Overexpression of PtVDL1 in Phaeodactylum tricornutum Increases Fucoxanthin Content under Red Light.

Phaeodactylum tricornutum is a model diatom with significant biotechnological applications, including enhancing biomass, biofuel, and carotenoid production. Specifically, owing to the capacity of this organism to serve as a valuable source of essential raw materials for pharmaceuticals and nutraceuticals, ongoing research is actively focused on enhancing its productivity. One of the genes involved in various stages of fucoxanthin (Fx) biosynthesis, violaxanthin de-epoxidase like 1 (VDL1), has recently been identified. To validate the intracellular function of this gene and boost Fx production through overexpression, we established and examined three transgenic P. tricornutum lines characterized by elevated P. tricortunum VDL1 ( PtVDL1) expression and evaluate their cell growth and Fx productivity. These transgenic lines exhibited substantially increased PtVDL1 mRNA and protein levels compared to the wild type (WT). Notably, the enzyme substrate violaxanthin was entirely depleted and could not be detected in the transformants, whereas it remained at constant levels in the WT. Interestingly, under standard white light conditions, Fx productivity in the transformants remained unchanged; however, but after 48 h of exposure to red light, it increased by up to 15%. These results indicate that PtVDL1-overexpressing P. tricornutum has industrial potential, particularly for enhancing Fx production under red light conditions.

Identification of a metabolite for the detection of the hydrophilic drug diisopropylamine for doping control.

Diisopropylamine (DIPA), a hydrophilic chemical compound, is used as an intravenous antihypertensive agent. DIPA is prohibited for use in the horse racing industry due to its performance enhancing effects. A cyano (CN) hydrophilic interaction liquid chromatography (HILIC) column was used for the separation of DIPA from its metabolite. Ammonium formate was added to the mobile phase to increase the ionization of the basic substance. The metabolite was identified as an N-oxidized metabolite of DIPA, which eluted earlier than the parent drug and was less polar on the HILIC column. The main finding of the study was the identification of a metabolite with a mass shift of 15.9944. The in vitro experiment showed that the metabolite was produced as a result of N-oxidation processes, mainly mediated by flavin-containing monooxygenase (FMO). Methimazole was used to inhibit the FMO enzyme-mediated N-oxidation metabolism and metabolite production in a concentration-dependent manner. The metabolite was confirmed to be present in an actual horse urine sample that tested positive for DIPA. This study demonstrated that the metabolite could be screened using in vitro samples and their presence corresponded to a positive result in actual samples. This metabolite screening could therefore find application as a flexible way to test for new and modified banned substances in the racing industry.

In vivo longitudinal 920†nm two-photon intravital kidney imaging of a dynamic 2,8-DHA crystal formation and tubular deterioration in the adenine-induced chronic kidney disease mouse model.

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is one of the most common renal diseases manifested by gradual loss of kidney function with no symptoms in the early stage. The underlying mechanism in the pathogenesis of CKD with various causes such as high blood pressure, diabetes, high cholesterol, and kidney infection is not well understood. In vivo longitudinal repetitive cellular-level observation of the kidney of the CKD animal model can provide novel insights to diagnose and treat the CKD by visualizing the dynamically changing pathophysiology of CKD with its progression over time. In this study, using two-photon intravital microscopy with a single 920 nm fixed-wavelength fs-pulsed laser, we longitudinally and repetitively observed the kidney of an adenine diet-induced CKD mouse model for 30 days. Interestingly, we could successfully visualize the 2,8-dihydroxyadenine (2,8-DHA) crystal formation with a second-harmonics generation (SHG) signal and the morphological deterioration of renal tubules with autofluorescence using a single 920 nm two-photon excitation. The longitudinal in vivo two-photon imaging results of increasing 2,8-DHA crystals and decreasing tubular area ratio visualized by SHG and autofluorescence signal, respectively, were highly correlated with the CKD progression monitored by a blood test showing increased cystatin C and blood urea nitrogen (BUN) levels over time. This result suggests the potential of label-free second-harmonics generation crystal imaging as a novel optical technique for in vivo CKD progression monitoring.

Machine learning-guided prediction of potential engineering targets for microbial production of lycopene.

The process of designing streamlined workflows for developing microbial strains using classical methods from vast amounts of biological big data has reached its limits. With the continuous increase in the amount of biological big data, data-driven machine learning approaches are being used to overcome the limits of classical approaches for strain development. Here, machine learning-guided engineering of Deinococcus radiodurans R1 for high-yield production of lycopene was demonstrated. The multilayer perceptron models were first trained using the mRNA expression levels of the key genes along with lycopene titers and yields obtained from 17 strains. Then, the potential overexpression targets from 2,047 possible combinations were predicted by the multilayer perceptron combined with a genetic algorithm. Through the machine learning-aided fine-tuning of the predicted genes, the final-engineered LY04 strain resulted in an 8-fold increase in the lycopene production, up to 1.25 g/L from glycerol, and a 6-fold increase in the lycopene yield.

Effect of water filtration infrared-A (wIRA) sauna on inorganic ions excreted through sweat from the human body.

Sweat discharged as a result of exposure to sauna plays an important role in removing inorganic ions accumulated in the body, including heavy metals. In this study, inorganic ions (toxic and nutrient elements) excreted in the form of sweat from the body using a water-filtered infrared-A (wIRA) sauna were determined using inductively coupled plasma sector field mass spectrometry. The analyzed elements included eight toxic elements (Al, As, Be, Cd, Ni, Pb, Ti, and Hg) and 10 nutrient elements (Ca, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, Mg, Mn, Se, V, and Zn), and their correlations were determined. Analysis of the sweat obtained from 22 people using the wIRA sauna showed a higher inorganic ion concentration than that obtained from conventional activities, such as exercise or the use of wet sauna, and the concentration of toxic elements in sweat was higher in females than in males. Correlation analysis of the ions revealed a correlation between the discharge of toxic elements, such as As, Be, Cd, and Ni, and discharge of Se and V, and Ni was only correlated with Mn. This study provides fundamental information on nutritional element supplementation when using wIRA sauna for detoxification.

Pharmacokinetic Profiling of Ginsenosides, Rb1, Rd, and Rg3, in Mice with Antibiotic-Induced Gut Microbiota Alterations: Implications for Variability in the Therapeutic Efficacy of Red Ginseng Extracts.

Ginsenoside Rg3 is reported to contribute to the traditionally known diverse effects of red ginseng extracts. Significant individual variations in the therapeutic efficacy of red ginseng extracts have been reported. This study aimed to investigate the effect of amoxicillin on the pharmacokinetics of ginsenosides Rb1, Rd, and Rg3 in mice following the oral administration of red ginseng extracts. We examined the α-diversity and ß-diversity of gut microbiota and conducted pharmacokinetic studies to measure systemic exposure to ginsenoside Rg3. We also analyzed the microbiome abundance and microbial metabolic activity involved in the biotransformation of ginsenoside Rb1. Amoxicillin treatment reduced both the α-diversity and ß-diversity of the gut microbiota and decreased systemic exposure to ginsenoside Rg3 in mice. The area under the curve (AUC) values for Rg3 in control and amoxicillin-treated groups were 247.7 ± 96.6 ng·h/mL and 139.2 ± 32.9 ng·h/mL, respectively. The microbiome abundance and microbial metabolic activity involved in the biotransformation of ginsenoside Rb1 were also altered by amoxicillin treatment. The metabolizing activity was reduced from 0.13 to 0.05 pmol/min/mg on average. Our findings indicate that amoxicillin treatment potentially reduces the gut-microbiota-mediated metabolism of ginsenoside Rg3 in mice given red ginseng extracts, altering its pharmacokinetics. Gut microbiome variations may thus influence individual ginsenoside pharmacokinetics, impacting red ginseng extract's efficacy. Our results suggest that modulating the microbiome could enhance the efficacy of red ginseng.

Accelerator mass spectrometry for quantification of micro- and therapeutic-dose diclofenac in microdialysis samples.

Background: Microdialysis sampling after drug microdosing may provide tissue pharmacokinetic data early in clinical drug development. However, low administered doses and small sample volumes pose an analytical challenge, particularly for highly protein-bound drugs. Materials & methods: Carbon-14 [14C]diclofenac was used as a model drug to assess the technical and analytical feasibility of in vivo microdialysis after microdose administration in an in vitro setup. Results: [14C]diclofenac dialysate concentrations were accurately quantified with accelerator MS. [14C]diclofenac dialysate recoveries were similar in the presence and absence of therapeutic diclofenac concentrations but were considerably decreased when albumin was added to the immersion solution, suggesting high protein binding. Conclusion: These results demonstrate the feasibility of combining microdosing and microdialysis to assess tissue pharmacokinetics.

The Intake of Coffee Increases the Absorption of Aspirin in Mice by Modifying Gut Microbiome.

The absorption of orally administered aspirin into the blood was affected by gastrointestinal environmental factors such as gut pH, digestive enzymes, and microbiota. The intake of coffee affects the pharmacological effects of aspirin. Therefore, we examined the gut microbiota-mediated effect of coffee bean extract (CBE) intake on the pharmacokinetics of aspirin in mice. The intake of CBE modified the gut microbiota composition and their α- and ß-diversities: It decreased the Proteobacteria, Helicobacteriaceae, and Bacteroidaceae populations in the fecal microbiota composition, while the S24-7_f (Muribaculaceae) and Lactobacillaceae populations increased. The fecal aspirin-hydrolyzing activities of humans and mice to salicylic acid were 0.045 ± 0.036 µmole/h/g and 0.032 ± 0.003 µmole/h/g, respectively. However, CBE treatment significantly suppressed the aspirin-hydrolyzing activity in mice. Furthermore, the area under the serum concentration-time curves (AUCs) of aspirin and salicylic acid were 0.265 ± 0.050 µg·h/mL and 16.224 ± 5.578 µg·h/mL in CBE-treated mice, respectively, and 0.248 ± 0.042 µg·h/mL and 10.756 ± 2.071 µg·h/mL in control mice, respectively. Moreover, CBE treatment suppressed the multidrug resistance protein 4 (Mrp4) expression in the intestines of mice, while the P-glycoprotein (P-gp), breast cancer resistance protein (BCRP) expression was not affected. Furthermore, the CBE-treated mouse fecal lysate suppressed Mrp4 expression in Caco-2 cells compared to that of vehicle-treated mice, while CBE treatment did not affect Mrp4 expression. Oral gavage of caffeine also suppressed the Mrp4 expression in the intestines of mice. These findings suggest that intake of coffee can increase the absorption of aspirin by modifying the gut microbiome.

Mean and Variability of Lipid Measurements and Risk for Development of Subclinical Left Ventricular Diastolic Dysfunction.

BACKGROUND: Subclinical left ventricular diastolic dysfunction (LVDD) is an emerging consequence of increased insulin resistance, and dyslipidemia is one of the few correctable risk factors of LVDD. This study evaluated the role of mean and visit-to-visit variability of lipid measurements in risk of LVDD in a healthy population. METHODS: This was a 3.7-year (interquartile range, 2.1 to 4.9) longitudinal cohort study including 2,817 adults (median age 55 years) with left ventricular ejection fraction >50% who underwent an annual or biannual health screening between January 2008 and July 2016. The mean, standard deviation (SD), coefficient of variation (CV), variability independent of the mean (VIM), and average real variability of total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), apolipoprotein B (apoB), non-HDL-C, and triglycerides were obtained from three to six measurements during the 5 years preceding the first echocardiogram. RESULTS: Among the 2,817 patients, 560 (19.9%) developed LVDD. The mean of no component of lipid measurements was associated with risk of LVDD. CV (hazard ratio [HR], 1.35; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.10 to 1.67), SD (HR, 1.27; 95% CI, 1.03 to 1.57), and VIM (HR, 1.26; 95% CI, 1.03 to 1.55) of LDL-C and all the variability parameters of apoB were significantly associated with development of LVDD. The association between CV-LDL and risk of LVDD did not have significant interaction with sex, increasing/decreasing trend at baseline, or use of stain and/or lipid-modifying agents. CONCLUSION: The variability of LDL-C and apoB, rather than their mean, was associated with risk for LVDD.

Do-It-Yourself Open Artificial Pancreas System in Children and Adolescents with Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus: Real-World Data.

Few studies have been conducted among Asian children and adolescents with type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) using do-it-yourself artificial pancreas system (DIY-APS). We evaluated real-world data of pediatric T1DM patients using DIY-APS. Data were obtained for 10 patients using a DIY-APS with algorithms. We collected sensor glucose and insulin delivery data from each participant for a period of 4 weeks. Average glycosylated hemoglobin was 6.2%±0.3%. The mean percentage of time that glucose level remained in the target range of 70 to 180 mg/dL was 82.4%±7.8%. Other parameters including time above range, time below range and mean glucose were also within the recommended level, similar to previous commercial and DIY-APS studies. However, despite meeting the target range, unadjusted gaps were still observed between the median basal setting and temporary basal insulin, which should be handled by healthcare providers.

Metastatic Lymph Node Ratio for Predicting Recurrence in Medullary Thyroid Cancer.

The lymph node ratio (LNR) has been investigated as a prognostic factor in many different types of cancers, including differentiated thyroid cancer; however, reports regarding medullary thyroid cancer (MTC) are limited. Therefore, this study aims to evaluate LNR as a risk factor for structural recurrence in patients with MTC. Medical records of patients treated for MTC in a single tertiary center between 1995 and 2017 were retrospectively reviewed. LNR is defined as the number of metastatic lymph nodes or lymph node metastases (LNM) divided by the number of retrieved lymph nodes or lymph node yield (LNY). In the survival analysis, recurrence-free survival was defined as the time from the date of total thyroidectomy to recurrence or last follow-up. To identify risk factors influencing structural recurrence, univariable and multivariable Cox proportional hazard models were used. A total of 132 patients were enrolled. The mean age of study participants was 49.7 years, and 86 patients (65%) were women. Structural recurrence was identified in 39 patients at the end of the study period, and the median follow-up period was 8.7 years. In univariable analyses, gross extra thyroidal extension, N stage, postoperative serum calcitonin and carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) levels, and LNR were significant (p < 0.05) predictors of structural recurrence. In multivariable analysis, postoperative serum calcitonin, postoperative serum CEA, and LNR were identified as a predictor of disease-free survival (p < 0.05). LNR can potentially predict structural recurrence as a quantitative evaluation tool for lymph node metastasis in patients with MTC.

Intranuclear Delivery of HIF-1α-TMD Alleviates EAE via Functional Conversion of TH17 Cells.

T helper 17 (TH17) cells are involved in several autoimmune diseases such as multiple sclerosis (MS) and rheumatoid arthritis (RA). In addition to retinoic acid receptor-related orphan nuclear receptor gamma t (ROR-γt), hypoxia-inducible factor-1α (HIF-1α) is essential for the differentiation and inflammatory function of TH17 cells. To investigate the roles of HIF-1α in the functional regulation of TH17 cells under the normal physiological condition without genetic modification, the nucleus-transducible form of transcription modulation domain (TMD) of HIF-1α (ntHIF-1α-TMD) was generated by conjugating HIF-1α-TMD to Hph-1 protein transduction domain (PTD). ntHIF-1α-TMD was effectively delivered into the nucleus of T cells without cellular cytotoxicity. ntHIF-1α-TMD significantly blocked the differentiation of naïve T cells into TH17 cells in a dose-dependent manner via IL-17A and ROR-γt expression inhibition. However, T-cell activation events such as induction of CD69, CD25, and IL-2 and the differentiation potential of naïve T cells into TH1, TH2, or Treg cells were not affected by ntHIF-1α-TMD. Interestingly, TH17 cells differentiated from naïve T cells in the presence of ntHIF-1α-TMD showed a substantial level of suppressive activity toward the activated T cells, and the increase of Foxp3 and IL-10 expression was detected in these TH17 cells. When mRNA expression pattern was compared between TH17 cells and ntHIF-1α-TMD-treated TH17 cells, the expression of the genes involved in the differentiation and functions of TH17 cells was downregulated, and that of the genes necessary for immune-suppressive functions of Treg cells was upregulated. When the mice with experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE) were treated with ntHIF-1α-TMD with anti-IL-17A mAb as a positive control, the therapeutic efficacy of ntHIF-1α-TMD in vivo was comparable with that of anti-IL-17A mAb, and ntHIF-1α-TMD-mediated therapeutic effect was contributed by the functional conversion of TH17 cells into immune-suppressive T cells. The results in this study demonstrate that ntHIF-1α-TMD can be a new therapeutic reagent for the treatment of various autoimmune diseases in which TH17 cells are dominant and pathogenic T cells.

Early mortality and cardiovascular disease, varied association with body mass index and its changes in insulin-treated diabetes: a nationwide study.

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: We investigated the hazards of cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) and all-cause death during follow-up according to baseline body mass index (BMI) and percent change in BMI among adults with insulin-treated diabetes. SUBJECTS/METHODS: Using the Korean National Health Insurance Service datasets (2002-2017), the hazards of myocardial infarction (MI), stroke, and all-cause mortality during follow-up were analyzed according to baseline BMI and percent change in BMI among adults with insulin-treated diabetes and without baseline CVD and/or malignancy (N = 44,055). RESULTS: At baseline, 67.3% of total subjects were either obese or overweight. During a mean 3.8 years, 1,081 MI and 1,562 stroke cases developed; 2,847 deaths occurred over a mean 3.9 years. Compared with normal weight, overweight and obesity were associated with lower hazards of outcomes [hazard ratio (95% CI): 0.836 (0.712-0.981), 0.794 (0.687-0.917) for MI; 0.829 (0.726-0.946), 0.772 (0.684-0.870) for stroke; 0.740 (0.672-0.816), 0.666 (0.609-0.728) for death, respectively]. Underweight was associated with a higher hazard of all-cause death during follow-up [hazard ratio (95% CI): 2.035 (1.695-2.443)]. When the group with minimum absolute value for percent change in BMI was set as a reference, the relative reduction in BMI was associated with increased hazards of MI, stroke, and all-cause death, and relative increase in BMI was associated with increased hazards of stroke and all-cause death during follow-up. CONCLUSIONS: Among adults with insulin-treated diabetes, a high prevalence of overweight and obesity was observed, and baseline BMI category was inversely associated with CVD incidence and all-cause death during follow-up. Both weight loss and gain were associated with increased CVD incidence and all-cause death during follow-up, showing a U-shaped relationship between weight change and outcome. Stable body weight might be a predictor of a lower risk of CVDs and premature death among individuals with insulin-treated diabetes.

Changes in Thyrotropin Receptor Antibody Levels Following Total Thyroidectomy or Radioiodine Therapy in Patients with Refractory Graves' Disease.

Background: The actions of thyrotropin-binding inhibitory immunoglobulins (TBIIs) against thyrotropin receptors in thyroid follicular cells have been studied as important etiological factors in Graves' disease (GD). The purpose of this study was to investigate changes in the TBII levels of patients undergoing total thyroidectomy (TTx) or radioactive iodine (RAI) therapy for GD refractory to antithyroid drugs (ATDs). Methods: We enrolled patients who underwent TTx or RAI for GD with previous ATD use between January 2011 and December 2017 at the Samsung Medical Center in Seoul, Korea. Thorough retrospective reviews of medical records were performed in 130 patients. Results: Patients with goiter, ophthalmopathy, high levels of TBIIs, and high doses of ATDs received TTx. Elderly patients with arrhythmia received RAI. We observed that TBII levels continued to decrease after TTx. On the contrary, TBIIs initially increased for 138 days (estimated median time) and then decreased slowly after RAI. A faster decline in TBII levels was observed in the TTx group than in the RAI group (p < 0.001). The estimated median time for TBIIs to decrease below 4.5 IU (3 × upper normal limit, which is known to be a risk factor for fetal hyperthyroidism) was 318 days in the TTx group and 659 days in the RAI group, respectively. In the RAI group, high levels of TBII (>4.5 IU/L) were present in 70 (82%) at 6 months, 57 (67%) at 1 year, and 3 (3%) at 2 years. In the TTx group, rapid decreases in TBII levels were observed in younger patients and those with lower baseline TBII levels. In the RAI group, smaller thyroid volume was correlated with more rapid decrease in TBII levels. Conclusions: The changes in TBII levels following TTx or RAI were different in patients with refractory GD. When deciding on TTx or RAI, this difference should be considered with patient age, severity of hyperthyroidism, goiter, ophthalmopathy, and future pregnancy plans (for young female patients).

Ginkgo biloba leaf extract suppresses intestinal human breast cancer resistance protein expression in mice: Correlation with gut microbiota.

In this study, we investigated the effects of treatment with Gingko biloba leaf extract (GLE) on intestinal transporter expression and gut microbiota composition in mice and the correlation between intestinal transporter expression and gut microbiota composition in mice. When GLE was orally administered to mice, intestinal BCRP expression was significantly suppressed. Pharmacokinetic studies showed that the maximum plasma concentration and area under the curve values of sulfasalazine were increased more than twice by treatment with GLE compared with those in the control group. GLE treatment significantly decreased the populations of Proteobacteria and Deferribacteres at the phylum level. Correlation analysis showed that BCRP expression was positively or negatively correlated with the composition of gut bacteria. In Caco-2 cells, GLE treatment did not affect BCRP expression, but treatment with the lysates of GLE-treated mouse feces significantly suppressed BCRP expression. These findings demonstrate that the suppression of intestinal BCRP expression following GLE treatment may occur through modulation of the gut microbiota composition. Thus, the present study suggests that modulation of gut microbiota composition may cause drug transporter-mediated herb-drug interactions.

The longer the antithyroid drug is used, the lower the relapse rate in Graves' disease: a retrospective multicenter cohort study in Korea.

PURPOSE: Current literature suggests 12-18 months of antithyroid drug (ATD) treatment for patients with Graves' disease, but the risk of relapse is high. Although some studies reported better outcomes of long-term ATD treatment, recent data that suggest the optimal treatment duration are limited. METHODS: We performed a multicenter retrospective cohort study of 908 patients newly diagnosed with Graves' disease between 2006 and 2013. The relapse rate according to ATD treatment duration was analyzed. RESULTS: After initial ATD treatment, 338 patients (37.2%) had relapsed. The relapse rate according to ATD treatment duration was 42.4% at 1 year, 38.5% at 2 years, 33.8% at 3 years, 31.7% at 4 years, 30.2% at 5 years, 27.8% at 6 years, and 19.1% at more than 6 years, respectively, demonstrating a significant decreasing trend (p = 0.003). In a multivariable Cox regression analysis, ATD treatment duration was an independent risk factor for relapse (p = 0.043). CONCLUSIONS: The longer that ATD therapy is used, the lower the relapse rate is in patients with Graves' disease. Long-term ATD treatment may be considered in Graves' patients who do not show complications or an economic burden from hyperthyroidism.

Low Skeletal Muscle Mass Is Associated With the Presence, Incidence, and Progression of Coronary Artery Calcification.

BACKGROUND: Low skeletal muscle mass (SMM) is an emerging risk factor of cardiovascular disease (CVD). We investigated the association between SMM and coronary artery calcification (CAC). METHODS: We enrolled 19,728 adults free of CVD who underwent computed tomographic estimation of Agatston CAC scores for cross-sectional analysis. Among them, 5,401 subjects who had at least 2 follow-up CAC scores were included in longitudinal analysis. Relative SMM is presented as the skeletal muscle mass index [SMI (%) = total appendicular muscle mass (kg)/body weight (kg) × 100]. CAC presence and incidence were defined as CAC score > 0, and CAC progression was defined as √CAC score (follow-up) - √CAC score (baseline) > 2.5. RESULTS: Among all of the subjects (mean age 53.4 years, 80.8% male), the prevalence of CAC was 36.7%. The incidence of CAC was 17.4% during a mean of 3.6 years, and the progression of CAC was 49.9% during a mean of 2.3 years. The lowest SMI quartile was significantly associated with an increased risk of CAC presence (adjusted odds ratio 2.75, 95% confidence interval [CI] 2.45-3.05; P < 0.001), incidence (adjusted hazard ratio [AHR] 1.99, 95% CI 1.36-2.91; P < 0.001), and progression (AHR 1.48, 95% CI 1.25-1.77; P < 0.001) compared with the highest quartile. SMI as a continuous value was also significantly inversely associated with CAC. SMI was the best parameter to be related to CAC among other quantitative indices such as height or body mass index adjusted. CONCLUSIONS: Low SMM is significantly associated with an elevated risk of CAC, independently of other cardiometabolic parameters.

Risk of early mortality and cardiovascular disease according to the presence of recently diagnosed diabetes and requirement for insulin treatment: A nationwide study.

AIMS/INTRODUCTION: We estimated the hazards of cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) and early all-cause mortality in Korean adults according to the presence of recently diagnosed type 2 diabetes (type 2 diabetes for <5 years) and insulin use. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We used the Korean National Health Insurance Service-National Sample Cohort database (2002-2015) for this longitudinal population-based study. Among adults aged ≥40 years without baseline CVD, individuals without diabetes or with recently diagnosed type 2 diabetes were selected (N = 363,919). The hazard ratios (HRs) for myocardial infarction (MI), stroke, and all-cause mortality during follow-up were analyzed according to three groups categorized by the presence of type 2 diabetes and insulin use. RESULTS: Within a mean 7.8 years, there were 5,275 MIs, 7,220 strokes, and 15,834 deaths. The hazards for outcomes were higher in the insulin-treated type 2 diabetes group than in the non-diabetes group [HR (95% CI): 2.344 (1.870-2.938) for MI, 2.420 (1.993-2.937) for stroke, and 3.037 (2.706-3.407) for death], higher in the non-insulin-treated type 2 diabetes group than in the non-diabetes group [HR (95% CI): 1.284 (1.159-1.423) for MI, 1.435 (1.320-1.561) for stroke, and 1.135 (1.067-1.206) for death], and higher in the insulin-treated type 2 diabetes group than in the non-insulin-treated type 2 diabetes group [HR (95% CI): 1.914 (1.502-2.441) for MI, 1.676 (1.363-2.060) for stroke, and 2.535 (2.232-2.880) for death]. CONCLUSIONS: Recently diagnosed type 2 diabetes patients showed increased risks of incident CVDs and premature mortality, and insulin-treated group demonstrated an additional increase in the risks of these outcomes in adults with recently diagnosed type 2 diabetes, suggesting the need for intensified cardio-protective interventions for adults with insulin-treated type 2 diabetes.

Primary aldosteronism subtyping in the setting of partially successful adrenal vein sampling.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Frequent failure of adrenal vein (AV) cannulation is a major obstacle to the universal use of adrenal vein sampling (AVS) for subtyping primary aldosteronism (PA). This study aimed to confirm and modify the value of a previously reported AVS parameter for PA subtyping in the case of cannulation failure on one side. METHODS: Successfully catheterized AVS studies in 157 patients (121 patients as a derivation cohort and 36 patients as a validation cohort) from two tertiary hospitals were retrospectively reviewed. The AV/inferior vena cava (IVC) index was defined by dividing the aldosterone/cortisol ratio (ACR) of AV by the ACR of the IVC. Cutoff values for lateralized PA were obtained from two methods: scatterplots and the values corresponding to Youden's index in receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves, on the assumption of catheterization failure on one side. RESULTS: Due to multiple samplings in a single AVS procedure, 252 left AV/IVC ratios (LIRs) and 272 right AV/IVC ratios (RIRs) were calculated. Scatterplot cutoffs of LIR >5.4 or <0.5 predicted unilateral PA with a sensitivity of 42.1% and a specificity of 98.6%. Scatterplot cutoffs of RIR <0.5 or >7.0 showed a sensitivity of 55.1% and a specificity of 98.6%. ROC curve cutoffs of LIR ⩽0.8 or >3.1 predicted unilateral PA with a sensitivity of 82.5% and a specificity of 69.6%. ROC curve cutoffs of RIR ⩽0.8 or >3.9 resulted in 87.4% sensitivity and 80.7% specificity. CONCLUSION: In the case of unilateral AVS failure, the AV/IVC index may help in diagnosing PA subtype.

Association of Urinary N-Acetyl-ß-D-Glucosaminidase with Cardiovascular Autonomic Neuropathy in Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus without Nephropathy.

BACKGROUND: Cardiovascular autonomic neuropathy (CAN) is a common microvascular complication of diabetes and related to albuminuria in diabetic nephropathy (DN). Urinary N-acetyl-ß-D-glucosaminidase (uNAG) is a renal tubular injury marker which has been reported as an early marker of DN even in patients with normoalbuminuria. This study evaluated whether uNAG is associated with the presence and severity of CAN in patients with type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) without nephropathy. METHODS: This cross-sectional study comprised 247 subjects with T1DM without chronic kidney disease and albuminuria who had results for both uNAG and autonomic function tests within 3 months. The presence of CAN was assessed by age-dependent reference values for four autonomic function tests. Total CAN score was assessed as the sum of the partial points of five cardiovascular reflex tests and was used to estimate the severity of CAN. The correlations between uNAG and heart rate variability (HRV) parameters were analyzed. RESULTS: The association between log-uNAG and presence of CAN was significant in a multivariate logistic regression model (adjusted odds ratio, 2.39; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.08 to 5.28; P=0.031). Total CAN score was positively associated with loguNAG (ß=0.261, P=0.026) in the multivariate linear regression model. Log-uNAG was inversely correlated with frequency-domain and time-domain indices of HRV. CONCLUSION: This study verified the association of uNAG with presence and severity of CAN and changes in HRV in T1DM patients without nephropathy. The potential role of uNAG should be further assessed for high-risk patients for CAN in T1DM patients without nephropathy.