OBJECTIVEMounting evidence indicates that the gut microbiota are an important modifier of obesity and diabetes. However, so far there is no information on gut microbiota and "live gut bacteria" in the systemic circulation of Japanese patients with type 2 diabetes. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODSUsing a sensitive reverse transcription-quantitative PCR (RT-qPCR) method, we determined the composition of fecal gut microbiota in 50 Japanese patients with type 2 diabetes and 50 control subjects, and its association with various clinical parameters, including inflammatory markers. We also analyzed the presence of gut bacteria in blood samples. RESULTSThe counts of the Clostridium coccoides group, Atopobium cluster, and Prevotella (obligate anaerobes) were significantly lower (P < 0.05), while the counts of total Lactobacillus (facultative anaerobes) were significantly higher (P < 0.05) in fecal samples of diabetic patients than in those of control subjects. Especially, the counts of Lactobacillus reuteri and Lactobacillus plantarum subgroups were significantly higher (P < 0.05). Gut bacteria were detected in blood at a significantly higher rate in diabetic patients than in control subjects (28% vs. 4%, P < 0.01), and most of these bacteria were Gram-positive.

Background: We reported an aptamer, RNA Tat that binds to the Tat protein of HIV with two orders of magnitude greater (133-fold) af®nity over the TAR RNA of HIV-1 and speci®cally inhibits the Tatdependent trans-activation of transcription, both in vitro and in vivo (demonstrated in the accompanying article, Yamamoto et al., this issue pp. 371±388). We now report the use of aptamer-derived oligomers to analyze the Tat of HIV and the possible applications of such constructs in the ®eld of biosensors.

Among Japanese men with BMI of 23-25 kg/m, muscle insulin resistance was present in those with even one CMRF. In this population, liver fat accumulation and/or elevated liver enzymes could be a good marker for impaired IS in both muscle and liver.

Background: To ®nd a novel RNA that would bind ef®ciently and speci®cally to Tat protein but not to other cellular factors, we used an in vitro selection method and isolated a novel aptamer RNA Tat , a 37-mer RNA oligomer, that binds ef®ciently to the Tat protein of HIV-1. In the present study, we analysed various properties of aptamer RNA Tat , including binding kinetics, identi®cation of functional groups for Tat binding, and inhibition of Tat function.