Synthesis of Two Well-Defined Quadruple-Stranded Copolymers having Two Kinds of Backbones by Postpolymerization of a Helical Template Polymer.

A brand new, soluble quadruple-stranded copolymer is synthesized by using a self-template polymer from a new monomer. In addition, another very unique quadruple-stranded copolymer having a π-π stacking supramolecular polymer main chain is synthesized by selective photocyclic aromatization of the quadruple-stranded copolymer. The two quadruple-stranded copolymers gave self-standing membranes.

Predictors of glycemic control in Japanese subjects with type 2 diabetes mellitus.

The purpose of this study was to investigate which pathophysiological and demographic characteristics of Japanese subjects with type 2 diabetes mellitus were associated with poor glycemic control and to propose a statistical model for predicting their glycemic control. A total of 220 subjects with type 2 diabetes mellitus were enrolled in this study. Frequently sampled intravenous glucose tolerance test was performed to determine the first-phase C-peptide secretion rate (CS1) and insulin sensitivity index.

Development of a novel nano-Invader DNA chip system.

By taking advantage of a homogeneous Invader assay, a miniaturized genotyping chip system termed nano-Invader was developed. The system is sensitive to 0.1 zeptomole of genomic DNA per well without prior PCR amplification.

Serum resistin level is associated with insulin sensitivity in Japanese patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus.

Impaired insulin secretion and decreased insulin sensitivity are the main pathophysiologic features responsible for development of hyperglycemia in type 2 diabetes mellitus. Insulin resistance is often associated with increased adipose tissue mass. To examine which variables influence insulin sensitivity, we compared metabolic parameters, serum resistin, leptin, and adiponectin concentrations to the insulin sensitivity, obtained by frequently sampled intravenous glucose tolerance test using the minimal model analysis, in 113 Japanese patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus.

The Arg121Trp variant in PAX4 gene is associated with beta-cell dysfunction in Japanese subjects with type 2 diabetes mellitus.

Mutations in PAX4, a transcription factor involved in the beta-cell differentiation, could predispose to the development of type 2 diabetes mellitus. To clarify the role of PAX4 Arg121Trp mutation on the development of type 2 diabetes mellitus, we try to determine the clinical phenotype in diabetic subjects with this mutation. Study subjects consisted of 793 type 2 diabetic patients and 318 control subjects.

Five missense mutations in glucagon-like peptide 1 receptor gene in Japanese population.

To address the possibility that the partial disruption of Glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) signaling could cause diabetes, we tried to detect the mutation in GLP-1 receptor (GLP-1R) gene in the population with type 2 diabetes. Genomic DNA was extracted from 36 unrelated Japanese type 2 diabetic subjects and directly sequenced for the GLP-1R gene. For the detected polymorphisms, 791 patients with type 2 diabetes and 318 controls were screened by polymerase chain reaction-restricted fragment length polymorphism and association study was carried out.

Beta-cell dysfunction in late-onset diabetic subjects carrying homozygous mutation in transcription factors NeuroD1 and Pax4.

Polymorphisms in beta-cell transcription factor genes, Ala45Thr in the NeuroD1 gene and Arg121Trp in the Pax4 gene, have been reported. To clarify the role of these mutations in the pathogenesis of late-onset diabetes, we examined the insulin secretion and sensitivity in diabetic patients carrying the homozygous mutation in the NeuroD1 gene or Pax4 gene. We screened for the polymorphisms in NeuroD1 and Pax4 genes in 296 late-onset diabetic patients and 177 unrelated control subjects over 60 years of age.