Background/ObjectivesRecently, a body shape index (ABSI) was reported to predict all-cause mortality independently of body mass index (BMI) in Americans. This study aimed to evaluate whether ABSI is applicable to Japanese adults as a predictor for development of diabetes, hypertension, and dyslipidemia.Subjects/MethodsWe evaluated the predictive power of ABSI in a retrospective cohort study using annual health examination data from Chiba City Hall in Japan, for the period 2008 to 2012. Subjects included 37,581 without diabetes, 23,090 without hypertension, and 20,776 without dyslipidemia at baseline who were monitored for disease incidence for 4 years. We examined the associations of standardized ABSI, BMI, and waist circumference (WC) at baseline with disease incidence by logistic regression analyses. Furthermore, we conducted a case-matched study using the propensity score matching method.ResultsElevated BMI, WC, and ABSI increased the risks of diabetes and dyslipidemia [BMI-diabetes: odds ratio (OR) = 1.26, 95% confidence interval (95%CI) = 1.20−1.32; BMI-dyslipidemia: OR = 1.15, 95%CI = 1.12−1.19; WC-diabetes: OR = 1.24, 95%CI = 1.18−1.31; WC-dyslipidemia: OR = 1.15, 95%CI = 1.11−1.19; ABSI-diabetes: OR = 1.06, 95%CI = 1.01−1.11; ABSI-dyslipidemia: OR = 1.04, 95%CI = 1.01−1.07]. Elevated BMI and WC, but not higher ABSI, also increased the risk of hypertension [BMI: OR = 1.32, 95%CI = 1.27−1.37; WC: OR = 1.22, 95%CI = 1.18−1.26; ABSI: OR = 1.00, 95%CI = 0.97−1.02]. Areas under the curve (AUCs) in regression models with ABSI were significantly smaller than in models with BMI or WC for all three diseases. In case-matched subgroups, the power of ABSI was weaker than that of BMI and WC for predicting the incidence of diabetes, hypertension, and dyslipidemia.ConclusionsCompared with BMI or WC, ABSI was not a better predictor of diabetes, hypertension, and dyslipidemia in Japanese adults.

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This study sought to investigate relationships between frequency of daily teeth brushing and prevalences of diabetes mellitus, hypertension and dyslipidemia. Subjects were 54,551 residents of Chiba City, Japan (20,155 men and 34,396 women) who underwent routine health examinations in 2004. Diabetes mellitus was defined as a fasting plasma glucose level > or =126 mg/dl or a non-fasting plasma glucose level > or =200 mg/dl and/or receiving treatment for diabetes. Hypertension was defined as systolic blood pressure (SBP) > or =140 mmHg, diastolic blood pressure (DBP) > or =90 mmHg and/or receiving treatment for hypertension. Dyslipidemia was defined according to the two criteria: high triglyceride and/or low high density lipoprotein cholesterol (TG > or = 150 mg and/or HDL-C < 40 mg/dl), and high total cholesterol (TC > or = 220 mg/dl). According to Pearson's chi-square tests and logistic regression analysis adjusted for age, BMI, smoking habit, alcohol consumption and daily walking time, lower frequency of teeth brushing is related to higher prevalences of diabetes mellitus, hypertension and high TG and/or low HDL-C, in both men and women. Total cholesterol status, however, showed no significant relationship. Maintaining good oral hygiene by regular teeth brushing may prevent type 2 diabetes, hypertension and dyslipidemia.

Objectives: To assess epidemiological and chronological trends of upper urinary tract stones in Japan in 2015.Methods: Patients with a first episode of upper urinary tract stones in 2015 were enrolled in this nationwide survey. The study included all hospitals approved by the Japanese Board of Urology, therefore covering most of the hospitals where urologists practice in Japan. The annual incidence and composition of urolithiasis were evaluated by age and sex. These results were compared with the previous results of the nationwide surveys from 1965 to 2005 to analyze temporal trends. Results: The estimated annual incidence of a first-episode upper urinary tract stone in 2015 was 137.9 (191.9 in men and 86.9 in women) per 100 000. The estimated agestandardized first-episode upper urinary tract stone incidence in 2015 was 107.8 (150.6 in men and 63.3 in women) per 100 000, which did not represent a significant increase since 2005. An equivalent incidence was observed in patients aged >50 years, whereas a reduced incidence was observed in patients aged <50 years in both sexes. The proportion of patients who received percutaneous nephrolithotomy and/or ureteroscopy increased by approximately fivefold in the past 10 years. Conclusions: The steady increase in the annual incidence of upper urinary tract stones since 1955 leveled off in 2015. The current results show novel trends in the incidence and treatment modalities in the nationwide surveys of urolithiasis in Japan.