Low faecal elastase 1 concentrations in type 2 diabetes mellitus

BACKGROUND: Previous studies have suggested an association between impaired pancreatic exocrine function and diabetes, but the evidence is weak because the invasive nature of the tests used to define exocrine function has led to small studies on selected patients. The availability of faecal elastase 1 as a non-invasive test has aided the detection of impaired exocrine function in population studies. We describe the association between levels of faecal elastase 1 and Type 2 diabetes. METHODS: 544 Type 2 diabetic patients (age: 63 +/- 8 years) were randomly selected from local diabetes registers in Cambridgeshire, UK and individually matched for age, sex and practice to 544 controls in whom diabetes was excluded by HbA1c measurement. RESULTS: Faecal elastase 1 concentrations were significantly lower in cases than controls (median: cases 308 microg/g; controls 418 microg/g; P < 0.01). Low levels of faecal elastase 1 (< 100 microg/g) were found in 11.9% of cases and 3.7% of controls (age-sex-adjusted odds ratio; 95% CI: 3.6; 2.2-6.2). After adjustment for potential confounding factors, the OR was 4.5 (2.6-8.3). Among patients with diabetes, poor glycaemic control (HbA1c > or = 7%) was associated with a higher risk of low elastase 1 level (OR 5.6; 1.5-37). No significant association was found with diabetes duration, peripheral neuropathy, alcohol intake, or prior gastrointestinal diseases. CONCLUSIONS: Faecal elastase 1 concentrations are lower in Type 2 diabetic patients than in non-diabetic controls, suggesting the co-existence of diabetes and impaired pancreatic exocrine function. Among the diabetic patients, the risk of having low elastase 1 levels was associated with glycaemic control.     

Investigation of fecal pancreatic elastase-1 levels in type 2 diabetic patients.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Due to the close anatomical position between the endocrine system cells and the exocrine system cells in the pancreas, some interactions could be expected in these two different types of cells. This possible exocrine dysfunction may cause difficulties in the management of blood glucose level because of secondary malabsorption which may have resulted from the exocrine dysfunction. Taking this possibility into account, we aimed to investigate the exocrine function of the pancreas in 32 diabetic patients and in 12 healthy control subjects in this study. METHODS: Fecal pancreatic elastase-1 (PE1), which has a high sensitivity and specificity, was measured in serum samples by ELISA specifically for this purpose. RESULTS: It was found that the exocrine function declined in 28% of type 2 diabetic patients, while there was no decrease in the control subjects. However, there were no significant correlations between pancreatic elastase levels and the duration of diabetes, glycemic control, or consumption of alcohol. CONCLUSIONS: These findings suggest that evaluation of the exocrine function in diabetic patients might be useful for better management of diabetic patients.     

粪便弹力蛋白酶1在胰腺疾病中的检测及其作用评估

目的确定中国正常人粪便弹力蛋白酶1(fecalelastase1,FE1)的平均浓度及其范围并进行定量;FE1检测胰腺外分泌功能的敏感性与特异性;探讨其在胰腺疾病诊断与鉴别诊断中的意义。方法应用FE1检测试剂盒(ELISA),前瞻性地对73例不同年龄组的正常成年人进行FE1的检测;对24例非胰腺消化疾病、30例慢性胰腺炎、17例胰腺癌病人同时检测FE1和尿苯甲酰酪氨酰对氨基苯甲酸(BT PABA)。结果(1)正常人FE1浓度范围为136～1380(966.93±256.17)μg/g,各年龄组FE1浓度的差异无统计学意义。(2)慢性胰腺炎的FE1平均值为(208.80±197.72)μg/g,范围为15～900μg/g;胰腺癌组的FE1为(175.00±172.25)μg/g,范围为15～460μg/g;前两组FE1值均明显低于非胰腺疾病组[(502.63±210.28)μg/g](P<0.05)。(3)胰源性腹泻组FE1值[(166.11±192.35)μg/g]明显低于非胰源性腹泻组[(444.50±212.91)μg/g](P<0.01)。FE1检测胰源性腹泻的敏感性为77.8%,特异性为89.5%。尿BT PABA检测胰源性腹泻的敏感性为50.0%,特异性为42.9%。(4)FE1诊断慢性胰腺炎的敏感性为63.3%,特异性为97.3%。结论中国正常人的FE1浓度为(966.93±256.17)μg/g,不同年龄组正常人FE1浓度无明显差异。FE1诊断慢性胰腺炎的特异性较高,并对胰源性和非胰源性腹泻具有鉴别诊断价值。     

Coeliac autoimmunity in type I diabetes mellitus

Background and study aimsCoeliac autoimmunity (CA) has a known association with type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) for which screening is routinely recommended but less frequently followed. The impact of CA in T1DM has been variably reported. The aims of this study are as follows: (1) to study the prevalence of CA in patients with T1DM and (2) to study the impact of CA not only on nutritional parameters but also on glycaemic control, endocrine axes and bone health.Patients and methodsEighty-six consecutive patients with T1DM were screened for CA using immunoglobulin A (IgA) tissue transglutaminase as a marker (TTG; IgG anti-gliadin in IgA-deficient case). CA positive (CA+) cases were compared with age-matched and sex-matched CA negative (CA−) T1DM cases for anthropometry, glycaemic control (assessed by glycated haemoglobin (HbA1c) and hypoglycaemic/hyperglycaemic episodes), endocrine (thyroid function, cortisol, growth hormone (GH) axis, gonadal axes), haematological (haemoglobin, iron profile and vitamin B₁₂ status) and calcium metabolism parameters and bone densitometry (by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA)). Consenting patients with CA also underwent upper gastrointestinal (GI) endoscopy with duodenal biopsy.ResultsOut of 86 patients, 11 (12.75%) screened positive for CA (seven patients underwent duodenal biopsies which were suggestive of Marsh grade III(2), II(3) and I(2) disease). The CA+ T1DM patients were comparable with CA− T1DM in terms of anthropometry. CA+ patients had higher HbA1c (10.7 ± 1.8 vs. 8.4 ± 1.0 (93 ± 19 vs. 68 ± 11 mmol/mol); p < 0.01), more hypoglycaemic episodes (five vs. two; p < 0.05), higher prevalence of iron and vitamin B₁₂ deficiency, lower insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) levels and lower bone mineral density (BMD) z-score at total body (−1.91 ± 1.05 vs. −0.63 ± 0.73; p < 0.05) and lumbar spine (−1.69 ± 0.92 vs. −0.36 ± 0.93; p < 0.05). The incidence of fractures in the past 3 years was also more in CA+ patients than in CA− patients (four vs. one; p < 0.05).ConclusionCA has an important autoimmune association with T1DM. The concomitant presence of CA adversely affects stature, bone health, glycaemic control and iron and B₁₂ levels in T1DM. IgA sufficiency should be ensured before using an IgA-based screening test for CA.     

Blood hyperviscosity syndrome in type I diabetes mellitus

Blood rheological properties and oxygen metabolism were investigated in 50 patients with type I insulin dependent diabetes mellitus. Metabolic and morphological phases of the blood hyperviscosity syndrome were defined in relation to the nature of hemorheological disturbances. Oxygen metabolic disturbances were of unidirectional type manifesting themselves in a decrease in tissue oxygenation and the development of tissue hypoxia. Such disturbances of rheological properties and oxygen metabolism caused the development and progression of diabetic microangiopathies. Therefore pharmacological correction of hemorheological disturbances is a reserve method of therapy of patients with diabetes mellitus.     

The role of fecal elastase-1 in detecting exocrine pancreatic disease

Exocrine pancreatic disease is thought to be uncommon in clinical practice and usually secondary to excess alcohol intake. Although excess alcohol intake does account for many cases of exocrine pancreatic disease, other conditions are associated with exocrine pancreatic insufficiency and such dysfunction perhaps occurs more frequently than conventionally expected. A reliable, patient-friendly, cheap and easy to use test for exocrine pancreatic disease is yet to be established; however, in many countries the main (and often only available) method of assessment of exocrine pancreatic function is the fecal-elastase-1 test. This Review examines the role of fecal-elastase-1 testing in detecting exocrine pancreatic insufficiency in a number of gastrointestinal and nongastrointestinal conditions and determines the value of pancreatic enzyme supplementation in these settings.     

1型糖尿病细胞疗法的现状与未来

1型糖尿病(T1DM)是由T淋巴细胞介导的胰岛β细胞特异性免疫损伤而致胰岛素绝对缺乏,进而引起血糖升高。胰岛素替代是目前临床主要的治疗方法,虽能控制高血糖,但不能遏制胰岛功能进行性衰竭,无法有效阻止糖尿病相关并发症的发生。细胞疗法基于T1DM病理生理特征,旨在通过胰岛β细胞替代或再生治疗保护甚至重建内源性胰岛素分泌系统,从而改善疾病进程与预后,是T1DM治疗领域备受关注的研究方向。本文将围绕胰岛移植与多能干细胞在T1DM治疗中的研究现况及发展方向进行论述。     

Cardiovascular complications in type 1 diabetes mellitus

Although the issue of cardiovascular complications in type 2 diabetic patients is widely discussed, and recommendations for such screening are available, it is less common to do so for type-1 diabetes. Yet, independent of age, the mortality rate due to ischaemic cardiac disease is higher among type 1 diabetic patients (both male and female) than in the general population. Type 1 diabetic patients have certain specific characteristics related not only to atherosclerotic plaque and cardiovascular risk factors, but also to their capacity for physical activity and to the prevention of cardiovascular complications induced by hypoglycaemia.     

Cardiovascular disease in type 1 diabetes mellitus

The association between type 1 diabetes and coronary heart disease has become very clear since the late 1970. It has been demonstrated that there is an important increased risk in morbidity and mortality caused by coronary artery disease in young adults with type 1 diabetes compared with the non diabetic population. The underlying pathogeneses is still poorly understood. While the role of glycemic control in the development of microvascular disease complication is well established its role in CVD in patients with DM1 remains unclear with epidemiologic studies reporting conflicting data. Recent findings from the DCCT/EDIC showed that prior intensive diabetes treatment during the DCCT was associated with less atherosclerosis, largely because of reduced level of HbA1c during the DCCT. The improvement of glycemic control itself appeared to be particularly effective in younger patients with shorter duration of the disease. Other analyses suggested the glycemia may have a stronger effect on CAD in patients without than in those with albuminúria. Other major determinants of coronary artery disease are the components of metabolic syndrome and the surrogate measure of insulin resistence: eGDR. It is proposed that patients with DM1 should have aggressive medical therapy, risk factor modification and careful monitoring not only of his blood sugar but also of the other processes involved in the atherosclerotic process, mostly the ones with family history of type 2 diabetes.