The release of GLP-1 from gut L cells is inhibited by low extracellular pH.

Objective: The intestinal luminal pH profile varies from stomach to rectum and becomes disrupted in diseases. However, little is known about the pH dependence of incretin hormone secretion, with most in vitro studies having failed to consider this modulatory factor or having used nonphysiological buffer systems. Here, we report the extracellular pH (pHe) dependence of glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) exocytosis from L cells.

Altered glycolysis triggers impaired mitochondrial metabolism and mTORC1 activation in diabetic β-cells.

Chronic hyperglycaemia causes a dramatic decrease in mitochondrial metabolism and insulin content in pancreatic β-cells. This underlies the progressive decline in β-cell function in diabetes. However, the molecular mechanisms by which hyperglycaemia produces these effects remain unresolved.

NMDA Receptor Antagonists Increase the Release of GLP-1 From Gut Endocrine Cells.

Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) remains one of the most pressing health issues facing modern society. Several antidiabetic drugs are currently in clinical use to treat hyperglycaemia, but there is a need for new treatments that effectively restore pancreatic islet function in patients. Recent studies reported that both murine and human pancreatic islets exhibit enhanced insulin release and β-cell viability in response to N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor antagonists.

Abcc5 Knockout Mice Have Lower Fat Mass and Increased Levels of Circulating GLP-1.

Objective: A previous genome-wide association study linked overexpression of an ATP-binding cassette transporter, ABCC5, in humans with a susceptibility to developing type 2 diabetes with age. Specifically, ABCC5 gene overexpression was shown to be strongly associated with increased visceral fat mass and reduced peripheral insulin sensitivity. Currently, the role of ABCC5 in diabetes and obesity is unknown.

A Ketone Ester Drink Lowers Human Ghrelin and Appetite.

Objective: The ketones d-β-hydroxybutyrate (BHB) and acetoacetate are elevated during prolonged fasting or during a "ketogenic" diet. Although weight loss on a ketogenic diet may be associated with decreased appetite and altered gut hormone levels, it is unknown whether such changes are caused by elevated blood ketones. This study investigated the effects of an exogenous ketone ester (KE) on appetite.

Epigenetic regulation in drug addiction.

The interaction between environmental signals and genes has now taken on a clear molecular form as demonstrated by stable changes in chromatin structure. These changes occur through activation or repression of specific gene programmes by a combination of chromatin remodelling, activation and enzymatic modification of DNA and histones as well as nucleosomal subunit exchange. Recent research investigating the molecular mechanisms controlling drug-induced transcriptional, behavioural and synaptic activity has shown a direct role for chromatin remodelling--termed as epigenetic regulation--of neuronal gene programmes and subsequent addictive behaviour arising from it.

[Nutrigenomics - perspectives of personalized nutrition].

Currently used dietary recommendations and requirements are generalized. It applies to both healthy and ailing individuals. These recommendations are meant to avert leading chronic illnesses such as: type 2 diabetes mellitus, obesity, hyperlipidemia, cardiovascular diseases and hypertension.

Legal highs - legal aspects and legislative solutions.

In recent years the attention of society, the media and politicians has focused on the negative phenomenon of the occurrence of an enormous amount of new psychoactive substances flooding the European market. In Poland and in Europe they are known under the name 'legal highs' or 'smart drugs'. In many countries these compounds present a serious social and health problem.

Biomonitoring and biomarkers of organophosphate pesticides exposure - state of the art.

Human biomonitoring provides an efficient and cost-effective way to identify and quantify exposure to chemical substances, including those having deleterious eff ects on human organisms. Once the risk of hazardous exposure has been identified and the mechanism of toxic eff ects has been elucidated, an ultimate decision about how to reduce exposure can be made. A particularly high risk of exposure to hazardous chemicals is associated with the use of pesticides in agriculture, especially the use of organophosphorous pesticides (OP), which are the most widely and commonly used insecticides worldwide.

Investigation of antiproliferative effect of ether and ethanol extracts of birch polypore medicinal mushroom, Piptoporus betulinus (Bull.:Fr.) P. Karst. (higher Basidiomycetes) in vitro grown mycelium.

This paper describes the study conducted to evaluate the antiproliferative activity of ether and ethanol extracts isolated from Piptoporus betulinus against cancer-derived cells. The fungal material used for extract preparation and further experiments was obtained from in vitro grown strains of P. betulinus.