BackgroundAccumulation of epicardial fat (EF) is associated with increased cardio-metabolic risks and coronary events, independently of traditional cardiovascular risk factors. Therefore, the reduction of EF volume (EFV) may be associated with reduced cardio-metabolic risks and future cardiovascular events. Sodium-glucose co-transporter-2 (SGLT2) inhibitors reduce body fat including visceral fat and cardiovascular events in patients with type 2 diabetes. However, it has still been unknown whether SGLT2 inhibitors can reduce EFV.MethodsType 2 diabetic patients with HbA1c 6.5–9.0% and body mass index (BMI, kg/m2) ≥25.0 were enrolled in this single arm pilot study. Participants were administered luseogliflozin 2.5 mg daily and the dosage was tolerated to be increased up to 5.0 mg daily. EFV [median (interquartile range), cm3] was measured by magnetic resonance imaging. Primary endpoint was the decrease in EFV at 12 weeks. Visceral fat area (VFA, cm2) and liver attenuation index (LAI) measured by the abdominal computed tomography, and skeletal muscle index (SMI) and body fat (%) measured by the whole body dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry were also determined at baseline and at 12 weeks.ResultsNineteen patients (mean age: 55 ± 12 years; 26% female) completed this study. Luseogliflozin treatment significantly reduced EFV at 12 weeks [117 (96–136) to 111 (88–134), p = 0.048]. The body weight, BMI, systolic and diastolic blood pressure, HbA1c, fasting plasma glucose, insulin, homeostasis model assessment-insulin resistance (HOMA-IR), triglycerides, SMI, and body fat were significantly reduced by luseogliflozin at 12 weeks. The reduction of EFV was significantly correlated with the reduction of C-reactive protein (r = 0.493, p = 0.019). Neither VFA nor LAI were significantly reduced by the luseogliflozin treatment. No severe adverse events were observed.ConclusionsOur data suggest that luseogliflozin could reduce the EFV in parallel with the improvement of systemic micro-inflammation and the reduction of body weight in Japanese patients with type 2 diabetes. The reduction of muscle mass after the administration of SGLT2 inhibitors may require a particular attention. Trial registration umin.ac.jp, UMIN000019072

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IntroductionEpicardial fat (EF) was reported to be independently associated with cardiovascular disease regardless of obesity. We have previously reported that a sodium-glucose co-transporter-2 (SGLT2) inhibitor, luseogliflozin, reduces the EF volume (EFV) in parallel with the reduction of body weight in obese patients (BMI ≥25 kg/m2) with type 2 diabetes. However, it is unknown whether SGLT2 inhibitors could reduce EFV in non-obese patients (BMI <25 kg/m2) with type 2 diabetes. Therefore, we evaluated the effect of SGLT2 inhibitors on the EFV in non-obese type 2 diabetic patients with visceral obesity in this pilot study.MethodsNine of type 2 diabetic patients (mean age 66 ± 8 years; 33% female) with HbA1c 6.5–9.0%, body mass index (BMI, kg/m2) <25.0, and visceral fat area (VFA, cm2) ≥100 were enrolled. Participants were administered ipragliflozin 50 mg daily. EFV [median (interquartile range), cm3] was measured by magnetic resonance imaging. Primary endpoint was the change in EFV at 12 weeks. VFA and liver attenuation index (LAI), skeletal muscle index (SMI), and body fat (%) were also assessed at baseline and at 12 weeks.ResultsThe EFV was significantly reduced from 102 (79–126) cm3 to 89 (66–109) cm3 by ipraglifrozin (p = 0.008). The body weight, BMI, HbA1c, fasting plasma glucose, insulin, homeostasis model assessment-insulin resistance, triglycerides, leptin, body fat, android, gynoid, and VFA were significantly reduced and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol was significantly increased by ipraglifrozin at 12 weeks, whereas SFA and LAI were unchanged. The change in EFV was significantly correlated with the change in BMI.ConclusionsA12-week intervention of ipragliflozin reduced the EFV in non-obese type 2 diabetic patients with visceral adiposity.Clinical Trial RegistrationUMIN Clinical Trial Registry: UMIN000019071.FundingAstellas Pharma Inc. and the Grants-in-Aid for Scientific Research from the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology of Japan.

ObjectiveAmong indirect measures of visceral adiposity, A Body Shape Index (ABSI), which is defined as waist circumference (WC)/(body mass index (BMI)2/3×height1/2), is unique in that ABSI is positively correlated with visceral adiposity and is supposed to be independent of BMI. ABSI has been also shown to be linearly and positively associated with visceral fat mass and all-cause and cardiovascular disease (CVD) in the general population. It is, however, uncertain whether ABSI could be associated with arterial stiffness in patients with diabetes.MethodsThis is a cross-sectional study of 607 patients with type 2 diabetes (mean age 64±12 years; 40.0% female). Visceral fat area (VFA, cm2) and subcutaneous fat area (SFA, cm2) were assessed with a dual-impedance analyzer. In order to estimate the risk for CVD, brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity (baPWV, cm) was used for the assessment of arterial stiffness.ResultsABSI was significantly and positively correlated with VFA (r=0.138, p=0.001) and negatively associated with BMI (r=−0.085, p=0.037). The correlation of z-score for ABSI with VFA remained significant (r=0.170, p<0.001) but not with BMI (r=0.009, p=0.820). ABSI (standardized β 0.095, p=0.043) but not WC (standardized β −0.060, p=0.200) was significantly and positively correlated with baPWV in the multivariate model including BMI as a covariate.ConclusionsABSI appears to reflect visceral adiposity independently of BMI and to be a substantial marker of arterial stiffening in patients with type 2 diabetes.

Sarcopenia is defined as an age-related loss of skeletal muscle mass and strength, and is a major cause of disability and mobility limitations. Recent studies have demonstrated that type 2 diabetes and insulin signaling deficiencies contribute to the progression of sarcopenia, suggesting that a sufficient supply of insulin to the skeletal muscles may be important for the maintenance of muscle function; however, little has been reported regarding whether insulin treatment can protect against sarcopenia. We conducted a retrospective observational study to examine the impact of insulin treatment on the muscle mass of patients with type 2 diabetes. A total of 312 patients (mean age: 64 ± 11 years; 40.8% female; 27.6% treated with insulin) were studied in this retrospective observational study. Skeletal muscle index (SMI) and grip strength (kg) were used to assess sarcopenia. The prevalence of sarcopenia was 18.0%. Insulin treatment was shown to be protective against the annual decline of SMI (standardized β 0.195; p = 0.025) even after adjusting for covariates, including age, gender, duration of diabetes, and body mass index. In a cohort matched by propensity scores, insulin treatment significantly increased the 1-year change in SMI (mean ± SE) compared with non-insulin-treated group (2.40 ± 0.98% vs. −0.43 ± 0.98%; p = 0.050). Our data suggest that insulin treatment could attenuate the progression of sarcopenia in patients with type 2 diabetes.

BackgroundAbdominal visceral obesity has been reported to be associated with cardiovascular risks than body mass index, waist circumference, and abdominal subcutaneous fat. On the other hand, there is evidence that subcutaneous fat has a beneficial role against cardio-metabolic risks such as diabetes or dyslipidemia. However, little is known regarding the association between high visceral fat with low subcutaneous fat accumulation and the risk for atherosclerosis.MethodsThis study was designed to elucidate whether high visceral fat with low subcutaneous fat accumulation enhances the risk for atherosclerosis in patients with type 2 diabetes. This is a cross-sectional study of 148 patients with type 2 diabetes (mean age 65 ± 12 years; 44.5 % female). Visceral fat area (VFA, cm2) and subcutaneous fat area (SFA, cm2) were assessed by abdominal computed tomography. Carotid intima media thickness (CIMT, mm) measured by ultrasonography was used for the assessment of atherosclerosis. Patients were divided into four groups: SFA < 100 cm2 and VFA < 100 cm2 [S(−)V(−)], SFA ≥ 100 cm2 and VFA < 100 cm2 [S(+)V(−)], SFA < 100 cm2 and VFA ≥ 100 cm2 [S(−)V(+)], and SFA ≥ 100 cm2 and VFA ≥ 100 cm2 [S(+)V(+)]. Linear regression analysis with a stepwise procedure was used for the statistical analyses.ResultsAmong the patients examined, 16.3 % were S(−)V(+). Mean (95 % confidence interval) of CIMT adjusting for age and gender were 0.80 (0.69–0.91), 0.86 (0.72–1.01), 1.28 (1.11–1.44) and 0.83 (0.77–0.88) in patients with S(−)V(−), S(+)V(−), S(−)V(+) and S(+)V(+), respectively (p < 0.001). The S(−)V(+) patients exhibited significantly older than S(−)V(−) patients and those with S(+)V(+) and had a highest VFA-SFA ratio (V/S ratio) among the four groups. S(−)V(+) patients were male predominant (100 % male), and S(+)V(−) patients showed female predominance (82 % female). In multivariate linear regression analysis (Adjusted R2 = 0.549), S(−)V(+) was significantly associated with CIMT (Standardized β 0.423, p < 0.001). Notably, S(+)V(+) was inversely associated with CIMT in the multivariate model.ConclusionsThis study provides evidence that high visceral fat with low subcutaneous fat accumulation is an important determinant of carotid atherosclerosis and high subcutaneous fat could be protective against atherosclerosis in patients with type 2 diabetes.

SUMMARY Several abnormalities in the central nervous system were shown in patients with progressive muscular dystrophy using computerised tomography (CT) scans, electroencephalograms, psychometry, and ophthalmological methods. In congenital muscular dystrophy, the most characteristic finding in the CT scan was a low density area in the white matter, seen in 14 (56%) out of 25 cases. In Duchenne dystrophy, slight cerebral atrophy was observed in 20 (67%) out of 30 cases. It was interesting that in the case of Duchenne dystrophy the older the patient, the more severe were the CT findings. In congenital muscular dystrophy half the patients with a low density area showed a spike or a spike-and-wave complex in the electroencephalogram, and optic atrophy was evident in several cases. It is concluded that progressive muscular dystrophy is not only a myogenic disorder but also one which affects the central nervous system.

ObjectiveNormal-weight abdominal obesity has been reported to be associated with poor mortality. We aimed to investigate the impact of increased visceral adiposity with normal weight (OB(−)VA(+)) on the progression of arterial stiffness in patients with type 2 diabetes.MethodsThis was a cross-sectional study of 414 patients with type 2 diabetes (mean age 64±12 years; 40.3% female). Visceral fat area (VFA, cm2) was measured by a dual bioelectrical impedance analyzer. Arterial stiffness was assessed by brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity (baPWV, cm/s). Patients were divided into four groups by VFA and body mass index (BMI, kg/m2) as the following: BMI<25 kg/m2 and VFA<100 cm2 (obesity (OB)(−)visceral adiposity (VA)(−)), BMI≥25 kg/m2 and VFA<100 cm2 (OB(+)VA(−)), BMI<25 kg/m2 and VFA≥100 cm2 (OB(−)VA(+)), and BMI≥25 kg/m2 and VFA≥100 cm2 (OB(+)VA(+)). Multivariate linear regression analysis was done to determine the impact of OB(−)VA(+) on arterial stiffness.ResultsAmong the patients, 7.2% were OB(−)VA(+) with higher baPWV levels (1956±444 cm/s) than those with OB(+)VA(−) (1671±416 cm/s, p=0.014), those with OB(+)VA(+) (1744±317 cm/s, p=0.048), and those with OB(−)VA(−) (1620±397 cm/s, p=0.024). In multivariate linear regression analysis, OB(−)VA(+) remained independently associated with baPWV (standardized β 0.184, p=0.001).ConclusionsThis study provides evidence for the burden of arterial stiffness in OB(−)VA(+) patients with type 2 diabetes; therefore, evaluation of visceral adiposity is of clinical relevance for the better management of non-obese individuals as well as obese populations.