Pros and cons of insulin administration on liver glucose metabolism in strength-trained healthy mice.

Non-diabetic individuals use hormones like insulin to improve muscle strength and performance. However, as insulin also leads the liver and the adipose tissue to an anabolic state, the purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of insulin on liver metabolism in trained non-diabetic Swiss mice. The mice were divided into four groups: sedentary treated with saline (SS) or insulin (SI) and trained treated with saline (TS) or insulin (TI). Training was made in a vertical stair, at 90% of the maximum load, three times per week. Insulin (0.3 U/kg body weight) or saline were given intraperitoneally five times per week. After eight weeks, tissue and blood were collected and in situ liver perfusion with glycerol+lactate or alanine+glutamine (4 mM each) was carried out. The trained animals increased their muscle strength (+100%) and decreased body weight gain (-11%), subcutaneous fat (-42%), mesenteric fat (-45%), and peritoneal adipocyte size (-33%) compared with the sedentary groups. Insulin prevented the adipose effects of training (TI). The gastrocnemius muscle had greater density of muscle fibers (+60%) and less connective tissue in the trained groups. Liver glycogen was increased by insulin (SI +40% and TI +117%), as well as liver basal glucose release (TI +40%). Lactate and pyruvate release were reduced to a half by training. The greater gluconeogenesis from alanine+glutamine induced by training (TS +50%) was reversed by insulin (TI). Insulin administration had no additional effect on muscle strength and reversed some of the lipolytic and gluconeogenic effects of the resistance training. Therefore, insulin administration does not complement training in improving liver glucose metabolism.

Pros and cons of insulin administration on liver glucose metabolism in strength-trained healthy mice

Non-diabetic individuals use hormones like insulin to improve muscle strength and performance. However, as insulin also leads the liver and the adipose tissue to an anabolic state, the purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of insulin on liver metabolism in trained non-diabetic Swiss mice. The mice were divided into four groups: sedentary treated with saline (SS) or insulin (SI) and trained treated with saline (TS) or insulin (TI). Training was made in a vertical stair, at 90% of the maximum load, three times per week. Insulin (0.3 U/kg body weight) or saline were given intraperitoneally five times per week. After eight weeks, tissue and blood were collected and in situ liver perfusion with glycerol+lactate or alanine+glutamine (4 mM each) was carried out. The trained animals increased their muscle strength (+100%) and decreased body weight gain (-11%), subcutaneous fat (-42%), mesenteric fat (-45%), and peritoneal adipocyte size (-33%) compared with the sedentary groups. Insulin prevented the adipose effects of training (TI). The gastrocnemius muscle had greater density of muscle fibers (+60%) and less connective tissue in the trained groups. Liver glycogen was increased by insulin (SI +40% and TI +117%), as well as liver basal glucose release (TI +40%). Lactate and pyruvate release were reduced to a half by training. The greater gluconeogenesis from alanine+glutamine induced by training (TS +50%) was reversed by insulin (TI). Insulin administration had no additional effect on muscle strength and reversed some of the lipolytic and gluconeogenic effects of the resistance training. Therefore, insulin administration does not complement training in improving liver glucose metabolism.

Effect of acute physical exercise on patients with chronic primary insomnia.

STUDY OBJECTIVES: The aim was to assess and to compare the acute effects of three different modalities of physical exercise on sleep pattern of patients with chronic primary insomnia. METHODS: Forty-eight insomnia patients, 38 female (mean age 44.4 +/- 8 y) were randomly assigned to 4 groups: control (CTR, n=12), moderate-intensity aerobic exercise (MAE, n=12), high-intensity aerobic exercise (HAE, n=12), and moderate-intensity resistance exercise (MRE, n=12). The patients were assessed on sleep pattern (by polysomnogram and daily sleep log) and anxiety (STAI) before and after the acute exercise. RESULTS: The polysomnogram data showed reduction in the sleep onset latency (SOL) (55%) and in the total wake time (TWT) (30%); increase in total sleep time (TST) (18%), and in the sleep efficiency (SE) (13%) in the MAE group. The daily sleep log data showed increase in the TST (26%) and reduction in the SOL (39%). In addition, reduction (15%) in anxiety was also observed after moderate-intensity aerobic exercise. CONCLUSIONS: Acute moderate-intensity aerobic exercise appears to reduce pre-sleep anxiety and improve sleep in patients with chronic primary insomnia.

Bacterial infection in cirrhotic patients and its relationship with alcohol.

OBJECTIVE: Infections are regarded as a major complication and an important cause of death in cirrhotics. Alcohol is a predisposing factor to infections in such patients. This study was undertaken to compare the frequency and evolution of bacterial infection among alcoholic and nonalcoholic cirrhotics. METHODS: To observe this relationship, we retrospectively studied a cohort of 382 cirrhotic inpatients, 201 of whom were alcoholic (alcohol intake > or =80 g/day for > or =10 yr) and 181 of whom were nonalcoholic. RESULTS: A total of 128 (33.5%) patients presented with infection upon hospitalization, 78 of whom were alcoholic and 50 of whom were nonalcoholic (p = 0.02). A total of 157 cases of infection were diagnosed, with spontaneous bacterial peritonitis as the most prevalent one (54.1%), followed by pneumonia (18.5%), infection of the soft parts (10.8%), and urinary tract infection (7.0%). Infection and deaths were more frequent in patients with Child-Pugh C than in those with Child-Pugh A/B (p = 0.003, p = 0.0002 respectively). Alcoholic patients with Child-Pugh A/B were more susceptible to infection compared to nonalcoholic patients (p = 0.02), although no difference was noted as to the number of deaths (p = 0.1). With regard to patients with Child-Pugh C, no statistical difference was found in the infections or deaths among alcoholics and nonalcoholics (p = 0.8, p = 0.8). CONCLUSIONS: Our findings suggest that, despite the fact that bacterial infections are more common in cirrhotic alcoholics, its seems that the mortality rate is associated more with the severity than with the etiology of the hepatic disease.