Ceramide accumulation in muscle and in liver is implicated in the induction of insulin resistance. Much less in known about the role of ceramide in adipose tissue. The aim of the present study was to elucidate the role of ceramide in adipose tissue and to clarify whether lipids participate in the regulation of adipocytokine secretion. The experiments were performed on male Wistar rats divided into three groups: 1. Control, 2. fed high fat diet (HFD), and 3. fed HFD and treated with myriocin. Ceramide (Cer) and diacylglycerol (DAG) content were analyzed by LC/MS/MS. Hormone sensitive lipase (HSL) phosphorylation was analyzed by Western Blot. Plasma adiponectin and tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) concentration were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. An oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) and insulin tolerance test (ITT) was also performed. In HFD group, total DAG and Cer content was elevated in both subcutaneous and visceral adipose tissue, which was accompanied by increased glucose, insulin, and HOMA-IR value. Myriocin treatment restored HOMA-IR as well as glucose and insulin concentration to control values. Moreover, myriocin decreased not only Cer, but also DAG levels in both fat depots. Furthermore, we observed a strong correlation between adiponectin (negative) and TNF-α (positive) and Cer in both fat tissues, which suggests that Cer is involved in the regulation of adipocytokine secretion.

High-fat diet consumption and lack of physical activity are important risk factors for metabolic disorders such as insulin resistance and cardiovascular diseases. Insulin resistance is a state of a weakened response of tissues such as skeletal muscle, adipose tissue, and liver to insulin, which causes an increase in blood glucose levels. This condition is the result of inhibition of the intracellular insulin signaling pathway. Skeletal muscle is an important insulin-sensitive tissue that accounts for about 80% of insulin-dependent glucose uptake. Although the exact mechanism by which insulin resistance is induced has not been thoroughly understood, it is known that insulin resistance is most commonly associated with obesity. Therefore, it is believed that lipids may play an important role in inducing insulin resistance. Among lipids, researchers’ attention is mainly focused on biologically active lipids: diacylglycerols (DAG) and ceramides. These lipids are able to regulate the activity of intracellular enzymes, including those involved in insulin signaling. Available data indicate that physical activity affects lipid metabolism and has a positive effect on insulin sensitivity in skeletal muscles. In this review, we have presented the current state of knowledge about the impact of physical activity on insulin resistance and metabolism of biologically active lipids.

Background: Despite advances in diagnostics and treatment, aortic aneurysms are an important clinical problem, mainly due to the accompanying complications that may lead to direct loss of life, also the number of diagnosed and operated aneurysms is constantly increasing. The aim of this study is to determine the relationship between the concentration of lysosomal peptidases cathepsin A, D, and E in the wall of the abdominal aortic aneurysm and the concentration of copper and zinc, and the size of the aneurysm widening in the wall of the abdominal aortic aneurysm. Methods: The study included 27 patients with abdominal aortic aneurysm from the Department of Vascular Surgery and Transplantation of the University Clinical Hospital in Bialystok. The research material was the wall of the abdominal aortic aneurysm collected intraoperatively. The control material consisted of fragments of the abdominal aorta obtained from organ donors for transplantation. The concentration of cathepsin A, D, and E was determined using enzymelinked immunosorbent assays. Concentrations of copper and zinc were determined by flame atomic absorption spectrometry after prior mineralization of the samples. All patients were interviewed and asked about basic demographic data, comorbidities, and risk factors for cardiovascular disease to which they were exposed in the past. The statistical analysis was performed using Statistica 10 statistical package. ManneWhitney U-tests were used and also Spearman's r correlation assuming a significance level of P < 0.05. Results: The concentration of cathepsin A, D, and E was higher in the aortic wall altered by the aneurysm than in the wall of the control aorta (P < 0.05). The analysis of the data showed that there was a positive correlation between the concentration of cathepsin A and D and the width of the aneurysmal widening (r ¼ 0.699 and 0.750, respectively). There was no correlation between cathepsin E concentration and aneurysm width. Conclusions: The higher contents of cathepsin A, D, and E in the wall of the aortic aneurysm than in the normal aortic wall, as well as a positive correlation between the concentration of cathepsin A and D and the width of the aneurysmal widening, allow to assume the participation of these enzymes in the pathogenesis of the aneurysm.

The objective of this study was to estimate the content of copper, zinc, selenium, cadmium, and lead in the tissue of patients with aortic aneurysms. Molar ratio of Cu/Zn and antioxidant micronutrients to toxic elements was also calculated. A total of 108 patients: 47 with abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA), 61 patients with thoracic aortic aneurysm (TAA), and a control group of 20 abdominal aortic (AA) and 20 thoracic aortic (TA) wall samples from the deceased were studied. The concentrations of mineral components in the tissue samples were determined by the AAS method. The average concentration of Cu in the aortic wall of patients with TAA was significantly lower than in the aortic wall samples of healthy people. The mean concentration of Zn in the aortic wall of patients with AAA and TAA was significantly lower than in the control group samples. Cu/Zn ratio was significantly higher in AAA patients than in control group which indicates a greater role of oxidative stress and inflammatory process in this type of aneurysm. The concentration of Se was significantly decreased in TAA patients compared with the control group; in turn, the concentration of Pb was increased in this group of patients. We observed significantly lower Cu/Pb ratio in TAA patients than in control group, whereas Zn/Pb ratio was significantly lower comparing with control samples in both types of aneurysms. In the examined aneurysms, we have shown the differences in concentrations of mineral components compared with the control tissues. The Zn concentration was decreased in both AAA and TAA samples. Impaired ratio of Zn to Pb may predispose to aortic aneurysms.

i cynku we włosach: przegląd systematyczny i metaanaliza. Med Og Nauk Zdr. 2018; 24(4): 241-243. StreszczenieWprowadzenie i cel pracy. Pierwiastki chemiczne takie jak cynk czy magnez pełnią istotne funkcje w organizmie ludzkim, szczególnie w regulacji metabolizmu komórkowego. Zaburzenia występujące w gospodarce tymi pierwiastkami mogą prowadzić do choroby. Dobrym materiałem badawczym są włosy. Pomiar zawartości magnezu i cynku we włosach przy użyciu nowoczesnych metod może być istotnym narzędziem we wczesnym diagnozowaniu nowotworów, schorzeń neurologicznych, cukrzycy czy chorób metabolicznych. Badanie takie przeprowadzone na paznokciach lub włosach dobrze odwzorowuje przeciętną zawartość tych pierwiastków w organizmie. Celem pracy był przegląd, w oparciu o wybrane losowo pozycje z literatury, metod oznaczania magnezu i cynku we włosach stosowanych w monitorowaniu wielu chorób. Materiał i metody. Przeszukano bazę MEDLINE, ograniczając zakres wyszukiwania do ostatnich lat. Kryterium wyszukiwania stanowiły frazy "zinc" oraz "magnesium", na tej podstawie do analizy zakwalifikowano 16 losowo wybranych prac dotyczących oznaczenia magnezu i cynku we włosach z podziałem na grupę badaną i kontrolną. Wyniki. Analizowane badania potwierdziły znamiennie niższą zawartość cynku u pacjentów chorych na cukrzycę. U prawie wszystkich przebadanych chorych autorzy analizowanych prac stwierdzali niedobory magnezu i cynku. Wnioski. Wykazano, że zawartości magnezu i cynku we włosach oznaczana przy pomocy różnych metod jest skutecznym sposobem pomiaru stężenia tychże pierwiastków w organizmie człowieka. AbstractIntroduction and aim. Chemical elements, such as zinc and magnesium, perform important functions in the human body, especially in the regulation of cellular metabolism. The disturbances in the homeostasis of these elements can lead to different diseases. Hair is a good research material. Measurement of magnesium and zinc content in the hair can be an important tool in the early diagnosis of cancer, neurological diseases, diabetes or other metabolic diseases. The aim of the study was to review, based on randomly selected articles, methods for the determination of magnesium and zinc in the hair as a way of monitoring the diseases. Materials and Method. The MEDLINE database was searched, limiting the scope of search to recent years. The search criteria were the terms "zinc" and "magnesium". On this basis 16 randomly selected works with randomized study and control groups, regarding the determination of magnesium and zinc in the hair, were qualified for the analysis. Results. The analyzed studies confirmed a significantly lower content of zinc in patients with diabetes. Authors of the analyzed works found deficiencies of magnesium and zinc among nearly all the examined patients. Conclusions.It was shown that the content of magnesium and zinc in hair, determined by means of various methods, is an effective way to measure the concentration of these elements in the human body.