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Aim: Patients with osteoporosis who also have sarcopenia are at a high risk for falls and fractures. Early detection of sarcopenia is crucial for these patients. This study aimed to compare the effectiveness of SARC-F, SARC-CalF, and calf circumference (CC) as screening tools for sarcopenia in patients with osteoporosis. Methods: This cross-sectional study was retrospectively conducted on patients who attended the outpatient clinic for Osteoporosis and Sarcopenia at Kyoto Medical Center. Sarcopenia was determined based on low skeletal muscle mass and weak handgrip strength. Sensitivity and specificity analyses were conducted on SARC-F, SARC-CalF, and CC. The diagnostic utility of these three tools was compared using the receiver-operating characteristic (ROC) curves and the area under the ROC curves (AUC). Results: A total of 225 patients (men/women: 33/192) with a median age of 69.0 years (interquartile range: 61.0‒75.0) were enrolled. The prevalence of sarcopenia was found to be 11.6%. CC had the highest sensitivity (80.8%), while SARC-F had the highest specificity (93.0%) for detecting sarcopenia. ROC analysis revealed that all three tools had significant potential for sarcopenia diagnosis, with SARC-CalF having the highest AUC compared to SARC-F and CC (0.753 vs. 0.619 and 0.700). A multivariate logistic regression, incorporating other confounders as explanatory variables, revealed that SARC-CalF was independently related to sarcopenia (odds ratio: 14.80, 95% confidence interval: 3.83–57.30, p < 0.001). Conclusion: In patients with osteoporosis, SARC-CalF is more effective in the early detection of sarcopenia than SARC-F and CC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and aims: To investigate the association between the frequency of intermittent-scanning continuous glucose monitoring (isCGM) and diurnal variation of time in range (TIR), time above range (TAR), and time below range (TBR), we performed a post hoc analysis of the ISCHIA study, a multicenter, prospective, open-label, randomized crossover study of patients with type 1 diabetes mellitus. Method: Data of 93 people who completed the ISCHIA study were used. We calculated scan frequency, TAR, TIR, and TBR of four approximately 6-h intervals: 6:00–11:59 (morning), 12:00–17:59 (afternoon), 18:00–23:59 (evening), and 0:00–5:59 (night). The correlation between scan frequency and diurnal variation of CGM metrics was analyzed using nonparametric Spearman correlation analysis. Results: More frequent scanning was associated with higher TIR in the afternoon (rho = 0.343, P < 0.001), evening (rho = 0.243, P = 0.019), and night (rho = 0.218, P = 0.036); furthermore, it was associated with lower TAR in the afternoon (rho = -0.275, P = 0.008) and TBR in the evening (rho = -0.235, P = 0.024). Concern about the effect of blood glucose fluctuation on social communication affected the number of scans during the day. Concerns about loneliness and hypoglycemia when alone also influenced the number of nighttime scans. Conclusion: Scan frequency is influenced by psychological factors. Afternoon scans were associated with the highest increase in TIR and decrease in TAR. Evening scans were linked to a reduction in TBR. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sarcopenic obesity is the co‐existence of obesity and sarcopenia in individuals aged 40–75 years. The Japanese Working Group on Sarcopenic Obesity has developed diagnostic criteria tailored for the Japanese population, considering their unique characteristics compared with European populations. Our algorithm consists of two steps: screening and diagnosis. The screening of obesity mandates using waist circumference and/or body mass index (BMI) based on national standards, while screening for sarcopenia involves the "finger ring test" in addition to the Asian Working Group for Sarcopenia 2019 criteria. The final diagnosis of sarcopenia involves handgrip strength for low muscle strength, the five‐times chair stand test for low physical function, and limb skeletal muscle mass (corrected for BMI) for low muscle mass. Obesity is assessed by visceral fat area or body fat percentage. Sarcopenic obesity is then categorized into Stage I, with muscle weakness/loss of function, loss of muscle mass, and obesity; or Stage II, which includes complications. Further clinical validation is needed to refine the consensus and age range. Geriatr Gerontol Int 2024; 24: 997–1000. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims: The utilization of long‐term effect of internet of things (IoT) on glycemic control is controversial. This trial aimed to examine the effect of an IoT‐based approach for type 2 diabetes. Materials and Methods: This randomized controlled trial enrolled 1,159 adults aged 20–74 years with type 2 diabetes with a HbA1c of 6.0–8.9% (42–74 mmol/mol), who were using a smartphone on a daily basis were randomly assigned to either the IoT‐based approach group (ITG) or the control group (CTG). The ITG were supervised to utilize an IoT automated system that demonstrates a summary of lifelogging data (weight, blood pressure, and physical activities) and provides feedback messages that promote behavioral changes in both diet and exercise. The primary end point was a HbA1c change over 52 weeks. Results: Among the patients, 581 were assigned to the ITG and 578 were in the CTG. The changes in HbA1c from baseline to the final measurement at 52 weeks [mean (standard deviation)] were −0.000 (0.6225)% in ITG and − 0.006 (0.6449)% in CTG, respectively (P = 0.8766). In the per protocol set, including ITG using the IoT system almost daily and CTG, excluding those using the application almost daily, the difference in HbA1c from baseline to 52 weeks were −0.098 (0.579)% and 0.027 (0.571)%, respectively (P = 0.0201). We observed no significant difference in the adverse event profile between the groups. Conclusions: The IoT‐based approach did not reduce HbA1c in patients with type 2 diabetes. IoT‐based intervention using data on the daily glycemic control and HbA1c level may be required to improve glycemic control. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Even after the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic, the number of mild cases remains high, requiring continuous control. Curcumin, owing to its anti-inflammatory properties, can suppress vital proliferation and cytokine secretion in animal models. We developed a highly absorbable curcumin, curcuRouge® (cR), which is approximately 100 times more orally bioavailable than conventional curcumin. We evaluated the effect of cR on the inhibition of disease progression in asymptomatic or mildly symptomatic COVID-19 patients. Methods: This study evaluated the effect of 7-day oral intake of cR (360 mg twice daily). Patients within 5 days of COVID-19 diagnosis were randomly assigned to a placebo or cR group in a double-blind manner. Results: Primary endpoint events [body temperature (BT) ≥ 37.5 °C and saturation of percutaneous oxygen (SpO2) < 96%] were fewer than expected, and the rate of these events was 2.8% in the cR group (2/71) and 6.0% in the placebo group (4/67); hazard ratio (HR) = 0.532, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.097–2.902. Patients receiving cR tended to take fewer antipyretic medications than those receiving placebo (HR = 0.716, 95% CI 0.374–1.372). Among patients with a normal range of BT at baseline, the BT change rate was significantly (p = 0.014) lower in the cR group (− 0.34%) versus placebo (− 0.01%). Conclusion: The relative suppression of event rates and antipyretic medications taken, and significant decrease of subclinical BT support the anti-inflammatory effects of cR in asymptomatic or mildly symptomatic patients with COVID-19. Trial registration: Japan Registry of Clinical Trials (CRB5200002). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We investigated the impact of the Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic on the management of endocrine and metabolic disorders in Japan. We conducted a cross-sectional nationwide questionnaire survey targeting board-certified endocrinologists under the auspices of the Japan Endocrine Society. The questionnaire consisted of multiple-choice questions and open-ended responses. Out of approximately 2,700 specialists, 528 (19.5%) opted to participate, suggesting a high level of interest in COVID-19 management among endocrinologists. The study found that almost half of participants had encountered cases of endocrine and metabolic disorders following COVID-19 infection or vaccination. Conditions related to thyroid diseases, glucose metabolism disorders/diabetes, and hypothalamic-pituitary disorders were particularly prevalent. Diabetes and obesity were identified as having high rates of severe cases or fatalities due to COVID-19. The study also highlighted challenges in routine diagnosis and treatment, emphasizing the potential benefits of combining remote consultations with in-person visits to optimize the frequency of examinations and check-ups during infectious disease outbreak which disrupts access to healthcare providers. The insights obtained from this survey are expected to contribute to ensuring appropriate healthcare provision for patients with endocrine and metabolic disorders by using flexible consultation formats, particularly even in the conditions where medical access may be limited due to future outbreaks of emerging or re-emerging infectious diseases.