26 research outputs found
Elevated white blood cell count is associated with prevalence and development of the metabolic syndrome and its components in the general population.
The metabolic syndrome (MS) is characterized by chronic inflammation. We aimed to determine the association of white blood cell (WBC) count with prevalence and development of the MS and its components in the general population. A cohort of 1,329 subjects from the local working population aged 41.3 \ub1 7.5 years and recruited since 2000-2008 was followed up for 4.0 \ub1 1.2 years. WBC count and MS components were determined at baseline and follow-up. To determine whether WBC predicted incident MS, we used a logistic regression analysis adjusted for demographics, baseline variables that define MS components, smoke, medications, and follow-up duration. Cross-sectionally in the whole population, WBC count increased in parallel with the number of MS components in the same individual, and the presence of each component was associated with higher WBC count. Baseline WBC count was significantly higher in subjects with prevalent MS. Among subjects without MS at baseline, those who developed MS had significantly higher WBC than those who did not develop MS at follow-up. Development of each MS component was associated with increased WBC count. WBC count remained significantly associated with MS development after correction for several potential confounders (OR for 1 SD increase in WBC 1.26; 95 % CI 1.01-1.58). In conclusion, elevated WBC is intimately linked to the prevalence and future development of the MS in a young population of working subject
Surgical removal of insulinoma restores glucose recovery from hypoglycaemia but does not normalize insulin action
In the present study we have evaluated the effects of chronic hyperinsulinaemia secondary to insulinoma, on insulin sensitivity and on counter-regulatory responses to hypoglycaemia. We studied six patients (M/F = 3/3; age = 40 +/- years), before and 6-9 months after surgical ablation of the neoplasia, by means of an euglycaemic-hyperinsulinaemic clamp (1 mU kg-1 min-1). Seven normal subjects (M/F = 4/3; age = 38 +/- 6 years) underwent the same experimental study as the control subjects. In insulinoma patients after 100 min of the euglycaemic-hyperinsulinaemic clamp, glycaemia was allowed to drop to a minimum value of 1.9 mmol L-1, and recovery evaluated after interrupting insulin infusion. During the entire study, 3-3H-glucose was infused to determine hepatic glucose production and glucose utilization. Surgical removal of the pancreatic adenoma was followed by a reduction in body weight (BMI = 25.7 +/- 1.9 vs. 23.0 +/- 1.6 kg m-2; P < 0.05), normalization of fasting plasma levels of glucose (2.94 +/- 0.16 vs. 4.83 +/- 0.11 mmol L-1), insulin (162 +/- 24 vs. 48 +/- 12 pmol L-1) and of basal hepatic glucose production (7.6 +/- 0.7 vs. 12.2 +/- 1.11 mumol kg-1 min-1). Before the operation, insulin-mediated glucose disposal was significantly lower than in the controls (30.8 +/- 3.1 vs. 49.1 +/- 3.1 mumol kg-1 min-1). Six to nine months after surgical removal of the adenoma, glucose utilization was unchanged (30.5 +/- 3.3 mumol kg-1 min-1) and still significantly lower than in controls (P < 0.01
LEUCINE KINETICS AND THE EFFECTS OF HYPERINSULINEMIA IN PATIENTS WITH CUSHINGS-SYNDROME
As muscle wasting and resistance to insulin-mediated glucose utilization are features of Cushing's syndrome (CS), we examined glucose and amino acid metabolism in six patients with CS and six normal subjects before and during euglycemic hyperinsulinemic clamp studies (plasma insulin concentrations, approximately 0.36, approximately 0.65, and approximately 10.05 mmol/L). The two groups had similar body mass index values. In the postabsorptive state, leucine and alpha-ketoisocaproate (KIC) rates of appearance (Ra), KIC oxidation, and nonoxidized leucine-carbon flux, an index of leucine entering protein (Leu----P), were comparable in CS patients [2.38 +/- 0.14 (+/- SE), 0.22 +/- 0.04, and 2.16 +/- 0.12 mumol/kg.min) and in normal subjects (2.73 +/- 0.25, 0.17 +/- 0.02, and 2.59 +/- 0.22 mumol/kg.min). During the euglycemic clamp studies the leucine and KIC Ra values, KIC oxidation, and Leu----P decreased to a similar extent in both groups. In contrast, insulin-mediated glucose utilization was impaired in the CS patients at each clamp step (P less than 0.05). In summary, postabsorptive whole body leucine metabolism is normal in patients with CS and is normally suppressed by hyperinsulinemia, indicating a dissociation in insulin sensitivity with respect to glucose and amino acid metabolis