Publications by authors named "Shinichi Harashima"
Article Synopsis
- The study examines how the social environment affects frailty in older adults with diabetes, with a focus on differences between urban and rural living conditions.
- Researchers analyzed data from 417 participants, finding that frailty was notably higher among those in rural areas (29.7% robust) compared to urban areas (43.9% robust), along with other negative health indicators.
- The findings suggest that older adults in rural areas face increased frailty risks due to lower performance in instrumental and social daily activities, highlighting the need for targeted intervention programs to improve social connections and care access.
Article Synopsis
- The study focused on the impact of diabetes medications on older adults (ages 60-80) with type 2 diabetes, particularly looking at their frailty and complications related to diabetes.
- A total of 417 participants were assessed using various health metrics and tests, revealing that many were either frail or pre-frail, with specific drug types linked to different health outcomes.
- Results showed that certain medications correlated with lower or higher risks of complications and frailty, emphasizing the need for tailored treatment in older diabetic patients.
Article Synopsis
- The study aimed to explore changes in the diagnosis of gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) in Japan during the COVID-19 pandemic, focusing on the use of simplified diagnostic criteria from the Japanese Society of Diabetes and Pregnancy (JSDP).
- Researchers surveyed 2159 obstetric facilities to gather information on their awareness and implementation of GDM diagnostic strategies during the pandemic.
- Findings showed that most facilities (90%) maintained their existing diagnostic processes, but some switched to JSDP criteria, discontinuing the 75-g oral glucose tolerance tests at various points in pregnancy.
Aims/introduction: The etiology and treatment of type 2 diabetes might differ between specific populations. This post-hoc exploratory analysis assessed the efficacy and safety of once-weekly subcutaneous semaglutide vs comparators in Japanese individuals with type 2 diabetes in comparison with the total population from four phase III studies in the Trial to Evaluate Cardiovascular and Other Long-term Outcomes with Semaglutide in Subjects with Type 2 Diabetes (SUSTAIN) program.
Materials And Methods: This analysis was carried out with data from the SUSTAIN 1, 2, 5 and 9 trials.
Article Synopsis
- * Data from 2,219 patients showed that having DM didn't significantly impact postoperative complications or hospital stay duration, with 5-year survival rates being similar for both groups (80.2% for those with DM vs. 79.4% without).
- * However, patients with poorly controlled DM (A1c level ≥ 8.0%) experienced lower survival rates post-surgery, indicating that managing diabetes prior to surgery is crucial for better outcomes.
Article Synopsis
- The study examines the relationship between appetite, eating behavior, and interoceptive awareness (IA) in young women aged 18-39, focusing on the issue of obesity and its future health implications.
- Participants included 15 overweight and 50 normal-weight women, categorized into two overweight groups based on IA scores, revealing differences in hunger and eating behaviors.
- The findings suggest that higher IA correlates with better appetite control and lower risk of overeating, indicating that personalized interventions based on IA could help address obesity in young women.
Article Synopsis
- Japanese patients with interstitial lung disease (ILD) face long wait times (about 2 years) for lung transplants, leading to deaths while waiting.
- A study analyzed 40 ILD patients at Kyoto University Hospital, focusing on factors like serum transthyretin (TTR) levels and 6-minute walk distance (6MWD) in relation to their mortality.
- The findings suggest that nutritional markers and exercise capacity (TTR and 6MWD) are significant predictors of survival on the transplant waiting list, but further research is needed to see if improving nutrition or exercise can enhance outcomes.
Article Synopsis
- This study explored how sex differences affect the development of frailty in older adults with type 2 diabetes, focusing on various diabetes-related factors.
- It included 213 participants aged 60-80, revealing that frailty was more common in women, with different associations found in men and women regarding their health conditions and social factors.
- The findings suggest that tailored prevention strategies considering these sex differences are essential, emphasizing diet and social involvement for men and muscle health and mental well-being for women.
Article Synopsis
- A study found that depletion of sphingosine kinase 1-interacting protein (SKIP) in mice increased insulin and incretin secretion, leading to improved glucose tolerance and reduced blood sugar levels.
- SKIP is expressed not only in pancreatic β-cells but also in intestinal K- and L-cells, indicating its broader role in metabolism.
- The beneficial effects of SKIP depletion were linked to reduced inflammation and improved lipid profiles, suggesting that targeting SKIP could be a potential strategy for treating type 2 diabetes.
Article Synopsis
- This article assesses the long-term impacts of two color indication methods for self-monitoring blood glucose in insulin-treated type 2 diabetes patients, focusing on the color record (CR) and color display (CD) methods.
- A study with 101 participants tracked changes in metabolic parameters like HbA1c, blood pressure, body weight, and cholesterol levels over two years post-intervention.
- Results showed that the CR method led to significant reductions in HbA1c, blood pressure, and cholesterol in the first year, but benefits faded by the second year, while the CD method showed no significant changes.
Article Synopsis
- Canagliflozin is an SGLT2 inhibitor that shows positive effects on cardiometabolic factors like blood glucose, weight, and blood pressure in Japanese patients.
- Although it originated in Japan, there's been a lack of comprehensive data specifically focused on its effects within this population, prompting the need for consolidated research.
- Findings from the CANVAS Program indicate that canagliflozin may help reduce major cardiovascular events, highlighting the importance of managing multiple risk factors in Japanese patients with diabetes.
Article Synopsis
- * A phase IV study assessed canagliflozin as an additional treatment for Japanese patients with type 2 diabetes who weren't adequately controlled on a GLP-1RA for at least 12 weeks, by monitoring various health indicators for 52 weeks.
- * Results showed significant improvements in blood sugar levels (HbA1c decreased by 0.70%), weight, blood pressure, and cholesterol, with mild adverse effects reported,
Article Synopsis
- The study investigates how culture influences the factors that predict diabetes self-care activities among patients with type 2 diabetes in the US and Japan.
- Researchers gathered data from 149 Japanese and 48 American patients through surveys focusing on self-care behaviors, behavioral and psychosocial factors, and demographic information.
- Results showed that cultural context significantly affects the relationship between emotional support and dietary self-care activities, highlighting the importance of culturally sensitive interventions for diabetes management.
Article Synopsis
- - The study evaluated the FreeStyle Libre flash glucose monitoring system's effectiveness among Japanese individuals with diabetes, focusing on mental well-being and patient satisfaction outcomes.
- - Participants, who had type 1 and type 2 diabetes and used insulin, showed significant improvements in mental well-being (WHO-5 scores) and treatment satisfaction (DTSQ scores) after using the glucose monitoring system for 14 days.
- - Results indicated that while type 1 diabetes patients experienced marked improvements, type 2 diabetes patients did not show significant changes, suggesting FGM may be more beneficial for those with type 1 diabetes.
Article Synopsis
- This study aimed to investigate the genetic factors underlying multiple diabetes cases with insulin deficiency in a Japanese family using whole-exome sequencing (WES).
- The researchers analyzed affected and unaffected family members to identify rare genetic variants that could be linked to the disease, focusing on variants shared by those with diabetes.
- The findings highlighted a specific mutation (A137T in ADAMTSL3) that was more common in individuals with diabetes, suggesting it may play a role in diabetes susceptibility in both the family studied and the broader Japanese population.
Article Synopsis
- - The study evaluated the long-term effectiveness and safety of canagliflozin as an additional treatment for Japanese patients with type 2 diabetes who were not achieving good blood sugar control with insulin alone.
- - It involved a 16-week double-blind trial comparing canagliflozin (100 mg) to a placebo, followed by a 36-week period where all participants received canagliflozin, measuring changes in HbA1c levels, weight, and occurrence of side effects.
- - Results showed that canagliflozin led to significant improvements in blood sugar and weight in both treatment groups, with a notable incidence of mild hypoglycemic events, highlighting its efficacy and acceptable safety profile when used alongside insulin.
Article Synopsis
- - The study focused on advanced interstitial lung disease (ILD) patients in Japan who were candidates for lung transplantation, analyzing clinical features and outcomes among 77 individuals from 2010 to 2014.
- - Out of the participants, 30% received lung transplants while 64% died before they could receive one, with a median survival time of 16.7 months; the study highlighted specific prognostic factors such as 6-minute walking distance and body mass index.
- - It found that many idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) patients exhibited atypical patterns on HRCT scans, indicating poor overall outcomes for ILD patients awaiting transplantation, regardless of their diagnosis.
Article Synopsis
- The study aimed to identify factors that influence survival rates of patients on the lung transplant waiting list, focusing on physical activity levels.
- Researchers analyzed data from 70 patients, looking at various characteristics such as body mass index, serum levels, and physical activity, using statistical methods to assess survival.
- Findings revealed that low physical activity, along with low serum albumin and high C-reactive protein levels, were significant predictors of decreased survival during the waiting period for lung transplantation.
Article Synopsis
- Bullous pemphigoid (BP) is an autoimmune skin disorder characterized by blistering, and there are concerns about its association with DPP-4 inhibitors, which are diabetes medications commonly used in Asia.
- A report highlighted five cases from Japan where older adults developed BP after using various DPP-4 inhibitors, displaying different symptoms and outcomes related to their diabetes condition.
- Withdrawal of the DPP-4 inhibitors led to improvements in BP for all cases, emphasizing the need for clinicians to quickly diagnose and discontinue these medications when BP develops.
Article Synopsis
- Glucose-stimulated insulin secretion (GSIS)
- is vital for regulating blood sugar levels, and its dysfunction in type 2 diabetes needs to be addressed for effective treatment.
- Sphingosine kinase 1-interacting protein (SKIP)
- is predominantly found in pancreatic β-cells and enhances glucose tolerance, leading to lower plasma glucose and higher insulin levels in SKIP mice compared to regular mice.
- The study reveals that SKIP influences GSIS through a unique mechanism
- , separate from well-known pathways involving cAMP and phosphodiesterase, potentially providing new insights for diabetes treatment.
Article Synopsis
- The study investigates how body mass index (BMI) before lung transplantation affects survival rates after the procedure.
- It categorizes patients into BMI groups (underweight, normal weight, overweight, obese) to evaluate their post-transplant survival.
- Findings suggest that using a BMI cutoff of <17.0 kg/m is crucial for better predicting poor outcomes in underweight patients, rather than the standard <18.5 kg/m cutoff used by the WHO.
Article Synopsis
- Irregular timing of basal insulin injections can negatively impact glycemic control and increase the frequency of hypoglycemic episodes in diabetes patients, particularly in those with type 2 diabetes.
- A study involving 77 participants found that a larger variation in the timing of insulin doses correlated with more hypoglycemic events and factors like being overweight, smoking, and drinking.
- Switching from insulin glargine U100 to insulin degludec significantly reduced hypoglycemia and improved blood sugar levels, especially for those with severe timing irregularities.
Article Synopsis
- Semaglutide, a new GLP-1 analogue, is in phase 3 trials for treating type 2 diabetes, aimed at improving glycaemic control in patients who haven't achieved desired levels through diet and exercise alone.
- The SUSTAIN 1 trial was a randomized, double-blind study involving 72 international sites, assessing the effects of semaglutide versus placebo in treatment-naive adults with specific HbA1c levels for 30 weeks.
- Primary outcomes measured changes in HbA1c and body weight, with participants administering weekly subcutaneous injections, all while maintaining the confidentiality of the treatment group.
Article Synopsis
- Japanese patients and their physicians face unclear barriers to insulin therapy, with significant differences in adherence compared to patients in other countries.
- In a study involving 100 physicians and 150 patients in Japan, 44% of patients reported not adhering to insulin, which is higher than in other nations, and a large majority felt existing treatments didn't fit their lifestyles.
- The findings suggest that insulin regimens need to be adjusted to minimize the risk of hypoglycemia and better accommodate the diverse lifestyles of Japanese patients.
Article Synopsis
- This study aimed to compare the effects of structured and routine self-monitoring of blood glucose (SMBG) approaches on glycemic control and diabetes management in type 2 diabetes patients who are not on insulin.
- Sixty-two patients were divided into two groups: one followed a structured testing regimen (testing 7 points over 3 days every two months) while the other followed a routine testing regimen (testing 3 times a week). Results showed that structured testing led to better HbA1c reduction, while routine testing improved body weight and blood pressure.
- The findings suggest that structured testing is more effective for glycemic control while routine testing may enhance daily self-management, allowing for flexibility based on