The relationship between plasma sphingosine-1-phosphate, plasma apolipoprotein M, obesity, and the risk of incident type 2 diabetes: a prospective cohort study.

Objectives: Type 2 diabetes (T2D) is a growing global health challenge, necessitating novel biomarkers for early risk assessment. This study investigates the associations between plasma sphingosine-1-phosphate (S1P), apolipoprotein M (ApoM), obesity measures, and the risk of incident T2D.

Methods: We utilized data from the Taiwan Lifestyle Study, a prospective cohort initiated in 2006.

Life-Threatening Hypokalemic Paralysis and Prevention of Severe Rebound Hyperkalemia in a Female with Barium Poisoning: A Rare Case Report.

Hypokalemic paralysis is a clinical syndrome characterized by acute flaccid paralysis with concomitant hypokalemia. Complications, such as acute respiratory failure and cardiac arrhythmias, can be fatal. If treated appropriately, the patient can recover without any sequelae.

Diagnosis of diabetes without oral glucose tolerance test is associated with increased mortality in older adults.

The current method of diagnosing diabetes mellitus (DM) using fasting plasma glucose (FPG) and hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) without oral glucose tolerance tests (OGTT) results in inaccuracy and underdiagnosis of diabetes. This study aimed to investigate the mortality of individuals with improperly classified glycemic status and suggest new screening methods for diabetes. A total of 1935 subjects were prospectively followed for 10 years, with vital status obtained through linkage to the National Health Insurance Research Database (NHIRD).

Plasma angiopoietin-like protein 4 as a novel biomarker predicting 10-year mortality in a community-based population: a longitudinal cohort study.

Introduction: Angiopoietin-like protein 4 (ANGPTL4) is a hepatokine implicated in fat metabolism regulation. Its genetic inactivation has been associated with improved glucose homeostasis, while elevated plasma ANGPTL4 levels are observed in diabetic and obese individuals. However, the potential link between ANGPTL4 and diabetes- or obesity-related complications remains uncertain.

Precision medicine in diabetes prediction: Exploring a subgroup-specific biomarker strategy for risk stratification.

Introduction: The early detection of high-risk individuals is crucial to delay and reduce the incidence of type 2 diabetes. In this study, we aimed to explore the performance of a novel subgroup-specific biomarker strategy in the prediction of incident diabetes.

Materials And Methods: In the Taiwan Lifestyle Cohort Study, adult subjects without diabetes were included and followed for the incidence of diabetes in 2006-2019.

Angiopoietin-like protein 4 induces growth hormone variant secretion and aggravates insulin resistance during pregnancy, linking obesity to gestational diabetes mellitus.

Angiopoietin-like protein 4 (ANGPTL4) is a secretory glycoprotein involved in regulating glucose homeostasis in non-pregnant subjects. However, its role in glucose metabolism during pregnancy and the pathophysiology of gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) remains elusive. Thus, this study aimed to clarify the relationship between ANGPTL4 and GDM and investigate the pathophysiology of placental ANGPTL4 in glucose metabolism.

Serum vascular adhesion protein-1 is associated with twelve-year risk of incident cancer, cancer mortality, and all-cause mortality: a community-based cohort study.

Background: Vascular adhesion protein-1 (VAP-1), a dual-function glycoprotein, has been reported to play a crucial role in inflammation and tumor progression. We conducted a community-based cohort study to investigate whether serum VAP-1 could be a potential biomarker for predicting incident cancers and mortality.

Method: From 2006 to 2018, we enrolled 889 cancer-free subjects at baseline.

Maternal Plasma Lipids During Pregnancy, Insulin-like Growth Factor-1, and Excess Fetal Growth.

Context: Maternal lipids during pregnancy and placental growth factors are associated with excess fetal growth. However, how these factors interact to increase the risk of delivering large-for-gestational-age (LGA) neonates remains unclear. In this study, we investigated the relationship between maternal plasma triglycerides (TGs) and free fatty acids (FFAs) during pregnancy, cord blood insulin-like growth factors (IGF), and LGA.

Clam Extract Decreases Nasal Symptoms and Improves Sleep Quality after Septoturbinoplasty.

Context: Nasal septal deviation (NSD) causes nasal blockage, which results in lower sleep quality among patients. A high percentage of patients still suffer from nasal symptoms as a result of the inflammatory response that occurs with septoturbinoplasty. Freshwater clams are a common food with an anti-inflammatory effect and have been used for promoting liver function for patients in China.

Protective Effect of Calcitriol on Organ Damage Induced by 5-Fluorouracil Treatment.

Chemotherapy is a major therapeutic strategy for patients with cancer. Owing to the severe inflammatory response of chemotherapy, patients experience extreme discomfort during treatment, and this may interrupt treatment completion. The vitamin D3 has a role in anti-inflammation, but no study has explored whether vitamin D3 has beneficial effects on patients undergoing chemotherapy.

Status of endocrinology and metabolism specialists in Taiwan.

Background: The literature emphasizes the importance of matching the demand and supply of endocrinology and metabolism (EM) specialists. This study analyzed the current status of EM specialists in Taiwan. The gender effects on the workplace of EM specialists were also evaluated.

Progression of insulin resistance: A link between risk factors and the incidence of diabetes.

Aims: Insulin resistance (IR) changes over time during the development of type 2 diabetes. Some reports showed that obesity was associated with progression of IR. However, no study has explored if change of IR predicts incident diabetes, and no study has investigated other factors associated with the change.

Overweight and obesity are associated with clustering of metabolic risk factors in early pregnancy and the risk of GDM.

Aim: Overweight and obesity are important risk factors of gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM). Clustering of metabolic risk factors in early pregnancy may be a potential pathogenesis between the link of overweight/obesity and GDM. Since it remains unexplored, we investigated if overweight and obesity are associated with clustering of metabolic risk factors in early pregnancy and the risk of GDM in this cohort study.

Long-term results of palatal implantation for severe obstructive sleep apnea patients with prominent retropalatal collapse.

Background: Most previous reports on palatal implantation for patients with severe obstructive sleep apnea have been anecdotal. Our objective in this study was to assess the long-term outcomes of palatal implantations from objective as well as subjective perspectives when applied to patients with severe obstructive sleep apnea and prominent retropalatal collapse.

Methods: This retrospective review was conducted in a single institution using subjective data (Epworth Sleepiness Scale and visual analog scales of snoring sounds and sleep quality) and objective data (respiratory disturbance index, minimum O saturation, sleep efficiency, and snoring index using a polysomnograph) before and after surgery.

Screening gestational diabetes mellitus: The role of maternal age.

Objective: Using a specific cutoff of fasting plasma glucose (FPG) to screen gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) can reduce the use of oral glucose tolerance tests (OGTT). Since the prevalence of GDM increases with age, this screening method may not be appropriate in healthcare systems where women become pregnant at older ages. Therefore, we aimed to develop a screening algorithm for GDM that takes maternal age into consideration.

MicroRNA-382-5p aggravates breast cancer progression by regulating the RERG/Ras/ERK signaling axis.

Aberrant activation of the Ras/ERK pathway mediates breast cancer initiation and aggressiveness. Therefore, it is important to identify miRNAs that modulate the Ras/ERK pathway during breast carcinogenesis and progression. The Ras GTPase superfamily member RERG (Ras-related and estrogen-regulated growth inhibitor) acts as a tumor suppressor to reduce breast cancer cell proliferation and tumor formation and has been suggested to have a regulatory role in the Ras/ERK pathway.

Diagnosis of more gestational diabetes lead to better pregnancy outcomes: Comparing the International Association of the Diabetes and Pregnancy Study Group criteria, and the Carpenter and Coustan criteria.

Aims/introduction: The International Association of the Diabetes and Pregnancy Study Group (IADPSG) criteria for gestational diabetes are associated with increased prevalence. However, it remains unknown if intervention for more women with gestational diabetes mellitus by the IADPSG criteria results in better pregnancy outcomes than adopting the Carpenter and Coustan (C&C) criteria in Asian populations.

Materials And Methods: This was a retrospective cohort study.

Dyslipidemia, kidney disease, and cardiovascular disease in diabetic patients.

This article reviews the relationship between dyslipidemia, chronic kidney disease, and cardiovascular diseases in patients with diabetes. Diabetes mellitus is associated with complications in the cardiovascular and renal system, and is increasing in prevalence worldwide. Modification of the multifactorial risk factors, in particular dyslipidemia, has been suggested to reduce the rates of diabetes-related complications.

Deleterious effects of aggressive rapid crystalloid resuscitation on treatment of hyperinflammatory response and lung injury induced by hemorrhage in aging rats.

Background: Large-volume, rapid crystalloid infusion may increase endothelial cell damage and induce shear stress, potentially leading to multiple-organ dysfunction syndrome. Limited guideline data for fluid administration are currently available, especially for the aging population. The aim of the present study was to compare the degree of organ damage in conscious aging rats when different resuscitation speeds were used during the treatment of hemorrhagic shock (HS).