Background and Purpose-An inflammatory response has been associated with the development of atherosclerosis. Our aim was to clarify which atherosclerotic changes (intima-media complex thickness [IMT] increase, plaque formation, and arterial dilatation) are associated with C-reactive protein (CRP) levels and to determine whether there are any gender differences. Methods-Carotid ultrasound and measurement of high-sensitivity CRP (hs-CRP) levels were performed in 2056 subjects selected from a general population (mean age 58.3 years; 1290 men). Results-In both genders, IMT significantly increased with increasing hs-CRP quartile (PϽ0.001), but this relationship disappeared after adjustment for age and other traditional cardiovascular risk factors. In men, but not women, carotid luminal diameter significantly increased with increasing hs-CRP levels (PϽ0.05), but again, this relationship disappeared with adjustment for age and other risk factors. However, in men, but not women, plaque score increased significantly with increasing hs-CRP quartile (PϽ0.01), even after adjustment for age and other traditional risk factors. Conclusions-CRP level was closely associated with early atherosclerotic changes represented by carotid plaque formation. However, the IMT increase was strongly associated with aging and other traditional cardiovascular risk factors rather than CRP level.

Inducible NOS was consistently coexpressed with TNF-alpha in myocardial tissue obtained from a subgroup of patients with DCM and advanced left ventricular dysfunction.

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BackgroundUsing data from a large-scale community-based Japanese population, we attempted to identify factors associated with tooth loss in middle-aged and elderly men.MethodsA total of 8352 men aged 40 to 79 years who lived in the north of the main island of Japan and underwent health checkups were enrolled between 2002 and 2005. Number of teeth was assessed by the question, “How many teeth do you have (0, 1–9, 10–19, or ≥20)?”. On the basis of the answer to this question, participants were classified into 2 groups (≤19 teeth or ≥20 teeth). Using multivariate logistic regression, factors related to having 19 or fewer teeth were estimated.ResultsThe numbers (percentages) of participants who had 0, 1 to 9, 10 to 19, and 20 or more teeth were 1764 (21.1%), 1779 (21.3%), 1836 (22.0%), and 2973 (35.6%), respectively. Among the participants overall and those aged 65 to 79 years, having 19 or fewer teeth was significantly associated with older age, smoking status (current smoking and ex-smoking), and low education level. In addition, men with 19 or fewer teeth were more likely to have a low body mass index and low serum albumin level and less likely to be current alcohol drinkers. Among men aged 40 to 64 years, but not men aged 65 to 79 years, those with 19 or fewer teeth were more likely to have a low serum high-density lipoprotein cholesterol level and high glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c) level.ConclusionsSmoking, low education level, and poor nutritional status were associated with tooth loss among middle-aged and elderly Japanese men.

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