Yoo-Chul Hwang

This study aimed to determine whether taurine supplementation improves metabolic disturbances and diabetic complications in an animal model for type 2diabetes. We investigated whether taurine has therapeutic effects on glucose metabolism, lipid metabolism,and diabetic complications in Otsuka Long-Evans Tokushima fatty (OLETF) rats with long-term duration of diabetes. Fourteen 50-week-old OLETF rats with chronic diabetes were fed a diet supplemented with taurine (2%) or a non-supplemented control

Recent epidemiologic studies clearly showed that early intensive glucose control has a legacy effect for preventing diabetic macrovascular complications. However, the cellular and molecular processes by which high glucose leads to macrovascular complications are poorly understood. Vascular smooth muscle cell (VSMC) dysfunction due to high glucose is a characteristic of diabetic vascular complications. Activation of nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) may play a key role in the regulation of inflammation a

It has been suggested that there is an association between environmental, low-level arsenic exposure and the risk of diabetes mellitus (DM), but little research has been conducted. Here, the glucose tolerance status and urinary creatinine adjusted total arsenic concentrations were analyzed in 3,602 subjects ≥ 20 yr of age who were registered for the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, 2008-2009. Various demographic parameters were associated with urinary arsenic concentration

Background: The original homeostasis model assessment (HOMA1) and the updated HOMA model (HOMA2) have been used to evaluate insulin resistance (IR) and β-cell function, but little is known about the usefulness of HOMA2 for the prediction of diabetes in Koreans. The aim of this study was to demonstrate the usefulness of HOMA2 as a predictor of type 2 diabetes mellitus in Koreans without diabetes. Methods: The study population consisted of 104,694 Koreans enrolled at a health checkup program and f

Background: We assessed the association of dipeptidyl peptidase 4 inhibitors (DPP4i) with hospitalization for heart failure (HF) using the Korean Health Insurance claims database. Methods: We collected data on newly prescribed sitagliptin, vildagliptin, and pioglitazone between January 1, 2009 and December 31, 2012 (mean follow-up of 336.8 days) to 935,519 patients with diabetes (518,614 males and 416,905 females) aged 40 to 79 years (mean age of 59.4 years). Results: During the study, 998 patie

Background: The apolipoprotein B/A1 (apoB/A1) ratio is a stronger predictor of future cardiovascular disease than is the level ofconventional lipids. Statin and ezetimibe combination therapy have shown additional cardioprotective effects over statin monotherapy. Methods: This was a single-center, randomized, open-label, active-controlled study in Korea. A total of 36 patients with type 2 diabetesmellitus were randomized to either rosuvastatin monotherapy (20 mg/day, n=20) or rosuvastatin/ezetimi

The aims of this study were to investigate the validity of Friedewald’s formula and to propose a range of triglyceride values over which the formula can be used without significant error. This was a cross-sectional analysis of 1,929 subjects (946 males and 983females) aged 20 yr and older using data of the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey in 2009. Estimated total number was considered to be 10,633,655(5,846,384 males and 4,787,271 females). Calculated and directly-measured

Background: Recent studies have suggested that high density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol is inversely associated with the development of hypertension. We aimed to determine the association between different HDL cholesterol subclasses and risk of future hypertension. Methods: A total of 270 Japanese Americans (130 men, 140 women) without hypertension between the ages of 34 to 75 years were enrolled. Blood pressure was measured with a mercury sphygmomanometer, and average blood pressure was calcu

Background: There have been no systematic observations regarding changes in early phase insulin secretion among Korean prediabetes and early stage type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) patients. Methods: We conducted 75-g oral glucose tolerance tests (OGTT) in 873 subjects with suspected abnormal glucose tolerance. All subjects were diagnosed as having normal glucose tolerance (NGT), prediabetes (preDM), or T2DM according to the OGTT results and the insulin secretory and insulin resistance indices of

Background: Little is known about the natural course of normal fasting glucose (NFG) in Asians and the risk factors for future diabetes. Methods: A total of 370 Japanese Americans (163 men, 207 women) with NFG levels and no history of diabetes, aged 34 to 75 years, were enrolled. Oral glucose tolerance tests were performed at baseline, 2.5, 5, and 10 years after enrollment. Results: During 10 years of follow-up, 16.1% of participants met criteria for diabetes diagnosis, and 39.6% of subjects sti

IgA 신증에서 면역억제제 등의 치료가 효과적인지는 아직 불확실하다. 한편, ACE 억제제가 신질환 환자들에서 단백뇨량을 감소시키는 것으로 알려져 있다. 이에 안지오텐신 II 수용체 길항제인 로잘탄의 단백뇨를 가진 특발성 IgA 신증 환자들에서의 단백뇨와 신기능에 대한 치료효과를 1-4개월간의 단기간 및 7-13개월간의 전향적 추적관찰 후 알아보고자 하였다. 총 12명의 단백뇨을 가진 IgA 신증 환자군에서 50mg 또는 100mg 복용 후 1-4개월 후 24시간 단백뇨는 투여 전 2.8±1.1g에서 투여 후 1-4개월 뒤에 1.1±1.0g으로 유의하게 감소하였다. 7-13개월 후에 단백뇨는 1.7±0.6g으로 감소되어 있었다. 로잘탄 복용에 의한 심각한 부작용은 관찰되지 않았으며 특히 기침이나 혈관 부종 등은 없었다. 혈청 크레아티닌은 로잘탄 복용 전후로 유의한 변화가 없었다. 결론적으로 대부분의 IgA신증 환자들에서 안지오텐신 II수용체 길항제는 큰 부작용 없이 단백뇨에 유익한

Purpose: Many clinical guidelines recommend apolipoprotein B (apoB) measurement, particularly in subjects with metabolic syndrome or type 2 diabetes. Recently, we developed a new equation to estimate serum apoB (apoBE). We validated the clinical relevance of apoBE and compared the performance of the equation with conventional lipid measurements and direct measurementof apoB. Materials and Methods: Study subjects were recruited from patients who visited the Health Screening Center at Kangbuk Sams

Primary adrenocortical carcinoma is a rare tumor, and is characterized by a peri-tumor mass effect and hormone excess signs. Adrenocortical carcinoma most commonly secretes cortisol, but tumors that secrete other adrenal hormones (aldosterone, androgen)are rare. Herein, we report the case of a 70-year-old woman with cortisol, androgen, and aldosterone-secreting adrenal carcinoma. The patient complained of generalized weakness, moon face, and central obesity. On laboratory examination, hypokalemi

The adrenal gland is the most commonly involved endocrine organ in patients infected with the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). Adrenal function abnormality is more common in HIV patients than in the general population. It is important to recognize the condition of adrenal insufficiency, as this adrenal disorder may prove fatal if left untreated. Herein, we report a case of primary adrenal insufficiency in a 37-year-old male patient with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome. The patient complain