LOWER POSTPRANDIAL PLASMA GLUCOSE AND INSULIN AFTER ADDITION OF ACACIA CORIACEA FLOUR TO WHEAT BREAD

Many Australian Aboriginal bushfoods contain slowly digested carbohydrate which elicit low postprandial blood glucose and insulin responses compared to Western foods, such as wheat bread. This study has shown that incorporation of flour made from a slowly digested seed, Acacia coriacea , into wheat bread (18 g/82 g wheat flour) significantly reduces the initial rise in plasma glucose levels ( p < 0.05) and the area under the plasma glucose curve ( p < 0.005) in six healthy subjects. Insulin values were also lowered at 60 minutes ( p < 0.025) and 90 minutes ( p < 0.05). Our findings suggest that Acacia flour, when used to dilute wheat flour in the manufacture of breads, produces a very palatable food which could be useful in the diets of diabetic individuals.     

Diabetic retinopathy: different risk factors for exudates and haemorrhages

The retinae of 137 patients were examined ophthalmologically and for visual acuity at diagnosis of noninsulin dependent diabetes and again in 1982 and 1983, approximately 7 and 8 years later, when colour photographs were also taken. In 1983, 46% were without detectable retinopathy, 32% had haemorrhages (including microaneurysms) only, 4% exudates alone and 18% both lesions. Those with haemorrhages were more hyperglycaemic than those without retinopathy and those with exudates only. Indeed, those with exudates alone had lower mean glucose levels than those without retinopathy (p<0.05). Patients with exudates (± haemorrhages) had a lower percentage of the fatty acids of plasma cholesterol esters as linoleate than those without (p<0.05) but this did not hold for those developing haemorrhages. Different risk factors appear to operate in different features of diabetic retinophathy. In some respects exudate formation may be more akin to macro than to micro angiopathy.     

Recombinant α2(IV)NC1 domain of type IV collagen is an effective regulator of retinal capillary endothelial cell proliferation and inhibits pre-retinal neovascularisation

Background A recombinant form of the α2(IV)NC1 domain of type IV collagen has been shown to have potent anti-angiogenic activity although this peptide has not been studied in the context of proliferative retinopathies. In the current investigation we examined the potential for α2(IV)NC1 to regulate retinal microvascular endothelial cell function using a range of in vitro and in vivo assay systems. Materials and methods α2(IV)NC1 at concentrations between 0.1 and 1 μg/ml was added to retinal microvascular endothelial cells (RMECs) followed by assessment of cell attachment, proliferation and survival. This agent was also tested within a novel in vitro three-dimensional retinal angiogenesis assay and the number of angiogenic sprouts quantified. α2(IV)NC1 was also delivered intra-vitreally to mice with oxygen-induced proliferative retinopathy (OIR) and neovascularisation evaluated in comparison with vehicle-treated controls. Results RMECs treated with α2(IV)NC1 (0.1, 0.5 and 1 μg/ml) showed delayed attachment at 3 h post-seeding, although this deficit had been restored at the 6-h time point. BrdU assay of DNA replication revealed that confluent RMECs treated with α2(IV)NC1 showed no measurable response in comparison with vehicle-treated controls. By contrast, proliferation of sub-confluent RMECs was significantly reduced by α2(IV)NC1 at 0.5 μg/ml (P<0.01). α2(IV)NC1 also induced apoptosis in RMECs and inhibited angiogenesis of pre-existing retinal vascular networks in vitro (P<0.001). Intra-vitreal injection of α2(IV)NC1 in the OIR model significantly inhibited pre-retinal neovascularisation compared with vehicle-treated controls (P<0.001). Conclusion α2(IV)NC1 inhibits angiogenesis in the retinal microvasculature. This recombinant protein has potential for the treatment of neovascularisation in proliferative retinopathies. BioStratum Inc. did not sponsor this research in any way. None of the authors are paid consultants with this company.     

前列地尔治疗糖尿病周围神经病变58例的疗效观察

目的:观察静脉注射前列地尔对糖尿病周围神经病变(DPN)的疗效。方法:选择糖尿病周围神经病变58例给予前列地尔(10—20滋g,加入0.9%生理盐水20ml缓慢静脉注射,疗程2—4周)治疗。结果:四肢麻木、肢体自发痛、感觉减退、怕冷、怕热、双足蚁行感、脚踏海绵感与溃疡均明显改善,改善率分别是91.8%,94.4%,87.5%,91.3%,75%,88.9%,63.6%和90%。患者在治疗前MCV和SCV均有降低,经过治疗后,MCV和SCV有一定改善(P<0.05)。治疗前发现有下肢动脉内膜增厚、粗糙不光滑、斑块形成、血栓、管腔不规则狭窄甚至闭塞。治疗后发现,血管内径与血流量较治疗前明显改善(P<0.05)。结论:前列地尔可有效缓解糖尿病周围神经病变症状、改善周围神经传导速度、增加下肢血管内径和血流量,对DPN有较好疗效。     

Sick day management using blood 3-hydroxybutyrate (3-OHB) compared with urine ketone monitoring reduces hospital visits in young people with T1DM: a randomized clinical trial.

AIMS: Diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA), a life-threatening acute complication of Type 1 diabetes, may be preventable with frequent monitoring of glycaemia and ketosis along with timely supplemental insulin. This prospective, two-centre study assessed sick day management using blood 3-hydroxybutyrate (3-OHB) monitoring compared with traditional urine ketone testing, aimed at averting emergency assessment and hospitalization. METHODS: One hundred and twenty-three children, adolescents and young adults, aged 3-22 years, and their families received sick day education. Participants were randomized to receive either a blood glucose monitor that also measures blood 3-OHB (blood ketone group, n = 62) or a monitor plus urine ketone strips (urine ketone group, n = 61). All were encouraged to check glucose levels > or = 3 times daily and to check ketones during acute illness or stress, when glucose levels were consistently elevated (> or = 13.9 mmol/l on two consecutive readings), or when symptoms of DKA were present. Frequency of sick days, hyperglycaemia, ketosis, and hospitalization/emergency assessment were ascertained prospectively for 6 months. RESULTS: There were 578 sick days during 21,548 days of follow-up. Participants in the blood ketone group checked ketones significantly more during sick days (276 of 304 episodes, 90.8%) than participants in the urine ketone group (168 of 274 episodes, 61.3%) (P < 0.001). The incidence of hospitalization/emergency assessment was significantly lower in the blood ketone group (38/100 patient-years) compared with the urine ketone group (75/100 patient-years) (P = 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Blood ketone monitoring during sick days appears acceptable to and preferred by young people with Type 1 diabetes. Routine implementation of blood 3-OHB monitoring for the management of sick days and impending DKA can potentially reduce hospitalization/emergency assessment compared with urine ketone testing and offers potential cost savings.     

Mortality in patients with diabetic neuropathic osteoarthropathy (Charcot foot).

OBJECTIVE: To determine the mortality of a population of patients diagnosed with Charcot neuropathic osteoarthropathy managed by a single specialist unit and to compare the results with a control population. METHODS: We have undertaken a retrospective analysis of all cases of Charcot foot on the comprehensive database which has been maintained at the specialist diabetic foot clinic at the City Hospital, Nottingham since 1982. Survival and the incidence of amputation (major and minor) was compared with a control population referred with uncomplicated neuropathic ulceration. Controls were individually matched for gender, age (+/-2 years), disease type, disease duration (+/-2 years) and year of referral (+/-3 years). RESULTS: Forty-seven cases (21 female, 26 male) of Charcot foot were identified, of whom 18 (38.3%) had Type 1 diabetes. Mean age and disease duration at presentation were 59.2 +/- 13.4 (sd) and 16.2 +/- 11.2 years, compared with 59.7 +/- 12.6 and 16.3 +/- 11.2 years, respectively, in the controls. Twenty-one (44.7%) of those with Charcot had died, after a mean interval of 3.7 +/- 2.8 years. This compared with 16 (34.0%) after a mean 3.1 +/- 2.7 years in the control group. Mean duration of follow-up in the survivors was 4.7 +/- 4.9 years (Charcot) and 5.3 +/- 3.9 years (controls). A total of 11 (23.4%) Charcot patients had had a major amputation on the side of the index lesion, compared with five (10.6%) controls. There was no difference between the two groups (P > 0.05, Chi-square). CONCLUSIONS: The mortality in this group of patients with Charcot foot was higher than expected. Nevertheless, there was no difference between those with Charcot and those with uncomplicated neuropathic ulceration. It is possible that it is neuropathy, rather than Charcot osteoarthropathy, which is independently associated with increased mortality in diabetes. The mechanism underlying any such association is not known. There is a need for a formal, prospective, multicentre study to investigate the life expectancy and cardiovascular risk of those with Charcot osteoarthropathy.     

糖尿病大鼠膀胱储尿期功能改变的实验研究

目的 研究糖尿病膀胱病变(Diabetic cystopathy，DCP)储尿期尿动力学特征及膀胱感觉功能障碍，为阐明DCP的发病机制提供实验依据。方法 分别以链脲佐菌素(STZ)、蔗糖诱导制作大鼠DCP模型及利尿模型，正常大鼠作对照。采用免疫组化结合图像分析技术观察膀胱感觉神经递质CGRP及其纤维改变；制备离体全膀胱，作膀胱灌注测压观察膀胱顺应性改变；放免法测定逼尿肌舒张信号转导分子cAMP。结果 DCP8周时，膀胱壁尤其是粘膜下层的CGRP及其神经纤维明显减少；离体膀胱测压显示糖尿病膀胱顺应性升高；膀胱舒张作用明显弱于对照组和利尿组，逼尿肌cAMP含量显著低于后者。结论 ①DCP对膀胱功能的损害是多方面的：CGRP为主要递质的粘膜下层膀胱容量感觉纤维明显减少，膀胱顺应性改变是DCP的致病机制之一。②DCP早期即已发生储尿期功能障碍，并且可能是膀胱收缩功能损伤的因素。③非糖尿病性利尿状态(多尿)对膀胱功能构成一定的损害作用，但不是DCP形成的主要原因。提示临床上对糖尿病患者作必要的尿动力学检查能较早发现DCP，有助于保护膀胱功能。     

Kkay小鼠糖尿病肾病时ICAM-1的表达

目的:观察糖尿病肾病时(DN)细胞间黏附分子-1(ICAM-1)表达的变化。方法:22～24周龄:Kkay糖尿病鼠(KA)7只和Kkay非糖尿病鼠(KB)8只,测定血糖,以PAS染色观察各组:DN病变;对肾脏ICAM-1表达进行免疫组化染色和半定量图像分析;并以RT-PCR检测。肾脏ICAM-1 mRNA表达水平。结果:KA组出现明显糖尿病肾脏病变,其肾小球硬化指数(GI)240.00,明显高于KB对照组(118.36,P<0.05);免疫组化显示Kkay小鼠ICAM-1的表达与病理变化一致,其ICAM-1阳性着色面积(15.22％)高于对照组(4.38％,P<0.01),KA组ICAM-1 mRNA表达水平也高于KB组。结论:Kkay小鼠出现糖尿病肾病时伴有ICAM-1表达水平的增高,推测ICAM-1在糖尿病肾病发生发展中起一定作用。     

白细胞对早期糖尿病视网膜病变作用的研究

目的探讨白细胞在早期糖尿病大鼠视网膜毛细血管中粘附、堆积及其与视网膜微血管形态学变化的关系。方法健康成年雄性Wistar大鼠90只，随机分成正常对照组和链脲佐菌素（streptozotocin, STZ）诱导的糖尿病组各45只（3、7、14 d组各5只，30、90、180 d组各10只）。取大鼠右眼制备视网膜消化铺片，进行形态学观察及白细胞共有抗原（leukocyte common antigen, CD45）单克隆抗体免疫组织化学研究。结果正常对照组视网膜毛细血管中有少许CD45阳性细胞；糖尿病发生3 d后，CD45的表达明显增加，病程第14 d达高峰，以后基本稳定。病程90 d时，视网膜毛细血管已出现节段性膨大、囊样扩张及闭锁等形态学改变；病程180 d时，上述病变进一步加重。结论白细胞粘附发生在糖尿病视网膜病变（diabetic retinopathy, DR）的早期阶段，是DR在微血管水平病理变化的开端。白细胞粘附可能作为视网膜微血管形态学改变的基础，在DR的发生发展中起着重要作用。(中华眼底病杂志,2003,19:344-347)     

Intravenous drug abuse and Type 1 diabetes: financial and healthcare implications.

AIMS: To determine the morbidity, mortality and healthcare costs of intravenous drug-abusing patients with Type 1 diabetes (IVDA-DM), who are admitted to hospital. METHODS: Retrospective case note analysis of admissions, complications and cost estimation over a 6-year period. Each drug-abusing patient (IVDA-DM) (n = 9) was compared with two controls (n = 18) with Type 1 diabetes but without a history of intravenous drug abuse (DM-controls). Admissions were also analysed for patients with intravenous drug abuse, but without Type 1 diabetes (IVDA-controls) (n = 198). Admissions were at a University teaching hospital in Liverpool, UK. DM-controls were drawn from a population attending diabetes outpatient clinics between 1997 and 2002 at the same hospital. The main outcome measures were: the duration and healthcare costs of hospital admissions per year, outpatient attendances per year, glycated haemoglobin (HbA(1c)), weight, micro- and macrovascular complications and mortality. RESULTS: Multiple admissions, mainly related to ketoacidosis, led to marked differences in mean (95% CI) inpatient days per year per patient [IVDA-DM 28.1 (13.6-42.7) vs. DM-control 1.1 (0.2-1.9); P < 0.0001], mean inpatient days per year per patient in critical care bed (IVDA-DM 1.7 (-0.7-4.2) vs. DM-control 0; P < 0.02) and mean costs of admission, per patient per year (pound sterling 7320 vs. pound sterling 230). The IVDA-DM group frequently omitted insulin, were underweight, failed to attend as outpatients and five had died by the end of 2002. The IVDA-controls spent considerably less time in hospital [3.4 (2.8-3.9) days per patient per year]. CONCLUSION: IVDA-DM patients have higher rates of diabetes complications, are admitted more frequently and have a high mortality compared with DM and IVDA-controls. The cost of inpatient care of this small group of patients was considerable.