Weight change and the risk of hip fractures in patients with type 2 diabetes: a nationwide cohort study.

Both weight gain and weight loss in type 2 diabetic population were associated with increased risk of hip fracture, while maintaining weight lowered the risk of hip fracture. Regarding the risk of hip fracture, we can propose active monitoring to maintain the weight of type 2 diabetes patients. INTRODUCTION: In type 2 diabetes, patients are often asked to control their weight in order to reduce their diabetic morbidity. The American Diabetes Association recommends that diabetic patients conduct high-intensity interventions for regulating diet, physical activity, and behavior to reduce weight, followed by long-term comprehensive weight maintenance programs. Although such weight control attempts are required in diabetic patients, there are few studies on the effect of weight change on hip fracture in this population. We aim to investigate the association between body weight change and the incidence of hip fracture in subjects with type 2 diabetes using large-scale, nationwide cohort data on the Korean population. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 1,447,579 subjects (894,204 men and 553,375 women) > 40 years of age, who were diagnosed with type 2 diabetes, were enrolled in this study. Weight change within 2 years was divided into five categories: from weight loss ≥ 10% to weight gain ≥ 10%. The hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% confidence intervals for the incidence of hip fracture were analyzed, compared with the reference of the stable weight group (weight change < 5%). RESULTS: Among 5 weight change groups, more than 10% weight loss showed the highest HR (HR, 1.605; 95% CI, 1.493 to 1.725), followed by more than 10% weight gain (HR, 1.457; 95% CI, 1.318 to 1.612). The effect of weight change on hip fracture risk was greater in males than in females, and those under 65 years of age were greater than those over 65 years of age. Baseline BMI did not play a role of weight change affecting the risk of hip fracture. The HR for hip fracture of subjects with regular exercise was lower than those without regular exercise. CONCLUSIONS: In the type 2 diabetes population, both weight gain and weight loss were significantly associated with a higher risk of hip fracture, whereas maintaining body weight reduced the risk of hip fracture the most.

Effect of follow-up raloxifene therapy after denosumab discontinuation in postmenopausal women.

Follow-up raloxifene therapy after denosumab discontinuation resulted in a decrease in bone mass to the pre-denosumab levels and a rebound increase of bone turnover markers. The decrease in lumbar bone mineral density was particularly evident when the body mass index was low, there were previous vertebral fractures, or lumbar bone mineral density before denosumab administration was low. INTRODUCTION: Selective estrogen receptor modulators may be an alternative to bisphosphonates for treating rebound resorption after discontinuing denosumab. This study aimed to investigate the effects of follow-up raloxifene therapy after denosumab discontinuation in postmenopausal women. METHODS: This retrospective observational study included 61 patients who received 12-month follow-up raloxifene therapy after denosumab discontinuation. The primary endpoint was the bone mineral density change. The secondary endpoints were the changes in bone turnover markers and the incidence of new vertebral fractures. RESULTS: Raloxifene administration for 12 months after denosumab discontinuation resulted in a significantly lower bone mineral density at all sites compared to the level at 6 months after the last denosumab treatment (lumbar spine, - 5.48%; femoral neck, - 2.95%; total hip, - 3.52%; all, p < 0.001). The decrease in lumbar bone mineral density was particularly evident when the body mass index was low, there were previous vertebral fractures, or lumbar bone mineral density before denosumab administration was low. Marked increases in the bone turnover markers from baseline were noted after switching to raloxifene. However, no new vertebral fractures occurred during raloxifene treatment. CONCLUSIONS: Follow-up raloxifene therapy after denosumab discontinuation resulted in a decrease in bone mass to the pre-denosumab levels and a rebound increase of bone turnover markers. Therefore, raloxifene administered sequentially after denosumab discontinuation was not effective in preventing rebound phenomenon.

Comparison of fracture risk between type 1 and type 2 diabetes: a comprehensive real-world data.

Population-based cohort study of 6,548,784 Korean subjects demonstrates that the risk of fracture was higher in patients with diabetes than in nondiabetic subjects. Furthermore, patients with type 1 diabetes were associated with a higher risk of fracture than patients with type 2 diabetes for all measurement sites. INTRODUCTION: Diabetes mellitus is associated with increased fracture risk. Although the pathophysiologic effect on bone metabolism differs according to the type of diabetes, a higher risk of fracture in patients with diabetes than in nondiabetic patients has been consistently demonstrated. Considering the ever-increasing number of patients with diabetes, we aimed to provide updated information on whether this phenomenon remains valid in real-world settings by using large-scale population datasets. METHODS: We conducted a retrospective longitudinal study using data from the Korean National Health Insurance Service dataset of preventive health check-ups between January 2009 and December 2016. The hazard ratios were calculated for any fracture, vertebral fracture, and hip fracture and were analyzed according to the presence and type of diabetes. Among 10,585,818 subjects, 6,548,784 were eligible for the analysis (2418 patients with type 1 diabetes mellitus [T1DM] and 506,208 patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus [T2DM]). RESULTS: The mean follow-up duration (in years) was 7.0 ± 1.3 for subjects without diabetes, 6.4 ± 2.0 for those with T1DM, and 6.7 ± 1.7 for T2DM. Patients with T1DM had a higher incidence rate for all types of fractures per 1000 person-years. The fully adjusted hazard ratios (HRs) for any fracture, vertebral fracture, and hip fracture were higher in T1DM than in T2DM (1.37 [95% confidence interval (CI): 1.23-1.52] for any fracture, 1.33 [95% CI: 1.09-1.63] for vertebral fracture, and 1.99 [95% CI: 1.56-2.53] for hip fracture). CONCLUSIONS: In this large-scale population analysis, diabetes was associated with a higher risk of all types of fractures. Patients with T1DM had a higher risk of fracture than those with T2DM for all measurement sites, and hip fractures had the highest risk. Therefore, fracture prevention training for patients with diabetes is advisable.

White matter hyperintensities and recurrent stroke risk in patients with stroke with small-vessel disease.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: White matter hyperintensities (WMH) are a predictor of stroke among elderly individuals. This study aimed to evaluate the association between WMH severity and the risk of recurrent vascular events among Asian patients with ischaemic stroke with small-vessel disease (SVD) including micro/macrobleeds and lacunes. METHODS: Data from participants (n = 1454) in the PICASSO (PreventIon of CArdiovascular Events in iSchemic Stroke Patients with High Risk of Cerebral HemOrrhage) trial were reviewed. The severity of WMH in baseline brain magnetic resonance imaging scans was assessed using the Fazekas scale. The association between WMH severity and stroke (ischaemic or hemorrhagic) and major vascular events (MVEs) (a composite of stroke/myocardial infarction/vascular death) was assessed. RESULTS: Study patients had a significant burden of SVD: Fazekas score 0 (n = 2), 1 (n = 426), 2 (n = 650) and 3 (n = 376) [median Fazekas score 2 (mean follow-up, 1.9 ± 1.3 years)]. The stroke incidence rate per 100 personyears was 2.6 in the Fazekas 0-1 group, 3.6 in the Fazekas 2 group and 7.0 in the Fazekas 3 group, and the rates for MVEs were 3.3, 4.3 and 7.6, respectively. Compared with the Fazekas 0-1 group, the Fazekas 3 group was associated with a higher risk of stroke [adjusted hazard ratio (HR), 2.15; 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.19-3.88; P = 0.011], ischaemic stroke (adjusted HR, 2.11; 95% CI, 1.07-4.15; P = 0.031), hemorrhagic stroke (adjusted HR, 3.72; 95% CI, 1.09-12.70; P = 0.036) and MVEs (adjusted HR, 2.09; 95% CI, 1.20-3.66; P = 0.010). CONCLUSION: Advanced WMH in Asian patients with ischaemic stroke with SVD burden was associated with an increased risk of recurrent vascular events. It may exert an effect as a prognostic indicator in high risk of recurrent vascular events.

Prevalence and comorbidities associated with hidradenitis suppurativa in Korea: a nationwide population-based study.

BACKGROUND: The prevalence of hidradenitis suppurativa (HS) in Asia is unknown. The associations between HS and other autoimmune disorders have rarely been reported. OBJECTIVE: We sought to determine the prevalence of and diseases associated with HS using the National Health Insurance (NHI) database. METHODS: We examined Korean NHI claim database data from 2007 to 2016. We enrolled all patients with HS and age- and sex-matched control subjects without HS. We estimated the period prevalence of HS and associated comorbidities in Korea. RESULTS: We identified 28 516 patients with HS (61.3% males and 38.7% females). The period prevalence rate was 0.06%, 55.8 patients (95% confidence interval 55.1-56.4) per 100 000 persons, and the female-to-male ratio was 1 : 1.6. HS patients were at significantly increased risk of rheumatoid arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis, type 1 diabetes, ulcerative colitis, type 2 diabetes, hypertension, hyperlipidaemia, acne conglobata, pilonidal cysts, psoriasis, pyoderma gangrenosum, alopecia areata and vitiligo. CONCLUSION: The overall prevalence of HS in Korea was lower than that in Western populations, and male patients predominated.

Different effect of alcohol consumption on hypertension according to metabolic health status.

We aimed to investigate whether the effect of problematic alcohol drinking on hypertension differed according to metabolic health statuses. Male participants from the fifth Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey were recruited. Problematic alcohol drinkers were designated as subjects with heavy drinking (⩾30 g per day), binge drinking (⩾7 glasses per day) or a high alcohol use disorders identification test score (⩾20). Metabolically obese status was defined as having ⩾1 or ⩾2 components of the diagnostic criteria for metabolic syndrome, excluding the blood pressure component. Because the prevalence of problematic alcohol drinking and the prevalence of hypertension largely differed by age groups, separate analyses were performed for the two age groups (<50 and ⩾50 years). Among a total of 6329 subjects, 37.04% had hypertension. In the younger age group, subjects with problematic alcohol drinking demonstrated a higher prevalence of hypertension in both nonobese and obese individuals compared with subjects who were nonobese and who were not problematic alcohol drinkers. Of note, problematic alcohol drinking increased the risk of having hypertension ∼3 times in young nonobese individuals who demonstrated a metabolically obese phenotype compared with those who were metabolically healthy. However, metabolic health status did not have a significant impact on the risk for having hypertension in obese participants, regardless of their age groups. For the prevention of hypertension, avoidance of problematic alcohol drinking should be emphasized, especially in young subjects who show poor metabolic health status despite being nonobese.

Serum preadipocyte factor 1 concentrations and risk of developing diabetes: a nested case-control study.

AIM: To determine whether preadipocyte factor 1 could be a predictive marker for the development of diabetes in people without diabetes at baseline. METHODS: We conducted a population-based, nested case-control study of individuals who progressed to diabetes (n = 43) or prediabetes (n = 345) and control participants matched on age, sex and fasting plasma glucose concentration, who maintained normal glucose tolerance (n = 389) during a 4-year follow-up using data from the Chungju Metabolic disease Cohort Study. Circulating levels of preadipocyte factor 1 were measured using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. RESULTS: Baseline serum preadipocyte factor 1 levels showed a stepwise decrease across the glucose tolerance status groups at follow-up (normal glucose tolerance: 10.02 ± 3.02 ng/ml; prediabetes: 9.48 ± 3.35 ng/ml; diabetes: 8.66 ± 3.29 ng/ml; P for trend, 0.0151). Individuals whose fasting plasma glucose level had increased or whose homeostasis model assessment of ß-cell function had decreased at follow-up showed significantly lower levels of preadipocyte factor 1 compared with their control group counterparts. After adjusting for age, BMI, fasting plasma glucose, serum insulin levels, systolic blood pressure and triglycerides, the incidence of diabetes was nearly threefold higher in the lowest vs. the upper three quartiles of circulating preadipocyte factor 1 (relative risk 2.794; 95% CI 1.188-6.571; P = 0.0185). Notably, these findings were significant in women but not in men. CONCLUSIONS: Levels of circulating preadipocyte factor 1 may be a useful biomarker for identifying women at high risk of developing diabetes.

Lower serum zinc levels are associated with unhealthy metabolic status in normal-weight adults: The 2010 Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey.

AIM: This study investigated whether serum zinc concentration is associated with glucose tolerance, insulin resistance and metabolic health status in Korean adults. METHODS: Subjects with available serum zinc levels were recruited from the fifth Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANESV) cohort. Those in the highest quartile on homoeostasis model assessment for insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) and with a body mass index (BMI) of 18.5-25kg/m(2) were classified as metabolically obese and normal weight (MONW). RESULTS: A total of 1813 subjects with a mean age of 45.2±0.5 years and a mean BMI of 24.01±0.11kg/m(2) were enrolled. Those in the lower serum zinc quartiles exhibited higher levels of fasting blood glucose and insulin resistance indices compared with those in the higher quartiles. However, these associations were positive only in normal-weight subjects. Those categorized as MONW exhibited significantly lower serum zinc levels than the metabolically healthy and normal weight (MHNW) subjects (131.6±3.0µg/dL vs 141.7±2.8µg/dL, respectively; P=0.0026), whereas serum zinc levels did not differ according to metabolic health in obese subjects. The odds ratio for being categorized as MONW was 4.12 (95% CI: 1.75, 9.72) among those in the lowest serum zinc quartile compared with those in the highest quartile even after adjusting for possible confounding factors. CONCLUSION: Lower serum zinc levels were associated with unhealthy metabolic status in normal-weight adults. Further prospective studies are required to define the role of zinc in metabolic health.

A novel criterion for identifying metabolically obese but normal weight individuals using the product of triglycerides and glucose.

OBJECTIVES: Metabolically obese but normal weight (MONW) individuals constitute a subgroup of normal weight individuals that display impaired insulin sensitivity with a higher risk of developing diabetes, cardiovascular disease and mortality. We aimed to propose a novel criterion for defining MONW by examining the usefulness and the cutoff value of the TyG index, a product of the levels of triglycerides and glucose, in identifying MONW individuals. In addition, the performance of this criterion in predicting the future incidence of diabetes was assessed. SUBJECTS/METHODS: A total of 7541 non-diabetic, normal weight (body mass index ⩾18.5 and <25 kg m(-)(2)) subjects were selected from the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey conducted in 2009-2010. Another 3185 participants with follow-up studies were selected from a prospective community-based cohort study. The TyG index was calculated as ln(fasting triglycerides (mg dl(-1)) × fasting glucose (mg dl(-1))/2). RESULTS: The levels of the TyG index paralleled the prevalence of metabolic syndrome and its components. The cutoff value of the TyG index that reflected MONW based on the receiver operating characteristics analysis was 8.82 for men and 8.73 for women, with the area under the curve values being 0.855 and 0.868, respectively. The sensitivity and the specificity were 84.2 and 77.6% in men and 69.1 and 89.4% in women, respectively. Individuals designated as MONW, who have a normal weight and TyG levels higher than cutoff, displayed a metabolically unhealthy phenotype and an approximately twofold higher risk of developing diabetes compared with metabolically healthy normal weight subjects. CONCLUSIONS: We propose a simple diagnostic criterion of MONW, which might be used to discriminate subjects with a higher risk of metabolic diseases.

Clinical utility of serum beta-2-microglobulin as a predictor of diabetic complications in patients with type 2 diabetes without renal impairment.

AIM: As serum beta-2-microglobulin (B2M) levels are usually elevated in patients with renal failure, they have been suggested as a surrogate marker of cardiovascular mortality for patients with chronic kidney disease. Glycation of B2M is cytotoxic and may contribute to the risk of diabetic complications in patients with diabetes. Our objective was to evaluate the relationship between B2M and diabetic complications in patients with type 2 diabetes (T2D) and normal kidney function. METHODS: A total of 366 patients with T2D and preserved renal function with no clinical evidence of cardiovascular disease were enrolled consecutively into this study. High B2M was defined as a median serum B2M level ≥ 1.8 mg/L. Subclinical atherosclerosis was defined as a carotid artery intima-media thickness (C-IMT) ≥ 0.9 mm or the presence of carotid plaque. The definition of diabetic nephropathy was based on the presence of albuminuria (≥ 30 mg/g creatinine). RESULTS: Patients with high B2M were older, and had diabetes of longer duration, higher serum creatinine, microalbuminuria, and increased vascular stiffness and C-IMT compared with patients with low B2M. B2M levels were positively correlated with C-IMT and vascular stiffness, and these associations remained constant after adjusting for age. In addition, after adjusting for age, gender, body mass index, serum creatinine, hypertension, smoking and alcohol consumption, the adjusted odds ratio (OR) for atherosclerosis was 2.01 [95% confidence interval (CI): 1.02-3.94] per 1mg/L increase in B2M. The prevalences of diabetic retinopathy and nephropathy were significantly higher with a high B2M than with a low B2M. The multiple adjusted OR for diabetic nephropathy was 2.29 (95% CI: 1.11-4.72) per 1mg/L increase of B2M. CONCLUSION: Higher serum B2M was an independent risk factor for subclinical atherosclerosis and diabetic nephropathy in patients with T2D without renal impairment.

Preventive effect of fermented Maillard reaction products from milk proteins in cardiovascular health.

The aim of this study was to determine the dual effect of Maillard reaction and fermentation on the preventive cardiovascular effects of milk proteins. Maillard reaction products (MRP) were prepared from the reaction between milk proteins, such as whey protein concentrates (WPC) and sodium caseinate (SC), and lactose. The hydrolysates of MRP were obtained from fermentation by lactic acid bacteria (LAB; i.e., Lactobacillus gasseri H10, L. gasseri H11, Lactobacillus fermentum H4, and L. fermentum H9, where human-isolated strains were designated H1 to H15), which had excellent proteolytic and 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging activities (>20%). The antioxidant activity of MRP was greater than that of intact proteins in assays of the reaction with 2,2'-azino-bis (3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) diammonium salt and trivalent ferric ions; moreover, the effect of MRP was synergistically improved by fermentation. The Maillard reaction dramatically increased the level of antithrombotic activity and 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-CoA reductase (HMGR) inhibitory effect of milk proteins, but did not change the level of activity for micellar cholesterol solubility. Furthermore, specific biological properties were enhanced by fermentation. Lactobacillus gasseri H11 demonstrated the greatest activity for thrombin and HMGR inhibition in Maillard-reacted WPC, by 42 and 33%, respectively, whereas hydrolysates of Maillard-reacted SC fermented by L. fermentum H9 demonstrated the highest reduction rate for micellar cholesterol solubility, at 52%. In addition, the small compounds that were likely released by fermentation of MRP were identified by size-exclusion chromatography. Therefore, MRP and hydrolysates of fermented MRP could be used to reduce cardiovascular risks.

Healthcare use and prescription patterns associated with adult asthma in Korea: analysis of the NHI claims database.

BACKGROUND: National Health Insurance (NHI) claim records could provide valuable data for epidemiological studies of asthma in Korea. The aim of this study is to estimate the prevalence of adult asthma and to investigate asthma-related healthcare use and prescription patterns in Korea over 5 years. METHODS: National Health Insurance claim records from January 1, 2006 to December 31, 2010 were analyzed in a retrospective, population-based study. Outcome measures included asthma prevalence, healthcare use, and prescription patterns over time, by type of hospital, and by medical specialty. Additionally, we assessed differences in healthcare use between newly diagnosed and previously diagnosed patients in 2009. RESULTS: Over 5 years, the prevalence of asthma among Korean adults increased from 4944 to 5707 cases per 100,000 population (from 3760 to 4445 in men and from 6108 to 6951 in women). Asthma-related outpatient visits decreased from 4.82 ± 8.02 to 3.44 ± 5.50. Approximately 3% of all patients were hospitalized and 2.4% received asthma-related emergency treatment each year. Pulmonary function tests were performed in 10-11% of patients an average of 1.3 times per year. Newly diagnosed patients experienced fewer asthma-related hospitalizations (1.78% vs 4.35%) and emergency department visits (0.80% vs 2.11%) than the previously diagnosed group. Prescriptions of inhaled corticosteroids-based inhalers were maintained with about 20% of average of all types of hospitals. CONCLUSIONS: The prevalence of asthma in Korea has increased over a recent 5-year period, and asthma is still suboptimally controlled. Public health strategies are needed to improve the management of asthma in adults.

Evaluation of ABX Pentra DX 120 and Sysmex XE-2100 in umbilical cord blood.

INTRODUCTION: Cord blood (CB) is an important source of hematopoietic stem cells and reflects the hematologic status of neonates. ABX Pentra DX 120 (Horiba Medical, Montpellier, France) and Sysmex XE-2100 (Sysmex, Kobe, Japan) were compared in 200 CB specimens. METHODS: Complete blood count parameters including white blood cell (WBC) differential counts were compared between the two analyzers. Double differential matrix (DDX) by ABX Pentra DX 120 and hematopoietic progenitor cell (HPC) by Sysmex XE-2100 were compared with CD34(+) cells by flow cytometry. RESULTS: Most of the parameters showed acceptable correlation between the two analyzers. Although WBC differential of both analyzers showed acceptable correlation with manual counts, mononuclear cells (MNC) by ABX Pentra DX 120 better correlated with manual count than MNC by Sysmex XE-2100. NRBC by Sysmex XE-2100 better correlated with manual count than NRBC by ABX Pentra DX 120. ABX Pentra DX 120 showed better flagging performances. DDX better correlated with CD34(+) cells than HPC. CONCLUSION: Although the results from both analyzers are mostly interchangeable and reliable in CB specimens, flagging performance of ABX Pentra DX 120 seems to be superior to that of Sysmex XE-2100. DDX by ABX Pentra DX 120 would be valuable to evaluate the quality of CB for further therapeutic utilization.

Validation of the cephalosporin intradermal skin test for predicting immediate hypersensitivity: a prospective study with drug challenge.

BACKGROUND: Cephalosporin is a major offending agent in terms of drug hypersensitivity along with penicillin. Cephalosporin intradermal skin tests (IDTs) have been widely used; however, their validity for predicting immediate hypersensitivity has not been studied. This study aimed to determine the predictive value of cephalosporin intradermal skin testing before administration of the drug. METHODS: We prospectively conducted IDTs with four cephalosporins, one each of selected first-, second-, third-, or fourth-generation cephalosporins: ceftezol; cefotetan or cefamandole; ceftriaxone or cefotaxime; and flomoxef, respectively, as well as with penicillin G. After the skin test, whatever the result, one of the tested cephalosporins was administered intravenously and the patient was carefully observed. RESULTS: We recruited 1421 patients who required preoperative cephalosporins. Seventy-four patients (74/1421, 5.2%) were positive to at least one cephalosporin. However, none of responders had immediate hypersensitivity reactions after a challenge dose of the same or different cephalosporin, which were positive in the skin test. Four patients who suffered generalized urticaria and itching after challenge gave negative skin tests for the corresponding drug. The IDT for cephalosporin had a sensitivity of 0%, a specificity of 97.5%, a negative predictive value of 99.7%, and a positive predictive value (PPV) of 0%, when challenged with the same drugs that were positive in the skin test. CONCLUSION: Routine skin testing with a cephalosporin before its administration is not useful for predicting immediate hypersensitivity because of the extremely low sensitivity and PPV of the skin test (CRIS registration no. KCT0000455).

Higher levels of small dense low-density lipoprotein (LDL) are associated with cardiac autonomic neuropathy in patients with type 2 diabetes.

AIM: To investigate the relationship between small dense LDL cholesterol and cardiac autonomic neuropathy among patients with Type 2 diabetes. METHODS: A total of 175 patients who had not taken lipid-lowering agents previously were enrolled consecutively in this study. Small dense LDL cholesterol level was measured using polyacrylamide tube gel electrophoresis, which fractionates LDL cholesterol into seven components according to particle size and charge. We analysed the mean LDL cholesterol particle size and the proportion of small dense LDL cholesterol. RESULTS: The mean (± sd) patient age was 56 (± 14) years, the mean (± sd) duration of diabetes was 10.3 (± 8.3) years, the mean (± sd) proportion of small dense LDL cholesterol was 21.3 (± 17.6)% and the mean (± sd) LDL cholesterol size was 26.33 (± 0.8) nm. Men with cardiac autonomic neuropathy had a longer duration of diabetes compared with those without cardiac autonomic neuropathy. Women with cardiac autonomic neuropathy had a larger waist circumference, higher plasma triglyceride levels, smaller mean (± sd) LDL cholesterol size [26.8 (± 4.3) nm vs 26.4 (± 6.9) nm; P < 0.01] and larger mean (± sd) proportion of small dense LDL cholesterol [10.1 (± 9.9)% vs 19.1 (± 16.8)%; P < 0.01] compared with those without cardiac autonomic neuropathy. After adjusting for other confounding risk factors, the triglyceride/ HDL cholesterol ratio (odds ratio = 1.698, 95% CI: 1.07-2.69; P = 0.025) and mean LDL cholesterol size (odds ratio = 0.873, 95% CI: 0.77-0.99; P = 0.038) remained as independent risk factors for cardiac autonomic neuropathy in women. CONCLUSIONS: A more atherogenic lipid profile such as the triglyceride: HDL cholesterol ratio and a smaller mean LDL cholesterol particle size were related to the prevalence of cardiac autonomic neuropathy in women with Type 2 diabetes.

The impact of total antioxidant capacity on pulmonary function in asthma patients.

BACKGROUND: Oxidative stress, mediated by an imbalance between oxidants and antioxidants, contributes significantly to the pathogenesis of asthma. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the impact of serum total antioxidant capacity (TAC) on the pulmonary function of Korean asthma patients. METHOD: A total of 104 adult asthma patients enrolled from the COREA (Cohort for Reality and Evolution of Adult Asthma in Korea) programme participated in the study. Baseline clinical parameters at enrolment, and the results of pulmonary function tests at baseline and 1 and 2 years after enrolment were collected. TAC at baseline was measured using a Trolox-equivalent antioxidant capacity assay. Patients were divided into two groups based on TAC levels, and various clinical parameters were compared. RESULT: Serum TAC levels correlated with forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV(1)) at baseline (r = 0.22, P = 0.03). The group with higher baseline TAC levels maintained greater mean FEV(1) both 1 and 2 years after enrolment, even after adjusting for sex, age, height, weight, body mass index and smoking status. CONCLUSION: These results suggest an important link between serum TAC levels and pulmonary function, indicating that higher TAC levels may be a biomarker for favourable prognosis in asthma patients.