Endocrine Abstracts

Background: Secretory products from adipocytes may contribute to increased insulin resistance (IR). Retinol-binding protein-4 (RBP-4) may increase IR in mice, with elevated levels in insulin resistant mice and humans with obesity and type 2 diabetes. Mechanisms regulating RBP-4 synthesis remain not fully understood. It is not clear whether short-term hyperglycaemia alters RBP-4 levels in humans. In order to investigate this, we measured serum RBP-4 concentrations during 75 gra...

Backgroud: Though insulin resistance (IR) is common in polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), there is no agreement as to what surrogate method of assessment of IR is most reliable.Aim: We compared methods based on measurements of fasting insulin and either fasting glucose (HOMA-IR and QUICKI), or triglycerides (TAG) (McAuley index) with insulin resistance (Belfiore) index (IRI) derived from glucose and insulin during a 75-g oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT)...

Adipose tissue produces several hormones and cytokines termed ‘adipokines’ that have widespread effects on carbohydrate and lipid metabolism. They appear to play an important role in the pathogenesis of insulin resistance, diabetes, and atherosclerosis. Chemerin is a novel adipokine, highly expressed in obese, insulin-resistant subjects. Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is associated with insulin resistance and obesity. We assessed chemerin levels in sera and adipose...