Levels of acylation stimulating protein in obese women before and after moderate weight loss

Acylation stimulating protein (ASP) is a small (MW 14,000) basic (pI 9.0) protein which has only recently been purified from human plasma. Since ASP is the most potent known stimulant of triglyceride synthesis in human adipose tissue, the present study was designed to determine if plasma ASP was elevated in patients with moderate obesity, and if so, whether this level changed with weight loss. Fasting plasma ASP levels were determined by competitive ELISA immunoassay in 10 obese women before weight loss, immediately after weight loss, and 3 months after maintaining weight reduction. Their plasma ASP results were compared to 17 age and sex-matched lean controls. With weight loss, plasma ASP decreased significantly: 19.6 +/- 10.7 mg/dl before weight loss vs 15.0 +/- 9.5 mg/dl after weight loss vs 13.8 +/- 7.7 mg/dl 3 months after being weight stable, P less than 0.05 initial vs final value. Nevertheless, plasma ASP was significantly higher than the control value at all three times. Thus, before weight loss, the average ASP in the obese group was four times that in the control group (19.6 +/- 10.7 vs 5.1 +/- 3.6 mg/dl, P less than 0.0005) while even 3 months after weight loss, it remained almost three times above the control group (13.8 +/- 7.7 vs 5.1 +/- 3.6 mg/dl, P less than 0.0005). The data suggest, therefore, that an elevated plasma level of ASP is common in obesity, that the level of plasma ASP may reflect the fat cell mass present in an individual, and raises the possibilities that ASP may play a role in initiation or maintenance of the obese state.     

Recent Sexual Trauma and Adverse Health and Occupational Outcomes Among U.S. Service Women

Sexual trauma is prevalent among military women, but data on potential effects are needed. The association of sexual trauma with health and occupational outcomes was investigated using longitudinal data from the Millennium Cohort Study. Of 13,001 U.S. service women, 1,364 (10.5%) reported recent sexual harassment and 374 (2.9%) recent sexual assault. Women reporting recent sexual harassment or assault were more likely to report poorer mental health: OR = 1.96, 95% CI [1.71, 2.25], and OR = 3.45, 95% CI [2.67, 4.44], respectively. They reported poorer physical health: OR = 1.39, 95% CI [1.20, 1.62], and OR = 1.39, 95% CI [1.04, 1.85], respectively. They reported difficulties in work/activities due to emotional health: OR = 1.80, 95% CI [1.59, 2.04], and OR = 2.70, 95% CI [2.12, 3.44], respectively. They also reported difficulties with physical health: OR = 1.55, 95% CI [1.37, 1.75], and OR = 1.52 95% CI [1.20, 1.91], respectively, after adjustment for demographic, military, health, and prior sexual trauma characteristics. Recent sexual harassment was associated with demotion, OR = 1.47, 95% CI [1.12, 1.93]. Findings demonstrated that sexual trauma represents a potential threat to military operational readiness and draws attention to the importance of prevention strategies and services to reduce the burden of sexual trauma on military victims.     

Intravenous nitroglycerin suppresses exercise-induced arrhythmias in patients with ischaemic heart disease: implications for long-term treatment.

We studied 20 patients with ischaemic heart disease, who consistently developed complex ventricular arrhythmias during exercise testing. Treadmill exercise was performed twice, both during the placebo infusion and then during intravenous administration of nitroglycerin, titrated to reduce systolic blood pressure by 10 mmHg. Exercise duration in those administered placebo was 7.8 +/- 1.7 and 7.9 +/- 1.5 min, respectively (ns); angina developed in five patients and ischaemic ST changes in 10. In those administered nitroglycerin, exercise duration increased to 8.4 +/- 2 min (P less than 0.05). Diagnostic ST segment depression was observed in only two patients and only one had angina. Ventricular arrhythmias, consistently present during both tests on those administered placebo, were dramatically reduced by nitroglycerin in all 20 patients. There were 455 (mean 35.8 +/- 16.8) and 418 (mean 34.4 +/- 11.1) ventricular ectopic beats in the two exercise tests on those administered placebo and 11 in those receiving the nitroglycerin infusion (mean 0.6 +/- 0.1) (P less than 0.001). There were 28 and 29 couplets in those receiving placebo (ns) and none in those receiving nitroglycerin (P less than 0.001). Ventricular tachycardia was present in six and eight patients who received placebo but in none in those administered nitroglycerin (P less than 0.001). Abolition of exercise-induced arrhythmias was maintained during chronic treatment with oral coronary vasodilators. Prevention of exercise-related arrhythmias by nitroglycerin appears a good indicator of their ischaemic origin and may provide valuable information for long-term prophylaxis with oral vasodilators, thus avoiding antiarrhythmic agents with their potential side effects.     

Endogenous testosterone density is an independent predictor of pelvic lymph node invasion in high-risk prostate cancer: results in 201 consecutive patients treated with radical prostatectomy and extended pelvic lymph node dissection

International Urology and Nephrology - To evaluate the influence of endogenous testosterone density (ETD) on pelvic lymph node invasion (PLNI) in high risk (HR) prostate cancer (PCa) treated with...     

Growth patterns during childhood and the relationship with acylation‐stimulating protein

Background/Objectives Acylation‐stimulating protein (ASP) is an adipose tissue‐derived hormone, which stimulates glucose and free fatty acid (FFA) uptake into adipocytes. Changes in ASP metabolism are associated with alterations in lipid metabolism. As postnatal catch‐up growth has been associated with dyslipidaemia in later life, we investigated the association between ASP and birth size, adult size and different growth patterns during childhood. Methods The associations were investigated by multiple regression analyses in 285 young adults, aged 18–24. Subsequently, differences in ASP were analysed in four clinically relevant subgroups, young adults either born small for gestational age with short stature (SGA‐S) or with catch‐up growth (SGA‐CU), or born appropriate for gestational age with idiopathic short stature (ISS) or with normal stature (controls). Results Weight gain during childhood, particularly fat accumulation, was positively related to ASP levels in early adulthood, independent of birth size, age and gender. Foetal growth, reflected by birth size, was not related to ASP levels. Between the subgroups, no differences in ASP were found, but SGA‐CU and ISS subjects had significantly higher levels of FFA. Conclusion Exaggerated weight gain during childhood, but not foetal growth, contributes to alterations in ASP metabolism, which may be associated with impaired FFA uptake and delayed triglycerides clearance. Therefore, exaggerated weight gain during childhood should be prevented.     

Addition of glucose to an oral fat load reduces postprandial free fatty acids and prevents the postprandial increase in complement component 3

BACKGROUND: Elevated fasting plasma concentrations of complement component 3 (C3) are associated with elevated fasting and postprandial triacylglycerol concentrations, insulin resistance, obesity, and coronary artery disease. C3 is the central component of the complement system and the precursor of acylation-stimulating protein (ASP). Insulin and ASP are principal determinants of free fatty acid (FFA) trapping by adipose tissue. OBJECTIVE: Because controversy exists concerning postprandial changes in C3 and because meal composition may influence complement activation, we studied postprandial lipemia in relation to changes in plasma C3. DESIGN: After an overnight fast, 6 healthy men ( +/- SD age: 23 +/- 2 y) underwent 4 oral liquid challenges: fat (50 g/m(2) body surface), glucose (37.5 g/m(2)), fat and glucose (mixed test), and water (as a control test) in a random, crossover design. RESULTS: Plasma ASP concentrations did not change postprandially in any test. Changes in C3 concentration were observed only after the fat challenge: elevated concentrations occurred between 1 and 3 h, and a maximum increase of 11% occurred at 2 h (P = 0.05). Postprandial triacylglycerolemia did not differ significantly between the fat and mixed tests. The FFA response after the fat challenge was the highest of all the tests (P < 0.05 for all comparisons) and was accompanied by an increase in ketone bodies (maximum at 6 h); this increase did not occur after the mixed test, which suggests less hepatic FFA delivery. CONCLUSIONS: When glucose is added to an oral fat load, the postprandial FFA response is reduced, and the fat-specific increase in C3 is prevented. After ingestion of fat without glucose, the lack of insulin response may lead to C3-mediated peripheral FFA trapping, which probably serves as a backup system in case of insufficient or inefficient insulin-dependent FFA trapping.     

Effect of curriculum reform on graduating student performance

With the aim of evaluating the efficacy of a new curriculum implemented in the Faculty of Medicine of Ribeir?o Preto (University of S?o Paulo, Brazil), a yearly objective assessment of both cognitive and practical skills of undergraduate (sixth year) students was performed. All graduating student underwent a multiple-choice questions (MCQs) test and groups of 18-20 students were randomly assigned to OSCEs for either clinical (real and standardized patients) or procedure (manikins) skills. The average MCQs score for the students graduating in the new curriculum (63.1, SD = 8.9, n = 261) was significantly higher (p < 0.001) than for the previous curriculum (55.3, SD = 8.1, n = 222). Results for practical exams showed that the new curriculum was associated with significantly improved performance in five out of the six stations for procedure skills, but in only two of the 10 clinical skills stations. Final evaluation of graduating students revealed deficiencies in the local curriculum and may serve as a guide to take measures to correct them.     

肾脏疾病儿童血浆促酰化蛋白水平测定的意义

目的 探讨肾脏疾病儿童血浆促酰化蛋白(ASP)与血浆C,、非酯化脂肪酸(NEFA)及血脂的关系.方法 肾脏疾病组48例,健康对照组279例.将48例肾脏疾病儿童分为3组:1.急性链球菌感染后肾小球肾炎(APSGN)组12例;2.狼疮性肾炎(LN)组4例;3.肾病综合征(Ns)组32例.用ELISA方法 检测各组血浆ASP水平,酶学比色法测定其NEFA水平,用酶学比浊法检测其血浆C3、血脂等生化指标.数据采用GraphPad Prism 4.0软件进行统计学分析.结果 1.APSGN组(81.8±24.8)nmol/L、LN组(90.9 ±28.2)nmoL/L和Ns组(101.4 ±399)nmolL血浆ASP水平明显高于健康对照组[(44.3±25.2)mnol/L P.<0.01];APSGN和LN组血浆C3,水平均低于健康对照组(Pa<0.05),Ns组与健康对照组比较C3,无明显变化.2.肾脏疾病各组存在一定程度血脂代谢紊乱.APSGN组血浆三酰甘油(TG)水平高于健康对照组,但无统计学差异(P>0.05),而高密度脂蛋白胆固醇(HDL-C)显著低于健康对照组(P<0.001).LN和NS组存在显著高TG、高TC和高低密度脂蛋白胆固醇(LDL-C)血症,LN组患儿还存在低血浆HDL-C水平(P<0.001),载脂蛋白(Apo)A和ApoB升高仅见于Ns组(P<0.01,0.001);各组NEFA水平无显著变化.3.肾脏疾病患儿血浆ASP水平与TG(r=0.301 P相似文献