Endocrine regulations最新文献

Objective. Studies that have evaluated correlation between body mass index (BMI) and novel lipid indices such as triglycerides (TG)/high-density lipoprotein-cholesterol (HDL-C), total cholesterol (TC)/HDL-C, and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C)/HDL-C in type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) are scarce. Hence, the aim of the present study was to explore the correlation between BMI and novel lipid indices in Bosnian patients with T2DM. Methods. Present study included 117 patients with T2DM (mean age: 66.51 years) and 68 controls (mean age: 68.37 years). BMI was calculated as weight/height². Lipids were measured by standard methods. TG/HDL-C, TC/HDL-C, and LDL-C/HDL-C ratios were separately calculated. The differences between the groups were assessed by Student's t-test or Man Whitney U test. Correlations were determined by Spearman's test. Results. In a total sample of T2DM patients, 41.0% were overweight and 44.4% were obese. In the control group, 51.5% of subjects were overweight and 25.0% were obese. In T2DM group, a significant correlation was observed between BMI and HDL-C, LDL-C, TG/HDL, TC/HDL-C, and LDL-C/HDL-C ratios. In the control group, there was a significant correlation found between BMI and HDL-C, TG, TG/HDL, TC/HDL-C, and LDL-C/HDL-C-ratios. Correlation between BMI and other lipid parameters in T2DM and the control group was not determined. Conclusion. The present study showed significant correlation between BMI and novel lipid indices in both T2DM patients and the control group of subjects. Possible explanation for the observed results might be prevalence of overweight and obese participants in this study sample. Since novel lipid indices are used in the prediction of cardiometabolic risk, results obtained in the present study have valuable clinical implications.

Objective. Genetic factors substantially contribute to the development and duration of arterial hypertension. The study of the A1166C polymorphism of the angiotensin II type 1 receptor gene (AGTR1) in arterial hypertension is an auspicious area for assessing the relationship between heredity, hypertension development, and adipokines, but it still remains debatable. The purpose of the current study was to investigate serum adipokines levels depending on the AGTR1 A1166C polymorphism. Methods. A total of 86 patients with arterial hypertension were examined, who underwent the evaluation of the allelic A1166C polymorphism of AGTR1 by polymerase chain reaction with electrophoretic detection and determination of serum adipokines levels using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Results. In the group of patients with arterial hypertension, a significant increase in serum adipokines (resistin, adiponectin, and leptin) levels was found against the background of a decrease in the antianorexic hormone ghrelin with a predominance of CC genotype carriers compared with AA genotype carriers of the AGTR1. A statistically significant decrease in ghrelin and an increase in serum adipokines (resistin, adiponectin, and leptin) in CC genotype carriers compared with AA genotype carriers of the AGTR1 were found suggesting that CC genotype carriers may be predictors of the development of arterial hypertension in our patients. Conclusions. Statistically significant decrease in ghrelin and increase in serum adipokines (resistin, adiponectin, and leptin) were found in CC genotype carriers compared with AA genotype carriers of the AGTR1, which suggests that carriers of the CC genotype are predictors of the arterial hypertension development in our patients.

Objective. The hormonal balance is dependent on the internal and external stimuli. The baseline cortisol (BC) and thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) levels have been observed to vary and have a predictive value in critical illness settings. Few reports have studied their variation in non-severe acute illness. The present study aims to describe the variation of BC and TSH levels and to determine the factors influencing BC and TSH levels in patients admitted with non-severe acute illness. Patients and Methods. This is a cross-sectional study of patients admitted to Infectious Diseases and Endocrinology units at the Department of Endocrinology-Diabetology and Internal Medicine at Tahar Sfar University Hospital between March 15th and September 15th, 2020. BC and TSH levels were obtained during the hospitalization. Results. A total of 143 patients were included in this study with 75 presenting with infection. All infections were community-acquired and predominantly non-severe. The BC levels were higher in patients with infection (p=0.004), especially those admitted via the emergency department (p=0.009) with a fever (p=0.015). The BC positively correlated with the temperature (p=0.002, r'=0.350), CRP levels (p=0.002, r'=0.355), neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio (p=0.045, r'=0.235), and SOFA score (p=0.023, r'=0.262). On the other hand, TSH levels were comparable in the presence of infection (p=0.400). TSH levels did not correlate with the fever, the severity of infection, or inflammation biomarkers. Both BC and TSH did not predict unfavorable outcomes in non-severe infected patients. Conclusion. In patients admitted with critical acute infections, the BC levels seem to indicate a relatively more severe infectious state. On the other hand, TSH levels did not show significant variations in these patients.

In preovulatory follicles, after the endogenous gonadotropin surge, the oocyte-cumulus complexes (OCCs) produce hyaluronan (HA) in a process called "cumulus expansion". During this process, the heavy chains (HCs) of the serum-derived inter-alpha-trypsin inhibitor (IαI) family bind covalently to synthesized HA and form a unique structure of the expanded cumulus HA-rich extracellular matrix. Understanding the biochemical mechanism of the covalent linkage between HA and the HCs of the IαI family is one of the most significant discoveries in reproductive biology, since it explains basis of the cumulus expansion process running in parallel with the oocyte maturation, both essential for ovulation. Two recent studies have supported the above-mentioned findings: in the first, seven components of the extracellular matrix were detected by proteomic, evolutionary, and experimental analyses, and in the second, the essential role of serum in the process of cumulus expansion in vitro was confirmed. We have previously demonstrated the formation of unique structure of the covalent linkage of HA to HCs of IαI in the expanded gonadotropin-stimulated OCC, as well as interactions with several proteins produced by the cumulus cells: tumor necrosis factor-alpha-induced protein 6, pentraxin 3, and versican. Importantly, deletion of these genes in the mice produces female infertility due to defects in the oocyte-cumulus structure.

Objective. Myocardial fibrosis is a devastating condition causing millions of deaths yearly. Several factors, such as aging, cause myocardial fibrosis. The Wnt/β-catenin pathway is one of the critical intracellular signaling for the development of cardiac fibrosis. Molecular and cellular mechanism of myocardial fibrosis induced by intensive exercise is not well-understood. The current study evaluates the effects of short- and long-term intensive exercise on the Wnt1 gene expression in a heart left ventricle in an animal model. Methods. Twenty-one male Wistar rats (mean weight 250±50 g) were divided into three groups (n=7): 1) control group (C); 2) short-term regular intensive exercise group (S-RIE, high-intensity exercise for one month six days weekly for 60 min with speed of 35 m/min), and 3) long-term regular intensive exercise group (L-RIE, high-intensity exercise for six months six days daily for 60 min with speed of 35 m/min). The heart left ventricle was isolated at the end of the experiment, and the relative gene expression of the Wnt1 gene was measured by the Real-Time PCR. Results. The L-RIE group showed a significant increase in the Wnt1 expression compared to the S-RIE and the control group. Although no difference was observed in the Wnt1 mRNA level in the S-RIE group compared to the control group, Wnt1 mRNA level increased in the L-RIE group compared to the S-RIE group. Conclusion. The exercise duration was of a great importance in the Wnt1 gene expression. Regular intensive exercise may be involved in the formation of the myocardial fibrosis by increasing the expression of the Wnt1 gene.

Objectives. Sedentary lifestyle increasingly observed in the population contributes to the incremental incidence of obesity, cardiovascular diseases, mental disorders, type 2 diabetes, hyper-tension, dyslipidemia, and others. Physical inactivity together with an imbalance in caloric intake and expenditure leads to a loss of muscle mass, reduced insulin sensitivity, and accumulation of the visceral fat. Organokines (adipokines, myokines, hepatokines, etc.) serve in the organism for inter-organ communication. However, human studies focused on the exercise-related changes in plasma levels of certain myokines have produced contradictory results. In the present study, we verified a hypothesis that myokine irisin, which is expected to increase in response to physical activity, induces brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) production and by this way mediates the beneficial effect of exercise on several brain functions. Subjects and Methods. Women (n=27) and men (n=10) aged 44.5±12.0 years, who were sedentary and overweight/obese (men ≥25%, women ≥28% body fat), participated in the study. The effect of an 8-week intensive lifestyle intervention (150 minutes of moderate physical activity per week, diet modification, and reduction of caloric intake) on the selected organokines (irisin, BDNF) in the context of an expected improvement in cardiometabolic status was examined. Results. The 8-week lifestyle intervention resulted in a significant (p<0.05) reduction in body mass index, body fat, blood pressure, insulin resistance, lipid and liver parameters, and irisin levels (p<0.001). However, BDNF increase in the whole group did not reach statistical significance. After the improvement of cardiometabolic parameters, a significant decrease in irisin and increase in BDNF levels were also observed in the subgroup with unsatisfactory (≤5%) body weight reduction. Neither relationship between irisin and BDNF levels, nor effect of age or sex on their levels was observed. Conclusions. We cannot confirm the hypothesis that exercise-induced irisin may increase the BDNF levels, whereas, the organokine levels in the periphery may not completely reflect the processes in the brain compartments. The observed decrease in irisin levels after 8-week intensive lifestyle intervention program, which was in contrary to its supposed mechanisms of action and dynamics, suggests the presence of several yet undiscovered impacts on the secretion of irisin.

Objective. Polymorphism investigation of T786C gene promoter of endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS/NOS3) in the arterial hypertension is a promising field for determining the relationship between heredity, hypertension, and dyslipidemia, which still remains controversial. The purpose of the study was to investigate the lipid profile, which depends on the NOS3 T786C gene promotor region polymorphism in patients with arterial hypertension. Methods. The study involved 86 patients with arterial hypertension. The control group consisted of 30 basically healthy individuals. The lipid profile in the blood serum of the studied patients was measured by commercially available kits using Biochem FC-200 analyzer (HTI, USA). The allelic polymorphism of NOS3 T786C gene promoter was studied using a polymerase chain reaction technique with electrophoretic detection of the results. Results. An increase at the level of all atherogenic fractions in the blood was found in the group of patients carrying the CC genotype compared with carriers of the TT genotype of the NOS3 gene. The total cholesterol serum level in the group of carriers of the CC genotype of NOS3 T786C gene promoter increased by 33.3% compared with carriers of the TT genotype and it was almost twice as high as the control values. In the group of carriers in the CC genotype of the NOS3 gene, the serum level of triglycerides was statistically significantly higher (2.9 times) than in the group of carriers of the TT genotype. The low-density lipoprotein (LDL) and very low-density lipoprotein (VLDL) serum levels significantly increased in patients with arterial hypertension with the CC genotype by 1.6 and 4.6 times, respectively, compared with the TT genotype carriers. The high-density lipoprotein (HDL) serum level, as an antiatherogenic factor, was statistically significantly lower (by 45.8%) in the group of the CC genotype carriers of the NOS3 gene than in the group with carriers of the TT genotype (0.58±0.06 vs. 1.07±0.03 mmol/l.) Conclusions. The increase in all atherogenic and decrease in antiatherogenic lipid parameters of the lipidogram of patients with arterial hypertension and the deepening of dyslipidemia in carriers of the CC genotype compared with carriers of the TT genotype of the NOS3 T786C gene promoter is crucial in the development of dyslipidemia.

Objective. Serine hydroxymethyltransferase (SHMT2) plays a multifunctional role in mitochondria (folate-dependent tRNA methylation, translation, and thymidylate synthesis). The endoplasmic reticulum stress, hypoxia, and glucose and glutamine supply are significant factors of malignant tumor growth including glioblastoma. Previous studies have shown that the knockdown of the endoplasmic reticulum to nucleus signaling 1 (ERN1) pathway of endoplasmic reticulum stress strongly suppressed glioblastoma cell proliferation and modified the sensitivity of these cells to hypoxia and glucose or glutamine deprivations. The present study aimed to investigate the regulation of the SHMT2 gene in U87MG glioblastoma cells by ERN1 knockdown, hypoxia, and glucose or glutamine deprivations with the intent to reveal the role of ERN1 signaling in sensitivity of this gene expression to hypoxia and nutrient supply. Methods. The control U87MG glioblastoma cells (transfected by an empty vector) and ERN1 knockdown cells with inhibited ERN1 endoribonuclease and protein kinase (dnERN1) or only ERN1 endoribonuclease (dnrERN1) were used. Hypoxia was introduced by dimethyloxalylglycine (500 ng/ml for 4 h). For glucose and glutamine deprivations, cells were exposed in DMEM without glucose and glutamine, respectively for 16 h. RNA was extracted from cells and reverse transcribed. The expression level of the SHMT2 gene was studied by real-time qPCR and normalized to ACTB. Results. It was found that inhibition of ERN1 endoribonuclease and protein kinase in glioblastoma cells led to a down-regulation of SHMT2 gene expression in U87MG cells. At the same time, the expression of this gene did not significantly change in cells with inhibited ERN1 endoribonuclease, but tunicamycin strongly increased its expression. Moreover, the expression of the SHMT2 gene was not affected in U87MG cells after silencing of XBP1. Hypoxia up-regulated the expression level of the SHMT2 gene in both control and ERN1 knockdown U87MG cells. The expression of this gene was significantly up-regulated in glioblastoma cells under glucose and glutamine deprivations and ERN1 knockdown significantly increased the sensitivity of the SHMT2 gene to these nutrient deprivation conditions. Conclusion. The results of the present study demonstrate that the expression of the SHMT2 gene responsible for serine metabolism and formation of folate one-carbon is controlled by ERN1 protein kinase and induced by hypoxia as well as glutamine and glucose deprivation conditions in glioblastoma cells and reflects the ERN1-mediated reprogramming of sensitivity this gene expression to nutrient deprivation.

Objective. The intend of the present study was to assess the diagnostic performance of strain elastography in investigating the thyroid nodule malignancy taking the surgical biopsy as a gold standard reference test. Methods. The study included 120 patients with 123 thyroid nodules, of which 67 had total thyroidectomy. The American College of Radiology Thyroid Imaging Reporting and Data Systems (ACR-TIRADS) were evaluated for all nodules. All suspicious nodules were referred for a fine needle aspiration cytology (FNAC) if they fulfilled the required size. Strain elastography was performed for each suspicious nodule. Ultrasound-guided FNAC was performed for all suspicious nodules. Total thyroidectomy was performed in those whom the suspicious nodules were proven by FNAC. Results. Strain ratio had a sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value (PPV), negative predictive value (NPV), and diagnostic accuracy of 84%, 81%, 95%, 85%, and 84%, respectively, with a cut point 1.96. Elasticity score had a sensitivity, specificity, PPV, NPV, and diagnostic accuracy of 100%, 80%, 95%, 85% and 87%, respectively, with a cut point 0.96. The elasticity score had a statistically significantly odds ratio for detecting the benignity 3.9 C. I (1.6-9.3). Conclusion. Strain elastography has a high diagnostic performance in detecting the malignant as well as benign nodules, thus it can limit the rate of unneeded FNAC or surgery especially among B3 and B4 groups with indeterminate cytology.

Oxytocin plays an important role in brain development and is associated with various neurotransmitter systems in the brain. Abnormalities in the production, secretion, and distribution of oxytocin in the brain, at least during some stages of the development, are critical for the pathogenesis of neuropsychiatric diseases, particularly in the autism spectrum disorder. The etiology of autism includes changes in local sensory and dopaminergic areas of the brain, which are also supplied by the hypothalamic sources of oxytocin. It is very important to understand their mutual relationship. In this review, the relationship of oxytocin with several components of the dopaminergic system, gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) inhibitory neurotransmission and their alterations in the autism spectrum disorder is discussed. Special attention has been paid to the results describing a reduced expression of inhibitory GABAergic markers in the brain in the context of dopaminergic areas in various models of autism. It is presumed that the altered GABAergic neurotransmission, due to the absence or dysfunction of oxytocin at certain developmental stages, disinhibits the dopaminergic signaling and contributes to the autism symptoms.