High glucose microenvironment and human mesenchymal stem cell behavior.

High glucose (HG) culture conditions and persistent exposure to hyperglycemia in diabetes patients are detrimental to stem cells, analogous to any other cell type in our body. It interferes with diverse signaling pathways, mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR)-phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K)-Akt signaling, to impact physiological cellular functions, leading to low cell survival and higher cell apoptosis rates. While elucidating the underlying mechanism responsible for the apoptosis of adipose tissue-derived mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs), a recent study has shown that HG culture conditions dysregulate mTOR-PI3K-Akt signaling in addition to mitochondrial malfunctioning due to defective mitochondrial membrane potential (MtMP) that lowers ATP production.

The Effects of Salt and Glucose Intake on Angiotensin II and Aldosterone in Obese and Nonobese Patients with Essential Hypertension.

Background: The exact mechanisms for the development of essential hypertension are not known. Activation of the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system (RAAS) in adipose tissue may represent an important link between obesity and hypertension. This study investigates the effects of oral intake of glucose with and without NaCl on angiotensin II (AngII) and aldosterone in obese and nonobese patients with essential hypertension.

Comparison of the effectiveness of lectures based on problems and traditional lectures in physiology teaching in Sudan.

Background: Lectures are one of the most common teaching methods in medical education. Didactic lectures were perceived by the students as the least effective method. Teaching methods that encourage self-directed learning can be effective in delivering core knowledge leading to increased learning.