In the original study, several hypotheses were tested, including: 1) that a predominance of small LDL particles (ALP phenotype B), as determined by gradient gel electrophoresis, was inherited as a single gene trait in Japanese-American kindreds and to compare these results with previous studies in Caucasian families; 2) that ALP-B was associated with risk factors characteristic of the insulin resistance syndrome and NIDDM among individual Japanese-American family members. 3) that plasma levels of Lp(a) were inversely associated with apo(a) size phenotypes, as determined by high- resolution SDS-agarose-gel electrophoresis followed by immunoblotting, in individual Japanese-American subjects, and to compare and contrast these associations with those previously reported in Caucasians and other ethnic groups; 4) that in addition to apo(a) gene effects, the segregation of plasma levels of Lp(a) in families was nherited consistent with the presence of another single major gene effect. The study also established a repository of frozen white cells for future genetic studies of candidate genes associated with risk of CHD in Japanese Americans. These hypotheses were all tested based on blood samples, blood pressure and anthropometric measurements, and questionnaire data from 33 Japanese-American kindreds identified through participants in the ongoing Japanese-American Community Diabetes Study in Seattle. The kindreds consist of 126 nuclear families and 443 individual family members, including probands, siblings, spouses, offspring and nieces and nephews of full Japanese descent.