title: Low serum levels of ghrelin are associated with gallstone disease.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To explore the role of ghrelin in gallstone disease.
  
  
  METHODS
  We carried out a cross-sectional study in 150 subjects, 38 with gallstones (cases) and 112 controls. We also did a real-time PCR-RT study in twenty gallbladder samples each. Body mass index (BMI), serum insulin, ghrelin, and serum lipids were measured. Logistic regression analyses (univariate and multivariate) were conducted to estimate the probability of gallstone disease associated with serum ghrelin concentrations.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Cases were statistically different from controls in gender distribution (P = 0.01), age (53 vs 44 yr, P = 0.002), BMI (28 vs 25; P = 0.004), and glucose (5.26 vs 4.98 mmol/L; P = 0.05). The prevalence of ghrelin serum levels above the third tercile was lower in subjects without metabolic syndrome (P < 0.05). In a multivariate model, we found a protective effect, when ghrelin values were higher than the median value (OR = 0.27, 95%CI 0.09-0.82, P = 0.02). Twenty (20%) gallbladder specimens expressed ghrelin mRNA.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Serum ghrelin concentrations are associated with a protective effect of GD.
authors.affiliation: Liver Unit, Biomedical Research Department, Medica Sur Clinic and Foundation, Mexico City, Mexico. nmendez@medicasur.org.mx
authors.forename: Nahum
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Mendez-Sanchez
authors.forename: Guadalupe
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Ponciano-Rodriguez
authors.forename: Luisa
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Bermejo-Martinez
authors.forename: Antonio-R
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: Villa
authors.forename: Norberto-C
authors.initials: NC
authors.lastname: Chavez-Tapia
authors.forename: Daniel
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Zamora-Valdes
authors.forename: Raul
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Pichardo-Bahena
authors.forename: Blanca
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Barredo-Prieto
authors.forename: Martha-H
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Uribe-Ramos
authors.forename: Martha-H
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Ramos
authors.forename: Hector A
authors.initials: HA
authors.lastname: Baptista-Gonzalez
authors.forename: Misael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Uribe
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D015992:Body Mass Index; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002648:Child; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D005704:Gallbladder / Q000737:chemistry / Q000503:physiopathology*; D042882:Gallstones / Q000097:blood* / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D054439:Ghrelin; D006801:Humans; D007328:Insulin / Q000097:blood; D008055:Lipids / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D036361:Peptide Hormones / Q000032:analysis / Q000097:blood* / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000032:analysis; D012044:Regression Analysis; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction
chemical_list: D054439:Ghrelin; D007328:Insulin; D008055:Lipids; D036361:Peptide Hormones; D012333:RNA, Messenger