Chronic Administration of the Glucagon-Like Peptide-1 Analog, Liraglutide, Delays the Onset of Diabetes and Lowers Triglycerides in UCD-T2DM Rats

ObjectiveThe efficacy of liraglutide, a human glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) analog, to prevent or delay diabetes in UCD-T2DM rats, a model of polygenic obese type 2 diabetes, was investigated.Research design and methodsAt 2 months of age, male rats were divided into three groups: control, food-restricted, and liraglutide. Animals received liraglutide (0.2 mg/kg s.c.) or vehicle injections twice daily. Restricted rats were food restricted to equalize body weights to liraglutide-treated rats. Half of the animals were followed until diabetes onset, whereas the other half of the animals were killed at 6.5 months of age for tissue collection.ResultsBefore diabetes onset energy intake, body weight, adiposity, and liver triglyceride content were higher in control animals compared with restricted and liraglutide-treated rats. Energy-restricted animals had lower food intake than liraglutide-treated animals to maintain the same body weights, suggesting that liraglutide increases energy expenditure. Liraglutide treatment delayed diabetes onset by 4.1 ± 0.8 months compared with control (P < 0.0001) and by 1.3 ± 0.8 months compared with restricted animals (P < 0.05). Up to 6 months of age, energy restriction and liraglutide treatment lowered fasting plasma glucose and A1C concentrations compared with control animals. In contrast, liraglutide-treated animals exhibited lower fasting plasma insulin, glucagon, and triglycerides compared with both control and restricted animals. Furthermore, energy-restricted and liraglutide-treated animals exhibited more normal islet morphology.ConclusionsLiraglutide treatment delays the development of diabetes in UCD-T2DM rats by reducing energy intake and body weight, and by improving insulin sensitivity, improving lipid profiles, and maintaining islet morphology

A novel glucose-responsive element in the human insulin gene functions uniquely in primary cultured islets

Insulin gene transcription is limited to the beta cells within the mammalian pancreas and, like insulin secretion, is regulated by glucose. Our previous studies in primary cultured beta cells suggested the presence of a strong glucose-responsive enhancer element between base pairs −341 and −260 of the human insulin promoter, the same region in which a transcriptional repressor had been identified in beta-cell tumor lines. In an attempt to map these promoter activities and resolve these conflicting data, we designed minienhancer constructs spanning this region, and tested them in primary cultured and immortalized cells. One sequence, the Z element (base pairs −292 to −243), functions as both a potent glucose-responsive transcriptional enhancer in primary cultured islet cells and as a transcriptional repressor in immortalized beta and nonbeta cells and in primary fibroblasts. In addition, the Z element binds a novel glucose-responsive protein complex that is found in the nuclei of primary cultured islet cells, but not in the nuclei of tumor cells or primary cultured fibroblasts. These data demonstrate a critical role for the Z element in human insulin gene transcription and its regulation by glucose

Use systems pharmacology modeling to elucidate the operating characteristics of SGLT1 and SGLT2 in renal glucose reabsorption in humans

In the kidney, glucose in glomerular filtrate is reabsorbed primarily by sodium-glucose cotransporters 1 (SGLT1) and 2 (SGLT2) along the proximal tubules. SGLT2 has been characterized as a high capacity, low affinity pathway responsible for reabsorption of the majority of filtered glucose in the early part of proximal tubules, and SGLT1 reabsorbs the residual glucose in the distal part. Inhibition of SGLT2 is a viable mechanism for removing glucose from the body and improving glycemic control in patients with diabetes. Despite demonstrating high levels (in excess of 80%) of inhibition of glucose transport by SGLT2 in vitro, potent SGLT2 inhibitors, e.g., dapagliflozin and canagliflozin, inhibit renal glucose reabsorption by only 30-50% in clinical studies. Hypotheses for this apparent paradox are mostly focused on the compensatory effect of SGLT1. The paradox has been explained and the role of SGLT1 demonstrated in the mouse, but direct data in humans are lacking. To further explore the roles of SGLT1/2 in renal glucose reabsorption in humans, we developed a systems pharmacology model with emphasis on SGLT1/2 mediated glucose reabsorption and the effects of SGLT2 inhibition. The model was calibrated using robust clinical data in the absence or presence of dapagliflozin (DeFronzo et al. data (2013)), and evaluated against clinical data from the literature (Mogensen, 1971;Wolf et al., 2009;Polidori et al., 2013). The model adequately described all four data sets. Simulations using the model clarified the operating characteristics of SGLT1/2 in humans in the healthy and diabetic state with or without SGLT2 inhibition. The modeling and simulations support our proposition that the apparent moderate, 30-50% inhibition of renal glucose reabsorption observed with potent SGLT2 inhibitors is a combined result of two physiological determinants: SGLT1 compensation and residual SGLT2 activity. This model will enable in silico inferences and predictions related to SGLT1/2 modula

Supplementation with EPA or fish oil for 11 months lowers circulating lipids, but does not delay the onset of diabetes in UC Davis-type 2 diabetes mellitus rats.

EPA or fish oil supplementation has been suggested as treatments for the prevention of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) due to their lipid-lowering and potential insulin-sensitising effects. We investigated the effects of supplementation with EPA (1 g/kg body weight per d) or fish oil (3 g/kg body weight per d) on the age of onset of T2DM and circulating glucose, insulin, lipids, leptin and adiponectin in UC Davis (UCD)-T2DM rats. Animals were divided into three groups starting at 1 month of age: control, EPA and fish oil. All the animals were followed until diabetes onset or for up to 12 months of age. Monthly fasting blood samples were collected for the measurement of glucose, lipids, hormones and C-reactive protein (CRP). Neither EPA nor fish oil delayed the onset of T2DM or altered fasting plasma glucose, insulin, CRP, adiponectin or leptin concentrations. The groups did not differ in energy intake or body weight. Fish oil treatment lowered fasting plasma TAG concentrations by 39 (sd 7) % (P < 0.001) and EPA lowered fasting plasma NEFA concentrations by 23 (sd 5) % (P < 0.05) at 4 months of age compared with the control group. EPA and fish oil lowered fasting plasma cholesterol concentrations at 4 months of age by 19 (sd 4) and 22 (sd 4) % compared with the control group, respectively (both P < 0.01). In conclusion, EPA and fish oil supplementation lowers circulating lipid concentrations, but does not delay the onset of T2DM in UCD-T2DM rats

Tunnelman luominen tanssiteoksen ilmeeseen

Opinnäytetyön teemana ovat lapsuuden painajaiset. Kyseessä on taiteellinen produk-tio, joka tarkastelee painajaisten, katoamisen ja näkymisen teemaa liikekielen, kuvan ja typografian keinoin. Usean kuukauden kestänyt projekti edellytti syvää paneutumista aiheeseen. Työ on saanut vaikutteita musiikin, kirjallisuuden ja elokuvateollisuuden kauhugenrestä. Opinnäytetyön tutkielma käsittelee tunnelman luomista tanssiteoksen ilmeessä. Kirjal-linen osio jakautuu kahteen päälukuun: tanssiteoksen visuaaliseen ilmeeseen ja esityk-seen. Graafiseen ilmeeseen lukeutuvat juliste, käsiohjelma, kutsukortti, notaatio ja In-ternet-sivut. Tanssiteoksen suunnitteluun kuuluvat koreografia, lavastus, puvustus ja äänisuunnittelu. Teoksen tekniseen toteutukseen on saatu apua Kymenlaakson ammat-tikorkeakoulun audiovisuaalisen ilmaisun opiskelijoilta. Työn tarkoituksena oli päästä eroon pimeän peloista ja öisin mielikuviin ilmestyvistä mustista hahmoista. Tutkimukseen on kerätty materiaalia lukemalla kirjallisuutta, haastattelemalla ihmisiä, tutustumalla kauhugenreen ja syventymällä omiin painajaiskokemuksiin. Inspiraation lähteinä ovat erityisesti olleet lähiympäristössä tapahtuneet yliluonnolliset ilmiöt ja kauhutarinat. Lopputuloksena tunnelma ei korostunut ainoastaan konkreettisesti vaan myös aineet-tomasti. Prosessin seurauksena tanssiteokseen syntyi sekä fyysinen tila, jossa kauhu nähtiin, että henkinen tila, jossa kauhu aistittiin. Unien pelkotilat ja pimeässä muodos-tuneet hahmot alkoivat vähitellen kadota, kun turtuminen kauhumaailmaan sai otteen.To begin with, the thesis was inspired by fear. In other words, the theme of the thesis was based on childhood nightmares and traumatic memories. All the words, sentences and images have arisen after two months of paranormal research. The thesis was divided into two parts: the visual identity of the contemporary dance show and the dance performance. A poster, a brochure, an invitation card, a notation and an Internet website were included in the visual identity. Theatrical elements, such as choreography, staging, costumes and sound design were included in the dance per-formance. However, the thesis focuses on describing the atmosphere in the visualiza-tion of the dance performance. The main goal of the process was to release the sensi-tive mind and to get rid of the fear of darkness and imaginary creatures. The material for the thesis was collected by reading literature, interviewing people, experiencing dreams and getting absorbed in the horror genre. The performance was inspired by ghost stories and supernatural phenomena in a real life. The atmosphere highlighted not only in a physical but also in a mental way. Eventu-ally, instead of only one stage, two scenes arose as a result of the process. The first one was regarded as a physical scene where horror was seen. The second one was considered a mental scene where the images of nightmare stemmed from. The fear of darkness alleviated due to the examination of the theme and becoming numb for the genre. Little by little, imaginary creatures came to be regarded as insignificant

Twenty-four-hour endocrine and metabolic profiles following consumption of high-fructose corn syrup-, sucrose-, fructose-, and glucose-sweetened beverages with meals.

BackgroundWe have reported that, compared with glucose-sweetened beverages, consuming fructose-sweetened beverages with meals results in lower 24-h circulating glucose, insulin, and leptin concentrations and elevated triacylglycerol (TG). However, pure fructose and glucose are not commonly used as sweeteners. High-fructose corn syrup (HFCS) has replaced sucrose as the predominant sweetener in beverages in the United States.ObjectiveWe compared the metabolic/endocrine effects of HFCS with sucrose and, in a subset of subjects, with pure fructose and glucose.DesignThirty-four men and women consumed 3 isocaloric meals with either sucrose- or HFCS-sweetened beverages, and blood samples were collected over 24 h. Eight of the male subjects were also studied when fructose- or glucose-sweetened beverages were consumed.ResultsIn 34 subjects, 24-h glucose, insulin, leptin, ghrelin, and TG profiles were similar between days that sucrose or HFCS was consumed. Postprandial TG excursions after HFCS or sucrose were larger in men than in women. In the men in whom the effects of 4 sweeteners were compared, the 24-h glucose and insulin responses induced by HFCS and sucrose were intermediate between the lower responses during consumption of fructose and the higher responses during glucose. Unexpectedly, postprandial TG profiles after HFCS or sucrose were not intermediate but comparably high as after pure fructose.ConclusionsSucrose and HFCS do not have substantially different short-term endocrine/metabolic effects. In male subjects, short-term consumption of sucrose and HFCS resulted in postprandial TG responses comparable to those induced by fructose

Effects of Fructose or Glucose on Circulating ApoCIII and Triglyceride and Cholesterol Content of Lipoprotein Subfractions in Humans.

ApoCIII and triglyceride (TG)-rich lipoproteins (TRL), particularly, large TG-rich lipoproteins particles, have been described as important mediators of cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk. The effects of sustained consumption of dietary fructose compared with those of sustained glucose consumption on circulating apoCIII and large TRL particles have not been reported. We measured apoCIII concentrations and the TG and cholesterol content of lipoprotein subfractions separated by size in fasting and postprandial plasma collected from men and women (age: 54 ± 8 years) before and after they consumed glucose- or fructose-sweetened beverages for 10 weeks. The subjects consuming fructose exhibited higher fasting and postprandial plasma apoCIII concentrations than the subjects consuming glucose (p < 0.05 for both). They also had higher concentrations of postprandial TG in all TRL subfractions (p < 0.05, effect of sugar), with the highest increases occurring in the largest TRL particles (p < 0.0001 for fructose linear trend). Compared to glucose consumption, fructose consumption increased postprandial TG in low-density lipoprotein (LDL) particles (p < 0.05, effect of sugar), especially in the smaller particles (p < 0.0001 for fructose linear trend). The increases of both postprandial apoCIII and TG in large TRL subfractions were associated with fructose-induced increases of fasting cholesterol in the smaller LDL particles. In conclusion, 10 weeks of fructose consumption increased the circulating apoCIII and postprandial concentrations of large TRL particles compared with glucose consumption