Incidence and risk of vaginal candidiasis associated with sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitors in real-world practice for women with type 2 diabetes.

Aims/introduction: The prevalence and risk of vaginal candidiasis before and after initiating sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 (SGLT2) inhibitors, although some clinical trials have been carried out, have not been adequately shown in real-world practice. We investigated the incidence of vaginal Candida colonization and symptomatic vaginitis, and the clinical risk factors including diabetic microvascular complications.

Materials And Methods: The participants were 114 women with type 2 diabetes who were free of vaginitis symptoms and started SGLT2 inhibitors.

Activity of invasive slug Limax maximus in relation to climate conditions based on citizen's observations and novel regularization based statistical approaches.

Citizen science is a powerful tool that can be used to resolve the problems of introduced species. An amateur naturalist and author of this paper, S. Watanabe, recorded the total number of Limax maximus (Limacidae, Pulmonata) individuals along a fixed census route almost every day for two years on Hokkaido Island, Japan.

The Effect of Camellia Seed Oil Intake on Lipid Metabolism in Mice.

Camellia seed oil has mainly been applied to the production of cosmetics, and research into its dietary effects is required. Alterations in lipid metabolism by the intake of camellia seed oil were investigated. Health parameters such as diet intake, weight gain, fat mass, and plasma cholesterol and triglyceride levels were measured in mice fed a high fat diet containing camellia seed oil; comparisons were made to a normal diet and a high fat diet containing either soybean oil or olive oil as controls.

Dietary anthocyanin-rich Haskap phytochemicals inhibit postprandial hyperlipidemia and hyperglycemia in rats.

Haskap (Lonicera caerulea L.) fruit contains some bioactive phenolic phytochemicals, mainly cyanidin-3-glucoside (cy3-glc) and chlorogenic acid. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of anthocyanin-rich phenolic phytochemical (containing 13.

Recent topics related to nephrogenic systemic fibrosis associated with gadolinium-based contrast agents.

Nephrogenic systemic fibrosis is a progressive, potentially fatal, multiorgan-system fibrosing disease related to exposure of patients with renal failure to gadolinium-based contrast agents used in magnetic resonance imaging. Between 1997 and 2007, more than 500 cases of nephrogenic systemic fibrosis in patients with severe renal insufficiency (glomerular filtration rate less than 30 mL/min/1.73 m(2)) were reported, and no known cases of nephrogenic systemic fibrosis have occurred in patients with a glomerular filtration rate of more than 30 mL/min/1.

Recent issues in contrast-induced nephropathy.

Contrast-induced nephropathy (CIN) is a serious complication resulting from the use of iodinated contrast medium (CM) with potentially high morbidity and mortality. Patients with pre-existing renal insufficiency appear to be at higher risk of CIN. To prevent CIN among patients undergoing contrast-enhanced computed tomography, every effort is required, including routine identification of at-risk patients, the use of appropriate hydration regimens, withdrawal of nephrotoxic drugs, selection of low-osmolality CM or iso-osmolar CM, and using the minimum volume of CM possible.

Diversity in genes responsible for lifestyle-related diseases in Asia-Pacific region.

In Asia-Pacific countries, both environmental modernization and hereditary traits of Mongoloid reported to cause rapid increase in lifestyle-related diseases (LRD). However, reproducibility of reported responsive-factors is low. To examine this, a decision-tree method of complexity-model was applied to select LRD-responsive-factors.

A new Japanese vegetarian food guide.

Vegetarianism continues to gain popularity in Japan and the Westernized world, in part from decades of science supporting the health advantages of properly planned vegetarian-based diets. Although there are Asian nutritional tools, one specific to a Japanese vegetarian diet is lacking. Thus, the Japanese vegetarian food guide (JVFG) was developed and based in part on the American Dietetic Association position paper for vegetarian diets and the Japanese Food Guide Spinning Top.

Effects of amlodipine and candesartan on arterial stiffness estimated by cardio-ankle vascular index in patients with essential hypertension: A 24-week study.

Background: Aortic stiffness assessed by brachio-ankle pulse wave velocity (baPWV) can be used to predict cardiovascular events. However, baPWV is dependent on blood pressure. Antihypertensive drugs have been reported to reduce baPWV; but it is difficult to determine if this effect is associated with lowered blood pressure or reduced arterial stiffness.

Long-term effects of angiotensin II receptor blockade with valsartan on carotid arterial stiffness and hemodynamic alterations in patients with essential hypertension.

Increased arterial stiffness and intima media thickness (IMT) in the common carotid artery (CCA) are related to cardiovascular risk in essential hypertension. Angiotensin II plays an important role in structural and functional changes in the vasculature. In this study, we evaluated the long-term effect of the angiotensin II receptor blocker, valsartan, on IMT, arterial stiffness, and hemodynamics in the CCA in patients with essential hypertension.

Nutritional characteristics of middle-aged Japanese vegetarians.

Aim: Despite the possible overall health benefits of a vegetarian diet, research about the nutritional characteristics of Japanese vegetarians is small. Our objective was to investigate the nutritional characteristics of Japanese vegetarians compared with Japanese non-vegetarians.

Methods: The dietary intake, anthropometric and biochemical status of 75 middle-aged Japanese vegetarians (JV, 20 men and 55 women) were compared with those of 50 age- and sex- matched middle-aged Japanese non-vegetarians (JNV, 32 men and 18 women) in a cross-sectional study.

The effect of losartan and amlodipine on serum adiponectin in Japanese adults with essential hypertension.

Background: Adiponectin, an adipocyte-derived protein, is reduced in patients with hypertension and insulin resistance (IR). Angiotensin II receptor blockers (ARBs) have been reported to improve IR and reduce albuminuria. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the influence of an ARB and a calcium channel blocker on serum adiponectin levels in Japanese patients with hypertension who were treated with losartan or amlodipine for 3 months.

Valsartan reduces serum cystatin C and the renal vascular resistance in patients with essential hypertension.

A high level of albuminuria and increased renal vascular resistance are associated with hypertensive renal damage. In this study, the authors investigated the effect of the angiotensin II receptor blocker, valsartan, on renal function and intrarenal hemodynamics in non-diabetic patients with essential hypertension. A prospective three-month study of the effects of valsartan, 40-80 mg/day, was performed in 30 hypertensive patients.

Coexistence of three distinct adrenal tumors in the same adrenal gland in a patient with primary aldosteronism and preclinical Cushing's syndrome.

A 62-year-old woman was admitted to our hospital because of hypokalemia. Physical examination revealed no signs of excessive adrenocortical steroid production, as are found in Cushing's syndrome. Her plasma renin activity (PRA) was suppressed (0.

Osteopontin and carotid atherosclerosis in patients with essential hypertension.

OPN (osteopontin), a pro-inflammatory cytokine, has recently emerged as a key factor in both vascular remodelling and the development of atherosclerosis. However, the relationship between OPN and atherosclerosis in patients without symptomatic cardiovascular disease is not clear. Therefore we measured plasma OPN levels and evaluated the correlation between plasma OPN levels and atherosclerosis as target organ damage in patients with EHT (essential hypertension).

Plasma osteopontin levels are higher in patients with primary aldosteronism than in patients with essential hypertension.

Background: The incidence of cardiovascular events is higher in patients with primary aldosteronism (PA) than in patients with essential hypertension (EHT). Aldosterone has been shown to play an important role in the development of vascular inflammation and myocardial fibrosis in animal models. Elevated serum inflammatory cytokine is an independent cardiovascular risk factor in patients with EHT.

Association between carotid hemodynamics and asymptomatic white and gray matter lesions in patients with essential hypertension.

The aim of this study was to clarify the magnitude of common carotid artery (CCA) structural and hemodynamic parameters on brain white and gray matter lesions in patients with essential hypertension (EHT). The study subjects were 49 EHT patients without a history of previous myocardial infarction, atrial fibrillation, diabetes mellitus, impaired glucose tolerance, chronic renal failure, symptomatic cerebrovascular events, or asymptomatic carotid artery stenosis. All patients underwent brain MRI and ultrasound imaging of the CCA.

Effects of angiotensin II receptor blockade with valsartan on pro-inflammatory cytokines in patients with essential hypertension.

Chronic inflammation is common in hypertension and acts as an independent determinant of arterial blood pressure. Hypertensive patients are reported to have high circulating levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines such as tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha), interleukin-6 (IL-6), and C-reactive protein (CRP). Recently, angiotensin II receptor blockers (ARBs) have been shown to possess benefits in addition to their ability to lower blood pressure, including anti-inflammatory and antioxidative properties within the vasculature.

Fibrillary glomerulonephritis associated with monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance showing lambda-type Bence Jones protein.

A 79-year-old woman was admitted to our hospital because of leg edema due to a nephrotic syndrome. Urinary and serum immunoelectrophoresis showed positive for the lambda type of Bence Jones protein. A bone marrow aspiration test revealed mild plasmacytosis (6.

Granulomatous interstitial nephritis due to isolated renal sarcoidosis.

An 81-year-old woman was admitted to our hospital because of acute exacerbation of chronic renal failure. Her 24-h urine protein value was 0.37 g, but neither hematuria nor leukocyturia was seen.

Comparison of electrocardiogram findings and lifestyles between urbanized people and ger-living people in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia.

In Ulaanbaatar, lifestyles differ between urbanized people (group A) and ger (tent)-living people (group B). Group A earn high annual incomes and live in houses or apartments. Group B (who had moved to Ulaanbaatar from nomadic areas) earn low incomes and live in narrow gers.