Crohn's disease-specific mortality: a 30-year cohort study at a tertiary referral center in Japan

BACKGROUND

In this study, survival and cause of death were investigated in patients with Crohn's disease (CD) at a tertiary referral center.

METHODS

A database was created based on the medical records of 1108 CD patients who had a history of visiting our hospital to investigate background characteristics, cumulative survival rates from diagnosis, causes of death, and the standardized mortality ratio (SMR) for each cause of death. A follow-up questionnaire survey of patients followed up inadequately was also conducted. The cumulative survival rate from diagnosis was determined using the life table method and compared with that of a sex- and age-matched population model from the year 2000.

RESULTS

The study included 1108 patients whose mean age at diagnosis was 25.6 ± 10.8 years. The mean duration of follow-up was 14.6 ± 9.4 years, and there were 52 deaths. The cumulative survival rate was significantly lower 25 years after the diagnosis of CD (91.7%) than in the standard population model (95.7%). SMRs for both all causes [3.5; 95% confidence interval (CI): 2.7-4.6] and CD-specific causes (36.7; 95% CI 26.1-51.6) were high. Among the CD-specific causes, SMRs were especially high for small intestine and colorectal cancers, gastrointestinal diseases including intestinal failure (IF), perioperative complications, and amyloidosis.

CONCLUSION

The SMRs for both all causes and CD-specific causes were high in CD patients. CD-specific causes including intestinal cancer, IF, perioperative complications, and amyloidosis showed especially high SMRs.

Canagliflozin improves obesity and insulin resistance in a diabetic patient with Cushings disease undergoing postoperative steroid therapy: A case report

A 47-year-old woman with diabetes treated with high-dose insulin was admitted to Mie University Hospital, Tsu, Japan, for screening of secondary diabetes mellitus and obesity. Laboratory tests and imaging studies were consistent with Cushing's disease (CD). The patient underwent trans-sphenoidal pituitary surgery. The patient exhibited loss of body weight (85.9 to 80.0 kg), improved glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) (11.2 to 7.8%) and required lower doses of insulin (112 to 46 U/day) 6 months after surgery. The patient's body weight and daily insulin dose remained stable during the following 5 months (6-11 months after surgery). At that point, the patient was administered with canagliflozin, a sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitor. The patient required lower daily insulin dose without decreasing the dose of postoperative hydrocortisone concurrent to the administration of canagliflozin (100 mg/day). The patient's body weight decreased to 69.5 kg and withdrawal of insulin therapy was possible 8 months after initiation of canagliflozin. Despite withdrawal of insulin therapy, the HbA1c levels remained at <7.0%. Although surgical treatment is the first-choice treatment for CD, obesity-related metabolic disorders including diabetes are frequent in CD patients following surgery. Canagliflozin may be an effective treatment to reduce body weight and improve insulin resistance following surgical treatment of CD.

Microwave oscillator using piezoelectric thin-film resonator aiming for ultraminiaturization of atomic clock

We developed a microwave oscillator and a micro electromechanical systems-based rubidium cell for the miniaturization of atomic clocks. A thin-film bulk acoustic resonator (FBAR) having a resonant frequency of the fundamental mode in the 3.5 GHz band was employed instead of a crystal resonator. It delivers a clock transition frequency of Rb atoms of 3.417 GHz without the need for a complicated frequency multiplication using a phase-locked loop. This topology considerably reduces the system scale and power consumption. For downsizing the atomic clock system toward the chip level as well as mass production, a microfabricated gas cell containing Rb and N₂ gases was also developed. These microcomponents were incorporated into an atomic clock test bench, resulting in a clock operation with a short-term frequency instability of 2.1 × 10^-11 at 1 s. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of a coherent population trapping clock operation using an FBAR-based microwave oscillator as well as a microfabricated gas cell.

Anti-apoptotic activity of human matrix metalloproteinase-2 attenuates diabetes mellitus

BACKGROUND

Chronic progression of diabetes is associated with decreased pancreatic islet mass due to apoptosis of β-cells. Patients with diabetes have increased circulating matrix metalloproteinase-2 (MMP2); however, the physiological significance has remained elusive. This study tested the hypothesis that MMP2 inhibits cell apoptosis, including islet β-cells.

METHODS

Samples from diabetic patients and newly developed transgenic mice overexpressing human MMP2 (hMMP2) were harnessed, and diabetes was induced with streptozotocin.

RESULTS

Circulating hMMP2 was significantly increased in diabetic patients compared to controls and significantly correlated with the serum C-peptide levels. The diabetic hMMP2 transgenic mice showed significant improvements in glycemia, glucose tolerance and insulin secretion compared to diabetic wild type mice. Importantly, the increased hMMP2 levels in mice correlated with significant reduction in islet β-cell apoptosis compared to wild-type counterparts, and an inhibitor of hMMP2 reversed this mitigating activity against diabetes. The increased activation of Akt and BAD induced by hMMP2 in β-cells compared to controls, links this signaling pathway to the anti-apoptotic activity of hMMP2, a property that was reversible by both an hMMP2 inhibitor and antibody against integrin-β3.

CONCLUSION

Overall, this study demonstrates that increased expression of hMMP2 may attenuate the severity of diabetes by protecting islet β-cells from apoptosis through an integrin-mediated activation of the Akt/BAD pathway.

Trough level of infliximab is useful for assessing mucosal healing in Crohn's disease: a prospective cohort study

Background/Aims

Decreased trough levels of infliximab (TLI) and antibodies to infliximab (ATI) are associated with loss of response (LOR) in Crohn's disease. Two prospective studies were conducted to determine whether TLI or ATI better correlates with LOR (Study 1), and whether TLI could become a predictor of mucosal healing (MH) (Study 2).

Methods

Study 1 was conducted in 108 patients, including those with LOR and remission to compare ATI and TLI in discriminating the 2 conditions based on receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analyses. Study 2 involved 35 patients who were evaluated endoscopically.

Results

In Study 1, there were no differences between the 2 assays in ROC curve analyses; the TLI cutoff value for LOR was 2.6 µg/mL (sensitivity, 70.9%; specificity, 79.2%), and the ATI cutoff value was 4.9 µg/mL (sensitivity, 65.5%; specificity, 67.9%). The AUROC (area under the ROC curve) of TLI was greater than that of ATI. AUROC was useful for discriminating between the 2 conditions. In Study 2, the TLI was significantly higher in the colonic MH group than in the non-MH group (2.7 µg/mL vs. 0.5 µg/mL, P=0.032).

Conclusions

TLI is better than ATI for clinically diagnosing LOR, and a correlation was observed between TLI and colonic MH.

Immune complex-mediated glomerulonephritis is ameliorated by thrombin-activatable fibrinolysis inhibitor deficiency

The activity of plasmin plays a critical role in the development of chronic glomerulonephritis. Thrombin-activatable fibrinolysis inhibitor (TAFI) is a potent inhibitor of plasmin generation. We hypothesized thatTAFI is involved in the pathogenesis of glomerulonephritis because it inhibits plasmin generation. To demonstrate this hypothesis, we compared the development of immune complex-mediated glomerulonephritis in wild-type and TAFI-deficient mice. After six weeks of treatment with horse spleen apoferritin and lipoplysaccharide to induce glomerulonephritis, mice deficient in TAFI had significantly better renal function as shown by lower concentrations of albumin in urine and blood urea nitrogen compared to wild-type mice. In addition, the activity of plasmin and matrix metalloproteinases was significantly increased, and mesangial matrix expansion and the deposition of collagen and fibrin in kidney tissues were significantly decreased in TAFI-knockout mice as compared to their wildtype counterparts. Depletion of fibrinogen by batroxobin (Defibrase) treatment led to equalization of the renal function and the amount of collagen deposition in the kidneys of TAFI-knockout and wild-type mice with immune complex-mediated glomerulonephritis. Together these observations suggest that TAFI-mediated inhibition of plasmin generation plays a role in the pathogenesis of glomerulonephritis, and that it may constitute a novel molecular target for the therapy of this disease.

Comparison of Glucose Area Under the Curve Measured Using Minimally Invasive Interstitial Fluid Extraction Technology with Continuous Glucose Monitoring System in Diabetic Patients

BACKGROUND

Continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) is reported to be a useful technique, but difficult or inconvenient for some patients and institutions. We are developing a glucose area under the curve (AUC) monitoring system without blood sampling using a minimally invasive interstitial fluid extraction technology (MIET). Here we evaluated the accuracy of interstitial fluid glucose (IG) AUC measured by MIET in patients with diabetes for an extended time interval and the potency of detecting hyperglycemia using CGM data as a reference.

METHODS

Thirty-eight inpatients with diabetes undergoing CGM were enrolled. MIET comprised a pretreatment step using a plastic microneedle array and glucose accumulation step with a hydrogel patch, which was placed on two sites from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM or from 10:00 PM to 6:00 AM. IG AUC was calculated by accumulated glucose extracted by hydrogel patches using sodium ion as standard.

RESULTS

A significant correlation was observed between the predicted AUC by MIET and CGM in daytime (r=0.76) and nighttime (r=0.82). The optimal cutoff for the IG AUC value of MIET to predict hyperglycemia over 200 mg/dL measured by CGM for 8 hours was 1,067.3 mg·hr/dL with 88.2% sensitivity and 81.5% specificity.

CONCLUSION

We showed that 8-hour IG AUC levels using MIET were valuable in estimating the blood glucose AUC without blood sampling. The results also supported the concept of using this technique for evaluating glucose excursion and for screening hyperglycemia during 8 hours in patients with diabetes at any time of day.

Electro-optic probe measurements of electric fields in plasmas

The direct measurements of high-frequency electric fields in a plasma bring about significant advances in the physics and engineering of various waves. We have developed an electro-optic sensor system based on the Pockels effect. Since the signal is transmitted through an optical fiber, the system has high tolerance for electromagnetic noises. To demonstrate its applicability to plasma experiments, we report the first result of measurement of the ion-cyclotron wave excited in the RT-1 magnetosphere device. This study compares the results of experimental field measurements with simulation results of electric fields in plasmas.

Chaos of energetic positron orbits in a dipole magnetic field and its potential application to a new injection scheme

We study the behavior of high-energy positrons emitted from a radioactive source in a magnetospheric dipole field configuration. Because the conservation of the first and second adiabatic invariants is easily destroyed in a strongly inhomogeneous dipole field for high-energy charged particles, the positron orbits are nonintegrable, resulting in chaotic motions. In the geometry of a typical magnetospheric levitated dipole experiment, it is shown that a considerable ratio of positrons from a ^{22}Na source, located at the edge of the confinement region, has chaotic long orbit lengths before annihilation. These particles make multiple toroidal circulations and form a hollow toroidal positron cloud. Experiments with a small ^{22}Na source in the Ring Trap 1 (RT-1) device demonstrated the existence of such long-lived positrons in a dipole field. Such a chaotic behavior of high-energy particles is potentially applicable to the formation of a dense toroidal positron cloud in the strong-field region of the dipole field in future studies.

A case of type 2 diabetes mellitus with metformin-associated lactic acidosis initially presenting the appearance of a sulfonylurea-related hypoglycemic attack

Case

A 64‐year‐old Japanese woman with diabetes mellitus was admitted for hypoglycemia. Her diabetes had been under good control with glimepiride, voglibose, exenatide, and metformin for a few years. Although overt proteinuria was observed, the serum creatinine values were within normal range during the routine outpatient follow‐up. Hypoglycemic attack caused by glimepiride and loss of appetite by urinary tract infection were diagnosed. Then, metformin‐associated lactic acidosis with acute renal failure caused by dehydration was detected.

Outcome

Her condition was improved by continuous veno‐venous hemodiafiltration and hemodialysis, known to be useful to remove metformin.

Conclusion

We reported a case of metformin‐associated lactic acidosis with hypoglycemia during routine treatment of diabetes that was successfully rescued by early renal replacement therapy.

Retrospective Analysis of Growth Speed of 54 Lesions of Colitis-associated Colorectal Neoplasia

AIM

This study used a multicenter questionnaire survey to evaluate the morphology and progression of the initial lesion in cases of colitis-associated colorectal neoplasia (CRN).

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Endoscopic images of lesions that had been definitively diagnosed as CRN by pathological examination were retrospectively reviewed.

RESULTS

This resulted in the identification of 54 initial lesions in 49 patients. The 54 initial lesions fell into the following categories: 22 endoscopically visible localized lesions consisting of 18 elevated lesions and 4 depressed lesions, as well as 32 lesions that were not endoscopically visible as localized and consisted of 20 active-phase mucosal lesions and 12 remission-phase mucosal lesions. Nineteen of the lesions eventually became advanced cancers, while 35 lesions eventually became early-stage cancers. The final lesions were 40 elevated lesions, 5 flat or depressed lesions and 9 stenotic lesions. The form of growth of the advanced cancers was progressive stenosis or increased elevation. For approximately 69% of the early-stage cancers, the growth form was increasing elevation or development of elevation. For 73.6% of the advanced cancers, the initial lesion underwent rapid growth and became advanced cancer within 3 years; they accounted for 25.9% of the total cancers. Approximately 40% of the initial lesions of CRN were endoscopically visible as localized lesions, while approximately 60% were judged to be inflammatory mucosal lesions.

CONCLUSION

It will be necessary to proactively take biopsy inflammatory mucosal lesions in order to discover tumors early and periodic surveillance should be performed with the knowledge that tumors may grow very quickly.

Amelioration of Diabetes by Protein S

Protein S is an anticoagulant factor that also regulates inflammation and cell apoptosis. The effect of protein S on diabetes and its complications is unknown. This study compared the development of diabetes between wild-type and transgenic mice overexpressing human protein S and the development of diabetic glomerulosclerosis between mice treated with and without human protein S and between wild-type and protein S transgenic mice. Mice overexpressing protein S showed significant improvements in blood glucose level, glucose tolerance, insulin sensitivity, and insulin secretion compared with wild-type counterparts. Exogenous protein S improved insulin sensitivity in adipocytes, skeletal muscle, and liver cell lines in db/db mice compared with controls. Significant inhibition of apoptosis with increased expression of BIRC3 and Bcl-2 and enhanced activation of Akt/PKB was induced by protein S in islet β-cells compared with controls. Diabetic wild-type mice treated with protein S and diabetic protein S transgenic mice developed significantly less severe diabetic glomerulosclerosis than controls. Patients with type 2 diabetes had significantly lower circulating free protein S than healthy control subjects. This study shows that protein S attenuates diabetes by inhibiting apoptosis of β-cells and the development of diabetic nephropathy.

Effects of sugar-sweetened beverage intake on the development of type 2 diabetes mellitus in subjects with impaired glucose tolerance: the Mihama diabetes prevention study

In Japan, the incidence of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is increasing for several reasons, including increased consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages (SSBs). However, whether SSBs cause T2DM by excess of energy production resulting in obesity remains unclear. Therefore, the present study was designed to evaluate the effects of SSB intake on the development of T2DM in subjects with impaired glucose tolerance (IGT). Ninety-three subjects (30 males and 63 females) with IGT aged 40-69 y and residing in the Mihama district (southern Mie Prefecture, Japan) were included in the study. The mean observational period was 3.6 y. All subjects underwent the 75-g oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) and completed a lifestyle questionnaire survey related to SSB intake. OGTT results and SSB intake were evaluated before and after the observational period. In addition, the correlation between SSB intake and development of T2DM was investigated. Of the 93 subjects, 20 (21.5%) developed T2DM (T2DM group) and demonstrated a significantly high SSB intake compared with the group that did not develop the disease (non-T2DM group). The odds ratio for the incidence of T2DM based on SSB intake was 3.26 (95% confidence interval, 1.17-9.06). The body mass index (BMI; kg/m(2)) and the homeostasis model assessment for insulin resistance (HOMA-R) values was significantly higher in the T2DM group than in the non-T2DM group, while the insulinogenic indices were significantly lower in the former than in the latter group. The sum of insulin secretion levels during OGTT was not significantly different between groups. SSB intake correlated with the predisposition for developing T2DM, possibly by influencing body weight, insulin resistance, and the ability of the pancreatic beta cells to effectively compensate for the insulin resistance.

Association of Waist Circumference and Body Fat Weight with Insulin Resistance in Male Subjects with Normal Body Mass Index and Normal Glucose Tolerance

Objective We investigated the relationship of the waist circumference (WC) and body fat weight (BF) with insulin resistance in subjects with normal body mass index (BMI) and normal glucose tolerance (NGT) during a routine medical check-up. Methods We categorized 167 male subjects in three groups as follows: a group with normal BMI but high WC (normal-BMI/high-WC group; 22≤BMI<25 kg/m(2), waist ≥85 cm; n=31), a group with normal BMI and normal WC (normal-BMI/normal-WC group, waist <85 cm; n=68), and a group with low normal BMI and normal WC (low normal-BMI/normal-WC group; 18.5≤BMI<22 kg/m(2) and waist<85 cm; n=68). We measured the plasma glucose and serum insulin levels before glucose loading and after 30 and 120 minutes and calculated several indexes of insulin secretion and sensitivity. Results Subjects from the normal-BMI/high-WC group showed significantly decreased Matsuda index and increased homeostasis model assessment for insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) compared with normal-BMI/normal-WC group. Univariate regression analyses showed significant correlation of HOMA-IR with WC (r=0.39) and BF (r=0.37). Matsuda index was significantly correlated with WC (r=-0.39) and BF (r=-0.47). The multiple regression analysis showed that the BF is significantly correlated with HOMA-IR (p<0.05) and Masuda index (p<0.005) among the clinical variables and with HOMA-IR (p<0.05) and Masuda index (p<0.0001) among the anthropometric variables but not with WC in either analysis. Conclusion Decreased Matsuda index and increased HOMA-IR were observed in subjects from the normal-BMI/high-WC group. Multivariate analysis showed that BF is associated with decreased Matsuda index and increased HOMA-IR and that WC is not associated with either factors.