Neuropeptide Y and Metabolism Syndrome: An Update on Perspectives of Clinical Therapeutic Intervention Strategies

Through the past decade of research, the pathogenic mechanisms underlying metabolic syndrome have been suggested to involve not only the peripheral tissues, but also central metabolic regulation imbalances. The hypothalamus, and the arcuate nucleus in particular, is the control center for metabolic homeostasis and energy balance. Neuropeptide Y neurons are particularly abundantly expressed in the arcuate of the hypothalamus, where the blood-brain barrier is weak, such as to critically integrate peripheral metabolic signals with the brain center. Herein, focusing on metabolic syndrome, this manuscript aims to provide an overview of the regulatory effects of Neuropeptide Y on metabolic syndrome and discuss clinical intervention strategy perspectives for neurometabolic disease.

Association Between Erythrocyte Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids and Incidence of Metabolism Syndrome and Subclinical Carotid Atherosclerosis: A Population Prospective Study (OR19-08-19)

Objectives Previous studies have suggested that polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) levels may be inversely associated with metabolism syndrome (MS) and atherosclerosis (AS). And yet, null results from recent long-term randomized clinical trials and meta-analysis threw an uncertainty to the cardioprotective benefits of n-3 and n-6 PUFAs. We prospectively examined the associations between erythrocyte PUFAs levels and MS and carotid AS and the intermediary effects of retinol-binding protein 4 (RBP4). Methods This prospective study recruited 4040 participants (40-75 years old) in 2008–2013. Follow-up examinations were performed every 3 years. We assessed erythrocyte PUFAs proportion at baseline and determined serum RBP4 at the first follow-up. The carotid intima-media thickness (IMT) at the common carotid artery (CCA) and bifurcation of the carotid artery (BIF) were measured by B-mode ultrasound at baseline and the first follow-up. Results A total of 2745 participants were included in the analysis. The multivariable adjusted hazards ratios (HRs) [95% confidence interval (CI)] of incidence of MS for the top (vs. lowest) tertile of erythrocyte PUFA were 0.71 (0.59, 0.86) (docosahexaenoic acid, DHA), 0.78 (0.65, 0.95) (docosapentaenoic acid, DPA) for n-3 PUFAs and 0.57 (0.47, 0.69) (arachidonic acid, ARA) and 0.75 (0.62, 0.91) (dodecylthioacetic acid, DTA) for n-6 PUFAs (all Ps trend < 0.05) during the 5.4-year follow-up. Similarly, erythrocyte DPA and DHA, ARA, DTA were significantly inversely and dose-dependently associated with incidence of carotid AS (Ptrend < 0.001 to 0.033). While a positive association of gamma-linolenic acid (GLA) was found with both incidence of MS and carotid AS. Pathway analyses indicated DHA and ARA to MS and AS associations were mediated by lowering serum RBP4, which were positively associated with MS and AS risk. Conclusions Higher erythrocyte DPA, DHA (n-3 PUFA) and ARA, DTA (n-6 PUFA) but lower GLA were associated with incidence of MS and AS. Inverse association linking DHA, LA and ARA to incidence of MS and AS was mediated by reducing serum RBP4. Potential differences in the cardiovascular disease effects of different types of circulating PUFAs were suggested. Funding Sources This study was jointly supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (No. 81472965, 81730090, 81773416) and the 5010 Program for Clinical Researches (No. 2007032) by the Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, P. R. China. The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript. Supporting Tables, Images and/or Graphs

Interventional Effects of Weight-Loss Policy in a Healthy City among Participants with Metabolic Syndrome

This study aimed to establish a friendly environment of active living and healthy eating for citizens while promoting and increasing knowledge of healthy exercise. Acquisition of physical activity skills and citizens’ lifestyle changes result in reduction in rates of obesity and deaths related to underlying metabolism syndrome. This study used a non-experimental cross-sectional design to survey residents living in Taiwan’s rural Miaoli County. The inclusion criterion was positive screening for metabolic syndrome. In total, 2068 participants were recruited, and 1886 questionnaires (91.2%) were completed. An organization-spreading strategy and home convenient Lifestyles of Health and Sustainability tactic were applied to the assessment, promotion, evaluation, and planning of the project via an obesity-causing environmental scan, oriental synergy aerobics, acupuncture points massage, guide books, broadcasting, town-based “shape-it-station”, and a vending cart created to facilitate the acquisition of healthy foods. After the intervention, results revealed that health condition, regular exercise habits, diet behavior, metabolic syndrome cognition, and body weight became better than before. Appropriate promotion of healthy cities through public health measures may effectively reduce the threat of death due to metabolic syndrome, which in turn reduces overall, and represents successful control of a typical non-communicable disease.

Prevalence of Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease in Type II Diabetes Mellitus

Background/Aims. Patients with type II diabetes mellitus (DM) were known to have higher prevalence of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) in the Western countries, but data on the impact of GERD on DM patients in our country are scarce. The aim of this study was to evaluate the prevalence of GERD in type II DM patients in Shanghai, China, and to explore its possible risk factors.Methods. 775 type II DM cases were randomly collected. Reflux Disease Questionnaire (RDQ) was used to check the presence of GERD. Patients’ characteristics, laboratory data, face-to-face interview, nerve conduction study, and needle electromyogram (EMG) test were analyzed.Results. 16% patients were found with typical GERD symptoms. Pathophysiological factors such as peripheral neuropathy, metabolism syndrome, and obesity were found to have no significant differences between GERD and non-GERD type II DM patients in the present study.Conclusion. The prevalence of GERD in type II DM patients is higher than that in adult inhabitants in Shanghai, China. No difference in pathophysiological factors, such as peripheral neuropathy, and metabolism syndrome was found in DM-GERD patients, suggesting that further study and efforts are needed to explore deeper the potential risk factors for the high prevalence rate of GERD in DM patients.

Comparison Study of Metabolic Syndrome's Differences and Diagnostic Criteria's Applicability among Xingjiang Uighur, Kazak and Han Population

Our paper is a study about metabolism syndrome (MS) incidence situations of different nationalities, including Uighur, Kazak and Han nationality in Xinjiang by means of a cross-sectional survey and compare differences and adaptabilities of applications of the diagnostic criteria for MS recommended by Adult Treatment Protocol III of National Cholesterol Education Program of America (ATP III), International Diabetes Federation (IDF) and Chinese Diabetes Society (CDS) in three groups of populations. Conclusion tell us, for Uighur population and Kazak population, IDF criterion and ATPIII criterion had a better consistence, and CDS criterion was worst. For Han population, CDS criterion and IDF criterion had a better consistence, and ATPIII criterion was worst. For the screening of MS incidence rate of Uighur and Kazak adult populations in Xinjiang region, ATPIII criterion was optimal, while CDS criterion was optimal for Han population. However, as for screening of clustering of multiple risk factors of MS, IDF criterion was better than other criteria for the three nationalities.