The anti-inflammatory and potential anti-atherogenic effect of insulin: a new paradigm

Dapagliflozin ameliorated retinal vascular permeability in diabetic retinopathy rats by suppressing inflammatory factors

BACKGROUND

Diabetic retinopathy is a common microvascular complication of diabetes and one of the major causes of blindness in the working-age population. Emerging evidence has elucidated that inflammation drives the key mechanism of diabetes-mediated retinal disturbance. As a new therapeutic drug targeting diabetes, whether dapagliflozin could improve vascular permeability from the perspective of anti-inflammatory effect need to be further explored.

METHODS

Type 2 diabetic retinopathy rat model was established and confirmed by fundus fluorescein angiography (FFA). ELISA detected level of plasma inflammatory factors and C-peptide. HE staining, immunohistochemistry and western blot detected histopathology changes of retina, expression of retinal inflammatory factors and tight junction proteins.

RESULTS

Dapagliflozin exhibited hypoglycemic effect comparable to insulin, but did not affect body weight. By inhibiting expression of inflammatory factors (NLRP3, Caspase-1, IL-18, NF-κB) in diabetic retina and plasma, dapagliflozin reduced damage of retinal tight junction proteins and improved retinal vascular permeability. The anti-inflammatory effect of dapagliflozin was superior to insulin.

CONCLUSIONS

Dapagliflozin improved retinal vascular permeability by reducing diabetic retinal and plasma inflammatory factors. The anti-inflammatory mechanism of dapagliflozin is independent of hypoglycemic effect and superior to insulin.

Acute kidney injury and diabetic kidney disease in children with acute complications of diabetes

BACKGROUND

Diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) and hyperglycaemia without ketoacidosis are common acute complications of diabetes. Their association with acute kidney injury (AKI) and diabetic kidney disease (DKD) was studied.

METHODS

The study group consisted of 197 children with type 1 diabetes with average diabetes duration of 8.08 ± 2.32 years. The medical history of the patients was retrospectively reviewed. The number of children with severe hyperglycaemia, DKA and AKI was assessed. The association with the risk of chronic kidney disease (CKD) was analysed.

RESULTS

AKI was found in 14% of cases hospitalised for DKA and 8% of cases hospitalised for hyperglycaemia. Patients with AKI showed a significantly increased corrected sodium (141.23 ± 5.09 mmol/L, p = 0.035). Patients with AKI in DKA showed a significant increase in WBC (20.73 ± 8.71 × 10³/µL, p = 0.0009). Follow-up analysis after a minimum of 5 years of diabetes revealed that a single episode of DKA was found in 63 patients and a single episode of AKI in 18 patients. Two or more episodes of DKA were found in 18 patients, and nine cases were complicated by AKI. These patients showed a significant increase in urinary albumin excretion (44.20 ± 64.21 mg/24 h), the highest values of eGFR and the worst glycaemic control.

CONCLUSIONS

Diabetic children can develop AKI in the course of DKA and hyperglycaemia without ketoacidosis, which is associated with volume depletion and reflected by corrected sodium concentration. AKI in DKA seems to be complicated by stress and inflammation activation. AKI and poor glycaemic control with repeated DKA episodes can magnify the risk of progression to DKD. A higher resolution version of the Graphical abstract is available as Supplementary information.

New insights and advances of sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitors in heart failure

Sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitors (SGLT2is) are newly emerging insulin-independent anti-hyperglycemic agents that work independently of β-cells. Quite a few large-scale clinical trials have proven the cardiovascular protective function of SGLT2is in both diabetic and non-diabetic patients. By searching all relevant terms related to our topics over the previous 3 years, including all the names of agents and their brands in PubMed, here we review the mechanisms underlying the improvement of heart failure. We also discuss the interaction of various mechanisms proposed by diverse works of literature, including corresponding and opposing viewpoints to support each subtopic. The regulation of diuresis, sodium excretion, weight loss, better blood pressure control, stimulation of hematocrit and erythropoietin, metabolism remodeling, protection from structural dysregulation, and other potential mechanisms of SGLT2i contributing to heart failure improvement have all been discussed in this manuscript. Although some remain debatable or even contradictory, those newly emerging agents hold great promise for the future in cardiology-related therapies, and more research needs to be conducted to confirm their functionality, particularly in metabolism, Na⁺-H⁺ exchange protein, and myeloid angiogenic cells.

The effect of short-term intensive insulin therapy on inflammatory cytokines in patients with newly diagnosed type 2 diabetes

BACKGROUND

Diabetes mellitus was a chronic low-grade inflammatory disease and had increased circulating inflammatory cytokines and acute phase proteins. We aimed to identify the changes of inflammatory cytokines in newly diagnosed type 2 diabetic patients after short-term intensive insulin therapy using continuous subcutaneous insulin infusion (CSII).

METHODS

Thirty-three newly diagnosed type 2 diabetic patients were enrolled between September 2020 to December 2020. Expression of 40 inflammatory cytokines of the patients were tested with RayBiotech antibody array before and after 1 week of intensive insulin therapy of CSII. Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) enrichment analysis was carried out to explore the signaling pathway involved in the therapy.

RESULTS

Five inflammatory cytokines were downregulated significantly after 1 week of CSII therapy. They were interleukin-6 receptor (IL-6R), regulated upon activation normal T-cell expressed and secreted (RANTES), intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1), tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase-1 (TIMP-1), and platelet-derived growth factor type BB (PDGF-BB) (p < 0.05 and foldchange <0.83). Among patients with baseline glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) < 10%, three proinflammatory cytokines were decreased significantly after therapy: IL-6R, RANTES, and ICAM-1. As for the patients with baseline HbA1c ≥ 10%, eight inflammatory cytokines were inhibited significantly after the treatment, including ICAM-1, IL-6R, RANTES, TIMP-1, TIMP-2, macrophage inflammatory protein-1 beta (MIP-1β), PDGF-BB, and tumor necrosis factor receptor type II (TNF RII). No matter which subgroup of baseline HbA1c level was considered, the decreased cytokines after CSII therapy were significantly involved in TNF signaling pathway. Nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB) signaling pathway was mainly enriched in patients with baseline HbA1c ≥ 10%.

CONCLUSIONS

A panel of 40 inflammatory cytokines, measured by protein microarray, were evaluated for 1 week of CSII treatment in newly diagnosed type 2 diabetic patients. After treatment, many proinflammatory cytokines decreased. In the higher baseline HbA1c subgroup, more proinflammatory cytokines improved. No matter which subgroup of HbA1c level was considered, IL-6R, RANTES, and ICAM-1, which were involved in TNF signaling pathway, decreased significantly after CSII therapy. This was the first report showing that the cytokines of IL-6R, TIMP-2, PDGF-BB, and TNF RII decreased after the CSII therapy.

Intraoperative Hyperglycemia May Be Associated with an Increased Risk of Myocardial Injury after Non-Cardiac Surgery in Diabetic Patients

BACKGROUND

Hyperglycemia in surgical candidates is associated with increased mortality and morbidity. We aimed to evaluate the effect of intraoperative blood glucose level on the incidence of myocardial injury after non-cardiac surgery (MINS) in diabetic patients.

METHODS

Diabetic patients with available intraoperative blood glucose measurement during non-cardiac surgery were enrolled in this study. Based on the highest intraoperative blood glucose level, patients were stratified into two groups: the blood sugar glucose (BST) < 180 group (intraoperative peak glucose < 180 mg/dL) and BST ≥ 180 group (intraoperative peak glucose ≥ 180 mg/dL). The primary outcome was the incidence of MINS, and secondary outcomes were in-hospital and 30-day mortalities.

RESULTS

Of the 11,302 diabetic patients, 8337 were in the BST < 180 group (73.8%) and 2965 in the BST ≥ 180 group (26.2%). After adjustment with inverse probability weighting, MINS was significantly higher in the BST ≥ 180 group (24.0% vs. 17.2%; odds ratio (OR), 1.26; 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.14-1.40; p < 0.001). In addition, in-hospital and 30-day mortalities were also higher in the BST ≥ 180 group compared to the BST < 180 group (4.2% vs. 2.3%, hazard ratio (HR), 1.39; 95% CI, 1.07-1.81; p = 0.001, and 3.1% vs. 1.8%; HR, 1.76; 95% CI, 1.31-2.36; p < 0.001, respectively). Receiver-operating characteristic plots showed that the threshold of glucose level associated with MINS was 149 mg/dL.

CONCLUSION

Intraoperative hyperglycemia was associated with an increased MINS incidence and postoperative mortality in diabetic patients. Close monitoring of intraoperative blood glucose level may be helpful in detection and management of MINS.

A Review on Cellular and Molecular Mechanisms Linked to the Development of Diabetes Complications

Modern lifestyle, changing eating habits and reduced physical work have been known to culminate into making diabetes a global pandemic. Hyperglycemia during the course of diabetes is an important causative factor for the development of both microvascular (retinopathy, nephropathy and neuropathy) and macrovascular (coronary artery disease, stroke and peripheral artery disease) complications. In this article, we summarize several mechanisms accountable for the development of both microvascular and macrovascular complications of diabetes. Several metabolic and cellular events are linked to the augmentation of oxidative stress like the activation of advanced glycation end products (AGE) pathway, polyol pathway, Protein Kinase C (PKC) pathway, Poly-ADP Ribose Polymerase (PARP) and hexosamine pathway. Oxidative stress also leads to the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) like hydroxyl radical, superoxide anion and peroxides. Enhanced levels of ROS rescind the anti-oxidant defence mechanisms associated with superoxide dismutase, glutathione and ascorbic acid. Moreover, ROS triggers oxidative damages at the level of DNA, protein and lipids, which eventually cause cell necrosis or apoptosis. These physiological insults may be related to the microvascular complications of diabetes by negatively impacting the eyes, kidneys and the brain. While underlying pathomechanism of the macrovascular complications is quite complex, hyperglycemia associated atherosclerotic abnormalities like changes in the coagulation system, thrombin formation, fibrinolysis, platelet and endothelial function and vascular smooth muscle are well proven. Since hyperglycemia also modulates the vascular inflammation, cytokines, macrophage activation and gene expression of growth factors, elevated blood glucose level may play a central role in the development of macrovascular complications of diabetes. Taken collectively, chronic hyperglycemia and increased production of ROS are the miscreants for the development of microvascular and macrovascular complications of diabetes.

Lentivirus Mediated Pancreatic Beta-Cell-Specific Insulin Gene Therapy for STZ-Induced Diabetes

Autoimmune destruction of pancreatic beta cells is the characteristic feature of type 1 diabetes mellitus. Consequently, both short- and intermediate-acting insulin analogs are under development to compensate for the lack of endogenous insulin gene expression. Basal insulin is continuously released at low levels in response to hepatic glucose output, while post-prandial insulin is secreted in response to hyperglycemia following a meal. As an alternative to multiple daily injections of insulin, glucose-regulated insulin gene expression by gene therapy is under development to better endure postprandial glucose excursions. Controlled transcription and translation of proinsulin, presence of glucose-sensing machinery, prohormone convertase expression, and a regulated secretory pathway are the key features unique to pancreatic beta cells. To take advantage of these hallmarks, we generated a new lentiviral vector (LentiINS) with an insulin promoter driving expression of the proinsulin encoding cDNA to sustain pancreatic beta-cell-specific insulin gene expression. Intraperitoneal delivery of HIV-based LentiINS resulted in the lowering of fasting plasma glucose, improved glucose tolerance and prevented weight loss in streptozoticin (STZ)-induced diabetic Wistar rats. However, the combinatorial use of LentiINS and anti-inflammatory lentiviral vector (LentiVIP) gene therapy was required to increase serum insulin to a level sufficient to suppress non-fasting plasma glucose and diabetes-related inflammation.

Bioenergetic adaptations to HIV infection. Could modulation of energy substrate utilization improve brain health in people living with HIV-1?

The human brain consumes more energy than any other organ in the body and it relies on an uninterrupted supply of energy in the form of adenosine triphosphate (ATP) to maintain normal cognitive function. This constant supply of energy is made available through an interdependent system of metabolic pathways in neurons, glia and endothelial cells that each have specialized roles in the delivery and metabolism of multiple energetic substrates. Perturbations in brain energy metabolism is associated with a number of different neurodegenerative conditions including impairments in cognition associated with infection by the Human Immunodeficiency Type 1 Virus (HIV-1). Adaptive changes in brain energy metabolism are apparent early following infection, do not fully normalize with the initiation of antiretroviral therapy (ART), and often worsen with length of infection and duration of anti-retroviral therapeutic use. There is now a considerable amount of cumulative evidence that suggests mild forms of cognitive impairments in people living with HIV-1 (PLWH) may be reversible and are associated with specific modifications in brain energy metabolism. In this review we discuss brain energy metabolism with an emphasis on adaptations that occur in response to HIV-1 infection. The potential for interventions that target brain energy metabolism to preserve or restore cognition in PLWH are also discussed.

Does control of glycemia regulate immunological parameters in insulin-treated persons with type 1 diabetes?

AIMS

We investigated the relationships between control of glycemia and the frequencies of immune cell subpopulations and also the profile of circulating T cell cytokines in insulin-treated persons with type 1 diabetes (T1D).

METHODS

Clinical data and blood samples were collected from two groups of persons with T1D exhibiting either adequate (AGC) or inadequate glycemic control (IGC), as well as from individuals without diabetes considered as a control group. Serum cytokine levels and immune cell subpopulation frequencies were determined.

RESULTS

Irrespective of their capacity to control glycemia, the percentages of effector CD4⁺ T-cells and CD19⁺ B-cells were higher in persons with T1D than in controls, whilst monocytes were significantly more frequent in those with IGC than in controls. The overall frequencies of CD4⁺ T-cells, CD8⁺ T-cells and Foxp3⁺CD4⁺CD25⁺ regulatory T-cells did not differ between the three groups. The serum levels of IL-2 and IFN-γ were lower in both groups with T1D compared to controls, whilst the level of IL-4 did not differ. The level of IL-10 was significantly lower in those with AGC compared to controls.

CONCLUSION

Our study shows that insulin treatment is associated with a Th2-biased systemic immune phenotype in persons with T1D, reflected by a high proportion of effector CD4⁺ T cells and CD19⁺ B cells and a down-regulation of Th1-type serum cytokines.

Is There a Role for Bioactive Lipids in the Pathobiology of Diabetes Mellitus?

Inflammation, decreased levels of circulating endothelial nitric oxide (eNO) and brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), altered activity of hypothalamic neurotransmitters (including serotonin and vagal tone) and gut hormones, increased concentrations of free radicals, and imbalance in the levels of bioactive lipids and their pro- and anti-inflammatory metabolites have been suggested to play a role in diabetes mellitus (DM). Type 1 diabetes mellitus (type 1 DM) is due to autoimmune destruction of pancreatic β cells because of enhanced production of IL-6 and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and other pro-inflammatory cytokines released by immunocytes infiltrating the pancreas in response to unknown exogenous and endogenous toxin(s). On the other hand, type 2 DM is due to increased peripheral insulin resistance secondary to enhanced production of IL-6 and TNF-α in response to high-fat and/or calorie-rich diet (rich in saturated and trans fats). Type 2 DM is also associated with significant alterations in the production and action of hypothalamic neurotransmitters, eNO, BDNF, free radicals, gut hormones, and vagus nerve activity. Thus, type 1 DM is because of excess production of pro-inflammatory cytokines close to β cells, whereas type 2 DM is due to excess of pro-inflammatory cytokines in the systemic circulation. Hence, methods designed to suppress excess production of pro-inflammatory cytokines may form a new approach to prevent both type 1 and type 2 DM. Roux-en-Y gastric bypass and similar surgeries ameliorate type 2 DM, partly by restoring to normal: gut hormones, hypothalamic neurotransmitters, eNO, vagal activity, gut microbiota, bioactive lipids, BDNF production in the gut and hypothalamus, concentrations of cytokines and free radicals that results in resetting glucose-stimulated insulin production by pancreatic β cells. Our recent studies suggested that bioactive lipids, such as arachidonic acid, eicosapentaneoic acid, and docosahexaenoic acid (which are unsaturated fatty acids) and their anti-inflammatory metabolites: lipoxin A4, resolvins, protectins, and maresins, may have antidiabetic actions. These bioactive lipids have anti-inflammatory actions, enhance eNO, BDNF production, restore hypothalamic dysfunction, enhance vagal tone, modulate production and action of ghrelin, leptin and adiponectin, and influence gut microbiota that may explain their antidiabetic action. These pieces of evidence suggest that methods designed to selectively deliver bioactive lipids to pancreatic β cells, gut, liver, and muscle may prevent type 1 and type 2 DM.

Acute Insulin Resistance in Myocardial Ischemia: Causes and Consequences

Diabetes mellitus is associated with increased risk for cardiovascular mortality because of multiple pathophysiologic mechanisms. Acute stress-induced hyper-glycemia during acute myocardial infarction has gained much attention, as blood glucose levels seem to be an independent risk factor for acute myocardial infarction–related death. Clinical studies that identify stress-induced hyperglycemia as a risk factor are reviewed and its causes are discussed. They can be summarized as the consequence of acute insulin resistance, which in its turn is caused by stress hormones and by proinflammatory cytokines. Hyperglycemia causes the release of proinflammatory cytokines, the induction of reactive radicals, alterations in cardiovascular substrate metabolism, and propagation of coagulation and apoptosis. These all have harmful effects during and after acute myocardial infarction. Recommendations are for strict glycemic control in hyperglycemic patients with acute myocar-dial infarction, although the target glucose level is still a subject of debate.

Anti-inflammatory Agents in the Treatment of Diabetes and Its Vascular Complications

The association between hyperglycemia and inflammation and vascular complications in diabetes is now well established. Antidiabetes drugs may alleviate inflammation by reducing hyperglycemia; however, the anti-inflammatory effects of these medications are inconsistent and it is unknown whether their beneficial metabolic effects are mediated via modulation of chronic inflammation. Recent data suggest that immunomodulatory treatments may have beneficial effects on glycemia, β-cell function, and insulin resistance. However, the mechanisms underlying their beneficial metabolic effects are not always clear, and there are concerns regarding the specificity, safety, and efficacy of immune-based therapies. Herein, we review the anti-inflammatory and metabolic effects of current antidiabetes drugs and of anti-inflammatory therapies that were studied in patients with type 2 diabetes. We discuss the potential benefit of using anti-inflammatory treatments in diabetes and important issues that should be addressed prior to implementation of such therapeutic approaches.

The Prominent Role of P38 Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase in Insulin-Mediated Enhancement of VCAM-1 Expression in Endothelial Cells

Insulin levels are a marker for cardiovascular events, but the link between hyperinsulinemia and atherosclerosis is poorly understood. We previously showed that insulin increases monocyte-endothelial interactions and the endothelial expression of the pro-atherogenic vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (VCAM-1). The aim of this study is to examine molecular mechanisms involved in the effect of insulin on VCAM-1 expression. Human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC) were incubated with insulin (0–24 h) ± inhibitors of signaling pathways potentially involved. At pathophysiological concentrations (10−9-10−7 M), insulin selectively induced VCAM-1 expression. The p38mitogen activated protein(MAP) kinase inhibitors SB203580 and SB202190, and partially the c-Jun NH2-terminal kinase (JNK) inhibitor SP600127, decreased insulin effect on VCAM-1. Gene silencing by small interfering RNA significantly reduced the expression of p38MAP kinase, and this was accompanied by suppression of insulin-stimulated VCAM-1 expression. Treatment with insulin also led to the activation of NF-κB and induction of IκB-α phosphorylation, thus accounting for NF-κB translocation into the nucleus. Co-treatment of HUVEC with insulin and SB202190 strongly reverted the stimulatory effect of insulin on NF-κB activation, thus establishing a link between NF-κB activation and p38MAPkinase-mediated induction of VCAM-1 by insulin. In conclusion, pathophysiological insulin concentrations increase VCAM-1 expression and activate NF-κB. This mostly occurs through stimulation of p38MAP kinase.

Prognostic significance of glycemic variability after cardiac surgery

INTRODUCTION

The prognostic significance of acute glycemic variability (GV) after cardiac surgery is not known. This study was therefore planned to analyze the independent prognostic value of GV after cardiac surgery.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

This is a single center prospective observational study in 870 consecutive cardiac surgery patients over a 3-month period at a tertiary care institute in India.

RESULTS

In linear regression analysis, GV was a significant predictor of length of stay in intensive care unit (LOS-ICU) (beta 0.102, p=0.007) and rise in creatinine after surgery (beta 0.229, p<0.001). Mean POC-BG was a significant positive predictor of length of stay in hospital (LOS-hospital) (beta 0.1, p=0.004). In multivariable logistic regression analysis, GV predicted prolonged LOS-ICU (p=0.006, OR 1.016) and acute kidney injury (p<0.001, OR 1.034).

CONCLUSION

This study showed that GV, as measured by standard deviation, was a predictor of LOS-ICU, rise in creatinine and AKI after cardiac surgery. GV is therefore a new dimension in postoperative glycemic management in cardiac surgery patients, which needs to be explored.

Acute phase response in lactating dairy cows during hyperinsulinemic hypoglycaemic and hyperinsulinemic euglycaemic clamps and after intramammary LPS challenge

The link between energy availability, turnover of energy substrates and the onset of inflammation in dairy cows is complex and poorly investigated. To clarify this, plasma inflammatory variables were measured in mid-lactating dairy cows allocated to three groups: hyperinsulinemic hypoglycaemic clamp, induced by insulin infusion (HypoG, n = 5); hyperinsulinemic euglycaemic clamp, induced by insulin and glucose infusion (EuG; n = 6); control, receiving a saline solution infusion (NaCl; n = 6). At 48 h after the start of i.v. infusions, two udder quarters per cow were challenged with 200 μg of E. coli lipopolysaccharide (LPS). Individual blood samples were taken before clamps, before LPS challenge (i.e. 48 h after clamps) and 6.5 h after. At 48 h, positive acute phase proteins (posAPP) did not differ among groups, whereas albumin and cholesterol (index of lipoproteins), negative APP (negAPP), were lower (p < 0.05) in EuG compared to NaCl and HypoG. The concentration of IL-6 was greater in EuG (p < 0.05) but only vs. HypoG. At 6.5 h following LPS challenge, IL-6 increased in the NaCl and EuG clamps (p < 0.05), while TNF-α increased (p < 0.05) in the EuG only. Among the posAPP, haptoglobin markedly increased in EuG (p < 0.05), but not in NaCl (p = 0.76) and in HypoG; ceruloplasmin tended to decline during LPS challenge, the reduction was significant when all animals were considered (p < 0.05). Conversely, all the negAPP showed a marked reduction 6.5 h after LPS challenge in the three groups. In conclusion, EuG caused an inflammatory status after 48-h infusion (i.e. decrease of negAPP) and induced a quicker acute phase response (e.g. marked rise of TNF-α, IL-6) after the intramammary LPS challenge. These data suggest that the simultaneous high availability of glucose and insulin at the tissue-level makes dairy cows more susceptible to inflammatory events. In contrast, HypoG seems to attenuate the inflammatory response.

Insulin Therapy, Glycemic Control, and Cardiovascular Risk Factors in Young Latin Americans with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus

BACKGROUND

Type 2 diabetes has been linked to an increased risk of cardiovascular (CV) disease, but this risk has not been well documented in young patients, especially of Latin American descent. Also, the potential CV benefits of insulin therapy have not been evaluated in young patients with type 2 diabetes. The objectives of this study were to determine any gender-related difference in the presence of CV risk factors in young Latin Americans with poorly controlled type 2 diabetes and the effect of intensive insulin therapy on these CV risk factors.

METHODS AND RESULTS

Fifty-seven Latin American patients with type 2 diabetes between the ages 18 and 45 years were evaluated at baseline. All women were premenopausal and had regular menstrual periods. The mean body mass index (BMI) was > 30 kg/m2 in both genders. Percent body fat, percent hemoglobin A1c, and lipoprotein profiles were similar between genders. Highly sensitive C-reactive protein (CRP) levels were elevated and similar between genders (p = .4). Leukocyte adhesion molecules (intercellular adhesion molecule 1, vascular adhesion molecule 1, E-selectin) and monocyte chemoattractant protein 1 were elevated, whereas adiponectin levels were below normal in both gender groups. Urinary albumin excretion was similar between genders and did not show any relationship with any of the variables. In women, there was a direct relationship between waist circumference and high-sensitivity CRP levels (rho = .53, p = .01). No other significant relationships were observed. Eighteen Latin American patients with type 2 diabetes completed up to 104 weeks of post-intervention with insulin monotherapy. In these patients, glycemic, lipoprotein, and anthropometric measurements were obtained every 12 weeks. Highly sensitive CRP, leukocyte adhesion molecules, and urinary albumin excretion, among other tests, were obtained every 52 weeks. At 52 and 104 weeks, body weight, BMI, waist circumference, and percent body fat increased in a parallel and significant manner. Despite a significant decrease in percent hemoglobin A1c (22.2%; p = < .0001), lipid and lipoprotein profiles, highly sensitive CRP, leukocyte adhesion molecules, and other nontraditional CV risk factors did not change significantly.

CONCLUSIONS

In young, obese, Latino type 2 diabetic patients, improvement in glycemic control with insulin monotherapy was not associated with a parallel improvement in markers of vascular inflammation. Premenopausal Latino women with uncontrolled type 2 diabetes have CV risks comparable to Latino diabetic men of the same age. Obesity and underlying insulin resistance may counteract the potential CV benefits associated with insulin therapy in lean diabetic patients. Weight loss could be a potential therapeutic modality to improve CV risk in Latino type 2 diabetic patients, especially women.

Comparative cardiovascular morbidity and mortality in patients taking different insulin regimens for type 2 diabetes: a systematic review

OBJECTIVES

To summarise the literature evaluating the association between different insulin regimens and the incidence of cardiovascular morbidity and mortality in adults with type 2 diabetes.

DESIGN

Systematic review.

METHODS

Multiple biomedical databases (The Cochrane Library, PubMed, EMBASE, and International Pharmaceutical Abstracts) were searched from their inception to February 2014. References of included studies were hand searched. Randomised controlled trials (RCTs), cohort studies or case-control studies examining adults (≥18 years) with type 2 diabetes taking any type, dose and/or regimen of insulin were eligible for inclusion in this review.

OUTCOME MEASURES

Primary outcomes were cardiovascular morbidity and mortality including fatal and/or non-fatal myocardial infarction, fatal and/or non-fatal stroke, major adverse cardiac events and cardiovascular death. All-cause mortality was assessed as a secondary outcome.

RESULTS

Of the 3122 studies identified, 2 RCTs and 6 cohort studies were selected. No case-control studies met the inclusion criteria. The studies examined a total of 109,910 patients. Quantitative synthesis of the results from included studies was not possible due to a large amount of clinical heterogeneity. Each study evaluated cardiovascular outcomes across different insulin-exposure contrasts. RCTs did not identify any difference in cardiovascular risks among a fixed versus variable insulin regimen, or a prandial versus basal regimen, albeit clinically important risks and benefits cannot be ruled out due to wide CIs. Findings from cohort studies were variable with an increased and decreased risk of cardiovascular events and all-cause mortality being reported.

CONCLUSIONS

This systematic review of randomised and non-randomised studies identifies a substantive gap in the literature surrounding the cardiovascular morbidity and mortality of patients using different regimens of insulin. There is a need for more consistent high-quality evidence investigating the impact of insulin use on cardiovascular outcomes in patients with type 2 diabetes.

TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER

PROSPERO

CRD42014007631.

Interaction of the endocrine system with inflammation: a function of energy and volume regulation

During acute systemic infectious disease, precisely regulated release of energy-rich substrates (glucose, free fatty acids, and amino acids) and auxiliary elements such as calcium/phosphorus from storage sites (fat tissue, muscle, liver, and bone) are highly important because these factors are needed by an energy-consuming immune system in a situation with little or no food/water intake (sickness behavior). This positively selected program for short-lived infectious diseases is similarly applied during chronic inflammatory diseases. This review presents the interaction of hormones and inflammation by focusing on energy storage/expenditure and volume regulation. Energy storage hormones are represented by insulin (glucose/lipid storage and growth-related processes), insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) (muscle and bone growth), androgens (muscle and bone growth), vitamin D (bone growth), and osteocalcin (bone growth, support of insulin, and testosterone). Energy expenditure hormones are represented by cortisol (breakdown of liver glycogen/adipose tissue triglycerides/muscle protein, and gluconeogenesis; water retention), noradrenaline/adrenaline (breakdown of liver glycogen/adipose tissue triglycerides, and gluconeogenesis; water retention), growth hormone (glucogenic, lipolytic; has also growth-related aspects; water retention), thyroid gland hormones (increase metabolic effects of adrenaline/noradrenaline), and angiotensin II (induce insulin resistance and retain water). In chronic inflammatory diseases, a preponderance of energy expenditure pathways is switched on, leading to typical hormonal changes such as insulin/IGF-1 resistance, hypoandrogenemia, hypovitaminosis D, mild hypercortisolemia, and increased activity of the sympathetic nervous system and the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system. Though necessary during acute inflammation in the context of systemic infection or trauma, these long-standing changes contribute to increased mortality in chronic inflammatory diseases.

Oral but not intravenous glucose acutely decreases circulating interleukin-6 concentrations in overweight individuals

BACKGROUND

Plasma interleukin-6 (IL-6) concentrations decrease acutely 1 h after ingestion of a glucose load or mixed meals and this may be mediated by an anti-inflammatory effect of insulin. The aim of the present study was to compare the effect of higher versus lower insulin levels on plasma IL-6 concentrations following oral compared with intravenous glucose administration in overweight/obese subjects.

METHODS AND FINDINGS

Fifteen subjects (12 women and 3 men) with BMI >28 kg/m(2) were given an oral glucose load (75 g) followed a week later by an intravenous infusion of glucose aimed at matching plasma glucose concentrations during the oral glucose load. A week later, they drank a volume of water equivalent to the volume consumed with the oral glucose load. Plasma glucose, insulin, nonesterified fatty acids, and IL-6 concentrations and blood hematocrit were measured at 30 minute intervals for 2 h following each intervention. Plasma IL-6 decreased (13-20%) significantly (P = 0.009) at 30 min to 90 min following the oral glucose load and did not change significantly following the other two interventions. The incremental area under the curve for plasma IL-6 concentrations following oral intake of glucose was significantly lower compared with concentrations following intravenous glucose (P = 0.005) and water control (P = 0.02). Circulating insulin concentrations were significantly (P<0.001) and 2.8 fold higher following oral compared with intravenous glucose administration.

CONCLUSIONS

These data show that plasma IL-6 concentrations did not decrease during isoglycemic, intravenous glucose administration suggesting that the markedly higher circulating insulin levels and/or gut-related factors may mediate the acute decrease in plasma IL-6 after oral glucose intake in overweight/obese subjects.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

Australian New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry ACTRN12612000491864.

Cardiovascular disease in childhood: the role of obesity

In recent years, childhood obesity is becoming an epidemic health problem. It is now evident from many studies that childhood obesity is correlated with adult excess weight status and the development of risk factors for cardiovascular diseases in adulthood, including hypertension, type 2 diabetes mellitus, dyslipidemia, and metabolic syndrome. The exposure to obesity and to the above risk factors during childhood subsequently lead to atherosclerotic development, such as altered vascular structure and function, although the mechanisms are still unclear. Several non-invasive, and thus easy-to-obtain measures of arterial structure and function, have been shown to be clinically useful in providing information about vasculature early in the course of atherosclerosis, including measurement of endothelial function, carotid intima media thickness, and arterial stiffness. The early detection of cardiovascular abnormalities is essential because the control of the atherogenic process is more effective during its early stages. The present review focuses on the cardiovascular consequences of obesity, on the mechanisms and the methods of measurement of endothelial dysfunction in obese children and adolescents, and on the ways of intervention for the improvement of vascular health.

Importance of perioperative glycemic control in general surgery: a report from the Surgical Care and Outcomes Assessment Program

OBJECTIVE

To determine the relationship of perioperative hyperglycemia and insulin administration on outcomes in elective colon/rectal and bariatric operations.

BACKGROUND

There is limited evidence to characterize the impact of perioperative hyperglycemia and insulin on adverse outcomes in patients, with and without diabetes, undergoing general surgical procedures.

METHODS

The Surgical Care and Outcomes Assessment Program is a Washington State quality improvement benchmarking-based initiative. We evaluated the relationship of perioperative hyperglycemia (>180 mg/dL) and insulin administration on mortality, reoperative interventions, and infections for patients undergoing elective colorectal and bariatric surgery at 47 participating hospitals between fourth quarter of 2005 and fourth quarter of 2010.

RESULTS

Of the 11,633 patients (55.4 ± 15.3 years; 65.7% women) with a serum glucose determination on the day of surgery, postoperative day 1, or postoperative day 2, 29.1% of patients were hyperglycemic. After controlling for clinical factors, those with hyperglycemia had a significantly increased risk of infection [odds ratio (OR) 2.0; 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.63-2.44], reoperative interventions (OR, 1.8; 95% CI, 1.41-2.3), and death (OR, 2.71; 95% CI, 1.72-4.28). Increased risk of poor outcomes was observed both for patients with and without diabetes. Those with hyperglycemia on the day of surgery who received insulin had no significant increase in infections (OR, 1.01; 95% CI, 0.72-1.42), reoperative interventions (OR, 1.29; 95% CI, 0.89-1.89), or deaths (OR, 1.21; 95% CI, 0.61-2.42). A dose-effect relationship was found between the effectiveness of insulin-related glucose control (worst 180-250 mg/dL, best <130 mg/dL) and adverse outcomes.

CONCLUSIONS

Perioperative hyperglycemia was associated with adverse outcomes in general surgery patients with and without diabetes. However, patients with hyperglycemia who received insulin were at no greater risk than those with normal blood glucoses. Perioperative glucose evaluation and insulin administration in patients with hyperglycemia are important quality targets.

A syndrome of severe hypoglycemia and acidosis in young immunosuppressed diabetic monkeys and pigs-association with sepsis

BACKGROUND

Large animals treated with immunosuppressive drugs for preclinical experiments of transplantation have increased risks of infection, which can be compounded by the induction of diabetes if islet transplantation is planned.

METHODS

We report our experience with severe sepsis in two young cynomolgus monkeys and five pigs that were subjected to diabetes induction, immunosuppressive therapy, or islet allotransplantation.

RESULTS

In two monkeys and five pigs, infection was associated with a syndrome of profound hypoglycemia accompanied by severe acidosis, which was resistant to treatment. We do not believe that this syndrome has been reported previously by others.

CONCLUSIONS

Despite treatment, this syndrome complicated the interpretation of blood glucose readings as a measure of islet graft function and resulted in death or the need for euthanasia in all seven animals. We tentatively suggest that the syndrome may be related to the presence of microorganisms that metabolize glucose and produce lactate.

Postprandial response of plasma IL-6 to isoenergetic meals rich in casein or potato singly and combined in obese women

Milk consumption decreases inflammatory stress in overweight and obese subjects. Casein is the major protein in milk and enhances the secretion of insulin that has anti-inflammatory activity. The aim of the present study was to compare the acute effect of meals rich in casein and carbohydrate and a combination of both nutrients on postprandial plasma concentrations of IL-6, a marker of inflammation, in obese women. A total of twenty-five obese women aged 38–68 years consumed isoenergetic meals rich in potato (POT) or casein (CA) or a combination of both these meals (POT + CA), in random order in a cross-over trial. After an overnight fast, blood samples were collected before and at 1 and 4 h after the meals and circulating concentrations of IL-6, glucose, insulin and NEFA were measured. Plasma IL-6 concentrations increased significantly (P < 0·001) during 4 h after the meals. The AUC of postprandial IL-6 concentrations was not significantly (P = 0·77) different among the meals. Postprandial serum insulin concentration AUC was significantly higher during the POT + CA meal compared with the POT meal (P = 0·001) and the CA meal (P < 0·05), which in turn was significantly higher than the POT meal (P < 0·05). These data show that while ingestion of CA alone or combined with POT acutely increases circulating insulin concentrations, it does not appreciably alter the postprandial increase in plasma IL-6 concentrations in obese women.

Risk of atherosclerosis in women with polycystic ovary syndrome: a study from South India

Women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) often present for cosmetic and or reproductive symptoms; attention is generally not paid to the future risk of atherosclerosis for these women. Given that Asian Indians are insulin resistant and prone to metabolic syndrome at an earlier age, we assessed glucose/insulin ratio and intimal medial thickness (IMT) in young women with PCOS from south India. In this cross-sectional case control study, we assessed insulin resistance and carotid IMT in 40 women presenting with hyperandrogenic features of PCOS. Insulin resistance was assessed by fasting glucose/insulin ratio and IMT by the Doppler system with electrical linear transducer midfrequency of 12 MHz. Women with PCOS had higher fasting insulin levels (36.58 +/- 17.81 muU/mL, vs. 16.60 +/- 3.22 muU/mL in controls; p < 0.001), higher insulin resistance (glucose/insulin ratio 2.81 +/- 1.47 vs. 5.47 +/- 1.46 in controls; p < 0.001), and greater IMT (0.53 +/- 0.14 mm vs. 0.39 +/- 0.06 mm in controls; p < 0.001). Women with PCOS had a higher body mass index (BMI) (26.46 +/- 5.24 vs. 23.24 +/- 3.05 in controls; p < 0.001), and the differences between PCOS and controls persisted, even among those who had a BMI of less than 25. We concluded that South Indian women with the reproductive abnormalities of PCOS have greater insulin resistance and IMT, and therefore they must be advised about lowering the risk of future vascular disease.

A novel view of metabolic syndrome

The metabolic syndrome, as described by Reaven, is a combination of obesity, insulin resistance, hypertension, hypertriglyceridemia, low HDL cholesterol, and hyperinsulinemia. The syndrome was recognized as a very high pro-atherogenic risk causing coronary heart disease. More recently, other features like an elevated plasma PAI -1 and CRP have been added to the syndrome. In view of the recent data demonstrating that insulin exerts an anti-inflammatory effect while macronutrients exert a pro-inflammatory effect, we are in a better position to explain not only why an insulin resistant state like the metabolic syndrome is pro-inflammatory but also to explain how it develops. This review discusses the relevance of these recent observations and puts into perspective the pathogenesis of various features of the metabolic syndrome and also predicts some features which may get incorporated into it in the future.

Inflammation, insulin resistance, and atherosclerosis

Until recently, atherosclerosis was thought to be a passive process of lipid deposition in the arterial wall, followed by progressive occlusion of the lumen, and finally plaque rupture and thrombosis. Recent data suggest the contrary-atherosclerosis is a dynamic process developing over many years, characterized by active uptake of lipids and smooth muscle proliferation, "molding" of plaque, and subject to the influence of many environmental and genetic factors. Central to these processes, both at initiation and propagation, are factors associated with inflammation. Insulin resistance (IR), the underlying cause of type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM), is also associated with elevated levels of inflammatory factors, such as C reactive protein (CRP), plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1), and fibrinogen. Recent studies indicate that these same factors precede and predict DM. These findings have led to the notion that the strong association of IR/DM with cardiovascular disease (CVD) may be through inflammation pathways. In this article, we review what is known about the association of inflammation with IR and atherosclerosis. We show that many of the same inflammatory factors associated with IR are present in atherosclerosis. We also discuss the underlying determinants of inflammation in these conditions.

Endothelial dysfunction and insulin resistance

In this article, we review several mechanisms by which insulin resistance is related to endothelial dysfunction. The mechanisms we discuss may explain the high prevalence of cardiovascular disease found in people with the metabolic syndrome and diabetes mellitus.

The Obesity Pandemic: Where Have We Been and Where Are We Going?

Obesity, a new pandemic, is associated with an increased risk of death, morbidity, and accelerated aging. The multiple therapeutic modalities used to promote weight loss are outlined with caution, especially for patients who are very young or old. Except for very rare single gene defects, the inheritance of obesity is complex and still poorly understood, despite active investigations. Recent advances that have shed light on the pathophysiology of obesity are the recognition that 1) excess fat is deposited in liver, muscle, and pancreatic islets; 2) fat tissue secretes a large number of active signaling molecules including leptin, adiponectin, and resistin, as well as free fatty acids; and 3) activated macrophages colonize the adipose tissue. Other candidates for key roles in the causes and consequences of obesity include 1) metabolic programming, where food acts as a developmental regulator; 2) the constellation of defects known as the "metabolic syndrome;" 3) cortisol overproduction in the adipose tissue; and especially, 4) insulin resistance. The possible etiologies of insulin resistance include cytokine excess, elevated free fatty acids, and hyperinsulinemia itself, as with transgenic overproduction of insulin in mice.

The hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis and sex hormones in chronic stress and obesity: pathophysiological and clinical aspects

Obesity, particularly the abdominal phenotype, has been ascribed to an individual maladaptation to chronic environmental stress exposure mediated by a dysregulation of related neuroendocrine axes. Alterations in the control and action of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis play a major role in this context, with the participation of the sympathetic nervous system. The ability to adapt to chronic stress may differ according to sex, with specific pathophysiological events leading to the development of stress-related chronic diseases. This seems to be influenced by the regulatory effects of sex hormones, particularly androgens. Stress may also disrupt the control of feeding, with some differences according to sex. Finally, the amount of experimental data in both animals and humans may help to shed more light on specific phenotypes of obesity, strictly related to the chronic exposure to stress. This challenge may potentially imply a different pathophysiological perspective and, possibly, a specific treatment.

Insulin therapy during hospitalization

Hyperglycemia occurring during hospitalization is a common phenomenon among patients with or without a known history of diabetes mellitus. For several years, hyperglycemia in hospitalized patients had been considered as an accompanying characteristic of the acute disease that resulted in admission. That point of view changed over time mainly because of emerging indications from clinical studies showing that hyperglycemia during hospitalization could aggravate prognosis and increase mortality. Further studies engaged on how hyperglycemia should be treated, yielded results that highlighted the increasing risk of mortality due to hypoglycemia in such efforts and also questioned the initial relation between hyperglycemia during hospitalization and a poor prognosis. Based on the fact that there is still no common ground on what is the best approach on hyperglycemia of hospitalized patients, the best practice remains to follow a different regime with different glycemic goals for different patient groups. In this review, hospitalized patients are divided into three groups; intensive care unit patients (general and cardiac), non-intensive care unit patients (general and cardiac) and peri-operative patients.

Insulin resistance: pathophysiology and rationale for treatment

After binding to its receptor and activating the β-subunit, insulin is faced with two divergent pathways: one is phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI 3-K) dependent, while another is dependent upon activation of mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAP-K). The former is absolutely necessary for mediating most metabolic and antiapoptotic effects; the latter is linked to nonmetabolic, proliferative and mitogenic effects. In obese patients, especially with type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM2), only the PI 3-K, but not the MAP-K, is resistant to insulin stimulation: hence insulin resistance is better defined as metabolic insulin resistance. The resulting 'compensatory hyperinsulinemia' is an unsuccessful attempt to overcome the inhibition of the metabolic pathway at the price of unopposed stimulation of the MAP-K pathway, and the administration of exogenous insulin might worsen the metabolic dysfunction. As the preferential activation of the MAP-K pathway in insulin-resistant patients has atherogenic and mitogenic properties, this leads to atherosclerosis and cancer. Metformin may carry out direct protective action on human β cells, inasmuch as it improves both primary and secondary endpoints through selective inhibition of fatty acyl oxidation.

Inflammatory and oxidative stress markers after intravenous insulin in percutaneous coronary intervention with stent in type 2 diabetes mellitus: a randomized controlled trial

CONTEXT/OBJECTIVE

The objective of the study was to evaluate the effects of normalizing glycemia through iv insulin per 24 h on markers of oxidative stress and inflammation in patients with diabetes submitted to percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) with stent.

PATIENTS/METHODS

This was a prospective, open-label, randomized controlled trial, comparing continuous iv insulin per 24 h targeting glycemia less than 110 mg/dl iv insulin treatment (IIT; n = 35) to standard treatment (ST; n = 35, regular insulin if glycemia was greater than 200 mg/dl). Blood samples for glycemia, glycated hemoglobin, lipids, inflammatory markers [C-reactive protein (CRP), soluble CD40 ligand, IL-6, and endothelin 1 (ET-1)] and oxidative stress (total antioxidant status, carbonyl) were collected immediately after and 24 h after PCI.

RESULTS

Seventy patients were included. Mean age was 60.5 ± 10 yr, 60% were men, glycated hemoglobin was 8.1 ± 1.8 (IIT) vs. 7.6 ± 1.6% (ST) (P = 0.39). The intensive insulin group had lower glycemia (P = 0.006) and higher insulinemia (P < 0.001). Insulin did not change CRP [4.5 (2.1-11.7) vs. 6.8 (2.4-10.3), P = 0.35], soluble CD40 ligand [402 (191-843) vs. 610 (230-1200), P = 0.68], IL-6 [6.21 (3.1.-10.4) vs. 10.37 (5.9-15.3), P = 0.09], and ET-1 [1.02 (0.7-1.8) vs. 1.10 (0.7-1.9), P = 0.657]. CRP, IL-6, and ET-1 increased after PCI in both groups (P < 0.05). No change was observed on protein oxidation (carbonyl, P = 0.70; total antioxidant status, P = 0.33). There was a positive correlation between CRP and glycemia (r = 0.29, P = 0.002).

CONCLUSIONS

Continuous iv insulin for 24 h increased insulin levels and prevented hyperglycemia. Insulin infusion did not prevent the rise in inflammatory and oxidative stress markers, and no differences were observed between IIT and ST after PCI with a stent.

Cytokine response to diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) in children with type 1 diabetes (T1DM)

It has been suggested that cytokine release during DKA may result in capillary perturbation and thus may contribute to the development of its acute clinical complications (i.e.cerebral or pulmonary edema). We studied in 38 newly diagnosed T1DM children with DKA, aged 7.68±3.07 years, plasma levels of cytokines IL-1β (interleukin-1β), IL-2, IL-6, IL-8, IL-10, TNF-α (tumour necrosis factor-α) and also WBC (white blood cell count), hs-CRP (high sensitivity C-reactive protein), GH (growth hormone) and cortisol, prior to, during and 120h after DKA management, with the aim to monitor their levels at different time-points and in different degrees of DKA severity. Prior to DKA management the levels of IL-6, IL-8, IL-10, WBC and cortisol were elevated, but were all reduced within 120 h after DKA management. Then the patients were divided into two groups: a. moderate/severe: pH≤7.2, b. mild DKA: pH>7.2. In the group with moderate/severe DKA (ph≤7.2), IL-10 levels were the highest of all cytokines, but were significantly decreased after 6h (91.76 vs 18.04 pg/mL, p=0.008), with no further change, while IL-6 levels were decreased at 120 h (28.32 vs 11.9 pg/mL, p=0.003). The above were not observed in the group with mild DKA. In conclusion, in the children with DKA of our study, in the group with moderate/severe DKA the IL-10 levels were prematurely reduced at 6 hours, while the IL-6 levels remained high and were reduced at 120 hours after the DKA management. These changes may be responsible for increased capillary perturbation, which could lead to the subsequent development of acute DKA complications.

Metabolic syndrome is a low-grade systemic inflammatory condition

An increase in proinflammatory cytokines, a decrease in endothelial nitric oxide and adiponectin levels and an alteration in hypothalamic peptides and gastrointestinal hormones that regulate satiety, hunger and food intake all occur in metabolic syndrome. Consumption of a diet that is energy dense and rich in saturated and trans-fats by pregnant women and lactating mothers, in childhood and adult life may trigger changes in the hypothalamic and gut peptides and hormones. Such changes modulate immune response and inflammation and lead to alterations in the hypothalamic 'bodyweight/appetite/satiety set point' and result in the initiation and development of the metabolic syndrome. Roux-en-gastric bypass induces weight loss, decreases the levels of cytokines and restores hypothalamic neuropeptides and gut hormones and the hypothalamic bodyweight/appetite/satiety set point to normal. Thus, metabolic syndrome is a low-grade systemic inflammatory condition with its origins in the perinatal period and childhood.

Insulin resistance and its association with the components of the metabolic syndrome among obese children and adolescents

Background

Insulin resistance is the primary metabolic disorder associated with obesity; yet little is known about its role as a determinant of the metabolic syndrome in obese children. The aim of this study is to assess the association between the degree of insulin resistance and the different components of the metabolic syndrome among obese children and adolescents.

Methods

An analytical, cross-sectional and population-based study was performed in forty-four public primary schools in Campeche City, Mexico. A total of 466 obese children and adolescents between 11-13 years of age were recruited. Fasting glucose and insulin concentrations, high density lipoprotein cholesterol, triglycerides, waist circumference, systolic and diastolic blood pressures were measured; insulin resistance and metabolic syndrome were also evaluated.

Results

Out of the total population studied, 69% presented low values of high density lipoprotein cholesterol, 49% suffered from abdominal obesity, 29% had hypertriglyceridemia, 8% presented high systolic and 13% high diastolic blood pressure, 4% showed impaired fasting glucose, 51% presented insulin resistance and 20% metabolic syndrome. In spite of being obese, 13% of the investigated population did not present any metabolic disorder. For each one of the components of the metabolic syndrome, when insulin resistance increased so did odds ratios as cardiometabolic risk factors.

Conclusions

Regardless of age and gender an increased degree of insulin resistance is associated with a higher prevalence of disorders in each of the components of the metabolic syndrome and with a heightened risk of suffering metabolic syndrome among obese children and adolescents.

The association of metabolic syndrome with periodontal disease is confounded by age and smoking in a Korean population: the Shiwha-Banwol Environmental Health Study

AIM

Because metabolic syndrome (MS) is pro-inflammatory and periodontitis is inflammatory, we issued the hypothesis that MS (the explanatory variable) is associated with periodontitis (the outcome variable). This study aimed to examine the link between MS and periodontitis among Koreans.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

From the Shiwha-Banwol Environmental Health Study, 1046 subjects aged 18 years or older were cross-sectionally surveyed. All participants underwent comprehensive dental and medical health examinations. The community periodontal index was used to assess periodontitis. Age, gender, monthly family income, smoking, drinking, frequency of daily teeth brushing, and physical activity were evaluated as confounders.

RESULTS

MS was strongly associated with periodontitis [odds ratio (OR): 1.7, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.22-2.37], and MS with more components had a higher association. The association was higher for elders aged 65 years or more, males, and smokers. MS including both high glucose and hypertension had a higher association with the OR of 2.19 (95% CI: 1.23-3.90) comparing with other types of MS.

CONCLUSIONS

Our results suggested that MS might be associated with periodontitis and the association was confounded by age, gender, and smoking. MS with high glucose and hypertension showed the higher impact on this link.

Glucocorticoids, stress and obesity

Obesity and the associated metabolic syndrome have been suggested to be the consequence of a maladaptation to chronic stress exposure mediated by a dysregulation of neuroendocrine axes. The hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis represents the major hormone system responsible for maintenance of the homeostatic balance in response to stress. The brainstem nuclei and the limbic regions are strongly involved in stressor neural processing and represent a regulatory network for the HPA axis. Moreover, the same neuroendocrine stress centers are involved in the regulation of feeding behavior following acute and chronic stress exposure. Studies performed in experimental animals suggest that consumption of so-called comfort foods, while favoring an adaptation to the detrimental impact of chronic stress on the reward system, may, in turn, lead to the rapid development of obesity. Available data also indicate that the endocannabinoid system modulates the HPA axis and that its type 1 receptors, which are extensively localized in the hypothalamus and in limbic structures, are involved in the regulation of the stress response and the reward mechanisms. Based on extensive clinical experience and studies performed in experimental animals, we developed the concept that there is a specific phenotype of individuals who may become obese as a result of exposure to major stressful events.

Regulation of oxidative stress by glycaemic control: evidence for an independent inhibitory effect of insulin therapy

AIMS/HYPOTHESIS

We examined whether type of diabetes and/or insulin treatment can modulate the impact of sustained hyperglycaemia and glycaemic variability as activators of oxidative stress.

METHODS

This was an observational study in 139 patients with diabetes, 48 with type 1, 60 with type 2 treated by oral hypoglycaemic agents (OHAs) alone and 31 with type 2 treated with insulin plus OHAs. In addition, two groups of ten patients with type 2 diabetes were investigated either before and after introducing insulin treatment (add-on insulin group) or before and after add-on OHA therapy to metformin (add-on OHA group). Oxidative stress was estimated from 24 h urinary excretion rates of 8-isoprostaglandin F2alpha (8-iso-PGF2alpha). HbA(1c) was assessed and mean amplitude of glycaemic excursions (MAGE) was estimated by continuous monitoring.

RESULTS

The 24 h excretion rate of 8-iso-PGF2alpha (median [range] picomoles per millimole of creatinine) was much higher (p < 0.0001) in type 2 diabetes patients treated with OHAs alone (112 [26-329]) than in the type 1 diabetes group (65 [29-193]) and the type 2 diabetes group treated with insulin (69 [30-198]). It was associated with HbA(1c) (F = 12.9, p = 0.0008) and MAGE (F = 7.7, p = 0.008) in non-insulin-treated, but not in insulin-treated patients. A significant reduction in 24 h excretion rate of 8-iso-PGF2alpha from 126 (47-248) to 62 (35-111] pmol/mmol of creatinine was observed in the add-on insulin group (p = 0.005) but not in the add-on OHA group.

CONCLUSIONS/INTERPRETATION

In type 1 and type 2 diabetes, insulin exerts an inhibitory effect on oxidative stress, a metabolic disorder that is significantly activated by sustained hyperglycaemia and glucose variability in non-insulin-treated type 2 diabetes.

Metabolic syndrome as a risk factor for high-ocular tension

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the relationship between the metabolic syndrome and intraocular pressure (IOP).

METHODS

An observational study was conducted in a medical health checkup program at a general hospital. This study involved 14 003 apparently healthy Japanese men and women, 18-83 years of age, with a mean IOP of 14.8 (3.0) mm Hg. IOP was examined by noncontact tonometer. High-ocular tension was defined as IOP >21 mm Hg without optic-disc abnormalities or history of receiving any anti-glaucoma therapy. Modified criteria of the revised National Cholesterol Education Program Adult Treatment Panel III (rATPIII), the new International Diabetes Federation definition, and the Japan Society for The Study of Obesity definition were used to characterize the metabolic syndrome. Air temperature was assessed from the Gifu Meteorological Observatory, Gifu, Japan.

RESULTS

In the male and female subjects, mean IOP and the prevalence of high-ocular tension became high in direct correlation with the increased number of metabolic syndrome components. To analyze by logistic regression, the metabolic syndrome defined by rATPIII was positively and maximum temperature was negatively correlated with high-ocular tension in males (adjusted odds ratio: 2.0 [95% confidence interval, CI, 1.43-2.78] and 0.63 [95% CI, 0.54-0.73], respectively) and in females (adjusted odds ratio: 7.09 [95% CI, 3.74-13.43] and 0.67 [95% CI, 0.53-0.87], respectively). Three of five metabolic syndrome components (fasting plasma glucose, blood pressure, and triglycerides) were related to high-ocular tension.

CONCLUSION

The metabolic syndrome is a risk factor for high-ocular tension.

Intensive insulin therapy reduces the urinary intercellular adhesion molecule-1 excretion in patients with Type 2 diabetes mellitus

OBJECTIVE

To observe the change of urinary intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) excretion in the patients with Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) compared to normal control group, and to investigate the effect and significance of insulin intensive therapy on the urinary ICAM-1 excretion.

METHOD

We examined the urinary ICAM-1 and creatinine (Cr) of random urine in 20 patients with T2DM and 20 normal subjects using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. All diabetics were given intensive insulin therapy for 2 weeks, urinary ICAM- 1 and Cr was examined once again at the end of observation.

RESULTS

Compared with the normal control group, not only the fasting blood glucose (FBG), post-prandial 2-h blood glucose (P2hBG), and glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c), but also the urinary ICAM-1 to urinary Cr ratio in patients with T2DM increased significantly (p<0.01). The urinary ICAM-1/urinary Cr ratio of diabetics had a positive correlation with FBG (r=0.51, p<0.01), P2hBG (r=0.496, p<0.01), and HbA1c (r=0.478, p<0.05), respectively. After 2 weeks of intensive insulin therapy in Type 2 diabetics, both the level of blood glucose and the level of urinary ICAM-1/urinary Cr ratio had a remarkable decrease compared with the basal values (p<0.01).

CONCLUSION

Intensive insulin therapy is capable of alleviating the enhanced local inflammation reaction of renal tissue under hyperglycemia state with the reduction of urinary ICAM-1 excretion.

Ethanol potentiates the acute fatty infiltration of liver caused by burn injury: prevention by insulin treatment

Burn injury is a significant and severe representation of critical illness. Nearly, 50% of patients admitted to hospitals for burn injuries have detectable levels of ethanol in their circulations and these patients have poorer clinical outcomes than burned individuals without measurable circulating ethanol. We report here data on a clinically relevant form of hepatic injury, the development of microvesicular steatosis, in a murine model wherein animals were either given ethanol or saline, and were subjected to burn or sham injury. Because better glycemic control with insulin has been shown in clinical studies to impart major clinical benefit, an additional group of burn ethanol animals were treated with insulin. Insulin significantly reduced blood glucose in injured animals to levels no different from those seen in animals that were neither ethanol exposed nor burned. A single intraperitoneal injection of ethanol was insufficient to raise blood alanine aminotransferase (ALT), measured as an index of liver injury. However, burn injury led to significant increases in ALT at 24 and 48 hours, which had returned to preinjury levels by 7 days. This ALT rise was completely prevented with insulin treatment. A single injection of ethanol did not evoke increased microvesicular steatosis but did potentiate the ability of burn to do so at 24 hours after injury. The burn induced increase in microvesicular steatosis was also seen at 48 hours, but had subsided by 7 days. The increased microvesicular steatosis was prevented by insulin therapy. Thus, ethanol potentiates the ability of burn to cause acute liver injury, which is completely preventable by insulin therapy. These findings may have substantial clinical significance and suggest this model may be useful for the study of the mechanisms of hepatic injury as well as the mechanisms, probably multiple, of insulin action in this setting.

Metabolic syndrome and periodontitis: is oxidative stress a common link?

A review of pathological mechanisms that can explain the relationship between periodontitis and cardiovascular disease (CVD) is necessary to improve the management of both conditions. Metabolic syndrome is a combination of obesity, hypertension, impaired glucose tolerance or diabetes, hyperinsulinemia, and dyslipidemia. All these have been examined in recent years in terms of their relationship to periodontitis. Reviewed data indicate an association between some of them (body mass index, high-density lipoprotein-cholesterol [HDL-C], triglycerides, high blood pressure, among others) and periodontitis. Oxidative stress may act as a potential common link to explain relationships between each component of metabolic syndrome and periodontitis. Both conditions show increased serum levels of products derived from oxidative damage, with a pro-inflammatory state likely influencing each other bidirectionally. Adipocytokines might modulate the oxidant/anti-oxidant balance in this relationship.