Relationship between the insulin resistance and circulating predictive biochemical markers in metabolic syndrome among young adults in western Algeria.

AIM: The metabolic syndrome (MetS) becomes increasingly obvious from an early age. The current study aimed at exploring the relationship between insulin resistance and the main biomarkers of MetS in young adult algerian patients. METHODS: Glucose, HbA1C, total cholesterol (TC), hjgh bensity lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), insulinemia and C-peptide, adipokins (leptin, adiponectin), inflammatory cytokines (IL-6 and TNF-a), us-CRP and GLP-1 were measured by suitable methods. Homeostasis model assessment (HOMA) was used to detect the degree of insulin resistance. RESULTS: The MetS patients displayed higher glucose, insulin, HbA1c values and impaired lipid profile as judged by increasing TC, TG, LDL-C levels and lower HDL-C. Furthermore, adipokines, HDL-C and CRP contents were significantly higher whilst TG and LDL-C were much lower in MetS female group as compared to male patients suggesting most pronounced metabolic perturbation in the latter group. The probability of a significant correlation between HOMA and studied variables was often higher in female than male subjects. Such was the case for total cholesterol, HDL-cholesterol, triglycerides, adiponectin, interleukin-6, TNF-α and hs-CRP. CONCLUSION: The high rate of metabolic syndrome among young obese adults is alarming, this requiring extensive investigations in prone subjects.

Improved Labeling of Pancreatic Islets Using Cationic Magnetoliposomes.

Pancreatic islets (PIs) transplantation is an alternative approach for the treatment of severe forms of type 1 diabetes (T1D). To monitor the success of transplantation, it is desirable to follow the location of engrafted PIs non-invasively. In vivo magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of transplanted PIs is a feasible cell tracking method; however, this requires labeling with a suitable contrast agent prior to transplantation. We have tested the feasibility of cationic magnetoliposomes (MLs), compared to commercial contrast agents (Endorem and Resovist), by labeling insulinoma cells and freshly isolated rat PIs. It was possible to incorporate Magnetic Ressonance (MR)-detectable amounts of MLs in a shorter time (4 h) when compared to Endorem and Resovist. MLs did not show negative effects on the PIs' viability and functional parameters in vitro. Labeled islets were transplanted in the renal sub-capsular region of healthy mice. Hypointense contrast in MR images due to the labeled PIs was detected in vivo upon transplantation, while MR detection of PIs labeled with Endorem and Resovist was only possible after the addition of transfection agents. These findings indicate that MLs are suitable to image PIs, without affecting their function, which is promising for future longitudinal pre-clinical and clinical studies involving the assessment of PI transplantation.

Changes in glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) secretion after biliopancreatic diversion or vertical banded gastroplasty in obese subjects.

BACKGROUND: Bariatric operations promote weight loss and improve glucose homeostasis. Glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) is considered as a possible mediator of the antidiabetic effects of such operations. METHODS: The present study aimed to gain information on the time course for changes in glucose tolerance, as well as insulin, glucagon and GLP-1 secretion, during an oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT), in 31 obese patients examined 1, 3 and 6 months after Larrad's biliopancreatic diversion (BPD) or 6 months after vertical banded gastroplasty (VBG). RESULTS: A time-related progressive decrease in body weight coincided with lowering of plasma triglycerides, decrease of basal plasma glucose and its incremental area during OGTT, and reduction of basal plasma insulin together with an increase of its incremental area. The time-related decrease of plasma glucagon during OGTT was comparable before and after surgery. Both the basal plasma GLP-1 concentration and its incremental area during the OGTT increased strikingly after surgery, a steady-state situation being reached 3 months after surgery. The most striking differences between the somewhat older and less glucose-tolerant subjects of VBG compared to BPD after surgery, consisted in a decrease in cholesterol and LDL only observed in BPD and a much more pronounced increase in basal and incremental plasma GLP-1 in BPD. GLP-1, like glucagon, increased lipolysis, but failed to duplicate the lipogenetic action of insulin in isolated adipocytes obtained at the time of surgery. CONCLUSION: These findings support the postulated role of GLP-1, secreted by the hindgut, as a key mediator of the antidiabetic effects of bariatric operations.