Family history of diabetes in both parents is strongly associated with impaired residual β-cell function in Japanese type 2 diabetes patients.

Aims/introduction: The objective of the present study was to clarify the association of the type and number of first-degree family history of diabetes (FHD) with the clinical characteristics, especially with residual β-cell function, in type 2 diabetes patients.

Materials And Methods: A total of 1,131 type 2 diabetes patients were recruited and divided into four groups according to FHD information as follows: (i) patients without FHD (FHD-); (ii) those with at least one sibling who had diabetes without parental diabetes (FHD+); (iii) those with one parent (FHD++); or (iv) those with both parents (FHD+++) who had diabetes with or without a sibling with diabetes.

Results: The percentages of the FHD-, FHD+, FHD++ and FHD+++ groups were 49.

Secretory units of islets in transplantation index is a useful predictor of insulin requirement in Japanese type 2 diabetic patients.

Aims/introduction: The objective of the present study was to clarify the validity of β-cell function-related parameters for predicting the insulin requirement of Japanese type 2 diabetic patients.

Materials And Methods: In 188 patients with type 2 diabetes who had been admitted to the University of Toyama Hospital (Toyama, Japan) without receiving insulin therapy, we carried out a cross-sectional study examining the relationship between the homeostasis model assessment of β-cell function (HOMA-β) and C-peptide-based indices, and also carried out a retrospective study to examine the utility for predicting insulin requirement of several β -cell function-related indices using a receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis.

Results: The secretory units of islets in transplantation index (SUIT) had the strongest correlation with HOMA-β, followed by the fasting serum C-peptide immunoreactivity index (CPI); the fasting serum C-peptide immunoreactivity itself (F-CPR) had the least correlation.

Visceral adipose tissue level, as estimated by the bioimpedance analysis method, is associated with impaired lung function.

Unlabelled: Aims/Introduction:  It has been reported that metabolic syndrome is associated with impaired lung function, and abdominal obesity is regarded as the most important determinant of this association. We evaluated the association between a component of metabolic syndrome, indices of body composition, including the total adipose tissue content, lean bodyweight and visceral adipose tissue content, as assessed by bioimpedance analysis, and lung function.

Materials And Methods:   A total of 516 participants responded to our questionnaire to determine the smoking status and history of past diseases.

Inhibitory effect of IL-8 on insulin action in human adipocytes via MAP kinase pathway.

Background: Various cytokines and other compounds are produced in human adipose tissue and might have functions in the adipose tissue. They might be involved in complications associated with obesity and diabetes. Recently, interleukin-8 (IL-8) has been shown to be produced and released from human adipose tissue and/or adipocytes, suggesting IL-8 involvement in some obesity-related health complications.

Angiotensin II enhances the increase in monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 production induced by tumor necrosis factor-{alpha} from 3T3-L1 preadipocytes.

Monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1) and angiotensin II (Ang II) in adipose tissue are thought to induce systemic insulin resistance in rodents; but the precise mechanism is not fully clarified. We examined the mechanism of Ang II-induced and/or tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha)-induced MCP-1 production from 3T3-L1 preadipocytes. The MCP-1 protein and MCP-1 mRNA expression in 3T3-L1 preadipocytes were increased significantly by stimulation with TNF-alpha.

Adiponectin inhibits endothelial synthesis of interleukin-8.

Adiponectin is an antiatherogenic adipokine that inhibits inflammation by mechanisms that are not completely understood. We explored the effect of adiponectin on endothelial synthesis of interleukin-8 (IL-8), a pro-inflammatory chemokine that plays a role in atherogenesis. Adiponectin decreased the secretion of IL-8 from human aortic endothelial cells (HAEC) stimulated with tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha).

Inhibitory effect of pitavastatin (NK-104) on the C-reactive-protein-induced interleukin-8 production in human aortic endothelial cells.

Recent data have indicated that CRP (C-reactive protein) plays a role in atherosclerosis, in addition to being a marker for inflammatory diseases. IL-8 (interleukin-8), a CXC chemokine, is present in human coronary atheroma and promotes monocyte-endothelial cell adhesion. In the present study, we examined the effect of pitavastatin (NK-104), a synthetic statin (3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl CoA reductase inhibitor), on IL-8 production induced by CRP in human AoEC (aortic endothelial cells).