Dietary manipulation reveals an unexpected inverse relationship between fat mass and adipose 11β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type 1.

Increased dietary fat intake is associated with obesity, insulin resistance, and metabolic disease. In transgenic mice, adipose tissue-specific overexpression of the glucocorticoid-amplifying enzyme 11β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type 1 (11β-HSD1) exacerbates high-fat (HF) diet-induced visceral obesity and diabetes, whereas 11β-HSD1 gene knockout ameliorates this, favoring accumulation of fat in nonvisceral depots. Paradoxically, in normal mice HF diet-induced obesity (DIO) is associated with marked downregulation of adipose tissue 11β-HSD1 levels.

The relation between serum levels of osteoprotegerin and postoperative epidural fibrosis in patients who underwent surgery for lumbar disc herniation.

Objectives: Epidural fibrosis (EF) is a part of the normal physiological tissue response to laminectomy and it is an important cause of failed back surgery syndrome (FBSS). Osteoprotegerin (OPG) is a soluble member of the tumor necrosis factor receptor family, and is expressed in high concentrations by a variety of tissues and cell types. The objective of this study was to evaluate the relationship between serum OPG levels, and the existence of postoperative EF in patients with lumbar disc herniation.

Intima-media thickness of the carotid arteries is related to serum osteoprotegerin levels in healthy postmenopausal women.

Osteoprotegerin (OPG) regulates bone mass by inhibiting osteoclast differentiation and activation, and also plays a role in vascular calcification. The objective of this study was to evaluate the relationship between serum OPG levels, and carotid artery intima-media thickness (IMT) and carotid plaque formation in healthy postmenopausal women. We recruited 68 healthy postmenopausal women for the study.

Alveolar gas exchange in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus.

The present study has been conducted to quantify and compare the capacity of gas exchange in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM) and healthy controls and also to investigate the effects of various factors on alveolar capillary permeability. A total of 37 subjects, 25 patients with DM and 12 healthy controls were recruited for the study. All the participants were evaluated with simple spirometric tests and simple breath carbonmonoxide (CO) diffusion test (DLCO).

High prevalence of diabetes in Adana, a southern province of Turkey.

Objective: To determine the prevalence of diabetes and glucose intolerance and their relationship with risk factors in Adana, a southern province of Turkey, where risk factors are more prominent, probably because of social and economic reasons.

Research Design And Methods: The study population included 1637 randomly selected adults aged 20-79 years. Diagnosis of diabetes was based on plasma glucose values using the 1999 diagnostic criteria recommended by the World Health Organization.

Helicobacter pylori has no effect on plasma ghrelin levels.

Objective: Helicobacter pylori is the major etiologic agent for chronic active gastritis, and it also plays a crucial role in gastric and duodenal ulcer disease, as well as in gastric carcinoma. H. pylori infection has been shown to decrease plasma somatostatin (SST) and increase plasma gastrin concentrations.

The effects of short-term medroxyprogesterone acetate and micronized progesterone on glucose metabolism and lipid profiles in patients with polycystic ovary syndrome: a prospective randomized study.

In this prospective, randomized study we determined 10-d effects of medroxyprogesterone acetate (MPA) and micronized progesterone (MP) either orally or per vaginally on hormonal parameters, glucose metabolism and lipid profiles in patients with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). Twenty-eight consecutive women with PCOS were randomized to receive 10-d MPA, oral MP, or vaginal MP. Hormonal parameters, insulin levels, oral glucose tolerance test, lipid profiles, and homeostasis model assessment and quantitative insulin sensitivity check indexes were assessed in all groups before and after treatment.

Ticlopidine-induced marrow aplasia treated with cyclosporine.

A 50-year-old diabetic and hypertensive male patient is reported who had ticlopidine-induced marrow aplasia partially responsive to colony-stimulating factors and corticosteroids, but experienced complete recovery with cyclosporine. There is no consensus on the treatment of ticlopidine-induced marrow aplasia. Although many cases are reported to recover with colony-stimulating factors and corticosteroids, others are unresponsive or partially responsive.