Aquaporins in Cancer Biology.

Aquaporins (AQPs) are a family of transmembrane water channel proteins, which were initially characterized as a novel protein family that plays a vital role in transcellular and transepithelial water movement. AQP1, AQP2, AQP4, AQP5, and AQP8 are primarily water selective, whereas AQP3, AQP7, AQP9, and AQP10 (called "aqua-glyceroporins") also transport glycerol and other small solutes. Recently, multiple reports have suggested that AQPs have important roles in cancer cell growth, migration, invasion, and angiogenesis, each of which is important in human carcinogenesis.

Association of glucagon-to-insulin ratio and nonalcoholic fatty liver disease in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus.

Objective: The aim of this study is to investigate the association between glucagon-to-insulin ratio and the presence of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease on ultrasonography in participants with type 2 diabetes mellitus.

Research Design And Methods: This cross-sectional study was performed with data obtained from 172 participants with type 2 diabetes mellitus admitted to a University hospital of Korea. Participants were assessed for serum fasting and postprandial serum glucagon-to-insulin ratio and divided into tertiles.

Effect of Dapagliflozin on Alanine Aminotransferase Improvement in Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus with Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease.

Background: Sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 inhibitors (SGLT2i) are expected to improve the liver function of patients with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) combined type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) by its characteristic mechanism. This study was designed to investigate the effect of dapagliflozin, one of the SGLT2i, on the liver function of T2DM with NAFLD when combined with metformin.

Methods: Among patients who received dual oral hypoglycemic agents within the 3 months of diagnosing NAFLD, patients who had abnormal alanine aminotransferase (ALT) level (>40 IU/L) were included.

Differential Impact of Sleep Duration on Fasting Plasma Glucose Level According to Work Timing.

Background And Aim: To quantify the differential contribution of sleep duration on fasting plasma glucose level by traditional regular daytime work and shift work in subjects without diabetes.

Methods: Self-reported sleep duration and work type and timing were determined in a cross-sectional sample of 9123 participants aged 20-65 years from the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES) 2010-2015. Those who responded that they worked between 6 am and 6 pm were classified as "traditional regular daytime workers; "those who worked in the afternoon, at night, or in several types of shift work were classified as "shift workers.

Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease and Abdominal Fat Accumulation According to Vitamin D Status in Patients with Type 2 Diabetes.

Background: Vitamin D deficiency is known to increase the incidence of metabolic syndrome. Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease is a common metabolic disease in patients with type 2 diabetes. This study evaluated nonalcoholic fatty liver disease and abdominal fat accumulation according to 25-hydroxyvitamin D status in patients with type 2 diabetes.

Induction of GD3/α1-adrenergic receptor/transglutaminase 2-mediated erythroid differentiation in chronic myelogenous leukemic K562 cells.

The disialic acid-containing glycosphingolipid GD3 recruited membrane transglutaminase 2 (TG2) as a signaling molecule for erythroid differentiation in human chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML) K562 cells. The α1-adrenergic receptor (α1-AR)/TG2-mediated signaling pathway regulated GD3 functions, including gene expression and production, to differentiate CML K562 cells into erythroid lineage cells. Epinephrine, an AR agonist, increased membrane recruitment as well as GTP-photoaffinity of TG2, inducing GD3 synthase gene expression.

Obesity and Physical Activity.

Some clinical manifestations of obesity include nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, type 2 diabetes, and cardiovascular disease. Calorie restriction may aid in weight loss in the short term. Exercise and physical activity are other means of weight loss.

Association of grade of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease and glycated albumin to glycated hemoglobin ratio in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus.

Aims: The aim of this study was to investigate the association between the glycated albumin (GA) to glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) (GA/HbA1c) ratio and grade of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) on ultrasonography (US) in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM).

Methods: This retrospective, cross-sectional study was performed with data obtained from 186 T2DM patients. Participants were assessed for serum GA/HbA1c ratio and fatty liver using US.

Monosialyl Ganglioside GM3 Decreases Apolipoprotein B-100 Secretion in Liver Cells.

Some sialic acid-containing glycolipids are known to regulate development of atherosclerosis with accumulated plasma apolipoprotein B-100 (Apo-B)-containing lipoproteins, because Apo-B as an atherogenic apolipoprotein is assembled mainly in VLDL and LDL. Previously, we have elucidated that disialyl GD3 promotes the microsomal triglyceride transfer protein (MTP) gene expression and secretion of triglyceride (TG)-assembled ApoB, claiming the GD3 role in ApoB lipoprotein secretion in liver cells. In the synthetic pathway of gangliosides, GD3 is synthesized by addition of a sialic acid residue to GM3.

The U-shaped relationship between fibroblast growth factor 21 and microvascular complication in type 2 diabetes mellitus.

Aims: The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between serum FGF21 level and all microvascular complication including cardiac autonomic neuropathy (CAN) in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM).

Methods: A total 227 T2DM patients were enrolled and serum FGF21 levels were assessed. Diabetic retinopathy, nephropathy, peripheral neuropathy (DPN), and CAN were evaluated.

The relationship between serum adipocytokines and Graves' ophthalmopathy: A hospital-based study.

Adipocytokines are thought to be associated with inflammatory disorders and autoimmune diseases. However, limited information is available on the relationship between serum adipocytokine levels, Graves' disease (GD), and Graves' ophthalmopathy (GO). The present study examined the relationship between serum adipocytokine levels and GD and GO.

Relationship between vitamin D status and vascular complications in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus.

We aimed to investigate the association between serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25[OH]D) and microvascular complications in type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) patients. It was hypothesized that lower 25(OH)D would be associated with increased microvascular complications in T2DM. A total of 257 T2DM patients (111 men, 146 women) who underwent diabetic microvascular complication (peripheral neuropathy, nephropathy, retinopathy) studies were recruited.

Association of serum omentin levels with cardiac autonomic neuropathy in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus: a hospital-based study.

Background: Whereas a few studies have reported associations of serum omentin levels with subclinical atherosclerosis in patients with diabetes, little information is available with respect to the associations of serum omentin levels and diabetic microvascular complications. The aim of this study was to investigate the relationships of serum omentin levels and vascular complications including cardiac autonomic neuropathy (CAN) in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM).

Methods: We recruited 97 patients who evaluated complications of diabetes.

Serum Concentrations of Ghrelin and Leptin according to Thyroid Hormone Condition, and Their Correlations with Insulin Resistance.

Background: Thyroid hormones can influence energy metabolism and insulin sensitivity via their interaction with adipocytokines and gut hormones. The aims of this study were to evaluate differences in serum ghrelin and leptin concentrations according to thyroid hormone levels, and to investigate the correlation of insulin resistance.

Methods: A total of 154 patients (57 hyperthyroid patients, 61 euthyroid patients, and 36 hypothyroid patients; mean age, 47.

Chronic Alcohol Consumption Results in Greater Damage to the Pancreas Than to the Liver in the Rats.

Alcohol consumption increases the risk of type 2 diabetes. However, its effects on prediabetes or early diabetes have not been studied. We investigated endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress in the pancreas and liver resulting from chronic alcohol consumption in the prediabetes and early stages of diabetes.

The relationship between vitamin D status and cardiac autonomic neuropathy in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus.

Objective: This study evaluates cardiac autonomic neuropathy and heart rate variability according to the vitamin D status in type 2 diabetes mellitus.

Methods: A total of 163 patients were recruited. Cardiac autonomic neuropathy was assessed using five tests according to Ewing's protocol.

Impact of hemoglobin A1c-based criterion on diagnosis of prediabetes: The Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2011.

To examine the impact of hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) criterion on the diagnosis of prediabetes in Koreans, we analyzed nationally representative cross-sectional data of 5,845 Korean adults aged ≥20 years from the Fifth Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2011. Standardized prevalence rates of prediabetes in Korean adults by fasting plasma glucose (FPG; 5.6-6.

Relationship of glycated hemoglobin A1c, coronary artery calcification and insulin resistance in males without diabetes.

Background And Aims: We undertook this study to compare the prevalence of coronary artery calcification (CAC) across glycated hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) in nondiabetic males and to evaluate the impact of insulin resistance on CAC in relation to HbA1c levels.

Methods: A cross-sectional study was performed in 18,504 adult males without diabetes mellitus and cardiovascular disease (CVD). CAC scores were measured by multidetector computed tomography; CAC was defined as a CAC score >0.

Metastasis of colon cancer to medullary thyroid carcinoma: a case report.

Metastasis to the primary thyroid carcinoma is extremely rare. We report here a case of colonic adenocarcinoma metastasis to medullary thyroid carcinoma in a 53-yr old man with a history of colon cancer. He showed a nodular lesion, suggesting malignancy in the thyroid gland, in a follow-up examination after colon cancer surgery.

Risk of malignancy in thyroid incidentalomas identified by fluorodeoxyglucose-positron emission tomography.

Background: Thyroid incidentalomas detected by 2-deoxy-2-18F-fluoro-D-glucose positron emission tomography/computed tomography (18F-FDG PET/CT) have been reported in 1% to 4% of the population, with a risk of malignancy of 27.8% to 74%. We performed a retrospective review of FDG-avid thyroid incidentalomas in cancer screening subjects and patients with nonthyroid cancer.

Clinical Characteristics and Metabolic Features of Patients with Adrenal Incidentalomas with or without Subclinical Cushing's Syndrome.

Background: The aim of this study was to examine the clinical characteristics of adrenal incidentalomas discovered by computed tomography (CT) and to investigate metabolic features of subclinical Cushing's syndrome (SCS) in patients with adrenal incidentalomas in a tertiary hospital in Korea.

Methods: This retrospective study examined the clinical aspects of 268 patients with adrenal incidentalomas discovered by CT at Soonchunhyang University Bucheon Hospital. Clinical data and endocrine function of the patients as well as histological findings were obtained from medical records, while anatomic characteristics were analyzed by reviewing imaging studies.

Prediabetes is not independently associated with microalbuminuria in Korean general population: the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2011-2012 (KNHANES V-2,3).

We investigated the association between microalbuminuria and prediabetes in Korean population using data from the KNHANES 2011-2012. Prevalence of microalbuminuria was significantly increased in prediabetes group. However, the odds ratio became insignificant after adjustment for blood pressure, and the prevalence of microalbuminuria was not increased in prediabetic subjects without hypertension.

Association between serum adipocytokine levels and microangiopathies in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus.

Aims/introduction: It is thought that adipocytokines contribute to the increased risk of vascular complications in type 2 diabetes. However, there is still limited information on the relationship between microangiopathies and adipocytokines, such as adiponectin, leptin and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) in patients with type 2 diabetes.

Materials And Methods: The present study examined the relationship between fasting serum adiponectin, leptin, and TNF-α levels and microangiopathies in Korean type 2 diabetes.

Prevalences of diabetic retinopathy and nephropathy are lower in Korean type 2 diabetic patients with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease.

Aims/introduction: The associations between non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and chronic vascular complications of type 2 diabetes remain uncertain. We assessed the relationships between NAFLD and chronic vascular complications in patients with type 2 diabetes.

Materials And Methods: Patients with type 2 diabetes (n = 929) attending a diabetes clinic of a university hospital were studied retrospectively.