Effect of active vitamin D treatment on development of type 2 diabetes: DPVD randomised controlled trial in Japanese population.

Objective: To assess whether eldecalcitol, an active vitamin D analogue, can reduce the development of type 2 diabetes among adults with impaired glucose tolerance.

Design: Double blinded, multicentre, randomised, placebo controlled trial.

Setting: Three hospitals in Japan, between June 2013 and August 2019.

Incidence of type 2 diabetes in pre-diabetic Japanese individuals categorized by HbA1c levels: a historical cohort study.

Objective: Reported incidence of type 2 diabetes estimated at the pre-diabetic stage differs widely (2.3-18.1% per year).

Atorvastatin, etidronate, or both in patients at high risk for atherosclerotic aortic plaques: a randomized, controlled trial.

Background: Statins are not effective in reducing atherosclerotic plaques of the abdominal aorta, and accumulating evidence suggests that bisphosphonates have the potential to induce the regression of atherosclerotic plaques of the abdominal aorta.

Methods And Results: A prospective, randomized, open-label, blinded-end-point trial involving 108 participants with hypercholesterolemia was conducted. Participants received 20 mg atorvastatin daily, 400 mg etidronate daily, or both drugs daily.

[Study on dilemma and strategy of community support network by community organization for prevention of isolated death in an urban area].

Objectives: Isolated death of elderly is recognized as a severe social problem in public health and it is an urgent requirement that a supportive community network be organized so that its occurrence is minimized. The purpose of this research was to analyze actual issues of a supportive community network for elderly within the community and to obtain clues for useful actions to prevent isolated death of elderly individuals in the future.

Methods: The subjects were 14 representatives of a supportive community network for elderly in A City, B Ward and C District (as a junior high school segment).

Reduced progression to type 2 diabetes from impaired glucose tolerance after a 2-day in-hospital diabetes educational program: the Joetsu Diabetes Prevention Trial.

Objective: We assessed the effects of a 2-day in-hospital diabetes educational program in preventing or delaying progression of impaired glucose tolerance (IGT) to type 2 diabetes, including analysis of changes in serum lipids, body weight, and blood pressure after the program.

Research Design And Methods: A total of 426 subjects (51 +/- 9 years, BMI 24.6 +/- 3.

Serum hyaluronan concentration as a marker of angiopathy in patients with diabetes mellitus.

Accumulation of hyaluronan (HA) around smooth muscle cells in lesions of atherosclerosis in diabetic patients suggests that this protein plays an important role in diabetic angiopathy. The aim of this study was to determine the correlation between serum HA concentrations and diabetic angiopathy. Diabetic patients treated with or without an oral hypoglycemic agent and/or insulin for at least 1 year were recruited (n = 95).

Increased expression levels of monocyte CCR2 and monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 in patients with diabetes mellitus.

Increased monocyte recruitment into subendothelial space in atherosclerotic lesions is one of the hallmarks of diabetic angiopathy. The aim of this study was to determine the state of peripheral blood monocytes in diabetes associated with atherosclerosis. Diabetic patients treated with/without an oral hypoglycemic agent and/or insulin for at least 1 year were recruited (n=106).

Glycated albumin and cross-linking of CD44 induce scavenger receptor expression and uptake of oxidized LDL in human monocytes.

Functional role of CD44, a principal receptor of hyaluronan, and glycated albumin for differentiation of resting human monocytes isolated by counterflow centrifugal elutriation was investigated. Flow cytometric analysis revealed that amadori-modified glycated albumin induced expression of CD44 as well as macrophage scavenger receptors (MSRs) such as CD36 and CD68 on resting monocytes. Crosslinking of CD44 on monocytes also induced MSR expression.

Adult-onset idiopathic progressive acro-osteolysis with proximal symphalangism.

We experienced a 57-year-old female with adult-onset non-congenital idiopathic acro-osteolysis combined with proximal symphalangism. At the age of 36, she developed severe pain and swelling of the toe base of both feet and underwent Clayton surgery. However, the size of her toes diminished progressively over the 5-year period after surgery.

Baroreflex control of heart rate during heating in subjects with low orthostatic tolerance.

Background: Heat stress induces a reduction of orthostatic tolerance. The cardiovascular responses, including the cardiac baroreflex response to heat stress, were examined to test the hypothesis that subjects with orthostatically low tolerance demonstrate an impaired baroreflex control of heart rate (HR) during heat stress.

Methods: There were 44 healthy young volunteers who underwent whole body heat stress produced by a hot-water-perfused suit during supine rest for 45 min and 75 degrees head-up tilt (HUT) for 6 min.

Hepatocyte growth factor enhances adhesion of breast cancer cells to endothelial cells in vitro through up-regulation of CD44.

For cancer metastasis, tumor cells present in the circulation must first adhere to the endothelium. Integrins play a central role in leukocyte adhesion to the endothelium and subsequent migration into tissues. The majority of tumor cells derived from solid cancers, including breast cancer, do not express integrins.

Virilizing adrenocortical adenoma with Cushing's syndrome, thyroid papillary carcinoma and hypergastrinemia in a middle-aged woman.

We report a rare case of virilizing adrenocortical adenoma complicated with Cushing's syndrome, thyroid papillary carcinoma and hypergastrinemia. A 45-year-old woman had a history of amenorrhea for 10 years, hypertension for 8 years, and diabetes mellitus for 3 years. Physical examination showed a masculinized woman with severe hirsutism, male-like baldness, deep voice, acne in the precordia, and clitorism.

Monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 induces scavenger receptor expression and monocyte differentiation into foam cells.

Accumulation of monocytes and the entrapment of oxidized-low-density lipoprotein (ox-LDL) in monocytes are important in the differentiation into "foam" macrophages and the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis. We investigated the role of monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1) in the expression of scavenger receptor (SCR) by using resting monocytes prepared by counterflow centrifugal elutriation. Our results showed that: (1) MCP-1 increased the expression of CD36 SCR by flow cytometric analysis.