Exogenous orexin-A downregulates luteinizing hormone secretory activity in prepubertal female rats.

Introduction: Orexin-A is a neuropeptide synthesized in the lateral hypothalamus. Orexin-A immunoreactive fibres overlap distribution with GnRH neurons. In adult rats, orexin A is known to affect LH secretion via GnRH release modulation.

The metabolic, neuroprotective cardioprotective and antitumor effects of the Klotho protein.

Klotho is a transmembrane protein with a wide spectrum of activity. The human Klotho gene shows 86% amino acid identity with the mouse protein. Many important pleiotropic functions of the Klotho protein have been revealed.

Peripheral levels of selected adipokines in patients with newly diagnosed multiple sclerosis.

Introduction: Multiple sclerosis (MS) is an autoimmune disease of the central nervous system. The exact aetiology is unknown. However, genetic and environmental factors are suggested to be involved in the pathogenesis of MS.

Copeptin - a new diagnostic and prognostic biomarker in neurological and cardiovascular diseases.

Copeptin, arginine vasopressin (AVP)-associated 39 aminoacid glycopeptide, is a C-terminal part of pro-AVP. AVP acts through V1a, V1b, and V2 receptors. The effect on V1a receptors is connected with arterial vasoconstriction, on V2 with antidiuretic action, and on V1b with the secretion of ACTH, insulin, glucagon.

Neuroendocrine aspects of anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa.

Endocrine dysfunctions in eating disorders (anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa) result from disturbed regulation of hypothalamo-pituitary-gonadal, hypothalamo-pituitary-adrenal, hypothalamo-pituitary-thyroid and hypothalamo-pituitary-GH-IGF1 axes as well as of altered peripheral endocrine metabolism. Some peptides of hypothalamic origin, as well as those secreted by the adipose tissue and gastrointestinal tract including pancreatic hormones, are involved in the control of appetite and satiety. These peptides play also an important role in the mechanism of hormonal secretion.

Plasma adiponectin array in women with Alzheimer's disease.

Introduction Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a progressive and irreversible neurodegenerative disease. Typical features of AD include memory loss, social dysfunction and physical impairment. Although the pathological findings in the central nervous system are well established, the etiological factors are poorly known.

Adipokine profile in patients with anorexia nervosa.

Introduction: Anorexia nervosa (AN) is an eating disorder characterised with extremely low weight. Adipokines are adipose tissue-derived substances that show a wide spectrum of biological activities. We aimed to assess selected adipokine levels in women with AN before and after nutritional intervention.

Assessment of plasma brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), activity-dependent neurotrophin protein (ADNP) and vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP) concentrations in treatment-naïve humans with multiple sclerosis.

Objective: Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic disease of the central nervous system (CNS) characterized by coexisting processes of inflammation, demyelination, axonal neurodegeneration and gliosis. Autoimmune processes play a pivotal role in the disease. The immune system may be modulated by neurotrophins and neurotrophin factors.

Plasma leptin levels and free leptin index in women with Alzheimer's disease.

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a neurodegenerative disorder characterized by irreversible and progressive loss of memory and other cognitive functions. Controversies still exist on the precise mechanisms contributing to neurodegeneration. Obesity and disturbances in metabolic homeostasis are thought to be AD risk factors.

Association of copeptin and cortisol in newly diagnosed multiple sclerosis patients.

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic autoimmune disease of the central nervous system. Obesity may increase the risk of developing MS. The aim of this study was to evaluate copeptin and cortisol plasma levels in newly diagnosed untreated MS patients and to determine whether copeptin and cortisol are related to the patients' clinical statuses.

Plasma chemerin levels in patients with multiple sclerosis.

Objectives: Chemerin, a novel adipokine produced by adipose tissue and liver, is associated with markers of metabolic syndrome, and additionally, acting as chemoattractant for cells of immune system it may regulate immune cell properties.

Material And Methods: In order to evaluate plasma chemerin concentration in multiple sclerosis (MS) individuals we investigated 39 MS patients (among them 23 subjects were lean and 16 were overweight or obese) and 42 controls with tension headaches (29 of them were lean and 13 were overweight or obese). All patients had a brain MRI scan with gadolinium contrast as well as an assessment of the presence of oligoclonal bands in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and estimation of the CSF IgG index.

Vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP) and pituitary adenylate cyclase activating polypeptide (PACAP) in humans with multiple sclerosis.

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic neuroinflammatory disease of the central nervous system that leads to demyelination and neurodegeneration. VIP and PACAP are structurally related neuropeptides with neuroprotective and anti-inflammatory activities. To evaluate VIP and PACAP-38 in plasma and CSF in humans in correlation with IL-6, IL-10 and TNFα, we compared 20 MS individuals with 27 healthy controls.

Plasma NPY concentrations in women with acute ischemic stroke.

Objective: It has been reported that plasma NPY levels were increased in obesity, type 2 diabetes mellitus and hypertension. The symptoms of metabolic syndrome frequently appear in patients with acute ischemic stroke. The association between plasma NPY levels and metabolic markers in women with acute ischemic stroke was investigated in the current study.

Assessment of adiponectin and its isoforms in Polish centenarians.

Background: The physiological mechanisms that promote longevity remain unclear. It has been suggested that insulin sensitivity is preserved in centenarians, whereas typical aging is accompanied by increasing insulin resistance. The oldest-old individuals display raised total adiponectin levels, despite the potential correlation between enhanced adiponectin and all-cause and cardiovascular mortality.

Resistin levels in women with ischemic stroke.

Objectives: Resistin may be an independent inflammatory marker of atherosclerosis. Therefore, its circulating level might be important prognostic factor of cardiovascular disease in humans. We aimed in this study to assess plasma resistin concentration in Polish women with acute ischemic stroke, who additionally suffer from chronic diseases: diabetes, hypertension and/or obesity.

Identification of a late onset Alzheimer's disease candidate risk variant at 9q21.33 in Polish patients.

Late onset Alzheimer's disease (LOAD) accounts for about 95% of all Alzheimer's disease cases. While the APOE ε4 variant seems to have unparalleled influence on increased LOAD risk, it does not explain all of the heritability of LOAD. In this study, we present the application of a cost-effective, pooled DNA genome-wide association study (GWAS) to uncover genetic risk variants associated with LOAD in Polish women diagnosed with either mild cognitive impairment (MCI) or well-defined LOAD.

The evaluation of estradiol and leptin action on the activity of the somatotropic and gonadotropic axes in peripubertal female rats.

Objective: Available data suggest that estrogens and leptin play a role in the control of the pubertal process. In humans and some mammal species the increase of the activity of gonadotropic axis accompanies the decrease in the rate of growth at puberty. The effect of 17β-estradiol and/or leptin administration on the somatotropic and gonadotropic axes was studied using prepubertal female rats as an animal model.

Do novel adipokines play a causative or only modulating role in the pathogenesis of obesity and metabolic disorders?

Adipose tissue is an endocrine and paracrine organ that releases a large number of bioactive mediators. Approximately 100 adipokines have been identified including cytokines, chemokines, growth factors and enzymes. The use of adipoproteomic analyses resulted in new findings and, in consequence, the number of new adipokines is rising rapidly.

Evaluation of orexin A activity on LH and FSH release from primary culture pituitary cells in immature and mature female rats.

Objectives: Orexin A (OxA) is a regulatory neuropeptide which is involved in the control of various autonomic and neuroendocrine functions. It regulates sleep-wake cycle, food intake and modulates the hypothalamic and pituitary hormones secretion. Orexin A acts through two types of receptors, which proved to exist in the pituitary.

Decreased total serum adiponectin and its isoforms in women with acute ischemic stroke.

Objective: An association between cerebral infarct risk factors and serum adiponectin levels (both total and separate isoforms) has previously been identified. The aim of this study was to assess circulating levels of all forms of adiponectin in the course of an ischemic stroke.

Material And Methods: Adiponectin and its isoforms (HMW, MMW and LMW) were measured in serum samples taken from 38 women in the first 24 hours of cerebral infarct and 38 controls matched for gender, body mass index (BMI) and age.

The influence of cocaine-amphetamine regulated transcript (CART) on pituitary hormones, corticosterone and leptin levels in starved rats.

Objective: CART is involved in the control of food intake and hormonal secretion. We aimed to evaluate the effects of CART on hormonal profile in starved rats.

Methods: Study group included 100 male rats.

Adipokines and genetic factors in overweight or obese but metabolically healthy Polish women.

Objective: Obesity may be accompanied by enhanced metabolic disturbances but not all obese patients suffer from metabolic syndrome. Since metabolic homeostasis is under control of genetic factors underlying expression of adipokines, we aimed to compare the serum concentrations of adiponectin and resistin, and polymorphism in their genes, in overweight or obese Polish women.

Material And Methods: The study included 265 women with BMI above 25 kg/m2 (140 metabolically healthy and 125 with metabolic syndrome) and 104 non-obese women as a control group.

Adiponectin - a predictor of higher mortality in cardiovascular disease or a factor contributing to longer life?

Adiponectin, a protein secreted by adipocytes, has been recently found to be also secreted by cardiomyocytes. Adiponectin possesses several physiological functions including modulation of glucose metabolism and energy homeostasis. The interactions between adiponectin and metabolic parameters were found.

Bombesin modulates the control of energy homeostasis and pituitary hormone release.

Bombesin and related peptides are widely distributed in gastrointestinal tract and central nervous system. It has been reported that they play an important role in the control of appetite, metabolism, sensory transmission and thermoregulation as well as in the regulation of pituitary hormone release. Central injection of these peptides leads to inhibition of feeding.

Involvement of the cocaine-amphetamine regulated transcript peptide (CART 55-102) in the modulation of rat immune cell activity.

Objective: Cocaine-amphetamine regulated transcript peptides (CART) belong to a neuropeptide family expressed in the central nervous system, especially in the hypothalamus, and also in peripheral tissues. The physiological functions of CART include modulation of pituitary hormone release, regulation of body weight, and the control of feeding behavior and metabolic activity. The reciprocal relationships between CART and immune system function have to be established.