Relationship between Ketones, Ghrelin, and, Appetite on Isocaloric Diets with Varying Carbohydrate Quality and Amount: Results from a Randomized Controlled Trial in People with Obesity (CARBFUNC).

Background: Low-carbohydrate high-fat (LCHF) diets may suppress the increase in appetite otherwise seen after diet-induced fat loss. However, studies of diets without severe energy restriction are lacking, and the effects of carbohydrate quality relative to quantity have not been directly compared.

Objectives: To evaluated short- (3 mo) and long-term (12 mo) changes in fasting plasma concentrations of total ghrelin, β-hydroxybutyrate (βHB), and subjective feelings of appetite on 3 isocaloric eating patterns within a moderate caloric range (2000-2500 kcal/d) and with varying carbohydrate quality or quantity.

Elevated serum S-100β in patients with septic shock is associated with delirium.

Background: A high prevalence of delirium is observed in sepsis, yet specific markers for this brain dysfunction in sedated patients are still lacking. Cytoplasmic low molecular weight calcium-binding protein, S-100β, is a commonly used nonspecific marker for brain injury. Here, we evaluated whether delirium is associated with increases in S-100β levels.

Retinal arterial blood flow and retinal changes in patients with sepsis: preliminary study using fluorescein angiography.

Background: Although tissue perfusion is often decreased in patients with sepsis, the relationship between macrohemodynamics and microcirculatory blood flow is poorly understood. We hypothesized that alterations in retinal blood flow visualized by angiography may be related to macrohemodynamics, inflammatory mediators, and retinal microcirculatory changes.

Methods: Retinal fluorescein angiography was performed twice during the first 5 days in the intensive care unit to observe retinal abnormalities in patients with sepsis.

Outpatient antibiotic use and the incidence of acute appendicitis in Finland: a nationwide study from 1990-2008.

Background: The incidence of acute appendicitis (AA) has decreased in Finland. We hypothesized that changing trends in outpatient antibiotic use might explain at least part of this declining incidence of AA.

Methods: The number of all patients with AA in Finland was extracted from the national data base from 1990 to 2008.

Differential activation of p42ERK2 and p125FAK by cholecystokinin and bombesin in the secretion and proliferation of the pancreatic amphicrine cell line AR42J.

Background: AR42J rat pancreatic acinar carcinoma cells have retained the potential to secrete digestive enzymes in addition to their ability to proliferate upon stimulation with regulatory peptides. We investigated the involvement of p42ERK2 and p125FAK (extracellular signal-regulated protein kinase and focal adhesion protein kinase, respectively) by cholecystokinin and bombesin stimulation with regard to secretion and mitogenesis.

Methods: The p42ERK2 activity was measured by kinase assay and the activation of p125FAK by antiphosphotyrosine Western blot analysis of p125FAK immunoprecipitates.

CCK-stimulated changes in pancreatic acinar morphology are mediated by rho.

Background/aims: Treatment of isolated pancreatic acini with high concentrations of cholecystokinin (CCK) is known to induce rapid changes in the cellular morphology. The signalling pathways remain to be characterized.

Methods: Pancreatic acini were permeabilized by digitonin and incubated with various agents.

Low-affinity CCK-1 receptors inhibit bombesin-stimulated secretion in rat pancreatic acini--implication of the actin cytoskeleton.

Experimental Objectives: Stimulation of low-affinity CCK-1 receptors on pancreatic acini leads to inhibition of enzyme secretion. We studied signal transduction mechanisms to identify potential causes for the reduced secretion.

Results: Co-stimulation experiments with CCK, CCK-JMV-180, and bombesin revealed an inhibition of bombesin-stimulated enzyme secretion by low-affinity CCK-1 receptors.