Human amylin aggregates release within exosomes as a protective mechanism in pancreatic ß cells: Pancreatic ß-hippocampal cell communication.

Pancreatic ß cells are essential in the maintenance of glucose homeostasis during the progression to type 2 Diabetes Mellitus (T2DM), generating compensatory hyperinsulinemia to counteract insulin resistance. It is well known, that throughout the process there is an increased mTORC1 signaling pathway, with an impairment in different quality control systems including ubiquitin-proteasome system and autophagy. In addition, under this situation, pancreatic ß cells start to accumulate amylin protein (IAPP) in aggregates, and this accumulation contributes to the failure of autophagy, damaging different organelles such as plasma membrane, endoplasmic reticulum, mitochondria, and others. Here, we report that IAPP can be incorporated to multivesicular bodies (MVB) and secreted into exosomes, a mechanism responsible for the exportation of these toxic aggregates as vehicles of cell to cell communication. On this regard, we have demonstrated that the exosomes bearing toxic hIAPP released from pancreatic ß cells are capable to induce hyperactivation of mTORC1 signaling, a failure in the autophagic cellular quality control, and favor pro-fission status of the mitochondrial dynamics in hippocampal cells. In summary, our results show that harmful accumulation of hIAPP in pancreatic ß cells may be detoxified by the release of exosomes, which may be captured by endocytosis mechanism damaging neuronal hippocampal cells, which suggest an underlying molecular mechanism to the link between type 2 diabetes and neurodegenerative diseases.

Effectiveness of salivary stimulation using xylitol-malic acid tablets as coadjuvant treatment in patients with gastro-oesophageal reflux disease: early findings.

BACKGROUND: Besides dental erosion syndrome, other oral syndromes could benefit from the stimulation of salivary secretion, in patients with gastro-oesophageal reflux disease (GORD). Our aims is evaluate the improvement of oral extra-oesophageal manifestations in patients with GORD using xylitol-malic acid tablets to stimulate salivary secretion. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The effectiveness of salivary stimulation using xylitol-malic acid tablets (as a supplement to omeprazole 40 mg/day) was assessed in a clinical trial (n = 14) lasting six months with patients with prior positive pH-metry, through GORD extra-oesophageal clinical signs, GerdQ and RDQ questionnaires, odontological variables, basal salivary secretion, stimulated salivary secretion, pH and buffer capacity, mucosal erythema index and dental wear. STATISTICS: chi-square (Haberman post-hoc), ANOVA, and Mann-Whitney U; variables between visits were evaluated with McNemar's Student's t and Wilcoxon tests; p < 0.05. RESULTS: 100% of patients not taking xylitol-malic acid presented xerostomia, but only 14.3% of patients taking xylitol-malic acid (p < 0.01) did. The mean saliva-buffer capacity at the last visit for patients not taking xylitol-malic acid was 2.14 ± 0.38, versus 2.71 ± 0.49 for patients taking xylitol-malic acid (p < 0.05). Retro-sternal burning (p < 0.05), heartburn (p < 0.05) and regurgitation (p < 0.05) were also reduced. CONCLUSIONS: Xylitol-malic acid tablets improve quality of life among patients with GORD, by reducing dry mouth, increasing saliva buffering and reducing heartburn, retro-sternal burning and regurgitation.

Beneficios de la monitorización de la glucemia en pacientes con diabetes mellitus tipo 1 y tipo 2 en tratamiento con insulina / Benefits of capillary glucose monitoring in patients with type 1 and type 2 diabetes treated with insulin

La introducción de la monitorización de la glucemia capilar por el propio pacienterevolucionó el tratamiento de la diabetes mellitus (DM) a finales de losaños setenta. Aporta información complementaria a la de la hemoglobina glucosiladapara el manejo de los pacientes diabéticos y, en los pacientes tratadoscon insulina, tanto con DM tipo 1 (DM1) como tipo 2 (DM2), se considerauna parte esencial del tratamiento. La monitorización frecuente de laglucemia se correlaciona con una mejora del control metabólico. Sin embargo,el número óptimo de determinaciones de automonitorización no está bien definido,y hasta se han señalado potenciales desventajas asociadas a esta actuación.En el presente artículo revisamos las evidencias científicas existentesy proponemos un esquema para la automonitorización de la glucemia capilaren los pacientes con DM1 y DM2 tratados con insulina(AU)

The introduction of self-monitoring of blood glucose (SMBG) revolutionizeddiabetes therapy at the end of 70s. SMBG provides additional information tothat supplied by HbA1c for the management of patients with diabetes. Further,in those patients treated with insulin, either with type 1 or type 2 diabetes, it isconsidered an essential part of the treatment. Frequent SMBG is correlatedwith an improvement of metabolic control. However, the optimal number ofmeasurements of SMBG is not defined and it has been pointed out even potentialdisadvantages associated with frequent SMBG. In the present article wereview the existing scientific evidences and we propose an algorithm for SMBGin patients with type 1 and type 2 diabetes treated with insulin(AU)

Effect of the Solvent on the Water Properties of Water/Oil Microemulsions.

Using IR spectroscopy and the UV-Vis absorption spectra of solubilized methyl orange (MO) as a probe, the properties of the water pool of some bis(2-ethylhexyl) sodium sulfosuccinate, (Aerosol OT) w/o microemulsions were investigated. The solvents used to prepare the micromulsions were cyclohexane, isooctane, and toluene. From IR water spectra, four different water species were detected. The relative amounts are found to depend on the water-to-surfactant molar ratio and also on the solvent. The water pool dielectric constants were determined from the position of the maximum of the MO absorption spectrum. The polarity increases as the water content solubilized in the microemulsions increases and also depends on the solvent. Copyright 1999 Academic Press.