Risk of cardiovascular diseases with oral contraceptives.

Oral contraceptive pills (OCs) are widely used method of contraception for its effectiveness and easier compliance. However, adverse effects associated with OCs use notably the increased risk of cardiovascular diseases (CVD), manifesting as ischaemic and haemorrhagic stroke, myocardial infarction (MI) and venous thromboembolic diseases were reported soon after their introduction to the market in the early 1960s. Various modifications were made in an attempt to lower these risks including a reduction in the estrogen dose and changes in the progestogen compound. Currently used OCs containing the new progestin (Levonorgestrel, Desogestrel, gestodene or norgestimate) classified as low dose because all contain less than 35 microg of ethinyl estradiol. Despite their low steroid content, all have proved to be highly effective. The rationale of this reviewed study based upon cardiovascular risks in relation to these monophasic low-dose oral contraceptives. To review all relevant articles it is concluded that the risk for cardiovascular disease is lower with current preparations of oral contraceptives. Cardiovascular diseases occur mainly among oral contraceptive users who smoke or have predisposing factors--such as age more than 35 years, overweight, diabetes & hypertension.

Serum ferritin in healthy subjects and type 2 diabetic patients

In order to study the relationship between the serum ferritin level and the components of the insulin resistance syndrome in type 2 diabetic patients, we evaluated fifty type 2 diabetic patients who were selected according to NDDG/WHO criteria from those patients attending Korea University Hospital from 1997 to 1998. Twenty-five healthy non-diabetic subjects of comparable age and sex distribution acted as a control group. The results showed that the value of log ferritin was higher in the type 2 diabetes patients than the control subjects, but not at a statistically significant level (p = 0.09). Log ferritin was correlated with fasting blood sugar level (r = 0.235, p = 0.048) and body mass index (BMI) (r = 0.285, p = 0.05). In the type 2 diabetic patients, log ferritin was correlated with fasting C-peptide (r = 0.478, p = 0.009). In the control subjects, log ferritin was correlated only with BMI (r = 0.477, p = 0.012). In a stepwise multiple regression analysis, the diabetic group showed a significant correlation between fasting C-peptide and log ferritin (p = 0.001). In the control group, the fasting sugar level was significantly correlated with log ferritin (p = 0.034). These results suggest that serum ferritin can be employed as a marker of not only glucose homeostasis but also insulin resistance both in type 2 diabetic and control subjects.

Effect of catechin on carbohydrate metabolism.

Effect of varying concentrations of catechin on blood glucose levels was examined in male rats. Catechin exerted maximum hypoglycemic action at a dose of 10 mg/kg BW/day. Above this dose, the activity decreased gradually and blood sugar returned to almost normal levels at a concentration of 100 mg/kg BW/day. At optimum dose of catechin there was increase in the hepatic glycogen levels. Incorporation of [14C] glucose into glycogen in vitro was also increased. Glycogen synthase activity was found increased significantly whereas glycogen phosphorylase showed a decrease showing that hypoglycemic effect of catechin is due to increased glycogenesis and decreased glycogenolysis.

Marcadores metabolicos de enfermedad hepática crónica / Metabolics markers of chronic liver disease

Se estudió la asociación de las alteraciones de los lípidos plasmáticos y del metabólismo glucidico con la enfermedad hepática crónica evaluada con variables bioquímicas, endoscópia digestiva superior y ecografía abdominal en 12 pacientes con hepatopatía crónica y 10 sujetos normales. Los Lípidos plasmáticos se modificaron en un 83,3 por ciento, (disminución del 66,6 por ciento del colesterol total y 41,7 por ciento de las lipoproteínas de alta densidad). La sobrecarga de 100 gr de glucosa, presentó alteración en un 83,3 por ciento. Otros estudios mostraron valores anormales: Bilirrubina total: 75 por ciento, Albúmina: 58,3 por ciento, Tiempo de protrombina: 58,3 por ciento, Aminotransferasas: 75 por ciento. Presencia de várices esofágicas: 75 por ciento; Ecográfica anormal: 91,6 por ciento (27,3 por ciento: Cirrosis hepática, 54,5 por ciento: Trastornos difusos del parenquima hepático, 18,2 por ciento: Esplenomegalia). Estos hallazgos colocan a las alteraciones de los Lípidos y Carbohidratos y del estudio Ecosonográfico como los trastornos más frecuentes en hepatopatía crónica

Estudo do comportamento metabólico de indivíduos normais em exercício físico moderado / Study of metabolic in normal subjects during moderate exercise

O exercício físico é um estado fisiológico caracterizado por um aumento na oxidaçäo de substratos energéticos no sentido de satisfazer as necessidades aumentadas de energia, principalmente da musculatura envolvida no processo contrátil. O objetivo deste estudo foi analisar, por calorimetria indireta, o metabolismo energético de indivíduos normais em exercício físico moderado. As medidas calorimétricas de oxidaçäo energética corporal associadas às determinaçöes sanguíneas de substratos e hormônios foram realizadas durante 15 min de exercício a 40 por cento do consumo máximo de oxigênio em bicicleta ergométrica. Os níveis de quociente respiratório, velocidade de oxidaçäo de carboidratos e lipídios e taxa metabólica dos indivíduos estudados nos 10 min finais do período de exercício foram de 0,923 ñ 0,010, 534 ñ 35 e 86,1 ñ 13,7 mg/m²min e 3.026 ñ 173 cal/m²min, respectivamente. As adaptaçöes metabólicas e hormonais a esta situaçäo fisiológica revelaram diminuiçäo significativa da glicemia e insulinemia nos indivíduos estudados, com aumento simultâneo das concentraçöes sanguíneas de lactato, piruvato, ácidos graxos livres, glicerol, corpos cetônicos e glucagon. Em conclusäo, indivíduos normais em exercício físico de intensidade moderada aumentaram significativamente as velocidades de oxidaçäo de carboidratos e lipídios para satisfazer as necessidades energéticas requeridas pelo esforço, atingindo valores de 5,34 ñ 0,35 g/m² de carboidratos e 0,86 ñ 0,14 g/m² de lipídios oxidados em 10 min

influence of cimetidine on serum lipids, glucose and uric acid

In 14 male patients who have been diagnosed endoscopically as having recent peptic ulceration and proved clinically and laboratory to have normal hepatic function, cimetidine was chosen for their treatment. The drug was given orally for 4 weeks in a dose of 400 mg twice daily. Blood samples were withdrawn before the start and by the end of the 4-week treatment, to be subjected for certain biochemical analysis. The analysis included the estimation of fasting serum total cholesterol, triglycerides, high density lipoprotein cholesterol [HDL- cholesterol], low density lipoprotein cholesterol [LDL-cholesterol], glucose and uric acid concentration. Results denoted a significant increase of HDL-cholesterol, while total cholesterol, triglycerides and LDL-cholesterol were significantly affected. Serum glucose concentration was significantly increased, while uric acid concentration was not significantly affected. The results of this study can not warrant the use of cimetidine as lipoprotein modulating factor. However, its effect on serum glucose concentration must be taken into account when evaluating reasons of impaired glucose metabolism in man

Alteraciones del metabolismo de los hidratos de carbono y lípidos en la obesidad / Metabolic changes of carbohydrates and lipids in obesity

Se estudaron las alteraciones del metabolismo hidrocarbonado, del metabolismo lipídico y los niveles circulantes de insulina en un grupo de pacientes obesos, comparándolo con sujetos normales no obesos y con diabéticos de peso normal. En cada individuo se determinaron los niveles sanguíneos de: glucosa (G) o prueba de tolerancia oral a la glucosa (PTOG), insulina (I), hemoglobina glicosilada (HbA1), triglicéridos (TG), colesterol total (CT) y colesterol HDL (CHDL). Los resultados obtenidos indican que los obesos presentan alteraciones de diversa magnitud a nivel del metabolismo de la G, que permiten establecer diferentes estadios. Otro tanto ocurre con los niveles circulantes de I. La HbA1 de los obesos con PTOG normal está dentro de los valores normales, pero significativamente elevada con respecto a los controles. De los lípidos analizados, los TG constituyen la fracción más afectada, siguiéndole el CT y el CHDL. Como consecuencia de las alteraciones lipídicas, los obesos presentan un incremento de los índices de riesgo aterogénico CT/CHDL y TG/CHDL