Adiponectin isoforms in elderly patients with or without coronary artery disease.

Objectives: To study the distribution of adiponectin isoforms in a group of very old patients.

Design: Cross-sectional.

Setting: Geriatric ambulatory clinic of the Department of Medicine at Policlinico "Tor Vergata.

Fish oil supplementation improves endothelial function in normoglycemic offspring of patients with type 2 diabetes.

Objective: Offspring of patients with type 2 diabetes (OPDs) exhibits endothelial dysfunction (ED) associated with a chronic inflammatory state. N-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (n-3 PUFA) may have antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties that are beneficial for cardiovascular and metabolic health. Therefore, in the present study, we tested the hypothesis that dietary supplementation with fish oil rich in n-3 PUFA may improve ED in otherwise healthy OPDs.

QTc and autonomic neuropathy in diabetes: effects of acute hyperglycaemia and n-3 PUFA.

Background And Aims: Autonomic function is also regulated by glycaemia and exerts a crucial role in the control of blood pressure and cardiac function. The disruption of this physiological mechanism impacts deeply on cardiovascular mortality in diabetes. We investigated the influence of autonomic dysfunction on QTc interval and on sympatho-vagal balance (LF/HF), in response to acute hyperglycaemia and to membrane electrical stabilization (n-3 PUFA).

Relationship between autonomic dysfunction, insulin resistance and hypertension, in diabetes.

Sympathovagal imbalance and insulin resistance are the common underlying disorders linking hypertension and diabetes. The role of hyperinsulinemia, however, on sympathovagal balance and blood pressure has never been clearly dissected from that of hyperglycemia. Nevertheless, the study of animal models of hypertension showed that hypertension does not invariably result in the onset of insulin resistance.