The present studies examined the relationship between fasting blood glucose and Hb A1cin C57BL/6J, DBA/2J, and KK/HlJ mice with and without diabetes mellitus. Daily averaged blood glucose levels based on continuous glucose monitoring and effects of 6-h vs. overnight fasting on blood glucose were determined. Daily averaged blood glucose levels were highly correlated with Hb A1c, as determined with a hand-held automated device using an immunodetection method. R2values were 0.90, 0.95, and 0.99 in KK/HIJ, C57BL/6J, and DBA/2J, respectively. Six-hour fasting blood glucose correlated more closely with the level of daily averaged blood glucose and with Hb A1cthan did blood glucose following an overnight fast. To validate the immunoassay-determined Hb A1c, we also measured total glycosylated hemoglobin using boronate HPLC. Hb A1cvalues correlated well with total glycosylated hemoglobin in all three strains but were relatively lower than total glycosylated hemoglobin in diabetic DBA/2J mice. These results show that 6-h fasting glucose provides a superior index of glycemic control and correlates more closely with Hb A1cthan overnight-fasted blood glucose in these strains of mice.

Background/AimsDiastolic dysfunction occurs frequently in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) and is associated with heart failure (HF) or mortality. We investigated whether the ratio of early diastolic mitral inflow velocity to early diastolic mitral annulus velocity (E/e' ratio), estimated using tissue Doppler imaging, has prognostic value for cardiovascular morbidity and all-cause mortality in patients with CKD.MethodsFor 186 patients with CKD of stages III to V, we obtained echocardiograms with tissue Doppler imaging. A 5-year follow-up of 136 patients was performed based on hospital records and telephone interviews. The enrolled patients (79 males and 57 females) were categorized into the following CKD subgroups: stage III (n = 25); stage IV (n = 22); and stage V (n = 89).ResultsThe average follow-up period was 30.45 months and the mean age of the patients was 61.13 years. The mortality rate after 5 years was 60.0%. The causes of death were: sepsis, 21.9%; HF, 16.2%; and sudden death, 15.2%. Age (p = 0.000), increased C-reactive protein level (p = 0.018), and increased E/e' ratio (p = 0.048) were found to correlate with mortality. Age (p = 0.000), decreased ejection fraction (p = 0.003), and increased E/e' ratio (p = 0.045) correlated with cardiovascular event.ConclusionsThe E/e' ratio can predict mortality and cardiovascular events in patients with CKD who have diastolic dysfunction.

Aims. The incidence of complications associated with cerebrovascular diseases in patients who receive hemodialysis for a long-term period is higher than that of other complications. It is known that mortality due to cerebral hemorrhage is two times higher compared to non-dialysis patients. Anti-coagulants used for hemodialysis are essential. Accordingly, in cases in which the cerebral hemorrhage occurred, the selection of anti-coagulants for the prevention of further bleeding poses a great challenge to physicians. The change of hematoma and patient prognosis has a direct relationship. Many ongoing studies are conducted to examine the causative factors causing the increased hematoma and their related prognostic factors. In the current study, we examined the effect of nafamostat mesylate (a serine protease inhibitor) on the change of hematoma compared to heparin in hemodialysis patients. Methods. The current study was conducted in 17 hemodialysis patients who developed a cerebral hemorrhage. These patients were assigned to two groups based on the type of anti-coagulants that they used (i.e., nafamostat mesylate and heparin). Then, the factors affecting the change of hematoma following the onset of cerebral hemorrhage were examined. The prognosis of hematoma was assessed based on brain CT scans, which were performed two weeks after the onset of cerebral hemorrhage in four groups. Following this, groups 1 (the decreased hematoma) and 2 (the decreased delay) were merged to group A (resolving group), and groups 3 (the increased hematoma) and 4 (the death following the aggravation) were merged to group B (the expansion group) for further analysis. Results. There were no significant differences in baseline characteristics between the nafamostat group and the heparin group. A comparison between the resolving group and the expansion group also showed that there were no significant differences in baseline characteristics. In the anti-coagulants and the change of hematoma, however, there were significant differences between the two groups (p = 0.024). A comparison of the change of hematoma between the four groups was also made. This showed that platelet counts and BUN level were significant factors (Platelet; p = 0.042, BUN; p = 0.043 ANOVA with resolving group). Conclusions. Nafamostat mesylate has a similar profile of anti-coagulative activity to heparin. It is assumed, however, that nafamostat has an affirmative effect on the recovery of damaged sites following the onset of cerebral hemorrhage. It is an anti-coagulant that can be safely used for hemodialysis following the onset of cerebral hemorrhage.

A 12-week treatment with gemigliptin improved glycaemic control and provided UACR reduction in T2DM patients with moderate to severe RI. Gemigliptin was well tolerated, with no additional risk of hypoglycaemia and change in body weight.

Routine BIS-guided fluid management in non-anuric PD patients did not provide additional benefit in volume control, RRF preservation, or cardiovascular (CV) parameters. However, our study cannot be generalized to the whole PD population. Further research is warranted in order to investigate the subpopulation of PD patients who may benefit from routine BIS-guided fluid management.