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Biomedical subjects

E Ferrannini

Publications and source records attributed to E Ferrannini.

At least 181 records · Page 10Linked to original sources

Obesity and insulin resistance in humans: a dose-response study.

Insulin-mediated glucose metabolism (euglycemic insulin clamp at plasma insulin concentration of 100 microU/mL) and glucose-stimulated insulin secretion (hyperglycemic clamp) were examined in 42 obese subjects (ideal body weight [IBW], 158 +/- 4%) with normal glucose tolerance and in 36 normal weight (IBW, 102% +/- 1%) age-matched controls. In 10 obese and eight control subjects, insulin was infused at six rates to increase plasma insulin concentration by approximately 10, 20, 40, 80, 2,000, and 20,000 microU/mL. Throughout the physiologic range of plasma insulin concentrations, both the increase in total body glucose uptake and the suppression of hepatic glucose production (HGP) were significantly impaired in the obese group (P less than .001 to .01). At the two highest plasma insulin concentrations, inhibition of HGP and the stimulation of glucose disposal were similar in both the obese and control groups. Insulin secretion during the hyperglycemic (+/- 125 mg/dL) clamp was twofold greater in obese subjects than in controls (P less than .01) and was inversely related to the rate of glucose uptake during the insulin clamp (r = -.438, P less than .05), but was still unable to normalize glucose disposal (P less than .05). In conclusion, our results indicate that insulin resistance is a common accompaniment of obesity and can be overcome at supraphysiological insulin concentrations. Both in the basal state and following a hyperglycemic stimulus obese people display hyperinsulinemia, which correlates with the degree of insulin resistance. However, endogenous hyperinsulinemia fails to fully compensate for the insulin resistance.

Adult↗

Influence of long-term diabetes on liver glycogen metabolism in the rat.

Diabetes acutely impairs the ability of the liver to synthesize glycogen. However, the effect of chronic diabetes on the glycogenic function of the liver is not known. We measured hepatic glycogen contents in streptozotocin (STZ)-diabetic rats 3 weeks or 9 months after the induction of diabetes, in the fed state and following a 24-hour fast. In the fed state, liver glycogen levels were markedly decreased in short-term diabetic animals (5.8 +/- 2.0 v 33.9 +/- 2.3 mg/g, P less than .001), but not in long-term diabetic rats (18.3 +/- 4.4 v 20.7 +/- 1.3 mg/g, P = NS) as compared with age-matched nondiabetic animals, despite comparable hyperglycemia (portal plasma glucose levels of 424 +/- 21 and 449 +/- 24 mg/100 mL, short- and long-term diabetics, respectively). In the fasted state, on the other hand, liver glycogen was depleted in acute diabetes (4.5 +/- 2.2 mg/g v 1.9 +/- 0.5 of control rats), but significantly increased in chronic diabetes (10.1 +/- 3.1 v 0.2 +/- 0.03 mg/g, P less than .001). The latter finding was confirmed by electron-microscopical examination of liver cells. Furthermore, the percentage of hepatic glycogen synthase in the active form (synthase a) was lower than normal in short-term diabetic rats and in old nondiabetic rats. In long-term diabetic animals, on the other hand, synthase a was significantly higher than in old controls (P less than .01).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Age Factors↗

Insulin resistance after surgery: normalization by insulin treatment.

1. Injury is known to be associated with variable degrees of tissue insensitivity to insulin. We measured insulin resistance in a group of non-obese, glucose-tolerant patients undergoing major elective surgery with an uncomplicated post-operative course. 2. Shortly after surgery, hyperglycaemia (7.3 +/- 0.6 versus 4.2 +/- 0.3 mmol/l glucose pre-surgery, mean +/- SEM, P less than 0.01) with normal insulin concentrations (73 +/- 15 versus 64 +/- 18 pmol/l) suggested the presence of insulin resistance. Counter-regulatory hormones were raised, whole-body protein oxidation was doubled (P less than 0.01) and energy expenditure was up by 18% (P less than 0.01). 3. Insulin sensitivity was quantified by clamping plasma glucose concentrations at 5.6 mmol/l during 24 h of total parenteral nutrition (15% protein, 55% glucose and 30% fat, supplying 1.25 times the measured resting energy expenditure) with a variable infusion of exogenous insulin. After surgery, eight times more insulin was needed than before surgery (14.14 +/- 1.15 versus 1.78 +/- 0.29 pmol min-1 kg-1, P less than 0.001) to maintain euglycemia. 4. After surgery, stimulation of net carbohydrate oxidation (18.8 +/- 1.4 versus 17.2 +/- 1.8 mumol min-1 kg-1 preoperatively, not significant), suppression of lipolysis and lipid oxidation and inhibition of ketogenesis occurred to the same extent as before surgery. Of the infused nutrients, the glucose was all oxidized, amino acids replaced endogenous protein losses (= neutral nitrogen balance) and lipids were stored. Insulin administration caused no further increment in oxygen consumption or energy expenditure.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Carbohydrate Metabolism↗

Influence of combined intravenous and oral glucose administration on splanchnic glucose uptake in man.

The influence of intravenous plus oral glucose administration on splanchnic glucose handling was examined in healthy young individuals by combining the hepatic vein catheterization technique with the double glucose tracer method. After 1 h of steady state hyperglycaemia (11.7 mM) induced by intravenous glucose alone (hyperglycaemic clamp technique), subjects ingested 89 +/- 1 g of glucose, and the hyperglycaemic plateau was maintained for the subsequent 4 h by adjusting the exogenous glucose infusion rate. Over the 4-h absorptive period, only 51 +/- 4 g of oral glucose (i.e. 58 +/- 4% of the ingested load) appeared in the systemic circulation, while 193 +/- 15 g (1.072 +/- 0.83 mol) of glucose had to be infused exogenously to sustain the hyperglycaemia. Endogenous glucose production was suppressed by over 60%. Net splanchnic glucose balance switched from a positive value (i.e. net uptake) of 5.06 +/- 2.56 mumol min-1 kg-1 with intravenous glucose alone (0-60 min) to a negative one (i.e. net output) of 12.50 +/- 2.44 mumol min-1 kg-1 during 4 h (60-300 min) of intravenous + oral glucose. The mean rate of splanchnic glucose uptake was estimated to be 6.39 +/- 4.67 mumol min-1 kg-1 with intravenous glucose alone, and 8.83 +/- 4.28 mumol min-1 kg-1 with intravenous + oral glucose. In either case, the large majority (80-90%) of the glucose appearing in the systemic circulation was disposed of by extrasplanchnic tissues. These results indicate that pre-existing hyperglycaemia and/or hyperinsulinaemia inhibit gastrointestinal glucose absorption, and that oral glucose administration does not result in a major redistribution of intravenous glucose between splanchnic and extrasplanchnic tissues.

Administration, Oral↗

Operation of Randle's cycle in patients with NIDDM.

It has been suggested that the insulin resistance of non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM) may be caused by substrate competition between glucose and free fatty acids (FFAs) (Randle's cycle). We measured substrate oxidation and energy metabolism in 10 nonobese untreated NIDDM patients with fasting glucose levels of 7-8 mM with indirect calorimetry in the basal state and during an isoglycemic-hyperinsulinemic (approximately 100 mU/L) clamp without (control) and with a concomitant infusion (approximately 0.35 mmol/min) of Intralipid, a triglyceride emulsion. In the control study, fasting rates of total glucose turnover [( 3-3H]glucose) and glucose and lipid oxidation (9.4 +/- 1.4, 7.3 +/- 1.3, and 3.0 +/- 0.4 mumol.kg-1.min-1, respectively) were comparable with those of nondiabetic individuals. After insulin administration, lipid oxidation was normally suppressed (to 1.3 +/- 0.3 mumol.kg-1.min-1, P less than 0.01), as were the circulating levels of FFA, glycerol, and beta-hydroxybutyrate, whereas glucose oxidation doubled (14.1 +/- 1.8 mumol.kg-1.min-1, P less than 0.01). Because glycemia was clamped at 7.5 mM, endogenous glucose production (EGP) was completely suppressed, and total glucose disposal was stimulated (to 25.7 +/- 5.2 mumol.kg-1.min-1, P less than 0.01 vs. baseline), but glucose clearance (3.6 +/- 0.8 ml.kg-1.min-1) was 30% reduced compared with normal. With concomitant lipid infusion, FFA, glycerol, and beta-hydroxybutyrate all rose during the clamp; correspondingly, lipid oxidation was maintained at fasting rates (3.6 +/- 0.2 mumol.kg-1.min-1, P less than 0.01 vs. control).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Blood Glucose↗

Effects of insulin on hemodynamics and metabolism in human forearm.

We investigated the vascular response (blood flow and resting vascular resistance) and the metabolic response (exchange of metabolites and respiratory gases) to local insulin administration in the forearms of healthy young volunteers with the use of the perfused-forearm technique. In the postabsorptive state, the deep tissues of the forearm (mostly skeletal muscle) took up glucose (mean +/- SE 1.09 +/- 0.17 mumol.min-1.dl-1 forearm vol), beta-hydroxybutyrate (0.267 +/- 0.130 mumol.min-1.dl-1), and O2 (9.96 +/- 1.02 mumol.min-1.dl-1) and released lactate (0.284 +/- 0.098 mumol.min-1.dl-1), glycerol (0.029 +/- 0.012 mumol.min-1.dl-1), citrate (0.091 +/- 0.030 mumol.min-1.dl-1), alanine (0.184 +/- 0.044 mumol.min-1.dl-1), CO2 (7.36 +/- 0.97 mumol.min-1.dl-1), and protons (12.1 +/- 1.4 pmol.min-1.dl-1). Forearm blood flow (by venous occlusion plethysmography) was 2.95 +/- 0.18 ml.min-1.dl-1, and intra-arterial systolic/diastolic blood pressure was 116 +/- 3/76 +/- 2 mmHg. Local indirect calorimetry indicated dominance of fat as the oxidative substrate (RQ 0.76 +/- 0.09) and an energy expenditure rate of 1.03 +/- 0.11 cal.min-1.dl-1 forearm vol. One hundred minutes of intra-arterial insulin infusion (deep venous plasma insulin concn of 125 +/- 11 microU/ml) had no detectable effect on forearm blood flow, resting forearm vascular resistance, heart rate, or blood pressure. Local hyperinsulinemia significantly stimulated glucose uptake (to 4.79 +/- 0.61 mumol.min-1.dl-1 forearm vol, P less than 0.001), lactate and pyruvate release (to 0.710 +/- 0.093 and 0.032 +/- 0.016 mumol.min-1.dl-1 forearm vol, respectively; P less than 0.01 for both), potassium uptake (0.76 +/- 0.22 mueq.min-1.dl-1, P less than 0.001), and free fatty acid uptake (0.123 +/- 0.041 mumol.min-1.dl-1 forearm vol, P less than 0.05); glycerol balance switched to a net uptake (P less than 0.001), alanine release was restrained by 33% (P less than 0.05), and beta-hydroxybutyrate and citrate release were unchanged. Despite these metabolic changes, local rates of substrate oxidation and energy expenditure were not altered by insulin. In contrast, forearm proton release was significantly stimulated by insulin (to 14.8 +/- 1.4 pmol.min-1.dl-1, P less than 0.02). Proton release was also found to be directly related to resting forearm vascular resistance independent of the effect of insulin (multiple r = 0.64, P less than 0.001).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

3-Hydroxybutyric Acid↗

Essential hypertension: an insulin-resistant state.

Epidemiological evidence supports a link between hyperinsulinemia and blood pressure. In nondiabetic, normotensive individuals, the male sex, age, obesity, and body fat distribution all are associated with higher systolic and diastolic blood pressure and with higher plasma insulin concentrations. Nevertheless, when accounting for the above physiological variables, blood pressure still is independently related to plasma insulin. In the general population, hypertensive individuals have multiple metabolic abnormalities (glucose intolerance, hyperinsulinemia, and dyslipidemia). A striking pattern of overlap exists among obesity, diabetes, and hypertension. Physiological studies (euglycemic insulin clamp) have shown that essential hypertension per se is a state of insulin resistance: lean, nondiabetic subjects with untreated hypertension have a mean 40% reduction in the ability of physiological hyperinsulinemia to stimulate whole-body glucose uptake. Other insulin actions (suppression of hepatic glucose output, lipolysis, lipid oxidation, and promotion of K+ uptake) are conspicuously preserved. In perfused forearm studies, local (intra-arterial) hyperinsulinemia induces subnormal rates of glucose uptake and glycogen synthesis in the skeletal muscle of individuals with essential hypertension. In the San Antonio Heart Study, parental history of non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM) is associated with hyperinsulinemia and higher blood pressure and serum lipid levels in nondiabetic probands. In this biethnic population, however, hyperinsulinemia and NIDDM are more prevalent (approximately threefold) among Mexican-Americans than non-Hispanic whites, but hypertension is more prevalent among the latter.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Blood Pressure↗

Modeling glucose metabolism in man: theory and practice.

Quantitative assessment of whole-body and regional glucose metabolism from in vivo kinetic data requires a model of the system, i.e. specific assumptions about the structure and functioning of the system. We discuss here models which allow the measurement and understanding of the kinetics of glucose metabolism in vivo in man and of the effect of insulin upon them. Discussed models include: a whole-body description of glucose distribution and metabolism to quantitate insulin effect; a model to measure in vivo glucose transport in the forearm; physiological models to assess glucose kinetics in the non-steady state; the insulin and C-peptide IVGTT minimal models to assess beta-cell function; the labelled IVGTT minimal models to assess insulin sensitivity and hepatic production. Emphasis is on models of the compartmental type and on the crucial role of modeling methodology. Aspects of improved experiment design are also discussed.

Biological Transport, Active↗

The effects of taurine on pharmacologically induced myotonia.

Taurine reduces the excitability of striated muscle fibers by increasing the membrane conductance to chloride ions (GCl). This action was tested on rats made myotonic by drugs that block GCl by different mechanisms. Experiments were made "in vivo" using electromyographic (EMG) recordings and "in vitro" with intracellular microelectrode recordings from extensor digitorum longus muscle fibers. Taurine did not antagonize the myotonic discharges produced in vivo by anthracene-9-carboxylic acid, nor did it restore GCl lowered in vitro by this agent. However, when myotonia was chronically induced by 20,25 diazacholesterol, taurine given chronically in vivo or acutely in vitro antagonized the EMG myotonia as well as the reduced GCl and increased excitability of single fibers. We conclude that taurine acts directly on chloride channels to modify their kinetics. Our findings suggest that further clinical studies on the use of taurine in muscle disease involving abnormal excitability or chloride channel function will be useful.

Animals↗

Fasting hyperglycemia in non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus: contributions of excessive hepatic glucose production and impaired tissue glucose uptake.

The factors responsible for fasting hyperglycemia were investigated in 77 normal weight non-insulin-dependent diabetic (NIDD) and 72 age-, sex-, and weight-matched control individuals. In diabetic subjects with mild fasting hyperglycemia (less than 140 mg/dL) hepatic glucose production (1.85 +/- 0.03 mg/kg.min) was similar to controls (1.84 +/- 0.02); the major factor responsible for the elevated basal glucose level in the diabetic group was a decreased efficiency in the tissue uptake of glucose, as reflected by a 30% decline in the rate of glucose clearance (1.56 +/- 0.03 v 2.00 +/- 0.03 mL/kg.min, P less than .001). In contrast, in diabetic subjects with fasting plasma glucose concentrations above 140 mg/dL, basal hepatic glucose production was significantly elevated (2.42 +/- 0.08 mg/kg.min, P less than .001) and correlated closely with the increase in fasting plasma glucose concentration (r = .796, P less than .001). The basal rate of whole body glucose clearance reached a plateau value at fasting glucose levels of 160 to 180 mg/dL and did not contribute to the further rise in fasting plasma glucose concentrations above 160 to 180 mg/dL. Decreased efficiency of tissue glucose uptake is responsible the development of fasting hyperglycemia in patients with mild NIDDM (fasting plasma glucose less than 140 mg/dL). As the diabetic state worsens, an increase in basal hepatic glucose production is the major factor responsible for the progressive rise in fasting glucose levels.

Blood Glucose↗

Differential effects of insulin and hyperglycemia on intracellular glucose disposition in humans.

Insulin stimulates both glucose oxidation and nonoxidative glucose disposal (glycogen and lipid synthesis, anaerobic glycolysis) in vivo. The influence of hyperglycemia per se on these two major pathways of intracellular glucose disposition has not been established. Whole-body glucose oxidation (by continuous indirect calorimetry) and total glucose turnover (by the glucose clamp technique) were measured in six healthy volunteers under four different experimental conditions: (protocol A) insulin was infused at a rate of 1 mU/min/kg while euglycemia (92 +/- 1 mg/100 mL) was maintained by an exogenous glucose infusion (8.05 +/- 0.94 mg/min/kg over three hours); (protocol B) the insulin infusion was halved but the same glucose infusion was given, thereby raising plasma glucose levels to a plateau of 144 +/- 14 mg/100 mL over the third hour; (protocol C) the insulin infusion was further reduced to 0.25 mU/min/kg, but the glucose infusion rate was left unchanged, whereby plasma glucose plateaued at 275 +/- 21 mg/100 mL; and (protocol D) the insulin infusion rate was 0.5 mU/min/kg), but the glucose infusion was adjusted (5.03 +/- 0.69 mg/min/kg) to maintain euglycemia. In all protocols, somatostatin was used to block endogenous insulin response. Under euglycemic conditions (protocols A and D), the presence of higher plasma insulin levels (80 +/- 6 v 39 +/- 5 microU/mL) caused the expected stimulation of both glucose oxidation (4.08 +/- 0.29 v 3.27 +/- 0.36 mg/min/kg) and nonoxidative glucose uptake (4.84 +/- 0.67 v 2.96 +/- 0.77 mg min/kg).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adult↗

Glucoregulatory function of thyroid hormones: role of pancreatic hormones.

Glucose metabolism was investigated in humans before and 14 days after 300 micrograms L-thyroxine (T4)/day using a sequential clamp protocol during short-term somatostatin infusion (500 micrograms/h, 0-6 h) at euglycemia (0-2.5 h), at 165 mg/dl (2.5-6 h), and during insulin infusion (1.0 mU.kg-1.min-1, 4.5-6 h). T4 treatment increased plasma T4 (+96%) and 3,5,3'-triiodothyronine (T3, +50%), energy expenditure (+8%), glucose turnover (+32%), and glucose oxidation (Glucox +87%) but decreased thyroid-stimulating hormone (-96%) and nonoxidative glucose metabolism (Glucnonox, -30%) at unchanged lipid oxidation (Lipox). During somatostatin and euglycemia glucose production (Ra, -67%) and disposal (Rd, -28%) both decreased in euthyroid subjects but remained at -22% and -5%, respectively, after T4 treatment. Glucox (control, -20%; +T4, -25%) fell and Lipox increased (control, +42%; +T4, +45%) in both groups, whereas Glucnonox decreased before (-36%) but increased after T4 (+57%). During somatostatin infusion and hyperglycemia Rd (control, +144%; +T4, +84%) and Glucnonox (control, +326%; +T4, +233%) increased, whereas Glucox and Lipox remained unchanged. Insulin further increased Rd (+76%), Glucox (+155%), and Glucnonox (+50%) but decreased Ra (-43%) and Lipox (-43%). All these effects were enhanced by T4 (Rd, +38%; Glucox, +45%; Glucnonox, +35%; Ra, +40%; Lipox, +11%). Our data provide evidence that, in humans, T3 stimulates Ra and Rd, which is in part independent of pancreatic hormones.

Adult↗

Time dependence of the interaction between lipid and glucose in humans.

The time-dependent effect of Intralipid infusion on glucose metabolism was examined in seven healthy young subjects who participated in the following three experimental protocols: study I, a 4-h euglycemic insulin clamp (0-240 min) with [3-3H]glucose and indirect calorimetry; study II, a 4-h insulin clamp with Intralipid infusion started at time 0; and study III, a 4-h insulin clamp with Intralipid infusion started at 120 min. When Intralipid infusion was begun at the start of the insulin clamp, the increase in insulin-mediated glucose oxidation was completely inhibited, and the rise in nonoxidative glucose disposal was diminished by 22%. When Intralipid infusion was begun 120 min after the start of the insulin clamp, no inhibitory effect on either glucose oxidation or nonoxidative glucose disposal was observed. The change in lipid oxidation was closely and inversely correlated with the change in glucose oxidation (r = -0.826, P less than 0.001) during studies I-III; no correlation between the change in lipid oxidation and nonoxidative glucose disposal was observed. These results indicate that, in healthy subjects, the metabolic competition between lipid and glucose is very time dependent. Furthermore, mitochondrial oxidative processes are more sensitive and are affected earlier than the cytosolic metabolic pathways, i.e., nonoxidative glucose disposal.

3-Hydroxybutyric Acid↗

A compartmental model to quantitate in vivo glucose transport in the human forearm.

Glucose transport is a critical step in the control of glucose disposal that, until presently, has not been quantitated in vivo in humans. We have employed the perfused forearm and euglycemic insulin-clamp techniques in combination with a dual-tracer injection to measure basal and insulin-mediated glucose transport in six normal subjects. L-[3H]glucose, which is not transported, was used to trace extracellular glucose kinetics; 3-O-[14C]-methyl-D-glucose, transportable but not metabolizable, was used to monitor glucose movement across the cell membrane. After bolus intra-arterial injection of the two tracers, plasma samples were obtained every 15-30 s for 10 min from a deep forearm vein to determine the washout curves. A linear compartmental model was developed that accounts for blood flow heterogeneity. It consists of three parallel, two-compartment chains merging into the sampling compartment to which cellular compartments are appended. A priori identifiability analysis was performed. The uniquely identifiable parameterization includes the transport rate constants of glucose into and out of the cell. The model was identified using nonlinear least-squares parameter estimation. Transport parameters are estimated with very good precision, and their reproducibility is satisfactory. The model also allows the estimation of the mean arteriovenous transit times of both the extracellular and the transported tracer. The compartmental model provides a novel approach to investigate glucose transport in vivo in humans.

3-O-Methylglucose↗

Glucose and free fatty acid metabolism in non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus. Evidence for multiple sites of insulin resistance.

The effect of graded, physiologic hyperinsulinemia (+5, +15, +30, +70, +200 microU/ml) on oxidative and nonoxidative pathways of glucose and FFA metabolism was examined in nine lean non-insulin dependent diabetic patients (NIDDM) and in eight age- and weight-matched control subjects. Glucose and FFA metabolism were assessed using stepwise insulin clamp in combination with indirect calorimetry and infusion of [3H]3-glucose/[14C]palmitate. The basal rate of hepatic glucose production (HGP) was higher in NIDDM than in control subjects, and suppression of HGP by insulin was impaired at all but the highest insulin concentration. Glucose disposal was reduced in the NIDD patients at the three highest plasma insulin concentrations, and this was accounted for by defects in both glucose oxidation and nonoxidative glucose metabolism. In NIDDs, suppression of plasma FFA by insulin was impaired at all five insulin steps. This was associated with impaired suppression by insulin of plasma FFA turnover, FFA oxidation (measured by [14C]palmitate) and nonoxidative FFA disposal (an estimate of reesterification of FFA). FFA oxidation and net lipid oxidation (measured by indirect calorimetry) correlated positively with the rate of HGP in the basal state and during the insulin clamp. In conclusion, our findings demonstrate that insulin resistance is a general characteristic of glucose and FFA metabolism in NIDDM, and involves both oxidative and nonoxidative pathways. The data also demonstrate that FFA/lipid and glucose metabolism are interrelated in NIDDM, and suggest that an increased rate of FFA/lipid oxidation may contribute to the impaired suppression of HGP and diminished stimulation of glucose oxidation by insulin in these patients.

Blood Glucose↗