Repositioning the Role of Tumor Necrosis Factor-Related Apoptosis-Inducing Ligand (TRAIL) on the TRAIL to the Development of Diabetes Mellitus: An Update of Experimental and Clinical Evidence.

Tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-related apoptosis-inducing ligand (TRAIL), a member of the TNF protein superfamily, represents a multifaceted cytokine with unique biological features including both proapoptotic and pro-survival effects in different cell types depending on receptor interactions and local stimuli. Beyond its extensively studied anti-tumor and immunomodulatory properties, a growing body of experimental and clinical evidence over the past two decades suggests a protective role of TRAIL in the development of type 1 (T1DM) and type 2 (T2DM) diabetes mellitus. This evidence can be briefly summarized by the following observations: (i) acceleration and exacerbation of T1DM and T2DM by TRAIL blockade or genetic deficiency in animal models, (ii) prevention and amelioration of T1DM and T2DM with recombinant TRAIL treatment or systemic TRAIL gene delivery in animal models, (iii) significantly reduced circulating soluble TRAIL levels in patients with T1DM and T2DM both at disease onset and in more advanced stages of diabetes-related complications such as cardiovascular disease and diabetic nephropathy, (iv) increase of serum TRAIL levels in diabetic patients after initiation of antidiabetic treatment and metabolic improvement.

Intermittent Energy Restriction, Weight Loss and Cardiometabolic Risk: A Critical Appraisal of Evidence in Humans.

Dietary patterns with intermittent energy restriction (IER) have been proposed as an attractive alternative to continuous energy restriction (CER) for the management of obesity and its associated comorbidities. The most widely studied regimens of IER comprise energy restriction on two days per week (5:2), alternate-day energy restriction by 60-70% (ADF), and timely restriction of energy intake during a specific time window within the day (TRF; time-restricted feeding). Although there is some evidence to suggest that IER can exert beneficial effects on human cardiometabolic health, yet is apparently not superior compared to CER, there are still some critical issues/questions that warrant further investigation: (i) high-quality robust scientific evidence regarding the long-term effects of IER (safety, efficacy, compliance) is limited since the vast majority of intervention studies had a duration of less than 6 months; (ii) whether the positive effects of IER are independent of or actually mediated by weight loss remains elusive; (iii) it remains unknown whether IER protocols are a safe recommendation for the general population; (iv) data concerning the impact of IER on ectopic fat stores, fat-free mass, insulin resistance and metabolic flexibility are inconclusive; (v) the cost-effectiveness of IER dietary regimens has not been adequately addressed; (vi) direct head-to-head studies comparing different IER patterns with variable macronutrient composition in terms of safety and efficacy are scarce; and (vii) evidence is limited with regard to the efficacy of IER in specific populations, including males, the elderly and patients with morbid obesity and diabetes mellitus.

Important Considerations for the Treatment of Patients with Diabetes Mellitus and Heart Failure from a Diabetologist's Perspective: Lessons Learned from Cardiovascular Outcome Trials.

Heart failure (HF) represents an important cardiovascular complication of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) associated with substantial morbidity and mortality, and is emphasized in recent cardiovascular outcome trials (CVOTs) as a critical outcome for patients with T2DM. Treatment of T2DM in patients with HF can be challenging, considering that these patients are usually elderly, frail and have extensive comorbidities, most importantly chronic kidney disease. The complexity of medical regimens, the high risk clinical characteristics of patients and the potential of HF therapies to interfere with glucose metabolism, and conversely the emerging potential of some antidiabetic agents to modulate HF outcomes, are only some of the challenges that need to be addressed in the framework of a team-based personalized approach.

Experimental hypogonadism: insulin resistance, biochemical changes and effect of testosterone substitution.

Background We sought to clarify the role of testosterone substitution in terms of insulin resistance and metabolic profile dysregulation in hypogonadism. Methods Twenty-nine male Wistar rats aged 11-12 weeks were divided in three groups: control (C, n = 10), sham operation; orchiectomy (ORX, n = 9); and orchiectomy + testosterone substitution (ORX+T, n = 10). Blood samples were obtained at day 1 (operation), after 10 days (intramuscular T injection 100 μg/100 g b.

Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass Is More Effective than Sleeve Gastrectomy in Improving Postprandial Glycaemia and Lipaemia in Non-diabetic Morbidly Obese Patients: a Short-term Follow-up Analysis.

Purpose: We aimed to compare the effects of Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB) and sleeve gastrectomy (SG) on postprandial glucose and lipid metabolism in addition to weight loss and fasting metabolic profile, in non-diabetic patients undergoing bariatric surgery.

Methods: Seventy-one patients were consecutively recruited and studied preoperatively, 3 and 6 months after surgery. Of these, 28 underwent RYGB (7 males, age 38 ± 9 years, BMI 46.

Defining the Optimal Dietary Approach for Safe, Effective and Sustainable Weight Loss in Overweight and Obese Adults.

Various dietary approaches with different caloric content and macronutrient composition have been recommended to treat obesity in adults. Although their safety and efficacy profile has been assessed in numerous randomized clinical trials, reviews and meta-analyses, the characteristics of the optimal dietary weight loss strategy remain controversial. This mini-review will provide general principles and practical recommendations for the dietary management of obesity and will further explore the components of the optimal dietary intervention.

The Effect of the Oral Administration of Leucine on Endothelial Function, Glucose and Insulin Concentrations in Healthy Subjects.

Objective: The aim of our study was to investigate the potential differential effect of hyperglycaemia and hyperinsulinaemia induced by glucose infusion alone and in combination with leucine consumption on endothelial function in healthy individuals.

Methods: Ten male volunteers were examined in random order twice. In one visit, they consumed 250 ml water (baseline) and 30 min later glucose was infused iv.

Comparison of health-related quality of Life (HRQOL) among patients with pre-diabetes, diabetes and normal glucose tolerance, using the 15D-HRQOL questionnaire in Greece: the DEPLAN study.

Background: Diabetes mellitus is usually preceded by a pre-diabetic stage before the clinical presentation of the disease, the influence of which on persons' quality of life is not adequately elucidated. The purpose of this study was to compare the Health-Related Quality of Life (HRQOL) of persons with pre-diabetes with that of diabetes or normal glucose tolerance (NGT), using the validated HRQOL-15D questionnaire.

Methods: The HRQOL-15D scores of 172 people with pre-diabetes (108 with Impaired Fasting Glucose [IFG], 64 with Impaired Glucose Tolerance [IGT], aged 58.

Metabolic effects of and protective action against non-alcoholic fatty liver disease in diabetic rats.

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is the result of the accumulation of adipose tissue deposits in the liver and it is associated with type 2 diabetes. (saffron) is known for its antioxidant and its potential hypoglycemic effects. We investigated the role of saffron on NAFLD in diabetic rats.

Association of plasma fetuin-a levels with peripheral arterial disease and lower extremity arterial calcification in subjects with type 2 diabetes mellitus.

Aims: Fetuin-A is a hepatic glycoprotein that is involved in insulin resistance and atherosclerosis. Herein we examined the association of plasma fetuin-A levels with peripheral arterial disease (PAD) in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM).

Material And Methods: A total of 71 patients with T2DM and 57 non-diabetic individuals were recruited.

Relationship between autonomic nervous system function and continuous interstitial glucose measurement in patients with type 2 diabetes.

Aims: The Aim of the present study was to examine whether there is a relationship between autonomic nervous system function and glycemic variability (GV) in patients with type 2 diabetes (T2D).

Methods: A total of 50 (29 males) patients with T2D (mean age 58.4 ± 9.

Study of postprandial lipaemia in type 2 diabetes mellitus: exenatide versus liraglutide.

Therapeutic approaches based on the actions of the incretin hormone GLP-1 have been widely established in the management of T2DM. Nevertheless, much less research has been aimed at elucidating the role of GLP-1 in lipid metabolism and in particular postprandial dyslipidemia. Exenatide and liraglutide are two GLP-1 receptor agonists which are currently available as subcutaneously administered treatment for T2DM but their chronic effects on postprandial lipaemia have not been well investigated.

Regional fat distribution and cardiometabolic risk in healthy postmenopausal women.

Background: Regional fat distribution is an important determinant of cardiometabolic risk after menopause. The aim of the present study was to investigate the association between indices of fat distribution obtained by Dual-energy X-ray Absorptiometry (DXA) and representative cardiometabolic risk factors in a cohort of healthy postmenopausal women.

Methods: In this cross-sectional study, cardiometabolic risk factors were correlated with a variety of central and peripheral fat depots obtained by DXA, in a total of 150 postmenopausal women, free of diabetes and cardiovascular disease (age 54 ± 7 years, BMI 29.

Effect of atorvastatin on baroreflex sensitivity in subjects with type 2 diabetes and dyslipidaemia.

In this prospective study, we examined the effect of atorvastatin treatment on baroreflex sensitivity (BRS) in subjects with type 2 diabetes. A total of 79 patients with type 2 diabetes with dyslipidaemia were recruited. A total of 46 subjects were enrolled to atorvastatin 10 mg daily and low-fat diet and 33 patients to low-fat diet only.

Dietary sodium, potassium, and alcohol: key players in the pathophysiology, prevention, and treatment of human hypertension.

Western industrialized societies are currently experiencing an epidemic expansion of hypertension (HTN), which extends alarmingly even to children and adolescents. HTN constitutes an independent risk factor for cardiorenal disease and represents an extremely common comorbidity of diabetes and obesity. Numerous randomized clinical trials and meta-analyses have provided robust scientific evidence that reduced dietary salt intake, increased dietary potassium intake, moderation of alcohol consumption, optimal weight maintenance, and the adoption of "heart-friendly" dietary patterns such as the Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension or the Mediterranean diet can effectively lower blood pressure.

Cigarette Smoking Is Associated with Prolongation of the QTc Interval Duration in Patients with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus.

Aims. Aim of the study was to evaluate the effect of smoking on autonomic nervous system (ANS) activity and QTc interval duration in patients with Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Methods.

Body composition determinants of metabolic phenotypes of obesity in nonobese and obese postmenopausal women.

Objective: Although obesity is typically associated with increased cardiovascular risk, a subset of obese individuals display a normal metabolic profile ("metabolically healthy obese," MHO) and conversely, a subset of nonobese subjects present with obesity-associated cardiometabolic abnormalities ("metabolically obese nonobese," MONO). The aim of this cross-sectional study was to identify the most important body composition determinants of metabolic phenotypes of obesity in nonobese and obese healthy postmenopausal women.

Design And Methods: We studied a total of 150 postmenopausal women (age 54 ± 7 years, mean ± 1 SD).

Association of lean body mass with cardiometabolic risk factors in healthy postmenopausal women.

Objective: Aim of this study was to investigate the association of total and regional lean body mass (LBM) with cardiometabolic risk factors in healthy obese and nonobese postmenopausal women.

Methods: A total of 150 postmenopausal women (age 54 ± 7 years, BMI 29.6 ± 5.

The effect of hyperhomocysteinemia on aortic distensibility in healthy individuals.

Objective: Elevated plasma homocysteine (HCY) levels have been associated with increased risk for cardiovascular disease. Aortic distensibility and aortic pulse wave velocity (PWV) are indices of aortic elasticity. The potential effect of acute hyperhomocysteinemia (HHCY) on the elastic properties of the aorta in healthy individuals is not known.

Differences in plasma apelin and visfatin levels between patients with type 1 diabetes mellitus and healthy subjects and response after acute hyperglycemia and insulin administration.

Objective: Previous data suggest that apelin and visfatin play a role in metabolism and glucose homeostasis. The aim of the present study was to determine differences in plasma apelin and visfatin concentrations between healthy subjects and patients with type 1 diabetes mellitus and to study the effect of hyperglycemia and insulin administration on their levels in patients with type 1 diabetes mellitus.

Design: One hundred patients with T1DM and 52 healthy subjects were examined.

Arterial stiffness is inversely related to plasma adiponectin levels in young normotensive patients with type 1 diabetes.

OBJECTIVE This study investigated the association between arterial stiffness and plasma adiponectin in patients with type 1 diabetes. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS Participants were normotensive patients with type 1 diabetes who were up to age 40 years. Subjects on statins with macrovascular disease or overt nephropathy were excluded.

Improvement in cardiovascular indices after Roux-en-Y gastric bypass or sleeve gastrectomy for morbid obesity.

Background: Morbidly obese patients display cardiac abnormalities which are partially reversed after weight loss. The aim of the present study was to assess the potential difference in cardiovascular disease indices between patients who underwent either gastric bypass surgery or sleeve gastrectomy.

Methods: Thirty-seven morbidly obese patients who underwent either Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB) (n = 14) or SG (n = 23) were examined before, 3 and 6 months after surgery.

The effect of a non-intensive community-based lifestyle intervention on the prevalence of metabolic syndrome. The DEPLAN study in Greece.

Objective: The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effectiveness of a non-intensive, community-based, lifestyle intervention program on the prevalence of metabolic syndrome (MS), in individuals at high risk for development of type 2 diabetes (T2D).

Design: In accordance with the FINDRISC score, 191 high-risk persons for T2D, 56.3±10.