Evidence for a novel serum factor distinct from zinc alpha-2 glycoprotein that promotes body fat loss early in the development of cachexia.

We provide evidence that a factor other than the previously identified lipid mobilizing factor, zinc alpha-2 glycoprotein, promotes lipolysis in the MCA-induced sarcoma-bearing cachexia model. Cachexia is characterized by progressive loss of adipose tissue and skeletal muscle without a concurrent increase in food intake to restore lost tissue stores. We compared tumor-bearing ad lib fed (TB) animals to nontumor bearing ad lib fed (NTB) animals or nontumor-bearing pair-fed (PF) animals at various time points throughout development of tumor derived cachexia.

Hormonal responses to a fast-food meal compared with nutritionally comparable meals of different composition.

Background: Fast food is consumed in large quantities each day. Whether there are differences in the acute metabolic response to these meals as compared to 'healthy' meals with similar composition is unknown.

Design: Three-way crossover.

AgRP-deficiency could lead to increased lifespan.

The Agouti-related protein (AgRP) is a central orexigenic peptide leading to increased food intake when ubiquitously overexpressed. AgRP-deficient (AgRP(-/-)) mice have either no phenotype or present an age-related leanness. In this study, AgRP(-/-) mice were fed alternate high fat or low fat diets in an effort to determine whether AgRP is a mediating factor for the effects of dietary fat on metabolic parameters.

A primary care weight management intervention for low-income African-American women.

Objective: To determine whether a tailored weight management program, addressing the needs of obese, low-income African-American women, would produce greater weight loss than standard medical care.

Research Methods And Procedures: A randomized, controlled trial was conducted between 1999 and 2003 with 144 overweight or obese women (predominantly African-American) enrolled at two primary care clinics. Four physicians at each clinic were randomly assigned to provide either tailored weight management interventions or standard care.

Optimal design for model discrimination and parameter estimation for itraconazole population pharmacokinetics in cystic fibrosis patients.

Optimal sampling times are found for a study in which one of the primary purposes is to develop a model of the pharmacokinetics of itraconazole in patients with cystic fibrosis for both capsule and solution doses. The optimal design is expected to produce reliable estimates of population parameters for two different structural PK models. Data collected at these sampling times are also expected to provide the researchers with sufficient information to reasonably discriminate between the two competing structural models.