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Abstract Objective: This study evaluated the noninvasive, point-of-care diabetes screening device, Scout DS((R)) (VeraLight Inc., Albuquerque, NM) (SCOUT), in a native Asian Indian cohort. Research Design and Methods: SCOUT is a tabletop, skin fluorescence spectrometer that reports a risk score following a 3-4-min noninvasive measurement of a subject's left volar forearm. SCOUT, fasting plasma glucose (FPG), and hemoglobin A(1c) (A1C) were compared for detection of abnormal glucose tolerance (AGT) in a cohort of 256 subjects without previous diagnosis of diabetes or impaired glucose tolerance in Chennai, India. After an overnight fast, a 75-g, 2-h oral glucose tolerance test was administered, and AGT was defined as a plasma glucose value >=140 mg/dL (7.8 mmol/dL). Sensitivity, false-positive rate (FPR), and receiver-operating characteristics area under the curve for AGT detection were computed for SCOUT, FPG, and A1C. Intra-day reproducibility of SCOUT was assessed. Results: SCOUT, FPG, and A1C (at respective thresholds of 50, 110 mg/dL, and 5.7%) exhibited sensitivities of 87%, 32%, and 86%, respectively, and FPR of 52%, 3%, and 58%, respectively. For the 177 subjects receiving a valid SCOUT Diabetes Score on both measurement attempts, the coefficient of variation was 5.8%, and the Pearson correlation was 0.91. A SCOUT score could be obtained on 91% of subjects after two attempts. Conclusions: The performance of SCOUT is similar to that of A1C, whereas FPG had a much lower sensitivity. SCOUT is an effective tool for AGT screening in Asian Indians. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Background: Granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) is a pro-inflammatory cytokine with growth factor-like properties for monocytes and dendritic cells (DCs). In the present study, serum GM-CSF levels and the activation status of DCs were studied in type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) subjects. Methods: Study subjects were recruited from the Chennai Urban Rural Epidemiology Study. Healthy controls (n=45) and T2DM patients (n=45) were included in the study. Serum levels of GM-CSF, interleukin-1[beta], interleukin-6, and tumor necrosis factor-[alpha] were measured. Enumeration of circulating DCs (myeloid [m] and plasmocytoid [p]) and its surface antigen expression were quantified by flow cytometry. Results: The serum GM-CSF levels were significantly higher among diabetes subjects compared with subjects without diabetes and showed a positive correlation with glycated hemoglobin (r=0.208, P=0.018). The serum GM-CSF levels were lower in subjects on combined insulin and oral hypoglycemic agents (OHA) treatment (1.09 pg/mL) compared with those taking OHA alone (1.9 pg/mL). The increased GM-CSF levels were associated with the activated phenotype of mDCs and pDCs, as determined by up-regulation of the lineage markers. Conclusion: The activated state of mDCs and pDCs seen among diabetes subjects might be due to the increased levels of GM-CSF and other pro-inflammatory cytokines. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Objective: Metabolic syndrome (MS) is a cluster of metabolic abnormalities associated with obesity, insulin resistance (IR), dyslipidemia, and hypertension in which inflammation plays an important role. Few studies have addressed the role played by T cell-derived cytokines in MS. The aim of the study was to look at the T-helper (Th) 1 (interleukin [IL]-12, IL-2, and interferon-[gamma] [IFN-[gamma]]) and Th2 (IL-4, IL-5, and IL-13) cytokines in MS in the high-risk Asian Indian population. Research Design and Methods: Study subjects were recruited from the Chennai Urban Rural Epidemiology Study. MS was defined using National Cholesterol Education Program-Adult Treatment Panel III criteria modified for waist according to World Health Organization Asia Pacific guidelines. Serum cytokine profile was determined by multiplex cytokine assay in subjects with (n = 21) and without (n = 33) MS. Results: Both Th1 and Th2 cytokines showed up-regulation in MS. IL-12 (5.40 pg/mL in MS vs. 3.24 pg/mL in non-MS; P < 0.01), IFN-[gamma] (6.8 pg/mL in MS vs. 4.7 pg/mL in non-MS; P < 0.05), IL-4 (0.61 pg/mL in MS vs. 0.34 pg/mL in non-MS; P < 0.001), IL-5 (4.39 pg/mL in MS vs. 2.36 pg/mL in non-MS; P < 0.001), and IL-13 (3.42 pg in MS vs. 2.72 pg/mL in non-MS; P < 0.01) were significantly increased in subjects with MS compared with those without. Both Th1 and Th2 cytokines showed a significant association with fasting plasma glucose level even after adjusting for age and gender. The Th1 and Th2 cytokines also showed a negative association with adiponectin and a positive association with the homeostasis model of assessment of IR and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein. Conclusions: Apart from pro-inflammatory cytokines, Th cytokines might play an important role in inflammation, IR, and MS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the ocular safety and tolerability of the P2Y[sub 2] receptor agonist, INS365, when applied as eye drops in normal human subjects. This study was a double-masked, placebo-controlled, randomized, within subject paired-comparison, dose-escalation study in five cohorts of ten healthy subjects. The concentrations of INS365 ophthalmic solution were 0.5, 1.0, 2.0, and 5.0% given three times over six hours. Safety was assessed by general and ophthalmic examination and symptomatology. Unanesthetized Schirmer tests were performed in the last cohort of 10 subjects to evaluate the acute effects of INS365 on tear secretion. There were no significant differences in the number of subjects with ocular events reported in placebo-treated eyes compared to INS365-treated eyes. Two adverse events were possibly related to INS365: painless blepharospasm and an increase in lacrimation after 5.0% INS365 instillation. Unanesthetized Schirmer testing showed no acute effects of INS365 on tear secretion, compared to its vehicle, in healthy subjects, in which reflex tearing often produced maximal Schirmer values. INS365 ophthalmic solution was well-tolerated when administered by ocular instillation. Stimulation of ocular surface P2Y[sub 2] receptors was not associated with ocular tolerability issues in healthy subjects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]