Triglyceride/high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (TG/HDL-C) index as a reference criterion of risk for metabolic syndrome (MetS) and low insulin sensitivity in apparently healthy subjects

"Aim: To evaluate if the TG/HDL-C index can be considered as a reference criterion of MetS and low insulin sensitivity in apparently healthy subjects. Methods: The subjects were Mexican mestizos who resided in Puebla City, Mexico, who were anthropometrically, biochemically, and clinically characterized. The TG/HDL-C index was calculated by dividing triglyceride (TG) levels by HDL-C levels. MetS was diagnosed by the Third Report from the Adult Treatment Panel-National Cholesterol Education Program (ATP-III NCEP) criteria, while insulin sensitivity was evaluated by the Quantitative Insulin sensitivity Check Index (QUICKI). Results: The study included 813 subjects, with an average age of 38.6 ± 12.1 years, of which 564 were women and 249 men. An association was found between high TG/HDL-C index and low insulin sensitivity (Odds ratio [OR]: 4.09; p < 0.01) and with MetS (OR: 15.29; p < 0.01). A correlation was found between the TG/HDL-C index and QUICKI (rho: –0.4989; p < 0.01) and with MetS (rho: 0.6581; p < 0.01). Conclusion: The results indicate that the TG/HDL-C index is associated with low insulin sensitivity and MetS in apparently healthy subjects, suggesting this index as a reference criterion of risk for low insulin sensitivity and MetS"

Triglyceride/high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (TG/HDL-C) index as a reference criterion of risk for metabolic syndrome (MetS) and low insulin sensitivity in apparently healthy subjects

"The MetS involves a cluster of metabolic abnormalities including centrally distributed obesity, decreased concentration of high-density lipoprotein colesterol (HDL-C), elevated triglycerides (TG), high blood pressure, and hyperglycemia1. MetS is also a risk factor for developing type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM2), ischemic heart disease, and arteriosclerosis-associated stroke, which are causes of mortality1,2. Given the previously mentioned information, MetS is considered a public health problem worldwide, especially in Westernized countries1, presenting a prevalence of 39.7% in Mexico"

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"

Validation of a non-laboratorial questionnaire to identify Metabolic Syndrome among a population in central Mexico

Objective. To determine the reliability of a non-laboratorial questionnaire, the Encuesta de Identificación de Sujetos Metabólicamente Comprometidos en Fase-I (ESF-I) for identifying Metabolic Syndrome among a population in central Mexico. Methods. Clinical and biochemical parameters were collected for 232 participants from 1 June 2012 – 31 August 2013. Three definitions of Metabolic Syndrome (Harmonizing, National Cholesterol Education Program Expert Panel and Adult Treatment Panel III [ATPIII], and International Diabetes Federation [IDF]) were used to allocate subjects to either the normal or Metabolic Syndrome positive (MetS+) group. The predictability of the questionnaire was determined by the Area-Under-the-Receiver-Operating Characteristic curve (AUC). Youden's index was calculated and the highest score was considered the optimal cutoff value. Cohen´s kappa (κ) was calculated to determine the level of agreement between the ESF-I questionnaire (max score: 15 based on 15 items) and Metabolic Syndrome. Results. From 53.8% – 60.7% of the participants were determined to be MetS+. The average questionnaire score was significantly higher in the MetS+ group for each definition (4.0 vs. 8.0, P < 0.05). The ESF-I questionnaire was predictive for the Harmonizing definition (AUC = 0.841, 95%CI: 0.790 – 0.892), the ATPIII definition (AUC = 0.827, 95%CI: 0.774 – 0.880), and the IDF definition (AUC = 0.836, 95%CI: 0.785 – 0.887). A cutoff value of 7 was determined for each definition; therefore, the cohort was re-categorized based on questionnaire results. There was a strong agreement between the ESF-I questionnaire and MetS (Harmonizing: accuracy = 77.6%, κ = 0.554; ATPIII: accuracy = 74.1%, κ = 0.489; IDF: accuracy = 74.6%, κ = 0.495, P < 0.001). Conclusion. The ESF-I questionnaire can identify MetS+ patients, and therefore, lead to earlier diagnoses, reduced number of consultations, and lower costs with easier application

Enfermedades cardiovasculares, hipertensión arterial y consumo de sodio: una relación controversial

Las enfermedades cardiovasculares (ECV) son la principal causa de muerte en el mundo. El alto consumo de sal es uno de los principales factores de riesgo que se asocian al desarrollo de CVD. Las guías clínicas recomiendan restricciones de consumo de sal en pacientes con hipertensión arterial e insuficiencia cardíaca; Sin embargo, los ensayos clínicos han reportado resultados contradictorios. Las dietas de restricción de sodio se asocian con un mayor desarrollo de la aterosclerosis, que actúa a través de la activación del sistema renina-angiotensina-aldosterona, lo que lleva al desarrollo de las enfermedades cardiovasculares.El objetivo de la investigación es aportar evidencias científicas pertinentes que alerten y faculten al profesional de la salud en la toma de decisiones objetivas sobre el control de la ingesta de sal en la dieta, particularmente en pacientes con riesgo de desarrollar enfermedades cardiovasculares

Obese first-degree relatives of patients with type 2 diabetes with elevated triglyceride levels exhibit increased β-cell function

"Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is characterized as a disease continuum that is marked by metabolic changes that are present for several years, sometimes well before frank diagnosis of T2DM. Genetic predisposition, ethnicity, geography, alterations in BMI, and lipid profile are considered important markers for the pathogenesis of T2DM through mechanisms that remain unresolved and controversial. The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between triglycerides (TGs) and β-cell function, insulin resistance (IR), and insulin sensitivity (IS) in obese first-degree relatives of patients with T2DM (FDR-T2DM) among subjects from central Mexico with normal glucose tolerance (NGT). Methods: We studied 372 FDR-T2DM subjects (ages,18-65) and determined body mass index (BMI), fasting plasma glucose (FPG), oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT), insulin, and TGs levels. Subjects were categorized based on glycemic control [NGT, prediabetes (PT2DM), or T2DM]. NGT subjects were further categorized by BMI [normal weight (Ob-) or obese (Ob+)] and TGs levels (TG-, <150 mg/dL, or TG+, ≥150 mg/dL). β-cell function, IR, and IS were determined by the homeostasis model assessment of β-cell function (HOMA2-β), homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA2-IR), and Quantitative Insulin Sensitivity Check Index (QUICKI) indices, respectively"

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"

Novel assessment of urinary albumin excretion in type 2 diabetes patients by Raman spectroscopy

Urinary albumin excretion remains the key biomarker to detect renal complications in type 2 diabetes. As diabetes epidemy increases, particularly in low-income countries, efficient and low-cost methods to measure urinary albumin are needed. In this pilot study, we evaluated the performance of Raman spectroscopy in the assessment of urinary albumin in patients with type 2 diabetes. The spectral Raman analysis of albumin was performed using artificial urine, at five concentrations of albumin and 24 h collection urine samples from ten patients with Type 2 Diabetes. The spectra were obtained after removing the background fluorescence and fitting Gaussian curves to spectral regions containing features of such metabolites. In the samples from patients with type 2 diabetes, we identified the presence of albumin in the peaks of the spectrum located at 663.07, 993.43, 1021.43, 1235.28, 1429.91 and 1633.91 cm−1. In artificial urine, there was an increase in the intensity of the Raman signal at 1450 cm−1, which corresponds to the increment of the concentrations of albumin. The highest concentration of albumin was located at 1630 cm−1. The capability of Raman spectroscopy for detection of small concentrations of urinary albumin suggests the feasibility of this method for the screening of type 2 diabetes renal complications

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