Language：English   Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal)   Publisher：Molecular Metabolism  

OBJECTIVE: The human adrenal cortex comprises three functionally and structurally distinct layers that produce layer-specific steroid hormones. With aging, the human adrenal cortex undergoes functional and structural alteration or "adrenal aging", leading to the unbalanced production of steroid hormones. Given the marked species differences in adrenal biology, the underlying mechanisms of human adrenal aging have not been sufficiently studied. This study was designed to elucidate the mechanisms linking the functional and structural alterations of the human adrenal cortex. METHODS: We conducted single-cell RNA sequencing and spatial transcriptomics analysis of the aged human adrenal cortex. RESULTS: The data of this study suggest that the layer-specific alterations of multiple signaling pathways underlie the abnormal layered structure and layer-specific changes in steroidogenic cells. We also highlighted that macrophages mediate age-related adrenocortical cell inflammation and senescence. CONCLUSIONS: This study is the first detailed analysis of the aged human adrenal cortex at single-cell resolution and helps to elucidate the mechanism of human adrenal aging, thereby leading to a better understanding of the pathophysiology of age-related disorders associated with adrenal aging.

DOI： 10.1016/j.molmet.2024.101954

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Language：English   Publisher：Elsevier BV  

Background: The human adrenal cortex consists of three functionally and structurally distinct layers; zona glomerulosa, zona fasciculata (zF), and zona reticularis (zR), and produces adrenal steroid hormones in a layer-specific manner; aldosterone, cortisol, and adrenal androgens, respectively. Cortisol-producing adenomas (CPAs) occur mostly as a result of somatic mutations associated with the protein kinase A pathway. However, how CPAs develop after adrenocortical cells acquire genetic mutations, remains poorly understood. Methods: We conducted integrated approaches combining the detailed histopathologic studies with genetic, RNA-sequencing, and spatially resolved transcriptome (SRT) analyses for the adrenal cortices adjacent to human adrenocortical tumours. Findings: Histopathological analysis revealed an adrenocortical nodular structure that exhibits the two-layered zF- and zR-like structure. The nodular structures harbour GNAS somatic mutations, known as a driver mutation of CPAs, and confer cell proliferative and autonomous steroidogenic capacities, which we termed steroids-producing nodules (SPNs). RNA-sequencing coupled with SRT analysis suggests that the expansion of the zF-like structure contributes to the formation of CPAs, whereas the zR-like structure is characterised by a macrophage-mediated immune response. Interpretation: We postulate that CPAs arise from a precursor lesion, SPNs, where two distinct cell populations might contribute differently to adrenocortical tumorigenesis. Our data also provide clues to the molecular mechanisms underlying the layered structures of human adrenocortical tissues. Funding: KAKENHI, The Uehara Memorial Foundation, Daiwa Securities Health Foundation, Kaibara Morikazu Medical Science Promotion Foundation, Secom Science and Technology Foundation, ONO Medical Research Foundation, and Japan Foundation for Applied Enzymology.

CiNii Research

Language：English   Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal)   Publisher：Journal of Experimental Medicine  

Accumulation of lipotoxic lipids, such as free cholesterol, induces hepatocyte death and subsequent inflammation and fibrosis in the pathogenesis of nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH). However, the underlying mechanisms remain unclear. We have previously reported that hepatocyte death locally induces phenotypic changes in the macrophages surrounding the corpse and remnant lipids, thereby promoting liver fibrosis in a murine model of NASH. Here, we demonstrated that lysosomal cholesterol overload triggers lysosomal dysfunction and profibrotic activation of macrophages during the development of NASH. β-cyclodextrin polyrotaxane (βCD-PRX), a unique supramolecule, is designed to elicit free cholesterol from lysosomes. Treatment with βCD-PRX ameliorated cholesterol accumulation and profibrotic activation of macrophages surrounding dead hepatocytes with cholesterol crystals, thereby suppressing liver fibrosis in a NASH model, without affecting the hepatic cholesterol levels. In vitro experiments revealed that cholesterol-induced lysosomal stress triggered profibrotic activation in macrophages predisposed to the steatotic microenvironment. This study provides evidence that dysregulated cholesterol metabolism in macrophages would be a novel mechanism of NASH.

DOI： 10.1084/jem.20220681

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Language：English   Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal)   Publisher：Journal of Cachexia, Sarcopenia and Muscle  

BACKGROUND: Diabetes is associated with an increased risk of deleterious changes in muscle mass and function or sarcopenia, leading to physical inactivity and worsening glycaemic control. Given the negative energy balance during sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 (SGLT2) inhibition, whether SGLT2 inhibitors affect skeletal muscle mass and function is a matter of concern. However, how SGLT2 inhibition affects the skeletal muscle function in patients with diabetes remains insufficiently explored. We aimed to explore the effects of canagliflozin (CANA), an SGLT2 inhibitor, on skeletal muscles in genetically diabetic db/db mice focusing on the differential responses of oxidative and glycolytic muscles. METHODS: Db/db mice were treated with CANA for 4 weeks. We measured running distance and handgrip strength to assess skeletal muscle function during CANA treatment. At the end of the experiment, we performed a targeted metabolome analysis of the skeletal muscles. RESULTS: CANA treatment improved the reduced endurance capacity, as revealed by running distance in db/db mice (414.9 ± 52.8 vs. 88.7 ± 22.7 m, P < 0.05). Targeted metabolome analysis revealed that 5-aminoimidazole-4-carboxamide-1-β-D-ribofuranosyl 5'-monophosphate (AICARP), a naturally occurring AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) activator, increased in the oxidative soleus muscle (P < 0.05), but not in the glycolytic extensor digitorum longus muscle (P = 0.4376), with increased levels of AMPK phosphorylation (P < 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: This study highlights the potential role of the AICARP/AMPK pathway in oxidative rather than glycolytic skeletal muscles during SGLT2 inhibition, providing novel insights into the mechanism by which SGLT2 inhibitors improve endurance capacity in patients with type 2 diabetes.

DOI： 10.1002/jcsm.13350

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Language：Others   Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal)   Publisher：Elsevier BV  

BACKGROUND: Autonomous cortisol secretion (ACS), resulting from cortisol-producing adenomas (CPA), causes endogenous steroid-induced osteoporosis (SIOP). However, the risk of endogenous SIOP cannot be explained by cortisol excess alone, and how other steroid metabolites affect bone status is unclear. METHODS: ACS was diagnosed as serum cortisol ≥1.8 μg/dL after the 1-mg dexamethasone suppression test (DST-cortisol). Using liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry, 21 plasma steroid metabolites were measured in 73 patients with ACS and 85 patients with non-functioning adrenal tumors (NFAT). Expression of steroidogenic enzymes and relevant steroid metabolites were analyzed in some of CPA tissues. FINDINGS: Discriminant and principal component analyses distinguished steroid profiles between the ACS and NFAT groups in premenopausal women. Premenopausal women with ACS exhibited higher levels of a mineralocorticoid metabolite, 11-deoxycorticosterone (11-DOC), and lower levels of androgen metabolites, dehydroepiandrosterone-sulfate, and androsterone-glucuronide. In premenopausal women with ACS, DST-cortisol negatively correlated with trabecular bone score (TBS). Additionally, 11-DOC negatively correlated with lumbar spine-bone mineral density, whereas androsterone-glucuronide positively correlated with TBS. The CPA tissues showed increased 11-DOC levels with increased expression of CYP21A2, essential for 11-DOC synthesis. Adrenal non-tumor tissues were atrophied with reduced expression of CYB5A, required for androgen synthesis. INTERPRETATION: This study demonstrates that unbalanced production of adrenal steroid metabolites, derived from both adrenal tumor and non-tumor tissues, contributes to the pathogenesis of endogenous SIOP in premenopausal women with ACS. FUNDING: JSPS KAKENHI, Secom Science and Technology Foundation, Takeda Science Foundation, Japan Foundation for Applied Enzymology, AMED-CREST, JSTA-STEP, JST-Moonshot, and Ono Medical Research Foundation.

DOI： 10.1016/j.ebiom.2023.104733

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Language：English   Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal)   Publisher：American Society for Clinical Investigation  

Medium-chain triglycerides (MCTs), which consist of medium-chain fatty acids (MCFAs), are unique forms of dietary fat with various health benefits. G protein–coupled 84 (GPR84) acts as a receptor for MCFAs (especially C10:0 and C12:0); however, GPR84 is still considered an orphan receptor, and the nutritional signaling of endogenous and dietary MCFAs via GPR84 remains unclear. Here, we showed that endogenous MCFA-mediated GPR84 signaling protected hepatic functions from diet-induced lipotoxicity. Under high-fat diet (HFD) conditions, GPR84-deficient mice exhibited nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) and the progression of hepatic fibrosis but not steatosis. With markedly increased hepatic MCFA levels under HFD, GPR84 suppressed lipotoxicity-induced macrophage overactivation. Thus, GPR84 is an immunomodulating receptor that suppresses excessive dietary fat intake–induced toxicity by sensing increases in MCFAs. Additionally, administering MCTs, MCFAs (C10:0 or C12:0, but not C8:0), or GPR84 agonists effectively improved NASH in mouse models. Therefore, exogenous GPR84 stimulation is a potential strategy for treating NASH.

DOI： 10.1172/jci.insight.165469

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Language：English   Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal)   Publisher：Nature Communications  

MHC class I-related protein 1 (MR1) is a metabolite-presenting molecule that restricts MR1-reactive T cells including mucosal-associated invariant T (MAIT) cells. In contrast to MAIT cells, the function of other MR1-restricted T cell subsets is largely unknown. Here, we report that mice in which a T cell-specific transcription factor, B-cell lymphoma/leukemia 11B (Bcl11b), was ablated in immature thymocytes (Bcl11b∆iThy mice) develop chronic inflammation. Bcl11b∆iThy mice lack conventional T cells and MAIT cells, whereas CD4+IL-18R+ αβ T cells expressing skewed Traj33 (Jα33)+ T cell receptors (TCR) accumulate in the periphery, which are necessary and sufficient for the pathogenesis. The disorders observed in Bcl11b∆iThy mice are ameliorated by MR1-deficiency, transfer of conventional T cells, or germ-free conditions. We further show the crystal structure of the TCR expressed by Traj33+ T cells expanded in Bcl11b∆iThy mice. Overall, we establish that MR1-reactive T cells have pathogenic potential.

DOI： 10.1038/s41467-022-34802-8

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Language：English   Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal)   Publisher：The Lancet Diabetes and Endocrinology  

BACKGROUND: Due to potential ethnic differences in the pathophysiology of type 2 diabetes, new therapeutics need to be evaluated in Japanese patients. We aimed to assess the safety and glycaemic efficacy of tirzepatide as an add-on treatment in Japanese patients with type 2 diabetes who had inadequate glycaemic control with stable doses of various oral antihyperglycaemic monotherapies. METHODS: This multicentre, open-label, parallel-group, randomised, phase 3 trial was conducted at 34 medical research centres and hospitals in Japan. Eligible participants were aged 20 years or older with inadequately controlled (HbA1c ≥7·0% to <11·0%) type 2 diabetes and were receiving oral antihyperglycaemic monotherapy (sulfonylureas, biguanides, α-glucosidase inhibitors, thiazolidinedione, glinides, or SGLT2 inhibitors) for at least 3 months (stable dose for ≥8 weeks before screening), had a BMI of 23 kg/m2 or higher, and stable bodyweight (±5%) for at least 3 months before screening. After a 2-week screening and 2-week lead-in period, all participants were randomly assigned (1:1:1) to receive 5, 10, or 15 mg of tirzepatide, administered once per week subcutaneously for 52 weeks followed by a 4 week safety follow-up period, using a computer-generated random sequence and interactive web response system, stratified by oral antihyperglycaemic medication group. All participants started receiving 2·5 mg tirzepatide and doses were escalated by 2·5 mg every 4 weeks until the assigned dose was reached. The primary endpoint was safety and tolerability during 52 weeks of treatment, assessed as incidence of treatment-emergent adverse events in the modified intention-to-treat (mITT) population. This trial is registered with ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT03861039. FINDINGS: Between March 30, 2019, and Feb 16, 2021, with recruitment and enrolment continuing until Feb 4, 2020, 484 participants were assessed for eligibility and 443 were randomly assigned to receive at least one dose of tirzepatide (148 [33%] in the 5 mg group, 147 [33%] in the 10 mg group, and 148 [33%] in the 15 mg group). 398 (90%) participants completed the study and treatment. Most participants (343 [77%] of 443) had at least one treatment-emergent adverse event. Treatment-emergent adverse events were more frequent in the tirzepatide 15 mg group (125 [84%] of 148) than the 5 mg (109 [74%] of 148) and 10 mg groups (109 [74%] of 147). The most frequent treatment-emergent adverse events with tirzepatide were mild or moderate nasopharyngitis (75 [17%]), nausea (74 [17%]), constipation (54 [12%]), diarrhoea (51 [12%]), and decreased appetite (44 [10%]). At week 52, mean changes from baseline in bodyweight were -3·8 kg (SE 0·5; -5·1% reduction) in the 5 mg group, -7·5 kg (0·5; -10·1% reduction) in the 10 mg group, and -10·2 kg (0·5; -13·2% reduction) in the 15 mg group. Least squares mean HbA1c at baseline reduced from 8·5% (SE 0·1) to 6·0% (0·1) in the 5 mg tirzepatide group, from 8·6% (0·1) to 5·6% (0·1) in the 10 mg group, and from 8·6% (0·1) to 5·6% (0·1) in the 15 mg group at week 52. No adjudication-confirmed deaths were reported. INTERPRETATION: Tirzepatide was well tolerated as an add-on to oral antihyperglycaemic monotherapy in Japanese participants with type 2 diabetes and showed improvement in glycaemic control and bodyweight, irrespective of background oral antihyperglycaemic medication. Tirzepatide is a potential new treatment option for Japanese patients with type 2 diabetes that is inadequately controlled with single oral antihyperglycaemic medication. FUNDING: Eli Lilly and Company. TRANSLATION: For the Japanese translation of the abstract see Supplementary Materials section.

DOI： 10.1016/S2213-8587(22)00187-5

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Language：English   Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal)   Publisher：Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism  

CONTEXT: The adrenal cortex consists of zona glomerulosa (ZG), fasciculata (ZF), and reticularis. Aldosterone-producing cell clusters that strongly express aldosterone synthase (CYP11B2) are frequently found in adult adrenals and harbor somatic mutations that are also detected in aldosterone-producing adenomas (APAs). Primary aldosteronism is mainly caused by APAs or idiopathic hyperaldosteronism (IHA). We presume that APCCs are causing IHA and are precursors of APAs. However, the gene expression characteristics and especially the development of APCC are not well understood. OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to analyze the transcriptome of APCC at single-cell resolution and infer the developmental trajectory. METHODS: Single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) of two adult adrenals was performed. RESULTS: Immunohistochemical analyses confirmed the two adrenals had APCCs. scRNA-seq data of 2,928 adrenal cells were obtained and 1,765 adrenocortical cells were identified based on unsupervised clustering and the marker gene expression. The adrenocortical cells were divided into 6 clusters, of which three clusters (923 cells) were composed of APCC/ZG cells. By further sub-clustering, the APCC/ZG cells were divided into three clusters (clusters C1, C2, and C3), we finally identified APCC-cluster (C3) and ZG-cluster (C1). Cluster C2 seemed to be ZG-to-ZF transitional cells. RNA velocity analysis inferred the developmental direction from cluster ZG-cluster-C1 to APCC-cluster-C3. The scRNA-seq additionally revealed that many CYP11B2-positive cells were positive for CYP11B1 and/or CYP17A1, which were essential for cortisol but not for aldosterone production. CONCLUSIONS: Our results revealed the gene expression characteristics of APCC at single-cell resolution and show that some ZG cells remodel to APCC.

DOI： 10.1210/clinem/dgac394

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Language：English   Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal)   Publisher：iScience  

Despite recent therapeutic advances for multiple myeloma (MM), relapse is very common. Here, we conducted longitudinal single-cell transcriptome sequencing (scRNA-seq) of MM cells from a patient with relapsed MM, treated with multiple anti-myeloma drugs. We observed five subclusters of MM cells, which appeared and/or disappeared in response to the therapeutic pressure, and identified cluster 3 which emerged during lenalidomide treatment and disappeared after proteasome inhibitor (PI) treatment. Among the differentially expressed genes in cluster 3, we found a candidate drug-response gene; pellino E3 ubiquitin-protein ligase family member 2 (PELI2), which is responsible for PI-induced cell death in in vitro assay. Kaplan-Meier survival analysis of database revealed that higher expression of PELI2 is associated with a better prognosis. Our integrated strategy combining longitudinal scRNA-seq analysis, in vitro functional assay, and database analysis would facilitate the understanding of clonal dynamics of MM in response to anti-myeloma drugs and identification of drug-response genes.

DOI： 10.1016/j.isci.2022.104781

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Language：English   Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal)   Publisher：Nature Communications  

Establishment of the DNA methylation landscape of mammalian oocytes, mediated by the DNMT3A-DNMT3L complex, is crucial for reproduction and development. In mouse oocytes, high levels of DNA methylation occur exclusively in the transcriptionally active regions, with moderate to low levels of methylation in other regions. Histone H3K36me3 mediates the high levels of methylation in the transcribed regions; however, it is unknown which histone mark guides the methylation in the other regions. Here, we show that, in mouse oocytes, H3K36me2 is highly enriched in the X chromosome and is broadly distributed across all autosomes. Upon H3K36me2 depletion, DNA methylation in moderately methylated regions is selectively affected, and a methylation pattern unique to the X chromosome is switched to an autosome-like pattern. Furthermore, we find that simultaneous depletion of H3K36me2 and H3K36me3 results in global hypomethylation, comparable to that of DNMT3A depletion. Therefore, the two histone marks jointly provide the chromatin platform essential for guiding DNMT3A-dependent DNA methylation in mouse oocytes.

DOI： 10.1038/s41467-022-32141-2

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DOI： 10.1126/sciadv.abd7924

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Muscle stem cells (satellite cells) are distributed throughout the body and have heterogeneous properties among muscles. However, functional topographical genes in satellite cells of adult muscle remain unidentified. Here, we show that expression of Homeobox-A (Hox-A) cluster genes accompanied with DNA hypermethylation of the Hox-A locus was robustly maintained in both somite-derived muscles and their associated satellite cells in adult mice, which recapitulates their embryonic origin. Somite-derived satellite cells were clearly separated from cells derived from cranial mesoderm in Hoxa10 expression. Hoxa10 inactivation led to genomic instability and mitotic catastrophe in somite-derived satellite cells in mice and human. Satellite cell-specific Hoxa10 ablation in mice resulted in a decline in the regenerative ability of somite-derived muscles, which were unobserved in cranial mesoderm-derived muscles. Thus, our results show that Hox gene expression profiles instill the embryonic history in satellite cells as positional memory, potentially modulating region-specific pathophysiology in adult muscles.

DOI： 10.1126/sciadv.abd7924

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DOI： 10.1007/s00125-021-05488-2

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OBJECTIVE: To elucidate the pathogenesis of postpancreatectomy diabetes mellitus (PPDM). RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS: Forty-eight patients without diabetes undergoing either pancreatoduodenectomy (PD) (n = 20) or distal pancreatectomy (DP) (n = 28) were included. A 75-g oral glucose tolerance test was performed every 6 months. Microbiome composition and short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) in feces were examined before and 6 months after surgery. The association of histological characteristics of the resected pancreas with PPDM was examined. RESULTS: During follow-up (median 3.19 years), 2 of 20 PD patients and 16 of 28 DP patients developed PPDM. Proteobacteria relative abundance, plasma glucagon-like peptide 1 (GLP-1), and fecal butyrate levels increased only after PD. Postsurgical butyrate levels were correlated with postsurgical GLP-1 levels. With no significant difference in the volume of the resected pancreas between the surgical procedures, both β-cell and α-cell areas in the resected pancreas were significantly higher in DP patients than in PD patients. In DP patients, the progressors to diabetes showed preexisting insulin resistance compared with nonprogressors, and both increased α- and β-cell areas were predictors of PPDM. Furthermore, in DP patients, α-cell and β-cell areas were associated with ALDH1A3 expression in islets. CONCLUSIONS: We postulate that a greater removal of β-cells contributes to the development of PPDM after DP. Islet expansion along with preexisting insulin resistance is associated with high cellular plasticity, which may predict the development of PPDM after DP. In contrast, PD is associated with alterations of gut microbiome and increases in SCFA production and GLP-1 secretion, possibly protecting against PPDM development.

DOI： 10.2337/dc20-0864

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This study was aimed to evaluate the effects of intensive exercise in addition to the administration of sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitor dapagliflozin (DAPA) on body composition, including fat-free mass, in type 2 diabetes. We randomly assigned 146 patients to 24 weeks of treatment with intensive exercise, including resistance training, plus 5 mg (up to 10 mg) of DAPA daily (IT group) or DAPA alone (CT group). The primary endpoint was the difference in the change in fat-free mass from baseline to 24 weeks between the groups. The skeletal muscle mass index (SMI); metabolic profile, including HbA1c; and regional fat mass were also determined. ANCOVA was used for the group comparison, with least squares mean (LSM) differences and 95% confidence interval (CI). There was no significant difference in the change in fat-free mass (LSM difference -0.1 kg (95% CI: -0.5 to 0.4) and SMI (LSM difference -0.1 kg (95% CI: -0.2 to 0.1) between the groups. In contrast, the reduction of trunk fat mass was significantly higher in the IT group than in the CT group ((LSM difference -0.5 kg [95% CI -0.9 to -0.1]). Higher adherence to the resistance training tended to be associated with changes in HbA1c and high-sensitivity CRP levels. Our study suggests that intensive exercise do not prevent the reduction of fat-free mass after administration of SGLT2 inhibitors but can increase the reduction in abdominal fat, presumably leading to further improvements of hyperglycemia and chronic inflammation than DAPA alone in type 2 diabetes patients.

DOI： 10.1507/endocrj.EJ20-0599

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Dedifferentiation has been implicated in β cell dysfunction and loss in rodent diabetes. However, the pathophysiological significance in humans remains unclear. To elucidate this, we analyzed surgically resected pancreatic tissues of 26 Japanese subjects with diabetes and 11 nondiabetic subjects, who had been overweight during adulthood but had no family history of diabetes. The diabetic subjects were subclassified into 3 disease stage categories, early, advanced, and intermediate. Despite no numerical changes in endocrine cells immunoreactive for chromogranin A (ChgA), diabetic islets showed profound β cell loss, with an increase in α cells without an increase in insulin and glucagon double-positive cells. The proportion of dedifferentiated cells that retain ChgA immunoreactivity without 4 major islet hormones was strikingly increased in diabetic islets and rose substantially during disease progression. The increased dedifferentiated cell ratio was inversely correlated with declining C-peptide index. Moreover, a subset of islet cells converted into exocrine-like cells during disease progression. These results indicate that islet remodeling with dedifferentiation is the underlying cause of β cell failure during the course of diabetes progression in humans.

DOI： 10.1172/jci.insight.143791

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Accumulating evidence indicates that cell death triggers sterile inflammation and that impaired clearance of dead cells causes nonresolving inflammation; however, the underlying mechanisms are still unclear. Here, we show that macrophage-inducible C-type lectin (Mincle) senses renal tubular cell death to induce sustained inflammation after acute kidney injury in mice. Mincle-deficient mice were protected against tissue damage and subsequent atrophy of the kidney after ischemia-reperfusion injury. Using lipophilic extract from the injured kidney, we identified β-glucosylceramide as an endogenous Mincle ligand. Notably, free cholesterol markedly enhanced the agonistic effect of β-glucosylceramide on Mincle. Moreover, β-glucosylceramide and free cholesterol accumulated in dead renal tubules in proximity to Mincle-expressing macrophages, where Mincle was supposed to inhibit clearance of dead cells and increase proinflammatory cytokine production. This study demonstrates that β-glucosylceramide in combination with free cholesterol acts on Mincle as an endogenous ligand to induce cell death-triggered, sustained inflammation after acute kidney injury.

DOI： 10.1084/jem.20192230

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Mitochondria are multifunctional organelles that produce energy and are critical for various signaling pathways. Mitochondrial antiviral signaling (MAVS) is a mitochondrial outer membrane protein essential for the anti-RNA viral immune response, which is regulated by mitochondrial dynamics and energetics; however, the molecular link between mitochondrial metabolism and immunity is unclear. Here we show in cultured mammalian cells that MAVS is activated by mitochondrial fission factor (Mff), which senses mitochondrial energy status. Mff mediates the formation of active MAVS clusters on mitochondria, independent of mitochondrial fission and dynamin-related protein 1. Under mitochondrial dysfunction, Mff is phosphorylated by the cellular energy sensor AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK), leading to the disorganization of MAVS clusters and repression of the acute antiviral response. Mff also contributes to immune tolerance during chronic infection by disrupting the mitochondrial MAVS clusters. Taken together, Mff has a critical function in MAVS-mediated innate immunity, by sensing mitochondrial energy metabolism via AMPK signaling.

DOI： 10.1038/s41467-020-19287-7

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Recent advances have enabled the direct induction of human tissue-specific stem and progenitor cells from differentiated somatic cells. However, it is not known whether human hepatic progenitor cells (hHepPCs) can be generated from other cell types by direct lineage reprogramming with defined transcription factors. Here, we show that a set of three transcription factors, FOXA3, HNF1A, and HNF6, can induce human umbilical vein endothelial cells to directly acquire the properties of hHepPCs. These induced hHepPCs (hiHepPCs) propagate in long-term monolayer culture and differentiate into functional hepatocytes and cholangiocytes by forming cell aggregates and cystic epithelial spheroids, respectively, under three-dimensional culture conditions. After transplantation, hiHepPC-derived hepatocytes and cholangiocytes reconstitute damaged liver tissues and support hepatic function. The defined transcription factors also induce hiHepPCs from endothelial cells circulating in adult human peripheral blood. These expandable and bipotential hiHepPCs may be useful in the study and treatment of human liver diseases.

DOI： 10.1038/s41467-020-19041-z

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OBJECTIVE To investigate the prevalence and causes of diabetes in patients with primary aldosteronism (PA) in a multi-institutional cohort study in Japan. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS The prevalence of diabetes was determined in 2,210 patients with PA (diagnosed or glycated hemoglobin [HbA_1c] ‡6.5% [‡48 mmol/mol]; NGSP) and compared with that of the Japanese general population according to age and sex. In 1,386 patients with PA and clear laterality (unilateral or bilateral), the effects of plasma aldosterone concentration (PAC), hypokalemia (<3.5 mEq/L), suspected subclinical hypercortisolism (SH; serum cortisol ‡1.8 mg/dL after 1-mg dexamethasone suppression test), and PA laterality on the prevalence of diabetes or prediabetes (5.7% £ HbA_1c <6.5% [39 mmol/mol £ HbA_1c <48 mmol/mol]) were examined. RESULTS Of the 2,210 patients with PA, 477 (21.6%) had diabetes. This prevalence is higher than that in the general population (12.1%) or in 10-year cohorts aged 30–69 years. Logistic regression or x² test revealed a significant contribution of suspected SH to diabetes. Despite more active PA profiles (e.g., higher PAC and lower potassium concentrations) in unilateral than bilateral PA, BMI and HbA_1c values were significantly higher in bilateral PA. PA laterality had no effect on the prevalence of diabetes; however, the prevalence of prediabetes was significantly higher in bilateral than unilateral PA. CONCLUSIONS Individuals with PA have a high prevalence of diabetes, which is associated mainly with SH. The prevalence of prediabetes is greater for bilateral than unilateral PA, suggesting a unique metabolic cause of bilateral PA.

DOI： 10.2337/dc18-1293

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The nutritional environment to which animals are exposed in early life can lead to epigenetic changes in the genome that influence the risk of obesity in later life. Here, we demonstrate that the fibroblast growth factor-21 gene (Fgf21) is subject to peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR) α-dependent DNA demethylation in the liver during the postnatal period. Reductions in Fgf21 methylation can be enhanced via pharmacologic activation of PPARα during the suckling period. We also reveal that the DNA methylation status of Fgf21, once established in early life, is relatively stable and persists into adulthood. Reduced DNA methylation is associated with enhanced induction of hepatic FGF21 expression after PPARα activation, which may partly explain the attenuation of diet-induced obesity in adulthood. We propose that Fgf21 methylation represents a form of epigenetic memory that persists into adulthood, and it may have a role in the developmental programming of obesity.

DOI： 10.1038/s41467-018-03038-w

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DOI： 10.1089/thy.2017.0331.

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DOI： 10.1038/s41467-018-03038-w.

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DOI： 10.1089/thy

Language：English   Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal)  

Background Limited evidence suggests that multifactorial interventions for control of glucose, blood pressure, and lipids reduce macrovascular complications and mortality in patients with type 2 diabetes. However, safe and effective treatment targets for these risk factors have not been determined for such interventions. Methods In this multicentre, open-label, randomised, parallel-group trial, undertaken at 81 clinical sites in Japan, we randomly assigned (1:1) patients with type 2 diabetes aged 45–69 years with hypertension, dyslipidaemia, or both, and an HbA_1c of 6·9% (52·0 mmol/mol) or higher, to receive conventional therapy for glucose, blood pressure, and lipid control (targets: HbA_1c <6·9% [52·0 mmol/mol], blood pressure <130/80 mm Hg, LDL cholesterol <120 mg/dL [or 100 mg/dL in patients with a history of coronary artery disease]) or intensive therapy (HbA_1c <6·2% [44·3 mmol/mol], blood pressure <120/75 mm Hg, LDL cholesterol <80 mg/dL [or 70 mg/dL in patients with a history of coronary artery disease]). Randomisation was done using a computer-generated, dynamic balancing method, stratified by sex, age, HbA_1c, and history of cardiovascular disease. Neither patients nor investigators were masked to group assignment. The primary outcome was occurrence of any of a composite of myocardial infarction, stroke, revascularisation (coronary artery bypass surgery, percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty, carotid endarterectomy, percutaneous transluminal cerebral angioplasty, and carotid artery stenting), and all-cause mortality. The primary analysis was done in the intention-to-treat population. This study is registered with ClinicalTrials.gov, number NCT00300976. Findings Between June 16, 2006, and March 31, 2009, 2542 eligible patients were randomly assigned to intensive therapy or conventional therapy (1271 in each group) and followed up for a median of 8·5 years (IQR 7·3–9·0). Two patients in the intensive therapy group were found to be ineligible after randomisation and were excluded from the analyses. During the intervention period, mean HbA_1c, systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure, and LDL cholesterol concentrations were significantly lower in the intensive therapy group than in the conventional therapy group (6·8% [51·0 mmol/mol] vs 7·2% [55·2 mmol/mol]; 123 mm Hg vs 129 mm Hg; 71 mm Hg vs 74 mm Hg; and 85 mg/dL vs 104 mg/dL, respectively; all p<0·0001). The primary outcome occurred in 109 patients in the intensive therapy group and in 133 patients in the conventional therapy group (hazard ratio [HR] 0·81, 95% CI 0·63–1·04; p=0·094). In a post-hoc breakdown of the composite outcome, frequencies of all-cause mortality (HR 1·01, 95% CI 0·68–1·51; p=0·95) and coronary events (myocardial infarction, coronary artery bypass surgery, and percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty; HR 0·86, 0·58–1·27; p=0·44) did not differ between groups, but cerebrovascular events (stroke, carotid endarterectomy, percutaneous transluminal cerebral angioplasty, and carotid artery stenting) were significantly less frequent in the intensive therapy group (HR 0·42, 0·24–0·74; p=0·002). Apart from non-severe hypoglycaemia (521 [41%] patients in the intensive therapy group vs 283 [22%] in the conventional therapy group, p<0·0001) and oedema (193 [15%] vs 129 [10%], p=0·0001), the frequencies of major adverse events did not differ between groups. Interpretation Our results do not fully support the efficacy of further intensified multifactorial intervention compared with current standard care for the prevention of a composite of coronary events, cerebrovascular events, and all-cause mortality. Nevertheless, our findings suggest a potential benefit of an intensified intervention for the prevention of cerebrovascular events in patients with type 2 diabetes. Funding Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare of Japan, Asahi Kasei Pharma, Astellas Pharma, AstraZeneca, Bayer, Boehringer Ingelheim, Bristol-Myers Squibb, Daiichi Sankyo, Eli Lilly, GlaxoSmithKline, Kissei Pharmaceutical, Kowa Pharmaceutical, Mitsubishi Tanabe Pharma, Mochida Pharmaceutical, MSD, Novartis Pharma, Novo Nordisk, Ono Pharmaceutical, Pfizer, Sanwa Kagaku Kenkyusho, Shionogi, Sumitomo Dainippon Pharma, Taisho Toyama Pharmaceutical, and Takeda.

DOI： 10.1016/S2213-8587(17)30327-3

Language：English   Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal)  

Although recent evidence has pointed to the role of organ- and pathogenesis-specific macrophage subsets, it is still unclear which subsets are critically involved in the pathogenesis of nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH). Using melanocortin-4 receptor-deficient (MC4R-KO) mice fed Western diet (WD), which exhibit liver phenotypes similar to those of human NASH, we found a histological structure, termed hepatic crown-like structure (hCLS), in which CD11c+ macrophages surround dead/dying hepatocytes, a prominent feature of NASH. Here, we demonstrate that hCLS-constituting macrophages could be a novel macrophage subset that drives hepatocyte death-triggered liver fibrosis. In an "inducible NASH model," hepatocyte death induces hCLS formation and liver fibrosis sequentially in the short term. In combination with the long-term WD feeding model, we also showed that resident macrophages are a major cellular source of CD11c+ macrophages constituting hCLS, which exhibited gene expression profiles distinct from CD11c- macrophages scattered in the liver. Moreover, depletion of CD11c+ macrophages abolished hCLS formation and fibrogenesis in NASH. Our clinical data suggest the role of CD11c+ macrophages in the disease progression from simple steatosis to NASH. This study sheds light on the role of resident macrophages, in addition to recruited macrophages, in the pathogenesis of NASH.

DOI： 10.1172/jci.insight.92902

Language：English   Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal)  

Although previous studies have attempted to create "electronics-free" insulin delivery systemsusing glucose oxidase and sugar-binding lectins as a glucose-sensingmechanism, no successful clinical translation has hitherto beenmade. These protein-based materials are intolerant of long-term use and storage because of their denaturing and/or cytotoxic properties. We provide a solution by designing a protein-free and totally synthetic material-based approach. Capitalizing on the sugar-responsive properties of boronic acid, we have established a synthetic polymer gel-based insulin delivery device confined within a single catheter, which exhibits an artificial pancreas-like function in vivo. Subcutaneous implantation of the device in healthy and diabetic mice establishes a closed-loop systemcomposed of "continuous glucose sensing" and "skin layer"-regulated insulin release. As a result, glucose metabolism was controlled in response to interstitial glucose fluctuation under both insulin-deficient and insulin-resistant conditions with at least 3-week durability. Our "smart gel" technology could offer a user-friendly and remarkably economic (disposable) alternative to the current state of the art, thereby facilitating availability of effective insulin treatment not only to diabetic patients in developing countries but also to those patients who otherwise may not be strongly motivated, such as the elderly, infants, and patients in need of nursing care.

DOI： 10.1126/sciadv.aaq0723

Language：English   Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal)  

The ventromedial hypothalamus (VMH) regulates glucose and energy metabolism in mammals. Optogenetic stimulation of VMH neurons that express steroidogenic factor 1 (SF1) induces hyperglycemia. However, leptin acting via the VMH stimulates whole-body glucose utilization and insulin sensitivity in some peripheral tissues, and this effect of leptin appears to be mediated by SF1 neurons. We examined the effects of activation of SF1 neurons with DREADD (designer receptors exclusively activated by designer drugs) technology. Activation of SF1 neurons by an intraperitoneal injection of clozapine-N-oxide (CNO), a specific hM3Dq ligand, reduced food intake and increased energy expenditure in mice expressing hM3Dq in SF1 neurons. It also increased whole-body glucose utilization and glucose uptake in red-type skeletal muscle, heart, and interscapular brown adipose tissue, as well as glucose production and glycogen phosphorylase a activity in the liver, thereby maintaining blood glucose levels. During hyperinsulinemic-euglycemic clamp, such activation of SF1 neurons increased insulin-induced glucose uptake in the same peripheral tissues and tended to enhance insulin-induced suppression of glucose production by suppressing gluconeogenic gene expression and glycogen phosphorylase a activity in the liver. DREADD technology is thus an important tool for studies of the role of the brain in the regulation of insulin sensitivity in peripheral tissues.

DOI： 10.2337/db16-1344

Language：English   Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal)  

The presence of senescent, transformed or damaged cells can impair tissue function or lead to tumorigenesis; therefore, organisms have evolved quality control mechanisms to eliminate them. Here, we show that YAP activation induced by inactivation of the Hippo pathway specifically in damaged hepatocytes promotes their selective elimination by using in vivo mosaic analysis in mouse liver. These damaged hepatocytes migrate into the hepatic sinusoids, undergo apoptosis and are engulfed by Kupffer cells. In contrast, YAP activation in undamaged hepatocytes leads to proliferation. Cellular stresses such as ethanol that damage both liver sinusoidal endothelial cells and hepatocytes switch cell fate from proliferation to migration/apoptosis in the presence of activated YAP. This involves the activation of CDC42 and Rac that regulate cell migration. Thus, we suggest that YAP acts as a stress sensor that induces elimination of injured cells to maintain tissue and organ homeostasis.

DOI： 10.1038/ncomms16017

Language：English   Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal)  

Obesity promotes infiltration of inflammatory cells into various tissues, leading to parenchymal and stromal cell interaction and development of cellular and organ dysfunction. Liver sinusoidal endothelial cells (LSECs) are the first cells that contact portal blood cells and substances in the liver, but their functions in the development of obesity-associated glucose metabolism remain unclear. Here, we find that LSECs are involved in obesity-associated accumulation of myeloid cells via VLA-4-dependent cell-cell adhesion. VLA-4 blockade in mice fed a high-fat diet attenuated myeloid cell accumulation in the liver to improve hepatic inflammation and systemic glucose intolerance. Ex vivo studies further show that cell-cell contact between intrahepatic leukocytes and parenchymal hepatocytes induces gluconeogenesis via a Notch-dependent pathway. These findings suggest that cell-cell interaction between parenchymal and stromal cells regulates hepatic glucose metabolism and offers potential strategies for treatment or prevention of obesity-associated glucose intolerance.

DOI： 10.1016/j.celrep.2017.02.039

Language：English   Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal)  

The metabolic function of the liver changes sequentially during early life in mammals to adapt to the marked changes in nutritional environment. Accordingly, hepatic fatty acid β-oxidation is activated after birth to produce energy from breast milk lipids. However, how it is induced during the neonatal period is poorly understood. Here we show DNA demethylation and increased mRNA expression of the fatty acid β-oxidation genes in the postnatal mouse liver. The DNA demethylation does not occur in the fetal mouse liver under the physiologic condition, suggesting that it is specific to the neonatal period. Analysis of mice deficient in the nuclear receptor peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor a (PPARα) and maternal administration of a PPARα ligand during the gestation and lactation periods reveal that the DNA demethylation is PPARα dependent. We also find that DNA methylation of the fatty acid β-oxidation genes are reduced in the adult human liver relative to the fetal liver. This study represents the first demonstration that the ligand-activated PPARα-dependent DNA demethylation regulates the hepatic fatty acid β-oxidation genes during the neonatal period, thereby highlighting the role of a lipid-sensing nuclear receptor in the gene- and lifestage- specific DNA demethylation of a particular metabolic pathway.

DOI： 10.2337/db14-0158

Language：English   Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal)  

Ataxia-telangiectasia (A-T) patients occasionally develop diabetes mellitus. However, only limited attempts have been made to gain insight into the molecular mechanism of diabetes mellitus development in A-T patients. We found that Atm^-/- mice were insulin resistant and possessed less subcutaneous adipose tissue as well as a lower level of serum adiponectin than Atm^+/+ mice. Furthermore, invitro studies revealed impaired adipocyte differentiation in Atm^-/- cells caused by the lack of induction of C/EBPα and PPARγ, crucial transcription factors involved in adipocyte differentiation. Interestingly, ATM was activated by stimuli that induced differentiation, and the binding of ATM to C/EBPβ and p300 was involved in the transcriptional regulation of C/EBPα and adipocyte differentiation. Thus, our study sheds light on the poorly understood role of ATM in the pathogenesis of glucose intolerance in A-T patients and providesinsight into the role of ATM in glucose metabolism.

DOI： 10.1016/j.celrep.2015.01.027

Language：English   Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal)  

In obesity, a paracrine loop between adipocytes and macrophages augments chronic inflammation of adipose tissue, thereby inducing systemic insulin resistance and ectopic lipid accumulation. Obese adipose tissue contains a unique histological structure termed crown-like structure (CLS), where adipocyte-macrophage crosstalk is known to occur in close proximity. Here we show that Macrophage-inducible C-type lectin (Mincle), a pathogen sensor for Mycobacterium tuberculosis, is localized to macrophages in CLS, the number of which correlates with the extent of interstitial fibrosis. Mincle induces obesity-induced adipose tissue fibrosis, thereby leading to steatosis and insulin resistance in liver. We further show that Mincle in macrophages is crucial for CLS formation, expression of fibrosis-related genes and myofibroblast activation. This study indicates that Mincle, when activated by an endogenous ligand released from dying adipocytes, is involved in adipose tissue remodelling, thereby suggesting that sustained interactions between adipocytes and macrophages within CLS could be a therapeutic target for obesity-induced ectopic lipid accumulation.

DOI： 10.1038/ncomms5982

Language：English   Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal)  

Endothelial dysfunction is a central hallmark of diabetes. The transcriptional coactivator PGC-1α is a powerful regulator of metabolism, but its role in endothelial cells remains poorly understood. We show here that endothelial PGC-1α expression is high in diabetic rodents and humans and that PGC-1α powerfully blocks endothelial migration in cell culture and vasculogenesis in vivo. Mechanistically, PGC-1α induces Notch signaling, blunts activation of Rac/Akt/eNOS signaling, and renders endothelial cells unresponsive to established angiogenic factors. Transgenic overexpression of PGC-1α in the endothelium mimics multiple diabetic phenotypes, including aberrant re-endothelialization after carotid injury, blunted wound healing, and reduced blood flow recovery after hindlimb ischemia. Conversely, deletion of endothelial PGC-1α rescues the blunted wound healing and recovery from hindlimb ischemia seen in type 1 and type 2 diabetes. Endothelial PGC-1α thus potently inhibits endothelial function and angiogenesis, and induction of endothelial PGC-1α contributes to multiple aspects of vascular dysfunction in diabetes.

DOI： 10.1016/j.cmet.2013.12.014

Language：English   Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal)  

Chronic inflammation is a molecular element of the metabolic syndrome and type 2 diabetes. Saturated fatty acids (SFAs) are considered to be an important proinflammatory factor. However, it is still incompletely understood how SFAs induce proinflammatory cytokine expression. Hereby we report that activating transcription factor (ATF) 4, a transcription factor that is induced downstream of metabolic stresses including endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress, plays critical roles in SFA-induced interleukin-6 (Il6) expression. DNA microarray analysis using primary macrophages revealed that the ATF4 pathway is activated by SFAs. Haploinsufficiency and short hairpin RNA-based knockdown of ATF4 in macrophages markedly inhibited SFA- and metabolic stress-induced Il6 expression. Conversely, pharmacological activation of the ATF4 pathway and overexpression of ATF4 resulted in enhanced Il6 expression. Moreover, ATF4 acts in synergy with the Toll-like receptor-4 signaling pathway, which is known to be activated by SFAs. At a molecular level, we found that ATF4 exerts its proinflammatory effects through at least two different mechanisms: ATF4 is involved in SFAinduced nuclear factor-kB activation; and ATF4 directly activates the Il6 promoter. These findings provide evidence suggesting that ATF4 links metabolic stress and Il6 expression in macrophages.

DOI： 10.2337/db13-0757

Language：English   Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal)  

We previously identified a quantitative trait locus for adiposity, non-insulin-dependent diabetes 5 (Nidd5), on mouse chromosome 2. In the current study, we identified the actual genetic alteration at Nidd5 as a nonsense mutation of the Acvr1c gene encoding activin receptor-like kinase 7 (ALK7), one of the type I transforming growth factor-β receptors, which results in a COOH-terminal deletion of the kinase domain. We further showed that the ALK7 dysfunction causes increased lipolysis in adipocytes and leads to decreased fat accumulation. Conversely, ALK7 activation inhibits lipolysis by suppressing the expression of adipose lipases. ALK7 and activated Smads repress those lipases by downregulating peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ ( PPAR γ) and CCAAT/enhancer binding protein (C/EBP) α. Although PPARγ and C/EBPα act as adipogenic transcription factors during adipocyte differentiation, they are lipolytic in sum in differentiated adipocytes and are downregulated by ALK7 in obesity to accumulate fat. Under the obese state, ALK7 deficiency improves glucose tolerance and insulin sensitivity by preferentially increasing fat combustion in mice. These findings have uncovered a net lipolytic function of PPARγ and C/EBPα in differentiated adipocytes and point to the ALK7-signaling pathway that is activated in obesity as a potential target of medical intervention.

DOI： 10.2337/db12-0295

Language：English   Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal)  

OBJECTIVE - It has recently been highlighted that proinflammatory (M1) macrophages predominate over anti-inflammatory (M2) macrophages in obesity, thereby contributing to obesityinduced adipose inflammation and insulin resistance. A recent clinical trial revealed that highly purified eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) reduces the incidence of major coronary events. In this study, we examined the effect of EPA on M1/M2-like phenotypes of peripheral blood monocytes in obese dyslipidemic patients. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS - Peripheral bloodmonocyteswere prepared from 26 obese patients without and 90 obese patients with dyslipidemia. Of the latter 90 obese patients with dyslipidemia, 82 patientswere treated with orwithout EPA treatment (1.8 g daily) for 3months. RESULTS - Monocytes in obese patients with dyslipidemia showed a significantly lower expression of interleukin-10 (IL-10), an M2 marker, than those without dyslipidemia. EPA significantly increased serum IL-10 and EPA levels, the EPA/arachidonic acid (AA) ratio, andmonocyte IL-10 expression and decreased the pulse wave velocity (PWV), an index of arterial stiffness, compared with the control group. After EPA treatment, the serum EPA/AA ratio was significantly correlated with monocyte IL-10 expression. Only increases in monocyte IL-10 expression and serum adiponectin were independent determinants of a decreased PWV by EPA. Furthermore, EPA significantly increased the expression and secretion of IL-10 in human monocytic THP-1 cells through a peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR)g-dependent pathway. CONCLUSIONS - This study is the first to show that EPA increases the monocyte IL-10 expression in parallel with decrease of arterial stiffness, which may contribute to the antiatherogenic effect of EPA in obese dyslipidemic patients.

DOI： 10.2337/dc12-0269

Language：English   Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal)  

The liver is a major organ of lipid metabolism, which is markedly changed in response to physiological nutritional demand; however, the regulation of hepatic lipogenic gene expression in early life is largely unknown. In this study, we show that expression of glycerol- 3-phosphate acyltransferase 1 (GPAT1; Gpam), a rate-limiting enzyme of triglyceride biosynthesis, is regulated in the mouse liver by DNA methylation, an epigenetic modification involved in the regulation of a diverse range of biological processes in mammals. In the neonatal liver, DNA methylation of the Gpam promoter, which is likely to be induced by Dnmt3b, inhibited recruitment of the lipogenic transcription factor sterol regulatory element-binding protein- 1c (SREBP-1c), whereas in the adult, decreased DNA methylation resulted in active chromatin conformation, allowing recruitment of SREBP-1c. Maternal overnutrition causes decreased Gpam promoter methylation with increased GPAT1 expression and triglyceride content in the pup liver, suggesting that environmental factors such as nutritional conditions can affect DNA methylation in the liver. This study is the first detailed analysis of the DNA-methylation-dependent regulation of the triglyceride biosynthesis gene Gpam, thereby providing new insight into the molecular mechanism underlying the epigenetic regulation of metabolic genes and thus metabolic diseases.

DOI： 10.2337/db11-1834

Language：English   Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal)  

Aims/hypothesis: Hyperlipidaemia is an independent risk factor for the progression of diabetic nephropathy, but its molecular mechanism remains elusive. We investigated in mice how diabetes and hyperlipidaemia cause renal lesions separately and in combination, and the involvement of Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) in the process. Methods: Diabetes was induced in wild-type (WT) and Tlr4 knockout (KO) mice by intraperitoneal injection of streptozotocin (STZ). At 2 weeks after STZ injection, normal diet was substituted with a high-fat diet (HFD). Functional and histological analyses were carried out 6 weeks later. Results: Compared with treatment with STZ or HFD alone, treatment of WT mice with both STZ and HFD markedly aggravated nephropathy, as indicated by an increase in albuminuria, mesangial expansion, infiltration of macrophages and upregulation of pro-inflammatory and extracellularmatrix-associated gene expression in glomeruli. In Tlr4 KO mice, the addition of an HFD to STZ had almost no effects on the variables measured. Production of protein S100 calcium binding protein A8 (calgranulin A; S100A8), a potent ligand for TLR4, was observed in abundance in macrophages infiltrating STZ-HFD WT glomeruli and in glomeruli of diabetic nephropathy patients. High-glucose and fatty acid treatment synergistically upregulated S100a8 gene expression in macrophages from WT mice, but not from KO mice. As putative downstream targets of TLR4, phosphorylation of interferon regulatory factor 3 (IRF3) was enhanced in kidneys of WT mice co-treated with STZ and HFD. Conclusions/interpretation: Activation of S100A8/TLR4 signalling was elucidated in an animal model of diabetic glomerular injury accompanied with hyperlipidaemia, which may provide novel therapeutic targets in progressive diabetic nephropathy.

DOI： 10.1007/s00125-012-2578-1

Language：English   Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal)  

Recent accumulating evidence suggests that innate immunity is associated with obesity-induced chronic inflammation and metabolic disorders. Here, we show that a Toll-like receptor (TLR) protein, radioprotective 105 (RP105)/myeloid differentiation protein (MD)-1 complex, contributes to high-fat diet (HFD)-induced obesity, adipose tissue inflammation, and insulin resistance. An HFD dramatically increased RP105 mRNA and protein expression in stromal vascular fraction of epididymal white adipose tissue (eWAT) in wild-type (WT) mice. RP105 mRNA expression also was significantly increased in the visceral adipose tissue of obese human subjects relative to nonobese subjects. The RP105/MD-1 complex was expressed by most adipose tissue macrophages (ATMs). An HFD increased RP105/MD-1 expression on the M1 subset of ATMs that accumulate in eWAT. Macrophages also acquired this characteristic in coculture with 3T3-L1 adipocytes. RP105 knockout (KO) and MD-1 KO mice had less HFD-induced adipose tissue inflammation, hepatic steatosis, and insulin resistance compared with wild-type (WT) and TLR4 KO mice. Finally, the saturated fatty acids, palmitic and stearic acids, are endogenous ligands for TLR4, but they did not activate RP105/MD-1. Thus, the RP105/MD-1 complex is a major mediator of adipose tissue inflammation independent of TLR4 signaling and may represent a novel therapeutic target for obesityassociated metabolic disorders.

DOI： 10.2337/db11-1182

Language：English   Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal)  

OBJECTIVE - We have provided evidence that saturated fatty acids, which are released from adipocytes via macrophage-induced adipocyte lipolysis, serve as a naturally occurring ligand for the Toll-like receptor (TLR) 4 complex in macrophages, thereby aggravating obesity-induced adipose tissue inflammation. The aim of this study was to identify the molecule(s) activated in adipose tissue macrophages in obesity. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS - We performed a cDNA microarray analysis of coculture of 3T3-L1 adipocytes and RAW264 macrophages. Cultured adipocytes and macrophages and the adipose tissue of obese mice and humans were used to examine mRNA and protein expression. RESULTS - We found that macrophage-inducible C-type lectin (Mincle; also called Clec4e and Clecsf9), a type II transmembrane C-type lectin, is induced selectively in macrophages during the interaction between adipocytes and macrophages. Treatment with palmitate, a major saturated fatty acid released from 3T3-L1 adipocytes, induced Mincle mRNA expression in macrophages at least partly through the TLR4/nuclear factor (NF)-κB pathway. Mincle mRNA expression was increased in parallel with macrophage markers in the adipose tissue of obese mice and humans. The obesity-induced increase in Mincle mRNA expression was markedly attenuated in C3H/HeJ mice with defective TLR4 signaling relative to control C3H/HeN mice. Notably, Mincle mRNA was expressed in bone-marrow cell (BMC)-derived proinflammatory M1 macrophages rather than in BMC-derived anti-inflammatory M2 macrophages in vitro. CONCLUSIONS - Our data suggest that Mincle is induced in adipose tissue macrophages in obesity at least partly through the saturated fatty acid/TLR4/NF-κB pathway, thereby suggesting its pathophysiologic role in obesity-induced adipose tissue inflammation.

DOI： 10.2337/db10-0864

Language：English   Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal)  

OBJECTIVE - Given the pleiotropic effect of eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), it is interesting to know whether EPA is capable of improving obesity. Here we examined the anti-obesity effect of EPA in mice with two distinct models of obesity. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS - Male C57BL/6J mice were fed a high-fat/high-sucrose diet (25.0% [w/w] fat, 32.5% [w/w] sucrose) (HF/HS group) or a high-fat diet (38.1% [w/w] fat, 8.5% [w/w] sucrose) (HF group) for 4-20 weeks. A total of 5% EPA was administered by partially substituting EPA for fat in the HF/HS + EPA and HF + EPA groups. RESULTS - Both the HF/HS and HF groups similarly developed obesity. EPA treatment strongly suppresses body weight gain and obesity-related hyperglycemia and hyperinsulinemia in HF/HS-fed mice (HF/HS + EPA group), where hepatic triglyceride content and lipogenic enzymes are increased. There is no appreciable effect of EPA on body weight in HF-fed mice (HF + EPA group) without enhanced expression of hepatic lipogenic enzymes. Moreover, EPA is capable of reducing hepatic triglyceride secretion and changing VLDL fatty acid composition in the HF/HS group. By indirect calorimetry analysis, we also found that EPA is capable of increasing energy consumption in the HF/HS + EPA group. CONCLUSIONS - This study is the first demonstration that the anti-obesity effect of EPA in HF/HS-induced obesity is associated with the suppression of hepatic lipogenesis and steatosis. Because the metabolic syndrome is often associated with hepatic lipogenesis and steatosis, the data suggest that EPA is suited for treatment of the metabolic syndrome.

DOI： 10.2337/db09-1554

Language：English   Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal)  

DOI： 10.2337/dc09-1315

Language：English   Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal)  

DOI： 10.2337/dc06-1179

Language：English   Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal)  

OBJECTIVE - Previous studies demonstrated that obese adipose tissue is characterized by increased infiltration of macrophages, suggesting that they might represent an important source of inflammation. Using an in vitro coculture system composed of 3T3-L1 adipocytes and RAW264 macrophages, we previously demonstrated that saturated fatty acids (FAs) and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α derived from adipocytes and macrophages, respectively, play a major role in the coculture-induced inflammatory changes. METHODS AND RESULTS - Coculture of adipocytes and macrophages resulted in the activation of nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB), a primary regulator of inflammatory responses, in both cell types. Pharmacological inhibition of NF-κB markedly suppressed the coculture-induced production of proinflammatory cytokines and adipocyte lipolysis. Peritoneal macrophages obtained from Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) mutant mice exhibited marked attenuation of TNFα production in response to saturated FAs. Notably, coculture of hypertrophied adipocytes and TLR4-mutant macrophages resulted in marked inhibition of proinflammatory cytokine production and adipocyte lipolysis. We also observed that endogenous FAs, which are released from adipocytes via the β3-adrenergic stimulation, resulted in the activation of the TLR4/NF-κB pathway. CONCLUSION - These findings suggest that saturated FAs, which are released in large quantities from hypertrophied adipocytes via the macrophage-induced adipocyte lipolysis, serve as a naturally occurring ligand for TLR4, thereby inducing the inflammatory changes in both adipocytes and macrophages through NF-κB activation.

DOI： 10.1161/01.ATV.0000251608.09329.9a

Language：English   Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal)  

In adipocytes, oxidative stress and chronic inflammation are closely associated with metabolic disorders, including insulin resistance, obesity, cardiovascular disease, and type 2 diabetes. However, the molecular mechanisms underlying these metabolic disorders have not been thoroughly elucidated. In this report, we demonstrate that overexpression of glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) in adipocytes stimulates oxidative stress and in-flammatory responses, thus affecting the neighboring macrophages. Adipogenic G6PD overexpression promotes the expression of pro-oxidative enzymes, including inducible nitric oxide synthase and NADPH oxidase, and the activation of nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) signaling, which eventually leads to the dysregulation of adipocytokines and inflammatory signals. Furthermore, secretory factors from G6PD-overexpressing adipocytes stimulate macrophages to express more proinflammatory cytokines and to be recruited to the adipocytes; this would cause chronic inflammatory conditions in the adipose tissue of obesity. These effects of G6PD overexpression in adipocytes were abolished by pretreatment with NF-κB inhibitors or antioxidant drugs. Thus, we propose that a high level of G6PD in adipocytes may mediate the onset of metabolic disorders in obesity by increasing the oxidative stress and inflammatory signals.

DOI： 10.2337/db05-1570

Language：English   Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal)  

Aims/hypothesis: Brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) is a potent vasorelaxing and natriuretic peptide that is secreted from the heart and has cardioprotective properties. We have previously generated hypotensive transgenic mice (BNP-Tg mice) that overproduce BNP in the liver, which is released into the circulation. Using this animal model, we successfully demonstrated the amelioration of renal injury after renal ablation and in proliferative glomerulonephritis. Glomerular hyperfiltration is an early haemodynamic derangement, representing one of the key mechanisms of the pathogenesis of diabetic nephropathy. Based on the suggested involvement of increased endogenous natriuretic peptides, the aim of this study was to investigate their role in the development and progression of diabetic nephropathy. Materials and methods: We evaluated the progression of renal injury and fibrogenesis in BNP-Tg mice with diabetes induced by streptozotocin. We also investigated the effect of BNP on high glucose-induced signalling abnormalities in mesangial cells. Results: After induction of diabetes, control mice exhibited progressively increased urinary albumin excretion with impaired renal function, whereas these changes were significantly ameliorated in BNP-Tg mice. Notably, diabetic BNP-Tg mice revealed minimal mesangial fibrogenesis with virtually no glomerular hypertrophy. Glomerular upregulation of extracellular signal-regulated kinase, TGF-β and extracellular matrix proteins was also significantly inhibited in diabetic BNP-Tg mice. In cultured mesangial cells, activation of the above cascade under high glucose was abrogated by the addition of BNP. Conclusions/interpretation: Chronic excess of BNP prevents glomerular injury in the setting of diabetes, suggesting that renoprotective effects of natriuretic peptides may be therapeutically applicable in preventing the progression of diabetic nephropathy.

DOI： 10.1007/s00125-006-0352-y

Language：English   Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal)  

Objective - Weight gain is associated with infiltration of fat by macrophages, suggesting that they are an important source of inflammation in obese adipose tissue. Here we developed an in vitro coculture system composed of adipocytes and macrophages and examined the molecular mechanism whereby these cells communicate. Methods and Results - Coculture of differentiated 3T3-L1 adipocytes and macrophage cell line RAW264 results in the marked upregulation of proinflammatory cytokines, such as tumor necrosis factor α(TNF-α), and the downregulation of the antiinflammatory cytokine adiponectin. Such inflammatory changes are induced by the coculture without direct contact, suggesting the role of soluble factors. A neutralizing antibody to TNF-α, which occurs mostly in macrophages, inhibits the inflammatory changes in 3T3-L1, suggesting that TNF-α is a major macrophage-derived mediator of inflammation in adipocytes. Conversely, free fatty acids (FFAs) may be important adipocyte-derived mediators of inflammation in macrophages, because the production of TNF-α in RAW264 is markedly increased by palmitate, a major FFA released from 3T3-L1. The inflammatory changes in the coculture are augmented by use of either, hypertrophied 3T3-L1 or adipose stromal vascular fraction obtained from obese ob/ob mice. Conclusions - We postulate that a paracrine loop involving FFAs and TNF-α between adipocytes and macrophages establishes a vicious cycle that aggravates inflammatory changes in the adipose tissue.

DOI： 10.1161/01.ATV.0000183883.72263.13

Language：English   Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal)  

Leptin augments glucose and lipid metabolism independent of its effect on satiety. Administration of leptin in rodents increases skeletal muscle β-oxidation by activating AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK). We previously reported that, as hyperleptinemic as obese human subjects, transgenic skinny mice overexpressing leptin in liver (LepTg) exhibit enhanced insulin sensitivity and lipid clearance. To assess skeletal muscle AMPK activity in leptin-sensitive and -insensitive states, we examined phosphorylation of AMPK and its target, acetyl CoA carboxylase (ACC), in muscles from LepTg under dietary modification. Here we show that phosphorylation of AMPK and ACC are chronically augmented in LepTg soleus muscle, with a concomitant increase in the AMP-to-ATP ratio and a significant decrease in tissue triglyceride content. Despite preexisting hyperleptinemia, high-fat diet (HFD)-fed LepTg develop obesity, insulin-resistance, and hyperlipidemia. In parallel, elevated soleus AMPK and ACC phosphorylation in regular diet-fed LepTg is attenuated, and tissue triglyceride content is increased in those given HFD. Of note, substitution of HFD with regular diet causes a robust recovery of soleus AMPK and ACC phosphorylation in LepTg, with a higher rate of body weight reduction and a regain of insulin sensitivity. In conclusion, soleus AMPK and ACC phosphorylation in LepTg changes in parallel with its insulin sensitivity under dietary modification, suggesting a close association between skeletal muscle AMPK activity and sensitivity to leptin.

DOI： 10.2337/diabetes.54.8.2365

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Intrauterine undernutrition is closely associated with obesity related to detrimental metabolic sequelae in adulthood. We report a mouse model in which offspring with fetal undernutrition (UN offspring), when fed a high-fat diet (HFD), develop pronounced weight gain and adiposity. In the neonatal period, UN offspring exhibited a premature onset of neonatal leptin surge compared to offspring with intrauterine normal nutrition (NN offspring). Unexpectedly, premature leptin surge generated in NN offspring by exogenous leptin administration led to accelerated weight gain with an HFD. Both UN offspring and neonatally leptin-treated NN offspring exhibited an impaired response to acute peripheral leptin administration on a regular chow diet (RCD) with impaired leptin transport to the brain as well as an increased density of hypothalamic nerve terminals. The present study suggests that the premature leptin surge alters energy regulation by the hypothalamus and contributes to "developmental origins of health and disease.".

DOI： 10.1016/j.cmet.2005.05.005

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Angiopoietin-related growth factor (AGF), a member of the angiopoietin-like protein (Angptl) family, is secreted predominantly from the liver into the systemic circulation. Here, we show that most (>80%) of the AGF-deficient mice die at about embryonic day 13, whereas the surviving AGF-deficient mice develop marked obesity, lipid accumulation in skeletal muscle and liver, and insulin resistance accompanied by reduced energy expenditure relative to controls. In parallel, mice with targeted activation of AGF show leanness and increased insulin sensitivity resulting from increased energy expenditure. They are also protected from high-fat diet-induced obesity, insulin resistance and nonadipose tissue steatosis. Hepatic overexpression of AGF by adenoviral transduction, which leads to an approximately 2.5-fold increase in serum AGF concentrations, results in a significant (P < 0.01) body weight loss and increases insulin sensitivity in mice fed a high-fat diet. This study establishes AGF as a new hepatocyte-derived circulating factor that counteracts obesity and related insulin resistance.

DOI： 10.1038/nm1214

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Background - Recent clinical trials have shown that systemic infusion of nesiritide, a recombinant human brain natriuretic peptide (BNP), improves hemodynamic parameters in acutely decompensated hearts. This suggests that BNP exerts a direct cardioprotective effect and might thus be a useful therapeutic agent with which to treat acute myocardial infarction (MI). In the present study, we used BNP-transgenic (BNP-Tg) mice with elevated plasma BNP to determine whether and how BNP contributes to left ventricular remodeling and healing after MI. Methods and Results - We examined the accumulation of neutrophils and the expression and activation of matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-9 in the ventricles of male BNP-Tg mice and their nontransgenic (non-Tg) littermates during the early phase after acute MI. The numbers of neutrophils infiltrating the infarcted area were significantly increased in BNP-Tg mice 3 days after MI. In addition, both the gene expression and zymographic activity of MMP-9, but not MMP-2, were significantly higher in BNP-Tg than non-Tg mice. Double immunostaining revealed that neutrophils are the main source of the MMP-9, although doxycycline, an MMP inhibitor, had no effect on neutrophil infiltration of the infarcted area in BNP-Tg mice. Conclusions - These results demonstrate that elevated plasma BNP facilitates neutrophil infiltration of the infarcted area after MI and increases the activity of the MMP-9 they produce. This suggests that BNP plays a key role in the processes of extracellular matrix remodeling and wound-healing during the early phase after acute MI.

DOI： 10.1161/01.CIR.0000147829.78357.C5

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DOI： 10.2337/diacare.27.10.2488

Language：English   Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal)  

Diabetic retinopathy is the leading cause of new blindness in adults in developed countries. Leptin, an adipocyte-derived hormone, stimulates endothelial proliferation and angiogenesis. This study was designed to elucidate the pathophysiologic role of leptin in the progression of retinal neovascularization. Using the retinopathy of prematurity model, a mouse model of ischemia-induced retinal neovascularization, we have demonstrated more pronounced retinal neovascularization in 17-day-old transgenic mice overexpressing leptin than in age-matched wild-type littermates. Ischemia-induced retinal neovascularization was markedly suppressed in 17-day-old leptin-deficient ob/ob mice. Western blot analysis revealed that a biologically active leptin receptor isoform is expressed in mouse retinal endothelial cells. Leptin receptor expression was also detected in primary cultures of porcine retinal endothelial cells, where it upregulated vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) mRNA expression. This effect was thought to be mediated at least partly through the activation of signal transducers and activators of transcription (STAT)3, because adenoviral transfection of the dominant-negative form of STAT3 abolished the leptin-induced upregulation of VEGF mRNA expression in retinal endothelial cells. This study provides evidence that leptin stimulates the ischemia-induced retinal neovasucularization possibly through the upregulation of endothelial VEGF, thereby suggesting that leptin antagonism may offer a novel therapeutic strategy to prevent or treat diabetic retinopathy.

DOI： 10.2337/diabetes.53.9.2443

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Leptin is a powerful inhibitor of bone formation in vivo. This antiosteogenic function involves leptin binding to its receptors on ventromedial hypothalamic neurons, the autonomous nervous system and β-adrenergic receptors on osteoblasts. However, the mechanisms whereby leptin controls the function of ventromedial hypothalamic antiosteogenic neurons remain unclear. In this study, we compared the ability of leptin to regulate body weight and bone mass and show that leptin antiosteogenic and anorexigenic functions are affected by similar amounts of leptin. Using a knock-in of LacZ in the leptin locus, we failed to detect any leptin synthesis in the central nervous system. However, increasing serum leptin level, even dramatically, reduced bone mass. Conversely, reducing serum-free leptin level by overexpressing a soluble receptor for leptin increased bone mass. Congruent with these results, the high bone mass of lipodystrophic mice could be corrected by restoring serum leptin level, suggesting that leptin is an adipocyte product both necessary and sufficient to control bone mass. Consistent with the high bone mass phenotype of lipodystrophic mice, we observed an advanced bone age, an indirect reflection of premature bone formation, in lipodystrophic patients. Taken together, these results indicate that adipocyte-derived circulating leptin is a determinant of bone formation and suggests that leptin antiosteogenic function is conserved in vertebrates.

DOI： 10.1073/pnas.0308744101

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Achondroplasia is the most common genetic form of human dwarfism, for which there is presently no effective therapy. C-type natriuretic peptide (CNP) is a newly identified molecule that regulates endochondral bone growth through GC-B, a subtype of particulate guanylyl cyclase. Here we show that targeted overexpression of CNP in chondrocytes counteracts dwarfism in a mouse model of achondroplasia with activated fibroblast growth factor receptor 3 (FGFR-3) in the cartilage. CNP prevented the shortening of achondroplastic bones by correcting the decreased extracellular matrix synthesis in the growth plate through inhibition of the MAPK pathway of FGF signaling. CNP had no effect on the STAT-1 pathway of FGF signaling that mediates the decreased proliferation and the delayed differentiation of achondroplastic chondrocytes. These results demonstrate that activation of the CNP-GC-B system in endochondral bone formation constitutes a new therapeutic strategy for human achondroplasia.

DOI： 10.1038/nm971

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OBJECTIVE - Thiazolidinediones (TZDs), a class of insulin-sensitizing agents used clinically to treat type 2 diabetes, are also antiatherogenic. This study was designed to elucidate the relationship between the antiatherogenic and antidiabetic effects of pioglitazone, a TZD, in type 2 diabetic patients. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS - A total of 136 Japanese type 2 diabetic patients were included and divided into two groups: the pioglitazone-treated group (30 mg daily for 3 months) (n = 70) and the untreated control group (n = 66). The changes in glycolipid metabolism as well as plasma high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (CRP), leptin, adiponectin, and pulse wave velocity (PWV) were monitored to analyze the relationship between the antiatherogenic and antidiabetic effects of pioglitazone. RESULTS - The pioglitazone treatment significantly reduced hyperglycemia, hyperinsulinemia, and HbA_1c levels and increased plasma adiponectin concentrations relative to the control group (P < 0.01). It also significantly decreased CRP and PWV (P < 0.01). The antiatherogenic effect was observed in both the nonresponders showing < 1% of reduction in HbA_1c (n = 30) and responders showing > 1% of reduction (n = 40). ANCOVA revealed that treatment with pioglitazone was associated with a low CRP and PWV, independent of the changes in parameters related to glucose metabolism. CONCLUSIONS - This study represents the first demonstration of the antiatherogenic effect of pioglitazone in both nonresponders and responders with respect to its antidiabetic effect and suggests that pioglitazone can exert its antiatherogenic effect independently of its antidiabetic effect.

DOI： 10.2337/diacare.26.9.2493

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The melanocortin-4 receptor (MC4R) is a member of the seven membrane-spanning G protein-coupled receptor superfamily and signals through the activation of adenylyl cyclase. The MC4R mutations are the most common known monogenic cause of human obesity. However, no such mutations have been found in Japanese obese subjects. Here we report a novel homozygous missense mutation of MC4R (G98R) in a nondiabetic Japanese woman with severe early-onset obesity, which is located in its second transmembrane domain. Her birth weight was 3,360 g, and she gained weight progressively from 10 months of age. At 40 years of age, her weight reached 160 kg and a BMI of 62 kg/m². Her parents, who are heterozygous for the mutation, have BMIs of 26 and 27 kg/m². In vitro transient transfection assays revealed no discernable agonist ligand binding and cAMP production in HEK293 cells expressing the mutant receptor, indicating a severe loss-of-function mutation. This study represents the first demonstration of a pathogenic mutation of MC4R in Japan and will provide further insight into the pathophysiologic role of the hypothalamic melanocortin system in human obesity.

DOI： 10.2337/diabetes.51.1.243

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Thiazolidinediones, insulin-sensitizing agents, have been reported to increase glucose uptake along with the expression of glucose transporters in adipocytes and cardiomyocytes. Recently, we have further suggested that the translocation of GLUT4 is stimulated by thiazolidinediones in L6 myocytes. However, the direct effects of thiazolidinediones on translocation of glucose transporters have not yet been determined. In this study, using hemagglutinin epitope-tagged GLUT4 (GLUT4-HA), we provide direct evidence of the effect of troglitazone on the translocation of GLUT4 in rat epididymal adipocytes. Primary cultures of rat adipocytes were transiently transfected with GLUT4-HA and over-expressed eightfold compared with endogenous GLUT4 in transfected cells. A total of 24 h of treatment with troglitazone (10^-4 mol/l) increased the cell surface level of GLUT4-HA by 1.5 ± 0.03-fold (P < 0.01) without changing the total amount of GLUT4-HA, whereas it increased the protein level of endogenous GLUT4 (1.4-fold) without changing that of GLUT1. Thus, the direct effect on the translocation can be detected apart from the increase in endogenous GLUT4 content using GLUT4-HA. Troglitazone not only increased the translocation of GLUT4-HA on the cell surface in the basal state but also caused a leftward shift in the dose-response relations between GLUT4-HA translocation and insulin concentration in the medium (ED₅₀: from ∼0.1 to 0.03 nmol/l). These effects may partly contribute to the antidiabetic activity of troglitazone in patients with obesity and type 2 diabetes.

DOI： 10.2337/diabetes.50.10.2296

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Lipoatrophic diabetes is caused by a deficiency of adipose tissue and is characterized by severe insulin resistance, hypoleptinemia, and hyperphagia. The A-ZIP/F-1 mouse (A-ZIPTg/+) is a model of severe lipoatrophic diabetes and is insulin resistant, hypoleptinemic, hyperphagic, and shows severe hepatic steatosis. We have also produced transgenic "skinny" mice that have hepatic overexpression of leptin (LepTg/+) and no adipocyte triglyceride stores, and are hypophagic and show increased insulin sensitivity. To explore the pathophysiological and therapeutic roles of leptin in lipoatrophic diabetes, we crossed LepTg/+ and A-ZIPTg/+ mice, producing doubly transgenic mice (LepTg/+:A-ZIPTg/+) virtually lacking adipose tissue but having greatly elevated leptin levels. The LepTg/+:A-ZIPTg/+ mice were hypophagic and showed improved hepatic steatosis. Glucose and insulin tolerance tests revealed increased insulin sensitivity, comparable to LepTg/+ mice. These effects were stable over at least 6 months of age. Pair-feeding the A-ZIPTg/+ mice to the amount of food consumed by LepTg/+:A-ZIPTg/+ mice did not improve their insulin resistance, diabetes, or hepatic steatosis, demonstrating that the beneficial effects of leptin were not due to the decreased food intake. Continuous leptin administration that elevates plasma leptin concentrations to those of LepTg/+:A-ZIPTg/+ mice also effectively improved hepatic steatosis and the disorder of glucose and lipid metabolism in A-ZIP/F-1 mice. These data demonstrate that leptin can improve the insulin resistance and diabetes of a mouse model of severe lipoatrophic diabetes, suggesting that leptin may be therapeutically useful in the long-term treatment of lipoatrophic diabetes.

DOI： 10.2337/diabetes.50.6.1440

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Longitudinal bone growth is determined by endochondral ossification that occurs as chondrocytes in the cartilaginous growth plate undergo proliferation, hypertrophy, cell death, and osteoblastic replacement. The natriuretic peptide family consists of three structurally related endogenous ligands, atrial, brain, and C-type natriuretic peptides (ANP, BNP, and CNP), and is thought to be involved in a variety of homeostatic processes. To investigate the physiological significance of CNP in vivo, we generated mice with targeted disruption of CNP (Nppc^-/- mice). The Nppc^-/- mice show severe dwarfism as a result of impaired endochondral ossification. They are all viable perinatally, but less than half can survive during postnatal development. The skeletal phenotypes are histologically similar to those seen in patients with achondroplasia, the most common genetic form of human dwarfism. Targeted expression of CNP in the growth plate chondrocytes can rescue the skeletal defect of Nppc^-/- mice and allow their prolonged survival. This study demonstrates that CNP acts locally as a positive regulator of endochondral ossification in vivo and suggests its pathophysiological and therapeutic implication in some forms of skeletal dysplasia.

DOI： 10.1073/pnas.071389098

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The rat zitter (zi) mutation induces hypomyelination and vacuolation in the central nervous system (CNS), which result in early-onset tremor and progressive flaccid paresis. By positional cloning, we found a marked decrease in Attractin (Atrn) mRNA in the brain of the zi/zi rat and identified zi as an 8-bp deletion at a splice donor site of Atrn. Atrn has been known to play multiple roles in regulating physiological processes that are involved in monocyte-T cell interaction, agouti-related hair pigmentation, and control of energy homeostasis. Rat Atrn gene encoded two isoforms, a secreted and a membrane form, as a result of alternative splicing. The zi mutation at the Atrn locus darkened coat color when introduced into agouti rats, as also described in mahogany (mg) mice, carrying the homozygous mutation at the Atrn locus. Transgenic rescue experiments showed that the membrane-type Atrn complemented both neurological alteration and abnormal pigmentation in zi/zi rats, but that the secreted-type Atrn complemented neither mutant phenotype. Furthermore, we discovered that mg mice exhibited hypomyelination and vacuolation in the CNS associated with body tremor. We conclude from these results that the membrane Atrn has a critical role in normal myelination in the CNS and would provide insights into the physiology of myelination as well as the etiology of myelin diseases.

DOI： 10.1073/pnas.98.2.559

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A number of studies have demonstrated that insulin resistance in the skeletal muscle plays a pivotal role in the insulin resistance associated with obesity and type 2 diabetes. A decrease in GLUT4 translocation from the intracellular pool to the plasma membranes in skeletal muscles has been implicated as a possible cause of insulin resistance. Herein, we examined the effects of an insulin-sensitizing drug, troglitazone (TGZ), on glucose uptake and the translocation of GLUT4 in L6 myotubes. The prolonged exposure (24 h) of L6 myotubes to TGZ (10^-5 mol/l) caused a substantial increase in the 2-deoxy-[₃H]D-glucose (2-DG) uptake without changing the total amount of the glucose transporters GLUT4, GLUT1, and GLUT3. The TGZ-induced 2-DG uptake was completely abolished by cytochalasin-B (10 μmol/l). The ability of TGZ to translocate GLUT4 from light microsomes to the crude plasma membranes was greater than that of insulin. Both cycloheximide treatment (3.5 × 10^-6 mol/l) and the removal of TGZ by washing reversed the 2-DG uptake to the basal level. Moreover, insulin did not enhance the TGZ-induced 2-DG uptake additively. The TGZ-induced 2-DG uptake was only partially reversed by wortmannin to 80%, and TGZ did not change the expression and the phosphorylation of protein kinase B; the expression of protein kinase C (PKC)-λ, PKC-β2, and PKC-ξ; or 5′ AMP-activated protein kinase activity. α-Tocopherol, which has a molecular structure similar to that of TGZ, did not increase 2-DG uptake. We conclude that the glucose transport in L6 myotubes exposed to TGZ for 24 h is the result of an increased translocation of GLUT4. The present results imply that the effects of troglitazone on GLUT4 translocation may include a new mechanism for improving glucose transport in skeletal muscle.

DOI： 10.2337/diabetes.50.5.1093

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Ghrelin, an endogenous ligand for growth hormone secretagogue (GHS) receptor originally isolated from the stomach, occurs in the hypothalamic arcuate nucleus and may play a role in energy homeostasis. Synthetic GHSs have activated the hypothalamic arcuate neurons containing neuropeptide Y (NPY), suggesting the involvement of NPY in some of ghrelin actions. This study was designed to elucidate the role of ghrelin in the regulation of food intake. A single intracerebroventricular (ICV) injection of ghrelin (5-5,000 ng/rat) caused a significant and dose-related increase in cumulative food intake in rats. Ghrelin (500 ng/rat) was also effective in growth hormone-deficient spontaneous dwarf rats. Hypothalamic NPY mRNA expression was increased in rats that received a single ICV injection of ghrelin (500 ng/rat)( ∼ 6 160% of that in vehicle-treated groups, P < 0.05). The ghrelin's orexigenic effect was abolished dose-dependently by ICV co-injection of NPY Y1 receptor antagonist (10-30 μg/rat). The leptin-induced inhibition of food intake was reversed by ICV co-injection of ghrelin in a dose-dependent manner (5-500 ng/rat). Leptin reduced hypothalamic NPY mRNA expression by 35% (P < 0.05), which was abolished by ICV co-injection of ghrelin (500 ng/rat). This study provides evidence that ghrelin is an orexigenic peptide that antagonizes leptin action through the activation of hypothalamic NPY/Y1 receptor pathway.

DOI： 10.2337/diabetes.50.2.227

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To explore the pathophysiological role of leptin in obesity-related hypertension, we examined cardiovascular phenotypes of transgenic skinny mice whose elevated plasma leptin concentrations are comparable to those seen in obese subjects. We also studied genetically obese KKA(y) mice with hyperleptinemia, in which hypothalamic melanocortin system is antagonized by ectopic expression of the agouti protein. Systolic blood pressure (BP) and urinary catecholamine excretion are elevated in transgenic skinny mice relative to nontransgenic littermates. The BP elevation in transgenic skinny mice is abolished by α₁-adrenergic, β-adrenergic, or ganglionic blockers at doses that do not affect BP in nontransgenic littermates. Central administration of an α-melanocyte-stimulating hormone antagonist causes a marked increase in cumulative food intake but no significant changes in BP. The obese KKA(y) mice develop BP elevation with increased urinary catecholamine excretion relative to control KK mice. After a 2-week caloric restriction, BP elevation is reversed in nontransgenic littermates with the A(y) allele, in parallel with a reduction in plasma leptin concentrations, but is sustained in transgenic mice overexpressing leptin with the A(y) allele, which remain hyperleptinemic. This study demonstrates BP elevation in transgenic skinny mice and obese KKA(y) mice that are both hyperleptinemic, thereby suggesting the pathophysiological role of leptin in some forms of obesity-related hypertension.

DOI： 10.1172/JCI8341

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Cardiac fibrosis, defined as a proliferation of interstitial fibroblasts and biosynthesis of extracellular matrix components in the ventricles of the heart, is a consequence of remodeling processes initiated by pathologic events associated with a variety of cardiovascular disorders, which leads to abnormal myocardial stiffness and, ultimately, ventricular dysfunction. Brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) is a cardiac hormone produced primarily by ventricular myocytes, and its plasma concentrations are markedly elevated in patients with congestive heart failure and acute myocardial infarction. However, its precise functional significance has been undefined. In this paper, we report the generation of mice with targeted disruption of BNP (Nppb(-/-) mice). We observed multifocal fibrotic lesions in the ventricles from Nppb(-/-) mice. No signs of systemic hypertension and ventricular hypertrophy are noted in Nppb(-/-) mice. In response to ventricular pressure overload, focal fibrotic lesions are increased in size and number in Nppb(-/- ) mice, whereas no focal fibrotic changes are found in wild-type littermates (Nppb(+/+) mice). This study establishes BNP as a cardiomyocyte-derived antifibrotic factor in vivo and provides evidence for its role as a local regulator of ventricular remodeling.

DOI： 10.1073/pnas.070371497

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Excess or loss of body fat can be associated with infertility, suggesting that adequate fat mass is essential for proper reproductive function. Leptin is an adipocyte-derived hormone that is involved in the regulation of food intake and energy expenditure, and its synthesis and secretion are markedly increased in obesity. Short-term administration of leptin accelerates the onset of puberty in normal mice and corrects the sterility of leptin-deficient ob/ob mice. These findings suggest a role for leptin as an endocrine signal between fat depots and the reproductive axis, but the effect of hyperleptinemia on the initiation and maintenance of reproductive function has not been elucidated. To address this issue, we examined the reproductive phenotypes of female transgenic skinny mice with elevated plasma leptin concentrations comparable to those in obese subjects. With no apparent adipose tissue, female transgenic skinny mice exhibit accelerated puberty and intact fertility at younger ages followed by successful delivery of healthy pups. However, at older ages, they develop hypothalamic hypogonadism characterized by prolonged menstrual cycles, atrophic ovary, reduced hypothalamic gonadotropin releasing hormone contents, and poor pituitary luteinizing hormone secretion. This study has demonstrated for the first time to our knowledge that accelerated puberty and late-onset hypothalamic hypogonadism are associated with chronic hyperleptinemia, thereby leading to a better understanding of the pathophysiological and therapeutic implication of leptin.

DOI： 10.1172/JCI8353

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To address a role of mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) in the regulation of glucose transport, we made a constitutively active mutant of MAPK kinase (MAPKK) and introduced it into 3T3-L1 preadipocytes by using a retrovirus-mediated transfection procedure. The deletion of 20 amino acids (those between and including 32 and 51) in the amino terminal region of Xenopus MAPKK and the replacement of serine residues on the 218 and 222 positions by glutamic acid (dSESE-MAPKK) let Xenopus MAPKK constitutively active. The isolated cell clones differently expressing dSESE-MAPKK (clone 219 higher expression, clone 233 lower expression) efficiently differentiated to adipocytes by a standard differentiation cocktail. Accordingly, the increased expression of dSESE-MAPKK protein during differentiation resulted in the increased basal MAPK activity in clone 219 adipocytes and, to a lesser extent, in clone 233 adipocytes. In contrast to clone 233 and parental adipocytes, basal 2-deoxyglucose uptake was enhanced fourfold in clone 219 adipocytes, in accordance with increased expression of GLUT1 mRNA and protein. Whereas GLUT4 mRNA was similarly expressed in all of the adipocytes, GLUT4 protein appeared to decrease in clone 219 adipocytes. More importantly, subcellular fractionation studies showed that the localization of both GLUT1 and GLUT4 in the plasma membranes (PMs) was markedly increased in the basal state in clone 219 adipocytes compared with that in clone 233 and parental adipocytes, in which both glucose transporters were preferentially located in intracellular compartments. Consequently, insulin-induced translocation of GLUT1 was abolished in clone 219 adipocytes, although the remaining intracellular GLUT4 was still responsive to insulin stimulation, which led to the movement to the PM. As combined effects on the situation of GLUT1 and GLUT4, the foldness of insulin stimulation of glucose transport based on the basal activity was reduced in cells expressing constitutively active MAPKK. These results imply that chronic activation of MAPK could be one of the mechanisms for insulin resistance.

DOI： 10.2337/diabetes.49.3.332

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To understand the role of agouti-related protein (AGRP), an endogenous antagonist of hypothalamic melanocortin receptor, in leptin action, we produced a full-length recombinant AGRP and examined its effect on the satiety effect of leptin. We also studied leptin's regulation of hypothalamic AGRP mRNA expression. A single intracerebroventricular (ICV) injection of AGRP significantly increased cumulative food intake and body weight in a dose-dependent manner in rats. The leptin-induced inhibition of food intake and body weight was reversed by co-injection of AGRP in a dose-dependent manner. Hypothalamic AGRP mRNA expression was upregulated in leptin-deficient ob/ob mice and leptin receptor-deficient db/db mice and downregulated in lethal yellow agouti mice (KKA(y) mice) with hyperleptinemia. A single ICV injection of leptin reversed the increased AGRP mRNA levels in ob/ob mice but not in db/db mice. In control mice and KKA(y) mice, AGRP mRNA expression was upregulated during fasting, when plasma leptin concentrations were decreased. No significant increase in AGRP mRNA expression was noted during fasting in control mice and KKA(y) mice treated with leptin. This study provides the first direct evidence that AGRP is a negative regulator of leptin action, and leptin downregulates hypothalamic AGRP production. Because leptin is shown to increase hypothalamic α-melanocyte stimulating hormone (e-MSH) production, our data suggest that its action via the hypothalamic melanocortin system is determined by the balance between the levels of its agonist and antagonist, α-MSH and AGRP.

DOI： 10.2337/diabetes.48.10.2028

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Excess of body fat, or obesity, is a major health problem and confers a higher risk of cardiovascular and metabolic disorders such as diabetes, hypertension, and coronary heart disease. Leptin is an adipocyte-derived satiety factor that plays an important role in the regulation of energy homeostasis, and its synthesis and secretion are markedly increased in obese subjects. To explore the metabolic consequences of an increased amount of leptin on a long-term basis in vivo, we generated transgenic skinny mice with elevated plasma leptin concentrations comparable to those in obese subjects. Overexpression of leptin in the liver has resulted in complete disappearance of white and brown adipose tissue for a long period of time in mice. Transgenic skinny mice exhibit increased glucose metabolism accompanied by the activation of insulin signaling in the skeletal muscle and liver. They also show small-sized livers with a marked decrease in glycogen and lipid storage. The phenotypes are in striking contrast to those of recently reported animal models of lipoatrophic diabetes and patients with lipoatrophic diabetes with reduced amount of leptin. The present study provides evidence that leptin is an adipocyte-derived antidiabetic hormone in vivo and suggests its pathophysiologic and therapeutic implications in diabetes.

DOI： 10.2337/diabetes.48.9.1822

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Leptin is an adipocyte-derived blood-borne satiety factor that acts directly on the hypothalamus, thereby regulating food intake and energy expenditure. We have demonstrated that the hypothalamic arcuate nucleus (Arc) is a primary site of the satiety effect of leptin (Neurosci Lett 224:149-152, 1997). To explore the hypothalamic pathway of sympathetic activation of leptin, we examined the effects of a single intravenous or intracerebroventricular injection of recombinant human leptin on catecholamine secretion in rats. We also examined the effects of direct microinjection of leptin into the ventromedial hypothalamus (VMH), Arc, paraventricular nucleus (PVN), and dorsomedial hypothalamus (DMH) in rats. To further assess whether sympathetic activation of leptin is mediated via the VMH, we also examined the effects of a single intravenous injection of leptin in VMH-lesioned rats. A single injection of leptin (0.25-1.0 mg i.v./rat or 0.5-2.0 pg i.c.v./rat) increased plasma norepinephrine (NE) and epinephrine (EPI) concentrations in a dose-dependent manner. Plasma NE and EPI concentrations were increased significantly when leptin was injected directly into the VMH but were unchanged when injected into the Arc, PVN, and DMH. Plasma NE and EPI concentrations were unchanged in VMH-lesioned rats that received a single intravenous injection of leptin. The present study provides evidence that a leptin-induced increase in catecholamine secretion is mediated primarily via the VMH and suggests the presence of distinct hypothalamic pathways mediating the satiety effect and sympathetic activation of leptin.

DOI： 10.2337/diabetes.48.9.1787

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Background-Obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS) is a common disorder in obese subjects. Visceral fat accumulation (VFA) is a better predictor of coronary heart disease than body mass index. Leptin is a hormone involved in the control of body weight and fat distribution. The effect of nasal continuous positive airway pressure (NCPAP) treatment on VFA and serum leptin levels in OSAS patients has not been known. Methods and Results-VFA and subcutaneous fat accumulation (SFA) were assessed by CT before and after NCPAP treatment in 22 OSAS patients (mean apnea and hypopnea index >50 episodes/h). Serum leptin levels of another 21 OSAS patients were measured before and after 3 to 4 days of NCPAP to gain insight into the mechanism by which NCPAP affects fat distribution. VFA and SFA decreased significantly after 6 months of NCPAP treatment (236 ± 16 to 182±14cm², P=0.0003 and 215±21 to 189±18 cm² P=0.003, respectively). VFA decreased significantly in the body weight reduction group (n=9, P<0.01) and the no body weight reduction group (n=13, P<0.03). In contrast, SFA changed significantly in the body weight reduction group only (P<0.01). Leptin levels decreased significantly following 3 to 4 days of NCPAP (P<0.01), whereas body weight, fasting insulin, and cortisol levels did not change significantly. Conclusions-Correction of sleep disordered breathing by NCPAP may be used to reduce VFA in OSAS patients. OSAS may have significant effects on the serum leptin levels.

DOI： 10.1161/01.CIR.100.7.706

Language：English   Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal)  

Leptin acts as an adipocyte-derived blood-borne satiety factor that can increase glucose metabolism. To elucidate the therapeutic implications of leptin for obesity-associated diabetes, we crossed transgenic skinny mice overexpressing leptin (Tg/+), which we have developed recently, and lethal yellow KK(y) mice (A(y)/+), a genetic model for obesity-diabetes syndrome, and examined the metabolic phenotypes of F₁ animals. At 6 weeks of age, plasma leptin concentrations in Tg/+ mice with the A(y) allele (Tg/+:A(y)/+) were significantly higher than those in A(y)/+ mice. Although no significant differences in body weight were noted among Tg/+:A(y)/+ mice, A(y)/+ mice, and their wild-type lean littermates (+/+), glucose and insulin tolerance tests revealed increased glucose tolerance and insulin sensitivity in Tg/+:A(y)/+ compared with A(y)/+ mice. However, at 12 weeks of age, when plasma leptin concentrations in A(y)/+ mice were comparable to those in Tg/+:A(y)/+ mice, Tg/+:A(y)/+ mice developed obesity-diabetes syndrome similar to that of A(y)[+ mice. Body weights of 12-week-old Tg/+:A(y)/+ and A(y)/+ mice were reduced to those of +/+ mice by a 3-week food restriction; when plasma leptin concentrations remained high in Tg/+:A(y)/+ mice but were markedly reduced in A(y)/+ and +/+ mice, glucose tolerance and insulin sensitivity in Tg/+:A(y)/+ mice were markedly improved as compared with A(y)/+ and +/+ mice. The present study demonstrates that hyperleptinemia can delay the onset of impaired glucose metabolism and accelerate the recovery from diabetes during caloric restriction in Tg/+:A(y)/+ mice, thereby suggesting the potential usefulness of leptin in combination with a long- term caloric restriction for the treatment of obesity-associated diabetes.

DOI： 10.2337/diabetes.48.8.1615

Language：English   Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal)  

Background - Coronary spasm plays an important role in the pathogenesis of ischemic heart diseases in general. However, the precise mechanism(s) responsible for coronary spasm remains to be elucidated, and we examined the molecular genetics of coronary spasm. Methods and Results - We Searched for the possible mutations in the endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) gene in patients with coronary spasm. In this study, we demonstrate the existence of 3 linked mutations in the 5'-flanking region of the eNOS gene (T^-786 → C, A^-922 → G, and T^-1468 → A). The incidence of the mutations was significantly greater in patients with coronary spasm than in the control group (P < 0.0001). Multiple logistic regression analysis with forward stepwise selection using the environmental risk factors and the eNOS gene variant revealed that the most predictive independent risk factor for coronary spasm was the mutant allele (P < 0.0001). As assessed by luciferase reporter gene assays, the T^-786 → C mutation resulted in a significant reduction in eNOS gene promoter activity (P < 0.05), whereas neither the A^{- 922} → G nor the T^-1468 → A mutation had any affect. Conclusions - Taken together, these findings strongly suggest that the T^-786 → C mutation in the eNOS gene reduces the endothelial NO synthesis and predisposes the patients with the mutation to coronary spasm.

DOI： 10.1161/01.CIR.99.22.2864

Language：English   Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal)  

Background - Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) is an important angiogenic factor reported to induce migration and proliferation of endothelial cells, enhance vascular permeability, and modulate thrombogenicity. VEGF expression in cultured cells (smooth muscle cells, macrophages, endothelial cells) is controlled by growth factors and cytokines. Hence, the question arises of whether VEGF could play a role in atherogenesis. Methods and Results - Frozen sections from 38 coronary artery segments were studied. The specimens were characterized as normal with diffuse intimal thickening, early atherosclerosis with hypercellularity, and advanced atherosclerosis (atheromatous plaques, fibrous plaques, and totally occlusive lesions). VEGF expression as well as the expression of 2 VEGF receptors, flt-1 and Flk-1, were studied with immunohistochemical techniques in these samples at the different stages of human coronary atherosclerosis progression. The expression of VEGF mRNA was also studied with reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction. Normal arterial segments showed no substantial VEGF expression hypercellular and atheromatous lesions showed distinct VEGF positivity of activated endothelial cells, macrophages, and partially differentiated smooth muscle cells. VEGF positivity was also detected in endothelial cells of intraplaque microvessels within advanced lesions. In totally occlusive lesions with extensive neovascularization, intense immunostaining for VEGF was observed in accumulated macrophages and endothelial cells of the microvessels. Furthermore, VEGF mRNA expression was detected in atherosclerotic coronary segments but not in normal coronary segments. The immunostainings for flt-1 and Flk-1 were detected in aggregating macrophages in atherosclerotic lesions and also in endothelial cells of the microvessels in totally occlusive lesions. Conclusions - These results demonstrate distinct expression of VEGF and its receptors (flt-1 and Flk-1) in atherosclerotic lesions in human coronary arteries. Considering the multipotent actions of VEGF documented experimentally in vivo and in vitro, our findings suggest that VEGF may have some role in the progression of human coronary atherosclerosis, as well as in recanalization processes in obstructive coronary diseases.

DOI： 10.1161/01.CIR.98.20.2108

Language：English   Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal)  

Longitudinal bone growth is determined by the process of endochondral ossification in the cartilaginous growth plate, which is located at both ends of vertebrae and long bones and involves many systemic hormones and local regulators. Natriuretic peptides organize a family of three structurally related peptides: atrial natriuretic peptide, brain natriuretic peptide (BNP), and C-type natriuretic peptide. Atrial natriuretic peptide and BNP are cardiac hormones that are produced predominantly by the atrium and ventricle, respectively. C-type natriuretic peptide occurs in a wide variety of tissues, where it acts as a local regulator. These peptides can influence body fluid homeostasis and blood pressure control through the activation of two guanylyl cyclase (GC)-coupled natriuretic peptide receptor subtypes - GC-A and GC-B. We report here marked skeletal overgrowth in transgenic mice that overexpress BNP. Transgenic mice with elevated plasma BNP concentrations exhibited deformed bony skeletons characterized by kyphosis, elongated limbs and paws, and crooked tails, Bone abnormalities resulted from a high turnover of endochondral ossification accompanied by overgrowth of the growth plate. Studies using an in vitro organ culture of embryonic mouse tibias revealed that BNP increases the height of cartilaginous primordium directly, thereby stimulating the total longitudinal bone growth. The present study demonstrates that natriuretic peptides can affect the process of endochondral ossification.

DOI： 10.1073/pnas.95.5.2337

Language：English   Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal)  

DOI： 10.1016/S0140-6736(05)63940-2

Language：English   Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal)  

Background: In cardiac hypertrophy, both excessive enlargement of cardiac myocytes and progressive interstitial fibrosis are well known to occur simultaneously. In the present study, to investigate the interaction between ventricular myocytes (MCs) and cardiac nonmyocytes (NMCs), mostly fibroblasts, during cardiocytes hypertrophy, we examined the change in cell size and gene expression of atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP) and brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) in cultured MCs as markers for hypertrophy in the neonatal rat ventricular cardiac cell culture system. Methods and Results: The size of cultured MCs significantly increased in the MC-NMC coculture. Concomitantly, secretions of ANP and BNP into culture media were significantly increased in the MC-NMC coculture compared with in the MC culture (with the possible contamination of NMC <1% of MC). Moreover, in the MC culture, enlargement of MC and an increase in ANP and BNP secretions were induced by treatment with conditioned media of the NMC culture. A considerable amount of endothelin (ET)-1 production was detected in the NMC- conditioned media. BQ-123, an ET-A receptor antagonist, and bosentan, a nonselective ET receptor antagonist, significantly blocked the hypertrophic response of MCs induced by treatment with NMC-conditioned media. Angiotensin II (Ang II) (10^-10 to 10^-6 mol/L) and transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1) (10^-13 to 10^-9 mol/L), both of which are known to be cardiac hypertrophic factors, did not induce hypertrophy in MC culture, but both Ang II and TGF-β1 increased the size of MCs and augmented ANP and BNP productions in the MC-NMC coculture. This hypertrophic activity of Ang II and TGF-β1 was associated with the potentiation of ET-1 production in the MC- NMC coculture, and the effect of Ang II or TGF-β1 on the secretions of ANP and BNP in the coculture was significantly suppressed by pretreatment with BQ-123. Conclusions: These results demonstrate that NMCs regulate MC hypertrophy at least partially via ET-1 secretion and that the interaction between MCs and NMCs plays a critical role during the process of Ang II-or TGF-β1-induced cardiocyte hypertrophy.

DOI： 10.1161/01.CIR.96.10.3737

Language：English   Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal)  

Leptin is an adipocyte-derived bloodborne satiety factor that acts on its cognate leptin receptor (Ob-R) in the hypothalamus, thereby regulating food intake and energy expenditure. To explore whether mutations in the Ob-R gene cause obesity in humans, we have searched for mutations in the gene for Ob-Rb, a biologically active receptor isoform, in obese Japanese subjects. We have also examined associations between such mutants and obesity in the Japanese. Genomic DNAs were used as templates in polymerase chain reaction (PCR) with primers selected to amplify exons 2 to 20 of the human Ob-Rb gene. Direct sequence analysis of the PCR products revealed 7 nucleotide sequence variants (Lys109Arg, Gln223Arg, Ser343Ser, Ser492Thr, Lys656Asn, Ala976Asp, and Pro1019Pro) in the Ob-Rb coding region from 17 obese Japanese subjects with a family history of obesity (BMI 39.3±8.4 kg/m²). No missense and nonsense mutations were found such as those in Zucker fatty (fa/fa) rats and Koletsky (fa(k)/fa(k)) rats. Nucleotide substitutions occurred at relatively high frequencies at codons 109, 223, 976, and 1019 (79, 91, 100, and 85%, respectively). Allele frequency of each variant determined by PCR-RFLP and PCR-single strand conformation polymorphism analyses showed no significant differences between 47 obese (BMI 35.1±6.5 kg/m²) and 68 non-obese (BMI 21.6±2.2 kg/m²) subjects. The present study represents the first report of sequence variants of the Ob-Rb gene in the Japanese and provides evidence against either obesity-causing mutations or association of sequence variants with obesity in obese Japanese subjects.

DOI： 10.1007/s001250050808

Language：English   Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal)  

Leptin is a circulating hormone that is expressed abundantly and specifically in the adipose tissue^1-5. It is involved in the regulation of energy homeostasis, as well as the neuroendocrine and reproductive systems^6-11. Here, we demonstrate production of leptin by nonadipose tissue, namely, placental trophoblasts and amnion cells from uteri of pregnant women. We show that pregnant women secrete a considerable amount of leptin from the placenta into the maternal circulation as compared with nonpregnant obese women. Leptin production was also detected in a cultured human choriocarcinoma cell line, BeWo cells, and was augmented during the course of forskolin-induced differentiation of cytotrophoblasts into syncytiotrophoblasts. Plasma leptin levels were markedly elevated in patients with hydatidiform mole or choriocarcinoma and were reduced after surgical treatment or chemotherapy. Leptin is also produced by primary cultured human amnion cells and is secreted into the amniotic fluid. The present study provides evidence for leptin as a novel placenta-derived hormone in humans and suggests the physiologic and pathophysiologic significance of leptin in normal pregnancy and gestational trophoblastic neoplasms.

DOI： 10.1038/nm0997-1029

Language：English   Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal)  

DOI： 10.1038/ng1096-130

Language：English   Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal)  

The obese (ob) gene has recently been isolated through a positional cloning approach, the mutation of which causes a marked hereditary obesity and diabetes mellitus in mice. In the present study, we isolated rat ob cDNA and examined the tissue distribution of the ob gene expression in rats. We also studied the gene expression in genetically obese Zucker fatty (fa/fa) rats. The rat ob gene product, a 167 amino acid protein with a putative signal sequence, was 96 and 83% homologous to the mouse and human ob proteins, respectively. Northern blot analysis using the rat ob cDNA probe identified a single mRNA species of 4.5 kb in size in the adipose tissue, while no significant amount of ob mRNA was present in other tissues in rats. The ob gene was expressed in the adipose tissue with region specificities. The rank order of the ob mRNA level in the adipose tissue was epididymal, retroperitoneal, and pericardial white adipose tissue > mesenteric and subcutaneous white adipose tissue ≥ interscapular brown adipose tissue. The ob gene expression occurred in mature adipocytes rather than in stromal- vascular cells isolated from the rat adipose tissue. Expression of the ob gene was markedly augmented in all the adipose tissue examined in Zucker fatty (fa/fa) rats at the stage of established obesity. The present study leads to the better understanding of the physiologic and pathophysiologic roles of the ob gene.

DOI： 10.1172/JCI118204

Language：English   Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal)  

Background: We have demonstrated that brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) is a cardiac hormone predominantly synthesized in and secreted from the ventricle. We have also reported that, compared with atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP), the plasma concentration of BNP is increased to a greater degree in patients with congestive heart failure and more rapidly in patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI). Methods and Results: To investigate ventricular gent expression of BNP in AMI, we analyzed plasma and ventricular BNP concentrations along with ventricular BNP mRNA in rats with AMI produced by coronary artery ligation. The BNP concentration in the left ventricle increased about 2-fold as early as 12 hours postinfarction and 5-fold 1 day postinfarction compared with sham-operated rats, whereas left ventricular ANP concentration remained unchanged within 1 day. The tissue concentration of BNP increased in the noninfarcted region as well as in the infarcted region. The surviving myocytes in and around the necrotic tissues in the infarcted region were intensely stained with the anti-BNP antiserum, indicating augmented production in the remaining myocytes in the infarcts. The BNP concentration in the right ventricle also increased about 10-fold 12 hours postinfarction, whereas the ANP concentration remained unchanged within 12 hours. Northern blot analysis revealed that BNP mRNA expression was augmented 3-fold in the left ventricle as early as 4 hours postinfarction. In contrast, ANP mRNA expression was unchanged. Reflecting the rapid induction of ventricular BNP production, the plasma BNP concentration rose to about 100 pg/mL 12 hours postinfarction (sham-operated rats, <70 pg/mL). Conclusions: These results demonstrate the rapid induction of ventricular BNP gene expression in rats with AMI compared with ANP and suggest that BNP gene expression in the ventricle is regulated distinctively from ANP gene expression against acute ventricular overload. They also suggest that the BNP gene can be one of the acutely responsive cardiac genes for the ventricular overload and suggest a possible pathophysiological role of BNP distinct from ANP in AMI.

DOI： 10.1161/01.CIR.92.6.1558

Language：English   Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal)  

We previously demonstrated that brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) is a cardiac hormone mainly produced in the ventricle, while the major production site of atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP) is the atrium. To assess the pathophysiological role of BNP in ventricular overload, we have examined the gene expression of BNP, in comparison with that of ANP, in a model of cardiac hypertrophy using cultured neonatal rat ventricular cardiocytes. During cardiocyte hypertrophy evoked by endothelin-1, phenylephrine, or PMA, the steady state level of BNP mRNA increased as rapidly as the "immediate-early" induction of the c-fos gene expression, and reached a maximal level within 1 h. Actinomycin D, a transcriptional inhibitor, completely diminished the response, while the translational blockade with cycloheximide did not inhibit it. In contrast, ANP mRNA began to increase 3 h after the stimulation, and accumulated during cardiocyte hypertrophy. The BNP secretion from ventricular cardiocytes was also stimulated more rapidly than the ANP secretion. Furthermore, the turnover of BNP mRNA was significantly faster than that of ANP mRNA, being consistent with the existence of AUUUA motif in the 3′-untranslated region of BNP mRNA. These results demonstrate that the gene expression of BNP is distinctly regulated from that of ANP at transcriptional and posttranscriptional levels, and indicate that the characteristics of the BNP gene expression are suitable for its possible role as an "emergency" cardiac hormone against ventricular overload.

DOI： 10.1172/JCI118162

Language：English   Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal)  

The obese (ob) gene has recently been isolated by positional genetics, the mutation of which causes marked obesity and diabetes in mice. In the present study, we elucidated the tissue distribution of the ob gene expression in rats and examined the gene expression in genetically obese-hyperglycemic Wistar fatty rats. Northern blot analysis using the rat ob cDNA probe identified a single mRNA species of 4.5 kilobase in size in the adipose tissue, while no significant amount of ob mRNA was detected in other tissues in Sprague-Dawley and Wistar rats. The ob gene expression occurred in the adipose tissue with region-specificities. The rank order of the ob mRNA level in the adipose tissue was epididymal, retroperitoneal, and pericardial white adipose tissue > mesenteric and subcutaneous white adipose tissue ⑥ interscapular brown adipose tissue in both rat strains. Furthermore, expression of the ob gene was augmented in all the adipose tissue examined in Wistar fatty rats at the stage of established obesity.

DOI： 10.2183/pjab.71.148

Language：English   Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal)  

Brain and atrial natriuretic peptides (BNP and ANP) are cardiac hormones with diuretic, natriuretic, and vasodilatory activities. Cardiomyopathic hamsters are widely used animal models of heart failure. Due to the structural divergence of BNP among species, examination on pathophysiological roles of BNP using cardiomyopathic hamsters is so far impossible. We therefore isolated hamster BNP and ANP cDNAs, and investigated synthesis and secretion of these peptides in normal and cardiomyopathic hamsters. The COOH- terminal 32-residue peptide of cloned hamster pre-proBNP with 122 amino acids, preceded by a single arginine residue, supposedly represents hamster BNP showing <50% homology to rat BNP. Alpha-hamster ANP, 28-residue peptide, is identical to α-rat ANP. In hamsters, BNP and ANP occur mainly in the ventricle and the atrium, respectively. The 32-wk-old hypertrophic cardiomyopathic BIO14.6 strain exhibited ventricular hypertrophy. The 32-wk- old dilated cardiomyopathic BIO53.58 strain remained at the stage without apparent heart failure. In BIO14.6 and BIO53.58 strains at this age, ventricular BNP and ANP gene expressions are augmented, and the plasma BNP concentration is elevated to 136 and 108 fmol/ml, respectively, three times greater than the elevated plasma ANP concentration, which well mimics changes of the plasma BNP and ANP concentrations in human heart failure. Cardiomyopathic hamsters, therefore, are useful models to investigate the implication of BNP in human cardiovascular diseases.

DOI： 10.1172/jci117420

Language：English   Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal)  

Brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) is a cardiac hormone that occurs predominantly in the ventricle. To study the roles of BNP in chronic cardiovascular regulation, we isolated mouse BNP cDNA and genomic clones, and generated transgenic mice with elevated plasma BNP concentration. The mouse BNP gene was organized into three exons and two introns. Two BNP mRNA species were identified, which were generated by the alternative mRNA splicing. The ventricle was a major site of BNP production in mice. Mouse preproBNP was a 121- (or 120-) residue peptide, and its COOH-terminal 45-residue peptide was the major storage form in the heart. Transgenic mice carrying the human serum amyloid P component/mouse BNP fusion gene were generated so that the hormone expression is targeted to the liver. In the liver of these mice, considerable levels of BNP mRNA and peptide were detected, reaching up to 10-fold greater than in the ventricle. These animals showed 10- to 100-fold increase in plasma BNP concentration accompanied by elevated plasma cyclic GMP concentration, and had significantly lower blood pressure than their nontransgenic littermates. The present study demonstrates that these mice provide a useful model system with which to assess the roles of BNP in cardiovascular regulation and suggests the potential usefulness of BNP as a long-term therapeutic agent.

DOI： 10.1172/JCI117182

Language：English   Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal)  

Central diabetes insipidus may be familial, secondary to hypothalamic or pituitary disorders, or idiopathic. Idiopathic central diabetes insipidus is characterized by selective hypofunction of the hypothalamic-neurohypophysial system, but its cause is unknown. We studied 17 patients with idiopathic diabetes insipidus, in whom the duration of the disorder ranged from 2 months to 20 years. Only four patients had been treated with vasopressin before the study began. All the patients underwent endocrinologic studies and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) with a 1.5-T superconducting unit, and two patients had biopsies of the neurohypophysis or the pituitary stalk. Nine of the 17 patients had thickening of the pituitary stalk, enlargement of the neurohypophysis, or both and lacked the hyperintense signal of the normal neurohypophysis. In the remaining eight patients, the pituitary stalk and the neurohypophysis were normal, although the hyperintense signal was absent. The abnormalities of thickening and enlargement were seen on MRI only in the patients who had had diabetes insipidus for less than two years, and the abnormalities disappeared during follow-up, suggesting a self-limited process. In addition to vasopressin deficiency, two patients had mild hyperprolactinemia and nine had impaired secretory responses of growth hormone to insulin-induced hypoglycemia. The two biopsies revealed chronic inflammation, with infiltration of lymphocytes (mainly T lymphocytes) and plasma cells. Diabetes insipidus can be caused by lymphocytic infundibuloneurohypophysitis, which can be detected by MRI. The natural course of the disorder is self-limited., Central diabetes insipidus is a chronic disorder characterized by polyuria and polydipsia due to vasopressin deficiency. The disorder may be familial, idiopathic, or secondary. Familial diabetes insipidus is characterized by autosomal dominant inheritance and, at least in some families, mutations of the vasopressin-neurophysin II genes¹,². Secondary diabetes insipidus, the most common form of the disorder, is caused by tumors, infections, trauma, or other processes (such as histiocytosis and vascular lesions) that damage the hypothalamic-neurohypophysial system. Idiopathic diabetes insipidus, which accounts for 10 to 30 percent of cases of central diabetes insipidus,³,⁴ is characterized by selective hypofunction of…

DOI： 10.1056/NEJM199309023291002

Language：English   Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal)  

DOI： 10.1016/0140-6736(92)92167-E

Language：English   Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal)  

C-type natriuretic peptide (CNP), the third member of the natriuretic peptide family, is thus far known to be distributed mainly in the central nervous system and is considered to act as a neuropeptide, in contrast to atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP) and brain natriuretic peptide (BNP), which act as cardiac hormones. Recently, we and others have demonstrated that the ANP-B receptor, which is selectively activated by CNP, is localized not only in the central nervous system but in peripheral tissues, including blood vessels. This finding has made us speculate regarding the peripheral production of CNP. In the present study, cultured endothelial cells were examined for CNP production by RIA and Northern blot analysis. CNP-like immunoreactivity was detected in the conditioned media of endothelial cells. Northern blot analysis detected CNPmRNA with a size of 1.2 kb. In addition, transforming growth factor (TGF)-β, one of the key growth factors for vascular remodeling, markedly stimulated the expression of CNPmRNA and induced a tremendous increase in CNP secretion. We could also detect CNP transcript in the bovine thoracic aorta using the reverse transcription- polymerase chain reaction method. The present study demonstrates the endothelial production of CNP and suggests that a member of the natriuretic peptide family may act as a local regulator in vascular walls. Since evidence for the pathophysiological importance of the vascular renin-angiotensin system has been accumulating and the natriuretic peptide system is known to be antagonistic to the renin-angiotensin system, the possible existence of 'vascular natriuretic peptide system' may prove to be of physiological and clinical relevance.

DOI： 10.1172/JCI115933

Language：English   Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal)  

Using a specific radioimmunoassay for human brain natriuretic peptide (hBNP) with a monoclonal antibody, we have investigated its synthesis, secretion, and clearance in comparison with those of atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP) in normal subjects and patients with congestive heart failure (CHF). Mean BNP-like immunoreactivity (-LI) levels in normal atrium and ventricle were 250 and 18 pmol/g, respectively. The plasma BNP-LI level in normal subjects was 0.90 ± 0.07 fmol/ml, which was 16% of the ANP-LI level. In contrast, the plasma BNP-LI level markedly increased in patients with CHF in proportion to its severity, and surpassed the ANP-LI level in severe cases. There was a significant step-up of the plasma BNP-LI level in the coronary sinus (CS) compared with that in the aortic root (Ao) and the difference between these BNP-LI levels, Δ((CS-Ao))BNP, also increased with the severity of CHF. In addition, the step-up of the BNP-LI level in the anterior interventricular vein [Δ((AIV-Ao))BNP] was comparable to Δ((CS-Ao))BNP, indicating that BNP is secreted mainly from the ventricle. Predominant BNP synthesis in the ventricle was also confirmed by Northern blot analysis. Catheterization and pharmacokinetic studies revealed that hBNP is cleared from the circulation more slowly than α-hANP; this was in part attributed to lower (about 7%) binding affinity of hBNP to clearance receptors than that of α-hANP. A predominant molecular form of BNP-LI in the heart and plasma was a 3-kD form corresponding to hBNP. These results indicate that BNP is a novel cardiac hormone secreted predominantly from the ventricle, and that the synthesis, secretion and clearance of BNP differ from those of ANP, suggesting discrete physiological and pathophysiological roles of BNP in a dual natriuretic peptide system.

DOI： 10.1172/JCI115146

Language：English   Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal)  

To study synthesis, storage, and secretion of brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) in the heart, we have measured BNP mRNA and BNP concentrations in the hearts of Wistar-Kyoto rats and also have investigated its secretion from the isolated perfused heart. The atrium expressed the BNP gene at a high level, and a considerable amount of BNP mRNA also was present in the ventricle, which corresponded to approximately 40% of the atrial BNP mRNA concentration. When tissue weight was taken into account, the total content of BNP mRNA in the ventricle was approximately threefold larger than that in the atrium, although the atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP) mRNA content in the ventricle was only 7% of that in the atrium. By contrast, the BNP concentration in the ventricle was 4.07 ± 0.97 pmol/g, which was less than 1% of that in the atrium (451 ± 86 pmol/g). The basal secretory rate of BNP from the isolated perfused whole heart was 49.3 ± 6.1 fmol/min, approximately 60% of which was maintained even after atrial removal, whereas the secretory rate of ANP was reduced to less than 5%. We also studied age-matched spontaneously hypertensive rats-stroke prone. The rank order of the BNP mRNA concentration in the hearts of these rats was left ventricle>right ventricle>right atrium=left atrium, and the total BNP mRNA content and BNP secretory rate in the ventricle were twice as large as in Wistar-Kyoto rats. These results demonstrate that BNP is a novel cardiac hormone in rats and is predominantly synthesized in and secreted from the ventricle. This is in striking contrast to ANP, which occurs mainly in the atrium. The results also suggest possible pathophysiological roles of BNP in certain cardiovascular disorders.

DOI： 10.1161/01.RES.69.2.491

Language：English   Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal)  

To the Editor: Brain natriuretic peptide (BNP), first isolated from the brains of pigs,¹ has a striking similarity to atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP) both in structure and in peripheral and central actions.^{1 2 3 4} BNP is also a cardiac hormone in pigs⁵ and rats.^6,7 Antiserums against porcine or rat BNP, however, failed to detect BNP-like immunoreactivity in human tissues, indicating the structural diversity of BNP among species. Recently, we isolated human BNP from the atrium and determined its 32-amino-acid sequence.⁸ We have developed a specific radioimmunoassay for human BNP⁸ with the use of a monoclonal antibody, modeling it on a radioimmunoassay for.

DOI： 10.1056/NEJM199009133231114

Language：English   Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal)  

Using an antiserum against the ring structure of rat brain natriuretic peptide (rat BNP), we have established a specific radioimmunoassay (RIA) for rat BNP and elucidated its tissue distribution and molecular form. Rat BNP-like immunoreactivity (-LI) was detected in the highest amount in cardiac extracts (574.0 ± 138.8 pmol/g in the atrium and 4.3 ± 1.1 pmol/g in the ventricle). The secretory rate of rat BNP-LI from the perfused whole heart was.50.0 ± 1.9 fmol/min, about 60% of which was maintained even after atrial removal. We also detected rat BNP-LI throughout the spinal cord (134-175 fmol/g), although no detectable amount was present (less than 100 fmol/g) in other tissues including the brain. High performance-gel permeation chromatography and reverse phase-high performance liquid chromatography coupled with the RIA revealed that rat BNP with 45 amino acids is a major storage form as well as a secretory form of rat BNP-LI in the heart. The major component in the spinal cord was also rat BNP. These findings indicate that the tissue distribution and the processing pattern of rat BNP are different from those of atrial natriuretic peptide and porcine BNP, thereby suggesting the presence of complicated diversity of the natriuretic peptide system.

DOI： 10.1210/endo-126-4-2225

Language：English   Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal)  

DOI： 10.1016/0140-6736(90)90925-U

Language：English   Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal)   Publisher：Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism  

CONTEXT: Diabetic retinopathy (DR) is a common microvascular complication of diabetes, and identifying the risk factors for severe DR is important. OBJECTIVE: We aimed to investigate the relationship between severe DR and the extracellular water to total body water ratio (ET ratio). DESIGN: Retrospective cross-sectional study. SETTING: Department of Endocrinology, Metabolism, and Diabetes at Kyushu University Hospital. PATIENTS: A total of 205 adults with type 2 diabetes (T2D) were included. The patients were divided into two groups: non-proliferative DR (non-PDR; n = 161, 126 with no DR and 35 with simple DR) and proliferative DR (PDR; n = 44, 18 with pre-proliferative DR and 26 with PDR). MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE: The ET ratio was measured using bioelectrical impedance analysis. RESULTS: The ET ratio was significantly higher in the PDR group than in the non-PDR group (0.390 vs. 0.398; P < .0001). Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that the ET ratio was significantly associated with PDR, independent of known risk factors for DR progression. In the subgroup analysis by age, multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed a significant association between the ET ratio and PDR, independent of known risk factors for DR progression in patients younger than 60 years. However, in patients 60 years and older, only the urinary albumin to creatinine ratio (UACR) showed a significant association with PDR in a model using the UACR and the ET ratio. CONCLUSION: In patients with T2D younger than 60 years, the ET ratio may be a useful indicator for identifying severe DR.

DOI： 10.1210/clinem/dgae768

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Language：English   Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal)   Publisher：Inflammation and Regeneration  

The gastrointestinal (GI) tract constitutes a sophisticated system integral to digestion, nutrient absorption, and overall health, with its functionality predominantly hinging on the distinctive properties of diverse stem cell types. This review systematically investigates the pivotal roles of stem cells across the esophagus, stomach, small intestine, and colon, emphasizing their crucial contributions to tissue homeostasis, repair mechanisms, and regeneration. Each segment of the GI tract is characterized by specialized stem cell populations that exhibit distinct functional attributes, highlighting the necessity for tailored therapeutic approaches in the management of gastrointestinal disorders.Emerging research has shed light on the functional heterogeneity of GI stem cells, with ISCs in the small intestine displaying remarkable turnover rates and regenerative potential, whereas colonic stem cells (CSCs) are essential for the preservation of the colonic epithelial barrier. The intricate interplay between stem cells and their microenvironment-or niche-is fundamentally important for their functionality, with critical signaling pathways such as Wnt and Notch exerting substantial influence over stem cell behavior. The advent of organoid models derived from GI stem cells offers promising avenues for elucidating disease mechanisms and for the preclinical testing of novel therapeutic interventions.Despite notable advancements in foundational research on GI stem cells, the translation of these scientific discoveries into clinical practice remains limited. As of 2025, Japan's clinical GI disease guidelines do not endorse any stem cell-based therapies, underscoring the existing disconnect between research findings and clinical application. This scenario accentuates the urgent need for sustained efforts to bridge this divide and to cultivate innovative strategies that synergize stem cell technology with conventional treatment modalities.Future investigations should be directed toward unraveling the mechanisms that underpin stem cell dysfunction in various gastrointestinal pathologies, as well as exploring combination therapies that harness the regenerative capacities of stem cells in conjunction with immunomodulatory treatments. By fostering collaborative endeavors between basic researchers and clinical practitioners, we can deepen our understanding of GI stem cells and facilitate the translation of this knowledge into effective therapeutic interventions, ultimately enhancing patient outcomes in gastrointestinal diseases.

DOI： 10.1186/s41232-025-00378-1

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Language：English   Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal)   Publisher：BMC Gastroenterology  

BACKGROUND: The Fontan procedure has improved the prognosis of patients with a functional single ventricle; however, late complications-including Fontan-associated liver disease (FALD)-have surfaced as clinical concerns. FALD with signs of portal hypertension has been defined as advanced FALD (aFALD) due to its poor prognosis. Recently, noninvasive tests (NITs) have been found to predict liver fibrosis in FALD. Liver stiffness measurement excluding strain elastography (SE) was affected by hepatic congestion; however, to our knowledge, not many studies have evaluated the SE-derived Liver Fibrosis Index (LFI). This study aimed to determine the efficacy of NITs, especially LFI, for discriminating aFALD. METHODS: In this retrospective study, 46 Japanese patients with FALD were included and classified into the aFALD (33 patients; 22 males and 11 females; median age: 28.0 years) and non-aFALD (13 patients; seven males and six females; median age: 22.0 years) groups based on the presence/absence of signs of portal hypertension. RESULTS: The platelet count, FIB-4 index, Forns index, and LFI differed significantly between the two groups and demonstrated moderate accuracy for discriminating aFALD. The shear wave velocity (Vs) measured by Shear Wave Elastography (SWE) did not differ significantly between the two groups. The cut-off value of platelet counts below 185 × 103/μL had 78.8% sensitivity and 92.3% specificity. While 25/26 (96.2%) of the patients with FALD who had platelet counts below 185 × 103/μL were aFALD, 8/20 (40.0%) of the patients with FALD who had platelet counts above below 185 × 103/μL were also aFALD, indicating the need for additional markers. In the patients with FALD who had platelet counts above 185 × 103/μL, only SE indicated moderate diagnostic accuracy, and the LFI cut-off value of 2.21 had 100% sensitivity and 75.0% specificity. CONCLUSIONS: Using a two-step approach, discriminating aFALD with platelet counts below 185 × 103/μL by platelets alone, and for those with higher platelet counts, requiring LFI > 2.21 could discriminate aFALD with high accuracy. Early detection of aFALD and early intervention, including testing for aFALD, may lead to an improved prognosis of aFALD.

DOI： 10.1186/s12876-025-03965-1

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Language：English   Publisher：John Wiley & Sons Australia, Ltd  

Language：English   Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal)   Publisher：Digestive Endoscopy  

OBJECTIVES: Endoscopic ultrasound-guided fine-needle aspiration/biopsy (EUS-FNA/B) is the gold standard for diagnosing gastric subepithelial lesions (SELs), but diagnosing lesions smaller than 20 mm remains challenging. We developed traction-assisted EUS-FNB (TA-EUS-FNB) using the clip-with-thread method to enhance diagnostic accuracy by stabilizing the lesion and providing counter-traction for easier needle access. This study evaluates the effectiveness of TA-EUS-FNB in diagnosing small gastric SELs. METHODS: In this prospective, randomized, controlled cross-over trial (August 2019-November 2022), 30 patients with gastric SELs <20 mm were randomized to undergo TA-EUS-FNB or conventional EUS-FNB. Each patient underwent four punctures, two per method. The primary end-point was the adequate tissue sampling rate for both techniques. Secondary end-points included diagnostic yield and performance (sensitivity and specificity) in distinguishing gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GISTs) from non-GISTs. RESULTS: The mean tumor size was 15.0 mm, with diagnoses comprising GISTs (n = 15, 50%), leiomyomas (n = 8, 26.7%), schwannomas (n = 2, 6.7%), aberrant pancreas (n = 3, 10%), and inflammation (n = 2, 6.7%). TA-EUS-FNB demonstrated a significantly higher adequate-tissue sampling rate (90% vs. 66.7%, P = 0.035) and diagnostic yield (86.7% vs. 63.3%, P = 0.037) than conventional EUS-FNB. Sensitivity (86.7%, 95% confidence interval [CI] 62.1-96.3% vs. 66.7%, 95% CI 41.7-84.8%; P = 0.20) and specificity (100%, 95% CI 79.6-100% vs. 100%, 95% CI 79.6-100%) were comparable between the methods. No adverse events were observed in the study. CONCLUSION: TA-EUS-FNB demonstrated superior tissue sampling rates and diagnostic yield for SELs <20 mm compared to conventional EUS-FNB, making it a viable option. Controlling lesion mobility is essential for successful EUS-FNB in small SELs.

DOI： 10.1111/den.14977

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Language：English   Publisher：シュプリンガー・ジャパン(株)  

Language：English   Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal)   Publisher：Stem Cell Reports  

The liver has a robust regenerative capacity. However, the mechanisms underlying this process remain unclear. Numerous studies on liver regeneration have been previously conducted using partial hepatectomy models, which may not fully represent acute liver injury with inflammation and necrosis. This is commonly observed in the majority of clinical cases. In this study, we conducted a single-cell RNA sequencing (RNA-seq) analysis of liver regeneration in acetaminophen-treated mice using publicly available data. We found that two distinct populations of regenerative cells simultaneously appeared within the same regenerative process. The two populations significantly differed in terms of cell morphology, differentiation, localization, proliferation rate, and signal response. Moreover, one of the populations was induced by contact with necrotic tissue and demonstrated a higher proliferative capacity with a dedifferentiated feature. These findings provide new insights into liver regeneration and therapeutic strategies for liver failure.

DOI： 10.1016/j.stemcr.2025.102503

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Language：English   Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal)   Publisher：Endoscopy  

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: The complete closure of mucosal defects following colorectal endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) is often challenging. We invented a traction-band-assisted endoscopic closure (TBEC) technique using clips with an integrated traction band. We aimed to evaluate the feasibility of TBEC for closing mucosal defects following colorectal ESD. METHODS: This multicenter, prospective, single-arm, pilot study was conducted at three institutions from June 2022 to March 2023. Thirty-four patients with colorectal neoplasms measuring 20-50 mm scheduled for ESD were enrolled. TBEC was performed at each mucosal defect after ESD. The primary outcome was the complete closure rate by TBEC. Secondary outcomes included the number of clips used, procedure time, and adverse events (AEs). RESULTS: TBEC yielded a 100.0% [95% confidence interval: 89.8%-100.0%] complete closure rate, with a median closure time of 14.5 min (interquartile range: 12.9). The median number of clips used was 10.0 (3.3). One case of delayed bleeding and one of post-ESD coagulation syndrome (both 2.9% [0.5%-14.9%]) occurred following TBEC. CONCLUSIONS: This study demonstrated the feasibility of TBEC for closing mucosal defects following colorectal ESD. TBEC is a simple and easily applicable technique for endoscopic closure. Further studies are required to evaluate its efficacy in reducing delayed AEs.

DOI： 10.1055/a-2591-7104

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Language：English   Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal)   Publisher：Springer Science and Business Media LLC  

UNLABELLED: Sodium glucose cotransporter-2 (SGLT2) inhibitors improve glycemic control and reduce body weight (BW) in individuals with type 2 diabetes. However, there are still concerns that compensatory hyperphagia may affect their effects. Here, we performed an exploratory prospective study to investigate whether dietary intake and/or eating behaviors affect glycemic control and BW under long-term treatment with dapagliflozin. Fifty-three Japanese individuals with type 2 diabetes received dapagliflozin 5 mg daily for 104 weeks, with frequent assessments of HbA1c, BW, body composition, dietary intake, and eating behaviors. Dietary intake was evaluated using a brief self-administered diet history questionnaire, and eating behavior was evaluated using the Dutch Eating Behavior Questionnaire. The study was registered in the University Hospital Medical Information Network Clinical Trials Registry (UMIN000019192). At 104 weeks, HbA1c decreased by 0.5% and BW decreased by 2.8 kg (both p < 0.001), with a dominant decrease in body fat mass by 2.2 kg (p < 0.001). No significant change was observed in calorie intake or the proportion of carbohydrates, protein, and fat. The change (∆) in HbA1c was significantly correlated with basal HbA1c, basal triglyceride levels, ∆BMI (body mass index), ∆BFP (body fat percentage), and ∆ferritin levels. The ∆BMI was significantly correlated with only the ∆BFP. Neither the ∆HbA1c nor ∆BMI was significantly correlated with dietary intake, any type of eating behavior, or changes in these parameters during this study. In conclusion, dapagliflozin treatment improved glycemic control and reduced BW without being affected by any changes in dietary intake or eating behavior over 104 weeks. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s13340-025-00794-1.

DOI： 10.1007/s13340-025-00794-1

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Other Link： https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s13340-025-00794-1/fulltext.html

Language：English   Publisher：John Wiley & Sons Australia, Ltd  

Language：English   Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal)   Publisher：Journal of Gastroenterology  

BACKGROUND: Ulcerative colitis (UC) is a refractory inflammatory disease that affects the rectum and colon, with pivotal involvement of the rectal environment in relapse initiation. This study was conducted in two phases to examine the differences in gene expression between the rectum and colon and to identify relapse factors. METHODS: In ***Study 1, RNA sequencing was performed on biopsies from the colon and rectum of patients with active UC, those with remission UC, and controls. In Study 2, the mucosal impedance (MI) values reflecting mucosal barrier function and the mRNA expression of tight junction proteins and inflammatory cytokines were examined in 32 patients with remission UC and 22 controls. Relapse was monitored prospectively. RESULTS: In Study 1, comprehensive genetic analysis using RNA sequencing revealed distinct gene profiles in the rectum and sigmoid colon of patients with remission UC. The rectum of these patients exhibited an enriched immune response and apical junction phenotype with persistent upregulation of CLDN2 gene expression. In Study 2, even in patients with remission UC, the MI values in the rectum, but not in the sigmoid colon, were significantly decreased, whereas they were negatively correlated with CLDN2, IL-1β, and IL-6 expressions. CONCLUSION: The status of the rectum in patients with remission UC differs from that of the colon, with microinflammation and impaired mucosal barrier function, which are associated with the upregulation of CLDN2, playing a role in relapse.

DOI： 10.1007/s00535-024-02199-4

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Language：English   Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal)   Publisher：Diabetologia  

AIMS/HYPOTHESIS: Resistin, inducing insulin resistance, is elevated in the sera of individuals with the G-A haplotype at c.-420 C>G (rs1862513) and c.-358 G>A (rs3219175). This haplotype is associated with visceral obesity and low grip strength. To elucidate the hidden relationship between the G-A haplotype and insulin resistance, integration of specific phenotypes defined by body composition and 75 g OGTT would be a promising strategy. METHODS: The 803 Japanese participants (average age: 62 years), attending annual medical checkups, were evaluated every 5 years. Participants were categorised by skeletal muscle mass, visceral fat score and OGTT results. Hierarchical clustering was performed using body composition and glucose metabolism parameters. Whole blood cells from participants homozygous for the G-A or C-G haplotype (n=25 and 33, respectively), matched for age, sex and BMI, using propensity score matching, were used for RNA-seq, pathway analysis and RT-PCR. RESULTS: Multivariate analysis showed that individuals with the G-A haplotype, when accompanied by latent skeletal muscle loss and visceral obesity (latent sarcopenic obesity), presented a pronounced deterioration in insulin resistance over a 5 year period. Cluster 2, identified using hierarchical clustering, was characterised by low skeletal muscle mass, visceral obesity and insulin resistance. This cluster, with the G-A haplotype, demonstrated deterioration in insulin resistance. RNA-seq and RT-PCR revealed altered expression of mitophagy-related genes in whole blood cells of the G-A homozygotes. CONCLUSIONS/INTERPRETATION: The G-A haplotype, accompanied by latent low skeletal muscle mass and visceral obesity, led to the deterioration of insulin resistance over a 5 year period in this cohort, possibly through the altered expression of mitophagy-related genes.

DOI： 10.1007/s00125-024-06322-1

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Language：English   Publisher：シュプリンガー・ジャパン(株)  

Language：English   Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal)   Publisher：Diabetology International  

It is rare for a patient to have minimal change nephrotic syndrome, slowly progressive insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus, and Graves' disease in combination. In this case, a patient developed idiopathic nephrotic syndrome at the age of 11 years. She was diagnosed with frequently relapsing nephrotic syndrome and steroid-dependent nephrotic syndrome after repeated increases in urinary protein levels with prednisolone reduction. At the age of 14 years, steroid-induced diabetes was suspected because she was negative for anti-glutamic acid decarboxylase (GAD) antibody, and her glycemic control improved after medication. At the age of 16 years, her nephrotic syndrome was in remission, but even after discontinuation of cyclosporine, her glycemic control did not improve. Decreased insulin secretion and positive anti-insulinoma-associated protein-2 (IA2) antibody were found, and therefore she was diagnosed as having slowly progressive insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (SPIDDM). Although her glycemic control was stable with insulin therapy, she was diagnosed with asymptomatic Graves' disease at the age of 28 years and started treatment. Human leukocyte antigen testing (HLA) was performed to evaluate the etiology of the disease, which revealed A*02:01, B*35:01, DQA1*03:01, DQB1*03:02, DQB1*04:01, DRB1*04:05, DRB1*08:02, and DPB1*05:01, suggesting genetic involvement of HLA for each disease susceptibility.

DOI： 10.1007/s13340-024-00787-6

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Language：English   Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal)   Publisher：BMC Gastroenterology  

BACKGROUND: Gastrointestinal neuroendocrine tumors (GI-NETs) are slow-growing tumors with the potential for malignancy that originate from neuroendocrine cells. Therefore, early diagnosis and treatment of GI-NETs are necessary to prevent metastasis. The widespread use of colonoscopy, which allows early detection of rectal neuroendocrine tumors (rNETs) that are small enough to be treated endoscopically, has resulted in an increasing rate of endoscopic resection of rNETs. However, whether the long-term prognosis of endoscopically resected rNETs is favorable has not yet been determined. This study aimed to assess whether endoscopically resected rNETs affect the long-term prognosis of patients. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of 163 consecutive patients with rNETs who underwent endoscopic resection at 11 hospitals in Japan between 1999 and 2012. The primary analysis focused on 47 patients with 51 rNETs who underwent ≥ 10 years of follow-up. The secondary analysis focused on patients who underwent less than 10 years of follow-up. RESULTS: The median follow-up period of patients included in the primary analysis was 12.3 years (range, 10-19.1 years). The median lesion size was 5 mm (range, 2-12). Three lesions were treated using conventional endoscopic mucosal resection (EMR). Twenty-nine lesions were treated using modified EMR. Nineteen lesions were treated using endoscopic submucosal dissection. The R1 resection rate and lymphovascular invasion rate were 15.7% and 25.5%, respectively. The curative resection (CR) rate and non-CR rate were 66.7% and 33.3%, respectively. Two patients with lesions treated with non-CR underwent radical surgery. None of the 47 patients experienced lesion recurrence during the 10-year follow-up period. Two patients whose lesions were treated with CR died of other diseases. CONCLUSIONS: Death attributable to rNETs did not occur among patients who underwent at least 10 years of follow-up after endoscopic resection.

DOI： 10.1186/s12876-025-03736-y

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Language：English   Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal)   Publisher：Elsevier BV  

Mammalian aging is reportedly driven by the loss of epigenetic information; however, its impact on skeletal muscle aging remains unclear. This study shows that aging mouse skeletal muscle exhibits increased DNA methylation, and overexpression of DNA methyltransferase 3a (Dnmt3a) induces an aging-like phenotype. Muscle-specific Dnmt3a overexpression leads to an increase in central nucleus-positive myofibers, predominantly in fast-twitch fibers, a shift toward slow-twitch fibers, elevated inflammatory and senescence markers, mitochondrial OXPHOS complex I reduction, and decreased basal autophagy. Dnmt3a overexpression resulted in reduced muscle mass and strength and impaired endurance exercise capacity with age, accompanied by an enhanced inflammatory signature. In addition, Dnmt3a overexpression reduced not only sensitivity to starvation-induced muscle atrophy but also the restorability from muscle atrophy. These findings suggest that increased DNA methylation disrupts skeletal muscle homeostasis, promotes an aging-like phenotype, and reduces muscle metabolic elasticity.

DOI： 10.1016/j.isci.2025.112144

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Language：English   Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal)   Publisher：Gastric Cancer  

BACKGROUND: The role of janus kinase (JAK)/signal transducer and activator of transcription (STAT) signaling remains unclear in gastric solid-type poorly differentiated adenocarcinoma. The present study investigates the clinicopathological significance of JAK2, STAT3, and STAT4 expression in solid-type poorly differentiated adenocarcinoma. METHODS: We retrospectively enrolled 102 participants with primary solid-type poorly differentiated adenocarcinoma. We categorized participants according to deficient or proficient mismatch repair status (46 and 56 participants, respectively). Expression of phosphorylated JAK2 (pJAK2), phosphorylated STAT3 (pSTAT3), and STAT4 were analyzed via immunohistochemistry. We analyzed differences in protein expression in relation to mismatch repair status, and associations of high/low protein expression with clinicopathological characteristics and prognoses. RESULTS: Deficient mismatch repair was found to be associated with high pJAK2 (p = 0.038) and STAT4 (p = 0.023) expression in contrast to proficient mismatch repair. Log-rank analysis revealed high pSTAT3 and low STAT4 expression to be significantly correlated with reduced overall survival (p = 0.001). Multivariate analysis revealed high pSTAT3 and low STAT4 expression to be independent indicators of unfavorable prognosis (hazard ratio = 2.751, p = 0.030), as was proficient mismatch repair status (hazard ratio = 3.819, p = 0.012). CONCLUSIONS: High expression of pJAK2 and STAT4 is more frequent in deficient compared with proficient mismatch repair in solid-type poorly differentiated adenocarcinoma. High pSTAT3 and low STAT4 expression could be a useful prognostic indicator in solid-type poorly differentiated adenocarcinoma.

DOI： 10.1007/s10120-025-01589-8

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Language：English   Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal)   Publisher：American Journal of Gastroenterology  

OBJECTIVES: Controlling intraoperative bleeding during endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) is essential to ensure the safety and reliability of the procedure. ESD in spray coagulation mode (SCM-ESD) is expected to ensure more effective bleeding control. This study aimed to investigate the superiority of SCM-ESD over conventional forced coagulation mode ESD (FCM-ESD) in terms of hemostatic ability for treating early gastric neoplasms (EGNs). METHODS: This multicenter randomized controlled trial (Spray-G Trial) was conducted at five Japanese institutions. Patients with intramucosal EGNs were enrolled and randomly assigned to either the SCM-ESD or FCM-ESD group. The primary outcome was ESD completion with an electrosurgical knife alone, that is, without the use of hemostatic forceps. The number and duration of hemostatic procedures using hemostatic forceps, procedure time, curability, and adverse events were also evaluated. RESULTS: Each group included 65 patients. The rate of ESD completion without using hemostatic forceps was significantly higher for SCM-ESD than for FCM-ESD (83.1% vs. 13.8%, p<0.0001). SCM-ESD and FCM-ESD did not differ significantly in terms of procedure time (48.3 min vs. 56.0 min, p=0.1071), R0 resection (100% vs. 95.4%, p=0.2442), and rate of adverse events (3.1% vs. 6.2%, p=0.6801). CONCLUSIONS: SCM-ESD significantly improved ESD completion rates for intramucosal EGNs without using hemostatic forceps. SCM-ESD is a promising technique that may streamline ESD by eliminating the need to exchange devices and reducing costs. (UMIN Clinical Trials Registry, Numbers: UMIN000047353).

DOI： 10.14309/ajg.0000000000003360

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Language：English   Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal)   Publisher：Pancreas  

OBJECTIVES: In patients with metastatic pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors (PanNETs), the Ki-67 index is objectively assessed by pathologists; however, liver tumor burden (LTB) depends on the subjective judgment of physicians. This study aimed to elucidate the usefulness of the semi-automated 3D volumetric assessment of LTB in patients with PanNET. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed 29 patients (40 computed tomographies [CTs]) with metastatic PanNETs. LTB was measured using a semiautomated 3D volumetric software program (volumetric assessment) or evaluated independently by 6 clinicians using CT imaging (visual assessment). The treatment map was classified into 3 groups based on LTB and Ki-67 index. RESULTS: Visual and volumetric assessments of the LTB were well correlated. The LTB was significantly higher on visual assessment than volumetric assessment (P < 0.01). Categorization on the map was consistent between the visual and volumetric evaluations in 23 patients (equal group). The remaining 6 patients were overestimated by visual assessment (overestimated group). Progression-free survival was significantly longer in patients in the 'equal group' than the 'overestimated group' (981 vs 366 days, P < 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: This pilot study revealed a good correlation between visual and volumetric assessments, and visual assessment overestimated LTB, compared to volumetric assessment.

DOI： 10.1097/MPA.0000000000002413

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Language：English   Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal)   Publisher：Surgery United States  

BACKGROUND: The long-term survival rate of patients with pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma has improved alongside the development of multidisciplinary treatment, and there is now demand for less invasive surgery that maintains postoperative pancreatic function. We evaluated the efficacy of pancreas-preserving distal pancreatectomy in terms of oncologic parameters and postoperative pancreatic function. METHODS: The data of 98 consecutive patients who underwent distal pancreatectomy for the treatment of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma between 2012 and 2022 in our institution were retrospectively analyzed. The surgical outcomes, overall survival, and postoperative pancreatic function were compared between pancreas-preserving distal pancreatectomy, in which the pancreatic stump was distal to the left margin of the portal vein on postoperative computed tomography, and conventional distal pancreatectomy. RESULTS: Sixteen patients (16%) underwent pancreas-preserving distal pancreatectomy. Fewer lymph nodes were dissected in the pancreas-preserving distal pancreatectomy group than the conventional distal pancreatectomy group (19 vs 31, respectively; P < .01); however, the R0 resection rate (94% vs 93%, respectively; P = 1.00), recurrence-free survival, and overall survival were similar. Similar results were obtained in an analysis limited to patients with pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma in the pancreatic tail. Patients who underwent pancreas-preserving distal pancreatectomy were less likely to develop worsening of their diabetes than those who underwent conventional distal pancreatectomy (19% vs 39%, respectively; P = .16). Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease newly developed in 22% of the patients who underwent conventional distal pancreatectomy but in none of those who underwent pancreas-preserving distal pancreatectomy (P = .04). CONCLUSION: The pancreatic transection site should be distally located to preserve postoperative pancreatic function when R0 resection can be achieved.

DOI： 10.1016/j.surg.2024.108958

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Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal)   Publisher：International Journal of Gastrointestinal Intervention  

A 61-year-old man with obstructive jaundice caused by distal bile duct cancer recurrence was admitted to our hospital. As treatment, we performed endoscopic ultrasound-guided hepaticogastrostomy and placed a self-expanding metal stent. Computed tomography was performed immediately after the procedure to ensure proper stent placement. Although repeat imaging the next day revealed that the stent on the hepaticogastrostomy route had shortened, the stent on the gastric side maintained sufficient length. However, 11 days after the procedure, the stomach-to-liver distance had increased, and the stent on the gastric side was significantly shortened. Endoscopic imaging revealed that the stent had almost migrated, and we added a fully covered self-expanding metal stent into the previous metallic stent via the hepaticogastrostomy route. The patient was discharged 19 days after the initial procedure without complications. Computed tomography performed 40 days after the hepaticogastrostomy revealed that the initial stent had migrated into the abdominal cavity, but the second stent was in an appropriate position. In conclusion, repeated monitoring by computed tomography after hepaticogastrostomy procedure may be an effective method for preventing stent migration in high-risk cases.

DOI： 10.18528/ijgii240060

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Language：English   Publisher：Japan Society of Smooth Muscle Research  

<p>The relationship between gut microbiota and intestinal motility is crucial for maintaining gastrointestinal health. Intestinal motility refers to the coordinated movements of the digestive tract, essential for effective digestion, nutrient absorption, and timely waste elimination. Recent studies have demonstrated that microbiota play a crucial role not only in the maturation of intestinal motility but also in the ongoing maintenance of established motility patterns. Disruptions in motility can lead to various disorders, such as chronic constipation, irritable bowel syndrome, and chronic idiopathic pseudo-obstruction. Gut microbiota significantly influence intestinal motility through mechanisms like bile acid metabolism and the production of short-chain fatty acids. In patients with diarrhea-predominant irritable bowel syndrome, elevated primary-to-secondary bile acid ratios suggest a complex interaction between gut bacteria and bile acids that can enhance motility via receptors like TGR5. Additionally, the role of interstitial cells of Cajal in facilitating non-neuronal contractions has revolutionized our understanding of motility regulation, highlighting both neural and non-neural factors. Various therapeutic approaches, including prebiotics, probiotics, and fecal microbiota transplantation, have been explored to improve intestinal motility, although their effectiveness has been limited. Advancements in gene-related research and innovative diagnostic methods are vital for a deeper understanding of how the gut microbiome regulates motility. This review synthesizes current knowledge on the interplay between gut microbiota and intestinal motility, emphasizing the need for interdisciplinary research to develop effective treatments targeting gut microbiota for gastrointestinal disorders. By unraveling these complex interactions, we can pave the way for novel therapeutic strategies that enhance intestinal health and improve the quality of life for those affected by motility-related disorders.</p>

DOI： 10.1540/jsmr.61.51

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Language：English   Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal)   Publisher：The Japan Endocrine Society  

<p>Obese pregnant women are more likely to develop hypertensive disorders of pregnancy (HDP), which puts them at risk for future cardiovascular events and type 2 diabetes. This study aimed to investigate the relationship between body weight and HDP in nondiabetic singleton-pregnant women. We examined the KODMO database, which included 5,120 pregnant women who gave birth at NHO Kokura Medical Center between January 2009 and December 2019, excluding those with pre-existing diabetes mellitus, hypertension, or multiple pregnancies. A multivariate logistic regression analysis of potential HDP risk factors revealed that both pre-pregnancy body mass index (BMI) and gestational weight gain (GWG) were independent risk factors. The estimated impact was considerably greater in women with higher pre-pregnancy BMI, with odds ratios of 1.60 (95% CI: 1.18–2.18, <i>p</i> = 0.0025) for obesity degree 1 (25 ≤ BMI < 30 kg/m²) and 3.42 (95% CI: 2.35–5.01, <i>p</i> < 0.0001) for obesity degree ≥2 (BMI ≥ 30 kg/m²) (reference: normal weight [18.5 ≤ BMI < 25 kg/m²]). GWG was further investigated by stratifying BMI categories, which revealed that obese pregnant women have a risk of developing HDP even with the normal GWG defined by current guidelines. The odds ratio of HDP in pregnant women with normal GWG was 1.79 (95% CI: 1.02–3.41, <i>p</i> = 0.0436) in obesity degree 1 and 3.25 (95% CI: 1.57–6.74, <i>p</i> < 0.0001) in obesity degree ≥2. The impact of GWG as a modifiable factor of HDP varies with pre-pregnancy BMI, highlighting the importance of weight management before and during pregnancy.</p>

DOI： 10.1507/endocrj.ej25-0031

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Language：English   Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal)   Publisher：The Japan Endocrine Society  

<p>Adrenal hormones are essential for maintaining physiological homeostasis; however, imbalances in their production can significantly impact bone metabolism. This review examines how adrenal hormone dysregulation affects bone health, focusing on the following three key pathological conditions: autonomous cortisol secretion, primary aldosteronism, and pheochromocytoma/paraganglioma. Each disorder exerts distinct effects on bone metabolism, contributing to reduced bone mass, deteriorated bone quality, and increased fracture risk. Recent advances in steroid profiling and single-cell transcriptome analysis have revealed that, in adrenocortical adenomas—such as cortisol-producing and aldosterone-producing adenomas—multiple steroid hormones contribute to these effects rather than a single hormone. Additionally, age-related changes in steroid hormones, particularly the progressive decline in dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate production and alterations in cortisol circadian rhythm, may contribute to age-associated bone fragility. This review summarizes the effects of adrenal hormone imbalances on bone metabolism in both pathological conditions and aging, which may contribute to understanding adrenal-related osteoporosis.</p>

DOI： 10.1507/endocrj.ej25-0117

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Language：English   Publisher：Clinical Journal of Gastroenterology  

A 73-year-old man presented with liver dysfunction secondary to a distal bile duct stenosis. Initially, an ampullary neoplasm was suspected. Cytological and histological examinations were repeated, but no definite malignant cells were detected. The bile duct stricture improved with temporary metal stent placement. However, 21 months after the initial visit, stenosis of the second part of the duodenum was observed. Despite the absence of malignant cells, pancreaticoduodenectomy was performed due to strong suspicion of cancerous stenosis. Post-operative pathological findings revealed primary advanced duodenal carcinoma (pT4, pN1, cM0, and pStage IIIA), with the tumor extensively involving the submucosal tissue of the duodenum and extending to the muscular to the serosal layers. Invasion into the bile duct, pancreas, and ampulla or peri-ampullary duodenum was observed, but tumor cells were scattered within normal mucosa, complicating preoperative diagnosis. He received capecitabine/oxaliplatin as adjuvant chemotherapy for 6 months, and 14 months postoperatively, no recurrence was observed. This is an extremely rare case of duodenal carcinoma extending into the submucosal tissue, with no previous reports of such an extension. Bile duct strictures can be challenging to differentiate between benign and malignant causes, and duodenal carcinoma should be considered as a contributing factor.

DOI： 10.1007/s12328-025-02157-4

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Language：English   Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal)   Publisher：Scientific Reports  

In order to elucidate novel actions of degalactosylated whey protein (D-WP) in comparison with intact whey protein (WP), the effects of oral intake of D-WP on peripheral blood telomere length and telomerase were examined in young and aged mice. In young mice, peripheral blood telomere length was significantly elongated following oral intake of D-WP for 4 weeks. mRNA expression of both telomerase reverse transcriptase (TERT) and telomerase RNA component (TERC) was significantly increased in the peripheral blood following oral intake of D-WP for 4 weeks. In aged mice, peripheral blood telomere length was significantly decreased as compared with that of young mice, and significantly restored to the level of young mice drinking water by the oral intake of D-WP for 4 weeks. The mRNA expression of peripheral blood TERT and TERC mRNA in aged mice significantly decreased as compared with the level in young mice drinking water, and was significantly restored to the level of expression of young mice drinking water by oral intake of D-WP for 4 weeks. These results suggest that D-WP, but not WP, potently increases peripheral blood telomere length accompanied by increased mRNA expression of TERT and TERC in both young and aged mice.

DOI： 10.1038/s41598-024-81597-3

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Language：English   Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal)   Publisher：Journal of Diabetes Investigation  

OBJECTIVE: This ACTION-IO sub-analysis compared attitudes of people with obesity (PwO) and healthcare professionals (HCPs) between South Korea/Japan and global. METHODS: Responses from overall (body mass index [BMI] ≥ 25 kg/m2) and higher BMI (30.0-34.9 kg/m2) groups were compared descriptively; t-and z-tests were used to test for statistical significant difference. RESULTS: Total responses from South Korea/Japan vs global were as follows: overall (PwO: 3,501 vs 14,502; HCPs: 502 vs 2,785); higher BMI (PwO: 530 vs 7,460) groups. Compared to global, more South Korea/Japan-PwO considered improving existing health condition as top weight loss (WL) goal (overall: 37% vs 28%, higher BMI: 35% vs 26%; P < 0.05) and fear of weight regain as top WL barrier (overall: 52% vs 45%, higher BMI: 65% vs 42%; P < 0.05). Fewer South Korea/Japan-PwO reported discussing weight (overall: 25% vs 51%, higher BMI: 31% vs 54%; P < 0.05). More South Korea/Japan-HCPs felt PwO as themselves responsible for WL (74% vs 55%; P < 0.05). More than two-of-three South Korea/Japan-HCPs (vs four-of-five global) were motivated to help PwO in WL. CONCLUSIONS: South Korea/Japan PwO had differences in their attitudes and behaviors toward obesity care. These findings support the need for increased public awareness of obesity as a disease and for HCPs to play active role initiating weight management dialogue.

DOI： 10.1111/jdi.14387

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Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal)   Publisher：Hypertension Research  

The new Japanese guidelines for primary aldosteronism introduce a category in the judgment of functional confirmatory tests that is called the "borderline range," which is rare in the other international guidelines. The clinical characteristics of this borderline group are not yet understood. To investigate whether this borderline group has any significant differences in terms of target organ damage, we used data from a Japanese nationwide registry (JPAS-II) of individuals with primary aldosteronism or essential hypertension to compare the borderline group with the definitive-positive group and the negative group. We analyzed the cases of 1785 patients based on their captopril-challenge test results. Since the JPAS-II database contains plasma aldosterone concentration values obtained based on both radioimmunoassay (n = 1555) and chemiluminescent enzyme immunoassay (n = 230) principles, we converted these values to their equivalents as if measured by chemiluminescent enzyme immunoassay and conducted all analyses under the simulated condition. Multicovariate-adjusted models revealed significant prevalance odds ratios for chronic kidney disease (2.01, 95% confidence interval: 1.13 to 3.61), electrocardiographic abnormalities (1.66, 95% confidence interval: 1.16 to 2.37). No significant difference was observed between the borderline and negative groups in these assessments (odds ratio [95% confidence interval] for chronic kidney disease: 0.73 [0.26 to 2.02] and electrocardiographic abnormalities: 1.01 [0.60 to 1.70]). We confirmed that the prevalence of target organ damage increases linearly as the aldosterone-to-renin ratio rises following the captopril challenge test. These results provide material to consider regarding the significance of the provisionally established borderline group.

DOI： 10.1038/s41440-024-01943-w

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Language：English   Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal)   Publisher：Digestive Diseases and Sciences  

BACKGROUND: Almost all previous reports on endoscopic ultrasound-guided hepaticogastrostomy (EUS-HGS) involve malignant distal bile duct strictures. However, the feasibility of EUS-HGS for malignant hilar biliary obstruction (MHBO) remains unclear. AIMS: This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of EUS-HGS for MHBO and identify the risk factors associated with technical failure. METHODS: In this multicenter retrospective study, we reviewed consecutive patients who underwent EUS-HGS between April 2017 and March 2023 at five institutions. We assessed the overall feasibility and efficacy of EUS-HGS for MHBO, including the factors associated with technical failure, using multivariable logistic regression analysis. RESULTS: A total of 85 patients were enrolled (mean age, 72 years; 36.4% female). Thirty-six patients (42.3%) had surgically altered anatomy, and 43 (50.6%) underwent biliary stenting by transpapillary or percutaneous biliary drainage before EUS-HGS. The rates of technical success, clinical success, and adverse events were 87.0% (74/85), 76.4% (65/85), and 11.8% (10/85), respectively. Multivariable analysis demonstrated that a bile duct diameter ≤ 4 mm was the only independent risk factor for technical failure (odds ratio, 6.12; 95% confidence interval, 1.02-36.6; P = 0.047). The most common reason for technical failure was cholangiography failure (45.4%), followed by inappropriate guidewire position (36.4%). CONCLUSIONS: EUS-HGS is a challenging but promising treatment option for MHBO. Patients with a bile duct diameter ≤ 4 mm or inappropriate guidewire position should be careful as these factors can lead to the technical failure of EUS-HGS for MHBO.

DOI： 10.1007/s10620-024-08652-x

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Language：English   Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal)   Publisher：Journal of Molecular Medicine  

EP4 prostanoid receptor (EP4R) contributes to the intestinal epithelial Cl- secretion, and inhibition of prostaglandin E (PGE) production by non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) plays a central role in NSAID-induced enteropathy. Although M3 muscarinic acetylcholine receptor (M3R) also contributes to the intestinal epithelial Cl- secretion, it remains unclear whether M3R is involved in NSAID-induced enteropathy due to a lack of selective agents. The present study explored how M3R is involved in the regulation of the intestinal epithelial Cl- secretion and its pathophysiological role in NSAID-induced enteropathy. Using the novel highly-selective M3 positive allosteric modulator PAM-369 that we recently developed, we evaluated the role of M3R in the intestinal epithelial secretion ex vivo by measuring the short circuit current (Isc) of intestinal epithelium with a Ussing chamber system and examined whether or not M3R protects against small intestinal injury in indomethacin-treated mice. Both the PGE1 derivative misoprostol and carbachol similarly increased the Isc in a concentration-dependent manner. The Isc increases were abolished either by receptor antagonists (an EP4R antagonist and a M3R antagonist, respectively) or by removal of extracellular Cl-. PAM-369 enhanced the carbachol-induced Isc by potentiating M3R, which could contribute to enhanced intestinal epithelial secretion. Treatment with PAM-369 ameliorated small intestinal injury in indomethacin-treated mice. Importantly, the M3R expression was significantly up-regulated, and PAM-369 potentiation of M3R was augmented in indomethacin-treated mice compared to untreated mice. These findings show that M3R plays a role in maintaining the intestinal epithelial secretion, which could contribute to protection against indomethacin-induced small intestinal injury. M3R is a promising target for treating or preventing NSAID-induced enteropathy. KEY MESSAGES: PAM-369, the M3 positive allosteric modulator, was used to potentiate M3R. PAM-369 enhanced carbachol-induced Isc in mouse ileum. PAM-369 ameliorated small intestinal injury in indomethacin-treated mice. M3R is a promising target for treating or preventing NSAID-induced enteropathy.

DOI： 10.1007/s00109-024-02474-0

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Language：English   Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal)   Publisher：Journal of the Endocrine Society  

CONTEXT: Adrenal incidentalomas, including nonfunctioning adrenal incidentalomas (NFAI), are associated with a high prevalence of diabetes mellitus (DM). While NFAI is diagnosed by exclusion when no hormone excess exists, subtle cortisol secretion may exist and contribute to DM development. However, it alone cannot explain the increased risk, and whether other steroid metabolites are involved remains unclear. PURPOSE: To investigate steroid metabolites associated with DM in patients with NFAI using plasma steroid profiles. METHODS: Using liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry, 22 plasma steroid metabolites were measured in 68 patients with NFAI (31 men and 37 women). Data were adjusted for age before normalization. RESULTS: Discriminant analysis showed that plasma steroid profiles discriminated between patients with and without DM in men (n = 10 and = 21, respectively) but not women: 11β-hydroxytestosterone, an adrenal-derived 11-oxygenated androgen, contributed most to this discrimination and was higher in patients with DM than in those without DM (false discovery rate = .002). 11β-hydroxytestosterone was correlated positively with fasting plasma glucose (r = .507) and hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) (r = .553) but negatively with homeostatic model assessment of β-cell function (HOMA2-B) (r = -.410). These correlations remained significant after adjusting for confounders, including serum cortisol after the 1-mg dexamethasone suppression test. Bayesian kernel machine regression analysis verified the association of 11β-hydroxytestosterone with HbA1c and HOMA2-B in men. MAIN CONCLUSION: Plasma steroid profiles differed between those with and without DM in men with NFAI. 11β-hydroxytestosterone was associated with hyperglycemia and indicators related to pancreatic β-cell dysfunction, independently of cortisol.

DOI： 10.1210/jendso/bvae140

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Language：English   Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal)   Publisher：Clinical Journal of Gastroenterology  

Pancreatic acinar cell carcinoma (PACC) is a very rare subtype of pancreatic cancer. Due to small number of patients, no standard chemotherapy protocol has been established. We experienced an extremely rare case of PACC with liver metastasis that showed a pathological complete response after modified FOLFIRINOX (mFFX) therapy. A 42-year-old man who underwent distal pancreatectomy for an 80 mm tumor at the pancreatic tail 3 years ago was referred to our hospital in September 2017 for the treatment of a recurrent liver tumor. Percutaneous biopsy revealed an acinar-neuroendocrine carcinoma, similar to the surgical specimen. He received eight cycles of irinotecan plus cisplatin chemotherapy. However, the tumor increased in size, and treatment was switched to mFFX therapy. The tumor in the liver shrank remarkably after nine cycles of mFFX therapy. Conversion surgery was selected, and the patient underwent hepatic left and caudate lobectomy 8 months after administration of mFFX. The resected specimen showed no viable tumor cells, indicating a pathological complete response. The histological diagnosis was reconsidered, and PACC was finally diagnosed via an additional immunohistological review. The patient has remained well with no recurrence for 6 years after surgery. This study is the first to report a case of pathological complete response with mFFX therapy for the recurrence of PACC.

DOI： 10.1007/s12328-024-01983-2

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Language：English   Publisher：John Wiley & Sons Australia, Ltd  

逆流過敏(RH)は胃食道逆流性疾患の一種であり、十二指腸胃食道逆流(DGER)が関与している。本研究の目的は、DGERおよびRH評価のための画像強調技術を装備した内視鏡システムの有用性を明らかにすることである。ビリルビンを同定する画像強調観察モードをBilモード、計算値をBil値と定義した。まず、Bilモードの可視性を、胆汁濃度0.01%から100%(0.002～20mg/dL)の液体を用いて検証した。次いで、ビリルビン溶液を豚食道に散布して、Bilモードの視認性スコアをブルーレーザーイメージング(BLI)および白色光イメージング(WLI)モードと比較した。その後、多チャンネル壁内インピーダンス-pHモニタリングを用いて食道Bil値と非酸性逆流イベント(NNRE)の相関について検討し、またRHの鑑別診断における食道Bil値の有用性を明らかにした。ビリルビン濃度が1%を超えるビリルビン溶液は、Bilモードで赤色に可視化された。1%から6%のビリルビン溶液に対しては、Bilモードを用いた場合の視認性スコアはBLIおよびWLIモードと比較して有意に高かった(P<0.05)。食道Bil値とNNREとの間には有意な正の相関が認められた(P=0.031)。RHの鑑別診断に対する受容者動作特性曲線下面積は0.817であった。以上より、Bilモードは正確にビリルビンを同定し、実臨床でDGERの評価に使用できる可能性が示された。

Language：English   Publisher：シュプリンガー・ジャパン(株)  

膵腺房細胞癌(PACC)は膵癌の極めて稀な亜型である。患者数が少ないため、標準的な化学療法のプロトコールは確立されていない。改変FOLFIRINOX(mFFX)療法により病理学的完全寛解が得られた、肝転移を伴うPACCの極めて稀な症例を報告した。症例は42歳男性で、3年前に膵尾部の80mm大腫瘍に対して膵尾部切除の既往があり、再発肝腫瘍の治療目的で2017年9月に紹介受診した。経皮的生検で腺房-神経内分泌癌と診断され、外科切除標本と同じ所見であった。イリノテカンおよびシスプラチン併用化学療法を8サイクル施行したが、腫瘍径の増大が認められるため、治療をmFFXに変更した。mFFX治療9サイクル後に肝腫瘍は著明に縮小し、コンバージョン手術を施行する方針となり、mFFX開始から8ヵ月後に肝左葉および尾状葉切除を行った。切除標本では、活動性のある腫瘍細胞は認められず、病理学的完全寛解と診断された。組織学診断を再検し、追加の免疫組織化学的レビューによりPACCと最終的に診断された。手術後、6年間再発は認められていない。本症例は、PACC再発に対するmFFX療法により病理学的完全寛解が得られた第一例の症例報告である。

Language：English   Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal)   Publisher：Clinical Endoscopy  

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Although endoscopic ultrasound-guided hepaticogastrostomy (EUS-HGS) is performed globally, the procedure remains challenging. Guidewire manipulation is the most difficult step, and there are few reports on the factors associated with unsuccessful guidewire manipulation. This study aimed to assess the significance of the puncture angle on EUS images and identify the most effective guidewire rescue method for patients with unsuccessful guidewire manipulation. METHODS: We retrospectively enrolled 115 patients who underwent EUS-HGS between May 2016 and April 2022 at two centers. The puncture angle between the needle and the intrahepatic bile duct was measured through EUS movie records. RESULTS: Guidewire manipulation was unsuccessful in 28 patients. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves identified an optimal puncture angle cutoff value of 85° (cutoff value, 85°; area under the ROC curve, 0.826; sensitivity, 85.7%; specificity, 81.6%). Multivariate analysis demonstrated that a puncture angle <85° was a significant risk factor for unsuccessful guidewire manipulation (odds ratio, 19.8; 95% confidence interval, 6.42-61.5; p<0.001). Among the 28 unsuccessful cases, 24 patients (85.7%) achieved successful guidewire manipulation using various rescue methods. CONCLUSIONS: The puncture angle observed on EUS is crucial for guidewire manipulation. A puncture angle of <85° was associated with unsuccessful guidewire manipulation.

DOI： 10.5946/ce.2023.244

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Language：English   Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal)   Publisher：Journal of Inflammation (United Kingdom)  

BACKGROUND: Acute liver failure (ALF) is a life-threatening disorder that progresses from self-limiting acute liver injury (ALI). Microcirculatory disturbance characterized by sinusoidal hypercoagulation and subsequent massive hypoxic hepatocyte damage have been proposed to be the mechanism by which ALI deteriorates to ALF; however, the precise molecular pathway of the sinusoidal hypercoagulation remains unknown. Here, we analyzed ALI patients and mice models to uncover the pathogenesis of ALI with microcirculatory disturbance. METHODS: We conducted a single-center retrospective study for ALI and blood samples and liver tissues were analyzed to evaluate the microcirculatory disturbance in ALI patients (n = 120). Single-cell RNA sequencing analysis (scRNA-seq) was applied to the liver from the concanavalin A (Con A)‑induced mouse model of ALI. Interferon-gamma (IFNγ) and tumor necrosis factor-alpha knockout mice, and primary human liver sinusoidal endothelial cells (LSECs) were used to assess the mechanism of microcirculatory disturbance. RESULTS: The serum IFNγ concentrations were significantly higher in ALI patients with microcirculatory disturbance than in patients without microcirculatory disturbance, and the IFNγ was upregulated in the Con A mouse model which presented microcirculatory disturbance. Hepatic IFNγ expression was increased as early as 1 hour after Con A treatment prior to sinusoidal hypercoagulation and hypoxic liver damage. scRNA-seq revealed that IFNγ was upregulated in innate lymphoid cells and stimulated hepatic vascular endothelial cells at the early stage of liver injury. In IFNγ knockout mice treated with Con A, the sinusoidal hypercoagulation and liver damage were remarkably attenuated, concomitant with the complete inhibition of CD40 and tissue factor (TF) upregulation in vascular endothelial cells. By ligand-receptor analysis, CD40-CD40 ligand interaction was identified in vascular endothelial cells. In human LSECs, IFNγ upregulated CD40 expression and TF was further induced by increased CD40-CD40 ligand interaction. Consistent with these findings, hepatic CD40 expression was significantly elevated in human ALI patients with microcirculatory disturbance. CONCLUSION: We identified the critical role of the IFNγ-CD40 axis as the molecular mechanism of microcirculatory disturbance in ALI. This finding may provide novel insights into the pathogenesis of ALI and potentially contribute to the emergence of new therapeutic strategies for ALI patients.

DOI： 10.1186/s12950-024-00387-w

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Language：English   Publisher：Oxford University Press  

比較的稀な腫瘍である膵・消化管神経内分泌腫瘍に対してDNA合成を阻害するニトロソウレア系薬剤であるストレプトゾシンを用いた化学療法の有効性と安全性を後ろ向きに検討した。2004年1月から2023年6月までに日本の二つの病院でストレプトゾシンをベースとした化学療法を受けた膵・消化管神経内分泌腫瘍患者53例(年齢中央値63.8歳)を対象とした。その結果、全奏効率と病勢コントロール率はそれぞれ27.7%と74.5%、無増悪生存期間と全生存期間の中央値はそれぞれ7.1ヵ月と20.3ヵ月であった。パフォーマンスステータス(PS)1以上は無増悪生存期間と有意な負の相関を示し、PS 1以上および肝腫瘍負荷25%以上は全生存期間と有意な負の相関を示した。膵と消化管の神経内分泌腫瘍の間で治療効果に有意差は認められなかった。治療に関連した重篤な有害事象は観察されなかった。しかし、患者の87.7%が推算糸球体濾過量の低下を示し、それはストレプトゾシン投与期間と負の相関を示した(r=0.43、P=0.0020)。ストレプトゾシン再投与群(n=5)では、初回と2回目のストレプトゾシン投与で有効性に差はなかった。以上より、ストレプトゾシンはPSが良好な消化管膵神経内分泌腫瘍患者に有益であることが示唆された。

Language：English   Publisher：シュプリンガー・ジャパン(株)  

食道平滑筋収縮の変化および関連する炎症性反応について検討することによりアカラシアの病態を明らかにし、アカラシアの進展における食道細菌叢の意義を評価した。経口的内視鏡的筋層切開術を施行したII型アカラシア症例から得た食道粘膜および下部食道括約筋(LES)標本を解析した。患者由来の食道調整培養液をマウス食道に投与し、食道内環境がアカラシアと関連するか否かについて検討した。安静時および刺激時における対照群のLESでは、20-kDaミオシン軽鎖(LC20)の約30%がリン酸化されていた。アカラシア症例では状況に関わらずLC20のリン酸化は10%未満であった。アカラシアにおける低リン酸化は、ミオシンリン酸化阻害蛋白質CPI-17の発現低下と関連していた。IL-17A、IL-17F、IL-22、IL-23Aを含む関連サイトカインは、アカラシアでは発現が増加していた。食道細菌叢のα-Diversity指数、およびActinomycesおよびDialisterを含む数種類の細菌の割合がアカラシアで増加していた。ActinomycesレベルはIL-23Aレベルと正の相関が認められ、DialisterレベルはIL-17A、IL-17F、IL-22レベルと正の相関が認められた。マウスにおいて、食道IL-17F値は調整培地の経口投与後に増加した。

Language：English   Publisher：(一社)日本内分泌学会  

副腎皮質刺激ホルモン(ACTH)刺激に対するアルドステロン反応性が高い原発性アルドステロン症(PA)患者における心血管および脳血管(CCV)イベントの有病率を評価した。2006年1月～2019年3月にPAと診断され副腎静脈サンプリングを受けた患者を対象とした。ACTH刺激に対するアルドステロン反応性は、ACTH刺激前後の下大静脈の血漿アルドステロン濃度(PAC)で評価し、刺激前に対する刺激後のPACの比を相対的PACとした。アルドステロン反応性とCCVイベントの既往との関連を調べた。患者1302例(CCVイベント群:75例、中央値62歳、男性62.6%、非CCVイベント群:1219例、中央値51歳、男性48.4%)を解析した。ロジスティック回帰分析で、CCVイベントの危険因子、ベースラインPAC、高血圧の期間を調整後、ACTH刺激前後のPAC測定値の差(ΔPAC)はCCVイベント既往の有意な危険因子であった。以上より、PA患者においてACTH刺激に対するアルドステロン反応性がCCVイベントの既往と関連していることが示唆された。

Language：English   Publisher：(一社)日本内分泌学会  

新型コロナウイルス感染症(COVID-19)の流行が日本の内分泌および代謝疾患の管理に及ぼした影響を検討した。日本内分泌学会認定内分泌専門医薬2700名を対象に全国横断質問紙調査を実施した。質問紙は多肢選択式項目と自由記述項目の計109項目で構成された。528名(19.5%)から回答を得た。249名(47%)がCOVID-19後またはワクチン接種後の患者に内分泌異常を診断したことがあると回答した。特に、甲状腺疾患、糖代謝疾患/糖尿病、視床下部下垂体疾患に関連する症状がみられた。COVID-19の管理に糖尿病や肥満が負の影響を与えたと回答した参加者はそれぞれ455名(86%)と382名(72%)と多かった。COVID-19の医療への正の影響に関する回答のテキストマイニング分析では、外食が減ったことによる生活習慣改善、リモートワークに関連する生活習慣の変化、COVID-19予防や後遺症管理に関わる疾患理解の向上、遠隔診療の拡大などが挙げられた。

Language：English   Publisher：シュプリンガー・ジャパン(株)  

胃充実型低分化腺癌(PDA)におけるミスマッチ修復(MMR)、ゲノムプロファイル、C-X-C motif chemokine receptor 2 (CXCR2)発現、骨髄由来免疫抑制細胞(MDSC)であるCD11b/CD33浸潤の臨床的意義を検討した。当科で2006年から2021年までに胃癌と診断し切除した3115例から、胃原発性充実型PDA102例を対象とした。MMR機能低下(dMMR)群46例とMMR機能正常(pMMR)群56例に2分した。全症例のCXCR2発現とMDSC浸潤も調査した。その結果、dMMR群とpMMR群では生物学的プロセスが大きく異なる発現変動遺伝子が多数認められた。免疫逃避機構については、dMMR群におけるCXCR2高発現およびpMMR群におけるMDSC高浸潤が予後不良と関連していた。また、多変量解析にて、dMMRは予後良好の独立した予測因子であることが示された。

Language：English   Publisher：シュプリンガー・ジャパン(株)  

膵神経内分泌腫瘍(PanNET)は膵臓の稀な腫瘍である。特異的ホルモンの高発現症状の有無により、機能性と非機能性腫瘍に分類される。副腎皮質刺激ホルモン(ACTH)-産生PanNETは稀な機能性腫瘍で、その臨床的特徴と治療成績は十分に明らかにされていない。疾患の経過中に異所性ACTH症候群(EAS)を認めたPanNETの2例を報告した。症例1は手術時には非機能性PanNETであった。再発肝転移の治療中、肝転移巣からのACTHおよび副甲状腺ホルモン関連ペプチド(PTHrP)産生によると考えられるEASおよび腫瘍関連高カルシウム血症が認められた。症例2はガストリノーマで、症例1と同様、再発肝転移の治療中にEASが認められた。原発巣と転移巣で腫瘍表現型が異なっているにも関わらず、PanNET症例が複数のホルモンを有し、疾患の経過中に続発性のホルモン分泌をきたすことは稀ではない。以上より、機能性PanNET症例では、特に迅速な診断と治療が必要な内分泌緊急事態であるEASが認められる場合、抗ホルモン治療による症状の制御が、抗腫瘍治療と共に重要であることが明らかとなった。

Language：English   Publisher：(一社)日本糖尿病学会  

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DOI： 10.1007/s12185-024-03733-z

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Language：English   Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal)   Publisher：Gastric Cancer  

BACKGROUND: In gastric solid-type poorly differentiated adenocarcinoma (PDA), the role of microsatellite instability and immune escape mechanism remains unclear. The current study aimed to elucidate the clinical significance of mismatch repair (MMR) status, genome profile, C-X-C motif chemokine receptor 2 (CXCR2) expression, and myeloid-derived suppressor cell (MDSC) infiltration in solid-type PDA. METHODS: In total, 102 primary solid-type PDA cases were retrieved, and classified into 46 deficient-MMR (dMMR) and 56 proficient-MMR (pMMR) cases based on immunohistochemistry (IHC) and polymerase chain reaction-based molecular testing results. The mRNA expression profiles (NanoString nCounter Assay) of stage-matched dMMR (n = 6) and pMMR (n = 6) cases were examined. The CXCR2 expression and MDSC infiltration (CD11b- and CD33-positive cells) were investigated via IHC in all solid-type PDA cases. RESULTS: mRNA analysis revealed several differentially expressed genes and differences in biological behavior between the dMMR (n = 46) and pMMR (n = 56) groups. In the multivariate analysis, the dMMR status was significantly associated with a longer disease-free survival (hazard ratio = 5.152, p = 0.002) and overall survival (OS) (hazard ratio = 5.050, p = 0.005). CXCR2-high expression was significantly correlated with a shorter OS in the dMMR group (p = 0.018). A high infiltration of CD11b- and CD33-positive cells was significantly correlated with a shorter OS in the pMMR group (p = 0.022, 0.016, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: dMMR status can be a useful prognostic predictor, and CXCR2 and MDSCs can be novel therapeutic targets in patients with solid-type PDA.

DOI： 10.1007/s10120-024-01474-w

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Language：English   Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal)   Publisher：Journal of Gastroenterology  

BACKGROUND: Achalasia is an esophageal motility disorder with an unknown etiology. We aimed to determine the pathogenesis of achalasia by studying alterations in esophageal smooth muscle contraction and the associated inflammatory response, and evaluate the role of esophageal microbiota in achalasia development. METHODS: We analyzed esophageal mucosa and lower esophageal sphincter (LES) samples, obtained from patients with type II achalasia who underwent peroral endoscopic myotomy. Esophageal conditioned media obtained from patients were transferred into the mouse esophagus to determine whether the esophageal intraluminal environment is associated with achalasia. RESULTS: Approximately 30% of 20-kDa myosin light chains (LC20) was phosphorylated in LES from the control group under resting and stimulated conditions, whereas less than 10% of LC20 phosphorylation was detected in achalasia under all conditions. The hypophosphorylation of LC20 in achalasia was associated with the downregulation of the myosin phosphatase-inhibitor protein CPI-17. Th17-related cytokines, including IL-17A, IL-17F, IL-22, and IL-23A, were significantly upregulated in achalasia. α-Diversity index of esophageal microbiota and the proportion of several microbes, including Actinomyces and Dialister, increased in achalasia. Actinomyces levels positively correlated with IL-23A levels, whereas Dialister levels were positively associated with IL-17A, IL-17F, and IL-22 levels. Esophageal IL-17F levels increased in mice after oral administration of the conditioned media. CONCLUSIONS: In LES of patients with achalasia, hypophosphorylation of LC20, a possible cause of impaired contractility, was associated with CPI-17 downregulation and an increased Th17-related immune response. The esophageal intraluminal environment, represented by the esophageal microbiota, could be associated with the development and exacerbation of achalasia.

DOI： 10.1007/s00535-024-02088-w

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Aldosterone secretion in primary aldosteronism (PA) is often regulated by adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) in addition to its autonomous secretion. However, the clinical characteristics and risk of cardiovascular and cerebrovascular (CCV) events in PA patients with aldosterone responsiveness to ACTH stimulation remain unclear. This study aimed to investigate the prevalence of CCV events in PA patients with high aldosterone responsiveness to ACTH stimulation. A retrospective cross-sectional study was conducted as part of the Japan Primary Aldosteronism Study/Japan Rare Intractable Adrenal Disease project. PA patients with adrenal venous sampling (AVS) between January 2006 and March 2019 were enrolled. The ACTH-stimulated plasma aldosterone concentration (PAC) of the inferior vena cava during AVS was used to evaluate aldosterone responsiveness to ACTH. We analyzed the relationship between responsiveness and previous CCV events. Logistic regression analysis demonstrated that the ΔPAC (the difference between the PAC measurements before and after ACTH stimulation) significantly increased the odds of previous CCV events in PA patients after adjusting for classical CCV event risk factors, baseline PAC and duration of hypertension (relative PAC: odds ratio [OR], 2.896; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.989-8.482; ΔPAC: OR, 2.344; 95% CI, 1.149-4.780; ACTH-stimulated PAC: OR, 2.098; 95% CI, 0.694-6.339). This study clearly demonstrated that aldosterone responsiveness to ACTH is closely related to previous CCV events. The responsiveness of the PAC to ACTH could be useful in predicting CCV event risk.Registration Number in UMIN-CTR is UMIN000032525.

DOI： 10.1507/endocrj.EJ23-0659

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Language：English   Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal)   Publisher：Journal of Clinical Periodontology  

AIM: This study aimed to investigate the effects of diabetes care on periodontal inflammation. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This prospective cohort study included 51 Japanese patients with type 2 diabetes who underwent intensive diabetes care including educational hospitalization and regular outpatient treatment for 6 months. Dental prophylaxis without subgingival scaling was provided three times during the observational period. Associations between changes in periodontal parameters and glycaemic control levels were evaluated using multiple regression analysis. RESULTS: Overall, 33 participants (mean age: 58.7 ± 12.9) were followed up for 6 months. At baseline examination, 82% were diagnosed with Stage III or IV periodontitis. Haemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) level changed from 9.6 ± 1.8% at baseline to 7.4 ± 1.3% at 6 months. The ratio of probing pocket depth (PPD) ≥4 mm, bleeding on probing (BOP), full-mouth plaque control record (PCR), periodontal epithelial surface area (PESA) and periodontal inflamed surface area (PISA) also significantly improved. The reduction in PPD and PESA was significantly associated with changes in both HbA1c and fasting plasma glucose (FPG) levels, and the reduction in PISA was significantly associated with an improvement in FPG after adjusting for smoking, change in body mass index and full-mouth PCR. CONCLUSIONS: This is the first study to report a significant improvement in PPD and BOP after intensive diabetes care and dental prophylaxis without subgingival scaling. CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: UMIN000040218.

DOI： 10.1111/jcpe.13958

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Language：English   Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal)   Publisher：The Japan Endocrine Society  

<p>We investigated the impact of the Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic on the management of endocrine and metabolic disorders in Japan. We conducted a cross-sectional nationwide questionnaire survey targeting board-certified endocrinologists under the auspices of the Japan Endocrine Society. The questionnaire consisted of multiple-choice questions and open-ended responses. Out of approximately 2,700 specialists, 528 (19.5%) opted to participate, suggesting a high level of interest in COVID-19 management among endocrinologists. The study found that almost half of participants had encountered cases of endocrine and metabolic disorders following COVID-19 infection or vaccination. Conditions related to thyroid diseases, glucose metabolism disorders/diabetes, and hypothalamic-pituitary disorders were particularly prevalent. Diabetes and obesity were identified as having high rates of severe cases or fatalities due to COVID-19. The study also highlighted challenges in routine diagnosis and treatment, emphasizing the potential benefits of combining remote consultations with in-person visits to optimize the frequency of examinations and check-ups during infectious disease outbreak which disrupts access to healthcare providers. The insights obtained from this survey are expected to contribute to ensuring appropriate healthcare provision for patients with endocrine and metabolic disorders by using flexible consultation formats, particularly even in the conditions where medical access may be limited due to future outbreaks of emerging or re-emerging infectious diseases.</p>

DOI： 10.1507/endocrj.EJ23-0671

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Language：English   Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal)   Publisher：Japanese Journal of Clinical Oncology  

BACKGROUND: Streptozocin has been used to treat neuroendocrine tumors in Europe and the USA; however, its actual status in Japan has not been fully clarified owing to the rarity of this disease and the relatively recent approval of streptozocin in Japan. METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed 53 patients with gastroenteropancreatic neuroendocrine tumors who were treated with streptozocin-based chemotherapy at two Japanese hospitals between January 2004 and June 2023. RESULTS: The overall response and disease control rates were 27.7 and 74.5%, respectively, and the median progression-free survival and overall survival were 7.1 and 20.3 months, respectively. Performance status ≥1 showed a significant negative correlation with progression-free survival, and performance status ≥1 and liver tumor burden ≥25% showed a significant negative correlation with overall survival. No significant differences were observed in the treatment response between pancreatic and gastrointestinal neuroendocrine tumors. No treatment-related serious adverse events were observed; however, 87.7% of patients expressed a decrease in the estimated glomerular filtration rate, which negatively correlated with the duration of streptozocin treatment (r = 0.43, P = 0.0020). In the streptozocin re-administration group (n = 5), no differences were found in efficacy between the initial and second streptozocin treatments. CONCLUSIONS: Although streptozocin is a safe, streptozocin-induced renal dysfunction is a dilemma in streptozocin responders. Streptozocin may benefit patients with gastroenteropancreatic neuroendocrine tumors, especially those with a good performance status; however, in some cases, planned streptozocin withdrawal or switching to other drugs should be considered.

DOI： 10.1093/jjco/hyae026

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Language：English   Publisher：(一社)日本内科学会  

重度肝障害を認めた成人発症スティル病(AOSD)患者4例の臨床的特性および組織病理学的特性を評価した。症例1は30歳女性で、症例2は39歳女性で、症例3は26歳女性で、症例4は54歳女性で、Yamaguchi基準の大項目はそれぞれ発熱/皮疹、発熱/皮疹/白血球増多、発熱/皮疹/白血球増多、発熱/皮疹/関節痛であった。全例で経口プレドニゾロン(PSL)投与歴があった。1例はAOSD診断時に重度の肝障害が存在しており、3例はAOSD再発時に肝障害が同時に出現した。肝生検のHE染色では全例で炎症細胞の浸潤を認め、浸潤炎症細胞は主にCD8陽性細胞であった。追加治療として、全例で高用量メチルプレドニゾロン静注療法、経口PSL投与、免疫抑制剤(アザチオプリン、シクロスポリン)投与を行った。

Language：English   Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal)   Publisher：Trials  

BACKGROUND: Endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) is the standard treatment for early gastric neoplasms (EGN). Controlling intraoperative bleeding is crucial for ensuring safe and reliable procedures. ESD using the spray coagulation mode (SCM-ESD) has been developed to control bleeding more effectively than ESD using the conventional forced coagulation mode (FCM-ESD). This study aims to compare the hemostatic efficacies of SCM-ESD and FCM-ESD. METHODS: This multicenter, prospective, parallel, randomized, open-label superiority trial will be conducted in five Japanese institutions. Patients with a preoperative diagnosis of intramucosal EGC will be randomized to undergo either SCM-ESD or FCM-ESD. The primary outcome measure is the completion of ESD with an electrosurgical knife alone, without the use of hemostatic forceps. Secondary outcomes include the number and duration of hemostasis using hemostatic forceps, procedure time, curability, and safety. A total of 130 patients will be enrolled in this study. DISCUSSION: This trial will provide evidence on the hemostatic efficacy of SCM-ESD compared with FCM-ESD in patients with intramucosal EGN, potentially improving the safety and reliability of ESD procedures. TRIAL REGISTRATION: The trial has been registered at the University Hospital Medical Information Network Clinical Trials Registration (UMIN-CTR) as UMIN000040518. The reception number is R000054009.

DOI： 10.1186/s13063-023-07852-6

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Language：English   Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal)   Publisher：Clinical Journal of Gastroenterology  

Pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors (PanNETs) are rare malignant tumors that occur in the pancreas. They are divided into functioning and non-functioning tumors based on the presence or absence of their specific hormonal hyper-expression symptoms. Adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH)-producing PanNETs are rare, functional tumors, and their clinical characteristics and outcomes have not been well reported.Here, we report the cases of two patients with PanNETs who presented with ectopic ACTH syndrome (EAS) during the course of their disease. Case 1 involved a non-functioning PanNET at the time of surgery. During treatment for recurrent liver metastases, the patient presented with EAS and tumor-associated hypercalcemia, probably due to ACTH and parathyroid hormone-related peptide (PTHrP) production from the liver tumor. Case 2 was a gastrinoma, and similar to Case 1, this patient presented with EAS during the treatment of recurrent liver metastases.It is not uncommon for patients with PanNETs to have multiple hormones and develop secondary hormone secretion during their disease course, although tumor phenotypes differ between primary and metastatic sites. In patients with functioning PanNETs, symptom control with anti-hormonal therapy is essential, in addition to anti-tumor therapy, especially for EAS, which is an endocrine emergency disease that requires prompt diagnosis and treatment.

DOI： 10.1007/s12328-023-01908-5

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DOI： 10.1055/a-2219-8130

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Language：English   Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal)   Publisher：The Japan Endocrine Society  

<p>To identify those who might benefit from weight reduction within a large population of obese individuals, Japan Society for the Study of Obesity (JASSO) advocated the concept of “obesity disease.” Here we summarize the definition, criteria, and core concepts for the management of obesity disease based on JASSO’s latest guideline. JASSO defines obesity as excessive fat storage in adipose tissue associated with a BMI of ≥25 kg/m². The threshold BMI of obesity is low as compared to Western countries given that Japanese individuals tend to develop obesity-related health disorders at lower BMI. Obesity with a BMI of ≥35 kg/m² is referred to as “high-degree obesity” as treatment strategies vary based on the degree of obesity. Obesity is diagnosed as “obesity disease” if accompanied by any of the 11 specific obesity-related health disorders that weight reduction can prevent or alleviate, or if it meets the criteria for visceral fat obesity with a visceral fat area of ≥100 cm². The initial weight reduction goals for high-degree obesity disease range from 5% to 10% of their current body weight, depending on the associated health disorders. That for those with obesity disease who do not qualify as high-degree is 3% or more. If these initial goals are not achieved, intensifying dietary therapy or introducing drug therapy (or both) may be necessary. While surgical treatment is primarily indicated for high-degree obesity disease, it might be appropriate for cases of obesity disease with a BMI <35 kg/m², depending on the accompanying health disorders. Enhancing the quality of life for individuals with obesity or obesity disease necessitates a broader societal approach, emphasizing the resolution of related stigma.</p>

DOI： 10.1507/endocrj.ej23-0593

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Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal)   Publisher：Hypertension Research  

This study aims to evaluate the prevalence of unilateral hyperaldosteronism (UHA) and its clinical characteristics in patients with primary aldosteronism (PA), diagnosed using plasma aldosterone concentration (PAC) measured by chemiluminescent enzyme immunoassay (CLEIA). We retrospectively analyzed data of 199 PA patients from the Japan Primary Aldosteronism Study II (JPAS II) dataset, including patients who underwent adrenal venous sampling (AVS) and the captopril challenge test (CCT) and/or saline infusion test (SIT), with PAC measured by CLEIA. We focused on two categories: confirmed PA, where patients exhibit clear biochemical evidence of the disorder, and borderline PA, where patients present with marginal biochemical indicators, as outlined in the Japan Endocrine Society's clinical practice guideline for the diagnosis and management of PA. In confirmed PA cases, over the half of patients was UHA, while approximately 15 to 20% of borderline cases were found to be UHA. The prevalence of hypokalemia was identified as predictor of UHA among borderline cases. Among borderline cases with no hypokalemia and adrenal nodules on CT imaging, only 6 to 8% of patients were found to have UHA. Notably, some patients exhibited UHA despite negative results on one test but confirmed result on the other, particularly those with hypokalemia or adrenal nodules on CT imaging. In conclusion, the findings validate the importance of AVS in confirmed PA cases and the need for careful assessment in borderline cases. When feasible, conducting both CCT and SIT, and interpreting their results alongside other clinical indicators, could provide a more comprehensive assessment.

DOI： 10.1038/s41440-024-01786-5

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Language：English   Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal)   Publisher：Gastroenterology Report  

DOI： 10.1093/gastro/goad071

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Language：English   Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal)   Publisher：PLoS ONE  

The Cre-loxP strategy for tissue-specific gene inactivation has become a widely employed tool in several research studies. Conversely, inadequate breeding and genotyping without considering the potential for non-specific Cre-recombinase expression may lead to misinterpretations of results. Nestin-Cre transgenic mice, widely used for the selective deletion of genes in neurons, have been observed to have an incidence of Cre-line germline recombination. In this study, we attempted to generate neuron-specific Glucagon-like peptide 1 receptor (Glp1r) knock-out mice by crossing mice harboring the Nestin-Cre transgene with mice harboring the Glp1r gene modified with loxP insertion, in order to elucidate the role of Glp1r signaling in the nervous system. Surprisingly, during this breeding process, we discovered that the null allele emerged in the offspring irrespective of the presence or absence of the Nestin-Cre transgene, with a high probability of occurrence (93.6%). To elucidate the cause of this null allele, we conducted breeding experiments between mice carrying the heterozygous Glp1r null allele but lacking the Nestin-Cre transgene. We confirmed that the null allele was inherited by the offspring independently of the Nestin-Cre transgene. Furthermore, we assessed the gene expression, protein expression, and phenotype of mice carrying the homozygous Glp1r null allele generated from the aforementioned breeding, thereby confirming that the null allele indeed caused a global knock-out of Glp1r. These findings suggest that the null allele in the NestinCre-Glp1r floxed breeding arose due to germline recombination. Moreover, we demonstrated the possibility that germline recombination may occur not only during the spermatogenesis at testis but also during epididymal sperm maturation. The striking frequency of germline recombination in the Nestin-Cre driver underscores the necessity for caution when implementing precise breeding strategies and employing suitable genotyping methods.

DOI： 10.1371/journal.pone.0296006

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DOI： 10.1055/a-1982-3875

Language：English   Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal)   Publisher：Elsevier BV  

Quantitative information on blood metabolites can be used in developing advanced medical strategies such as early detection and prevention of disease. Monitoring bioactive lipids such as steroids, bile acids, and PUFA metabolites could be a valuable indicator of health status. However, a method for simultaneously measuring these bioactive lipids has not yet been developed. Here, we report a LC/MS/MS method that can simultaneously measure 144 bioactive lipids, including steroids, bile acids, and PUFA metabolites, from human plasma, and a sample preparation method for these targets. Protein removal by methanol precipitation and purification of bioactive lipids by solid-phase extraction improved the recovery of the targeted compounds in human plasma samples, demonstrating the importance of sample preparation methods for a wide range of bioactive lipid analyses. Using the developed method, we studied the plasma from healthy human volunteers and confirmed the presence of bioactive lipid molecules associated with sex differences and circadian rhythms. The developed method of bioactive lipid analysis can be applied to health monitoring and disease biomarker discovery in precision medicine.

DOI： 10.1016/j.jlr.2023.100492

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Language：English   Publisher：Endoscopy  

DOI： 10.1055/a-2173-8010

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DOI： 10.1055/a-1982-3875

Language：English   Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal)   Publisher：Digestive Endoscopy  

OBJECTIVES: Reflux hypersensitivity (RH) is a form of refractory gastroesophageal reflux disease in which duodenogastroesophageal reflux (DGER) plays a role. This study aimed to determine the usefulness of an endoscopy system equipped with image-enhanced technology for evaluating DGER and RH. METHODS: The image enhancement mode for detecting bilirubin and calculated values were defined as the Bil mode and Bil value, respectively. First, the visibility of the Bil mode was validated for a bilirubin solution and bile concentrations ranging from 0.01% to 100% (0.002-20 mg/dL). Second, visibility scores of the Bil mode, when applied to the porcine esophagus sprayed with a bilirubin solution, were compared to those of the blue laser imaging (BLI) and white light imaging (WLI) modes. Third, a clinical study was conducted to determine the correlations between esophageal Bil values and the number of nonacid reflux events (NNRE) during multichannel intraluminal impedance-pH monitoring as well as the utility of esophageal Bil values for the differential diagnosis of RH. RESULTS: Bilirubin solution and bile concentrations higher than 1% were visualized in red using the Bil mode. The visibility score was significantly higher with the Bil mode than with the BLI and WLI modes for 1% to 6% bilirubin solutions (P < 0.05). The esophageal Bil value and NNRE were significantly positively correlated (P = 0.031). The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve for the differential diagnosis of RH was 0.817. CONCLUSION: The Bil mode can detect bilirubin with high accuracy and could be used to evaluate DGER in clinical practice.

DOI： 10.1111/den.14749

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Language：English   Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal)   Publisher：Endocrinology (United States)  

Pancreatic islet inflammation plays a crucial role in the etiology of type 2 diabetes (T2D). Macrophages residing in pancreatic islets have emerged as key players in islet inflammation. Macrophages express a plethora of innate immune receptors that bind to environmental and metabolic cues and integrate these signals to trigger an inflammatory response that contributes to the development of islet inflammation. One such receptor, Dectin-2, has been identified within pancreatic islets; however, its role in glucose metabolism remains largely unknown. Here we demonstrated that mice lacking Dectin-2 exhibit local inflammation within islets, along with impaired insulin secretion and β-cell dysfunction. Our findings indicate that these effects are mediated by pro-inflammatory cytokines, such as IL-1α and IL-6, which are secreted by macrophages that have acquired an inflammatory phenotype because of the loss of Dectin-2. This study provides novel insights into the mechanisms underlying the role of Dectin-2 in the development of islet inflammation.

DOI： 10.1210/endocr/bqad181

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Language：Japanese   Publisher：(一社)日本糖尿病学会  

67歳男性.糖尿病歴なし.腎癌肺転移に対しニボルマブとイピリムマブ併用療法開始し14日後に免疫関連副作用(immune-related Adverse Events:irAE)による破壊性甲状腺炎を発症し,65日後に糖尿病性ケトアシドーシスを発症し,救急搬送後の随時血糖1234mg/dL,HbA1c 9.1%,グルカゴン負荷後の血中CPR測定感度未満,膵島関連自己抗体は陰性であり,またヒト白血球抗原(HLA)検査でDRB1*04:05-DQB1*04:01のヘテロ接合を認めた.本症例を含めたirAEでの1型糖尿病発症自験例4例を比較したところ,全症例において日本人における1型糖尿病発症との関連が示されているDRB1*0405もしくはDRB1*0901のHLAハプロタイプを示し,抗PD-1抗体と抗CTLA-4抗体併用療法では抗PD-1抗体単独治療と比較し発症までの期間は明らかに短縮していた.(著者抄録)

Language：Japanese   Publisher：(一社)日本糖尿病学会  

67歳男性.糖尿病歴なし.腎癌肺転移に対しニボルマブとイピリムマブ併用療法開始し14日後に免疫関連副作用(immune-related Adverse Events:irAE)による破壊性甲状腺炎を発症し,65日後に糖尿病性ケトアシドーシスを発症し,救急搬送後の随時血糖1234mg/dL,HbA1c 9.1%,グルカゴン負荷後の血中CPR測定感度未満,膵島関連自己抗体は陰性であり,またヒト白血球抗原(HLA)検査でDRB1*04:05-DQB1*04:01のヘテロ接合を認めた.本症例を含めたirAEでの1型糖尿病発症自験例4例を比較したところ,全症例において日本人における1型糖尿病発症との関連が示されているDRB1*0405もしくはDRB1*0901のHLAハプロタイプを示し,抗PD-1抗体と抗CTLA-4抗体併用療法では抗PD-1抗体単独治療と比較し発症までの期間は明らかに短縮していた.(著者抄録)

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Language：English   Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal)   Publisher：Medicine (United States)  

Acute kidney injury (AKI) is a common complication of acute liver failure (ALF); but its pathogenesis is unknown. ALF was divided into 2 subgroups; ALF with hepatic coma, which corresponds to ALF in the US and Europe, and ALF without hepatic coma. AKI has been shown to worsen the prognosis of ALF patients with hepatic coma; however, its prognostic significance in ALF without hepatic coma remains unknown. A single-center retrospective study of 174 patients with ALF was performed. AKI was defined according to KDIGO criteria. AKI developed in 29 (66.0%) of 44 ALF patients with hepatic coma and 27 (38.5%) of 130 ALF patients without hepatic coma. Systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS) was found to be significantly associated with AKI incidence in ALF patients (P < .001). Tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) was found to be significantly associated with the presence and severity of AKI (P = .0039 and P = .0140, respectively). On multivariate analysis, TNF-α was an independent risk factor linked with AKI (P = .0103). Even in the absence of hepatic coma, the transplant-free survival rate of ALF was significantly associated with the presence and severity of AKI. Even when hepatic coma is absent, AKI complicated in ALF is strongly associated with TNF-α and worsens the transplant-free survival rate. Before the onset of hepatic coma, plasma exchange, or extracorporeal blood purification to remove inflammatory cytokines should be considered in ALF patients.

DOI： 10.1097/MD.0000000000035931

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Language：English   Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal)   Publisher：Springer Science and Business Media LLC  

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Obesity is recognized as an independent risk factor for abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA). While mutations in the melanocortin-4 receptor (MC4R) gene is the most common cause of obesity caused by mutations in a single gene, the link between MC4R function and vascular disease has still remained unclear. Here, by using melanocortin-4 receptor (MC4R) deficient mice, we confirmed MC4R deficiency promotes AAA and atherosclerosis. We demonstrated the contribution of two novel factors towards vascular vulnerability in this model: leptin signaling in vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) and loss of MC4R signaling in macrophages. Leptin was shown to promote vascular vulnerability via PI3K-dependent upregulation of Spp1 expression in VSMC. Additionally, Ang II-induced AAA incidence was significantly reduced when MC4R gene expression was myeloid cell-specifically rescued in MC4R deficient (MC4R^TB/TB) mice. Ex vivo analysis showed a suppression in NF-κB activity in bone marrow-derived macrophages from LysM(+);MC4R^TB/TB mice compared to LysM(−);MC4R^TB/TB mice, which exaggerates with endogenous MC4R ligand treatment; α-MSH. These results suggest that MC4R signaling in macrophages attenuates AAA by inhibiting NF-κB activity and subsequent vascular inflammation.

DOI： 10.1038/s41598-023-46831-4

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Other Link： https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-023-46831-4

Language：Japanese   Publisher：(一社)日本肥満学会  

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Language：Japanese   Publisher：(一社)日本肥満学会  

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Language：Japanese   Publisher：(一社)日本肥満学会  

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Language：Japanese   Publisher：(一社)日本肥満学会  

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Language：Japanese   Publisher：(一社)日本肥満学会  

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Language：Japanese   Publisher：(一社)日本肥満学会  

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Language：English   Publisher：Chemical Communications  

A new compound, a derivative of 3,4,5-trimethoxy-N-phenyl benzamide bearing an 8′′-methylimidazopyridine moiety, is found to demonstrate neuroprotective effects by preventing cell death caused by oxidative stress. The compound possesses high solubility and metabolic stability, and inhibits MPTP-induced effects in vivo, indicating high potential as a therapeutic drug for Parkinson's disease.

DOI： 10.1039/d3cc03069e

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Language：English   Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal)   Publisher：Hepatology Communications  

BACKGROUND: NAFLD caused by abnormalities in hepatic lipid metabolism is associated with an increased risk of developing HCC. The molecular mechanisms underlying the progression of NAFLD-related HCC are not fully understood. We investigated the molecular mechanism and role of KDM6B downregulation in NAFLD-related HCC after the KDM6B gene was identified using microarray analysis as commonly downregulated in mouse NAFLD-related HCC and human nonhepatitis B and nonhepatitis C viral-HCC. METHODS: The 5-hydroxymethylcytosine levels of KDM6B in HCC cells were determined using glycosylated hydroxymethyl-sensitive PCR. Microarray and chromatin immunoprecipitation analyses using KDM6B-knockout (KO) cells were used to identify KDM6B target genes. Lipotoxicity was assessed using a palmitate-treated cell proliferation assay. Immunohistochemistry was used to evaluate KDM6B expression in human HCC tissues. RESULTS: KDM6B expression levels in HCC cells correlated with the 5-hydroxymethylcytosine levels in the KDM6B gene body region. Gene set enrichment analysis revealed that the lipid metabolism pathway was suppressed in KDM6B-KO cells. KDM6B-KO cells acquired resistance to lipotoxicity (p < 0.01) and downregulated the expression of G0S2, an adipose triglyceride lipase/patatin like phospholipase domain containing 2 (ATGL/PNPLA2) inhibitor, through increased histone H3 lysine-27 trimethylation levels. G0S2 knockdown in KDM6B-expressed HCC cells conferred lipotoxicity resistance, whereas ATGL/PNPLA2 inhibition in the KDM6B-KO cells reduced these effects. Immunohistochemistry revealed that KDM6B expression was decreased in human NAFLD-related HCC tissues (p < 0.001), which was significantly associated with decreased G0S2 expression (p = 0.032). CONCLUSIONS: KDM6B-disrupted HCC acquires resistance to lipotoxicity via ATGL/PNPLA2 activation caused by epigenetic downregulation of G0S2 expression. Reduced KDM6B and G0S2 expression levels are common in NAFLD-related HCC. Targeting the KDM6B-G0S2-ATGL/PNPLA2 pathway may be a useful therapeutic strategy for NAFLD-related HCC.

DOI： 10.1097/HC9.0000000000000277

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Language：Japanese   Publisher：(一社)日本内分泌学会  

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Language：Japanese   Publisher：(一社)日本内分泌学会  

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Language：Japanese   Publisher：(一社)日本糖尿病・妊娠学会  

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Language：Japanese   Publisher：(一社)日本糖尿病・妊娠学会  

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Language：Japanese   Publisher：(一社)日本内分泌学会  

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Language：Japanese   Publisher：(一社)日本内分泌学会  

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Language：Japanese   Publisher：(一財)日本消化器病学会  

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Language：Japanese   Publisher：(一社)日本内分泌学会  

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Language：Japanese   Publisher：医学図書出版(株)  

術後膵液瘻(postoperative pancreatic fistula:POPF)は発生頻度の高い膵切除術後合併症であり,適切なタイミングでドレナージを行う必要がある。従来は経皮的ドレナージが主流であったが,近年では内視鏡治療,とくにEUSガイド下経消化管ドレナージ(EUS-guided transluminal drainage:EUS-TD)の報告が増えている。EUS-TDで用いるステントとして,主に経鼻胆道ドレナージチューブ,ダブルピッグテイル型プラスチックステント,lumen-apposing metal stent,などがあり,POPFの部位,大きさ,性状に応じて,適切なステント選択を心がける必要がある。事前に外科医と情報共有のうえで,内視鏡治療にあたることが重要である。(著者抄録)

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Language：Japanese   Publisher：(一社)日本内分泌学会  

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Language：Japanese   Publisher：(一社)日本内分泌学会  

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Language：Japanese   Publisher：(一社)日本内分泌学会  

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Language：Japanese   Publisher：(一社)日本内分泌学会  

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Language：Japanese   Publisher：(株)メディカルレビュー社  

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Language：English   Publisher：(一社)日本血液学会  

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Language：English   Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal)   Publisher：JCI Insight  

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. Here, we show that hepatic FASN deficiency differentially affects NAFLD and diabetes depending on the etiology of obesity. Hepatocyte-specific ablation of FASN ameliorated NAFLD and diabetes in melanocortin 4 receptor-deficient mice but not in mice with diet-induced obesity. In leptin-deficient mice, FASN ablation alleviated hepatic steatosis and improved glucose tolerance but exacerbated fed hyperglycemia and liver dysfunction. The beneficial effects of hepatic FASN deficiency on NAFLD and glucose metabolism were associated with suppression of DNL and attenuation of gluconeogenesis and fatty acid oxidation, respectively. The exacerbation of fed hyperglycemia by FASN ablation in leptin-deficient mice appeared attributable to impairment of hepatic glucose uptake triggered by glycogen accumulation and citrate-mediated inhibition of glycolysis. Further investigation of the therapeutic potential of hepatic FASN inhibition for NAFLD and diabetes in humans should thus consider the etiology of obesity.

DOI： 10.1172/jci.insight.161282

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Language：Japanese   Publisher：医学図書出版(株)  

がんのリスクファクターにはさまざまなものがあり,代表的なものの一つに飲酒がある。アルコール摂取量と強い関連性を認めるがん種として口腔および喉頭・咽頭癌,食道扁平上皮癌,肝臓癌,結腸直腸癌,乳腺がんがあり,喉頭・咽頭癌,食道扁平上皮癌については禁酒による2次予防効果も報告されている。アルコールは本邦の膵癌ガイドラインにおいてリスク因子としてあげられているが,胆道癌については十分なエビデンスがない。アルコールの発癌の機序として主にアルコール代謝過程において生成されるアセトアルデヒドへの曝露が考えられているが,肝線維化,葉酸欠乏・阻害,エストロゲン濃度上昇なども報告されている。アセトアルデヒドについては日本人特有のアルコール代謝酵素遺伝子多型も大きく影響している。本稿では飲酒による発がんのメカニズム,日本人におけるアルコール代謝の特徴について述べ,各がん種について概説する。(著者抄録)

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Language：Japanese   Publisher：(NPO)日本消化吸収学会  

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Language：Japanese   Publisher：日本筋学会・筋ジストロフィー医療研究会  

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Publisher：Journal of Geophysical Research: Space Physics  

A specialized ground-based system has been developed for simultaneous observations of pulsating aurora (PsA) and related magnetospheric phenomena with the Arase satellite. The instrument suite is composed of (a) six 100 Hz sampling high-speed all-sky imagers (ASIs), (b) two 10 Hz sampling monochromatic ASIs observing 427.8 and 844.6 nm auroral emissions, (c) a 20 Hz sampling fluxgate magnetometer. The 100 Hz ASIs were deployed in four stations in Scandinavia and two stations in Alaska, which have been used for capturing the main pulsations and quasi 3 Hz internal modulations of PsA at the same time. The 10 Hz sampling monochromatic ASIs have been operative in Tromsø, Norway with the 20 Hz sampling magnetometer. Combination of these multiple instruments with the European Incoherent SCATter (EISCAT) radar enables us to detect the low-altitude ionization due to energetic electron precipitation during PsA and further to reveal the ionospheric electrodynamics behind PsA. Since the launch of the Arase satellite, the data from these instruments have been examined in comparison with the wave and particle data from the satellite in the magnetosphere. In the future, the system can be utilized not only for studies of PsA but also for other classes of aurora in close collaboration with the planned EISCAT_3D project.

DOI： 10.1029/2023JA031527

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Publisher：Materials Science and Engineering: A  

Solid-solution hardening caused by dissolved hydrogen (H) atoms in face-centered cubic metals is a favorable phenomenon that counteracts the H-induced degradation of mechanical performance in structural alloys, i.e., hydrogen embrittlement. In the present study, the changes of yield and flow stresses by solute H with the concentrations of 2000∼7600 at ppm were systematically investigated in a Fe–24Cr–19Ni-based austenitic stainless steel under the temperature range of 173∼423 K and two different strain rates: 5 × 10−5 and 5 × 10−3/s. Stress relaxation tests were subsidiarily employed in order to elaborate the underlying mechanisms predominating the H-related hardening at low and ambient temperatures. Four essential ingredients of the H-induced hardening were identified: (i) H atoms in the matrix lattice as dispersed obstacles; (ii) pinning of stationary dislocations by H atmosphere; (iii) dynamic pinning of dislocations resting at obstacles; (iv) drag force to moving dislocations by migratable H clouds. The hardening around 173 K was attributed to (i) and (ii), where the primary importance of interstitial-substitutional interaction between Cr and H was explicitly invoked. Meanwhile, the magnitude of hardening was maximized at around 298 K under the slow strain rate condition owing to the increasing contributions from (iii) and (iv).

DOI： 10.1016/j.msea.2023.145281

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Language：English   Publisher：Trials  

BACKGROUND: We have determined that the impaired accommodation of the lower esophageal sphincter (LES) underlies the pathogenesis of esophagogastric junction outflow obstruction (EGJOO). We have also found that acotiamide may treat EGJOO by improving impaired LES accommodation. The effects of acotiamide in patients with EGJOO need to be further confirmed in a prospective study. METHODS: This trial is a multicenter, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study to compare the efficacy and safety of acotiamide (300 mg/day or 600 mg/day) with those of a placebo in the treatment of patients with EGJOO. The primary endpoint will be the proportion of patients who report an improvement in symptom of food sticking in the chest after 4 weeks of treatment period 1. The secondary endpoints will be the proportion of patients with normalized integrated relaxation pressure (IRP), the value of change from baseline in the distal contractile integral, basal LES pressure, EGJOO-quality of life score, Gastrointestinal Symptom Rating Scale, and the correlation between IRP and each symptom score. During the 2-year trial period, 42 patients from five institutions will be enrolled. DISCUSSION: This trial will provide evidence to clarify the efficacy and safety of acotiamide as a treatment for patients with EGJOO. Acotiamide might help improve the quality of life of patients with EGJOO and is expected to prevent the progression of EGJOO to achalasia. TRIAL REGISTRATION: This study was approved by the Institutional Review Board (IRB) of Kyushu University Hospital as well as the local IRBs of the participating sites for clinical trials and registered in the Japan Registry of Clinical Trials (jRCT: 2071210072). The registration date is on October 11, 2021.

DOI： 10.1186/s13063-023-07468-w

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Language：Japanese   Publisher：(一社)日本膵臓学会  

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Language：Japanese   Publisher：(一社)日本膵臓学会  

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Publisher：FEBS Letters  

Human MutT homolog 1 (MTH1), also known as Nudix-type motif 1 (NUDT1), hydrolyzes 8-oxo-dGTP and 2-oxo-dATP with broad substrate recognition and has attracted attention in anticancer therapeutics. Previous studies on MTH1 have proposed that the exchange of the protonation state between Asp119 and Asp120 is essential for the broad substrate recognition of MTH1. To understand the relationship between protonation states and substrate binding, we determined the crystal structures of MTH1 at pH 7.7–9.7. With increasing pH, MTH1 gradually loses its substrate-binding ability, indicating that Asp119 is deprotonated at pH 8.0–9.1 in 8-oxo-dGTP recognition and Asp120 is deprotonated at pH 8.6–9.7 in 2-oxo-dATP recognition. These results confirm that MTH1 recognizes 8-oxo-dGTP and 2-oxo-dATP by exchanging the protonation state between Asp119 and Asp120 with higher pKa.

DOI： 10.1002/1873-3468.14611

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Language：Japanese   Publisher：(一社)日本膵臓学会  

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Language：Japanese   Publisher：(一社)日本膵臓学会  

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Language：Japanese   Publisher：(一社)日本膵臓学会  

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Language：English   Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal)   Publisher：The Japanese Society of Internal Medicine  

<p>Adult-onset Still's disease (AOSD) is a systemic inflammatory disorder. Severe liver injury has rarely been reported, although liver enzyme elevation is a common complication of AOSD. We herein report four cases of relapsed AOSD with severe liver disorder by tapering or terminating corticosteroids. Liver specimens revealed robust infiltration of inflammatory cells throughout the lobule, especially cluster of differentiation (CD) 8-positive cells. Relapsed AOSD was refractory to corticosteroid reintroduction and required immunosuppressants. Severe liver injury with AOSD is pathologically characterized by extensive lobular infiltration of CD8-positive cells, and we should consider additive immunosuppressive agents on corticosteroids for treatment. </p>

DOI： 10.2169/internalmedicine.2043-23

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Language：English   Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal)   Publisher：Journal of Gastroenterology  

BACKGROUND: Pancreatic neuroendocrine neoplasms (PanNENs) are a heterogeneous group of tumors. Although the prognosis of resected PanNENs is generally considered to be good, a relatively high recurrence rate has been reported. Given the scarcity of large-scale reports about PanNEN recurrence due to their rarity, we aimed to identify the predictors for recurrence in patients with resected PanNENs to improve prognosis. METHODS: We established a multicenter database of 573 patients with PanNENs, who underwent resection between January 1987 and July 2020 at 22 Japanese centers, mainly in the Kyushu region. We evaluated the clinical characteristics of 371 patients with localized non-functioning pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors (G1/G2). We also constructed a machine learning-based prediction model to analyze the important features to determine recurrence. RESULTS: Fifty-two patients experienced recurrence (14.0%) during the follow-up period, with the median time of recurrence being 33.7 months. The random survival forest (RSF) model showed better predictive performance than the Cox proportional hazards regression model in terms of the Harrell's C-index (0.841 vs. 0.820). The Ki-67 index, residual tumor, WHO grade, tumor size, and lymph node metastasis were the top five predictors in the RSF model; tumor size above 20 mm was the watershed with increased recurrence probability, whereas the 5-year disease-free survival rate decreased linearly as the Ki-67 index increased. CONCLUSIONS: Our study revealed the characteristics of resected PanNENs in real-world clinical practice. Machine learning techniques can be powerful analytical tools that provide new insights into the relationship between the Ki-67 index or tumor size and recurrence.

DOI： 10.1007/s00535-023-01987-8

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Language：Japanese   Publisher：医学図書出版(株)  

慢性膵炎の臨床像は,病期や合併症の有無により患者ごとに大きく異なる。長期間の経過のなかで,膵石や膵管・胆管狭窄,仮性嚢胞,膵性胸腹水などさまざまな合併症を有することがあり,これらの病態には内視鏡治療が第一選択になる。慢性膵炎診療ガイドライン2021を念頭に,ERCPによる経乳頭的治療とEUSによる経消化管的治療,必要に応じて外科的治療を組み合わせて,慢性膵炎合併症の治療にあたる必要がある。本稿では慢性膵炎の合併症に対する内視鏡治療を中心に概説する。(著者抄録)

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Language：English   Publisher：Psychiatry and Clinical Neurosciences Reports  

There is insufficient research on the usefulness of psychological interventions, such as psychological first aid (PFA), during outbreaks. We searched for and critically appraised systematic reviews that examined the effectiveness of PFA during infectious disease outbreaks, such as the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19). Systematic reviews that examined the efficacy of PFA in the severe acute respiratory syndrome, Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus, Ebola virus disease, and COVID-19 outbreaks were searched through PubMed on February 19, 2021. The three included systematic reviews were critically appraised and assessed using AMSTAR-2. One review's overall confidence in its findings was evaluated as “high,” which suggested that PFA training had a favorable effect on healthcare personnel. Furthermore, the review also demonstrated that PFA was commonly used during outbreaks and could be delivered through multiple methods, such as a phone or video call. Although it was anticipated that PFA would improve subjective well-being, reports showed no evidence of reduced depression or insomnia. Future studies should examine additional numbers of PFA recipients and conduct quasi-experimental studies to better understand the effectiveness of PFA. Evidence on its effectiveness in infectious disease outbreaks is still lacking, along with research and evaluation methods. Quasi-experimental studies, such as comparisons with other psychological interventions, are required to better understand the effectiveness of PFA.

DOI： 10.1002/pcn5.107

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Language：English   Publisher：シュプリンガー・ジャパン(株)  

切除した膵神経内分泌腫瘍(PanNEN)は再発率が高いので、その予測因子を検索した。22医療機関で1987年1月～2020年7月に切除したPanNEN573例のデータベースを作成した。局在性の非機能性膵神経内分泌腫瘍(G1/G2)の371名の患者の臨床的特徴を分析した。再発を決定付ける特徴を分析するため、機械学習予測モデルを構築した。経過観察中に患者52名に再発がみられ、再発までの中央値は33.7ヵ月であった。ランダムサバイバルフォレスト(RSF)モデルはCox比例ハザード回帰モデルよりもHarrell C指数が優れていた。Ki-67指数、残存腫瘍、WHOグレード、腫瘍サイズ、リンパ節転移がRSFモデルの上位5予測因子で、腫瘍サイズ20mm以上が再発の可能性の上昇する分岐点で、Ki-67指数の上昇とともに5年無増悪生存率が直線的に低下した。

Language：Japanese   Publisher：The Japan Endocrine Society  

DOI： 10.1507/endocrine.99.s.update_14

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Language：Japanese   Publisher：(一社)日本内分泌学会  

症例は68歳男性で、左眼瞼下垂、視力低下を主訴に、前医の頭部MRIにて下垂体部の腫瘍を指摘され、手術目的に当院紹介となった。下垂体腫瘍に対し外科的腫瘍摘出術を施行し、病理組織学的にトルコ鞍内脊索腫と診断された。術前後の内分泌学的所見を評価すると、術前に認めた下垂体前葉ホルモン基礎値の広範な低下は、術後にはPRLを除いて改善し、術後はホルモン補充療法を行わず経過観察する方針とした。また、眼瞼下垂と視力低下は術後改善し、術後7ヵ月の時点で再発は認めなかった。

Language：Japanese   Publisher：日本消化器病学会-九州支部  

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Language：English   Publisher：(一社)日本内分泌学会  

原発性アルドステロン症(PA)の診断において、血漿アルドステロン濃度(PAC)の標準的評価法を放射免疫測定法(RIA)から新規化学発光酵素免疫測定法(CLEIA)に変更したことの影響について検討した。日本の41施設のレジストリであるJapan Rare/Intractable Adrenal Diseases Study(JRAS)に登録されたPA患者2289例を対象とする後向き観察的コホート研究を行った。RIAで評価したPACを、変換式を用いてCLEIA評価PAC(推定PAC)に変換した。推定PACをカプトプリル負荷試験(CCT)および生理食塩水注入試験(SIT)のカットオフ値に適用すると、PA診断数がCCTでは36%減少し、SITでは52%減少した。これらの不適合症例のうち、CCTの87%、SITの87%が副腎静脈サンプリングで両側性であった。不適合症例のうちCCTの6%とSITの5%で外科的治療可能アルドステロン産生腺腫が観察され、大半で低カリウム血症またはCT画像上での副腎結節を認めた。

Language：Japanese   Publisher：(一社)日本糖尿病学会  

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Language：Japanese   Publisher：(一社)日本糖尿病学会  

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Language：English   Publisher：John Wiley & Sons Australia, Ltd  

レジスチンの血清中濃度および同遺伝子一塩基多型(SNP)-420とSNP-358の遺伝子型の組み合わせと潜在的サルコペニア肥満との関連について検討した。対象は愛媛県東温市在住の567名(女性365名、平均60歳)とした。内臓脂肪面積≧100cm2かつ握力低値(四分位最下位)を指標とする潜在的サルコペニア肥満は、血清レジスチン四分位最上位およびSNP-420G/SNP-358Aハプロタイプ(G-A)のホモ接合型と関連を示した。全血のRNA配列解析において、G-Aホモ型保有者はC-Gホモ型保有者に比べ、腫瘍壊死因子(TNF)が関与する経路の複数の遺伝子発現が亢進しており、RT-PCRでもTNFの発現上昇が確認された。以上の結果から、レジスチンとサルコペニア肥満の関連にTNFαが介在する可能性が示唆された。

Language：Japanese   Publisher：(一社)日本内分泌学会  

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Language：Japanese   Publisher：(一社)日本内分泌学会  

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Language：Japanese   Publisher：(一社)日本内分泌学会  

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Language：Japanese   Publisher：(一社)日本内分泌学会  

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Language：Japanese   Publisher：日本消化器病学会-九州支部  

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Language：Japanese   Publisher：(一社)日本糖尿病学会  

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Language：English   Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal)   Publisher：Clinical Endocrinology  

OBJECTIVE: The clinical practice guideline for primary aldosteronism (PA) places a high value on confirmatory tests to sparing patients with false-positive results in case detection from undergoing adrenal venous sampling (AVS). However, it is unclear whether multiple types of confirmatory tests are more useful than a single type. To evaluate whether the machine-learned combination of two confirmatory tests is more useful in predicting subtypes of PA than each test alone. DESIGN: A retrospective cross-sectional study in referral centers. PATIENTS: This study included 615 patients with PA randomly assigned to the training and test datasets. The participants underwent saline infusion test (SIT) and captopril challenge test (CCT) and were subtyped by AVS (unilateral, n = 99; bilateral, n = 516). MEASUREMENTS: The area under the curve (AUC) and clinical usefulness using decision curve analysis for the subtype prediction in the test dataset. RESULTS: The AUCs for the combination of SIT and CCT, SIT alone, and CCT alone were 0.850, 0.813, and 0.786, respectively, with no significant differences between them. The AUC for the baseline clinical characteristics alone was 0.872, whereas the AUCs for these combined with SIT, combined with CCT, and combined with both SIT and CCT were 0.868, 0.854, and 0.855, respectively, with no significant improvement in AUC. The additional clinical usefulness of the second confirmatory test was unremarkable on decision curve analysis. CONCLUSIONS: Our data suggest that patients with positive case detection undergo one confirmatory test to determine the indication for AVS. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.

DOI： 10.1111/cen.14854

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Language：Others   Publisher：Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory  

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Quantitative information on blood metabolites has the potential to be utilized in medical strategies such as early disease detection and prevention. Monitoring of bioactive lipids, such as steroids, bile acids, and polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) metabolites, could be a valuable indicator for health status. However, a method for simultaneous measurement of these bioactive lipids has not been reported at present. Here, we report a liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (LC/MS/MS) method that can simultaneously measure more than 140 bioactive lipids, including steroids, bile acids, and PUFA metabolites, from human plasma, and a sample preparation method for these targets. Protein removal in methanol precipitation and purification operations of bioactive lipids by solid-phase extraction improved the recovery of targeted compounds in human plasma samples, demonstrating the importance of sample preparation methods in a wide range of bioactive lipid analyses. Using the developed method, we measured plasma from healthy human volunteers and confirmed the presence of bioactive lipid molecules associated with sex differences and circadian rhythms. The practical bioactive lipid analysis method developed is expected to be applied to health monitoring and disease biomarker discovery for precision medicine.

DOI： 10.1101/2023.04.13.536679

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Language：Japanese   Publisher：(株)ニュー・サイエンス社  

SGLT2阻害薬は尿糖排泄を促進する血糖降下薬として開発されたが,糖尿病を合併しない心不全や腎臓病においても有効性が報告されており,臓器保護効果があることが示唆されている。骨格筋は代謝特性の異なる遅筋線維と速筋線維から構成され,前者は酸化的リン酸化,後者は解糖系によるエネルギー産生を行い,それぞれ持久的運動と瞬発的運動で使用される。筆者らは,非糖尿病および肥満糖尿病マウスを用いて骨格筋に対するカナグリフロジン(CANA)の作用を検討した。非糖尿病マウスでは,摂餌制限下でのCANA投与は速筋機能(握力)を低下させた。一方,肥満糖尿病マウスでは,CANA投与は遅筋機能(走行距離)を改善させた。本稿では上記2つのモデルの結果を踏まえ,代謝特性の異なる2種類の骨格筋に対するSGLT2阻害薬の作用について,メタボローム解析の結果とともに紹介する。(著者抄録)

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Language：Japanese   Publisher：(一社)日本糖尿病学会  

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Language：Japanese   Publisher：(一社)日本肝臓学会  

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Language：Japanese   Publisher：(一社)日本肝臓学会  

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Language：Japanese   Publisher：(一社)日本肝臓学会  

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Language：Japanese   Publisher：(一社)日本肝臓学会  

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Language：English   Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal)   Publisher：International Journal of Hematology  

BACKGROUND: Hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) is a useful tool for the treatment of hematologic malignancies. However, transplantation-related complications are the main cause of non-relapse mortality. Previous reports suggest that endothelial damage is related to early complications after HSCT. Non-invasive reactive hyperemia peripheral arterial tonometry (RH-PAT) was performed to evaluate endothelial function as a predictive marker for these complications. METHODS: The reactive hyperemia index (RHI) obtained from RH-PAT was evaluated before the conditioning regimen. The relationship between the RHI and the appearance of engraftment syndrome, thrombotic microangiopathy, and acute graft-versus-host disease (aGVHD) was assessed. Receiver operating characteristic curve analysis showed that an RHI value of 1.58 was the optimal cut-off for predicting transplantation-related complications. RESULTS: In total, 49 patients (22 acute myelogenous leukemia, 7 acute lymphocytic leukemia, 6 myelodysplastic syndrome, 6 adult T-cell leukemia, 6 non-Hodgkin lymphoma, and 2 others) were enrolled; 34 had a normal RHI (≥ 1.59), and 15 had an abnormally low RHI (≤ 1.58). Thrombotic microangiopathy (20.2% vs 0.0%, P = 0.025) and aGVHD (80.0% vs 41.2%, P = 0.015) were significantly more frequent in patients with a low RHI. CONCLUSION: Endothelial dysfunction assessed by RH-PAT before HSCT was able to predict transplantation-related complications.

DOI： 10.1007/s12185-022-03498-3

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Language：English   Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal)   Publisher：Medicine (United States)  

Acute liver failure (ALF) is a disorder defined by coagulopathy and encephalopathy with a poor prognosis. No effective therapies have been established except for liver transplantation. We previously reported a subgroup of patients with acute liver injury who developed microcirculatory disturbance. We also established and reported transcatheter arterial steroid injection therapy (TASIT) as a new treatment of ALF. Here, we analyze the effectiveness of TASIT in a larger cohort and evaluate the impact on ALF patients with or without microcirculatory disturbance. We conducted a single-center retrospective study to evaluate the effectiveness of TASIT in patients with ALF admitted at Kyushu University Hospital between January 2005 and March 2018. TASIT is performed by injecting methylprednisolone via the proper hepatic artery for 3 days. One hundred ninety-4 patients with ALF were enrolled and analyzed in this study. Of the 87 patients given TASIT, 71 (81.6%) recovered without any complications and 16 (18.4%) died or underwent liver transplantation. Of the 107 patients not administered TASIT, 77 (72.0%) recovered and 30 (28.0%) progressed to irreversible liver failure. In the high-lactate dehydrogenase subgroup, 52 (86.7%) of the 60 patients with TASIT recovered, and the survival rate was significantly higher than that in patients who did not receive TASIT. Multivariate regression analysis revealed that the TASIT procedure was one of the significant prognostic factors in the high-lactate dehydrogenase subgroup and was significantly associated with prothrombin activity percentage improvement. TASIT is an effective treatment for patients with ALF, especially in those with microcirculatory disturbance.

DOI： 10.1097/MD.0000000000033090

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Language：English   Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal)   Publisher：Journal of Diabetes Investigation  

AIM/INTRODUCTION: Resistin, which induces insulin resistance, is mainly expressed in monocytes/macrophages in humans. We reported previously that serum resistin was highest in the G-A haplotype defined by resistin single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) at -420 (rs1862513) and - 358 (rs3219175). As sarcopenic obesity is associated with insulin resistance, we aimed to examine whether serum resistin and its haplotypes were associated with sarcopenic obesity at a latent stage. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We cross-sectionally analyzed 567 community-dwelling Japanese participants attending annual medical check-ups in which the sarcopenic obesity index was evaluated. The age- and gender-matched normal glucose tolerance subjects with G-A homozygotes and those with C-G homozygotes were examined via RNA-sequencing and pathway analysis (each n = 3), and RT-PCR (each n = 8). RESULTS: In multivariate logistic regression analyses, the fourth quartile (Q4) of serum resistin and G-A homozygotes were both associated with the latent sarcopenic obesity index defined by a visceral fat area of ≥ 100 cm2 and grip strength Q1 after adjustment for age and gender, with or without other confounding factors. RNA sequencing and pathway analysis showed that tumor necrosis factor (TNF) was involved in the top five pathways in the whole blood cells of G-A homozygotes compared with C-G homozygotes. RT-PCR revealed that TNF mRNA was higher in G-A homozygotes than in C-G homozygotes. CONCLUSIONS: The G-A haplotype was associated with the latent sarcopenic obesity index defined by grip strength in the Japanese cohort, could be mediated by TNF-α.

DOI： 10.1111/jdi.13998

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Language：English   Publisher：(一社)日本血液学会  

移植前処置前の同種造血幹細胞移植レシピエントにおける内皮機能を「反応性充血末梢動脈トノメトリー(RH-PAT)」でモニターし、同種造血幹細胞移植後早期の移植関連合併症発症との関係を検討した。RH-PATから得られた反応性充血指数(RHI)を、移植前処置前に評価した。RHIと生着症候群、血栓性微小血管症、急性移植片対宿主病(aGVHD)の発症との関係を解析した。合計49例(急性骨髄性白血病22例、急性リンパ性白血病7例、骨髄異形成症候群6例、成人T細胞白血病6例、非ホジキンリンパ腫6例、その他2例)を対象とした。その結果、34例(年齢24～66歳)が正常RHI(≧1.59)、15例(年齢23～67歳)が異常に低いRHI(≦1.58)であった。血栓性微小血管症とaGVHDは、RHIが低い患者で有意に頻度が高かった。以上より、造血幹細胞移植前にRH-PATで評価した内皮機能障害は移植関連合併症を予測することが示唆された。

Language：Japanese   Publisher：(株)アークメディア  

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Language：Japanese   Publisher：(一社)日本内分泌学会  

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Language：Japanese   Publisher：(一社)日本内分泌学会  

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Language：Japanese   Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal)   Publisher：THE JAPAN DIABETES SOCIETY  

<p>We report the case of a 95-year-old woman who had been diagnosed with diabetes mellitus with HbA1c 9.7 % and a fasting blood glucose level of 199 mg/dL at 94 years of age. Despite the administration of oral hypoglycemic therapy for 5 months, her blood glucose was poorly controlled. On admission, we found that her HbA1c was 11.0 %, her casual blood glucose was 394 mg/dL and her glutamic acid decarboxylase antibody titer was 1740 U/mL (ELISA); she was then diagnosed with SPIDDM. While the development of SPIDDM is commonly reported in patients in their 40s to 50s, recent studies showed that around 10 % of elderly patients who developed diabetes were diagnosed with SPIDDM. We searched clinical characteristics of latter-stage elderly patients who developed SPIDDM and found that majority were female and showed reduced insulin secretion with poor glycemic control. It is important to consider the possibility of type 1 diabetes, including SPIDDM, even in elderly patients who have developed diabetes with poor glycemic control.</p>

DOI： 10.11213/tonyobyo.66.139

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Language：English   Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal)   Publisher：Scientific Reports  

This study aimed to develop a machine-learning algorithm to diagnose aldosterone-producing adenoma (APA) for predicting APA probabilities. A retrospective cross-sectional analysis of the Japan Rare/Intractable Adrenal Diseases Study dataset was performed using the nationwide PA registry in Japan comprised of 41 centers. Patients treated between January 2006 and December 2019 were included. Forty-six features at screening and 13 features at confirmatory test were used for model development to calculate APA probability. Seven machine-learning programs were combined to develop the ensemble-learning model (ELM), which was externally validated. The strongest predictive factors for APA were serum potassium (s-K) at first visit, s-K after medication, plasma aldosterone concentration, aldosterone-to-renin ratio, and potassium supplementation dose. The average performance of the screening model had an AUC of 0.899; the confirmatory test model had an AUC of 0.913. In the external validation, the AUC was 0.964 in the screening model using an APA probability of 0.17. The clinical findings at screening predicted the diagnosis of APA with high accuracy. This novel algorithm can support the PA practice in primary care settings and prevent potentially curable APA patients from falling outside the PA diagnostic flowchart.

DOI： 10.1038/s41598-023-29653-2

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Language：English   Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal)   Publisher：The Japan Endocrine Society  

<p>In Japan, the standard method for measuring plasma aldosterone concentration (PAC) for primary aldosteronism (PA) diagnosis was changed from radioimmunoassay (RIA) to a novel chemiluminescent enzyme immunoassay (CLEIA). The purpose of this study is to simulate the possible impact of the change on PA diagnosis. This retrospective study assessed 2,289 PA patients. PACs measured by conventional RIA were transformed to estimated PACs (CLEIA) as follows: RIA (pg/mL) = 1.174 × CLEIA (pg/mL) + 42.3. We applied the estimated PAC (CLEIA) to the conventional cut-off of aldosterone-to-renin activity ratio ≥200 for screening and captopril challenge test (CCT) and PAC ≥60 pg/mL for saline infusion test (SIT). Application of the estimated PAC to screening and confirmatory tests decreased the number of PA diagnoses by 36% (743/2,065) on CCT and 52% (578/1,104) on SIT (discrepant cases). Among the discrepant cases, 87% (548/628) of CCT and 87% (452/522) of SIT were bilateral on adrenal venous sampling (AVS). Surgically treatable aldosterone-producing adenomas (APAs) were observed in 6% (36/579) and 5% (23/472) of discrepant cases on CCT and SIT, respectively; most were characterized by hypokalemia and/or adrenal nodule on CT imaging. Application of the PAC measured by the novel CLEIA to conventional cut-offs decreases the number of PA diagnoses. Although most discrepant cases were bilateral on AVS, there are some APA cases that were characterized by hypokalemia and/or adrenal tumor on CT. Further studies which evaluate PACs measured by both RIA and CLEIA for each patient are needed to identify new cut-offs for PAC measured by CLEIA.</p>

DOI： 10.1507/endocrj.EJ22-0585

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Language：Japanese   Publisher：(一社)日本内分泌学会  

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Language：Japanese   Publisher：(一社)日本内分泌学会  

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Language：Japanese   Publisher：(一社)日本糖尿病学会  

症例は95歳,女性.X-1年11月にHbA1c 9.7%,空腹時血糖199mg/dLであり,糖尿病と診断された.X年4月にHbA1c 11.0%,随時血糖394mg/dL,空腹時血中Cペプチド0.92ng/mL,GAD抗体(ELISA法)1740U/mLであり,緩徐進行1型糖尿病(SPIDDM)と診断された.SPIDDMは40,50歳代の発症が多いが,65歳以上の高齢発症糖尿病においても10%程度の割合で存在する.後期高齢で糖尿病を発症し,その後SPIDDMと診断された症例を検索した結果,女性に多く,インスリン分泌能が低下している症例が多かった.記載のある全例(1例を除く)が診断時HbA1c 8.0%以上であった.高齢発症糖尿病患者においても,緩徐進行型を含む1型糖尿病が存在するため,血糖コントロール不良の症例は1型糖尿病も鑑別に精査を行う必要がある.(著者抄録)

Language：Japanese   Publisher：(有)科学評論社  

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Language：English   Publisher：Modern Rheumatology  

Pathological findings are important in the diagnosis of vasculitis. However, due to the rarity of the disease, standard textbooks usually devote only a few pages to this topic, and this makes it difficult for clinicians not specializing in vasculitis to fully understand the pathological findings in vasculitis. To address the paucity of information, we present representative pathological findings in vasculitis classified in the 2012 Revised International Chapel Hill Consensus Conference Nomenclature of Vasculitides (CHCC2012). The CHCC2012 classifies 26 vasculitides into seven categories: (1) large-vessel vasculitis, (2) medium-vessel vasculitis, (3) small-vessel vasculitis, including antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody-associated vasculitis and immune complex small-vessel vasculitis, (4) variable-vessel vasculitis, (5) single-organ vasculitis, (6) vasculitis associated with systemic disease, and (7) vasculitis associated with probable aetiology. Moreover, representative pathological findings of vasculitis-related diseases and non-inflammatory vasculopathy not mentioned in the CHCC2012 are also presented. This will be useful for clinicians to refer to typical pathological findings of vasculitis in daily practice.

DOI： 10.1093/mr/roac043

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Language：Japanese   Publisher：医学図書出版(株)  

長らく進行性膵神経内分泌腫瘍(PanNETs)の予後の改善は得られていなかったが,薬物療法の進歩によって,進行性PanNETsの治療成績は飛躍的に向上してきている。多くのPanNETsは細胞膜上にソマトスタチン受容体を高発現するため,診断や治療のターゲットとされてきた。ソマトスタチンアナログ(SSA)であるoctreotideは,従来ホルモン過剰症状の緩和目的に使用されてきたが,その後消化管NETsに対して抗腫瘍効果が示され,2011年に保険承認された。一方で,PanNETsに対しても近年の臨床試験結果に基づいて,持続性SSA徐放性製剤であるlanreotideが2017年に保険承認された。SSAは有害事象も少なく,実臨床でも汎用されているが,一方で各薬剤との使い分けなど,解決すべき課題も多い。本稿ではlanreotideを中心に,SSAの腫瘍増殖抑制効果について述べる。(著者抄録)

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Language：Japanese   Publisher：Japan Society for Developmental Origins of Health and Disease  

DOI： 10.51067/dohad.11.1_28

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Publisher：ISIJ International  

For the wall-thickness reduction of the components destined for pressurized gaseous hydrogen, widespread use of high-strength martensitic steels has long been desired. However, their strong susceptibility to hydrogen-assisted fatigue crack growth (HA-FCG) is still limiting their proactive applications. Here, we instead focused on pearlite as another potential reinforcing agent for the development of new hydrogen-compatible steels with acceptable cost performance. Fatigue crack growth (FCG) behavior of three eutectoid steels with different microstructure sizes (i.e., ferrite/cementite interlamellar spacing, colony and block sizes) and strength levels was investigated in a 90 MPa hydrogen gas, an essential evaluation when attempting to perform a defect tolerant design of the components used for high-pressure gases. The pearlitic steels clearly exhibited the acceleration of their FCG rate in hydrogen gas up to a hundred times that in air, wherein its magnitude was greater in the material with finer microstructure and concomitant higher strength. The delamination of ferrite/cementite lamellae, which were inclined largely from the loading axis, was determined to be the primary cause of such HA-FCG in pearlitic steels. Nevertheless, the extent of FCG acceleration was minor with respect to martensitic steels. The fact was ascribed to the barrier role of the cementite platelets oriented nearly perpendicularly to the crack as well as to the geometrical retardation effects arising from the crack deflection and blanching. Ultimately, pearlite was superior to martensite from the perspective of HA-FCG resistance; besides, the superiority was more substantial as the loading rate became slower.

DOI： 10.2355/isijinternational.ISIJINT-2023-011

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Language：Japanese   Publisher：(一社)日本栄養治療学会  

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Publisher：東京医学社  

DOI： 10.24479/endo.0000000565

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Language：English   Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal)   Publisher：Bone Reports  

Purpose: Bone and vascular diseases are considered to share pathogenic mechanisms. Excess glucocorticoids, key regulators of cardiovascular and metabolic homeostasis, may promote both diseases simultaneously. We used endogenous Cushing's syndrome (CS) to investigate whether glucocorticoid excess underlies coexisting bone and vascular diseases. Methods: We included 194 patients with adrenal tumors (ATs): autonomous cortisol secretion (ACS, n = 97) and non-functional AT (n = 97). ACS was further classified into overt CS (n = 17) and subclinical CS (SCS, n = 80). Arterial stiffness was defined as a brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity (baPWV) ≥ 1800 cm/s. Results: Patients with ACS had higher coexistence rates of vertebral fracture and arterial stiffness (23 % vs. 2 %; p < 0.001) and vertebral fracture and abdominal aortic calcification (22 % vs. 1 %; p < 0.001) than those with non-functional AT. In patients with ACS, baPWV was negatively correlated with trabecular bone score (TBS, r = -0.33; p = 0.002), but not with bone mineral density, and vertebral fracture was associated with arterial stiffness in the logistic regression analysis. In the multivariate analysis of variance, the degree of cortisol excess (defined as CS, SCS, and non-functional AT) determined the correlation between TBS and baPWV (partial η2 = 0.07; p < 0.001). In the analysis of covariance, patients with coexisting vertebral fracture and arterial stiffness had higher levels of serum cortisol after the 1-mg dexamethasone suppression test than those without. Conclusion: In endogenous glucocorticoid excess, bone and vascular diseases frequently coexisted, and deteriorated bone quality, not bone loss, was related to arterial stiffness. Thus, glucocorticoid excess may perturb the bone-vascular axis.

DOI： 10.1016/j.bonr.2022.101610

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Language：English   Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal)   Publisher：Asia-Pacific Journal of Clinical Oncology  

AIM: Drug-induced interstitial lung disease (DI-ILD) is a serious adverse event during chemotherapy. This study aimed to obtain real-world data of the incidence, clinical characteristics, predictive factors, and prognosis of patients with pancreatic cancer who developed DI-ILD. METHODS: In patients with locally advanced or metastatic pancreatic cancer who underwent standard chemotherapy at our hospital and its participating facilities between April 2014 and March 2019, the clinical features, occurrence rate and clinical course of DI-ILD, and prognosis were retrospectively evaluated. RESULTS: Altogether, 390 patients were finally enrolled. DI-ILD occurred in 24 cases (6.2%). The median period from diagnosis of pancreatic cancer to the onset of DI-ILD was 2.2 months (.6-13.3 months). The rate of DI-ILD onset according to each regimen was 5.8% of gemcitabine (GEM) plus albumin-bound paclitaxel therapy (18/308), 3.8% of GEM (4/106), and 2.3% of FOLFIRINOX (2/88). The incidence of DI-ILD in GEM-based regimens was significantly higher than that in non-GEM-based regimens (p < .01). The median overall survival (OS) of the patients with and without DI-ILD after propensity score matching was 11.5 months and 11.4 months (p = .99), respectively. After the resolution of DI-ILD, no statistical significance in the median OS of the patients with and without subsequent treatment (11.0 vs. 6.8 months, p = .18) was observed. CONCLUSION: DI-ILD is not a rare adverse event in the current standard chemotherapy for pancreatic cancer in Japan. With appropriate management of DI-ILD, the prognosis of patients with DI-ILD can be equivalent to that of patients without DI-ILD.

DOI： 10.1111/ajco.13903

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Language：English   Publisher：(一社)日本血液学会  

レニン-アルドステロン-アンジオテンシン系阻害剤(RAASi)を含む特定の降圧薬の偶発的使用が、TKI治療中の慢性骨髄性白血病(CML)の推算糸球体濾過量(eGFR)の変化に及ぼす影響を評価した。対象は当院のCML患者142名で、混合効果モデルを用いてeGFR変化率を推定し、TKI治療中の全てのeGFR測定値を遡及的に分析した。全体的に、使用した降圧薬の種類とeGFRの年間変化との間に有意な相互作用を認め、RAASi使用者が最も急速なeGFR減少(-5.5%/年)を示した。TKI別の分析では、イマチニブ(IMA)とボスチニブ(BOS)の間でのみ相互作用が有意であった。eGFRの年間減少率はRAASi使用者で最も顕著で、IMAとBOSでは-5.7と-10.1であった。以上より、上記TKIを服用している患者はeGFRを監視する必要があると考えられた。

Language：Japanese   Publisher：日本消化器病学会-九州支部  

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Language：Japanese   Publisher：日本消化器病学会-九州支部  

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Language：English   Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal)   Publisher：Frontiers in Neuroscience  

We aimed to establish a novel murine model of autoimmune autonomic ganglionopathy (AAG), which represents autoimmune dysautonomia, associated with MHC class II to understand its pathomechanism and the pathogenicity of nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (nAChR) antibodies. The amino acid sequence of the mouse nAChRα3 protein was analyzed using an epitope prediction tool to predict the possible MHC class II binding mouse nAChRα3 peptides. We focused on two nAChRα3 peptides in the extracellular region, and experimental AAG (EAAG) was induced by immunization of C57BL/6 mice with these two different peptides. EAAG mice were examined both physiologically and histologically. Mice with EAAG generated nAChRα3 antibodies and exhibited autonomic dysfunction, including reduced heart rate, excessive fluctuations in systolic blood pressure, and intestinal transit slowing. Additionally, we observed skin lesions, such as alopecia and skin ulcers, in immunized mice. Neuronal cell density in the sympathetic cervical ganglia in immunized mice was significantly lower than that in control mice at the light microscopic level. We interpreted that active immunization of mice with nAChRα3 peptides causes autonomic dysfunction similar to human AAG induced by an antibody-mediated mechanism. We suggested a mechanism by which different HLA class II molecules might preferentially affect the nAChR-specific immune response, thus controlling diversification of the autoantibody response. Our novel murine model mimics AAG in humans and provides a useful tool to investigate its pathomechanism.

DOI： 10.3389/fnins.2022.1006923

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Language：English   Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal)   Publisher：Gastrointestinal Endoscopy  

INTRODUCTION: Endoscopic ultrasound guided fine-needle aspiration/biopsy (EUS-FNA/B) is the gold standard for diagnosing subepithelial lesions (SELs); however, its diagnostic ability for SELs <20 mm is low. We developed a new diagnostic method to differentiate between gastrointestinal stromal tumor (GIST) and non-GIST by measuring high-frequency impedance (H-impedance) using an EUS-FNB needle. METHODS: The H-impedance of gastric epithelial neoplasms from 16 cases were measured using a conventional impedance probe to confirm whether H-impedance is clinically useful for assessing cell density (Study 1). The H-impedance values of exposed SELs from 25 cases using the conventional probe (Study 2) and non-exposed SELs from 20 cases using the EUS-FNB needle probe (Study 3) were measured to determine the diagnostic ability of H-impedance for differentiating GISTs from non-GISTs. RESULTS: H-impedance significantly positively correlated with cell density (P=0.030) (Study 1). The H-impedance of GIST (99.5) measured using conventional probe was significantly higher than those of the muscular layer (82.4) and leiomyoma (89.2) (P<0.01) (Study 2). The H-impedance of GIST measured using the EUS-FNB needle was also significantly higher than that of leiomyoma (GIST: 80.2 vs. leiomyoma: 71.8, P=0.015). The diagnostic yield of the impedance method for differentiating GISTs from non-GISTs had 94.4% accuracy, 88.9% sensitivity, 100% specificity, and 0.95 area under the curve. Diagnostic ability was not affected by lesion size (P=0.86) (Study 3). CONCLUSION: Auxiliary differential diagnosis between gastric GISTs and non-GISTs by the H-impedance measurement during EUS-FNB could be a good option especially when the lesion is smaller than 20 mm.

DOI： 10.1016/j.gie.2022.11.022

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Language：English   Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal)   Publisher：Clinical Gastroenterology and Hepatology  

BACKGROUND & AIMS: Hybrid endoscopic submucosal dissection (H-ESD), which incorporates ESD with endoscopic mucosal resection, has been developed to make ESD technically easier. This study aimed to determine if H-ESD is superior to conventional ESD (C-ESD) for small early gastric neoplasms (EGN). METHODS: We conducted a multi-center, prospective, open-label, randomized controlled trial to compare the treatment outcomes of H-ESD and C-ESD (Hybrid-G Trial). The patients with differentiated-type intramucosal EGN ≤ 20 mm in diameter and without ulceration were randomly assigned (1:1) to groups that underwent H-ESD or C-ESD. A single multi-functional snare, SOUTEN (ST1850-20, Kaneka, Medix, Tokyo, Japan), was used for H-ESD. The primary outcome was procedure time. Secondary outcomes included mucosal incision time, time and speed of submucosal dissection, curability, and endoscopic procedural adverse events. RESULTS: A total of 39 and 40 patients underwent H-ESD and C-ESD, respectively. The procedure time of H-ESD was significantly shorter than that of C-ESD (33.16 min vs. 62.46 min, H-ESD/C-ESD ratio: 0.53, 95% confidence interval 0.41-0.69, P<0.0001). There was no significant difference in mucosal incision time between the two groups; the time and speed of submucosal dissection of H-ESD were significantly shorter than those of C-ESD. No difference was observed between the two groups in other outcomes. CONCLUSIONS: H-ESD has significantly shorter procedure time than C-ESD, with high and comparable curability and safety for both H-ESD and C-ESD. H-ESD can be a good option for the endoscopic treatment of small EGNs.

DOI： 10.1016/j.cgh.2022.10.030

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Language：English   Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal)   Publisher：BMC Cancer  

PURPOSE: The distribution of tissue infiltrating lymphocytes has been shown to affect the prognosis of patients with pancreatic cancer in some previous studies. However, the role of peripheral lymphocytes in pancreatic cancer remains debated. The purpose of this study was to analyze the peripheral subtypes of T lymphocytes, and establish their association with the prognosis of patients with pancreatic cancer. METHODS: Blood and tissue samples were collected from patients with metastatic pancreatic cancer (n = 54), resectable pancreatic cancer (n = 12), and benign pancreatic cysts (n = 52) between April 2019 and January 2022 and analyzed. RESULTS: Patients with metastatic pancreatic cancer had a larger proportion of both tumor-suppressive and tumor-promoting cells than those with benign pancreatic cysts. In addition, the proportion of peripheral CD4+ T cells positively correlated with the survival of patients with metastatic pancreatic cancer, and the proportion of peripheral CD8+CD122+ T cells was associated with early mortality (< 90 days). After chemotherapy, CD8+CD122+ T cells decreased in patients who had a partial response or stable disease. Moreover, by analyzing resected specimens, we first proved that the existence of CD8+CD122+ T cells in a tumor microenvironment (TME) depends on their proportion in peripheral blood. CONCLUSION: Circulating CD8+CD122+ T cells can be a prognostic indicator in patients with pancreatic cancer.

DOI： 10.1186/s12885-022-10207-0

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Language：Japanese   Publisher：(公社)日本生化学会  

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Language：English   Publisher：シュプリンガー・ジャパン(株)  

食道運動障害性疾患(EMD)を診断するための新たな2所見を用いたバリウム食道造影検査(BE)によるスクリーニングを評価した。2013年1月から2020年10月にEMDが疑われ高解像度マノメトリー検査(HRM)とBEの両方が施行された244例を対象とした。EMDの診断はシカゴ分類第3.0版を用いてHRM所見に基づいて行った。BEは硫酸バリウムを用いて食道連続撮影を行った。従来からのBE所見(ニボー、数珠状/コルク栓抜き様所見、蠕動の消失/減弱)に加え、新規2所見(蠕動波出現、胃食道接合部上膨隆所見)を診断に用いた。新規2所見と従来の3所見を診断に用いた場合のBEスクリーニングの感度は79.4%、特異度は88%であった(受信者動作特性曲線下領域(AUC)=0.837)。新規2所見を診断に用いない場合には、感度は63.9%、特異度は96%(AUC=0.800)であった。アカラシアはニボー形成と特に関連性が強かった(88.7%)。収縮の消失は蠕動の消失/減弱と強く関連していた(85.7%)。遠位食道痙攣と数珠状/コルク栓抜き様所見との間(60%)およびアカラシアと蠕動波出現(59.7%)との間には比較的高い関連性が認められた。個々のBE所見の観察者内再現性、観察者間一致率はそれぞれ84.4%、75%であった。蠕動波出現は積算弛緩圧(IRP)高値および遠位潜時短縮と関連していた。食道胃接合部上膨隆はIRP高値と関連していた。新規の2所見を追加したBEスクリーニングによるEMDの診断は一般診療において有用である可能性が示された。

Language：Japanese   Publisher：(一社)日本肥満学会  

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Language：Japanese   Publisher：(一社)日本肥満学会