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Inhibition of dipeptidyl peptidase-4 (DPP-4) is an established glucose-lowering strategy for the management of type 2 diabetes mellitus. DPP-4 inhibitors reduce both fasting and postprandial plasma glucose levels, resulting in reduced HbA1c with low risk for hypoglycaemia and weight gain. They act primarily by preventing inactivation of the incretin hormones glucose-dependent insulinotropic polype
The response of microbial communities to long-term environmental change is poorly understood. Here, we study bacterioplankton communities in a unique system of coastal Antarctic lakes that were exposed to progressive long-term environmental change, using 454 pyrosequencing of the 16S rDNA gene (V3-V4 regions). At the time of formation, most of the studied lakes harbored marine-coastal microbial co
To provides an overall framework for thinking about the construction of carbon markets, we adopt James Der Derian's 'virtuous war' theory to develop an argument about carbon as a virtuous commodity. This refers to the close affinity between virtuality and virtue - the technological and the ethical - in the construction of carbon markets. The figure of virtuous carbon draws attention to both the fi
The Åland Islands were recently ranked as Finland's healthiest region with lower prevalence of several non-communicable diseases compared with the national mean. We have compared birth characteristics of 1697 individuals born on the Åland Islands between 1937 and 1944 with contemporaneous data from the Helsinki Birth Cohort Study (HBCS; n=11,808). This is a first step towards a potential future an
Dominance by cyanobacteria hampers human use of lakes and reservoirs worldwide. Previous studies indicate that excessive nutrient loading and warmer conditions promote dominance by cyanobacteria, but evidence from global scale field data has so far been scarce. Our analysis, based on a study of 143 lakes along a latitudinal transect ranging from subarctic Europe to southern South America, shows th
Abstract Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the leading cause of death and disability worldwide. In the last decades numerous markers have been considered and investigated for the prediction of CV events, but only a few of them resulted in improved global risk assessment beyond traditional risk factors when incorporated into coronary evaluation scores. Recent genetic studies have pointed out a few bu
The signaling mechanisms regulating neutrophil recruitment, systemic inflammation and T-cell dysfunction in polymicrobial sepsis are not clear. This study explored the potential involvement of the calcium/calcineurin-dependent transcription factor, nuclear factor of activated T-cells (NFAT) in abdominal sepsis. Cecal ligation and puncture (CLP) triggered NFAT-dependent transcriptional activity in
Aims/hypothesis The association between low birthweight (LBW) and risk of developing type 2 diabetes may involve epigenetic mechanisms, with skeletal muscle being a prime target tissue. Differential DNA methylation patterns have been observed in single genes in muscle tissue from type 2 diabetic and LBW individuals, and we recently showed multiple DNA methylation changes during short-term high-fat
The incretin effect refers to the augmentation of insulin secretion after oral administration of glucose compared with intravenous glucose administration at matched glucose levels. The incretin effect is largely due to the release and action on beta-cells of the gut hormones glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide (GIP) and glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1). This system has in recent years had
In the period 2009–2011, Member States discussed whether the EU should increase its emissions reduction target for 2020 beyond the existing 20%. This discussion has not resulted in any agreement, the different actors being deeply divided between those calling for a step-up to a higher target (for instance 30%) and those opposed to any kind of increase. The division can be seen as a result of a con
To examine the potential influence of terrestrially derived DOM on the Baltic Sea, a year-long study of dissolved organic matter (DOM) was performed in three river catchments in Sweden. One catchment drains into the Bothnian Sea, while two southern catchments drain into the Baltic proper. Dissolved organic carbon (DOC) concentrations were positively correlated with discharge from forested catchmen
Background/Objectives:Diets high in saturated and trans fat and low in unsaturated fat may increase type 2 diabetes (T2D) risk, but studies on foods high in fat per unit weight are sparse. We assessed whether the intake of vegetable oil, butter, margarine, nuts and seeds and cakes and cookies is related to incident T2D.Subjects/Methods:A case-cohort study was conducted, nested within eight countri
Previous studies focused mainly on the provision of ecosystem services by species movements between semi-natural and managed habitats, whereas data on spillover effects between two managed habitats or between habitats that provide target resources in non-overlapping time periods are lacking. We studied densities of three pollinator groups on sunflower fields as a late mass-flowering crop in 16 lan
Pollinator populations have suffered severe declines in many industrialised countries due to reduced floral and nesting resources, brought on by agricultural intensification. One potential method of mitigating these effects is creating flower strips. Most previous studies have shown higher pollinator abundances in flower strips, but none have been able to demonstrate increased pollinator abundance
By having phenotypically plastic traits, many organisms optimize their fitness in response to fluctuating threats. Freshwater snails with translucent shells, e.g. snails from the Radix genus, differ considerably in their mantle pigmentation patterns, with snails from the same water body ranging from being completely dark pigmented to having only a few dark patterns. These pigmentation differences
AimsThe effects of sitagliptin and pioglitazone, alone and in combination, on - and -cell function were assessed in patients with type 2 diabetes. MethodsFollowing a 6-week diet/exercise period, 211 patients with HbA1c of 6.5-9.0% and fasting plasma glucose of 7.2-14.4mmol/l were randomized (1:1:1:1) to sitagliptin, pioglitazone, sitagliptin+pioglitazone or placebo. At baseline and after 12weeks,
In 2007, the EU decided to cut greenhouse gas emissions by 20/30 per cent, something which was considered a proof of the EU's willingness to take on high targets independently of others. In the period 2009-11, the EU was debating but could not reach an agreement on stepping up to a 30 per cent reduction target. This raises the question: why did the EU go from being capable of adopting high targets
John Kingdon's Multiple Streams Framework (MSF) constitutes a powerful tool for understanding the policy process, and more specifically, agenda-setting, through three separate streams: problems, policies and politics. This article argues that the MSF would benefit from further development of the problem stream. It introduces a clearer conception of agency into the problem stream by suggesting the
Glucokinase (GK) plays a key role in maintaining glucose homeostasis by promoting insulin secretion from pancreatic beta cells and increasing hepatic glucose uptake. Here we investigate the effects of acute and chronic GK activation on glucose tolerance and insulin secretion in mice with diet-induced insulin resistance. In the acute study, a small molecule GK activator (GKA71) was administered to
