Differential disruption on glucose and insulin metabolism in two rat models of diet-induced obesity, based on carbohydrates or lipids.

Obesity is a relevant health public issue and is the main factor for glucose metabolism dysregulation and diabetes progression; however, the differential role of a high-fat diet or high sugar diet consumption on glucose metabolism and insulin processing is not well understood and has been scarcely described. Our research aimed to analyze the effects of chronic consumption of both high sucrose and high-fat diets on glucose and insulin metabolism regulation. Wistar rats were fed with high-sugar or high-fat diets for 12 months; after that, fasting glucose and insulin levels were measured along with a glucose tolerance test (GTT).

Albendazole Release from Silica-Chitosan Nanospheres. In Vitro Study on Cervix Cancer Cell Lines.

In this work, a pH-responsive drug-carrier based on chitosan-silica nanospheres was developed as a carrier for Albendazole (ABZ), a poorly water-soluble anthelmintic drug. Spherical silica nanoparticles were obtained by Stöber method and further etched to obtain mesoporous particles with sizes ranging from 350 to 400 nm. The specific BET area of nanoparticles increased from 15 m/g to 150 m/g for etched silica, which also exhibited a uniform pore size distribution.

High sugar but not high fat diet consumption induces hepatic metabolic disruption and up-regulation of mitochondrial fission-associated protein Drp1 in a model of moderate obesity.

Identification of new modifications and the association with diet patterns are essential for the prevention of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). To address this problem, we feed rats with high caloric diets based on high sucrose (HSD) and high fat (HFD) and analysed metabolic and mitochondrial alterations. Both diets induce moderated obesity and fat accumulation in the liver after 8, 10 and 12 months of diet.

Leptin Modifies the Rat Heart Performance Associated with Mitochondrial Dysfunction Independently of Its Prohypertrophic Effects.

Background: Functional receptors for leptin were described on the surface of cardiomyocytes, and there was a prohypertrophic effect with high concentrations of the cytokine. Therefore, leptin could be a link between obesity and the prevalence of cardiovascular diseases. On the other hand, a deleterious effect of leptin on mitochondrial performance was described, which was also associated with the evolution of cardiac hypertrophy to heart failure.