Digital Commons Network^™

On The Pathogenesis Of Obesity: Causal Models And Missing Pieces Of The Puzzle, Faidon Magkos, Thorkild I.A. Sørensen, David Raubenheimer, Nikhil V. Dhurandhar, Ruth J.F. Loos, Anja Bosy-Westphal, Christoffer Clemmensen, Mads F. Hjorth, David B. Allison, Gary Taubes, Eric Ravussin, Mark I. Friedman, Kevin D. Hall, David S. Ludwig, John R. Speakman, Arne Astrup

Clinical Research Faculty Publications

Application of the physical laws of energy and mass conservation at the whole-body level is not necessarily informative about causal mechanisms of weight gain and the development of obesity. The energy balance model (EBM) and the carbohydrate–insulin model (CIM) are two plausible theories, among several others, attempting to explain why obesity develops within an overall common physiological framework of regulation of human energy metabolism. These models have been used to explain the pathogenesis of obesity in individuals as well as the dramatic increases in the prevalence of obesity worldwide over the past half century. Here, we summarize outcomes of a …

Energy Expenditure In Humans: Principles, Methods, And Changes Throughout The Life Course, Rodrigo Fernández-Verdejo, Guillermo Sanchez-Delgado, Eric Ravussin

Clinical Research Faculty Publications

Humans require energy to sustain their daily activities throughout their lives. This narrative review aims to (a) summarize principles and methods for studying human energy expenditure, (b) discuss the main determinants of energy expenditure, and (c) discuss the changes in energy expenditure throughout the human life course. Total daily energy expenditure is mainly composed of resting energy expenditure, physical activity energy expenditure, and the thermic effect of food. Total daily energy expenditure and its components are estimated using variations of the indirect calorimetry method. The relative contributions of organs and tissues determine the energy expenditure under different physiological conditions. Evidence …

Effects Of E-Cigarettes On The Lung And Systemic Metabolome In People With Hiv, Aline Zaparte, Courtney J. Christopher, Connie Arnold, Lauren Richey, Adairre Castille, Kyle Mistretta, Christopher M. Taylor, Huiyi Lin, Steve Nelson, John P. Kirwan, John W. Apolzan, Shawn R. Campagna, David A. Welsh

Division of Basic Science Faculty Publications

The popularity of e-cigarettes (vaping) has soared, creating a public health crisis among teens and young adults. Chronic vaping can induce gut inflammation and reduce intestinal barrier function through the production of the proinflammatory molecule hydrogen sulfide (H2S). This is particularly concerning for people with HIV (PWH) as they already face impaired immune function and are at a higher risk for metabolic dysregulation, diabetes, and chronic liver disease. Furthermore, PWH experience unhealthy behaviors, making it crucial to understand the systemic metabolic dysregulation and pathophysiological mechanisms associated with vaping in this population. Here, we employed liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry (LC-MS)-based metabolomics to …

Exploratory Physiological Experiments Are Not Clinical Trials, Erik A. Richter, David E. James, John P. Kirwan, Juleen R. Zierath

Division of Basic Science Faculty Publications

No abstract provided.

Kat8 Beyond Acetylation: A Survey Of Its Epigenetic Regulation, Genetic Variability, And Implications For Human Health, Lindsey Yoo, David Mendoza, Allison J. Richard, Jacqueline M. Stephens

Division of Basic Science Faculty Publications

Lysine acetyltransferase 8, also known as KAT8, is an enzyme involved in epigenetic regulation, primarily recognized for its ability to modulate histone acetylation. This review presents an overview of KAT8, emphasizing its biological functions, which impact many cellular processes and range from chromatin remodeling to genetic and epigenetic regulation. In many model systems, KAT8’s acetylation of histone H4 lysine 16 (H4K16) is critical for chromatin structure modification, which influences gene expression, cell proliferation, differentiation, and apoptosis. Furthermore, this review summarizes the observed genetic variability within the KAT8 gene, underscoring the implications of various single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) that affect its …

Lsu General Catalog 2024-2025, Louisiana State University And Agricultural And Mechanical College

LSU General Catalog

The LSU General Catalog describes all undergraduate and graduate departments and programs with degree requirements and courses offered for each one. The LSU General Catalog includes information on registration and financial aid as well as academic services offered to all students.

New Insights In The Mechanisms Of Weight-Loss Maintenance: Summary From A Pennington Symposium, Emily W. Flanagan, Redin Spann, Sarah E. Berry, Hans Rudolf Berthoud, Stephanie Broyles, Gary D. Foster, Jonathan Krakoff, Ruth J.F. Loos, Michael R. Lowe, Danielle M. Ostendorf, Tiffany M. Powell-Wiley, Leanne M. Redman, Michael Rosenbaum, Philip R. Schauer, Randy J. Seeley, Boyd A. Swinburn, Kevin Hall, Eric Ravussin

Division of Basic Science Faculty Publications

Obesity is a chronic disease that affects more than 650 million adults worldwide. Obesity not only is a significant health concern on its own, but predisposes to cardiometabolic comorbidities, including coronary heart disease, dyslipidemia, hypertension, type 2 diabetes, and some cancers. Lifestyle interventions effectively promote weight loss of 5% to 10%, and pharmacological and surgical interventions even more, with some novel approved drugs inducing up to an average of 25% weight loss. Yet, maintaining weight loss over the long-term remains extremely challenging, and subsequent weight gain is typical. The mechanisms underlying weight regain remain to be fully elucidated. The purpose …

Body Shape Perception In Men And Women Without Obesity During Caloric Restriction: A Secondary Analysis From The Calerie Study, Maci M. Jacobson, Alexis M. Gardner, Camilla E. Handley, Michael W. Smith, William F. Christensen, Chad R. Hancock, Paule V. Joseph, Michael J. Larson, Corby K. Martin, James D. Lecheminant

Clinical Research Faculty Publications

Objective: To examine body shape perception in 218 adults without obesity or history of eating disorders during caloric restriction (CR). Methods: Comprehensive Assessment of Long-term Effects of Reducing Intake of Energy (CALERIE) is a 2-year, randomized clinical trial using a 2:1 assignment (CR, 25% reduction in calories; Control, typical diet). For this secondary analysis, we examined perceived body shape using the Body Shape Questionnaire (BSQ). Analyses of BSQ scores are reported by group, over time, by sex, and by BMI. Data for body fat percentage, symptoms of depression, food cravings, maximal oxygen consumption, and stress were analyzed for their association …

Reduction Of Sparc Protects Mice Against Nlrp3 Inflammasome Activation And Obesity, Seungjin Ryu, Olga Spadaro, Sviatoslav Sidorov, Aileen H. Lee, Sonia Caprio, Christopher Morrison, Steven R. Smith, Eric Ravussin, Irina Shchukina, Maxim N. Artyomov, Yun Hee Youm, Vishwa Deep Dixit

Division of Basic Science Faculty Publications

The comprehensive assessment of long-term effects of reducing intake of energy (CALERIE-II; NCT00427193) clinical trial established that caloric restriction (CR) in humans lowers inflammation. The identity and mechanism of endogenous CR-mimetics that can be deployed to control obesity-associated inflammation and diseases are not well understood. Our studies have found that 2 years of 14% sustained CR in humans inhibits the expression of the matricellular protein, secreted protein acidic and rich in cysteine (SPARC), in adipose tissue. In mice, adipose tissue remodeling caused by weight loss through CR and low-protein diet feeding decreased, while high-fat diet–induced (HFD-induced) obesity increased SPARC expression …

Ecological Validity Of Immersive Virtual Environment Experiments On Human Thermal State And Behavioral Intentions: Experimental Protocol Factors, Girish Rentala

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

Using immersive virtual environment (IVE) based experiments to investigate human thermal states and thermal adaptive behaviors during the building design phase could help identify potential comfort issues and enable designers to optimize building performance cost-effectively before the actual building construction. However, to effectively utilize IVEs to study thermal states/adaptive behaviors, it is crucial to ensure the ecological validity of IVE experiment protocols. This entails accurately representing in-situ (real) environments within IVEs and establishing comparability and generalizability of data collected under different thermal stimuli between IVE and in-situ environments. Existing thermal stimuli based IVE studies have not effectively evaluated the ecological …

Rats Lacking Ucp1 Present A Novel Translational Tool For The Investigation Of Thermogenic Adaptation During Cold Challenge, Jaycob D. Warfel, Carrie M. Elks, David S. Bayless, Bolormaa Vandanmagsar, Allison C. Stone, Samuel E. Velasquez, Paola Olivares-Nazar, Robert C. Noland, Sujoy Ghosh, Jingying Zhang, Randall L. Mynatt

Division of Basic Science Faculty Publications

Aim: Valuable studies have tested the role of UCP1 on body temperature maintenance in mice, and we sought to knockout Ucp1 in rats (Ucp1−/−) to provide insight into thermogenic mechanisms in larger mammals. Methods: We used CRISPR/Cas9 technology to create Ucp1−/− rats. Body weight and adiposity were measured, and rats were subjected to indirect calorimetry. Rats were maintained at room temperature or exposed to 4°C for either 24 h or 14 days. Analyses of brown and white adipose tissue and skeletal muscle were conducted via histology, western blot comparison of oxidative phosphorylation proteins, and qPCR to compare mitochondrial DNA levels …

Characterization Of Leptin Receptor Expressing Cells In The Cortex And Hippocampus Of The Mouse Brain, Cade Canepa

Honors Capstones

No abstract provided.

Cerebrospinal Fluid Protein Markers Indicate Neuro-Damage In Sars-Cov-2-Infected Nonhuman Primates, Sudipa Maity, Meredith G. Mayer, Qingbo Shu, Hellmers Linh, Duran Bao, Robert V. Blair, Yanlin He, Christopher J. Lyon, Tony Y. Hu, Tracy Fischer, Jia Fan

Division of Basic Science Faculty Publications

Neurologic manifestations are among the most frequently reported complications of COVID-19. However, given the paucity of tissue samples and the highly infectious nature of the etiologic agent of COVID-19, we have limited information to understand the neuropathogenesis of COVID-19. Therefore, to better understand the impact of COVID-19 on the brain, we used mass-spectrometry–based proteomics with a data-independent acquisition mode to investigate cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) proteins collected from two different nonhuman primates, Rhesus Macaque and African Green Monkeys, for the neurologic effects of the infection. These monkeys exhibited minimal to mild pulmonary pathology but moderate to severe central nervous system (CNS) …

Ice-Crystal-Templated “Accordion-Like” Cellulose Nanofiber/Mxene Composite Aerogels For Sensitive Wearable Pressure Sensors, Wangwang Xu, Qinglin Wu, Jaegyoung Gwon, Jin Woo Choi

Faculty Publications

Exfoliated MXene nanosheets are integrated with cellulose nanofibers (CNFs) to form composite aerogels with high electric conductivity. The combination of CNFs and MXene nanosheets forms a unique “accordion-like” hierarchical architecture with MXene-CNF pillared layers through ice-crystal templating. Benefiting from the special “layer-strut” structure, the MXene/CNF composite aerogels have low density (50 mg/cm3), excellent compressibility and recoverability, as well as superior fatigue resistance (up to 1000 cycles). When being used as a piezoresistive sensor, the composite aerogel exhibits high sensitivity upon different strains, stable sensing performance with various compressive frequencies, broad detection range, and quick responsiveness (0.48 s). Moreover, the piezoresistive …

Contagious Animality: Species, Disease, And Metaphor In Early Modern Literature And Culture, Jeremy Cornelius

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

In my dissertation, Contagious Animality: Species, Disease, and Metaphor in Early Modern Literature and Culture, I close read examples of Renaissance drama alongside their contemporary cultural texts to examine anxieties around social differences as constructed and mediated through what I call “contagious animality” in early modern English culture. Animal metaphors circulated anxieties around social differences on the early modern cultural stage in English drama where animality elicits uncertainties about identitarian constructions of difference. In this vein, I close read formal elements and their interactions with early modern culture to argue that animal metaphors transmit modes of speciating difference in …

Color, Culture, And The Implications For Emotional, Cognitive, And Behavioral Reactions, Renee Lucas

LSU Master's Theses

Color plays a significant role in life, influencing how we perceive things, how symbols change in meaning, how brands, logos, and pictograms are communicated, as well as how our emotions are perceived and how our moods are affected. For designers, advertisers, and visual communicators, color is crucial because it has a big impact on how people perceive, relate to, and value an image or advertisement. There are many factors that play a role when people develop their personal color interpretations – one being culture. The purpose of this study is to investigate the links between culture, color, and individuals’ cognitive, …

Human Total, Basal And Activity Energy Expenditures Are Independent Of Ambient Environmental Temperature, Xueying Zhang, Yosuke Yamada, Hiroyuki Sagayama, Philip N. Ainslie, Ellen E. Blaak, Maciej S. Buchowski, Graeme L. Close, Jamie A. Cooper, Sai Krupa Das, Lara R. Dugas, Michael Gurven, Asmaa El Hamdouchi, Sumei Hu, Noorjehan Joonas, Peter Katzmarzyk, William E. Kraus, Robert F. Kushner, William R. Leonard, Corby K. Martin, Erwin P. Meijer, Marian L. Neuhouser, Robert M. Ojiambo, Yannis P. Pitsiladis, Guy Plasqui, Ross L. Prentice, Susan B. Racette, Eric Ravussin, Leanne M. Redman, Rebecca M. Reynolds, Susan B. Roberts, Luis B. Sardinha, Analiza M. Silva, Eric Stice, Samuel S. Urlacher

Clinical Research Faculty Publications

Lower ambient temperature (Ta) requires greater energy expenditure to sustain body temperature. However, effects of Ta on human energetics may be buffered by environmental modification and behavioral compensation. We used the IAEA DLW database for adults in the USA (n = 3213) to determine the effect of Ta (−10 to +30°C) on TEE, basal (BEE) and activity energy expenditure (AEE) and physical activity level (PAL). There were no significant relationships (p > 0.05) between maximum, minimum and average Ta and TEE, BEE, AEE and PAL. After adjustment for fat-free mass, fat mass and age, statistically significant (p < 0.01) relationships between TEE, BEE and Ta emerged in females but the effect sizes were not biologically meaningful. Temperatures inside buildings are regulated at 18–25°C independent of latitude. Hence, adults in the US modify their environments to keep TEE constant across a wide range of external ambient temperatures.

The Association Of Cuzd1 And Stat5 In Adipocytes, Zachary Wigger

LSU Master's Theses

Obesity is a metabolic disorder that has turned into a global epidemic over the past few decades. Adipocyte dysfunction brought on by obesity can lead to increased risk of metabolic diseases such as cardiovascular disease and type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Knowing how adipocytes function to regulate metabolic homeostasis is critical. CUZD1 (CUB and Zona Pellucida-like Domain-containing protein 1) has not been studied in the context of adipocyte biology but could play a role in several metabolic processes. CUZD1 has been suggested to be a biomarker for several inflammatory diseases and cancers but little functional data has been published. There …

Nutritional Quality Of Calorie Restricted Diets In The Calerie™ 1 Trial, Susan B. Racette, Valene Garr Barry, Connie W. Bales, Megan A. Mccrory, Kathleen A. Obert, Cheryl H. Gilhooly, Susan B. Roberts, Corby K. Martin, Catherine Champagne, Sai Krupa Das

Clinical Research Faculty Publications

Objectives: The aim was to determine the nutritional adequacy of calorie restricted (CR) diets during CR interventions up to 12 months. Methods: The Comprehensive Assessment of Long-Term Effects of Reducing Intake of Energy (CALERIE™) phase 1 trial consisted of 3 single-site studies to test the feasibility and effectiveness of CR in adults without obesity. After baseline assessments, participants who were randomized to a CR intervention received education and training from registered dietitians on how to follow a healthful CR diet. Food diaries were completed at baseline and during the CR interventions (~6, 9, and 12 months) when participants were self-selecting …

I'M Going Cycle Every Day, Lauren Nguyen

LSU Master's Theses

Many designers and scientists have been able to integrate design and science in their respective fields to create works that effectively inform their audiences of complicated subjects. Each of these individuals can express their creativity and viewpoint of the subject matter in a way that is interesting, visually appealing, and informative. Using the medium of graphic design, I created printed posters that represent the way I view the processes of the human body that are technical, yet also visually appealing.

My thesis exhibition walks my audience through the biological cycles that maintain the human body on an everyday basis from …

The Counterbalancing Effects Of Energy Expenditure On Body Weight Regulation: Orexigenic Versus Energy-Consuming Mechanisms, Paolo Piaggi, Alessio Basolo, Corby K. Martin, Leanne M. Redman, Susanne B. Votruba, Jonathan Krakoff

Clinical Research Faculty Publications

Objective: Weight change is a dynamic function of whole-body energy balance resulting from the interplay between energy intake and energy expenditure (EE). Recent reports have provided evidence for the existence of a causal effect of EE on energy intake, suggesting that increased EE may drive overeating, thereby promoting future weight gain. This study investigated the relationships between ad libitum energy intake and 24-hour EE (24-h EE) in sedentary conditions versus long-term, free-living weight change using a mediation analysis framework. Methods: Native American individuals (n = 61, body fat by dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry: 39.7% [SD 9.5%]) were admitted to the clinical …

Caloric Restriction In Humans Reveals Immunometabolic Regulators Of Health Span, O. Spadaro, Y. Youm, I. Shchukina, S. Ryu, S. Sidorov, A. Ravussin, K. Nguyen, E. Aladyeva, A. N. Predeus, S. R. Smith, E. Ravussin, C. Galban, M. N. Artyomov, V. D. Dixit

Clinical Research Faculty Publications

The extension of life span driven by 40% caloric restriction (CR) in rodents causes trade-offs in growth, reproduction, and immune defense that make it difficult to identify therapeutically relevant CR-mimetic targets. We report that about 14% CR for 2 years in healthy humans improved thymopoiesis and was correlated with mobilization of intrathymic ectopic lipid. CR-induced transcriptional reprogramming in adipose tissue implicated pathways regulating mitochondrial bioenergetics, anti-inflammatory responses, and longevity. Expression of the gene Pla2g7 encoding platelet activating factor acetyl hydrolase (PLA2G7) is inhibited in humans undergoing CR. Deletion of Pla2g7 in mice showed decreased thymic lipoatrophy, protection against age-related inflammation, …

Designing A Clinical Study With Dietary Supplements: It's All In The Details, Z. Elizabeth Floyd, David M. Ribnicky, Ilya Raskin, Daniel S. Hsia, Jennifer C. Rood, Bill J. Gurley

Division of Basic Science Faculty Publications

A successful randomized clinical trial of the effect of dietary supplements on a chosen endpoint begins with developing supporting data in preclinical studies while paying attention to easily overlooked details when planning the related clinical trial. In this perspective, we draw on our experience studying the effect of an ethanolic extract from Artemisia dracunculus L. (termed PMI-5011) on glucose homeostasis as a potential therapeutic option in providing resilience to metabolic syndrome (MetS). Decisions on experimental design related to issues ranging from choice of mouse model to dosing levels and route of administration in the preclinical studies will be discussed in …

Lsu General Catalog 2022-2023, Louisiana State University And Agricultural And Mechanical College

LSU General Catalog

The LSU General Catalog describes all undergraduate and graduate departments and programs with degree requirements and courses offered for each one. The LSU General Catalog includes information on registration and financial aid as well as academic services offered to all students.

The Complicated Relationship Between Dieting, Dietary Restraint, Caloric Restriction, And Eating Disorders: Is A Shift In Public Health Messaging Warranted?, Tiffany M. Stewart, Corby K. Martin, Donald A. Williamson

Clinical Research Faculty Publications

The origins of theories specifying dietary restraint as a cause of eating disorders can be traced to the 1970s. This paper will present an overview of the origins of dietary restraint theories and a brief historical review of evidence will be summarized. Recent research will be presented, including the results from the CALERIE Phase 1 study, as well as CALERIE Phase 2, which were NIH-sponsored randomized controlled trials. CALERIE 2 provided a test of the effect of two years of caloric restriction (CR) on the development of eating disorder syndromes and symptoms in comparison to a control group that did …

Exploring Thermal State In Mixed Immersive Virtual Environments, Sanaz Saeidi, Girish Rentala, Tracey Rizzuto, Tianzhen Hong, Neil Johannsen, Yimin Zhu

Faculty Publications

Combining immersive virtual environment (IVE) with a controlled environment is a potential solution for analyzing human thermal experience during building design. Existing studies in this field have not adequately analyzed scenarios involving stabilized comfortable and uncomfortable temperature conditions using both thermal state votes and physiological responses, or the influence of the seasons. By combining IVE with a climate chamber, called mixed IVE (MIVE) in this study, experiments were conducted to test the hypothesis that participants' virtual experience did not significantly alter their thermal experience compared to their in-situ experience. Response variables were the control temperature distribution, the thermal state vote …

Leptin Treatment Prevents Impaired Hypoglycemic Counterregulation Induced By Exposure To Severe Caloric Restriction Or Exposure To Recurrent Hypoglycemia, Marina A. Duvall, Carolyn E. Coulter, Jasmin L. Gosey, Matthew J. Herrera, Cristal M. Hill, Rajvi R. Jariwala, Lauren E. Maisano, Laura A. Moldovan, Christopher D. Morrison, Ngozi V. Nwabueze, Hunter X. Sikaffy, David H. Mcdougal

Division of Basic Science Faculty Publications

Hypoglycemia-associated autonomic failure (HAAF) is a maladaptive failure in glucose counterregulation in persons with diabetes (PWD) that is caused by recurrent exposure to hypoglycemia. The adipokine leptin is known to regulate glucose homeostasis, and leptin levels fall following exposure to recurrent hypoglycemia. Yet, little is known regarding how reduced leptin levels influence glucose counterregulation, or if low leptin levels are involved in the development of HAAF. The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of hypoleptinemia on the neuroendocrine responses to hypoglycemia. We utilized two separate experimental paradigms known to induce a hypoleptinemic state: 60% caloric restriction (CR) …

Association Between The Fto Rs9939609 Single Nucleotide Polymorphism And Dietary Adherence During A 2-Year Caloric Restriction Intervention: Exploratory Analyses From Calerie™ Phase 2, James L. Dorling, Daniel W. Belsky, Susan B. Racette, Sai Krupa Das, Eric Ravussin, Leanne M. Redman, Christoph Höchsmann, Kim M. Huffman, William E. Kraus, Michael S. Kobor, Julia L. Macisaac, David T.S. Lin, David L. Corcoran, Corby K. Martin

Clinical Research Faculty Publications

Caloric restriction (CR) improves markers of aging in humans; but it is not known if the fat mass and obesity-associated gene (FTO) rs9939609 single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP), which is associated with appetite and energy intake, influences adherence to prolonged CR. Utilizing data from the two-year Comprehensive Assessment of Long-term Effects of Reducing Intake of Energy (CALERIE™) phase 2 randomized controlled trial, we tested whether the FTO rs9939609 SNP was associated with adherence to CR in healthy adults without obesity. As secondary aims, we assessed whether the FTO rs9939609 SNP was associated with changes in body composition, biomarkers of aging, and …

Virtual Traffic Signals: Safe, Rapid, Efficient And Autonomous Driving Without Traffic Control, Zhao Zhang, Feng Liu, Brian Wolshon, Yu Sheng

Faculty Publications

Connected and autonomous vehicles (CAV) will open the future to vast possibilities in transportation, most of which have yet to be imagined. As these new technologies emerge, they also have the potential to render many of today's most common transportation control methods irrelevant. In this paper, concepts of connected and autonomous are applied to coordinate and synchronize the arrival and departure of vehicles at intersections; effectively ending the need for traffic signals. Under a set of 'autonomous rules of operation', vehicles can be kept in near-continuous motion while also maintaining safe separation, creating a system of 'virtual traffic signal' (VTS). …

Pioglitazone Reverses Markers Of Islet Beta-Cell De-Differentiation In Db/Db Mice While Modulating Expression Of Genes Controlling Inflammation And Browning In White Adipose Tissue From Insulin-Resistant Mice And Humans, J. Jason Collier, Heidi M. Batdorf, Kaelan L. Merrifield, Thomas M. Martin, Ursula White, Eric Ravussin, David H. Burk, Chris R. Cooley, Michael D. Karlstad, Susan J. Burke

Division of Basic Science Faculty Publications

Obesity, insulin resistance, and type 2 diabetes contribute to increased morbidity and mortality in humans. The db/db mouse is an important mouse model that displays many key features of the human disease. Herein, we used the drug pioglitazone, a thiazolidinedione with insulin-sensitizing properties, to investigate blood glucose levels, indicators of islet β-cell health and maturity, and gene expression in adipose tissue. Oral administration of pioglitazone lowered blood glucose levels in db/db mice with a corresponding increase in respiratory quotient, which indicates improved whole-body carbohydrate utilization. In addition, white adipose tissue from db/db mice and from humans treated with pioglitazone showed …