American Journal of Physiology:, Endocrinology and Metabolism
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.
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