Our aim was to determine the levels of human urotensin-II (hU-II) in the plasma of migraine patients and controls, to ascertain if there were a difference in the pathogenesis of migraine. A total of 27 patients who suffer from migraines and 27 controls were included in the study. Venous blood samples were drawn twice both from migraine patients and controls to measure hU-II plasma levels. The average levels of hU-II during migraine episode, between episodes, and controls were found to be 0.483, 0.493, and 0.737 pg/mL, respectively. The levels of hU-II in the controls were higher significantly. When comparisons were made according to sex, age groups, and types and durations of migraine, there was no significant difference in the levels of hU-II in the patients. The low levels of hU-II in the plasma of migraine patients compared with controls may be an indicator of its role in the pathogenesis.

Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate whether insulin deficiency and increased catabolism may have a role in the regulation of plasma glucagon−like peptide (GLP)−1 and GLP−2 levels in children with diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) and whether insulin treatment may affect the levels of these polypeptides.Methods: Plasma GLP−1 and −2 levels were measured in 24 patients with DKA aged 8 to 14 years before insulin infusion (time 0), when ketonemia and acidosis disappeared (time 1), and when weight gain started (time 2). Eighteen healthy children aged 8 to 14 years constituted the control group.Results: At time 0, mean plasma GLP−1 and GLP−2 levels were significantly elevated in the patients compared with the control group (p<0.05 and p<0.01, respectively). At time 1 when ketonemia and acidosis disappeared, GLP−1 and GLP−2 levels decreased significantly from the initial levels (p<0.05 and p<0.01, respectively). At this time, while GLP−1 level was not different from that of the controls, GLP−2 level was higher than that of the controls (p<0.05). GLP−1 and−2 levels did not show any significant differences between the patients and controls when weight gain started (time 2).Conclusion: Our results show that DKA is associated with increased plasma GLP−1 and −2 concentrations. Effective fluid and insulin treatment resulted in a significant decrease in plasma GLP−1 and −2 levels. This may be due to the negative feedback effect of insulin on the production of these polypeptides.Conflict of interest:None declared.

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