Dual matrilineal geographic distribution of Korean type 2 diabetes mellitus-associated -11,377 G adiponectin allele.

The present study was performed to identify the susceptible single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) for the prediction of Korean type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and to clarify the matrilineal origin of Korean T2DM­specific SNPs. Fourteen SNPs from the adiponectin (ADIPOQ), hepatocyte nuclear factor 4α, phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase 1 and glucokinase genes in the Korean population were analyzed. Only one SNP, ­11,377 C/G on the ADIPOQ gene, was finally determined to be responsible for the incidence of Korean T2DM (P=0.028). The G­T­T­A haplotype at positions ­11,377, +45, +276 and +349 on the ADIPOQ gene was also associated with a high incidence of Korean T2DM (P=0.023). In addition, the susceptibility of Korean individuals to T2DM appears to be affected by their matrilineal origin. Of note, the group of Southern origin, consisting of mitochondrial DNA macrohaplogroups F and R, was predisposed to T2DM, whereas the group of Northern origin, consisting of haplogroups A and Y, was resistant to T2DM. This implied that the differential genetics between the two groups, which were formed from the initial peopling of the proto­Korean population via Southern and Northern routes to the present time, may explain their differing susceptibility to T2DM. In conclusion, from Southern Asia Northward, a matrilineal origin of Korean individuals appears to be responsible for the prevalence of Korean T2DM caused by the ­11,377 G allele.

Usefulness of presepsin (sCD14 subtype) measurements as a new marker for the diagnosis and prediction of disease severity of sepsis in the Korean population.

PURPOSE: Presepsin has recently emerged as a new useful sepsis marker, and our study is focused on the usefulness of presepsin as earlier detection and monitoring biomarker for sepsis comparing with other conventional biomarkers. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We compared the mean values of presepsin, procalcitonin, interleukin 6, and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein levels between infection group and noninfection group of study subjects and assessed whether the values decreased during treatment. Furthemore, we evaluated the diagnostic accuracy of presepsin in sepsis and compared the mean level of presepsin to the Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation III score and mortality rate on the 30th day. RESULTS: Mean presepsin levels were significantly different between infection group and noninfection group (1403.47 pg/mL vs 239.00 pg/mL). During treatment, mean levels of presepsin decreased significantly, and in the receiver operating characteristic curve analysis, the area under curve value of presepsin was significantly higher than that of other biomarkers. The presepsin levels did not correlate significantly with Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation III scores and mortality rates on the 30th day. CONCLUSIONS: Presepsin showed significantly higher values in infection group than in noninfection group. The diagnostic accuracy of presepsin was higher than other conventional biomarkers. For early diagnosis and treatment of bacterial sepsis, presepsin could be a more useful marker than the other markers.