Physiological and pathophysiological actions of insulin in the liver.

The liver plays an important role in the control of glucose homeostasis. When insulin levels are low, such as in the fasting state, gluconeogenesis and glycogenolysis are stimulated to maintain the blood glucose levels. Conversely, in the presence of increased insulin levels, such as after a meal, synthesis of glycogen and lipid occurs to maintain the blood glucose levels within normal range.

Tracheobronchial Adenoid Cystic Carcinoma Treated Successfully With Chemoradiotherapy Followed by Durvalumab: A Case Report.

Background/aim: Tracheobronchial adenoid cystic carcinoma (ACC) is a rare type of malignancy. Although complete resection is standard treatment for localized ACC, treatment for unresectable ACC has not been established. It is unclear whether concurrent chemoradiotherapy (CCRT) followed by immune checkpoint inhibitor (ICI) therapy is effective for ACC.

Relationship between body adiposity parameters and insulin resistance: a preliminary study of surrogate markers in Japan.

Purpose: According to the Japan National Health and Nutrition Survey 2019, the proportion of people with prediabetes is estimated to be 27.3%. Western-style dietary habits can lead to obesity and a functional abnormality of the adipose tissue, which can cause insulin resistance and predispose one to diabetes.

Clinical characteristics of patients treated with immune checkpoint inhibitors in EGFR-mutant non-small cell lung cancer: CS-Lung-003 prospective observational registry study.

Purpose: Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) are ineffective against epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR)-mutant non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). This study aimed to investigate the clinical characteristics of patients who were treated or not treated with ICIs, and of those who benefit from immunotherapy in EGFR-mutant NSCLC.

Methods: We analyzed patients with unresectable stage III/IV or recurrent NSCLC harboring EGFR mutations using a prospective umbrella-type lung cancer registry (CS-Lung-003).

A Phase I Trial of Weekly Nab-paclitaxel Plus Carboplatin With Thoracic Radiotherapy for Non-small Cell Lung Cancer.

Background/aim: This study aimed to evaluate the safety and recommended dose of nab-paclitaxel in combination with carboplatin and thoracic radiotherapy for locally advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).

Patients And Methods: Nab-paclitaxel was administered weekly with escalating doses, combined with carboplatin area under the curve (AUC) 2 and concurrent standard thoracic radiotherapy. Escalating doses of nab-paclitaxel were as follows: level 0, 30 mg/m; level 1, 35 mg/m; level 2, 40 mg/m; level 3, 45 mg/m Results: Twelve patients were enrolled and received the treatment according to the protocol; seven patients (58%) had squamous cell carcinoma and all cases had stage III disease.

Characterization of metabolic phenotypes and distinctive genes in mice with low-weight gain.

Being overweight exacerbates various metabolic diseases, necessitating the identification of target molecules for obesity control. In the current study, we investigated common physiological features related to metabolism in mice with low weight gain: (1) G protein-coupled receptor, family C, group 5, member B-knockout; (2) gastric inhibitory polypeptide receptor-knockout; and (3) Iroquois-related homeobox 3-knockout. Moreover, we explored genes involved in metabolism by analyzing differentially expressed genes (DEGs) between low-weight gain mice and the respective wild-type control mice.

Overexpression of UBE2E2 in Mouse Pancreatic β-Cells Leads to Glucose Intolerance via Reduction of β-Cell Mass.

Genome-wide association studies have identified several gene polymorphisms, including UBE2E2, associated with type 2 diabetes. Although UBE2E2 is one of the ubiquitin-conjugating enzymes involved in the process of ubiquitin modifications, the pathophysiological roles of UBE2E2 in metabolic dysfunction are not yet understood. Here, we showed upregulated UBE2E2 expression in the islets of a mouse model of diet-induced obesity.

Hepatic FASN deficiency differentially affects nonalcoholic fatty liver disease and diabetes in mouse obesity models.

Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and type 2 diabetes are interacting comorbidities of obesity, and increased hepatic de novo lipogenesis (DNL), driven by hyperinsulinemia and carbohydrate overload, contributes to their pathogenesis. Fatty acid synthase (FASN), a key enzyme of hepatic DNL, is upregulated in association with insulin resistance. However, the therapeutic potential of targeting FASN in hepatocytes for obesity-associated metabolic diseases is unknown.

Spontaneous regression of small cell lung cancer associated with Lambert-Eaton Myasthenic Syndrome: Case report.

Spontaneous regression (SR) of cancer is very rare, especially of small cell lung cancer (SCLC). Recently, an association of paraneoplastic neurological syndrome (PNS) has been reported as a cause of SR of cancer, and onconeural antibodies are a possible factor in the SR of cancer associated with PNS. We herein report the first case of SR of SCLC combined with anti-P/Q-type of voltage-gated calcium channel (VGCC) antibody-positive Lambert-Eaton myasthenic syndrome (LEMS), a subtype of PNS.

Bi-weekly Glycated Albumin Measurement was Useful to Encourage Behavioral Changes in People with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus.

Introduction: Hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c), representing the average blood glucose over 1-2 months, is the most commonly used glycemic marker in people with diabetes. Glycated albumin (GA) reflects the average blood glucose over the most recent 1-2 weeks. We considered whether the faster response of GA compared with HbA1c could make people with diabetes realize their glycemic control intuitively and effectively.

Exploring body weight-influencing gut microbiota by elucidating the association with diet and host gene expression.

We aimed to identify gut microbiota that influences body weight by elucidating the association with diets and host genes. Germ-free (GF) mice with and without fecal microbiota transplant (FMT) were fed a normal, high-carbohydrate, or high-fat diet. FMT mice exhibited greater total body weight; adipose tissue and liver weights; blood glucose, insulin, and total cholesterol levels; and oil droplet size than the GF mice, regardless of diet.

Evaluation of glycated albumin levels in tears and saliva as a marker in patients with diabetes mellitus.

Aims: Glycated albumin (GA) is a biomarker, whose level reflects glycemic control status over the previous 2 weeks. To develop a non-invasive method for evaluating glycemic control in people with diabetes mellitus, we investigated the measurement of GA levels in tears and saliva, which could be collected noninvasively.

Methods: Tear and saliva samples were collected from 48 participants with diabetes mellitus.

Associations of sleep quality with the skeletal muscle strength in patients with type 2 diabetes with poor glycemic control.

Aims/introduction: Patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus are reported to be at a high risk for sarcopenia, and are known to have a poorer sleep quality. However, the association between sleep quality and skeletal muscle in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus is not yet precisely understood.

Materials And Methods: A total of 110 inpatients with type 2 diabetes mellitus aged 40-90 years were enrolled.

High-sensitivity Cardiac Troponin T Is a Useful Biomarker for Predicting the Prognosis of Patients with Systemic Sarcoidosis Regardless of Cardiac Involvement.

Objective Cardiac involvement defines the prognosis for patients with systemic sarcoidosis. Despite advancements in techniques for diagnosing cardiac lesions, there remains significant room for improvement in cardiac screening and prognostic prediction. The present study therefore assessed the prognostic factors associated with cardiovascular events in patients with sarcoidosis.

Metabolic differences and differentially expressed genes between C57BL/6J and C57BL/6N mice substrains.

C57BL/6J (B6J) and C57BL/6N (B6N) mice are the most frequently used substrains in C57BL/6 (B6) inbred mice, serving as physiological models for in vivo studies and as background strains to build transgenic mice. However, the differences in metabolic phenotypes between B6J and B6N mice are not coherent, and genotypic differences in metabolically important tissues have not been well studied. The phenotypic differences between B6J and B6N substrains have often been attributed to the role of the nicotinamide nucleotide transhydrogenase (Nnt) gene, whereby B6J has a spontaneous missense mutation of Nnt.