Interindividual variability in the expression of surfactant protein A and B in the human lung during development.

The surfactant complex, thanks to its multiple actions including decrease of surface- tension and antimicrobial activity, plays a fundamental role in newborn survival, lowering the risk of respiratory distress syndrome. The aim of this work was to determine if the synthesis of two surfactant proteins (SP), SPA and pro-SPB, shows some inter-individual variability during lung development in the intrauterine life. Immunoreactivity for SPA and pro-SPB was investigated in the lungs of  40 subjects, including 15 fetuses, ranging from 14 to 22 weeks of gestation, and 25 neonates, from 24 to 41 weeks.

Uncoupling protein 2 G(-866)A polymorphism: a new gene polymorphism associated with C-reactive protein in type 2 diabetic patients.

Background: This study evaluated the relationship between the G(-866)A polymorphism of the uncoupling protein 2 (UCP2) gene and high-sensitivity C reactive protein (hs-CRP) plasma levels in diabetic patients.

Methods: We studied 383 unrelated people with type 2 diabetes aged 40-70 years. Anthropometry, fasting lipids, glucose, HbA1c, and hs-CRP were measured.

Role of dietary magnesium in cardiovascular disease prevention, insulin sensitivity and diabetes.

Purpose Of Review: This review summarizes the evidence for benefits of magnesium on metabolic abnormalities, inflammatory parameters, and cardiovascular risk factors and related-potential mechanisms. Controversy due to contrasting results in the literature is also discussed.

Recent Findings: Increased dietary magnesium intake confers protection against the incidence of diabetes, metabolic syndrome, hypertension, and cardiovascular disease.

Low-density lipoproteins are more electronegatively charged in type 1 than in type 2 diabetes mellitus.

Multifactorial etiology is involved in premature atherosclerosis related to diabetes. Most of the mechanisms that are responsible for the etiology in diabetes have remained unsolved so far. Type 1 diabetes is associated with a favorable lipid pattern and with microangiopathy, which is not true for type 2 diabetes, which is related to dyslipidemia and macroangiopathy.

In vivo oxidizability of LDL in type 2 diabetic patients in good and poor glycemic control.

We aimed to determine if increased non-enzymatic glycosylation of the LDL was sufficient to increase the susceptibility to in vivo oxidation of the LDL particles. Twenty-two type 2 diabetic patients (11 males and 11 females) were included in this study. They were enrolled on the basis of good [glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) < 7%] and poor glycemic control [(HbA1c) > 8%].