Biomedical subjects
Publications and source records attributed to A M Verrastro.
The epidemic that broke out in Athens during the Peloponnesian War was certainly one of the biggest disasters described in the history of mankind. In the past numerous scholars have unsuccessfully attempted to identify the aetiological agent of the plague. Two new hypotheses have also recently been put forward but do not fully clarify all the diverse aspects of the plague whose aetiopathogenesis apparently remains a still unsolved problem.
Limited and contrasting data are available on the relationship between metabolic control and diabetic neuropathy. In eight type I diabetics peripheral and autonomic neuropathy were studied, first in conditions of poor metabolic control and then after one and three months during which an improved control of glycemic levels had been obtained by continuous subcutaneous insulin infusion. Autonomic neuropathy was investigated by evaluating beat to beat variation during deep breathing; peripheral neuropathy by measuring maximum motor conduction velocity of peroneal and median nerves and sensory conduction velocity of median nerve. Our data showed significant improvement of motor conduction velocity in both nerves studied, whilst sensory conduction velocity did not show any significant variation. The changes observed in beat to beat variation in five subjects with initially abnormal scores might reflect an improvement in autonomic nervous function, even if long-term studies are needed.
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