Internal medicine
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Both increased serum levels of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDLC) and metabolic syndrome (MetS) are associated with obesity and have been established to be risk factors of cardiovascular disease. However, studies on the relationship between LDLC and MetS have been limited. ⋯ The LDLC level is associated with coexisting MetS and functions as a predictor of the development of MetS, independent of BMI or the pre-existing components of MetS, in a Japanese health screening population.
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To examine risk factors for coronary artery disease (CAD) and retinopathy in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM) and assess the relationship between CAD and retinopathy. ⋯ Since it is difficult to distinguish macrovascular and microvascular diseases, diabetic vascular disorders require comprehensive approaches to assessment and treatment.
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An impairment of gastric motility is strongly associated with the pathophysiology of functional dyspepsia (FD). Plasma ghrelin is one of the key molecules linked to gastric motility. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate whether ghrelin (GHRL) gene polymorphisms are associated with clinical symptoms, the plasma ghrelin levels and gastric emptying in patients with FD as defined by the Rome III classification. ⋯ The preproghrelin 3056TT genotype is significantly associated with the acylated ghrelin levels and the feeling of hunger in H. pylori-negative FD patients. Further studies are needed to clarify the association between the preproghrelin 3056TT genotype and lower plasma acylated ghrelin levels and the impact of this relationship on the feeling of hunger in H. pylori-negative FD patients.