Effects of Mindfulness on Diabetes Mellitus: Rationale and Overview.

Unlabelled: Diabetes mellitus (DM) is an emerging global healthcare problem and its prevalence is increasing at an alarming rate. Despite improvements in both medical and pharmacological therapies, a complex medical condition may demand a diversified approach, such as: drug therapy, healthy diet and exercises, diabetes education programs, adherence to medical treatment and active participation of the patients in their lifestyle changes, such as stress management. The concept of mindfulness is here defined as the awareness that unfolds from the intention to attentively observe the current experience in a non-judgmental and non-evaluative way.

Plasma cholesteryl ester transfer protein and lipoprotein levels during treatment of growth hormone-deficient adult humans.

The incidence of atherosclerosis is increased in growth hormone (GH) deficient-individuals. Nonetheless, the antiatherogenic benefits of GH replacement therapy remain uncertain. In this study the effect of human recombinant growth hormone (hrGH) replacement therapy administered to GH-deficient adults on the plasma cholesteryl ester transfer protein (CETP) concentration and activity was analyzed.

High-density lipoprotein cholesterol esterification and transfer rates to lighter density lipoproteins mediated by cholesteryl ester transfer protein in the fasting and postprandial periods are not altered in type 1 diabetes mellitus.

Background: Diabetes mellitus is associated with atherosclerosis that has, in part, been ascribed to abnormalities in the reverse cholesterol transport system. Methods: We determined, in the fasting and post-alimentary periods, rates of HDL cholesterol esterification and transfer to apoB-containing lipoproteins, cholesteryl ester transfer protein (CETP) concentration, and apoB lipoprotein size in 10 type 1 diabetics and 10 well-matched controls. Autologous HDL was labeled with [14C]cholesterol and incubated at 37 degrees C during a period of 30 min for measurement of the cholesterol esterification rate (CER), as well as for 24 h for measurement of the endogenous HDL [14C]cholesteryl ester ([14C]CE) transfer rate to apoB-containing lipoproteins after 2- and 4-h incubations with the subject's own plasma.

Reverse cholesterol transport in diabetes mellitus.

There are epidemiological data and experimental animal models relating the development of premature atherosclerosis with defects of the reverse cholesterol transport (RCT) system. In this regard, the plasma concentrations of the high density lipoprotein (HDL) subfractions, of cholesteryl ester transfer protein (CETP), as well as the activity of the enzyme lecithin-cholesterol acyl transferase (LCAT) play critical roles. However, there has been plenty of evidence that atherosclerosis in diabetes mellitus (DM) is ascribed to a greater arterial wall cell uptake of modified apoB-containing lipoproteins whereas a primary or predominant defect of the RCT system is still a subject of debate.

Plasma cholesteryl ester transfer protein is lowered by treatment of hypercholesterolemia with cholestyramine.

Cholestyramine (INN, colestyramine) treatment of subjects with hypercholesterolemia reduced the plasma level of cholesteryl ester transfer protein (CETP) as measured by radioimmunoassay (CETP-RIA) and, as expected, also reduced the levels of total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol, and apolipoprotein B. The extent of CETP variation was significant only in the subjects whose LDL cholesterol levels were reduced by more than 25%. Furthermore, CETP-RIA was correlated with total cholesterol, LDL cholesterol, and apolipoprotein B concentrations.