Influência dos níveis séricos de IGF-I e de testosterona sobre o perfil lipídico e glicêmico em homens acromegálicos / Influence of serum IGF-I and testosterone on lipid and glycemic profile in acromegalic men

OBJETIVOS: Investigar a influência do IGF-I e testosterona sobre o perfil lipídico e glicêmico em homens acromegálicos. MÉTODOS: Foram avaliados 15 homens acromegálicos. RESULTADOS: Os pacientes hipogonádicos apresentaram HDL-c mais baixo e triglicérides, LDL-c, glicemia, GH e IGF-I mais elevados. Os valores de IGF-I correlacionaram-se inversamente com HDL-c (r = - 0,57, p = 0,04) e diretamente com triglicerídeos (r = 0,62, p = 0,01) e glicemia (r = 0,66, p = 0,008), enquanto a testosterona correlacionou-se diretamente com HDL-c (r = 0,52, p = 0,05) e inversamente com triglicerídeos (r = - 0,57, p = 0,02); LDL (r = - 0,53, p = 0,04) e glicemia (r = - 0,54, p = 0,03). O IGF-I e a testosterona correlacionaram-se inversamente (r = - 0,585, p = 0,028). CONCLUSÃO: Estes resultados sugerem que a intervenção mais importante na redução do risco cardiovascular nesses pacientes é o controle da atividade da doença.

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the influence of IGF-I and testosterone on the lipid profile and glycemia in acromegalic men. METHODS: Fifteen acromegalic men were studied. RESULTS: The hypogonadic patients presented lower HDL-c and higher tryglicerides, LDL-c, glycemia, GH and IGF-I. Serum IGF-I was inversely correlated with HDL-c (r = - 0.57, p = 0.04) and directly with TG (r = 0.62, p = 0.01) and glycemia (r = 0.66, p = 0.008), whereas serum testosterone correlated directly with HDL-c (r = 0.52, p = 0.05) and inversely with TG (r = - 0.57, p = 0.02), LDL-c (r = - 0.53, p = 0.04) and fasting blood glucose (r = - 0.54, p = 0.03). IGF-I and testosterone were inversely correlated (r = - 0.585, p = 0.028). CONCLUSION: These results suggest that the most important intervention in reducing cardiovascular risk in these patients is to control the activity of the disease.

Visão retrospectiva em fibras alimentares com ênfase em beta-glucanas no tratamento do diabetes / In retrospect, with emphasis on dietary fiber beta-glucan in the treatment of diabetes

Fibra alimentar refere-se aos componentes de plantas ou carboidratos análogos que são resistentes à digestão e absorção no intestino delgado humano. A American Dietetic Association recomenda ingestão de 20-35g de fibras ao dia. Evidências sugerem que uma dieta rica em fibras traz benefícios à manutenção da saúde, redução de risco e tratamento de doenças crônicas como a obesidade, doenças cardiovasculares, diverticulite e diabetes. As fibras são classificadas de acordo com a sua solubilidade em solúveis e insolúveis, com efeitos fisiológicos distintos. As insolúveis são responsáveis pelo aumento do bolo fecal e diminuição do tempo de trânsito intestinal. As solúveis retardam o esvaziamento gástrico e a absorção de glicose diminuindo a glicemia pós-prandial e reduzem o colesterol sérico devido à sua característica física de conferir viscosidade ao conteúdo luminal. As beta-glucanas são fibras altamente viscosas e seu consumo está relacionado à atenuação da resposta glicêmica e insulínica pós-prandial. A beta-glucana tem efeito sobre a degradação do amido e sobre o carboidrato disponível e conseqüentemente, sobre o índice glicêmico dos alimentos ingeridos. Recomenda-se sua ingestão com o objetivo de modular a glicemia e a necessidade de insulina, no tratamento da obesidade, doenças cardiovasculares e do diabetes. Este trabalho visa fornecer uma visão geral sobre beta-glucanas no tratamento do diabetes.

Dietary fibers are defined as the component of the plants or analog carbohydrates that are resistant to digestion and absorption in the human small bowel. The America Dietetic Association recommends an ingestion of 20-30g of fiber per day. Evidences suggest that a diet rich in fibers brings benefits to health maintenance, by reducing the risk and the time of treatment of chronic diseases such as obesity, cardiovascular diseases, diverticulitis and diabetes. Fibers are classified as a soluble and insoluble with distinct physiological effects. Ingestion of insoluble fibers increases the fecal bolus and reduces the transit time of food through the bowel. Soluble fibers delay gastric emptying and glucose absorption reducing the post prandial glycemia and reduce blood cholesterol levels due to a physic characteristic that confers viscosity to the luminal content. Beta-glucans are highly viscous and their consumption has been related to the attenuation of post-prandial glycemic and insulin response. Dietary beta-glucans have impact on starch degradation and carbohydrates availability and consequently at the glycemic index of the ingested food. Consumption of beta-glucans is recommended aiming to modulate the glycemia and the insulin needs, to manage the obesity, cardiovascular diseases and diabetes. This paper brings information about dietary fibers and the use of beta-glucans on the treatment of diabetes.

Effect of antisense-SGTPs on the glucose uptake of the blood fluke Schistosoma mansoni: observations in adult worms and schistosomula.

AS-ODNs, complementary to Schistosoma mansoni glucose transporter proteins (SGTP1 and SGTP4), were chosen as potential therapeutic agents for schistosomiasis. AS-SGTP1 oligos lowered the glucose uptake of adult worms both in vitro and ex vivo. The most effective AS-ODN was that of 21 nucleotides complementary to the SGTP1 nucleotide sequence, including the initiation region of mRNA translation. This oligo was found to decrease glucose uptake in vitro by as much as 50% and at a concentration of 4.0 mg/ml, it killed all male worms within 24 hours. A significant decrease, up to 34%, in glucose uptake was also noted when 100 mg/kg x2 (with a 2 hours interval) of AS-ODN was administered ex vivo. Two out of six anti-SGTP4 oligos also decreased the glucose uptake of adult worms in vitro by 25-44%. Added to the culture of schistosomula, two AS-SGTP4 oligos were found to decrease glucose uptake by 20-43%.

Changes in some hormones by low doses of di (2-ethyl hexyl) phthalate (DEHP), a commonly used plasticizer in PVC blood storage bags & medical tubing.

BACKGROUND & OBJECTIVES: Di (2-ethyl hexyl) phthalate (DEHP), a plasticizer commonly used in PVC blood storage bags leaches out in significant amounts into blood during storage. In view of many reports on the toxicity of this compound, it was considered necessary to investigate the effect of DEHP at the low level solubilized in blood on some important hormones in rats and in human blood stored in DEHP plasticized blood bags. METHODS: Rats were administered DEHP at a low level of 750 microg/100 g body weight on alternate days for 14 days. Changes in the serum insulin, blood glucose, liver glycogen level and T3, T4 and thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) as well as cortisol in the serum were studied. Changes in the hormones were also studied in blood stored in DEHP plasticized PVC bags. RESULTS: The results indicated decrease in serum insulin, cortisol and liver glycogen, and increase in blood glucose, serum T3 and T4 in rats receiving DEHP. These changes were reversed when administration of DEHP was stopped. Similar changes in hormones were also observed in the blood stored in DEHP plasticized blood bags. INTERPRETATION & CONCLUSION: The results indicated that administration of DEHP at low levels to rats caused symptoms of diabetes, thyroid and adrenocortical dysfunction. Though the results obtained in rats cannnot be extrapolated to human, the fact that similar hormonal changes seen in human blood stored in DEHP plasticized blood bags may suggest possibility of DEHP causing similar changes in human. The fact that these changes were reversed in rats when DEHP administration was stopped, indicates that transfusion of a few units of blood to a recipient may not be harmful, but it may pose a problem during repeated transfusions such as in thalassaemia patients.

Indices glucemico e insulinico de alimentos en diabeticos no dependientes de insulina / Glycemic and isulinic index of food in non insulin dependient diabetics

La respuesta glucemica e insulinica esta determinada por la naturaleza del carbohidrato, la presencia de grasas, proteinas, fibras dietarias y otras substancias. Valoramos el indice glucemico (Ig), y el indice insulinico (Ii) en la dieta de diabeticso tipo II. Se estudiaron 27 diabeticos tipo II dividiendose en tres grupos: a) con medicamento b) con insulina c) sin medicamento administrando 50 grms de carbohidrato de 10 alimentos tomandose muestras sanguineas cada 30 minutos hasta las tres horas determinandose glucosa, isulina y peptido C. La respuesta a cerales de los indices es igual, para papa y fijol dio un bajo Ig y una alto Ii, con cacahuete se acentuaron estos valores y el nopal produjo tanto Ig como Ii bajos