To the Future: The Role of Exosome-Derived microRNAs as Markers, Mediators, and Therapies for Endothelial Dysfunction in Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus.

The prevalence of diabetes mellitus (DM) is increasing at a staggering rate around the world. In the United States, more than 30.3 million Americans have DM.

miRNA-15a, miRNA-15b, and miRNA-499 are Reduced in Erythrocytes of Pre-Diabetic African-American Adults.

Aims: The use of circulatory miRNAs as biomarkers and therapeutic targets for T2DM is an explosive area of study. However, no study has investigated circulatory miRNA expression exclusively in African-American adults. The aim of this study was to identify the expression of nine selected miRNAs in erythrocytes of pre-diabetic and type 2 diabetic African-American adults.

Maintenance of long-term adequate levels of vitamin d lowers HbA1c in African American patients with type 2 diabetes.

Objectives: We examined the long-term effects of enhanced Vitamin D (VitD) supplementation on parameters of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM): serum hemoglobin A1c, low density lipoprotein, high density lipoprotein, and triglyceride for the purpose of determining beneficial VitD levels in T2DM African Americans (AA).

Design And Methods: Following inclusion criteria, retrospective charts of patients aged > or = 30 years were reviewed. VitD supplementation was given to patients as part of drug regimen over a three year continuum.

Fasting plasma ghrelin levels are reduced, but not suppressed during OGTT in obese African American adolescents.

Objective: Our study aimed to evaluate total plasma ghrelin (TGh) concentration and its correlation with leptin and insulin in obese African American (AA) adolescents with a family history of type 2 diabetes.

Participants And Methods: Insulin, leptin, and TGh were measured for 15 non-obese controls in fasted state and 19 obese AA adolescents on samples collected during oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) using radioimmunoassay kits. The hormonal concentrations were compared at fasting levels between obese and non-obese AA adolescents.

Significance of plasma C-peptide in obese African American adolescents.

Background: C-peptide blood levels can indicate whether or not a person is producing insulin and roughly how much. C-peptide is secreted as a byproduct of the biosynthesis of insulin from proinsulin. C-peptide has proposed biological activity and a well-established diagnostic value.

Decreased total carbonic anhydrase esterase activity and decreased levels of carbonic anhydrase 1 isozyme in erythrocytes of type II diabetic patients.

In this exploratory study, we investigated total erythrocyte carbonic anhydrase (CA) estrase activity as well as CA I isozyme concentration in patients with diabetes mellitus type II (DM) and healthy individuals of Howard University Hospital community. Total estrase activity of CA was measured spectrophotometrically using p-nitrophenol acetate before and after inhibition with acetazolamide. CA I isozyme was measured by radial immunodiffusion using monoclonal antibody (CA I) in agarose plates.