ABSTRACT
CONTEXT: Kisspeptin role in metabolism has been implicated recently. However, the nature of the signals that may connect body fat/muscle tissues with the central nervous system governing energy homeostasis remains to be elucidated. OBJECTIVE: The present study was designed to investigate the effects of peripheral kisspeptin-10 administration on irisin release in human males. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: Kisspeptin-10 was administered to normal weight (n=8) and obese (n=8) men. Sequential blood sampling was performed for 30 minutes pre and 210 minutes post kisspeptin injection at 30 minutes interval. ELISA kit was used to detect plasma irisin levels. RESULTS: There is a significant (P<0.0001) effect of Kisspeptin-10 administration on irisin release in both normal weight and obese participants. Mean irisin levels (96.24 ± 1.351 ng/mL) at 210 minutes were significantly (P<0.0001) enhanced as compared to pre-kisspeptin (59.18 ± 4.815 ng/mL) in normal weight subjects. In obese subjects mean irisin levels (75.76 ± 4.06 ng/mL) were significantly (P<0.0001) elevated at 180 minutes post-kisspeptin when compared with pre-kisspeptin irisin levels (41.28 ± 2.89 ng/mL). CONCLUSION: Our findings suggest that kisspeptin may have a novel therapeutic potential to induce irisin release in humans which may have anti-obesity effects.
ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVES: To study the awareness, perceptions and practice of university students in Karachi, Pakistan, with regard to shisha (waterpipe) smoking. DESIGN: Cross-sectional survey conducted among students at four different universities of Karachi, selected through random cluster sampling. RESULTS: A total of 450 participants, 59.6% males (n=268) and 40.4% females (n=182), were included in the study. About half of the participants reported having ever smoked shisha (n=241, 53.6%). On examining factors associated with starting shisha smoking, curiosity was found to be the most common reason (n=148, 61.4%), followed by pleasure-seeking (n=113, 46.9%), peer pressure (n=55, 22.8%), boredom (n=43, 17.8%) and stress (n=26, 10.8%). Of 241 participants who had ever smoked waterpipes, the majority (n=149, 61.8%) were current smokers. A vast majority of participants (n=269, 60%) considered waterpipe smoking to be less unhealthy than cigarette smoking. Boredom in youth, use of waterpipe in leisure activities and peer pressure were identified as the most common reasons for the escalating popularity of waterpipe smoking in Pakistan. CONCLUSIONS: Waterpipe smoking is very popular among Pakistani university students, and knowledge among university students about the dangers of waterpipe smoking is alarmingly low.
