Metabolic Events Occurring During Recovery from Prolonged Glucose Starvation in Escherichia coli

The effects of starving Escherichia coli for glucose and required amino acids were determined. The disappearance of the majority of the ribosomal population, particularly of the ribonucleic acid (RNA) moiety, was noted. The events during recovery are detailed, with emphasis placed on the timing, requirements, and control of deoxyribonucleic acid, RNA, and protein synthesis and on ribosome reassembly. Finally, the applicability of the system to the study of temperature-sensitive mutants is documented and discussed.     

Relationship Between Serum Calcium and Magnesium Concentrations and Metabolic Syndrome Diagnostic Components in Middle-Aged Korean Men

It is thought that calcium and magnesium may be related to metabolic disorders such as obesity and metabolic syndrome; however, to date, there have been few studies investigating the association between serum calcium and magnesium levels and metabolic syndrome in middle-aged male adults. We aimed to investigate the association between serum calcium and magnesium levels and metabolic syndrome in Korean middle-aged male adults. Study subjects included 213 men aged 30∼60 years. MetS risk score is determined by adding the number of risk factors, waist circumference, triacylglyceride (TG), HDL cholesterol, glucose, and blood pressure (BP). The study population was divided into three groups according to the MetS risk score: group I (MetS risk score ≤1; n = 106), group II (MetS risk score = 2; n = 51), and group III (MetS risk score ≥3; n = 56). The serum Ca, according to increase of MetS risk score, was significantly higher (p < 0.001), and there was no significant difference in serum Mg concentration among the three groups. Subjects with high TG and high BP had higher serum calcium levels than those without such abnormalities. Subjects with higher glucose had lower serum magnesium levels than those without such abnormality. The correlation analysis indicated that the serum Ca had positive correlations with the MetS risk score (r = 0.1769, p < 0.01), serum TG (r = 0.2516, p < 0.001), and DBP (r = 0.2246, p < 0.01). The correlation analysis indicated that the serum Mg had an inverse relationship with serum glucose (r = −0.2404, p < 0.001). In conclusion, serum Ca had positive association with TG and BP, while serum Mg had negative association with serum glucose after adjusting age and BMI among the middle-aged Korean male adults.     

Evidence for a Relationship between VEGF and BMI Independent of Insulin Sensitivity by Glucose Clamp Procedure in a Homogenous Group Healthy Young Men

Background

This is the first study to experimentally explore the direct relationship between circulating VEGF levels and body mass index (BMI) as well as to unravel the role of insulin sensitivity in this context under standardized glucose clamp conditions as the methodical gold-standard. In order to control for known influencing factors such as gender, medication, and arterial hypertension, we examined a highly homogeneous group of young male subjects. Moreover, to encompass also subjects beyond the normal BMI range, low weight and obese participants were additionally included and stress hormones as a main regulator of VEGF were assessed.

Methodology/Principal Findings

Under euglycemic clamp conditions, VEGF was measured in 15 normal weight (BMI 20–25 kg/m²), 15 low weight (BMI<20 kg/m²), and 15 obese (BMI>30 kg/m²) male subjects aged 18–30 years and the insulin sensitivity index (ISI) was calculated. Since stress axis activation promotes VEGF secretion, concentrations of ACTH, cortisol, and catecholamines were monitored. Despite of comparable ACTH (P = 0.145), cortisol (P = 0.840), and norepinephrine (P = 0.065) levels, VEGF concentrations differed significantly between BMI-groups (P = 0.008) with higher concentrations in obese subjects as compared to normal weight (P = 0.061) and low weight subjects (P = 0.002). Pearson''s correlation analysis revealed a positive relationship between BMI and VEGF levels (r = 0.407; P = 0.010) but no correlation of VEGF with ISI (r = 0.224; P = 0.175).

Conclusions/Significance

Our data demonstrate a positive correlation between concentrations of circulating VEGF levels and BMI in healthy male subjects under highly controlled conditions. This relationship which is apparently disconnected from insulin sensitivity may be part of some pathogenetic mechanisms underlying obesity and type 2 diabetes.     

Relationship Between Hunger-Satiety Feelings and Various Metabolic Parameters in Women with Obesity During Controlled Weight Loss

Objective : Satiety plays an important role in weight control. The meaning of fasting hormone levels and satiety feelings, and how post-absorptive changes after meals high in carbohydrate regulate appetite remains to be demonstrated. Research Methods and Procedures : Prospective metabolic study with 25 non-diabetic obese women at the Energy Metabolism Research Unit of the Department of Nutrition Sciences, University of Alabama at Birmingham. We analyzed fasting and postprandial ratings of hunger-satiety and values of various metabolic parameters (serum glucose and insulin, plasma cholecystokinin, respiratory quotient) during controlled weight loss. The postprandial measures were assessed following a test meal providing 320 kcal and yielding a food quotient of 0.89. Results : In the fasting state, there was no correlation between hunger-satiety ratings and any of the measured metabolic parameters. Under postprandial conditions, satiety was positively related to glucose (p = 0.002) and insulin (p = 0.002) responses to the test meal. In multivariate analysis including glucose, insulin, cholecystokinin, hunger-satiety ratings and respiratory quotient, insulin was the only independent predictor of satiety in the postprandial state. Discussion : These data suggest an association between the endogenous insulin response and feelings of postprandial satiety. Insulin's satiation properties, which could well be mediated by other hormones, may represent a primary factor of food intake regulation after meals relatively high in carbohydrate.     

植物中赤霉素代谢酶与株高的关系

赤霉素是高等植物体内调控植物发育的重要激素.介绍了赤霉素的生物合成过程及赤霉素代谢酶与株高关系的研究概况.     

Metabolic Changes in Rat Brain After Prolonged Ethanol Consumption Measured by 1H and 31P MRS Experiments

SUMMARY 1. In vivo ¹H and ³¹P magnetic resonance spectroscopy techniques were applied to reveal biochemical changes in the rat brain caused by prolonged ethanol consumption.2. Three models of ethanol intoxication were used.3. ¹H MRS showed a significant decrease in the concentration of myo-inositol in the brain of rats fed with 20% ethanol for 8 weeks. This change is consistent with perturbances in astrocytes. On the other hand, N-acetyl aspartate and choline content did not differ from controls.4. ³¹P MRS did not reveal any significant changes in the high-energy phosphates or intracellular free Mg²⁺ content in the brain of rats after 14 weeks of 20% ethanol drinking. The intracellular pH was diminished.5. By means of a ³¹P saturation transfer technique, a significant decrease was observed for the pseudo first-order rate constant k _for of the creatine kinase reaction in the brain of rats administered 30% ethanol for 3 weeks using a gastric tube.6. The ¹H MRS results may indicate that myo-inositol loss, reflecting a disorder in astrocytes, might be one of the first changes associated with alcoholism, which could be detected in the brain by means of in vivo ¹H MRS.7. The results from ³¹P MRS experiments suggest that alcoholism is associated with decreased brain energy metabolism.8. ³¹P saturation transfer, which provides insight into the turnover of high-energy phosphates, could be a more suitable technique for studying the brain energetics in chronic pathological states than conventional ³¹P MRS.     

冠心病患者血清CRP的变化及其临床意义

目的:探讨冠心病(CAD)患者血清C-反应蛋白(CRP)的变化及其临床意义.方法:运用全自动生化分析仪检测97例CAD患者和28例对照组人群的血清CRP,将CAD患者进一步分为稳定性心绞痛组(SAP)、不稳定心绞痛(UAP)、心肌梗死组(AMI)三组.另外,将97例CAD惠者分为1支病变组、2支病变组和3支病变组.所有研究对象均行选择性冠状动脉造影检查.结果:(1)与对照组比较,CAD患者血清CRP显著升高(P<0.05);(2)与对照组比较,SAP组、UAP组和AMI组患者血清CRP均显著升高(P<0.05);与SAP组比较,UAP组和AMI组患者血清CRP亦显著升高(P<0.05);(3)与对照组比较,1支病变组、2支病变组和3支病变组患者血清CRP均显著升高(P<0.05);与1支病变组比较,2支病变组和3支病变组患者血清CRP亦显著升高(P<0.05);与2支病变组比较,3支病变组患者血清CRP亦显著升高(P<0.05).结论:(1)CRP可能与CAD有关;(2)CRP异常升高可能反映冠状动脉斑块的不稳定和CAD的严重程度.     

驻某地武警机关干部体质指数与代谢性疾病的关系

目的:探讨健康体检的驻某地武警机关干部体质指数(BMI)与代谢性疾病的关系。方法:采用横断面调查方法对健康体检的1920名驻某地武警机关干部和270名地方机关干部的体质指数情况进行比较分析,探讨超重肥胖与代谢性疾病的关系。结果:1.军人组超重率及肥胖率均低于地方组(P<0.01)。2.<50岁人群组随年龄增加,超重及肥胖检出率有增高趋势(P<0.01),40~49岁人群超重率和肥胖率最高;50~65岁人群超重与肥胖率最低。3.两组机关干部随BMI升高,高总胆固醇、高甘油三酯、高尿酸血症、脂肪肝检出率增高(P<0.01);军人组高尿酸血症发病率明显高于地方组(P<0.05);高血压、高血脂发病率明显降低(P<0.05);与地方超重组比较,军人超重组脂肪肝发病率明显升高(P<0.05)。4.在30~50岁的军人中,随着年龄升高,高血压、高血糖、高血脂、高尿酸,脂肪肝发病率明显升高(P<0.01)。结论:健康体检人群超重、肥胖率较高,控制体重对高血压、高血糖、高血脂及脂肪肝等慢性病的防治具有重要意义。军人组超重与肥胖率均低于地方,但高尿酸血症和高脂肪肝发病率升高,故建议有代谢性疾病的军人限制饮酒可能会受益。     

持久脊柱负荷与椎间盘组织中MMP-2表达关系的研究

目的：建立一压力可控型椎间盘退变模型,并探讨持久的脊柱负荷对椎间盘MMP-2表达的影响。方法：选用54只成年Wistar大鼠随机分为三组,分别模拟人类在站立（A组1.12N）、坐位直立（B组1.68N）、坐位前屈（C组3.08N）三种状态下椎间盘内的负荷情况,给予大鼠尾椎Co9/10椎间盘恒定压力加压,以相邻Co8/9椎间盘不加压作为对照（D组）。三组分别在3、7、14天后取受压及对照椎间盘标本,进行HE染色组织学观察及免疫组织化学分析,观察椎间盘退变情况及MMP-2在椎间盘组织中的含量变化。结果：随时间与压力的增加,椎间盘组织学评分与MMP-2表达增高（P〈0.05）,MMP-2表达与椎间盘退变程度成正相关（r=0.870,P〈0.05）。结论：持久的脊柱负荷可引起椎间盘退变及MMP-2表达增加,MMP-2可能在椎间盘退变的过程中发挥重要作用。     

持久脊柱负荷与椎间盘组织中MMP-2 表达关系的研究

目的:建立一压力可控型椎间盘退变模型,并探讨持久的脊柱负荷对椎间盘MMP-2表达的影响.方法:选用54只成年Wistar大鼠随机分为三组,分别模拟人类在站立(A组1.12N)、坐位直立(B组1.68N)、坐位前屈(C组3.08N)三种状态下椎间盘内的负荷情况,给予大鼠尾椎Co9/10椎间盘恒定压力加压,以相邻Co8/9椎间盘不加压作为对照(D组).三组分别在3、7、14天后取受压及对照椎间盘标本,进行HE染色组织学观察及免疫组织化学分析,观察椎间盘退变情况及MMP-2在椎间盘组织中的含量变化.结果:随时间与压力的增加,椎间盘组织学评分与MMP-2表达增高(P＜0.05),MMP-2表达与椎间盘退变程度成正相关(r=.870,P＜0.05).结论:持久的脊柱负荷可引起椎间盘退变及MMP-2表达增加,MMP-2可能在椎间盘退变的过程中发挥重要作用.     

Metabolic Interactions Between Glucose, Glycerol, Alanine and Acetate in Leishmania braziliensis panamensis Promastigotes

¹³C-nuciear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy was used to investigate the products of glycerol and acetate metabolism released by Leishmania braziliensis panamensis promastigotes and also to examine the interaction of each of these substrates with glucose or alanine. The NMR data were supplemented by measurements of the rates of oxygen consumption and substrate utilization, and of ¹⁴CO₂ production from ¹⁴C-labeIed substrate. Cells incubated with [2-¹³C]glycerol released acetate, succinate and D-lactate in addition to CO₂. Cells incubated with acetate released only CO₂. More succinate C-2/C-3 than C-l/C-4 was released from both [2-¹³C]glycerol and [2-¹³C]glucose, indicating that succinate was formed predominantly by CO₂ fixation followed by reverse flux through part of the Krebs cycle. Some redistribution of the position of labeling was also seen in alanine and pyruvate, suggesting cycling through pyruvate/oxaloacetate/phosphoenolpyruvate. Cells incubated with combinations of 2 substrates consumed oxygen at the same rate as cells incubated with 1 or no substrate, even though the total substrate utilization had increased. When promastigotes were incubated with both glycerol and glucose, the rate of glucose consumption was unchanged but glycerol consumption decreased about 50%, and the rate of ¹⁴CO₂ production from [l,(3)-¹⁴C]glycerol decreased about 60%. Alanine did not affect the rates of consumption of glucose or glycerol, but decreased ¹⁴CO₂ production from these substrates by increasing flow of label into alanine. Although glucose decreased alanine consumption by 70%, it increased the rate of ¹⁴CO₂ production from [U-¹⁴C]- and [l-¹⁴C]alanine by about 20%. This is consistent with rapid equilibration of alanine with pyruvate derived from glucose and yet little decrease in the specific activity of the large alanine pool.     

Correlation Between Hemoglobin Glycation Index Measured by Continuous Glucose Monitoring With Complications in Type 1 Diabetes

ObjectiveHbA1C is the “gold standard” parameter to evaluate glycemic control in diabetes; however, its correlation with mean glucose is not always perfect. The objective of this study was to correlate continuous glucose monitoring (CGM)-derived hemoglobin glycation index (HGI) with microvascular complications.MethodsWe conducted a cross-sectional study including permanent users of CGM with type 1 diabetes mellitus or latent autoimmune diabetes of the adult. HGI was estimated, and presence of microvascular complications was compared in subgroups with high or low HGI. A logistic regression analysis to assess the contribution of high HGI to chronic kidney disease (CKD) was performed.ResultsIn total, 52 participants who were aged 39.7 ± 14.7 years, with 73.1% women and 15.5 years (IQR, 7.5-29 years) since diagnosis, were included; 32.7% recorded diabetic retinopathy, 25% CKD, and 19.2% neuropathy. The median HbA1C was 7.6% (60 mmol/mol) and glucose management indicator (GMI) 7.0% (53 mmol/mol). The average HGI was 0.55% ± 0.66%. The measured HbA1C was higher in the group with high HGI (8.1% [65 mmol/mol] vs 6.9% [52 mmol/mol]; P < .001), whereas GMI (7.0% [53 mmol/mol] vs 7.0% [53 mmol/mol]; P = .495) and mean glucose were similar in both groups (153 mg/dL vs 153 mg/dL; P = .564). In the high HGI group, higher occurrence of CKD (P = .016) and neuropathy were observed (P = .025). High HGI was associated with increased risk of CKD (odds ratio [OR]: 5.05; 95% CI: 1.02-24.8; P = .04) after adjusting for time since diagnosis (OR: 1.09; 95% CI: 1.02-1.16; P = .008).ConclusionHigh HGI measured by CGM may be a useful marker for increased risk of microvascular diabetic complications.     

Relationship Between Body Fat Mass and Free Fatty Acid Kinetics in Men and Women

An increased release of free fatty acids (FFAs) into plasma likely contributes to the metabolic complications associated with obesity. However, the relationship between body fat and FFA metabolism is unclear because of conflicting results from different studies. The goal of our study was to determine the inter‐relationships between body fat, sex, and plasma FFA kinetics. We determined FFA rate of appearance (R_a) in plasma, by using stable isotopically labeled tracer techniques, during basal conditions in 106 lean, overweight, and obese, nondiabetic subjects (43 men and 63 women who had 7.0–56.0% body fat). Correlation analyses demonstrated: (i) no differences between men and women in the relationship between fat mass (FM) and total FFA R_a (µmol/min); (ii) total FFA R_a increased linearly with increasing FM (r = 0.652, P < 0.001); (iii) FFA R_a per kg FM decreased in a curvilinear fashion with increasing FM (r = ?0.806; P < 0.001); (iv) FFA R_a in relationship to fat‐free mass (FFM) was greater in obese than lean subjects and greater in women than in men; and (v) abdominal fat itself was not an important determinant of total FFA R_a. We conclude that total body fat, not regional fat distribution or sex, is an important modulator of the rate of FFA release into plasma. Although increased adiposity is associated with a decrease in fatty acid release in relationship to FM, this downregulation is unable to completely compensate for the increase in FM, so total FFA R_a and FFA R_a with respect to FFM are greater in women than in men and in obese than in lean subjects.     

The Relationship Between Menopause and Metabolic Syndrome: Experimental and Bioinformatics Analysis

Biochemical Genetics - Menopausal hormonal changes have been associated with the emergence of the metabolic syndrome (MetS) and its consequences such as type 2 diabetes (T2D) and cardiovascular...     

Fast Food Intake Increases the Incidence of Metabolic Syndrome in Children and Adolescents: Tehran Lipid and Glucose Study

The aim of the study was to evaluate the association between fast food consumption and incidence of metabolic syndrome (MetS) and its components among children and adolescents over a 3.6 year follow-up. Dietary data of 424 healthy subjects, aged 6–18 years, was collected using a valid and reliable food frequency questionnaire. Metabolic syndrome was defined according to the Cook et al criteria. Consumption of fast foods including hamburgers, sausages, bologna (beef), and fried potatoes was calculated and further categorized to quartiles. Multiple logistic regression models were used to estimate the incidence of MetS and its components in each quartile of fast food intake. The incidence of MetS was 11.3% after a 3.6 year follow up. In the fully adjusted model, compared to the lowest quartile of fast food intake, individuals in the highest had odds ratios of 2.96 (95% CI: 1.02–8.63; P for trend<0.001), 2.82 (95% CI: 1.01–7.87; P for trend = 0.037), and 2.58 (95% CI: 1.01–6.61; P for trend = 0.009) for incidence of MetS, hypertriglyceridemia, and abdominal obesity, respectively. No significant association was found between fast food intakes and other components of MetS. Fast food consumption is associated with the incidence of MetS, abdominal obesity, and hypertriglyceridemia in Tehranian children and adolescents.     

Relationship Between Carbon Mobilization and Root Growth Measured by Carbon-11 Tracer in Arabidopsis Starch Mutants

Journal of Plant Growth Regulation - Experiments designed to quantify the physiological and metabolic status of Arabidopsis thaliana seedlings across their photoperiod used wild-type (Col-0) and...