Orexin-A and orexin-B (the hypocretins) are recently described neuropeptides suggested to have a physiological role in the regulation of food intake in the rat. We compared the orexigenic effect of the orexins administered intracerebroventricular (ICV) with other known stimulants of food intake, one strong, neuropeptide Y (NPY), and two weaker, melanin-concentrating hormone (MCH) and galanin.

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The melanocortin-4 receptor (MC4R) in the hypothalamus is thought to be important in physiological regulation of food intake. We investigated which hypothalamic areas known to express MC4R are involved in the regulation of feeding by using -m e l a n o c y t e -s t i m u l a ting hormone ( -MSH), an endogenous MC4R agonist, and agouti-related peptide (Agrp), an endogenous MC4R antagonist. Cannulae were inserted into the rat hypothalamic paraventricular (

ObjectiveTo describe current prevalence of obesity and related non-communicable diseases (NCDs) in expatriates living in the United Arab Emirates (UAE).MethodsWe used data from the cross-sectional UAE National Diabetes and Lifestyle Study (UAEDIAB), which surveyed adult expatriates living in the UAE for at least 4 years. We report crude prevalence of overweight and obesity, indicated by gender and ethnicity-specific body mass index (BMI), waist circumference (WC) and waist-to-hip ratio (WHR) cut-offs, by lifestyle and biomedical characteristics, as well as age and sex-adjusted odds ratios.ResultsOut of a total of 3064 recruited expatriates (response rate 68%), 2724 had completed all stages of the UAEDIAB study. Expatriates were; 81% men, mean age 38 years (range 18–80), 71% South East Asians, and 36% university graduates. In this sample, the prevalence of overweight and obesity, by BMI, were 43.0 and 32.3%, respectively. 52.4 and 56.5% of participants were at a substantially increased risk according to WC and WHR, respectively. The prevalence of diabetes, hypertension and hypercholesterolemia were 15.5, 31.8, and 51.7%, respectively, with the prevalence of each being higher in those with obesity.ConclusionPrevalence of obesity and associated NCDs are extremely high in UAE expatriates. Without comprehensive prevention and management, levels of disease will continue to increase and productivity will fall.

Rapid urbanisation and socioeconomic development in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) have led to the widespread adoption of a sedentary lifestyle and Westernised diet in the local population and consequently a high prevalence of obesity and diabetes. In 2019, International Diabetes Federation statistics reported a diabetes prevalence rate of 16.3% for the adult population in the UAE. In view of the wealth of recent literature on diabetes care and new pharmacotherapeutics, the Emirates Diabetes Society convened a panel of experts to update existing local guidelines with international management recommendations. The goal is to improve the standard of care for people with diabetes through increased awareness of these management practices among healthcare providers licensed by national health authorities. These consensus guidelines address the screening, diagnosis and management of type 2 diabetes mellitus in adults including individuals at risk of developing the disease.

Objectives:To study the effect of Vitamin D3 supplementation on metabolic control in an obese type 2 diabetes Emirati population.Methods:This randomized double-blind clinical trial was conducted with 87 vitamin D-deficient obese, type 2 diabetic participants. The vitamin D-group (n=45) and the placebo group (n=42) were matched for gender, age, HbA1c and 25-hydroxy vitamin D (25(OH) D) at the baseline. The study was divided into two phases of 3 months each; in phase 1, the vitamin D-group received 6000 IU vitamin D3/day followed by 3000 IU vitamin D3/day in phase 2, whereas the placebo group (n=42) received matching placebo.Results:After supplementation, serum 25(OH) D peaked in the vitamin D-group in phase 1 (77.2±30.1 nmol/l, P=0.003) followed by a decrease in the phase 2 (61.4±18.8 nmol/l, P=0.006), although this was higher compared with baseline. In the placebo group, no difference was observed in the serum 25(OH) D levels throughout the intervention. Relative to baseline serum, parathyroid hormone decreased 24% (P=0.003) in the vitamin D-group in phase 2, but remained unchanged in the placebo group. No significant changes were observed in blood pressure, fasting blood glucose, HbA1c, C-peptide, creatinine, phosphorous, alkaline phosphatase, lipids, C-reactive protein or thyroid stimulating hormone concentrations compared with baseline in either group.Conclusions:Six months of vitamin D3 supplementation to vitamin D-deficient obese type 2 diabetes patients in the UAE normalized the vitamin D status and reduced the incidence of eucalcemic parathyroid hormone elevation but showed no effect on the metabolic control.

These results represent the first patient-reported dataset on hypoglycemia in the participating countries and confirm that hypoglycemia is under-reported and more widespread than previously believed. Although the incidence of hypoglycemia was variable among patients on different treatment regimens, there were substantial impacts on both productivity and healthcare utilization following an episode of hypoglycemia. This trial is registered at clinicaltrials.gov: NCT02306681.

In 2011, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) had the 10th highest diabetes prevalence globally, but this was based on data that excluded migrants who comprise 80% of the population. This study assessed diabetes prevalence across the UAE population. A random sample of migrants was recruited from the visa renewal centers. Data were collected using interviews, anthropometric measurements and fasting blood for glucose, lipids and genetic analyses. 2724 adults completed the questionnaires and blood tests. Of these, 81% were males, 65% were ≤40 years old and 3% were above 60 years. Diabetes, based on self-report or fasting plasma glucose ≥7.0 mmol/l, showed a crude prevalence of 15.5%, of whom 64.2% were newly diagnosed. Overall age- and sex-adjusted diabetes prevalence, according to the world mid-year population of 2013, was 19.1%. The highest prevalence was in Asians (16.4%) and non-Emirati Arabs (15.2%) and lowest in Africans and Europeans (11.9%). It increased with age: 6.3% in 18–30 years and 39.7% in 51 to 60 years. Lower education, obesity, positive family history, hypertension, dyslipidemia, snoring, and low HDL levels, all showed significant associations with diabetes. The high diabetes prevalence among migrants in the UAE, 64% of which was undiagnosed, necessitates urgent diabetes prevention and control programs for the entire UAE population.