Placental Cannabinoid Receptor Expression in Preterm Birth

Background: The cannabinoid receptor (CBR) plays a significant role in oogenesis, pregnancy, and childbirth. It might also play a significant role in preterm birth (PTB). The aim of the study was to investigate the association between the expression of the CBR in the placenta and the incidence of PTB. Methods: This prospective, observational, multicentre preliminary study was conducted on placental samples obtained from 109 women. The study included 95 patients hospitalized due to the high risk of PTB. They were divided into two groups: Group 1, where the expression of the CBR1 and CBR1a was analyzed, and Group 2, in which we examined CBR2 expression. The control group, that is, Group 3, consisted of 14 women who delivered at term, and their placentas were tested for the presence of all three receptor types (CBR1, CBR1a, and CBR2). Results: The study used reverse transcription and real-time PCR methods to assess the expression of CBRs in the placental tissues. The expression of the CBR2, CBR1, and CBR1a receptors was significantly lower in the placentas of women after PTB compared to those after term births, p = 0.038, 0.033, and 0.034, respectively. Conclusions: The presence of CBR mRNA in the human placental tissue was confirmed. The decreased expression of CBRs could serve as an indicator in predicting PTB.

Bioleptin as a useful marker of metabolic status in children with diabetes mellitus type 1

Introduction

The purpose of our study was tomeasure the level of leptin and biologically active leptin (bioLEP) in children with type 1 diabetes, depending on the duration of diabetes and its degree of metabolic control.

Methods

The study included 94 children (58 boys and 36 girls). In a group of children with diabetes, 40 patients were newly diagnosed with type 1 diabetes, 40 children who have diabetes for more than a year (20 with good metabolic control and 20 with poor metabolic control). The control group consisted of 14 healthy children. The serum level of leptin and bioLEP was measured using a sandwich enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. To our knowledge, this is the first study to describe bioLEP levels among diabetic children with different forms of disease control.

Results

Lower levels of leptin were found in children with diabetes compared to healthy children. Furthermore, we found a statistically higher concentration of leptin in the group of children with newly diagnosed diabetes compared to children from the diabetic group with poor metabolic control and lower than healthy children (11.19 vs. 7.84 and 20.94 ng/mL). Moreover, children in the metabolically well-controlled group had statistically lower levels of this hormone (5.11 ng/mL) than healthy children. Leptin concentrations differed significantly between underweight, overweight, and obese children.

Discussion

In our study, the level of bioLEP differed significantly between children in the newly diagnosed diabetes group and children in the long-term, poorly controlled diabetes group and healthy controls. Despite many studies published in recent years, many aspects of leptin secretion, action, and mechanisms of its influence on carbohydrate and fat metabolism are still to be clarified. In our opinion, studies evaluating the status of bioLEP in diabetes can also contribute to a better understanding of the mechanisms regulating metabolism.

A low glycemic index, energy-restricted diet but not Lactobacillus rhamnosus supplementation changes fecal short-chain fatty acid and serum lipid concentrations in women with overweight or obesity and polycystic ovary syndrome

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate if changes in fecal short-chain fatty acids (SCFA) content with an energy-restricted diet and with/without 12 × 109 CFU/day of Lactobacillus rhamnosus supplementation affect the abundance of selected gut bacteria and lipid profile in overweight and obese women with PCOS.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

This randomized controlled trial involved 40 overweight and obese women with a mean age of 28.8 ± 4.8 years diagnosed with PCOS. The subjects were randomly assigned to an energy-restricted diet group (D group; n = 21) or energy-restricted diet + Lactobacillus rhamnosus supplementation group (DP group; n=19). SCFA, selected gut bacteria (Akkermansia muciniphila, Bifidobacterium longum, and Faecalibacterium prausnitzii) abundance, lipid profile and anthropometric parameters were evaluated at baseline and after twenty weeks of intervention.

RESULTS

The energy-restricted diet significantly reduced body weight, BMI, fat mass, acetic and butyric acids, and improved the lipid profile (total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, and triglycerides) of both groups. Changes in the molar ratio of SCFA towards the correct ratio were also observed. All the results were independent of Lactobacillus rhamnosus supplementation, with no significant differences between the two groups.

CONCLUSIONS

Twenty weeks of probiotic supplementation has no additional beneficial effects on selected gut bacteria abundance, SCFA levels, or lipid profile beyond the effect of an energy-restricted diet in overweight and obese women with PCOS.