Brazilian legislation, since 1955, failed to achieve its objectives because the issue was not properly addressed: iodized salt was only available in endemic areas, at a low amount of 10 mg Iodine/kg salt. Lack of surveillance and cooperation were common errors. From 1982 to 1992, the INAN distributed potassium iodate to the industry free of charge, but it was abolished in 1991. Only four years later (1995) was a new law enacted effective in determining that all salt for human […]

The best comprehension about the instability of the glycemia levels in type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) patients and the availability of new alternatives to successfully control it, like insulin pump therapy and the insulin analogues, underlined the questions about the brittle diabetes existence as a clinical entity as well as the necessity of define it. The aim of this article was to describe the concept of brittle diabetes in the light of the latest advances in the treatment of type […]

The aim of this article is to discuss the role of 18F-FDG Positron Emission Tomography (PET) in the preoperative evaluation of patients with cytologically indeterminate thyroid nodules. All studies with patients with thyroid cancer were selected to the calculation of sensitivity. Only studies aiming to evaluate patients with thyroid nodules whose cytological result was indeterminate were selected to establish the specificity. The finding of focal 18F-FDG uptake at PET was associated with the presence of thyroid malignancy in most of […]

Serum testosterone in its total or free form, is a highly valuable diagnostic test and is available in the great majority of clinical laboratories. This reality was possible due to the development of simple and direct assays, adaptable to large automatic systems. Recent publications have called attention to the limitations of these simplified methodologies, mainly in samples with low concentration, as women and children. In this paper we present results obtained using a reference method based on high performance liquid […]

The prevalence of diabetes and impaired glucose tolerance is predicted to dramatically increase over the next two decades. Clinical therapies for type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) have traditionally included lifestyle modification, oral anti-diabetic agents, and ultimately insulin initiation. In this report, we review the clinical trial results of two innovative T2DM treatment therapies that are based on the glucoregulatory effects of incretin hormones. Incretin mimetics are peptide drugs that mimic several of the actions of glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) and have […]

O processo inflamatório é o elo entre a síndrome metabólica e as doenças cardiovasculares. Para medir o grau da inflamação subclínica, vários biomarcadores inflamatórios têm sido propostos. Este trabalho tem como objetivo revisar as recentes pesquisas das associações entre os biomarcadores inflamatórios e a síndrome metabólica, bem como a capacidade daqueles em predizer a síndrome metabólica. Estes biomarcadores incluem as citocinas pró-inflamatórias, citocinas antiinflamatórias, adipocinas, chemocinas, marcadores de inflamação derivados de hepatócitos, marcadores de conseqüência da inflamação e enzimas. Com […]

Type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1D) is characterized by severe insulin deficiency resulting from chronic and progressive destruction of pancreatic beta-cells by the immune system. The triggering of autoimmunity against the beta-cells is probably caused by environmental agent(s) acting in the context of a predisposing genetic background. Once activated, the immune cells invade the islets and mediate their deleterious effects on beta-cells via mechanisms such as Fas/FasL, perforin/granzyme, reactive oxygen and nitrogen species and pro-inflammatory cytokines. Binding of cytokines to their […]

Type 1 diabetes (T1D) comprises all forms of autoimmune-mediated and idiopathic beta-cell destruction leading to absolute insulin deficiency. The etiological heterogeneity of T1D has been recognized for the last decades, but it has been divided into only two subtypes so far: autoimmune (T1D)A and non-autoimmune (T1D)B mediated. Polygenic T1DA (isolated or associated to other autoimmune diseases) is the most prevalent type of T1D. T1DA might be part of rare monogenic syndromes related to mutations in the autoimmune regulator gene (AIRE) […]

We can now predict the development of Type 1A (Immune Mediated) diabetes primarily through the determination of four biochemically characterized islet autoantibodies [insulin, GAD65, IA-2 (ICA512) and (Znt8)]. Prediction is possible because beta-cell destruction is chronically progressive and very slow in most, but not all individuals. We can also prevent type 1A diabetes in animal models and a major goal is the prevention of type 1A diabetes in man with multiple clinical trials underway.

Metformin is one of the most commonly prescribed oral antidiabetic agents worldwide. However, its mechanism of action remains unknown. The Diabetes Prevention Program Research Group studies have shown that metformin administration and lifestyle-intervention (diet and exercise) reduce the incidence of Diabetes Mellitus type 2 (DM2). A possible biochemical connection between both therapies may be the AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK). This enzyme was originally described as a sensor of cellular energy status, being activated in exercise. On the other hand, several […]

Cilostazol, a selective phosphodiesterase type III inhibitor, has vasodilatory, antiplatelet, and antithrombotic actions, as well as being the first-choice drug for the intermittent claudication due to peripheral vascular disease. Main researches have demonstrated significant improvement for this situation, including patients with diabetes mellitus, concerning pain-free walking distance and quality-of-life, not rising the bleeding event risk. It does not affect the glucose metabolism even in patients suffering from diabetes. This paper aims to present a review on the discoveries of various […]

BACKGROUND: The apo B/apo A-I ratio represents the balance between atherogenic particles, rich in apo B, and the antiatherogenic ones, apo A-I rich. This study investigated the association between atherosclerotic diseases in different anatomical sites and apo B/apo A-I ratio. METHODS: Lipids, lipoproteins, and apolipoproteins A-I and B were assessed in 30 subjects with coronary artery disease (CAD), 26 with ischemic stroke (IS), 30 with peripheral arterial obstructive disease (PAOD), and 38 healthy subjects (controls). RESULTS: HDLc and Apo A-I […]