A 52-week efficacy and safety study of enavogliflozin versus dapagliflozin as an add-on to metformin in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus: ENHANCE-M extension study.

AIM: To evaluate the long-term safety and efficacy of enavogliflozin 0.3 mg/day added to metformin in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus. MATERIALS AND METHODS: After 24 weeks of a randomized, double-blind treatment period with enavogliflozin 0.3 mg/day (n = 101) or dapagliflozin 10 mg/day (n = 99) added to metformin, all patients received enavogliflozin 0.3 mg/day plus metformin for an additional 28 weeks during the open-label extension period. RESULTS: Eighty-two patients continued enavogliflozin (maintenance group), and 77 were switched from dapagliflozin to enavogliflozin (switch group). All adverse drug reactions (ADR) were mild in severity. In the maintenance group, ADRs (cystitis and vaginal infection) were reported in two patients (2.44%) during 52 weeks. In the switch group, ADR (hypoglycaemia) was reported in one patient (1.30%) during a 28-week open-label extension period. At week 52, glycated haemoglobin and fasting plasma glucose were significantly lower than at the baseline, by 0.85% and 29.08 mg/dl, respectively, in the maintenance group (p < .0001 for both), and by 0.81% and 32.77 mg/dl, respectively, in the switch group (p < .0001 for both). At week 52, 68.92% of patients from the maintenance group and 64.29% from the switch group achieved glycated haemoglobin <7%. A significant increase in the urine glucose-creatinine ratio was observed at week 52, by 58.81 g/g and 63.77 g/g in the maintenance and switch groups, respectively (p < .0001). CONCLUSIONS: Enavogliflozin added to metformin was tolerated well for up to 52 weeks and provided continual glycaemic control in type 2 diabetes mellitus, along with a significant increase in the urine glucose-creatinine ratio.

Effects of dapagliflozin compared with glimepiride on body composition in Asian patients with type 2 diabetes inadequately controlled with metformin: The BEYOND study.

AIMS: To evaluate the effect of dapagliflozin on body composition such as total body fat (BF) mass, abdominal visceral adipose tissue (VAT), and subcutaneous adipose tissue (SAT) areas compared with glimepiride in Korean patients with type 2 diabetes. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This was a 52-week, multicentre, randomized, parallel-group, open-label, Phase IV (NCT02564926) study. Patients with inadequate glycaemic control (glycated haemoglobin ≥7.0% and <10.0%) on metformin monotherapy (≥1000 mg/day) were randomized 1:1 to receive dapagliflozin 10 mg/day or glimepiride 1-2 mg/day for 12 months as an add-on to metformin. Baseline and end of study body composition evaluations included dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry and abdominal computed tomography scans. RESULTS: Of 124 enrolled patients from 14 centres, 121 received study treatment (dapagliflozin: 60; glimepiride: 61) and 106 (85.5%) completed the study. Over 52 weeks, the dapagliflozin group showed the following differences versus the glimepiride group: -2.59 kg BF mass, -1.94% BF%, -17.55 cm2 VAT area, -18.39 cm2 SAT area, -0.46% glycated haemoglobin, -18.25 mg/dl fasting blood glucose, -3.7 kg weight, -2.21 cm waist circumference, -1.37 kg/m2 body mass index, -6.81 mmHg systolic blood pressure and +657.71 ng/ml in adiponectin; all were statistically significant. Both groups had similar incidences of adverse events; however, hypoglycaemic events were mainly (12 of 15) reported in the glimepiride group. CONCLUSION: Dapagliflozin reduced total BF mass, abdominal VAT and SAT areas, and showed better glycaemic control than glimepiride. Being safe and well-tolerated, dapagliflozin appears to be a more favourable alternative to sulphonylureas as add-on therapy after metformin monotherapy failure in Korean patients with type 2 diabetes.

Probucol in Albuminuric Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus Patients on Renin-Angiotensin System Blockade: A 16-Week, Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Trial.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the effect of probucol on urine albumin excretion in type 2 diabetes mellitus patients with albuminuria using angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors or angiotensin receptor blockers. APPROACH AND RESULTS: This was a 16-week, phase II, randomized, placebo-controlled, parallel-group study in type 2 diabetes mellitus patients with a urinary albumin/creatinine ratio of ≥300 mg/g using angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors or angiotensin receptor blockers, conducted in 17 tertiary referral hospitals. Eligible patients were randomized to probucol 250 mg/d (n=44), probucol 500 mg/d (n=41), and placebo (n=41) groups in a ratio of 1:1:1 after block randomization procedures, keeping the treatment assignment blinded to the investigators, patients, and study assistants. The primary end point was change in the geometric mean of urinary albumin/creatinine ratio from baseline to week 16 (ClinicalTrials.gov identifier NCT01726816). The study was started on November 8, 2012, and completed on March 24, 2014. The least squares mean change±SE from baseline in urinary albumin/creatinine ratio at week 16 was -7.2±639.5 mg/g in the probucol 250 mg/d group (n=43; P=0.2077 versus placebo group), 9.3±587.4 mg/g in the probucol 500 mg/d group (n=40; P=0.1975 versus placebo group), and 259.0±969.1 mg/g in the placebo group (n=41). Although the majority of subjects were on statins, probucol treatment significantly lowered total cholesterol and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels. QT prolongation occurred in one and two subjects in control and probucol 250 mg/d groups, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Four months of probucol up to 500 mg/d failed to reduce urinary albumin excretion.

Identification and functional analysis of a novel CaSR mutation in a family with familial hypocalciuric hypercalcemia.

The calcium-sensing receptor (CaSR) is a G-protein-coupled receptor that plays an essential role in maintaining calcium homeostasis. In the present study, we analyzed the CaSR gene in a Korean family with familial hypocalciuric hypercalcemia (FHH). Genetic studies were performed by direct sequence analysis of the CaSR gene in genomic DNA obtained from peripheral leukocytes. A novel heterozygous G to T substitution at nucleotide position 1711 in exon 6, resulting in the G571W mutation, was identified in the CaSR gene in a 26-year-old female with asymptomatic hypercalcemia, a low calcium/creatinine clearance ratio, and normal intact parathyroid hormone. To study CaSR expression, the mutation was introduced by site-directed mutagenesis into a wild-type (WT) CaSR-expressing pCR3.1 vector, and COS-7 cells were transfected with either the WT or mutant CaSR-containing vector. Transfected cells loaded with Fura-2/AM, a fluorescent indicator of Ca2+, were assessed for CaSR function by the change in intracellular calcium [as measured by the 340 nm/380 nm fluorescence intensity ratio (F340/F380)] made in response to challenge with extracellular Ca2+. Both WT and G571W cells had equivalent amounts of CaSR protein in the cell membrane. However, after challenge with extracellular Ca2+, cells transfected with G571W CaSR responded with a lower F340/F380 ratio than those transfected with WT CaSR and showed decreased sensitivity to extracellular Ca2+ concentrations. The G571W mutation had therefore impaired the CaSR function. In conclusion, we identified a novel loss-of-function mutation, G571W, in the CaSR gene in a Korean family with FHH.

Diabetic Ketoacidosis as an Effect of Sodium-Glucose Cotransporter 2 Inhibitor: Real World Insights.

One of the notable adverse effects of sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 (SGLT2) inhibitor is diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) often characterized by euglycemia. In this retrospective review of patients with DKA from 2015 to 2023, 21 cases of SGLT2 inhibitorassociated DKA were identified. Twelve (57.1%) exhibited euglycemic DKA (euDKA) while nine (42.9%) had hyperglycemic DKA (hyDKA). More than 90% of these cases were patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus. Despite similar age, sex, body mass index, and diabetes duration, individuals with hyDKA showed poorer glycemic control and lower C-peptide levels compared with euDKA. Renal impairment and acidosis were worse in the hyDKA group, requiring hemodialysis in two patients. Approximately one-half of hyDKA patients had concurrent hyperosmolar hyperglycemic state. Common symptoms included nausea, vomiting, general weakness, and dyspnea. Seizure was the initial manifestation of DKA in two cases. Infection and volume depletion were major contributors, while carbohydrate restriction and inadequate insulin treatment also contributed to SGLT2 inhibitor-associated DKA. Despite their beneficial effects, clinicians should be vigilant for SGLT2 inhibitor risk associated with DKA.

Deep Learning Analysis with Gray Scale and Doppler Ultrasonography Images to Differentiate Graves' Disease.

CONTEXT: Thyrotoxicosis requires accurate and expeditious differentiation between Graves' disease (GD) and thyroiditis to ensure effective treatment decisions. OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to develop a machine learning algorithm using ultrasonography and Doppler images to differentiate thyrotoxicosis subtypes, with a focus on GD. METHODS: This study included patients who initially presented with thyrotoxicosis and underwent thyroid ultrasonography at a single tertiary hospital. A total of 7,719 ultrasonography images from 351 patients with GD and 2,980 images from 136 patients with thyroiditis were used. Data augmentation techniques were applied to enhance the algorithm's performance. Two deep learning models, Xception and EfficientNetB0_2, were employed. Performance metrics such as accuracy, sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value (PPV), negative predictive value (NPV), and F1 score were calculated for both models. Image pre-processing, neural network model generation, and neural network training results verification were performed using DEEP:PHI® platform. RESULTS: The Xception model achieved 84.94% accuracy, 89.26% sensitivity, 73.17% specificity, 90.06% PPV, 71.43% NPV, and an F1 score of 89.66 for the diagnosis of GD. The EfficientNetB0_2 model exhibited 85.31% accuracy, 90.28% sensitivity, 71.78% specificity, 89.71% PPV, 73.05% NPV, and an F1 score of 89.99. CONCLUSION: Machine learning models based on ultrasound and Doppler images showed promising results with high accuracy and sensitivity in differentiating GD from thyroiditis.

Real-World Treatment Patterns according to Clinical Practice Guidelines in Patients with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus and Established Cardiovascular Disease in Korea: Multicenter, Retrospective, Observational Study.

BACKGRUOUND: Recent diabetes management guidelines recommend that sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitors (SGLT2is) or glucagon-like peptide 1 receptor agonists (GLP-1RAs) with proven cardiovascular benefits should be prioritized for combination therapy in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and established cardiovascular disease (CVD). This study was aimed at evaluating SGLT2i or GLP-1RA usage rates and various related factors in patients with T2DM and established CVD. METHODS: We enrolled adults with T2DM aged ≥30 years who were hospitalized due to established CVD from January 2019 to May 2020 at 13 secondary and tertiary hospitals in Korea in this retrospective observational study. RESULTS: Overall, 2,050 patients were eligible for analysis among 2,107 enrolled patients. The mean patient age, diabetes duration, and glycosylated hemoglobin level were 70.0 years, 12.0 years, and 7.5%, respectively. During the mean follow-up duration of 9.7 months, 25.7% of the patients were prescribed SGLT2is after CVD events. However, only 1.8% were prescribed GLP-1RAs. Compared with SGLT2i non-users, SGLT2i users were more frequently male and obese. Furthermore, they had a shorter diabetes duration but showed worse glycemic control and better renal function at the time of the event. GLP-1RA users had a longer duration of diabetes and worse glycemic control at the time of the event than GLP-1RA non-users. CONCLUSION: The SGLT2i or GLP-1RA prescription rates were suboptimal in patients with T2DM and established CVD. Sex, body mass index, diabetes duration, glycemic control, and renal function were associated with the use of these agents.

Optimal LDL cholesterol levels in young and old patients with type 2 diabetes for secondary prevention of cardiovascular diseases are different.

Objective: Real-world-based population data about the optimal low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) level for preventing cardiovascular disease in very high-risk populations is scarce. Methods: From 2009 to 2012, 26,922 people aged ≥ 40 years with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) who had a history of percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) were analyzed. Data from the Korean National Health Insurance System were used. They were followed up to the date of a cardiovascular event or the time to death, or until December 31, 2018. Endpoints were recurrent PCI, newly stroke or heart failure, cardiovascular death, and all-cause death. Participants were divided into the following categories according to LDL-C level: <55 mg/dL, 55-69 mg/dL, 70-99 mg/dL, 100-129 mg/dL, 130-159 mg/dL, and ≥ 160 mg/dL. Results: Compared to LDL-C < 55 mg/dL, the hazard ratios (HR) for re-PCI and stroke increased linearly with increasing LDL-C level in the population < 65 years. However, in ≥ 65 years old, HRs for re-PCI and stroke in LDL-C = 55-69 mg/dL were 0.97 (95% CI: 0.85-1.11) and 0.96 (95% CI: 0.79-2.23), respectively. The optimal range with the lowest HR for heart failure and all-cause mortality were LDL-C = 70-99 mg/dL and LDL-C = 55-69 mg/dL, respectively, in all age groups (HR: 0.99, 95% CI: 0.91-1.08 and HR: 0.91, 95% CI: 0.81-1.01). Conclusion: LDL-C level below 55 mg/dL appears to be optimal in T2DM patients with established cardiovascular disease aged < 65 years, while an LDL-C level of 55-69 mg/dL may be optimal for preventing recurrent PCI and stroke in patients over 65 years old.

Persistence with Denosumab in Male Osteoporosis Patients: A Real-World, Non-Interventional Multicenter Study.

BACKGRUOUND: Persistence with denosumab in male patients has not been adequately investigated, although poor denosumab persistence is associated with a significant risk of rebound vertebral fractures. METHODS: We retrospectively evaluated 294 Korean male osteoporosis patients treated with denosumab at three medical centers and examined their persistence with four doses of denosumab injection over 24 months of treatment. Persistence was defined as the extent to which a patient adhered to denosumab treatment in terms of the prescribed interval and dose, with a permissible gap of 8 weeks. For patients who missed their scheduled treatment appointment(s) during the follow-up period (i.e., no-shows), Cox proportional regression analysis was conducted to explore the factors associated with poor adherence. Several factors were considered, such as age, prior anti-osteoporotic drug use, the treatment provider's medical specialty, the proximity to the medical center, and financial burdens of treatment. RESULTS: Out of 294 male patients, 77 (26.2%) completed all four sequential rounds of the denosumab treatment. Out of 217 patients who did not complete the denosumab treatment, 138 (63.6%) missed the scheduled treatment(s). Missing treatment was significantly associated with age (odds ratio [OR], 1.03), prior bisphosphonate use (OR, 0.76), and prescription by non-endocrinologists (OR, 2.24). Denosumab was stopped in 44 (20.3%) patients due to medical errors, in 24 (11.1%) patients due to a T-score improvement over -2.5, and in five (2.3%) patients due to expected dental procedures. CONCLUSION: Our study showed that only one-fourth of Korean male osteoporosis patients were fully adherent to 24 months of denosumab treatment.

Efficacy and Safety of Enavogliflozin versus Dapagliflozin as Add-on to Metformin in Patients with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus: A 24-Week, Double-Blind, Randomized Trial.

BACKGRUOUND: Enavogliflozin is a novel sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 inhibitor currently under clinical development. This study evaluated the efficacy and safety of enavogliflozin as an add-on to metformin in Korean patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) against dapagliflozin. METHODS: In this multicenter, double-blind, randomized, phase 3 study, 200 patients were randomized to receive enavogliflozin 0.3 mg/day (n=101) or dapagliflozin 10 mg/day (n=99) in addition to ongoing metformin therapy for 24 weeks. The primary objective of the study was to prove the non-inferiority of enavogliflozin to dapagliflozin in glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c) change at week 24 (non-inferiority margin of 0.35%) (Clinical trial registration number: NCT04634500). RESULTS: Adjusted mean change of HbA1c at week 24 was -0.80% with enavogliflozin and -0.75% with dapagliflozin (difference, -0.04%; 95% confidence interval, -0.21% to 0.12%). Percentages of patients achieving HbA1c <7.0% were 61% and 62%, respectively. Adjusted mean change of fasting plasma glucose at week 24 was -32.53 and -29.14 mg/dL. An increase in urine glucose-creatinine ratio (60.48 vs. 44.94, P<0.0001) and decrease in homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance (-1.85 vs. -1.31, P=0.0041) were significantly greater with enavogliflozin than dapagliflozin at week 24. Beneficial effects of enavogliflozin on body weight (-3.77 kg vs. -3.58 kg) and blood pressure (systolic/diastolic, -5.93/-5.41 mm Hg vs. -6.57/-4.26 mm Hg) were comparable with those of dapagliflozin, and both drugs were safe and well-tolerated. CONCLUSION: Enavogliflozin added to metformin significantly improved glycemic control in patients with T2DM and was non-inferior to dapagliflozin 10 mg, suggesting enavogliflozin as a viable treatment option for patients with inadequate glycemic control on metformin alone.

A case of Mayer-Rokitansky-Küster-Hauser syndrome presenting as Graves disease.

The Mayer-Rokitansky-Küster-Hauser (MRKH) syndrome is a congenital disorder characterized by aplasia of the uterus and the upper part of the vagina in an XX individual with normal development of secondary sexual characteristics. Individuals with this syndrome may also present with renal and skeletal abnormalities. We report a case of a 16-year-old girl presenting with thyrotoxicosis and primary amenorrhea. After being diagnosed with Graves disease, this patient was placed on antithyroid medication. Although her thyroid function normalized, she did not start to menstruate. Therefore, we assessed her primary amenorrhea and diagnosed the patient with MRKH syndrome through pelvic imaging. To our knowledge, an association between Graves disease and MRKH syndrome has not yet been reported.

Young-onset type 2 diabetes in South Korea: a review of the current status and unmet need.

The prevalence of young-onset (diagnosis at age < 40 years) type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is increasing globally. Young-onset T2DM has a common pathophysiology of glucose dysregulation as in late-onset T2DM. However, it presents a greater association with obesity and a more rapid decline in ß-cell function than late-onset T2DM. Accumulating evidence indicates that disease progression in young-onset T2DM is rapid, resulting in early and frequent development of microvascular and macrovascular complications, as well as premature death. Improper management and low adherence to medical therapy are important issues in young-onset T2DM. This review discusses the epidemiology, disease entity, and clinical issues associated with young-onset T2DM. We also present the prevalence and clinical characteristics of patients with young-onset T2DM in South Korea.

Mitochondrial TFAM as a Signaling Regulator between Cellular Organelles: A Perspective on Metabolic Diseases.

Tissues actively involved in energy metabolism are more likely to face metabolic challenges from bioenergetic substrates and are susceptible to mitochondrial dysfunction, leading to metabolic diseases. The mitochondria receive signals regarding the metabolic states in cells and transmit them to the nucleus or endoplasmic reticulum (ER) using calcium (Ca2+) for appropriate responses. Overflux of Ca2+ in the mitochondria or dysregulation of the signaling to the nucleus and ER could increase the incidence of metabolic diseases including insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes mellitus. Mitochondrial transcription factor A (Tfam) may regulate Ca2+ flux via changing the mitochondrial membrane potential and signals to other organelles such as the nucleus and ER. Since Tfam is involved in metabolic function in the mitochondria, here, we discuss the contribution of Tfam in coordinating mitochondria-ER activities for Ca2+ flux and describe the mechanisms by which Tfam affects mitochondrial Ca2+ flux in response to metabolic challenges.

Long-Term Glycaemic Durability of Early Combination Therapy Strategy versus Metformin Monotherapy in Korean Patients with Newly Diagnosed Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus.

We assessed the glycaemic durability with early combination (EC; vildagliptin+metformin [MET], n=22) versus MET monotherapy (n=17), among newly-diagnosed type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) enrolled (between 2012 and 2014) in the VERIFY study from Korea (n=39). Primary endpoint was time to initial treatment failure (TF) (glycosylated hemoglobin [HbA1c] ≥7.0% at two consecutive scheduled visits after randomization [end of period 1]). Time to second TF was assessed when both groups were receiving and failing on the combination (end of period 2). With EC the risk of initial TF significantly reduced by 78% compared to MET (n=3 [15%] vs. n=10 [58.7%], P=0.0228). No secondary TF occurred in EC group versus five patients (29.4%) in MET. Patients receiving EC treatment achieved consistently lower HbA1c levels. Both treatment approaches were well tolerated with no hypoglycaemic events. In Korean patients with newly diagnosed T2DM, EC treatment significantly and consistently improved the long-term glycaemic durability as compared with MET.

Body Fat Is Related to Sedentary Behavior and Light Physical Activity but Not to Moderate-Vigorous Physical Activity in Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus.

BACKGROUND: Sedentary behavior (SB) has emerged as a new risk factor for cardiovascular accidents. We investigated whether physical activity levels or SB were related to percent body fat (%BF) in type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). METHODS: In this cross sectional study, we measured the duration of SB, light physical activity (LPA), moderate to vigorous physical activity (MVPA), total energy expenditure, and step counts using a wireless activity tracker (Fitbit HR; FB) for 7 days in free-living conditions, along with %BF using a bio impedance analyzer (Inbody; Biospace) in 120 smartphone users with T2DM. Subjects were divided into exercise (Exe, n=68) and non-exercise (nonExe, n=52) groups based on self-reports of whether the recommended exercises (30 min/day, 3 days/week for 3 months) were performed. SBt, LPAt, MVPAt were transformed from SB, LPA, MVPA for normally distributed variables. RESULTS: Participants were: female, 59.2%; age, 59.3±8.4 years; body mass index, 25.5±3.4 kg/m²; glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c), 7.6%±1.2%; %BF, 30.4%±7.1%. They performed SB for 15.7±3.7 hr/day, LPA for 4.4±1.7 hr/day, and MVPA for 0.9±0.8 hr/day. The %BF was related to SBt and LPAt, but not to MVPA after adjustments for age, gender, and HbA1c. VPA was significantly higher in the Exe group than in the nonExe group, but SB, LPA, and moderate physical activity were not different. Predicted %BF was 89.494 to 0.105 (age), -13.047 (gender), -0.507 (HbA1c), -7.655 (LPAt) (F[4, 64]=62.929, P<0.001), with an R² of 0.785 in multiple linear regression analysis. CONCLUSION: Reduced body fat in elderly diabetic patients might be associated with reduced inactivity and increased LPA.

Hemorrhoids Are Associated with Urinary Incontinence.

Background: Hemorrhoids are a common anal disorder and are more frequent in women than in men. Urinary incontinence (UI) also occurs more frequently in women than in men. Although both diseases share similar risk factors, research on the association between the two diseases is lacking. This study aimed to investigate the relationship between hemorrhoids and UI in adult Korean women. Methods: This study was based on the data of the 2008-2009 Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. Logistic regression test was performed to determine the relationship between hemorrhoids and UI after adjusting for age, body mass index (BMI), smoking, heavy drinking, physical activity, education level, income, diabetes mellitus, and hypertension. Results: Analysis of the data of 8,139 adult women revealed that the prevalence of hemorrhoids, which were self-reported and diagnosed by a physician, was 17.5% and 7.9%, respectively. Both types of hemorrhoids were more prevalent in older women with spouses, those with a large waist circumference, and those with a high BMI. The prevalence of UI was significantly high in the hemorrhoid group, regardless of whether it was self-reported or diagnosed by a physician. Multiple logistic regression analyses revealed a significant association between the prevalence of UI and hemorrhoids, both of which were found to peak at 19-39 years of age. Conclusions: Our findings demonstrate that hemorrhoids are significantly correlated with UI in adult Korean women. When treating adult women with hemorrhoids, it is, therefore, necessary to consider other pelvic floor diseases such as UI.