Evaluation of the correlation of oxytocin plasma levels and metabolic syndrome biomarkers [leptin, adiponectin and resistin] in newly diagnosed type 2 diabetes patients in Jordan: a cross sectional study

Levels of oxytocin [OXT] hormone and inflammatory biomarkers [leptin, resistin and adiponectin] were measured in 166 plasma samples of Metabolic Syndrome [MS] patients [1] that visited the outpatients' endocrinology clinics, Jordan University Hospital [JUH]. Patients were subdivided into two arms according to their glucose profile status, subjects with glucose profile disturbances and normoglycemic subjects. MS biomarkers were significantly different [P<0.01] between study groups, mean OXT levels [ng/mL] were exceptionally higher [p<0.01] in MS-control group [2.25+0.85] than in MS-pre/T2DM group [1.20+0.50]. Conversely, in comparison to MS-controls; MS-pre/T2DM patients had significantly higher adipocytokines plasma levels; namely resistin was 13 times higher [ng/mL] [82.05+ 32.44 vs. 6.45+4.39]; leptin two times higher [ng/mL] [42.43+30.44 vs. 22.76+14.19] and adiponectin was 3-fold higher [micro g/mL] [6.869+1.082 vs. 1.97+0.606]. These findings were indicative for the potential pharmacologic benefit of this hormone in minimization of inflammatory markers chronic deleterious effect

Evaluation of oxytocin [OXT], endothelin-1 and nesfatin plasma concentrations in newly-diagnosed diabetic and non-diabetic patients with metabolic syndrome

Oxytocin [OXT] is implicated as a novel therapy of obesity-diabetes. Nesfatin is an anorexigenic adipokine linked to improve insulin sensitivity and dysglycemia in obese/T2DM mice, while endothelin-1 [ET-1] is an endothelium vasoconstrictor that is dysregulated in metabolic insulin resistance. The aim of this study was to investigate OXT, ET-1, and nesfatin plasma levels and the correlation between these biomarkers and the various metabolic parameters in the human. In a cross-sectional study, MS-subjects attended the National Center for Diabetes Endocrinology and Genetics were enrolled based on their blood glucose levels into [82 MS-non-diabetic vs. 89 MS-pre/diabetic patients]. Plasma OXT, ET-1 and nesfatin levels were measured by competitive binding and sandwich enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays [ELISA]. When MS-pre/T2DM patients were compared to MS-controls, plasma OXT concentrations [pg/mL] were significantly lower [P < 0.001] [mean +/- SD; 1206.28 +/- 507.68 vs. 2224 +/- 871.22]; nesfatin plasma levels [ng/mL] were significantly higher [P < 0.01] [1.04 +/- 2.20 vs. 0.31 +/- 0.25]; while no differences were observed in ET-1 [pg/mL] plasma levels [P > 0.05] [4.21 +/- 4.19 vs. 4.01 +/- 3.51]. In conclusion, the present study is the first one which demonstrates an increase in nesfatin concentrations in MS-pre/diabetic patients vs. MS-non-diabetic. Our study reported a decrease in OXT levels in MS-pre/T2DM compared to MS-control. Besides, ET-1 concentrations had no significant difference between non-diabetic and diabetic-MS patients, serum OXT concentrations correlated with several clinical parameters; this is suggestive of OXT as a pharmacologic agent that opposes weight gain and improves insulin resistance

Preparation, physicochemical characterization and biological evaluation of some hesperidin metal complexes

The ability of hesperidin [HP] to form complexes with five metals; cobalt, nickel, zinc, calcium and magnesium was investigated. The complexation was studied using U.V spectroscopic titration, in methanol as well as aqueous buffer solutions [physiological conditions]. Potential complexes were studied by IR and NMR spectroscopy, melting point and their solubility were also evaluated. The interaction of HP and its metal complexes with DNA was investigated by U.V spectroscopy. HP and its potential complexes were also tested for their ability to inhibit alpha amylase and alpha glucosidase enzymes. The results indicated that HP can form 1:1 complexes with cobalt, nickel and zinc in methanolic solution but not in aqueous buffers. Both HP and its metal complexes were found to intercalate DNA, at physiological condition, with preference to GC rich sequences. HP-metal complexes appeared to have higher affinity towards poly A DNA than the free HP. Neither HP nor its complexes exhibited antimicrobial activity against Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa or Candida albicans. Results showed that HP has little inhibitory action on glucosidase and amylase enzymes with no obvious effect of complexation on the behavior of free HP. In conclusion HP was shown to form 1: complexes with the studied metal in methanol but not in aqueous buffer solutions. In presence of DNA however, complex formation in aqueous solutions seem to be encouraged with differential effect between the complexes and free HP

In vitro modulation of pancreatic min6 insulin secretion and proliferation and extrapancreatic glucose absorption by paronychia argentea, rheum ribes and teucrium polium extracts

The present study design investigated the effects of crude aqueous extracts [AE] of Paronychia argentea Lam., Rheum ribes L. and Teucrium polium L., traditionally utilized in diabetes treatment in Jordan, on the pancreatic beta-cell MIN6 proliferation and insulin secretion and extrapancreatic glucose diffusion. In an ascending order, R. ribes, T. polium and P. argentea concentrations induced a MIN6 monolayers expansion by respective 118-136%, 158-175% and 140-200% [P<0.001], thus exceeding GLP-1 [5 nM] pancreatic proliferative capacity. Like Lalanine [10 mM] insulinotropic efficacy and without exerting cytotoxicity, glucose stimulated insulin secretion was potentiated by AEs of R. ribes [373-736%, P<0.001] and T. polium [503-1190% P<0.001]. P. argentea AE was inactive at used doses. The potent plants' insulin secretory bioactivities were abolished in the depleted Ca[2+] conditions [P<0.001]. Comparable to guar gum [50 mg/ml] diffusional hindrance in a simple dialysis model, P. argentea inhibited overnight glucose movement in vitro [by 38.1 +/- 1.9% AUC reductions, P<0.001], while R. ribes and T. polium AEs proved inactive. This in vitro evaluation has revealed that all three plants augmented beta- cell expansion, P. argentea inhibited carbohydrate absorption and R. ribes and T. polium stimulated insulin secretion. These actions depend on their intact absorption in vivo. Future directives may assess the use of P. argentea, R. ribes and T. polium as new potential sources with functional properties for food or nutraceutical products or active leads into anti-diabetes pharmacotherapy

Current view on biology of aging

This review article is based on a systematic literature search using Pubmed and keywords aging and senescence, interchangeably. Aging [senescence] is the progressive deterioration of many bodily functions. It may or may not be linked to disease, disability and loss of independence. Populations worldwide are aging. Theories of aging biology are interactive and interdependent. They fall into programmed theories and error or damage theories. Longevity genes are under scientific scrutiny, via utilising microarray technology, founder populations and centenarians' family history. Telomere shortening is another programmed theory to explain healthy senescence. Biochemistry of the endocrine theory includes hormonal deficiencies, growth factors and heat shock proteins. Immuno-senescence furthermore elaborates the programmable aging. Among many of error/damage theories are free radical theory, mitochondrial dysfunction, membrane hypothesis of aging, protein cross-linking and DNA repair and maintenance. Biomarkers of aging, as in senescence marker protein-30 and klotho protein, offer the feasibility for exploring aging biology and physiology, advancing our understanding of genetic and lifestyle contributions to aging, and, at best, developing effective age-defying interventions