Increased BMR in Overweight and Obese Patients with Type 2 Diabetes may Result from an Increased Fat-free Mass

The study aimed to determine the relationships between the basal metabolic rate（BMR） and body composition of overweight and obese Chinese adults with type 2 diabetes mellitus（DM）. This cross-sectional clinical study enrolled 193 Chinese adults with type 2 DM who were overweight（24 kg/m2≤BMI〈28 kg/m2, n=99）, or obese（BMI ≥28 kg/m2, n=94）. Ninety-seven adults with normal BMIs, including 50 DM patients and 47 healthy adults, were recruited as a control group. BMR was measured by indirect calorimetry; predicted BMR was calculated according to the Schofield equation; and the relationships between BMR, body composition, and biochemical results were determined by the Pearson correlation. The results showed that obese DM patients had significantly higher BMRs than both overweight patients（P〈0.05） and patients with normal BMI did（P〈0.05）. The measured BMR was significantly lower than the predicted BMR（P〈0.05） in all groups. Obese and overweight DM patients had significantly greater weight, waist circumference, hip circumference, BMI, body surface area, body fat percentage, fat mass, and fat-free mass than patients with normal BMI. Except for waist circumference, these body composition measurements were significantly increased in obese DM patients when compared with those in overweight DM patients（P〈0.05）. Fat-free mass was closely correlated with BMR in both DM patients（r=0.874, P〈0.01） and in healthy controls（r=0.902, P〈0.01）. It was concluded that overweight and obese Chinese adults with type 2 DM had increased BMRs compared with normal-weight controls, which may result from the difference in fat-free mass.

AQR is a novel type 2 diabetes-associated gene that regulates signaling pathways critical for glucose metabolism

Type 2 diabetes mellitus（T2 DM） is a common metabolic disease influenced by both genetic and environmental factors. In this study, we performed an in-house genotyping and meta-analysis study using three independent GWAS datasets of T2 DM and found that rs3743121, located 1 kb downstream of AQR,was a novel susceptibility SNP associated with T2 DM. The risk allele C of rs3743121 was correlated with the increased expression of AQR in white blood cells, similar to that observed in T2 DM models. The knockdown of AQR in HepG2 facilitated the glucose uptake, decreased the expression level of PCK2,increased the phosphorylation of GSK-3β, and restored the insulin sensitivity. Furthermore, the suppression of AQR inhibited the mTOR pathway and the protein ubiquitination process. Our study suggests that AQR is a novel type 2 diabetes-associated gene that regulates signaling pathways critical for glucose metabolism.

Entry of hepatitis C virus into the cell: A therapeutic target

Several receptors have been identified as implicated on viral entry into the hepatocyte; and, this interaction between the virus and potential receptors could modulate infection, spontaneous viral clearance, persistence of the infection and the widespread of the virus as outbreak. Nevertheless, the playing role of each of them remains controversial. The NiemannPick type C1 like 1 gene (NPC1L1) receptor has been recently implicated on hepatitis C virus (HCV) entry into the cell and ezetimibe, an anti-cholesterol drug seems to block that, emerging the idea to control hepatitis C outbreak modulating lipid-related receptors. Hepatitis C infection seems to modulate lipid metabolism according to host genetic background. Indeed, it circulates like a lipoviroparticle. The main aim of this field of vision would be to discuss the role of hepatocyte receptors implicated on virus entry, especially NPC1L1 and the therapeutic options derived from the better knowledge about HCV-lipidsreceptors interaction.

Relationship between serum osteocalcin levels and glucolipid metabolism in elderly type 2 diabetic patients with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease

Objective To explore the relationship between serum osteocalcin levels and glucolipid metabolism in elderly type 2 diabetic patients with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease(NAFLD).Methods Data collected from 97 pa-tients with type 2 diabetes mellitus(T2DM)admitted to the Department of Geriatric Endocrinology of the First Affiliated hospital of Zhengzhou University from June

Prospective evaluation of gastric emptying using ^(13)C-octanoic breath test in relationship with the metabolic control in patients with type 1and type 2 diabetes

The aims were to prospectively evaluate the association of glycemic control (HbAlc) with gastric emptying in newly diagnosed Type 1 diabetic patients and subjects with longterm diabetes mellitus. Furthermore, the day to day variability of gastric emptying for solids should be assessed. Methods 13 C octanoic breath tests were performed in 15 type 1 diabetic subjects on two separate days within one week. The influence of metabolic control on gastric emptying was prospectively examined over a mean of 8 months in 14 patients with newly diagnosed type 1 diabetes and 44 long term diabetic patients (type 1: n=31; type 2: n=13).Patients with longterm diabetes were stratified according to their HbA 1c at follow up (group 1: HbA 1c U7.5%, n=17; group 2 HbA 1c >7.5%, n=27). 13 C octanoic breath tests were sampled with an isotope selective non dispersive infrared spectrometer. The gastric emptying parameters were calculated using nonlinear regression analysis of the time course of 13 CO 2 exhalation:half emptying time (t 1/2 ) and lag phase (t lag ). Results The intraindividuell coefficient of variation was 17.8% for t 1/2 , and 28.2% for t lag . Mean t 1/2 and t lag in newly diagnosed type 1 diabetics were normal at baseline and were significantly increased at follow up. In patients with longterm diabetes, gastric emptying was unchanged during follow up. Gastric emptying was significant delayed in group 2 compared with group 1 at baseline and follow up respectively. There was a significant correlation between HbA 1c and t 1/2 , t lag at follow up. Conclusions 13 C octanoic breath test has a relatively good reproducibility in patients with type 1 diabetes. Gastric emptying times are already significantly increased after few months in newly diagnosed type 1 diabetes. There is a more pronounced delay of gastric emptying in longterm diabetic subjects with poor compared to patients with good metabolic control.