Plasma Oxytocin Concentration in Pre- and Postmenopausal Women: Its Relationship with Obesity, Body Composition and Metabolic Variables.

Objective: To investigate the relationship between oxytocin, menopause and obesity.

Methods: A cross-sectional analysis on 56 obese (OB; 28 premenopausal) and 53 normal-weight women (NW; 27 premenopausal) was performed by measurement of oxytocin, leptin, adiponectin, gonadotropins, sex steroids, glucose, and lipid homeostasis as well as DXA assessment of fat mass (%FM) and fat-free mass (FFM).

Results: Women from NW and OB groups were comparable for age but differed in anthropometric measures.

Genome-wide DNA promoter methylation and transcriptome analysis in human adipose tissue unravels novel candidate genes for obesity.

Objective/methods: DNA methylation plays an important role in obesity and related metabolic complications. We examined genome-wide DNA promoter methylation along with mRNA profiles in paired samples of human subcutaneous adipose tissue (SAT) and omental visceral adipose tissue (OVAT) from non-obese obese individuals.

Results: We identified negatively correlated methylation and expression of several obesity-associated genes in our discovery dataset and replicated in two independent cohorts.

Interferon-inducible genes, TNF-related apoptosis-inducing ligand (TRAIL) and interferon inducible protein 27 (IFI27) are negatively regulated in leiomyomas: implications for a role of the interferon pathway in leiomyoma development.

Uterine leiomyomas are the most common tumors in the human female pelvis and the leading indication for pelvic surgery. Lack of understanding of the molecular pathogenesis of leiomyoma has put severe limitations on the availability of alternative treatments. Using an oligonucleotide micro-array-based hybridisation analysis we observed a group of genes with a broad range of functional activity differentially expressed in smooth muscle cells (SMC) derived from leiomyomas when compared to matched myometrial cells.

Investigations of thyroid hormones and antibodies in obesity: leptin levels are associated with thyroid autoimmunity independent of bioanthropometric, hormonal, and weight-related determinants.

Objectives: Obesity can alter the thyroid hormone status as a result of a dysregulated endocrine loop between the hypothalamo-pituitary unit and adipose tissue. The adipocytokine leptin has been shown to promote autoimmunity; hence, we aimed to clarify whether leptin excess of obesity could increase the susceptibility to develop autoimmune thyroid disease (AITD).

Study Design: This cross-sectional study was performed in a tertiary care center.

The relationship between active ghrelin levels and human obesity involves alterations in resting energy expenditure.

Ghrelin is a gastric hormone that exerts a stimulatory effect on appetite and fat accumulation. Ser(3) octanoylation is regarded as a prerequisite for ghrelin biological activity, although des-octanoylated forms may retain biological functions in vitro. Circulating ghrelin levels are usually low in obesity and in states of positive energy balance.