Kanazawa Medical University

About: Kanazawa Medical University is a education organization based out in Kanazawa, Japan. It is known for research contribution in the topics: Population & Cancer. The organization has 3103 authors who have published 6322 publications receiving 144592 citations. The organization is also known as: Kanazawa ika daigaku.

Influence of HRH2 promoter polymorphism on aberrant DNA methylation of DAPK and CDH1 in the gastric epithelium.

Abstract: Aberrant methylation patterns in CpG island are known to be influential in gene silencing Histamine plays important physiological roles in the upper gastrointestinal tract and acts via the H2 receptor We report an investigation into the effect of HRH2 promoter polymorphism (rs2607474 G > A) on the methylation of DAPK and CDH1 Non cancerous gastric mucosa samples were obtained from 115 subjects with gastric cancer (GC) and 412 non-cancer subjects (non-GC) Methylation status of genes was determined by MSP The genotyping of rs2607474 was performed by PCR-SSCP Methylation of DAPK and CDH1 was observed in 296 and 246 subjects, respectively The frequency of CDH1 methylation in the subjects with GC was significantly lower in cancer lesion than in non cancerous mucosa, whereas that of DAPK methylation was not different The allelic distribution of rs2607474 was 401GG, 119GA and 7AA The GG homozygote was associated with a significantly increased risk for methylation of both DAPK and CDH1 (p < 00001 and p = 00009, respectively) In the non-GC subjects or more than 60 years of age, GG homozygote was more closely associated with both DAPK and CDH1 methylation However, this genotype did not show an increased risk for the development of methylation of both genes in patients with GC In H pylori negative subjects, GG homozygote showed an increased risk for the methylation of both DAPK and CDH1 (p = 00074 and p = 00016, respectively), whereas this genotype was associated with an increased risk for the development of DAPK methylation in H pylori positive subjects (p = 00018) In addition, in subjects older than 60 years of age, atrophy and metaplasia scores were significantly higher in the GG homozygote (p = 0011 and p = 0039, respectively) and a significant correlation was observed between age and atrophy or metaplasia Our results suggest that rs2607474 GG homozygote confers a significantly increased risk for age- and inflammation-related DAPK and CDH1 methylation

Alcohol, high blood pressure, and serum gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase level.

Abstract: The influence of the level of serum gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase, a biological marker of alcohol consumption, on elevations of blood pressure and on the development of hypertension related to increases in alcohol consumption was determined in a cross-sectional study of 1,492 middle-aged male workers and in a subsequent 5-year follow-up study of 1,393 workers. Blood pressure levels, as well as the prevalence and incidence of hypertension, were higher in the subjects with serum gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase levels above 50 units/l than in those with normal levels. These differences were more marked in drinkers who consumed 30 ml or more of alcohol per day. Thus, elevated serum gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase activity may identify drinkers at higher risk for the development of alcohol-related hypertension.

Impacts of visceral adipose tissue and subcutaneous adipose tissue on metabolic risk factors in middle-aged Japanese.

Abstract: Regional fat distribution rather than overall fat volume has been considered to be important to understanding the link between obesity and metabolic disorders We aimed to evaluate the independent associations of visceral adipose tissue (VAT) and subcutaneous adipose tissue (SAT) with metabolic risk factors in apparently healthy middle-aged Japanese Participants were 1,119 men and 854 women aged 38-60 years who were not taking medications for diabetes, hypertension, or dyslipidemia VAT and SAT were measured by use of computed tomography (CT) scanning VAT and SAT were significantly and positively correlated with each other in men (r = 0531, P < 0001) and women (r = 0589, P < 0001) In multiple regression analyses, either measure of abdominal adiposity (VAT or SAT) was positively associated with blood pressure, fasting plasma glucose, and log triglyceride (P < 0001) and inversely with high-density lipoprotein (HDL)-cholesterol (P < 0001) When VAT and SAT were simultaneously included in the model, the association of VAT with triglycerides was maintained (P < 0001) but that of SAT was lost The same was true for HDL-cholesterol in women For fasting plasma glucose, the association with VAT was strong (P < 0001) and the borderline association with SAT was maintained (P = 0060 in men and P = 0020 in women) Both VAT and SAT were independently associated with blood pressure (P < 0001) Further adjustment for anthropometric indices resulted in the independent association only with VAT for all risk factors In conclusion, impacts of VAT and SAT differed among risk factors VAT showed dominant impacts on triglyceride concentrations in both genders and on HDL-cholesterol in women, while SAT also had an independent association with blood pressure

Tissue cadmium (Cd) concentrations of people living in a Cd polluted area, Japan.

Abstract: There are more than 50 cadmium (Cd) polluted areas in Japan. The severest general environmental Cd polluted area in Japan was the Jinzu River basin in Toyama Prefecture where Itai-itai disease had been endemic. The present study aimed to compare organ Cd concentrations of inhabitants who had been exposed to different levels of environmental Cd and to clarify the health effects of the environmental Cd exposure in Japan. Since 1960 we have measured tissue Cd concentrations of inhabitants with a history of living in a different Cd polluted areas. Study population living in Cd polluted areas were 36 (1 male, 35 females) patients with Itai-itai disease, 20 (7 males, 13 females) subjects suspected of having Itai-itai disease, 8 (2 males, 6 females) inhabitants in Cd polluted areas other than the Jinzu River basin. Subjects who had lived in Cd non-polluted area were 72 inhabitants. Cd concentrations in liver, pancreas and thyroid of those living in Cd polluted areas were as high as those of patients with Itai-itai disease, and their Cd concentrations in renal cortex were as low as those of patients with Itai-itai disease. The present study demonstrated that tissue Cd concentrations of some inhabitants in Cd polluted areas other than Jinzu River basin are equal to those of the patients with Itai-itai disease and that patients with Itai-itai disease were present even in these areas.