0000000000644414
AUTHOR
Daniela Manzella
Effects of soy isoflavones on endothelial function in healthy postmenopausal women.
Objective: To evaluate the effects of soy isoflavone administration on endothelial function in healthy postmenopausal women. Design: Sixty naturally postmenopausal women were randomly assigned to receive isoflavone or placebo tablets for 6 months. Endothelium-dependent vasodilatation was measured by brachial reactivity technique along with levels of plasma soluble intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1), vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (VCAM-1), E-selectin, P-selectin and soluble thrombomodulin, von Willebrand factor, and tissue plasminogen activator. Differences between endothelium-dependent and endothelium-independent vasodilatation were assessed by evaluating brachial reactivity par…
Blood pressure and cardiac autonomic nervous system in obese type 2 diabetic patients: effect of metformin administration
Background: Hyperinsulinemia/insulin resistance and elevated plasma free fatty acids (FFA) levels are involved in the hypertension and cardiac sympathetic overactivity. Metformin improves insulin action and lower plasma FFA concentrations. We investigate the possible effect of metformin on arterial blood pressure (BP) and cardiac sympathetic nervous system. Methods: One hundred twenty overweight type 2 diabetic patients were treated by placebo (n = 60) + diet or metformin (850 mg twice daily) (n = 60) + diet for 4 months, to evaluate the effect of metformin treatment on the cardiac autonomic nervous system. Insulin resistance was measured by the Homeostasis Model Assessment (HOMA) index. He…