Outcomes After Use of Standard- and Low-Dose Non-Vitamin K Oral Anticoagulants in Asian Patients With Atrial Fibrillation.

Background and Purpose- Limited data are available describing the relative effectiveness, safety, and optimal dosing of non-vitamin K antagonist oral anticoagulants (NOACs) for treatment of nonvalvular atrial fibrillation in East Asian patients. We tried to compare effectiveness and safety outcomes of standard- and low-dose NOACs and warfarin in this population. Methods- Using nationwide administrative claims-based datasets from the Korean National Health Insurance Service Database (July 1, 2015, to December 31, 2016), this study comprised 56 504 anticoagulation-naive nonvalvular atrial fibrillation patients with high thromboembolic risk (CHA2DS2-VASc score, ≥2) treated with oral anticoagulants. Main study outcomes included thromboembolic events (ischemic stroke or systemic embolism), major bleeding, and mortality. Results- Among the study patients, 10 409 (18.4%) received warfarin and 46 095 (81.6%) were treated with NOACs: dabigatran (n=12 593; 22.3%), rivaroxaban (n=21 000; 37.2%), and apixaban (n=12 502; 22.1%). Low-dose NOAC (75.1% dabigatran, 59.7% rivaroxaban, and 62.7% apixaban) was more frequently used than standard-dose NOAC. During median follow-up of 15.0 months, each NOAC was associated with significantly lower risk of thromboembolic events (hazard ratio [HR], 0.76; 95% CI, 0.75-0.81 for dabigatran; HR, 0.74; 95% CI, 0.65-0.83 for rivaroxaban; and HR, 0.68; 95% CI, 0.59-0.78 for apixaban). Regarding safety outcomes, dabigatran (HR, 0.81; CI, 0.69-0.95) and apixaban (HR, 0.67; CI, 0.56-0.79) were associated with lower risk of major bleeding but not with rivaroxaban (HR, 0.96; CI, 0.84-1.11). Among adults <75 years of age without chronic kidney disease, use of low-dose apixaban did not demonstrate clinical benefit over warfarin with respect to thromboembolic events (HR, 0.99; CI, 0.76-1.28) and mortality (HR, 0.85; CI, 0.62-1.16). Conclusions- In this cohort of East Asian patients with nonvalvular atrial fibrillation, NOACs were associated with better effectiveness and safety outcomes versus warfarin. Lower NOAC doses were more often used, but an unjustified underdosing of apixaban seems to result in lower clinical benefit.

Comparative Effectiveness of Telemonitoring Versus Usual Care for Heart Failure: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of telemonitoring (TM) in the management of patients with heart failure (HF). METHODS AND RESULTS: We searched Ovid-Medline, Ovid-Embase, and the Cochrane Library for randomized controlled trials published through May 2016. Outcomes of interest included clinical effectiveness (mortality, hospitalization, and emergency department visits) and patient-reported outcomes. TM was defined as the transmission of individual biologic data, such as weight, blood pressure, and heart rate. Thirty-seven randomized controlled trials (9582 patients) of TM met the inclusion criteria: 24 studies on all-cause mortality, 17 studies on all-cause hospitalization, 12 studies on HF-related hospitalization, and 5 studies on HF-related mortality. The risks of all-cause mortality (risk ratio [RR] 0.81, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.70-0.94) and HF-related mortality (RR 0.68, 95% CI 0.50-0.91) were significantly lower in the TM group than in the usual care group. TM showed a significant benefit when ≥3 biologic data are transmitted or when transmission occurred daily. TM also reduced mortality risk in studies that monitored patients' symptoms, medication adherence, or prescription changes. CONCLUSIONS: TM intervention reduces the mortality risk in patients with HF, and intensive monitoring with more frequent transmissions of patient data increases its effectiveness.

Effectiveness and Safety of Carbon Ion Radiotherapy in Solid Tumors: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

PURPOSE: This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to investigate the effectiveness of carbon ion radiotherapy (CIRT) compared to that of conventional radiotherapy in patients with various types of solid tumors. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We systematically searched eight electronic databases from inception until August 2022 in accordance with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines. The comparative effectiveness of the different treatment options was assessed by a random-effects meta-analysis. RESULTS: This review included 34 comparative studies and three treatment groups. Overall, the meta-analysis indicated comparable local control rates between the CIRT and control groups [pooled risk ratio (RR)=1.02, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.90-1.15]. The local control rate in the CIRT group was higher than that in the photon therapy group, but slightly lower than that in the proton radiation therpy (PRT) group. Additionally, the CIRT group had significantly higher overall survival (OS) (RR=1.19, 95% CI=1.01-1.42) and progression-free survival (PFS) (RR=1.50, 95% CI=1.01-2.21) rates compared to the control group. In the subgroup analysis, survival rates were similar between the CIRT and PRT groups. CONCLUSION: CIRT was associated with improved toxicity, local tumor control, OS, and PFS compared to conventional treatments. Therefore, CIRT was found to be a safe and effective option for achieving local control in patients with solid tumors.

Impact of COVID-19 Pandemic Restrictions on Respiratory Virus Patterns: Insights from RSV Surveillance in Gwangju, South Korea.

The social restriction measures implemented due to the COVID-19 pandemic have impacted the pattern of occurrences of respiratory viruses. According to surveillance results in the Gwangju region of South Korea, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) did not occur during the 2020/2021 season. However, there was a delayed resurgence in the 2021/2022 season, peaking until January 2022. To analyze this, a total of 474 RSV positive samples were investigated before and after the COVID-19 pandemic. Among them, 73 samples were selected for whole-genome sequencing. The incidence rate of RSV in the 2021/2022 season after COVID-19 was found to be approximately three-fold higher compared to before the pandemic, with a significant increase observed in the age group from under 2 years old to under 5 years old. Phylogenetic analysis revealed that, for RSV-A, whereas four lineages were observed before COVID-19, only the A.D.3.1 lineage was observed during the 2021/2022 season post-pandemic. Additionally, during the 2022/2023 season, the A.D.1, A.D.3, and A.D.3.1 lineages co-circulated. For RSV-B, while the B.D.4.1.1 lineage existed before COVID-19, both the B.D.4.1.1 and B.D.E.1 lineages circulated after the pandemic. Although atypical RSV occurrences were not due to new lineages, there was an increase in the frequency of mutations in the F protein of RSV after COVID-19. These findings highlight the need to continue monitoring changes in RSV occurrence patterns in the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic to develop and manage strategies in response.

Adiponectin concentrations: a genome-wide association study.

Adiponectin is associated with obesity and insulin resistance. To date, there has been no genome-wide association study (GWAS) of adiponectin levels in Asians. Here we present a GWAS of a cohort of Korean volunteers. A total of 4,001 subjects were genotyped by using a genome-wide marker panel in a two-stage design (979 subjects initially and 3,022 in a second stage). Another 2,304 subjects were used for follow-up replication studies with selected markers. In the discovery phase, the top SNP associated with mean log adiponectin was rs3865188 in CDH13 on chromosome 16 (p = 1.69 × 10(-15) in the initial sample, p = 6.58 × 10(-39) in the second genome-wide sample, and p = 2.12 × 10(-32) in the replication sample). The meta-analysis p value for rs3865188 in all 6,305 individuals was 2.82 × 10(-83). The association of rs3865188 with high-molecular-weight adiponectin (p = 7.36 × 10(-58)) was even stronger in the third sample. A reporter assay that evaluated the effects of a CDH13 promoter SNP in complete linkage disequilibrium with rs3865188 revealed that the major allele increased expression 2.2-fold. This study clearly shows that genetic variants in CDH13 influence adiponectin levels in Korean adults.

Thigh circumference and diabetes: obesity as a potential effect modifier.

BACKGROUND: Thigh circumference is associated with diabetes risk; however, the role of obesity as a potential effect modifier has not been well studied. METHODS: We examined the association between thigh circumference and diabetes in a cross-sectional study of 384 612 Koreans aged 30 to 79 years. The association between diabetes and thigh circumference in relation to body mass index (BMI) was analyzed among 315 628 participants, using multivariate logistic regression. Thigh circumference was categorized into 9 percentile categories-namely, the 2.5th, 5th, 10th, 25th, 50th, 75th, 90th, 95th, and 97.5th percentiles-and the 50th percentile was used as the reference value for thigh circumference. Separate analyses were performed for men and women. RESULTS: The association of thigh circumference with diabetes showed contradictory patterns before and after adjustment for BMI and waist circumference. Small thigh circumference was associated with greater risk of diabetes among men and women. This relationship was stronger among participants younger than 50 years, although age was not a significant effect modifier. BMI was a significant effect modifier among men with a BMI of less than 25 kg/m(2). Among women, diabetes risk increased with smaller thigh circumference. CONCLUSIONS: Small thigh circumference was associated with diabetes, and this association was stronger among participants with a BMI of less than 25 kg/m(2). Thigh circumference might be a useful diabetes marker in lean populations.

Hemoglobin concentration and risk of cardiovascular disease in Korean men and women - the Korean heart study.

This study investigated the relationship between hemoglobin concentration and the incidence of cardiovascular diseases (CVD). A total of 407,858 subjects (256,851 men, aged 30-94 yr), who underwent physical examination at 17 Korean nationwide health examination centers, was included in this study. Data regarding CVD incidence were obtained from the Korean National Health Insurance database. In Cox proportional hazard models, men with lower or higher hemoglobin level showed higher hazard ratios (HR) with total CVD (HR, 1.14; 95% Confidence interval [CI], 1.08-1.21 for the 1st quintile; HR, 1.14; 95% CI, 1.09-1.21 for the 5th quintile), ischemic heart disease (HR, 1.16; 95% CI, 1.07-1.26 for the 1st quintile; HR, 1.16; 95% CI, 1.07-1.25 for the 5th quintile), and stroke (HR, 1.13; 95% CI, 1.02-1.25 for the 1st quintile; HR, 1.18; 95% CI, 1.07-1.30 for the 5th quintile) compared to those with mid-level of hemoglobin (3rd quintile). Women with higher hemoglobin level showed higher HR with total CVD (HR, 1.15; 95% CI, 1.01-1.31 for pre-menopausal women; HR, 1.08; 95% CI, 1.01-1.16 for post-menopausal women). We found an independent U-shaped association between hemoglobin level and CVD incidence in Korean population.

Chronic airway disease as a major risk factor for fractures in osteopenic women: Nationwide cohort study.

Introduction: The study aimed to demonstrate the risk factors for fractures and to develop prediction models for major osteoporotic and hip fractures in osteopenic patients using the nationwide cohort study in South Korea. Methods: The study was a retrospective nationwide study using the national screening program for transitional ages from the National Health Insurance Services database in Korea from 2008 to 2019. Primary outcomes were incident fracture events of major osteoporotic and hip fractures. Major osteoporotic and hip fracture events were defined as diagnostic and procedural codes. Patients were followed until the fragility fractures, death, or 2019, whichever came first. Results: All participants were 66-year-old females, with a mean body mass index was 25.0 ± 3.1 kg/m2. During a median follow-up of 10.5 years, 26.9% and 6.7% of participants experienced major osteoporotic and hip fractures. In multivariate analysis, a history of fracture, chronic airway disease, falls, diabetes mellitus and cerebrovascular diseases were significant risk factors for major osteoporotic (hazard ratio [HR] 2.35 for a history of fracture; 1.17 for chronic airway disease; 1.10 for falls; 1.12 for diabetes mellitus; 1.11 for cerebrovascular disease) and hip fractures (HR 1.75 for a history of fracture; 1.54 for diabetes mellitus; 1.27 for cerebrovascular disease; 1.17 for fall; 1.15 for chronic airway disease). The performances of the prediction models were area under the receiver operating curve of 0.73 and 0.75 for major osteoporotic and hip fractures. Conclusion: The study presented prediction models of major osteoporotic and hip fractures for osteopenia patients using simple clinical features.

Impact of metabolic syndrome independent of insulin resistance on the development of cardiovascular disease.

BACKGROUND: It is controversial as to whether metabolic syndrome is a predictor of cardiovascular disease (CVD) independent of insulin resistance (IR). The aim of this study was to determine the independent and combined effects of metabolic syndrome and IR on the incidence of CVD in a prospective cohort study. METHODS AND RESULTS: A total of 6,430 healthy subjects who underwent a health check-up were enrolled. Risk factors for atherosclerotic CVD (ASCVD) including ischemic heart disease (IHD) and stroke were measured. The prevalence of metabolic syndrome and IR were 24.4% and 25.6%, respectively. There were 644 incident cases (9.0%) of ASCVD diagnosed in the cohort. After adjusting for traditional confounders and IR, metabolic syndrome was related to the incidence of CVD. In the multivariate model, the hazard ratios (95% confidence intervals) of metabolic syndrome for IHD, stoke, and ASCVD were 1.66 (1.32-2.09), 1.60 (1.21-2.12), and 1.61 (1.36-1.90), respectively. The risk of IHD, stoke, and ASCVD increased with increasing number of metabolic syndrome components. Furthermore, the risk of CVD was stronger in those who had both metabolic syndrome and IR concurrently. CONCLUSIONS: Metabolic syndrome is related to the incidence of CVD independent of IR. Also, the combined effect of metabolic syndrome and IR contributes to the risk of CVD.

Effects of a combined lifestyle score on 10-year mortality in Korean men and women: a prospective cohort study.

BACKGROUND: Most studies that have evaluated the association between combined lifestyle factors and mortality outcomes have been conducted in populations of Caucasian origin. The objective of this study was to examine the association between combined lifestyle scores and the risk of mortality in Korean men and women. METHODS: The study population included 59,941 Koreans, 30-84 years of age, who had visited the Severance Health Promotion Center between 1994 and 2003. Cox regression models were fitted to establish the association between combined lifestyle factors (current smoker, heavy daily alcohol use, overweight or obese weight, physical inactivity, and unhealthy diet) and mortality outcomes. RESULTS: During 10.3 years of follow-up, there were 2,398 cases of death from any cause. Individual and combined lifestyle factors were found to be associated with the risk of mortality. Compared to those having none or only one risk factor, in men with a combination of four lifestyle factors, the relative risk for cancer mortality was 2.04-fold, for non-cancer mortality 1.92-fold, and for all-cause mortality 2.00-fold. In women, the relative risk was 2.00-fold for cancer mortality, 2.17-fold for non-cancer mortality, and 2.09-fold for all-cause mortality. The population attributable risks for all-cause mortality for the four risk factors combined was 44.5% for men and 26.5% for women. CONCLUSION: This study suggests that having a high (unhealthy) lifestyle score, in contrast to a low (healthy) score, can substantially increase the risk of death by any cause, cancer, and non-cancer in Korean men and women.

Diagnostic accuracy of prostate-specific antigen below 4 ng/mL as a cutoff for diagnosing prostate cancer in a hospital setting: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

PURPOSE: A prostate-specific antigen (PSA) cutoff of 4 ng/mL has been widely used for prostate cancer screening in population-based settings. However, the accuracy of PSA below 4 ng/mL as a cutoff for diagnosing prostate cancer in a hospital setting is inconclusive. We systematically reviewed the accuracy of PSA below 4 ng/mL cutoff in a hospital setting. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We systematically reviewed the literature by searching major databases until March 2020, and a meta-analysis and quality assessment were performed. RESULTS: A total of 11 studies were included at the completion of the screening process. The meta-analysis showed a sensitivity of 0.92 and a specificity of 0.16 for a PSA cutoff below 4 ng/mL. The area under the hierarchical summary receiver operating characteristic curve was 0.87, the positive likelihood ratio was 1.23, the negative likelihood ratio was 0.46, and the diagnostic odds ratio was 2.64. PSA sensitivities and specificities varied according to the cutoff range: 0.94 and 0.17 for 2 to 2.99 ng/mL, and 0.92 and 0.16 for 3 to 3.99 ng/mL, respectively. No significant differences in the sensitivity and specificity of PSA cutoffs in the range of 2 to 2.99 ng/mL and 3 to 3.99 ng/mL were found. CONCLUSIONS: Although a PSA cutoff <3 ng/mL is relatively more sensitive and specific than PSA ≥3 ng/mL, no significant differences in sensitivity and specificity were found in the diagnosis of prostate cancer. Therefore, clinicians should choose an appropriate PSA cutoff on the basis of clinical circumstances and patients' characteristics.

Alanine aminotransferase is associated with metabolic syndrome independently of insulin resistance.

BACKGROUND: Few studies have examined the effect of insulin resistance on the association between alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and metabolic syndrome. The association between ALT levels and metabolic syndrome were determined, independently of insulin resistance in Korean populations. METHODS AND RESULTS: The association between ALT and metabolic syndrome were examined in 28,456 subjects who visited 7 Health Promotion Centers at University Hospitals in Korea from 2006 to 2008. HOMA-IR index was used to represent insulin resistance index. ALT levels were found to be positively associated with metabolic syndrome after adjusting for age, alcohol intake, and smoking status. Furthermore, when additional adjustment was made for insulin resistance, this association between ALT and metabolic syndrome, although slightly attenuated, remained strongly significant. Subjects in the highest ALT quartile were found to have a higher risk of having metabolic syndrome than those in the lowest quartile (odds ratio (OR)=4.45, 95% confidence interval (CI)=3.96-4.99 for men and OR=3.51, 95%CI=2.73-4.52 for women). In addition, the association between ALT level and the risk of metabolic syndrome was significantly higher in the relatively low risk group. CONCLUSIONS: ALT levels were found to be significantly associated with metabolic syndrome independently of insulin resistance and with an interaction by age. Further cohort studies are needed to determine the usefulness of ALT levels for predicting the risk of metabolic syndrome.

Associations between lipid measures and metabolic syndrome, insulin resistance and adiponectin. - Usefulness of lipid ratios in Korean men and women -.

BACKGROUND: Several reports have raised the possibility that newly addressed lipid measures might be superior to the traditional ones for cardiovascular risk prediction. However, data on the associations between these lipid measures with metabolic syndrome (MetS) is limited. METHODS AND RESULTS: A cross-sectional study of participants in routine health examinations was performed. The associations between lipid measure variables (total cholesterol (TC), triglycerides (TG), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), TC/HDL-C, LDL-C/HDL-C, TG/HDL-C ratio and non-HDL-C) and MetS, insulin resistance (IR) by homeostatic model assessment (HOMA) and adiponectin were analyzed in 6,546 participants (3,820 men; mean age 46.0+/-9.2 years in men, 44.6+/-9.5 years in women). In multivariable adjusted regression analysis, the 3 lipid ratios of TC/HDL-C, LDL-C/HDL-C and TG/HDL-C showed significant association with the number of MetS components, HOMA and log adiponectin level in both men and women without MetS (P<0.001, respectively), though these relations were weaker in participants with MetS. The mean levels of the lipid ratios also associated with increasing numbers of the MetS components, quartiles of HOMA and adiponectin. CONCLUSIONS: Lipid ratios of TC/HDL-C, LDL-C/HDL-C and TG/HDL-C, as well as TG and HDL, were consistently associated with MetS and IR in participants without MetS. Lipid ratios might be used as integrated and simple lipid measures.

Attachment and relationship-based interventions for families during neonatal intensive care hospitalization: a study protocol for a systematic review and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: Attachment in the parent-infant dyads is fundamental for growth and development of children born prematurely. However, the natural process of attachment is interrupted just after preterm birth, and emotional and physical detachment, limited social interaction, and a traumatic, technologically heavy environment in a neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) may result in impaired attachment or bonding. To our knowledge, few studies have evaluated the effectiveness of interventions aimed at enhancing attachment, bonding, and relationships between parents and their preterm infants during the infant's hospitalization in the NICU. This study aims to perform a comprehensive systematic review and a meta-analysis survey of the effects of attachment- and relationship-based interventions in the NICU. METHOD: A comprehensive literature review will be conducted in the following databases: MEDLINE, CINAHL, PubMed, EMBASE (OVID), Scopus, PsycINFO (OVID), Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL), and Web of Science. Selected studies will be published in English, in the last 20 years, from 1999 onwards. All studies of randomized controlled trials (e.g., parallel groups, cluster) will be included. We will consider studies evaluating attachment- and relationship-based interventions (e.g., skin-to-skin contact, parental involvement in infant care) versus a comparator (standard of care). The primary outcome will be maternal attachment. Secondary outcomes will include infants' growth and development, family health, and parenting experience. Data extraction from eligible studies will be conducted independently by two experts who will compare their data. The Cochrane risk of bias tool will be applied to the selected studies. If data permits, we will conduct random effects meta-analysis where appropriate. Subgroup and additional analyses will be conducted to explore the potential sources of heterogeneity considering gender of parents, infants' sex, and gestational age. Data synthesis will be carried out using the RevMan 5.3 software. Publication bias will be assessed with the graphical funnel plot method and the Egger test. The quality of the evidence will be rated using the methods of the Grades of Recommendation Assessment, Development and Evaluation (GRADE) Working Group. DISCUSSION: The results of this systematic review will discuss the types of attachment- or relationship-based interventions that are effective for facilitating family health outcomes and the babies' growth and development and will contribute to establishing new evidence in neonatal and family-centered care by providing scientific guidance for clinical practice and further research. SYSTEMATIC REVIEW REGISTRATION: PROSPERO CRD42019145834.

Pattern and Impact of Off-label Underdosing of Non-Vitamin K Antagonist Oral Anticoagulants in Patients With Atrial Fibrillation Who are Indicated for Standard Dosing.

With safety concerns about increasing bleeding, off-label underdosing of non-vitamin K antagonist anticoagulants (NOACs) is common in East Asian patients with atrial fibrillation (AF). We tried to investigate the pattern of NOAC underdosing and associated clinical outcomes in patients with AF who are indicated for standard dosing. Using the Korean National Health Insurance Service database, we evaluated 16,568 patients with a new prescription of NOAC who are indicated for standard NOAC dosing and compared 4,536 patients with warfarin with respect to thromboembolic events (ischemic stroke or systemic embolization), all-cause mortality and major bleeding. Of the 16,568 patients indicated for standard NOAC dosing, 8,549 (51.9%) received off-label underdosing (50.6% rivaroxaban, 53.0% apixaban). During a median follow up of 15.0 months, as compared with warfarin, underdosing of rivaroxaban was associated with lower risks of major thromboembolic events (hazard ratio [HR]: 0.53; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.41 to 0.69) and all-cause mortality (HR 0.57, 95% CI: 0.41 to 0.82), and a similar risk of major bleeding (HR 1.10, 95% CI: 0.82 to 1.46). However, underdosing of apixaban was associated with similar risks of major thromboembolic events (HR: 0.90; 95% CI: 0.70 to 1.16), all-cause mortality (HR 0.94, 95 CI: 0.71 to 1.24) and major bleeding (HR 0.84, 95% CI: 0.61 to 1.17). In conclusion, in this Korean population with AF who are indicated for standard NOAC dosing, off-label underdosing is common and its clinical benefit over warfarin was inconsistent according to types of NOAC. Notably, apixaban underdosing provides no benefit in effectiveness compared with warfarin.

Low serum bilirubin level as an independent predictor of stroke incidence: a prospective study in Korean men and women.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Bilirubin is not only a waste end-product but also an antioxidant. Bilirubin is known to be associated with decrease in cardiovascular risk in men, but its relationship to stroke was not clearly understood. METHODS: Serum bilirubin concentrations were measured in 78 724 health examinees (41 054 men, aged 30-89 years) from 1994 to 2001. The subjects with potential hepatobiliary diseases or Gilbert syndrome were excluded from analysis. Stroke incidence outcome was collected from hospital records of admission attributable to stroke from 1994 to 2007. RESULTS: Serum bilirubin measurements were divided into 4 levels: 0 to 10.2, 10.3 to 15.3, 15.4 to 22.1, and 22.2 to 34.2 micromol/L. The number of stroke cases was 1137 in men and 827 in women. In Cox proportional hazard models, participants with a higher level of bilirubin showed lower hazard ratios in men with ischemic stroke after adjustment for multiple confounding factors compared to the lowest level of bilirubin (hazard ratio [HR], 0.72; 95% CI, 0.58-0.90 in level 3; HR, 0.66; 95% CI, 0.49-0.89 in level 4; P for trend=0.016). The risk of all stroke types also decreased as bilirubin levels increased (HR, 0.81; 95% CI, 0.68-0.97 in level 3; HR, 0.74; 95% CI, 0.58-0.94 in level 4; P for trend=0.0071). However, these associations were not seen in hemorrhagic stroke or in women. CONCLUSIONS: These findings suggest that serum bilirubin might have some protective function against stroke risk in men.

Serum adiponectin as a useful marker for metabolic syndrome in type 2 diabetic patients.

BACKGROUND: Although adiponectin is generally known as a predictor of metabolic syndrome, potential of adiponectin as a predictor for metabolic syndrome in type 2 diabetes is debated. The purpose of this study is to determine the association between adiponectin and metabolic syndrome in patients with type 2 diabetes. METHODS: Adiponectin and the risk of metabolic syndrome were examined among 1013 type 2 diabetes patients who visited Huh's Diabetes Center from January 2003 to June 2006. Adiponectin levels were classified into quartile groups, and metabolic syndrome was defined according to the standard of National Cholesterol Education Program (NCEP) Adult Treatment Panel (ATP) III. Insulin sensitivity was directly assessed using the short insulin tolerance test (SITT) (Kitt: %/ min). RESULTS: Adiponectin was significantly correlated with metabolic syndrome components. The age-adjusted correlations between adiponectin and clinical parameters including metabolic components were significant; adiponectin was negatively correlated with waist circumference, diastolic blood pressure and triglyceride, and positively correlated with high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol. Subjects with metabolic syndrome showed lower adiponectin levels than those without metabolic syndrome. After multivariate adjustment, participants with lower adiponectin levels also had a higher risk for metabolic syndrome (OR for lowest quartiles 2.21; 95% CI, 1.51-3.24). Metabolic syndrome risk was stronger among those with low adiponectin and severe insulin resistance simultaneously. This study has shown additive effects of adiponectin and insulin resistance on metabolic syndrome. CONCLUSIONS: In type 2 diabetic patients, the adiponectin was a useful predictor of metabolic syndrome independent of potential confounding variables.

The association of serum lipids with renal function: the Korea Medical Institute Study.

BACKGROUND: Both serum lipids and renal dysfunction are well-known risk factors for cardiovascular diseases. Little data are, however, available on the relation of serum lipids and glomerular filteration rates (GFRs) with low levels of serum cholesterol in Asian populations. METHODS: We performed a large cross-sectional study of 93 228 Korean men and women enrolled in the Korea Medical Institute Study. Serum creatinine was used to estimate the GFR through the simplified modification of diet in renal disease equation. RESULTS: In multivariate logistic regression analysis, those in the highest quartiles of all the lipid biomarkers showed significant associations with the risk of having a GFR of less than 60 ml/min per 1.73 m, compared with those in the lowest quartiles except high-density lipoprotein (HDL) in women. In men, odds ratios (ORs) by triglycerides (TGs) [OR: 1.99; 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.65-2.40], and TG/HDL (OR: 1.98; 95% CI: 1.64-2.38) were higher than others. In women, low-density lipoprotein (OR: 1.91; 95% CI: 1.42-2.56) and non-HDL (OR: 1.84; 95% CI: 1.35-2.50) showed the highest ORs. These associations were stronger among male participants with diabetes; total cholesterol (OR: 2.03; 95% CI: 1.04-3.96), TG (OR: 18.08; 95% CI: 2.46-133.13) and TG/HDL (OR: 17.97; 95% CI: 2.44-132.30), respectively. CONCLUSION: We conclude that potentially modifiable lipid biomarkers are elevated in the setting of less than 90 ml/min per 1.73 m of GFR and there will be the link between renal insufficiency and the increased risk for cardiovascular events in the Korean population.

Body mass index and serum aminotransferase levels in Korean men and women.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Obesity has been postulated as contributing to the risk of nonalcoholic steatohepatitis. With the surging obesity epidemic, an ensuing epidemic of nonalcoholic steatohepatitis and its sequelae is of concern. The objectives of this clinical research study were to examine the association between body mass index (BMI) and serum aminotransferase levels. METHOD: A study was carried out on 1,166,847 Koreans (731,560 men and 435,287 women), 30 to 95 years of age, who received health insurance from the National Health Insurance Corp and had a biennial medical evaluation from 1992 to 1995. RESULTS: Across the range of BMI values (<18.5 to >or=32 kg/m) in men, alanine aminotransferase (ALT) was estimated to increase by 18.8 U/L and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) increased by 7.1 U/L. In women, ALT increased by 9.9 U/L, whereas AST increased by 4.5 U/L. In men, interactions between BMI and alcohol consumption were significant (P<0.001) for ALT and AST, but the degree of effect modification was quantitatively minor. However, ALT and AST levels were somewhat higher in heavy alcohol drinkers than in nondrinkers. For women, the relationship of aminotransferase levels with BMI did not vary by alcohol consumption. The relationship of BMI with aminotransferase weakened with increasing age. CONCLUSIONS: In Korea, ALT and AST are strongly associated with BMI and increased progressively from the lowest to the highest strata of BMI. The association of BMI with aminotransferase levels was modified by age and sex.

Serum adiponectin is associated with smoking status in healthy Korean men.

OBJECTIVE: To measure the association between smoking and serum adiponectin, taking into consideration insulin resistance and obesity. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The cross-sectional study was carried out in Seoul, Korea in 2006. Waist circumference (WC), body mass index (BMI), and serum adiponectin were measured in 2,500 healthy Korean men. Multiple linear regression models were used to assess the association of smoking status with serum adiponectin level. WC, BMI, and homeostasis model assessment (HOMA) were classified into two groups according to median values. RESULTS: The mean adiponectin concentrations were 6.6 microg/ml and 7.3 microg/ml in current smokers and non-smokers. After adjusting for age, BMI, and alcohol consumption, mean log adiponectin levels decreased by 0.064 microg/ml in current smokers compared with non-smokers (P = 0.0190). Mean log adiponectin levels also decreased by 0.030 and 0.095 microg/ml in moderate and heavy smokers compared to non-smokers. The relationship between adiponectin and smoking was similar between the high and low insulin resistance, BMI, and WC groups. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that serum adiponectin levels are associated with smoking status. These data also support that lower serum adiponectin concentrations in smokers may not be dependent on insulin resistance status or obesity.