This study provides useful information to help practitioners design exercise intervention strategies and provide psychological support to people with prediabetes.

Graves' disease has been associated with different human leukocyte antigen (HLA) genes in different races. To evaluate the association of HLA type in Taiwanese with Graves' disease, the HLA‐A, ‐B, and ‐DRB1 alleles in a total of 236 Taiwanese adults with Graves' disease and 533 racially matched normal control subjects were examined using the PCR‐SSOP (sequence specific oligonucleotide probe) technique. The prevalence of HLA‐A*0207, ‐B*2704, ‐B*4601, and ‐DRB1*0901 among patients with Graves' disease was found to be increased, with odds ratios (OR) of 2.21, 3.82, 1.76 and 1.62, respectively. However, after correction for multiple comparisons, the relative risk of HLA‐A*0207 susceptibility to Graves' disease remained statistically significant and the haplotype HLA‐A*3303 ‐B*5801 ‐DRB1*0301 had a significantly protective effect. None of the other 2‐ or 3‐locus haplotypes showed any significantly increased risk. Although HLA‐DRB1*1405 showed an increased relative risk in patients with GO (Graves' opthalmopathy) (OR 4.61) when compared with patients without GO, the relative risk after adjusting for the number of comparisons was not significant. Taiwanese patients with Graves' disease have HLA‐associated susceptibility genes which are similar to those found in Chinese patients in Hong Kong and Singapore. However, the finding in this study of a higher frequency of HLA‐A*0207 in Taiwanese with Graves' disease has not been documented in any other ethnic group.

Many patients with gastroesophgeal reflux disease (GERD) may also have overlapping symptoms of dyspepsia. This study was to examine if GERD patients could be separated into meaningful groups based on their gastric myoelectrical characteristics. The study included 20 GERD patients with dyspeptc symptoms (GERD+) and 17 patients with GERD. Gastric myoelectrical activity was assessed using cutaneous electrodes to record electrogastrograms (EGGs). The GERD+ patients ingested smaller volumes of water compared to patients with GERD (P < 0.05). At baseline, the percentage of gastric myoelectrical power in the normal 3-cpm range was significantly less in patients with GERD+ compared with the GERD subjects (P = 0.01). Power in the bradygastria range was significantly greater in patients with GERD+ (P = 0.005). The GERD+ group had a significant increase in the percentage of power in the tachygastria range later after ingesting the water load (P < 0.01). In conclusion, this study has shown that more gastric dysrhythmias were detected in the GERD+ patients accompanied with altered perception of stomach fullness.

Endothelin-converting enzyme-1 (ECE-1) is the key enzyme of endothelin biosynthesis, catalyzing the final step in the process. In this study, we investigated the cellular distribution of ECE-1 in 19 normal human tissues and 16 neuroendocrine tumors using immunohistochemical staining with antigen retrieval. ECE-1 was expressed in vessel endothelial cells as well as nearly all epithelial cells, glands and duct cells in normal human tissues including the esophagus, stomach, small intestine, appendix, colon, liver, gallbladder, pancreas, endometrium, cervix, breast, skin, prostate, urinary bladder, lung, kidney, sympathetic ganglion, thyroid gland, and adrenal gland. The most interesting finding was that ECE-1 was expressed in normal neuroendocrine cells. ECE-1 was also expressed in all 16 neuroendocrine tumors, including three paragangliomas, five pheochromocytomas, three carcinoid tumors, four medullary carcinomas of the thyroid, and one islet cell tumor of the pancreas. In conclusion, ECE-1 is enriched in neuroendocrine cells and neuroendocrine tumors, suggesting an important biologic role for the enzyme in the neuroendocrine system.

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