The effects of muscle contraction and recombinant osteocalcin on insulin sensitivity ex vivo.

UNLABELLED: We tested whether GPRC6A, the putative receptor of undercarboxylated osteocalcin (ucOC), is present in mouse muscle and whether ucOC increases insulin sensitivity following ex vivo muscle contraction. GPPRC6A is expressed in mouse muscle and in the mouse myotubes from a cell line. ucOC potentiated the effect of ex vivo contraction on insulin sensitivity. INTRODUCTION: Acute exercise increases skeletal muscle insulin sensitivity. In humans, exercise increases circulating ucOC, a hormone that increases insulin sensitivity in rodents. We tested whether GPRC6A, the putative receptor of ucOC, is present in mouse muscle and whether recombinant ucOC increases insulin sensitivity in both C2C12 myotubes and whole mouse muscle following ex vivo muscle contraction. METHODS: Glucose uptake was examined in C2C12 myotubes that express GPRC6A following treatment with insulin alone or with insulin and increasing ucOC concentrations (0.3, 3, 10 and 30 ng/ml). In addition, glucose uptake, phosphorylated (p-)AKT and p-AS160 were examined ex vivo in extensor digitorum longus (EDL) dissected from C57BL/6J wild-type mice, at rest, following insulin alone, after muscle contraction followed by insulin and after muscle contraction followed by recombinant ucOC then insulin exposure. RESULTS: We observed protein expression of the likely receptor for ucOC, GPRC6A, in whole muscle sections and differentiated mouse myotubes. We observed reduced GPRC6A expression following siRNA transfection. ucOC significantly increased insulin-stimulated glucose uptake dose-dependently up to 10 ng/ml, in differentiated mouse C2C12 myotubes. Insulin increased EDL glucose uptake (∼30 %, p < 0.05) and p-AKT and p-AKT/AKT compared with rest (all p < 0.05). Contraction prior to insulin increased muscle glucose uptake (∼25 %, p < 0.05), p-AKT, p-AKT/AKT, p-AS160 and p-AS160/AS160 compared with contraction alone (all p < 0.05). ucOC after contraction increased insulin-stimulated muscle glucose uptake (∼12 % p < 0.05) and p-AS160 (<0.05) more than contraction plus insulin alone but without effect on p-AKT. In the absence of insulin and/or of contraction, ucOC had no significant effect on muscle glucose uptake. CONCLUSIONS: GPRC6A, the likely receptor of osteocalcin (OC), is expressed in mouse muscle. ucOC treatment augments insulin-stimulated skeletal muscle glucose uptake in C2C12 myotubes and following ex vivo muscle contraction. ucOC may partly account for the insulin sensitizing effect of exercise.

[Lip posture and facial profile standards in mass-media models]. / Postura delle labbra e requisiti del profilo facciale nei modelli proposti dai "mass-media".

It is considered that, among the elements that contribute to the formulation of an individual aesthetic judgement, the most important are the conditionings exercised on the subject by the modern proposals of the mass-media. In this work the positioning of the lips is defined and, more in general, an attempt is made to interpret the requirements of the facial profile in 150 models, whose face has appeared in the press over the last two years, based on the findings of an accurate photogrammetric examination.

[An orthodontic operative area plan]. / Presentazione di un progetto di zona operativa ortodontica.

An orthodontic operative zone plan is presented, carried out with a rational distribution in the space of different operative structures. Described are orthodontic units of new conception and the various equipment and accessories used for the development of professional activity. After analysing the ergonomic principles upon which this plan is inspired, the layout is described and the advantages found are documented.

[Enlargement labial commissuroplasty using the Préaux-Texier-Réal method. Our personal experience]. / Commissuroplastica labiale d'allargamento sec. Préaux, Texier e Réal. Nostra esperienza personale.

The augmentation labial commissuroplasty technique, as described by Préaux, Texier and Réal, after reduction of the buccal opening by lip-to-lip autoplasty is presented. The results achieved, the feasibility and the advantages of this procedure are compared with those of traditional techniques.

[Standoli-Cecchi cheiloplasty in the treatment of cleft lip. Our personal experience]. / Cheiloplastica sec. Standoli e Cecchi nel trattamento delle schisi labiali. Nostra esperienza personale.

Labial repair by the "W-technique" in primary cleft lip surgery, as described by Standoli and Cecchi, is presented. The preliminary results achieved and the advantages of this procedure are compared with those of traditional techniques.

[Additive mentoplasty as a corrective operation for profile and labial posture]. / La mentoplastica additiva come intervento corretivo del profilo e della postura labiale.

The restoration of well-balanced, harmonious facial aesthetics is one of principal aim to be reached with orthodontic treatment. In some cases it is advisable to take into consideration the opportunity of resorting to alternative treatments, integrative or substitutive of orthodontics. In this work, the case presented is that of a young patient, affected by labial incompetence and a profile out of proportion, who underwent an operation for chin augmentation. The required diagnostics and clinical estimates that have supported this surgical indication in alternative to orthodontics are discussed. In conclusion, the postoperative results obtained are presented and the aesthetic and functional advantages attained by the operation are defined.