Jiemin Pan

Characteristics of Obesity and Its Related Disorders in China

Obesity is a medical condition with excess body fat accumulation to the extent which leads to serious health consequences. Abdominal obesity, also known as central obesity, refers to the presence of excess fat in the abdominal area. Obesity, especially abdominal obesity, contributes to many metabolic disorders including metabolic syndrome (MetS), type 2 diabetes (T2DM) and cardiovascular diseases (CVD). The incidence of obesity has increased dramatically in recent years worldwide. In China, more than one-third of adults are overweight or obese and 10%-20% of all adults are affected by MetS. The pathogenesis underlying the abdominal obesity remains unclear. The ultimate health outcome of obesity and its related metabolic disorders haveprompted physicians to take aggressive treatments (lifestyle changes, pharmacological interventions and surgical therapies) before a serious consequence becomes clinically apparent. In this review, we discuss the prevalence, pathogenesis and clinic features of obesity in China.

The metabolic syndrome increased risk of cardiovascular events in Chinese - a community based study.

BACKGROUND Whether metabolic syndrome (MetS) could serve as a valid indicator for cardiovascular disease (CVD) is in controversy. The aim of the study was to prospectively evaluate the predictive value of the MetS for CVD events in Chinese population by different MetS definitions. METHODS This was a community-based cohort study. MetS was defined according to the World Health Organization (WHO), the International Diabetes Federation (IDF), the National Cholesterol Education Program Adult Treatment Panel III (NCEPIII) and Joint Committee for Developing Chinese Guidelines on Prevention and Treatment of Dyslipidemia in Adults (JCDCG), respectively. 2788 subjects were included. The incidence of CVD events was monitored during a 5.5-year period. RESULTS The proportion of MetS defined by the WHO, IDF, NCEPIII and JCDCG criteria was 25.9%, 15.4%, 22.0% and 26.1%, respectively in men, and 24.5%, 28.0%, 31.1% and 23.0%, respectively in women. After adjusting for age, all four definitions were associated with increased risk of CVD events in women, but not in men. The corresponding hazard ratios (HRs) [95% confidence intervals (CIs)] in women were 2.13 (1.44-3.16), 1.49 (1.01-2.19), 1.50 (1.02-2.21) and 2.10 (1.41-3.11). The HRs remained significant with WHO and JCDCG definitions, not with the IDF and NCEPIII definitions, when factors of LDL cholesterol, and smoking were adjusted. CONCLUSION The MetS by the WHO and JCDCG definition was associated with increased risk of CVD events in Chinese women after adjustment for age, total cholesterol, LDL cholesterol, and smoking.

Combined assessment of glycated albumin and fasting plasma glucose improves the detection of diabetes in Chinese subjects

1. The aim of the present study was to assess the validity of glycated albumin (GA) and fasting plasma glucose (FPG) as a screening tool for the early detection of diabetes in Chinese subjects.

Serum C-reactive protein and risk of cardiovascular events in middle-aged and older Chinese population.

The purpose of the present study was to investigate the effect of high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) on the risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD) in a Chinese population. A total of 2,656 participants (aged 30 to 95 years) with baseline hs-CRP levels available were monitored for the incidence of a composite of CVD events (stroke and coronary heart disease) during a 5.5-year period. With increasing quartiles of hs-CRP (<0.47, 0.47 to 0.97, 0.97 to 2.09, and >or=2.09 mg/L), the incidence of CVD increased progressively (11.7, 16.4, 24.7, and 36.5 per 1,000 person-years, respectively). In a Cox model adjusted for other traditional risk factors (e.g., age, blood pressure, diabetes mellitus, lipids, body mass index, smoking status), elevated hs-CRP (>or=2.0 mg/L) independently predicted the risk of CVD (hazard ratio 1.39; 95% confidence interval 1.04 to 1.87). The effect was especially significant for stroke (hazard ratio 1.58; confidence interval 1.08 to 2.31). In conclusion, the results of our study suggest that elevated hs-CRP (>or=2.0 mg/L) is an effective predictor of CVD in a Chinese population.

Influence of insulin sensitivity and secretion on glycated albumin and hemoglobin A1c in pregnant women with gestational diabetes mellitus

To examine the differential effects of insulin sensitivity and secretion on hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) and glycated albumin (GA) at 24–32 weeks of pregnancy in women with gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM).

Serum glycated albumin predicts the progression of diabetic retinopathy--a five year retrospective longitudinal study.

AIMS To assess the predictive value of glycated albumin (GA) and other risk factors on a progression of diabetic retinopathy (DR). METHODS In this retrospective longitudinal study, we enrolled the subjects with type 2 diabetes who had undergone fundus photography twice with a 5-years gap between January 2006 and December 2012, and had been measured consecutively for hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) and GA levels every 3 or 6 months. The subjects were divided into two groups with or without a progression of DR. The mean HbA1c and mean GA were calculated separately by the sum of all measured values divided by the numbers of values throughout the study period. RESULTS Of the 359 subjects, progression group showed significantly higher diabetes duration (8.41±5.72 vs. 6.46±5.77, P<0.01), baseline HbA1c (9.13±2.71 vs. 8.41±2.32, P<0.05), fasting plasma glucose (8.71±2.78 vs. 7.94±2.63, P<0.05), 2h-postprandial glucose (15.12±11.20 vs.13.14±4.72, P<0.05), eGFR (114.81±39.15 vs. 103.23±32.18, P<0.01), mean HbA1c (8.32±1.69 vs. 7.39±1.35, P<0.01) and mean GA (22.66±5.92 vs. 19.83±5.18, P<0.01) than non-progression group. The frequencies of subjects with DR progression increased obviously with the increment of baseline HbA1c, mean HbA1c and mean GA according to quartile stratification of the above three glucose parameters. Multivariable binary logistic regression analysis investigated that the factors affected the DR progression were the presence of DR at baseline (OR=0.391, P=0.005), mean HbA1c (OR=1.389, P=0.021), mean GA (OR=1.087, P=0.039) and eGFR (OR=1.008, P=0.045). The optimal cut-off values of mean HbA1c and GA to predict DR progression were 7.27% and 21.85%, respectively. CONCLUSIONS The presence of DR at baseline, poor glycemic control, glycated albumin, and impaired renal function predicted DR progression in patients with type 2 diabetes.

A high thyroid stimulating hormone level is associated with diabetic peripheral neuropathy in type 2 diabetes patients.

AIM The association between thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) and type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is well known. However, whether TSH is related to diabetic peripheral neuropathy (DPN) has not been studied. The aim of this study was to explore the relationship between TSH and DPN in Chinese patients with T2DM. METHODS In this cross-sectional study, 605 patients with T2DM were enrolled. Subclinical hypothyroidism (SCH) was defined as an elevated TSH level (>4.0mIU/L) and a normal free thyroxine level. DPN was evaluated by neurological symptoms, neurological signs, and electromyogram. RESULTS Serum TSH levels were significantly higher in DPN and signs of DPN compared with non-DPN T2DM patients (both P<0.01).The prevalence of DPN and signs of DPN in SCH subjects was higher than that in euthyroid subjects (both P<0.01). Spearmans correlation analysis showed that the serum TSH level was positively associated with DPN (r=0.172, P<0.01). A significant independent association between TSH and DPN was found by multiple logistic regression analysis after adjusting for potential confounding variables [odds ratio (OR)=1.365, P<0.01]. The patients were sequentially assigned to quartiles according to TSH level. Compared with quartile 1, patients in quartile 2 (P<0.01), quartile 3 (P=0.01), and quartile 4 (P<0.01) had a higher risk of DPN. Receiver-operating characteristic curve analysis revealed that the optimal cutoff point of TSH to indicate DPN was 3.045mIU/L in men and 2.94mIU/L in women. CONCLUSION TSH level is independently associated with DPN in Chinese population with T2DM. A high serum TSH level may be a potential risk factor for DPN.

Use of glycated albumin to distinguish occult diabetes mellitus from stress-induced hyperglycemia in Chinese orthopedic trauma patients.

BACKGROUND: Some nondiabetic trauma patients with hyperglycemia have been found to have occult diabetes mellitus (ODM). We studied whether glycated albumin (GA) was an effective tool for detecting ODM in orthopedic trauma patients with elevated glucose levels. METHODS: A cross-sectional, sequential case series study of adult patients presenting to the Orthopedic Trauma Center between September 2009 and March 2010 with new limb fractures was performed. Hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) and GA levels were measured in hyperglycemic patients with no prior diabetes mellitus. A receiver operating characteristic curve was plotted to examine the sensitivity, specificity, and positive and negative predictive values of GA in identifying occult diabetes in hospitalized patients with acute hyperglycemia. RESULTS: A total of 2,058 trauma patients were screened and 399 patients (19.4%) with no known diabetes mellitus were noted to be hyperglycemic. Of these 399 patients, 38.3% (n = 153) had ODM according to the HbA1c diagnosis cutoff point. GA level was strongly correlated with HbA1c using Pearsons correlation analysis (r = 0.887, p < 0.01). Using logistic regression analysis, GA (odds ratio [OR] = 1.60, p < 0.001) and fasting plasma glucose (OR = 1.974, p < 0.001) were identified as significant risk factors for the diagnosis of ODM. Receiver operating characteristic curve analysis showed that a GA value of 17.5% gave an optimal sensitivity of 73.20% and specificity of 99.12% for distinguishing ODM from stress-induced hyperglycemia. CONCLUSION: Almost 40% of nondiabetic orthopedic trauma patients presenting with hyperglycemia were found to have ODM. A GA value of 17.5%, the optimal cutoff point, could distinguish between ODM and stress-induced hyperglycemia in Chinese orthopedic trauma subjects. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: II, diagnostic study.

Relationship between High Serum Cystatin C Levels and the Risk of Gestational Diabetes Mellitus

Aims Serum cystatin C (CysC) has recently been shown to be associated with the incidence of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and progression to the pre-diabetic state. The aim of this study was to explore the relationship between serum CysC and the risk of gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) in Chinese pregnant women. Methods This cross-sectional study consisted of 400 pregnant women including111 with GDM and 289 with normal glucose tolerance at 24–28 weeks of gestation. The subjects were further divided into four groups according to the CysC quartiles, and their clinical characteristics were compared. The serum CysC concentration was measured using immunoturbidimetry and the degree of insulin resistance was assessed by the homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR). Results Serum CysC levels were significantly higher in pregnant women with GDM than in the healthy pregnant women[1.0(0.8–1.8) vs 0.7(0.6–1.0), P<0.01). The Spearman’s correlation analysis showed that serum CysC was positively associated with HOMA-IR(r = 0.118, P<0.05) and the occurrence of GDM(r = 0.348, P<0.01). The pregnant women were divided into quartiles according to their serum CysC concentrations. Compared to the first quartile, pregnant women in Q2 (OR, 2.441; P = 0.025), Q3 (OR, 3.383; P = 0.001) and Q4 (OR, 5.516; P<0.001) had higher risk of GDM after adjusted for age, BMI, HbA1c and HOMA-IR. Further, with a rise in the serum CysC, there was an increasing trend in the HOMA-IR levels (P<0.05). A binary logistic regression analysis after adjusting for other confounding variables revealed a significant and independent association between serum CysC and GDM [OR = 14.269; 95% confidence interval, 4.977–40.908, P<0.01].The receiver operating characteristic curve analysis revealed that the optimal cutoff point for serum CysC to indicate GDM was 0.95mg/L. Conclusions Serum CysC is significantly and independently associated with insulin resistance and GDM. It may be a helpful biomarker to identify the risk of GDM in Chinese pregnant women.

The key role of 99mTc-MIBI SPECT/CT in the diagnosis of parathyroid adenoma: a case report

The concomitant occurrence of primary hyperparathyroidism (PHPT) due to parathyroid adenoma and papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) is not common. The co-occurrence of parathyroid tumors and thyroid diseases can lead to misdiagnosis owing to mutual interference of imaging in the early period of disease. The most commonly used imaging techniques for the preoperative localization of parathyroid and thyroid adenomas are technetium-99m sestamibi (99mTc-MIBI) scintigraphy and ultrasonography of the neck. Recently, 99mTc-MIBI single-photon emission computed tomography associated with computed tomography scintigraphy (SPECT/CT) has been used to detect PHPT, and its diagnostic value is being evaluated. Herein, we report a patient with an unusual co-occurrence of parathyroid adenoma and multiple thyroid diseases, including papillary thyroid carcinoma, thyroid adenoma and lymphocytic thyroiditis, which were localized with 99mTc-MIBI SPECT/CT and confirmed surgically. We suggest that 99mTc-MIBI SPECT/CT can play an important role in the diagnosis of parathyroid and thyroid lesions.