Serum nesfatin-1 levels in overt and subclinical hyperthyroidism.

AIM: Nesfatin-1 was recently discovered anorexigenic peptide in the brain which is derived from nucleobindin-2. Central and peripheral administration of nesfatin-1, inhibits food intake, dose-dependently. Hyperthyroid patients have increased appetite and food intake with a craving for carbohydrate-rich food, at the beginning of disease, but the physiological mechanisms underlying this behavior is not known exactly. In this study, we investigated whether nesfatin-1 is involved in the regulation of appetite and body weight in hyperthyroidism, or not. METHODS: A total of 70 patients with subclinical (35) and overt hyperthyroidism (35) compared with 35 control patients. Serum nesfatin-1 level was measured from all samples by commercial ELISA kit. RESULTS: Serum nesfatin-1 levels were similar between three groups (P=0.293). After adjusting for age and body mass index, nesfatin-1 levels in control group was not different from subclinical and overt hyperthyroid group, respectively (P=0.567 and P=0.519). CONCLUSION: These data showed that serum nesfatin-1 levels do not significant change in overt and subclinical hyperthyroidism.

Relationship of vaspin and apelin levels with insulin resistance and atherosclerosis in metabolic syndrome.

AIMS: We aimed to investigate, circulating vaspin, apelin-12 and apelin-36 levels in subjects with metabolic syndrome (MetS) and also to search for the association of vaspin and apelin levels with insulin resistance (IR), high sensitivity C-reactive protein (HsCRP), Carotid Artery Intima-Media Thickness (CIMT) and cardiovascular risk factors. METHODS: In this observational case-control study, a total of forty one patients with MetS (30 women and 11 men mean age, 41.3±9.4 years) and thirty nine healthy comparison subjects (27 women and 12 men; mean age, 38.4±6.1 years) were enrolled. Serum HsCRP, lipid profile, insulin levels and the homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) were evaluated. Apelin-12, apelin-36 and vaspin serum levels were measured via ELISA. High-resolution B-mode ultrasonography was performed. RESULTS: The two study groups did not differ as to age, sex, blood pressure, smoking history. Vaspin, apelin-12 and apelin-36 levels were significantly elevated in patients with MetS when compared with that of control subjects (P<0.001). Serum vaspin levels showed a statistically significant association with CIMT (r=0.365, P<0.001) and HsCRP (r=0.316, P<0.01) levels, whereas both serum apelin-12 and 36 levels were positively correlated with HOMA-IR (r=0.344/0.462 P<0.01). CONCLUSION: Based on the findings of this study, Serum vaspin and apelin levels were found significantly higher in patients with MetS than age-matched control subjects and significantly associated with coronary atherosclerosis. These adipocytokines might play a part in the pathogenesis of MetS. Also serum Apelin levels can be used as specific markers for insulin sensitivity in patients with MetS.

Cardiovascular risk factors, carotid artery intima media thickness, and HSCRP levels in patients with impaired glucose metabolism.

AIM: The aim of this paper was to compare serum high sensitivity C-reactive protein (HsCRP) levels and carotid artery intima-media thickness (CIMT) of patients with impaired glucose tolerance (IGT) or impaired fasting glucose (IFG) with that in control subjects. METHODS: Ninety-six subjects with prediabetes, 48 with IFG, of mean age 50.7±11.3 years, and 48 with IGT, of mean age 50.9±12.3 years, were enrolled, along with 44 age-, sex-, and body mass index-matched controls with normal glucose tolerance. Serum HsCRP, lipid profile, insulin levels and the homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) was evaluated. High-resolution B-mode ultrasonography was performed. RESULTS: Serum HsCRP levels were significantly elevated in pre-diabetic patients when compared with that of control subjects. Median HsCRP values were 3.1 mg/L in IFG group, 3.47 mg/L in IGT group, and 1.5 mg/L in the controls (P<0.001). CIMT was significantly higher in pre-diabetic groups than that in the control group (IFG: 0.612±0.09; IGT: 0.625±0.1; control: 0.517±0.09, P<0.001). CIMT and HsCRP levels were similar in pre-diabetic groups. CIMT values were positively correlated with HsCRP (r=0.793, P=0.000), age (r=0.435, P=0.000), waist-hip ratio (r=0.170, P=0.044), fasting plasma glucose (r=0.302, P=0.000), HOMA-IR (r=0.173, P=0.041), and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (r=0.168, P=0.047) levels. CONCLUSION: Both IFG and IGT were associated with increased cardiovascular risk as assessed by serum hsCRP levels and CIMT. In contrast to previous studies, risk appears to be the same in the two categories of prediabetes.