Effects of Nigella sativa seeds (black cumin) on insulin secretion and lipid profile: A pilot study in healthy volunteers.

It has been claimed that Nigella sativa seeds (NSS), also known as black cumin, have antidiabetic and lipid-lowering properties. Our pilot study investigated the effects of powdered NSS on insulin secretion and lipid profile in healthy male volunteers. We conducted a double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled 4-week trial in 30 subjects, receiving NSS powder (1 g/day) or placebo orally (15 subjects/group).

[The multifaceted TSH receptor].

The TSH receptor is a key element of thyroid homeostasis and many gain or loss of function mutations have been described since its cloning in 1989. Behind classical and severe forms like toxic adenomas, non-autoimmune familial or sporadic hyperthyroidism or inversely complete TSH resistance syndromes, new methodological approaches allow now the functional characterization of milder clinical situations : linear regression analysis of activating mutations can differentiate mutations with moderate constitutive activity and non functional receptor's variants ; the early oligomerization of wild-type and mutated receptors in intracellular compartments explain the dominant inheritance of mild form of TSH resistance. However many aspects of TSH receptor signalization remain to be explored, for example its persistent activity after internalization, and their clinical implications to be determined.

Increased neuronal nitric oxide synthase dimerisation is involved in rat and human pancreatic beta cell hyperactivity in obesity.

Aims/hypothesis: Pancreatic beta cell hyperactivity is known to occur in obesity, particularly in insulin-resistant states. Our aim was to investigate whether changes in neuronal nitric oxide synthase (nNOS) function affect beta cell compensation in two relevant models: the Zucker fa/fa rats and pancreatic islets from obese humans.

Methods: Glucose-induced insulin response was evaluated in the isolated perfused rat pancreas and in human pancreatic islets from obese individuals.

Premature pubarche in Mediterranean girls: high prevalence of heterozygous CYP21 mutation carriers.

Aim: This study investigated the prevalence and consequences of heterozygous CYP21A2 mutations in premature pubarche (PP) girls.

Main Finding: We investigated 36 French Mediterranean girls with isolated PP. We performed synacthen testing with 17OHP and 21-deoxycortisol evaluation, along with molecular analysis of the CYP21A2 gene in girls with abnormal elevation of one of these two adrenal steroids.

[A case of intrahepatic gastrinoma].

The Zollinger-Ellison syndrome is due to an endocrine gastrin-secreting tumor, the gastrinoma. This tumor is often malignant and patients develop metastases in 25% of cases. The usual localizations of gastrinomas are at the head of the pancreas, the duodenal wall and the peripancreatic lymph nodes.