Dietary intake and major food sources of polyphenols in people with type 2 diabetes: The TOSCA.IT Study.

PURPOSE: Proper evaluation of polyphenols intake at the population level is a necessary step in order to establish possible associations with health outcomes. Available data are limited, and so far no study has been performed in people with diabetes. The aim of this work was to document the intake of polyphenols and their major food sources in a cohort of people with type 2 diabetes and in socio-demographic subgroups. METHODS: We studied 2573 men and women aged 50-75 years. Among others, anthropometry was measured by standard protocol and dietary habits were investigated by food frequency questionnaire (EPIC). The intake of polyphenols was evaluated using US Department of Agriculture and Phenol-Explorer databases. RESULTS: The mean total polyphenol intake was 683.3 ± 5.8 mg/day. Non-alcoholic beverages represented the main food source of dietary polyphenols and provided 35.5% of total polyphenol intake, followed by fruits (23.0%), alcoholic beverages (14.0%), vegetables (12.4%), cereal products and tubers (4.6%), legumes (3.7%) and oils (2.1%); chocolate, cakes and nuts are negligible sources of polyphenols in this cohort. The two most important polyphenol classes contributing to the total intake were flavonoids (47.5%) and phenolic acids (47.4%). Polyphenol intake increased with age and education level and decreased with BMI; furthermore, in the northern regions of Italy, the polyphenol intake was slightly, but significantly higher than in the central or southern regions. CONCLUSIONS: The study documents for the first time the intake of polyphenols and their main food sources in people with diabetes using validated and complete databases of the polyphenol content of food. Compared with published data, collected in people without diabetes, these results suggest a lower intake and a different pattern of intake in people with diabetes.

Comparative study reveals better far-red fluorescent protein for whole body imaging.

Genetically encoded far-red and near-infrared fluorescent proteins enable efficient imaging in studies of tumorigenesis, embryogenesis, and inflammation in model animals. Here we report comparative testing of available GFP-like far-red fluorescent proteins along with a modified protein, named Katushka2S, and near-infrared bacterial phytochrome-based markers. We compare fluorescence signal and signal-to-noise ratio at various excitation wavelength and emission filter combinations using transiently transfected cell implants in mice, providing a basis for rational choice of optimal marker(s) for in vivo imaging studies. We demonstrate that the signals of various far-red fluorescent proteins can be spectrally unmixed based on different signal-to-noise ratios in different channels, providing the straightforward possibility of multiplexed imaging with standard equipment. Katushka2S produced the brightest and fastest maturing fluorescence in all experimental setups. At the same time, signal-to-noise ratios for Katushka2S and near-infrared bacterial phytochrome, iRFP720 were comparable in their optimal channels. Distinct spectral and genetic characteristics suggest this pair of a far-red and a near-infrared fluorescent protein as an optimal combination for dual color, whole body imaging studies in model animals.

Validation of the Italian version of the WHO-Well-Being Questionnaire (WHO-WBQ) and the WHO-Diabetes Treatment Satisfaction Questionnaire (WHO-DTSQ).

AIM: To validate the Italian version of the World Health Organization (WHO)-Well-Being Questionnaire (WBQ) and the WHO-Diabetes Treatment Satisfaction Questionnaire (DTSQ) in Type 1 and Type 2 diabetic patients. METHODS: The cultural adaptation of the questionnaires was performed by using standard forward/backward techniques. Internal consistency reliability was estimated by Cronbach's alpha coefficient. Construct validity was evaluated using the Short Form-36 (SF-36) Health Status Questionnaire. Finally, the discriminative properties of the questionnaires were evaluated relative to the patients' characteristics. The questionnaires were administered to a random sample of patients identified in twelve outpatient diabetes clinics. RESULTS: Overall, 412 subjects were recruited, of whom 96 (23%) with Type 1 diabetes. Item-scale correlations were >0.40 for all the items. Cronbach's alpha coefficient was 0.86 for the WHO-DTSQ and ranged between 0.79 and 0.91 for the WHO-WBQ. High correlations were found between WHO-WBQ scales and the mental dimensions of the Short Form-36 (SF-36) questionnaire, but not between WHO-DTSQ and SF-36 scores. Women, obese subjects, those with longer diabetes duration and multiple complications showed a worse quality of life in all of the four areas of the WHO-WBQ. In Type 2 diabetic subjects, SF-36 scores, but not WHO-WBQ scores, were able to discriminate the population according to the treatment modalities. Lower levels of treatment satisfaction were related to female gender, longer diabetes duration, insulin treatment, presence of diabetes complications and HbA1c levels >7.0%. The flexibility of the treatement was perceived as a major problem even among patients treated with oral agents. CONCLUSIONS: The WHO-DTSQ can be considered as a valuable instrument to be used internationally for the description of diabetes treatment satisfaction. The WHO-WBQ also shows adequate psychometric properties, but additional data are needed to clarify whether it is more sensitive than SF-36, the most widely used generic instrument.

[Intraoperative functional study of unilateral cold thyroid nodules]. / Studio funzionale intraoperatorio dei noduli tiroidei freddi unilaterali.

The authors studied 7 patients (age between 22 and 52 years, mean 40.2 +/- 6.55 S.D.) with single or multiple solid nodules, localized in the same thyroid lobe. All subjects performed scintiscanning and echography for evaluating the nature of nodules. During the thyroidectomy the hormonal pattern has been studied in the venous blood of both lobes (inferior thyroid and jugular veins, homo and heterolateral). The authors found a significant decrease of T3 and T4 values with increased T3/T4 ratio at the nodular level. This report could be related to an hypothetical alteration of iodination mechanisms, maybe due to an intrinsic defect of oxidative mitochondrial systems.

[Serum prolactin in obese subjects with and without glucose intolerance]. / Comportamento della prolattinemia nei soggetti obesi con e senza intolleranza ai carboidrati.

Basal values of H-Prl have been assayed with reproducible RIA in two accurately selected group of subjects: 1) obese with latent glucose intolerance; 2) obese without glucose intolerance. In these patients have been valued also IRI and blood glucose (GOD-POD Biochemia). The data reported in this paper show that therein't correlation between basal H-Prl values and difference obese -- normal of IRI concentrations neither in non-diabetics nor in pre-diabetics obese. It indicate that the H-Prl not plays a controinsular role in obese-prediabetics subjects. No difference in basal values of H-Prl we found in the examined patient obese pre- and not-diabetics.

[Serum prolactin in obese subjects with glucose intolerance before and after treatment with phenformin]. / Comportamento della prolattinemia in soggetti obesi con intolleranza ai carboidrati prima e dopo trattamento con fenformina.

10 obese subjects with latent glucose-intolerance we studied before and after a "short term" treatment with an oral antidiabetic drug, phenformina (100 mg/day for 14 days). The parameters we evaluated, were: basal IRI, C-peptide immunoreactive (IRCP), IRCP/IRI ratio, areas elicited by values of IRI after oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT), basal H-Prl, before and after the phenformin (F) treatment. Our data show that F decreases the basal IRI values but not IRCP values, so the IRCP/IRI ratio is significantly higher. No difference is found in the basal H-Prl values.

Light-evoked changes in chick optic lobe adenylate-cyclase.

The effects of exposure to 48 h darkness and to stroboscope stimulation on chick optic lobe adenylate-cyclase activity were studied. A significant decrease in adenylate-cyclase after 48 h exposure to darkness occurred with return to normal values after re-exposure to light. Stroboscope stimulation for 3 min produced instead a marked increase in optic lobe adenylate-cyclase. Present experiments suggest that cAMP may serve as inhibitory messenger in synaptic transmission along central visual pathways.

[Radioimmunologic determination of triiodothyronine in essential obesity]. / Dosaggio radioimmunologico della triiodotironina nell'obesità essenziale

A new convenient, specific, precise radioimmunoassay for measurement of T3 has been studied. The assay, set up in presence of ANS (to inhibit aspecific binding of T3 with TBP) and of T3 free serum in Standard curves, allows to measure serum T3 ranging between 6.25 and 800 ng/100 ml. The mean recovery of unlabelled T3 was 103%. Serial dilutions of hyperthyroid sera and of euthyroid sera in T3 free serum yelded expected values. Then, the AA. have studied two groups of obese subjects under various conditions. The behaviour and some possible T3 production mechanism in those groups is finally discussed.