Evaluation of Biological Literature
Obesity and Cardiovascular Disease
Francisco B. Ortega, Carl J. Lavie, Steven N. Blair
This article discussed obesity and the rate at which its growing. Obesity is a growing issue across the country. It can be linked to cardiovascular disease. This article looks at concepts such as the fat-but-fit paradigm, the metabolically healthy but obese (MHO) phenotype and the obesity paradox in patients with cardiovascular disease. This article also attempts to identify a solid definition for metabolically healthy but obese (MHO).
Association between dopamine D2 receptor gene polymorphisms and the risk of heroin dependence
Heroin dependence is a growing problem throughout the country. Many people die daily due to the addiction of this opiate.Researchers have reported that the dopamine D2 receptor (DRD2) is involved in the development of opiate dependence. To identify markers that contribute to the genetic susceptibility to heroin addiction, the researchers examined the potential association between heroin dependence and six polymorphisms of the DRD2 gene. They collected 334 patients who were dependent on heroin and 299 healthy patients to participate in the study. Their results show the significance of different alleles involved with dependence of drugs.
Regulation of insulin synthesis and secretion and pancreatic Beta-cell dysfunction in diabetes
Diabetes Mellitus (Type 1 and 2) is a disease that is growing at a steady rate in the United States. It occurs when certain receptors in the cell do not properly take in insulin. Insulin is important because it is an important regulator of metabolism and it is secreted in response to glucose. Pancreatic β-cell dysfunction plays an important role in the pathogenesis of both type 1 and type 2 diabetes. The β-cell is a metabolic hub in the body, connecting nutrient metabolism and the endocrine system. This article reviews β-cells synthesis and insulin secrete and presents evidence that genetic and environmental factors can lead to hyperglycemia, dyslipidemia, inflammation, etc. whih result in β-cell dysfunction, thereby triggering the pathogenesis of diabetes.