RESUMO
AIM: Type 2 diabetes (T2D) is a major complication of obesity and a leading cause of morbidity and mortality. Antagonizing bradykinin type 1 receptor (B1R) improved body and tissue fat mass and reversed vascular and adipose tissue inflammation in a rat model of insulin resistance. This study aimed at evaluating further the role of B1R in a mouse model of T2D by comparing the antidiabetic and anti-inflammatory effects of the B1R antagonist SSR240612 (SSR) in adipose tissue with those of pioglitazone (TZD), an activator of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma. METHODS: C57BL/6J mice were fed with high-fat diet (HFD) or standard diet (control) for 20 weeks. Yet, during the last 4 weeks, HFD-fed mice were administered SSR and TZD (10 mg kg-1 d-1 each) as monotherapy or combined therapy subcutaneously. The impact of treatments was measured on metabolic hormones levels (ELISA), adipose tissue inflammatory status and the expression of candidate genes involved in T2D (quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction and western blot). RESULTS: SSR240612 and TZD treatments improved hyperglycaemia, hyperinsulinaemia, insulin resistance, adipose tissue inflammation (expression of B1R, chemokine ligand 2, F4/80 and tumour necrosis factor) and modulated adipogenesis (peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma, adipocytes' protein 2 and CD40 expressions) in HFD-fed mice. Yet, SSR was more effective than TZD to reduce visceral fat mass and resistin. TZD/SSR combined treatment had an additive effect to improve insulin sensitivity and glucose intolerance. CONCLUSION: Bradykinin type 1 receptor antagonism could represent a promising therapeutic tool in combination with TZD for the treatment of T2D, obesity and insulin resistance.
RESUMO
To assess sexual behaviour and awareness about sexually transmitted infections (STIs) among young male adults in Lebanon, and to explore determinants associated with increasing levels of sexual risk, a cross-sectional survey of 730 conscripts was conducted. About 50% reported any lifetime heterosexual experience. Non-mutually exclusive sex predominated, and only half of the respondents reported consistent condom use during insertive vaginal sex. Higher sexual risk-taking was associated with urban residence, higher education, lower family crowding and younger age at first sexual experience. A national strategy with epidemiological and behavioural surveillance and educational programmes must be initiated before sexual risk-taking and incidence of STIs become a major public health issue.
