Dissecting the physiology and pathophysiology of glucagon-like peptide-1

Copyright © 2018 Paternoster and Falasca. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY). The use, distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted, provided the original author(s) and the copyright owner(s) are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms. An aging world population exposed to a sedentary life style is currently plagued by chronic metabolic diseases, such as type-2 diabetes, that are spreading worldwide at an unprecedented rate. One of the most promising pharmacological approaches for the management of type 2 diabetes takes advantage of the peptide hormone glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) under the form of protease resistant mimetics, and DPP-IV inhibitors. Despite the improved quality of life, long-term treatments with these new classes of drugs are riddled with serious and life-threatening side-effects, with no overall cure of the disease. New evidence is shedding more light over the complex physiology of GLP-1 in health and metabolic diseases. Herein, we discuss the most recent advancements in the biology of gut receptors known to induce the secretion of GLP-1, to bridge the multiple gaps into our understanding of its physiology and pathology

The Child Hygiene Movement: Public School Health Programs in New York City, 1867-1918

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The Effects of Glucagon-like Peptide-1 on Human Megakaryocytes and Platelets

Cardiovascular disease is the most common cause of morbidity and mortality in type 2 diabetes. Short-term studies of glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1)-targeted therapies suggest potential beneficial effects on cardiovascular outcomes. The mechanism behind this unexpectedly rapid effect is not known. In this study, full-length human GLP-1 receptor (GLP-1R) mRNA was cloned and sequenced from a human megakaryocyte cell line. Quantitative RT-PCR results showed that expression levels were comparable to other GLP-1R expressing tissues. Furthermore, incubation with GLP-1 and the GLP-1R agonist exenatide elicited a cAMP response in these cells. As megakaryocytes are the cellular precursors of platelets, the effect of GLP-1 and exenatide were studied in gel-filtered human platelet aggregation, where they were both shown to have an inhibitory effect on thrombin-stimulated platelet aggregation. Platelet inhibition by GLP-1 and GLP-1R agonists presents a potential mechanism for the reduced incidence of atherothrombotic events thought to be associated with GLP-1-targeted therapies.MAS

Epidemiological evaluation of rotavirus burden and potential impact of vaccination in Uganda

Rotavirus is an RNA virus that causes diarrhoeal disease and represents a significant cause of hospitalisation and death in children under five worldwide. The disease burden is particularly high in developing countries, including those in sub-Saharan Africa, where the population is young, sanitation is often poor and access to healthcare limited. Vaccination against the virus has been available since 2006, but population vaccination schedules have not yet been introduced worldwide. Vaccination programmes, including those in several sub-Saharan countries, have been successful in significantly relieving the burden of disease. Uganda, which has one of the highest rotavirus-associated death rates in the world, is scheduled to introduce the vaccine into its national schedule during 2016. As such, it seems an appropriate time to assess the current epidemiological status of rotavirus infection in Uganda, and to discuss important factors that must be considered in the implementation of the vaccine. These factors include cost-effectiveness and a dosing schedule for maximal efficacy, while minimising potential dangerous side effects like intussusception. If implemented properly and effectively, the rotavirus vaccine stands to save millions of lives in Uganda and around the world. </p