Differential Effects of Oral and Intravenous Lipid Administration on Key Molecules Related to Energy Homeostasis.

Context: The spectrum of lipid-induced changes in the secretion of hormones important in energy homeostasis has not yet been fully elucidated.

Objective: To identify potential incretin-like effects in response to lipid administration, we examined the short-term effect of iv vs oral lipids on key molecules regulating energy homeostasis. Design, Intervention, and Participants: After a 10-hour overnight fast, 26 subjects were randomized to receive an oral lipid load, a 10% iv lipid emulsion, a 20% iv lipid emulsion, or an iv saline infusion.

Irisin mRNA and circulating levels in relation to other myokines in healthy and morbidly obese humans.

Objective: Skeletal muscle is considered to be an endocrine organ that secretes a number of myokines including follistatin (FST), myostatin (MSTN), activin A, and the newly identified irisin. Irisin's biology and function exhibit similarities with the functions of the FST-MSTN-activin A axis. It remains unknown whether there is any interplay among these molecules.

Metformin and sulfonylureas in relation to cancer risk in type II diabetes patients: a meta-analysis using primary data of published studies.

Introduction: Accumulating evidence suggests that patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and hyperinsulinemia are at increased risk for developing malignancies. It remains to be fully elucidated whether use of metformin, an insulin sensitizer, and/or sulfonylureas, insulin secretagogues, affect cancer incidence in subjects with T2DM.

Material & Methods: We performed a meta-analysis using PubMed, of randomized control trials (RCTs), cohorts, and case-control studies published through July 2012 that assess effects of metformin and/or sulfonylurea sulfonylureas on cancer risk at any site, in subjects with T2DM.

FNDC5 and irisin in humans: I. Predictors of circulating concentrations in serum and plasma and II. mRNA expression and circulating concentrations in response to weight loss and exercise.

Objective: In mouse, PGC1-α overexpression in muscle stimulates an increase in expression of FNDC5, a membrane protein that is cleaved and secreted as a newly identified hormone, irisin. One prior study has shown that FNDC5 induces browning of subcutaneous fat in mice and mediates beneficial effects of exercise on metabolism, but a more recent study using gene expression arrays failed to detect a robust increase in FNDC5 mRNA in human muscles from exercising subjects. No prior study has reported on the physiological regulation and role of circulating irisin and FNDC5 in humans.

Short-term walnut consumption increases circulating total adiponectin and apolipoprotein A concentrations, but does not affect markers of inflammation or vascular injury in obese humans with the metabolic syndrome: data from a double-blinded, randomized, placebo-controlled study.

Long-term consumption of walnuts is associated with lower cardiovascular disease risk in epidemiological studies, possibly through improvements in lipid profile and endothelial function. It remains to be elucidated how soon after initiation of walnut consumption beneficial effects on lipid profile and biomarkers of inflammation or vascular injury can be observed. Fifteen obese subjects (9 men and 6 women; age, 58 ± 2.

Circulating clusterin (apolipoprotein J) levels do not have any day/night variability and are positively associated with total and LDL cholesterol levels in young healthy individuals.

Context: Clusterin has been associated with several pathologies, including cardiovascular disease and neoplasias. However, little is known about its physiology and its association with metabolic and anthropometric parameters in humans.

Objective: The aim of the study was to examine whether circulating clusterin levels exhibit a day/night variation pattern and whether clusterin is associated with anthropometric and metabolic parameters.

Energy deprivation alters in a leptin- and cortisol-independent manner circulating levels of activin A and follistatin but not myostatin in healthy males.

Context: Activin A, myostatin, and follistatin have recently emerged as important regulatory molecules of reproduction and the musculoskeletal system. Little is known, however, about their day/night patterns of secretion and their physiological regulation by energy availability.

Objective: The objective of the study was to explore day/night patterns of secretion and assess whether energy deprivation alters circulating levels of activin A, myostatin, follistatin, and cortisol and to examine whether leptin may mediate this effect.