Benefit of Early Add-on of Linagliptin to Insulin in Japanese Patients With Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus: Randomized-Controlled Open-Label Trial (TRUST2).

Introduction: This trial was conducted to assess the long-term safety, efficacy, and benefit of early add-on of linagliptin to insulin in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM).

Methods: This trial enrolled 246 subjects. The subjects were randomized to the linagliptin group or the control group and were observed for 156 weeks.

Clinicopathological features of liver injury in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus and comparative study of histologically proven nonalcoholic fatty liver diseases with or without type 2 diabetes mellitus.

Background: The Japan Society of Diabetes Mellitus reported that the leading cause of death in patients with diabetes mellitus (DM) was chronic liver disease; however, there are limited studies investigating the cause of liver injury in these patients. Our study aimed to clarify the clinicopathological features of liver injury and the characteristics of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) in DM patients.

Methods: In total, 5,642 DM patients and 365 histologically proven NAFLD patients were enrolled.

Genetic polymorphisms of the human PNPLA3 gene are strongly associated with severity of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease in Japanese.

Background: Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) includes a broad range of liver pathologies from simple steatosis to cirrhosis and fibrosis, in which a subtype accompanying hepatocyte degeneration and fibrosis is classified as nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH). NASH accounts for approximately 10-30% of NAFLD and causes a higher frequency of liver-related death, and its progression of NASH has been considered to be complex involving multiple genetic factors interacting with the environment and lifestyle.

Principal Findings: To identify genetic factors related to NAFLD in the Japanese, we performed a genome-wide association study recruiting 529 histologically diagnosed NAFLD patients and 932 population controls.

Efficacy of long-term ezetimibe therapy in patients with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease.

Background: Hyperlipidemia, insulin resistance, and oxidative stress can heavily contribute to the initiation and progression of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). Currently, there is no established treatment for this disease. Recently, several studies have shown that ezetimibe (EZ), a lipid-lowering drug, attenuates liver steatosis in an experimental NAFLD model.

The fatty acid composition of plasma cholesteryl esters and estimated desaturase activities in patients with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease and the effect of long-term ezetimibe therapy on these levels.

Background: The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between fatty acid composition of plasma cholesteryl esters (CEs) and estimated desaturase activity and the development and progression of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). The study also assessed the effect of ezetimibe on CE levels.

Methods: Plasma CEs fatty acid composition was analyzed in 3 groups: patients with a NAFLD activity score (NAS) ≤ 4 (n=31) or NAS ≥ 5 (n=32) and normal controls (n=25).

Hepatic senescence marker protein-30 is involved in the progression of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease.

Background: Both insulin resistance and increased oxidative stress in the liver are associated with the pathogenesis of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). Senescence marker protein-30 (SMP30) was initially identified as a novel protein in the rat liver, and acts as an antioxidant and antiapoptotic protein. Our aim was to determine whether hepatic SMP30 levels are associated with the development and progression of NAFLD.

Synergistic effect of HLA class II loci and cytokine gene polymorphisms on the risk of gastric cancer in Japanese patients with Helicobacter pylori infection.

It has been reported that polymorphisms of human leukocyte antigen (HLA) genes and several cytokine genes are associated with an increased risk of developing gastric cancer (GC). However, the results of studies from different geographic regions, ethnic groups and study groups are inconsistent. The aim of this study was to evaluate the influence of H.

The alpha-glucosidase inhibitor acarbose reduces the net electronegative charge of low-density lipoprotein in patients with newly diagnosed type 2 diabetes.

Background: Several epidemiological studies have shown that postprandial hyperglycemia is associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD). The present study was conducted in order to compare the effects of acarbose and glimepiride treatment on serum lipoprotein profiles in patients with type 2 diabetes.

Methods: A total of 37 patients with newly diagnosed type 2 diabetes were studied.

Relationship between insulin resistance and inflammatory markers and anti-inflammatory effect of losartan in patients with type 2 diabetes and hypertension.

Background: It is now well established that vascular inflammation and endothelial dysfunction associated with cardiovascular diseases contributes to insulin resistance.

Methods: We investigated the relationship between the homeostasis model assessment-insulin resistance index (HOMA-R) and various serum inflammatory markers and the effect of losartan on serum concentrations of these markers in patients with type 2 diabetes and hypertension. The patients were divided into 2 groups according to the value of HOMA-R with 60 patients with values=2.

Evaluation of transcatheter arterial embolization therapy on hepatocellular carcinomas using contrast-enhanced harmonic power Doppler sonography: comparison with CT, power Doppler sonography, and dynamic MRI.

Purpose: The aim of this study was to assess and compare the sensitivity of power Doppler sonography, contrast-enhanced sonography, plain computed tomography (CT), and dynamic magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) for detecting hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) nodules incompletely treated with transcatheter arterial embolization (TAE).

Methods: A total of 63 unresectable HCC nodules were examined in this study. The HCCs were treated with TAE.

Serum extracellular superoxide dismutase in patients with type 2 diabetes: relationship to the development of micro- and macrovascular complications.

Objective: The aim of this study was to determine the distribution of serum extracellular superoxide dismutase (EC-SOD) concentrations in patients with type 2 diabetes and to assess whether increased EC-SOD concentration is associated with the development of diabetic vascular complications.

Research Design And Methods: Serum EC-SOD concentrations were determined in 222 patients with type 2 diabetes and 75 healthy control subjects by an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. All subjects had the EC-SOD domain genotyped.