The proinsulin-to-adiponectin ratio could be the best practical indicator of the early type 2 diabetes

In 1974, the "Ariadne's thread" (from Greek Mythology, pick one's way through the Labyrinth) of autoimmunity leading to the immunogenetic theory of type 1 diabetes mellitus made it possible to conclude that in this phenotype there exists an unsolved conflict between β-cells and the body's autoreactive immune system. In type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), the "Ariadne's thread" links obesity to pancreatic β-cell biology. Unfortunately, beginning from a wrong interpretation of the relationship between plasma glucose and plasma insulin, the insulin resistance hypothesis was born and claimed as the main defect of T2DM. Overlooking obesity, the understanding of T2DM pathogenesis was delayed by almost half a century. Fortunately, the adipobiology, particularly adipocytes was able to reach the "drawing board" of researchers, and has all the chances these cells to become the "cell of the century", just as the pancreatic β-cell was last the cell of century. The association of diabetes and obesity has motivated us to put pancreatic β-cells and adipocytes head-to-head, that is, we moved from the T2DM-obesity couple to the β-cell-adipocyte couple, appreciating their main secretory products, insulin/proinsulin, C-peptide, amylin (for β-cells), and adiponectin, as well as other numerous adipokines (for adipocytes). We thus propose that the proinsulin-to-adiponectin ratio could become the earliest predictor of dysfunction of these two cell types.Adipobiology 2012; 4: 41-50

THE ROLE OF TUMOR-INFILTRATING LYMPHOCYTES IN TRIPLE NEGATIVE BREAST CANCER

Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC), which lacks the expression of hormone receptors and human epidermal growth factor receptor-2 (HER2) represents the breast cancer subtype with the poorest prognosis. We report a 58-year-old post-menopausal woman with triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC). Histopathological examination of core needle biopsy (CNB) of the right breast tumor showed breast infiltrative carcinoma with high Tils and negative axillary lymph nodes

INTERNALLY DISPLACED PERSONS AND HEALTH EFFECTS CAUSED BY THE FLOODS THAT AFFECTED ROMANIA DURING 2006-2007

The heavy rainfall between late 2005 and early 2006 in South Romania caused severe flooding, as to environmental, social and economic consequences. The event was unique in the last 3 decades in Romania, and among the most severe flooding events in the WHO-European region, in the last decade, next to the floods registered in Rusia, Turkey and Great Britain. Large household damages, requiring internal displacement of persons, part of which being sheltered in camps, for up to 17 months occured in 6 counties, 5 of them located along the Danube river and 1 county in the hill-mountain region. Our study aimed to quantify people displacement, camp sheltering and morbidity profile among the sheltered people, during the existence of the camps. We present an observational study, using data collected by the surveillance system that ran in the affected territory, under the management of the National Institute of Public Health. The calculated values of the target indicators showed the following results: people displacement rate of 316 %000 inhabitants, camp sheltering rate of 100 %000 inhabitants; sheltering in tents represented 84%, for 2-25 weeks, of the total 68 weeks. “Communicable diseases” was the diagnosis category registered in each of the 6 counties, representing less than 30% of all the diagnosis categories.The category “injuries” did not exceed 5%, in 5 of the 6 counties, while “psychological trauma” did not exceed 1.2%, in only 3 of the 6 counties. The acute respiratory infections, of upper tract, followed by those of lower tract contributed more than 85% to all communicable disesses. Acute eye inflamations, acute watery diarrhoea, other rushes than measles and pediculosis contributed each less than 5%. Only 2 cases of clinical measles and 1 case of scab were registered. Most of the communicable diseases occured in children and adults. Neither death, nor disease outbreak were registered. Conclusions. The flood event generated internally displaced persons, some of which needed shelter in long term camps. Tents were the preponderant category of shelters. The communicable diseases, injuries and psychological trauma were not prevailing categories among the camp sheltered persons. The acute respiratory infections were preponderant among infections. Neither deaths, nor disease outbreaks occurred for the duration of camps

Negative association between paraoxonase 2, anthropometric markers and metabolic syndrome

Background Metabolic syndrome (MS) has a great impact on cardiovascular mortality and morbidity. Our aim was to investigate the association of MS with some oxidant and antioxidant markers, including pro-and antioxidant status of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) in newly diagnosed type 2 diabetic mellitus patients (ND-T2D). Methods 219 ND-T2D and 88 healthy subjects were divided in two groups according to the absence or presence of MS. Anthropometric measurements, routine blood tests, total oxidant status (TOS), total antioxidant status (TAS) and ELISA measurements were included. The PBMC capacity to release free radicals and to neutralize them was also determined by measuring the respiratory burst (RB) together with the lactonase activity of the intracellular antioxidant enzyme paraoxonase 2 (PON2). Results Comparing ND-T2D MS+ with those MS- the RB of the PBMC was significantly higher (p<0.05) while lactonase PON2 enzymatic activity was decreased (p < 0.001). A negative correlation of RB was found with TAS (r = -0.416, p < 0.05). PON2 was also negatively correlated with glycaemia (r = -0.275, p < 0.001), HbA1c (r = -0.308, p < 0.001), weight (r = -0.183; p < 0.05), waist circumference (r = -0.353, p < 0.001) and body mass index (r = -0.290, p < 0.001). Conclusion PON2 lactonase activity is negatively associated with anthropometric markers in ND-T2D with MS