Japanese Society of Hypertension (JSH) has announced the winners of the 8th Hypertension Research Award at the 40th Annual Scientific Meeting held on 20–22 October 2017 in Matsuyama, Ehime, Japan. This award was established in 2010 to recognize significant contributions of researchers to the advancement of researches in hypertension and related studies. Among the first or main authors of the articles published in Hypertension Research, official journal of JSH, from April 2016 (Vol. 39, No. 4) to March 2017 (Vol. 40, No. 3) the journal's editorial committee members selected following winners.

Hypertension Research Award of Excellence

Dr Hirochika Ryuno, Department of Health Sciences, Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka University, Osaka, Japan.

For contribution of ‘Differences in the association between high blood pressure and cognitive functioning among the general Japanese population aged 70 and 80 years: The SONIC study.’ Vol. 39, No. 7, pp 557–563.

http://www.nature.com/hr/journal/v39/n7/full/hr201625a.html

This cross-sectional survey analyzed the association of cognitive function with blood pressure and other factors in subjects aged 70 and 80. Systolic blood pressure was a significant factor for cognitive decline in both ages, however, the contribution was less in 80-year-old subjects than in 70-year-old subjects.

Hypertension Research Award

Dr Toshiaki Ohkuma, Department of Medicine and Clinical Science, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kyushu University, Fukuoka, Japan.

For contribution of ‘Effects of smoking and its cessation on creatinine- and cystatin C-based estimated glomerular filtration rates and albuminuria in male patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus: the Fukuoka Diabetes Registry.’ Vol. 39, No. 10, pp 744–751.

http://www.nature.com/hr/journal/v39/n10/full/hr201651a.html

The authors indicated the relations of smoking to renal parameters such as albuminuria and estimated glomerular filtration rate in type 2 diabetic patients entered into the registry study, which are expected to facilitate smoking cessation in terms of prevent renal injuries.

Hypertension Research Award

Dr Yui Takeshige, Division of Internal Medicine, Showa University Northern Yokohama Hospital, Yokohama, Japan.

For contribution of ‘A sodium-glucose co-transporter 2 inhibitor empagliflozin prevents abnormality of circadian rhythm of blood pressure in salt-treated obese rats.’ Vol. 39, No. 6, pp 415–422.

http://www.nature.com/hr/journal/v39/n6/full/hr20162a.html

This animal study showed that the administration of SGLT2 inhibitor improves the non-dipper pattern of circadian blood pressure changes in obese rats given high-salt diet. This may be involved in the mechanism by which SGLT2 inhibitors reduce cardiovascular and renal events in clinical trials.