Amino Acid Signatures to Evaluate the Beneficial Effects of Weight Loss.

. We investigated the relationship between circulating amino acid levels and obesity; to what extent weight loss followed by weight maintenance can correct amino acid abnormalities; and whether amino acids are related to weight loss. .

[Difficult discussions with patients practiced at course with actors. A carefully planned strategy helps both physician and patient].

The physician's communication skill influences the patient's mental and physical wellbeing, as well as the physician's own experience of stress. Most patients wish to be informed about their disease, by physicians who are honest, gives time, sustains hope, listens and shows compassion and empathy. Even though there are established guidelines on how to break bad news, the physician must find out and respond to the unique reactions and needs of each individual, in order to communicate successfully.

Changes in glucose-elicited blood metabolite responses following weight loss and long term weight maintenance in obese individuals with impaired glucose tolerance.

Aims: Weight loss improves insulin sensitivity and glucose tolerance in obese subjects with impaired glucose tolerance (IGT), but the long term dynamic effects on blood metabolites other than glucose during an oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT), are largely unknown. Here, we studied changes in OGTT-elicited metabolite patterns in obese subjects during a diet-induced weight loss study.

Methods: Blood samples from 14 obese individuals with IGT were collected at 0, 30 and 120 min during a standard 75 g OGTT at baseline (BMI 44 ± 2 kg/m(2)), after weight loss (BMI 36 ± 2 kg/m(2)) and after weight maintenance (BMI 35 ± 2 kg/m(2)).

Metabolite profile deviations in an oral glucose tolerance test-a comparison between lean and obese individuals.

Objective: While impaired glucose tolerance diagnosed by the oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) is a common trait in obese individuals, less is known about changes in levels of other metabolites. The aim was to reveal the complex alterations in metabolite levels provoked by an OGTT and its perturbation in obese individuals.

Methods: Gas chromatography/mass spectrometry was used to profile metabolite levels in serum from 14 obese participants (body mass index [BMI] of 43.

Coordinate changes in histone modifications, mRNA levels, and metabolite profiles in clonal INS-1 832/13 β-cells accompany functional adaptations to lipotoxicity.

Lipotoxicity is a presumed pathogenetic process whereby elevated circulating and stored lipids in type 2 diabetes cause pancreatic β-cell failure. To resolve the underlying molecular mechanisms, we exposed clonal INS-1 832/13 β-cells to palmitate for 48 h. We observed elevated basal insulin secretion but impaired glucose-stimulated insulin secretion in palmitate-exposed cells.

Time-resolved metabolomics analysis of β-cells implicates the pentose phosphate pathway in the control of insulin release.

Insulin secretion is coupled with changes in β-cell metabolism. To define this process, 195 putative metabolites, mitochondrial respiration, NADP+, NADPH and insulin secretion were measured within 15 min of stimulation of clonal INS-1 832/13 β-cells with glucose. Rapid responses in the major metabolic pathways of glucose occurred, involving several previously suggested metabolic coupling factors.

Differential gene expression in adipose tissue from obese human subjects during weight loss and weight maintenance.

Background: Differential gene expression in adipose tissue during diet-induced weight loss followed by a weight stability period is poorly characterized. Markers of these processes may provide a deeper understanding of underlying mechanisms.

Objective: We aimed to identify differentially expressed genes in human adipose tissue during weight loss and weight maintenance after weight loss.

Synapsins I and II are not required for insulin secretion from mouse pancreatic β-cells.

Synapsins are a family of phosphoproteins that modulate the release of neurotransmitters from synaptic vesicles. The release of insulin from pancreatic β-cells has also been suggested to be regulated by synapsins. In this study, we have utilized a knock out mouse model with general disruptions of the synapsin I and II genes [synapsin double knockout (DKO)].

Development and optimization of a metabolomic method for analysis of adherent cell cultures.

In this investigation, a gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS)-based metabolomic protocol for adherent cell cultures was developed using statistical design of experiments. Cell disruption, metabolite extraction, and the GC/MS settings were optimized aiming at a gentle, unbiased, sensitive, and high-throughput metabolomic protocol. Due to the heterogeneity of the metabolome and the inherent selectivity of all analytical techniques, development of unbiased protocols is highly complex.

Comorbidity and acute clinical events as determinants of C-reactive protein variation in hemodialysis patients: implications for patient survival.

Background: Patients with chronic kidney disease stage 5 have high comorbidity and are prone to inflammation that may contribute to the high cardiovascular mortality risk.

Study Design: Three-month observational cohort study of prevalent hemodialysis patients.

Settings & Participants: 228 hemodialysis patients (44% women) were included, median age of 66 years, median time on dialysis therapy of 29 months.

Endothelial cells in endogenous and transplanted pancreatic islets: differences in the expression of angiogenic peptides and receptors.

Background/aims: An important reason for the large amount of islets required for successful islet transplantation is likely to be inadequate engraftment of the transplanted islets. Thus, the revascularization is of major importance for graft survival. In order to study the expression of angiogenic peptides and receptors on islet endothelial cells (EC), we needed methods giving access to such endothelium.

Reduced gene expression of adiponectin in fat tissue from patients with end-stage renal disease.

Background: Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the main cause of death in end-stage renal disease (ESRD) patients. It has been suggested that inflammation plays a key role in the development of both atherosclerosis and malnutrition (MIA), a combination of complications associated with poor outcome. Although plasma levels of adiponectin, a recently discovered anti-inflammatory and antiatherogenic adipocytokine, are markedly elevated in ESRD, gene expression of adiponectin (ApM1) has not been analyzed in ESRD patients.

A prospective randomized study of the effect of a subcutaneously "buried" peritoneal dialysis catheter technique versus standard technique on the incidence of peritonitis and exit-site infection.

Objective: A new method for implantation of peritoneal dialysis (PD) catheters was described in 1991. The distal part of the catheter is buried subcutaneously and exteriorized at the start of PD. This study was designed to evaluate the effect of such a subcutaneous rest period on the incidence of peritonitis and exit-site infections (ESI).