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Biomedical subjects

Z Skrabalo

Publications and source records attributed to Z Skrabalo.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1993

Improvement of lipoprotein lipid composition in type II diabetic patients with concomitant hyperlipoproteinemia by acipimox treatment. Results of a multicenter trial.

OBJECTIVE: To study the tolerability and efficacy of acipimox on hyperlipidemia and diabetes compensation in patients with NIDDM under conditions of a routine clinical practice. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS: We recruited 121 patients (60 men and 61 women) from 10 participating clinical centers. They were randomly divided into two groups and treated for 3 mo either with acipimox (250 mg three times a day) or placebo, using an open study design. RESULTS: Acipimox treatment led to a significant drop in fasting serum total triglyceride levels (by 28%) after 1 mo of drug administration. This decrease prevailed up to the end of the 3-mo study. Serum total cholesterol levels declined by 14%, and high-density lipoprotein tended to rise in acipimox-treated patients. These changes in lipid metabolism were not accompanied by any adverse effects of acipimox on glucose metabolism as judged by HbA1c measurements and the oral glucose tolerance test. Eight patients (out of 82 treated with acipimox) reported moderate adverse events of transient character, such as skin reactions and gastric disturbances. CONCLUSIONS: Acipimox seems to be a useful agent for treatment of diabetic dyslipidemia and does not deteriorate glycemic control.

Blood Glucose↗
PubMed1992

Diabetes in time of armed conflict: the Croatian experience.

During the summer of 1991, armed conflict broke out in the Republic of Croatia. This resulted in many deaths and the displacement of many persons, with population loss in some communities and additional population burden in others. Registration of diabetic persons has been compulsory in Croatia since 1975 and from available statistics compiled by the Vuk Vrhovac Institute for Diabetes in Zagreb it was known that in 1991 there were 111,096 diabetic persons in Croatia, 16% requiring insulin, 46% treated with oral agents and 38% using dietary treatment only. This information helped to plan adequate supplies during the emergency. Contacts with international organizations and friends were of value in overcoming shortages, the most useful gifts being battery-operated blood glucose measuring devices. A study in Zagreb failed to demonstrate an association between the stress of displacement and metabolic control. Somewhat unexpectedly, diabetes and its complications did not present a major public health problem during the first 8 months of the armed conflict, but the long-term effects of these events remain to be seen.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1989

[Biopsy of the external ear in diabetology].

In the introductory part the authors pointed to the need for the application of the morphologic method which would make possible the estimation of the existence and degree of miocroangiopathic changes. Microangiopathic changes were observed on the material obtained by skin biopsy of the auricle and the reason for selecting this localization was explained. It was performed in the representative sample consisting of 441 patients with diabetes mellitus and 92 persons with disturbed glucose tolerance and the objective indicators for small blood vessel changes were confirmed by the analysis of the material obtained by the method described. The possibility of the quantification of the degree of these changes was at the same time presented and illustrated. Finally, the authors came to the conclusion that reproducibility of these quantifications was satisfactory. Thereby, they were of the opinion that in their further work they could compare described and quantificated changes in respect to individual vital characteristics of the investigated group, the existence of factors considered risky for the appearance of diabetes mellitus complications and the degree of their development.

Biopsy↗
PubMed1988

The effects of piretanide in patients with congestive heart failure and diabetes mellitus: a double-blind comparison with furosemide.

A double-blind parallel group study was carried out to compare the effects of piretanide on daily glucose profiles, symptoms of congestive heart failure and serum electrolytes with those of furosemide in 24 diabetic in-patients suffering from congestive heart failure. After a 3-day run-in period on placebo, patients were allocated at random to receive 10-days' treatment with either 6 mg piretanide or 40 mg furosemide once daily. The results showed that there were no differences between the glucose profiles between the first and the last day of treatment, nor were there any differences between the two treatments. Piretanide and furosemide both produced a significant reduction in the number of symptoms of congestive heart failure. There were no significant changes in biochemical variables within the groups, nor were there any differences between the groups, except for an increase in uric acid and decrease in total protein values after furosemide. Mean triglyceride values decreased significantly after piretanide treatment, and SGOT values decreased after both treatments, the latter change being of no clinical relevance. Side-effects were generally mild in both groups and did not require any counter-measures.

Adult↗
PubMed1987

Blood glucose and free insulin levels after the administration of insulin by conventional syringe or jet injector in insulin treated type 2 diabetics.

UNLABELLED: The levels of blood glucose and free insulin were compared in 20 diabetic subjects (type 2) receiving one dose of a combination of fast-acting and intermediary-acting insulins in the morning by means of a needle syringe or a jet injector (SICIM, Italy), using minimum possible injecting power. A shift to the left in the free insulin profile, consequential to different pharmacokinetic characteristics of insulin when administered by means of a jet injector, was observed, although no significant differences were seen for free insulin levels. Statistically significantly higher blood glucose values (P less than 0.05) were recorded 6 and 9 h after insulin administration by means of a jet injector, as well as statistically significant higher MBG values (P less than 0.05), thus indicating a faster and shorter effect achieved in comparison to that produced by the syringe injected insulin. CONCLUSIONS: 1. When switching the method of insulin administration in patients from needle syringe to jet injections the power of the jet injector should be increased (it can be set in three different levels). If that is not possible, because of patient skin characteristics then the dose of intermediary acting insulin should be slightly increased. 2. No local or general side-effects were registered using minimum injecting power of jet injector. 3. The results of the controlled poll have shown that this method of insulin administration is less painful and simpler for patients. The great majority of the patients would like to possess a jet injector.

Adult↗
PubMed1987

Seminal plasma LDH-X in testosterone rebound therapy.

The changes in seminal plasma LDH-X isoenzyme were investigated in 27 oligozoospermic patients treated with large doses of testosterone. The increase in this isoenzyme, proven to occur prior to the sperm count elevation, might possibly serve as a predictor enabling the choice of an optimal term for affecting conception. A high percentage of responders has been found in patients with severe oligozoospermia (less than 0.1 x 10(6) spermatozoa/ml), but with a high initial relative percentage of seminal plasma LDH-X. The determination of this parameter could be one of the criteria for the selection of patients who will probably respond to the therapy.

Humans↗
PubMed1987

Filter paper blood sampling for glycated haemoglobin determination and its use in the control of diabetes mellitus.

Blood sampling on filter paper was tested for determination of glycated haemoglobin. The method showed coefficients of variation of 3.4% and 4.1%, and linearity coefficients of 0.978 and 0.91 for the microchromatographic and colorimetric methods respectively. A blood sample on filter paper impregnated with 5% ethylene glycol solution remains stable for 8 days at room temperature. In a group of 30 diabetics educated in the filter paper blood sampling technique, no statistically significant differences were registered among the mean values of their blood glucose profiles, glycated haemoglobin levels determined at the hospital and those obtained at home 14 days after discharge. In conclusion, the use of blood spotted on filter paper seems a cheap and convenient method for collecting, storing and transporting samples for analysis of glycated haemoglobins. It is also a useful alternative for home monitoring of diabetics. Moreover, it could also be useful in epidemiological studies of diabetes.

Adult↗
PubMed1985

Changes in insulin binding during hemodialysis in uremic patients.

To investigate factors responsible for altered insulin sensitivity in uremia, we studied 125I-insulin binding to erythrocytes in 20 uremic patients before and after dialysis. In uremic patients, predialysis binding was 50% lower in comparison with healthy controls (4.35 +/- 1.79 vs. 9.37 +/- 1.30%; p less than 0.01). Five-hour dialysis treatment resulted in a rapid increase in binding (on average to 55%; p less than 0.01). During the course of dialysis, binding to erythrocytes from 2 selected patients steadily increased in a time-dependent manner (on average 24%/h). The dialysis-induced increase in binding did not correlate with the changes in plasma insulin levels, but depended on the efficiency of dialysis as assessed by a relative decrease in plasma urea and creatinine. After an intravenous glucose load, the insulin-to-glucose ratio decreased in parallel with the increase in binding after dialysis. The results indicate that uremic plasma contains dialyzable substances which reversibly inhibit insulin binding, leading to altered insulin sensitivity.

Adult↗
PubMed1984

Serum uric acid concentrations in offspring of conjugal diabetic parents.

Serum uric acid concentrations were measured in offspring of conjugal diabetic parents, in diabetic patients, and in matched nondiabetic controls. The mean uric acid level in offspring of conjugal diabetic parents was significantly higher than in the controls and diabetic patients (P less than 0.001 in the nonobese and P less than 0.05 in the obese). Diabetic patients did not show significant differences in the serum uric acid concentration compared to the controls. The elevated level of serum uric acid in offspring of conjugal diabetic parents could possibly be an early biochemical marker of diabetes.

Adult↗