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21
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Publications
Publications (21)
Context
Obesity and classical growth factors are associated with thyroid cancer (TC). However, less is known regarding novel hormones such as follistatins and activins. We hypothesized that serum follistatin but not activins would be increased in TC.
Objective
To assess circulating levels of follistatins, activins and growth factors in patients wi...
Background&Aims
To assess whether the concentrations of circulating Branched-Chain Amino Acids (BCAAs) change after walnut consumption and, whether these changes are associated with alterations in markers of insulin resistance and food preferences.
Methods
In a crossover, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study, ten subjects participate...
Aims:
Bariatric surgery leads to profound and sustainable weight loss. Gastrointestinal hormones are involved in energy and glucose homeostasis, thus postoperative changes of their circulating levels may be mediating future weight loss. To investigate how the circulating concentrations of gastrointestinal hormones change in response to the most co...
Aims:
GLP-1 analogs have recently risen to the forefront as effective medications for lowering weight through actions in the central nervous system (CNS). However, their actions in the CNS have not yet been studied in the human brain after longer-term administration at the highest dose approved for obesity (liraglutide 3.0mg).
Materials and metho...
Aims
To assess the effects of walnuts on cardiometabolic outcomes in obese subjects and to explore underlying mechanisms using novel methods including metabolomic, lipidomic, glycomic, and microbiome analysis integrated with lipid particle fractionation, appetite‐regulating hormones and hemodynamic measurements.
Materials and Methods
10 obese subj...
Lorcaserin is a serotonin 2c receptor agonist, which promotes weight loss while improving type 2 diabetes and atherogenic lipid profile without higher rates of major cardiovascular events. The full spectrum of the possible lorcaserin‐induced cardiometabolic improvements remains to be clarified. Thus, we investigated how lorcaserin administration ma...
Insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) and its binding proteins have been implicated in the pathophysiology of coronary artery disease (CAD) and myocardial infarction (MI). We investigated components of the IGF-1 system in circulation at the time of acute MI and following reperfusion in relation to levels of stable CAD patients and controls. Patients...
Background:
We have previously demonstrated that the adipose tissue derived hormone leptin controls reproductive function by regulating the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis in response to energy deficiency. Here, we evaluate the activins-follistatins-inhibins (AFI) axis during acute (short-term fasting in healthy people) and chronic energy defi...
Objective:
To investigate the associations between irisin and leptin levels in obesity and insulin resistance in a cross sectional study. To assess the potential role of irisin and leptin as a predictive marker of T2DM using a nested case-control study.
Methods:
Both studies were designed within the longitudinal VA NAS cohort. The cross sectiona...
Obesity is a complex disease with many causal factors, associated with multiple comorbidities that contribute to significant morbidity and mortality. It is a highly prevalent disease that poses an enormous health and economic burden to society. This article reviews the mechanisms of obesity and its related comorbidities.
Type 2 diabetes (T2DM) is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide and a major economic burden. The prevalence of T2DM is rising, suggesting more effective prevention and treatment strategies are necessary. The aim of this narrative review is to summarize the pharmacologic treatment options available for patients with T2DM. Each therape...
Metabolic syndrome is a cluster of cardiovascular risk factors defined by the presence of abdominal obesity, glucose intolerance, hypertension and/or dyslipidemia. It is a major public health epidemic worldwide, and a known risk factor for the development of cognitive dysfunction and dementia. Several studies have demonstrated a positive associatio...
Aims:
The use of walnuts is recommended for obesity and type 2 diabetes, although the mechanisms through which walnuts may improve appetite and/or glycemic control remain largely unknown.
Materials and methods:
To determine whether short-term walnut consumption could alter the neural control of appetite using functional magnetic resonance imagin...
Background
Insulin Growth Factor Binding Protein 4 (IGFBP-4), Stanniocalcin-2 (STC-2) and Pregnancy- Associated Plasma Protein-A (PAPP-A) have a well-documented involvement in several physiological functions in humans but predictors of their circulating levels remain largely unknown. We aimed to identify anthropometric and biochemical parameters as...
Background:
Several myokines are produced by cardiac muscle. We investigated changes in myokine levels at the time of acute myocardial infarction (MI) and following reperfusion in relation to controls.
Methods:
Patients with MI (MI Group, n=31) treated with percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) were compared to patients with stable coronary a...
Context:
Type B insulin resistance syndrome is a rare disease which occurs due to the development of autoantibodies to the insulin receptor and can result in either severe insulin resistance and hyperglycemia or conversely hypoglycemia. Diabetes mellitus is often severe, usually transient and poorly responsive to exogenous insulin. Diabetic ketoac...
Lorcaserin is a serotonin 5-hydroxytryptamine 2c receptor agonist effective in treating obesity. Studies in rodents have shown that lorcaserin acts in the brain to exert its weight-reducing effects, but this has not yet been studied in humans. We performed a randomized, placebocontrolled, double-blind trial with 48 obese participants and used funct...
Background: Clostridium difficile infection (CDI) continues to manifest with increasing incidence and severity. High rates of relapses even in patients treated appropriately with metronidazole and / or oral vancomycin have led to increased hospital readmissions, morbidity and mortality. The search for a " cure " has resulted in research towards alt...
