Plasma sphingosine-1-phosphate is elevated in obesity

Background: Dysfunctional lipid metabolism is a hallmark of obesity and insulin resistance and a risk factor for various cardiovascular and metabolic complications. In addition to the well known increase in plasma triglycerides and free fatty acids, recent work in humans and rodents has shown that obesity is associated with elevations in the bioactive class of sphingolipids known as ceramides. However, in obesity little is known about the plasma concentrations of sphinogsine-1-phosphate (S1P), the breakdown product of ceramide, which is an important signaling molecule in mammalian biology. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to examine the impact of obesity on circulating S1P concentration and its relationship with markers of glucose metabolism and insulin sensitivity. Methodology/Principal Findings: Plasma S1P levels were determined in high-fat diet (HFD)-induced and genetically obese (ob/ob) mice along with obese humans. Circulating S1P was elevated in both obese mouse models and in obese humans compared with lean healthy controls. Furthermore, in humans, plasma S1P positively correlated with total body fat percentage, body mass index (BMI), waist circumference, fasting insulin, HOMA-IR, HbA1c (%), total and LDL cholesterol. In addition, fasting increased plasma S1P levels in lean healthy mice. Conclusion: We show that elevations in plasma S1P are a feature of both human and rodent obesity and correlate with metabolic abnormalities such as adiposity and insulin resistance

Pesquisa do nistagmo/vertigem de posição e avaliação eletronistagmográfica em um grupo de indivíduos portadores de diabetes Mellitus tipo I Search of the nystagmus/ positional vertigo and electronystagmographic evaluation in a group of diabetics Mellitus type I

Introdução: De acordo com a Sociedade Brasileira de Diabetes, estima-se que existam no Brasil cerca de 5 milhões de pessoas com a patologia. No estado do Rio Grande do Sul há, provavelmente, 400.000 pacientes diabéticos23,27. Dentre as alterações que os indivíduos portadores de diabetes Mellitus podem apresentar, estão incluídos os distúrbios vestibulares. Objetivo: O presente trabalho teve por objetivo colaborar nas pesquisas de melhoria na qualidade de vida do paciente diabético e realizar pesquisa do nistagmo/ vertigem de posição e eletronistagmografia, a fim de identificar possíveis alterações. Forma de estudo: Clínico prospectivo. Material e método: 12 indivíduos portadores de diabetes Mellitus tipo I, usuários regulares de insulina, com idades entre 12 e 27 anos e componentes da Associação Riograndense de Apoio aos Diabéticos (ARAD). Para verificar as respostas vestibulares nos indivíduos portadores de diabetes Mellitus tipo I, foram realizados anamnese específica, meatoscopia, timpanometria, pesquisa do nistagmo/ vertigem de posição e eletronistagmografia na amostra selecionada. Resultados: Verificou-se Síndrome Vestibular Periférica Irritativa em 75% dos resultados alterados. Destes, 62,5% se tratavam de sujeitos sem queixa otoneurológica. Conclusões: Observou-se que o efeito do diabetes tipo I, na função vestibular, deve ser avaliado como as demais complicações diabéticas usuais, mesmo em pacientes assintomáticos, pois, com o diagnóstico etiológico precoce, é possível o auxílio na prevenção das complicações desta patologia.<br>Introduction: According to the Brazilian Society of Diabetes, there are 5 million diabetics in Brazil. In the state of Rio Grande do Sul only, there are, probably, 400.000 diabetics23,27. This group of people can present vestibular alterations. Aim: This article had the objective to contribute with the searches to help improve the quality of life of the diabetics and to search the nystagmus/ positional vertigo and electronystagmographic evaluation, and to identify possible alterations. Study design: Prospective clinical. Material and method: 12 Diabetics Type I, insulin dependents, between 12 and 27 years old, and members of Associação Riograndense de Apoio aos Diabéticos (ARAD). To observe the vestibular reactions, we did a specific interview, otoscopy, tympanometric, search of the Nystagmus/ Positional Vertigo and Electronystagmographic Evaluation in the selected sample. Results: We verified Periferic Irritable Vestibular Syndrome in 75% of the altered results. 62,5% in this group didn't present otoneurologyc symptom. Conclusions: We note that the effect of Diabetes Type I in the vestibular function may be taken into consideration like any other usual complications, since the same may occur in asymptomatic patients, and also because with the early etiologic diagnostic it is possible to help in the prevention of this disease's complications