Adipose tissue complement factor B promotes adipocyte maturation.

Objectives: It is well-known that the complement system plays an essential role in host immunity. Observational studies have indicated that complement system-related molecules such as complement factor B (CfB) and other components are correlated with obesity and/or insulin resistance parameters. In this study, we investigated the role of adipocyte-derived CfB in adipose tissue metabolism.

Insulin Secretory Defect and Insulin Resistance in Isolated Impaired Fasting Glucose and Isolated Impaired Glucose Tolerance.

Objective: To investigate the characteristics of isolated impaired glucose tolerance (IGT) and isolated impaired fasting glucose (IFG), we analyzed the factors responsible for elevation of 2-hour postchallenge plasma glucose (2 h PG) and fasting plasma glucose (FPG) levels.

Methods: We investigated the relationship between 2 h PG and FPG levels who underwent 75 g OGTT in 5620 Japanese subjects at initial examination for medical check-up. We compared clinical characteristics between isolated IGT and isolated IFG and analyzed the relationships of 2 h PG and FPG with clinical characteristics, the indices of insulin secretory capacity, and insulin sensitivity.

β cell dysfunction versus insulin resistance in the pathogenesis of type 2 diabetes in East Asians.

Type 2 diabetes (T2DM) is one of the most serious global health problems and is mainly a result of the drastic increase in East Asia, which includes over a fourth of the global diabetes population. Lifestyle factors and ethnicity are two determinants in the etiology of T2DM, and lifestyle changes such as higher fat intake and less physical activity link readily to T2DM in East Asians. It is widely recognized that T2DM in East Asians is characterized primarily by β cell dysfunction, which is evident immediately after ingestion of glucose or meal, and less adiposity compared to the disease in Caucasians.

Relationship and factors responsible for regulating fasting and post-challenge plasma glucose levels in the early stage development of type 2 diabetes mellitus.

Aims/introduction: Elevation of 2-h plasma glucose (2-h PG) levels keeps step with fasting plasma glucose (FPG) levels elevation, but some individuals show dominant elevation of 2-h PG and others FPG. We analyzed dependent and independent relationships between 2-h PG and FPG, and investigated the factors regulating 2-h PG and FPG.

Materials And Methods: In 1,657 Japanese participants who underwent a 75-g oral glucose tolerance test at the initial examination for a medical check-up, we carried out simple linear regression analysis between 2-h PG and FPG levels on the three patterns of independent variables.

Eating disorder examination questionnaire (EDE-Q): norms for undergraduate Japanese women.

The aim of the present study was to provide normative data for the Eating Disorder Examination Questionnaire (EDE-Q) among undergraduate Japanese women and to compare these data to norms obtained from previous studies. Undergraduate Japanese women (n = 289), aged 18-24 years, were administered the EDE-Q. The mean global score in the present study was 1.

Circulating TNF receptor 2 is closely associated with the kidney function in non-diabetic Japanese subjects.

Aim: Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is associated with cardiovascular events. Tumor necrosis factor (TNF) and/or its receptors have been postulated to be involved in renal pathophysiology. It is unclear whether an increased TNF system activity is present before the development of apparent CKD.

Typical and atypical anorexia nervosa in a Japanese sample.

Objective: We examined the existence of nonfat-phobic anorexia nervosa (NFP-AN) and fat-phobic AN, with no evidence of distortions related to body shape and weight (AN-NED), in a Japanese sample and studied eating disorder pathology and psychopathology in NFP-AN and AN-NED.

Method: The study participants were 200 (52.2%) women with typical AN, 86 (22.

Neutralization of leukotriene C4 and D4 activity by monoclonal and single-chain antibodies.

Background: Cysteinyl leukotrienes (LTs) are key mediators in inflammation. To explore the structure of the antigen-recognition site of a monoclonal antibody against LTC4 (mAbLTC), we previously isolated full-length cDNAs for heavy and light chains of the antibody and prepared a single-chain antibody comprising variable regions of these two chains (scFvLTC).

Methods: We examined whether mAbLTC and scFvLTC neutralized the biological activities of LTC4 and LTD4 by competing their binding to their receptors.

The inflammation-lipocalin 2 axis may contribute to the development of chronic kidney disease.

Background: Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is an important risk factor for coronary heart disease, and previous studies indicated the involvement of low-grade inflammation in the pathogenesis of CKD.

Methods: The study was designed to (i) identify and confirm genes and their products upregulated in mesangial cells cocultured with endotoxin-stimulated macrophages and (ii) determine the clinical relevance of genes and proteins upregulated in mesangial cells under inflammatory conditions by an epidemiological approach.

Results: DNA microarray analysis revealed upregulated expression of many genes and their products including several cytokines and chemokines, as well as the inflammatory marker, lipocalin 2 gene.

Comparison of DSM-IV diagnostic criteria versus the Broad Categories for the Diagnosis of Eating Disorders scheme in a Japanese sample.

The purposes of this study were to compare DSM-IV diagnostic criteria and the Broad Categories for the Diagnosis of Eating Disorders (BCD-ED) scheme in terms of the number of cases of Eating Disorder Not Otherwise Specified (EDNOS) and to test which diagnostic tool better captures the variance of psychiatric symptoms in a Japanese sample. One thousand and twenty-nine women with an eating disorder (ED) participated in this study. Assessment methods included structured clinical interviews and administration of the Eating Attitudes Test and the Eating Disorder Inventory.

Circulating TNF receptor 2 is associated with the development of chronic kidney disease in non-obese Japanese patients with type 2 diabetes.

Aims: Chronic low-grade inflammation and/or obesity are suggested to induce chronic kidney disease (CKD) in patients with type 2 diabetes. This cross-sectional study was performed to investigate the relationship between inflammatory biomarkers and CKD in non-obese patients with type 2 diabetes.

Methods: 106 non-obese Japanese patients with type 2 diabetes were recruited for the measurement of GFR, TNF, HMW adiponectin, leptin, hsCRP and some variables including urinary albumin.

Comparison of DSM-IV versus proposed DSM-5 diagnostic criteria for eating disorders in a Japanese sample.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to compare the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, fourth edition (DSM-IV) and the proposed Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, fifth edition (DSM-5) diagnostic criteria in terms of the number of cases of eating disorder not otherwise specified (EDNOS) and to see which diagnostic system can effectively capture variance in psychiatric symptoms in a Japanese sample.

Method: One thousand and twenty-nine women with an eating disorder (ED) participated in this study. Assessment methods included structured clinical interviews and administration of the Eating Attitudes Test and the Eating Disorder Inventory.

Insulin secretory capacity and insulin sensitivity in impaired fasting glucose in Japanese.

Unlabelled: Aims/Introduction:  Impaired fasting glucose (IFG) increases the risk of developing diabetes mellitus (DM). This study was carried out to characterize Japanese patients who have fasting glucose levels (FPG) between 100 and 109 mg/dL (IFG100-109).

Materials And Methods:   A total of 1383 Japanese participants were examined by oral glucose tolerance test.

Insulin secretion and computed tomography values of the pancreas in the early stage of the development of diabetes.

Unlabelled: Aims/Introduction:  The computed tomography (CT) value of the pancreas was examined across the range of glucose tolerance, and the relationships between pancreatic CT values and factors responsible for glucose intolerance were analyzed.

Materials And Methods:   A total of 167 health-check examinees were classified into normal glucose tolerance (NGT), impaired glucose tolerance (IGT) and diabetes mellitus (DM) according to 75 g oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT). Pancreatic and hepatic CT values were estimated at decreasing stages of glucose tolerance.

Smoking and adipose tissue inflammation suppress leptin expression in Japanese obese males: potential mechanism of resistance to weight loss among Japanese obese smokers.

Background: The effect of smoking on leptin regulation is controversial. Smoking may induce low-grade inflammation. Recent series of studies indicated the critical role of macrophage migration in the establishment of adipose tissue inflammation.

Smoking, white blood cell counts, and TNF system activity in Japanese male subjects with normal glucose tolerance.

Background: Cigarette smokers have increased white blood cell (WBC) counts and the activation of tumor necrosis factor (TNF). The effect of smoking on WBC counts and TNF system activity, however, has not been separately investigated yet.

Subjects And Methods: One hundred and forty-two Japanese male subjects with normal glucose tolerance were recruited.

GIP and GLP-1, the two incretin hormones: Similarities and differences.

Gastric inhibitory polypeptide (GIP) and glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) are the two primary incretin hormones secreted from the intestine on ingestion of glucose or nutrients to stimulate insulin secretion from pancreatic β cells. GIP and GLP-1 exert their effects by binding to their specific receptors, the GIP receptor (GIPR) and the GLP-1 receptor (GLP-1R), which belong to the G-protein coupled receptor family. Receptor binding activates and increases the level of intracellular cyclic adenosine monophosphate in pancreatic β cells, thereby stimulating insulin secretion glucose-dependently.

Factors responsible for elevation of 1-h postchallenge plasma glucose levels in Japanese men.

The 1-h postchallenge plasma glucose (1-h PG) level is considered to be a good index of the development of glucose intolerance and type 2 diabetes as well as of diabetic complications. In some cases, in Japanese, 1-h PG is elevated despite normal fasting glucose during oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT), but the factors responsible remain unclear. In the present study, subjects with normal glucose tolerance (NGT), isolated impaired fasting glucose (IFG), and isolated impaired glucose tolerance (IGT) were divided into subgroups at 1-h PG of 10.

Short-term intensive glycemic control improves vibratory sensation in type 2 diabetes.

Strict long-term glycemic control has been reported to prevent or improve diabetic peripheral neuropathy, but the effects of short-term glycemic control have not been clarified in patients with type 2 diabetes. To investigate reversibility of impaired vibratory sensation by short-term glycemic control, we used the TM31 liminometer and C64 tuning fork methods to measure peripheral neuropathy. Thirty-one type 2 diabetes patients with poor glycemic control (HbA1c: 10.

Factors responsible for age-related elevation in fasting plasma glucose: a cross-sectional study in Japanese men.

To evaluate the factors associated with age-related increase in fasting plasma glucose (FPG) in Japanese men with normal fasting glucose, we measured FPG, fasting immunoreactive insulin, glycated hemoglobin, total cholesterol, triglyceride, and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels in health check examinees. Subjects with FPG less than 6.1 mmol/L together with glycated hemoglobin less than 5.

Effect of corosolic acid on gluconeogenesis in rat liver.

Corosolic acid (CRA), an active component of Banaba leaves (Lagerstroemia speciosa L.), decreases blood glucose in diabetic animals and humans. In this study, we investigated the mechanism of action of CRA on gluconeogenesis in rat liver.

Metabolic syndrome, insulin resistance, and atherosclerosis in Japanese type 2 diabetic patients.

The aim of the present study was to investigate the relationships between metabolic syndrome and atherosclerosis in 57 Japanese type 2 diabetic patients. Metabolic syndrome was diagnosed based on the criteria raised by the Japan Internal Medicine Society. Insulin resistance was estimated by the insulin resistance index of homeostasis model assessment.

Factors responsible for the evolution of insulin resistance in Japanese type 2 diabetic patients: association with atherosclerosis.

Type 2 diabetes is a heterogeneous syndrome characterized by defective insulin secretion and/or insulin resistance. In distinct from Caucasian populations, Japanese type 2 diabetic patients are divided into two categories: one with insulin resistance and the other with normal insulin sensitivity. This unique feature allows us to explore the factors responsible for the evolution of insulin resistance in Japanese type 2 diabetic patients.

Soluble tumor necrosis factor receptor 2 is independently associated with pulse wave velocity in nonobese Japanese patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus.

The aim of the present study was to investigate the factors contributing to pulse wave velocity (PWV) in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus. We focused on tumor necrosis factor (TNF) including soluble TNF receptors (sTNF-R1, sTNF-R2) in this study because TNF seems to be associated with the progression of atherosclerosis and because the relationships between PWV and TNF were not yet examined in type 2 diabetic patients. Univariate regression analyses showed that PWV was positively correlated with age (r=0.

Early and late onset side effects of short-acting insulin analogue in seven Japanese diabetic patients.

Short-acting insulin analogue has previously shown to be equal to short-acting human regular insulin regarding in vitro characteristics, immunogenicity, and safety. But in the present study, we experienced seven patients who had mild to moderate side effects due to short-acting insulin analogue. These side effects could be divided into two types based on the appearance time; one with early onset and the other with late onset.