FIGURE 2.

Correlations between CCK sensitivity and cellular cholesterol in different patient populations. Shown are the comparisons for the correlation between the potency of CCK responses (EC₅₀) and cellular cholesterol along with the respective n values, Spearman correlation coefficients (r), and P values for all patients (A) and patients selected on the basis of sex (B and C), obesity (D–F), components of metabolic syndrome (in patients without diabetes) (G–K), metabolic syndrome (in patients without diabetes) (L), and the absence or presence of diabetes (M and N). Values significant at P < 0.05 include correlations in all patients in the cohort, women, and patients who were overweight or obese and morbidly obese, with a large waist size, with elevated triglycerides, with elevated FG, with reduced HDL cholesterol, and both nondiabetic and diabetic patients. There were 21 patients in the metabolic syndrome group who were nondiabetic and fulfilled the American Heart Association criteria for metabolic syndrome, including ≥3 of the following 5 criteria: waist circumference ≥101.6 cm in men and ≥88.9 cm in women, triglyceride concentration of ≥150 mg/dL, HDL concentrations ≤40 mg/dL in men and ≤50 mg/dL in women, FG ≥100 mg/dL, and BP ≥130/85 mm Hg. Spearman’s correlation test was used to obtain the r and P values. BP, blood pressure; CCK, cholecystokinin; EC₅₀, concentration stimulating one-half of the maximal response; FG, fasting glucose; TG, triglycerides.