Beneficial effects of a new probiotic formulation on adipocytokines, appetite-regulating hormones, and metabolic parameters in obese women.

Obesity is often accompanied by low-grade chronic inflammation and metabolic syndrome. It has been established that microbiota influences many physiological processes, including the development of obesity, and dysbiosis has been observed in obese individuals. In this study, we aimed to evaluate the impact of a new probiotic formulation, containing two probiotic strains and the bioactive compound octacosanol, on body weight, metabolic parameters, and concentrations of certain adipocytokines and appetite-regulating hormones in obese women.

Epigenetic Aspects of a New Probiotic Concept-A Pilot Study.

Several studies report the important role of an altered gut microbiota in the development of obesity, highlighting the potential use of probiotics in the treatment of obesity. The aim of this study is to investigate the effect of a novel probiotic approach on the expression of specific miRNAs and mRNAs associated with obesity in combination with the hypocholesterolemic octacosanol. Twenty overweight/obese women participated in a randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind study and were randomly divided into two groups: the intervention group (daily one capsule containing 299v (DSM9843), var.

Direct comparison two fixed-ratio combination glucagon-like peptide receptor agonist and basal insulin on glycemic and non glycemic parameters in type 2 diabetes.

Background: Two types of fixed-ratio combinations of basal insulin and a glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonist (GLP-1RA) have been approved for use in type 2 diabetes. One is insulin degludec/liraglutide (iDergLira), and the other is insulin glargine/lixisenatide (iGlarLixi). Direct comparisons between these two combination is not available.

Age, Body Mass Index, and Waist-to-Hip Ratio Related Changes in Insulin Secretion and Insulin Sensitivity in Women with Polycystic Ovary Syndrome: Minimal Model Analyses.

Insulin resistance is believed to be an integral component of the polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). Beta () cell dysfunction is also found in PCOS. In the study, we determined the influence of age, body mass index (BMI), and waist-to-hip ratio (WHR) on insulin response to oral glucose load (OGTT) and on insulin sensitivity (Si) and -cell function in young women with PCOS.

Correlation between PAI-1, leptin and ferritin with HOMA in HIV/AIDS patients.

Background: Data about correlation of interleukins (IL-1 α, IL-1 β, IFN γ, IL-2, IL-4, IL-6, IL-8, IL-10), adipocytokines (leptin, adiponectin, monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1), resistin, plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1), tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNFα), ferritin, C reactive protein (CRP) and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) with homeostasis model assessment (HOMA) in HIV/AIDS patients are still limited. Therefore the aim of this study was to evaluate the possible correlations of serum levels of PAI-1, leptin and ferritin with HOMA in HIV/AIDS patients treated with combined antiretroviral therapy (cART).

Methods: This cross-sectional study included 64 HIV/AIDS patients, all Caucasians, receiving cART at the HIV/AIDS Centre, Belgrade, Serbia.

Homocysteine is the confounding factor of metabolic syndrome-confirmed by siMS score.

Background: Abdominal adiposity has a central role in developing insulin resistance (IR) by releasing pro-inflammatory cytokines. Patients with metabolic syndrome (MS) have higher values of homocysteine. Hyperhomocysteinemia correlates with IR, increasing the oxidative stress.

Downregulation of autophagy gene expression in endometria from women with polycystic ovary syndrome.

Autophagy, a process of controlled cellular self-digestion, could be involved in cyclic remodeling of the human endometrium. We investigated endometrial mRNA expression of 23 autophagy-related (ATG) genes and transcription factors in healthy controls (n = 12) and anovulatory polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) patients (n = 24), as well as in their subgroup (n = 12) before and after metformin treatment. The mRNA levels of transcription factor forkhead box protein O1 (FOXO1) and several molecules involved in autophagosome formation (ATG13, RB1-inducible coiled-coil 1), autophagosome nucleation (ATG14, beclin 1, SH3-domain GRB2-like endophilin B1), autophagosome elongation (ATG3, ATG5, γ-aminobutyric acid receptor-associated protein - GABARAP), and delivery of ubiquitinated proteins to autophagosomes (sequestosome 1), were significantly reduced in anovulatory PCOS compared to healthy endometrium.

Homocysteine is a marker for metabolic syndrome and atherosclerosis.

Background: It has been documented that patients with metabolic syndrome (MS) and vascular complications have higher homocysteine levels. Hyperhomocysteinemia correlates with IR, increasing oxidative stress, which causes lesions of vascular endothelium leading to endothelial dysfunction, hypertension and atherosclerosis.

Objective: The objectives of the study were to examine homocysteine values, along with cardiovascular risk factors (lipid and apolipoprotein status, CRP, blood pressure), indicators of renal function (microalbuminuria/24h), glucose regulation and insulin resistance (glucose and insulin level, HbA1c, HOMA-IR, uric acid) and anthropometric parameters (BMI, WC, HC, WHR) in patients with and without MS as a correlation between homocysteine and MS factors.

Ectopic calcitonin secretion in a woman with large cell neuroendocrine lung carcinoma.

Objective: Serum calcitonin (CT) is a sensitive but not specific marker for medullary thyroid carcinoma (MTC). There are a large number of conditions that may elevate CT levels.

Case Report: Herein we present the case of a 47-year old woman with Hashimoto thyroiditis, goiter, cervical lymphadenopathy and high CT and CEA levels.

Therapeutic improvement of glucoregulation in newly diagnosed type 2 diabetes patients is associated with a reduction of IL-17 levels.

We explored the effect of therapeutic glucoregulation on the blood levels of proinflammatory T helper (Th)17 cytokines interleukin (IL)-17 and IL-23, and Th1 cytokines interferon (IFN)-γ and IL-12 in newly diagnosed type 2 diabetes patients. The investigated group consisted of 23 subjects (17 men and 6 women, age 26-64). The cytokine serum levels, glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) as a marker of glucoregulation, homeostasis model assessment index as a measure of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR), and body mass index (BMI) were determined before and after 12 weeks of therapy consisting of standard lifestyle modification and metformin (1000 mg b.

Intracerebroventricular administration of metformin inhibits ghrelin-induced Hypothalamic AMP-kinase signalling and food intake.

Background/aims: The antihyperglycaemic drug metformin reduces food consumption through mechanisms that are not fully elucidated. The present study investigated the effects of intracerebroventricular administration of metformin on food intake and hypothalamic appetite-regulating signalling pathways induced by the orexigenic peptide ghrelin.

Methods: Rats were injected intracerebroventricularly with ghrelin (5 µg), metformin (50, 100 or 200 µg), 5-amino-imidazole-4-carboxamide 1-β-D-ribofuranoside (AICAR, 25 µg) and L-leucine (1 µg) in different combinations.

[Sleep and metabolic disorders].

In the 20th century, the prevalence of obesity has been increasing worldwide at an alarming rate and it is followed by an increase in the diseases for which obesity is major risk factor, like metabolic syndrome, diabetes type 2 and hypertension. These facts has been resulting in explosion of investigation devoted to explanation of pathogenetic mechanisms of this serious social and medical problems with the main idea to find adequate way of prevention as well as of treatment. Together with the observed epidemy of obesity and Type 2 diabetes, it was found parallel tendency for sleep curtailment, that was confirmed in numerous epidemiological studies, that coincide with its beginning and progress with this two epidemies.

The effects of education with printed material on glycemic control in patients with diabetes type 2 treated with different therapeutic regimens.

Background/aim: Diabetes mellitus (DM) is considered to be an epidemic, chronic and progressive disease. The treatment of DM reqiures substantial effort from both the diabetes treatment team and a patient. Patient education is one of the treatment elements.

Immunomodulatory actions of central ghrelin in diet-induced energy imbalance.

We investigated the effects of centrally administered orexigenic hormone ghrelin on energy imbalance-induced inflammation. Rats were subjected for four weeks to three different dietary regimes: normal (standard food), high-fat (standard food with 30% lard) or food-restricted (70%, 50%, 40% and 40% of the expected food intake in 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4th week, respectively). Compared to normal-weight controls, starved, but not obese rats had significantly higher levels of proinflammatory cytokines (TNF, IL-1β, IFN-γ) in the blood.

Inhibition of AMPK-dependent autophagy enhances in vitro antiglioma effect of simvastatin.

The role of autophagy, a process in which the cell self-digests its own components, was investigated in glioma cell death induced by the hydroxymethylglutaryl-coenzyme A (HMG-CoA) reductase-inhibiting drug simvastatin. Induction of autophagy and activation of autophagy-regulating signalling pathways were analyzed by immunoblotting. Flow cytometry/fluorescent microscopy was used to assess autophagy-associated intracellular acidification and apoptotic markers (phosphatidylserine exposure, DNA fragmentation and caspase activation).

In vitro and in vivo anti-melanoma action of metformin.

The in vitro and in vivo anti-melanoma effect of antidiabetic drug metformin was investigated using B16 mouse melanoma cell line. Metformin caused a G(2)/M cell cycle arrest associated with apoptotic death of melanoma cells, as confirmed by the flow cytometric analysis of cell cycle/DNA fragmentation, phosphatidylserine exposure and caspase activation. Metformin-mediated apoptosis of melanoma cells was preceded by induction of oxidative stress and mitochondrial membrane depolarization, measured by flow cytometry in cells stained with appropriate fluorescent reporter dyes.

[Adipokines and lipids].

Insulin resistance, hyperleptinaemia and low plasma levels of adiponectin are also widely related to features of the MS. The functional capacity of the adipose tissue varies among subjects explaining the incomplete overlapping among the metabolic syndrome and obesity. Far turnover is determined by a complex equilibrium in which insulin is a main factor but not the only one.

AMP-activated protein kinase-dependent and -independent mechanisms underlying in vitro antiglioma action of compound C.

We investigated the effect of compound C, a well-known inhibitor of the intracellular energy sensor AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK), on proliferation and viability of human U251 and rat C6 glioma cell lines. Compound C caused G(2)/M cell cycle block, accompanied by apoptotic glioma cell death characterized by caspase activation, phosphatidylserine exposure and DNA fragmentation. The mechanisms underlying the pro-apoptotic action of compound C involved induction of oxidative stress and downregulation of antiapoptotic molecule Bcl-2, while no alteration of pro-apoptotic Bax was observed.

Pitfalls in diagnosing a small cystic insulinoma: a case report.

Insulinoma is a rare pancreatic endocrine tumour and is typically sporadic and solitary. Over 90% of all insulinomas are benign. Cystic insulinomas are also rare.

Ghrelin and the enteroinsular axis in healthy men.

Objective: Ghrelin, a potent stimulator of GH secretion, also acts as an orexigenic hormone. Plasma ghrelin levels rise before meals with postprandial reduction, suggesting that circulating levels of enteroinsular hormones might influence ghrelin secretion.

Aim: The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of ghrelin on enteroinsular hormones in healthy men.

Low leptin level in an obese hyperandrogenic woman--potential marker for androgen-secreting tumor.

Hyperandrogenism in postmenopausal women is due to ovarian hyperthecosis or an androgen-secreting ovarian/adrenal tumor. Making the correct diagnosis might be complicated due to the possible existence of an adrenal neoplasm secreting testosterone only, ectopic ovarian tissue or ectopic luteinizing hormone/human chorionic gonadotropin receptors in the adrenals, as well as the relatively low sensitivity of imaging techniques (computed tomography, magnetic resonance imaging) and vein catheterization for this type of pathology. We present the case of an obese postmenopausal woman with metabolic syndrome, hyperandrogenism (high testosterone levels, suppressed gonadotropins), adrenal macronodular hyperplasia and Leydig-cell ovarian tumor.

[Use of continuous subcutaneous insulin infusion by a portable insulin pump during pregnancy in women with type 1 diabetes mellitus].

Background/aim: Diabetes mellitus is associated with an increased risk for neonatal morbidity and mortality. One of the most important goals in treating pregnancies complicated with diabetes is keeping glucose level within the normal range, especially in the first trimester. A portable insulin pump for continuous subcutaneous insulin infusion (CSII) represents the best form of therapy for patients with type 1 diabetes mellitus during pregnancy.

Prolonged psychological stress suppresses cortisol secretion.

Objective: Response to acute psychological stress is characterized by activation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis and the sympathetic nervous system. However, response to the prolonged psychological stress is less well known.

Design: This study was designed as a prospective assessment of cortisol secretion during prolonged psychological stress induced by continuous air raids and after elimination of the stress-inducing factor.

Growth hormone response to GHRH + GHRP-6 in type 2 diabetes during euglycemic and hyperglycemic clamp.

The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of two different glucose levels on GH response to the combined administration of GHRH+GHRP-6 in patients with type 2 diabetes. GH response to i.v.

Ghrelin-induced GH secretion in normal subjects is partially resistant to homologous desensitization by GH-releasing peptide-6.

Objective: GH secretagogues and GH-releasing hormone (GHRH) exert a complex cross-talk at the somatotrope cell, and undertake homologous and heterologous desensitization. On the other hand, the discovery of ghrelin as a new factor implicated in the regulation of GH secretion makes a thorough assessment of its properties and cell biology processes mandatory. In order to implement this, three different testing schedules were devised using the administration, on the same day, of two GH stimuli administered in sequential order 120 min apart.