Assistant Professor of Epidemiology
University of Pittsburgh
Department of Epidemiology, GSPH
130 North Bellefield Avenue, Suite 546
Pittsburgh PA, 15213, USA
Voice: 412-624-3225
E-mail: akira@pitt.edu

Education & Training

• Ph.D., University of Pittsburgh 1999
• M.P.H., University of Pittsburgh, 1996
• Ph.D., Yamagata University, 1990
• M.D., Tohoku University, 1983

Research Interests

• Cardiovascular Epidemiology
• Diabetes Epidemiology
• Epidemiology and Prevention
• Epidemiology in Japanese populations

Research Supports

Principal Investigator


• Epidemiology of CHD of Men Aged 40+ in US, Hawaii, Japan (2007-2012) R01 HL 068200
• Epidemiology of CHD of Men Aged 40+ in US, Hawaii, Japan (2003-2007) R01 HL068200
• A population-based study of intima media thickness of the carotid artery in Koreans as compared with Americans and the Japanese (2005-2007) University of Pittsburgh
• Epidemiology of subclinical atherosclerosis evaluated by EBCT and risk factors in men in the post World War II birth cohorts in the US and Japan (2001-2003) American Heart Association Beginning Grant in Aid Award

Co Principal Investigator


• Epidemiology and Internet (2000-2004) NIH/NLM

Honors

• Fellow, Council of Epidemiology and Prevention, American Heart Association, 2001
• University of Pittsburgh Cancer Institute, Scientific Award, 2001
• Delta Omega Society, 1999
• Japanese Society of Internal Medicine Award, 1991

Recent Refereed Publications (1999-2009)

Nakamura Y, Sekikawa A, Kadowaki T, Kadota A, Kadowaki S, Maegawa H, Evans RW, Edmundowicz E, Curb JD, Ueshima H for ERA JUMP Research Group. Visceral and Subcutaneous Adiposity and Serum Adiponectin in Middle-aged Japanese Men: The ERA JUMP Study. International Journal of Obesity (In Press)

Okamura T, Sekikawa A, Kadowaki T, El-Saed A, Abbott RD, Curb JD, Edmundowicz D,Nakamura Y, Murata K, Kashiwagi A, Sutton-Tyrrell K, Evans RW, Zmuda JM, Maegawa H, Hozawa A, Mitsunami K, Nisio Y, Miljkovic-Gacic I, Horie M, Miyamastu N, Murakami Y, Kuller LH, Ueshima H. Cholesteryl Ester Transfer Protein, Coronary Calcium and Intima-media Thickness of the Carotid Artery in Middle-Aged Japanese Men. Am J Cardiolo (In Press)

Motoyama KR, Curb JD, Kadowaki T, El-Saed A, Abbott RD, Okamura T, Evans RW, Nakamura Y, Sutton-Tyrrell K, Rodriguez BL, Kadota A, Edmundowicz D, Willcox BJ, Choo J, Katsumi N, Otake T, Kadowaki S, Kuller LH, Ueshima H, Sekikawa A. The association of serum n-6 and n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids with lipids in three populations of middle-aged men (In Press) Am J Clin Nutr

Azuma K, Kadowaki T, Cetinel C, Kadota A, El-Saed A, Kadowaki S, Edmundowicz D, Nihio Y, Sutton-Tyrrell K, Okamura T, Evans RW, Takamiya T, Ueshima H, Curb JD, Abbott RD, Kuller LH, Kelley DE, Sekikawa A. Higher liver fat contant among Japanese in Japan compared with non-Hispanic whites in the US (In press) Metabolism

Ueshima H, Sekikawa A, Miura K, Turin TC, Takashima N, Kita Y, Watanabe M, Kadota A, Okuda N, Kadowaki T, Nakamura Y, Okamura T: Cardiovascular disease and risk factors in Asia: a selected review. Circulation 118:2702-2709, 2008

Sekikawa A, Curb JD, Ueshima H, El-Saed A, Kadowaki T, Abbott RD, Evans RW, Rodriguez BL, Okamura T, Sutton-Tyrrell K, Nakamura Y, Masaki K, Edmundowicz D, Kashiwagi A, Willcox BJ, Takamiya T, Mitsunami K, Seto TB, Murata K, White RL, Kuller LH. Marine-derived n-3 fatty acids and atherosclerosis in Japanese, Japanese Americans, and Whites. J Am Coll Cardiol 2008; 52: 417-24

Sekikawa A, Ueshima H, Sutton-Tyrrell K, Kadowaki T, El-Saed A, Okamura T, Takamiya T, Ueno Y, Evans RW, Nakamura Y, Edmundowicz D, Kashiwagi A, Maegawa H, Kuller LH. Intima-media thickness of the carotid artery and the distribution of lipoprotein subclasses in men aged 40-49 between whites in the U.S. and the Japanese in Japan for the ERA JUMP Study. Metabolism 2008;57:177-82

Choo J, Ueshima H, Jang Y, Sutton-Tyrrell K, El-Saed A, Kadowaki T, Takamiya T, Okamura T, Ueno Y, Nakamura Y, Sekikawa A, J. Curb D, Kuller LH, Shin C. Difference in carotid intima-media thickness between Korean and Japanese men. Ann Epidemiology. 2008; 18:310-5

El-Saed A, Sekikawa A, Edmundowicz D, Evans RW, Sutton-Tyrrell K, Kadowaki T, Choo J, Takamiya T, Kuller LH. Coronary Calcification is More Predictive of Carotid Intimal Medial Thickness in Black Compared to White Middle Aged Men. Atherosclerosis 2008; 196; 913-8

Abbott RD, Ueshima H, Rodriguez BL, Kadowaki T, Masaki KH, Willcox BJ, Sekikawa A, Kuller LH, Edmundowicz D, Shin C, Kashiwagi A, Nakamura Y, El-Saed A, Okamura T, White R, J. Curb D. Coronary Artery Calcification in Japanese Men in Japan and Hawaii. Am J Epidemiol 2007; 166: 1280-7

El-Saed A, Sekikawa A, Zaky RW, Kadowaki T, Takamiya T, Okamura T, Edmundowicz D, Kita Y, Kuller LH, Ueshima H. Association of lipoprotein-associated phospholipase A2 with coronary calcification among American and Japanese men J Epidemiology 2007; 17:179-85

Nakamura, Y, Ueno Y, Tamaki S, Kadowaki T, Okamura T, Kita Y, Miyamatsu N, Sekikawa A, Takamiya T, El-Saed A, Sutton-Tyrell K, Ueshima H. Fish Consumption and Early Atherosclerosis in Middle-Aged Men. Metabolism 2007;56:1060-4

Sekikawa A, Ueshima H, Kadowaki T, El-Saed A, Okamura T, Takamiya T, Kashiwagi A, Edmundowicz D, Murata K, Sutton-Tyrrell K, Maegawa H, Evans R, Kita Y, Kuller L. Less subclinical atherosclerosis in Japanese men in Japan than in white men in the United States in the post World-War-II birth cohort Am J Epidemiol 2007; 165: 617-24

Kadowaki T, Sekikawa A, Okamura T, Takamiya T, Kashiwagi A, Zaky WR, Maegawa H, El-Saed A, Nakamura Y, Evans RW, Edmundowicz D, Kita Y, Kuller L. Ueshima H. Higher levels of adiponectin in American than in Japanese men despite obesity. Metabolism 2006; 55:1561-3

Matsunaga-Irie S, Ueshima H, Zaky WR, Kadowaki T, Evans RW, Okamura T, Takamiya T, Kita Y, Kuller LH, Sekikawa A. Serum ghrelin levels are higher for men 40-49 years of age in the U.S. than Japan. Diabetes, Obesity and Metabolism (In Press)

Okamura T, Kadowaki T, Sekikawa A, Murata K, Miyamatsu N, Nakamura Y, El-Saed A, Kashiwagi A, Maegawa H, Nishio Y, Takamiya T, Kanda H, Mitsunami K, Kita Y, Edmundowicz D, Tamaki S, Tsujita Y, Kuller LH, Ueshima H, Alcohol consumption and coronary artery calcium in middle-aged Japanese men. Am J Cardiol 2006; 98:1414-4

Kadowaki T, Sekikawa A, Murata K, Maegawa H, Takamiya T, Okamura T, El-Saed, A, Miyamatsu N, Edmundowicz D, Kita Y, Sutton-Tyrrell K, Kuller LH, Ueshima H. Large visceral visceral fat in Japanese than Caucasian men. International Journal of Obesity 2006; 7:1163-5

Takamiya T, Kadowaki T, Zaky WR, Ueshima H, Evans RW, Okamura T, Kashiwagi A, Nakamura Y, Kita Y, Tracy RP, Kuller LH, Sekikawa A. The Determinants of Plasma Plasminogen Activator Inhibitor 1 Levels differ for American and Japanese Men Aged 40-50. Diab Res Clin Prac 2006; 72: 176-82

Dodge HH, Kadowaki T, Hayakawa T, Yamakawa M, Sekikawa A, Ueshima H. Cognitive Impairment as a Strong Predictor of Incident Disability in Specific ADL-IADL Tasks Among Community-Dwelling Elders: The Azuchi Study. Gerontologist. 2005; 45:222-30.

Sekikawa A, Ueshima H, Zaky WR, Kadowaki T, Edmundowicz D, Okamura T, Sutton-Tyrrell K, Nakamura Y, Egawa K, Kanda H, Kashiwagi A, Kita Y, Maegawa H, Mitsunami K, Murata K, Nishio Y, Tamaki S, Ueno Y, Kuller LH. Much lower prevalence of coronary calcium detected by electron-beam computed tomography among men aged 40-49 in Japan than in the US, despite a less favorable profile of major risk factors. Intl J Epidemiol 2005; 34: 73-79.

Makimoto K, Ashida N, Qureshi N, Tsuchida T, Sekikawa A. Development of nosocominal outbreak investigation database. J Hosp Inf 2005: 59; 215-9

Takamiya T, Zaky WR, Edmundowics D, Kadowaki T, Ueshima H, Kuller LH, Sekikawa A. WHO-defined Metabolic Syndrome Is a Better Predictor of Coronary Calcium than ATPIII Criteria in American Men Age 40-49. Diabetes Care 2004; 27: 2977-9.

Sekikawa A, Hayakawa T. Prevalence of hypertension, its awareness and control in adult population in Japan J Human Hypertens 2004; 18: 911-2

Sekikawa A, Okamura T, Kadowaki T, Mitsunami K, Murata K, Kashiwagi A, Nakamura Y, Kanda H, Edmundowicz D, Sutton-Tyrrell K, Kuller LH, Ueshima H. Electron-beam computed tomography for identification of high-risk persons in primary prevention of coronary heart disease in the United States and its implication for Japan. Jpn J Pub Health 2003; 50: 189-93 (in Japanese).

Sa E, Sekikawa A, Linkov F, Lovalekar M, LaPorte RE. Open source model for global collaboration in higher education. Intl J Med Inform 2003; 71: 165

Sekikawa A, Horiuchi BY, Edmundowicz D, Ueshima H, Curb JD, Sutton-Tyrrell K, Okamura T, Kadowaki T, Kashiwagi A, Mitsunami K, Murata K, Nakamura Y, Rodriguez BL, Kuller LH. A "natural experiment" in cardiovascular epidemiology in the early 21st century. Heart 89:255-7;2003

LaPorte RE, Linkov F, Villasenor T, Sauer F, Gamboa C, Lovalekar M, Shubnikov E, Sekikawa A, Sa E. Papyrus to PowerPoint (P2P): Metamorphosis of scientific communication. Brit Med J 325:1478-1481;2002.

LaPorte RE, Sekikawa A, Sa E, Linkov F, Lovalekar M. Whisking research into classroom (infopoints). Brit Med J 324; 99: 2002.

Sekikawa A, Satoh T, Hayakawa T, Ueshima H, Kuller LH. Coronary heart disease mortality among men aged 35-44 by prefecture in Japan in 1995-1999 and its comparison with that among white men aged 35-44 by state in the United States in 1995-1998: Vital statistics data in recent birth cohort. Jpn Cir J 65:887-894:2001.

LaPorte RE, Sauer F, Dearwater S, Sekikawa A, Sa E, Aaron DJ, Shubnikov E. Towards an internet civil defense against bioterrorism. Lancet Inf Dis 1:125-127;2001.

Sekikawa A, Aaron D, Acosta B, Sa ER, LaPorte RE. Does the perception of downloading speed influence the evaluation of web-based lectures? Public Health 115:152-156; 2001.

Satoh T, Sekikawa A. Mortality from ischemic heart disease corrected for mortality from heart failure using the WHO method: geographic variation in mortality from ischemic heart disease in Japan. Jpn Med J 4004:26-30;2001 (in Japanese).

Acosta B, Sekikawa A, Sa E, LaPorte RE. Evolution of scientific communication. Food Sci Tech Int 7:183-84;2001.

Sekikawa A, Ueshima H, Satoh T, Kuller LH. Rise in mortality from coronary heart disease among post World War II birth cohorts in Japan? {letter} Epidemiology 11:738 : 2000.

Sekikawa A. Screening for diabetes mellitus at workplace {letter} Jpn J Pub Health 47;375, 2000.

Sekikawa A, Eguchi H, Tominaga M, Igarashi K, Abe T,Manaka H,Sasaki H,Fukuyama H,Kato T,Kihohara Y, Fujishima M. Prevalence of type 2 diabetes mellitus and impaired glucose tolerance in a rural area of Japan, the Funagata diabetes study. J Diab Complications 14: 78-83; 2000.

Sekikawa A, Kuller LH. Striking variation in CHD mortality in the United States among black and white women aged 45-54 by state J Women Health Gender based Med 9: 545-558; 2000.

Sekikawa A, Kuller LH. Trend analysis of age-adjusted and age-specific mortality {letter} Euro J Epidemiol 16: 305-306; 2000.

Sekikawa A, Sa ER, Acosta B, Aaron DJ, LaPorte RE. Sharing health information via the internet in developed and developing countries alike: Supercourse mirror sites {letter}. Lancet 355: 2000; 2000.

Randolph MGLM, LaPorte RE, Sauer F, Sekikawa A, Sa ER, Aaron D, Acosta B. Advanced classroom learning through civilian-military shareware. Mil Med 165: 714-15; 2000.

Sauer F, LaPorte RE, Sekikawa A, Aaron D, Acosta B, Sa ER. Portal to Prevention: Towards Increasing "Prevention Literacy" in the USAF {letter} Avi Space Environ Med 71: 1166-67: 2000.

Acosta-Cazares B, Sekikawa A, Aaron DJ, Sa ER, Rico-Verdin B, LaPorte RE. El Supercurso de Epidemiologia: un ejemplo de collaboration multinacional. Gac Sanit 14: 71-72; 2000 (in Spanish).

LaPorte RE, Randolph LH Jr., Sauer F, Sekikawa A, Aaron DJ. Information Dominance over Disease. {letter} Lancet 355: 1370; 2000.

Supercourse Faculty. Global Cooperation in Higher Education: Supercourse. Nat Med 6: 358; 2000.

Sauer F, Randolph L, Akazawa S, Sekikawa A, Aaron D. LaPorte R e-Prevention. Telemedicine Today 8:23-25;2000.

Sekikawa A, Suyama A, Yahata K, Tamashiro H, Aaron DJ, LaPorte RE. Supercourse model for we-based education in health. Jpn J Comp Sci. 6: 55-58; 1999.

Sekikawa A, Kuller LH. Coronary Heart Disease Mortality in the United States Among Black and White Men 35-44 Years Old by State. CVD Prevention 2: 212-221; 1999.

Sekikawa A, Kuller LH, Ueshima H, Park JE, Suh I, Jee SH, Lee HK, Pan WH. Trends of mortality from coronary heart disease in the post World War II birth cohorts aged 35-44 in men in Japan, South Korea, and Taiwan, and a comparison with the United States. Intl J Epidemol 28: 1044-49; 1999.

Sekikawa A, Eguchi H, Igrashi K, Tominaga M, Abe T, Fukuyama H, Kato T. Waist to hip ratio, body mass index, and glucose intolerance from Funagata population-based diabetes survey in Japan. Tohoku J Exp Med 189: 11-20; 1999.

Sekikawa A, Eguchi H. One future direction of diabetes epidemiology in Japan. J Epidemiol 9;355, 1999.

Global Health Network Supercourse Faculty. The Global Health Network Supercourse: Epidemiology, the Internet and Global Health. Telmed J 5: 303-7; 1999.

Sekikawa A, Kuller LH. Why heart disease mortality is low in France - Miscoding may explain Japan's low mortality from coronary heart disease. {Letter} Brit Med J 319: 255; 1999.

Sekikawa A, Eguchi H, Tominaga M, Manaka H, Sasaki H, Chang YF, Kato T. Evaluating the prevalence of type 2 diabetes reported by the Oguni registry, using a two-sample model of capture-recapture methods. Intl J Epidemiol 28: 498-501, 1999.

Tominaga M, Eguchi H, Igarashi K, Manaka H, Kato T, Sekikawa A. IGT is a risk factor for cardiovascular diseases, but not IFG. Diabetes Care 22: 920-924, 1999.

Sekikawa A, Satoh T. Experience of Internet-based distance learning on epidemiology. Medical Education 30: 55-59, 1999 (in Japanese).

Sekikawa A, Nishimura R, Satoh T. Supercourse - web-based learning modules on Epidemiology, Global Health, and the Internet. Public Health Practice 63: 219-222, 1999 (in Japanese).

Tamashiro H, Oshima T, Takahashi S, LaPorte RE, Sekikawa A, Satoh T. An Internet-based "distance" learning for health, environment and sustainable development "distance learning without a frontier. Jpn J Pub Health. 46; 130-3, 1999 (in Japanese).

Ochi G, Shirakawa Y, Asahi S, Toriba M, Sekikawa A, LaPorte RE. Information transmission through the Internet for the Preparedness against Venomous Snakes in the Aftermath of Cambodian Flood in 1997. Jpn J Disaster Med 4;1999.