Dietary Protein Modulates the Efficacy of Taurine Supplementation on Adaptive Islet Function and Morphology in Obesity.

Adaptation of islet β-cell mass and function under limiting or excess nutrient availability is critical for maintenance of glucose homeostasis. Taurine regulates islet function of obese mice in normal and low dietary protein conditions, but whether this involves remodeling of the endocrine pancreas architecture is not well understood. Here, we carried functional and morphometric evaluation of the endocrine pancreas of normal and protein-restricted mice fed a high-fat diet (HFD) and investigated the role of taurine supplementation.

Potential Binding Sites for Taurine on the Insulin Receptor: A Molecular Docking Study.

Taurine has been reported to improve the action of insulin in normal, pre-, and diabetic conditions. However, the mechanism by which this amino acid ameliorates insulin sensitivity is not yet completely understood. Insulin acts on target tissues by interacting with the extracellular portion of a tyrosine kinase receptor, whose structure is known as the ectodomain (ECD) of the insulin receptor (IR).

D-Pinitol Increases Insulin Secretion and Regulates Hepatic Lipid Metabolism in Msg-Obese Mice.

D-pinitol is one of the major inositol found in plants and studies suggest its potential hypoglycemic and hypolipidemic actions in diabetic rodents. Here, we investigated the actions of D-pinitol on adiposity, and in lipid and glycemic homeostasis in monosodium glutamate (MSG)-obese mice. Swiss mice received daily subcutaneous injections of MSG [(4g/kg of body weight (BW)] or saline [1.

Combined oral contraceptive in female mice causes hyperinsulinemia due to β-cell hypersecretion and reduction in insulin clearance.

Oral contraception is the most commonly used interventional method in the world. However, several women employ the continuous use of these hormones to avoid pre- and menstruation discomforts. Some studies indicate that oral contraceptives are associated with disturbances in glycemia and the effects of the use of a continuous regime are poorly elucidated.

[Evaluating the existence of oral infection control in patients admitted in state hospitals in Rio de Janeiro].

The aim of the present study is to ascertain whether an oral infection control protocol is being used in Rio de Janeiro State hospitals. Sixty two hospitals, both public and private have been surveyed. When asked whether any procedure was being adopted with admitted patients (in case of ICU patients), 39% of the hospitals responded positively.