Steroid hormone levels and bone mineral density in women over 65 years of age.

Previous studies using immunoassays for steroid measurements have focused on the association between steroid hormone levels and bone mineral density (BMD) in postmenopausal women, obtaining contradictory results. This study aimed to assess this association using a highly sensitive bioanalytical method. A total of 68 postmenopausal women, aged 65-89 years, were enrolled in a cross-sectional study.

Steroid hormone levels in postmenopausal hysterectomised women with and without ovarian conservation: the continuous endocrine function of the ovaries.

This study aims to clarify the effect of postmenopausal bilateral oophorectomy on plasma steroid hormone levels. Women who were submitted in the postmenopausal period to hysterectomy for uterine benign conditions were divided into two groups: 18 women had isolated hysterectomy and 11 had hysterectomy with bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy. In both groups serum hormone levels were quantified by solid phase extraction and gas chromatography and tandem mass spectrometry.

Differentiating Swyer syndrome and complete androgen insensitivity syndrome: a diagnostic dilemma.

Background: Swyer syndrome and complete androgen insensitivity syndrome are disorders of sex development in which patients present a female phenotype and 46,XY karyotype.

Case: The authors present a case report of an 18-year-old patient with primary amenorrhea and delayed puberty. The karyotype was 46,XY.

Dietary restriction improves systemic and muscular oxidative stress in type 2 diabetic Goto-Kakizaki rats.

Type 2 diabetes is a heterogeneous metabolic disease characterized by insulin resistance and β-cell dysfunction leading to hyperglycaemia and dyslipidaemia. Dietary intervention seems to improve some of these cellular complications, namely insulin resistance. Our aim was to evaluate the effects of dietary restriction on systemic and skeletal muscle oxidative stress and insulin resistance in normal Wistar rats and Goto-Kakizaki (GK) rats, a non-obese type 2 diabetic animal model.

Metformin restores endothelial function in aorta of diabetic rats.

Background And Purpose: The effects of metformin, an antidiabetic agent that improves insulin sensitivity, on endothelial function have not been fully elucidated. This study was designed to assess the effect of metformin on impaired endothelial function, oxidative stress, inflammation and advanced glycation end products formation in type 2 diabetes mellitus.

Experimental Approach: Goto-Kakizaki (GK) rats, an animal model of nonobese type 2 diabetes, fed with normal and high-fat diet during 4 months were treated with metformin for 4 weeks before evaluation.

Insulin and metformin may prevent renal injury in young type 2 diabetic Goto-Kakizaki rats.

Type 2 diabetes is increasing at epidemic proportions throughout the world, and diabetic nephropathy is the principal cause of end stage renal failure. Approximately 40% of patients with type 2 diabetes may progress to nephropathy and a good metabolic control can prevent the development of diabetic renal injury. The aim of our study was to evaluate, in young type 2 diabetic Goto-Kakizaki (GK) rats fed with atherogenic diet, the effects of the anti-diabetic compounds insulin, metformin and gliclazide on renal damage.

"MitoTea": Geranium robertianum L. decoctions decrease blood glucose levels and improve liver mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation in diabetic Goto-Kakizaki rats.

Several chemical compounds found in plant products have proven to possess beneficial properties, being currently pointed out due to their pharmacological potential in type 2 diabetes mellitus complications. In this context, we studied the effect of Geranium robertianum L. (herb Robert) leaf decoctions in Goto-Kakizaki (GK) rats, a model of type 2 diabetes.

Mitochondria from distinct tissues are differently affected by 17β-estradiol and tamoxifen.

This study was aimed to analyse and compare the bioenergetics and oxidative status of mitochondria isolated from liver, heart and brain of ovariectomized rat females treated with 17β-estradiol (E2) and/or tamoxifen (TAM). E2 and/or TAM did not alter significantly the respiratory chain of the three types of mitochondria. However, TAM significantly decreased the phosphorylation efficiency of liver mitochondria while E2 significantly decreased the phosphorylation efficiency of heart mitochondria.

Beneficial effects of dietary restriction in type 2 diabetic rats: the role of adipokines on inflammation and insulin resistance.

Inflammation plays an important role in diabetes mellitus and its complications. In this context, the negative cross-talk between adipose tissue and skeletal muscle leads to disturbances in muscle cell insulin signalling and induces insulin resistance. Because several studies have shown that energy restriction brings some benefits to diabetes, the aim of the present study was to evaluate the effects of dietary restriction on systemic and skeletal muscle inflammatory biomarkers, such C-reactive protein, adipokines and cytokines, and in insulin resistance in Goto-Kakizaki rats.

Effect of ferrous sulphate on aspartate and alanine aminotransferases of brain of Tilapia mossambica.

Iron in the form of ferrous sulphate coming from sources such as mines, writing inks, blue pigments, dyeing industries, photography, medicine, deodorizers, disinfectants, fungicides and molluscides, etc. contributes in elevating ferrous sulphate of water bodies. The present study investigated the action of ferrous sulphate on the local fish Tilapia mossambica.

Supplementation of coenzyme Q10 and alpha-tocopherol lowers glycated hemoglobin level and lipid peroxidation in pancreas of diabetic rats.

The importance of nutritional supplementation in diabetes remains an unresolved issue. The present study was undertaken to examine the effects of alpha-tocopherol and CoQ(10), powerful antioxidants, on metabolic control and on the pancreatic mitochondria of GK rats, a model of type 2 diabetes. We also evaluated the efficacy of these nutrients in preventing the diabetic pancreatic lesions observed in GK rats.

Metformin protects the brain against the oxidative imbalance promoted by type 2 diabetes.

We aimed to investigate whether metformin protects the brain against the oxidative imbalance promoted by type 2 diabetes. This study analyzed the effect of metformin on oxidative stress markers (thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS), malondialdehyde (MDA) and carbonyl groups), hydrogen peroxide (H(2)O(2)) levels, non-enzymatic antioxidant defenses [reduced (GSH) and oxidized (GSSG) glutathione and vitamin E] and enzymatic antioxidant defenses [glutathione peroxidase (GPx), glutathione reductase (GRed) and manganese superoxide dismutase (MnSOD)] in brain homogenates of diabetic GK rats, a model of type 2 diabetes. For this purpose we compared brain homogenates obtained from untreated GK rats versus GK rats treated with metformin during a period of 4 weeks.

The effect of soybean oil on glycaemic control in Goto-kakizaki rats, an animal model of type 2 diabetes.

Unlabelled: Several studies in humans and laboratory animals with type 2 diabetes indicate that antioxidant supplements lessen the impact of oxidative damage caused by dysregulation of glucose metabolism. The present study was undertaken to examine the effect of soybean oil on glycaemic control and lipid metabolism in Goto-kakizaki (GK) rats, a model of type 2 diabetes. Rats were divided into three groups, a control group of non-diabetic (Wistar) rats, a group of diabetic GK rats and a group of GK rats treated with soybean oil.

Endothelial dysfunction in type 2 diabetes: effect of antioxidants.

Individuals with insulin resistance and diabetes mellitus have increased cardiovascular morbidity and mortality, caused in part by vascular complications. Endothelial dysfunction has been implicated in the pathogenesis of vascular diabetic disease. This abnormal function of the vasculature precedes cardiovascular disease and is associated with impaired endothelium-dependent vasorelaxation.

Estradiol affects liver mitochondrial function in ovariectomized and tamoxifen-treated ovariectomized female rats.

Given the tremendous importance of mitochondria to basic cellular functions as well as the critical role of mitochondrial impairment in a vast number of disorders, a compelling question is whether 17beta-estradiol (E2) modulates mitochondrial function. To answer this question we exposed isolated liver mitochondria to E2. Three groups of rat females were used: control, ovariectomized and ovariectomized treated with tamoxifen.

CoQ10 therapy attenuates amyloid beta-peptide toxicity in brain mitochondria isolated from aged diabetic rats.

Using brain mitochondria isolated from 20-month-old diabetic Goto-Kakizaki rats, we evaluated the efficacy of CoQ10 treatment against mitochondrial dysfunction induced by Abeta1-40. For that purpose, several mitochondrial parameters were evaluated: respiratory indexes (RCR and ADP/O ratio), transmembrane potential (DeltaPsim), repolarization lag phase, repolarization and ATP levels and the capacity of mitochondria to produce hydrogen peroxide. We observed that 4 microM Abeta1-40 induced a significant decrease in the RCR and ATP content and a significant increase in hydrogen peroxide production.