A Randomized Controlled Clinical Trial Investigating the Effect of Synbiotic Administration on Markers of Insulin Metabolism and Lipid Profiles in Overweight Type 2 Diabetic Patients with Coronary Heart Disease.

Objective: The current study was performed to evaluate the effects of synbiotic administration on metabolic profiles in overweight diabetic patients with coronary heart disease (CHD). Methods: This randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial was done among 60 diabetic patients with CHD. Participants were randomly divided into 2 groups: group A (n=30) received synbiotic supplements containing 3 probiotic bacteria spices Lactobacillus acidophilus 2×109, Lactobacillus casei 2×109, Bifidobacterium bifidum 2×109 CFU/g plus 800 mg inulin and group B (n=30) received placebo for 12 weeks. Fasting blood samples were taken at baseline and after 12-week intervention to determine metabolic profiles. Results: After 12 weeks of intervention, patients who consumed synbiotic capsule had significantly decreased fasting plasma glucose (- 19.6±74.6 vs.+19.2±66.9 mg/dL, P=0.03), serum insulin concentrations (- 0.7±5.1 vs.+3.3±6.3 µIU/mL, P=0.01), the homeostasis model of assessment-estimated b cell function (- 3.4±19.5 vs.+11.5±21.0, P=0.006) and increased the quantitative insulin sensitivity check index (+ 0.002±0.01 vs.-0.01±0.02, P=0.03) compared with the placebo. In addition, changes in HLDL-cholesterol levels (+ 1.8±5.7 vs.-2.2±6.0 mg/dL, P=0.01) in supplemented patients were significantly different from those of patients in the placebo group. Conclusion: Synbiotic supplementation for 12 weeks among diabetic patients with CHD had beneficial effects on markers of insulin metabolism and HDL-cholesterol levels.

Functional expression of potassium channels in cardiomyocytes derived from embryonic stem cells.

Royan B(1) stem cell can be differentiated to specialized cell types including cardiomyocytes. This developmental change is accompanied with expression of various K(+) channel types. The aim of this study was to detect functional expression of K(+) currents from stem cell stage and one week and two weeks after differentiation into cardiomyocyte. Mouse stem cell derived cardiomyocytes (ES-cardiomyocytes) were isolated to single cell suspension for K(+) current recording using whole cell patch-clamp technique. The predominant depolarizing current in ES-cardiomyocytes was a tetraethylammonium (TEA) (10 mM) sensitive current which was partially blocked by nifedipine (1 µM) and attenuated by increasing concentration of EGTA (10 mM) in the pipette solution. Pharmacology and electrophysiological properties of this oscillatory sustained current very well matched with characteristics of Ca(2+) activated K(+) current. In addition there was another kind of sustained outward K(+) current which was resistance to TEA but was inhibited by 3,4-diaminopyridine. The characteristic features of this current indicate that this current was due to activation of delayed rectifier K(+) channels. RT-PCR study also confirmed expression of these two types of K(+) channels in ES-cardiomyocytes. Therefore, present study shows functional expression of two types of K(+) ionic current in ES-cardiomyocytes.

Assessment of potassium current in Royan B(1) stem cell derived cardiomyocytes by patch-clamp technique.

Embryonic stem cells are capable of differentiating to variety of cell tissues including cardiomyocytes. This developmental change is accompanied with a great deal of ion channel expression and functions. Mouse stem cell derived cardiomyocytes were prepared and separated to yield isolated single cell suspension for cell current recording. In the present study some properties of the K(+)-current in Royan B(1) stem cell derived cardiomyocytes were investigated using whole cell patch-clamp technique. When the holding potential was - 60 mV, in some cells a major outward current was elicited by square depolarizing pulses from -60 mV to +50 mV. This outward current was sustained for the duration of 300 ms test pulse. The sustained outward K(+) current was inhibited by tetraethylammonium (10 mM) indicating the activity of Ca(2+) activated K(+) channel in these cells. In some of the cells with 0.2 mM 3,ethylene glycol-bis (ß-aminoethyl ether) N,N,N(`),N(`)-tetraacetic acid in the pipette, only a very small outward current was recorded which suggests that in these cells the voltage activated K(+) channels is either absent or if existed it is not fully functional. Other cells were in far between, indicating that voltage activated K(+) channels are developing in these cells but it is not yet fully functional. In conclusion, we have identified functional large conductance Ca(2+) activated K(+) channel in Royan B(1) stem cell derived cardiomyocytes.