Impact of an mHealth App (Kencom) on Patients With Untreated Hypertension Initiating Antihypertensive Medications: Real-World Cohort Study.

Background: To prevent the further development of cardiovascular diseases, it is a growing global priority to detect untreated hypertension in patients and ensure adequate blood pressure control via drug therapy. However, few effective tools that facilitate the initiation of antihypertensive medications among such patients have been identified.

Objective: We aimed to determine whether a mobile health (mHealth) app facilitates the initiation of antihypertensive medications among patients with untreated hypertension.

Impact of inhaled nitric oxide therapy in patients with cardiogenic shock treated with veno-arterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation combined with Impella: a retrospective cohort study.

Background: The mortality rate of patients with cardiogenic shock (CS) requiring veno-arterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (VA-ECMO) combined with Impella (ECPELLA) support remains high. Inhaled nitric oxide (iNO) improves right ventricular (RV) function, resulting in increased Impella flow, which may facilitate early withdrawal of VA-ECMO and improve survival. This study investigated the prognostic impact of iNO therapy in ECPELLA patients.

[Change in intraperitoneal shunt after DAA treatment for hepatitis C].

Improvement and worsening of portal hypertension after direct acting antiviral agent (DAA) treatment for hepatitis C virus-related cirrhosis have been reported, and a consensus remains elusive. In this study, we underscored on the intraperitoneal shunt formed via portal hypertension and examined how the shunt system confirmed by computed tomography (CT) changes before and after treatment in cases in which sustained virological response (SVR) was attained with DAAs. Of the cases in which we achieved an SVR of 24 with DAA treatment for hepatitis C virus-related cirrhosis at our hospital, 83 cases in which CT images were taken before and after treatment were investigated.

Hiatal Hernia with Prolapse of the Pancreas Causing Bile Duct Stricture and Liver Function Disorders: A Case Report and Literature Review.

Hiatal hernia is a common condition in elderly patients, but the additional presence of prolapse of the pancreas is extremely rare. We herein report an 89-year-old woman who presented with liver function disorders and abdominal pain. Her laboratory tests revealed cholestasis, and imaging examinations showed stenosis of the common bile duct pulled toward the hernia sac.

Enterohepatic Transcription Factor CREB3L3 Protects Atherosclerosis via SREBP Competitive Inhibition.

Background & Aims: cAMP responsive element-binding protein 3 like 3 (CREB3L3) is a membrane-bound transcription factor involved in the maintenance of lipid metabolism in the liver and small intestine. CREB3L3 controls hepatic triglyceride and glucose metabolism by activating plasma fibroblast growth factor 21 (FGF21) and lipoprotein lipase. In this study, we intended to clarify its effect on atherosclerosis.

Transgenic Mice Overexpressing SREBP-1a in Male ob/ob Mice Exhibit Lipodystrophy and Exacerbate Insulin Resistance.

Sterol regulatory element-binding protein (SREBP)-1a is a key transcription factor that activates the expression of genes involved in the synthesis of fatty acids, triglycerides (TGs), and cholesterol. Transgenic mice that overexpress the nuclear form of SREBP-1a under the control of the phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase promoter (Tg-1a) were previously shown to display a lipodystrophic phenotype characterized by enlarged and fatty livers, diminished peripheral white adipose tissue (WAT), and insulin resistance. In the current study, we crossed these Tg-1a mice with genetically obese (ob/ob) mice (Tg-1a;ob/ob) and examined change in fat distribution between liver and adipose tissues in severe obesity and mechanism underlying the lipodystrophic phenotype in mice with Tg-1a.

Elovl6 Deficiency Improves Glycemic Control in Diabetic / Mice by Expanding β-Cell Mass and Increasing Insulin Secretory Capacity.

Dysfunctional fatty acid (FA) metabolism plays an important role in the pathogenesis of β-cell dysfunction and loss of β-cell mass in type 2 diabetes (T2D). Elovl6 is a microsomal enzyme that is responsible for converting C16 saturated and monounsaturated FAs into C18 species. We previously showed that Elovl6 played a critical role in the development of obesity-induced insulin resistance by modifying FA composition.

A key role of nuclear factor Y in the refeeding response of fatty acid synthase in adipocytes.

Fatty acid synthase (Fasn) is a key component of energy metabolism that is dynamically induced by food intake. Although extensive studies have revealed a number of transcription factors involved in the fasting/refeeding transition of Fasn expression in hepatocytes, much less evidence is available for adipocytes. Using the in vivo Ad-luc analytical system, we identified the inverted CCAAT element (ICE) around -100 nucleotides in the Fasn promoter as a critical cis-element for the refeeding response in adipocytes.

Selective peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-α modulator K-877 efficiently activates the peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-α pathway and improves lipid metabolism in mice.

Aims/introduction: Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-α (PPARα) is a therapeutic target for hyperlipidemia. K-877 is a new selective PPARα modulator (SPPARMα) that activates PPARα transcriptional activity. The aim of the present study was to assess the effects of K-877 on lipid metabolism in vitro and in vivo compared with those of classical PPARα agonists.

CREB3L3 controls fatty acid oxidation and ketogenesis in synergy with PPARα.

CREB3L3 is involved in fatty acid oxidation and ketogenesis in a mutual manner with PPARα. To evaluate relative contribution, a combination of knockout and transgenic mice was investigated. On a ketogenic-diet (KD) that highlights capability of hepatic ketogenesis, Creb3l3 mice exhibited reduction of expression of genes for fatty oxidation and ketogenesis comparable to Ppara mice.

Intestinal CREBH overexpression prevents high-cholesterol diet-induced hypercholesterolemia by reducing expression.

Objective: The transcription factor cyclic AMP-responsive element-binding protein H (CREBH, encoded by ) is highly expressed in the liver and small intestine. Hepatic CREBH contributes to glucose and triglyceride metabolism by regulating fibroblast growth factor 21 () expression. However, the intestinal CREBH function remains unknown.

KLF15 Enables Rapid Switching between Lipogenesis and Gluconeogenesis during Fasting.

Hepatic lipogenesis is nutritionally regulated (i.e., downregulated during fasting and upregulated during the postprandial state) as an adaptation to the nutritional environment.

Crucial Role of Elovl6 in Chondrocyte Growth and Differentiation during Growth Plate Development in Mice.

ELOVL family member 6, elongation of very long chain fatty acids (Elovl6) is a microsomal enzyme, which regulates the elongation of C12-16 saturated and monounsaturated fatty acids. Elovl6 has been shown to be associated with various pathophysiologies including insulin resistance, atherosclerosis, and non-alcoholic steatohepatitis. To investigate a potential role of Elovl6 during bone development, we here examined a skeletal phenotype of Elovl6 knockout (Elovl6-/-) mice.

Different Effects of Eicosapentaenoic and Docosahexaenoic Acids on Atherogenic High-Fat Diet-Induced Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease in Mice.

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), the hepatic manifestation of metabolic syndrome, can progress to steatohepatitis (NASH) and advanced liver damage, such as that from liver cirrhosis and cancer. Recent studies have shown the benefits of consuming n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) for the treatment of NAFLD. In the present study, we investigated and compared the effects of the major n-3 PUFAs-eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA, C20:5) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA, C22:6)-in preventing atherogenic high-fat (AHF) diet-induced NAFLD.

Hyperlipidemia and hepatitis in liver-specific CREB3L3 knockout mice generated using a one-step CRISPR/Cas9 system.

cAMP responsive element binding protein 3-like 3 (CREB3L3), a transcription factor expressed in the liver and small intestine, governs fasting-response energy homeostasis. Tissue-specific CREB3L3 knockout mice have not been generated till date. To our knowledge, this is the first study using the one-step CRISPR/Cas9 system to generate CREB3L3 floxed mice and subsequently obtain liver- and small intestine-specific Creb3l3 knockout (LKO and IKO, respectively) mice.

Maximum BMI and microvascular complications in a cohort of Japanese patients with type 2 diabetes: the Japan Diabetes Complications Study.

Aims: The aim of this study was to examine the associations between possible indices of obesity based on information on weight history and the incidence of microvascular complications.

Methods: A cohort of individuals with type 2 diabetes from 59 institutes in Japan was followed for 8years. Patients were classified into three categories according to weight at entrance and past maximum weight: normal (BMI at baseline <25kg/m(2) and maximum BMI <25kg/m(2)), past obesity (BMI at baseline <25kg/m(2) and maximum BMI ≥25kg/m(2)), and current obesity (BMI at baseline ≥25kg/m(2)) groups.

Absence of Elovl6 attenuates steatohepatitis but promotes gallstone formation in a lithogenic diet-fed Ldlr(-/-) mouse model.

Nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) is a progressive form of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) that can develop into liver cirrhosis and cancer. Elongation of very long chain fatty acids (ELOVL) family member 6 (Elovl6) is a microsomal enzyme that regulates the elongation of C12-16 saturated and monounsaturated fatty acids (FAs). We have previously shown that Elovl6 plays an important role in the development of hepatic insulin resistance and NASH by modifying FA composition.

Skeletal muscle-specific HMG-CoA reductase knockout mice exhibit rhabdomyolysis: A model for statin-induced myopathy.

HMG-CoA reductase (HMGCR) catalyzes the conversion of HMG-CoA to mevalonic acid (MVA); this is the rate-limiting enzyme of the mevalonate pathway that synthesizes cholesterol. Statins, HMGCR inhibitors, are widely used as cholesterol-reducing drugs. However, statin-induced myopathy is the most adverse side effect of statins.

Identification of human ELOVL5 enhancer regions controlled by SREBP.

Fatty acid elongase 5 (ELOVL5) is an enzyme involved in the synthesis of polyunsaturated fatty acids. Sterol Regulatory Element-binding Protein (SREBP)-1 activates ELOVL5 and increases polyunsaturated fatty acid synthesis, which in turn negatively affects SREBP-1 expression. Thus, ELOVL5 has been established as an SREBP-1 target gene and an important component of the negative feedback loop of de novo lipogenesis.

Hepatic CREB3L3 controls whole-body energy homeostasis and improves obesity and diabetes.

Transcriptional regulation of metabolic genes in the liver is the key to maintaining systemic energy homeostasis during starvation. The membrane-bound transcription factor cAMP-responsive element-binding protein 3-like 3 (CREB3L3) has been reported to be activated during fasting and to regulate triglyceride metabolism. Here, we show that CREB3L3 confers a wide spectrum of metabolic responses to starvation in vivo.

Body mass index and mortality among Japanese patients with type 2 diabetes: pooled analysis of the Japan diabetes complications study and the Japanese elderly diabetes intervention trial.

Context: Previous studies on the association between body mass index (BMI) and mortality in diabetes do not necessarily provide a comprehensive view in terms of the global population because of the exclusion of individuals with a BMI less than 18.5 kg/m(2).

Objective: The objective of the study was to examine the association between BMI and mortality.

Alloparenting for chimpanzee twins.

In April 2009, a female chimpanzee named Sango, living in a captive group at the Noichi Zoo, Japan, gave birth to dizygotic male-female twin chimpanzees (male: Daiya, female: Sakura). The extent to which adult group members cared for the twins was investigated using a focal animal sampling method targeting six adults (one male) when the twin chimpanzees were two years old. Data were collected for an average of 6.

Dietary sodium intake and incidence of diabetes complications in Japanese patients with type 2 diabetes: analysis of the Japan Diabetes Complications Study (JDCS).

Context: Many guidelines recommend that patients with type 2 diabetes should reduce their dietary sodium intake. However, the relationship between dietary sodium intake and incidence of diabetic complications in patients with type 2 diabetes has not been explored.

Objective: Our objective was to investigate the relationship between dietary sodium intake and incidence of diabetes complications.

Ablation of Elovl6 protects pancreatic islets from high-fat diet-induced impairment of insulin secretion.

ELOVL family member 6, elongation of very long-chain fatty acids (Elovl6) is a microsomal enzyme that regulates the elongation of C12-16 saturated and monounsaturated fatty acids and is related to the development of obesity-induced insulin resistance via the modification of the fatty acid composition. In this study, we investigated the role of systemic Elovl6 in the pancreatic islet and β-cell function. Elovl6 is expressed in both islets and β-cell lines.