Talabporn Harnroongroj

Plasma Resistin, Insulin Concentration in Non-Diabetic and Diabetic, Overweight/Obese Thai

This study investigated levels of fasting plasma glucose (FBS), homeostasis model of the assessment of the insulin resistance (HOMA), lipid profile, insulin, and resistin hormones in 202 individuals, divided into four groups. Two groups had type II diabetes mellitus (DM): one group had been overnourished (DM/OB) (body mass index: BMI equal or above 25) and the other had not (DM/nOB). Two additional groups not suffering from diabetes were either overnourished (nDM/OB) or of normal nutritional status (nDM/nOB). Only the DM/OB group had insulin levels elevated above the other three groups. Resistin levels had been lowest in the nDM/nOB group. When participants of the two nOB groups were pooled into one group and the subjects of the two OB groups were combined into another group, the median plasma resistin levels of the OB groups were significantly higher compared with the nOB groups. Likewise the DM groups had higher resistin levels than the nDM groups. A significant correlation of plasma resistin with BMI, waist circumference, waist-to-hip ratio, FBS, and HOMA score had been observed. The result suggests that plasma resistin has a role in linking central obesity and obesity-related insulin resistance to type II diabetes mellitus.

Leptin, Soluble Leptin Receptor, Lipid Profiles, and LEPR Gene Polymorphisms in Thai Children and Adolescents

OBJECTIVE To evaluate the relationships between leptin, soluble leptin receptor, lipid profiles, and LEPR gene polymorphisms in child and adolescent Thai subjects. DESIGN Cross-sectional study of Thai children and adolescents. SUBJECTS 116 male and 65 female at risk for overweight/overweight child and adolescent Thai subjects, and 33 male and 62 female healthy child and adolescent Thai subjects (age: 5-19 years). MEASUREMENTS Leptin levels, soluble leptin receptor levels, lipid profiles, LEPR gene polymorphisms. RESULTS Significantly higher levels of cholesterol, triglyceride, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), and leptin levels were observed in at risk for overweight/overweight group. On the other hand, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) and soluble leptin receptor levels were significantly lower in the same group. Serum soluble leptin receptor levels were significantly negatively correlated with leptin. The at risk for overweight/overweight subjects with the Lys656Lys homozygous wild type LEPR gene had significantly higher cholesterol and LDL-C levels than those with Lys656Asn heterozygous and Asn656Asn homozygous mutant type. In contrast, subjects with Lys656Lys homozygous wild type had significantly lower leptin levels than those with Lys656Asn heterozygous and Asn656Asn homozygous mutant type. There was a statistically significant association between body mass index (BMI) and hyperleptinemia (odds ratio; OR = 2.49, p = 0.000) and females had more increased risk of hyperleptinemia than males (OR = 15.74, p = 0.004) in adolescent Thai subjects. CONCLUSION The present study is the first report of Lys656Asn polymorphism of the LEPR gene associated with cholesterol, LDL-C, and leptin levels in Thai children and adolescents. Serum leptin levels were significantly higher in the at risk for overweight/overweight. In contrast, there were significantly lower soluble leptin receptor levels in the same group. In addition, there was a statistically significant association between BMI, sex, and hyperleptinemia in adolescent Thai subjects.

The -11377C > G Adiponectin Gene Polymorphism Alters the Adiponectin Concentration and the Susceptibility to Type 2 Diabetes in Thais

The aims of this study were first to detect the levels of adiponectin, insulin, albumin, glucose, alanine aminotransferase (ALT), lipids, homeostasis model assessment for insulin resistance (HOMA-IR), and anthropometric variables in type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) as well as healthy control groups, and to determine whether two adiponectin gene polymorphisms, at the position -11377C > G as well as +45T > G, are associated with serum levels of adiponectin and other variables; then to search for the association between these two single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of the adiponectin gene and T2DM. We investigated 93 T2DM patients and 90 healthy volunteers. Compared with the healthy control group, the T2DM group had significantly lower adiponectin levels. Waist circumference, total cholesterol, ALT, glucose, insulin, and HOMA-IR scores were significantly higher in the T2DM group than in the control group. The polymorphism of the adiponectin gene at position -11377C > G among type 2 diabetes subjects showed that the adiponectin concentration was significantly lower in CG/GG genotypes (6.2 μg/mL) than the CC genotype (7.8 μg/mL), whereas SNP +45T > G was not associated with adiponectin levels. Adiponectin gene polymorphisms at position -11377C > G and +45T > G were significantly more frequent in type 2 diabetes patients than in the control group (p = 0.022; p = 0.045, respectively). However, multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that the strong impact on T2DM was found for -11377C > G gene polymorphism (p = 0.023) and waist circumference (p < 0.001). Therefore, the single nucleotide polymorphism of -11377C > G in adiponectin promoter region has impact on the lower adiponectin concentrations, and may influence susceptibility to T2DM in Thais.

Impact of COMT Val 108/158 Met and DRD2 Taq1B gene polymorphisms on vulnerability to cigarette smoking of Thai males.

The nicotine in cigarette smoke can stimulate the dopaminergic reward pathways. The catechol O-methyltransferase gene (COMT) and dopamine receptor 2 gene (DRD2) are dopamine-related genes. Genetic polymorphisms in these two genes are potential candidates in determining an individuals predisposition to cigarette smoking. The purposes of this study were to examine the association between two polymorphisms in COMT Val 108/158 Met and DRD2 Taq1B and anthropometric–biochemical parameters and to ascertain the association between these polymorphisms and cigarette smoking. The levels of anthropometric–biochemical parameters were determined. COMT Val 108/158 Met and DRD2 Taq1B polymorphisms were genotyped by polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism technique. With regard to COMT Val 108/158 Met and DRD2 Taq1B polymorphisms, no differences were found in anthropometric–biochemical variables, except for thiocyanate concentration. Smoking status was significantly associated with COMT Val 108/158 Met polymorphism, but not associated with DRD2 Taq1B polymorphism. Logistic regression analysis showed that COMT Val 108/158 Met gene polymorphism, educational status, parental smoking, and alcohol consumption had statistically significant impacts on cigarette smoking. The results suggest that COMT Val 108/158 Met genetic polymorphisms, but not DRD2 Taq1B, may influence susceptibility to cigarette smoking among Thai males.

The genetic association between alpha-2-macroglobulin (A 2 M) gene deletion polymorphism and low serum A 2 M concentration in overweight/obese Thais

Abstract The study subjects were 192 overweight and obese Thais (BMI > 25.00 kg/m 2 ), and 103 Thai controls (BMI = 18.50–24.99 kg/m 2 ), whose ages ranged from 18–60 years. All subjects were evaluated for serum Alpha-2-macroglobulin (A 2 M), globulin, albumin concentration, and polymorphic variation in the A 2 M gene. Serum A 2 M and albumin were significantly lower in the overweight/obese group ( P

Homocysteine and vitamin status in healthy Thai smokers

Purpose. Cigarette smoking is considered to increase morbidity and the mortality risk of cardiovascular diseases. B vitamins regulate the metabolism of homocysteine via remethylation and trans‐sulfuration pathways. The purpose of this study was to investigate homocysteine concentrations, vitamin status, anthropometric and haematological measurements of healthy smokers compared with healthy non‐smoking subjects.Design. This cross‐sectional study was carried out among smokers and non‐smokers from suburban and urban residential areas in Bangkok, Thailand.Materials and methods. 174 smokers and 97 non‐smokers (aged 19–62), who participated voluntarily in the study, were investigated. Total homocysteine, folate, vitamin B2, B6, B12, and C concentrations were measured.Results. Total homocysteine concentrations in plasma were significantly higher in smokers than non‐smokers. Vitamin B2, folate, B12 and C concentrations were significantly lower among smokers than non‐smokers but vitamin B6 was not significantly di...