BACKGROUND It is now realized that insulin resistance plays a principal role in initiating the pathologic manifestations of the metabolic syndrome (MetS). OBJECTIVES The aim of this study was to assess the possible role of osteoprotegerin, visfatin and ghrelin in the pathogenesis of MetS among type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). DESIGN AND METHODS Serum blood samples were obtained from 116 sub...

AIMS Our aims were to determine the role of Notch1 in mediating visfatin-induced angiogenesis and to explore potential target genes involved. METHODS AND RESULTS Inhibition of Notch signalling attenuated visfatin-induced angiogenesis in vitro, ex vivo, and in vivo. Visfatin increased γ-secretase activity, Notch1 cleavage and activation, and Hes1 gene induction. Visfatin also stimulated fibrob...

BACKGROUND The immune system exerts a diversifying selection pressure on HIV through cellular, humoral and innate mechanisms. This pressure drives viral evolution throughout infection. A better understanding of the natural immune pressure on the virus during infection is warranted, given the clinical interest in eliciting and sustaining an immune response to HIV which can help to control the in...

OBJECTIVE To explore visfatin levels and its relationship to obesity, insulin resistance, lipid profile and inflammation in type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) patients with and without macroangiopathy. METHODS The study was designed in the College of Medicine, Qassim University, Qassim, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, and implemented between April 2006 and May 2007. It involved 84 subjects divided into...

OBJECTIVES Our aim was to investigate if genetic variations in the visfatin gene (SNPs rs7789066/ rs11977021/rs4730153) could modify the cardiovascular-risk (CV-risk) despite the metabolic phenotype (obesity and glucose tolerance). In addition, we investigated the relationship between insulin sensitivity and variations in visfatin gene. MATERIAL AND METHODS A population-based study in rural a...

We aimed to determine the significance and changes in leptin, adiponectin (ADP), and visfatin levels in adults with growth hormone deficiency (GHD). Forty adults (19 men, 21 women) who had been diagnosed with GHD comprised the observation group, while 36 healthy adults (18 men, 18 women) were used as the control group. Fasting venous blood was collected to detect leptin, ADP, and visfatin level...

Background: Metabolic syndrome (MS) and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is a common public health problem. Visfatin is secreted by visceral adipose tissue and is an adipocytokine. It could be a pro-inflammatory adipocytokine and is related to the metabolic syndrome and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. This study evaluated the association between visfatin levels in patients with the ...