Beneficial effects of dietary restriction in type 2 diabetic rats: the role of adipokines on inflammation and insulin resistance.

Inflammation plays an important role in diabetes mellitus and its complications. In this context, the negative cross-talk between adipose tissue and skeletal muscle leads to disturbances in muscle cell insulin signalling and induces insulin resistance. Because several studies have shown that energy restriction brings some benefits to diabetes, the aim of the present study was to evaluate the effects of dietary restriction on systemic and skeletal muscle inflammatory biomarkers, such C-reactive protein, adipokines and cytokines, and in insulin resistance in Goto-Kakizaki rats. This is an animal model of spontaneous non-obese type 2 diabetes with strongly insulin resistance and without dyslipidaemia. Animals were maintained during 2 months of dietary restriction (50 %) and were killed at 6 months of age. Some biochemical determinations were done using ELISA and Western blot. Data from the present study demonstrate that in Goto-Kakizaki rats the dietary restriction improved insulin resistance, NEFA levels and adipokine profile and ameliorated inflammatory cytokines in skeletal muscle. These results indicate that dietary restriction in type 2 diabetes enhances adipose tissue metabolism leading to an improved skeletal muscle insulin sensitivity.

Saliva: qual seu papel no desenvolvimento de lesões de cárie na primeira infância? / Saliva: what is it importance on caries lesion development during childhood?

Este estudo avaliou o pH, fluxo, capacidade tampão e atividade amilolítica na saliva de 40 crianças livres de lesões de cárie. A amostra foi dividida em grupos caracterizados pelo número de dentes erupcionados e faixa etária: Grupo 1 (edêntulas, idade média de sete meses). Grupo 2 (12,8 meses) e Grupo 3 (dentadura decídua completa, 32,9 meses). A atividade da amilase foi determinada pela clivagem enzimática do 2-cloro-4-nitro-fenol-maltotriosídeo, método espectrofotométrico. Os dados submetidos ao Teste Qui-Quadrado e Anova demonstraram diferença estatisticamente significante (p<0,05) na atividade da amilase salivar entre Grupos 1 e 3. Assim, pode-se inferir que existe correlação positiva entre idade e atividade da amilase salivar e os demais parâmetros permanecem constantes.

This study was to evaluate pH, flow rate, buffer capacity and amylase activity in 40 caries-free children’s saliva. The sample was subdivided in three distinct groups according to the number of erupted teeth and age: Group 1 (edentulous), Group 2 (12.8 months age) and Group 3 (all primary teeth, 32.9 months age). The amylase activity was assessed by enzymatic cleavage the amylase substrate 2-chlorine-4nitrophenil-maltose, using spectrophotometer. Comparisons of the mean laboratorial values were made through Chi-Square Test and Anova. Significant statistical differences (p<0.05) were observed in amylase activity between Groups 1 and 3. Thus, a positive association between age and amylase activity can be inferred, although the other variables remain constant.

Twenty years' pediatric chronic peritoneal dialysis in Uruguay: patient and technique survival.

In this study we analyze the impact of the patient's socioeconomic status (SES) and the distance from the patient's home to the dialysis center (DPH-DC), classified as < or =300 km or >300 km, on the patient and technique survival of 59 patients starting chronic peritoneal dialysis (CPD) between May 1983 and January 2004 at a single center in Uruguay. SES was established using Graffar's method. Mean duration of CPD was 38.1+/-26.0 months. Mean age at the start of CPD was 8.4+/-5.2 years. Overall patient and technique survival at 5 years were 86.4% and 77.9%, respectively. Twenty (33.8%) patients were transferred to hemodialysis. Eight (13.5%) patients died. The incidence of peritonitis was one episode every 9.1 months. There was no statistically significant difference in patient and technique survival between the patients in the low and high SES groups (p=0.72 and 0.99, respectively), and between those in the two DPH-DC groups, (p=0.22 and p=0.99, respectively). Logistic regression analysis confirmed low SES and DPH-DC >300 km are not predictors of patient death (p=0.79 and p=0.09, respectively) or technical failure (p=0.35 and p=0.15, respectively). No SES- and DPH-DC-related statistically significant differences were found in patient and technique survival.