title: Levels of serum leptin, cholecystokinin, plasma lipid and lipoprotein differ between patients with gallstone or/and those with hepatolithiasis.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  A significant relationship exists among food intake and nutritional status and cholelithiasis, including gallstone and hepatolithiasis. Leptin is associated with obesity. This study was to investigate the differences in serum leptin levels in patients with gallstone and hepatolithiasis and to evaluate the relationships among leptin, cholecystokinin (CCK), lipid and lipoprotein concentrations.
  
  
  METHODS
  Body mass index (BMI), serum leptin, CCK, insulin, lipid and lipoprotein concentrations, and liver function were measured in 382 patients with gallstone (GS group), 83 patients with hepatolithiasis (HS group) and 30 healthy controls (control group). The values of these indices were compared among the groups. In each group, Pearson's product-moment correlation coefficient among these indices were evaluated.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There were notable differences in serum leptin, CCK, total cholesterol, total triglycerides, apolipoprotein-a (APO-a), globulin, direct reacting bilirubin, and BMI between the GS and HS groups (P<0.05). Positive correlations between serum leptin and BMI, CCK, total cholesterol, gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase (GGT), aminotransferase, and insulin were found in the GS group (P<0.05). Positive correlations were observed between serum leptin and CCK, bilirubin, aminotransferase, GGT, in the HS group (P<0.05), but negative correlations between serum leptin and albumin or APO-a (P<0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Leptin participates in modulating lipid metabolism. There are notable differences in leptin, serum lipid, and CCK between patients with gallstone and those with hepatolithiasis. The role of leptin in the pathophysiological course of cholelithiasis needs further investigation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, Affiliated Hospital, Luzhou Medical College, Luzhou 646000, China. minglei762@sina.com
authors.forename: Zheng-Ming
authors.initials: ZM
authors.lastname: Lei
authors.forename: Ming-Xin
authors.initials: MX
authors.lastname: Ye
authors.forename: Wen-Guang
authors.initials: WG
authors.lastname: Fu
authors.forename: Yue
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Cheng
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Fang
authors.forename: Jing
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Li
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001054:Apolipoproteins A / Q000097:blood; D001653:Bile Ducts, Intrahepatic; D001663:Bilirubin / Q000097:blood; D002766:Cholecystokinin / Q000097:blood*; D002769:Cholelithiasis / Q000097:blood*; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D042882:Gallstones / Q000097:blood*; D005916:Globulins / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D020738:Leptin / Q000097:blood*; D050356:Lipid Metabolism; D008074:Lipoproteins / Q000097:blood*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D014280:Triglycerides / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: D001054:Apolipoproteins A; D005916:Globulins; D020738:Leptin; D008074:Lipoproteins; D014280:Triglycerides; D002766:Cholecystokinin; D002784:Cholesterol; D001663:Bilirubin