Journal of Metabolic Syndrome

Type 2 diabetes mellitus is often associated with the neurodegenerative changes, and this is regarded as being the cause of cognitive deficit and other brain dysfunctions. The data obtained by us and the other authors showed that alterations in the brain signaling systems regulated by different hormones and neurotransmitters contribute to triggering and development of neurodegenerative processes in diabetes. However, the activity of brain adenylyl cyclase system and the cognitive functions, their interrelation, and the influence of intranasal serotonin on them in type 2 diabetes are poorly understood yet. We investigated the hormonal sensitivity of adenylyl cyclase system in the brain of female rats with the neonatal model of type 2 diabetes and the influence of 8-weeks treatment with intranasal serotonin (20 μ g/rat daily) on the brain adenylyl cyclase system and cognition in diabetes. It was shown that in the diabetic brain the regulatory effects of hormones (relaxin, adrenergic agonists, dopamine, serotonin) activating adenylyl cyclase via Gs proteins changed in a receptor-specific manner and were restored by intranasal serotonin. The effects of hormones inhibiting adenylyl cyclase via Gi proteins were significantly decreased, especially in the case of agonists of type 1 serotonin receptors. The intranasal serotonin treatment led to their partial or complete restoration. Using Morris water maze test we showed that intranasal serotonin improves diabetes- associated impaired learning and spatial memory. Summing up, in the brain of diabetic rats the functional activity of hormone-sensitive adenylyl cyclase signaling system was altered, most dramatically in the G i -coupled cascades. The intranasal serotonin treatment improved both the signal transduction via the brain adenylyl cyclase system and cognitive functions in type 2 diabetes.

Introduction : Studies have shown altered protein metabolism in the presence of excess carbohydrate such as type 2 diabetes (T2DM). Protein metabolism is impaired in T2DM as a result of oxidative stress and insulin resistance. Here we aimed to study the correlation of serum urea as an indicator of protein metabolism with malondialdehyde (MDA) and superoxide dismutase (SOD), as indicators of oxidative stress in T2DM patients.
Methods : We performed a cross sectional study on 151 patients with T2DM and 45 healthy controls. We quantified fasting blood sugar (FBS), HbA1C, lipid profile, urea, MDA and SOD in the studied groups. Results : Patients had a higher serum urea, FBS, HbA1C, triglyceride, cholesterol, LDL, MDA and SOD than controls. GFR and serum HDL levels were lower in patients. Diabetic men had a lower HDL and a higher albuminuria compared to diabetic women. There were no difference in any of the studied variables between men and women in control group. Serum urea levels were negatively correlated with MDA (r= -0.70, p<0.01) and SOD (r= -0.60, p<0.01) in men with type 2 diabetes. This was significant after multiple adjustments for HbA1C, GFR, albuminuria and duration of diabetes.
Discussion : We showed the negative correlation of serum urea levels with the markers of oxidative stress in T2DM men. It could be concluded that protein metabolism and urea formation is more severely influenced in diabetic men. This explains the negative correlation of urea with MDA and SOD, only in men with T2DM.

Ginseng, one of the most commonly used herbs worldwide, has known anti-hyperglycemic effects. Twenty-eight (28) studies on diabetic mice and rats from 7 research centers (in 6 different nations) indicate that both Asian ginseng (Panax ginseng) and American ginseng (Panax quinquefolius) are effective anti-hyperglycemic supplements, putatively acting via improvements in insulin secretion, insulin sensitivity, islet protection, obesity reduction, antioxidation, energy expenditure, and fat absorption. Investigations in clonal beta-cells (MIN6, RINmF, INS-1, HIT-T15) and non-beta-cells (3T3-L1, C1C12, HepG2) further confirm that ginseng may protect against pancreatic beta-cell apoptosis and promote insulin secretion and glucose uptake. Among 18 human trials from 4 independent groups, 15 are single dose trials; whereas, 4 are long-term trials, with treatment periods lasting longer than 4 weeks. Eleven of the single dose trials observed anti-diabetic effects, while 4 observed no improvements. In the long-term studies, two-thirds of the studies on type 2 diabetic (T2D) patients observed anti-hyperglycemic effects. Based upon the sound evidence from cell lines and animal models, along with the improvements from the majority of human subject trials, ginseng appears to be a potent anti-diabetic supplement. Regardless, more long-term trials on T2D patients are required before ginseng can be safely recommended as a broadly-used anti-diabetic agent.

Obesity develops due to energy (food) intake exceeding energy expenditure. Nutrients that reduce the positive energy balance are thus being considered as therapies to combat obesity. Here, we review the literature related to the physiological, cellular and endocrine effects of intake of whey proteins, namely α-lactalbumin, β-lactoglobulin, glycomacropeptide and lactoferrin. Moreover, we discuss how dietary composition and obesity may influence whey protein effects on the above parameters. Evidence suggests that intake of whey proteins causes a decrease in energy intake, increase in energy expenditure, influence insulin sensitivity and glucose homeostasis and alter lipid metabolism in the adipose, liver and muscle. These physiological changes are accompanied by alterations in the plasma levels of energy balance related hormones (cholecystokinin, ghrelin, insulin and glucagon-like peptide-1) and the expression of catabolic and anabolic genes in the above tissue in the direction to cause a negative energy balance.

Introduction: To the best of our knowledge, there is little data about metabolic syndrome (METS) in hospitalized patients, and we think that the prevalence of syndrome in these patients are higher than normal population, hence we decided to clarify prevalence of this syndrome in this group of patients and compared three criteria of METS definition with each other.
Methods: This study was conducted between January 2009 and December 2010. 194 consecutive patients were enrolled in the study. The diagnoses of the patients were recorded based on their medical charts. The height, weight, body mass index (BMI), waist circumference, blood pressure (BP), High-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol, triglycerides and fasting blood glucose of the subjects were measured. The presence of MetS was determined based on the definitions given by the ATP III-A for Asians, the recent IDF and AHA/NHLBI criteria. Descriptive statistics were computed to describe the demographic and clinical variables.
Results: There were 109 males and 85 females. The MetS was present in 93 of 194 (48.0%) subjects, according to the NCEP-ATPIII (National Cholesterol Education Program Adult Treatment Panel III definition, 100 (51%) according to the IDF definition, and in 102 (52.5%) according to the AHA/NHLBI definition.
Conclusion: Gender (female) and DM were factors significantly associated with the diagnosis of metabolic syndrome. Taking the general population as a reference in this geographic area (25% vs. 48% p=0.01), this value is also elevated. We also recommend using AHA/NHLBI criteria for hospitalized patients.