The Metabolic Impact and Beneficial Effects of Different Energy Restriction Protocols in Rats: An Alternative Health Plan

The Mediterranean Diet (MD) is, culturally and historically, the nutritional pattern shared by people living in the olive-tree growing areas of the Mediterranean basin. It is of great importance for its potential preventive effect against cardiovascular diseases (CVDs). The PREvención con DIeta MEDiterránea (PREDIMED) study, a Spanish multicentre randomised controlled trial (RCT), was designed to assess the long-term effects of the MD, without any energy restriction, on the incidence of CVD in individuals at high cardiovascular (CV) risk. Since its inception, it gave a great contribution to the available literature on the issue. It is well known that, in the field of the health sciences, RCTs provide the best scientific evidence. Thus, the aim of the present review is to analyse the results of the RCTs performed within the frame of the PREDIMED study. Our findings showed that MD has beneficial effects in the primary prevention of CVDs, diabetes and in the management of metabolic syndrome.

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Beneficial effects of dietary restriction in type 2 diabetic rats: the role of adipokines on inflammation and insulin resistance

British Journal Of Nutrition ◽

10.1017/s0007114510000164 ◽

2010 ◽

Vol 104 (1) ◽

pp. 76-82 ◽

Cited By ~ 9

Author(s):

Joana Crisóstomo ◽

Lisa Rodrigues ◽

Paulo Matafome ◽

Carmen Amaral ◽

Elsa Nunes ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Insulin Resistance ◽

Type 2 Diabetes ◽

Skeletal Muscle ◽

Adipose Tissue ◽

Dietary Restriction ◽

Insulin Signalling ◽

Diabetic Rats ◽

Energy Restriction ◽

Beneficial Effects

Inflammation plays an important role in diabetes mellitus and its complications. In this context, the negative cross-talk between adipose tissue and skeletal muscle leads to disturbances in muscle cell insulin signalling and induces insulin resistance. Because several studies have shown that energy restriction brings some benefits to diabetes, the aim of the present study was to evaluate the effects of dietary restriction on systemic and skeletal muscle inflammatory biomarkers, such C-reactive protein, adipokines and cytokines, and in insulin resistance in Goto-Kakizaki rats. This is an animal model of spontaneous non-obese type 2 diabetes with strongly insulin resistance and without dyslipidaemia. Animals were maintained during 2 months of dietary restriction (50 %) and were killed at 6 months of age. Some biochemical determinations were done using ELISA and Western blot. Data from the present study demonstrate that in Goto-Kakizaki rats the dietary restriction improved insulin resistance, NEFA levels and adipokine profile and ameliorated inflammatory cytokines in skeletal muscle. These results indicate that dietary restriction in type 2 diabetes enhances adipose tissue metabolism leading to an improved skeletal muscle insulin sensitivity.

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Nuclear receptors in disease: the oestrogen receptors

Essays in Biochemistry ◽

10.1042/bse0400157 ◽

2004 ◽

Vol 40 ◽

pp. 157-167 ◽

Cited By ~ 18

Author(s):

Maria Nilsson ◽

Karin Dahlman-Wright ◽

Jan-Åke Gustafsson

Keyword(s):

Nuclear Receptors ◽

Target Genes ◽

Receptor Subtype ◽

Target Tissue ◽

Oestrogen Receptors ◽

Nucleotide Polymorphisms ◽

Cell Type ◽

Single Nucleotide ◽

Beneficial Effects ◽

The Family

For several decades, it has been known that oestrogens are essential for human health. The discovery that there are two oestrogen receptors (ERs), ERalpha and ERbeta, has facilitated our understanding of how the hormone exerts its physiological effects. The ERs belong to the family of ligand-activated nuclear receptors, which act by modulating the expression of target genes. Studies of ER-knockout (ERKO) mice have been instrumental in defining the relevance of a given receptor subtype in a certain tissue. Phenotypes displayed by ERKO mice suggest diseases in which dysfunctional ERs might be involved in aetiology and pathology. Association between single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in ER genes and disease have been demonstrated in several cases. Selective ER modulators (SERMs), which are selective with regard to their effects in a certain cell type, already exist. Since oestrogen has effects in many tissues, the goal with a SERM is to provide beneficial effects in one target tissue while avoiding side effects in others. Refined SERMs will, in the future, provide improved therapeutic strategies for existing and novel indications.

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ACE2 as therapeutic agent

Clinical Science ◽

10.1042/cs20200570 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 134 (19) ◽

pp. 2581-2595

Author(s):

Qiuhong Li ◽

Maria B. Grant ◽

Elaine M. Richards ◽

Mohan K. Raizada

Keyword(s):

Therapeutic Agent ◽

Renin Angiotensin System ◽

Peptide Hormone ◽

Experimental Models ◽

Electrolyte Balance ◽

Ang Ii ◽

Angiotensin Converting Enzyme 2 ◽

Beneficial Effects ◽

Overwhelming Evidence ◽

Future Challenges

Abstract The angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) has emerged as a critical regulator of the renin–angiotensin system (RAS), which plays important roles in cardiovascular homeostasis by regulating vascular tone, fluid and electrolyte balance. ACE2 functions as a carboxymonopeptidase hydrolyzing the cleavage of a single C-terminal residue from Angiotensin-II (Ang-II), the key peptide hormone of RAS, to form Angiotensin-(1-7) (Ang-(1-7)), which binds to the G-protein–coupled Mas receptor and activates signaling pathways that counteract the pathways activated by Ang-II. ACE2 is expressed in a variety of tissues and overwhelming evidence substantiates the beneficial effects of enhancing ACE2/Ang-(1-7)/Mas axis under many pathological conditions in these tissues in experimental models. This review will provide a succinct overview on current strategies to enhance ACE2 as therapeutic agent, and discuss limitations and future challenges. ACE2 also has other functions, such as acting as a co-factor for amino acid transport and being exploited by the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronaviruses (SARS-CoVs) as cellular entry receptor, the implications of these functions in development of ACE2-based therapeutics will also be discussed.

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Health Plan Denials and Appeals

Perspectives on Voice and Voice Disorders ◽

10.1044/vvd18.1.27 ◽

2008 ◽

Vol 18 (1) ◽

pp. 27-32

Author(s):

Sandra Schwartz ◽

Janet McCarty

Keyword(s):

Health Plan ◽

Voice Therapy ◽

Voice Treatment ◽

Independent Review

Abstract Challenging health plan denials for voice treatment through appeals or advocacy efforts can pay off. This article describes the process of obtaining authorization for voice therapy, filing claims, establishing goals, preparing needed documentation, appealing claims through various levels including independent review, and developing an advocacy campaign if coverage is not offered or is very limited.

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