BackgroundDespite excellent results of bariatric surgery in the treatment of type 2 diabetes and weight loss in human subjects, some patients do not obtain desired results. One of the reasons for this is that not all patients follow caloric intake recommendations.AimThe aim of this study was to investigate the effect of duodenojejunal omega switch (DJOS) surgery on body weight, glucose tolerance, and incretins in rats.MethodsDJOS and SHAM surgery were performed on rats maintained for 8 weeks on high-fat diet (HF) and control diet (CD), respectively. After surgery, four groups were kept on the same diet as before the surgery, and four groups had a changed diet (CD vs. HF and HF vs. CD) for the next 8 weeks. Glucose tolerance, insulin tolerance, glucose-stimulated insulin, glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) and gastric inhibitory polypeptide/glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide (GIP) secretion, food intake, and body weight were measured.ResultsA change of diet after surgery resulted in reduced glucose tolerance. Plasma insulin levels were lowered between DJOS and SHAM surgeries for the HF/HF and CD/HF groups. DJOS surgery did not reduce body weight in the studied groups, irrespective of diet. In the HF/HF group, ΔGLP-1 was lower for DJOS surgery in comparison with other groups. Differences of weight changes were observed for groups HF/HF and HF/CD. After DJOS surgery, ΔGIP was lower in the CD/HF group compared with HF/HF.ConclusionsOur results show that applications of different types of diets, before and after surgery, is a sensitive method for studies of mechanism of glucose intolerance after DJOS surgery.

PurposeElevated plasma concentration of retinol binding protein 4 (RBP4) has recently emerged as a potential risk factor as a component of developing metabolic syndrome (MS). Therefore, this study aimed to analyse the relationship between components of MS and concentrations of plasma RBP4 in a population of subjects 65 years and older.MethodsThe study sample consisted of 3038 (1591 male) participants of the PolSenior study, aged 65 years and older. Serum lipid profile, concentrations of RBP4, glucose, insulin, C-reactive protein, IL-6, and activity of aminotransferases were measured. Nutritional status (BMI/waist circumference) and treatment with statins and fibrates were evaluated. Glomerular filtration rate (eGFR), de Ritis ratio, and fatty liver index (FLI), as well as HOMA-IR were calculated.ResultsOur study revealed a strong relationship between components of MS and RBP4 in both sexes: plasma RBP4 levels were increased in men by at least 3×, and in women by at least 4×. Hypertriglyceridemia was most strongly associated with elevated plasma RBP4 levels. Multivariate, sex-adjusted regression analysis demonstrated that chronic kidney disease [OR 1.86 (95% CI 1.78–1.94)], hypertriglyceridemia [OR 1.52 (1.24–1.87)], hypertension [OR 1.15 (1.12–1.19)], low serum HDL cholesterol [OR 0.94 (0.92–0.97)], and age > 80 years [OR 0.86 (0.81–0.90)] were each independently associated with RBP4 concentration (all p < 0.001).ConclusionsIn Caucasians 65 years and older, RBP4 serum levels are associated with a number of components of MS, independent of sex and kidney function. Hypertriglyceridemia as a component of MS is most significantly related to RBP4 concentration.

Objective. The aim of the study was to assess PTX3 levels in PCOS and non-PCOS women in relation to nutritional status and circulating markers of inflammation. Methods. The study enrolled 99 stable body mass PCOS women (17 normal weight, 21 overweight, and 61 obese) and 61 non-PCOS women (24 normal weight, 19 overweight, and 18 obese). Body composition was assessed by bioimpedance, and plasma levels of pentraxin 3 (PTX3), tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interleukin-6 (IL-6), and monocyte chemoattractant protein 1 (MCP-1) were measured. Homeostatic model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) was made. Results. Plasma PTX3, TNF-α, and IL-6 levels and HOMA-IR were higher in PCOS than in non-PCOS group p<0.001. There were positive correlations between log10 (PTX3) and log10 (BMI), waist circumference and fat percentage, as well as log10 (HOMA-IR) and free androgen index but negative between log10 (estradiol) levels in PCOS. While in the non-PCOS group, the correlations between log10 (PTX3) and log10 (BMI), waist circumference and fat percentage, as well as log10 (HOMA-IR) were negative. The positive correlations between PTX3 and MPC-1 and log10 (IL-6) were shown in the PCOS group only. In multivariate regression analyses, variability in PTX3 levels in the PCOS group was proportional to log10 (BMI), waist circumference, and fat percentage, but inversely proportional to log10 (estradiol) levels. While in the non-PCOS group, PTX3 levels were inversely proportional to all anthropometric parameters. Conclusions. Our results show that the decrease in PTX3 levels observed in obese is distorted in PCOS by microinflammation, and possibly, dysfunction of stroma adipose tissue and liver steatosis is reflected by enhanced insulin resistance.

Background/Aim: Elevated plasma concentration of retinol-binding protein 4 (RBP4) has recently emerged as a potential new risk factor for cardiovascular diseases, including hypertension (HT) and coronary artery disease (CAD). Limited data suggest that RBP4 promotes inflammatory damage to cardiomyocytes and participates in the development of heart failure (HF). This study aimed to analyze the relationship between concentrations of plasma RBP4 and serum N-terminal proBNP (NT-proBNP), a powerful biomarker of left ventricle dysfunction, in the older Polish population. Methods: The study sample consisted of 2,826 (1,487 men) participants of the PolSenior study, aged 65 years and older, including a subgroup hospitalized for HF (n = 282). In all subjects, plasma concentrations of RBP4, interleukin-6 (IL-6), serum level of NT-proBNP, and hs-CRP were measured. Additionally, BMI, estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR), and HOMA-IR were calculated. The prevalence of HT, CAD, atrial fibrillation (AF), and medication were considered as potential confounders. Results: Similar RBP4 levels were found in subjects with NT-proBNP < 125 and ≥125 ng/mL, with and without AF, and in the subgroups hospitalized for HF with and without AF. Regression analysis revealed no association between log₁₀(NT-proBNP) and log₁₀(RBP4). Plasma levels of RBP4 were increased by HT occurrence and diuretic therapy, while diminished with regard to female gender, age, eGFR values, AF, and IL-6 levels. Conclusion: Our results show that RBP4 is affected by GFR but cannot be considered as an independent biomarker of heart muscle dysfunction.

The purpose of this study was to analyse the influence of simultaneous pancreas-kidney or kidney transplantation on endothelial function and systemic inflammation in type 1 diabetic patients with end-stage renal disease. In 39 simultaneous pancreas-kidney, 39 type 1 diabetic kidney and 52 non-diabetic kidney recipients, flow-mediated dilatation was measured. Additionally, blood glycated haemoglobin, serum creatinine and lipids, plasma nitrites [Formula: see text] and nitrates, asymmetric dimethylarginine, soluble vascular cell adhesion molecule-1, intercellular adhesion molecule-1, and E-selectin, high-sensitivity C-reactive protein, tumour necrosis factor-α, interleukin 1β and interleukin 6 concentrations were assessed. During 58 ± 31 months follow-up period, flow-mediated dilatation and [Formula: see text] were greater in simultaneous pancreas-kidney than in type 1 diabetic kidney recipients [10.4% ± 4.7% vs 7.7% ± 4.2%, p < 0.05 and 0.94 (0.74-1.34) vs 0.24 (0.20-0.43) μmol/L, p < 0.01, respectively]. In type 1 diabetic patients after simultaneous pancreas-kidney or kidney transplantation, [Formula: see text] correlated with flow-mediated dilatation (r = 0.306, p < 0.05) and with blood glycated haemoglobin (r = -0.570, p < 0.001). The difference in [Formula: see text] was linked to blood glycated haemoglobin and estimated glomerular filtration rate, whereas the difference in flow-mediated dilatation was linked to [Formula: see text]. The levels of inflammatory markers (except soluble vascular cell adhesion molecule-1) were similar in simultaneous pancreas-kidney and type 1 diabetic kidney recipients. Improved endothelial function in type 1 diabetic patients with end-stage renal disease after simultaneous pancreas-kidney compared to kidney transplantation is associated with normalisation of glucose metabolism but not with improvement in plasma pro-inflammatory cytokines.