PPARgamma gene transfer sustains apoptosis, inhibits vascular smooth muscle cell proliferation, and reduces neointima formation after balloon injury in rats.

Objective: There is still debate as to whether antiatherosclerotic effect of PPARgamma ligands is dependant on PPARgamma gene itself or some other pathway.

Methods And Results: To investigate the effect of PPARgamma gene modulation on neointima formation after balloon injury, we delivered adenoviral vectors expressing the wild-type (WT) dominant negative (DN) PPARgamma, or a control gene (beta-galactosidase [BG]) into carotid artery after balloon injury in rosiglitazone (a PPARgamma ligand)-treated (R+) (3 mg/kg/d) and nontreated (R-) rats. Two weeks after gene delivery, in both R+ and R- animals, the PPARgamma-WT gene transfer showed a significantly lower intima-media ratio (IMR) than control group.

Polymorphisms in the leptin receptor (LEPR)--putative association with obesity and T2DM.

Leptin plays an important role in regulating adipose-tissue mass. Leptin controls energy balance and food intake through the leptin receptor in the hypothalamus of the brain, which suggests that some polymorphisms of the leptin receptor gene (LEPR) might contribute to obesity or obesity-related diseases. In an effort to identify genetic polymorphisms in a potential candidate gene for obesity and type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) in the Korean population, we have sequenced the LEPR gene.

Resistin is secreted from macrophages in atheromas and promotes atherosclerosis.

Objective: Resistin belongs to a family of cysteine-rich secreted polypeptides that are mainly produced by monocytes/macrophages in humans. Recently, high concentrations of resistin were shown to induce vascular endothelial dysfunction and vascular smooth muscle cell proliferation. We examined if resistin was secreted from macrophages locally in atheromas and if it affected vascular cell function in human.

Mitochondria-based model for fetal origin of adult disease and insulin resistance.

Insulin resistance has been recognized as the fundamental underlying metabolic defect in the pathogenesis of metabolic syndrome, a clustering of cardiovascular risk factors such as diabetes, hypertension, dyslipidemia, and obesity. Recent studies established that mitochondrial dysfunction is involved in insulin resistance in general and fetal origin of this state in particular. Because genes are the fundamental molecular basis of inheritance--and thus the cornerstones of evolution--a model explaining insulin resistance is based at the gene level at best.

Differences in the immediate effects of smoking on left ventricular diastolic function between healthy volunteers and patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus.

Background: In contrast to in-depth studies on the chronic hazardous effects of smoking, the immediate effects of smoking on left ventricular function have not been evaluated in detail.

Objectives: We aimed to assess the hypothesis that smoking a cigarette might have more deleterious immediate impacts on left ventricular function in patients with diabetes mellitus than in healthy volunteers.

Methods: In all, 20 patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus and 25 healthy volunteers were consecutively enrolled.

The effects of rosiglitazone and metformin on the plasma concentrations of resistin in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus.

Resistin is a protein secreted from adipose tissue that is thought to play a role in insulin sensitivity. We examined the effects of rosiglitazone and metformin on the plasma resistin levels in individuals with type 2 diabetes mellitus. Patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus who showed poor glycemic control with glimepiride (4 mg/d) were randomized to rosiglitazone (4 mg/d) and metformin (500 mg bid) treatment groups.

Spectral airglow temperature imager (SATI): a ground-based instrument for the monitoring of mesosphere temperature.

The spectral airglow temperature imager is a two-channel, Fabry-Perot spectrometer with an annular field of view and a cooled CCD detector. The detected fringe pattern contains spectral information in the radial direction and azimuthal spatial information from the annular field of view. The instrument measures the rotational temperature from the O2 atmospheric (0,1) nightglow emission layer at 94 km and from the Q branch of the OH Meinel (6,2) band emission layer at 87 km.

Changes of mitochondrial DNA content in the male offspring of protein-malnourished rats.

Nutritional deprivation of the fetus and infant is associated with susceptibility to the development of impaired glucose tolerance or type 2 diabetes in adult life. Quantitative changes in mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) seem to be associated with type 2 diabetes, but the effect of protein malnutrition on mtDNA content is not known. This study investigated the effects of protein malnutrition in fetus and early life on mtDNA content and glucose-insulin metabolism in adult life.

Genetic polymorphisms in peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor delta associated with obesity.

Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors (PPARs) are nuclear receptors regulating the expression of genes involved in lipid and glucose metabolism. Three different PPARs, PPAR-alpha, -gamma, and -delta, have been characterized, and they are distinguished from each other by tissue distribution and cell activation. All PPARs are, to different extents, activated by fatty acids and derivatives.

Plasma resistin concentrations measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay using a newly developed monoclonal antibody are elevated in individuals with type 2 diabetes mellitus.

Resistin is an adipocyte-derived peptide that might play a role in obesity and insulin resistance. However, its role in humans is largely unclear. Although many studies have measured the expression of human resistin in tissues, the circulating concentrations of resistin and its relation to metabolic parameters in humans are unknown.

Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma mediated inhibition of plasminogen activator inhibitor type 1 production and proliferation of human umbilical vein endothelial cells.

Insulin resistance and diabetes mellitus promote the atherosclerotic process, where an endothelial dysfunction plays a key role. The diabetic milieu elevates the production of the plasminogen activator inhibitor type 1 (PAI-1) and also increases the proliferation of vascular endothelial cells. Recently the role of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPARgamma) in atherosclerosis has been extensively studied.

Polymorphisms in fatty acid-binding protein-3 (FABP3) - putative association with type 2 diabetes mellitus.

Fatty acid-binding proteins (FABPs) play key roles as transport vehicles of fatty compounds throughout the cytoplasm. Human FABP3, one of the FABPs, is present in a wide variety of tissues with highest concentration in cardiac and skeletal muscle. In an effort to identify polymorphic markers in potential candidate genes for type 2 diabetes, we have sequenced the full gene of FABP3, including the -1,500bp promoter region.

S20G mutation of the amylin gene is associated with a lower body mass index in Korean type 2 diabetic patients.

Islet amyloid deposition, which is mainly composed of amylin, is a characteristic pathological finding in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus. A missense mutation in amylin at amino acid 20 from Serine to Glycine (S20G) has been shown to be associated with type 2 diabetes. In this study, the frequency and clinical characteristics of the S20G mutation in Korean was examined with 364 unrelated type 2 diabetic and 151 non-diabetic subjects.

High incidence of tacrolimus-associated posttransplantation diabetes in the Korean renal allograft recipients according to American Diabetes Association criteria.

Objective: The incidence of posttransplantation diabetes mellitus (PTDM) has been reported to vary according to different study populations or different definitions. In this study, using American Diabetes Association criteria, the incidence and clinical characteristics of PTDM in Korean renal allograft recipients undergoing tacrolimus-based immunosuppression were examined.

Research Design And Methods: A total of 21 patients taking tacrolimus as primary immunosuppressant were recruited and tested with a serial 75-g oral glucose tolerance test at 0, 1, 3, and 6 months after renal transplantation.

Dynamic change in plasma leptin level during the perioperative period.

Objective: To examine the association of plasma leptin level with insulin, which is known as a metabolic regulator of leptin, and various stress-related factors during the perioperative period.

Methods: Thirty-one patients undergoing gastrectomy were enrolled and blood samples were obtained preoperatively, intraoperatively, immediately after operation, and on the first and second postoperative days.

Results: The plasma leptin level showed a triphasic response.