The prevalence of non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM) as defined by WHO criteria was studied in a rural community of Hiroshima. All the inhabitants over the age of 30 were asked to participate in this study, during the month of December in 1990 and 1991. Eventually, 307 males (23.2%) and 620 females (41.5%) agreed to participate and had an oral glucose tolerance test (75g of glucose).
The crude prevalence rates of NIDDM were 11.4% for males and 6.9% for females, and the adjusted prevalence rates by population in 1985 were 9.5% for males and 4.5% for females, respectively.
The results suggest that both males and females over the age of 50 showed a higher-rate of prevalence than those under the age of 50.

In order to assess the influence of habitual alcohol consumption on hepatic and pancreatic function, and on the disposal of carbohydrate and lipid, determination of serum hepatic and pancreatic enzyme levels, and serum glucose, insulin and triglyceride on oral glucose challenge was made in relation with the amount of consumed alcohol.
1. GOT, GPT and γ-GTP levels increased correlated with daily alcohol consumption, and γ-GTP was the most sensitive marker for alcohol consumption.
2. Habitual alcohol consumption reduced serum amylase and increased elastase 1 and trypsin, while the excursion of these enzyme levels remained within normal range. Because people with elastase 1 or trypsin levels beyond normal range was found more frequently than with amylase, the former two pancreatic enzymes might be better marker of alcoholic pancreatic injury than the latter one.
3. Alcohol dependency in daily caloric requirement elevated serum glucose and triglyceride in fasting and 2 hours after glucose challenge. Hyperinsulinemia after glucose challenge might indicate that moderate daily alcohol consumption induces insulin resistance resulting in deteriorated glucose disposal.

Two cases that were surgically treated with atherosclerotic aortic aneurysm, followed by innominate artery aneurysm are reported. The causes of these aneurysms were determined to be arteriosclerosis and idiopathic inflammation. Blood flow reconstruction surgery using grafts was performed on these two patients. In one case, we also employed an internal shunt technique to prevent brain ischemia. It was speculated that this type of aneurysm develops not only in cases of inflammation, but also in multifocal arteriosclerotic vascular diseases. This type of aneurysm will probably increase in the future.