Serum magnesium and lipids: More clarity is needed

Excitotoxin-induced changes in transglutaminase during differentiation of cerebellar granule cells

Excitotoxicity induced by NMDA receptor stimulation is able to increase the activity of many enzymes involved in neuronal cell death. Primary cultures of rat cerebellar granule cells were used to elucidate the role of transglutaminase reaction in the excitotoxic cell response, and to evaluate the role of glutamate receptors in cell survival and degeneration. Granule neurons, maintained in vitro for two weeks, were exposed to NMDA at different stages of differentiation. Following NMDA receptor activation, increases in transglutaminase activity were observed in cell cultures. The levels of enzyme activity were higher in cells at 5 days in vitro than in those at 8-9 or 13-14 days in vitro. Mor…

Serum ionized magnesium levels in relation to metabolic syndrome in type 2 diabetic patients

Objective: To evaluate circulating serum ionized magnesium (i-Mg) concentrations in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus, and to investigate its relationship with the components of the metabolic syndrome. Design: cross-sectional study. Setting: Outpatients' service for diabetic patients at the University Hospital of Messina, Italy. Subjects: 290 patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus. Measures of Outcome: Serum i-Mg was measured by ion selective electrode. Age, gender, body mass index (BMI), waist circumference, blood pressure, fasting glucose, HbA1c, HDL cholesterol, triglycerides, and urinary albumin excretion rate (UAER) were considered in the analyses. Patients with hypomagnesemia, de…