PHYSIOLOGY FORUM
Prologue

Jeffrey Pessin, Editor

American Journal of Physiology:, Endocrinology and Metabolism


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It is increasingly apparent that the individual metabolic processes responsible for the maintenance of the normal physiological state are highly integrated, complex, and multifaceted events. Because of the inherent difficulties in understanding the interrelationships between these processes, the precise molecular mechanisms are often difficult to solve. Occasionally, a situation arises where a debate on a particular issue ensues as either a series of papers, letters to the editor, or both. This discussion can be scientifically stimulating, providing a means to expand upon different points of view. However, in certain circumstances this debate becomes prolonged, without any clear resolution or development of new approaches to address the experimental differences and/or conclusions drawn. To resolve such a debate, perhaps to broaden the discussion, or to further stimulate interest in an important area, the American Journal of Physiology: Endocrinology and Metabolism is establishing a new venue for this type of discourse.

When an Editor identifies an important area of controversy that both merits and needs a thorough analysis of this type, the Editor will initially invite a discussion of the topic by an individual or group of investigators to provide an impartial and careful analysis of the problem. This INVITED DISCUSSION may undergo some external review and will then be published as the first part of the Physiology Forum. The Editor can then encourage further discussion of the topic by inviting additional COMMENTARY from the investigators directly involved in the original debate as well as other concerned investigators. The commentaries should focus on the published INVITED DISCUSSION and other relevant papers, thereby adding depth to the debate. These manuscripts will be published in a subsequent issue of the Journal in the Physiology Forum under the heading of COMMENTARY. We hope that this additional format will provide an open forum for the pursuit of difficult discussions that may point a way toward the resolution of an apparently intractable problem.

The first of this series concerns the important issue of the measurement of gluconeogenesis in vivo. Specifically, over the past several years a great deal of controversy has arisen over the data and interpretation based upon the use of [U-13C]glucose as a tracer. This method has recently been discussed by both Drs. John Tayek and Joseph Katz and Dr. Bernard Landau and his colleagues. Both groups of investigators have introduced formulas for the determination of gluconeogenic rates based upon the analysis of glucose and lactate isotopomers derived from [U-13C]glucose. These analyses substantially differ from each other in their estimates and from physiologically expected results. To address these issues, we have solicited the first INVITED DISCUSSION from Drs. Jerry Radziuk and Paul Lee. In the following issue, we will publish separate commentaries from Dr. Joanne Kelleher, Drs. Katz and Tayek, and Dr. Landau. We hope that this new publication venue will encourage investigators in other areas to make use of the Physiology Forum to discuss difficult and complex experimental issues.


Am J Physiol Endocrinol Metab 277(2):E197-E198
0002-9513/99 $5.00 Copyright © 1999 the American Physiological Society




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