Evaluation of the new software program DegifXL4 in the determination of the glycaemic indices of foodstuffs

Aims: There is no standardized protocol for measuring glycemic index (GI) that takes time-of-day effects into account. The software DegifXL2 and Medtronic-Minimed's CGMS and Solutions, makes the GI calculation at breakfast and dinner time possible. The aim of this study was to assess the enhanced data processing software (DegifXL4) enabling the GI calculation at breakfast, lunch, afternoon snack and dinner times. Methods: The glucose levels of 20 healthy volunteers were monitored after they consumed either 50 g of glucose or one of ten alternative foodstuffs either for breakfast and dinner or for lunch or snack. Within the 9-day test period, 10 such meals were monitored in 3 replicates for each volunteer. Specifically, CGMS was used to monitor plasma glucose levels at 5-minute intervals for a period of 120 min following the foodstuff ingestion. Results: Using the enhanced spreadsheed DegifXL 4, a total of 640 profiles were obtained and 491 (77 %) accomplished the criteria for further processing. The percentage of successful tests in each foodstuff varied from 57 to 87 %. Conclusions: The use of the new software DegifXL4 offers accurate GI estimates for foodstuffs eaten for breakfast, lunch, snacks and dinners in three replicates. In combination with the CGMS Solutions Software is DegifXL4 an enhanced efficient and comfortable way to routinely measure GI values.     

Glycogen phosphorylase in Acanthamoeba spp.: determining the role of the enzyme during the encystment process using RNA interference

Acanthamoeba infections are difficult to treat due to often late diagnosis and the lack of effective and specific therapeutic agents. The most important reason for unsuccessful therapy seems to be the existence of a double-wall cyst stage that is highly resistant to the available treatments, causing reinfections. The major components of the Acanthamoeba cyst wall are acid-resistant proteins and cellulose. The latter has been reported to be the major component of the inner cyst wall. It has been demonstrated previously that glycogen is the main source of free glucose for the synthesis of cellulose in Acanthamoeba, partly as glycogen levels fall during the encystment process. In other lower eukaryotes (e.g., Dictyostelium discoideum), glycogen phosphorylase has been reported to be the main tool used for glycogen breakdown in order to maintain the free glucose levels during the encystment process. Therefore, it was hypothesized that the regulation of the key processes involved in the Acanthamoeba encystment may be similar to the previously reported regulation mechanisms in other lower eukaryotes. The catalytic domain of the glycogen phosphorylase was silenced using RNA interference methods, and the effect of this phenomenon was assessed by light and electron microscopy analyses, calcofluor staining, expression zymogram assays, and Northern and Western blot analyses of both small interfering RNA-treated and control cells. The present report establishes the role of glycogen phosphorylase during the encystment process of Acanthamoeba. Moreover, the obtained results demonstrate that the enzyme is required for cyst wall assembly, mainly for the formation of the cell wall inner layer.     

Coenzyme Q10 supplementation reduces corticosteroids dosage in patients with bronchial asthma

Bronchial asthma is a chronic inflammatory disease of respiratory system, with disturbances in the dynamic balance of oxidant-antioxidant capacity of the lungs. Long-term administration of corticosteroids has been shown to result in mitochondrial dysfunction and oxidative damage of mitochondrial and nuclear DNAs. We previously documented decreased coenzyme Q(10) (CoQ(10)) and alpha-tocopherol concentrations in plasma and blood in corticosteroid-dependent bronchial asthma patients. In the present study we demonstrate that CoQ(10) supplementation reduces the dosage of corticosteroids in these patients. PATIENTS AND METHODS: This was an open, cross-over, randomized clinical study with 41 bronchial asthma patients (13 males, 28 females), ages 25-50 years. All patients suffered from persistent mild to moderate asthma. The patients were divided into two groups, one group receiving standard antiasthmatic therapy and clinically stabilized, and the second group receiving, in addition, antioxidants consisting of CoQ(10) as Q-Gel (120 mg) + 400 mg alpha-tocopherol + 250 mg vitamin C a day. The groups were crossed over at 16 weeks for a total duration of 32 weeks. RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS: Data show that patients with corticosteroid-dependent bronchial asthma have low plasma CoQ(10) concentrations that may contribute to their antioxidant imbalance and oxidative stress. A reduction in the dosage of corticosteroids required by the patients following antioxidant supplementation was observed, indicating lower incidence of potential adverse effects of the drugs, decreased oxidative stress. This study also demonstrates the significant uptake of CoQ(10) by lung tissue in a rat model using hydrosoluble CoQ(10) (Q-Gel).     

Effect of coenzyme Q(10) supplementation in the rat model of adjuvant arthritis

Adjuvant arthritis (AA) is a model of chronic inflammation induced by Mycobacterium butyricum and characterized by similar pathophysiological and pathobiochemical changes as rheumatoid arthritis (RA) in humans. In this study the antirheumatic activity of coenzyme Q(10) supplementation was tested not only as to its capability to suppress the inflammation edema of the hind paw and to improve the body weight of the arthritic animals, but also to improve so important biochemical parameters as markers of inflammation and oxidative stress, and of mitochondrial bioenergetics. Despite the unfavorable effects on the rheumatic processes observed by monitoring biometric parameters (hind paw volume, relative body weight, relative weight of spleen), a significant protective effect was observed on the level of mitochondrial energetic and antioxidant disbalance. This finding speaks in favor of CoQ(10) supplementation in rheumatic patients, presumably as combinatory therapy with classical antirheumatics, e.g. NSAIDs.     

Association of the FTO rs9939609 polymorphism with obesity in Roma/Gypsy population

The rs9939609 SNP located in the first intron of the fat mass and obesity associated gene (FTO) has been found to be associated with common obesity mainly in populations of European descent. The Roma/Gypsy population as an ethnic minority of Asian Indian origin is well known for its adverse health status with a high prevalence of obesity. The main aim of this study was to examine the contribution of the rs9939609 FTO polymorphism to the high prevalence of obesity in the Roma/Gypsy population. Following a number of anthropometric measurements, the FTO rs9939609 polymorphism was genotyped in 312 Roma/Gypsy individuals. We observed significant differences in body mass index (BMI), waist circumference, and waist-to-hip ratio between different genotypes (P = 0.003, P = 0.012, and P = 0.03, respectively). The waist circumference in the subjects with AA genotype was about 7.1 cm larger than in those with TT genotypes (P = 0.005). However, the strongest association of minor allele A of the rs9939609 FTO polymorphism was found with BMI (odds ratio, 1.55; 95% confidence interval, 1.129-2.128; P = 0.007), even after adjusting for age, sex, and smoking status. This study provides the first report of allele and genotype frequencies for the rs9939609 polymorphism and also the first evidence of the association of the FTO variant with obesity in the Roma/Gypsy population.