Identification of anthropometric indices that best correlate with insulin sensitivity and insulin resistance from subjects from central Mexico

"Insulin Sensitivity (IS) and Insulin Resistance (IR) mark the development of Type 2 Diabetes. Many reports have demonstrated that anthropometric indices can detect IS and IR, however ethnic variations can influence the optimal cutoff value. Therefore, the aim of this study was to determine the optimal cutoff value for Waist Circumference (WC), Body-Mass Index (BMI), Waist-To-Hip Ratio (WHR), Waist-To-Height Ratio (WHtR), and percent Body Fat (BF %) to determine IS and IR from subjects from central Mexico. Methods: WC, BMI, WHR, WHtR, BF%, fasting plasma glucose, and insulin were determined in 569 subjects (male=286 & females=283; ages: 18-84). IR and IS were determined by the Homeostatic Model Assessment online calculator and Quantitative Insulin Sensitivity Check Index, respectively. The area under the Receiver Operating Characteristic curve (AUC) and Youden´s index for each anthropometric index was calculated to determine its cutoff value. Cutoff value´s efficiency was measured by determining the test´s accuracy"

Metallothionein-1 and nitric oxide expression are inversely correlated in a murine model of Chagas disease

Chagas disease, caused by Trypanosoma cruzi, represents an endemic among Latin America countries. The participation of free radicals, especially nitric oxide (NO), has been demonstrated in the pathophysiology of seropositive individuals with T. cruzi. In Chagas disease, increased NO contributes to the development of cardiomyopathy and megacolon. Metallothioneins (MTs) are efficient free radicals scavengers of NO in vitro and in vivo. Here, we developed a murine model of the chronic phase of Chagas disease using endemic T. cruzi RyCH1 in BALB/c mice, which were divided into four groups: infected non-treated (Inf), infected N-monomethyl-L-arginine treated (Inf L-NAME), non-infected L-NAME treated and non-infected vehicle-treated. We determined blood parasitaemia and NO levels, the extent of parasite nests in tissues and liver MT-I expression levels. It was observed that NO levels were increasing in Inf mice in a time-dependent manner. Inf L-NAME mice had fewer T. cruzi nests in cardiac and skeletal muscle with decreased blood NO levels at day 135 post infection. This affect was negatively correlated with an increase of MT-I expression (r = -0.8462, p < 0.0001). In conclusion, we determined that in Chagas disease, an unknown inhibitory mechanism reduces MT-I expression, allowing augmented NO levels

Metallothionein-1 and nitric oxide expression are inversely correlated in a murine model of Chagas disease

"Chagas disease, caused by Trypanosoma cruzi, represents an endemic among Latin America countries. The participation of free radicals, especially nitric oxide (NO), has been demonstrated in the pathophysiology of seropositive individuals with T. cruzi. In Chagas disease, increased NO contributes to the development of cardiomyopathy and megacolon. Metallothioneins (MTs) are efficient free radicals scavengers of NO in vitro and in vivo. Here, we developed a murine model of the chronic phase of Chagas disease using endemic T. cruzi RyCH1 in BALB/c mice, which were divided into four groups: infected non-treated (Inf), infected N-monomethyl-L-arginine treated (Inf L-NAME), non-infected L-NAME treated and non-infected vehicle-treated. We determined blood parasitaemia and NO levels, the extent of parasite nests in tissues and liver MT-I expression levels. It was observed that NO levels were increasing in Inf mice in a time-dependent manner. Inf L-NAME mice had fewer T. cruzi nests in cardiac and skeletal muscle with decreased blood NO levels at day 135 post infection. This affect was negatively correlated with an increase of MT-I expression (r = -0.8462, p < 0.0001). In conclusion, we determined that in Chagas disease, an unknown inhibitory mechanism reduces MT-I expression, allowing augmented NO levels"