Influence of the COVID-19 pandemic on the achievement of guideline targets for HbA1c, blood pressure, and LDL cholesterol in people with diabetes in Japan.

Objective: In this study, we investigated whether the COVID-19 pandemic affected achievement of guideline targets for HbA1c, blood pressure (BP), and low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol in people with diabetes mellitus (DM). Materials and methods: Data for 556 people with DM who were treated regularly for 4 years before and during the COVID-19 pandemic in Japan were analyzed in this retrospective study. Achieved targets were defined as HbA1c < 7.0%, BP < 130/80 mmHg, and LDL cholesterol < 100 or < 120 mg/dL depending on the presence or absence of coronary artery disease. Results: In 2019, before the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, achievement rates of guideline targets for HbA1c, BP and LDL cholesterol were 53.4%, 45.9% and 75.7%, respectively. In 2020, the achievement rates for HbA1c and BP targets were significantly decreased to 40.8% and 31.3%, respectively. The achievement rates for the HbA1c target gradually recovered to 49.3% in 2021 and to 51.1% in 2022. However, recovery in achieving the BP target was slow, remaining at 40.5% even in 2022. On the other hand, the achievement rate for the LDL cholesterol target was not affected and remained relatively high during the COVID-19 pandemic. Conclusions: The rates of achieving therapeutic targets for HbA1c and BP have not been high enough in people with DM, and the rates were further reduced by lifestyle changes due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Although there has been a trend toward improvement with the lifting of behavioral restrictions, more intensified treatment is necessary to achieve good control. Supplementary Information: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s13340-024-00715-8.

Effects of Sacubitril/Valsartan on Glycemic Control in Japanese Patients With Heart Failure and/or Hypertension.

Background: Post hoc analysis of the PARADIGM-HF trial showed that sacubitril/valsartan (S/V) was more effective than enalapril in lowering HbA1c in patients with heart failure and diabetes. Methods and Results: In the present study, the effect of S/V on glycemic control was retrospectively analyzed in 150 patients (median age 74 years) who were prescribed S/V for the treatment of heart failure and/or hypertension. After a median period of 13 weeks treatment, mean (±SD) HbA1c levels decreased significantly from 6.56±0.68% to 6.49±0.63%. The decrease in HbA1c was evident in patients with (n=111), but not in those without, diabetes. There were no significant changes in renal function after S/V treatment, but systolic blood pressure was significantly reduced from 141±21 to 134±19 mmHg. Ninety patients had N-terminal pro B-type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) tested, and S/V significantly decreased median NT-proBNP concentrations from 1,026 to 618 pg/mL; however, there was no correlation between the degree of decrease in HbA1c and that in NT-proBNP. Multiple regression analysis revealed that being diabetic, rather than having heart failure, was a significant independent variable for a reduction in HbA1c. Conclusions: Treatment with S/V improved glycemic control in patients with heart failure and/or hypertension, especially in those with concomitant diabetes. This favorable effect on glucose metabolism may be mediated by neprilysin inhibition and is desirable in the treatment of heart failure and hypertension in diabetic patients.

Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Glycemic Control and Blood Pressure Control in Patients with Diabetes in Japan.

Objective In this study, we investigated whether and how the COVID-19 pandemic affected glycemic control and blood pressure (BP) control in patients with diabetes mellitus (DM). Methods DM patients whose HbA1c level was measured regularly before and after the declaration of a state of emergency were included in this study. Some patients were given questionnaires about changes in their lifestyle to determine the factors affecting glycemic control and BP control. Results The median HbA1c level of the 804 patients increased significantly from 6.8% before the state of emergency to 7.1% and 7.0% during and after the state of emergency, respectively. This was in contrast to the decrease one year earlier due to seasonal variations. In the 176 patients who responded to the questionnaire, the HbA1c level also increased significantly during and after the state of emergency. The worsening of glycemic control was more pronounced in the group that had achieved HbA1c of <7% before the state of emergency than in those with higher values. Unlike the rise in HbA1c, the BP did not rise during the state of emergency but did rise significantly afterwards. There was no marked decrease in HbA1c or BP after the state of emergency, even in patients who responded that they were much more careful with their diet, ate less, or exercised more. Conclusions The COVID-19 pandemic worsened glycemic control and BP control, even in patients who perceived no marked change in their diet or exercise, suggesting that more active lifestyle guidance is necessary for good treatment of DM patients.

Characteristics of patients with emergency attendance for severe hypoglycemia and hyperglycemia in a general hospital in Japan.

ABSTRACT: Despite advances in treatments for diabetes mellitus (DM), severe acute glycemic crises still occur. In this study, the characteristics of patients who were transported to an emergency department due to acute glycemic crises were investigated.We enrolled patients who were transported to our hospital by ambulance due to hypoglycemia or hyperglycemia during the period from January 2015 to December 2019. Initial glucose levels below 70 mg/dL and above 250 mg/dL were defined as hypoglycemia and hyperglycemia, respectively.In the 5-year period, 16,910 patients were transported to our hospital by ambulance. Of those patients, 87 patients (0.51%) were diagnosed with hypoglycemia, 26 patients (0.15%) were diagnosed with hyperglycemia and 1 patient was diagnosed with lactic acidosis. Compared to patients with hypoglycemia, blood urea nitrogen, serum potassium and hemoglobin levels were higher in patients with hyperglycemia. Systolic blood pressure was lower and pulse rate was higher in patients with hyperglycemia, possibly reflecting dehydration in hyperglycemia. Patients with hyperglycemia were younger (63 vs 70 years old, median), more likely to be hospitalized (92.3% vs 23.0%) with poorer prognosis (23.1% vs 4.6%) than those with hypoglycemia. In 64 DM patients with hypoglycemia, 34 patients were treated with insulin and 24 patients were treated with sulfonylurea or glinide, and their medication was often inappropriate. Excessive alcohol intake and malnutrition were the main causes of hypoglycemia in 23 non-DM patients. The main reasons for hyperglycemia were interrupted treatment, forgetting insulin injection and infection.To avoid acute glycemic crises, optimization of anti-DM therapy and education of patients are needed.

Aortic valve aneurysm responsible for acute congestive heart failure and histological findings: A case report.

We experienced a case of acute congestive heart failure in a 73-year-old man who had been followed up due to mild-to-moderate aortic stenosis and moderate-to-severe aortic regurgitation. A huge aortic valve aneurysm was found to extend from his right coronary cusp to a left ventricular outflow tract, resulting in moderate subaortic obstruction and severe aortic regurgitation. Surgical repair was performed and a perforated aneurysm of right aortic cusp was identified. Histological examinations suggested that healed infective endocarditis was responsible for the formation of an aneurysm in the aortic valve. .

Experience of using heat citric acid disinfection method in central dialysis fluid delivery system.

We applied the heat citric acid disinfection method in the main part of the central dialysis fluid delivery system (MPCDDS), which consists of a multiple-patient dialysis fluid supply unit, dialysis console units, and dialysis fluid piping. This disinfection method has been used for single-patient dialysis machines, but this is the first trial in the MPCDDS. We examined, by points of safety and disinfection effect, whether this disinfection method is comparable to conventional disinfection methods in Japan. The conventional disinfection method is a combination of two disinfectants, sodium hypochlorite and acetic acid, used separately for protein removal and decalcification. Consequently, total microbial counts and endotoxin concentrations fully satisfied the microbiological requirements for standard dialysis fluid of ISO 11663. From our results and discussion, this heat citric acid disinfection method is proved to be safe and reliable for MPCDDS. However, to satisfy the microbiological requirements for ultrapure dialysis fluid, further consideration for this method in MPCDDS including the reverse osmosis device composition and piping is necessary.

Angiotensin II type 1 receptor-mediated upregulation of calcineurin activity underlies impairment of cardioprotective signaling in diabetic hearts.

RATIONALE: The diabetic heart is resistant to ischemic preconditioning because of diabetes-associated impairment of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K)-Akt signaling. The mechanism by which PI3K-Akt signaling is impaired by diabetes remains unclear. OBJECTIVE: Here, we examined the hypothesis that phosphorylation of Jak2 upstream of PI3K is impaired in diabetic hearts by an angiotensin II type 1 (AT1) receptor-mediated mechanism. METHODS AND RESULTS: Infarct size (as percentage of risk area) after 20-minute ischemia/2-hour reperfusion was larger in a rat model of type 2 diabetes (Otsuka-Long-Evans-Tokushima fatty [OLETF] rat) than in its control (Long-Evans-Tokushima-Otsuka [LETO] rat) (60.4+/-1.6% versus 48.4+/-1.3%). Activation of Jak2-mediated signaling by erythropoietin or DADLE ([D-Ala2, D-Leu5]-enkephalin acetate), a delta-opioid receptor agonist, limited infarct size in LETO rats (27.7+/-3.4% and 24.8+/-5.0%) but not in OLETF rats (53.9+/-5.3% and 55.0+/-2.2%). Blockade of the AT1 receptor by valsartan or losartan for 2 weeks restored the myocardial response of OLETF rats to erythropoietin-induced infarct size limitation (39.4+/-4.9% and 31.2+/-7.5). In OLETF rats, erythropoietin failed to phosphorylate both Jak2 and Akt, and calcineurin activity was significantly higher than in LETO rats. Two-week treatment with valsartan normalized calcineurin activity in OLETF rats and restored the response of Jak2 to erythropoietin. This effect of AT1 receptor blockade was mimicked by inhibition of calcineurin by FK506. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that the diabetic heart is refractory to protection by Jak2-activating ligands because of AT1 receptor-mediated upregulation of calcineurin activity.

Endoplasmic reticulum stress in diabetic hearts abolishes erythropoietin-induced myocardial protection by impairment of phospho-glycogen synthase kinase-3beta-mediated suppression of mitochondrial permeability transition.

OBJECTIVE: Alteration in endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress in diabetic hearts and its effect on cytoprotective signaling are unclear. Here, we examine the hypothesis that ER stress in diabetic hearts impairs phospho-glycogen synthase kinase (GSK)-3beta-mediated suppression of mitochondrial permeability transition pore (mPTP) opening, compromising myocardial response to cytoprotective signaling. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS: A rat model of type 2 diabetes (OLETF) and its control (LETO) were treated with tauroursodeoxycholic acid (TUDCA) (100 mg . kg(-1) . day(-1) for 7 days), an ER stress modulator. Infarction was induced by 20-min coronary occlusion and 2-h reperfusion. RESULTS: Levels of ER chaperones (GRP78 and GRP94) in the myocardium and level of nonphoshopho-GSK-3beta in the mitochondria were significantly higher in OLETF than in LETO rats. TUDCA normalized levels of GRP78 and GRP94 and mitochondrial GSK-3beta in OLETF rats. Administration of erythropoietin (EPO) induced phosphorylation of Akt and GSK-3beta and reduced infarct size (% risk area) from 47.4 +/- 5.2% to 23.9 +/- 3.5% in LETO hearts. However, neither phosphorylation of Akt and GSK-3beta nor infarct size limitation was induced by EPO in OLETF rats. The threshold for mPTP opening was significantly lower in mitochondria from EPO-treated OLETF rats than in those from EPO-treated LETO rats. TUDCA restored responses of GSK-3beta, mPTP opening threshold, and infarct size to EPO receptor activation in OLETF rats. There was a significant correlation between mPTP opening threshold and phospho-GSK-3beta-to-total GSK-3beta ratio in the mitochondrial fraction. CONCLUSIONS: Disruption of protective signals leading to GSK-3beta phosphorylation and increase in mitochondrial GSK-3beta are dual mechanisms by which increased ER stress inhibits EPO-induced suppression of mPTP opening and cardioprotection in diabetic hearts.

Roles of Cx43-associated protein kinases in suppression of gap junction-mediated chemical coupling by ischemic preconditioning.

Ischemic preconditioning (PC) suppresses chemical coupling of cardiomyocytes via gap junctions (GJs) during ischemia, which is an adjunct mechanism of protection. The aim of this study was to characterize roles of protein kinases in PC-induced GJ modulation. In isolated rat hearts, ventricular tissues were sampled before and after ischemia with or without PC, and intercalated disc-rich fractions were separated for immunoprecipitation and immunoblotting. Levels of protein kinase C (PKC)-epsilon, p38mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK)-alpha, and Src coimmunoprecipitated with connexin-43 (Cx43) were increased after ischemia, whereas p38MAPKbeta was not detected in the Cx43 immunoprecipitates. PC did not modify the level of Cx43-Src complex after ischemia. However, PC enhanced Cx43-PKCepsilon complex formation, which was abolished by PKCepsilon translocation inhibitory peptide (TIP). In contrast, PC reduced Cx43-p38MAPKalpha complex level and p38MAPK activity in the Cx43 immunoprecipitates after ischemia. The effect of PC on Cx43-p38MAPKalpha interaction was mimicked by SB-203580, a p38MAPK inhibitor. PC reduced permeability of GJs to Lucifer yellow in the myocardium at 25 min after ischemia, and this effect was abolished by PKCepsilon-TIP. SB-203580 increased the GJ permeability at 15 min after ischemia compared with that in untreated controls, but the difference became insignificant 25 min after ischemia. In conclusion, PC has distinct effects on interaction of GJ Cx43 with PKCepsilon, p38MAPKalpha, and Src during ischemia. Suppression of GJ permeability during ischemia by PC is primarily achieved by enhanced interaction of Cx43 with PKCepsilon, which overwhelms the counterbalancing effect of reduced Cx43-p38MAPKalpha interaction.

Limitation of infarct size by erythropoietin is associated with translocation of Akt to the mitochondria after reperfusion.

1. The aim of the present study was to determine the critical timing of Akt activation and its interaction with the mitochondrial permeability transition pore (mPTP) in the mechanism of infarct size limitation by erythropoietin (Epo). 2. In an isolated, buffer-perfused preparation, rabbit hearts were subjected to 30 min ischaemia/2 h reperfusion. Infusion of Epo (1 unit/mL) before ischaemia reduced infarct size from 36.6 +/- 2.6% of the risk area to 15.4 +/- 3.2%, whereas a 10-fold higher dose of Epo infused for 65 min commencing 5 min before reperfusion failed to afford significant cardioprotection. The protection afforded by Epo pretreatment was abolished by coinfusion of 5 micromol/L LY294002, a phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3-K) inhibitor. Infusion of Epo induced phosphorylation of Akt, extracellular signal-regulated kinase, glycogen synthase kinase 3beta and p70s6 kinase before ischaemia and tended to enhance reperfusion-induced phosphorylation of these protein kinases. Erythropoietin increased phospho-Akt in the mitochondria and induced complex formation of Akt with adenine nucleotide translocase (ANT), a major subunit of mPTP, upon reperfusion. 3. In another series of experiments, cardiomyocytes were isolated from rat hearts and loaded with Rhod-2 to determine mitochondrial Ca(2+) levels. Increases in mitochondrial Ca(2+) levels following exposure to 1 mmol/L ouabain for 30 min were similar in untreated and Epo-pretreated cells. However, ouabain-induced hypercontracture was significantly suppressed from 45.1 +/- 1.6 to 39.2 +/- 1.9% by Epo. 4. In conclusion, activation of PI3-K-Akt signalling before ischaemia is crucial for Epo-induced myocardial protection and this protection may be achieved by complex formation of activated Akt with mPTP components upon reperfusion, leading to elevation of the threshold for opening of mPTP.

Modulation of the mitochondrial permeability transition pore complex in GSK-3beta-mediated myocardial protection.

Recently we found that the level of anti-infarct tolerance afforded by ischemic preconditioning (IPC) and erythropoietin (EPO) infusion was closely correlated with the level of Ser9-phospho-GSK-3beta upon reperfusion in the heart. To get an insight into the mechanism by which phospho-GSK-3beta protects the myocardium from ischemia/reperfusion injury, we examined the effects of IPC and EPO on interactions between GSK-3beta and subunits of the mitochondrial permeability transition pore (mPTP) in this study. Rat hearts were subjected to 25-min global ischemia and 5-min reperfusion in vitro with or without IPC plus EPO infusion (5 units/ml) before ischemia. Ventricular tissues were sampled before or after ischemia/reperfusion to separate subcellular fractions for immunoblotting and immunoprecipitation. Reperfusion increased mitochondrial GSK-3beta by 2-fold and increased phospho-GSK-3beta level in all fractions examined. Major subunits of mPTP, adenine nucleotide translocase (ANT) and voltage-dependent anion channel (VDAC), were co-immunoprecipitated with GSK-3beta after reperfusion. Phospho-GSK-3beta was co-immunoprecipitated with ANT but not with VDAC. IPC+EPO significantly increased the levels of GSK-3beta and phospho-GSK-3beta that were co-immunoprecipitated with ANT to 145+/-8% and 143+/-16%, respectively, of baseline but did not induce phospho-GSK-3beta-VDAC binding. A PKC inhibitor and a PI3 kinase inhibitor suppressed the IPC+EPO-induced increase in the level of phospho-GSK-3beta-ANT complex. The level of cyclophilin D co-immunoprecipitated with ANT after reperfusion was significantly reduced to 39+/-10% of the control by IPC+EPO. These results suggest that reduction in affinity of ANT to cyclophilin D by increased phospho-GSK-3beta binding to ANT may be responsible for suppression of mPTP opening and myocardial protection afforded by IPC+EPO.

Torque-speed relationship of the Na+-driven flagellar motor of Vibrio alginolyticus.

The torque-speed relationship of the Na(+)-driven flagellar motor of Vibrio alginolyticus was investigated. The rotation rate of the motor was measured by following the position of a bead, attached to a flagellar filament, using optical nanometry. In the presence of 50mM NaCl, the generated torque was relatively constant ( approximately 3800pNnm) at lower speeds (speeds up to approximately 300Hz) and then decreased steeply, similar to the H(+)-driven flagellar motor of Escherichia coli. When the external NaCl concentration was varied, the generated torque of the flagellar motor was changed over a wide range of speeds. This result could be reproduced using a simple kinetic model, which takes into consideration the association and dissociation of Na(+) onto the motor. These results imply that for a complete understanding of the mechanism of flagellar rotation it is essential to consider both the electrochemical gradient and the absolute concentration of the coupling ion.