Plasma cortisol and cortisone concentrations in normal subjects and patients with adrenocortical disorders.

Two isozymes of the 11beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (11-HSD) are responsible for the interconversion of cortisol (F) and cortisone (E). The type 1 isozyme, 11-HSD1, acts mainly as a reductase in vivo, activating E to F, whereas the type 2, 11-HSD2, acts as a dehydrogenase, inactivating F to E. 11-HSD1 is the most abundant in the liver and 11-HSD2 in the kidney.

Dietary soy and fats in relation to serum insulin-like growth factor-1 and insulin-like growth factor-binding protein-3 levels in premenopausal Japanese women.

Circulating levels of insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) and insulin-like growth factor-binding protein-3 (IGFBP-3) have each been associated with premenopausal breast cancer risks. We analyzed data from a cross-sectional study of 261 premenopausal Japanese women aged 20-54 yr with adequate nutritional status to evaluate the relationships between concentrations of IGF-1 and IGFBP-3 in serum and dietary intakes of soy, fats and other nutrients. Diet was assessed by a semiquantitative food frequency questionnaire.

Association of blood pressure with intake of soy products and other food groups in Japanese men and women.

Background: Soy diet has been suggested to have antihypertensive effect in animal studies. The present study examined the cross-sectional relationship between blood pressure and intake of soy products and other food groups in Japanese men and women.

Methods: Blood pressure was measured in Japanese 294 men and 330 women (246 premenopausal and 84 peri- and postmenopausal women) who participated in a health check-up program provided by a general hospital.

Soy product intake is inversely associated with serum homocysteine level in premenopausal Japanese women.

Soybeans, which are an excellent source of folate, vitamin B-6 and minerals, may reduce serum homocysteine level. However, there is a possibility that dietary soy raises the serum homocysteine level because isoflavones, which are weak estrogens contained in soybeans, may exert antiestrogenic effects in a high estrogen environment, such as in premenopausal women. The present study examined a cross-sectional relationship between soy product intake and serum homocysteine level in 201 premenopausal Japanese women.

Effects of dietary treatment alone or diet with voglibose or glyburide on abdominal adipose tissue and metabolic abnormalities in patients with newly diagnosed type 2 diabetes.

Unlabelled: OBJECTIVE; To examine the effects of diet and diet with voglibose or glyburide on abdominal adiposity and metabolic abnormalities in patients with type 2 diabetes.

Research Design And Methods: A total of 36 Japanese patients with newly diagnosed type 2 diabetes (50.8 +/- 8.