Altered Metabolic Phenotypes and Hypothalamic Neuronal Activity Triggered by Sodium-Glucose Cotransporter 2 Inhibition

Background@#Sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 (SGLT-2) inhibitors are currently used to treat patients with diabetes. Previous studies have demonstrated that treatment with SGLT-2 inhibitors is accompanied by altered metabolic phenotypes. However, it has not been investigated whether the hypothalamic circuit participates in the development of the compensatory metabolic phenotypes triggered by the treatment with SGLT-2 inhibitors. @*Methods@#Mice were fed a standard diet or high-fat diet and treated with dapagliflozin, an SGLT-2 inhibitor. Food intake and energy expenditure were observed using indirect calorimetry system. The activity of hypothalamic neurons in response to dapagliflozin treatment was evaluated by immunohistochemistry with c-Fos antibody. Quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction was performed to determine gene expression patterns in the hypothalamus of dapagliflozin-treated mice. @*Results@#Dapagliflozin-treated mice displayed enhanced food intake and reduced energy expenditure. Altered neuronal activities were observed in multiple hypothalamic nuclei in association with appetite regulation. Additionally, we found elevated immunosignals of agouti-related peptide neurons in the paraventricular nucleus of the hypothalamus. @*Conclusion@#This study suggests the functional involvement of the hypothalamus in the development of the compensatory metabolic phenotypes induced by SGLT-2 inhibitor treatment.

Baumann Skin Type in the Korean Female Population

BACKGROUND: To meet the need for a subspecialized skin type system, the Baumann skin type (BST) system was proposed. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the distribution of BST types and influencing factors among Korean women. METHODS: BST questionnaires were administered to 1,000 Korean women. The possible responses were as follows: oily (O) or dry (D), sensitive (S) or resistant (R), pigmented (P) or non-pigmented (N), and wrinkled (W) or tight (T). The correlations of the BST with the subjects' age, location, ultraviolet (UV) ray exposure, drinking and smoking habits, and blood type were assessed. RESULTS: The OSNT, DSNT, DRNT, and OSNW skin types were the most common skin types (55.3%). The O, S, P, and W types accounted for 46.6%, 68.8%, 23.2%, and 31.9%, respectively. The proportion of the O and S type was the highest in Gyeongsangbuk-do (55.0%) and Seoul (77.2%). The proportion of the P and W type was the highest in Gyeongsangbuk-do (33.0%) and Chungcheong-do (39.0%). The O type decreased in the higher age group, whereas the P and W type showed a reversed tendency. In smokers, the proportion of W type was significantly higher than in the non-smokers (66.3% vs. 24.1%, p<0.05). CONCLUSION: The 4 most common BST types were OSNT, DSNT, DRNT, and OSNW. In the comparison across the 4 BST parameters according to the age, region, smoking and drinking habits, occupation, blood type, and UV exposure, significant differences were observed. Individualized and customized skin care is required according to the personal skin type.

Role of Kv7 Channels in Vascular Dysfunction associated with Metabolic Syndrome

Vasoconstriction is regulated by various ion channels expressed in the plasma membrane of vascular smooth muscle cells. In particular, potassium (K+) channel activity determines resting membrane potential and regulates intracellular calcium (Ca2+) signaling. A number of studies have suggested that dysregulation of K+ channel activity is associated with increased myogenic tone or diminished vasorelaxation. Among the various families of K+ channels, voltage-dependent K+ channels (Kv channels) encoded by the KCNQ gene family (Kv7 channels or M channels) are widely expressed in various blood vessels isolated from mouse, rat, and human. Recent studies have demonstrated that a subunit of the Kv7 channel, Kv7.4, is down-regulated in the aorta and mesenteric and renal arteries of the Spontaneously Hypertensive Rat (SHR) model. Previous studies have also suggested that Kv7 channels play an important role in the regulation of vasorelaxation/vasoconstriction in response to activators/blockers. In addition, previous studies have indicated that hypertension, diabetes mellitus, and cerebrovascular disease result in development of vascular dysfunction associated with Kv7 abnormalities in various animal models. This review focuses on the potential role of the Kv7 channel in vascular dysfunction.