Low Protein Diets for Pregnant Women and Its Association with Insulin Secretion and Resistance

Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) complicates 3.5% of pregnancies in England and Wales and continues to show an increase in incidence each year. GDM can lead to diabetes postpartum, it is associated with an increased perinatal risk, and an increase in neonatal mortality. This review article looks at different studies regarding protein diets and their potential effects on GDM. We aimed to determine if a certain protein diet could potentially help protect against GDM using. We found that while a few studies have shown that increasing proteins in the diet of pregnant women, specifically that from poultry, whey, fish, nuts and legumes, may reduce the risk of GDM, there is certainly room for further research on the topic

Strengthening CoViD-19 therapy via combinations of RAS modulators.

Evidence has accumulated that the pathology of CoViD-19 is strongly related to the renin-angiotensin system (RAS). The blockage of the angiotensin converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) by the SARS-CoV-2 virus leads to downstream consequences such as increased vascular tone, extensive fibrosis and pronounced immune reactions. Different approaches to tackle the adverse viral effects by compensating the lost ACE2 function have been suggested. Here, we use an unequal-arm lever model to describe a simplified version of the biased regulation exercised by the angiotensin II and angiotensin-(1-7) hormones, which are the substrate and the product of ACE2, respectively. We reason upon the lever dynamics and its disruptions caused by the virus, and propose that a combination of RAS modulators will most efficiently compensate the imbalance due to the excess of angiotensin II and the scarcity of angiotensin-(1-7). Specifically, we focus on the possible benefits of the simultaneous application of two agents, a MAS-receptor agonist and an angiotensin-II-type-2-receptor agonist. We conjecture that this combination has the potential to introduce a beneficial synergistic action that promotes anti-hypoxic, anti-fibrotic and anti-proliferative effects, thereby improving the clinical management of acute and chronic CoViD-19 pathologies

Renin-Angiotensin System - Past, Present and Future

Exploring the contractile activity of smooth muscle segments isolated from various organs of healthy animals and animals with experimentally induced diabetes, she obtained original data about angiotensin II-induced force and time parameters. For the first time, she established the effect of ghrelin on angiotensin II-provoked contraction of the urinary bladder. Original data on the role of both types of angiotensin receptors for the contractile activity of the various segments of the gastrointestinal tract and bladder were obtained. By applying specific software for force and time parameter analysis, the contribution of different types of angiotensin receptors on muscle contractility has been shown. The new methodology was used to analyze the data obtained during the registration of smooth muscle relaxation activity, which allows the determination of not only the magnitude of the mechanical response but also the parameters related to the time and speed of the contractions. Plasma renin activity models have been developed using mathematical approaches to predict the effect of different drug doses on the behavior of the system

Influence of Captopril Treatment of Plasma Renin Activity � Mathematical Model

A model of the dynamics of plasma renin activity under the influence of various doses of captopril is formulated. The influence of captopril on renin angiotensin system is different from the effects of the other studied drugs nifedipine and nicardipine. Captopril inhibits the feedback in renin-angiotensin system and the upward trend of the renin activity is a proportional of the intrinsic growth rate. This dependence can be described using a modified Verhulst logistic function is proposed. The model is identified using the Korelia-Dynamics program. As optimization method for data identification a cyclic coordinate descent method is used. The residuals between the experimental data and the identified model are minimized applying least square or uniform fitting. The model allows prediction the effects of different captopril doses and permits the researcher to study the behavior of the renin angiotensin system under variety of conceivable conditions

The bone hormones and their potential effects on glucose and energy metabolism

The bones form the framework of our body. We know that bones protect our vital organs, regulate calcium and phosphorous homeostasis, and function as a site of erythropoiesis. More recently, however, the identification of bone hormones has allowed us to envision bones as endocrine organs too. Within the last few years, the bone hormones osteocalcin and lipocalin 2 have been implicated with glucose and energy metabolism. We systematically reviewed articles surrounding this subject and found a clear relationship between the osteocalcin levels and glucose tolerance and insulin sensitivity. We also found that many journals have shown the detrimental effects of an absences of lipocalin 2 from adipocytes. As osteocalcin administration to mice showed decreased blood glucose levels and promoted glucose tolerance and insulin sensitivity. Future studies could perhaps explore the use of osteocalcin as a supplement for type 2 diabetes

Influence of Captopril Treatment of Plasma Renin Activity � Mathematical Model

A model of the dynamics of plasma renin activity under the influence of various doses of captopril is formulated. The influence of captopril on renin angiotensin system is different from the effects of the other studied drugs � nifedipine and nicardipine. Captopril inhibits the feedback in renin-angiotensin system and the upward trend of the renin activity is a proportional of the intrinsic growth rate. This dependence can be described using a modified Verhulst logistic function is proposed. The model is identified using the Korelia-Dynamics program. As optimization method for data identification a cyclic coordinate descent method is used. The residuals between the experimental data and the identified model are minimized applying least square or uniform fitting. The model allows prediction the effects of different captopril doses and permits the researcher to study the behavior of the renin angiotensin system under variety of conceivable conditions

Angiotensin II receptor blockade - Importance for intestinal smooth muscle tone

The significance of AT(1) and AT(2) receptor subtypes for the development of Angiotensin II (Ang II)-induced contractions of different intestinal segments was investigated. Longitudinal strips from rat jejunum, ileum, colon and rectum were prepared and treated by Ang II in a dose of 1 mu M. The specific effects on Ang II receptors were studied by pretreatment with the selective AT(1) antagonist Losartan (100 nM) or AT(2) receptor blocker PD 123319 (100 nM). The recorded force vs. time curves of smooth muscle contractions were explored by calculation of amplitudes, integral force, the power of the contraction, as well as time parameter analysis. The application of Losartan caused significant reduction of the amplitude of smooth muscle contraction of preparations from colon and rectum (2.53 +/- 0.12 g and 2.79 +/- 0.25 g, respectively) in comparison to those provoked with Ang II alone (3.43 +/- 0.38 g and 4.74 +/- 0.44 g). The blockade of AT(1) receptors completely neutralized Ang II-provoked jejunal activity. Pretreatment with PD 1233319 caused significant reduction of the amplitude of jejunal and rectal contractions (0.47 +/- 0.08 g and 2.86 +/- 0.33 g, respectively) and led to significantly higher amplitude of the ileal smooth muscle response (2.11 +/- 0.16 g). The results indicate the predominant role of AT(1) receptors for the induction of smooth muscle contraction. The blockade of AT(2) receptors affects both phases of the smooth muscle contraction - AT(2) receptors are of importance for the development of the intestinal response to Ang II, especially for the initiation and maintenance of the rectal muscle contraction.Trakia University, Stara Zagora, BulgariaTrakya University [23/2013]This work was supported by Trakia University, Stara Zagora, Bulgaria, under Grant 23/2013

Appetite–regulating hormones in rats with fructose-induced metabolic changes

Objectives: The aim of this research is to examine the effects of fructose-drinking on the plasma levels of appetite-regulating hormones insulin, leptin and ghrelin in male and female rats. Methods: Mature Wistar rats were divided as follows: two control groups - male (CM) and female (CF); two fructose-drinking groups - male (FDM) and female (FDF), received 15% fructose solution. The experiment lasted 11 weeks. At the end, insulin, leptin and ghrelin levels as well as lipid and glucose profile were assessed. Results: Plasma concentrations of the examined hormones were elevated in fructose-drinking groups. However, in the FDM group only the leptin levels were significantly increased compared to the control. In the FDF group, all three appetite-regulating hormones showed the highest concentrations in comparison to the other groups. Conclusion: Sex hormones may affect the appetite-regulation signals and could be a factor contributing to degree of metabolic changes caused by long-term fructose overconsumption

Distribution of ghrelin-positive mast cells in rat stomach

It is known that the gastrointestinal peptide hormone ghrelin is expressed in human and rodent B lymphocytes, T lymphocytes, monocytes and natural killer cells. However, there are no data about ghrelin expression by mast cells. These facts, as well as the common progenitor cells of mast cells and the above-mentioned immune cells, motivated us to undertake the current work in order to prove that like other granulocytes, rat gastric mast cells are capable of immunohistochemical expression of ghrelin. Gastric wall sections of Wistar rats were studied immunohistochemically for detection of ghrelin and tryptase and histochemically for toluidine blue in order to identify ghrelin-positive mast cells as well as to establish their localization and distribution. Results showed that mast cell granules expressed ghrelin. The ghrelin-positive mast cells were the least numerous as compared to tryptase-positive mast cells and toluidine blue-positive mast cells. Based on the observed expression of ghrelin in granules of mast cells localized in the rat gastric wall, we suggested that this type of cell can be regarded as an important source of ghrelin and suggested that ghrelin may exert different physiological functions, such as regulation of muscular, epithelial and glandular functions