Iranian Journal of

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Background: Studies of the metabolic effects of Ramadan fasting on patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus are inconclusive.
Methods: Fifty-seven volunteers with type 2 diabetes underwent anthropometric and biochemical evaluation before and on the 14th and 28th days of Ramadan. Biochemical markers were measured by standard laboratory methods. Anthropometric measurements followed WHO criteria. Statistical analysis was by ANOVA for repeated measurements and Friedman’s two-way ANOVA, using SPSSv6 software.
Results: Daily cholesterol intake increased in all subjects (p<0.03). Body mass index increased (p<0.03) in women, but body mass index (BMI) and waist-to-hip ratio both decreased (p<0.01) in men. Blood pressure, fasting blood glucose and serum fructosamine did not change during the study. Plasma insulin (p<0.05), C-peptide (p<0.01) and insulin resistance (p<0.01) decreased only in men. Total and LDL cholesterol increased significantly in all subjects during the study.
Conclusion: Ramadan fasting does not alter carbohydrate metabolism or tissue insulin sensitivity in type 2 diabetes patients, given appropriate dietary education and rescheduling of oral hypoglycaemic medication. Lipid profile is unfavourably altered due to changes in both diet and biochemical response to starvation. Anthropometric indices improve in men but not women, possibly because of reduced physical activity in the latter.

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Introduction: Anethum is an herbal medicine composed of the three plants species Anethum, Fumaria and Cichorium, and has been widely marketed and prescribed as lipid-lowering agent in Iran in recent years. No controlled clinical trial of this medicine has so far been carried out, however. We studied the efficacy and short-term side effects of Anethum in patients with isolated hypertriglyceridaemia.
Methods: 151 people (54 men and 97 women) with serum triglyceride ≥250mg/dl and serum cholesterol <240mg/dl were enrolled in this study. Participants were randomly assigned to one of four treatment groups: Anethum, nicotinic acid, clofibrate, and placebo. They were seen at the Doctor Shariati University Hospital lipid clinic once every two weeks. Serum lipid profile was measured at 2 and 4 months after start of therapy. Relevant patient details, including sex, body mass index, mean total cholesterol and high-density lipoprotein, cigarette smoking, previous myocardial infarction, physical activity, and oral contraceptive use were recorded before enrolment.
Results: Four months after treatment was started, serum triglyceride had decreased 12.5% in the Anethum group and 6.8% in the placebo group (p=0.999). During the same period, serum triglyceride had decreased 48.8% in the nicotinic acid group and 54.4% in the clofibrate group (p=0.006 with respect to both placebo and Anethum). Furthermore, the nicotinic acid group showed a 7.8% decrease in serum total cholesterol (p=0.009 with respect to the other three groups). HDL-C decreased 9.8% in the Anethum group, 17.5% in the nicotinic acid group, 8.1% in the clofibrate group, and 9.1% in the placebo group (p=0.149 between first three groups and placebo). 81.8% of the nicotinic acid, 57.1% of the clofibrate, 8.0% of the Anethum and 30% of the placebo group experienced side effects during the same period. The most common complaints in the Anethum were actually non-specific ones.
Conclusion: We conclude that Anethum does not exert any therapeutic effect on isolated hypertriglyceridaemia.

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Background: Atherosclerotic complications are one the most common causes of death in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus. Epidemiological data indicate that the consumption of omega-3 unsaturated fatty acids (O3FA) leads to a reduction in cardiovascular disorders. The metabolic effect of this substance in patients with type 2 diabetes is still a matter of debate, however. The aim of this study was to assess the metabolic effect of O3FA in Iranian diabetic patients.
Methods: 50 diabetic patients (20 men and 30 women mean age 49±7.3 years) were randomly allocated to either the intervention (diet + fish oil containing O3FA) or the control group (diet alone). The lipid and glucose levels, blood pressure, and weight of each patient were measured at the beginning of the study. The duration of the study was 3 months. The aforementioned parameters were re-assessed at the end of the study.
Results: O3FA consumption was associated with a significant reduction in serum triglyceride levels (p<0.001). Reductions in weight, fasting blood sugar, and glycosylated haemoglobin were noted in the intervention group but were not statistically significant. No changes occurred in total cholesterol, HDL, and LDL levels. The dosage of oral hypoglycaemic agents was unchanged in both groups throughout the study.
Conclusion: O3FA may be recommended for the management of hypertriglyceridaemia.

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Background: The non-enzymatic glycosylation (NEG) of proteins in diabetes damages both the structure and function of these proteins. In vivo and in vitro studies have shown that NEG of proteins and advanced glycosylation end-products (AGE) contribute to the pathogenesis of both macrovascular, such as atherosclerosis, and microvascular complications, such as retinopathy and nephropathy, in diabetes.
Methods: We studied the electrophoretic mobility, fluorescence at isoelectric pH, and time-dependent AGE formation of glycosylated albumin. For the first time, we have used isoelectric focusing to study serum glycosylated albumin in diabetic patients and healthy controls. Results: After 10 weeks incubation with glucose, the electrophoretic mobility of glycosylated albumin increased 21.3% compared with normal albumin. The isoelectric pH of albumin decreased from 4.6 on day 1 to 4.1 on day 7. The increase in electrophoretic mobility was accompanied by the drop in pH during the first week of incubation. These changes correlated well with those observed by fluorescence. The glucose content of the albumin samples decreased during the first week of incubation, but gradually increased thereafter. Fluorescence readings agreed with these observations. Using isoelectric focusing, there was a significant difference between the serum albumin of diabetic and normal individuals (p<0.001).
Conclusion: Increased electrophoretic mobility during the first week with a simultaneous decline in isoelectric pH shows that AGE formation begins after the first week. The reduction in glucose concentration during the first week and its subsequent increase during the second week may be attributed to the formation and hydrolysis of AGE. This method may be used to determine the stability or progress of diabetes.

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Background: Diabetes is a hidden epidemic and the most common metabolic disorder in the world. Immune dysfunction (cellular and humoural) is one of the consequences of diabetes, including defects of phagocyte function, notably in chemotaxis, phagocytosis, and killing. Results of studies on phagocyte respiratory burst activity, however, have been contradictory. We studied the respiratory burst of peripheral blood neutrophils and monocytes separately in response to formyl-met-leu-phe (fmlp) and phorbol-12,13-myristate acetate (PMA).
Methods: 36 patients with type 2 diabetes (mean age 53±7 years) and 20 healthy controls (mean age 50±5 years) each provided a 15ml blood sample. Peripheral blood neutrophils and monocytes were separated and purified (>95%) using specific density gradients and short-term culture. We then separately assessed respiratory burst activity in response to fmlp and PMA by the semi-quantitative nitroblue tetrazolium (NBT) test.
Results: Following stimulation with PMA, diabetic neutrophils showed reduced respiratory burst activity compared with normal neutrophils (p=0.097). Following stimulation with fmlp, too, diabetic neutrophils showed reduced respiratory burst activity compared with normal neutrophils, which this time was statistically significant (p=0.027). There was no difference between diabetic and normal subjects with regards to monocyte response to either fmlp or PMA.
Conclusion: It appears that the diminished response and reduced effectiveness of the phagocyte system in people with diabetes can facilitate the onset, exacerbation, and persistence of infection.

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Background: Diabetes is one of the most common chronic diseases worldwide. The number of diabetic patients in Iran is estimated 1.5 million. This survey has been conducted to evaluate diabetes and impaired fasting glucose status among 25-64 aged inhabitants of 17th zone of Tehran, selected as Population Lab region.
Methods: This study is a part of the Cardiovascular Risk Factors Survey in the Population Lab region. This survey has been designed and conducted based on MONICA/WHO project. A total of 1573 people have been recruited and assessed on age, weight, height, waist and hip circumferences. Body mass index (BMI), waist circumference (WC) and waist-to-hip ratio (WHR) were determined for comparing between groups. The known diabetic cases were found as history of taking antihyperglycemic agents or report of their family physician and new cases were diagnosed as FPG≥126mg/dl according to the ADA 2004criteria.IFG was determined by 100≤FPG≤126.Adjusted prevalences are calculated according to the 1375 census data.
Results: type 2 diabetes prevalence was 10.9% and the prevalence of IFG was 5% in this population. The age adjusted prevalences were 9.3% and 4.5% respectively. prevalences were higher in women than men in all age groups. people with diabetes had higher body mass index, waist, waist to hip ratio, mean systolic and diastolic blood pressure(p<0.05).9/8% of diabetic patients were unaware of their disease.
Conclusion: These results revealed that the prevalence of diabetes among women was higher than men. This finding may be in part because of little physical activity .Proper and effective planning to achieve the applied strategies for improving the social knowledge and awareness and also improving the life style of the people is highly necessiated.

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Diabetes is one of the most common metabolic diseases. The prevalence of diabetes, which is around 4.5 - 6% in Iran, reaches as high as 14.2% in population of age 30 years and over in Yazd. Microalbuminuria is diagnosable before development of nephropathy and could be detected at an early stage when effective therapy can still be carried out. In this stage near normalization of blood glucose, strict blood pressure control and administration of ACE inhibitors can prevent nephropathic complications.
This study was aimed to determine the correlation among microalbuminuria, age, duration of diabetes, body mass Index, serum triglyceride, serum cholesterol and blood pressure in type 2 diabetic inhabitants of Yazd diabetes research center.
Methods: This cross-sectional study was carried out during November 2002-July 2003 to investigate the correlation between microalbuminuria and assumed risk factors. Two hundred and eighty eight type 2 diabetic patients (141 males and 147 females) were selected through consecutive sampling. Results: Overall prevalence of microalbuminuria was 14.2%. Chi-square analysis revealed the association between microalbuminuria and high diastolic blood pressure (P-value=0.003) and duration of diabetes (P-value = 0.001). No statistically significant correlation was found between microalbuminuria and body mass index, serum triglyceride, serum cholesterol and systolic blood pressure.
Conclusion: Determination of urine albumin/creatinin ratio is an easy method for screening microalbuminuria which is recommended for all diabetics especially those with hypertension and a long term history of diabetes.

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New studies have introduced atherosclerosis as an inflammatory disorder. Usage of anti-inflammatory drugs thus can be useful in preventing atherosclerosis and anti-inflammatory herbal medicines without side effects seem desirable in this view.
Amirkahiria Odorutissima (AO) (umbelliferae) is an Iranian flora being traditionally used a:> an anti‌inflammatory drug. This study assessed the effects of this plant on the development and progression of fatty streaks.
Methods: Twenty male rabbits were obtained from Iran Pasture institute and were kept under standard condition for two weeks, then randomly divided into four groups with different diets. Groups 1 were fed on rabbit chow (normal cholesterol), group 2 were fed on a high cholesterol diet. group 3 were fed on normal cholesterol diet supplemented with AO, group 4 were fed on high cholesterol diet supplemented with AO. After 12 weeks, the animals were killed and biopsied for their aortas and right and left branches of coronary arteries. Biochemical factors were measured at baseline and after 12 weeks. Levels of cholesterol, LDL, HDL. triglyceride and fasting blood sugar (FBS) were determined by enzymatic methods, and quantitative CRP were determined with turbidometrie methods, malondialdehyde (MDA) and antioxidant capacity were determined with spectrophotometry.
Results: The results indicated that there was a significant difference between AO supplemented group compared with other groups (p<0.05) in terms of mean grade o"' fatty streak o"' right and left coronary arteries and aorta. At the end of the 12 weeks period, cholesterol. LDL and CRP were significantly reduced in the groups 3 and 4 (p<0.05).
Conclusion: This study suggests a protective role for Amirkahiria odoratissima Mozaffahan against the development of fatty streak the mechanism of which should be investigated in future studies.

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Background: The increased recognition of ethical problems has contributed to the resurgence of ethics in relation to health care, and to the emergence of medical ethics as a new collaborative discipline in the world. The growing trends in biomedical technologies have been associated with increasing discussions about ethical aspects of the new knowledge in different societies. Advances in genetics, stem cell research, and organ transplantation are some of the medical issues that have raised important ethical and social issues in different countries. Given the special attention that has been paid toward moral ethics in Islam, an emphasis on ethics has been also voiced by medical and religious professions in Iran. In the recent decade, great strides have been made in biomedical ethics, especially in the field of education, research, and legislation.
Methods: In this article, a brief history, and some of the activities in the field of medical ethics that are carried out have been reviewed.
Results & Conclusion: Establishment of the National Committee for Medical Research and Regional Committee of Ethics for Medical Research, and compiling the National codes of ethics in biomedical research are the main early activities carried out during 1990s. A comprehensive strategic plan for medical ethics in the national level has been introduced in 2002. After implementation of this plan, considerable activities are being carried out that most important related activities will be also reviewed in this paper.

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Background: Due to homeostatic and regulatory potentials of nitric oxide (NO) in vascular physiology, regulatory systems that determine NO bio-synthesis and bioavailability have been the subject of extensive research in molecular medicine. In the field of vascular system pathophysiology, endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) which is the major producer and regulator of NO in vascular tissues has received the most attention. Impairment of NO bioavailability (NO quenching) is a common feature in poorly controlled diabetics due to increased catabolism and decreased production of NO. Such impairment in severe forms could end to vasodilation breakdown in peripheral tissues (mainly in skeletal muscles) and defective regional blood flow, that in turn disturb insulin-dependent glucose uptake ensuing insulin resistance state.
Methods: The phenotypic impact of an eNOS gene polymorphism at position 786*C/T (that its functionality has been revealed already) on genetic propensity to diabetic retinopathy is evaluated in a British-Caucasian population with type 1 diabetes (T1DM).
Results: In contrast to genotypes, there was a significant difference in distribution of allele frequencies between T1DM patients (n= 249) and healthy controls (n= 104) (p= 0/036), that may imply eNOS and/or NO involvement in development of T1DM. Most notably a significant difference also was evident in allele frequency between retinopaths (n= 134) and healthy controls (p= 0/02). No significant difference was detected when the genotype/allele frequencies were compared between retinopaths (n= 134) and non-retinopaths diabetics (n= 115) (p=NS).
Conclusion: Our data is compatible with previous studies which demonstrated that allele C of eNOS 786*C/T polymorphism is associated with increased HbA1c levels. By emphasizing the phenotypic and prognostic value of the abovementioned polymorphism, our data calls for further investigations to find out whether this polymorphism can be employed as a genetic marker in clinical medicine to recognize high-risk diabetics at the time of diabetes onset/diagnosis.

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Background: The role of nucleus tractus solitarius in cardiovascular system regulation is controversial. On the other hand, study on the problem of hypertension in diabetic animals is the subject of many research programs. The aim of the present study was to determine wheather inactivation of nucleus can affect blood pressure in diabetic rats.
Methods: To this end , stereptosotocin-induced diabetic rats were anesthetized with Urethane and a cannula was inserted above nucleus. Blood pressure and heart rate were monitored using an intraarterial cannula. The cannulas were filled with L-glutamate (78 pmol/60 nL, to functionally identify the NTS see below), L-NAME(1nmol, to inhibit the nitric oxidergic neurons) and sodium nitroprusside (100mmol,as a NO-donor) .
Results: The results indicated that inactivation of nucleus in diabetic rats, had no effect on systolic and mean arterial pressure but enhanced diastolic blood pressure (P<0.05). There was no significant difference in heart rate between control and test groups. Conclusion: Glucose affect on increasing blood pressure in rats with induced diabetes, in part, is caused by nitric oxidergic neurons resided in neucleus tractus solitarius.

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Background: Prevalence of obesity is increasing globally , and it is proved that obesity is associated with cordiovascular diseases, type II diabetes, hypertension, dyslipidemia and breast cancer. This study was carried out among 150 female students of Shadid Beheshti university who were resided in Velekjad dormitory, in order to assess the rate of obesity among them .
Methods: As a cross-sectional study height, weight, waist circumference and hip circumference were measured . Food frequency and socioeconomic questionnairs were completed . BMI and WHR were used to assess the general and central obesity respectively.
Results: Mean standard deviation of age, BMI, WHR, WC were 260 31 (months), 21.42 2.56 (kg/m2), 0.79 0.04 and 75.71 7.10 (cm) respectively. Among subjects , 40.5% had WHR more than 0.8 , 9.3% were overweight, 62.1% normal and 28.6% underweight. Of whom, 37.8% weren't exercising at all. There was a negative correlation between BMI and consumption of butter , milk , meat (p<0.001 for all) and egg ( p<0.01) ,between WHR and consumption of egg and butter (p<0.01 for both of them) and also between WC and cosumption of butter (P<0.001) and milk (P<0.01).
Conclusion: Although prevalence of general obesity among the subjects was low, central obesity (based on WHR) was significant, so lifestyle modifications such as nutritional changes and increase physical activity among students is recommended.

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Background: In current medical practice and medical research, most prophylactic, diagnostic and therapeutic procedures involve risks and burdens, ethical standards protect and promote health and rights of human subjects. It is required for researchers and as well as research providers and users of research results to be aware of these standards.
Methods: In this article, international regulations including Nuremberg code (1974), declaration of world medical association of Helsinki, CIOMS Guidelines briefly be reviewed at the first then after some questions about it and answers and, national ethical regulation will be reviewed.
Results: The Nuremberg code (1974) is the first and the Helsinki Declaration (1964) is the most important and valid international ethical standards. That 5th amendment of the latter performed at October 2000 and WHO/CIOMS Guidelines prepared (1982, 1992 and 2000) for its performance in different countries with different situations. The first national ethical regulation for medical researches in Iran is perhaps "medical research regulation" in 1992. Establishment of the "National Ethical Committee in Medical Research" (1998) and compiling the "Codes for Protecting Human Subjects involved in Medical Research" (2000) can help medical research providers for ethical decision making.

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Background: The aim of this study was to determine the best Anthropometric indices for prediction of the risk of type 2 Diabetes in lower and higher 60 years old population in Tehran.
Methods: As a prospective study among 4479 non-diabetic men and women over 20 years from the participants of Tehran Lipid and Glucose Study (TLGS) who had complete data of blood pressure, plasma glucose in the fasting state and 2 hours after ingestion of 75 g glucose (2-hPG) as well as fasting serum lipids, anthropometric measurement including body mass index (BMI), waist circumference (WC), waist-to-hip ratio (WHR) and demographic data at baseline and were followed for a mean duration of 3.6 years. Subjects reevaluated for measurement of fasting Glucose and 2-hPG at follow-up. Diabetes and its associated risk factors were defined according to the ADA criteria. Different measurements of general and central obesity were defined based on the WHO criteria. Logistic regression analysis with stepwise conditional method was used to estimate the Odds Ratio (OR) with 95% CI. Results: A total of 166 new cases of type 2 diabetes (3.7%) were diagnosed during 3.6 years of follow-up, with an approximately one percent per year incidence rate (men=3.7% and women =3.7%, P= 0.95). Diabetic subjects of follow-up were significantly more obese than nondiabetics considering their BMI, WC and WHR. In subjects aged< 60 years high WC was a predictor of diabetes only in model 1 and 2, while general obesity and high WHR predicted diabetes risk in all the 3 models. In these 3 models the OR of general obesity were 5.3(2.9-9.5), 3.4(1.8-6.3), 2.4(1.1-5.1) and the OR of high WHR were 3.5(2.1-5.8), 3.4(1.4-5.8) and 2.6(1.3-4.9), respectively. In subjects aged≥ 60 years general obesity predicted diabetes only in models 1 and 2, while high WHR was a predictor of diabetes risk only in model 1. In this age group, high WC predicted diabetes in all models 1, 2, 3 with the OR of 4.6 (2.3-4.1), 4.5 (2.3-8.9) and 3.8 (1.8-7.7), respectively.
Conclusion: General obesity and high WHR in young Iranian subjects (< 60years) and high WC in older ones (≥ 60 years) are the important anthropometric indices for prediction of type 2 diabetes. Age should be considered when using different anthropometric indices for predicting the risk of type 2 diabetes.

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Background: Regarding the adverse effect of stress on glycemic control in type 2 diabetic patients, the present study investigates the function of Glibenclamide on insulin release from β cells of rat pancreatic islets, subsequent to chronic psychological stress exposure.
Methods: In this study 30 male Wistar rats were divided into equal groups of control and experiment (5 groups). Four different restraint stressors with random sequence were used 1h twice daily for 15 and 30 days. 24 hours after the last stress session, static insulin secretion from isolated pancreatic islets of each animal were evaluated in the presence of 5.6, 8.3 and 16.7 mM glucose. Also insulin release in response to 5.6 mM glucose in the presence of 10 μM Glibenclamide was evaluated.
Results: The insulin release from isolated islets of the stress experienced animals was significantly increased only on the 30th day as compared to the control animals. In the experiment group, insulin release from the islets in the presence of 5.6 mM glucose alone was significantly increased on the 15th and 30th days as compared to the first day. However, in the control group there was no significant increase in insulin release at the similar conditions. In contrast to the control group, insulin release in response to 5.6 mM glucose in the presence of 10 μM Glibenclamide revealed no significant difference in the experiment group on the 1st 15th and 30th days as compared to the insulin release in the presence of 5.6 mM glucose alone. Insulin release from the isolated islets exposed to 5.6 mM glucose in the presence of 10 μM Glibenclamide, on different experimental days was not significantly different between the control and experiment groups.
Conclusion: According to the results of this study, it appears that chronic psychological stress decreases the responsiveness of pancreatic β cells to Glibenclamide, subsequently could prevent the augmentation of insulin release induced by the drug. This finding is worthy to consider in metabolic control of diabetic patients whom consume the agent.

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Background: Experimental studies have shown that walnut (Juglans regia) intake decreases the risk of coronary heart disease (CHD). Walnut decreases the levels of atherogenic lipids such as TG, LDL-C and VLDL-C. Mainly the effect is induced via 3- Poly Unsaturated Fatty Acids (3-PUFA). Walnuts are a rich source of these fatty acids, especially -Linolenic acid (C18:3 9, 12, 15).
Methods: We assigned 20 hypercholesterolemic male Rats (200-250g) to four groups, and fed with four diet concentration of oil extract Persian walnuts(J. regia)(Lavasanate) (w/w ) as complementary diet: control group (0% oil extract) and cases 5%(1g oil extract/1g weight/1 day) ,7.5%(1.5g oil extract/1g weight/1 day),10%(1g oil extract/1g weight/1 day) for eight weeks.
Results: Results revealed there is a positive effect on the decreasing of TG(14%) ,TC(7.8%) , LDL-C(11%),VLDL-C(12%) serum concentrations, with increasing consumption of oil extract Persian walnuts (5% ,7.5% and 10%).
Conclusion: In view of the positive effect of oil extract Persian walnuts (J. regia) consumption on decrease serum concentration of TG, TC, LDL-C and VLDL-C known as atherogenic lipids and lipoproteins, it may be suggested as a CHD protective dietary supplement.

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Background: Assessing the trend of ischemic heart diseases and the process of acute coronary care is one of the most important tools in monitoring the programs dedicated to control of ischemic diseases. The current project was developed to assess the feasibility of using routine data registered in clinical records for coronary event registration according to the standards of WHO/MONICA project.
Methods: Hospital records of 320 cases with primary diagnosis of acute coronary syndrome (80 cases from each quarter, July 2003-4) were evaluated according to sufficiency of data. Data were evaluated according to “internal consistency”, “change in the proportion of missing data in the time periods” and “the proportion of insufficient data”.
Results: Available data of hospital records were not sufficient to determine the diagnosis in 0.7% of cases In addition, they were resulted in a probable diagnosis in 11.2% of coronary events. Median percents of missing data regarding the prescribed drugs before event was more than 10% in both fatal and non-fatal coronary events (score 1 of 4). Median percents of missing data regarding the ECGs, cardiac enzymes and cardiac resuscitation was lower than 5% in non-fatal coronary events and lower than 2% in fatal cases (scores 2 and 3 of 4 relatively).
Conclusion: The quality of available registered data in the evaluated clinical records was comparable with many reporting units of MONICA project. Using the available clinical records seems to be effective and feasible for systematic registration of cardiac events.

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Suppurative hidradenitis is a recurrent disease involving apocrine gland of skin with a predilection for intertriginous areas, including genital skin. It has a highly variable clinical course. Mild cases may present as recurrent isolated nodules, while severe instances of the disease with chronic inflammation may lead to abscesses , scarring, and rarely, squamous cell carcinoma. While genetic factors, hormones and infection play a role in disease expression, a comprehensive understanding of the pathogenesis remains to be elicited. Additionally, effective treatment is largely unknown. The mainstay of therapy had been surgery, and topical or systemic antimicrobial agents. We report a 65 years old diabetic man who had a long history of untreated suppurative hidradenitis with extensive gluteal area involvement. We search in pubmed and find 7 cases of suppurative hidradenitis with diabetes.

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Background: Sulfonylurea agents such as Glibenclamide (Glyburide) have been widely prescribe in treatment of type 2 diabetic patients for decades, but controversy remains about their precise mechanism of action. On the other hand, glucokinase serves as a glucose sensor in pancreatic β-cells and plays a key role in the regulation of insulin secretion and glucose homeostasis. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effect of Glibenclamide on insulin secretion and glucokinase activity in the rat isolated pancreatic islets of Langerhans.
Methods: The islets from normal and type 2 diabetic rats were isolated by collagenase digestion method. Glucokinase activity was measured via determination the rate of glucose-6-phosphate formation in the fluorometric assay. Insulin secretion from hand-picked islets was evaluated by static incubation technique. Insulin concentration was measured by rat insulin ELISA kit.
Results: Our findings obtained from incubation of Glybenclamide with pancreatic islets revealed that this agent increases basal insulin secretion (at 2.8 mM glucose) in both normal and diabetic rats as compared it with control islet (without drug). However, the increase of insulin secretion in response to 16.7 mM glucose was not significant. On the other hand, Glybenclamide had no activating and/or inhibiting effect on pancreatic glucokinase activity in both diabetic and normal Rats. But reduced activity of this enzyme in diabetic rats was significant in comparison with normal.
Conclusion: These data show that increasing effect of Glybenclamide on insulin secretion is through a mechanism other than affecting Glucose Mediated Insulin Release. Moreover, the regulation of pancreatic glucokinase does not depend on glybenclamid.

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Background: Artichoke with the scientific name of Cynara scolymuse is a plant from compositae family. In this research, the effect of hydro alcoholic artichoke extract on serum glucose, lipids and lipoproteins and prevention of type 1 diabetes mellitus was investigated.
Methods: Twenty mature male Rats with mean weight of 200-250 gr in four groups were arranged. Rats in the control group, received physiological serum. The Second group (diabetic) received 120 mg/kgbw Alloxan monohydrate. The Third group (diabetic + Glibenclamide) received 0.5 mg/kgbw Glibenclamide in addition of the similar treatment with second group. The Fourth group (Alloxan monohydrate + Cynara scolymus), received 120 mg/kgbw Alloxan monohydrate with 300 mg/kgbw of Cynara scolymus simultaneously. Prescribing materials in all groups was done as interaperitoneal injection(IP). Fourty eight hours after last IP, blood sample was taken from each animal via cardiac puncture to measure blood factors.
Results: The results indicated significant reduction in glucose, cholesterol, triglyceride, VLDL and LDL levels in the treated group with extract and Alloxan monohydrate simultaneously as to compared diabetic group. Also, the result indicated significant increase in HDL level. Hydroalcoholic Artichoke extract could not reduce blood glucose level as compared with Glibenclamide, but had similar effects on other factors in comparison with Glibenclomide.
Conclusion: Artichoke contains antioxidants compounds, that plays a protective role on beta cells against Alloxan. The results of this research indicate that hydro alcoholic extract of Cynara scolymus could effectively prevent type 1 diabetes mellitus.