BACKGROUND The metabolic effect of fructose in sugar-sweetened beverages (SSB) has been linked to de novo lipogenesis and uric acid (UA) production. OBJECTIVES This study investigated the biological effects of SSB consumption on serum lipid profiles and retinol-binding protein 4 (RBP4) among Taiwanese adolescents. METHODS We evaluated the anthropometric parameters and biochemical outcomes o...

The association between circulating retinol-binding protein 4 (RBP4) and risk of type 2 diabetes has been inconsistent in cross-sectional studies, but prospective evidence is limited. We aimed to investigate whether plasma RBP4 is associated with future development of type 2 diabetes and whether the association could be explained by iron or other risk factors. A total of 2091 Chinese adults age...

BACKGROUND The aim of this study was to investigate whether carotid intima media thickness (CIMT) is associated with serum level of retinol- binding protein-4 (RBP4) and total and high molecular weight (HMW) adiponectin in type 2 diabetes (T2DM) without clinical symptom of atherosclerotic disease. METHOD 101 type 2 diabetic patients (mean age, 53.63 ± 8.42 years) and 42 body mass index (BMI) ...

INTRODUCTION Critically ill patients requiring intensive care uniformly develop insulin resistance. This is most pronounced in patients with sepsis. Recently, several hormones secreted by adipose tissue have been identified to be involved in overall insulin sensitivity in metabolic syndrome-related conditions. However, little is known about these adipokines in critical illness. METHODS We stu...

Objective The main purpose of the current study was to investigate the association between QTc and various insulin sensitive or insulin resistant adipocytokines such as leptin, adiponectin, RBP4, and PAI-1 as well as inflammatory markers, oxidative stress and endothelial function in patients with type 2 diabetes. Method QTc, blood and urine tests were performed in 101 type 2 diabetic patients h...

OBJECTIVE Adipokines (cytokines produced by adipose tissue) play a major role in the control of body weight and energy distribution. Retinol-binding protein 4 (RBP4), only recently recognized as an adipokine, has been proposed to modulate systemic insulin sensitivity. The goal of this study was to determine whether there is an association between maternal plasma RBP4 concentration and the birth...

The transmembrane protein, STRA6, functions as a vitamin A transporter and a cytokine receptor when activated by vitamin A-bound serum retinol binding protein 4 (RBP4). STRA6 activation transduces a JAK2-STAT3 signaling cascade and promotes tumorigenesis in a xenograft mouse model of colon cancer. We show here that RBP4 and STRA6 expression is associated with poor oncologic prognosis. Downregul...

Ghrelin is an orexigenic peptide hormone produced mainly by a distinct group of dispersed endocrine cells located within the gastric oxyntic mucosa. Besides secreted gene products derived from the preproghrelin gene, which include acyl-ghrelin, desacyl-ghrelin and obestatin, ghrelin cells also synthesize the secreted protein nesfatin-1. The main goal of the current study was to identify other p...