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Mark Yorek, PhD

Professor of Internal Medicine-Endocrinology and Metabolism

Current Positions

  • Professor of Internal Medicine-Endocrinology and Metabolism
  • Associate Chief of Staff for Research, Iowa City VA Health System

Education

  • PhD, University of North Dakota, Grand Forks, North Dakota
  • Postdoctoral Fellow, Biochemistry, University of Iowa College of Medicine, Iowa City, Iowa

Center, Program and Institute Affiliations

Research Interests

  • Dr. Yorek's research focuses primarily on vascular and neural disease related to obesity and diabetes. They are interested in determining the etiology of peripheral neuropathy associated with these conditions. An overall goal of their studies is to determine the role of vascular dysfunction in obesity- and diabetic-induced peripheral neuropathy and the mechanism responsible for vascular dysfunction. Briefly, they have developed the methodology to examine the effect of diabetes on vasodilation of blood vessels that provide circulation to the sciatic nerve and the retina. Combined with the examination of motor and sensory nerve conduction velocity, neuronal blood flow in the sciatic nerve, and sensory nerve perception they are investigating the etiology of diabetic neuropathy with emphasis on vascular disease. In addition, they have also been conducting studies examining impairment of innervation of the cornea as a marker for obesity- and diabetic-neuropathy. Using animal models of obesity and diabetes they have demonstrated that loss of corneal nerves especially those innervating the cornea epithelium occurs early in disease. They have also shown that in the sub-epithelial layer of the cornea early detection of nerve loss can be achieved by examining the region of the whorl. These results have translational importance for the early detection of obesity- and diabetic-induced peripheral neuropathy that could be used for examining the progression and repair of neuropathy in patients. In this regard they have been conducting studies in the use of menhaden oil (fish oil), a natural source for n-3 fatty acids, for the treatment of obesity- and diabetic-induced peripheral neuropathy. They have demonstrated that treating rodent models of pre-diabetes and types 1 and 2 diabetes with menhaden oil improves insulin resistance and vascular and neural complications. They have also shown that treating type 2 diabetic mice with resolvin D1 can improve diabetic peripheral neuropathy. They believe that the mechanism(s) responsible for the beneficial effects of menhaden oil is the reduction in inflammatory stress and production of resolvins and neuroprotectin, metabolites of n-3 fatty acids that have anti-inflammatory and neuroprotection properties. Studies are ongoing to investigate the mechanism(s) responsible for the beneficial effects of fish oils in obesity and diabetes. In addition clinical studies are being designed to test the benefits of fish oil treatment in subjects with diabetes.

Selected Publications

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