Resveratrol improves insulin sensitivity, reduces oxidative stress and activates the Akt pathway in type 2 diabetic patients.

Although resveratrol has widely been studied for its potential health benefits, little is known about its metabolic effects in humans. Our aims were to determine whether the polyphenol resveratrol improves insulin sensitivity in type 2 diabetic patients and to gain some insight into the mechanism of its action. After an initial general examination (including blood chemistry), nineteen patients enrolled in the 4-week-long double-blind study were randomly assigned into two groups: a resveratrol group receiving oral 2 × 5 mg resveratrol and a control group receiving placebo.

GCKR gene functional variants in type 2 diabetes and metabolic syndrome: do the rare variants associate with increased carotid intima-media thickness?

Background: Recent studies revealed that glucokinase regulatory protein (GCKR) variants (rs780094 and rs1260326) are associated with serum triglycerides and plasma glucose levels. Here we analyzed primarily the association of these two variants with the lipid profile and plasma glucose levels in Hungarian subjects with type 2 diabetes mellitus and metabolic syndrome; and also correlated the genotypes with the carotid intima-media thickness records.

Methods: A total of 321 type 2 diabetic patients, 455 metabolic syndrome patients, and 172 healthy controls were genotyped by PCR-RFLP.

Fatty acid composition of plasma lipid classes in chronic alcoholic pancreatitis.

Background/aims: Supplementation of n-3 long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (LCPUFA) is considered as adjuvant therapy in acute pancreatitis. We investigated plasma fatty acid status in chronic pancreatitis (CP).

Methods: Patients with alcoholic CP (n = 56, gender: 33/23 male/female, age: 60.

Evidence of O-linked N-acetylglucosamine in diabetic nephropathy.

Aims: There is increasing evidence that O-linked N-acetylglucosamine (O-GlcNAc) plays an important role in cell signaling pathways. It has also been reported that increases in O-GlcNAc contribute to the development of diabetes and diabetic complications; however, little is known about O-GlcNAc levels in diabetic nephropathy (DNP). Therefore the goal of this study was to determine whether O-GlcNAc could be detected in human kidney biopsy specimens, and if so to examine whether O-GlcNAc levels were increased in the kidneys of patients with DNP compared to the non-diabetic individuals.

[The pleiotropic effects of losartan--the importance of decreasing uric acid level].

Nowdays the goal of the antihypertensive treatment is to decrease the cardiovascular risk of the patients by treating the associated diseases and possible hypertensive end-organ damages. Losartan is an antihypertensive drug with all these capabilities and placebo-like side-effect profile. Besides the most important effects of losartan, which are mediated by blocking the angiotensin II.

Effects of pentoxifylline and pentosan polysulphate combination therapy on diabetic neuropathy in type 2 diabetes mellitus.

Vascular dysfunction, including impaired perfusion has a pivotal role in the pathogenesis of microvascular complications in diabetes mellitus. Both pentoxifylline (PF) and pentosan polysulphate (PPS) are known to improve microcirculation. Antioxidant and antiproteinuric effects of PF are also known.

Serum total LDH activity and LDH-2 isozyme in nephrotic syndrome.

Background/aims: Proteinuria, hypoproteinaemia, hypoalbuminaemia and oedema are major characteristics of nephrotic syndrome. Aims of this study were to detect serum total LDH activity and its isozymes in nephrotic syndrome.

Methods: In a cross-sectional study, clinical parameters were compared in three cohorts, namely kidney patients with or without nephrotic syndrome and hypoalbuminaemic controls (NEPHR, NON-NEPHR, CONTR, respectively).

Association of n-3 and n-6 long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids in plasma lipid classes with inflammatory bowel diseases.

In order to establish the biochemical basis for dietary interventions, we investigated the fatty acid composition of plasma lipid classes in patients with inactive inflammatory bowel disease. In this cross-sectional study thirty patients with ulcerative colitis (UC), twenty-one with Crohn disease (CD) and twenty-four controls were investigated (mean age: UC, 40.8 (sd 12.

[Acute renal failure caused by plant extract].

The authors review the case of a 30 years old female patient presenting with a 48 hours-standing anuria, who permanently used products of grist of a virtuous plant, Guarana and occasionally used a parenteral non-steroid painkiller. The clinical history and laboratory results showed acute renal and hepatic failure. The histological picture of the renal biopsy specimen verified an acute tubular necrosis.

[Importance of hereditary haemochromatosis in the care of diabetes mellitus].

Interactions of iron and carbohydrate metabolism were examined using results of the literature. Special attention was paid to the description of processes involving free radical production because both hereditary haemochromatosis and diabetes mellitus lead to complications by inducing oxidative stress. High levels of blood and tissue glucose produce an excess of electrons.