[Diseases caused by mitochondrial dysfunction].

The morphological description of mitochondria has been known for nearly two hundred years. Mitochondria are found in all human cells, and a thorough understanding of their function in healthy and pathological conditions was a slow progress. In recent decades, the understanding of this extensive network has accelerated, both in the theoretical field and in clinical practice.

[Role of endocrinological factors and metabolic processes in regulating life-span].

Összefoglaló. Az emberek a lehető leghosszabb ideig akarnak élni, jó egészségben. Ha kiküszöbölnénk a kedvezőtlen külső körülményeket, a várható élettartam meghaladhatná a 100 évet.

[The physiological role of growth hormone and insulin-like growth factors].

The existence of insulin-like growth factors (IGFs) was recognized in connection with the stimulation of sulfate incorporation into cartilage. IGFs take part in the embryonal development and postnatal growth, in interaction with the growth hormone (GH). The physiological effects of IGF1 are promotion of tissue growth and development, stimulation of cell proliferation, effects on lipid and carbohydrate metabolism, anti-aging, anti-inflammatory, anabolic, anti-oxidant, neuro- and hepatoprotective properties.

[Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, as a component of the metabolic syndrome, and its causal correlations with other extrahepatic diseases].

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease is the most common non-infectious chronic liver-disease in our age, and is a spectrum of all the diseases associated with increased fat accumulation in the hepatocytes. Its development is promoted by sedentary life-style, over-feeding, and certain genetic predisposition. Prevalence in the adult population, even in Hungary is ~30%.

[Alzheimer's disease and diabetes - the common pathogenesis].

Epidemiological studies presented evidence that Alzheimer's disease and type 2 diabetes share common features in their pathophysiology and clinical patterns. Insulin resistance is a characteristic feature of both diseases. According to the pathomechanism, inflammatory, metabolic, and an atypical form based on the deficiency of zinc ions can be distinguished.

[Physiological patterns of intestinal microbiota. The role of dysbacteriosis in obesity, insulin resistance, diabetes and metabolic syndrome].

The intestinal microbiota is well-known for a long time, but due to newly recognized functions, clinician's attention has turned to it again in the last decade. About 100 000 billion bacteria are present in the human intestines. The composition of bacteriota living in diverse parts of the intestinal tract is variable according to age, body weight, geological site, and diet as well.

[The secretory function of skeletal muscles and its role in energy metabolism and utilization].

It is well-known for a long-time, that intensive exercise is favourable for many metabolic parameters. Up-till now the exact mechanism has not been clarified. Recently it has turned out, that the muscular system is an extended endocrine organ, which, during contraction, secretes many hundred peptides, so called adipomyokines into the blood stream.

[Physiological and pathophysiological role of the circadian clock system].

It has been well known for ages that in living organisms the rhythmicity of biological processes is linked to the ~ 24-hour light-dark cycle. However, the exact function of the circadian clock system has been explored only in the past decades. It came to light that the photosensitive primary "master clock" is situated in the suprachiasmatic photosensitive nuclei of the special hypothalamic region, and that it is working according to ~24-hour changes of light and darkness.

[Role of the brain in the regulation of metabolism and energy expenditure: the central role of insulin, and insulin resistance of the brain].

Regulatory role of the brain in energy expenditure, appetite, glucose metabolism, and central effects of insulin has been prominently studied. Certain neurons in the hypothalamus increase or decrease appetite via orexigenes and anorexigenes, regulating energy balance and food intake. Hypothalamus is the site of afferent and efferent stimuli between special nuclei and beta- and alpha cells, and it regulates induction/inhibition of glucose output from the liver.

[The metabolic syndrome and type-2 diabetes mellitus as conditions predisposing for malignant tumors].

Recently more and more evidences have emerged about the oncogenic effect of type 2 diabetes and metabolic syndrome. Among these evidences epidemiological data are in first line. There is a causal relationship according to gender, ethnicity and geographic situation between different tumors and type 2 diabetes/metabolic syndrome as well.

Tesaglitazar, a dual peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor alpha/gamma agonist, improves apolipoprotein levels in non-diabetic subjects with insulin resistance.

Aim: To determine the effects of the peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR) alpha/gamma agonist tesaglitazar on serum levels of apolipoprotein (apo) A-I, apoB, and apoCIII in non-diabetic insulin-resistant subjects.

Methods: This randomized, double-blind, multicentre, placebo-controlled trial examined the effect of tesaglitazar (0.1, 0.

[Current issues in the therapy of diabetes mellitus].

Up-to-date therapy and patient care in diabetes started with reliable measuring of endogenous insulin in blood. In the past decades, extensive epidemiologic studies proved, that long lasting normoglycemia inhibits the development of chronic diabetic complications. It became also clear, that continuous normotension, and normal lipid values have equal protective effect.

[New diagnostic and classification system in diabetic syndrome].

Diabetes mellitus is a heterogeneous disorder. Evidence for heterogeneity is based on measuring endogenous insulin level since some forty years ago. Insulin is lacking at the time of diagnosis in most patients, whose disease started rapidly, with classical symptoms, and who are mainly children, adolescents or young adults.