Publications by authors named "Sho Wakamatsu"

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is increasing globally, and seeking therapeutic molecule targets is urgent. Several studies have demonstrated that IL-33 plays an important role in the progression of Non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) with fibrosis and the proliferation of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). However, whether the inhibition of IL-33 signaling prevents NAFLD from progressing to NASH and HCC has not been clarified.

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Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is an emerging worldwide health concern. The disease may involve immune cells including T cells, but little is known about the role(s) of the innate-like T cells in the liver. Furthermore, the most abundant innate-like T cells in the human liver are mucosal-associated invariant T (MAIT) cells, but the involvement of MAIT cells in NAFLD remains largely unexplored because of their paucity in mice.

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Article Synopsis
  • Empagliflozin, an SGLT2 inhibitor, is shown to increase serum HDL-cholesterol levels and campesterol as a marker of cholesterol absorption in patients with type 2 diabetes.
  • In a study with 51 participants, those taking empagliflozin experienced significant increases in HDL-c and campesterol after 12 weeks, while standard therapy did not yield similar changes.
  • The findings suggest that empagliflozin may affect cholesterol metabolism by enhancing cholesterol absorption, particularly in patients not taking statins, as indicated by a decrease in lathosterol levels.
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The aim of the present study is to investigate the effects of canagliflozin, a selective sodium-glucose co-transporter 2 (SGLT2) inhibitor, on non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) and NASH-related hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in a mouse model of diabetes and NASH-HCC. First, mice aged five weeks were divided into two groups (vehicle group and canagliflozin group) and were treated for three weeks. Then, mice aged five weeks were divided into three groups of nine animals each: the vehicle group, early canagliflozin group (treated from five to nine weeks), and continuous canagliflozin group (treated from five to 16 weeks).

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Patients with growth hormone deficiency (GHD) have an increased risk of atherosclerosis and vascular mortality. Evidence suggests that endothelial dysfunction is involved in all stages of atherogenesis. This study examined the effect of growth hormone (GH) replacement therapy on diacron-reactive oxygen metabolites (d-ROMs) and endothelial function in Japanese patients with GHD, using peripheral arterial tonometry.

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Article Synopsis
  • The study focused on the impact of dapagliflozin, an SGLT-2 inhibitor, on visceral fat in Japanese patients with type 2 diabetes.
  • Over a 24-week trial, participants showed improvements in HbA1c, body weight, blood pressure, and visceral fat during treatment, but many benefits reversed after stopping the medication.
  • The findings indicate that continuous use of dapagliflozin is necessary to sustain its positive effects on weight and fat reduction in overweight patients with type 2 diabetes.
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