Characterizing Chemical, Environmental, and Stimulated Subcellular Physical Characteristics of Size-Fractionated PMs Down to PM0.1.

Air pollution, especially particulate matter (PM), is a significant environmental pollution worldwide. Studying the chemical, environmental, and life-related cellular physical characteristics of size-fractionated PMs is important because of their different degrees of harmful effects on human respiratory tracts and organ systems, causing severe diseases. This study evaluates the chemical components of size-fractionated PMs down to PM0.1 collected during a biomass-burning episode, including elemental/organic carbon and trace elements. Single particle sizes and distributions of PM0.1, PM0.5-0.1, PM1.0-0.5, and PM2.5-1.0 were analyzed by scanning electron microscopy and Zeta sizer. Two commonly used cell lines, e.g., HeLa and Cos7 cells, and two respiratory-related cell lines including lung cancer/normal cells were utilized for cell cytotoxicity experiments, revealing the key effects of particle sizes and concentrations. A high-speed scanning ion conductance microscope explored particle-stimulated subcellular physical characteristics for all cell lines in dynamics, including surface roughness (SR) and elastic modulus (E). The statistical results of SR showed distinct features among different particle sizes and cell types while a E reduction was universally found. This work provides a comprehensive understanding of the chemical, environmental, and cellular physical characteristics of size-fractionated PMs and sheds light on the necessity of controlling small-sized PM exposures.

Relationship between diabetes diet-related quality of life and dietary fiber intake among people with type 2 diabetes: a cross-sectional study.

Diet therapy is one of the most important treatments for people with type 2 diabetes (T2D). However, dietary restrictions due to diet therapy may reduce quality of life (QOL). This cross-sectional study aimed to investigate the association between diabetes diet-related QOL and dietary fiber intake in 238 people with T2D. The Diabetes Diet-related Quality of Life-Revised version (DDRQOL-9-R) and the brief-type self-administered diet history questionnaire were used to evaluate diabetes diet-related QOL and nutritional intake, respectively. Higher scores of each DDRQOL-9-R subscale means greater satisfaction with diet, perceived merits of diet therapy, and lower burden of diet therapy, which indicates good QOL. The median scores for perceived merits of diet therapy, satisfaction with diet, and burden of diet therapy were 58.3 [41.7-75.0], 75.0 [66.7-91.7], and 66.7 [50.0-75.0] points, respectively. HbA1c levels in people with high perceived merits of diet therapy (7.3 [6.7-7.8] vs. 7.5 [7.1-8.2] %, p = 0.007) and people with high satisfaction with diet (7.3 [6.8-7.8] vs. 7.5 [7.1-8.4] %, p = 0.010) were lower than those without. Dietary fiber intake was higher in people with high perceived merits of diet therapy (11.6 [8.8-16.7] vs. 10.0 [7.9-13.8] g/day, p = 0.010), high satisfaction with diet (11.4 [8.8-16.1] vs. 9.7 [7.8-13.2] g/day, p = 0.007), and low burden of diet therapy (11.8 [8.7-16.5] vs. 9.7 [7.8-12.6] g/day, p = 0.004) than in those without. Dietary fiber intake was related to perceived merits of diet therapy (Odds ratio [OR]1.07 [95%CI: 1.00-1.15], p = 0.049), burden of diet therapy (OR 0.90 [95%CI: 0.82-0.98], p = 0.022), and satisfaction with diet (OR 1.18 [95%CI: 1.09-1.27], p < 0.001) after adjusting for covariates. Dietary fiber intake is associated with diabetes diet-related QOL in people with T2D.

Lower bleeding volume contributes to decreasing surgical site infection in radical cystectomy: A propensity score-matched comparison of open versus robot-assisted radical cystectomy.

OBJECTIVES: To compare the incidence of surgical site infections (SSI) between robot-assisted and open radical cystectomies and investigate the risk factors for SSI after radical cystectomies. METHODS: Consecutive patients who underwent radical cystectomy between July 2008 and December 2022 were retrospectively reviewed. The prevalence and characteristics of SSI after open and robot-assisted radical cystectomies were compared, and the risk factors for SSI were investigated using propensity score matching. RESULTS: This study enrolled 231 patients (open: 145, robot-assisted: 86). In the robot-assisted group, urinary diversion was performed using an intracorporeal approach. SSI occurred in 34 (open: 28, robot-assisted: 6) patients, and the incidence was significantly lower in the robot-assisted group (19.3% vs. 7.0%, p = 0.007). After propensity score matching cohort (open: 34, robot-assisted: 34), increased bleeding volume, blood transfusion, and delayed postoperative oral feeding were significantly associated with SSI. Only increased bleeding volume remained a significant risk factor in the multivariate regression analysis (odds ratio, 1.13 [per 100 mL increase]; 95% confidence interval: 1.02-1.25; p = 0.001). The cutoff bleeding volume for predicting SSI was 1630 mL with an area under the receiver operating characteristic curve, sensitivity, and specificity of 0.773, 0.73, and 0.75, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: The incidence of SSI after robot-assisted radical cystectomy was significantly lower than that after the open procedure. However, decreased bleeding volume, which was significantly associated with robot-assisted procedures, was an independent and more significant factor for reducing SSI after radical cystectomy than the differences of the surgical procedure even after propensity score matching.

Artificial induction of chromosome aneuploidy in CHO cells alters their function as host cells.

Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells are major host cells for biopharmaceuticals. During culture, the chromosome number of CHO cells alters spontaneously. Here, we investigated the effects of artificial changes in the chromosome number on productivity. When cell fusion between antibody-producing CHO-K1-derived cells was induced, we observed a wide range of aneuploidy that was not detected in controls. In particular, antibody productivities were high in clone-derived cell populations that retained a diverse chromosome number distribution. We also induced aneuploid cells using 3-aminobenzamide that causes chromosome non-disjunction. After induction of aneuploidy by 3-aminobenzamide, cells with an increased chromosome number were isolated, but cells with a decreased chromosome number could not be isolated. When antibody expression vectors were introduced into these isolated clones, productivity tended to increase in cells with an increased chromosome number. Further analysis was carried out by focusing on clone 5E8 with an average chromosome number of 37. When 5E8 cells were used as host, the productivity of multiple antibodies, including difficult-to-express antibodies, was improved compared with CHO-K1 cells. The copies of exogenous genes integrated into the genome were significantly increased in 5E8 cells. These findings expand the possibilities for host cell selection and contribute to the efficient construction of cell lines for recombinant protein production.

Younger patients and low c-peptide immunoreactivity index but not nutritional states affect fasting blood ketone levels in Japanese with type 1 diabetes after sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitor administration.

AIM: Sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitors (SGLT2is) are available for individuals with type 1 diabetes, but appropriate use is recommended to prevent ketosis or ketoacidosis. This study aimed to evaluate the risk of ketosis in people with type 1 diabetes, focusing on the relationship between nutritional assessment, glycaemic status, c-peptide immunoreactivity (CPR) index and body composition. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In total, 46 Japanese patients with type 1 diabetes were included, and dietary assessment from food photographs and ketone levels were evaluated before and after taking SGLT2is. The effect of diet on morning ketone levels was also investigated. RESULTS: All patients had an increase in mean ketone concentrations after taking SGLT2is (before 0.12 ± 0.06 mmol/L, after 0.23 ± 0.16 mmol/L). A significant negative correlation was found between average morning ketone levels and age (r = -0.514, p < .001) and the CPR index (r = -0.523, p = .038) after taking SGLT2is. Using a mixed-effects model based on the results before starting the inhibitors, it was noted that both patient-to-patient and age, or patient-to-patient and capacity of insulin secretion, influenced the ketone levels. Multiple regression analysis showed that factors associated with the risk of increasing ketone levels after taking SGLT2is were younger age (ß = -0.504, p = .003) and a low ratio of basal to bolus insulin (ß = -0.420, p = .005). CONCLUSIONS: When administering SGLT2is to patients with a low CPR index or younger patients with type 1 diabetes, adequate instructions to prevent ketosis should be given.

Dental care and oral conditions are associated with the prevalence of sarcopenia in people with type 2 diabetes: a cross-sectional study.

BACKGROUND: Insulin resistance, which is closely associated with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), is a cause of sarcopenia and people with T2DM have a high risk of sarcopenia. Keeping good oral condition by dental care is important for people with T2DM. Keeping good oral condition by dental care is important for people with T2DM. This study has investigated the association between dental care or oral conditions and sarcopenia in people with T2DM. METHODS: Dental care and oral conditions were evaluated based on a self-reported questionnaire. Individuals with both low handgrip strength and low skeletal muscle mass index were diagnosed with sarcopenia. RESULTS: Among 266 people with T2DM, the proportions of sarcopenia, not having a family dentist, not having a toothbrushing behavior, poor chewing ability, and use of complete dentures were 18.0%, 30.5%, 33.1%, 25.2%, and 14.3%, respectively. The proportions of sarcopenia in people not having a family dentist (27.2% vs. 14.1%, p = 0.017), those with poor chewing ability (26.9% vs. 15.1%, p = 0.047), and use of complete dentures (36.8% vs. 14.9%, p = 0.002) were higher than those in people without. The proportion of sarcopenia in people without toothbrushing behavior tended to be higher than that in people with toothbrushing behavior (25.0% vs. 14.6%, p = 0.057). Not having a family dentist (adjusted odds ratio [OR] 2.48 [95% confidence interval (CI): 1.21-5.09], p = 0.013), poor chewing ability (adjusted OR 2.12 [95% CI: 1.01-4.46], p = 0.048), and use of complete dentures (adjusted OR 2.38 [95% CI: 1.01-5.99], p = 0.046) were related to the prevalence of sarcopenia. CONCLUSIONS: This study revealed that dental care and oral conditions were associated with the prevalence of sarcopenia.

Comparison of Diet, Sleep, and Stress During the Emergency Coronavirus Disease Curfew in Men and Women with Hemodialysis.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effect of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) on diet, stress, and sleep in Japanese patients with hemodialysis. METHODS: Data on nutritional intake, frequency of food intake by cuisine, dietary behavior, and frequency of food use before and during the declaration of the state of emergency due to COVID-19, were collected. RESULTS: For the 81 participants (47 men), changes were observed in the following diet-related items: nutrition and nutrient content (one item for men, three for women), eating behavior, and frequency of food use (1 item for men, six for women), and the total number of items was two for men and nine for women. Nine out of 12 questions addressed stress and six out of eight questions addressed sleep, with a higher percentage of women adversely affected and no item with a higher percentage of men adversely affected. The mean score for stress was 25.3 ± 5.1 for men and 29.5 ± 5.0 for women, P < .001, and for sleep disturbance was 11.6 ± 3.0 for men and 14.4 ± 4.4 for women, P < .001. CONCLUSIONS: In patients with hemodialysis, the effect of refraining from going out due to the spread of COVID-19 on diet, sleep, and stress was suggested to be more significant in women than in men.

Home-measured pulse pressure is a predictor of cardiovascular disease in type 2 diabetes: The KAMOGAWA-HBP study.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Pulse pressure (PP) is a prognostic predictor of cardiovascular mortality. This retrospective cohort study aimed to investigate the association between home PP measurements and cardiovascular disease in patients with type 2 diabetes. METHODS AND RESULTS: Home blood pressure was measured for 14 consecutive days in 1082 patients with type 2 diabetes, and pulse pressure was calculated. A 10 mmHg increase in morning PP was associated with a 1.30-fold increase in the risk of cardiovascular disease. The risk of cardiovascular disease was 1.88 times higher in the morning in the higher PP group than in the lower PP group. In the receiver operating characteristic analysis, the areas under the curve (95% confidence interval) corresponding to the PP (morning, evening, and clinic) for new-onset cardiovascular disease were 0.63 (0.58-0.69), 0.62 (0.57-0.67), and 0.59 (0.54-0.64), respectively. The area under the curve for PP measured in the morning was significantly greater than that for PP measured in the clinic (P = 0.032). CONCLUSION: Home-measured PP is a better predictor of new-onset cardiovascular disease than clinic-measured PP, in patients with type 2 diabetes.

Relative low muscle mass and muscle strength is associated with the prevalence of metabolic syndrome in patients with type 2 diabetes.

This cross-sectional study investigated the association of metabolic syndrome (MetS) with sarcopenia defined by absolute low muscle mass (aLMM) and absolute low muscle strength (aLMS), or sarcopenia defined by relative low muscle mass (rLMM) and relative low muscle strength (rLMS). The cut-off values for men and women were as follows: aLMM, appendicular muscle mass in kg/height|2 was <7.0 kg/m|2 and <5.7 kg/m|2; rLMM, appendicular muscle mass/body weight ×100 was <28.64% and <24.12%; aLMS, handgrip strength was <28 kg and <18 kg; and rLMS, handgrip strength/body weight ×100 was 51.26% and 35.38%. Among 207 men and 164 women, 41.5% men and 57.3% women had MetS, 14.0% men and 6.1% women had sarcopenia as defined by aLMM and aLMS, and 14.0% men and 22.0% women had sarcopenia defined by rLMM and rLMS. Compared with non-sarcopenia, adjusted OR of sarcopenia defined by aLMM and aLMS for the prevalence of MetS was 0.79 (95% CI 0.38-1.67), whereas that of sarcopenia defined by rLMM and rLMS for the prevalence of MetS was 20.6 (95% CI 7.81-54.3). Sarcopenia defined by rLMM and rLMS was associated with the risk of prevalence of MetS, whereas sarcopenia defined by aLMM and aLMS was not.

Insulin dose reduction in dapagliflozin combination therapy for type 1 diabetes mellitus: the RISING-STAR study.

To clarify the frequency of hypoglycemia in patients with type 1 diabetes mellitus receiving dapagliflozin combination therapy to reduce their basal insulin dose. Sixty subjects were assigned to two groups according to their basal insulin-to-total daily dose (TDD) ratio: group A (basal insulin/TDD <40%) and group B (≥40%). Reduction of the basal insulin dose was instituted in group B, but not in group A. The number of hypoglycemic events per day and ketosis frequency were the primary and secondary endpoints, respectively. The hypoglycemia frequency before and after the intervention was 0.23 and 0.26 times/day in group A and 0.19 and 0.23 times/day in group B, respectively, with no significant difference between the groups. The total insulin dose reduction was approximately 10% in both groups. Ketosis frequency increased significantly after the intervention (from 0.013 to 0.086 times/day in group A and 0.013 to 0.059 times/day in group B). Time-in-range, mean amplitude of glycemic excursion, and glycated hemoglobin A1c improved in both groups. No significant difference in hypoglycemia frequency was observed between patients with and without reduction of the basal insulin dose. The combination therapy improved glycemic control and patient satisfaction regarding hyperglycemia. Nevertheless, adequate attention to ketosis is crucial.

Development of application to automatically calculate mean amplitude of glycaemic excursions using intermittently scanned continuous glucose monitoring data.

AIM: We aimed to develop an application to calculate mean amplitude of glycaemic excursions (MAGE) automatically and to evaluate its accuracy. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We named the application intermittently scanned continuous glucose monitoring (isCGM) calculator KAMOGAWA (Kyoto Auto MAGE Of Glucose cAlcutator With isCGM Application). The isCGM data from 20 patients, 10 with and 10 without diabetes, were used to compare manually calculated MAGE values with those calculated using KAMOGAWA. The rate of agreement for the MAGE values was calculated. RESULTS: Comparing the MAGE values calculated manually with those calculated using KAMOGAWA, the total mean rate of agreement was 81.6%. Nonmatching values were checked and it was found that the inconsistencies were all attributable to errors in manual calculations. After correcting errors in the manual calculation, the MAGE values matched to one decimal place for all data in the manual and KAMOGAWA calculations. CONCLUSIONS: KAMOGAWA can help diabetologists use MAGE in clinical practice, which could contribute to improving glycaemic control in patients who use isCGM.

Low circulating dihomo-gamma-linolenic acid is associated with diabetic retinopathy: a cross sectional study of KAMOGAWA-DM cohort study.

Diabetic retinopathy (DR), one of the major complications of diabetes, can cause blindness and reduce quality of life. Dyslipidemia is reported to be associated with DR, whereas arachidonic acid may have a protective effect against DR. We aimed to investigate the association of circulating n-3 and n-6 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) with DR. In this cross-sectional study, 190 Japanese patients with type 2 diabetes were classified as no diabetic retinopathy (NDR), simple diabetic retinopathy (SDR), or proliferative diabetic retinopathy (PDR) including pre-proliferative diabetic retinopathy. Circulating fatty acids (FAs) were measured by gas chromatograph-mass spectrometry. Logistic regression analysis was performed to investigate the association between the levels of FAs and the presence of DR. The average age, body mass index and the duration of diabetes were 62.7 ± 12.1 years, 25.0 ± 4.5 kg/m2, and 9.8 ± 8.7 years, respectively. Twenty-seven patients were diagnosed with DR. Circulating levels of dihomo-gamma-linolenic acid (DGLA) in the NDR (n = 163), SDR (n = 13) and PDR (n = 14) groups were 28.3 ± 11.0 µg/mL, 24.4 ± 9.7 µg/mL, and 21.8 ± 6.2 µg/mL, respectively (p = 0.032). The logarithm of circulating DGLA levels was associated with the presence of DR after adjusting for covariates (OR of 1-unit increment: 0.79, 95% CI: 0.62-1.00, p = 0.049). Circulating DGLA was negatively associated with the presence of DR.

Effect of coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic on the lifestyle and glycemic control in patients with type 2 diabetes: a cross-section and retrospective cohort study.

To investigate the acute effects of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) on the lifestyle and metabolic parameters in patients with type 2 diabetes mellites. This cross-sectional and retrospective cohort study induced 203 patients who completed a questionnaire regarding stress levels and lifestyles. Data regarding stress levels, sleep time, exercise, and total diet, snack, and prepared food intake were obtained from the questionnaires. The changes in the body weight or HbA1c levels were determined by comparing the values at the time the questionnaire was administered to those noted 3 months ago. Increased levels of stress and decreased exercise levels were reported in approximately 40% and >50%. During the COVID-19 pandemic. There was a negative correlation between stress and exercise (r = -0.285, p < 0.001) and a positive correlation between stress and prepared food intake (r = 0.193, p = 0.009). Decreased exercise levels (r = -0.33, p < 0.001) and increased snack consumption (r = 0.24, p = 0.002) were associated with increased body weight. Furthermore, increased total diet intake (r = 0.16, p = 0.031) was associated with increased HbA1c levels. These relationships remained significant for patients aged <65 years and patients who did not engage in regular exercise. Many patients experienced stress and lifestyle changes due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and these changes were associated with increased body weight and HbA1c levels.

Low circulating arachidonic acid is associated with macroalbuminuria in diabetic patients: a cross-sectional examination of the KAMOGAWA-DM cohort study.

BACKGROUND: Diabetic nephropathy, a major complication of diabetes, is the primary risk factor for dialysis, cardiovascular diseases, and mortality. Dietary fatty acids (FAs) have been revealed to be related with cardiovascular diseases in the general populations. The aim of this study was to investigate the association of circulating FAs with diabetic nephropathy. METHODS: In this cross-sectional study, 190 Japanese patients with type 2 diabetes were included. Circulating FAs were measured by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. Spearman rank correlation coefficients were used to investigate the association between the logarithm of FAs and the logarithm of urinary albumin excretion (UAE). We have performed logistic regression analysis to determine the effect of FAs on the presence of macroalbuminuria, defined as UAE value ≥300 mg/g creatinine. RESULTS: Mean age, body mass index, and duration of diabetes were 62.7 ± 12.1 years, 25.0 ± 4.5 kg/m2, and 9.8 ± 8.7 years, respectively. In total, 26 patients were diagnosed with macroalbuminuria. The logarithm of circulating arachidonic acid (AA) was negatively associated with the logarithm of UAE (r = - 0.221, p = 0.002). Additionally, circulating AA in patients with macroalbuminuria was lower than that in patients without macroalbuminuria (112.3 ± 75.3 mg/day vs. 164.8 ± 66.0 mg/day, p <  0.001). The logarithm of circulating AA was associated with the presence of macroalbuminuria after adjusting for covariates (odds ratio of Δ1 incremental: 0.32, 95% confidence interval: 0.10-0.99, p = 0.042). CONCLUSIONS: Circulating AA was negatively associated with UAE and the presence of macroalbuminuria.

Erythritol Ameliorates Small Intestinal Inflammation Induced by High-Fat Diets and Improves Glucose Tolerance.

BACKGROUND: Erythritol, a sugar alcohol, is widely used as a substitute for sugar in diets for patients with diabetes or obesity. METHODS: In this study, we aimed to investigate the effects of erythritol on metabolic disorders induced by a high-fat diet in C57BL/6J mice, while focusing on changes in innate immunity. RESULTS: Mice that were fed a high-fat diet and administered water containing 5% erythritol (Ery group) had markedly lower body weight, improved glucose tolerance, and markedly higher energy expenditure than the control mice (Ctrl group) (n = 6). Furthermore, compared with the Ctrl group, the Ery group had lesser fat deposition in the liver, smaller adipocytes, and significantly better inflammatory findings in the small intestine. The concentrations of short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs), such as acetic acid, propanoic acid, and butanoic acid, in the serum, feces, and white adipose tissue of the Ery group were markedly higher than those in the Ctrl group. In flow cytometry experiments, group 3 innate lymphoid cell (ILC3) counts in the lamina propria of the small intestine and ILC2 counts in the white adipose tissue of the Ery group were markedly higher than those in the Ctrl group. Quantitative real-time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction analyses showed that the Il-22 expression in the small intestine of the Ery group was markedly higher than that in the Ctrl group. CONCLUSIONS: Erythritol markedly decreased metabolic disorders such as diet-induced obesity, glucose intolerance, dyslipidemia, and fat accumulation in the mouse liver by increasing SCFAs and modulating innate immunity.

Association between the frequency of toothbrushing and lifestyle in people with type 2 diabetes mellitus: at the baseline date of the Kamogawa-DM cohort study.

It has been reported that oral health is associated with some co-morbid conditions, including cardiovascular disease, in people with type 2 diabetes mellitus. The present study investigated the association between the frequency of toothbrushing and lifestyle in people with type 2 diabetes mellitus. This cross-sectional study included 624 outpatients at the Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine in Kyoto, Japan from January 2014 to January 2016. Lifestyle was evaluated using a self-administered questionnaire. The average age and hemoglobin A1c level were 67.6 ±â€…10.9 years and 7.2 ±â€…1.1%, respectively. The number of patients who brushed their teeth twice or more a day was 189 (50.3%) in men and 198 (79.8%) in women. Among men, the proportion of patients living alone was lower in those who brushed their teeth twice or more a day than those who brushed their teeth never/rarely or once a day. The logistic regression analysis, after adjusting for confounding factors, revealed that living alone (odds ratio 2.88; 95% confidence interval 1.53-5.66) was associated with the increased odds of the low frequency of toothbrushing (never/rarely or once a day) in men, but not in women. In conclusion, the results of our study suggest that living alone was associated with the low frequency of toothbrushing in people with type 2 diabetes mellitus, particularly in men.

Living alone is associated with visit-to-visit HbA1c variability in men but not in women in people with type 2 diabetes: KAMOGAWA-DM cohort study.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the association between living alone and glycemic parameters, especially glycemic variability, in men and women with type 2 diabetes. Lifestyle factors, including living alone, were assessed by a questionnaire in this cross-sectional study. Average, standard deviation (SD), and coefficient of variation (CV) of HbA1c were calculated using the values of HbA1c, which were extracted from the medical record for 1 year. Eighteen percent of men (35/198) and 17% of women (18/103) were living alone. In men, the average of HbA1c (59.9 mmol/mol [11.0] vs. 55.7 mmol/mol [9.1], 7.6% [1.0] vs. 7.2% [0.8], p = 0.018), and CV of HbA1c (0.06 [0.03-0.08] vs. 0.03 [0.02-0.05], p < 0.001) were all significantly higher in men who were living alone than in men who weren't. However, there were no differences in the average (53.2 mmol/mol [11.4] vs. 56.0 mmol/mol [8.8], 7.0% [1.0] vs. 7.3% [0.8], p = 0.252) or CV (0.03 [0.02-0.05] vs. 0.03 [0.02-0.04], p = 0.845) between women who were living alone and women who weren't. Multiple regression analyses revealed that living alone was associated with CV of HbA1c after adjusting for covariates in men (ß = 0.180, p = 0.005), but not in women (ß = 0.085, p = 0.369). We showed that living alone is associated with visit-to-visit HbA1c variability in men, but not women, with type 2 diabetes. In clinical practice, it is necessary to pay attention to glycemic control in men who are living alone.

A Pilot Study on the Effect of Anti-Thrombopoietin Antibody on Platelet Count in Patients with Type 2 Diabetes.

Thrombopoietin (THPO) is a circulatory cytokine that plays an important role in platelet production. The presence of anti-THPO antibody relates to thrombocytopenia and is rarely seen in hematopoietic and autoimmune diseases. To date, there had been no reports that focused on the anti-THPO antibody in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). To evaluate prevalence of the anti-THPO antibody in patients with T2DM and the relationship between anti-THPO antibody and platelet count, a cross-sectional study was performed on 82 patients with T2DM. The anti-THPO antibody was measured by ELISA using preserved sera and detected in 13 patients. The average platelet count was significantly lower in patients with the anti-THPO antibody than in those without the anti-THPO antibody. Multivariate linear regression analyses showed a significant relationship between the anti-THPO antibody and platelet count, after adjusting for other variables. To our best knowledge, this was the first report on the effect of the anti-THPO antibody on platelet count in patients with T2DM. Further investigation is needed to validate the prevalence and pathological significance of the anti-THPO antibody in patients with T2DM.

Effect of probiotics, Bifidobacterium bifidum G9-1, on gastrointestinal symptoms in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus: study protocol for open-label, single-arm, exploratory research trial (Big STAR study).

Metformin is associated with risks of gastrointestinal complications in patients with type 2 diabetes. In contrast, probiotic Bifidobacterium bifidum G9-1 (BBG9-1) could improve the symptoms of diarrhea caused by metformin in animal models. Thus, the primary outcome of this study will be the effect of the probiotic BBG9-1 on gastrointestinal symptoms, including diarrhea, in patients with type 2 diabetes who use metformin. This open-label, single-arm, and exploratory study will examine 40 patients with type 2 diabetes who use metformin and have symptoms of constipation or diarrhea. After the baseline examination (objective 1), patients will be administered probiotic BBG9-1 for 10 ± 2 weeks. Then, examinations will be performed (objective 2). The primary outcome will be changes in the symptoms of constipation or diarrhea from objective 1 to objective 2. Secondary outcomes will include changes in gut microbiota, and correlations between changes in fecal properties and biomarkers, including HbA1c level and body mass index. This is the first study to investigate the effect of probiotic BBG9-1 on the change in the symptom of constipation or diarrhea in patients with type 2 diabetes who use metformin.

Reduced dietary omega-3 fatty acids intake is associated with sarcopenia in elderly patients with type 2 diabetes: a cross-sectional study of KAMOGAWA-DM cohort study.

Omega-3 fatty acids intake is important to maintain muscle mass. However, the relationship between omega-3 fatty acids intake and sarcopenia in elderly patients with type 2 diabetes has been unclear. We used the brief-type self-administered diet history questionnaire for the assessment of habitual food and nutrient intake. Body composition of patients was evaluated using bioimpedance analysis. To investigate the effect of energy intake on the presence of sarcopenia, we performed logistic regression analyses. Among the patients, 45 patients (13.2%) were diagnosed as sarcopenia. Patients with sarcopenia were aged [74.2 (5.7) vs 71.4 (5.9) years, p = 0.003] and lower body mass index [21.2 (3.5) vs 24.3 (4.6) kg/m2, p<0.001] than those without. In addition, omega-3 fatty acids intake of patients with sarcopenia was lower than that without [2.6 (1.0) vs 3.0 (1.2) kcal/day, p = 0.046]. Omega-3 fatty acids intake was negatively associated with the presence of sarcopenia (odds ratio: 0.29, 95% confidence interval: 0.14-0.60, p<0.001) after adjusting for age, sex, exercise, smoking status, diabetes duration, hemoglobin A1c, energy intake, protein intake, fat intake and omega-3 fatty acids intake. Omega-3 fatty acids intake was negatively associated with the presence of sarcopenia in elderly patients with type 2 diabetes.