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Biomedical subjects

J M González-Clemente

Publications and source records attributed to J M González-Clemente.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

Diabetic neuropathy is associated with activation of the TNF-alpha system in subjects with type 1 diabetes mellitus.

OBJECTIVE: The development of diabetic neuropathy (DN) is predicted by cardiovascular risk factors associated with insulin resistance. As inflammation seems to be implicated in the pathogenesis of insulin resistance, we investigated whether subjects with type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) and DN have an increase in plasma concentrations of inflammatory proteins involved in insulin resistance. DESIGN: Cross-sectional. Patients One hundred twenty subjects, all diagnosed with T1DM 14 years before. MEASUREMENTS: (1) Sex, age, body mass index, waist-to-hip ratio (WHR), blood pressure, smoking, alcohol intake, insulin dose, HbA1c and lipid profile; (2) DN (peripheral and cardiac autonomic), retinopathy and nephropathy; (3) plasma concentrations of soluble fractions of tumour necrosis factor alpha receptors 1 and 2 (sTNFR1 and sTNFR2), interleukin-6, high-sensitive C-reactive protein, adiponectin and leptin; and (4) insulin resistance (by way of a mathematical estimation of the glucose disposal rate - eGDR-). RESULTS: Thirty-six subjects had DN and 84 did not. Subjects with DN received higher insulin doses (57.6 +/- 16.7 vs. 49.2 +/- 15.0 IU/day; P = 0.008) and had higher WHR (0.85 +/- 0.07 vs. 0.81 +/- 0.10; P = 0.007) and HbA1c values (8.5 (7.6-9.6) vs. 7.7 (7.3-8.9)%; P = 0.049) than subjects without DN. They also had higher values of sTNFR1 (2.42 +/- 0.60 vs. 1.96 +/- 0.66 microg/l; P = 0.001) and sTNFR2 (4.73 +/- 1.33 vs. 4.14 +/- 1.09 microg/l; P = 0.015), and were more insulin resistant (eGDR values: 7.28 (5.83-8.03) vs. 8.30 (7.17-9.03) mg kg(-1) min(-1); P = 0.003). The relationship between DN and either sTNFR1 or sTNFR2 remained essentially unchanged after adjusting for several confounders, including glycaemic control, WHR, lipid profile, blood pressure and other microvascular complications (OR for sTNFR1: 2.592 (1.222-5.498), P = 0.013; OR for sTNFR2: 2.124 (1.258-3.587), P = 0.005). CONCLUSIONS: The activity of the TNF-alpha system is increased in subjects with type 1 diabetes mellitus and diabetic neuropathy, regardless of their glycaemic control and cardiovascular risk factors associated with insulin resistance. These results suggest that TNF-alpha may play a pathogenic role in the development of diabetic neuropathy.

Adult↗

Dissemination of 'patient-oriented evidence that matters' on the Internet: the case of Type 2 diabetes treatment.

AIMS: To evaluate the dissemination of patient-oriented evidence that matters (POEMs) derived from the UK Prospective Diabetes Study (UKPDS) through health information websites. METHODS: Google and Altavista search engines were used to generate a list of websites about Type 2 diabetes treatments. We evaluated a random sample of 50 websites from each list, plus the first 10 websites displayed on each search engine looking for the presence of POEMs about diabetes treatment derived from the UKPDS. Websites were also ranked using the DISCERN instrument. RESULTS: The final sample consisted of 66 websites. The most frequently stated item was that tight blood pressure decreased complications and/or mortality (55.5%). The effects of metformin on morbidity and/or mortality in overweight patients and the greater effect of control of blood pressure rather than blood glucose control on complications were stated in 18.2 and 16.7% of cases, whereas the lack of effect of tight blood glucose control on premature mortality and of insulin or sulphonylureas on aggregate micro- or macrovascular outcomes in overweight patients were stated in one case each (1.5%). The lack of effect of tight blood glucose control on quality of life was not stated in any website. POEMs were more frequently present in websites rated high with the DISCERN instrument, websites with the Health-on-the-Net seal and non-commercial websites. CONCLUSIONS: The dissemination of POEMs through the Internet is poor. If patients are to be involved in decision-making processes, efforts should be made to update the Internet contents to meet this challenge.

Databases, Factual↗

The tumour necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha system is activated in accordance with pulse pressure in normotensive subjects with type 1 diabetes mellitus.

OBJECTIVE: Pulse pressure (PP) and inflammation are important predictors of cardiovascular disease (CVD), even in the normotensive. The age-related increase in PP can be diagnosed up to 20 years earlier in subjects with type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) than in the general population. Some evidence suggests that PP can stimulate inflammation. Our aim was to study the relationship between PP and plasma inflammatory proteins in normotensive subjects with T1DM. DESIGN: This was a cross-sectional study of a group of normotensive (<140/80 mmHg) subjects diagnosed with T1DM 14 years before. None of them had clinically proven CVD or inflammatory conditions or were on antiplatelet, antihypertensive, anti-inflammatory or lipid-lowering treatment. METHODS: The following information was recorded: sex, age, body-mass index (BMI), waist-to-hip ratio (WHR), systolic blood pressure (SBP), diastolic blood pressure (DBP), PP, mean blood pressure (MBP), smoking, alcohol intake, insulin dose, lipid profile, HbA1c, microvascular complications, and plasma concentrations of soluble receptor types 1 and 2 of tumour necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha (sTNFR1 and sTNFR2, respectively), interleukin-6, C-reactive protein, adiponectin and leptin. RESULTS: A total of 112 subjects were evaluated (aged 27.4+/-6.6 years, 52.7% women, BMI: 20.4+/-2.7 kg/m2, WHR: 0.82+/-0.09, SBP: 112+/-12 mmHg, DBP: 68+/-9 mmHg, PP: 45+/-9 mmHg, MBP: 82+/-9 mmHg, HbA1c: 8.2% (7.3-9.0%), 41.1% microvascular complications). After adjusting for potential confounders, only inflammatory markers of the TNF-alpha system correlated significantly with PP (Pearson correlation coefficient between sTNFR1 and PP: r = 0.215, P = 0.030; and between PP and sTNFR2: r = 0.238, P = 0.020). CONCLUSION: In normotensive subjects with T1DM after 14 years of diagnosis, the activation of the TNF-alpha system is positively associated with PP levels. This finding might suggest a pathogenic role of the TNF-alpha system in the development of cardiovascular disease in T1DM.

Adult↗

[Evaluation of the process and the outcomes of care for the diabetic patients in a hospital].

For the purpose of establishing a specific information system in order to identify the diabetic patients looked after in the hospital and evaluate the processes and the clinical outcomes obtained, a prospective descriptive study was designed--in the Corporació Parc Taulí of Sabadell (Barcelona)--about the diabetic patients cared starting in January 1998, through a clinical registry and other hospital sources of information. Seven hundred and fifty-five patients were identified, and the completeness of the registry was 98%. It was feasible the integration of the registry of admissions with that of the laboratory, that of the discharges from hospital, that of pharmacy and the specific clinical registry. An evaluation of the glycemic control was made in around 90% of the patients, and the registry of the organic explorations was higher than 87%. Although it was not possible in this study, the incorporation of the information from the primary care would complete the follow-up of the patients.

Diabetes Mellitus↗

Translation of the recommendations for the diagnosis of diabetes mellitus into daily clinical practice in a primary health care setting.

AIMS: to assess the implementation of 1985 recommendations for the diagnosis of diabetes (World Health Organization [WHO]) in a primary care setting, and the physician's attitude toward the diagnosis of diabetes mellitus (DM). MATERIAL AND METHODS: Subjects with a fasting plasma glucose (FPG)>6.1 mmol/l (> or =110 mg/dl) and with previously unknown glucose tolerance status were identified retrospectively in a primary health care center during a 45-month period. The following variables were evaluated: anthropometric parameters, fasting plasma glucose and oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) values, registration of a diagnosis of diabetes in clinical records, smoking status, lipid profile and blood pressure. RESULTS: 1181 subjects with a FPG>6.1 mmol/l were identified (target population): 171 with a FPG>7.8 mmol/l and 1010 with a FPG between 6.1 and 7.7 mmol/l. In the latter group, an OGTT was performed in 553 subjects (54.8%) (173 yielded a diagnosis of diabetes). During the study period, diabetes was diagnosed in 29.1% (n=344) of the target population. Following the 1985 WHO recommendations, a confirmatory diagnostic test was repeated in 92 (69.7%) subjects with a FPG between 7.8 and 11.0 mmol/l, and in 132 subjects (23.87%) who had already received an initial OGTT. The analysis of the diagnostic process followed by the different physicians revealed a high interindividual variability in terms of: proportion of cases diagnosed as diabetes by an OGTT (from 35.7 to 65.2), percentage of subjects with a FPG 6.1-7.7 mmol/l without an OGTT (7.33-70.27%), proportion of confirmatory OGTTs (0-57.89%), and percentage of misdiagnosed cases (1.16-6.34%). The percentage of subjects misdiagnosed was negatively correlated with the proportion of OGTT repetitions. CONCLUSIONS: 1985 WHO recommendations for the diagnosis of diabetes are only partially followed at a primary health care level. There is a high interindividual variability among physicians in the implementation of these recommendations that is associated with the misdiagnosis of diabetes.

Attitude of Health Personnel↗

[Hypovitaminosis D: its high prevalence in elderly outpatients in Barcelona. Associated factors].

BACKGROUND: Hypovitaminosis D is a frequent finding in the elderly of northern countries. In Spain because of high sun irradiation it has been traditionally considered that hypovitaminosis D is not a frequent problem. In this study we have evaluated the prevalence of hypovitaminosis D in the elderly and the associated factors. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: All individuals older than 65 years attending a primary care unit (november 1995-march 1996) and without any disease modifying vitamin D status were included. The following data were recorded: age, gender, height, weight, white and red cell counts, glycaemia, serum ions, albuminemia, plasma creatinine, creatinine clearance, urinary creatinine and calcium, parathyroid hormone (PTHi), calcidiol and calcitriol. Sun exposure and fish ingestion was also determined by questionnaire. RESULTS: 127 individuals were evaluated (age: mean [SD] 74.8 [6.4] years; 47 men, 37.0%). Forty-four subjects (34.6%; CI 95%: 26.3-42.9%) had calcidiol levels < or = 10 ng/ml, 15 (11.8%; CI 95%: 6.2-17.4%) low values of calcidiol, and 13 (10.2%; CI 95%: 4.9-15.5%) high PTHi values. Subjects with hypovitaminosis D (calcidiol levels < or = 10 ng/ml) were mainly women, older, short stature, had a lower values of body surface, albuminemia, phosphatemia, creatinine clearance, sun exposure and fish intake and higher PTHi levels. In the logistic regression model, hypovitaminosis D was positively associated with age and negatively with sun exposure, albuminemia, height and phosphoremia. CONCLUSIONS: Hypovitaminosis D is a very frequent finding in Spanish elderly people. Its presence is independently associated with age (positively) and sun exposure, serum albumin, height and phosphoremia (negatively).

Aged↗

[Non-insulin dependent diabetes mellitus: care in an area of Barcelona].

BACKGROUND: Most non-insulin dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM) care is provided at the primary care level. The aim of this study was to evaluate the recommendations of the European NIDDM Policy Group (ENPG) in a primary care setting in an urban area. PATIENTS AND METHODS: During 1994 clinical information concerning a group of patients attended in the primary care setting of an area of Barcelona city was recorded prospectively on a computerised information sheet. RESULTS: 483 patients were evaluated (age: 68.9 +/- 0.5 years; males: 43.3%; 13.1 +/- 0.4 years of NIDDM evolution), 303 treated without insulin and 180 with insulin. A 37.9% of patients never had carried out self-glucose monitoring and the patients with insulin practised it more frequently (p = 0.03). Levels of basal glycemia, HbA1c' total and HDL cholesterol, basal triglycerides and body mass index were poor in 65.8%, 57.3%, 25.2%, 48.2%, 20.7% and 59.6% of the patients, respectively. Retinopathy and microalbuminuria have never been screened in 32.9% and 95.4% of the patients, respectively: in both cases the situation was worst in those without insulin (p = 0.00 and p = 0.02, respectively). Amaurosis was present in 3.9% of patients, clinical neuropathy in 16.8%, clinical peripheral neuropathy in 19.0%, ischemic heart disease in 13.3%, lower limb amputations in 2.1% and a stroke history in 10.1%. All these complications and the level of HbA1c were higher in patients with insulin (p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The attainment of the recommendations of ENPG is scarce at the primary care level. Patients had insufficient blood glucose self-monitoring, metabolic control and screening for retinopathy and microalbuminuria.

Aged↗

Cryopreservation: in vitro results in rat pancreatic islets.

Cryopreservation is an effective method of islet storage and may facilitate clinical trials of islet transplantation. It was the aim of the present study to evaluate the in vitro viability of cryopreserved rat islets, including the response to nonglucose secretagogues and glucose oxidation. After pancreatic digestion via intraductal injection of collagenase, 75- to 200-micron Wistar rat islets were handpicked and cultured in RPMI 1640 (glucose 11.1 mmol/L) and randomized into two groups: control (cultured 20 to 24 hours at 37 degrees C) and cryopreserved (after 20 to 24 hours of culture at 37 degrees C, islets were cryopreserved according to Rajotte's protocol: freezing velocity, -0.25 degree C/min; thawing velocity, 200 degrees C/min). In the two groups, we evaluated recovery, insulin content per islet, staining viability (ethidium bromide/orange acridine; semiquantitative scoring, measuring the viable area of the islet from 0 = less viable to 3 = more viable), insulin secretion after glucose and nonglucose secretagogues, and oxidation of D-[U-14C]glucose. The results for the control group were always higher for the following: recovery (95.4% +/- 1.2% v 83.0% +/- 2.1%, P = .00), insulin content (2,203.9 +/- 335.2 v 1,443.3 +/- 171.8 microU/islet, P = .03), insulin secretion after 5.5 mmol/L glucose (61.3 +/- 8.0 v 28.3 +/- 3.4 microU/islet/90 min, p = .00), 16.7 mmol/L glucose (151.4 +/- 16.1 v 98.7 +/- 14.1 microU/islet/90 min, p = .03), 10 mmol/L L-leucine +10 mmol/L L-glutamine (125.6 +/- 27.9 v 56.8 +/- 6.4 microU/islet/90 min, P = .05), and 10 mmol/L L-arginine (202.5 +/- 27.5 v 128.8 +/- 14.2 microU/islet/90 min, P = .01), and glucose oxidation at 5.5 mmol/L (12.5 +/- 1.1 v 7.9 +/- 0.6 pmol/islet/120 min, P = .00) and at 16.7 mmol/L (26.1 +/- 2.6 v 14.3 +/- 1.6 pmol/islet/120 min, P = .00). No significant differences in staining viability were found between groups (2.35 and 2.48, respectively, P = .55). However, cryopreserved and control islets showed a significant increase in insulin secretion and glucose oxidation after increasing the glucose concentration from 5.5 to 16.7 mmol/L. We conclude that when glucose is increased, cryopreserved islets keep the capacity to increase insulin secretion, but cryopreservation produces a significant decrease in several islet viability characteristics. This decrease may be due to a decline of beta-cell number per islet and/or a decrease in the content of insulin per beta cell.

Animals↗

Effects of insulin administration on beta-cell function in subjects at high risk for type I diabetes mellitus.

The aim of the study was to determine the appropriate dose of subcutaneous insulin to induce "beta-cell rest" without any hypoglycemic risk, as the first stop in the investigation of its potential effect in preventing or delaying clinical diabetes mellitus onset in high-risk subjects. Four subjects at high risk for type I diabetes mellitus (first-degree relatives, islet cell antibodies (ICA)-positive, and with diminished first-phase insulin secretion) were compared with four healthy individuals. After hospitalization, urinary C-peptide excretion (UCP) and 24-hour serum profiles for glucose were measured before and after administration of NPH insulin 0.1, 0.2, and 0.3 U x kg body weight per day subcutaneously in a single dose on 4 consecutive days. After insulin 0.1 U x kg body weight, a significant inhibition of endogenous insulin secretion was observed in high-risk subjects, but not in control subjects. There was no further inhibition when a higher insulin dose (0.2 and 0.3) was administered. A sustained beta-cell rest was obtained after 3, 6, and 12 months of treatment with 0.1 U x kg body weight per day as outpatient therapy in high-risk subjects. With this dose, no subject developed hypoglycemia (plasma glucose <50 mg/dL), whereas this adverse effect was detected after 0.2 and 0.3 U x kg body weight in both groups. In conclusion, our results indicate that administration of NPH insulin 0.1 U x kg bodyweight per day induces beta-cell rest without the undesirable effect of hypoglycemic episodes. This is a preliminary study to investigate the potential beneficial effect of insulin in preventing or delaying type I diabetes mellitus in subjects at high risk for the disease.

Adolescent↗

[Retinopathy in patients with insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus of short duration].

To evaluate the role of metabolic control at the beginning of insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM) in the development of diabetic retinopathy (DR) a cross-sectional study was performed with a retrospective analysis of 24 patients followed for at least seven years. The following parameters were investigated: 1) At IDDM diagnosis, age, sex, metabolic control (basal serum glucose, HbA1, cholesterol, triglycerides) and endogen insulin secretion (EIS). 2) At one year in the follow-up: EIS. 3) Since IDDM diagnosis and every 3-4 months: body mass index, dose and pattern of insulin administration and metabolic control. 4) At seven years in the follow-up: direct ophthalmoscopy, fluorescein angiography, microalbuminuria and blood pressure. In the seventh year of follow-up five patients (23.8%; 95% CI: 8.2%-47.2%) developed changes in fluorescein angiography secondary to IDDM. Compared with patients with normal fluorescein angiography their metabolic control was poorer (mean HbA1--seven years--: 11.7 +/- 0.5 versus 9.8 +/- 0.3%; p = 0.01); mean basal glycemia--seven years--: 214 +/- 13.3 versus 174 +/- 7.7 mg/dl; p = 0.03) and their systolic blood pressure (SBP) higher (124 +/- 5.5 versus 111 +/- 2.8 mmHg; p = 0.04). Logistic regression revealed that mean HbA1 values for seven years was the only independent risk factor significantly associated with the development of DR (p = 0.04). The conclusion is that in patients with IDDM of short duration, the development of DR is associated with a deficient glucose control and a higher SBP.

Adolescent↗

[Insulin treatment in diabetes mellitus type II: the usefulness of the breakfast test].

BACKGROUND: Insulin treatment in patients with type-II diabetes mellitus (DMII) is normally undertaken by clinical criteria. The aim of the present was to study the efficacy of a standard mixed meal (breakfast test) to predict the need for insulin therapy to thereby evaluate whether it is possible to obtain more objective criteria for the indication of insulin treatment. METHODS: Fifty-six patients with DMII were studied to evaluate the need for insulin therapy over a one-year period. Serum glucose and basal C peptide and their maximum values were determined in all the patients following stimulation with the breakfast test. Insulin treatment was initiated according to exclusively clinical criteria during admission. The patients were followed as out patients for a minimum of 3 months. Treatment at the end of follow up (insulin or no insulin) was evaluated and the results of the test were retrospectively analyzed. RESULTS: The basal C peptide (BCP) values were significantly lower in the individuals requiring insulin in comparison to those who did not require insulin (mean +/- SD 0.64 +/- 0.28 versus 1.18 +/- 0.41 nmol/l, p < 0.0001) similar to what was found with the stimulated maximum C peptide values (MCP) (1.48 +/- 0.77 versus 2.49 +/- 0.63 nmol/l, p < 0.0001). On considering a BCP of less than 0.9 nmol/l for the patients with insulin treatment the sensitivity of BCP was 83.6% and the specificity 78.9%. For a BCP value of less than 1.9 nmol/l sensitivity was 77.7% and specificity 78.9%. Using the values together, sensitivity was 66.6% and specificity 84.4%. CONCLUSIONS: The breakfast test is useful to indicate the need for insulin therapy in patients with type II diabetes mellitus but is not more useful than a determination of isolated basal C peptide.

Adult↗

[Isolated ACTH deficiency].

The isolated ACTH deficiency is a scarcely diagnosed disease of heterogeneous nature. Two patients with isolated deficiency of ACTH in whom the initial diagnosis was of primary suprarrenal failure are reported. In the first case this diagnosis was performed after hospital admission for deterioration of the level of consciousness and the development of an acute suprarrenal crisis in the course of nosocomial pneumonia. In the second case the clinical manifestations began as weakness, anorexia, weight loss and lymphocytosis with eosinophilia. In both patients an increase in the thyrotropic hormone was detected leading to suspicion of the existence of associated primary hypothyroidism. Finally, several studies were carried out (basal measurements of cortisol and ACTH, stimulation with continual perfusion of ACTH, insulinic hypoglycemia, global study of adenohypophysary function, ACTH CRF release factor test, computerized tomography of the pituitary region) in both patients leading to the definitive diagnosis of isolated ACTH deficiency of idiopathic cause of possible pituitary origin without the existence of other associated hormonal deficiencies.

Adrenocorticotropic Hormone↗

Microalbuminuria development in short-term IDDM.

UNLABELLED: To assess risk factors associated with microalbuminuria development in short-term evolution insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM) we undertake a cross-sectional study with retrospective examination of the 34 patients diagnosed with IDDM between 1982 and 1983 and followed up for at least 7 years in an outpatient endocrinology clinic. MAIN MEASURES: (1) At IDDM diagnosis: age, sex, parameters of metabolic control (fasting glycemia, HbA1), islet-cell antibodies, insulin autoantibodies, endogenous insulin secretion (EIS) and HLA type. (2) At 1 year evolution: EIS re-evaluation. (3) From IDDM diagnosis (every 3-4 month): body mass index, insulin schedule and dose, and parameters of metabolic control. (4) At 7-year evolution: 24-h urinary albumin excretion (UAE) and arterial blood pressure measurements on two consecutive outpatient controls. Microalbuminuria was defined as UAE above 30 micrograms/min on the two consecutive measurements. After 7-year follow-up, 8 (23.5%; 95% Cl: 9.3 to 37.7%) patients developed microalbuminuria. Their metabolic control was worse (7 years mean HbA1: 10.7 vs. 9.7%; P = 0.04) and 1 year EIS lower (1.9 vs. 7.6 ng/ml.10 min; P = 0.03) than in normoalbuminuric patients. They also had higher prevalence of 'high-normal' arterial blood pressure (P = 0.03) and diabetic retinopathy (P = 0.01) than normoalbuminuric patients did. Stepwise logistic regression analysis showed that diabetic retinopathy was the only independent and significant risk factor related to microalbuminuria development (P = 0.01). We conclude that in subjects with short-term evolution IDDM, microalbuminuria development was associated with glycemic control, EIS and arterial blood pressure levels, however the strongest association was found with diabetic retinopathy occurrence.

Adolescent↗

Diabetes mellitus in patients with liver cirrhosis.

In spite of the high prevalence of diabetes mellitus (DM) in patients with liver cirrhosis (LC) few studies have focused on the clinical implications of this association. We investigated the clinical and pancreatic-endocrine features of 34 patients who developed DM after LC (Group I). Results were compared with 34 carefully matched patients with only Type II DM (Group II). A standard meal test was performed in 26 patients with normal renal function from each group to assess beta-cell function. Group I patients, less frequently had retinopathy (14.7% vs. 45.5%, P < 0.05) and a family history of diabetes (23.5% vs. 58.8%, P < 0.01). Group I patients also showed signs of enhanced insulin resistance, reflected by higher insulin dose requirements in insulin-treated patients (0.87 +/- 0.10 vs. 0.62 +/- 0.05 IU/kg/day, P < 0.01) and increased basal C-peptide values (0.88 +/- 0.06 vs. 0.68 +/- 0.07 pmol/l, P < 0.05, respectively) than those in Group II. These results suggest that several clinical features, probably related to the hepatopathy, define DM occurring in patients with LC.

Blood Glucose↗