Chung-Ze Wu

Associations between genetic variants and the severity of metabolic syndrome in subjects with type 2 diabetes

Metabolic syndrome (MetS) includes obesity, dyslipidemia, elevated blood pressure, and dysglycemia. Subjects with type 2 diabetes (T2D) exhibit features of MetS. The etiology of MetS is complex, involving both environmental and genetic factors. In this study, we examined the role of specific candidate genetic variants on the severity of MetS in T2D subjects. A total of 240 T2D subjects aged 35-64 years were recruited. Waist circumstance, plasma triglycerides, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, fasting plasma glucose, and blood pressure were measured to define MetS. Subjects were divided into 4 groups according to MetS components. Target genes involved in fibrotic and inflammatory processes, insulin and diabetes, cell growth and proliferation, and hypertension were genotyped. A total of 13 genes and 103 single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) were analyzed to evaluate their genetic association with MetS severity in T2D subjects. Univariate ordinal logistic regression using a dominant model (homozygous for the major allele vs carriers of the minor allele) revealed 6 SNP markers within 4 genes with genotypes associated with MetS risk. For the SNP genotypes of rs362551 (SNAP25), rs3818569 (RXRG), rs1479355, rs1570070 (IGF2R), and rs916829 (ABCC8), heterozygotes showed a lower risk of MetS compared with the reference group. In addition, the CC genotype was comparable to the TT genotype for rs3777411. There was no gender-specific effect. In conclusion, our results suggest that among the Han Chinese population, several SNPs increase the risk of severe MetS in T2D subjects. Further study in a large population should be conducted.

Accurate method to estimate insulin resistance from multiple regression models using data of metabolic syndrome and oral glucose tolerance test

How to measure insulin resistance (IR) accurately and conveniently is a critical issue for both clinical practice and research. In the present study, we tried to modify the β‐cell function, insulin sensitivity, and glucose tolerance test (BIGTT) in patients with normal glucose tolerance (NGT) and abnormal glucose tolerance (AGT) by oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) and metabolic syndrome (MetS) components.

Measuring Second Phase of Insulin Secretion by Components of Metabolic Syndrome

Both decreased insulin sensitivity, and impaired insulin secretion are 2 major pathophyisologies for type 2 diabetes (T2DM). There are two phases of ISEC-the first (1st ISEC) and second phase (2nd ISEC). In this study, we tried to build an equation to predict 2nd ISEC. Totally, 82 subjects, including 15 with normal fasting glucose, 26 with pre-diabetes and 41 with T2DM were enrolled. They received a modified low dose graded glucose infusion (M-LDGGI). The M-LDGGI is a simplified version of Polonsky’s method. The results were interpreted as the slope of the changes of plasma insulin against the glucose levels. The slopes of these curves were regarded as the 2nd ISEC. If only metabolic syndrome (MetS) components were analyzed, the equation was built as the following: log (2nd ISEC) = -2.400- 0.088 • (fasting plasma glucose, FPG + 0.072 • (body mass index, BMI). After fasting plasma insulin (FPI) was added , the equation was shown as the following: log (2nd ISEC) = -2.316- 0.093˙FPG + 0.049 • BMI+ 0.434 • log(FPI). The second equation provided a greater accuracy to determine 2nd ISEC than first one in the external validation group (r2 = 0.545 vs r2 = 0.423). Using MetS components, 2nd ISEC could be predicted with good accuracy. After adding FPI into the equation, the predictive power further increases. These equations could be widely used in daily practice and clinical settings.

Metabolic syndrome in normoglycaemic elderly men

Type‐2 diabetes is mainly the metabolic defect involving multiple organs. To conclude their intricate relationships, the term ‘ominous octet’ had been proposed to denote this phenomenon. In this study, we enrolled older men without any medications for MetS components to further elucidate the relationships between normoglycaemic state and MetS.

Correction: Effect of body mass index on diabetogenesis factors at a fixed fasting plasma glucose level

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0189115.].

Predicting young-onset type 2 diabetes mellitus with metabolic syndrome components in healthy young adults

The increased incidence of young‐onset type 2 diabetes mellitus (YDM) is a major health problem. In this study, we tried to identify metabolic syndrome (MetS) components that could be used to predict YDM.

High normotension is associated with future metabolic syndrome but not cardiovascular disease: A 10-year longitudinal study

Abstract Hypertension and prehypertension can increase the risk of developing cardiovascular disease (CVD) and diabetes. However, whether the harmful effects of high blood pressure (BP) are also seen with high normotension remains unknown. This 10-year longitudinal follow-up study aimed to investigate the relationships among normal-range BP, metabolic syndrome (MetS), and CVD. A total of 9133 nonmedicated normotensive participants, 4634 males and 4499 females, aged 60 years or older were enrolled in a standard health examination program at 2 academic hospitals and a health screening center in Taiwan. The study subjects were divided into 3 groups according to their BP. The systolic BP (SBP) ranges of groups 1, 2, and 3 were 91 to 100, 101 to 110, and 111 to 119 mmHg, whereas the diastolic BP (DBP) ranges of groups 1, 2, and 3 were 51 to 60, 61 to 70, and 71 to 79 mmHg, respectively. In the SBP3 group, both sexes had a higher odds ratio (OR) for having MetS or abnormal MetS components, except for triglycerides. Females in the DBP3 group had a higher OR for having MetS at baseline. After the follow-up period, the SBP3 group had a significantly higher hazard ratio (HR) for developing MetS. Males in the DBP3 group and females in the DBP2 and DBP3 groups had a significantly higher HR for developing MetS. Neither the SBP3 group nor the DBP3 group had a higher HR for developing nonfatal CVD. In the Kaplan-Meier analysis, SBP and DBP in both sexes showed statistical significance as predictors of MetS, but not of nonfatal CVD. High normotensive elderly individuals have an elevated risk of developing MetS at baseline and within 10 years of follow-up, but they are not at increased risk of CVD. Preventive interventions, such as life-style modification, should be offered early even to the apparently healthy elderly.

Higher normal range of fasting plasma glucose still has a higher risk for metabolic syndrome: a combined cross-sectional and longitudinal study in elderly.

It is well known that higher fasting plasma glucose (FPG) is associated with metabolic syndrome (MetS). This relationship still exists even the FPG is within the normal range. However, most of these studies did not exclude subjects who were on medications which would affect the results of the studies. At the same time, there is no longitudinal study done to validate this correlation, especially in elderly. In this study, the relationships between normal FPG and MetS were evaluated.