butyl-2-cyanoacrylate. Conclusion: Compared to surgical repair of ruptured occipital artery aneurysms, endovascular treatment appears to be safe, effective, minimally invasive, and rapid. Ruptured occipital artery aneurysms in NF1 patients can cause neck swelling and airway compression and should be recognized as a potentially lethal condition.

Association between failed eradication of 7-day triple therapy for Helicobacter pylori and untreated dental caries in Japanese adults.

Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infection is a cause of gastric disorders and is treated mainly by pharmacotherapy with antimicrobial agents. An association has been reported between dental caries and H. pylori infection. As antimicrobial agents are less effective inside dental caries because of impaired blood circulation, the presence of untreated dental caries (decayed teeth) may influence the success of H. pylori eradication treatment. In this cross-sectional study, we examined whether failed eradication of H. pylori was associated with decayed teeth in Japanese adults. Enrolled were 226 participants who received dental checkups among those treated for eradication of H. pylori at Asahi University Hospital between April 2019 and March 2021. Treatment efficacy was assessed by urea breath test. Eradication failed in 38 participants (17%), decayed teeth in 32 participants (14%), and number of 0.34 teeth per participants. Multivariate logistic regression analyses showed that failed eradication of H. pylori was associated with decayed teeth (presence: odds ratio, 2.672; 95% confidence interval, 1.093-6.531) after adjusting for gender, age, and brushing frequency. These results indicate that failed eradication of H. pylori was associated with decayed teeth and suggest that untreated dental caries may impact treatment for eradication of H. pylori.

Effects of weight loss on metabolic dysfunction-associated fatty liver disease in Japanese people: Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease in the Gifu area, longitudinal analysis study.

AIM: Metabolic dysfunction-associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD) is a major health concern. This cohort study aimed to evaluate the association between weight loss and remission of MAFLD in the Japanese population to aid the development of efficient treatment strategies. METHODS: This retrospective cohort study was conducted at a Japanese health screening center. Participants included 3309 individuals diagnosed with baseline MAFLD between 2004 and 2016. Logistic regression analysis was used to assess the association between MAFLD remission from baseline to 5 years and weight change. RESULTS: After 5 years, 671 participants achieved MAFLD remission. Weight loss was associated with MAFLD remission for every 1 kg of weight loss over 5 years; the odds ratio for MAFLD remission was 1.24 (95% CI 1.15-1.34) for participants with type 2 diabetes, 1.40 (95% CI 1.35-1.45) for overweight participants, and 1.51 (95% CI 1.33-1.72) for non-overweight participants with metabolic dysfunctions. The cutoff values for weight loss for MAFLD remission were 1.9 kg for all participants, 3.0 kg for participants with type 2 diabetes, 1.9 kg for overweight participants, and 0.8 kg for non-overweight participants with metabolic dysfunctions. CONCLUSIONS: Among participants diagnosed with MAFLD, weight loss was associated with MAFLD remission regardless of the type of metabolic dysfunction in MAFLD. The results of this study may contribute to the development of novel approaches to achieve MAFLD remission.

Iatrogenic Arteriovenous Fistula between the Middle Meningeal Artery and Pterygoid Venous Plexus Secondary to a Le Fort I Osteotomy: A Case Report.

Le Fort I osteotomy is a common surgical technique for correcting jaw deformities. Although it is generally a safe procedure, there have been cases of postoperative vascular complications, which include arteriovenous fistulas. Published reports describe the development of arteriovenous fistulas that originate from the maxillary artery after this procedure; nevertheless, no cases of arteriovenous fistulas arising from the middle meningeal artery (MMA) have been reported. We present the case of a 19-year-old woman who developed pulsatile tinnitus immediately following a Le Fort I osteotomy. Angiography with proximal flow control of the external carotid artery showed an arteriovenous fistula between the extracranial portion of the MMA and the pterygoid venous plexus. The fistula was successfully treated using coil embolization, preserving the maxillary artery, which results in tinnitus resolution. In this report, the effectiveness of endovascular treatment for arteriovenous fistulas of the MMA that occur following a Le Fort I osteotomy was demonstrated. Angiography with proximal flow interruption was effective in shunt location detection.

U-shaped association between triglyceride and risk of incident diabetes in normoglycemic males with NAFLD: A population-base cohort study.

Background: Serum triglyceride (TG) was an important biomarker for nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), and the association between TG and incident type 2 diabetes mellitus is still under debate with some studies suggesting that elevated TG increase the risk of incident T2DM while others indicative of a negative relationship. These controversial findings may be partially due to the inclusion of the participants with NAFLD. The association between TG and incident type 2 diabetes mellitus in people with NAFLD remained unclear. Therefore, this study aimed to characterize the relationship between the baseline TG levels and incident type 2 diabetes mellitus in a male Japanese cohort with NAFLD. Methods: A total of 1221 males with NAFLD were enrolled from the Nagala (NAFLD in the Gifu Area Longitudinal analysis) study conducted from 2004 to 2015. Cox proportional hazards models were performed to examine the relationship between baseline TG concentration and incident type 2 diabetes mellitus. A two-piecewise linear regression model was explored to evaluate the threshold effect of the baseline TG levels on type 2 diabetes mellitus incidence by using a smoothing function. Results: During a median follow-up of 6.05 years, 39 males with NAFLD at baseline developed type 2 diabetes mellitus. The risk of incident type 2 diabetes mellitus was significantly associated with baseline TG concentration in males with NAFLD after fully adjustment for confounders, with per 10 mg/dl elevation in TG levels increasing the risk of incident diabetes by 8.5% (HR=1.085, CI=1.039-1.132; P<0.001). However, no typical dose-dependent positive association between type 2 diabetes mellitus incidence and the TG levels was observed across the TG tertiles. Interestingly, a U-shaped association between TG concentration and risk of incident type 2 diabetes mellitus was revealed by the two-piecewise linear regression analysis. Baseline TG concentration lower than the threshold values (TG <53mg/dl) were negatively associated with risk of incident type 2 diabetes mellitus. With each 10mg/dl increase in baseline TG levels, the risk of incident type 2 diabetes mellitus decreased by nearly 59% (HR=0.413, 95% CI=0.220-0.778). In contrast, when TG levels were higher than the threshold values (TG>53mg/dl), the risk of incident diabetes increased 9.1% with every 10mg TG elevation (HR=1.091, 95% CI=1.046-1.137). Conclusions: A U-shaped relationship was observed between baseline TG levels and incident type 2 diabetes mellitus in a male normoglycemic Japanese population with NAFLD, although extrapolation of the finding to other populations should be made with caution.

Mechanical Thrombectomy for Patients with Occlusions in Both the Anterior Cerebral Artery and Middle Cerebral Artery: Case Series and Review of the Literature.

Objective: Most large-vessel occlusions (LVOs) amenable to acute recanalization occur in the internal carotid or middle cerebral artery. However, few LVOs with a multivessel disease can be difficult to treat. This study aimed to determine the outcomes of mechanical thrombectomy in patients with both anterior and middle cerebral artery occlusions. Methods: We retrospectively collected data for patients who had undergone mechanical thrombectomy since January 2016 at Fukushima Medical University and its affiliated institutions (10 institutions). Patients with occluded vessels in the anterior and middle cerebral arteries were selected, and patient background, treatment course, and outcomes were reviewed. Results: A total of 341 mechanical thrombectomies were performed during the study period. Seven patients had occlusions involving both anterior and middle cerebral arteries. In these seven patients, the median time from onset to imaging, imaging to puncture, and puncture to recanalization was 106, 60, and 74 min, respectively. Only one patient (14%) had a modified Rankin Scale of 0-2 at 90 days. Conclusion: Comorbid anterior cerebral artery occlusion may worsen the outcome of patients with middle cerebral artery occlusion.

Atherosclerotic carotid plaque characteristics vary with time from ischemic event: A multicenter, prospective magnetic resonance vessel wall imaging registry study.

Recent studies report that the rate of recurrent stroke is highest in the stages immediately following cerebral infarction and decreases over time in patients with atherosclerotic carotid stenosis. The purpose of this study was to identify temporal differences in early stage carotid plaque components from acute cerebrovascular ischemic events using carotid MRI. Carotid plaque images were obtained on 3 T MRI from 128 patients enrolled in MR-CAS. Among the 128 subjects, 53 were symptomatic and 75 asymptomatic. The symptomatic patients were classified into three groups based on interval from onset of symptoms to the date of the carotid MRI (Group <14 days; 15-30 days; and > 30 days). The volume of each plaque component was identified and quantified from MR images. The presence of juxtaluminal loose matrix/inflammation (LM/I) was identified as a possible indicator of inflammation on the luminal side. Plaque components were compared between groups using the Wilcoxon rank-sum or the Chi-square test. Patient characteristics and carotid plaque morphology were similar among all four groups. The median volume of LM/I in Group >30 days was significantly lower than in other groups (0 mm3 vs 12.3 mm3 and 18.1 mm3; p = 0.003). In addition, the prevalence of juxtaluminal LM/I decreased over time (ptrend = 0.002). There were no statistically significant differences in other plaque components between the symptomatic groups. The volume of LM/I was significantly smaller in Group >30 days and prevalence of juxtaluminal LM/I in the atherosclerotic carotid plaque was high in the early stages after events. This suggests that carotid plaques undergo rapid evolution after an acute cerebrovascular ischemic event.

Association between dental caries and Helicobacter pylori infection in Japanese adults: A cross-sectional study.

Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) is widely known as a cause of gastric disorders. Presence of H. pylori in dental pulp has been reported. Dental caries may influence the presence or absence of systemic H. pylori infection by serving as a source of H. pylori. In this cross-sectional study, we examined whether H. pylori infection in blood were associated with dental caries in Japanese adults. The participants were 752 individuals (513 males and 239 females, mean age 53.8 years) who underwent both H. pylori testing (H. pylori antibody test and pepsinogen test) and dental checkups at the Asahi University Hospital Human Health Center between April 2018 and March 2019. Those diagnosed as positive for H. pylori antibody test or positive for serum pepsinogen test as H. pylori test in the human health checkup were judged as those with H. pylori infection in the blood. In our study, 83 participants (11%) were determined to be infected with H. pylori in the blood. The proportion of those with decayed teeth was higher in participants with H. pylori infection in blood than in those without H. pylori infection in blood (p< 0.001). The logistic analysis showed that presence of H. pylori infection in blood was positively associated with those with decayed teeth (OR, 5.656; 95% CI, 3.374 to 9.479) after adjusting for age, gender, gastric disease, regular dental checkups, antibiotic medication history, and decayed teeth. Furthermore, the proportion of H. pylori infection in blood increased according to number of decayed teeth (p< 0.001). The results indicate that H. pylori infection in blood were associated with decayed teeth. Untreated dental caries may have an impact on systemic H. pylori infection.

Acute Endovascular Therapy for Iatrogenic Vertebral Artery Injury: A Case Report.

Objective: Accidental puncture of the vertebral artery (VA) by central venous catheters and other devices has been reported as a rare complication. We performed endovascular therapy in the acute phase in a patient in whom a large-caliber sheath was misinserted into the VA. Case Presentation: A 68-year-old woman scheduled for open heart surgery had an 8-Fr. sheath inserted through the right internal jugular vein (IJV). This sheath penetrated the IJV and was misplaced in the V1 segment of the right VA. Endovascular therapy was performed. First, a 9-Fr. balloon-guiding catheter (BGC) was inserted and a 0.035-inch guidewire was pulled through it and the 8-Fr. sheath misinserted into the right VA. A 6-Fr. guiding catheter was inserted into the left VA and the microcatheter reached distal of where the sheath was inserted via the basilarunion. Then, the same area was embolized with coils to block retrograde blood flow. The BGC was then guided to the right VA origin using a pull-through wire while the 8-Fr. sheath was carefully withdrawn. The sheath was pulled back until just before exiting the VA and additional coils were placed via a microcatheter inserted into the BGC to occlude the right VA. Postoperatively, the patient had no neurological findings. Conclusion: We reported a rare case of iatrogenic VA injury. Attention to hemorrhage and intracranial blood flow resulted in a favorable outcome.

Metabolic associated fatty liver disease is a risk factor for chronic kidney disease.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: To clarify the relationship between metabolic dysfunction-associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD) and chronic kidney disease (CKD). METHODS: The participants were divided into four groups by the presence or absence of fatty liver disease (FLD) and metabolic dysfunction (MD). MAFLD was defined as having both FLD and MD, whereas CKD was defined as having an estimated glomerular filtration rate of <60 mL/min/1.73 m2 and/or proteinuria. RESULTS: In this cross-sectional study of 27,371 participants, the proportions of those in the non-FLD without MD, non-FLD with MD, FLD without MD, and MAFLD groups were 48.7, 28.2, 2.3, and 20.8%, respectively. Compared with non-FLD without MD, MAFLD was associated with the risk of CKD (adjusted odds ratio 1.83 [1.66-2.01], P < 0.001), whereas FLD without MD was not (1.02 [0.79-1.33], P = 0.868). Moreover, compared with FLD without MD, MAFLD was associated with the risk of CKD (1.19 [1.09-1.31], P < 0.001). In this retrospective cohort study, 16,938 of 27,371 participants underwent a median 4.6 (2.0-8.1) years follow-up, and incident data of non-FLD without MD, non-FLD with MD, FLD without MD, and MAFLD were 21.0, 31.1, 26.1, and 31.1 cases per 1,000 person-years, respectively. Compared with the non-FLD without MD, MAFLD was associated with the risk of incident CKD (adjusted hazard ratio 1.24 [1.14-1.36], P < 0.001), whereas FLD without MD was not (1.11 [0.85-1.41], P = 0.433). CONCLUSIONS: MAFLD was associated with a risk of CKD, whereas FLD without MD was not a risk for CKD.

Relationship between Chewing Status and Fatty Liver Diagnosed by Liver/Spleen Attenuation Ratio: A Cross-Sectional Study.

This cross-sectional study investigated the relationship between chewing status and fatty liver among Japanese adults. Between April 2018 and March 2021, 450 individuals (352 males, 98 females; mean age 54.7 years) were recruited at the Asahi University Hospital Human Health Center. Chewing status was evaluated using a self-reported questionnaire. Liver/spleen (L/S) attenuation ratio < 0.9 on computed tomography was considered to indicate fatty liver, which was present in 69 participants (15%). Compared with participants without fatty liver, those with fatty liver had higher proportion of 25.0 (kg/m2) ≤ body mass index (BMI) (p < 0.001), higher serum hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) (p < 0.001), higher systolic blood pressure (p < 0.001), higher diastolic blood pressure (p < 0.001), and lower serum high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL cholesterol) (p = 0.011). Significant differences were also found in chewing status (p < 0.001) and eating speed (p = 0.011). Presence of fatty liver was positively associated with BMI (25.0 ≤; odds ratio [OR], 5.048; 95% confidence interval [CI], 2.550−9.992), serum HbA1c (OR, 1.937; 95% CI, 1.280−2.930), and chewing status (poor; OR, 8.912; 95% CI, 4.421−17.966) after adjusting for sex, age, BMI, serum HbA1c, systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure, serum HDL cholesterol, chewing status, and eating speed. Poor chewing status was positively associated with L/S attenuation ratio. These results indicate a positive relationship between poor chewing status and fatty liver diagnosed by L/S attenuation ratio in Japanese adults.

Bow hunter's syndrome: temporary obstruction of blood flow in the affected vertebral artery during posterior occipitocervical fusion. Illustrative case.

BACKGROUND: Bow hunter's syndrome (BHS) is a rare condition characterized by mechanical impingement of a vertebral artery (VA) during neck rotation followed by vertebrobasilar insufficiency. Posterior fusion is a typical surgical method for BHS. OBSERVATIONS: The case of a 70-year-old Japanese man who presented with presyncope that occurred during right cervical rotation is reported. Given the possibility of vertebrobasilar insufficiency, digital subtraction angiography and computed tomography angiography were performed and showed a hypoplastic right VA and severe stenosis of the left VA over the occiput (O)-C2 level. The blood flow of the left VA was interrupted by right cervical rotation, with resumption of blood flow on left cervical rotation. BHS was diagnosed, and posterior fusion at the O-C2 level was performed. Immediately after implant fixation, selective arteriography confirmed disruption of blood flow in the left VA. The rods were removed immediately; resumption of blood flow was confirmed; and the rods were refixed, anatomically bent with slight left cervical rotation. Then, sustained blood flow in the left VA was confirmed. LESSONS: Posterior fixation for BHS can induce VA occlusion due to minor changes in cervical spine alignment. Intraoperative selective arteriography is a necessary tool to identify occlusion of the affected VA.

Risk factors for the development of esophageal candidiasis among patients in community hospital.

The aim of this study was to clarify risk factors for esophageal candidiasis (EC) in immunocompetent patients in a community hospital. 7736 patients who underwent esophagogastroduodenoscopy at our hospital from April 2012 to July 2018 were enrolled. The relationships between EC and the following factors: age, gender, body mass index, lifestyle, lifestyle-related diseases, medication, and endoscopic findings were analyzed. EC was observed in 184 of 7736 cases (2.4% morbidity rate). Multivariate analysis revealed that significant risk factors for the development of EC were: diabetes mellitus {odds ratio (OR): 1.52}, proton pump inhibitor (PPI) use (OR: 1.69), atrophic gastritis (AG) (OR: 1.60), advanced gastric cancer (OR: 4.66), and gastrectomy (OR: 2.32). When severe EC (Kodsi grade ≥ II) was compared to mild EC (grade I), the most significant risk factors were advanced gastric cancer (OR: 17.6) and gastrectomy (OR: 23.4). When considering the risk of AG and PPI use with EC development, the risk increased as follows: AG (OR: 1.59), PPI use (OR: 2.25), and both (OR: 3.13). PPI use, AG, advanced gastric cancer and post-gastrectomy are critical risk factors for the development of EC. We suggest close monitoring for EC development when PPIs are administered to patients with these factors.

A weight regain of 1.5 kg or more and lack of exercise are associated with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease recurrence in men.

The importance of maintaining the remission of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) has been overlooked. Here we aimed to clarify factors causing NAFLD recurrence. In this retrospective cohort study over 10.8 ± 5.4 years, we investigated 1260 male health check-up participants diagnosed with NAFLD who achieved remission. The data were compared between the maintained remission and recurrence group. Among all participants, 618 (49.0%) showed NAFLD recurrence at the last visit. Participants in the maintained remission group continued to lose weight (72.7 ± 9.1, 68.7 ± 8.5 and 68.2 ± 8.9 kg), whereas those in the recurrence group lost and regained weight (72.9 ± 9.9, 69.7 ± 9.3 and 73.0 ± 10.4 kg). Receiver operating characteristic curve analysis showed a weight regain of + 1.5 kg as the cutoff value for recurrence. The proportion of regular exercisers at the last visit was 34.6% in the maintained remission group and 24.5% in the recurrence group (p < 0.0001). Multivariable analysis revealed the amount of weight regain (in 1 kg increments; adjusted odds ratio, 1.29; 95% confidence interval, 1.24-1.34) and regular exercise at the last visit (adjusted odds ratio, 0.67; 95% confidence interval, 0.55-0.89) were independently associated with recurrence. These findings demonstrate a weight regain of 1.5 kg or more and lack of exercise were associated with NAFLD recurrence.

Association between Self-Reported Chewing Status and Glycemic Control in Japanese Adults.

This cross-sectional study investigated the relationship between self-reported chewing status and glycemic control in 30,938 Japanese adults who participated in health checkups. Chewing status was evaluated using a self-reported questionnaire. We defined high hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) levels as a HbA1c level ≥6.5%; 692 (2.2%) respondents met this criterion. After adjusting for gender, age, smoking status, exercise habits, body mass index and eating speed, high HbA1c levels was found to be associated with male gender (odds ratio (OR), 1.568; 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.310 to 1.878; p < 0.001), older age (OR, 1.077; 95% CI, 1.068 to 1.087; p < 0.001), higher body mass index (OR, 1.246; 95% CI, 1.225 to 1.268; p < 0.001), current smoker status (OR, 1.566; 95% CI, 1.303 to 1.882; p < 0.001) and chewing difficulty (OR, 1.302; 95% CI, 1.065 to 1.591; p < 0.05). In conclusion, self-reported chewing difficulty was associated with high HbA1c levels in Japanese adults.

Obesity and metabolic abnormalities as risks of alcoholic fatty liver in men: NAGALA study.

BACKGROUND: Hepatic steatosis has a pivotal role in the development of chronic liver diseases, even in alcohol-related liver disease. Alcoholic fatty liver disease is an important phenotype among alcohol-related liver diseases. While metabolic syndrome is a dominant risk factor of incident nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, the role of metabolic syndrome in alcoholic fatty liver disease has not been clarified yet. METHODS: A retrospective cohort study was performed at a health check-up center in Japan. Subjects consisted of male participants without fatty liver who consumed ethanol of 420 g/week or higher. Adjusted hazard ratios and 95% confidence intervals at the baseline examinations for incident alcoholic fatty liver disease were estimated using Cox model. RESULTS: A total of 640 participants were included in this study. During 3.91 years (IQR 1.63-7.09) of follow-up, 168 new cases of alcoholic fatty liver disease developed (49.1 cases per 1000 persons per year). After adjustment for age, smoking status, alcohol consumption, the hazard ratio for a 1 kg/m2 increase in body mass index was 1.2 (1.12-1.28). The hazard ratio of subjects with high triglyceride and low high-density lipoprotein-cholesterol levels were 1.56 (1.12-2.18) and 1.52 (1.03-2.25), respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Obesity, high triglyceridemia, and low high-density lipoprotein-cholesterolemia are independent risk factors of alcoholic fatty liver disease in Japanese men who consumed alcohol habitually. In people with these risks, triglyceride lowering and high-density lipoprotein-cholesterol raising by improving insulin resistance and weight maintenance in addition to abstinence from alcohol would be effective in preventing the development of alcoholic fatty liver disease.

Clinical characteristics and longitudinal changes of patients with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease in 2 decades: the NAGALA study.

BACKGROUND: In this study, to clarify the evolving background of people with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), we compared the current prevalence of NAFLD with that of 2 decades ago. METHODS: We included two cohorts. The past cohort was from 1994 to 1997 and included 4279 men and 2502 women. The current cohort was from 2014 to 2017 and included 8918 men and 7361 women. NAFLD was diagnosed by abdominal ultrasonography. RESULTS: The prevalence of NAFLD increased in both genders throughout these 2 decades (18.5% in the past cohort and 27.1% in the current cohort for men; and 8.0% in the past cohort and 9.4% in the current cohort for women). The prevalence of hyperglycemia increased, whereas the prevalence of low high-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels and hypertriglyceridemia significantly decreased. There was no significant difference in the mean body mass index. Multivariate analysis revealed that the prevalence of obesity and body mass index were significantly associated with the prevalence of NAFLD in both the past and current cohorts. CONCLUSIONS: The incidence of NAFLD significantly increased throughout these 2 decades, and obesity is the most prevalent factor. Thus, body weight management is an essential treatment option for NAFLD.

Development of compact sensor with CdS photoresistor for high gamma-ray field monitoring.

A compact gamma-ray sensor composed of a cadmium sulfide (CdS) photoresistor and a small-sized cesium iodine doped thallium scintillator is introduced for intense gamma-ray monitoring. The sensor exhibits radiation-resistant ability and a linear output response over a wide dose range. The dose rate at several conditions was measured for confirmation of feasibility. Experimental results demonstrated its advantage for gamma-ray measurements in intense fields as an inexpensive, robust, compact, and high-sensitivity device.

U-shaped association between the triglyceride-glucose index and the risk of incident diabetes in people with normal glycemic level: A population-base longitudinal cohort study.

BACKGROUND: Previous studies have shown that a high baseline triglyceride-glucose (TyG) index is a potential risk factor for type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). However, for a low TyG index, findings have been inconsistent. Moreover, the association between the baseline TyG index and incident T2DM in individuals with normal glycemic levels remains unclear. Therefore, this longitudinal study further examined and characterized the association between the baseline TyG index and incident T2DM in Japanese adults with normal glycemic levels. . METHODS: The participants (7857 men and 6440 women) were selected from the NAGALA (NAfld in the Gifu Area Longitudinal Analysis) study that was conducted from 2004 to 2015. Cox proportional hazards models were used to evaluate the associations between baseline TyG index and T2DM incidence, and a two-piecewise linear regression model was used to examine the threshold effect of the baseline TyG index on incident T2DM using a smoothing function. RESULTS: During a median follow-up period of 5.26 (women) and 5.88 (men) years, 47 women and 182 men developed T2DM. The risk of T2DM was strongly associated with the baseline TyG index in the fully adjusted model in men but not in women, and no dose-dependent positive relationship between incident T2DM and the TyG index was observed across the TyG tertiles. Interestingly, the two-piecewise linear regression analysis revealed a U-shaped association between the baseline TyG index and incident T2DM. Baseline TyG index lower than the threshold values (TyG index < 7.27 in women and <7.97 in men) were negatively associated with incident T2DM (hazard ratio [HR] = 0.09, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.01-0.93, P = 0.0435 for women and HR = 0.21, 95% CI = 0.08-0.57, P = 0.0021 for men). In contrast, baseline TyG index higher than the threshold values (TyG index > 7.27 in women and >7.97 in men) were positively associated with incident T2DM (HR = 2.76, 95% CI = 1.20-6.34, P = 0.0166 for women and HR = 2.42, 95% CI = 1.66-3.53, P < 0.0001 for men). CONCLUSIONS: A U-shaped association was observed between the baseline TyG index and incident T2DM in a Japanese population.