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OBJECTIVEAn increased expression of RELM-β (resistin-like molecule-β), a gut-derived hormone, is observed in animal models of insulin resistance/obesity and intestinal inflammation. Intestinal sugar absorption is modulated by dietary environment and hormones/cytokines. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of RELM-β on intestinal glucose absorption.RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODSOral glucose tolerance test was performed in mice and rats in the presence and the absence of RELM-β. The RELM-β action on glucose transport in rat jejunal sacs, everted rings, and mucosal strips was explored as well as downstream kinases modulating SGLT-1 and GLUT2 glucose transporters.RESULTSOral glucose tolerance test carried out in rodents showed that oral administration of RELM-β increased glycemia. Studies in rat jejunal tissue indicated that mucosal RELM-β promoted absorption of glucose from the gut lumen. RELM-β had no effect on paracellular mannitol transport, suggesting a transporter-mediated transcellular mechanism. In studies with jejunal mucosa mounted in Ussing chamber, luminal RELM-β inhibited SGLT-1 activity in line with a diminished SGLT-1 abundance in brush border membranes (BBMs). Further, the potentiating effect of RELM-β on jejunal glucose uptake was associated with an increased abundance of GLUT2 at BBMs. The effects of RELM-β were associated with an increased amount of protein kinase C βII in BBMs and an increased phosphorylation of AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK).CONCLUSIONSThe regulation of SGLT-1 and GLUT2 by RELM-β expands the role of gut hormones in short-term AMPK/protein kinase C mediated control of energy balance.

PurposeAcute gastroenteritis (AGE) is a major cause of morbidity and remains a major cause of hospitalization. Following the Syrian refugee crisis and insufficient clean water in the region, this study reviews the etiological and epidemiological data in Lebanon.MethodsWe prospectively analyzed demographic, clinical and routine laboratory data of 198 children from the age of 1 month to 10 years old who were admitted with the diagnosis of AGE to a private tertiary care hospital located in the district of Nabatieh in south Lebanon.ResultsMales had a higher incidence of AGE (57.1%). Pathogens were detected in 57.6% (n=114) of admitted patients, among them single pathogens were found in 51.0% (n=101) of cases that consisted of: Entamoeba histolytica 26.3% (n=52), rotavirus 18.7% (n=37), adenovirus 6.1% (n=12) and mixed co-pathogens found in 6.6% (n=13). Breast-fed children were significantly less prone to rotavirus (p=0.041). Moreover, children who had received the rotavirus vaccine were significantly less prone to rotavirus (p=0.032).ConclusionOur findings highlight the high prevalence of E. histolytica infection as the major cause of pediatric gastroenteritis in hospitalized children, during the summer period likely reflecting the insanitary water supplies and lack of hygiene. Moreover the 42.4% of unidentified causative pathogens should prompt us to widen our diagnostic laboratory arsenal by adopting new diagnostic technologies.

Reactive oxygen species (ROS) produced by the phagocyte NADPH oxidase (NOX2) are required for microbial clearance; however, when produced in excess they exacerbate inflammatory response and injure surrounding tissues. NOX2 is a multicomponent enzyme composed of membrane-associated cytochrome b588 and cytosolic components p47, p67, p40, and rac1/2. We investigated whether vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP), an endogenous immune-modulatory peptide, could affect ROS production by NOX2 in primary human phagocytes. VIP did not modulate basal ROS production by phagocytes, but it inhibited monocyte and not neutrophil ROS production in response to the bacterial peptide N-formyl-methionyl-leucyl-phenylalanine (fMLF). The action of VIP was essentially mediated by high-affinity G-protein coupled receptors VPAC1 as its specific agonist, [ALA]VIP, mimicked VIP-inhibitory effect, whereas the specific VPAC1 antagonist, PG97-269, blunted VIP action. Further, we showed that VIP inhibited fMLF-induced phosphorylation of ERK1/2 (extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1/2), p38MAPK (p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase) pathways, and phosphorylation of p47 on Ser345 residue. Also, VIP exerted an anti-inflammatory effect in a model of carrageenan-induced inflammation in rats. We thus found that VIP exerts anti-inflammatory effects by inhibiting the "MAPK-p47 phosphorylation-NOX2 activation" axis. These data suggest that VIP acts as a natural anti-inflammatory agent of the mucosal system and its analogs could be novel anti-inflammatory molecules.