The triglyceride to high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (TG/HDL-C) ratio as a predictor of insulin resistance, β-cell function, and diabetes in Hispanics and African Americans.

Objective: The TG/HDL-C ratio is used as a marker of insulin resistance (IR) in Caucasians; however, there is limited data in other ethnic groups. We hypothesized that the TG/HDL-C ratio is associated with IR in Hispanics and African Americans (AA).

Research Design And Methods: Data from the Insulin Resistance Atherosclerosis Family Study was examined for associations between TG/HDL-C ratio and IR, β-cell function and incident diabetes in non-diabetic Hispanics (n = 872, 63% female) and AA (n = 371, 61% female).

The triglyceride to high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (TG/HDL-C) ratio as a predictor of β-cell function in African American women.

Background: The TG/HDL-C ratio is used as a marker of insulin resistance (IR) in Caucasians. However, there are conflicting data on TG/HDL-C ratio as a predictor of IR in African Americans. Compared to Caucasians, African Americans have lower TG levels and increased insulin levels despite a greater risk for diabetes.

Multiple Disease Associations in Autoimmune Polyglandular Syndrome Type II.

Objective: Autoimmune polyglandular syndrome type II (APS II) is characterized by adrenal insufficiency (Addison's disease), autoimmune thyroid disease, and/or type 1 diabetes mellitus (DM1). Multiple other autoimmune diseases have been associated with APS II. Here we report a case of a patient with APS II who over the course of 10 years developed Addison's disease, hypothyroidism, DM1, Hashimoto's encephalopathy, vitiligo, celiac disease, seronegative arthritis, and ulcerative colitis.

The inositol phosphatase SHIP-2 down-regulates FcgammaR-mediated phagocytosis in murine macrophages independently of SHIP-1.

FcgammaR-mediated phagocytosis of IgG-coated particles is a complex process involving the activation of multiple signaling enzymes and is regulated by the inositol phosphatases PTEN (phosphatase and tensin homolog deleted on chromosome 10) and SHIP-1 (Src homology [SH2] domain-containing inositol phosphatase). In a recent study we have demonstrated that SHIP-2, an inositol phosphatase with high-level homology to SHIP-1, is involved in FcgammaR signaling. However, it is not known whether SHIP-2 plays a role in modulating phagocytosis.