We investigated possible associations between subclinical hypothyroidism and atherosclerotic diseases (ischemic heart disease and cerebrovascular disease) and mortality. Of 2856 participants (mean age 58.5 yr) in a thyroid disease screening between 1984 and 1987, 257 subjects with subclinical hypothyroidism (TSH > 5.0 mU/liter) and 2293 control subjects (TSH range 0.6-5.0 mU/liter) were analyzed. In the baseline cross-sectional analysis, subclinical hypothyroidism was associated with ischemic heart disease independent of age, systolic blood pressure, body mass index, cholesterol, smoking, erythrocyte sedimentation rate, or presence of diabetes mellitus [odds ratio (OR), 2.5; 95% confidence interval (95% CI), 1.1-5.4 in total subjects and OR, 4.0; 95% CI, 1.4-11.5 in men] but not in women. However, there was no association with cerebrovascular disease (OR, 0.9; 95% CI, 0.4-2.4). We were unable to detect an influence of thyroid antibody presence on the association between subclinical hypothyroidism and ischemic heart disease. In a 10-yr follow-up study until 1998, increased mortalities from all causes in yr 3-6 after baseline measurement were apparent in men with subclinical hypothyroidism (hazard ratio, 1.9-2.1) but not in women, although specific causes of death were not determined. Our results indicate that subclinical hypothyroidism is associated with ischemic heart disease and might affect all-cause mortality in men.

No abstract

Background-Early repolarization pattern is a common ECG finding characterized by J-point elevation and QRS notching or slurring in the inferior and/or lateral leads, yet little is known about its incidence and long-term prognosis in Asian populations. Methods and Results-We reviewed all the ECG records of the 5976 atomic-bomb survivors who were examined at least once during our biennial health examination in Nagasaki, Japan, between

Recent evidence argues against a high threshold dose for vision-impairing radiation-induced cataractogenesis. We conducted logistic regression analysis to estimate the dose response and used a likelihood profile procedure to determine the best-fitting threshold model among 3761 A-bomb survivors who underwent medical examinations during 2000-2002 for whom radiation dose estimates were available, including 479 postoperative cataract cases. The analyses indicated a statistically significant dose-response increase in the prevalence of postoperative cataracts [odds ratio (OR), 1.39; 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.24-1.55] at 1 Gy, with no indication of upward curvature in the dose response. The dose response was suggestive when the restricted dose range of 0 to 1 Gy was examined. A nonsignificant dose threshold of 0.1 Gy (95% CI, <0-0.8) was found. The prevalence of postoperative cataracts in A-bomb survivors increased significantly with A-bomb radiation dose. The estimate (0.1 Gy) and upper bound (0.8 Gy) of the dose threshold for operative cataract prevalence was much lower than the threshold of 2-5 Gy usually assumed by the radiation protection community and was statistically compatible with no threshold at all.

A significant linear radiation dose response for thyroid nodules, including malignant tumors and benign nodules, exists in atomic bomb survivors. However, there is no significant dose response for autoimmune thyroid diseases.

The present study examined the relation between blood pressure reactivity to cold stimulus and the subsequent development of hypertension based on a follow-up study from 1960 through 1988 of 824 normotensive participants (mean age, 35.8 +/- 10.8 years) in the Adult Health Study in Nagasaki, Japan. Hypertension developed in 343 individuals during the 28 years of follow-up, with a mean incidence rate of 24.6 per 10(3) person-years. Confounding variables, including attained age, resting systolic and diastolic blood pressures, and body mass index at baseline, were adjusted using a Poisson regression model. Systolic response was found to be an independent and significant predictor. The relative risk of hypertension for systolic hyperreactors was 1.37, with a 95% confidence interval of 1.10 to 1.71. Diastolic response was significant only when resting diastolic blood pressure was also considered. The cold pressor test appears to be useful if performed on middle-aged subjects older than 40 years at the time of examination, when hypertension is more prevalent. The current results support the hypothesis that hyperreactivity is a predictor of the development of hypertension.

Higher testosterone level associated with lower visceral fat may have a significant role in the Brugada phenotype and male predominance in Brugada syndrome.

Significant radiation effects were observed in two types of cataracts in A-bomb survivors.