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 (β = -0.504, p = .003) and a low ratio of basal to bolus insulin (β = -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.

Predictive power of isolated high home systolic blood pressure for cardiovascular outcomes in individuals with type 2 diabetes mellitus: KAMOGAWA-HBP study

AIMS/INTRODUCTION

Isolated high home systolic blood pressure (IHHSBP) is a risk for cardiovascular disease (CVD). However, no study has shown an association between IHHSBP and CVD in diabetes. We examined the association between IHHSBP and CVD in type 2 diabetes.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

This retrospective cohort study included 1082 individuals with type 2 diabetes, aged 20 to 90 years, without a history of macrovascular complications. Home blood pressure (HBP) was measured three times every morning and evening for 14 days. Cox proportional hazards models were used to examine the relationship between IHHSBP and CVD incidence.

RESULTS

With the normal HBP group as the reference, the adjusted hazard ratio (HR) (95% confidence interval [CI]) for CVD was 1.58 (1.02-2.43) in the IHHSBP group. Correcting for antihypertensive medication use did not change HR. Based on sex, the adjusted HR (95% CI) for CVD was 1.25 (0.74-2.13) in males and 2.28 (1.01-5.15) in females.

CONCLUSIONS

In individuals with type 2 diabetes, those with IHHSBP had a higher HR for cardiovascular disease than those with normal HBP. But, Isolated high home diastolic blood pressure and high HBP were not. The association between IHHSBP and CVD was stronger in females than in males.

Effects of dapagliflozin on renal function in type 1 diabetes patients in the real world: a retrospective multicenter study of the KAMOGAWA-A cohort

AIMS

This study aimed to investigate the effects of dapagliflozin on renal function of type 1 diabetes patients.

METHODS

This retrospective multicenter cohort study enrolled 295 type 1 diabetes patients. The primary outcome was defined as the change in the estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) after 24 months of dapagliflozin treatment. The secondary outcomes were defined as the changes in HbA1c, daily insulin dosage, and urinary albumin-to-creatinine ratio (UACR) after 24 months.

RESULTS

Finally, 255 patients were included in the final analysis (dapagliflozin group; 76 patients, non-use group; 179 patients), with a median eGFR of 74.0 mL/min/1.73m². A 1:1 propensity score matching was performed, and 142 patients were analyzed in a linear mixed model. The least squares mean change in eGFR in the dapagliflozin group was -3.14 mL/min/1.73 m² (95% CI: -5.62 to -0.66), a significantly smaller decrease than in the non-use group (-6.94 mL/min/1.73 m² (95% CI: -9.39 to -4.50)) (p = 0.032). HbA1c level, total insulin dose, and UACR change were significantly lower in the dapagliflozin group than in the non-use group.

CONCLUSIONS

At 24 months, the decline in eGFR was significantly lower in the dapagliflozin group than in the non-use group without increasing diabetic ketoacidosis and hypoglycemia.

Impact of continued high blood pressure on the progression of diabetic nephropathy after 10 years: KAMOGAWA-HBP study

Albuminuria is a prognostic marker of worsening renal outcomes in people with hypertension and type 2 diabetes. High home systolic blood pressure is associated with the development of diabetic nephropathy. We assessed the impact of chronic high home blood pressure on diabetic nephropathy progression 10 years after study entry. The participants measured their blood pressure three times in the morning for 14 days at study entry and 10 years after study entry. A retrospective cohort of 165 people with type 2 diabetes at a single hospital was classified into four groups (good control maintenance, improvement, deterioration, and continuous high blood pressure groups) according to a morning home systolic blood pressure ≥125 mmHg at study entry and 10 years after study entry. Logistic regression analysis was performed to determine the association between home blood pressure control and the progression of diabetic nephropathy. After 10 years of entry, the status of nephropathy improved for 5.5% of the participants, remained unchanged for 72.1%, and progressed for 22.4%. The odds ratio of the continuous high blood pressure group versus that of the good control maintenance group for the progression of diabetic nephropathy was 10.41 (95% CI, 1.26-86.15). After adjusting for the introduction of renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system inhibitors during the follow-up period, there was no significant difference in the odds ratio of worsening nephropathy between these groups. The deterioration and improvement groups did not have significant diabetic nephropathy progression compared to the good control maintenance group. Chronic high home blood pressure was associated with the progression of diabetic nephropathy, and RAAS inhibitors could attenuate the negative effect. We demonstrated that chronic home blood pressure was associated with the progression of diabetic nephropathy.

Maximum home blood pressure and cardiovascular outcomes in patients with type 2 diabetes: KAMOGAWA-HBP study

OBJECTIVE

The maximum blood pressure was reported as a possible marker of organ damage. We previously showed that maximum home blood pressure was significantly associated with development of diabetic nephropathy. In the same cohort of patients with diabetes as in the previous study, this study aimed to evaluate the prognostic blood pressure values for the onset of first cardiovascular events.

METHODS

This retrospective cohort study included 1082 patients with type 2 diabetes (47.0% female, median age 65.0) without a history of macrovascular complications. Blood pressure measurements were performed in triplicates every morning and evening for 14 consecutive days from the start of the study. Cox hazards model was used to evaluate the risk of primary endpoint, which was defined as the onset of first major cardiovascular event.

RESULTS

The primary endpoint occurred in 119 patients (incidence rate, 15.7/1000 person-years) during an average of 7.0-year follow-up. The adjusted hazard ratios (95% confidence interval [CI]) of maximum morning systolic blood pressure (SBP) and maximum evening SBP for cardiovascular events were 1.12 (1.01-1.24) and 1.19 (1.07-1.31), respectively, adjusted by sex, duration of diabetes, body mass index, hemoglobin A1c, low density lipoprotein cholesterol, smoking status, and use of antihypertensive medications. The cutoff values of maximum blood pressure for the events were 150 mmHg in the morning (hazard ratio, 1.73; 95% CI, 1.07-2.81) and 157 mmHg in the evening (hazard ratio, 2.30; 95% CI, 1.46-3.61), using the Youden's index.

CONCLUSION

Maximum home blood pressure is a predictor of subsequent cardiovascular events in patients with type 2 diabetes.

Impact of sustained hypertension on new cardiovascular events in patients with type 2 diabetes: KAMOGAWA-HBP study

We have previously shown that masked hypertension (MH) and sustained hypertension (SH) contribute to the progression of diabetic nephropathy. Although the risk of target organ damage and cardiovascular events in MH and SH is significantly higher than that in normotension and white coat hypertension, the role of MH or SH in cardiovascular events has never been reported in studies specific to diabetic patients. Therefore, in this study, we aimed to determine whether blood pressure control status contributes to the development of new cardiovascular events. A longitudinal study of 1082 patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus and no history of cardiovascular events was conducted. Patients were instructed to have their blood pressure measured three times, every morning and evening, for 14 consecutive days. Hypertension status was classified into four groups based on the systolic blood pressure measurements in the clinic and at home. The primary endpoint was the first cardiovascular event. After a median follow-up of 7.0 (interquartile range, 4.0-9.0) years, 119 patients developed cardiovascular events. The hazard ratio (95% confidence interval) for the risk of developing cardiovascular events was significantly higher in the SH group than in the controlled blood pressure group (1.63 [1.02-2.59]). SH is a useful predictor of cardiovascular events. Both at home and in the clinic, blood pressure monitoring should be assessed in routine clinical practice to predict future cardiovascular events in patients with type 2 diabetes.

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.

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.

Multicenter, Open-Label, 2-Arm, Pilot Trial for Safe Reduction of Basal Insulin Dose Combined with SGLT2 Inhibitor in Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus: Study Protocol for a RISING-STAR Trial

Background:

The safe method of instructing insulin dose reduction in combination with SGLT2 inhibitors, dapagliflozin for patients with type 1 diabetes mellitus has not been clarified. In this study, we conducted a stratified, 2-arm, parallel comparative study with the primary endpoint of decreasing the frequency of hypoglycemia by instructing basal insulin dose reduction.

Methods:

The study has a multicenter, open-label, 2-arm design; 60 type 1 diabetes mellitus patients are being recruited from 7 hospitals. Study subjects have been stratified into 2 groups based on the ratio of basal insulin daily dose (Basal) to total daily insulin dose (TDD). The subjects whose Basal/TDD ratio is <0.4 are instructed not to reduce Basal but to reduce bolus insulin dose by 10% (group A), and subjects with a Basal/TDD ratio >0.4 will be instructed to reduce Basal by 10% (group B). The primary outcome is the daily frequency of hypoglycemia during the intervention period (SGLT2 inhibitor administration), as determined by self-monitoring of blood glucose. We aimed to confirm a greater reduction in frequency of hypoglycemia in group B (reduced Basal), than in group A (non-reduction of Basal and reduced insulin effect levels by 10%). Baseline hypoglycemia was set at 7 ± 6 times/month. The minimum sample size required to achieve a significance of .05 for a 1-sided t-test with a statistical power at 80% is determined. When the sample size is 26 patients in 1 group, the percentage increase in hypoglycemia exceeds 60%, and the sample size is considered sufficient.

Discussion:

In this pilot study, we assumed that, given a sufficient Basal, hypoglycemia would be more frequent in patients with type 1 diabetes when combined with SGLT2 inhibitors, provided the Basal was not reduced.

Isolated high home systolic blood pressure in patients with type 2 diabetes is a prognostic factor for the development of diabetic nephropathy: KAMOGAWA-HBP study

BACKGROUND

Isolated high home systolic blood pressure (IH-HSBP) has been revealed to be correlated with cardiovascular disease and diabetic nephropathy, however, the prognostic significance of IH-HSBP with the development of diabetic nephropathy is unclear.

METHODS

In this prospective 2-year cohort study of 477 patients with normoalbuminuria, we investigated the effect of IH-HSBP on the development of diabetic nephropathy defined by diabetic nephropathy advanced from normoalbuminuira to micro or macroalbuminuria.

RESULTS

Among 477 patients, 67 patients showed the development of diabetic nephropathy. In the multivariate logistic regression analyses, IH-HSBP was prognostic factor for the development of nephropathy after adjusting for sex, age, duration of diabetes mellitus, body mass index, total cholesterol, hemoglobin A1c, creatinine, smoking habits and use of renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system inhibitors (odds ratio: 2.53, 95% confidence interval: 1.16-5.56, p = 0.020).

CONCLUSION

IH-HSBP in patients with type 2 diabetes with normoalbuminuria was prognostic factor for the development of diabetic nephropathy. We should pay more attention to IH-HSBP to prevent the development of diabetic nephropathy.

Maximum morning home systolic blood pressure is an indicator of the development of diabetic nephropathy: The KAMOGAWA-HBP study

AIMS/INTRODUCTION

The maximum value of home systolic blood pressure is correlated with damage to target organs, including diabetic nephropathy. However, the precise relationship between the development of diabetic nephropathy and maximum home systolic blood pressure has not been elucidated.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

In this prospective 2-year cohort subanalysis of the KAMOGAWA-HBP study, the patient population was 477 Japanese patients with normoalbuminuria. We investigated the effects of mean and maximum home blood pressure on the development of diabetic nephropathy, which we defined as a urinary albumin excretion value ≥30 mg/g creatinine. Among the 477 patients, 67 developed diabetic nephropathy.

RESULTS

In our multivariate logistic regression analyses, the maximum morning home systolic blood pressure was significantly positively associated with the development of diabetic nephropathy after adjusting for patient sex and age, smoking status, the diabetes mellitus duration, body mass index, creatinine, total cholesterol, hemoglobin A1c, and antihypertensive medication use (odds ratio 1.21, 95% confidence interval 1.03-1.42, P = 0.021).

CONCLUSIONS

Maximum home blood pressure can be identified at a glance, and its measurement would thus be helpful to healthcare providers who treat patients with diabetes and normoalbuminuria.

Comparison of the Efficacy of Repaglinide Versus the Combination of Mitiglinide and Voglibose on Glycemic Variability in Japanese Patients with Type 2 Diabetes

BACKGROUND

Glycemic variability is a risk factor for total death and cardiovascular events. There are no obvious guidelines for the direct treatment of glycemic variability, but it can be improved with the treatment of postprandial hyperglycemia.

OBJECTIVE

We compared the effect of repaglinide versus the combination of mitiglinide and voglibose, used to improve postprandial hyperglycemia, on glycemic variability in Japanese patients with type 2 diabetes.

METHODS

We performed an open-label randomized cross-over trial between April 2016 and April 2018. Patients with type 2 diabetes who were admitted to our hospital were enrolled in our study (n = 12). Glycemic variability. was assessed using a continuous glucose monitoring system.

RESULTS

The average glucose level of the repaglinide phase (146.1 ± 20.7 mg/dl) and the combination of mitiglinide and voglibose phase (132.3 ± 19.8 mg/dl) were similar (P = 0.10). The standard division (P = 0.0005), coefficient of variation (P = 0.006), and mean amplitude of glycemic excursion (P = 0.002) of glucose were lower in the combination of mitiglinide and voglibose phase than in the repaglinide phase.

CONCLUSION

Treatment with the combination of mitiglinide and voglibose might be more effective than repaglinide for the improvement of glycemic variability.

Association between Body Weight Gain from 20 Years of Age and Diabetic Nephropathy in Japanese Patients with Type 2 Diabetes

BACKGROUND/AIMS

It has been reported that the body mass index shows a U-shaped association with death from cardiovascular disease (CVD) in the Asian population. The relationship between body weight (BW) gain from early adulthood and diabetic nephropathy remains to be elucidated in Japanese patients with type 2 diabetes. Our aim was to investigate the association between BW gain from early adulthood and diabetic nephropathy in Japanese patients with type 2 diabetes.

METHODS

We assessed the BW of 471 consecutive patients with type 2 diabetes and calculated the change in BW from the age of 20 years to the lifetime maximum (ΔBWmax-20y). We then evaluated the relationship of ΔBWmax-20y with the degree of urinary albumin excretion (UAE), which is a useful marker for CVD.

RESULTS

ΔBWmax-20y negatively correlated with the logarithm of UAE (r = -0.160, p = 0.002). Multiple regression analysis demonstrated that ΔBWmax-20y was independently correlated with the logarithm of UAE (β =-0.112, p =0.034).

CONCLUSIONS

BW gain from the age of 20 years is correlated with diabetic nephropathy in Japanese patients with type 2 diabetes.

Full-layer mucosal histology in achalasia: Histological epithelial wave is characteristic in "pinstripe pattern"-positive achalasia

BACKGROUND

Previously, the mucosal histology in achalasia has only been investigated using superficial biopsy or surgically resected esophageal specimens in end-stage cases. We investigated the histology of the full-layer mucosa in early and advanced achalasia.

METHODS

Endoscopy was performed for the pinstripe pattern (PSP) (an early achalasia indicator) and dilation and thickening of the mucosa (advanced achalasia indicators). A mucosal entry site for peroral endoscopic myotomy was created using cap-fitted endoscopic mucosal resection to access the full-layer mucosa and the submucosa.

KEY RESULTS

Mucosal histology was compared between 32 patients with achalasia and 15 controls. Histological esophagitis with findings of inflammatory cell infiltration and dilated intercellular spaces was observed more in patients with achalasia than in controls (87.5% vs 13.3%, P<.001; 84.4% vs 46.7%, P=.049). Muscularis mucosae (MM) atrophy and epithelial wave were only observed in achalasia (40.6% vs 0%, P=.005; 28.1% vs 0%, P=.043). Fibrosis was more common in achalasia, but without statistical significance (31.3% vs 20.0%, P=.503). In achalasia with endoscopic dilation and thickening of the mucosa, MM atrophy was observed histologically, and in cases involving endoscopic PSP, the histological epithelial wave was observed.

CONCLUSIONS & INFERENCES

Histological findings of esophagitis were observed endoscopically even in early achalasia. Pinstripe pattern corresponds to the epithelial wave observed histologically in achalasia, whereas endoscopic findings in advanced achalasia correspond to MM atrophy. Appropriate management is necessary during early achalasia to prevent progression to advanced achalasia with more severe histological changes.

Maximum home blood pressure is a useful indicator of diabetic nephropathy in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus: KAMOGAWA-HBP study

OBJECTIVE

Maximum home systolic blood pressure has been shown to predict target organ damage. We aimed to clarify the association between maximum home systolic blood pressure and urine albumin to creatinine ratio, an indicator of early-phase diabetic nephropathy in patients with type 2 diabetes.

METHODS

In 1040 patients, we assessed the relationship of mean or maximum home systolic blood pressure and urine albumin to creatinine ratio, and compared the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve of mean or maximum home systolic blood pressure for diabetic nephropathy (urine albumin to creatinine ratio ⩾30 mg/g Cr).

RESULTS

Multivariate linear regression analyses indicated that mean morning systolic blood pressure ( β = 0.010, p < 0.001) and maximum morning systolic blood pressure ( β = 0.008, p < 0.001) were significantly associated with urine albumin to creatinine ratio. Area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (95% confidence interval) for diabetic nephropathy in mean and maximum morning systolic blood pressure was 0.667 (0.634-0.700; p < 0.001) and 0.671 (0.638-0.703; p < 0.001), respectively.

CONCLUSION

Maximum home systolic blood pressure, as well as mean home systolic blood pressure, was significantly associated with diabetic nephropathy in patients with type 2 diabetes.

Home Blood Pressure Variability From the Stored Memory Is Correlated With Albuminuria, but From the Logbook Is not

BACKGROUND

The aim of this study was to evaluate whether the mean and the variability of home blood pressure (HBP) from the logbook correlate with albuminuria as well as HBP from the stored memory in patients with type 2 diabetes.

METHODS

This study is a post hoc analysis of a cross-sectional multicenter study. HBP measurements were performed for 14 consecutive days in 276 patients with type 2 diabetes. Patients were requested to write down their HBP values in logbooks and were not informed about the memory function of their BP monitoring devices.

RESULTS

HBP values from the logbook were significantly lower and less variable than those from the stored memory. The mean of morning systolic BP (SBP) from the logbook (adjusted β = 0.326, P < 0.001) as well as that from the stored memory (adjusted β = 0.336, P < 0.0001) was significantly associated with logarithm of urinary albumin excretion (UAE). The SD of morning SBP (adjusted β = 0.134, P = 0.017) from the stored memory was significantly associated with logarithm of UAE, in contrast, the SD of morning SBP (adjusted β = 0.104, P = 0.057) from the logbook was not associated with logarithm of UAE.

CONCLUSIONS

Patients with type 2 diabetes might report inaccurate HBP measurements and, as a result, the variability of HBP from the logbook is underestimated and poorly correlates with albuminuria. The use of stored BP measurements is recommended to accurately evaluate the relationship with diabetic nephropathy.

Muscle layer histopathology and manometry pattern of primary esophageal motility disorders including achalasia

BACKGROUND

Histopathology of muscularis externa in primary esophageal motility disorders has been characterized previously. We aimed to correlate the results of high-resolution manometry with those of histopathology.

METHODS

During peroral endoscopic myotomy, peroral esophageal muscle biopsy was performed in patients with primary esophageal motility disorders. Immunohistochemical staining for c-kit was performed to assess the interstitial cells of Cajal (ICCs). Hematoxylin Eosin and Azan-Mallory staining were used to detect muscle atrophy, inflammation, and fibrosis, respectively.

KEY RESULTS

Slides from 30 patients with the following motility disorders were analyzed: achalasia (type I: 14, type II: 5, type III: 3), one diffuse esophageal spasm (DES), two outflow obstruction (OO), four jackhammer esophagus (JE), and one nutcracker esophagus (NE). ICCs were preserved in high numbers in type III achalasia (n=9.4±1.2 cells/high power field [HPF]), compared to types I (n=3.7±0.3 cells/HPF) and II (n=3.5±1.0 cells/HPF). Moreover, severe fibrosis was only observed in type I achalasia and not in other types of achalasia, OO, or DES. Four of five patients with JE and NE had severe inflammation with eosinophilic infiltration of the esophageal muscle layer (73.8±50.3 eosinophils/HPF) with no epithelial eosinophils. One patient with JE showed a visceral myopathy pattern.

CONCLUSIONS & INFERENCES

Compared to types I and II, type III achalasia showed preserved ICCs, with variable data regarding DES and OO. In disorders considered as primary esophageal motility disorders, a disease category exists, which shows eosinophilic infiltration in the esophageal muscle layer with no eosinophils in the epithelium.

Olmesartan with azelnidipine versus with trichlormethiazide on home blood pressure variability in patients with type II diabetes mellitus

The aim of the present study was to compare the effects of olmesartan combined with azelnidipine versus olmesartan combined with trichlormethiazide, on home blood pressure (BP) and pressure variability in type II diabetes mellitus patients using home BP telemonitoring system. We performed an open-label cross-over pilot study of 28 patients with type II diabetes mellitus. Patients received combination treatment with either olmesartan 20 mg plus azelnidipine 16 mg or olmesartan 20 mg plus trichlormethiazide 1 mg for more than 6 weeks each in a cross-over method. The coefficient of morning systolic BP variability in the olmesartan plus azelnidipine group was significantly lower than that in the olmesartan plus trichlormethiazide group (6.4 ± 1.9 vs. 7.5 ± 2.6, P = .004). There were no significant differences in mean morning systolic BP between the two groups. Using home BP telemonitoring for hypertensive patients with type II diabetes, this study revealed for the first time that the olmesartan with azelnidipine combination is superior to the olmesartan with trichlormethiazide combination in reducing home BP variability.

Nanostructured titanium phosphates prepared via hydrothermal reaction and their electrochemical Li- and Na-ion intercalation properties

A series of titanium phosphates with various morphologies are fabricated via a simple hydrothermal reaction of TiO₂ in H₃PO₄ aq.

Cerebral Salt-wasting Syndrome and Inappropriate Antidiuretic Hormone Syndrome after Subarachnoid Hemorrhaging

Hyponatremia is a common finding after subarachnoid hemorrhaging (SAH) and can be caused by either cerebral salt-wasting syndrome (CSWS) or syndrome of inappropriate antidiuretic hormone (SIADH). Distinguishing between these two entities can be difficult because they have similar manifestations, including hyponatremia, serum hypo-osmolality, and high urine osmolality. We herein report the case of a 60-year-old man who suffered from SAH complicated by hyponatremia. During his initial hospitalization, he was diagnosed with CSWS. He was readmitted one week later with hyponatremia and was diagnosed with SIADH. This is the first report of SAH causing CSWS followed by SIADH. These two different sources of hyponatremia require different treatments.

Postprandial hyperglycemia was ameliorated by taking metformin 30 min before a meal than taking metformin with a meal; a randomized, open-label, crossover pilot study

Taking metformin with a meal has been shown to decrease bioavailability of metformin. We hypothesized that taking metformin 30 min before a meal improves glucose metabolism. As an animal model, 18 Zucker-rats were divided into three groups as follows: no medication (Control), metformin (600 mg/kg) with meal (Met), and metformin 10 min before meal (pre-Met). In addition, five diabetic patients were recruited and randomized to take metformin (1000 mg) either 30 min before a meal (pre-Met protocol) or with a meal (Met protocol). In the animal model, the peak glucose level of pre-Met (7.8 ± 1.5 mmol/L) was lower than that of Control (12.6 ± 2.5 mmol/L, P = 0.010) or Met (14.1 ± 2.9 mmol/L, P = 0.020). Although there was no statistical difference among the three groups, total GLP-1 level at t = 0 min of pre-Met (7.4 ± 2.7 pmol/L) tended to be higher than that of Control (3.7 ± 2.0 pmol/L, P = 0.030) or Met (3.9 ± 1.2 pmol/L, P = 0.020). In diabetic patients, the peak glucose level of pre-Met protocol (7.0 ± 0.4 mmol/L) was lower than that of Met protocol (8.5 ± 0.9 mmol/L, P = 0.021). Total GLP-1 level at t = 30 min of pre-Met protocol (11.0 ± 6.1 pmol/L) was higher than that of Met protocol (6.7 ± 3.9 pmol/L, P = 0.033). Taking metformin 30 min before a meal ameliorated postprandial hyperglycemia. This promises to be a novel approach for postprandial hyperglycemia.

Various patterns of disrupted daily rest-activity rhythmicity associated with diabetes

Disruptions to sleep and circadian rhythms have now been recognized as common comorbidities in patients with medical illnesses. We aimed to determine if the diurnal rhythms for rest and activity were disrupted in parallel with the development of diabetic complications. Ninety outpatients in our diabetes clinic who had a body mass index <25 kg m(2) wore an actigraph for 7 consecutive days (42 men; mean age 68.7 ± 8.2 years). Patients with neuropsychiatric diseases, liver cirrhosis, renal failure, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease or blindness, or those who performed shiftwork were excluded. We grouped the actigraph recordings into 1-h periods and counted the number of minutes that showed activity. Stepwise regression analysis showed an association between a diabetic clinical background and measurements of circadian rhythms such as daytime activity, night-time activity, phase, interdaily stability, intradaily variability and relative amplitude. Higher age, body mass index, total cholesterol levels and insulin usage were associated with lower daytime activity and higher intradaily variability, whereas higher haemoglobin A1c levels and the presence of neuropathy were associated with greater daytime activity. The presence of proliferative retinopathy and increased levels of microalbuminuria were associated with higher intradaily variability and lower interdaily stability and amplitude. The presence of cardiovascular disease was associated with advanced phase, whereas painful neuropathy was associated with delayed phase. Our study demonstrated that different diabetic complications were associated independently with a variety of alterations in the circadian rest and activity rhythms. Our findings have provided novel insights that may be helpful in developing interventions for sleep-wake disorders associated with diabetes.

Heart rate-corrected QT interval is a novel risk marker for the progression of albuminuria in people with Type 2 diabetes

AIMS

A close association between heart rate-corrected QT interval (QTc) and albuminuria in people with Type 2 diabetes has been reported in cross sectional studies. The aim of this study was to evaluate the relationship between QTc and change in urine albumin excretion (UAE) or progression of albuminuria in people with Type 2 diabetes.

METHODS

We measured QTc in 251 consecutive people at baseline. We performed a 5-year follow-up cohort study to assess the relationship between QTc and change in UAE, defined as an increase of UAE/follow-up duration (year), or progression of albuminuria, defined as an increase in the category of diabetic nephropathy.

RESULTS

During follow-up, 23 of 151 people with normoalbuminuria and 13 of 73 people with microalbuminuria at baseline had progression of albuminuria. Multiple regression analysis demonstrated that QTc was independently associated with change in UAE (β = 0.176, P = 0.0104). Logistic regression analyses showed that QTc was a risk marker for progression of albuminuria [odds ratio per 0.01-s increase in QTc 1.35, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.11-1.66, P = 0.0024] after adjusting for confounders. According to the receiver operator characteristic (ROC) analysis, the optimal cut-off point of QTc for progression of albuminuria was 0.418 s [area under the ROC curve 0.75 (95% CI 0.66-0.82), sensitivity = 0.86, specificity = 0.56, P < 0.0001].

CONCLUSIONS

Heart rate-corrected QT interval could be a novel risk marker for progression of albuminuria in people with Type 2 diabetes.

The novel association between red complex of oral microbe and body mass index in healthy Japanese: a population based cross-sectional study

Microbiota has been thought to be one of important environmental factors for obesity or Type 2 diabetes mellitus. Among oral microbe, Porphyromonas gingivalis, Treponema denticola and Tannellera forsythia are known as risk factors, so called red complex, for periodontitis. Red complex could also be a risk factor for obesity. However, recent study indicated that obesity was not improved by periodontal therapy. Thus, we performed a cross sectional study to reveal the association of oral microbe with body mass index in a healthy population. Healthy individuals were randomly recruited. The infections of oral microbe were identified by Taqman polymerase chain reaction. The relationships between number of red complex and body mass index or waist circumference were analyzed. Two hundred and twenty-two apparently healthy Japanese were enrolled. BMI and waist circumference as well as age, periodontitis, number of brushing teeth were significantly associated with the number of red complex after adjusting covariance. The effect size of body mass index or waist circumference was 0.023 (p = 0.028) or 0.024 (p = 0.024), respectively. Body mass index and waist circumference were independently associated with the number of red complex among apparently healthy Japanese. The current observation implies the possibility that oral microbe was associated with obesity in healthy population.

Association between Hemoglobin Concentration and the Progression or Development of Albuminuria in Diabetic Kidney Disease

AIMS

Anemia, which might contribute to pathogenesis of kidney dysfunction, is a common finding in patients with type 2 diabetes. The aim of this study was to investigate if hemoglobin concentration is associated with the degree of change in urinary albumin-creatinine ratio or the development of albuminuria in patients with type 2 diabetes.

METHODS

We measured hemoglobin concentration in 470 (296 men and 174 women) consecutive type 2 diabetic patients without albuminuria. We performed a follow-up study to assess the progression or development of albuminuria, the interval of which was 3.0 years. Then we evaluated relationships between hemoglobin concentration and albuminuria, using multivariate linear regression analyses and logistic regression analyses.

RESULTS

Eighty four patients developed albuminuria during follow-up duration. In multivariate analyses, hemoglobin concentration was negatively associated with a change in urinary albumin-creatinine ratio in men (ß = -0.259, P = 0.0002) and women (ß = -0.194, P = 0.030). Moreover, multivariate adjusted odds ratio associated with 1 g/L in hemoglobin for the development of albuminuria was 0.93 (95% confidence interval; 0.89-0.96) in men and 0.94 (95% confidence interval; 0.88-0.99) in women, respectively. And, multivariate analyses revealed that adjusted odds ratios for the development of albuminuria were 4.78 (95% confidence interval; 1.65-13.91) in men and 4.62 (95% confidence interval; 1.34-16.68) in women with anemia (hemoglobin < 130 g/L for men and < 120 g/L for women), which were higher than those without anemia.

CONCLUSIONS

Low hemoglobin concentration could be a predictor for the progression and development of albuminuria in patients with type 2 diabetes.

High-sensitivity cardiac troponin T is associated with coronary artery calcification

OBJECTIVE

Recent studies have suggested that high-sensitivity cardiac troponin T (hs-cTnT) may be useful for detecting subclinical atherosclerosis and assessing cardiovascular disease risk. The aim of this study was to investigate whether serum hs-cTnT is associated with the degree of coronary artery calcification.

METHODS

We measured serum hs-cTnT concentrations and performed multidetector row coronary CT in 215 consecutive, stable patients with clinical suspicion of coronary artery disease. Nonenhanced coronary CT was performed to determine the coronary calcium score, and contrast-enhanced coronary CT was performed to identify obstructive coronary artery disease. We then evaluated the relationship between serum hs-cTnT concentrations and the degree of coronary calcium or obstructive coronary artery disease using multiple regression analysis and logistic regression models.

RESULTS

Multiple regression analysis demonstrated that serum hs-cTnT concentrations and calcium score were independently associated after logarithmic transformation (β = 0.348; P < .0001). Logistic regression analyses demonstrated that serum hs-cTnT concentration was associated with an increased odds of an Agatston score >10 (odds ratio, 1.250; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.150-1.378), an Agatston Score >400 (odds ratio, 1.101; 95% CI, 1.054-1.157), and obstructive coronary artery disease (odds ratio, 1.119; 95% CI, 1.066-1.185).

CONCLUSION

Serum hs-cTnT is associated with coronary calcium in individuals with suspected coronary disease and may therefore be a marker to detect subclinical atherosclerosis.

The PR interval and QRS duration could be predictors of renal function decline

OBJECTIVE

Previous studies have implicated PR interval (iPR) and QRS duration (dQRS) obtained by electrocardiography in independent predictors of cardiovascular disease, which often precedes renal dysfunction. The aim of this study was to examine whether iPR or dQRS could be a predictor of renal function decline in a community-based cohort.

METHODS

We enrolled 1149 healthy subjects, and retrospectively evaluated the relationships between iPR or dQRS and renal function decline, observation period of which was 3 years, and assessed whether iPR or dQRS could predict renal function decline.

RESULTS

The iPR (r=-0.102, p=0.0006) or dQRS (r=-0.097, p=0.0010) was negatively associated with a rate of decline in estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR). Multiple regression analyses revealed that iPR (β=-0.095, p=0.0023) or dQRS (β=-0.069, p=0.0351) was an independent determinant of the rate of decline in eGFR after adjustment for covariates. Logistic regression analyses demonstrated that the longest iPR (odds ratios (OR), 2.03; 95% confidence intervals (CI), 1.49 to 2.76; p<0.0001) or dQRS (OR, 1.62; 95% CI, 1.16 to 2.25; p=0.0043) tertile showed an increased OR for prevalence of the rate of decline in eGFR≤1 ml/min/1.73 m2/year compared to the shortest iPR or dQRS tertile after adjustment for covariates.

CONCLUSION

The iPR and dQRS could be independent predictors of renal function decline in healthy subjects.

Lower vegetable protein intake and higher dietary acid load associated with lower carbohydrate intake are risk factors for metabolic syndrome in patients with type 2 diabetes: Post-hoc analysis of a cross-sectional study

Aims/Introduction

A low-carbohydrate diet based on animal sources is associated with higher all-cause mortality, whereas a vegetable-based low-carbohydrate diet is associated with lower cardiovascular disease mortality. It has been suggested that acid/base imbalance might play an important role in some cardiometabolic abnormalities. The aims of the present study were to evaluate whether carbohydrate intake is associated with quality of dietary protein and acid load, and whether these are related to metabolic syndrome in patients with type 2 diabetes.

Materials and Methods

The present cross-sectional study involved 149 patients with type 2 diabetes. Dietary intake was assessed using a validated self-administered diet history questionnaire. Dietary acid load was assessed by potential renal acid load and net endogenous acid production.

Results

Mean daily total energy intake, carbohydrate intake, animal protein intake and vegetable protein intake were 1821.5 kcal, 248.8 g, 36.1 g and 31.1 g, respectively. Carbohydrate energy/total energy was negatively correlated with animal protein energy/total energy, potential renal acid load or net endogenous acid production score, and was positively correlated with vegetable protein energy/total energy. Logistic regression analyses showed that the subgroup of patients with a lower vegetable protein energy/total energy or higher potential renal acid load or net endogenous acid production score was significantly associated with the prevalence of metabolic syndrome.

Conclusions

The present study showed that carbohydrate intake was associated with the quality of dietary protein and dietary acid load. Furthermore, decreased vegetable protein intake and increased dietary acid load were associated with the prevalence of metabolic syndrome.

Metabolically healthy obesity and risk of incident CKD

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES

Metabolically healthy obesity (MHO) is a unique obesity phenotype that apparently protects people from the metabolic complications of obesity. The association between MHO phenotype and incident CKD is unclear. Thus, this study investigated the association between MHO phenotype and incident CKD.

DESIGN, SETTING, PARTICIPANTS, & MEASUREMENTS

A total of 3136 Japanese participants were enrolled in an 8-year follow-up cohort study in 2001. Metabolically healthy status was assessed by common clinical markers: BP, triglycerides, HDL cholesterol, and fasting plasma glucose concentrations. Body mass index ≥25.0 kg/m(2) was defined as obesity. CKD was defined by proteinuria or eGFR of <60 ml/min per 1.73 m(2). To calculate the odds ratio for incident CKD, logistic regression analyses were performed.

RESULTS

The crude incidence proportions of CKD were 2.6% (56 of 2122 participants) in participants with the metabolically healthy nonobesity phenotype, 2.6% (8 of 302) in those with the MHO phenotype, 6.7% (30 of 445) in those with the metabolically abnormal nonobesity phenotype, and 10.9% (29 of 267) in those with the metabolically abnormal obesity phenotype. Compared with metabolically healthy nonobesity phenotype, the odds ratios for incident CKD were 0.83 (95% confidence interval [95% CI], 0.36 to 1.72; P=0.64) for MHO, 1.44 (95% CI, 0.80 to 2.57; P=0.22) for metabolically abnormal nonobesity, and 2.80 (95% CI, 1.45 to 5.35; P=0.02) for metabolically abnormal obesity phenotype after adjustment for confounders, including age, sex, smoking statues, alcohol use, creatinine, uric acid, systolic BP, HDL cholesterol, and impaired fasting glucose or diabetes.

CONCLUSION

MHO phenotype was not associated with higher risk of incident CKD.

Maximum home systolic blood pressure is a useful indicator of arterial stiffness in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus: post hoc analysis of a cross-sectional multicenter study

AIMS

Maximum (max) home systolic blood pressure (HSBP) as well as mean HSBP or HSBP variability was reported to increase the predictive value of target organ damage. Yet, the association between max HSBP and target organ damage in patients with type 2 diabetes has never been reported. The aim of this study was to investigate the association between max HSBP and pulse wave velocity (PWV), a marker of arterial stiffness which in turn is a marker of target organ damage, in patients with type 2 diabetes.

METHODS

We assessed the relationship of mean HSBP or max HSBP to PWV, and compared area under the receiver-operating characteristic curve (AUC) of mean HSBP or max HSBP for arterial stiffness in 758 patients with type 2 diabetes.

RESULTS

In the univariate analyses, age, duration of diabetes mellitus, body mass index, mean clinic systolic blood pressure (SBP), mean HSBP and max HSBP were associated with PWV. Multivariate linear regression analyses indicated that mean morning SBP (β=0.156, P=0.001) or max morning SBP (β=0.146, P=0.001) were significantly associated with PWV. AUC (95% CI) for arterial stiffness, defined as PWV equal to or more than 1800 cm per second, in mean morning SBP and max morning SBP were 0.622 (0.582-0.662; P<0.001) and 0.631 (0.591-0.670; P<0.001), respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

Our findings implicate that max HSBP as well as mean HSBP was significantly associated with arterial stiffness in patients with type 2 diabetes.

Senescence marker protein-30/gluconolactonase deficiency exacerbates diabetic nephropathy through tubular injury in a mouse model of type 1 diabetes

Aims/Introduction

Senescence marker protein-30 (SMP30) is abundantly expressed in renal proximal tubule cells, but its expression decreases with age. Previous studies have shown that reduced SMP30 expression could contribute to aging-associated deterioration of cellular function and tissue injury. In the present study, we investigated the effects of SMP30 deficiency on the pathogenesis of diabetic nephropathy.

Materials and Methods

Diabetes was induced using streptozotocin in male SMP30 knockout mice (KO) and wild-type mice at 7 weeks-of-age. Vitamin C was added to the drinking water to prevent vitamin C deficiency in KO mice. The mice were killed 12 weeks after the induction of diabetes.

Results

Urinary biomarkers for proximal tubule damage were significantly increased in non-diabetic KO mice compared with wild-type mice. Furthermore, diabetes-induced tubular damage was significantly exacerbated by SMP30 deletion. Morphological analysis showed a link between cortical tubulointerstitial fibrosis area and the degree of tubular damage. However, SMP30 deletion did not affect mesangial expansion. Tubular injury was associated with accumulation of hypoxia-inducible factor-1α and increased hypoxia-inducible factor-1α targeted gene expression. SMP30 deletion initiated oxidative stress; however, it did not exacerbate the oxidative stress seen in diabetic mice. In contrast, tubular inflammation was associated with SMP30 deletion only in diabetic mice.

Conclusions

Based on this evidence, we concluded that SMP30 deficiency exacerbates proximal tubule injury in diabetic mice. Decreased SMP30 could contribute to the increased incidence of various chronic kidney diseases, including diabetic nephropathy, with age.

Low serum potassium concentration is a predictor of chronic kidney disease

AIMS

The aim of this study was to examine whether low serum potassium concentration could be a predictor of chronic kidney disease (CKD) in a community-based cohort.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

We enrolled 1001 subjects, median period of 5.7 years, and evaluated the risk factors for CKD, defined as estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) < 60 ml/min/1.73 m(2), and assessed whether low serum potassium concentration could predict CKD.

RESULTS

Compared with the subjects without development of CKD, age, body mass index, fasting plasma glucose, uric acid (UA), creatinine and serum sodium concentration were higher, and serum potassium concentration was lower in subjects with development of CKD. Univariate Cox regression analyses demonstrated that age, body mass index, fasting plasma glucose, UA, creatinine, serum sodium concentration and serum potassium concentration were associated with progression of CKD. Multiple Cox regression analysis revealed that age, gender, creatinine and serum potassium concentration were independent predictors of CKD after adjustment for covariates. When serum potassium concentration was below 4.0 mmol/l at baseline, hazard ratio (95% confidence interval) of developing CKD was 2.65 (2.04-3.44; p < 0.0001).

CONCLUSIONS

Serum potassium concentration could be a clinically relevant risk factor for the progression of CKD, defined as eGFR < 60 ml/min/1.73 m(2) , in healthy subjects.

Dipeptidyl-peptidase IV inhibitor is effective in patients with type 2 diabetes with high serum eicosapentaenoic acid concentrations

Aims/Introduction:  Eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) stimulates glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) secretion in mice. We investigated the relationship between serum EPA concentrations and the efficacy of dipeptidyl-peptidase IV (DPP-4) inhibitor in patients with type 2 diabetes.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

  Serum EPA concentrations were measured in 62 consecutive patients with type 2 diabetes who were newly given DPP-4 inhibitor as a monotherapy or as an add-on therapy to oral hypoglycemic agents. The dosage of oral hypoglycemic agents was maintained during the observation period. After 24 weeks of treatment with DPP-4 inhibitor, we evaluated the relationships between a decrease in hemoglobin A1c from baseline and serum EPA concentrations, as well as age, sex, body mass index (BMI), hemoglobin A1c at baseline and usage of antidiabetic concomitant drugs.

RESULTS

  Hemoglobin A1c was significantly decreased from 8.1 ± 1.1% to 7.2 ± 1.0% by DPP-4 inhibitor. A decrease in hemoglobin A1c correlated with BMI (r = -0.396, P = 0.0013), age (r = 0.275, P = 0.0032), hemoglobin A1c at baseline (r = 0.490, P < 0.0001) and log EPA (r = 0.285, P = 0.0246). Multiple regression analysis showed that BMI (β = -0.419, P = 0.0002), hemoglobin A1c at baseline (β = 0.579, P < 0.0001) and log EPA (β = 0.220, P = 0.0228) were independent determinants of decrease in hemoglobin A1c.

CONCLUSIONS

  DPP-4 inhibitor is effective in patients with type 2 diabetes with high serum EPA concentrations. (J Diabetes Invest, doi: 10.1111/j.2040-1124.2012.00220.x , 2012).

[Insomnia disorder comorbid with diabetes]

Insomnia disorder is one of the most prevalent conditions comorbid with diabetes and has been shown to have a possible role in the development of diabetes. Insomnia is characterized by a state of excessive physiological and cognitive arousal with alterations in autonomic and hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal function. The chronic neuroendocrine activation in insomnia may predispose insomniacs to the development of metabolic disorders including glucose intolerance. In contrast, diabetic complications, in combination with the disruption of a sleep-wake homeostatic and circadian process, can be key factors precipitating insomnia symptoms and involve several subtypes of insomnia. Furthermore, inappropriate lifestyles are also likely responsible for the exacerbation of insomnia and diabetes. Thus, the pathogenesis of insomnia disorder and diabetes could mutually interact to develop each disease with a vicious cycle, accounting for the high comorbidity between the diseases.

Low serum bilirubin concentration is a predictor of chronic kidney disease

OBJECTIVE

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is a worldwide public health problem. It is very important to identify the factors that affect CKD. Previous studies have reported that serum bilirubin concentration was positively correlated with renal function in a cross-sectional study. The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between serum bilirubin concentration and the progression of CKD.

METHODS

A cohort study was performed on a consecutive series of 2784 subjects without CKD, defined as estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) < 60 ml/min/1.73 m(2), at baseline. We analyzed the relationship between serum total bilirubin concentration at baseline and new-onset CKD in the general population.

RESULTS

We followed the subjects for a median period of 7.7 years. There were 1157 females and 1627 males, and 231 females and 370 males developed CKD during this period. Multiple Cox regression analyses revealed that serum total bilirubin concentration (hazard ratio (HR) per 1.0 μmol/L increase 0.97 (95% CI 0.95-0.99), P = 0.0084) in addition to age, gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase (GGT), uric acid (UA), creatinine and medication for hypertension in men and serum total bilirubin concentration (HR per 1.0 μmol/L increase 0.96 (95% CI 0.93-1.00), P = 0.0309) in addition to age, GGT, alanine aminotransferase, UA, creatinine and medication for dyslipidemia in women were independent predictors of new-onset CKD, after adjusting for confounders.

CONCLUSION

Our study demonstrated that serum total bilirubin concentration could be a novel risk factor for the progression of CKD, defined as eGFR <60 ml/min/1.73 m(2), in the general population.

Low serum bilirubin concentration is a novel risk factor for the development of albuminuria in patients with type 2 diabetes

OBJECTIVE

Bilirubin has been recognized as an important endogeneous antioxidant. Previous studies reported that bilirubin could prevent atherosclerosis. The aim of this study was to investigate if serum bilirubin concentration could be a predictor for the development of albuminuria in patients with type 2 diabetes.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

We measured serum bilirubin in 320 consecutive patients with normoalbuminuria. We performed follow-up study to assess the development of albuminuria, mean interval of which was 3.2±0.9years. Cox proportional hazards regression was used to examine the relationship between serum bilirubin concentration and the development of albuminuria.

RESULTS

During follow-up duration, 43 patients have developed albuminuria. In multivariate analysis, after adjusting for comprehensive risk factors, the risk of developing albuminuria was higher in the lowest quartile of serum bilirubin concentrations than that in the highest quartile of serum bilirubin concentrations (Hazard ratio, 5.76; 95% CI, 1.65 to 24.93).

CONCLUSIONS

Low serum bilirubin concentration could be a novel risk factor for the development of albuminuria in patients with type 2 diabetes.

Effect of repaglinide versus glimepiride on daily blood glucose variability and changes in blood inflammatory and oxidative stress markers

BACKGROUND

Hemoglobin A1c is the main treatment target for patients with type 2 diabetes. It has also been shown recently that postprandial glucose and daily glucose fluctuations affect the progression of diabetic complications and atherosclerotic damages.

METHODS

Continuous glucose monitoring was performed in patients with type 2 diabetes to evaluate the efficacy of repaglinide vs. glimepiride on postprandial glucose spikes and fluctuations. A total of 10 Japanese patients with type 2 diabetes treated with glimepiride monotherapy were enrolled. After observation period for 8 weeks, glimepiride was changed to repaglinide. Continuous glucose monitoring was performed whilst consuming calorie-restricted diets for two days at baseline and at the end of the 12-week trial. Blood and urine samples were collected for measurement of glucose control parameters and inflammatory and oxidative stress markers on the last day of taking either glimepiride or repaglinide.

RESULTS

Nine patients completed the trial. Although the glucose control parameters were not significantly different between glimepiride and repaglinide, the mean amplitude of glycemic excursions measured by continuous glucose monitoring was significantly reduced by changing treatment from glimepiride to repaglinide. The levels of plasminogen activator inhibitor-1, high sensitivity C-reactive protein, and urinary 8-hydoroxydeoxyguanosine were reduced significantly by repaglinide treatment.

CONCLUSION

These results suggest that repaglinide may decrease the risk of cardiovascular disease in type 2 diabetes by minimizing glucose fluctuations thereby reducing inflammation and oxidative stress.

Morning pulse pressure is associated more strongly with elevated albuminuria than systolic blood pressure in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus: post hoc analysis of a cross-sectional multicenter study

AIMS

Recently, focus has been directed toward pulse pressure as a potentially independent risk factor for micro- and macrovascular disease. This study was designed to examine the relationship between pulse pressure taken at home and elevated albuminuria in patients with type 2 diabetes.

METHODS

This study is a post hoc analysis of a cross-sectional multicenter study. Home blood pressure measurements were performed for 14 consecutive days in 858 patients with type 2 diabetes. We investigated the relationship between systolic blood pressure or pulse pressure in the morning or in the evening and urinary albumin excretion using univariate and multivariate analyses. Furthermore, we measured area under the receiver-operating characteristic curve (AUC) to compare the ability to identify elevated albuminuria, defined as urinary albumin excretion equal to or more than 30 mg/g creatinine, of systolic blood pressure or pulse pressure.

RESULTS

Morning systolic blood pressure (β=0.339, P<0.001) and morning pulse pressure (β=0.378, P<0.001) were significantly associated with logarithm of urinary albumin excretion independent of other potential co-factors. AUC for elevated albuminuria in morning systolic blood pressure and morning pulse pressure were 0.668 (0.632-0.705; P<0.001) and 0.694 (0.659-0.730; P<0.001), respectively. AUC of morning pulse pressure was significantly greater than that of morning systolic blood pressure (P=0.040).

CONCLUSIONS

Our findings implicate that morning pulse pressure is associated with elevated albuminuria in patients with type 2 diabetes, which suggests that lowering morning pulse pressure could prevent the development and progression of diabetic nephropathy.

LOX-1 is a novel marker for peripheral artery disease in patients with type 2 diabetes

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this study was to investigate whether serum soluble lectin-like oxidized low-density lipoprotein receptor-1 (sLOX-1), which mediates initiation and progression of atherosclerosis in endothelial cells, could be a novel marker for peripheral artery disease (PAD) in patients with type 2 diabetes.

METHODS

We evaluated relationships of serum sLOX-1 to ankle-brachial index (ABI) and examined the association of serum sLOX-1 with PAD in 410 patients with type 2 diabetes.

RESULTS

Serum sLOX-1 was inversely correlated with ABI (r=-0.197, P<0.0001). Stepwise regression analysis demonstrated that serum sLOX-1 (β=-0.168, F=5.571, P<0.05) was independently associated with ABI, and multiple logistic regression analysis demonstrated that serum sLOX-1 (16.254 (1.237-213.651), P=0.0339) was independently associated with PAD.

CONCLUSIONS

Serum sLOX-1 is associated with ABI and it could be a novel marker for PAD in patients with type 2 diabetes.

Visit-to-visit blood pressure variability is a novel risk factor for the development and progression of diabetic nephropathy in patients with type 2 diabetes

OBJECTIVE

Recent study has suggested that not only the presence of hypertension but also the variability in systolic blood pressure (SBP) are risk factors for vascular disease and organ damage. The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between visit-to-visit variability in SBP and change in urinary albumin excretion (UAE) or development of albuminuria in patients with type 2 diabetes.

RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS

We measured SBP in 354 consecutive patients at every visit during 1 year and calculated the coefficient of variation (CV) of SBP. We performed a follow-up study to assess change in UAE or development of albuminuria, the mean interval of which was 3.76 ± 0.71 years. Then, we evaluated relationships of variability of SBP to diabetic nephropathy using multiple regression analysis and multiple Cox regression model.

RESULTS

Multiple regression analysis demonstrated that CV of SBP was independently associated with change in UAE (β = 0.1758; P = 0.0108). Adjusted Cox regression analyses demonstrated that CV of SBP was associated with an increased hazard of development of albuminuria; hazard ratio was 1.143 (95% CI 1.008-1.302).

CONCLUSIONS

Visit-to-visit variability in SBP could be a novel risk factor for the development and progression of diabetic nephropathy in patients with type 2 diabetes.

Assessment of daily food and nutrient intake in Japanese type 2 diabetes mellitus patients using dietary reference intakes

Medical nutrition therapy for the management of diabetes plays an important role in preventing diabetes complications and managing metabolic control. However, little is known about actual eating habits of individuals with type 2 diabetic mellitus (T2DM), especially in Japan. Therefore, we sought to (1) assess the dietary intake of individuals with T2DM, and (2) characterize their intake relative to national recommendations. This cross-sectional study involved 149 patients (77 males and 72 females) aged 40-79 years with T2DM recruited at a Kyoto hospital. Dietary intake was assessed using a validated self-administered diet history questionnaire. Under-consumption, adequacy, and over-consumption, of nutrients were compared to the age- and sex-based standards of the Japanese Dietary Reference Intakes. Among the results, most notable are (1) the inadequacy of diets in men with respect to intake of vitamins and minerals, likely owing to low intake of vegetables and fruits; (2) excess contributions of fat intake to total energy in both sexes; and (3) excess consumption of sweets and beverages relative to the national average. The prevalence of diabetes complications may be increasing because of a major gap between the typical dietary intake of individuals with T2DM and dietary recommendation.