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The aim of our study is to provide data on the prevalence of disturbances of rhythm in the general population of children. Accurate estimates of true prevalence of such disturbances of rhythm from large samples are mandatory if we are to interpret properly electrocardiographic abnormalities. We analysed prevalence of disturbances of rhythm in a population of 152,322, comprised of 71,855 elementary school students, 36,692 males and 35,163 females, aged from 5 to 6 years, and 80,467 students of junior high school, 41,842 males and 38,625 females, aged from 12 to 13 years. We analysed the prevalence of premature atrial and ventricular contractions, first, second and third degree atrioventricular block, incomplete and complete right bundle branch block, Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome, and prolongation of the QT interval. The prevalence of disturbances of rhythm in total rose with age, being found in 1.25% of elementary school students and 2.32% of junior high school students, and was higher in males than females, at 2.00% as opposed to 1.38%, both values being statistically significant at a level of less than 0.0001. Prevalences of all types of rhythmic disturbances were higher in junior high school students than elementary school students (p < 0.0001). Premature atrial and ventricular contractions and prolongation of the QT interval were higher in female than male students, at percentages of 0.089, 0.497, and 0.02 for males, and 0.123, 0.534 and 0.027 in females (p < 0.0001). In contrast, incomplete and complete right bundle branch blocks were higher in males than females, at 0.983% and 0.083% in males versus 0.410% and 0.161% in females (p < 0.0001). Disturbances of rhythm increased with age, and conduction disturbances were higher in male students than female, although premature atrial and ventricular contractions and prolongation of the QT interval were more frequent in female. These data may be useful for future comparative studies of disturbance of rhythm in children.

In a mass chest computed tomography (CT) screening using a mobile helical CT unit, we measured the aortic diameter at three segments to confirm standard values and also attempted to detect any asymptomatic aortic aneurysms. The population screened in the present study consisted of 6971 subjects (3847 men and 3124 women, mean age 60.3 +/- 12.1 years). They underwent a plain chest CT to screen for lung cancer and tuberculosis. The diameters of the ascending and descending aorta were measured at the level of the pulmonary artery bifurcation. The abdominal aorta was measured at the level of the celiac bifurcation, and the mean values for each measurement were calculated. In addition, we attempted to determine whether any correlation exists among aortic diameter, age, and indices of body size and investigated the frequency of asymptomatic aortic aneurysms among the general population. The mean aortic diameter of all three segments was significantly larger in men than in women and increased with age. It also correlated significantly with indices of body size (P < 0.01). A total of 11 subjects (0.16%) had asymptomatic aortic aneurysms (3 ascending, 4 descending, and 4 thoracoabdominal). The aortic diameter in each individual case was greater than the mean aortic diameter +3 standard deviations in each age group. Chest CT screening for lung cancer can thus detect asymptomatic aneurysms through simultaneous aortic measurement.

Objective: To investigate the relationship between 1-h post-load plasma glucose, measured during an oral glucose tolerance test, and arterial stiffness, determined by brachial-ankle pulse-wave velocity, in normotensive subjects with normal glucose tolerance. Methods: Study subjects were non-industrial workers aged 25-55 years (n = 8381) who underwent a regular health checkup every 5 years. We included only normotensive subjects with normal glucose tolerance based on the American Diabetes Association criteria. Subjects taking medication and having an abnormal ankle-brachial index (⩽1.0 or ⩾1.3) were excluded. The final sample comprised 4970 participants (mean age: 38.8 ± 9.4 years; women: n = 2048). Results: 1-h post-load plasma glucose correlated with brachial-ankle pulse-wave velocity in men (β = 0.04, p = 0.01), but not women (β =-0.03, p = 0.13) in multivariate linear regression analysis. We found a significant interaction between 1-h post-load plasma glucose and age in men (p = 0.04); therefore, a subgroup analysis was performed in each 5-year age group. The correlation between 1-h post-load plasma glucose and brachial-ankle pulse-wave velocity was significant in the 55-year-old age group (β = 0.12, p = 0.01) and neared significant in 45-year-old (β = 0.08, p = 0.07) and 50-year-old (β = 0.09, p = 0.07) age groups. Conclusion: Elevated 1-h post-load plasma glucose levels were associated with arterial stiffness in normotensive, middle-aged men with normal glucose tolerance.

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