Pseudoislet Aggregation of Pancreatic β-Cells Improves Glucose Stimulated Insulin Secretion by Altering Glucose Metabolism and Increasing ATP Production.

Appropriate glucose-stimulated insulin secretion (GSIS) by pancreatic β-cells is an essential component of blood glucose homeostasis. Configuration of β-cells as 3D pseudoislets (PI) improves the GSIS response compared to 2D monolayer (ML) culture. The aim of this study was to determine the underlying mechanisms.

Reduced Expression of the Co-regulator TLE1 in Type 2 Diabetes Is Associated with Increased Islet α-Cell Number.

β-Cell dysfunction in type 2 diabetes (T2D) is associated with loss of cellular identity and mis-expression of alternative islet hormones, including glucagon. The molecular basis for these cellular changes has been attributed to dysregulation of core β-cell transcription factors, which regulate β-cell identity through activating and repressive mechanisms. The TLE1 gene lies near a T2D susceptibility locus and, recently, the glucagon repressive actions of this transcriptional coregulator have been demonstrated in vitro.

In Situ Analysis Reveals That CFTR Is Expressed in Only a Small Minority of β-Cells in Normal Adult Human Pancreas.

Context: Although diabetes affects 40% to 50% of adults with cystic fibrosis, remarkably little is known regarding the underlying mechanisms leading to impaired pancreatic β-cell insulin secretion. Efforts toward improving the functional β-cell deficit in cystic fibrosis-related diabetes (CFRD) have been hampered by an incomplete understanding of whether β-cell function is intrinsically regulated by cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR). Definitively excluding meaningful CFTR expression in human β-cells in situ would contribute significantly to the understanding of CFRD pathogenesis.

Complications related to entry techniques for laparoscopy in 159 dogs and cats.

Objective: To report the frequency and risk factors of complications related to 3 entry techniques for laparoscopy in small animals.

Study Design: Single-institution retrospective case series.

Animals: 159 client-owned dogs and cats.