Long-Term Cold Adaptation Does Not Require FGF21 or UCP1.

Brown adipose tissue (BAT)-dependent thermogenesis and its suggested augmenting hormone, FGF21, are potential therapeutic targets in current obesity and diabetes research. Here, we studied the role of UCP1 and FGF21 for metabolic homeostasis in the cold and dissected underlying molecular mechanisms using UCP1-FGF21 double-knockout mice. We report that neither UCP1 nor FGF21, nor even compensatory increases of FGF21 serum levels in UCP1 knockout mice, are required for defense of body temperature or for maintenance of energy metabolism and body weight.

Body and liver fat content and adipokines in schizophrenia: a magnetic resonance imaging and spectroscopy study.

Rationale: Although antipsychotic treatment often causes weight gain and lipid abnormalities, quantitative analyses of tissue-specific body fat content and its distribution along with adipokines have not been reported for antipsychotic-treated patients.

Objectives: The purposes of the present study were to quantitatively assess abdominal and liver fat in patients with schizophrenia on antipsychotic treatment and age- and body mass index (BMI)-matched healthy controls and to evaluate their associations with plasma leptin and adiponectin levels.

Methods: In 13 schizophrenia patients on antipsychotic treatment and 11 age- and BMI-matched controls, we simultaneously quantified visceral and subcutaneous fat content using T1-weighted magnetic resonance imaging and liver fat content by H magnetic resonance spectroscopy.

Comparing reliabilities of strip and conventional patch testing.

Background: The standardized protocol for performing the strip patch test has proven to be valid, but evidence on its reliability is still missing.

Objective: To estimate the parallel-test reliability of the strip patch test as compared with the conventional patch test.

Methods: In this multicentre, prospective, randomized, investigator-blinded reliability study, 132 subjects were enrolled.

Time-to-event methodology improved statistical evaluation in register-based health services research.

Objectives: Complex longitudinal sampling and the observational structure of patient registers in health services research are associated with methodological challenges regarding data management and statistical evaluation. We exemplify common pitfalls and want to stimulate discussions on the design, development, and deployment of future longitudinal patient registers and register-based studies.

Study Design And Setting: For illustrative purposes, we use data from the prospective, observational, German DIabetes Versorgungs-Evaluation register.

Deep subcutaneous adipose tissue lipid unsaturation associates with intramyocellular lipid content.

Background: Obese twins have lower saturated and higher long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (FA) in subcutaneous adipose tissue (SAT) compared to their lean monozygotic (MZ) co-twin. Whether this holds for metabolically distinct deep (DSAT) and superficial (SSAT) depots is unknown. Here we use non-invasive magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) to measure the FA unsaturation in body mass index (BMI) discordant MZ twins in DSAT and SSAT and their relationship to ectopic fat content and body fat distribution.

Drug-based pain management in people with dementia after hip or pelvic fractures: a systematic review protocol.

Background: Studies show that people with dementia do not receive the same amount of analgesia after a hip or pelvic fracture compared to those without cognitive impairment. However, there is no systematic review that shows to what extent and how drug-based pain management is performed for people with dementia following a hip or pelvic fracture. The aim of this systematic review is to identify studies addressing drug-based pain management for people with dementia who have had a hip or pelvic fracture for which they had either an operation or conservative treatment.

Exciting Times for Pancreatic Islets: Glutamate Signaling in Endocrine Cells.

Glutamate represents a key excitatory neurotransmitter in the central nervous system, and also modulates the function and viability of endocrine cells in pancreatic islets. In insulin-secreting beta cells, glutamate acts as an intracellular messenger, and its transport into secretory granules promotes glucose- and incretin-stimulated insulin secretion. Mitochondrial degradation of glutamate also contributes to insulin release when glutamate dehydrogenase is allosterically activated.

Exercise and Regulation of Adipokine and Myokine Production.

Skeletal muscle and white adipose tissue are the largest organs in the human body and both tissues act as endocrine organs capable of secreting many bioactive molecules. There has been some confusion about nomenclature and we suggest that the name myokine should be restricted to a protein or molecule secreted from myocytes, whereas the term adipokine should be used to describe proteins and molecules secreted from adipocytes. In fact, many myokines are also produced by adipocytes and we propose to name them adipo-myokines.

Novel Mediators of Adipose Tissue and Muscle Crosstalk.

The crosstalk between adipose tissue and skeletal muscle has gained considerable interest, since this process, specifically in obesity, substantially drives the pathogenesis of muscle insulin resistance. In this review, we discuss novel concepts and targets of this bidirectional organ communication system. This includes adipo-myokines like apelin and FGF21, inflammasomes, autophagy, and microRNAs (miRNAs).

The exercise-regulated myokine chitinase-3-like protein 1 stimulates human myocyte proliferation.

Aim: Chitinase-3-like protein 1 (CHI3L1) is involved in tissue remodelling and inflammatory processes. Plasma levels are elevated in patients with insulin resistance and T2DM. We recently showed that CHI3L1 and its receptor protease-activated receptor 2 (PAR-2) are expressed in skeletal muscle.

Associations between calcium and vitamin D supplement use as well as their serum concentrations and subclinical cardiovascular disease phenotypes.

Background: Supplementation of calcium (Ca) and vitamin D for the prevention of osteoporosis is frequently found in Western countries. Recent re-analyses of clinical trials observed a higher risk of myocardial infarction and stroke in subjects taking Ca (+vitamin D) supplements, although the underlying mechanisms are not clear.

Objective: Thus, we analyzed the associations between Ca and vitamin D supplementation as well as serum concentrations of Ca and 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) and subclinical cardiovascular disease (CVD) phenotypes, namely intima-media thickness, ankle-brachial-index (ABI), intermittent claudication, and atrial fibrillation (AF).

Health behaviour in children and adolescents with type 1 diabetes compared to a representative reference population.

Objective: We provide a population-based overview of health behaviours of children and adolescents with type 1 diabetes in comparison to the general population, and analyse their relevance for glycaemic control and self-rated health status.

Methods: Data from questionnaires of 11- to 17-year-old children and adolescents with diabetes (n = 629) were compared to a representative sample (n = 6,813).

Results: Children and adolescents with type 1 diabetes had a significantly increased odds of infrequent physical activity (adjusted OR 1.

Mental health problems among adolescents with early-onset and long-duration type 1 diabetes and their association with quality of life: a population-based survey.

Objective: To evaluate mental health problems and associations between mental health problems and health-related quality of life in adolescents with type 1 diabetes in comparison with the general population.

Method: A total of 629 11- to 17-year-olds with early-onset and long-lasting type 1 diabetes and their parents completed comprehensive questionnaires. Mental health was assessed using the parent- and self-report versions of the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ).

Carbohydrate intake in relation to BMI, HbA1c and lipid profile in children and adolescents with type 1 diabetes.

Background & Aims: To compare reported and recommended carbohydrate intake in children and adolescents with type 1 diabetes (T1D) and to explore associations with BMI, HbA1c and lipid profile.

Methods: A cross-sectional observational study of reported carbohydrate intake in 46,010 patients with T1D aged 1-18 years from 332 diabetes centres in Germany and Austria in comparison to age-matched healthy children and adolescents.

Results: The median reported carbohydrate intake in T1D patients was markedly lower than in healthy children.

Calcineurin/NFATc signaling: role in postnatal β cell development and diabetes mellitus.

Pancreatic islets are aggregates of endocrine cells required for blood glucose control and diabetes prevention after birth. In this issue of Developmental Cell, Goodyer et al. (2012) reveal a function of calcineurin, a calcium-activated serine/threonine phosphatase, in postnatal NFATc-regulated expression of genes that help β cells to form insulin-containing vesicles and enter the cell cycle.