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Biomedical subjects

E Zander

Publications and source records attributed to E Zander.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

Innervation of the skin of the forearm in diabetic patients: relation to nerve function.

Complications of diabetes include sensory and autonomic neuropathy. The aim of the present paper was to study the degree of sensory and autonomic neuropathy and correlate these findings with the distribution and density of neuropeptidergic nerve fibers in the skin of the forearm of diabetic patients and healthy controls. We investigated 30 diabetics (24 type 1 and 6 type 2) and compared them with 13 healthy controls. There were no differences between the groups with respect to density and distribution of nerve fibers displaying immunoreactivity to the pan-neuronal marker PGP 9.5 and sensory and parasympathetic neuropeptides (substance P, calcitonin gene-related peptide and vasoactive intestinal peptide). By contrast, nerve fibers containing neuropeptide Y, a marker of sympathetic neurons, were reduced in number in the diabetic patients. C-fiber function (measured as the axon-reflex-evoked flare response) became impaired with increasing age in all subjects. The diabetic patients, however, showed a reduced flare compared to age-matched healthy controls. The reduction was particularly prominent in the younger patients (20-50 years). There was a greater reduction of the flare in neuropathic patients than in non-neuropathic patients, but there was no correlation between the degree of functional impairment and the duration of the disease.

Adult

Increased prevalence of proliferative retinopathy and cardiovascular autonomic dysfunction in IDDM patients with proteinuria.

The purpose of the present cross-sectional clinical study was to evaluate the prevalence of retinopathy in Type 1 diabetic patients without nephropathy and with different degrees of nephropathy. In addition we investigated the association between retinopathy, nephropathy, and other variables, and studied the importance of cardiovascular autonomic dysfunction to these conditions. 76 Type 1 diabetic patients were investigated. All patients were initially selected on the basis of body weight, and 47 proteinuric patients were further selected for age, diabetes duration and the duration of insulin treatment (see Table 1). Proteinuric diabetic patients were categorized by degree of nephropathy, i.e. for incipient nephropathy (proteinuria of less than 0.5 g/day), for overt nephropathy (proteinuria of more than 0.5 g/day), and for renal failure (serum creatinine of more than 103 mumol/l). Retinopathy was assessed by ophthalmoscopy. Cardiovascular autonomic dysfunction (CAD) was assessed by heart rate variations, 30:15 ratios, the Valsalva maneuver, and systolic blood pressure fall upon standing. Our findings revealed increased prevalence of retinopathy in patients with more advanced stages of nephropathy. CAD abnormalities exhibited increased prevalence among proteinuric patients. Our data clearly revealed differences between proteinuric and non-proteinuric patients. In both proteinuric and non-proteinuric patients there were found correlations of retinopathy with diabetes duration, and only in proteinurics was retinopathy correlated with kidney function, systolic blood pressure and CAD findings. In patients in identical stages of nephropathy, increased prevalence of CAD abnormalities was shown in patients suffering from proliferative retinopathy. Thus our data suggest that CAD abnormalities might be related in some way to both the proliferative retinopathy and to diabetic nephropathy.

Adult

The effect of antihypertensive treatment on kidney function in insulin-dependent (type I) diabetics with renal failure.

Diabetic nephropathy is the dominant cause of hypertension in insulin-dependent diabetics, and long-term rigid antihypertensive treatment inhibits the progression of nephropathy, probably even when there is renal insufficiency. In our clinical study 14 insulin-dependent diabetics with diabetic nephropathy and renal failure (glomerular filtration rate [GFR] 0.39 +/- 0.12 ml/sec) underwent rigid blood pressure treatment. Antihypertensive therapy included furosemide, propranolol, dihydralazine and nifedipine. The whole group showed a lowering in mean blood pressures from 150.1 +/- 2.3/91.3 +/- 1.4 mm Hg to 139.8 +/- 3.1/86.5 +/- 2.0 mm Hg (p less than 0.01). During the observation period the mean decline in glomerular filtration rate decreased from -0.022 +/- 0.003 ml/sec per month to -0.010 +/- 0.007 ml/sec per month. In 10 out of 14 patients with very advanced nephropathy the further decline of GFR halted markedly. Thus, vigorous blood pressure control is able to postpone endstage renal disease even in advanced diabetic nephropathy.

Acute Kidney Injury

Autoimmune reactions in a patient with malignant insulinoma treated by multiple low dose streptozotocin.

A 66-year-old female patient with a malignant insulinoma was treated with streptozotocin (STZ; Zanosar) in 5 cycles every 4 weeks as 5 day courses with an intravenous dosage of 850 mg per day. Under this treatment hypoglycemic episodes decreased continuously in number as well as severity and - after a delay of 12 months after the last treatment - an overt diabetes mellitus appeared. Plasma insulin concentrations dropped immediately after starting of STZ therapy. On the other hand, islet cell surface antibodies and their complement-dependent cytotoxicity increased continuously, being at their highest 6 months after termination of STZ treatment. Thus, STZ is able to induce a specific immune response against islet cells with a progressive damage of malignant insulin producing cells.

Adenoma, Islet Cell

Importance of cardiovascular autonomic dysfunction in IDDM subjects with diabetic nephropathy.

Diabetic nephropathy (DNP) is associated with increased cardiovascular mortality. This may be contributed to by associated cardiovascular autonomic dysfunction (CAD). The aim of this study was to investigate the prevalence of CAD in patients with insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM) at different stages of DNP. We studied patients with incipient DNP (group 1, n = 10), overt DNP (group 2, n = 20), renal insufficiency (group 3, n = 27), and end-stage renal failure (group 4, n = 12) and compared them with 30 IDDM patients without clinical signs of DNP (group 5) and with 17 nondiabetic controls (group 6). All groups were matched for age and diabetic groups were matched for duration of diabetes. Assessments of CAD included beat-to-beat variation during forced respiration, heart-rate response to standing, heart-rate response to Valsalva maneuver, basal heart rate, and blood pressure response to standing. Clinical evaluation included assessment of the history and an examination for peripheral polyneuropathy. We found mean impairment of heart-rate variation during respiration, in response to Valsalva maneuver, and in heart-rate response to standing in all diabetic groups compared with nondiabetic controls (P less than .01). Heart-rate responses differed significantly between patients with renal insufficiency (groups 3 and 4) and with other patient groups (group 5; P less than .01). CAD was shown to be more prevalent in patients with DNP, more so as DNP progresses. To some extent, it is already present in the early stages of DNP. CAD may be a contributory factor for increased cardiovascular mortality in patients with DNP.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adult

Muscular exercise in type I-diabetics. II. Hormonal and metabolic responses to moderate exercise.

In Type I-diabetics metabolic response to exercise is largely determined by the availability of exogenous insulin. The aim of the present study was to assess the metabolic response to moderate exercise of 24 insulin-dependent (Type I-) diabetics treated by multiple subcutaneous injections of short acting insulin. Differences in insulin availability (hypo- [trial A] or hyperinsulinemia [trial B]) resulted from the different periods of time that had elapsed since the previous insulin injection, i.e., after 3 hours (trial A), and 1 hour (trial B). Bicycle ergometer tests at intensities up to 75% VO2max, were carried out with patients and controls. Plasma glucose, FFA, glycerol, alanine, growth hormone and glucagon levels were measured during a period of 85 min. In both trials, physical exertion did not have a significant statistical effect on the glucose concentration in the blood of hypo- and hyperinsulinemics. Surprisingly, despite the different insulin availabilities FFA, glycerol, alanine and glucagon concentrations were not statistically different in either trial and appear similar to those of healthy controls. A normal metabolic response to exercise can thus also be expected in Type I-diabetics, provided adequate insulin is available. When compared to controls, growth hormone concentrations were found to have increased during exercise. These experimental data strongly suggest the great necessity of adequate insulin availability in order to obtain normal metabolic responses to exercise in insulin-dependent diabetics. Despite certain degrees of hypo- or hyperinsulinemia, moderate exercise did not cause any marked metabolic derangements. This type of moderate exercise is therefore recommended for improving metabolic control in such patients.

Adult

Clinical course in insulin-dependent diabetics undergoing hemodialysis.

Nephropathy continues to be the most serious complication in type I-diabetics. When we started chronic hemodialysis in these patients 15 years ago survival figures were poor. Later on the survival rate for diabetics undergoing hemodialysis has improved progressively. The aim of this report was to present our own experience in hemodialysis treatment of insulin-dependent diabetics. The cumulative survival rate of 46 insulin-dependent diabetics undergoing hemodialysis has increased progressively and now amounts to 70% after one year, and 50% after two years of treatment. At the same time we could attain a certain improvement of metabolic control. Nutrition has also been improved, as indicated by increased transferrin (p less than 0.05) and stable serum protein levels. Systolic blood pressure control became better (p less than 0.05) but, a fluid overload was still present. Here, further improvements are necessary to increase the survival rate. Therefore, the survival of diabetic patients with hemodialysis may be approaching that of non-diabetics. In some patients retinopathy was improved after one year of treatment. Despite a better prognosis for survival in diabetics treated by chronic hemodialysis we suggest that the successful renal transplantation should be the treatment of choice in patients suffering from diabetic nephropathy. In general, hemodialysis and renal transplantation should be started earlier than hitherto, i.e. already at creatinine levels of about 600 mumol/l, and at urea levels of 30 mmol/l. Strict metabolic and blood pressure control, as well as early laser coagulation therapy of retinopathy should be instituted for patients with creatine levels above 200 mumol/l, in close cooperation of a diabetologist, nephrologist, and ophthalmologist. This will be our future therapeutic strategy for these patients.

Adult

[Preparation and implementation of kidney transplantation in patients with terminal renal failure and type I diabetes].

The newest results of transplantation in diabetic nephropathy (diabetics type I) of the world were described according to the data of the EDTA and after the symposium in The Hague. Own experience in the field of transplantation carried out in diabetics needing insulin with terminal renal failure were critically evaluated. The investigations in several centres of the GDR concerning the decompensation of diabetic nephropathy show that it is necessary to perform a three- to six-month creatinine control in long-term diabetics from the 15th year of the disease and from a serum value of 200 mumol/l to carry out in good time a common diabetological and nephrological control with test concerning the fitness for a kidney transplantation. Only by this means the conditions for an improvement of the consequence of transplantation may be achieved.

Adult

Relationship between insulin secretion and pancreas morphology in subjects with chronic pancreatitis.

In order to investigate whether a relationship exists between in vivo insulin secretion and islet mass, 8 patients suffering from severe chronic relapsing pancreatitis were studied before and after pancreatectomy by glucose-glucagon-test (per os 1.75 g glucose; i.v. glucagon 0.01 mg/kg b.w.) and by intravenous glucose-tolerance-test (iGTT) (i.v. glucose 0.33 g/kg b.w.). Postoperative in vitro assessments of pancreatic insulin and alpha-amylase content were performed, and morphometric studies were carried out. Patients were characterized by reduced c-peptide secretion when compared with healthy subjects. The c-peptide response to the glucose-glucagon-test correlated well with the morphometrically estimated exocrine and islet tissue mass (P less than 0.05) and with the content of insulin and amylase in the tissue. The findings suggest that in subjects suffering from severe chronic relapsing pancreatitis the maximal insulin response might represent a parameter for the patient's islet mass.

Adult

[Problems of monitoring metabolism of type I diabetics undergoing hemodialysis treatment].

The metabolic control of nephropathic type I diabetics dependent on dialysis is especially difficult and can be rendered more difficult by the procedure of haemodialysis, mainly due to the use of glucose-free dialysis fluid. The blood glucose level is reduced, resulting in hypoglycaemia. The purpose of this study was to compare the effects of various methods of compensating for the glucose loss on blood glucose homoeostasis. 5 dialysis-dependent type I diabetics on equal supplies of carbohydrates and insulin received extra glucose in the dialysis fluid and as infusions before and after dialysis. All 3 experimental regimens prevented reduction of the blood glucose level due to dialysis, without any significant differences between them. The choice of method can be made according to the dialysis equipment used.

Adult

Muscular exercise in type I-diabetics. I. Different metabolic reactions during heavy muscular work in dependence on actual insulin availability.

The present study focussed on the impact of heavy muscular work upon metabolic homeostasis in insulin dependent (type I) diabetics in situations involving a certain degree of hyper- and hypoinsulinemia. 20 juvenile type I-diabetics were compared with 6 nondiabetic healthy subjects. The diabetics were studied in states of hypo-(trial A) and hyperinsulinemia (trial B) at the start of the exercise. Differences in insulin availability resulted from the different times that had elapsed from the last insulin injection (3 hours in trial A and 1 hour in trial B) before the ergometer test started at 7 a.m. Six diabetics out of 20 patients were studied in both trials A and B to establish the reproducibility of metabolic reactions to the exercise. Bicycle ergometer tests were carried out in the upright position at 5 graded steps of 50 W, 75 W, 100 W, 125 W and a load near to exhaustion. Rest periods of five minutes were allowed between these work periods for taking blood samples before and after each work load. Plasma glucose, FFA, glycerol, lactate, alanine, IRI and HCP concentrations were investigated. The blood pressure at rest and during exercise was measured, and the physical working capacity (PWC170) was calculated according to Wahlund on the basis of the heart rate response to exercise. The results of the exercise tests reflect clearly the different metabolic reactions to heavy muscular work despite the relatively slight differences in insulin availability at the start: --Exhausting muscular work during the hypoinsulinemic state resulted in hyperglycemia and exaggerated lipolysis. --Heavy muscular work in a hyperinsulinemic state resulted in a reduced blood glucose level and antilipolytic reactions in comparison to nondiabetics. These findings suggest the great necessity of an adequate insulin availability during heavy muscular work in juvenile type I-diabetics.

Aerobiosis

Ergometric heart rate, blood pressure and work capacity (PWC170) in type I diabetics with diabetes-specific microangiopathy.

118 male and 68 female type I diabetics and 25 male and 23 female nondiabetic healthy controls were compared during submaximal bicycle ergometer tests using four work stages (duration: 6 min each) of 50 W, 75 W, 100 W and a submaximal stage producing a heart rate of 170 min-1. We found that male type I diabetics with and without retinopathy who had significantly higher than normal heart rates both at the start and during the ergometer test also had above normal ergometric blood pressures. Female type I diabetics, in contrast, did not differ significantly from the controls in terms of heart rate before and during the ergometer tests. The PWC170 of all male type I diabetics was, in contrast to that of the female patients, lower than that of the controls. In diabetics with diabetic nephropathy there was no correlation between exercised acceleration of the heart rate and the degree of nephropathy despite their higher heart rates at the beginning and during the ergometer test, but a correlation was found between the ergometrically increased blood pressure and the severity of the diabetic nephropathy. In male type I diabetics cardiocirculatory adaptation to muscular work was reduced, and this reduction became more marked as the degree of diabetic microangiopathy increased. Compared with the controls, the increase in systolic blood pressure evoked by activity on the ergometer in male and female type I diabetics was disproportionate to the actual load and correlated with the degree of diabetic microangiopathy.

Adult