Gene/Protein Disease Symptom Drug Enzyme Compound
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Query: UMLS:C0028754 (obesity)
 124,988 document(s) hit in 31,850,051 MEDLINE articles (0.00 seconds)

Calcaneal quantitative ultrasound (QUS) can predict bone strength and fracture risk. Bone fragility has no single cause but results from a complex interplay of several etiologic or contributing factors. Vitamin D is essential for bone health even though it is still unclear how much of this vitamin is required to maintain bone strength and prevent fractures. Measurements of serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D [S-25(OH)D] have indicated a high prevalence of inadequate vitamin D status in a number of studies mostly based on selected study populations. The objective of this study was to examine the associations between S-25(OH)D, common risk factors for bone fragility, and QUS variables in a large unselected population sample. The study population consisted of 2736 men and 3299 women from a nationally representative population sample, aged 30 years or over. Information on lifestyle was elicited by means of interviews and questionnaires. Body fat mass was estimated using an impedance-meter. S-25(OH)D was measured by radioimmunoassay. Calcaneal QUS was performed on the Hologic Sahara apparatus recording broadband ultrasound attenuation (BUA) and speed of sound (SOS). The potential determinants of BUA and SOS were analysed using separate multiple linear regression models for men and women. S-25(OH)D proved to be an independent determinant of BUA (P<0.0001 for men, P<0.001 for women) and SOS (P<0.0001 for men, P<0.05 for women). BUA was also independently associated with age, height, weight, alcohol consumption, and postmenopausal status in women, and with weight, alcohol consumption, smoking and physical activity in men. All of the above variables, except for weight in women, were also found to be independent determinants of SOS in both men and women. A reverse association was found between S-25(OH)D and adiposity in spite of higher intakes of vitamin D in those with higher fat mass. In this unselected sample of men and women, vitamin D status, several lifestyle factors and physical characteristics proved to be significant determinants of BUA and SOS. Inadequate vitamin D status was common, and measures ensuring adequate intakes of vitamin D in the population thus deserve continued attention. Obesity should be taken into account in future assessments of vitamin D status in Finland as in other countries.
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PMID:Vitamin D status and common risk factors for bone fragility as determinants of quantitative ultrasound variables in a nationally representative population sample. 1932 75

Lifestyle-related diseases are increasing and the challenge to create innovative drugs to treat such diseases is a main focus in medical science research. Fibroblast growth factor 21 (FGF21) is a powerful modulator of glucose and lipid metabolism, and is an innovative candidate drug already in clinical trials for type 2 diabetes mellitus and obesity. Bone fragility and impaired fracture healing induced by such lifestyle-related conditions are also a growing problem. Bone morphogenic proteins (BMPs) are well known osteogenic growth factors, and BMP-2 is used to augment bone formation in difficult clinical situations. There are many documented interactions between the FGF and BMP family proteins, although the interaction between FGF21 and BMP-2 remains unknown. The aim of this study was to reveal the effect of FGF21 toward BMP-2-dependent osteogenic activity, using C2C12 cells as a model system. We found that FGF21 enhanced BMP-2-dependent transcription and osteogenesis in the C2C12 cell line, which was confirmed by alkaline phosphatase activity, matrix mineralization, and gene expression. Mechanistically, FGF21 enhanced BMP-2-induced intracellular signaling through Smad proteins, but not through p44/42MAPK proteins. Furthermore, we identified a negative feedback loop in which BMP-2 decreased endogenous FGF21 mRNA expression. In summary, this study demonstrates interactions between BMP-2 and FGF21 pathways exist in vitro, and that FGF21 enhances the osteogenic activity of BMP-2 by up-regulating the BMP-2-dependent Smad signaling pathway.
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PMID:Interactions between FGF21 and BMP-2 in osteogenesis. 2341 71