The aim of this study was to compare the levels of nesfatin-1 in healthy subjects with those in prediabetic and diabetic patients who have different glucose tolerance levels. Overall, 100 subjects were divided into 5 groups healthy control (C), impaired fasting glycemia (IFG), impaired glucose tolerance (IGT), metabolic syndrome (MS) and type 2 diabetes mellitus, (Type 2 DM). Glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) assessed the glycemic control. Homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) was determined using computer analyses. Nesfatin-1 levels were measured using ELISA method. IFG and IGT (prediabetic groups) from MS and Type 2 DM (diabetic groups) differed significantly in HOMA-IR. The nesfatin-1 levels were lower, although not statistically significant, in IFG (0.937±0.03 ng/ml, p=0.07) and IGT (1.039±0.06 ng/ml, p=0.5) groups compared to healthy subjects (1.094±0.07 ng/ml). However, the nesfatin-1 levels were lower in patients with Type 2 DM (0.867±0.02 ng/ml, p=0.007) and MS (0.885±0.01 ng/ml, p=0.01) compared to healthy subjects. Nesfatin-1 levels were significantly lower in diabetic patients compared to healthy subjects. This study supports the role of insulin resistance in decreased nesfatin-1 levels in patients with Type 2 DM and MS.

Objective The goal of this study was to evaluate the importance of nesfatin-1, acylated and des-acylated ghrelin, which are known as energy regulatory hormones, in patients with moderate and severe major depression disorders (MDD). Methods Thirty patients with a moderate degree of MDD and, 30 with a severe degree of MDD were used as participants in this study. Thirty subjects without depression were enrolled as a control group. The Hamilton Depression Rating Scale was used to classify the patients with MDD. Blood samples were taken after overnight fasting. The plasma nesfatin-1, acylated ghrelin and des-acylated ghrelin levels were measured using a commercially available enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay kit. Results The nesfatin-1, the acylated ghrelin and the des-acylated ghrelin levels were found to be significantly higher in severe MDD (3.92±0.4 ng/mL; 88.56±4.1 pg/mL; 962.76±67 pg/mL) as compared to moderate MDD (2.91±0.5 ng/mL; 77.63±4.19 pg/mL; 631.16±35 pg/mL), or the control (1.01±0.3 ng/mL; 58.60±9.00 pg/mL; 543.13±62 pg/mL), respectively. Conclusion Although nesfatin-1 and ghrelin are known as adversely affecting the hormones involving the regulation of appetite and food intake, they all increase in depressive patients and are even associated with the severity of the disease. In clinical medicine, the evaluation of the role of nesfatin-1 and ghrelin in endocrine and neu-roendocrine regulation of major metabolic functions is an important key mechanism in solving numerous diseases associated with endocrine and neuroendocrine disturbance. Increased levels of nesfatin-1 and ghrelin may also be important criteria in describing the prognoses of the patients and the effectiveness of the treatments.

summaryThe lactate threshold is a widely used and, at times, controversial construct in exercise physiology and pathophysiology.

The aims of this study were to investigate the impacts of acute aerobic exercise on circulating levels of hormones associated with energy metabolism, namely leptin, nesfatin-1 and irisin, in trained and untrained male subjects and to determine whether the timing of the exercise (i.e. morning or night) amplified these impacts. Thirty trained (19.2±0.7 years) and 30 untrained (19.5±0.6 years) male subjects performed two aerobic running exercises (3 days between tests) to 64-76% of the subjects’ maximal heart rate for about 30 min. Pre- and post-exercise venous blood samples were taken and analysed for leptin, nesfatin-1 and irisin using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Paired samples and independent samples t-tests were used to analyse data. Irisin levels increased in all the subjects (p<0.001). In both groups, nesfatin-1 levels increased significantly after the night-time exercise (p<0.05). Importantly, leptin and nesfatin-1 levels varied among the trained and untrained groups: Both leptin and nesfatin-1 levels increased in 4 (13%) and 12 (40%) subjects, respectively, after the morning exercises, and they increased in 9 (30%) and 10 (33%) subjects, respectively, after the night-time exercise. They decreased in 5 (16%) and 7 (23%) subjects, respectively, after the morning exercise and in 6 (20%) and 3 (10%) subjects, respectively, after the night-time exercise. Exercise may result in increased energy consumption by altering irisin levels. However, due to variations among individuals, increasing leptin and nesfatin-1 levels by reducing food intake may not be applicable.