Epidemic obesity and type 2 diabetes in Asia

Pancreatic beta-cell mass and function and therapeutic implications of using antidiabetic medications in type 2 diabetes

Nowadays, the focus of diabetes treatment has switched from lowering the glucose level to preserving glycemic homeostasis and slowing the disease progression. The main pathophysiology of both type 1 diabetes and long-standing type 2 diabetes is pancreatic β-cell mass loss and dysfunction. According to recent research, human pancreatic β-cells possess the ability to proliferate in response to elevated insulin demands. It has been demonstrated that in insulin-resistant conditions in humans, such as obesity or pregnancy, the β-cell mass increases. This ability could be helpful in developing novel treatment approaches to restore a functional β-cell mass. Treatment strategies aimed at boosting β-cell function and mass may be a useful tool for managing diabetes mellitus and stopping its progression. This review outlines the processes of β-cell failure and detail the many β-cell abnormalities that manifest in people with diabetes mellitus. We also go over standard techniques for determining the mass and function of β-cells. Lastly, we provide the therapeutic implications of utilizing antidiabetic drugs in controlling the mass and function of pancreatic β-cells.

Using propensity score matching analysis to compare between cardiometabolic risk factors and physical activity type in Korean adults: findings from a nationwide population-based survey

PURPOSE

We aimed to assess the effects of different exercise modalities on cardiometabolic risk factors within a comprehensive, representative sample of the Korean population.

METHODS

We categorized 13,971 adult participants into aerobic exercise (AE), resistance exercise (RE), combined aerobic and resistance exercise (TE), insufficient exercise, and inactive groups. Multivariable regressions were conducted to compare the incidence of chronic diseases across the groups before and after propensity score matching (PSM).

RESULTS

The TE and RE groups had significantly lower waist circumference (WC), mean blood pressure (BP), glucose and insulin-related indices, and white blood cell count (WBC) measures, with TE showing the most significant differences. The TE group had significantly lower triglyceride levels and higher high-density lipoprotein-cholesterol levels. Post-PSM, the TE group had the lowest risk for metabolic syndrome, hypertension, and diabetes, closely followed by the RE group when compared with the inactive group. In a subgroup analysis, RE consistently exhibited benefits including lower body mass index, WC, BP, total cholesterol, glucose and insulin-related indices, and WBC count when compared with AE. RE may be associated with reduced incidence of cardiometabolic diseases compared to AE alone.

CONCLUSION

TE appears to be associated with significant reduction in cardiometabolic risk in Korean adults. RE possibly provides a more favorable cardiometabolic effect than AE.

The Relationship between Myopia and Obesity in Adults

PURPOSE

To investigate the relationship between myopia and obesity through direct measurements of fat content.

METHODS

A cross-sectional study used a stratified, multistage survey, the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (2008-2010). Subjects 19 years or older (n = 10,305) were included. Participants were divided into three groups according to refractive status: myopia (spherical equivalent [SE] ≤ -1.0 diopter [D]), emmetropia (-1.0 D < SE ≤ 1.0 D), and hyperopia (SE > 1.0 D). Obesity was investigated with assessment of fat mass and body mass index or waist circumference. Fat mass was measured with whole-body dual energy x-ray absorptiometry. Body fat percentage was calculated as (total fat mass / body weight × 100).

RESULTS

Higher obesity index was found in individuals with myopic eyes after adjustment for age, sex, education level, income status, physical activity, residence, and serum vitamin D level. The significant difference in total body fat percentages among myopia, emmetropia, and hyperopia was significant in the young age group (19-39 years, p < 0.05) but not in the middle age group (40-64 years) and the old age group (≥65 years). Individuals with a higher percentage of total body fat had greater odds ratios for myopia (fourth quartile of body fat; odds ratio, 1.352; 95% confidence interval, 1.178-1.551).

CONCLUSIONS

An association was found between adiposity and myopia in relatively young adults using direct measurements of fat mass.

Trends of HbA1c and BMI in People with Type 2 Diabetes: A Japanese Claims-Based Study

INTRODUCTION

Obesity prevalence has increased in Japan in recent years. Given the strong association of obesity with poor glycemic control, and increased risk of type 2 diabetes (T2D) with central obesity, this study describes the current trends and relationships between glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c), body mass index (BMI), and waist circumference in the Japanese people with T2D.

METHODS

This was a retrospective, cross-sectional study of people with T2D who had at least one recorded HbA1c and BMI (or waist circumference) value in the Japan Medical Data Center Claims database. Five annual cohorts of the study population were formed between January 2017 and December 2021. Annual trends of HbA1c across BMI categories (obesity class I [≥ 25 ~  < 30 kg/m2]-IV [≥ 40 kg/m2]) and in people with central obesity (waist circumference: ≥ 85 cm in men; ≥ 90 cm in women) were described by sex and age groups.

RESULTS

Overall, 106,089 people with T2D (HbA1c and BMI data: 106,079; HbA1c and waist circumference data: 105,424) were included, with the majority of people belonging to obesity class I (range: 39.7-40.6%) and obesity class II (range: 16.2-17.7%) categories across all annual cohorts. People in higher BMI categories had higher mean HbA1c, with > 50% of people with T2D in obesity class I-IV (54.8-56.5%) having HbA1c ≥ 7%. Between 2017 and 2021, BMI and waist circumference increased in the age group 18-44 years. More than 50% of people with T2D and central obesity in both sexes and people of age group 18-44 years across obesity class I-IV or with central obesity had HbA1c ≥ 7%.

CONCLUSION

More than half of the people with T2D belonging to obesity class I-IV or central obesity had poor glycemic control (HbA1c ≥ 7%), especially in the 18-44 age group. This highlights the need for body weight management for better glycemic control in relatively young Japanese people with T2D and obesity.

Unveiling Anti-Diabetic Potential of Baicalin and Baicalein from Baikal Skullcap: LC-MS, In Silico, and In Vitro Studies

Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is marked by persistent hyperglycemia, insulin resistance, and pancreatic β-cell dysfunction, imposing substantial health burdens and elevating the risk of systemic complications and cardiovascular diseases. While the pathogenesis of diabetes remains elusive, a cyclical relationship between insulin resistance and inflammation is acknowledged, wherein inflammation exacerbates insulin resistance, perpetuating a deleterious cycle. Consequently, anti-inflammatory interventions offer a therapeutic avenue for T2DM management. In this study, a herb called Baikal skullcap, renowned for its repertoire of bioactive compounds with anti-inflammatory potential, is posited as a promising source for novel T2DM therapeutic strategies. Our study probed the anti-diabetic properties of compounds from Baikal skullcap via network pharmacology, molecular docking, and cellular assays, concentrating on their dual modulatory effects on diabetes through Protein Tyrosine Phosphatase 1B (PTP1B) enzyme inhibition and anti-inflammatory actions. We identified the major compounds in Baikal skullcap using liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS), highlighting six flavonoids, including the well-studied baicalein, as potent inhibitors of PTP1B. Furthermore, cellular experiments revealed that baicalin and baicalein exhibited enhanced anti-inflammatory responses compared to the active constituents of licorice, a known anti-inflammatory agent in TCM. Our findings confirmed that baicalin and baicalein mitigate diabetes via two distinct pathways: PTP1B inhibition and anti-inflammatory effects. Additionally, we have identified six flavonoid molecules with substantial potential for drug development, thereby augmenting the T2DM pharmacotherapeutic arsenal and promoting the integration of herb-derived treatments into modern pharmacology.

Body Roundness Index Is Better Correlated with Insulin Sensitivity than Body Shape Index in Young and Middle-Aged Japanese Persons

Aims: The present study aimed to clarify the relationships between novel and traditional anthropometric indices and insulin sensitivity (SI) in young and middle-aged Japanese persons with normal glucose tolerance (NGT), and middle-aged Japanese persons with NGT and glucose intolerance. Methods: Plasma glucose and insulin levels were measured in 1270 young (age <40 years) and 2153 middle-aged persons with NGT (n = 1531) and glucose intolerance (n = 622) during a 75-g oral glucose tolerance test. Height (Ht), weight, and waist circumference (WC) were measured. The body mass index (BMI), WC, and the WC/Ht ratio were used as traditional anthropometric indices. A body shape index (ABSI) and the body roundness index (BRI) were calculated as novel indices. Indices of SI (Matsuda index and 1/homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance) were calculated and compared with anthropometric indices. Results: The ABSI showed a weak correlation with SI indices in all groups. The BRI showed almost the same correlation with SI indices as the BMI, WC, and WC/Ht in all groups. The inverse correlation between each of the anthropometric indices other than ABSI and SI indices was weak in young persons, at 0.16-0.27 (Spearman's ρ values), but strong in middle-aged persons, at 0.38-1.00. On receiver-operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis for detection of insulin resistance, the ABSI had a lower area under the ROC curve (AUC) than the other anthropometric indices, and the BRI and the WC/Ht ratio showed similar AUCs. The AUCs for the BRI and WC/Ht ratio were the highest in middle-aged men with NGT and glucose intolerance. Conclusions: The BRI, not the ABSI, was better correlated with SI in young and middle-aged Japanese persons. The BRI and WC/Ht ratio were comparable in their correlations with SI and the detection of insulin resistance in the participants of the present study.

Behind BMI: The Potential Indicative Role of Abdominal Ectopic Fat on Glucose Metabolism

INTRODUCTION

The purpose of this study was to compare the difference in abdominal fat distribution between different metabolic groups and find the ectopic fat with the most risk significance.

METHODS

A total of 98 subjects were enrolled; there were 53 cases in the normal glucose metabolism group and 45 cases in the abnormal glucose metabolism group. Chemical shift-encoded magnetic resonance imaging was applied for quantification of pancreatic fat fraction (PFF) and hepatic fat fraction (HFF), subcutaneous adipose tissue (SAT), and visceral adipose tissue (VAT). The correlation and the difference of fat distribution between different metabolism groups were analyzed. The receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was used to analyze the suggestive effect of different body fat fraction.

RESULTS

Correlation analysis showed that body mass index (BMI) had the strongest correlation with fasting insulin (r = 0.473, p < 0.001), HOMA-IR (r = 0.363, p < 0.001), and C-reactive protein (r = 0.245, p < 0.05). Pancreatic fat has a good correlation with fasting blood glucose (r = 0.247, p < 0.05) and HbA1c (r = 0.363, p < 0.001). With the increase of BMI, PFF, VAT, and SAT showed a clear upward trend, but liver fat was distributed relatively more randomly. The pancreatic fat content in the abnormal glucose metabolism group is significantly higher than that in the normal group, and pancreatic fat is also a reliable indicator of abnormal glucose metabolism, especially in the normal and overweight groups (the area under the curve was 0.859 and 0.864, respectively).

CONCLUSION

MR-based fat quantification techniques can provide additional information on fat distribution. There are differences in fat distribution among people with different metabolic status. People with more severe pancreatic fat deposition have a higher risk of glucose metabolism disorders.

Comparison of Eastern and Western patients undergoing bariatric surgery at two US and Korean institutions: a retrospective analysis of differing bariatric patient populations

BACKGROUND

Currently, there are differences in both demographics and indications for bariatric surgery between Eastern and Western countries. We compared postoperative outcomes between Korean and American bariatric programs in order to assess how bariatric surgery differently affects these populations.

METHODS

We enrolled 540 patients who underwent bariatric surgery at University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) and 85 patients who underwent surgery at Kosin University Gospel Hospital (KUGH) between January 2019 and December 2020. We compared demographics, complications, weight loss, and metabolic parameters between these groups.

RESULTS

There was a difference in age between the UCLA and KUGH patient groups (44.3 years vs 37.6 years, P < 0.01). Frequencies of T2DM and OSA were also different (4.2% vs 50.6%, 34.1% vs 85.9% P < 0.01. Length of hospital stay varied (1.55 days vs 6.68 days, P < 0.01), but there was no difference in operating time and complications. There was no difference in percent of excess weight loss between the two groups at 6 months (29.7 vs 33.8, P = 0.13). Hepatic steatosis index (HSI) was higher in the UCLA group both before (54.2 vs 51.5, P < 0.01) and after (44.4 vs 40.0, P = 0.02) surgery. LSG was the most frequently performed operation, and robotic surgery and revisions were performed only in the UCLA program.

CONCLUSION

There were differences in age, BMI, length of stay, and choice of operation between Korean and American bariatric patients. Also, there were differences in the degree of fatty liver disease using HSI and liver enzymes before and after surgery. There was no significant differences in operation time and complications. These findings suggest differences in bariatric practices and reactions to bariatric surgery in Eastern and Western settings.

Trajectories of body mass index before the diagnosis of type 2 diabetes in a cohort of Taiwanese adults

BACKGROUND

Although the prevalence of overweight/obesity is lower in Asian countries, the risk of type 2 diabetes (T2DM) is disproportionally higher. We identified and characterized the trajectory patterns of body mass index (BMI) before the onset of T2DM in a Taiwanese population.

METHODS

Using the Taiwan MJ cohort study, we sampled the health examination data of 22,934 participants, including 7618 cases of T2DM and 15,316 controls. We used latent class trajectory analysis to identify distinct groups of pre-disease BMI trajectory. To compare the trajectories of cardiometabolic risk factors among different groups, we used linear mixed-effects models.

RESULTS

These 22,934 participants included 13,074 men (57%) and 9860 women (43%) who were on average followed for 9.0 years. We identified three distinct pre-disease BMI trajectories in cases: "stable overweight" (n = 7016, 92.1%), "weight gain" (n = 333, 4.4%) and "obesity" (n = 269, 3.5%). The "stable overweight" group had a mean BMI of 24.6 kg/m2 at 15 years prior to diagnosis, had a 1.2 unit increase during follow-up, and had a mean BMI of 25.8 kg/m2 at the time of diagnosis. The "weight gain" group had the most increasing trends in blood pressure/low-density lipoprotein cholesterol over time.

CONCLUSION

The BMI trajectory patterns among individuals who later developed diabetes in Taiwan seemed comparable to that of Western populations, but our population developed T2DM at a much lower BMI. Given that most cases belong to the "stable overweight" group, we also support using a population-based strategy for diabetes prevention instead of focusing on the high risk individuals.

Association Between Body Mass Index and Clinical Outcomes According to Diabetes in Patients Who Underwent Percutaneous Coronary Intervention

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES

We evaluated the effect of diabetes on the relationship between body mass index (BMI) and clinical outcomes in patients following percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) with drug-eluting stent implantation.

METHODS

A total of 6,688 patients who underwent PCI were selected from five different registries led by Korean Multicenter Angioplasty Team. They were categorized according to their BMI into the following groups: underweight (<18.5 kg/m²), normal weight (18.5-24.9 kg/m²), overweight to obese (≥25.0 kg/m²). Major adverse cardiac and cerebrovascular events (MACCE), defined as a composite of death, nonfatal myocardial infarction, stroke, and target-vessel revascularization, were compared according to the BMI categories (underweight, normal and overweight to obese group) and diabetic status. All subjects completed 1-year follow-up.

RESULTS

Among the 6,688 patients, 2,561 (38%) had diabetes. The underweight group compared to normal weight group had higher 1-year MACCE rate in both non-diabetic (adjusted hazard ratio [HR], 2.24; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.04-4.84; p=0.039) and diabetic patients (adjusted HR, 2.86; 95% CI, 1.61-5.07; p<0.001). The overweight to obese group had a lower MACCE rate than the normal weight group in diabetic patients (adjusted HR, 0.67 [0.49-0.93]) but not in non-diabetic patients (adjusted HR, 1.06 [0.77-1.46]), with a significant interaction (p-interaction=0.025).

CONCLUSIONS

Between the underweight and normal weight groups, the association between the BMI and clinical outcomes was consistent regardless of the presence of diabetes. However, better outcomes in overweight to obese over normal weight were observed only in diabetic patients. These results suggest that the association between BMI and clinical outcomes may differ according to the diabetic status.

A comparative analysis of the cost-utility of the Philippine tax on sweetened beverages as proposed and as implemented

Background

In response to increasing overweight and obesity, the Philippine government introduced a tax on sweetened beverages (SBs) in 2018. Evidence suggests that the beverage industry influenced the final tax design, making it more favourable for industry than the initially proposed bill. This study aimed to compare the relative health and economic benefits of the proposed SB tax with the implemented SB tax.

Methods

Philippine dietary consumption data were combined with price elasticity data from Mexico and data from Australia adapted to the Philippine context to estimate reductions in SB purchases and changes in body mass index (BMI) following the implementation of the tax. A multi-state, multiple-cohort Markov model was used to estimate the change in health-adjusted life years (HALYs) due to reduction in the epidemiology of obesity-related diseases, healthcare cost savings and government taxation revenue, resulting from both the proposed and implemented tax policies, over the lifetime of the 2018 Philippine population.

Findings

The proposed and implemented taxes were modelled to be dominant (cost-saving and improving health). Intervention costs were modelled to be PHP305.2 million (M) (approximately US$6M). Compared to the proposed tax, the implemented tax was modelled to result in a 43.0% smaller reduction in targeted beverage intake (51.1 ml/person/day vs. 89.7 ml/person/day), a 43.5% smaller reduction in BMI (0.35 kg/m2 vs. 0.62 kg/m2), 39.7% fewer HALYs gained (2,503,118 vs. 4,149,030), 39.9% fewer healthcare cost savings (PHP16.4 billion (B) vs. PHP27.3B), and 27.7% less government taxation revenue (PHP426.3B vs. PHP589.4B).

Interpretation

While the implemented tax in the Philippines will benefit population health, it is likely to yield less benefit than the proposed tax. The influence of the food and beverage industry on policy processes has the potential to lessen the benefits of population NCD prevention policies.

Funding

OH was supported to conduct this research by an Australian Government Research Training Program Stipend Scholarship. The funding body had no role in data collection and analysis, or manuscript preparation.

Molecular dynamics articulated multilevel virtual screening protocol to discover novel dual PPAR α/γ agonists for anti-diabetic and metabolic applications

PPARα and PPARγ are isoforms of the nuclear receptor superfamily which regulate glucose and lipid metabolism. Activation of PPARα and PPARγ receptors by exogenous ligands could transactivate the expression of PPARα and PPARγ-dependent genes, and thereby, metabolic pathways get triggered, which are helpful to ameliorate treatment for the type 2 diabetes mellitus, and related metabolic complications. Herein, by understanding the structural requirements for ligands to activate PPARα and PPARγ proteins, we developed a multilevel in silico-based virtual screening protocol to identify novel chemical scaffolds and further design and synthesize two distinct series of glitazone derivatives with advantages over the classical PPARα and PPARγ agonists. Moreover, the synthesized compounds were biologically evaluated for PPARα and PPARγ transactivation potency from nuclear extracts of 3T3-L1 cell. Furthermore, glucose uptake assay on L6 cells confirmed the potency of the synthesized compounds toward glucose regulation. Percentage lipid-lowering potency was also assessed through triglyceride estimate from 3T3-L1 cell extracts. Results suggested the ligand binding mode was in orthosteric fashion as similar to classical agonists. Thus molecular docking and molecular dynamics (MD) simulation experiments were executed to validate our hypothesis on mode of ligands binding and protein complex stability. Altogether, the present study developed a newer protocol for virtual screening and enables to design of novel glitazones for activation of PPARα and PPARγ-mediated pathways. Accordingly, present approach will offer benefit as a therapeutic strategy against type 2 diabetes mellitus and associated metabolic complications.

Effects of once-weekly dulaglutide on juvenile type 2 diabetes mellitus and obesity in Korea: a pilot study

PURPOSE

We sought to investigate the effects and side effects of once-weekly dulaglutide treatment for type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) in patients <18 years of age in Korea.

METHODS

: From the Eulji University Hospital database, we identified all patients <18 years of age diagnosed with T2DM and treated with dulaglutide from January 1, 2017, to July 31, 2022.

RESULTS

We identified 5 patients <18 years of age treated with dulaglutide for T2DM management. Their mean (standard deviation [SD]) age was 16.6 (0.5) years. Four (80%) patients were female. The mean (SD) body mass index was 29.4 (5.1) kg/m2, and the mean (SD) age at diagnosis was 15.2 (1.6) years. Four patients had been treated previously with metformin alone or in combination with insulin. Four patients were treated with 1.5 mg of dulaglutide and one was treated with 0.75 mg of dulaglutide. The mean (SD) hemoglobin A1c concentrations at baseline, 3 months after treatment, and 1 year after treatment, respectively, were 10.0% (2.2%), 6.5% (1.5%), and 6.7% (1.4%), with significant differences. In addition, at baseline, 3 months after treatment, and 1 year after treatment, the mean (SD) body weight values were 79.7 (13.3) kg, 80.2 (14.0) kg, and 81.1 (15.3) kg, with no significant difference.

CONCLUSION

Use of once-weekly dulaglutide for juvenile T2DM ensures very good glycemic control, with few side effects and good adherence, indicating its potential as a promising therapeutic agent in this age group. Nationwide studies are warranted to confirm our results.

Distinct effects of cholesterol profile components on amyloid and vascular burdens

BACKGROUND

Cholesterol plays important roles in β-amyloid (Aβ) metabolism and atherosclerosis. However, the relationships of plasma cholesterol levels with Aβ and cerebral small vessel disease (CSVD) burdens are not fully understood in Asians. Herein, we investigated the relationships between plasma cholesterol profile components and Aβ and CSVD burdens in a large, non-demented Korean cohort.

METHODS

We enrolled 1,175 non-demented participants (456 with unimpaired cognition [CU] and 719 with mild cognitive impairment [MCI]) aged ≥ 45 years who underwent Aβ PET at the Samsung Medical Center in Korea. We performed linear regression analyses with each cholesterol (low-density lipoprotein cholesterol [LDL-c], high-density lipoprotein cholesterol [HDL-c], and triglyceride) level as a predictor and each image marker (Aβ uptake on PET, white matter hyperintensity [WMH] volume, and hippocampal volume) as an outcome after controlling for potential confounders.

RESULTS

Increased LDL-c levels (β = 0.014 to 0.115, p = 0.013) were associated with greater Aβ uptake, independent of the APOE e4 allele genotype and lipid-lowering medication. Decreased HDL-c levels (β =  - 0.133 to - 0.006, p = 0.032) were predictive of higher WMH volumes. Increased LDL-c levels were also associated with decreased hippocampal volume (direct effect β =  - 0.053, p = 0.040), which was partially mediated by Aβ uptake (indirect effect β =  - 0.018, p = 0.006).

CONCLUSIONS

Our findings highlight that increased LDL-c and decreased HDL-c levels are important risk factors for Aβ and CSVD burdens, respectively. Furthermore, considering that plasma cholesterol profile components are potentially modified by diet, exercise, and pharmacological agents, our results provide evidence that regulating LDL-c and HDL-c levels is a potential strategy to prevent dementia.

Association between dietary carbohydrate intake and risk of type 2 diabetes: a systematic review and meta-analysis of cohort studies

Background

Previous meta-analyses have assessed the relationship between carbohydrate intake and type 2 diabetes (T2D) risk; however, they included few studies of Asian populations who have a higher carbohydrate intake and lower insulin secretory capacity than non-Asians. Since the publication of the previous meta-analyses, three further studies of Asian populations have been conducted. Based on this background, the present study aimed to perform an updated systematically examine observational studies concerning the link between dietary carbohydrate intake and T2D risk.

Methods

We conducted a systematic search for cohort studies that investigated the target association. For each analyzed study, parameter-adjusted risk ratios were used to compare the lowest and highest carbohydrate-intake groups in terms of their risk of incident T2D. The risk ratios were calculated using a random-effects model.

Results

Ten publications were analyzed. Overall, carbohydrate intake was found not to be associated with increased risk ratios of incident T2D (risk ratio [RR] = 1.07; 95% confidence interval [95% CI] = 0.94, 1.21; P < 0.01, I2 = 61.9%). However, studies of Asian populations reported that high carbohydrate intake is significantly associated with this risk (RR = 1.29; 95% CI 1.15, 1.45; P = 0.59, I2 = 0.0%).

Conclusions

This updated meta-analysis showed that, overall, carbohydrate intake is not associated with the risk of T2D; nevertheless, a significant association exists among Asian populations. To confirm the association between dietary carbohydrate intake and T2D risk observed in this study, further evidence from long-term observational studies of Asian populations is required.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s13340-023-00642-0.

The serum creatinine to cystatin C to waist circumference ratios predicts risk for type 2 diabetes: A Chinese cohort study

BACKGROUND

There is a lack of research regarding the relationship between creatinine to cystatin C to waist circumference ratio (CCR/WC ratios) and the development of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). We aimed to evaluate the association between CCR/WC ratios and incident T2DM in Chinese adults.

METHODS

This prospective study was from the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study (2011, 2013, 2015, and 2018). The participants were divided into three groups by tertiaries of the CCR/WC ratios. Cox proportional-hazards models were used to identify the relationship between CCR/WC and T2DM.

RESULTS

Overall, 5938 participants were included for analysis, 766 of whom developed T2DM between 2011 and 2018. Risk of incident T2DM was decreased with tertiaries 2, 3 versus tertiary 1 of the CCR/WC index (adjusted hazard ratio [HR] 0.772 [95% confidence interval 0.647-0.921] and 0.724 [0.596-0.880], p for trend = .001 across tertiaries of the CCR/WC index). The results were consistent excluding participants with T2DM in the first 2 years.

CONCLUSIONS

This study demonstrated that CCR/WC was negatively correlated with the risk of T2DM in Chinese adults. Early detection is necessary to control the development of T2DM in Chinese with low CCR/WC levels.

Association of plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 and fibroblastic growth factor 21 in 3 groups of type 2 diabetes: Without overweight/obesity, free of insulin resistance, and without hepatosteatosis

The physiological effects of fibroblast growth factor 21 (FGF21), leading to beneficial metabolic outcomes, have been extensively revealed in recent decades. Significantly elevated serum levels of FGF21 in obesity and type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) are referred to as FGF21 resistance. However, Asian population tend to develop metabolic disorders at a lesser degree of obesity than those of Western. This study aimed to explore factors potentially related to serum FGF21 according to the severity of metabolic disorders in patients with T2DM. This cross-sectional study included 176 T2DM patients. The patients were categorized according to whether they had hepatic steatosis (fatty liver index [FLI] ≥ 60), insulin resistance (homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance [HOMA-R] ≥ median), and/or overweight/obesity (body mass index [BMI] ≥ 25.0 kg/m2). Independent predictors of serum FGF21 were determined using multiple linear regression analysis in these 3 groups of T2DM patients. Circulating FGF21 levels were correlated positively with BMI, abdominal fat areas, leptin, and plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1). After adjustment for potential confounders, multiple linear regression analysis identified leptin as a factor strongly associated with serum FGF21 levels in all patients. Moreover, PAI-1 was a significant predictor of FGF21 in those with FLI < 60, BMI < 25.0 kg/m2, and HOMA-R < median, while leptin was the only independent factor in each of their counterparts. The factors related to serum FGF21 differ according to the severity of metabolic disorders. FGF21 appears to be independently associated with PAI-1 in T2DM patients: without overweight/obesity, those free of insulin resistance, and those without hepatic steatosis.

Prediction of gestational diabetes mellitus in Asian women using machine learning algorithms

This study developed a machine learning algorithm to predict gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) using retrospective data from 34,387 pregnancies in multi-centers of South Korea. Variables were collected at baseline, E0 (until 10 weeks' gestation), E1 (11-13 weeks' gestation) and M1 (14-24 weeks' gestation). The data set was randomly divided into training and test sets (7:3 ratio) to compare the performances of light gradient boosting machine (LGBM) and extreme gradient boosting (XGBoost) algorithms, with a full set of variables (original). A prediction model with the whole cohort achieved area under the receiver operating characteristics curve (AUC) and area under the precision-recall curve (AUPR) values of 0.711 and 0.246 at baseline, 0.720 and 0.256 at E0, 0.721 and 0.262 at E1, and 0.804 and 0.442 at M1, respectively. Then comparison of three models with different variable sets were performed: [a] variables from clinical guidelines; [b] selected variables from Shapley additive explanations (SHAP) values; and [c] Boruta algorithms. Based on model [c] with the least variables and similar or better performance than the other models, simple questionnaires were developed. The combined use of maternal factors and laboratory data could effectively predict individual risk of GDM using a machine learning model.

Prevalence and risk factor of diabetes among the elderly people in West Bengal: evidence-based LASI 1st wave

BACKGROUND

The complication of Diabetes is one of the important health issues among the older adult population in any region. The higher risks of diabetes prevalence among older adult people in the countries was due to social-cultural changes such as increasing urbanization, dietary changes, without physical activity, and unhealthy lifestyle behavior. The present study examines the prevalence and associated risk factors of diabetes among older adults in the state of West Bengal.

METHODS

The first wave of the Longitudinal Ageing Study in India 2017-18 was used to achieve the study objectives. Descriptive statistics with multinomial logistic regression models were used to carry out crude and adjusted odds ratios with 95% confidence intervals and examine the associated risk factors of diabetes prevalence among older adults.

RESULTS

The findings of the study indicate that the overall prevalence of diabetes among the study participants was found to be 12.4% which was significantly higher in urban areas (19%) compare to rural areas (6%). The socio-economic and bio-demographic factors like educational status, richest background family, marital status, obesity, and family history of diabetes were significantly associated with higher risks of diabetes prevalence among the older adult population in West Bengal. The risks of diabetes in the richest adult people were significantly higher than in the poorest adult people (OR = 2.78; 95% CI: 1.974-3.917). The higher risks of diabetes mellitus among the richest wealthy people are because of lifestyle behavior, smoking, and tobacco consumption respectively.

CONCLUSION

The study needs to policy and awareness program to reduce economic inequality and prevention of diabetes care and treatment-seeking behavior, especially for the older adult population in West Bengal.

Adipose Tissue Hyperplasia and Hypertrophy in Common and Syndromic Obesity-The Case of BBS Obesity

Obesity is a metabolic state generated by the expansion of adipose tissue. Adipose tissue expansion depends on the interplay between hyperplasia and hypertrophy, and is mainly regulated by a complex interaction between genetics and excess energy intake. However, the genetic regulation of adipose tissue expansion is yet to be fully understood. Obesity can be divided into common multifactorial/polygenic obesity and monogenic obesity, non-syndromic and syndromic. Several genes related to obesity were found through studies of monogenic non-syndromic obesity models. However, syndromic obesity, characterized by additional features other than obesity, suggesting a more global role of the mutant genes related to the syndrome and, thus, an additional peripheral influence on the development of obesity, were hardly studied to date in this regard. This review summarizes present knowledge regarding the hyperplasia and hypertrophy of adipocytes in common obesity. Additionally, we highlight the scarce research on syndromic obesity as a model for studying adipocyte hyperplasia and hypertrophy, focusing on Bardet-Biedl syndrome (BBS). BBS obesity involves central and peripheral mechanisms, with molecular and mechanistic alternation in adipocyte hyperplasia and hypertrophy. Thus, we argue that using syndromic obesity models, such as BBS, can further advance our knowledge regarding peripheral adipocyte regulation in obesity.

Predictors of T2DM Remission after Bariatric Surgery in Patients with a BMI < 35 kg/m2: a Meta-Analysis

PURPOSE

Although a few studies have reported the predictors of postoperative diabetes remission in patients with body mass index (BMI) < 35 kg/m2, the conclusions are still inconsistent. This meta-analysis aimed to evaluate the preoperative clinical factors of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) remission after bariatric surgery.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane Library databases were systematically searched until April 2022. The Newcastle-Ottawa Scale was used for quality assessment. Statistical heterogeneity was assessed with the I2 statistic, followed by subgroup and sensitivity analyses.

RESULTS

16 studies involving 932 patients were selected. T2DM remission was negatively correlated with age, duration, insulin use, fasting plasma glucose, fasting insulin, and glycosylated hemoglobin levels. While BMI, body weight, waist circumference, and C-peptide levels were positive predictors of T2DM remission in patients with a BMI < 35 kg/m2. However, there was no significant association between gender, oral hypoglycemic agent, homeostasis model assessment, high-density lipoprotein, low-density lipoprotein, total cholesterol, triglycerides, systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure, and remission rate.

CONCLUSION

Patients with younger age, short diabetes duration, more obesity, better glucose control, and better β cell function were more likely to achieve T2DM remission in patients with a BMI < 35 kg/m2 after bariatric surgery.

Evaluation of hormonal and circulating inflammatory biomarker profiles in the year following bariatric surgery

Background

Bariatric surgery (BS) has a superior effect on reducing body weight and fat in patients with morbid obesity. As a result, BS mitigates obesity-related complications such as type 2 diabetes (T2D). However, few studies have shown the mechanism underlying diabetes remission after surgery. This study aimed to investigate the differences in serum hormone and inflammatory cytokine levels related to diabetes before surgery and during 12 months of follow-up in Korean patients with obesity.

Methods

The study participants were patients with morbid obesity (n=63) who underwent sleeve gastrectomy (SG) or Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB) between 2016 - 2017 at seven tertiary hospitals in Korea. The patients were followed for 1 year after surgery.

Results

Sixty-three patients had significant weight loss after surgery and showed improvements in clinical parameters and hormonal and inflammatory profiles. Among them, 23 patients who were diabetic preoperatively showed different remission after surgery. The levels of inflammation-related clinical parameters changed significantly in the remission group, and serum inflammatory cytokine and hormones significantly decreased at certain points and showed an overall decreasing trend.

Conclusions

Our study found postoperative changes of factors in blood samples, and the changes in hormones secreted from the three major metabolic tissue (pancreas, adipose, and gut) along with the differences in multi-origin inflammatory cytokines between remission and non-remission groups provide a path for understanding how the effect of BS in improving glucose metabolism is mediated.

Assessing the usefulness of a newly proposed metabolic score for visceral fat in predicting future diabetes: results from the NAGALA cohort study

Objective

Visceral adipose tissue assessment holds significant importance in diabetes prevention. This study aimed to explore the association between the newly proposed Metabolic Score for Visceral Fat (METS-VF) and diabetes risk and to further assess the predictive power of the baseline METS-VF for the occurrence of diabetes in different future periods.

Methods

This longitudinal cohort study included 15,464 subjects who underwent health screenings. The METS-VF, calculated using the formula developed by Bello-Chavolla et al., served as a surrogate marker for visceral fat obesity. The primary outcome of interest was the occurrence of diabetes during the follow-up period. Established multivariate Cox regression models and restricted cubic spline (RCS) regression models to assess the association between METS-VF and diabetes risk and its shape. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves were used to compare the predictive power of METS-VF with body mass index (BMI), waist circumference (WC), waist-to-height ratio (WHtR), and visceral adiposity index (VAI) for diabetes, and time-dependent ROC analysis was conducted to assess the predictive capability of METS-VF for the occurrence of diabetes in various future periods.

Results

During a maximum follow-up period of 13 years, with a mean of 6.13 years, we observed that the cumulative risk of developing diabetes increased with increasing METS-VF quintiles. Multivariable-adjusted Cox regression analysis showed that each unit increase in METS-VF would increase the risk of diabetes by 68% (HR 1.68, 95% CI 1.13, 2.50), and further RCS regression analysis revealed a possible non-linear association between METS-VF and diabetes risk (P for non-linearity=0.002). In addition, after comparison by ROC analysis, we found that METS-VF had significantly higher predictive power for diabetes than other general/visceral adiposity indicators, and in time-dependent ROC analysis, we further considered the time-dependence of diabetes status and METS-VF and found that METS-VF had the highest predictive value for predicting medium- and long-term (6-10 years) diabetes risk.

Conclusion

METS-VF, a novel indicator for assessing visceral adiposity, showed a significantly positive correlation with diabetes risk. It proved to be a superior risk marker in predicting the future onset of diabetes compared to other general/visceral adiposity indicators, particularly in forecasting medium- and long-term diabetes risk.

The effect of diabetes mellitus on COVID-19 mortality among patients in a tertiary-level hospital in Bandung, Indonesia

Immune system dysregulation in people with diabetes mellitus (DM) increases the risk of acquiring severe infection. We compared the clinical characteristics and laboratory parameters of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) patients with and without DM and estimated the effect of DM on mortality among COVID-19 patients. A retrospective cohort study collecting patients' demographic, clinical characteristics, laboratory parameters and treatment outcomes from medical records was conducted in a hospital in Bandung City from March to December 2020. Univariable and multivariable logistic regression was performed to determine the association between DM and death. A total of 664 COVID-19 patients with positive real-time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction for severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 were included in this study, of whom 147 were with DM. Half of DM patients presented HbA1c ≥10%. DM patients were more likely to present with comorbidities and severe to critical conditions at admission (P <0.001). Laboratory parameters such as neutrophil-lymphocyte count ratio, C-reactive protein, D-dimer, ferritin, and lactate dehydrogenase were higher in the DM group. In the univariate analysis, variables associated with death were COVID-19 severity at baseline, neurologic disease, DM, age ≥60 years, hypertension, cardiovascular disease, and chronic kidney disease. DM remained associated with death (aOR 1.82; 95% CI 1.13-2.93) after adjustment with sex, age, hypertension, cardiovascular disease, and chronic kidney disease. In conclusion, COVID-19 patients with DM are more likely to present with a very high HbA1c, comorbidities, and severe-critical illness. Chronic inflammation in DM patients may be aggravated by the disruption of immune response caused by COVID-19, leading to worse laboratory results and poor outcomes.

Resting energy expenditure in Korean type 2 diabetes patients: comparison between measured and predicted values

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES

Estimation of energy demand using resting energy expenditure (REE) is a reasonable approach for optimizing glycemic control and weight management in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). This study aimed to compare REE predictions and objective measurements in patients with T2DM in Korea.

SUBJECTS/METHODS

This study enrolled 36 participants with T2DM (age range, 20-60 years). Anthropometric variables including height, weight, waist-hip ratio, blood pressure, body fat, body fat percentage, and total body weight were measured using bioimpedance. REE was evaluated using indirect calorimetry. The measured REE values were compared to values estimated using five predictive equations: the Harris-Benedict, Mifflin, Owen, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations/World Health Organization (FAO/WHO), and Schofield equations. This study evaluated the associations between measured REE values and anthropometric/clinical data, including height, weight, and age, using multivariate linear regression.

RESULTS

The mean measured REE value was 1891.79 ± 288.03 kcal/day (male), 1,502.00 ± 202.96 kcal/day (female). REE estimates generated from the Mifflin equation showed the largest differences from measured REE values, whereas estimates derived from the FAO/WHO equation were the closest to the measured REE values. This study also identified associations between measured REE values and various anthropometric/clinical variables.

CONCLUSION

The accuracy of REE prediction equations is critically important in promoting the efficacy of dietary counseling and the effective treatment of diabetes. Our results indicate the need for additional studies informing more suitable methods for determining the energy requirements of Korean patients with T2DM.

Eating behaviors and incident cardiovascular disease in Japanese people: The population-based Panasonic cohort study 14

Evidence on common eating behaviors to support the prevention of cardiovascular disease (CVD) in Japanese people is insufficient. This retrospective cohort study aimed to investigate the association of diet behaviors (e.g., skipping breakfast, eating speed, snack after dinner, and alcohol consumption) with incident CVD in Japanese individuals. Employees of Panasonic Corporation who underwent the annual health checkups and without a history of CVD at baseline were enrolled. The main outcome was incident 3-point major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE). The secondary outcomes were incident coronary artery disease (CAD) and stroke. To assess the effect of BMI, the subgroup analysis was conducted. In total, 132,795 participants were included. Overall, 3,115, 1,982, and 1,165 participants developed 3-point MACE, CAD, and stroke, respectively. Skipping breakfast (HR: 1.13, 95% CI: 1.03-1.23) and fast eating (HR: 1.23, 95% CI: 1.04-1.47) were associated with 3-point MACE in the participants overall. Skipping breakfast (HR: 1.23, 95% CI: 1.10-1.37) and fast eating (HR: 1.38, 95% CI: 1.12-1.71) were also associated with 3-point MACE in participants with BMI < 25 kg/m². In contrast, in participants with BMI ≥ 25 kg/m², these associations were not detectable (P value for the interaction between subgroups = 0.09 [skipping breakfast] and 0.03 [fast eating], respectively). The diet behavior is a potential risk factor of incident CVD in Japanese people, particularly in those with BMI < 25 kg/m².

Dynamics and consequences of nutrition-related microbial dysbiosis in early life: study protocol of the VITERBI GUT project

Introduction

Early life under- and overnutrition (jointly termed malnutrition) is increasingly recognized as an important risk factor for adult obesity and metabolic syndrome, a diet-related cluster of conditions including high blood sugar, fat and cholesterol. Nevertheless, the exact factors linking early life malnutrition with metabolic syndrome remain poorly characterized. We hypothesize that the microbiota plays a crucial role in this trajectory and that the pathophysiological mechanisms underlying under- and overnutrition are, to some extent, shared. We further hypothesize that a "dysbiotic seed microbiota" is transmitted to children during the birth process, altering the children's microbiota composition and metabolic health. The overall objective of this project is to understand the precise causes and biological mechanisms linking prenatal or early life under- or overnutrition with the predisposition to develop overnutrition and/or metabolic disease in later life, as well as to investigate the possibility of a dysbiotic seed microbiota inheritance in the context of maternal malnutrition.

Methods/design

VITERBI GUT is a prospective birth cohort allowing to study the link between early life malnutrition, the microbiota and metabolic health. VITERBI GUT will include 100 undernourished, 100 normally nourished and 100 overnourished pregnant women living in Vientiane, Lao People's Democratic Republic (PDR). Women will be recruited during their third trimester of pregnancy and followed with their child until its second birthday. Anthropometric, clinical, metabolic and nutritional data are collected from both the mother and the child. The microbiota composition of maternal and child's fecal and oral samples as well as maternal vaginal and breast milk samples will be determined using amplicon and shotgun metagenomic sequencing. Epigenetic modifications and lipid profiles will be assessed in the child's blood at 2 years of age. We will investigate for possible associations between metabolic health, epigenetics, and microbial changes.

Discussion

We expect the VITERBI GUT project to contribute to the emerging literature linking the early life microbiota, epigenetic changes and growth/metabolic health. We also expect this project to give new (molecular) insights into the mechanisms linking malnutrition-induced early life dysbiosis and metabolic health in later life, opening new avenues for microbiota-engineering using microbiota-targeted interventions.

[Efficacy of treatment with glucagon-like peptide receptor agonists-1 in Asian patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus]

BACKGROUND

The projected 68% increase in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2D) in the upcoming decades and the specific pathophysiological course of the disease are critical factors for the development of optimal disease management tactics in the Asian population. It is now known that β-cell dysfunction is dominant in the pathogenesis of T2D in Asians. In a number of Asian countries, incretin therapy is the leading therapy.

AIM

To review literature on glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) secretion and clinical trial results of GLP-1 receptor agonist class (GLP-1RA) drugs as well as to evaluate their effectiveness in Asian population with T2D.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A review of studies on pathophysiological aspects of GLP-1 secretion and evaluation of the efficacy of therapy with GLP-1RA preparations registered and used in clinical practice in Asian regions.

RESULTS

Several studies in Asian countries have shown that intact GLP-1 levels were significantly lower in both T2D patients and healthy Japanese volunteers; as well as in patients with impaired glucose tolerance. It is suggested that either impaired secretion of GLP-1 in the gut, accelerated processing by dipeptidyl peptidase-4, or a combination of both are responsible for the decrease in GLP-1. The greater efficacy of GLP-1RA treatment in achieving glycemic control in Asian T2D patients was presented by Kim Y.G. et al. in a meta-analysis of 15 randomised controlled trials, the reduction in HbA1c on GLP-1RA treatment averaged -1.16% in Asian-dominated studies and -0.83% in non-Asian-dominated studies. In the PIONEER 9 clinical programme, similar results were obtained, with oral semaglutide having a more pronounced effect on glycaemic control in Japanese patients. Thus, the mean change in HbA 1c was -1.1%, 7 mg -1.5%, and 14 mg -1.7% at the 3 mg dose; whereas in the PIONEER 1 study in the global population, the mean change in HbA1c was -0.6%, -0.9% and -1.1% for 3, 7, 14 mg semaglutide, respectively. The PIONEER 10 study concluded that oral semaglutide was well tolerated by Japanese patients with T2D. Oral semaglutide reduced HbA1c (14 mg dose) and body weight (7 and 14 mg doses) more significantly compared to dulaglutide at 0.75 mg dose. Results of a pooled analysis of long-acting GLP-1RA showed a more significant reduction in cardiovascular event risk in the Asian subpopulation.

CONCLUSION

The presented review describes benefits in glycemic control as well as in the reduction of relative cardiovascular event risks with GLP-1RA treatment in the Asian population, which requires further in-depth research and implies optimal management tactics in patients with T2DM.

Association of main meal frequency and skipping with metabolic syndrome in Korean adults: a cross-sectional study

BACKGROUND

Reduced meal frequency can increase the risk of metabolic syndrome (MetS). However, limited studies have examined the association between meal frequency and skipping meals with MetS. This study aims to analyze the association between main meal frequency and meal skipping with MetS in Korean adults aged ≥ 19 years.

METHODS

In this study, we included data from 22,699 Korean adult participants from the 2016-2020 Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES). The 24-h dietary recall method was used to classify the participants into three groups based on main meal frequency (one, two, or three meals per day) and seven groups based on the type of main meal they skipped. Multivariable logistic regression analysis was conducted to determine the association between main meal frequency and the types of main meals skipped with the odds of MetS and its associated components. Appropriate estimates were accounted for using sampling weights, stratification, and clustering.

RESULTS

The prevalence of MetS in the study population was 33.8%. The average age of the participants was 47.2 years with 42.6% being men, and 57.4% being women. Men who consumed two meals per day had higher odds of MetS than those who consumed three meals per day (odds ratio [OR] 1.16, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.01-1.33). Women who consumed two meals per day, and skipped breakfast had increased odds of having elevated fasting blood glucose levels (OR 1.18, 95% CI 1.02-1.35), and elevated triglycerides (OR 1.19, 95% CI 1.02-1.39). However, women who skipped dinner had reduced odds of having elevated fasting blood glucose levels (OR 0.74, 95% CI 0.58-0.94).

CONCLUSIONS

Our findings suggest that meal frequency and the type of main meal skipped may be associated with MetS and emphasize the importance of consuming breakfast to prevent MetS.

Independent effect of cardiometabolic syndromes and depression on dementia in Parkinson's disease: A 12-year longitudinal follow-up study of a nationwide cohort

BACKGROUND

We aimed to investigate the incidence rate of Parkinson's disease dementia (PDD) according to age and disease duration by sex. Furthermore, we explored the effect of each cardiometabolic syndrome and depression on the incidence of PDD.

METHODS

Using data from the Korean National Health Insurance Service, 79,622 patients with de novo Parkinson's disease (PD) aged ≥40 years between January 2002 and December 2010 were followed to December 2019. We analyzed the incidence of PDD according to age at PD diagnosis and disease duration. To determine cardiometabolic syndromes and depression that affected PDD, we used Fine and Gray competing regression after controlling for age and sex.

RESULTS

During the 12.5-year follow-up period, the incidence of PDD increased with age at PD diagnosis (0.81-45.31 per 1000 person-years among those aged 40-44 and over 80 years, respectively) and longer disease duration (22.68 per 1000 person-years in 1-2 years to 34.16 per 1000 person-years in 15-16 years). Hypertension (subdistribution hazard ratio [SHR] = 1.11; 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.07-1.16), diabetes (SHR = 1.09; 95% CI 1.05-1.14), dyslipidemia (SHR = 1.15; 95% CI 1.11-1.20), and depression (SHR = 1.36; 95% CI 1.30-1.41) independently increased the risk for PDD.

CONCLUSIONS

Our findings provide insights into cardiometabolic syndromes as modifiable risk factors for incident PDD. Furthermore, our results will help in designing public health policies with respect to controlling cardiometabolic syndromes and depression to prevent incident PDD in patients with PD.

Molecular, Metabolic, and Nutritional Changes after Metabolic Surgery in Obese Diabetic Patients (MoMen): A Protocol for a Multicenter Prospective Cohort Study

Metabolic surgery is an essential option in the treatment of obese patients with type 2 diabetes (T2D). Despite its known advantages, this surgery still needs to be introduced in Malaysia. In this prospective study, the pathophysiological mechanisms at the molecular level will be studied and the metabolomics pathways of diabetes remission will be explored. The present study aims to evaluate the changes in the anthropometric measurements, body composition, phase angle, diet intake, biochemistry parameters, adipokines, microRNA, and metabolomics, both pre- and post-surgery, among obese diabetic patients in Malaysia. This is a multicenter prospective cohort study that will involve obese patients (n = 102) with a body mass index (BMI) of ≥25 kg/m2 (Asian BMI categories: WHO/IASO/IOTF, 2000) who will undergo metabolic surgery. They will be categorized into three groups: non-diabetes, prediabetes, and diabetes. Their body composition will be measured using a bioimpedance analyzer (BIA). The phase angle (PhA) data will be analyzed. Venous blood will be collected from each patient for glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c), lipids, liver, renal profile, hormones, adipokines, and molecular and metabolomics analyses. The serum microRNA will be measured. A gene expression study of the adipose tissue of different groups will be conducted to compare the groups. The relationship between the 1HNMR-metabolic fingerprint and the patients’ lifestyles and dietary practices will be determined. The factors responsible for the excellent remission of T2D will be explored in this study.

Association of general and central obesity, and their changes with risk of knee osteoarthritis: a nationwide population-based cohort study

In this study, we aimed to evaluate the association between general and central obesity, and their changes with risk of knee osteoarthritis (OA) using retrospective cohort data collected from the Korean National Health Insurance Service. We studied 1,139,463 people aged 50 and over who received a health examination in 2009. To evaluate the association between general and/or central obesity and knee OA risk, a Cox proportional hazard models were used. Additionally, we investigate knee OA risk according to the change in obesity status over 2 years for subjects who had undergone health examinations for 2 consecutive years. General obesity without central obesity (HR 1.281, 95% CI 1.270-1.292) and central obesity without general obesity (HR 1.167, 95% CI 1.150-1.184) were associated with increased knee OA risk than the comparison group. Individuals with both general with central obesity had the highest risk (HR 1.418, 95% CI 1.406-1.429). This association was more pronounced in women and younger age group. Remarkably, the remission of general or central obesity over two years was associated with decreased knee OA risk (HR 0.884; 95% CI 0.867-0.902; HR 0.900; 95% CI 0.884-0.916, respectively). The present study found that both general and central obesity were associated with increased risk of knee OA and the risk was highest when the two types of obesity were accompanied. Changes in obesity status have been confirmed to alter the risk of knee OA.

Understanding the corporate political activity of the ultra - processed food industry in East Asia: a Philippines case study

BACKGROUND

Evidence is mounting that the ultra - processed food industry seeks to influence food and nutrition policies in ways that support market growth and protect against regulatory threats, often at the expense of public health. However, few studies have explored how this occurs in lower - middle income countries. We aimed to explore if and how the ultra - processed food industry seeks to influence food- and nutrition - related policy processes in the Philippines, a lower - middle income country in East Asia.

METHODS

Semi - structured key informant interviews were conducted with ten representatives from the Philippines government and non - government organisations closely involved with nutrition policy making in the Philippines. Interview schedules and data analysis were guided by the policy dystopia model, which we used to identify the instrumental and discursive strategies used by corporate actors to influence policy outcomes.

RESULTS

Informants were of the view that ultra - processed food companies in the Philippines sought to delay, prevent, water - down and circumvent implementation of globally recommended food and nutrition policies by engaging in a range of strategies. Discursive strategies included various tactics in which globally recommended policies were framed as being ineffective or highlighting potential unintended negative impacts. Instrumental strategies included: directly engaging with policymakers; promoting policies, such as industry - led codes and practices, as substitutes for mandatory regulations; presenting evidence and data that industry has generated themselves; and offering gifts and financial incentives to government individuals and agencies.

CONCLUSIONS

In the Philippines, the ultra - processed food industry engaged in overt activities designed to influence food and nutrition policy processes in their favour. A range of measures to minimise industry influence on policy processes should be introduced, to ensure that implemented food and nutrition policies align with best practice recommendations.

The effects of a structured physiotherapy program on pulmonary function and walking capacity in obese and non-obese adults undergoing cardiac surgery

BACKGROUND: Obesity is thought to be a risk factor for cardiopulmonary diseases due to changed pulmonary mechanics. It also drastically lowers functional capability in both males and females. A routine physiotherapy program has been shown to be effective in the prevention and treatment of cardiopulmonary diseases. It also significantly increases functional capacity following coronary artery bypass grafting. However, the effect of a structured physiotherapy program in obese and non-obese patients has not been well explored. As such, the objective of this study is to determine the effect of a standardized physiotherapy program on pulmonary function and walking capacity in obese and non-obese patients undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting. METHODS: A prospective study was conducted on 50 obese (age 57.2 ± 6.3 Y) and non-obese (age 56.6 ± 5.7 Y) adults who were schedule for coronary artery bypass grafting. Their body mass index was used to separate them into two groups. Both groups followed a structured physiotherapy program from day 1 to day 7 post cardiac surgery. Both groups underwent spirometry test at baseline (preoperatively) and after day 4 and day 7 postoperatively as well as a six-minute walk test at baseline and on day 7 postoperatively. RESULTS: At baseline, obese individuals had significantly lower pulmonary and physical functioning. On postoperative day 4, both groups deteriorated, although the obese group deterioration was worse, in most of the pulmonary parameters. On postoperative day 7, both groups improved, though the non-obese group improved at a faster rate. In contrary, it was observed that the obese group improved more rapidly in terms of functional capacity. CONCLUSIONS: The study indicated that the outcomes of a structured physiotherapy program following coronary artery bypass grafting were different for persons who were obese compared to those who were not. Adipose tissue variations surrounding the rib cage, diaphragm, and visceral cavity may account for the observed rate of change between the two groups. Therefore, it is apparent that a new strategy for managing obese individuals who have undergone CABG is required.

Higher Intake of Vegetable Protein and Lower Intake of Animal Fats Reduce the Incidence of Diabetes in Non-Drinking Males: A Prospective Epidemiological Analysis of the Shika Study

Although nutrient intake and alcohol consumption are both closely associated with the incidence of diabetes, their interrelationships remain unclear. Therefore, we herein have investigated the interrelationships among nutrient intake, alcohol consumption, and the incidence of diabetes using longitudinal data. This study included 969 residents ≥40 years living in Japan. In 2011 and 2012, a baseline study was conducted using questionnaires on basic demographics, diabetes, nutrient intake, and lifestyle habits. In 2018 and 2019, a follow-up study was performed using questionnaires and medical records on diabetes. Two-way analysis of covariance (two-way ANCOVA) was used to test the interactions of drinking habits and diabetes incidence on nutrients intake. The prospective relationship between nutrient intake at baseline and the incidence of diabetes in the follow-up stratified by drinkers and non-drinkers was evaluated using multiple logistic regression analysis. Interactions were observed for vegetable protein intake (p = 0.023) and animal fat intake (p = 0.016) in males. Vegetable protein intake negatively correlated with the incidence of diabetes in non-drinkers (odds ratio (OR): 0.208; 95% confidence interval (95% CI): 0.046-0.935; p = 0.041). Furthermore, animal fat intake positively correlated with the incidence of diabetes in non-drinkers (OR: 1.625; 95% CI: 1.020-2.589; p = 0.041). Therefore, vegetable protein and animal fat intakes in combination with drinking habits need to be considered for the prevention of diabetes.

Incidence of Parkinson's disease and modifiable risk factors in Korean population: A longitudinal follow-up study of a nationwide cohort

Introduction

We aimed to investigate the incidence of Parkinson's disease (PD) by age and year for each sex as well as the modifiable risk factors for PD. Using data from the Korean National Health Insurance Service, 938,635 PD and dementia-free participants aged ≥40 years who underwent general health examinations were followed to December 2019.

Methods

We analyzed the PD incidence rates according to age, year and sex. To investigate the modifiable risk factors for PD, we used the Cox regression model. Additionally, we calculated the population-attributable fraction to measure the impact of the risk factors on PD.

Results

During follow-up, 9,924 of the 938,635 (1.1%) participants developed PD. The incidence of PD increased continuously from 2007 to 2018, reaching 1.34 per 1,000 person-years in 2018. The incidence of PD also increases with age, up to 80 y. Presence of hypertension (SHR = 1.09, 95% CI 1.05 to 1.14), diabetes (SHR = 1.24, 95% CI 1.17 to 1.31), dyslipidemia (SHR = 1.12, 95% CI 1.07 to 1.18), ischemic stroke (SHR = 1.26, 95% CI 1.17 to 1.36), hemorrhagic stroke (SHR = 1.26, 95% CI 1.08 to 1.47), ischemic heart disease (SHR = 1.09, 95% CI 1.02 to 1.17), depression (SHR = 1.61, 95% CI 1.53 to 1.69), osteoporosis (SHR = 1.24, 95% CI 1.18 to 1.30), and obesity (SHR = 1.06, 95% CI 1.01 to 1.10) were independently associated with a higher risk for PD.

Discussion

Our results highlight the effect of modifiable risk factors for PD in the Korean population, which will help establish health care policies to prevent the development of PD.

Markers for obese and non-obese Type 2 diabetes identified using whole blood metabolomics

Definitive differences in blood metabolite profiles between obese and non-obese Type 2 diabetes (T2D) have not been established. We performed an LC-MS-based non-targeted metabolomic analysis of whole blood samples collected from subjects classified into 4 types, based on the presence or absence of obesity and T2D. Of the 125 compounds identified, 20, comprising mainly nucleobases and glucose metabolites, showed significant increases or decreases in the T2D group. These included cytidine, UDP-glucuronate, UMP, 6-phosphogluconate, and pentose-phosphate. Among those 20 compounds, 11 enriched in red blood cells (RBCs) have rarely been studied in the context of diabetes, indicating that RBC metabolism is more extensively disrupted than previously known. Correlation analysis revealed that these T2D markers include 15 HbA1c-associated and 5 irrelevant compounds that may reflect diabetic conditions by a different mechanism than that of HbA1c. In the obese group, enhanced protein and fatty acid catabolism causes increases in 13 compounds, including methylated or acetylated amino acids and short-chain carnitines. Our study, which may be considered a pilot investigation, suggests that changes in blood metabolism due to obesity and diabetes are large, but essentially independent.

Global incidence and prevalence of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease

Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is a leading cause of liver disease worldwide. The estimated global incidence of NAFLD is 47 cases per 1,000 population and is higher among males than females. The estimated global prevalence of NAFLD among adults is 32% and is higher among males (40%) compared to females (26%). The global prevalence of NAFLD has increased over time, from 26% in studies from 2005 or earlier to 38% in studies from 2016 or beyond. The prevalence of NAFLD varies substantially by world region, contributed by differing rates of obesity, and genetic and socioeconomic factors. The prevalence of NAFLD exceeds 40% in the Americas and South-East Asia. The prevalence of NAFLD is projected to increase significantly in multiple world regions by 2030 if current trends are left unchecked. In this review, we discuss trends in the global incidence and prevalence of NAFLD and discuss future projections.

Predictive Efficiency of Prediabetes for Diabetes Among Chinese Middle-Aged and Older Populations: a 5-Year National Prospective Cohort Study

BACKGROUND

Limited studies have explored the predictive efficiency of prediabetes based on two definitions for diabetes among Chinese middle-aged and older populations with prediabetes.

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the predictive efficiency of prediabetes based on two definitions for diabetes and the clinical and public health benefit in Chinese middle-aged and older populations.

DESIGN

A 5-year cohort study from the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study.

PARTICIPANTS

A total of 5208 participants who had blood sample data at baseline in 2011.

MAIN MEASURES

The exposure was prediabetes based on American Diabetes Association (ADA) and World Health Organization (WHO) definition. The main outcome was incident diabetes. The ability of prediabetes for predicting diabetes was assessed by sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, and negative predictive value. Cox proportional hazards regression was used to explore the associations between prediabetes and the 5-year risk of diabetes and all-cause mortality.

KEY RESULTS

Among those with prediabetes according to the ADA definition, only 426 (15.45%) with baseline prediabetes progressed to total diabetes, while according to the WHO definition, 208 (21.89%) progressed to total diabetes. In terms of the ability of predicting the incident total diabetes in 5 years, the ADA definition has a higher sensitivity than the WHO definition (70.76% versus 34.55%, P < 0.001), while the WHO definition has a higher specificity than the ADA definition (84.09% versus 49.35%, P < 0.001). Positive predictive values based on the two definitions were low (< 24%); negative predictive values were high (> 90%).

CONCLUSIONS

Neither definition of prediabetes is robust for predicting diabetes development in Chineses middle-aged and older populations.

Twelve-Year Trajectory of Disease Burden and Mortality by Obesity Level in Korea: Analysis of the National Health Insurance Service Database

INTRODUCTION

Despite increases in obesity prevalence, awareness of obesity as a disease requiring active treatment remains lacking in Korea. We investigated differences in medical problems and expenditures and mortality across obesity categories using 12-year data from the National Health Insurance Service.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Individuals aged 40-79 years who underwent medical examinations during 2003-2004 (n = 415,201) were divided based on Asian body mass index (kg/m²) criteria: normal weight (18.5 to < 23.0, 36.4%), overweight (23.0 to < 25.0, 28.3%), obesity (25.0 to < 30.0, 32.5%), and severe obesity (≥ 30.0, 2.8%). Medical problems and expenditures were fitted to linear mixed models. Mortality was analyzed via Cox proportional-hazards model.

RESULTS

More severe obesity was associated with a higher rate of medical problems, relative to normal weight: coefficient = 0.31 (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.30-0.32) for overweight, 0.61 (0.60-0.61) for obesity, and 1.07 (1.04-1.09) for severe obesity. A similar association was observed for medical expenditure: coefficient = 8.85 (95%CI, 6.80-10.89) for overweight, 20.04 (18.07-22.01) for obesity, and 48.76 (43.66-53.86) for severe obesity. Relative to overweight participants, those with normal weight and severe obesity exhibited a higher mortality risk (hazard ratio [HR] 1.21 [95%CI, 1.18-1.25] for normal; 1.27 [1.19-1.36] for severe obesity). In age-specific analyses, mortality risk was the highest for participants with severe obesity, aged < 60 years (HR, 1.58 [95%CI, 1.41-1.77]).

CONCLUSION

Disease burden including medical problems and expenditure, and mortality in middle-aged adults, increased proportionally to the degrees of obesity. Health policies and medical systems aimed at reducing the burden of obesity may help reduce the burden of disease on society.

Pathophysiology, Diagnostic Criteria, and Approaches to Type 2 Diabetes Remission

Diabetes mellitus is a prevalent, life-threatening, and costly medical illness. Type 2 diabetes is defined by insulin resistance caused by persistent hyperglycemia, and it is frequently diagnosed by tests such as fasting blood glucose levels of more than 7.0 mmol/L or HbA1c values of more than 6.5%. Pathogenesis and development of type 2 diabetes mellitus are clearly varied, with genetic and environmental factors both leading to it. The attainment of glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) levels below the diagnostic level and maintaining it for a minimum of six months without pharmacotherapy, is described as diabetes remission. Diagnosis is a two-part procedure. To begin, the diagnosis of diabetes must be confirmed, and then the type of diabetes must be determined. Even in patients who succeeded to maintain remission, follow-up with the physician and regular tests should be done to prevent any expected diabetes complications.

Developing a prediction model for all-cause mortality risk among patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus in Shanghai, China

BACKGROUND

All-cause mortality risk prediction models for patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) in mainland China have not been established. This study aimed to fill this gap.

METHODS

Based on the Shanghai Link Healthcare Database, patients diagnosed with T2DM and aged 40-99 years were identified between January 1, 2013 and December 31, 2016 and followed until December 31, 2021. All the patients were randomly allocated into training and validation sets at a 2:1 ratio. Cox proportional hazards models were used to develop the all-cause mortality risk prediction model. The model performance was evaluated by discrimination (Harrell C-index) and calibration (calibration plots).

RESULTS

A total of 399 784 patients with T2DM were eventually enrolled, with 68 318 deaths over a median follow-up of 6.93 years. The final prediction model included age, sex, heart failure, cerebrovascular disease, moderate or severe kidney disease, moderate or severe liver disease, cancer, insulin use, glycosylated hemoglobin, and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol. The model showed good discrimination and calibration in the validation sets: the mean C-index value was 0.8113 (range 0.8110-0.8115) and the predicted risks closely matched the observed risks in the calibration plots.

CONCLUSIONS

This study constructed the first 5-year all-cause mortality risk prediction model for patients with T2DM in south China, with good predictive performance.

Mucus- and pH-mediated controlled release of core-shell chitosan nanoparticles in the gastrointestinal tract for diabetes treatment

For the successful oral delivery of peptide drugs, considerable barriers created by the harsh environment of the gastrointestinal tract, mucus, and epithelial cells must be overcome. This study was to establish a core-shell structure with chitosan (CS) nanoparticles (NP) as the core and poly-N-(2-hydroxypropyl) methacrylamide (pHPMA) as the intelligent escape shell to overcome pH and mucus barriers and improve the delivery efficiency of peptide drugs. A core-shell system (COS) composed of pHPMA-AT-1002-cys-chitosan (LRA-PA-CNPs) was prepared and used for the treatment of type 2 diabetes mellitus with the large-molecule peptide drug liraglutide (LRA). The complete COS system was observed through electron microscopy; the particle size of the LRA-PA-CNPs was approximately 160 nm; the encapsulation efficiency was approximately 69% ± 5%; the zeta potential was close to neutral; the mucus and epithelial penetration of the COS system were increased; and animal experiments showed that the COS system enhanced the oral hypoglycaemic effect of LRA.HIGHLIGHTSIntelligent escape material of poly-N-(2-hydroxypropyl) methacrylamide as the shell.Core-shell nanoparticles penetrate the mucus layer and exposing the chitosan core.Overcome pH and mucus barriers to improve the delivery efficiency of peptide drugs.

A critical review on nanomaterial based therapeutics for diabetic wound healing

Diabetes mellitus is a chronic endocrine disease that occurs mostly in the state of hyperglycemia (elevated blood glucose level). In the recent times, diabetes is listed under world's utmost critical health issues. Wound treatment procedures are complicated in diabetic individuals all over the world. Diabetic wound care not only involves high-cost, but also the primary cause of hospitalization, which can lead to amputation thereby reducing diabetic patient life expectancy. To lower the risk of amputation, wound healing requires the development of effective treatments. Traditional management systems for Diabetes are frequently chastised due to their high costs, difficulties in maintaining a sustainable supply chain and limited disposal alternatives. The worrisome rise in diabetes prevalence has sparked a surge of interest in the discovery of viable remedies to supplement existing treatments. Nanomaterials wound healing has a lot of potential for treating and preventing wound infections and it has recently gained popularity owing to its ability to transport drugs to the wound area in a regulated fashion, potentially overpowering the limits of traditional approaches. This research assessed several nanosystems, such as nanocarriers and nanotherapeutics, to explore how they can benefit in diabetic wound healing, with a focus on current obstacles and future prospects.

Association of cardiovascular health metrics with annual incidence of prediabetes or diabetes: Analysis of a nationwide real-world database

AIMS/INTRODUCTION

Little is known about the relationship between cardiovascular health (CVH) metrics and the risk of developing prediabetes or diabetes. We examined the association of CVH metrics with the annual risk of developing prediabetes or diabetes.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

We carried out this study including 403,857 participants aged 18-71 years with available data on fasting plasma glucose (FPG) data for five consecutive years and with normal FPG (<100 mg/dL) at the initial health checkup. We identified the following ideal CVH metrics: non-smoking, body mass index of <25 kg/m² , maintaining physical activity, taking breakfast, untreated blood pressure of <120/80 mmHg and untreated total cholesterol of <200 mg/dL. We defined the primary end-point as prediabetes (FPG 100-125 mg/dL) or diabetes (FPG ≥126 mg/dL or use of antihyperglycemic medications). We examined the relationship of CVH metrics with the annual incidence of prediabetes or diabetes. Additionally, we examined the association of 1-year changes in CVH metrics with the risk for prediabetes or diabetes.

RESULTS

The median age was 44 years, and 65.6% were men. An increasing number of non-ideal CVH metrics was associated with an elevated risk of prediabetes or diabetes. A non-ideal body mass index was most strongly associated with the risk of prediabetes or diabetes. The risk of developing prediabetes or diabetes rose as the number of non-ideal CVH metrics increased over 1 year.

CONCLUSIONS

CVH metrics could stratify the risk of the annual development of prediabetes or diabetes. The risk of developing prediabetes or diabetes might be reduced by improving CVH metrics.

Strategies used by the soft drink industry to grow and sustain sales: a case-study of The Coca-Cola Company in East Asia

BACKGROUND

The market and non-market activities of the food and beverage industry contribute to unhealthy and unsustainable dietary patterns, increasingly in low-income and middle-income countries (LMICs). We aimed to describe how The Coca-Cola Company (TCCC), as the world market leader in the sugar-sweetened beverage sector, operationalises their activities in LMICs in East Asia, among the world's most highly populated yet under-researched countries, to illustrate the ways in which these activities may negatively influence health outcomes.

METHODS

We adopted a theoretically-guided qualitative research design and documentary analysis method. Data sources included: industry documents and web pages, marketing case studies obtained from the World Advertising Research Centre, media reports, global trade summaries and websites of industry associations. To guide data analysis, we synthesised a conceptual framework from existing commercial determinants of health literature, to describe ways in which the market and non-market activities of TCCC influence health.

RESULTS

TCCC leverages subsidiary companies and investments in international networks to expand its supply chains. The company engages in frequent political activities to minimise the implementation of nutrition policies that may impact profits. The company markets products, particularly on digital and mobile devices, often targeting children, adolescents and mothers, and undertakes public relations activities related to human rights, environmental sustainability and community and economic supports, and these public relations activities are often integrated into marketing campaigns. The identified activities of TCCC are frequently in direct contrast to efforts to improve the healthfulness of population diets in East Asia LMICs.

CONCLUSIONS

A public health analysis of the market and non-market activities of corporations active in unhealthy commodity industries needs to be broad in scope to cover the diverse set of strategies used to increase their market power and influence. Governments should consider a suite of policy options to attenuate these commercial determinants of unhealthy diets.

The Prevalence of Obesity Among Children With Type 2 Diabetes: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis

Importance

The childhood obesity epidemic is presumed to drive pediatric type 2 diabetes (T2D); however, the global scale of obesity in children with T2D is unknown.

Objectives

To evaluate the global prevalence of obesity in pediatric T2D, examine the association of sex and race with obesity risk, and assess the association of obesity with glycemic control and dyslipidemia.

Data Sources

MEDLINE, Embase, CINAHL, Cochrane Library, and Web of Science were searched from database inception to June 16, 2022.

Study Selection

Observational studies with at least 10 participants reporting the prevalence of obesity in patients with pediatric T2D were included.

Data Extraction and Synthesis

Following the Meta-analysis of Observational Studies in Epidemiology reporting guideline, 2 independent reviewers in teams performed data extraction and risk of bias and level of evidence analyses. The meta-analysis was conducted using a random-effects model.

Main Outcomes and Measures

The primary outcomes included the pooled prevalence rates of obesity in children with T2D. The secondary outcomes assessed pooled prevalence rates by sex and race and associations between obesity and glycemic control and dyslipidemia.

Results

Of 57 articles included in the systematic review, 53 articles, with 8942 participants, were included in the meta-analysis. The overall prevalence of obesity among pediatric patients with T2D was 75.27% (95% CI, 70.47%-79.78%), and the prevalence of obesity at diabetes diagnosis among 4688 participants was 77.24% (95% CI, 70.55%-83.34%). While male participants had higher odds of obesity than female participants (odds ratio, 2.10; 95% CI, 1.33-3.31), Asian participants had the lowest prevalence of obesity (64.50%; 95% CI, 53.28%-74.99%), and White participants had the highest prevalence of obesity (89.86%; 95% CI, 71.50%-99.74%) compared with other racial groups. High heterogeneity across studies and varying degrees of glycemic control and dyslipidemia were noted.

Conclusions and Relevance

The findings of this systematic review and meta-analysis suggest that obesity is not a universal phenotype in children with T2D. Further studies are needed to consider the role of obesity and other mechanisms in diabetes genesis in this population.

Prevalence of Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease (NAFLD) in Korean Patients Undergoing Bariatric Surgery

Purpose

The number of Korean patients undergoing metabolic surgery for obesity is on the increase. Patients undergoing obesity and metabolic surgery have a body mass index (BMI) ≥30 kg/m². In this study, we investigated the prevalence of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease in Korean patients who had undergone bariatric surgery.

Materials and Methods

Between January 2019 and December 2021, 147 patients who underwent bariatric surgery were studied. Of these, 133 patients underwent transient elastography, and the prevalence was analyzed after being classified using the World Health Organization (WHO) obesity classification system. The participants were divided into three groups as Class 1, BMI 30 to <35 kg/m²; Class 2, BMI 35 to <40 kg/m²; and Class 3, BMI ≥40 kg/m²).

Results

The average ages of three classes of patients according to the WHO obesity classification system were 42.4, 38.8, and 36.0 years with intergroup differences. Controlled attenuation parameter (CAP) and liver stiffness also showed differences in each group (307.6±59.3, 325.8±53.0, and 346.5±52.2, respectively, P=0.007; CAP, 5.5±2.1, 7.1±3.8, and 11.7±9.1, P<0.001; liver stiffness). The prevalence of type 2 diabetes mellitus also differed among the groups (61.3%, 42.2%, and 36.8%, respectively, P=0.036). The proportion of patients with liver fibrosis also showed differences in each group (16.1%, 42.2%, and 59.6%, respectively; P<0.001).

Conclusion

Our study shows that most Korean patients undergoing bariatric surgery were also diagnosed with hepatic steatosis. Furthermore, the rate of liver fibrosis was higher among patients with more severe obesity.

Associations between the urban exposome and type 2 diabetes: Results from penalised regression by least absolute shrinkage and selection operator and random forest models

BACKGROUND

Type 2 diabetes (T2D) is thought to be influenced by environmental stressors such as air pollution and noise. Although environmental factors are interrelated, studies considering the exposome are lacking. We simultaneously assessed a variety of exposures in their association with prevalent T2D by applying penalised regression Least Absolute Shrinkage and Selection Operator (LASSO), Random Forest (RF), and Artificial Neural Networks (ANN) approaches. We contrasted the findings with single-exposure models including consistently associated risk factors reported by previous studies.

METHODS

Baseline data (n = 14,829) of the Occupational and Environmental Health Cohort study (AMIGO) were enriched with 85 exposome factors (air pollution, noise, built environment, neighbourhood socio-economic factors etc.) using the home addresses of participants. Questionnaires were used to identify participants with T2D (n = 676(4.6 %)). Models in all applied statistical approaches were adjusted for individual-level socio-demographic variables.

RESULTS

Lower average home values, higher share of non-Western immigrants and higher surface temperatures were related to higher risk of T2D in the multivariable models (LASSO, RF). Selected variables differed between the two multi-variable approaches, especially for weaker predictors. Some established risk factors (air pollutants) appeared in univariate analysis but were not among the most important factors in multivariable analysis. Other established factors (green space) did not appear in univariate, but appeared in multivariable analysis (RF). Average estimates of the prediction error (logLoss) from nested cross-validation showed that the LASSO outperformed both RF and ANN approaches.

CONCLUSIONS

Neighbourhood socio-economic and socio-demographic characteristics and surface temperature were consistently associated with the risk of T2D. For other physical-chemical factors associations differed per analytical approach.