Chryseobacterium gwangjuense sp. nov., isolated from soil.

A Gram-stain-negative, strictly aerobic, non-motile, rod-shaped bacterial strain, THG-A18(T), was isolated from soil of Gwangju province in South Korea. Strain THG-A18(T) grew optimally at 25-30 °C, at pH 7.0-8.0 and in the absence of NaCl. Strain THG-A18(T) displayed ß-glucosidase activity, which enabled it to convert ginsenoside Rb1 to Rd. According to 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis, strain THG-A18(T) was shown to belong to the genus Chryseobacterium. The closest phylogenetic neighbours were Chryseobacterium ginsenosidimutans THG 15(T) (97.9 % 16S rRNA gene sequence similariity), C. defluvii B2(T) (97.7 %), C. daeguense K105(T) (97.6 %), C. taiwanense BCRC 17412(T) (97.5 %), C. indoltheticum LMG 4025(T) (97.4 %), C. gregarium P 461/12(T) (97.4 %) and C. lathyri RBA2-6(T) (97.3 %), but DNA-DNA relatedness values between these strains and strain THG-A18(T) were below 41.9 %. The G+C content of the genomic DNA was 36.4 mol%. The major respiratory quinone (MK-6) and fatty acids [iso-C15 : 0, iso-C17 : 0 3-OH, summed feature 3 (comprising C16 : 1ω7c and/or C16 : 1ω6c) and summed feature 9 (comprising iso-C17 : 1ω9c and/or 10-methyl C16 : 0)] supported the affiliation of strain THG-A18(T) with the genus Chryseobacterium. The polar lipids of strain THG-A18(T) were phosphatidylethanolamine, four unidentified aminolipids and seven unidentified lipids. A number of physiological and biochemical tests allowed phenotypic differentiation of strain THG-A18(T) from recognized species of the genus Chryseobacterium. The name Chryseobacterium gwangjuense sp. nov. is proposed, with THG-A18(T) ( = KACC 16227(T) = LMG 26579(T)) as the type strain.

Higher serum free thyroxine levels are associated with coronary artery disease.

Thyroid hormone has many effects on the heart and cardiovascular system. Thyrotoxicosis is associated with increased cardiovascular morbidity and mortality, primarily due to heart failure and thromboembolism. However, the relationship between thyroid hormone excess and the cardiac complications of angina pectoris and myocardial infarction remains largely speculative. Moreover, few studies have been reported on the effect of thyroid hormone levels within normal range on coronary artery disease (CAD). Therefore we examined the association of thyroid function with coronary artery diseases in euthyroid angina patients. Total 192 subjects (mean age; 60.8 yrs) were enrolled in which coronary angiograms were performed due to chest pain. We measured free thyroxine (FT(4)), thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH), serum lipid levels and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP) levels and analyzed their association with the presence of CAD. Serum FT(4) levels were higher in patients with CAD compared with the patients without CAD (1.31 +/- 0.30 vs 1.20 +/- 0.23, p = 0.006), and high FT(4) level was associated with the presence of multi-vessel disease. Multivariate analysis showed that age (odds ratio (OR) 1.04; 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.01-1.07, p = 0.007), hypertension (OR 2.04; 95% CI 1.06-3.90, p = 0.036) and FT(4) (OR 4.23; 95% CI 1.12-15.99, p = 0.033), were the determinants for CAD. The relative risk (RR) for CAD in highest tertile of FT(4) showed increased risk compared with the lowest tertile (RR 1.98; 95% CI 0.98-3.99, p<0.001). Our study showed that FT(4) levels were associated with the presence and the severity of CAD. Also, this study suggests that elevated serum FT(4) levels even within normal range could be a risk factor for CAD. Further studies will be necessary to confirm the relationship of thyroid function and CAD.

Comparison of the alteration of the concentration of C-peptide in 24-h urine according to the combination patterns of hypoglycemic agents in type 2 diabetes patients.

AIMS: Urinary C-peptide (UCP) has been considered as a simple method for monitoring beta-cell function in diabetic patients clinically. The aim of the study is to compare the changes of 24-h urinary C-peptide levels according to subgroups divided by therapeutic agents for subjects with type 2 diabetes. METHODS: In 206 participants, under treatment for type 2 diabetes, 24-h urinary C-peptide levels were assessed yearly for 3 years. All participants were subdivided into four groups according to the therapeutic agents. Changes for the measured values during the follow-up were compared between groups. RESULTS: Mean HbA1C was 7.1% and mean 24-h UCP was 61.7 microg/24h and mean duration of diabetes was 8.7 years in all subjects at baseline. Mean 24-h UCP levels increased significantly from a baseline to at 36 months in the insulin sensitizers (IS) only group, in the IS plus sulfonylurea combination group and in IS plus insulin combination group (p<0.001), whereas in the sulfonylurea only group, we could not find statistically significant changes (p=0.152). Treatment with only IS significantly reduced fasting plasma glucose (FPG) and HbA1C level (p=0.045, p<0.001). Differences between baseline and last 24-h UCP were significantly different between-groups and this difference was more significant after adjustment in FPG, HbA1C, and the duration of diabetes (p=0.024). Especially, IS plus sulfonylurea combination group resulted in greatest increase of 24-h UCP (DeltaC-peptide=51.19 microg/24h). CONCLUSIONS: This study suggested that IS, in mono- or in combination, significantly improved pancreatic beta-cell function, especially when combined with sulfonylurea as evidenced by the increase of 24-h UCP.

Relationship of cardiovascular risk factors and serum ferritin with C-reactive protein.

BACKGROUND: Serum iron plays an important role in the oxidation of low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol, it induces inflammatory reactions and it is positively related to coronary heart disease. An increase of the inflammatory marker, C-reactive protein (CRP), is a risk factor for future cardiac events. Hence, we examined the association of the cardiovascular disease risk factors and serum ferritin with CRP. METHODS: This study was performed on 808 subjects (465 males and 343 females). CRP levels >3.0 mg/L, serum ferritin levels >200 ng/mL, total cholesterol levels >200 mg/dL and LDL-cholesterol levels >160 mg/dL were all considered as elevated. High-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels <40 mg/dL were considered as low. RESULTS: In the group with low LDL-cholesterol, no correlation was detected between serum ferritin and hsCRP [odds ratio (OR) = 1.68, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 0.81-3.48, p = 0.144]. However, a correlation was detected in the group with elevated LDL-cholesterol (OR = 11.21, 95% CI = 1.14-110.27, p = 0.032). In addition, when the interaction term was added to the assessment of the correlation between the elevated hsCRP and LDL-cholesterol, the strong correlation of hsCRP and serum ferritin was confirmed (p = 0.002). CONCLUSIONS: Oxidation of LDL-cholesterol by serum ferritin may play a role in the inflammatory reaction and for the increased hsCRP. Future prospective studies may be required to assess whether reducing the serum ferritin and CRP levels via medical intervention and life style modification would be helpful for preventing cardiovascular disease.

The risk of metabolic syndrome according to the high-sensitivity C-reactive protein in apparently healthy Koreans.

BACKGROUND: Recently, considerable interest has been focused on the positive relationship between inflammation and the metabolic syndrome (MS). Therefore, we investigated whether the baseline plasma levels of the high-sensitivity C-reactive protein could be associated with future risk for MS in apparently healthy Koreans. METHODS: A total of 1132 subjects (767 men, 365 women with a mean age of 49 years), who underwent health examination at this hospital in both 2002 and 2005 were enrolled. The criteria for metabolic syndrome followed that of NCEP-ATP III guideline except waist circumference. Instead, BMI (>/=25 kg/m(2)) was used for the measurement for obesity. RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS: The relative risks of future MS in the highest quartile of high-sensitivity C-reactive protein at baseline were 2.4 (95% confidence interval [CI], 1.3-4.2) as compared to the subjects in the lowest quartile. Positive associations persisted after adjustment for age, sex and smoking; multivariate relative risks for the highest vs lowest quartiles were 2.3 (95% CI, 1.3-4.1; P for trend=0.005). This retrospective study suggests that elevated levels of high-sensitivity C-reactive protein could be associated with incident MS.

Lack of correlation between QTc dispersion and morning blood pressure surge in recently diagnosed essential hypertensive patients.

BACKGROUND: Cardiovascular events are known to occur more frequently in patients with a high morning surge in blood pressure (BP), but the correlation between a morning BP surge and corrected QT dispersion (QTc) has not been confirmed to date. METHODS AND RESULTS: The correlation between the morning BP surge and QTc was studied in 82 patients recently diagnosed with high BP (47 males, 35 females). Twenty-four-hours BP monitoring was conducted to classify patients into dipper (n=45) or nondipper (n=37) groups according to the degree of nocturnal BP reduction. QTc was found to be significantly longer in the nondippers compared with the dippers (36.1+/-17.2 vs 47.6+/-20.7, p<0.001). In addition, there was a significant increase in the end-diastolic interventricular septum thickness (IVSd), left ventricular posterior wall thickness in diastole (PWT) and left ventricular mass index (LVMI) in the nondippers vs the dippers (respectively, 0.93+/-0.09 vs 1.03+/-0.05, p<0.001, 0.94+/-0.09 vs 1.01+/-0.04, p<0.01, 109.7+/-12.8 vs 129.1+/-20.9, p<0.001). QTc had a significant positive correlation with nighttime BP, IVSd, PWT, and LVMI, but negatively correlated with the nocturnal BP reduction rate. These results were maintained even after adjusting for age and gender. However, a significant correlation between the morning BP surge and QTc was not confirmed. CONCLUSION: In the present nondipper hypertensive patients, QTc, nighttime BP, LVMI, and wall thickness were significantly greater than in the dipper patients. However, there was no significant correlation between the morning BP surge and QTc.

Associations between two single nucleotide polymorphisms of adiponectin gene and coronary artery diseases.

Adiponectin, an adipocyte-secreted protein, is known to have anti-atherogenic, anti-inflammatory and anti-diabetic properties and its serum levels are decreased in obesity, type 2 diabetes, and coronary artery disease. Several studies have been performed to investigate the association of genetic variations in the adiponectin with obesity, insulin resistance, and type 2 diabetes, but few studies were performed in association with coronary artery disease. Therefore we examined the associations between two single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs), +45T>G and +276G>T of the adiponectin gene, and coronary artery diseases (CAD). One hundred and fifty six subjects (mean age 57.4 yrs) were enrolled in which coronary angiograms were performed due to chest pain. Genotypings were done for two SNPs in the adiponectin gene by Taqman polymerase chain reaction (PCR) method. The presence of CAD was defined as a >50% reduction of coronary artery diameter. Among 156 subjects, the allele frequencies were 0.683 for G allele and 0.317 for T allele in SNP +276G>T and 0.705 for T allele and 0.295 for G allele in SNP +45T>G. Both genotypes were in compliance with Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium. No association with the presence of CAD was observed for adiponectin gene SNP276 and SNP45 (p = 0.954, p = 0.843). Also, no significant association was observed between the severity of CAD and either SNPs (p = 0.571, p = 0.955). Our study showed that SNP +276G>T and +45T>G in adiponectin gene were not associated with the presence of CAD. Further studies will be necessary to confirm the role of SNP 276G>T and 45T>G in the development of CAD.

Presence and severity of coronary artery disease and changes in B-type natriuretic peptide levels in patients with a normal systolic function.

B-type brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) levels increase during myocardial ischemia. Here, the authors undertook to evaluate the correlation between changes in plasma BNP levels during exercise and the presence and severity of coronary artery disease (CAD). The study subjects consisted of 159 hospitalized patients with a normal systolic function. Patients were allocated to a control group (N = 101, comprising patients with coronary artery stenosis of < 50%) or to a CAD group (N = 58, comprising patients with stenosis of > or = 50% or a greater coronary artery lesion). In addition, the CAD group was further subdivided into a single-vessel disease (VD) subgroup (N = 31) and a multi-VD subgroup (N = 27). All 159 study subjects underwent coronary angiography (CAG), and plasma BNP levels were measured before and immediately after exercise. A comparative study of BNP levels in the control and CAD groups before and after exercise revealed that BNP levels in the CAD group were significantly higher [22.4 (5.0-28.5) vs. 54.3 (13.1-74.6), P = 0.000; 35.0 (6.2-37.6) vs. 82.5 (23.2-102.8) pg/mL, P = 0.002, respectively]. Changes in BNP levels during exercise in the CAD group tended to be greater than in the control group, but without significance [12.6 (0-13.6) vs. 28.3 (2.8-25.5) pg/mL; P = 0.083]. Subgroup analysis showed that BNP levels tended to be positively related to the proportion of disease vessels, but statistical significance was only found between the control and multi-VD subgroup. Summarizing, this study shows that BNP level changes caused by exercise are closely related with the presence of CAD in patients with a normal systolic function. However, the relationship between these level changes and CAD severity requires further evaluation.

Sex difference in the relationship between insulin resistance and corrected QT interval in non-diabetic subjects.

BACKGROUND: Men with a prolonged corrected QT (QTc) interval have an increased risk of cardiovascular mortality and sudden death, even in healthy individuals. In addition, prolonged QTc is a predictor of mortality in diabetics. However, the relationship between insulin resistance and QTc is not clarified in non-diabetic healthy people. The present study was performed to observe the association between QTc and insulin resistance in Korean non-diabetic subjects. METHODS AND RESULTS: In the current study there was a total of 874 subjects (520 men, 354 women, mean age: 45.9+/-11.0 years) who underwent a medical check-up at the health promotion center at Kangbuk Samsung Hospital from January 2002 to May 2002. Age, sex, height, body weight, blood pressure, blood cholesterol, triglyceride, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), fasting insulin, and fasting glucose levels were measured. The QT intervals were corrected using Bazett's formula (QTc = QT/square root of RR). Homeostasis model assessments (HOMA) were performed to assess the correlation between insulin resistance indices and the QTc interval. The mean QTc interval was significantly longer in females (417+/-24 ms) than in males (402+/-23 ms) (p < 0.001). After adjusting the variables related to the QTc interval, the differences in QTc between men and women were statistically significant (p < 0.001). A significant positive correlation was found between QTc and age, glucose, and blood pressure in male subjects. Female subjects showed positive correlation between QTc and age, glucose, blood pressure, total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, triglyceride, fasting insulin, and the HOMA index, and a negative correlation between QTc and HDL-C. Multiple regression analysis showed that in men, age (beta = 0.480, p < 0.001) and diastolic blood pressure (beta = 0.280, p < 0.001) were predictors of QTc. In women, age (beta = 0.321, p = 0.008), diastolic blood pressure (beta = 0.324, p = 0.006) and HOMA index (beta = 3.508, p = 0.033) were predictors of QTc. CONCLUSIONS: The present study of Korean healthy subjects shows that QTc was more prolonged in females than in males. In normoglycemic female subjects, insulin resistance was an independent determinant of the prolongation of QTc.

Relationship between serum uric acid concentration and insulin resistance and metabolic syndrome.

BACKGROUND: Associations between hyperuricemia, cardiovascular diseases and diabetes have been reported, but few of the studies have been conducted in the Korean population. The present study examined a Korean adult population with respect to the relationships between serum uric acid concentrations and hypertension, insulin resistance, and the risk factors of metabolic syndrome. METHODS AND RESULTS: A total of 53,477 subjects were divided into 4 groups according to serum uric acid quartiles. The incidence of hypertension in all subjects was higher in the first quartile than in the third plus fourth quartile (odds ratio (OR) 1.192, p < 0.001). Homeostasis model assessment index was found to be associated with serum uric acid concentration in all subjects (OR 1.193, p < 0.001), and the serum uric acid concentration was positively correlated with the risk factors of metabolic syndrome. In addition, the number of metabolic syndrome variables increased as serum uric acid concentration increased. CONCLUSIONS: Serum uric acid concentration was found to be independently correlated with hypertension, insulin resistance and the risk factors of metabolic syndrome. In addition, even those with a serum uric acid concentration in the normal range showed an increased risk of metabolic syndrome as serum uric acid concentration increased.

The relationship between the serum intercellular adhesion molecule-1 level and the prognosis of the disease in lung cancer.

BACKGROUND: Adhesion molecules are related to cell-to-cell interaction and inflammatory interaction. In addition, adhesive interactions between tumor cells and adjacent cells and/or extracellular matrix play important roles in the complex process of tumor growth and development. Among these adhesion molecules, expression of intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) has been identified in colon cancer, bladder cancer, lung cancer, melanoma, pancreatic cancer and hepatocellular carcinoma. In the current study, we analyzed serum ICAM-1 concentrations to investigate the relationship between the serum ICAM-1 level and prognosis in patients with lung cancer. METHODS: Serum ICAM-1 was measured in 84 patients with lung cancer according to the pathologic type and clinical stage using the ICAM-1 ELISA kit. The Kaplan-Meier method was used to analyse survival time. RESULTS: There was no difference in serum ICAM-1 concentration among the different stages of lung cancer. Furthermore, there was no difference observed between histologic tumor type with regard to serum ICAM-1 concentration. Although the difference was not significant, the overall survival times of patients with a low serum ICAM-1 concentration (< 306 ng/mL) was longer than that of patients with a high concentration (> or = 306 ng/mL) in non-small cell lung cancer patients. CONCLUSION: These results suggest that high levels of serum ICAM-1 reflect poor prognosis for patients with non-small cell lung cancer.

Thyroid dysfunction and their relation to cardiovascular risk factors such as lipid profile, hsCRP, and waist hip ratio in Korea.

BACKGROUND: Thyroid abnormalities affect a considerable portion of the population, and overt hypothyroidism is associated with an elevated risk of cardiovascular disease and adverse changes in blood lipids. Subclinical hypothyroidism is also associated with an increase risk of cardiovascular disease. So, we undertook this study to investigate the prevalence of overt and subclinical thyroid disorders and their associations with cardiovascular risk factors. METHODS: This study involved 66,260 subjects (43,588 men, 22,672 women; between 20-80 years of age, mean age 41.5 +/- 9.6). Serum free thyroxine (FT4), thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH), total cholesterol, low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), and high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) were measured by RIA using commercial kits. High sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP) levels were determined by nephelometry. RESULTS: The prevalences of overt thyrotoxicosis, subclinical thyrotoxicosis, overt hypothyroidism and subclinical hypothyroidism were 5/1000 (334 subjects), 6.4/1000 (426 subjects), 1.6/1000 (108 subjects), and 6.4/1000 (375 subjects). Mean plasma total cholesterol and LDL-C were elevated in overt hypothyroidism than in normal controls (202.1 mg/dL and 121.8 mg/dL versus 197.1 mg/dL and 120.1 mg/dL, respectively) (p < 0.05). In subclinical hypothyroidism, mean total cholesterol and LDL-C levels were also elevated (201.9 mg/dL and 123.7 mg/dL) (p = 0.015, p = 0.047). Waist-to-hip ratio (WHR) was lower in overt thyrotoxicosis and higher in hypothyroidism. CONCLUSION: The prevalence of thyroid dysfunction in Korea is not significantly different from that reported by other countries. It was also age dependent and higher in women, but this elevation in women was lower than expected. Patients with hypothyroidism exhibited higher waist-to-hip ratios, an index of obesity. Patients with subclinical hypothyroidism exhibited elevated atherogenic parameters (Total cholesterol, LDL-C). Therefore screening and treatment for subclinical hypothyroidism may be warranted due to its adverse effects on lipid metabolism.