Optimizing lipid control in Taiwanese diabetic patients: A collaborative consensus by the Diabetes Association of the Republic of China (Taiwan) and the Taiwanese Association of Diabetes Educators.

We present an in-depth analysis of dyslipidemia management strategies for patients with diabetes mellitus in Taiwan. It critically examines the disparity between established guideline recommendations and actual clinical practices, particularly in the context of evolving policies affecting statin prescriptions. The focus is on synthesizing the most recent findings concerning lipid management in patients with diabetes mellitus, with a special emphasis on establishing consensus regarding low-density lipoprotein cholesterol treatment targets.

Mandatory monthly outpatient visits could improve therapeutic inertia in patients with poorly controlled type 2 diabetes.

Aims/introduction: Delayed intensification of treatment, or therapeutic inertia, increases the risk of diabetic complications and death. The aim of this study was to determine the effect of mandatory monthly outpatient visits on therapeutic inertia in patients with suboptimal control of type 2 diabetes.

Materials And Methods: This retrospective cohort study used data from the Chang Gung Research Database and defined two study periods: the baseline period and the intervention period.

Chaperonin counteracts diet-induced non-alcoholic fatty liver disease by aiding sirtuin 3 in the control of fatty acid oxidation.

Aims/hypothesis: The mitochondrial chaperonin heat shock protein (HSP) 60 is indispensable in protein folding and the mitochondrial stress response; however, its role in nutrient metabolism remains uncertain. This study investigated the role of HSP60 in diet-induced non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD).

Methods: We studied human biopsies from individuals with NAFLD, murine high-fat-diet (HFD; a diet with 60% energy from fat)-induced obesity (DIO), transgenic (Tg) mice overexpressing Hsp60 (Hsp60-Tg), and human HepG2 cells transfected with HSP60 cDNA or with HSP60 siRNA.

Hypocalcemia Is a Common Risk Factor for Osteoporosis in Taiwanese Patients with Cushing's Syndrome.

Background: Osteoporosis is a cardinal manifestation of Cushing’s syndrome. There is a lack of relevant research on risk factors for osteoporosis among patients with Cushing’s syndrome (CS) in Taiwan. Thus, this study was designed to explore the possible risk factors of osteoporosis.

A Study on MDA5 Signaling in Splenic B Cells from an Imiquimod-Induced Lupus Mouse Model with Proteomics.

Introduction: Several environmental stimuli may influence lupus, particularly viral infections. In this study, we used an imiquimod-induced lupus mouse model focused on the TLR7 pathway and proteomics analysis to determine the specific pathway related to viral infection and the related protein expressions in splenic B cells to obtain insight into B-cell responses to viral infection in the lupus model.

Materials And Methods: We treated FVB/N wild-type mice with imiquimod for 8 weeks to induce lupus symptoms and signs, retrieved splenocytes, selected B cells, and conducted the proteomic analysis.

Circulating Growth Differentiation Factor 15 Is Associated with Diabetic Neuropathy.

Background: Growth differentiation factor (GDF15) is a superfamily of transforming growth factor-beta which has been suggested to be correlated with various pathological conditions. The current study aimed to investigate the predicted role of circulating GDF15 in diabetic metabolism characteristics and diabetic neuropathy. Methods: 241 diabetic patients and 42 non-diabetic subjects were included to participate in the study.

The Risk Factors of Severe Hypoglycemia in Older Patients with Dementia and Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus.

Background: The adequate glycemic control and risk factors for hypoglycemia in older patients with dementia and type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) remain unclear. This study aimed to analyze the status of glycemic control and determine the risk of hypoglycemia among these groups.

Methods: A hospital admission record due to hypoglycemia through an emergency room with glucose supplementation in the Chang Gung Memorial Hospital was identified as a hypoglycemic event.

Legacy Effect of Antioxidant N-acetylcysteine in Cellular Senescence of Diet-induced Obesity Mice.

Background: Cellular senescence is a state of stable growth arrest triggered by mitogenic and metabolic stressors. Ageing and a high-fat diet (HFD) are proven inducers of senescence in various organs, presenting a challenge for ageing populations worldwide. Our previous study demonstrated that ROS scavenger N-acetylcysteine (NAC) can improve insulin resistance (IR) and chronic inflammation in diet-induced obesity mice, an effect better achieved through early intervention.

The Causal Role of Mitochondrial Dynamics in Regulating Innate Immunity in Diabetes.

Plenty of evidence suggested that chronic low-grade inflammation triggered by innate immunity activation contributes to the pathogenesis of type 2 diabetes (T2D). Using the trans-mitochondrial cybrid cell model, we have demonstrated that mitochondria independently take part in the pathological process of insulin resistance (IR) and pro-inflammatory phenotype in cybrid cells harboring mitochondrial haplogroup B4, which are more likely to develop T2D. The mitochondrial network is more fragmented, and the expression of fusion-related proteins is low in Cybrid B4.

Peri-renal fat thickness is positively associated with the urine albumin excretion rate in patients with type 2 diabetes.

Backgrounds: Albuminuria, the earliest clinical manifestation of diabetic kidney disease (DKD), is a major prognostic indicator of renal progression. Obesity itself is associated with the development of DKD and accelerates its progression. Accumulation of peri-renal fat on the kidneys can damage kidney function.

Long-term outcome and prognostic factors of single-dose Radioiodine Therapy in patients with Graves' disease.

Background/purpose: Few studies exist investigating the effectiveness of radioiodine (RAI) therapy for hyperthyroidism patients in Asia. We herein investigated the real-world efficacy of single-dose RAI therapy in Taiwanese patients with Graves' disease (GD).

Methods: This is a retrospective study of 243 patients with GD recorded between 1989 and 2016 in a tertiary referral hospital.

Abrogation of Toll-Like Receptor 4 Mitigates Obesity-Induced Oxidative Stress, Proinflammation, and Insulin Resistance Through Metabolic Reprogramming of Mitochondria in Adipose Tissue.

Obesity-induced excessive visceral fat (VF) accumulation is associated with insulin resistance (IR), systemic oxidative stress, and chronic inflammation. As toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) plays an important role in innate immunity, we herein investigate the effect of TLR4 knockout (T4KO) in a high-fat high-sucrose diet (HFD)-induced obesity mouse model. C57BL6 wild-type (WT) and T4KO mice were fed with either control diet (CD) or HFD for 12 months, rendering four experimental groups: WT+CD, WT+HFD, T4KO+CD, and T4KO+HFD.

Association between Pro12Ala polymorphism and albuminuria in type 2 diabetic nephropathy.

Aims/introduction: Diabetic nephropathy (DN) is a complication of diabetes mellitus that is characterized by the gradual loss of kidney function, which results in increased levels of albumin in the urine. The Pro12Ala polymorphism in the peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-γ2 gene has been confirmed to improve insulin sensitivity, but its association with susceptibility to DN in patients with type 2 diabetes remains inconclusive.

Materials And Methods: To examine whether the Pro12Ala polymorphism leads to the development of DN, a case-control study was carried out in 554 patients with type 2 diabetes.

Effects of Resistance Exercise on Glycated Hemoglobin and Functional Performance in Older Patients with Comorbid Diabetes Mellitus and Knee Osteoarthritis: A Randomized Trial.

Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is significantly associated with osteoarthritis (OA). This study investigated the effects of two resistance exercise approaches on glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) level and function performance. Enrolled were 70 older patients with both T2DM and knee OA.

The Causal Role of Mitochondrial Dynamics in Regulating Insulin Resistance in Diabetes: Link through Mitochondrial Reactive Oxygen Species.

Background: Mitochondrial dynamics (mtDYN) has been proposed as a bridge between mitochondrial dysfunction and insulin resistance (IR), which is involved in the pathogenesis of type 2 diabetes (T2D). Our previous study has identified that mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) haplogroup B4 is a T2D-susceptible genotype. Using transmitochondrial cybrid model, we have confirmed that haplogroup B4 contributes to cellular IR as well as a profission mtDYN, which can be reversed by antioxidant treatment.

Early intervention of N-acetylcysteine better improves insulin resistance in diet-induced obesity mice.

Reactive oxygen species (ROS) plays a crucial role in pathogenesis of insulin resistance (IR) and type 2 diabetes. In the United Kingdom, Prospective Diabetes Study and its 10-year post-trial monitoring, a beneficial effect of early optimisation of blood glucose control is clearly demonstrated. In this study, we investigated whether ROS scavenger N-acetylcysteine (NAC) and the time point of intervention can affect IR in a diet-induced obesity mouse model.

Dynamic Risk Estimates of Outcome in Chinese Patients with Well-Differentiated Thyroid Cancer After Total Thyroidectomy and Radioactive Iodine Remnant Ablation.

Background: This study was conducted to compare the staging systems for the prediction of long-term disease status in patients with well-differentiated thyroid carcinoma (WDTC), and to find out the earliest postoperative period predictor of long-term persistence/recurrence of disease.

Methods: Patients with WDTC (n = 356; M = 41.5 ± 12.

Body mass index-mortality relationship in severe hypoglycemic patients with type 2 diabetes.

Background: Hypoglycemia is associated with a higher risk of death. This study analyzed various body mass index (BMI) categories and mortalities of severe hypoglycemic patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM) in a hospital emergency department.

Methods: The study included 566 adults with type 2 diabetes who were admitted to 1 medical center in Taiwan between 2008 and 2009 with a diagnosis of severe hypoglycemia.

The metabolic syndrome and risk of coronary artery disease in patients with chronic schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder in a chronic mental institute.

The prevalence rate of metabolic syndrome (MS) and coronary artery disease (CAD) has been found to be high in patients with chronic schizophrenia. Current evidence shows that CAD is underdiagnosed in this group. Our study evaluated the prevalence of MS and the risk of CAD in patients with chronic schizophrenia in a chronic care mental hospital in southern Taiwan.

Severity of hearing impairment is positively associated with urine albumin excretion rate in patients with type 2 diabetes.

Aims/introduction: To identify risk factors for hearing impairment among patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus.

Methods And Materials: A total of 68 patients with type 2 diabetes were enrolled between March and September of 2011. Pure-tone auditory tests were carried out for each patient at the following speech frequencies: 250; 500; 1,000; 2,000; 4,000 and 8,000 Hz.

The durability of sitagliptin in elderly patients with type 2 diabetes.

Aim: To evaluate the durability of sitagliptin and to assess changes in clinical chronic complications following sitagliptin monotherapy for 48 months in elderly patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM).

Subjects And Methods: We enrolled 76 drug-naïve patients (40 women and 36 men; mean age: 71.3±11.

Acute blood glucose fluctuations can decrease blood glutathione and adiponectin levels in patients with type 2 diabetes.

Introduction: Glutathione appears to have apparent antioxidant activity to counter regulate hyperglycemia induced oxidative stress. Adiponectin also plays a role in the suppression of the metabolic derangements in type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM). The aim of this study was to determine whether blood glucose fluctuations can alter blood levels of glutathione and adiponectin.