Circulating myokine levels in different stages of glucose intolerance

Type 2 diabetes is the fastest growing metabolic disease in the world. Recently, muscle is considered an endocrine organ which secretes various peptides that play an important role in insulin resistance and metabolic syndrome. We assessed 4 different myokines, irisin, interleukin-13 (IL-13), follistatin-related protein-1 (FSTL-1), and fractalkine, in normal, prediabetes, and diabetes patients.A total of 126 participants who visited Gangnam Severance Hospital were enrolled and divided into normal, prediabetes, and diabetes groups based on oral glucose tolerance test and hemoglobin a1c. A cross-sectional study was conducted to measure and compare serum levels of irisin, IL-13, FSTL-1, and fractalkine among the groups.Irisin level showed a tendency to increase in prediabetes group compared to normal group (P < .1) but showed a significant decrease when comparing diabetes from prediabetes group (P < .001). IL-13 decreased in diabetes group compared to prediabetes and normal group (P < .001, P < .05, respectively). FSTL-1 of diabetes group was lower than that of prediabetes group (P < .05), and fractalkine was higher in diabetes group compared to that of prediabetes and normal group (P < .01, P < .01, respectively).Irisin, IL-13, and FSTL-1 levels were reduced in diabetes group compared to normal or prediabetes group while fractalkine showed a progressive increase from normal to diabetes group. Further studies are warranted to study the roles of various myokine in diabetes through a larger prospective study.ope

정혜원, 김대중, 김하동, 최성희, 안철우, 차봉수, 이현철, 허갑범

Background: The prevalence of obesity is known to be lower in Asian population than that in Europe. But, the health risks associated with obesity occur at a lower body mass index (BMI) in Asian. The aim of this study was to assess the prevalence of the metabolic syndrome and its components in Korean adult population according to the new criteria for obesity proposed in Asia-Pacific Perspective. Methods: From individuls, who participated in medical check-up of Korean Association of Health (KAH), 1,230 individuals were included in the analysis. In patients with type 2 diabetes (n=131), subjects with impaired fasting glucose (IFG) (n=84), or individuals who have insulin-resistance but show normal fasting glucose (NFG) (n=1015), the metabolic syndrome was defined as presence of at least two of the following components; hypertension, dyslipidemia, and obesity. Results: Metabolic syndrome was present in 19% of men and 16% of women. In detail, about 10% in NFG, 50% in IFG, and 70% of patients with type 2 diabetes fulfilled the criteria of metabolic syndrome. In comparison with the lowest tertile of waist circumference and BMI, the prevalence of the metabolic syndrome increased about 13 fold in subjects with the highest tertile. Using a multiple regression analysis, HOMA-IR was associated with an increased risk for the metabolic syndrome (RR=2.23, p=0.001). Conclusion: The metabolic syndrome, according to the new criteria for obesity in Asian-Pacific Perspective in Korean adult population, is seen as much as Western countries. Insulin resistance and hyperinsulinemia can be suggested as the main causes of the metabolic syndrome.ope

Diabetes Mellitus Epidemiologic Study in Kyunggi Province 2003

ope

Supplementation with Korean Red Ginseng Improves Current Perception Threshold in Korean Type 2 Diabetes Patients: A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Trial

Background: Many Type 2 diabetes (T2DM) patients in Korea take Korean Red Ginseng (KRG) for various reasons. In this study, we investigated the effects of KRG administration on diabetic peripheral neuropathy in T2DM patients. Methods: This study was a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial. Participants were randomly allocated to either the placebo or KRG group and took corresponding tablets for 24 weeks. The primary outcomes were changes in current perception threshold (CPT) at week 24. Secondary outcomes were altered fasting plasma glucose, HbA1c, and various metabolic and inflammatory markers at week 24. Results: Sixty-one patients completed the study. The CPT of the lower extremities at various frequencies exhibited significant improvements at week 24 in the KRG group. Other metabolic parameters were not altered after 24 weeks in both groups. In the subgroup analysis, CPT levels were improved in those with a longer diabetes duration or who already had neuropathy at the beginning of the study, and insulin resistance was improved in patients with a shorter diabetes duration. Conclusion: Twenty-four week administration of KRG in T2DM patients resulted in a significant improvement in neuropathy, especially in those with a longer diabetes duration. A further, larger population study with a longer follow-up period is warranted to verify the effects of KRG on diabetic neuropathy.ope

Effective isolation of magnesium lithospermate B and its inhibition of aldose reductase and fibronectin on mesangial cell line

We developed an effective isolation method of magnesium lithospermate B from Salviae miltiorrhizae Radix and found for the first time that magnesium lithospermate B shows strong in vitro inhibition (IC50=0.04 μM) of aldose reductase (AR), 2.5 times than that of clinically used epalrestat (IC50=0.1 μM) and accumulation of fibronectin dose dependantly.ope

Clinical characteristics and causes of primary male osteoporosis in Korea

ope

Relationship between Inflammatory Markers and High Resolution B-mode Carotid Artery Ultrasonography in Continuous Ambulatory Peritoneal Dialysis(CAPD) Patients

Background : Continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis(CAPD) patients with low albumin(LA) and signs of inflammation reflected by increased C-reactive protein(CRP) level have an increased mortality, but the mechanism of this phenomenon is not clear yet. Methods : To answer whether LA and inflammation also enhance cardiovascular risk in CAPD patients, we performed cross sectional study measuring carotid artery intima-media thickness(IMT), calculated intima-media area(cIM area) and the presence of plaque by high-resolution B-mode ultrasonography in 93 non-diabetic CAPD patients. Results : Patients with coronary artery disease (CAD, n=8) had significantly increased IMT(0.79± 0.21 mm vs. 0.60±0.11 mm, p<0.05) and higher prevalence of carotid plaques(75.0% vs. 63.5%) compared to the non-CAD patients. Significant inverse correlation was observed between serum albumin (SA) level and cIM area(r=-0.27, p<0.05). Those patients with LA(SA <3.5 g/dL) had significantly increased IMT compared to non-LA patients(0.67±0.15 mm vs 0.61±0.12 mm, p<0.05). Prevalence of carotid plaques was also significantly higher in LA patients (68.0% vs. 55.8%, p<0.05). CRP level revealed a significant positive correlation with cIM area(r=0.21, p< 0.05). Patients with high CRP(≥0.8 mg/dL, n=18) had higher prevalence of carotid plaques (65.8% vs. 50.0%, p<0.05) compared to those patients with CRP <0.8 mg/dL, but IMT and cIMT area were not different. By multivariate logistic regression analysis, old age, high CRP, history of CAD and low SA were the independent risk factors affecting IMT. Conclusion : Our study strongly suggests that low albumin and chronic inflammatory state of CAPD patients could be associated with increasing atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease.ope

A case of endothelial cyst of the adrenal gland

Adrenal cysts are rare lesions usually discovered incidentally during surgery, or at the time of autopsy. Most adrenal cysts are generally asymptomatic and small, less than 10 cm in diameter. When adrenal cysts enlarge sufficiently, they cause pain and gastrointestinal disturbances or become palpable. When cystic lesions in upper abdomen are found, many cystic lesions such as hepatic, splenic, renal and pancreatic cysts should be considered. It's difficult to differentiate between benign and malignant lesions. Usually these cystic lesions have been excised to rule out malignancy. Herein we report a case of adrenal endothelial cyst which was detected in a 63-year-old female patient during a routine health examination by ultrasonography.ope

한국인에서 대사증후군의 임상적 의의 및 죽상동맥경화증

ope

Diabetes Epidemics in Korea: Reappraise Nationwide Survey of Diabetes "Diabetes in Korea 2007"

There are many studies on the prevalence, clinical characteristics, and economic burden of diabetes across the past four decades in Korea. Nonetheless, there is a dearth of nationwide study regarding diabetes encompassing all age group. Eight years ago, the Committee on the Epidemiology of Diabetes Mellitus of Korean Diabetes Association collaborated with Health Insurance Review & Assessment Service to evaluate the status of diabetes care and characteristics in diabetic patients in Korea. In 2007, the collaborative task force team published a comprehensive survey titled "Diabetes in Korea 2007." In this review, we reappraise the diabetic epidemics from the joint report and suggest further studies that are needed to be investigated in the future.ope