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C J Tack

Publications and source records attributed to C J Tack.

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Direct vasodilator effects of physiological hyperinsulin-aemia in human skeletal muscle.

Systemic hyperinsulinaemia induces vasodilatation in human skeletal muscle. This effect is gradual in onset, and at low insulin levels not maximal until at least 3 h. To investigate whether the vasodilator response to insulin results from a direct vascular effect, we infused insulin directly into the cannulated brachial artery (perfused forearm technique) in a total of 30 experiments in 20 healthy, lean, normotensive volunteers. Local, intra-arterial, infusion of insulin (180 min, 0.3 mU dL-1 forearm volume min-1, n = 15, forearm venous insulin concentration approximately 540 pmol L-1) induced a gradual increase in forearm blood flow (FBF; venous occlusion plethysmography) from 1.86 +/- 0.17 to 3.64 +/- 0.64 mL dL-1 min-1 after 180 min (ANOVA P < 0.001). Percentage increases in FBF after 60, 120 and 180 min averaged 14.4 +/- 5.9, 59.4 +/- 25.5 and 124.6 +/- 51.2% respectively. Forearm glucose uptake increased from 0.24 +/- 0.05 to a maximum of 1.98 +/- 0.28 micromol dL-1 min (P < 0.001). Furthermore, insulin infusion increased forearm lactate release and potassium uptake. In 10 out of these 15 individuals, the forearm glucose uptake was further increased in a second, separate, repeat experiment with concomitant intra-arterial infusion of glucose 5% (0.2 mL dL-1 min-1), resulting in forearm venous glucose concentrations of approximately 15 mmol L-1. This combined infusion achieved a similar vasodilator response to the infusion of insulin alone. The individual vascular responses of the two paired experiments showed a strong correlation (r = 0.87, P < 0.01). In five subjects time and vehicle control experiments were performed, showing no changes in FBF or metabolism during the 180 min. We conclude that the slow vasodilator response to insulin (as observed during systemic infusion) can, at least partly, be explained by a direct vascular effect of insulin. Insulin-mediated skeletal muscle glucose uptake precedes this effect, but seems not to be an important determinant of the vasodilator response to insulin.

Adolescent↗

Regional hyperinsulinemia induces vasodilation but does not modulate adrenergic responsiveness in humans.

The relation between insulin resistance/ hyperinsulinemia and cardiovascular disease may be related to one of the cardiovascular effects of insulin. In acute experiments in humans, systemic euglycemic hyperinsulinemia induced vasodilation in skeletal muscle. Furthermore, the sympathetic nervous system is activated, although this does not lead to increase in blood pressure (BP). We hypothesized that insulin could induce vasodilation either by reduction of alpha- or by augmentation of beta-adrenergic responsiveness. The effect of insulin infusion into the brachial artery (regional forearm hyperinsulinemia; venous insulin concentration approximately 500 pM) on forearm blood flow (FBF: plethysmography) was studied. Responses to the alpha-adrenoceptor-mediated vasoconstrictor norepinephrine (NE: once with and once without the beta-adrenoceptor antagonist propranolol, 2 x n = 12; 9 participated in both), and to the beta-adrenoceptor-mediated vasodilator isoproterenol (n = 12) were measured before and during local hyperinsulinemia. Time/control studies (n = 6) were performed. Insulin alone induced vasodilation, as indicated by an increase in FBF-ratio (infused/ control arm) from 1.2 +/- 0.1 to 1.6 +/- 0.2, p = 0.009. Increasing dosages of NE (1.25 to 240 ng.dl-1.ml-1) induced vasoconstriction that was more pronounced during concomitant propranolol infusion (p < 0.001), indicating a dose-dependent vasodilatory component in the effect of NE. Isoproterenol (ISO 0.03 to 10 ng.dl-1.ml-1), a pure beta-adrenoceptor agonist, induced vasodilation. The percentage changes of FBF-ratio during NE+propranolol were similar and not significantly different before and during hyperinsulinemia. The same was true of the response to NE alone and the response to ISO. Neither was the intrinsic beta-agonist component of NE influenced by insulin. Repeated NE infusion showed no time- or vehicle effect. We conclude that regional hyperinsulinemia in the physiological range induces local vasodilation in the skeletal muscle vascular bed, but this vasodilation is not mediated through modulation of alpha- or beta-adrenergic responsiveness.

Adult↗

Activation of the sodium-potassium pump contributes to insulin-induced vasodilation in humans.

Systemic hyperinsulinemia induces vasodilation in human skeletal muscle. This vasodilation contributes to insulin-stimulated glucose uptake and has been found to be reduced in various insulin-resistant states. The mechanism of the effect of insulin on vascular tone is not completely understood. We hypothesized that activation of the sodium-potassium pump (Na+, K(+)-ATPase) located in endothelial or smooth muscle cells would be involved in the insulin-mediated vasodilation. Therefore, in 24 healthy, nonsmoking, nonobese, normotensive volunteers, we infused ouabain, a specific inhibitor of Na+, K(+)-ATPase, into the brachial artery before and during euglycemic hyperinsulinemia. As expected, insulin (systemic concentrations, approximately 700 [low] and 1400 [high] pmol.L-1) induced vasodilation in the control arm (forearm blood flow [FBF, plethysmography] from 1.6 +/- 0.2 to 2.1 +/- 0.4 mL.dL-1.min-1 [low insulin] and from 1.6 +/- 0.2 to 2.1 +/- 0.2 [high insulin], P < .05 for both), but the increase in FBF was abolished in the ouabain-infused forearm (from 1.3 +/- 0.1 to 1.4 +/- 0.2 mL.dL-1.min-1 [low] and from 1.3 +/- 0.1 to 1.3 +/- 0.1 [high], P = NS). Ouabain-induced increases in forearm potassium release were partly reversed by insulin. To investigate whether the mechanism of action could be at the endothelial level, we infused NG-monomethyl-I-arginine (L-NMMA), an inhibitor of endothelial nitric oxide synthase (0.05, 0.1, and 0.2 mg.dL-1.min-1) intra-arterially in 12 subjects and induced a clear dose-dependent decrease of FBF from 1.7 +/- 0.2 to 1.2 +/- 0.1 mL.dL-1.min-1 (P < .01). In contrast, after ouabain (and continued insulin) infusion, L-NMMA had no effect on FBF (from 1.6 +/- 0.4 to 1.5 +/- 0.3 mL.dL-1.min-1, n = 6, P = .66). These results demonstrate that insulin induces vasodilation by stimulation of Na+, K(+)-ATPase. This activation of Na+, K(+)-ATPase could occur at the level of the endothelium rather than that of vascular smooth muscle and contributes to the endothelium-dependent vasodilator response to insulin.

Adolescent↗

Effects of insulin on vascular tone and sympathetic nervous system in NIDDM.

Chronic activation of the sympathetic nervous system may be a pathogenetic mechanism by which hyperinsulinemia induces cardiovascular damage in insulin-resistant NIDDM patients. The influence of physiological hyperinsulinemia (approximately 700 pmol/l) on basal and stimulated sympathetic outflow was studied in 12 lean normotensive subjects with well-controlled NIDDM without complications and in 13 matched control subjects. Forearm blood flow (FBF) was measured with forearm plethysmography; sympathetic nervous system activity was assessed by the [3H]norepinephrine (NE) tracer method. NIDDM patients were insulin resistant (glucose infusion rates 31.8 +/- 3.8 vs. 48.7 +/- 2.0 mumol.kg-1.min-1 in control subjects, P < 0.01). After a mixed meal, NIDDM patients showed a hyperinsulinemic response (2-h insulin levels: NIDDM patients 324 +/- 34 pmol/l, control subjects 165 +/- 19 pmol/l, P < 0.001). Insulin infusion induced a vasodilator response (not significantly different between the groups). Arterial plasma NE levels and total-body NE spillover increased significantly (total spillover in NIDDM patients from 0.77 +/- 0.09 to 1.18 +/- 0.16 nmol.m-2.min-1, in control subjects from 0.98 +/- 0.14 to 1.23 +/- 0.18 nmol.m-2.min-1, P < 0.01 for all, not different between groups). Total-body NE clearance did not change. Sympathetic stimulation (lower-body negative pressure [LBNP] 15 mmHg) induced forearm vasoconstriction and increased arterial and venous plasma NE and total NE spillover. Responses of FBF and NE kinetics to LBNP were not significantly different between groups and were not altered by hyperinsulinemia. Although these nonobese subjects with uncomplicated NIDDM showed postprandial hyperinsulinemia and resistance to the effect of insulin on glucose metabolism, this group was not resistant to the vasodilator and sympathetic stimulant effects of insulin. Responses to sympathetic stimuli (LBNP) were normal and unaffected by physiological hyperinsulinemia. Therefore, because of daily life hyperinsulinemia, chronic sympathetic stimulation could be operative in these patients and may explain the increased incidence of hypertension and/or cardiovascular complications.

Adult↗

Decreased HbA1c levels due to sulfonamide-induced hemolysis in two IDDM patients.

Regular measurement of HbA1c (percentage) is an essential component of modern diabetes care. Factors that affect the life span of erythrocytes will also influence HbA1c results. In this study, we describe two patients with IDDM, whose regularly determined HbA1c values were considerably decreased with the concomitant use of two related sulfonamide drugs, sulfasalazine and dapsone. The fall in HbA1c results is explained by increased erythrocytopoiesis as a product of drug-induced hemolysis. Fructosamine concentrations are not affected by hemolysis and reflected glycemic control better. We conclude that under conditions of persistent (subclinical) hemolysis, as occurs during the use of sulfonamides, HbA1c is not a reliable indicator of glycemic control.

Adult↗

Comparison of clinical examination, current and vibratory perception threshold in diabetic polyneuropathy.

The study of diabetic polyneuropathy is complicated by a lack of clear definitions and the absence of a simple reliable test procedure. Recently, a new sensory perception testing device has been introduced for detection of thresholds for electrical stimuli (current perception: CPT) at different frequencies (Neurometer). We compared standardized clinical examination scores with measurements of vibratory perception threshold (VPT) and CPT (foot) and obtained reproducibility figures. Participants in the study were healthy controls (H, n = 33), diabetic patients without clinical signs of neuropathy (DN-, n = 23), diabetics with overt diabetic neuropathy (DN+, n = 22), and patients with a diabetes duration of over 20 years (D20, n = 38). As expected, there were highly significant differences (Wilcoxon) in CPT, VPT and neurological scores between H/DN- and DN+ (p < 0.001), but not between H and DN-. Correlation between CPT and total as well as partial (reflecting small and large fibre functions) neurological examination score were highest at 2000 Hz (r = 0.88); no advantage of lower frequency CPT could be identified. CPT seemed rather insensitive in detecting neuropathy. Correlations between CPT and VPT were only moderate and maximal at 2000 Hz (r = 0.61). Reproducibility of CPT was good at 2000 Hz (coefficient of variation 13.3-20.2%), but moderate to poor at lower frequencies (ranging to 62%). We conclude that CPT and VPT quantitative sensory testing is only of limited value, mainly because of high variability and poor reproducibility.

Adult↗

[Results of intensive care treatment in patients with hematologic malignancies; relation to infections].

In a retrospective study we determined the factors that influence the outcome of patients requiring intensive care (IC) for the complications of the treatment of haematological malignancies. All consecutive patients suffering from haematological malignancy admitted to the IC unit of the University Hospital Nijmegen over a 4 year period (1986-1989) were studied; 39 patients (21 female, 18 male) with a median age of 41 year (range 18-71). Various clinical variables were assessed at admission and related to the outcome of IC treatment in terms of death or survival. Previously, 33 patients had undergone chemotherapy. Eight (21%) survived. One of a subgroup of 13 bone marrow transplantation patients survived. Hypoxaemic respiratory failure requiring mechanical ventilation was the most frequent reason for admission (20 patients of whom four recovered). The second most frequent reason was combination of respiratory failure and septic shock (eight patients, none recovered). Three out of five patients admitted with septic shock survived. The need for mechanical ventilation had the highest predictive power for a poor prognosis (p = 0.002). Mortality increased with increasing APACHE II score (p = 0.03). When more than four major organ systems were affected (seven patients), mortality was 100%. Granulocytopenia (leucocyte count less than 1 x 10(9)/l) at admission turned out to be of no prognostic significance, but absence of leucocyte recovery was a prognostically bad sign (p = 0.05). A considerable number of patients (20) suffered from a non-bacterial (opportunistic) infection, carrying a high mortality (only two patients survived: one with candida, one with a cytomegalovirus infection).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adolescent↗

Anti-inflammatory effects of troglitazone in nondiabetic obese subjects independent of changes in insulin sensitivity.

BACKGROUND: Obesity is characterised by insulin resistance and by elevated levels of proinflammatory markers. We investigated whether, in the absence of changes in glucose, thiazolidinediones (TZDs) have anti-inflammatory effects and whether improvement of insulin sensitivity correlates with suppression of inflammatory markers. METHODS: We performed a randomised double-blind placebo-controlled crossover study with troglitazone (400 mg daily for eight weeks) in 15 normoglycaemic obese subjects. We measured plasma high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP), interleukin-6 (IL-6), leptin, tissue-type plasminogen activator (tPA), plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1) and tumour necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) after each of the two treatment periods and in 13 age- and sex-matched lean individuals. RESULTS: Obese subjects were insulin resistant (decreased glucose infusion rate (GIR) during euglycaemic hyperinsulinaemic clamp) and had higher plasma levels of hsCRP, IL-6, leptin, tPA, and PAI-1 compared with lean subjects. TNF-alpha also tended to be higher. Troglitazone improved insulin sensitivity (mean increase in whole body glucose uptake 23.1 +/- 10.5% (p = 0.047)) and normalised plasma concentrations of hsCRP, tPA and TNF-alpha, whereas it did not significantly change IL-6, leptin and PAI-1. Changes in GIR did not correlate with changes in inflammatory markers. CONCLUSION: Troglitazone induces suppression of some of the inflammatory markers that are elevated in normoglycaemic obese subjects. The suppression of inflammatory markers, however, does not correlate with improvement in insulin sensitivity, suggesting involvement of partially differential mechanisms in these effects of TZDs.

Adult↗