Soluble Form of Receptor for Advanced Glycation End Products Is Associated with Obesity and Metabolic Syndrome in Adolescents

The aim of this cross-sectional study was to investigate the relationship between soluble form of receptor for advanced glycation end products (sRAGE), obesity, and metabolic syndrome (MetS) in adolescents. A total of 522 male and 561 female adolescents were enrolled into the final analyses. Anthropometric parameters, blood pressure, blood biochemistry, fasting insulin, and plasma sRAGE levels were measured. In males, sRAGE was significantly and inversely correlated with waist circumference (WC), body mass index (BMI), systolic blood pressure, triglyceride (TG), low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), and homeostasis model assessment-insulin resistance (HOMA-IR). Only WC and BMI were significantly and inversely correlated with sRAGE in females. Using linear regression analysis adjusting for age and gender, significant association was found between sRAGE and WC, BMI, TG, LDL-C, and HOMA-IR in adolescents of either gender (P<0.05). This association was abolished when further adjusting BMI. In addition, sRAGE was significantly and inversely correlated with the increasing number of components of MetS in males (P for trend = 0.006) but not in females (P for trend = 0.422). In conclusion, plasma sRAGE is associated with obesity and MetS among adolescents. BMI may be the most important determinant of sRAGE levels in adolescents

The Involvement of GAS6 Signaling in the Development of Obesity and Associated Inflammation

Growth arrest-specific 6 (GAS6), a vitamin K-dependent protein, plays a role in the survival, proliferation, migration, differentiation, adhesion, and apoptosis of cells. GAS6 is highly expressed during growth arrest, followed by a sharp decrease during differentiation in adipocytes. The functions of GAS6 signaling are limited to TAM (Tyro3, Axl, and Mer) receptors and are dependent on the cell type. While many studies have focused on the role of GAS6 in inflammation and cancer, only few studies focused on its roles of GAS6 in obesity. Accordingly, the participation of GAS6 in the progression of obesity remains controversial. In this review, we summarize the results of current studies from clinical and basic research to elucidate the possible role of GAS6 signaling in obesity and associated disorders. In addition, this summary may offer a direction to develop clinical therapeutic strategies for the prevention and treatment of obesity and related complications

The Prevalence of Subclinical Thyroid Dysfunction and Its Association With Metabolic Syndrome in Taiwanese Elderly

Background: The pathophysiology of thyroid function on lipid and glucose metabolism and blood pressure for subjects with thyroid disorder is well known; however, studies exploring the association between thyroid function and components of metabolic syndrome (MetS) in elderly subjects with subclinical thyroid dysfunction are limited. Our objectives were to investigate the prevalence of subclinical thyroid dysfunction among the elderly and its relationship with MetS in Taiwan. Methods: A total of 6,652 subjects aged 65 years or older were recruited during a routine health checkup at four MJ Health Screening Centers in Taiwan. Gender; blood pressure; body mass index; and serum levels of fasting glucose, total cholesterol (TC), high-density-lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), low-density-lipoprotein cholesterol, and triglyceride were compared between subjects with subclinical hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism. Results: The overall prevalences of the MetS, subclinical hyperthyroidism, and subclinical hypothyroidism were 30.4%, 6.0%, and 2.0%, respectively. The prevalence of subclinical thyroid dysfunction was significantly higher among women as compared with men (9.9% vs. 6.3%, respectively; p<0.05). Male subjects with subclinical hyperthyroidism had significantly lower body mass index, systolic blood pressure, TC, low-density-lipoprotein cholesterol, HDL-C, triglyceride, and number of MetS criteria than female subjects. However, no significant differences for each component of MetS, with the exception of TC and HDL-C, were found between male and female subjects with subclinical hypothyroidism. Conclusion: Subclinical thyroid dysfunction would present in about 8% of Taiwanese elderly, and about one-third of them had MetS

Association of fasting insulin and C peptide with diabetic retinopathy in Latinos with type 2 diabetes.

ObjectiveResidual insulin secretion provides important protection against the development of diabetic retinopathy in type 1 diabetes. The data to support this in type 2 diabetes are unclear. We therefore tested in type 2 diabetes whether markers of residual beta-cell function are associated with the development of diabetic retinopathy, an important microvascular complication of diabetes.DesignProspective, cross-sectional, family-based study.Participants585 Latino type 2 diabetic participants, ascertained in families via a proband either with known diabetes duration of greater than 10 years and/or with diabetic retinopathy.Outcome measuresCIRCULATING LEVELS OF FASTING INSULIN AND C PEPTIDE MEASURED AND CORRELATED TO DEGREE OF DIABETIC RETINOPATHY, ASSESSED BY DIGITAL FUNDUS PHOTOGRAPHY AND GRADED USING THE MODIFIED AIRLIE HOUSE CLASSIFICATION AND THE EARLY TREATMENT DIABETIC RETINOPATHY STUDY SCALE (RANGE: levels 10-85).ResultsFasting plasma insulin (β=-0.29; 95% CI -0.38 to -0.20; p&lt;0.0001) and C peptide (β=-0.21; 95% CI -0.30 to -0.13; p&lt;0.0001) concentrations in these diabetic participants were significantly correlated with retinopathy and its degree of severity. This relationship remained significant after adjusting for potential covariates including age, gender, glycosylated hemoglobin, duration of diabetes, blood pressure, and renal function.ConclusionsThese data suggest that residual endogenous insulin secretion is associated with the presence of diabetic retinopathy and its severity in Latinos with familial type 2 diabetes. It remains to be proven whether beta-cell targeted therapies, to maintain beta-cell mass and/or function in addition to glycemic control, will further the goal of preventing diabetic microvascular disease

Association of fasting insulin and C peptide with diabetic retinopathy in Latinos with type 2 diabetes.

ObjectiveResidual insulin secretion provides important protection against the development of diabetic retinopathy in type 1 diabetes. The data to support this in type 2 diabetes are unclear. We therefore tested in type 2 diabetes whether markers of residual beta-cell function are associated with the development of diabetic retinopathy, an important microvascular complication of diabetes.DesignProspective, cross-sectional, family-based study.Participants585 Latino type 2 diabetic participants, ascertained in families via a proband either with known diabetes duration of greater than 10 years and/or with diabetic retinopathy.Outcome measuresCIRCULATING LEVELS OF FASTING INSULIN AND C PEPTIDE MEASURED AND CORRELATED TO DEGREE OF DIABETIC RETINOPATHY, ASSESSED BY DIGITAL FUNDUS PHOTOGRAPHY AND GRADED USING THE MODIFIED AIRLIE HOUSE CLASSIFICATION AND THE EARLY TREATMENT DIABETIC RETINOPATHY STUDY SCALE (RANGE: levels 10-85).ResultsFasting plasma insulin (β=-0.29; 95% CI -0.38 to -0.20; p&lt;0.0001) and C peptide (β=-0.21; 95% CI -0.30 to -0.13; p&lt;0.0001) concentrations in these diabetic participants were significantly correlated with retinopathy and its degree of severity. This relationship remained significant after adjusting for potential covariates including age, gender, glycosylated hemoglobin, duration of diabetes, blood pressure, and renal function.ConclusionsThese data suggest that residual endogenous insulin secretion is associated with the presence of diabetic retinopathy and its severity in Latinos with familial type 2 diabetes. It remains to be proven whether beta-cell targeted therapies, to maintain beta-cell mass and/or function in addition to glycemic control, will further the goal of preventing diabetic microvascular disease

Effect of GAS6 and AXL Gene Polymorphisms on Adiposity, Systemic Inflammation, and Insulin Resistance in Adolescents

The present study was designed to explore the effects of GAS6 and AXL gene polymorphisms on adiposity, systemic inflammation, and insulin resistance in adolescents. After multistage sampling from the data of the Taipei Children Heart Study-III, we collected 358 boys and 369 girls with an average age of 13.3 years. We genotyped the adolescents’ GAS6 rs8191973, GAS6 rs8191974, AXL rs4802113, and AXL rs2304232 polymorphisms. Significantly higher body mass index (BMI), waist circumference (WC), and hsCRP levels were found in boys with the GG genotype of GAS6 rs8191974 than A allele carriers; higher IL-6 and insulin levels and increased HOMA-IR were found in boys with the GG genotype of AXL rs2304232 than the A allele carriers. There was a significant difference in hsCRP levels of boys with the TT, TC, and CC genotypes of AXL rs4802113. Boys with both the GG genotype of GAS6 rs8191973 and the GG genotype of GAS6 rs8191974 exhibited higher BMI, WC, IL-6, and hsCRP levels than the boys carrying both the C allele of the GAS6 rs8191973 and the A allele of the GAS6 rs8191974. In conclusion, GAS6 and AXL polymorphisms are associated with adiposity, systemic inflammation, and insulin resistance in adolescents, especially in boys