OBJECTIVECurrently people regard polysomnography (PSG) monitoring as the golden standard for diagnosis of obstructive sleep apnea-hypopnea syndrome (OSAHS) in children. However, due to the high cost, time and manpower consuming, PSG is not applicable to epidemiological investigation and clinical screening, especially not suitable for child patients and remote hospitals in Xinjiang. Therefore, it is of important clinical significance to find out a simple method (e.g. a kind of serum index) to primarily screen out suspicious patients for early diagnosis and treatment. The present study was conducted to assess the clinical usefulness of the measurement of orexin-A concentration in serum as a diagnostic predictor to screen patients with OSAHS in children.

METHODSSerum orexin-A concentration was measured with enzyme immunoassay (EIA) kit in 60 patient with snoring before performing polysomnography (PSG). Subsequently all the subjects underwent PSG test. Forty subjects were diagnosed as having OSAHS, and twenty subjects had no OSAHS. These 20 non-OSAHS subjects served as controls. Compared with the PSG results the clinical usefulness of the measurement of orexin-A concentration in serum was assessed as a diagnostic predictor to screen patients with OSAHS. Correlation between orexin-A levels and apnea hypoventilation index (AHI), micro-arousal index (MAI) and lowest SaO2 (LSaO2) were analyzed.

RESULTSThe serum orexin-A levels in the OSAHS group [(0.49 +/- 0.10) microg/L] was significantly higher than that of the control group [(0.28 +/- 0.11) microg/L, P < 0.01]. If a patient's level of orexin-A was higher than 0.36 microg/L, the patient more likely to have OSAHS. The sensitivity rate was 85.0% and the specificity was 80.0%. Serum orexin-A levels in children with OSAHS correlated positively with the AHI (r = 0.427, P < 0.05) and MAI (r = 0.468, P < 0.05), but correlated negatively with the LSaO2 (r = -0.527, P < 0.01) and the mean oxygen saturation (MSaO2) (r = -0.541, P < 0.01), not correlated significantly with the BMI (r = -0.212, P > 0.05). The serum orexin-A levels in the OSAHS children after who under went tonsillectomy and adenoidectomy significantly decreased (P < 0.05) 3 months after surgery as compared with pre-operation level.

CONCLUSIONThese findings suggest that the serum level of orexin-A could be used as a predictor in screening for OSAHS children and a biological marker of the severity of OSAHS children.

Case-Control Studies ; Child ; Female ; Humans ; Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins ; blood ; Male ; Neuropeptides ; blood ; Orexins ; Sleep Apnea, Obstructive ; blood ; diagnosis

Catecholamines ; blood ; cerebrospinal fluid ; metabolism ; Child ; Humans ; Neuropeptides ; blood ; cerebrospinal fluid ; metabolism ; Neurotransmitter Agents ; blood ; cerebrospinal fluid ; metabolism ; Syncope, Vasovagal ; blood ; cerebrospinal fluid ; metabolism ; physiopathology

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is one of the major diseases worldwide. Nutritional depletion is a common problem in COPD patients and also an independant predictor of survival in these patients. Many data are helpful for determining nutritional depletion, including anthropometric measurement, laboratory markers, body composition analysis (fat-free mass and lean mass), and body weight. The mechanism of nutritional depletion in patients with COPD is still uncertain. It may be associated with energy/metabolism imbalance, tissue hypoxia, systemic inflammation, and leptin/orexin disorders. In patients with nutritional depletion, growth hormone and testosterone can be used for nutritional therapy in addition to nutrition supplementation.
Body Composition ; physiology ; Humans ; Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins ; blood ; Leptin ; blood ; Lung Diseases, Obstructive ; blood ; complications ; Neuropeptides ; blood ; Nutrition Assessment ; Nutrition Disorders ; diagnosis ; etiology ; Orexins ; Weight Loss ; physiology

The present study was conducted to investigate the possible role of the sympathetic nervous system in two-kidney, one clip (2K1C) and deoxycorticosterone acetate (DOCA)-salt hypertension. 2K1C and DOCA-salt hypertension were made in Sprague-Dawley rats. Four weeks after induction of hypertension, systolic blood pressure measured in conscious state was significantly higher in 2K1C (216+/-18 mmHg) and DOCA-salt (205+/-29 mmHg) groups than that in control (128+/-4 mmHg). The third branches (<300 micrometer in outer diameter) of the mesenteric artery were isolated and cut into ring segments of 2apprx3 mm in length. Each ring segment was mounted in tissue bath and connected to a force displacement transducer for measurement of isometric tension. The arterial rings were contracted by application of norepinephrine (NE) in a dose-dependent manner. The amplitude of the NE-induced contraction of the vessels was significantly larger in hypertension than in control. The NE-induced contraction was significantly enhanced by neuropeptide Y (NPY) in hypertension. Reciprocally, NPY-elicited vasocontraction was increased by NE in hypertension. These results suggest that the sympathetic nervous system contributes to the development of 2K1C and DOCA-salt hypertension.
Animals ; Baths ; Blood Pressure ; Desoxycorticosterone ; Hypertension ; Mesenteric Arteries* ; Neuropeptide Y* ; Neuropeptides* ; Norepinephrine* ; Rats* ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Sympathetic Nervous System ; Transducers

AIMTo investigate the effects of calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP), gastrin 17 (G17), bombesin (Bom), met-enkephalin (Met-enk), neuropeptide Y (NPY) and somatostatin (SS) on GMBF and the role of endogenous NO in increased GMBF induced by neuropeptides in rats.

METHODSBy hydrogen gas clearance technique to measure gastric mucosal blood flow (GMBF) and arterial infusion close to stomach or intracerebroventricular (icv) to microinject neuropeptides.

RESULTS(1) Arterial infusions of CGRP and G17 (5, 50 and 100 pmol x min(-1)) increased GMBF significantly in dose-dependent manners. CGRP had more effective effect on increasing GMBF than that of G17. Intravenous pretreatment of L-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME) to inhibit the synthesis of endogenous NO could abolish completely or partially the increases in GMBF response to CGRP or G17 respectively. (2) Arterial infusions of Bom and Met-enk (50 and 100 pmol x min(-1)) increased GMBF significantly. The increases in GMBF induced by Bom or Met-enk were abolished completely or partially by pretreatment of L-NAME respectively. (3) Arterial infusion of NPY (5, 50 and 100 pmol x min(-1)) led to reduction of GMBF significantly in a dose-dependent manner. SS (50 and 100 pmol x min(-1)) also reduced GMBF significantly. (4) icv microinjection of CGRP (10 microg) and G17 (10 Microg) increased GMBF significantly. The increases in GMBF induced by icv microinjection of CGRP or G17 were blocked completely or partially respectively by pretreatments with L-NAME. (5) icv microinjection of NPY (10 microg) decreased GMBF significantly.

CONCLUSIONNeuropeptides play important roles in the regulation of GMBF in rats and NO is involved in the increase of GMBF induced by some neuropeptides.

Animals ; Gastric Mucosa ; blood supply ; drug effects ; Male ; Neuropeptides ; pharmacology ; physiology ; Nitric Oxide ; physiology ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley

Adult ; Aircraft ; Angiotensinogen ; analogs & derivatives ; blood ; Hot Temperature ; adverse effects ; Humans ; Male ; Neuropeptides ; blood ; Noise ; adverse effects ; Occupational Exposure ; adverse effects ; Stress, Psychological ; blood ; etiology ; Time Factors

Vasoactive intestinal peptide(VIP) is a 28-amino acid peptide, which may cause secretory diarrhea by stimulating the production of adenylate cyclase. Neuroendocrine tumors, secreting vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP), are almost always of a pancreatic in origin. However, a pheochromocytoma may produce several neuropeptides, containing VIP, as they are considered to be neuroendocrine tumors. A 57-year-old woman, who presented with chronic watery diarrhea, hypokalemia, weight loss and a left adrenal mass, is described. Histologically, the tumor was diagnosed as a pheoch-romocytoma, with ganglioneuronal differentiation, and was histochemically confirmed to produce a vasoactive intestinal polypeptide. A left adrenal VIP-producing pheochromocytoma was successfully resected. After surgery, her diarrhea subsided and the electrolytes, affected neuroendocrine hormone levels, blood pressure and blood sugar level were normalized.
Adenylyl Cyclases ; Blood Glucose ; Blood Pressure ; Diarrhea ; Electrolytes ; Female ; Humans ; Hypokalemia ; Middle Aged ; Neuroendocrine Tumors ; Neuropeptides ; Pheochromocytoma* ; Vasoactive Intestinal Peptide* ; Weight Loss

PURPOSE: We investigated the expression of vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP), VIP receptor 1 (VPAC1), VIP receptor 2 (VPAC2) genes in the human umbilical cord blood CD34 cells, and the ability of VIP to stimulate human primitive as well as monopotent hematopoietic progenitors. METHODS: We isolated RNA from umbilical cord blood CD34 cells, and then performed RT-PCR, and sequencing. The umbilical cord blood CD34 cells were cultured with the various concentrations of VIP for burst-forming unit of erythrocyte (BFU-E), colony-forming unit of granulocyte/monocyte (CFU-GM), colony-forming unit of graulocyte/erythrocyte/monocyte/megakaryocyte (CFU-GEMM), and colony-forming unit of megakaryocyte (CFU-Mk). RESULTS: The RNA coding for VPAC1 was detected in human umbilical cord blood CD34 cells. VIP significantly stimulated the growth of CFU-GEMM and CFU-Mk. CONCLUSION: The present results suggest that VIP is an important neuropeptide in the early proliferation of human primitive as well as megakaryocyte progenitors.
Clinical Coding ; Erythrocytes ; Fetal Blood* ; Humans ; Megakaryocyte Progenitor Cells ; Megakaryocytes ; Myeloid Progenitor Cells ; Neuropeptides ; Receptors, Vasoactive Intestinal Peptide ; RNA ; Stem Cells ; Vasoactive Intestinal Peptide*

In order to ensure normal body function, the human body is dependent on a tight control of its blood glucose levels. This is accomplished by a highly sophisticated network of various hormones and neuropeptides released mainly from the brain, pancreas, liver, intestine as well as adipose and muscle tissue. Within this network, the pancreas represents a key player by secreting the blood sugar-lowering hormone insulin and its opponent glucagon. However, disturbances in the interplay of the hormones and peptides involved may lead to metabolic disorders such as type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) whose prevalence, comorbidities and medical costs take on a dramatic scale. Therefore, it is of utmost importance to uncover and understand the mechanisms underlying the various interactions to improve existing anti-diabetic therapies and drugs on the one hand and to develop new therapeutic approaches on the other. This review summarizes the interplay of the pancreas with various other organs and tissues that maintain glucose homeostasis. Furthermore, anti-diabetic drugs and their impact on signaling pathways underlying the network will be discussed.
Blood Glucose ; Brain ; Comorbidity ; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 ; Glucagon ; Glucose* ; Hand ; Homeostasis* ; Human Body ; Insulin ; Intestines ; Liver ; Neuropeptides ; Pancreas ; Peptides ; Prevalence

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to compare serum leptin, neuropeptide Y (NPY), and islet amyloid polypeptide (amylin) levels in obese and normal weight children, and to investigate their correlations with anthropometric parameters and metabolic bio-marker levels. METHODS: Body mass index (BMI), waist and hip circumference, blood pressure (systolic/diastolic), lipid profile, fasting glucose, and serum insulin, leptin, NPY, and amylin levels were measured in 56 children (24 obese children and 32 non-obese controls). Homeostatic model assessment-insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) values were calculated and the relationships between anthropometric variables, metabolic biomarkers, and diet-regulating factors (leptin, NPY, and amylin levels) were examined. RESULTS: BMI, hip circumference, waist circumference, and systolic and diastolic pressure were significantly higher in the obese group than in the non-obese group (p<0.0001). Total cholesterol, triglyceride, low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol, glucose, and insulin levels were also significantly higher in the obese group (p<0.05). On the other hand, high-density lipoprotein-cholesterol levels were higher in the non-obese group , but this was not significant. Serum leptin, NPY, and amylin levels were significantly higher in the obese group (p<0.05). Furthermore, in the obese group, leptin levels were found to be significantly correlated with BMI (r=0.379, p=0.043), and NPY levels (r=0.377, p=0.044), and amylin levels were found to be significantly correlated with insulin levels (r=0.400, p=0.048), and HOMA-IR (r=0.459, p=0.028). CONCLUSION: Metabolic risk factor alterations are present in obese children, and these children show abnormalities in the diet regulatory system caused by leptin, NPY, and amylin resistance. Of particular note, amylin was found to be positively correlated with insulin resistance.
Biomarkers ; Blood Pressure ; Body Mass Index ; Child ; Cholesterol ; Diet ; Fasting ; Glucose ; Hand ; Hip ; Humans ; Insulin ; Insulin Resistance ; Islet Amyloid Polypeptide ; Leptin ; Neuropeptide Y ; Neuropeptides ; Risk Factors ; Waist Circumference