N.H. Kim

Serum adiponectin concentrations predict the developments of type 2 diabetes and the metabolic syndrome in elderly Koreans

objectiveu2002 To determine whether low serum adiponectin concentrations are able to predict the future developments of type 2 diabetes and the metabolic syndrome using the National Cholesterol Education Programme (NCEP) criteria. We also investigated the stability of adiponectin levels and the relationships between baseline adiponectin levels and changes in the parameters related to the metabolic syndrome over a period of 3 years.

Serum Selenoprotein P Levels in Patients with Type 2 Diabetes and Prediabetes: Implications for Insulin Resistance, Inflammation, and Atherosclerosis

CONTEXT AND OBJECTIVEnThe dysregulation of hepatokines may be associated with the pathogenesis of insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes. A recent study has suggested that selenoprotein P (SeP), a novel hepatokine, may play a role in the regulation of glucose metabolism and insulin sensitivity. We examined the relationship between circulating SeP levels and clinical parameters associated with insulin resistance in humans.nnnPARTICIPANTS AND METHODSnWe compared serum SeP concentrations in 100 subjects with diverse glucose tolerance statuses. Furthermore, we evaluated the relationship between SeP and cardiometabolic risk factors including insulin resistance, high-sensitivity C-reactive protein, and carotid intima-media thickness.nnnRESULTSnSerum SeP concentrations were significantly higher in patients with type 2 diabetes or prediabetes than those with normal glucose tolerance (all P < 0.01) and decreased in a stepwise manner [1032.4 (495.9-2149.4) vs. 867.3 (516.3-1582.7) vs. 362.0 (252.5-694.5), P = 0.004]. In addition, overweight and obese subjects had significantly increased SeP levels compared with lean subjects (P = 0.002). Spearmans partial correlation analysis adjusted for age and gender showed a significant relationship between SeP and cardiometabolic factors including body mass index, waist circumference, systolic blood pressure, triglycerides, glucose, hemoglobin A1c, aspartate aminotransferase, and insulin resistance. Furthermore, in multiple regression analyses, SeP showed an independent association with carotid intima-media thickness as well as high-sensitivity C-reactive protein, even after adjustment for other confounding factors.nnnCONCLUSIONSnCirculating SeP concentrations were elevated in patients with glucose metabolism dysregulation and were related to various cardiometabolic parameters including insulin resistance, inflammation, and atherosclerosis.

Serum osteoprotegerin levels are associated with inflammation and pulse wave velocity

Objectiveu2002 We examined the association between serum osteoprotegerin (OPG) levels, systemic inflammation and arterial stiffness in normal and diabetic patients.

Serum retinol-binding protein 4 levels are elevated in non-alcoholic fatty liver disease

Objectiveu2002 Retinol‐binding protein 4 (RBP4) is a recently identified adipokine that is elevated in the serum in several insulin‐resistant states. We investigated the relationship between non‐alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and serum RBP4 in nondiabetic adults.

Factor analysis of the metabolic syndrome among elderly Koreans—the South-west Seoul Study

Aimsu2003 To examine the relationship between the components of the metabolic syndrome and to explore whether insulin resistance unifies the clustering of components of the metabolic syndrome among urban elderly Koreans using exploratory factor analysis.

Relation between insulin resistance and hematological parameters in elderly Koreans-Southwest Seoul (SWS) Study.

In this study, we investigated the relation between insulin resistance and hematological parameters in elderly Koreans. This study included 1314 non-diabetic subjects over the age of 60, selected from a cross-sectional study, which was conducted in 1999 in Seoul, Korea. We measured fasting and post-load 2 h plasma glucose, insulin levels, lipid profiles, anthropometric measures, and hematological parameters. The degree of insulin resistance was assessed using the homeostasis model assessment (HOMA). We found a correlation between insulin resistance and hemoglobin concentrations in non-smoking men (r=0.20, P=0.0186). In non-smoking women, insulin resistance correlated with hemoglobin (r=0.10, P=0.0017) and with white blood cell (WBC) count (r=0.15, P=0.001). Hemoglobin concentrations and WBC counts were also associated with other components of the insulin resistance syndrome such as body mass index, blood pressure, lipid profiles and fasting plasma insulin levels (surrogate for insulin resistance). Furthermore, the group in the upper quartile for insulin resistance showed higher hemoglobin concentrations and WBC counts than the lower quartile, independent of smoking status and serum iron concentrations. Using HOMA-IR as a dependent variable in a multiple regression analysis, age, body mass index (BMI), waist-to-hip ratio (WHR), systolic blood pressure, HDL cholesterol, triglyceride, WBC count, hemoglobin, hematocrit and serum TIBC were significant. Our results provide support for a relation between insulin resistance/hyperinsulinemia and hematological parameters such as hemoglobin concentrations and WBC counts in elderly Koreans. This suggests that increased erythropoiesis and subclinical inflammation could be part of the metabolic syndrome in elderly Koreans.

Plasma and urinary vascular endothelial growth factor and diabetic nephropathy in Type 2 diabetes mellitus

Aimsu2003 Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) has been implicated in the pathogenesis of diabetes mellitus. We determined whether alterations of plasma and urinary VEGF levels are related to diabetic nephropathy in Type 2 diabetic patients.

Association between endogenous secretory RAGE, inflammatory markers and arterial stiffness

BACKGROUNDnAdvanced glycation end products (AGEs) and its receptor (RAGE) were known to play a pivotal role in the development of cardiovascular complications of diabetes. We investigated the association between circulating endogenous secretory RAGE (esRAGE) levels, inflammatory markers and arterial stiffness measured using brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity (baPWV).nnnMETHODSnThe study subjects were composed of 76 type 2 diabetic patients and 78 age- and sex-matched non-diabetic subjects.nnnRESULTSnCirculating esRAGE levels were significantly lower in subjects with type 2 diabetes (0.237+/-0.123 ng/ml vs. 0.307+/-0.177 ng/ml, p=0.005), and those levels were inversely correlated with body mass index (BMI), waist circumference, blood pressure, triglyceride, fasting glucose level and insulin resistance. Furthermore, esRAGE levels were significantly associated with adiponectin (r=0.164, p=0.044), interleukin-6 (IL-6) (r=-0.242, p=0.009) levels and baPWV (r=-0.296, p<0.001). Multiple regression analysis showed that fasting insulin, IL-6, glucose level and insulin resistance are major factor determining esRAGE (R(2)=0.186). Moreover, baPWV was found to be associated with age, systolic blood pressure, triglyceride, sex, BMI, fasting insulin and esRAGE level (R(2)=0.583).nnnCONCLUSIONSnCirculating esRAGE levels were significantly lower in type 2 diabetic patients, and were associated with inflammation and arterial stiffness. These results suggest that esRAGE may play an important role on ligand-RAGE interaction propagated inflammation and atherosclerosis.

Comparison of ADA and WHO criteria for the diagnosis of diabetes in elderly Koreans.

Aims This study was conducted to compare the prevalence and cardiovascular risk factors of different categories of glucose tolerance in the elderly Korean population using World Health Organization (WHO) and American Diabetes Association (ADA) criteria.

Urinary concentration of transforming growth factor-beta-inducible gene-h3(beta ig-h3) in patients with Type 2 diabetes mellitus.

Aimsu2003 The expression of TGFβ‐inducible gene h3(βig‐h3) has been used to assess the biological activity of TGFβ in the kidney. In this study, we investigated whether the urinary concentration of βig‐h3 is associated with diabetic nephropathy in patients with Type 2 diabetes mellitus. We also evaluated the relationship between the urinary concentration of βig‐3 and proteinuria and microalbuminuria (AER) in a normal healthy population and in Type 2 diabetes patients.