Cities beyond proximity.

The concept of 'proximity-based cities' has gained attention as a new urban organizational model. Most prominently, the 15-minute city contends that cities can function more effectively, equitably and sustainably if essential, everyday services and key amenities are within a 15-minute walk or cycle. However, focusing solely on travel time risks overlooking disparities in service quality, as the proximity paradigm tends to emphasize the mere presence of an element in a location rather than bringing up more complex questions of identity, diversity, quality, value or relationships.

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease is an independent predictor for macroangiopathy in Japanese type 2 diabetic patients: a cross-sectional study.

Objective: To clarify the clinical characteristics of type 2 diabetic patients with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and to assess whether NAFLD is related to angiopathy.

Methods: The study included 388 Japanese type 2 diabetic outpatients without viral hepatitis. The main outcome measures were angiopathy and NAFLD.

Hypertension resistant to antihypertensive agents commonly occurs with the progression of diabetic nephropathy in Japanese patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus: a prospective observational study.

Background: We investigated 1) the frequency of hypertension in patients with type 2 diabetes graded by the new classification of chronic kidney disease (CKD) reported by the Kidney Disease: Improving Global Outcomes (KDIGO) and 2) the number of antihypertensive agents needed to achieve treatment goals using a prospective observational study.

Methods: A population of 2018 patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus was recruited for the study. The CKD stage was classified according to the eGFR and the urinary albumin excretion levels.

The usefulness of the revised classification for chronic kidney disease by the KDIGO for determining the frequency of diabetic micro- and macroangiopathies in Japanese patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus.

Aims: A new classification of chronic kidney disease (CKD) was proposed by the Kidney Disease: Improving Global Outcomes (KDIGO) in 2011. The major point of revision of this classification was the introduction of a two-dimensional staging of the CKD according to the level of albuminuria in addition to the GFR level. Furthermore, the previous CKD stage 3 was subdivided into two stages (G3a and G3b).

Hyperuricemia is independently associated with coronary heart disease and renal dysfunction in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus.

Aims: To investigate the relationship between hyperuricemia (HUA) and the clinical backgrounds in Japanese patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus.

Methods: After a cross-sectional study evaluating the association of HUA with the clinical characteristics in 1,213 patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus, the estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) and the incidence of diabetic macroangiopathies was investigated in a prospective observational study in 1,073 patients during a 3.5 year period.

Mild anemia is frequent and associated with micro- and macroangiopathies in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus.

Unlabelled: Aims/Introduction:  The present study investigated the frequency of mild anemia, which is not an indication of intensive therapy using drugs, in Japanese patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus and the association of mild anemia with diabetic complications.

Materials And Methods:   This is a cross-sectional study of 1189 patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus. Anemia was defined as a hemoglobin level <13.

Long-term effect of metformin on blood glucose control in non-obese patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus.

Background: We aimed to investigate the long-term effect of metformin on the blood glucose control in non-obese patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus.

Methods: A retrospective study was performed in 213 patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus under the administration of metformin for more than one year. The clinical parameters were investigated for 3 years.

The estimated GFR, but not the stage of diabetic nephropathy graded by the urinary albumin excretion, is associated with the carotid intima-media thickness in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus: a cross-sectional study.

Background: To study the relationship between the intima-media thickness (IMT) of the carotid artery and the stage of chronic kidney disease (CKD) based on the estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) and diabetic nephropathy graded by the urinary albumin excretion (UAE) in the patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus.

Methods: A cross-sectional study was performed in 338 patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus. The carotid IMT was measured using an ultrasonographic examination.

High frequencies of diabetic micro- and macroangiopathies in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus with decreased estimated glomerular filtration rate and normoalbuminuria.

Background: The clinical characteristics of diabetic patients presenting with normoalbuminuria with decreased kidney functions were investigated.

Methods: A cross-sectional study was performed in 1197 patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus. The estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) was calculated using the formula recommended by the Japanese Society of Nephrology.

Insulin Autoimmune Syndrome possibly caused by alpha lipoic acid.

Insulin Autoimmune Syndrome (IAS) is a rare disease characterized by hypoglycemia and autoantibodies to insulin without prior insulin administration. Here, we report a case of IAS associated with alpha lipoic acid (ALA). The patient is a 55-year-old man.

Angiotensin II regulates migration in mouse cultured mesangial cells: evidence for the presence of receptor subtype-specific regulation.

The biological effects of angiotensin II (AngII) are mediated by two major subtypes of AngII receptors, type 1 (AT1R) and type 2 (AT2R). In this study, we attempted to elucidate the role of AngII subtype receptor-specific regulation in migration and proliferation of mouse cultured mesangial (MSG) cells. We found that 100 nM AngII stimulated weak migration of MSG cells.

Vascular endothelial cell growth factor attenuates actions of transforming growth factor-beta in human endothelial cells.

Because vascular endothelial cell growth factor (VEGF) and transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-beta) are both involved in cellular growth and differentiation, we examined whether VEGF modifies TGF-beta signaling cascade in human umbilical cord vein endothelial cells (HUVEC). Production of plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1), which is under the specific control of TGF-beta, was strongly enhanced (3.5-fold) by TGF-beta treatment.