PubMed HealthSearch

Biomedical subjects

B Vialettes

Publications and source records attributed to B Vialettes.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

[Thyrotoxic periodic paralysis. Discussion of the role of Na-K-ATPase, apropos of a case].

We report a case of thyrotoxicosis periodic paralysis (TPP), occurring as a complication of a Grave's disease in a 31 year-old Caucasian male. It has been suggested that the membrane Na-K pump was involved in the pathogenesis of this complication. In our patient, before treatment, the activity of erythrocyte Na-K-ATPase was significantly decreased, as compared with healthy subjects (228nmol Pi/mg prot/h versus 298 + 60 nmol Pi/mg prot/h) and went back to normal levels post treatment. The activity of this enzyme seems to be prone to genetics factors as well as environmental ones. This would explain the higher incidence of TPP in male and in asiatic people. However, other reports emphasize the role of Na-K-pump-independent potassium influx, which would be more specific of TPP.

Adult

Macular pattern dystrophy associated with a mutation of mitochondrial DNA.

PURPOSE/METHODS: To establish association of a macular pattern dystrophy with maternally inherited diabetes and deafness, a new subtype of diabetes mellitus caused by a mutation of mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA). Two probands of two different families with maternally inherited diabetes and deafness were examined. RESULTS/CONCLUSION: Both probands exhibited a macular pattern dystrophy, maternally inherited in one patient. The association of a macular pattern dystrophy with diabetes should lead to screening for a mutation of mtDNA.

Adult

Immunogenicity of long-term intraperitoneal insulin administration with implantable programmable pumps. Metabolic consequences.

OBJECTIVE: To assess immunogenicity of intraperitoneal insulin infusion via implanted pumps by two methods and to evaluate the possible influence of an increased antibody level on metabolic and clinical parameters. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS: We studied insulin antibody levels in 17 type I diabetic patients before and until 24 months after implantation of a programmable pump delivering insulin intraperitoneally. Antibody levels were determined by radioimmunoassay (RIA) and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). They were correlated with HbA1c, insulin requirements, free insulin, and the incidence of hypoglycemia. RESULTS: Insulin antibodies increased as soon as the 3rd month after implantation. This increase was sustained throughout the study period (month 0, 25.4 +/- 16.2%; month 3, 41.2 +/- 23.5%; month 12, 45.9 +/- 26%; month 24, 48.7 +/- 25%). The data was correlated with the two assay methods (RIA and ELISA). Postimplantation level was correlated with preimplantation level, which could indicate a predictive value of the latter . No correlation was observed with any metabolic parameters, particularly the number of hypoglycemic episodes. CONCLUSIONS: Our results indicate that intraperitoneal insulin administration by implantable programmable pumps leads to an increase of insulin antibodies, which are probably high-affinity antibodies (recognized by both RIA and ELISA). This increase in insulin immunogenicity did not induce significant metabolic consequences, which is reassuring for the future of programmable insulin pumps.

Adult

Extra-pancreatic manifestations in diabetes secondary to mitochondrial DNA point mutation within the tRNALeu(UUR) gene.

OBJECTIVE: A point mutation in the mitochondrial genome has been identified as a cause of diabetes and deafness. We report two pedigrees with and A-to-G transition at nucleotide 3243 of mtDNA within the tRNALeu(UUR) gene and focus our investigations on other localizations of the anomaly, particularly muscle and retina. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS: Muscular localization has been studied in probands by invasive and noninvasive methods, including muscle biopsy (evaluation of the proportion of mutated mtDNA in comparison to blood cells, measurement of respiratory chain complex activities and histological and histochemical aspects) and 31P-nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy. Ophthalmic and angiographic examination of retina, electroretinography, and visual evoked potentials were performed in five subjects. RESULTS: This mutation, previously described in patients with mitochondrial myopathy, encephalopathy, lactic acidosis, and stroke-like episodes (MELAS), was expressed more abundantly in muscle than in nucleated blood cells. This low expression in blood cells could hamper the diagnosis for some patients. In addition, despite poor clinical expression, muscle was found to be highly affected. Ragged red fibers and dystrophic mitochondria were observed in muscle biopsy. Histochemical assays showed decreased activity of respiratory chain complexes, and 31P-NMR in vivo data further confirmed the defect of muscle oxidative processes. Exercise-induced lactate production was increased. Finally, in both families, an atypical "salt and pepper" pigmentary retinopathy was observed without consequences on visual acuity. CONCLUSIONS: In diabetes secondary to 3243 mtDNA mutation, infraclinical muscular and ocular lesions are frequent. These two locations of the disease, which are easily investigated by simple methods, can help in the diagnosis of this new type of diabetes.

Adult

[Outlook for the future in the treatment of diabetic retinopathy].

With regard to diabetic retinopathy, in addition to the demonstration by the DCCT study that prevention is achieved by good metabolic control, our present knowledge on physiopathology leads us to imagine three types of possible therapeutic approach; inhibition of glucotoxicity, improvement of capillary flow, blockade of angiogenesis. 1) Inhibition of glucotoxicity Aldose reductase inhibitors can prevent cataract in diabetic or galactosemic rats. The effect of these drugs on retinopathy, evaluated in some clinical trials, remains controversial, suggesting a minor role. Aminoguanidine is an inhibitor of formation of advanced glycosylation end-products (AGE). This compound has been tested on a model of experimental retinopathy in rats. Parallel to the AGE decrease in retina, formation of microaneurysms and loss of endothelial cells in capillaries were delayed. Clinical tolerance allows human application and randomised trials will give further information on this potentially efficient drug. 2) Improvement of capillary flow This objective can be obtained by drugs inhibiting platelet aggregation or improving erythrocyte or leucocyte deformability. Clinical trials using such compounds were not very conclusive. 3) Blockade of angiogenesis Proliferation of new vessels is a rather severe stage of diabetic retinopathy. Angiogenesis is due to factors locally produced (as FGF, TGF and u-PA produced by anoxic tissues), systemic (IGF-1) or released by inflammatory reaction (IL1, TNF alpha and beta). One imagines usage of drugs which inhibit these factors and prevent angiogenesis. At the present time, two approaches have been used in proliferative retinopathy worsening despite panphotocoagulation; analogues of somatostatin and interferon alpha. The promissing results of these pilot studies have to be confirmed.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Animals

Glutamic acid decarboxylase (GAD) autoantibodies are additional predictive markers of type 1 (insulin-dependent) diabetes mellitus in high risk individuals.

The prevalence of glutamic acid decarboxylase autoantibodies was determined with an immunotrapping enzyme activity assay in newly-diagnosed Type 1 (insulin-dependent) diabetic patients as well as in first-degree relatives using rat brain homogenate as a source of glutamate decarboxylase. Twenty-six out of 86 islet-cell cytoplasmic auto-antibody positive and one out of 24 islet cell autoantibody negative patients of recent onset, had autoantibodies to glutamate decarboxylase above the upper 99% confidence limit obtained from 89 control sera. Among 27 islet cell autoantibody positive relatives including 19 siblings and 8 parents, antibodies to glutamate decarboxylase were found in 8 of 9 (89%) relatives and 7 of 8 (87.5%) siblings with islet cell auto-antibody titres above 20 JDF units, in 1 of 19 (5.2%) relatives with islet cell autoantibody titres between 2 and 5 JDF units, in 2 of 263 (0.7%) siblings and 1 of 139 parents without islet cell autoantibodies. In first-degree relatives, high titre islet cell autoantibodies and autoantibodies to glutamate decarboxylase were tightly associated (X2 = 182, p = 0.0001). None of the relatives with low genetic risk (n = 64), i.e. HLA-different to the diabetic proband, was found to be antibody positive. Antibodies to glutamate decarboxylase were present only in those relatives sharing at least one haplotype with the diabetic proband, including two islet cell autoantibody negative but HLA-identical siblings. Autoantibodies to glutamate decarboxylase were present in 7 of 9 (77%) relatives who developed the disease, including one islet cell autoantibody negative sibling.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adolescent

Pharmacological approach in the treatment of insulin resistance.

Insulin resistance syndromes are heterogeneous in either severity or mechanism. Many drugs have been shown to counteract various elements of insulin resistance. Some of them, by normalization of metabolic parameters, decrease insulin resistance induced by chronic hyperglycemia in diabetes. Insulin and, to some extent, sulfonylureas are in this group, but these drugs are not stricto sensu medication of insulin resistance. Some drugs sensitize peripheral tissues to the action of insulin. For instance, biguanides and thiazolidine-dione facilitate translocation to the membrane of glucose transporter in presence of insulin. Other compounds as vanadate or IGF-1 mimic some peripheral action of insulin. Finally, blockade of FFA oxidation by specific inhibitors (methylpalmoxyrate) can limit insulin resistance. In 1992, among these compounds, specific of insulin resistance, biguanides are mostly used. However, the efficacy of these drugs is moderate and limited to type 2 diabetes.

Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2

[Mediterranean nutrition: a model for the world?].

The protection of Mediterranean populations against ischaemic heart disease has been recognised ever since the "Seven Countries" Study by Keys. It is probably related to the life style and, in particular, to the dietary habits of these populations. The Mediterranean diet is characterised by a certain frugality, a low intake of saturated animal fats contrasting with a high but reasonable intake of mono or polyunsaturated fatty acids, slow carbohydrates, fresh vegetables rich in antioxidating vitamins, fish and wine. These dietary habits have been shown to improve the lipid profile (not only lowering LDL-cholesterol but also raising the HDL-cholesterol), platelet activity and to reduce the phenomena of lipoperoxidation. The roles played by garlic and onions are controversial. Nevertheless, at pharmacological dosages, they have cholesterol lowering, fibrinolytic and antiaggregant effects. These dietary habits, which have been proved to be beneficial, should therefore be preserved in our country.

Allium

Autoantibody formation after bone marrow transplantation: a comparison between autologous and allogeneic grafts.

Various autoantibodies were screened in 11 allogeneic, 14 autologous bone marrow transplanted patients and 11 healthy controls. Except anti-mitochondria antibodies, autoantibodies were found with similar frequencies after allogeneic and autologous transplantation. Moreover, 50% of autoantibodies were already present before transplantation. These results suggest that factors other than allogeneic reaction could be responsible for autoantibody formation after bone marrow transplantation, in particular, pre-graft conditioning treatment and/or viral and bacterial infection. Nevertheless, the number of patients with 2 or more autoantibodies was significantly higher after allogeneic than after autologous grafting (respectively, 82% and 36.7%; p less than 0.05). Forty percent of allografted but none of autografted patients were still positive at 12 months post graft. So, allogeneic reaction could play a role in intensity of humoral response and its maintenance for a long period.

Adolescent

The soluble receptor of interleukin 2 is not a serum marker of the autoimmune activity in type I diabetes mellitus.

In order to determine if soluble interleukin 2 receptor (IL2R) was useful as a marker in screening for early Type 1 diabetes and in monitoring immunological treatment, we assayed serum IL2R levels in 67 controls, 43 patients with newly diagnosed diabetes and 28 first degree relatives of diabetic patients (5 subjects were islet cell antibody positive). In 23 diabetes, specimens were analysed at 3 and 6 months after diagnosis whether or not cyclosporin A was administered. Seven patients were in a clinical trial using anti IL2R monoclonal antibody and cyclosporin A. Since IL2R level in the normal population is elevated in the first 5 years of life then decreases until adulthood (age:IL2R correlation between 0 and 15 years: r = -0.42, P less than 0.05), subjects were carefully matched in age. In recent onset diabetes, this negative correlation disappeared and IL2R levels tended to decrease particularly in younger subjects. In Type 1 prediabetic subjects presenting persistent islet-cell antibody serum IL2R was not elevated. During immunological treatment of recent onset diabetes, serum IL2R remained stable and was not modified by cyclosporin A. As expected IL2R became undetectable during treatment with anti IL2R MC Ab. But it rebounded when treatment was stopped with no effect on remission. We concluded that IL2R levels in Type 1 diabetic patients is not useful in screening autoimmune activity or in evaluating the effectiveness of immunosuppressors.

Adolescent

Paradoxical lessening of autoimmune processes in non-obese diabetic mice after infection with the diabetogenic variant of encephalomyocarditis virus.

In order to gain insight into the interaction between autoimmunity and viral infection in the onset of insulin-dependent diabetes, non-obese diabetic (NOD) mice which spontaneously develop autoimmune diabetes were inoculated with the diabetogenic variant of the encephalomyocarditis virus (EMCV-D) before the onset of the disease. The pre-diabetic period was divided into two phases: the early phase (days 88 to 116) during which development of spontaneous diabetes is rare and the late phase (day 123 to 200) during which the incidence of spontaneous diabetes is high. As controls ICR mice of common ancestry were also inoculated. During the early phase diabetes was observed in 4/10 inoculated, 0/13 control NOD and 7/13 inoculated ICR males vs. 6/12 inoculated, 1/11 control NOD and 0/15 inoculated ICR females. However, in NOD female, virus-induced diabetes prevalence was variable from one experiment to another. In parallel the flow cytometric analysis showed a high percentage of L3T4+ T lymphocytes in the pancreas of inoculated female NOD mice 10 days after the infection. At this time a large proportion of both L3T4+ and Ly-2+ cells expressed the interleukin 2 receptor. During the late phase no new case of diabetes occurred in inoculated NOD mice but one case was observed in control NOD males and five in control NOD females. This prevention of autoimmune diabetes was constantly found in other experiments. Insulitis was milder in inoculated NOD mice of both sexes than in control NOD. Adoptive transfer of diabetes into irradiated 8-week-old males by splenocytes from 28-week-old females was successful in five out seven attempts with control splenocytes and in zero out of six attempts with splenocytes from inoculated mice. This immunosuppression was specific as the ability of lymphocytes to respond to soluble or allogeneic antigens was preserved. In the early phase EMCV-D precipitated the onset of diabetes in females NOD mice by amplifying L3T4+ T lymphocyte-mediated immune mechanisms. During the late phase viral infection had lessened immune processes in animals which had resisted or recovered from virus-induced diabetes.

Animals

Autoantibodies to the insulin receptor are infrequent findings in type 1 (insulin-dependent) diabetes mellitus of recent onset.

To determine whether autoantibodies to the insulin receptor may represent markers of Type 1 (insulin-dependent) diabetes, the prevalence of such antibodies was investigated in sera of 60 newly diagnosed untreated Type 1 diabetic patients. A sensitive assay, based on enzyme linked immunosorbent assay has been set up which detects antibodies to the insulin receptor irrespective of their potentially inhibiting effect on insulin binding. Moreover, this method allows easy determination of the immunoglobulin class involved in the anti-receptor activity. Among the 60 sera examined, only one was found to contain anti-insulin receptor autoantibodies (IgG class). In view of our data, we conclude that autoantibodies to the insulin receptor are infrequent findings in Type 1 diabetes of recent onset.

Adolescent

[Gestational diabetes].

Gestational diabetes defined by either glucose intolerance or overt diabetes discovered during pregnancy is a real nosologic entity which is associated with risks for both foetus and mother. Unfortunately biological definition of gestational diabetes remains controversial. In North America it is defined by O'Sullivan's criteria (OGTT with 100 g of glucose for 3 hours), in Europe it is defined by WHO's criteria (OGTT with 75 g of glucose for 2 hours). Strategy for selection of high risk women who have to be submitted to OGTT is also matter of debate. Despite these uncertainties, everybody agrees that gestational diabetes is associated with high risk of foetal macrosomia and high rate of cesarean section. For the mother, gestational diabetes is a marker of future development of diabetes. Most of gestational diabetes are related to type II diabetes but some cases of type I diabetes are preceded by gestational diabetes. The treatment of gestational diabetes depends upon the severity of glucose intolerance. It is resumed by dietetic intervention associated, if necessary, with insulin therapy.

Blood Glucose

Effect of nicotinamide treatment on the residual insulin secretion in type 1 (insulin-dependent) diabetic patients.

In vivo and in vitro experiments have shown that nicotinamide enhances the regeneration of rat B cells. Nicotinamide has been administered to human subjects at a dose of 3 g/day for more than one year without any serious side effects. A trial was conducted to study if nicotinamide could protect B cells in Type I (insulin-dependent) diabetic patients with established diabetes, but still with residual insulin secretion, the latter being evaluated throughout the study period. A randomized double-blind study was carried out on 26 Type I diabetic patients aged 15 to 40 years who had been treated with insulin for 1 to 5 years but who had a residual insulin secretion characterized by a glucagon stimulated C-peptide level higher than 0.1 nmol/l. They were given either 3 g/day of nicotinamide or a placebo for nine months. At baseline the treated and control groups did not differ according to age, diabetes duration, insulin dose, HbA1c or C-peptide levels. Three patients dropped out of the study. At 9 months there were no significant changes in the insulin doses required. However, HbA1c rose in the control group (8.1 +/- 0.4 vs 9.8 +/- 0.5%, p less than 0.05) but not in the nicotinamide treated group (7.5 +/- 0.5 vs 6.9 +/- 0.4%).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adult

High dose nicotinamide fails to prevent diabetes in BB rats.

Nicotinamide which is an inhibitor of poly (ADPR) synthetase and precursor of NAD has been observed to prevent diabetes in some experimental models possibly by protecting beta cells. To determine whether nicotinamide could cure or prevent type 1 diabetes, we administered large doses (0.5 g/Kg/d) to BB rats. When used in the 45 days following diagnosis nicotinamide failed to bring remission. As a preventive treatment, nicotinamide administered between the 40th and 90th day of age, alone or in association with desferrioxamine did not significantly lower the incidence of diabetes (23% and 30.8% respectively vs. 56.6%). When used earlier, immediately after weaning, nicotinamide did not affect the incidence of diabetes in this model (62.5%). The degree of protection was not comparable with that obtained with cyclosporin A (15% of diabetic animals). Histology study of the pancreas from the animals killed either immediately or 1 year after treatment revealed no endocrine tumor. These findings suggest that in BB rats nicotinamide has little or no effect on the course of autoimmune diabetes mellitus thus dampening the high hopes for this drug in the treatment of human diabetes.

Age Factors