Apolipoprotein J is a hepatokine regulating muscle glucose metabolism and insulin sensitivity

Crosstalk between liver and skeletal muscle is vital for glucose homeostasis. Hepatokines, liver-derived proteins that play an important role in regulating muscle metabolism, are important to this communication. Here we identify apolipoprotein J (ApoJ) as a novel hepatokine targeting muscle glucose metabolism and insulin sensitivity through a low-density lipoprotein receptor-related protein-2 (LRP2)-dependent mechanism, coupled with the insulin receptor (IR) signaling cascade. In muscle, LRP2 is necessary for insulin-dependent IR internalization, an initial trigger for insulin signaling, that is crucial in regulating downstream signaling and glucose uptake. Of physiologic significance, deletion of hepatic ApoJ or muscle LRP2 causes insulin resistance and glucose intolerance. In patients with polycystic ovary syndrome and insulin resistance, pioglitazone-induced improvement of insulin action is associated with an increase in muscle ApoJ and LRP2 expression. Thus, the ApoJ-LRP2 axis is a novel endocrine circuit that is central to the maintenance of normal glucose homeostasis and insulin sensitivity

Diluted Magnetic Semiconductors Nanocrystals: Saturation and Modulation

Diluted Magnetic Semiconductor (DMS) nanocrystals are a new class of materials formed by doping the semiconductor with transition metals (TM), which gives interesting magneto-optical properties. These properties are attributed to the exchange interaction between the pure semiconductor’s sp-electrons and the localized TM d-electrons. This book chapter shows exciting results of new DMS developed by the group, both in powder form and embedded in glassy systems. Depending on the concentration of doping ions, saturation of the incorporation of substitutional and interstitial sites in the nanocrystal structure may occur, forming other nanocrystals. In this context, we investigated the doping saturation limit in nanopowders of DMS Zn1-xMnxO NCs and Zn1-xMnxTe, Zn0.99-xMn0.01CoxTe, and Bi2-xCoxS NCs synthesized in glassy matrices. Thus, the sites’ saturation into the crystalline lattice of nanocrystals is a topic little reported in the literature, and we will comment on this work. Therefore, we will show results from the group about the modulation and saturation in diluted magnetic semiconductors nanocrystals in this work

Transitions of cardio-metabolic risk factors in the Americas between 1980 and 2014

Describing the prevalence and trends of cardiometabolic risk factors that are associated with non-communicable diseases (NCDs) is crucial for monitoring progress, planning prevention, and providing evidence to support policy efforts. We aimed to analyse the transition in body-mass index (BMI), obesity, blood pressure, raised blood pressure, and diabetes in the Americas, between 1980 and 2014