Small Fibre Neuropathy Is Associated With Impaired Vascular Endothelial Function in Patients With Type 2 Diabetes.

Diabetic polyneuropathy (DPN) and endothelial dysfunction are prevalent complications of diabetes mellitus. Currently, there are two non-invasive markers for endothelial dysfunction: flow-mediated dilation and reactive hyperaemia peripheral arterial tonometry (RH-PAT). However, the relationship between diabetic small fibre neuropathy and macroangiopathy remains obscure thus far.

Cardio-Ankle Vascular Index and Indices of Diabetic Polyneuropathy in Patients with Type 2 Diabetes.

The cardio-ankle vascular index (CAVI) is used to test vascular function and is an arterial stiffness marker and potential predictor of cardiovascular events. This study aimed to analyze the relation between objective indices of diabetic polyneuropathy (DPN) and the CAVI. One hundred sixty-six patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus were included in this study.

The Effect of Treatments for Rheumatoid Arthritis on Endothelial Dysfunction Evaluated by Flow-Mediated Vasodilation in Patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis.

Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) is a chronic inflammatory disease with a potential cardiovascular (CV) risk. Flow-Mediated Vasodilation (FMD) is an ultrasonic method to evaluate endothelial function. RA is a contributor to endothelial dysfunction, a CV risk.

Effect of non-antihypertensive drugs on endothelial function in hypertensive subjects evaluated by flow-mediated vasodilation.

Hypertension (HTN) is a major risk factor for atherosclerosis. Flow-mediated vasodilation (FMD) is an ultrasonic method used to evaluate endothelial function, which is associated with HTN and related complications. We summarized clinical trials focusing on the effects of non-antihypertensive drugs on endothelial function, as evaluated by FMD, in patients with HTN.

[Ultrasonography in Large-Vessel Arteritis].

Vasculitides are a group of diseases in which inflammation occurs in various vascular walls of the whole body, and ischemic symptoms are caused by stenoses and occlusions of blood vessels. Various parts of blood vessels of the whole body are affected, and the clinical manifestations are diverse. In the Chapel Hill Consensus Conference (CHCC) 2012, vasculitides are classified into seven categories.

Arterial wall elasticity measured using the phased tracking method and atherosclerotic risk factors in patients with type 2 diabetes.

Aim: The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between atherosclerotic manifestations and brachial and radial arterial wall elasticity (AWE) measured using the phased tracking method in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM).

Methods: This study included T2DM patients (n= 220, mean age 59 years) without a history of stroke or coronary artery disease. The brachial AWE, radial AWE, carotid mean intima-media thickness (IMT), max-IMT and flow-mediated vasodilation (FMD) were measured.

Current smoking status may be associated with overt albuminuria in female patients with type 1 diabetes mellitus: a cross-sectional study.

Background: There are very few clinical reports that have compared the association between cigarette smoking and microangiopathy in Asian patients with type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM). The objective of this study was to assess the relationships between urinary protein concentrations and smoking and gender-based risk factors among patients with T1DM.

Methods: A cross-sectional study of 259 patients with T1DM (men/women = 90/169; mean age, 50.

Ezetimibe, an inhibitor of Niemann-Pick C1-like 1 protein, decreases cholesteryl ester transfer protein in type 2 diabetes mellitus.

To address the effects of ezetimibe on high-density lipoprotein (HDL) metabolism, the HDL subclasses, cholesteryl ester transfer protein (CETP), and lecithin-cholesterol acyltransferase (LCAT) were measured in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Twenty-three hypercholesterolemic patients with T2DM were treated with 10 mg of ezetimibe daily for 12 weeks. Plasma total cholesterol (TC), low-density lipoprotein (LDL)-cholesterol (C), HDL-C, HDL(2)-C, HDL(3)-C, CETP mass, and LCAT activity were measured.

Influence of atorvastatin on serum amyloid A-low density lipoprotein complex in hypercholesterolemic patients.

The complex of serum amyloid A(SAA) and low-density lipoprotein (LDL), SAA-LDL, is considered a new and unique marker of oxidatively-modified LDL particles, which is associated with atherosclerotic conditions. This study investigated the influence of atorvastatin treatment on circulating SAA-LDL levels among asymptomatic hypercholesterolemic patients. A total of 26 patients (mean age 63 years) received 10 mg/daily atorvastatin during a 12-week treatment period.

The effect of antihypertensive drugs on endothelial function as assessed by flow-mediated vasodilation in hypertensive patients.

Endothelial dysfunction is found in hypertensive patients and may serve as a prognostic marker of future cardiovascular events. Endothelial function can be assessed noninvasively by flow-mediated vasodilation (FMD). The goal of this paper is to summarize comprehensively the clinical trials that investigated the effects of antihypertensive drugs on endothelial function assessed by FMD in hypertensive patients.

Influence of ezetimibe monotherapy on ischemia-modified albumin levels in hypercholesterolemic patients.

Ischemia-modified albumin (IMA) is considered to be a novel biochemical marker for ischemic and atherosclerotic conditions. This study aimed to investigate the influence of ezetimibe monotherapy on circulating IMA levels in hypercholesterolemic patients. A total of 31 patients (mean age 65.

Urinary protein as a marker for systolic blood pressure reduction in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus participating in an in-hospital diabetes education program.

Increased blood pressure (BP) and urinary protein (UP)/microalbuminuria are risk factors for cardiovascular disease in patients with diabetes. Although the management of BP in patients with diabetes should involve a multidisciplinary therapy, there are no reports in which modulators have been identified in an in-hospital diabetes education program. The aim of the present study was to investigate the change in BP levels in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) during a short-term (2-week) in-hospital education program on lifestyle modifications.

The correlation between the cardio-ankle vascular index (CAVI) and serum amyloid A in asymptomatic Japanese subjects.

Chronic inflammation has received a great deal of attention due to the role it plays in cardiovascular disease (CVD). The cardio-ankle vascular index (CAVI) has recently been developed to evaluate arterial stiffness. This index is independent of blood pressure at the time that it is measured, making it a better measure for clinical studies on the prevention of CVD.

[Common carotid arterial diameter and coronary artery disease].

The clinical significance of the diameter of common carotid artery (CCA) measured ultrasonographically has not been sufficiently established. The object of this cross-sectional study was to investigate the relationship of the ultrasonic CCA diameter with coronary artery disease (CAD). In the male patients (n=169, mean age: 61 years) who had no apparent carotid arterial stenosis and cerebrovascular disease, a history of CAD, current smoking, body mass index, blood pressure, hemoglobin A1c, serum low-density-lipoprotein cholesterol, estimated glomerular filtration rate and ultrasonic measures of CCA diameter were analyzed.

The correlation of common carotid arterial diameter with atherosclerosis and diabetic retinopathy in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus.

The clinical significance of the diameter of the common carotid artery (CCA) measured ultrasonographically in diabetic practice has not been sufficiently established. The objective of this study was to investigate the relationship of the ultrasonic CCA diameter with atherosclerotic measures and diabetic retinopathy as a microvascular complication in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). This hospital-based cross-sectional study included 102 patients with T2DM (men: 65%, mean age: 57 years) who had no apparent carotid arterial stenosis and no history of cardiovascular or severe renal disease.

Degradation of ultrasound probes caused by disinfection with alcohol.

The aim of this study was to clarify the degree of degradation of ultrasonic probes that results from their disinfection with alcohol. No defect in the ultrasound beams was found in any of the probes, but a significant decrease of the brightness was found after a certain period of use of the linear-type probe. Disinfection with alcohol may degrade ultrasound probes despite its high degree of effectiveness in preventing iatrogenic bacterial transmission.

The relationship between urinary 8-hydroxydeoxyguanosine and metabolic risk factors in asymptomatic subjects.

Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between metabolic risk factors and oxidative stress using urinary 8-hydroxydeoxyguanosine (8-OHdG), a recently utilized biological marker, in asymptomatic subjects.

Methods: Ninety subjects (males/females = 30/60; mean age = 52 years), who were nonsmoking, nondiabetic and not on any medicine, were enrolled in the study. The body mass index, blood pressure, total cholesterol, triglyceride (TG), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) and glucose as well as urinary 8-OHdG and creatinine were measured.

The relationship between serum C-reactive protein and daily physical activity in Japanese hypertensive patients.

Hypertension (HT) and C-reactive protein (CRP) are risk factors of cardiovascular diseases (CVD). The current study's purpose was to investigate the relationship between serum CRP levels and daily lifestyles, including physical activity, in Japanese HT patients. Lifestyle factors, blood pressure (BP), blood cholesterol, glucose, and CRP were measured in a total of 312 HT patients (153 men/159 women, mean age: 62.

Relationship between reactive oxygen metabolites and carotid intima-media thickness in subjects with hypercholesterolemia.

Objective: It was the aim of this study to investigate whether there is any relationship between oxidative stress, as assessed by the diacron reactive oxygen metabolite (d-ROM) test, and carotid atherosclerosis among hypercholesterolemic patients.

Subjects And Methods: A well-defined group of patients with type II hypercholesterolemia (n = 81, mean age 59 years) was studied to observe the correlation between the levels of serum d-ROMs and carotid artery intima-media thickness (IMT) using B-mode ultrasound, in relation to the traditional atherosclerotic risk factors (age, sex, smoking, body mass index, blood pressure, glucose and lipid panels).

Results: The mean level in low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) in this population was 4.

Lipid-lowering effects of ezetimibe for hypercholesterolemic patients with and without type 2 diabetes mellitus.

To date, there are very few clinical reports that have compared the effects of ezetimibe on lipid parameters between hypercholesterolemic patients with and without type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). In this study, we recruited patients for hypercholesterolemic groups with T2DM (n = 42; men/women = 24/18; HbA1c = 6.7 ± 5.

The correlation between CVR-R and carotid atherosclerosis in type 2 diabetes mellitus patients with diabetic neuropathy.

We examined the relationship between the coefficient of variation in the R-R intervals (CVR-R) using electrocardiograms and the ultrasonic intima-media thickness (IMT) of the carotid artery, an atherosclerotic parameter, in type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM) patients with diabetic neuropathy (n=47, males/females: 29/18; mean age: 62 years). In this study, the CVR-R-related indexes, including CVR-R at rest (CVR-R(rest)), CVR-R with deep breaths (CVR-R(breath)) and their difference (CVR-R(breath) minus CVR-R(rest): CVR-R(dif)), were defined. Data such as body mass index, smoking habits, hemoglobin A1c, blood pressure, and serum low-density lipoprotein were collected.

Influence of smoking habits on the GA/HbA1c ratio in patients with type 1 diabetes mellitus.

Objective: To assess the influence of smoking on glycated albumin (GA) to hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) ratio among type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) patients.

Subjects And Methods: Eighty-one T1DM patients (49 females, 32 males, mean age 48 +/- 18 years) were recruited, and data concerning GA/HbA1c ratio and smoking were collected.

Results: The median levels of GA and HbA1c were 23.

Distinct association of serum FGF21 or adiponectin levels with clinical parameters in patients with type 2 diabetes.

Fibroblast growth factor 21 (FGF21) has been identified as a novel metabolic regulator. This cross-sectional study was performed to clarify how serum FGF21 levels were associated with clinical parameters in Japanese subjects with type 2 diabetes (n=139). Anthropometric and blood biochemical parameters, uses of drugs for diabetes, hypertension and dyslipidemia were examined regarding associations with fasting serum FGF21 concentrations.