Butyrate improves insulin sensitivity and increases energy expenditure in mice.

OBJECTIVE: We examined the role of butyric acid, a short-chain fatty acid formed by fermentation in the large intestine, in the regulation of insulin sensitivity in mice fed a high-fat diet. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS: In dietary-obese C57BL/6J mice, sodium butyrate was administrated through diet supplementation at 5% wt/wt in the high-fat diet. Insulin sensitivity was examined with insulin tolerance testing and homeostasis model assessment for insulin resistance. Energy metabolism was monitored in a metabolic chamber. Mitochondrial function was investigated in brown adipocytes and skeletal muscle in the mice. RESULTS: On the high-fat diet, supplementation of butyrate prevented development of insulin resistance and obesity in C57BL/6 mice. Fasting blood glucose, fasting insulin, and insulin tolerance were all preserved in the treated mice. Body fat content was maintained at 10% without a reduction in food intake. Adaptive thermogenesis and fatty acid oxidation were enhanced. An increase in mitochondrial function and biogenesis was observed in skeletal muscle and brown fat. The type I fiber was enriched in skeletal muscle. Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-gamma coactivator-1alpha expression was elevated at mRNA and protein levels. AMP kinase and p38 activities were elevated. In the obese mice, supplementation of butyrate led to an increase in insulin sensitivity and a reduction in adiposity. CONCLUSIONS: Dietary supplementation of butyrate can prevent and treat diet-induced insulin resistance in mouse. The mechanism of butyrate action is related to promotion of energy expenditure and induction of mitochondria function.

Psychoneurophysiological assessment of recovery of cognitive function in patients with asthenia during rehabilitation.

Forty patients with severe asthenia were subjected to clinical, neurological, psychometric, and neurophysiologic examination before and after Enerion therapy. Psychoneurophysiological assessment with cognitive evoked potentials P300 and psychometric tests revealed serious impairment of cognitive functions in patients before therapy (compared to healthy individuals). Enerion therapy decreased the degree of psychoautonomic syndrome and asthenia and improved cognitive functions.

Leg ulceration in the sickle cell patient.

BACKGROUND: The purpose of this study was to determine cost of care for leg ulcers in sickle cell patients and suggest an improved modality in ulcer care. STUDY DESIGN: We performed a retrospective study of a group of sickle cell disease patients with leg ulcers. RESULTS: Eighteen patients with a leg ulcer (duration: mean, 53.7 months), sickle cell disease, and a mean of 20.7 years of age had various modalities of treatment with the only consistency in healing being a commercial moist-wound dressing. CONCLUSIONS: There is no consistency in the treatment of the sickle cell patient with a leg ulcer. Treatment with a moist dressing had the best results.

Short-term assessment of 0.1% hydrocortisone 17-butyrate ('Locoid') in the treatment of skin disease.

An assessment was made of the local use of 0.1% hydrocortisone 17-butyrate in the treatment of 15 patients with a variety of skin conditions involving face and neck. Treatment was used on a short-term basis ranging from 3 to 22 days. There was marked clinical improvement of the lesions in 12 patients. The results of this short study are in accord with earlier published work and suggest that this new nonfluorinated steroid has promising potential.