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Kwan Woo Lee

Publications and source records attributed to Kwan Woo Lee.

16 recordsLinked to original sources

Effects of rosiglitazone and metformin on inflammatory markers and adipokines: decrease in interleukin-18 is an independent factor for the improvement of homeostasis model assessment-beta in type 2 diabetes mellitus.

OBJECTIVE: We examined the individual pharmacological effects of the addition of rosiglitazone and metformin to glimepiride on inflammatory markers and adipokines in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus. We analysed the relationships between these variables, the measurements of insulin sensitivity and beta-cell function in patients treated with rosiglitazone plus glimepiride. DESIGN AND PATIENTS: One hundred twenty (120) patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus were randomized and treated with glimepiride plus rosiglitazone or glimepiride plus metformin for 12 weeks. The plasma concentrations of the inflammatory markers and adipokines were measured at baseline and after 12 weeks. MEASUREMENTS: Markers of insulin sensitivity and beta-cell function were determined by the quantitative insulin sensitivity check index (QUICKI) and the homeostasis model assessment of beta-cell function (HOMA-beta), respectively. Plasma concentrations of adiponectin were measured by radioimmunoassay. Plasma concentrations of resistin, tumour necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha), interleukin-6 (IL-6) and interleukin-18 (IL-18) were measured using ELISA. RESULTS: Improvements in fasting insulin level, QUICKI and HOMA-beta were noted in the rosiglitazone-treated group. Only the QUICKI value improved in the metformin-treated group. Adiponectin concentrations significantly increased in the rosiglitazone-treated group after 12 weeks. Significant decreases in resistin, C-reactive protein, TNF-alpha, IL-6 and IL-18 were seen in the rosiglitazone-treated patients but not in the metformin-treated patients. The independent risk factor for the HOMA-beta change according to stepwise multivariate regression analysis was a change in IL-18. CONCLUSIONS: Rosiglitazone, but not metformin, improved the plasma concentrations of inflammatory markers and adipokines in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus. A decrease in IL-18 is an independent factor for the improvement of HOMA-beta in type 2 diabetes mellitus.

Adiponectin↗

A case report of familial benign hypocalciuric hypercalcemia: a mutation in the calcium-sensing receptor gene.

Familial benign hypocalciuric hypercalcemia (FBHH) is an autosomal dominant trait with high penetrance, clinically manifesting a relatively benign, lifelong, persistent hypercalcemia and hypocalciuria without hypercalcemic related complications. The calcium-sensing receptor (CaSR) plays an important role in the regulation of PTH secretion and calcium metabolism. Here we present a family with FBHH of an autosomal dominant inheritance. A heterozygous mutation of E297K (GAG --> AAG, exon 4) of CaSR gene was found in 3 family members. To our knowledge, it is the first confirmed case of FBHH with CaSR gene mutation in Korea.

Adult↗

High plasma concentration of remnant lipoprotein cholesterol in obese children and adolescents.

OBJECTIVE: Remnant lipoproteins (RLPs) are the products of the lipolytic degradation of triglyceride-rich lipoproteins produced by the liver and intestine. Recent studies have demonstrated that RLPs are correlated with cardiovascular risk. We assessed the relationship between obesity and RLP and evaluated the factors related to RLP in children and adolescents. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS: We measured BMI, waist circumference, blood pressure, body fat mass, total abdominal fat, visceral and subcutaneous fat areas, fasting glucose, insulin, total cholesterol, triglycerides, LDL cholesterol, HDL cholesterol, and RLP cholesterol in 135 children and adolescents (67 boys and 68 girls). Plasma RLP fractions were isolated using an immunoaffinity gel containing specific anti-apolipoprotein (apo) B-100 and anti-apoA-I antibodies. Based on the BMI percentile, the subjects were divided into two groups: normal (< 85th percentile) and overweight (> or = 85th percentile). RESULTS: RLP cholesterol was significantly correlated with age, sex, BMI, waist circumference, systolic and diastolic blood pressures, visceral and subcutaneous fat areas, visceral-to-subcutaneous fat area ratio, total cholesterol, triglycerides, HDL cholesterol, apoB, and homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR). According to the multivariate regression analysis, triglycerides (beta = 0.928, P < 0.001) were independently correlated with RLP cholesterol. After excluding lipid profiles as an independent variable, the multivariate regression analysis revealed that HOMA-IR (beta = 0.231, P = 0.007) and systolic blood pressure (beta = 0.169, P = 0.046) were independently associated with RLP cholesterol. CONCLUSIONS: RLP cholesterol was significantly higher in obese children and adolescents. Triglycerides, systolic blood pressure, and insulin resistance were related to RLP cholesterol.

Abdominal Fat↗

Cutoff values of surrogate measures of insulin resistance for metabolic syndrome in Korean non-diabetic adults.

We investigated the cutoff values of surrogate of insulin resistance for diagnosing metabolic syndrome in Korean adults. The data from 976 non-diabetic individuals (484 men and 492 women) aged 30-79 yr were analyzed. We determined the odds ratios for the prevalence of metabolic syndrome according to the quartiles of fasting insulin, homeostasis model for insulin resistance (HOMA-IR), and quantitative insulin sensitivity check index (QUICKI) as independent variables, while adjusting for age, sex, and body mass index. The cutoff values of fasting insulin, HOMA-IR, and QUICKI were estimated by the areas under the receiver-operating characteristic (ROC) curves. The cutoff points for defining insulin resistance are a fasting insulin level of 12.94 microU/mL, HOMA-IR=3.04 as the 75th percentile value, and QUICKI=0.32 as the 25th percentile value. Compared with the lowest quartile, the adjusted odds ratios for the prevalence of metabolic syndrome in the highest quartiles of fasting insulin, HOMA-IR, and QUICKI were 1.95 (1.26-3.01), 2.27 (1.45-3.56), and 2.27 (1.45-3.56), respectively. The respective cutoff values for fasting serum insulin, HOMA-IR, and QUIC-KI by ROC analysis were 10.57 microU/mL (sensitivity 58.5%, specificity 66.8%), 2.34 (sensitivity 62.8%, specificity 65.7%), and 0.33 (sensitivity 61.2%, specificity 66.8%). Fasting insulin, HOMA-IR, and QUICKI can be used as surrogate measures of insulin resistance in Korean non-diabetic adults.

Adult↗

Relationship between metabolic syndrome and familial history of hypertension/stroke, diabetes, and cardiovascular disease.

This research analyzes the prevalence of metabolic syndrome (MS) in Korea and examines how the presence of a familial history of diseases related to MS, such as hypertension/stroke, cardiovascular disease, and diabetes, affect the development of MS in Koreans. The prevalence of MS and its components, as defined by the Nation-al Cholesterol Education Program Adult Treatment Panel guidelines, were evaluated in nationally representative samples of non-institutionalized civilian Koreans. This analysis is based on the 2001 Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, which used a stratified multistage probability sampling design. The final study included 5,742 adults who had completed the necessary health examinations and met the diagnosis of MS. The prevalence of MS was 25.5% in men and 28.7% in women. Odds ratio for MS among men with a familial history of hypertension/stroke was higher than that among men who did not have this history. The OR for MS among women with a familial history of hypertension/stroke or diabetes was higher than that among women who had no familial history of these diseases. These results show that familial history of hypertension/stroke and diabetes was significantly related to the presence of MS in both young men and women.

Adult↗

The prevalence of the metabolic syndrome in Korean adults: comparison of WHO and NCEP criteria.

The aims of this study were to compare the prevalence of the metabolic syndrome according to the WHO and NCEP ATP III criteria in Korean adults, and to compare the prevalence of the metabolic syndrome with the results in previous Korean studies. The study comprised 1,230 subjects (627 men, 603 women) aged 30-79 years (mean 52.4 +/- 10.3 years) who underwent medical check-up from April to June, 2001 in the Korea Association of Health (KAH). The prevalence of the metabolic syndrome according to the modified WHO criteria was 21.8 % of men and 19.4 % of women. However, the prevalence was increased 1.6 times (34.2 % ) in men and 2.0 times (38.7 % ) in women using the modified NCEP criteria. The prevalence of the metabolic syndrome has varied widely according to differences in the criteria. Thus, further studies are necessary to define the appropriate criteria of the metabolic syndrome for Korean adults.

Adult↗

Is high-sensitivity C-reactive protein associated with carotid atherosclerosis in healthy Koreans?

BACKGROUND: There is a positive association between chronic inflammation and the risk of cardiovascular disease, but whether there is an association between C-reactive protein (CRP) and carotid atherosclerosis is controversial. We investigated the relationship between high-sensitivity CRP (hsCRP) levels and carotid intima-media thickness (IMT) in healthy Koreans. DESIGN: We measured hsCRP levels, the carotid IMT, and conventional cardiovascular risk factors including obesity parameters, blood pressure, lipid profiles, insulin resistance, and smoking habits in 820 volunteers (35-79 years old) in a cross-sectional study. RESULTS: Higher hsCRP quartile groups had higher mean IMTs, as compared with the lowest quartile (P < 0.001 for the trend across quartiles). However, after adjustment for age, the relationship between hsCRP level and IMT was substantially weaker (P = 0.018). After additional adjustments for conventional cardiovascular risk factors, no significant association was observed (P = 0.548). The unadjusted risk for a high carotid IMT value (> or = 1.0 mm) was also positively related to hsCRP quartile, but this relationship was not significant after adjustment for age and other cardiovascular risk factors. CONCLUSIONS: Both hsCRP levels and the carotid IMT were strongly correlated with conventional cardiovascular risk factors, but there was no independent association between hsCRP levels and carotid IMT in healthy Korean adults.

Adult↗

Three novel VHL germline mutations in Korean patients with von Hippel-Lindau disease and pheochromocytomas.

Von Hippel-Lindau (VHL) disease is an autosomal dominant inherited tumor syndrome associated with germline mutations in the VHL gene. VHL disease, as well as several other cancer syndromes, has been associated with an increased risk of pheochromocytomas, which are catecholamine-secreting tumors of the adrenal gland. VHL disease genotype-phenotype correlations have been well established based on the type of mutations in the VHL gene. However, although many groups have reported VHL germline mutations in different countries, no previous report has described VHL gene mutations in VHL disease and/or pheochromocytoma patients in Korea. In this study, we used direct sequencing to investigate VHL germline mutations in Korean patients with VHL disease or pheochromocytomas (11 VHL patients and 3 additional members from 7 families, 2 patients from 1 family with familial pheochromocytoma, and 2 cases of isolated pheochromocytoma). We found a total of 7 VHL germline mutations (6 missense and 1 frameshift), 3 of which were novel (323_324delGC, 355T>C and 361G>A). No VHL germline mutation was found in the 2 patients with isolated pheochromocytomas and paragangliomas. This study provides informative data for VHL germline mutations and VHL-related phenotypes in Korea.

Adrenal Gland Neoplasms↗

Insulin and glucagon secretions, and morphological change of pancreatic islets in OLETF rats, a model of type 2 diabetes mellitus.

This study was performed to observe the changes of glucose-related hormones and the morphological change including ultrastructure of the pancreatic islets in the male Otsuka Long-Evans Tokushima Fatty rat. Area under the curve (AUC) of glucose at the 30th (709 plus minus 73 mg.h/dL) and at the 40th week (746 plus minus 87 mg.h/ dL) of age were significantly higher than that at the 10th week (360 plus minus 25 mg.h/ dL). AUC of insulin of the 10th week was 2.4 plus minus 0.9 ng.h/mL, increased gradually to 10.8 plus minus 8.3 ng.h/mL at the 30th week, and decreased to 1.8 plus minus 1.2 ng.h/mL at the 40th week. The size of islet was increased at 20th week of age and the distribution of peripheral alpha cells and central beta cells at the 10th and 20th weeks was changed to a mixed pattern at the 40th week. On electron microscopic examination, beta cells at the 20th week showed many immature secretory granules, increased mitochondria, and hypertrophied Golgi complex and endoplasmic reticulum. At the 40th week, beta cell contained scanty intracellular organelles and secretory granules and apoptosis of acinar cell was observed. In conclusion, as diabetes progressed, increased secretion of insulin was accompanied by increases in size of islets and number of beta-cells in male OLETF rats showing obese type 2 diabetes. However, these compensatory changes could not overcome the requirement of insulin according to the continuous hyperglycemia after development of diabetes.

Animals↗

[Checklist of mosquitoes (Culicidae) in Korea]

A systematic mosquito taxonomic study in Korea was established by Lee in 1971. Since then, many species have been recorded as new to Korea. However, much of this taxonomic information has been distributed in a number of scientific publications. This work attempts to combine this information into a single document, as well as to synthesize revised taxonomic synonyms of species occurring in Korea. Four species, Culex vorax, Culex kangi, Aedes kobayashii and Culiseta kanayamensis listed in our previous paper, are synonyms of Culex halifaxii, Culex jacksoni, Aedes alektorovi and Culiseta bergrothi, respectively. Culex annulus is a misidentified species of Culex pseudovishnui. The subspecies Culex pipiens quinquefasciatus and subgenus Mansonia (Coquillettidia) were treated as full species and genus respectively in a catalog of the mosquitoes of the world. However, not all current authors agree to those specific and generic treatment. Based on available publications the total number of mosquito species recorded in Korea is now 52 representing 9 genera. Forty-five of these 52 are confirmed species with preserved specimen representation. As collection of specimen continues, there is a possibility that representative of 7 unconfirmed species will be found. I hope this paper will provide useful information for entomology workers who are interested in mosquito taxonomy in Korea.

Journal Article↗

Collection Of Adult And Larval Mosquitoes In U.S. Army Compounds In The Republic Of Korea During 1979~1983.

This paper is the result of adult female mosquito and larval collection in U.S. Army Installations in Korea from 1979 to 1983. New Jersey light traps ere operated for ault collection from May to October. The primary concern of this surveillance is to determine when to recommend insecticide spraying for mosquito control in the Army areas. The 5th Preventive Medicine Unit have developed an "index" level of female mosquitoes in a light trap similar to other U.S.Army Agencies in other parts of the world. When 10 female mosquitoes are reached on two consecutive trap-night, or 5 known vector females are collected, fogging is recommended in the trap areas. Mosquito collections were conducted in 12 U.S. Army areas by operating 39 New Jersey light traps. Mosquitoes collected from the areas were identified to be 17 species comprising 3 genera. Anopheles sinensis(40%). Culex tritaeniorhyncus(31%), Aedes vexans nipponii(19%), and Culex pipiens pallens(10%) appeared to be the most common species in the area. The species, population density and monthly appearance of adult mosquitoes were found to be almost the same in the all provinces involved. And Japanese encephalitis vector mosquitoes, Culex tritaeniorhyncus, showed their seasonal fluctuation from July to September with a peak in August each year. 3. Larval habitats confirmed in the Army areas were categorized into 16 types as shown in Table The mosquito larvae collected in those habitats were identified to be 15 species representign 4 genera. Most breeding sites in the Army areas were those which are activated during the wet season. More mosquitoes were collected from the Kyungki province than from the other provinces. The reason for more collection of mosquitoes from military installations in the Kyungki provinces appears to be the geographic characteritics surrounded by rice fields, marshes and other stagnant water areas.

Journal Article↗

[Studies on the life cycle of Culex pipiens pallens in Korea]

The present studies were carried out, under natural room condition from June to July in 1969. 1. The period required for growth of eggs and larva varied according to various temperatures and methods of rearing. 2. The average number of eggs laid by the Culex pipiens pallens was 137 per egg raft. 3. The period of gonotrophic cycle was from 3 to 6 days: incubation period of eggs was from 1.5 to 2 days; larva period was from 10 to 14 days: pupa period was from 2 to 3 days. Accordingly, the period from the beginning of gonotrophic cycle to the adult mosquitos in next generation required 25 days at the longest and 16.5 days at the shortest.

Journal Article↗

[Insecticide resistance in bedbugs(Cimex lectularius) in Korea]

In the summer of 1969 from July through October, authors carried out a study of susceptibility in adult female bed bug(Cimex lectularius) in order to ascertain any development of resistance to insecticides in Korea. The test to DDT and Dieldrin was performed in laboratory by the continuous exposure of residues method, with standard impregnated paper used for adult mosqitoes. Some results so far obtained can be summarised as follows: 1. LC(50) were 2.839% in DDT and 0.167% in Dieldrin. 2. The resistance has been arisen 2.4~2.9 times in DDT and 1.6~2.4 times in Dieldrin as compared with London laboratory strain, but they were susceptible 1.4 times in DDT and 180 times in Dieldrin as compared to Israel resistance strain.

Journal Article↗

[Insecticide tests for resistance on adults of Anopheles sinensis and Culex tritaeniorhynchus in Korea]

During the summer season(July-August) in 1967, the insecticide tests for resistance on adult A. sinensis and C. tritaeniorhynchus were carried out in Gobu-Myun Jeongup-Gun, Chollapuk-Do, where many Japanese encephalitis cases occur every year. 1)The mortality by 4.0% DDT in A. sinensis was 88.9% and by 4.0% dieldrin was 84.4%. Therefore the LC-50 of DDT for A. sinensis was 1.75%, while LC-50 of dieldrin was 1.1%. 2)The mortality by 4.0% DDT in C. tritaeniorhynchus was 36.7%, and by 4.0% dieldrin was 6.0% 3)The result indicates that A. sinensis in Korea is susceptible to DDT and resistant to dieldrin. 4)C. tritaeniorhynchus is highly resistant to both DDT and dieldrin.

Journal Article↗