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Ghrelin and agouti-related protein (AgRP) are orexigenic peptides secreted from stomach mucosa and the arcuate nucleus of the hypothalamus, respectively. Both peptides affect feeding behavior and play a role in energy balance, glucose homeostasis, and adiposity. The purpose of the current study was to determine the effects of moderate-term (6 weeks) running regimen on resting levels of ghrelin, AgRP, adenosine triphosphate, and glycogen in soleus muscle as well as plasma concentrations of the orexigenic hormones. Eighteen adult Wistar male rats (12 weeks old, 235-255 g) were randomly assigned to training (n = 10) and control (n = 8) groups. The training group ran for 60 min/d, 5d/wk at 25 m/min and 0% grade for 6 weeks. Forty-eight hours after the last exercise session, rats were killed; and soleus muscle and plasma were collected and frozen in liquid nitrogen for later analysis. Results demonstrated that 6 weeks of treadmill exercise reduced ghrelin and increased AgRP levels in plasma. Trained rat soleus muscle had higher levels of glycogen but not adenosine triphosphate or AgRP compared with untrained controls. Data indicate that training lowers ghrelin levels in rat soleus and plasma, which is accompanied by higher plasma AgRP and soleus glycogen content.

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The purpose of this study was to investigate liver and intestinal ABCA1 expression and plasma HDL-C level in response to treadmill-running training in rats. Twenty adult Wistar male rats (17-18 weeks old, 300-322 g) were divided into control (n = 10) and Training (n = 10) groups. Training group trained at 25 m/min (0% grade) for 60 min/day, 5 days/week for 12 weeks. Rats were killed 48 h after the last session of training. The intestinal and liver ABCA1 mRNA expression was found to be significantly higher in trained compared to control group (P < 0.006 and P < 0.024, respectively). Intestine and liver ATP concentrations remained unchanged. Plasma HDL-C, HDL2-C, Apo A-1, pre-beta HDL-C concentration, LCAT activity, TC/HDL-C and LDL-C/HDL-C ratio significantly increased in trained group (P < 0.01, P < 0.006, P < 0.001, P < 0.001 P < 0.067, P < 0.02, and P < 0.03, respectively). However, other lipoprotein concentrations were unchanged. In conclusion, we found that endurance training induced significant elevation in plasma HDL-C and HDL2-C concentrations, accompanied by higher plasma Apo A-1, pre-beta HDL-C concentrations, LCAT activity and ABCA1 mRNA expressions in rat intestine, and liver.

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Ghrelin and obestatin both are orexigenic/anorexigenic peptides which are secreted from gastrointestinal tracts (fundus submucosa cells). Obestatin is a 23 amino acid peptide recently isolated from rat stomach, is encoded by the same gene that encodes ghrelin. It has been suggested that ghrelin/obestatin stimulate growth hormone release and have opposite actions on food intake. Distribution and biological activity of obestatin and its role in energy balance were studied in rodents. The purpose of the present study was to investigate fundus and intestine obestatin concentrations and selected hormonal responses to a treadmill exercise running program. Fourteen adult Wistar male rats (12-14 weeks old, 235-250 g) were used for this study. Animals were divided into control (n=7) and training (n=7) groups. Training group was given exercise on a motor-driven treadmill at 25 m/min (0% grade) for 60 min/day, 5 days/week for 6 weeks. Rats were sacrificed 48 h after the last session of exercise fundus, small intestine, and liver were excised, immediately washed in ice-cold saline, and frozen in liquid nitrogen for determination of obestatin and ATP concentrations and liver glycogen content. Plasma was collected for glucose, growth hormone (GH), insulin, and cortisol measurements. Total obestatin concentrations were significantly (P<0.045, P<0.032, respectively) low in trained rat fundus and intestine at rest. Fundus and intestine ATP content remained unchanged. Liver glycogen content was significantly (P<0.039) higher in trained rats. Changes in plasma total obestatin, glucose, insulin, cortisol levels were not significant. Plasma GH concentrations was significantly (P<0.001) higher in trained animals when compared with control rats. The data indicate that moderate treadmill exercise was able to reduce fundus and small intestine total obestatin concentrations and this reduction was accompanied with a higher plasma GH and liver glycogen content in trained rats. Exercise training might modulate fundus and intestine total obestatin levels via an improvement of energy source and a negative feedback action of GH on this peptide.

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Acute bacterial infectious diseases are mostly treated empirically at admission before the culture results are available. According to the risk for serious complications in the case of therapeutic failure, it is important to evaluate the therapy results and change to a more appropriate antibiotic regime as soon as possible. In the present study, 40 patients with X-ray-verified community-acquired pneumonia were examined and blood specimens were collected before and within 24 h of treatment. Body temperature, C-reactive protein (CRP) and hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) were investigated. Thirty-two patients received an appropriate initial antibiotic therapy regarding clinical outcome, but in 8 patients the treatment was changed because of therapy failure. Changes of HGF levels after 18-24 h of treatment could predict the therapeutic results accurately in 38 of 40 cases (sensitivity 100%, specificity 94%, positive likelihood ratio 16.0). HGF was significantly better to predict therapy outcome than CRP (p < 0.0001).

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