Ruriko Suzuki

Functional subdivisions of the hypothalamus using areal parcellation and their signal changes related to glucose metabolism

&NA; The hypothalamus consists of numerous nuclei, and is regarded as the highest center for various autonomic functions. Although each hypothalamic nucleus implements a distinct function, it remains difficult to investigate the human hypothalamus at the nucleus level. In the present high‐resolution functional MRI study, we utilized areal parcellation to discriminate individual nuclei in the human hypothalamus based on areal profiles of resting‐state functional connectivity. The areal parcellation detected ten foci that were expected to represent hypothalamic nuclei, and the locations of the foci were consistent with those of the hypothalamic nuclei identified in previous histological studies. Regions of interest (ROI) analyses revealed contrasting brain activity changes following glucose ingestion: decrease in the ventromedial hypothalamic nucleus and increase in the lateral hypothalamic area in parallel with blood glucose increase. Moreover, decreased brain activity in the arcuate nucleus predicted future elevation of blood insulin during the first 10 min after glucose ingestion. These results suggest that the hypothalamic nuclei can putatively be determined using areal parcellation, and that the ROI analysis of the human hypothalamic nuclei is useful for future scientific and clinical investigations into the autonomic functions. HighlightsHigh‐resolution fMRI parcellated the human hypothalamus into individual nuclei.Locations of the parcellated nuclei matched to those from a histological study.Opposed activity after glucose intake was observed in ventromedial/lateral nuclei.Activity decrease in the arcuate nucleus predicted subsequent insulin increase.

Impaired peripheral insulin sensitivity in non-obese Japanese patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus and fatty liver

Type two diabetes mellitus and fatty liver (FL) are not uncommon in Asians with normal body mass index. Previous studies reported a link between FL and insulin resistance. Thus, FL could coexist with insulin resistance in Asian type two diabetes mellitus patients with a normal body mass index. However, the clinical and metabolic features of such patients have not been characterized yet.

Comparison of the therapeutic effects of prednisolone and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs in patients with subacute thyroiditis

Subacute thyroiditis is a transient inflammatory thyroid disease of unknown etiology. The primary goal for treatment is to mitigate inflammation. The aim of this retrospective study was to compare the therapeutic effects of prednisolone and nonsteroidal anti-inflammation drugs in patients with subacute thyroiditis. In this study, 53 consecutive Japanese patients who had been diagnosed with were referred to our hospital for further management. After excluding 11 patients (9 did not need treatment, 2 did not meet the criteria for diagnosis of subacute thyroiditis), the remaining 42 patients were treated either with prednisolone (n = 25) or loxoprofen (n = 17). We compared the time periods required for resolution of clinical symptoms and signs and normalization of thyroid function between the two groups. The mean dose of prednisolone was 15.0 (range, 14–16) mg/day and that of loxoprofen was 180 mg/day. The time period to normalization of thyroid function was comparable between the prednisolone and loxoprofen groups (25, 18–36, vs 32, 21–39 days, p = 0.388). However, the time period for resolution of symptoms was shorter under prednisolone than loxoprofen (7, 7–12 days, vs 21, 14–32 days, p < 0.001). Prednisolone treatment of patients with subacute thyroiditis was superior to nonsteroidal anti-inflammation drugs with regard to resolution of symptoms.

Characteristics of Glucose Metabolism in Underweight Japanese Women

Abstract Context Japanese women have substantially lower body mass index (BMI) than women in other developed countries. The BMI of Japanese women has steadily decreased over time. However, glucose metabolism in underweight Japanese women has not been fully characterized. Objective The aim of this study was to investigate glucose metabolism and the physical characteristics of underweight Japanese women. Design and Participants We recruited 31 young (20 to 29 years of age) and 30 postmenopausal (50 to 65 years of age) underweight women. We also recruited young normal-weight women (n = 13) and postmenopausal normal-weight women (n = 10) to serve as references. We administered an oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) and evaluated intramyocellular lipid (IMCL) levels and body composition using 1H-magnetic resonance spectroscopy and dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry, respectively. Results Young underweight women had similar glucose tolerance as young normal-weight women. However, postmenopausal underweight women had a higher area under the curve (AUC) for glucose during OGTT than postmenopausal normal-weight women. In postmenopausal underweight women, 2-hour glucose levels during OGTT were negatively correlated with lean body mass (r = −0.55, P < 0.01) and insulinogenic index (r = −0.42, P = 0.02) and were positively correlated with IMCL levels (r = 0.40, P = 0.03). Compared with young underweight women, postmenopausal underweight women had a higher AUC for glucose during OGTT and a lower insulinogenic index and AUC for insulin during OGTT. Conclusions Postmenopausal underweight women had more impaired glucose tolerance than young underweight women. In postmenopausal underweight women, the degree of glucose tolerance impairment was associated with decreased lean body mass, increased IMCL accumulation, and impaired insulin secretion.

Evanescent Hyperechoic Changes After Fine-Needle Aspiration Biopsy of the Thyroid in a Series With a Low Overall Prevalence of Complications

The purpose of this study was to assess the frequency of and risk factors for fine‐needle aspiration biopsy (FNAB)‐related complications in Japanese patients with thyroid nodules evaluated by standard FNAB techniques.