title: Plasma orexin-A levels and body composition in COPD.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To study the role of orexins in regulating body composition in patients with COPD.
  
  
  METHODS
  Prospective study.
  
  
  METHODS
  We measured the plasma concentration of orexin-A in 20 patients with COPD and compared the results to those obtained from 10 age-matched control subjects. Patients with COPD were classified into two groups based on their body mass index (BMI): a normal weight (NW) group (BMI > 20) and an underweight (UW) group (BMI < 20).
  
  
  RESULTS
  The plasma orexin-A level was significantly lower in patients with COPD than in control subjects. In patients with COPD, the level was significantly lower in the UW group than in the NW group. Plasma orexin-A levels significantly correlated with BMI and fat mass values, but there was no significant relationship between plasma orexin-A levels and the fat-free mass of patients with COPD.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These results suggest that orexin-A levels are altered with weight loss and changes in body composition in patients with COPD.
authors.affiliation: Department of Respiratory Medicine, Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Tsukuba, Tsukuba-city, Ibaraki, Japan.
authors.forename: Takeshi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Matsumura
authors.forename: Mika
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Nakayama
authors.forename: Hiroaki
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Satoh
authors.forename: Asuka
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Naito
authors.forename: Kazuyuki
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kamahara
authors.forename: Kiyohisa
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Sekizawa
mesh_terms: D001823:Body Composition / Q000502:physiology*; D015992:Body Mass Index; D002352:Carrier Proteins / Q000097:blood* / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D047908:Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins; D008875:Middle Aged; D009479:Neuropeptides / Q000097:blood* / Q000502:physiology; D000068797:Orexins; D011446:Prospective Studies; D029424:Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive / Q000097:blood* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D013147:Spirometry; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000032:analysis
chemical_list: D002352:Carrier Proteins; C000596229:HCRT protein, human; D047908:Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins; D009479:Neuropeptides; D000068797:Orexins; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha