Assessment of beta-cell function during the oral glucose tolerance test by a minimal model of insulin secretion

Objective To characterise the performance of beta -cell during a standard oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT). Design Fifty-six subjects were studied. A minimal analogic model of beta -cell secretion during the OGTT was applied to all OGTTs (see below). The amount of insulin secreted over 120' in response to oral glucose (OGTT-ISR; Insulin Units 120'(-1) m(-2) BSA) and an index of beta -cell secretory 'force' (beta -lndex; pmol.min(-2).m(-2) BSA) were computed with the aid of the model. In protocol A, 10 healthy subjects underwent two repeat 75 g OGTT with frequent (every 10(/)-15(/)) blood sampling for glucose and C-peptide to test the reproducibility of OGTT-ISR and beta -Index with a complete or a reduced data set. In protocol B, 7 healthy subjects underwent three OGTTs (50, 100 or 150 g), to test the stability of the beta -Index under different glucose loads. In protocol C, 29 subjects (15 with normal glucose tolerance, 7 with impaired glucose tolerance and 7 with newly diagnosed type 2 diabetes) underwent two repeat 75 g OGTT with reduced (every 30' for 120') blood sampling to compare the reproducibility and the discriminant ratio (DR) of OGTT-ISR and beta -index with the insulinogenic index (IG-Index: Delta Insulin (30' - Basal)/Delta Glucose (30' - Basal)). In protocol D, 20 subjects (14 with normal glucose tolerance, 5 with impaired glucose tolerance and 1 with newly-diagnosed type 2 diabetes) underwent a 75 g OGTT and an intravenous glucose tolerance test (IVGTT) on separate days to explore the relationships between acute (0'-10') insulin response (ATR) during the IVGTT and beta -index and OGTT-ISR during the OGTT. Results In all protocols, the minimal analogic model of C-peptide secretion achieved a reasonable fit of the experimental data. In protocol A, a good reproducibility of both beta -index and OGTT-ISR was observed with both complete and reduced (every 30') data sets. In protocol B, increasing the oral glucose load caused progressive increases in OGTT-ISR (from 2.63 +/- 0.70 to 5.11 +/- 0.91 Units.120'(-1).m(-2) BSA; P -index stayed the same (4.14 +/- 0.35 vs. 4.29 +/- 0.30 vs. 4.30 +/- 0.33 pmol.min(-2).m(-2) BSA). In protocol C, both OGTT-ISR and beta -index had lower day-to-day CVs (17.6 +/- 2.2 and 12.4 +/- 2.4%, respectively) and higher DRs (2.57 and 1.74, respectively) than the IG-index (CV: 35.5 +/- 6.3%; DR: 0.934). OGTT-ISR was positively correlated to BMI (P -index was inversely related to both fasting and 2 h plasma glucose (P -index, but not OGTT-ISR was significantly correlated to ATR (r = 0.542, P -cell function during the OGTT provides a simple, useful tool for the physiological assessment of beta -cell function

Local heroes and superstars - an empirical analysis of star attraction in German soccer

Recent studies of the demand for sports clearly indicate that stars play an important role in promoting fan interest. However, on theoretical grounds it is controversial if a star’s talent superiority and/or a star’s popularity drive match attendance and hence increase gate revenues. Using longitudinal match attendance data of all clubs in the first German soccer league in a 9-year period, the authors analyze star attraction of national superstars and of so-called ‘‘local heroes’’ defined as the most valued players of teams without national superstars. The authors find empirical evidence that these groups differ in the way they attract fans: whereas superstars enhance attendance both at home and on the road, the star attraction of local heroes is limited to home games. In addition, superstars attract fans by outstanding field performances, whereas local heroes facilitate fan support by mere popularity