OBJECTIVE -The purpose of this study was to estimate the prevalence of diabetes and impaired fasting glucose (IFG) and their association with risk factors in the Korean population. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS -The Korean National Health and NutritionSurvey 2001 was a nationally representative survey with a stratified multistage sampling design. Data from a comprehensive questionnaire, a physical examination, and blood tests were obtained from 5,844 Korean adults (2,513 men and 3,331 women) aged Ͼ20 years.RESULTS -The age-adjusted prevalence of diabetes in this Korean population was 7.6%, and the age-adjusted prevalences of previously diagnosed diabetes and newly diagnosed diabetes were 4.4 and 3.3%, respectively (fasting plasma glucose Ն7.0 mmol/l). Overall, these results indicate that 8.1% or 1.4 million Korean men and 7.5% or 1.3 million Korean women have diabetes. The age-adjusted prevalence of IFG was 23.9%, using the new American Diabetes Association criteria (fasting plasma glucose 5.6 -6.9 mmol/l). Diabetes prevalence increased with age and peaked in the oldest age-group; however, IFG prevalence did not show the same trend. Diabetes was found to be associated with age, BMI, blood pressure, triglyceride, HDL cholesterol, education levels, alcohol consumption, exercise, and a family history of diabetes.CONCLUSIONS -This study shows that diabetes and IFG are common in Korea, and about one-half of diabetes cases remain undiagnosed. These results emphasize the need to develop an urgent public program to improve the detection, prevention, and treatment of diabetes. Diabetes Care 29:226 -231, 2006T ype 2 diabetes is recognized as a global health problem nowadays, and it has been projected that the number of diabetic patients will rise from an estimated 135 million in 1995 to 300 million in 2025 (1). Moreover, the AsiaPacific region is considered to be on the verge of an emerging diabetes epidemic (2).Individuals with diabetes have a higher risk of complications such as retinopathy, nephropathy, neuropathy, and cardiovascular disease (3). According to the Korea National Statistical Office, the mortality rate due to diabetes was 25.0 per 100,000 persons in 2003, and thus it is currently rated as Korea's fourth leading cause of death (4). Although the importance of early diagnosis and secondary intervention programs for the prevention of diabetes complications have been emphasized, about one-half of those with diabetes remain unidentified (5). Epidemiological studies on diabetes have a significant impact on diabetes research, care, and prevention programs. The prevalence of diabetes varies widely among populations according to race, lifestyle, and urbanization (6). In a recent survey in the U.S., its prevalence was 8.2% in adults aged 20 -74 years (7). In Korea, a number of studies have been conducted on diabetes prevalence, including one by the present authors (8 -10). However, previous studies have been regionally based, and thus reliable nationwide data about the prevalence of diabetes and impaired fasting gluco...

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These results from a representative sample show that MetS is common in Korean adults. A systemic public health programme is required to prevent future increases in diabetes and cardiovascular complications.

Summary Objectives:  We investigated the association between metabolic syndrome (MS) and health‐related quality of life (HRQOL) assessed using generalised and obesity‐specific QOL instruments. Methods:  We recruited 456 outpatients [age: 19–81 years, body mass index (BMI): 16.3–36.7 kg/m2] in the primary care division from 12 general hospitals in Korea. HRQOL was measured using EuroQol comprising the health states descriptive system (EQ‐5D) and visual analogue scale (EQ‐VAS) as a general instrument. The Korean Obesity‐related QOL scale (KOQOL) composed of six domains was used as a disease‐specific QOL instrument. MS was defined on the basis of International Diabetes Federation (IDF) criteria with Korean‐specific waist circumference cutoffs (men: 90 cm, women: 85 cm). Results:  Subjects with MS displayed significantly higher impairment of EQ‐5D and KOQOL. Binary logistic regression analysis of MS patients with controls for age, gender, smoking, alcohol, exercise, education, income, marital status and medication history disclosed odds ratio (OR) values of 2.13 (1.33–3.41) for impaired total KOQOL, 2.07 (1.31–3.27) for impaired physical health, 1.63 (1.03–2.60) for impaired work‐related health, 2.42 (1.45–4.04) for impaired routine life, 2.08 (1.27–3.40) for impaired sexual life and 2.56 (1.59–4.11) for diet distress. Among the EQ‐5D dimensions, only pain/discomfort displayed a significantly increased OR of 1.60 (1.01–2.56) in MS group. Conclusions:  Subjects with MS displayed a significantly impaired HRQOL compared with those without MS. MS and HRQOL were more strongly associated in obesity‐specific QOL than in generalised QOL.

Leigh syndrome is a fatal neurometabolic disorder caused by defects in mitochondrial function. mTOR inhibition with rapamycin attenuates disease progression in a mouse model of Leigh syndrome (Ndufs4 KO mouse); however, the mechanism of rescue is unknown. Here we identify PKC downregulation as a key event mediating the beneficial effects of rapamycin treatment of Ndufs4 KO mice. Assessing the impact of rapamycin on the brain proteome and phosphoproteome of Ndufs4 KO mice we find that rapamycin restores mitochondrial protein levels, inhibits signaling through both mTOR complexes, and reduces the abundance and activity of multiple protein kinase C (PKC) isoforms. Administration of PKC inhibitors increases survival, delays neurological deficits, prevents hair loss, and decreases inflammation in Ndufs4 KO mice. Thus, PKC may be a viable therapeutic target for treating severe mitochondrial disease. Reporting Summary Further information on research design is available in the Nature Research Reporting Summary linked to this article.