BackgroundA cardio-ankle vascular index (CAVI) has been developed to represent the extent of arteriosclerosis throughout the aorta, femoral artery and tibial artery independent of blood pressure. To practically use CAVI as a diagnostic tool for determining the extent of arteriosclerosis, our study objectives were (1) to establish the baseline CAVI scores by age and gender among cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk-free persons, (2) to compare CAVI scores between genders to test the hypothesis that the extent of arteriosclerosis in men is greater than in women, and (3) to compare CAVI scores between the CVD risk-free group and the CVD high-risk group in order to test the hypothesis that the extent of arteriosclerosis in the CVD high-risk group is greater than in the CVD risk-free group.MethodsStudy subjects were 32,627 urban residents 20-74 years of age who participated in CVD screening in Japan during 2004-2006. A new device (model VaSera VS-1000) was used to measure CAVI scores. At the time of screening, CVD high-risk persons were defined as those having any clinical abnormalities of CVD, and CVD risk-free persons were defined as those without any clinical abnormalities of CVD. Age-specific average CAVI scores were compared between genders and between the CVD risk-free group and the CVD high-risk group. Student's t-test using two independent samples was applied to a comparison of means between two groups.ResultsAverage age-specific baseline scores of CAVI in the CVD risk-free group linearly increased in both genders as their age increased. Average age-specific baseline scores of CAVI in the CVD risk-free group were significantly greater among men than among women. Average age-specific baseline scores of CAVI in the CVD risk-free group were significantly smaller than those in the CVD high-risk group in both genders after 40 years of age.ConclusionsThe baseline CAVI scores from the CVD risk-free group are useful for future studies as control values. The CAVI method is a useful tool to screen persons with moderate to advanced levels of arteriosclerosis.

Gastric cancer is still a major cause of mortality due to cancer worldwide. The most common type of gastric cancer is intestinal type carcinoma, which usually occurs in stomachs containing chronic atrophic gastritis. Individuals with chronic atrophic gastritis are considered to be at increased risk for developing intestinal type carcinoma of the stomach. To examine the association between chronic atrophic gastritis and other gastric cancer risk factors, a cross-sectional study was conducted using serum samples and questionnaire information collected from 776 persons of full Japanese ancestry in the greater Seattle area in 1994. The presence of chronic atrophic gastritis and Helicobacter pylori infection was determined by measurement of serum pepsinogen levels and H. pylori antibodies, respectively. Based on multiple logistic regression, the significant predictors of chronic atrophic gastritis were age over 50 years, H. pylori infection, and 20 years or more lived in Japan. Alcohol consumption, smoking, prior peptic ulcer, and history of gastric cancer in parents were not significantly associated with chronic atrophic gastritis. The results imply that H. pylori infection since earlier life and other unknown exposure factors in Japan might have played an important role in the development of chronic atrophic gastritis.

1. Impaired lung function has been reported to be associated with mortality from all causes, cardiovascular disease (CVD) and aortic pulse wave velocity (PWV). The aim of the present study was to examine the association between impaired lung function and atherosclerotic risk factors, including PWV, blood pressure, lipids, smoking and alcohol intake, among Japanese Americans. 2. The study subjects were 678 adult Japanese Americans who participated in CVD screening conducted under the Seattle Nikkei Health Study. Subjects with abnormal lung function were defined as those with forced vital capacity (FVC%) < 80% of predicted or forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV1%) < 80% of predicted. We conducted logistic regression analyses by using abnormal lung function as dependent variables. 3. The significant predictors positively associated with abnormal FVC% were age (60 years or older) and hypertension. Being a current drinker or an ex-drinker was independently and negatively associated with abnormal FVC%. The significant predictors positively associated with abnormal FEV1% were age (60 years or older), sex (male), hypertension and being a current smoker. Being a current drinker was independently and negatively associated with abnormal FEV1%. 4. In conclusion, the present study does not support the previously reported association of abnormal lung function with PWV. However, our findings imply that light and moderate drinking may be a protective factor of lung function and that hypertension and smoking may impair lung function.