Is smoking independently associated with high plasma insulin levels in nondiabetic men?
Our results show that chronic smoking is associated with high age- and BMI-adjusted plasma insulin levels, independent of other factors known to influence insulin sensitivity. The effect of smoking may be partially reversible after quitting.
The present findings suggest that the enhanced collagen contractility in ECSCs is associated with myofibroblastic differentiation, the increased expression of fibronectin and the activation of the Rho-ROCK-mediated signalling pathway, all of which may be involved in the pathogenesis of endometriosis-associated fibrosis. These results suggest that the inhibition of the Rho-ROCK-mediated signalling pathway may provide a novel strategy for the treatment of this disease. In addition, our experimental system of ECSCs using 3D collagen gel culture would be suitable for evaluating novel treatments for endometriosis.