Muscle Protein Metabolism in Critically Illness

Protein metabolism and gene expression in skeletal muscle of critically ill patients with sepsis.

Muscle wasting negatively affects morbidity and mortality in critically ill patients. This progressive wasting is accompanied by, in general, a normal muscle PS (protein synthesis) rate. In the present study, we investigated whether muscle protein degradation is increased in critically ill patients with sepsis and which proteolytic enzyme systems are involved in this degradation. Eight patients...

Insulin therapy improves protein metabolism in the critically ill

Critical illness, trauma and burns are associated with profound metabolic abnormalities, of which protein catabolism, hyperglycemia and insulin resistance are hallmarks of these conditions. Increased protein breakdown and loss results in muscle wasting, weakness and diminished functioning. Interestingly, hyperglycemia and insulin resistance augment catabolic responses. Insulin, which is routine...

Muscle protein metabolism during sepsis

Introduction One of the most pronounced metabolic changes after injury, sepsis and other critical illness is increased urinary excretion of nitrogen, resulting in negative nitrogen balance. There is evidence that skeletal muscle is the major source of nitrogen in these conditions. Muscle catabolism during sepsis is mainly caused by increased protein degradation, in particular myofibrillar prote...

Genetic Strain-dependent Protein Metabolism and Muscle

Glucose Metabolism in Critical Illness

The pathophysiology of glucose metabolism in critical illness is a complex spectrum ranging from protein calorie malnutrition and starvation of the one hand, to a hypermetabolic response engendered by injury, inflammation and infection on the other. In their pure state, the two can exhibit almost diametrically opposite pathophysiological changes. An understanding of the hormonal, cytokine and g...