Effects of SGLT2-Inhibitors on Comprehensive Geriatric Assessment, Biomarkers of Oxidative Stress, and Platelet Activation in Elderly Diabetic Patients with Heart Failure with Preserved Ejection Fraction.

Background: Heart failure (HF) with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) represents a major comorbidity in the elderly and is associated with cognitive impairment (CoI) and type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). In this context, there is an increase in oxidative stress and platelet activation biomarkers. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of 6 months' treatment with SGLT2i on functional, mood-related, and cognitive aspects, assessed by performing a comprehensive geriatric assessment (CGA), and on oxidative stress and platelet activation biomarkers, in a cohort of HFpEF elderly patients with T2DM.

Food waste awareness among Italian university students: results of an online survey.

Introduction: Food waste (FW) represents a significant social and environmental problem, with 1.3 billion tons of food wasted yearly worldwide. Even if consumers are increasingly aware of the phenomenon, it remains relevant, and understanding the behaviors of specific target audience segments appears instrumental to the planning of effective interventions.

Influence of /Nesfatin-1 Polymorphism on Treatment Response to Naltrexone/Bupropion SR in Binge Eating Disorder and Obesity.

: The gene and its polymorphisms were identified as novel players in the regulation of food intake, potentially leading to obesity (OBE) and altered eating behaviors. Naltrexone/bupropion SR (NB) showed good efficacy and tolerability for treating OBE and altered eating behaviors associated with binge eating disorder (BED). This prospective study investigates the influence of gene polymorphism on NB treatment response in OBE and BED.

New potential biomarkers for early chronic kidney disease diagnosis in patients with different glucose tolerance status.

Background: The purpose of the present study was to investigate the role of oxidative stress, platelet activation, and endocan levels in renal dysfunction in normal glucose tolerance (NGT) patients with 1-h plasma glucose values ≥155 mg/dl (NGT ≥ 155), compared to NGT < 155, impaired glucose tolerance (IGT), and type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) newly diagnosed subjects. We enlisted 233 patients subjected to an oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT).

Materials And Methods: The serum levels of platelet activation (glycoprotein VI and sP-selectin), oxidative stress biomarkers (8-isoprostane and Nox-2), and endocan were evaluated using an ELISA test.

Higher circulating levels of proneurotensin are associated with increased risk of incident NAFLD.

Background: Neurotensin (NT), an intestinal peptide able to promote fat absorption, is implicated in the pathogenesis of obesity. Increased levels of proneurotensin (pro-NT), a stable NT precursor fragment, have been found in subjects with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD); however, whether higher pro-NT levels are associated with an increased NAFLD risk independently of other metabolic risk factors is unsettled.

Methods: Ultrasound-defined presence of NAFLD was assessed on 303 subjects stratified into tertiles according to fasting pro-NT levels.

One-hour post-load glucose and subclinical left atrial myocardial dysfunction in hypertensive patients.

Background: Recently, studies demonstrated that normal glucose-tolerant subjects (NGT) with 1-h post-load plasma glucose value ≥155 mg/dL during oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) (NGT ≥ 155) present an impaired cardio-metabolic profile, with subclinical myocardial damage. Atrial morphological and functional alterations, closely related to diastolic dysfunction, are important predictors of atrial fibrillation (AF), cardiovascular (CV) events and mortality in the entire population as well as in diabetic patients. The aim of our study was to evaluate subclinical atrial myocardial damage, assessed with speckle tracking echocardiography, in NGT≥155 mg/dL patients, comparing to NGT < 155 mg/dL subjects, impaired glucose tolerant (IGT) individuals and patients with newly diagnosed type 2 diabetes (T2DM).

Obesity and overweight are linked to increased sodium-glucose cotransporter 1 and glucose transporter 5 levels in duodenum.

Objective: Prior evidence indicates that individuals with obesity have an accelerated intestinal glucose absorption. This cross-sectional study evaluated whether those with overweight or obesity display higher duodenal protein levels of the glucose carriers sodium-glucose cotransporter 1 (SGLT-1), glucose transporter 2 (GLUT-2), and glucose transporter 5 (GLUT-5).

Methods: SGLT-1, GLUT-2, and GLUT-5 protein levels were assessed on duodenal mucosa biopsies of 52 individuals without diabetes categorized on the basis of their BMI as lean, with overweight, or with obesity.

Circadian Clock Desynchronization and Insulin Resistance.

The circadian rhythm regulates biological processes that occur within 24 h in living organisms. It plays a fundamental role in maintaining biological functions and responds to several inputs, including food intake, light/dark cycle, sleep/wake cycle, and physical activity. The circadian timing system comprises a central clock located in the suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN) and tissue-specific clocks in peripheral tissues.

Ranolazine Attenuates Brain Inflammation in a Rat Model of Type 2 Diabetes.

Recent studies suggest a pathogenetic association between metabolic disturbances, including type 2 diabetes (T2DM), and cognitive decline and indicate that T2DM may represent a risk factor for Alzheimer's disease (AD). There are a number of experimental studies presenting evidence that ranolazine, an antianginal drug, acts as a neuroprotective drug. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effects of ranolazine on hippocampal neurodegeneration and astrocytes activation in a T2DM rat model.

Short-term effect of sacubitril/valsartan on endothelial dysfunction and arterial stiffness in patients with chronic heart failure.

Heart failure (HF) is associated to endothelial dysfunction that promotes the increase of arterial stiffness thus augmenting myocardial damage. Sacubitril/Valsartan is used in the treatment of HF reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF) and has been proven effective in reducing cardiovascular disease (CVD) progression and all-cause mortality. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of Sacubitril/Valsartan on endothelial dysfunction, arterial stiffness, oxidative stress levels and platelets activation in patients with HFrEF, at baseline and after 6 months of treatment.

Oxidative Stress and Left Ventricular Performance in Patients with Different Glycometabolic Phenotypes.

The aim of the present study was to evaluate the possible correlation between oxidative stress and subclinical myocardial damage, assessed with speckle tracking echocardiography (STE), in normal glucose tolerance (NGT) patients with one-hour plasma glucose values ≥ 155 mg/dL (NGT ≥ 155), comparing them to NGT < 155 subjects, impaired glucose tolerance (IGT) and type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) newly diagnosed patients. We enrolled 100 Caucasian patients. All subjects underwent OGTT.

Augmented duodenal levels of sodium/glucose co-transporter 1 are associated with higher risk of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease and noninvasive index of liver fibrosis.

Aims: Subjects with elevated 1 h post-load glucose concentrations (1hPG) exhibit increased risk of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and duodenal sodium/glucose co-transporter 1 (SGLT-1) levels. Herein, we evaluate whether higher SGLT-1 duodenal levels are associated with NAFLD and increased risk of advance liver fibrosis.

Methods: SGLT-1 levels were assessed on duodenal mucosa in 52 individuals subdivided into two groups according to ultrasonography-defined presence of NAFLD.

One-hour post-load hyperglycemia combined with HbA1c identifies individuals with augmented duodenal levels of sodium/glucose co-transporter 1.

Aims: Individuals with HbA1c-defined prediabetes (HbA1c 5.7-6.4%) and 1-hour post-load plasma glucose (1hPG) ≥ 155 mg/dl have an increased risk to develop type 2 diabetes (T2DM).

Endothelial progenitor cells predict vascular damage progression in naive hypertensive patients according to sex.

Low levels of endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) are associated with cardiovascular (CV) morbidity and mortality. Early indicators of vascular damage represent independent predictors of CV prognosis. The aim of this study was to evaluate the possible association of EPCs and circulating cytokine levels with vascular damage markers in naive hypertensive patients according to sex and to evaluate the role of EPCs in vascular damage progression.

Pioglitazone corrects dysregulation of skeletal muscle mitochondrial proteins involved in ATP synthesis in type 2 diabetes.

Context: In this study, we aimed to identify the determinants of mitochondrial dysfunction in skeletal muscle (SKLM) of subjects with type 2 diabetes (T2DM), and to evaluate the effect of pioglitazone (PIO) on SKLM mitochondrial proteome.

Methods: Two different groups of adults were studied. Group I consisted of 8 individuals with normal glucose tolerance (NGT) and 8 with T2DM, subjected to SKLM mitochondrial proteome analysis by 2D-gel electrophoresis followed by mass spectrometry-based protein identification.

Uric Acid and Vascular Damage in Essential Hypertension: Role of Insulin Resistance.

Increased levels of uric acid (UA) have been shown to be correlated with many clinical conditions. Uric acid may adversely affect the insulin signalling pathway inducing insulin resistance (IR). Several studies report the association between arterial stiffness (AS), an early indicator of atherosclerosis, and UA.

The Phosphatase PHLPP2 Plays a Key Role in the Regulation of Pancreatic Beta-Cell Survival.

Currently available antidiabetic treatments fail to halt, and may even exacerbate, pancreatic -cell exhaustion, a key feature of type 2 diabetes pathogenesis; thus, strategies to prevent, or reverse, -cell failure should be actively sought. The serine threonine kinase Akt has a key role in the regulation of -cell homeostasis; among Akt modulators, a central role is played by pleckstrin homology domain leucine-rich repeat protein phosphatase (PHLPP) family. Here, taking advantage of an in vitro model of chronic exposure to high glucose, we demonstrated that PHLPPs, particularly the second family member called PHLPP2, are implicated in the ability of pancreatic cells to deal with glucose toxicity.

Metabolic and Cognitive Effects of Ranolazine in Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus: Data from an in vivo Model.

Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is a risk factor for cognitive impairment. Ranolazine, an anti-ischemic drug used in the treatment of angina pectoris, has been shown to possess hypoglycemic properties in pre-clinical and clinical studies. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of ranolazine on glucose metabolism and cognitive function in a T2DM model of Wistar rats.

Specific knockout of p85α in brown adipose tissue induces resistance to high-fat diet-induced obesity and its metabolic complications in male mice.

Objective: An increase in mass and/or brown adipose tissue (BAT) functionality leads to an increase in energy expenditure, which may be beneficial for the prevention and treatment of obesity. Moreover, distinct class I PI3K isoforms can participate in metabolic control as well as in systemic dysfunctions associated with obesity. In this regard, we analyzed in vivo whether the lack of p85α in BAT (BATp85αKO) could modulate the activity and insulin signaling of this tissue, thereby improving diet-induced obesity and its associated metabolic complications.

Immunity, Inflammation and Heart Failure: Their Role on Cardiac Function and Iron Status.

Heart failure is a clinical syndrome characterized by subclinical systemic inflammation and immune system activation associated with iron deficiency. No data exist on the various activations of immune-mediated mechanisms of inflammation in heart failure patients with reduced/preserved ejection fraction. We aimed to (1) investigate possible differences in inflammatory parameters and oxidative stress, and (2) detect a different iron status between groups.