Foot screening technique in a diabetic population

Foot complications are a well known factor which contribute to the morbidity of diabetes and increases the chance of amputation. A total of 126 consecutive diabetic patients were evaluated by diabetic foot screening. Forty-one patients showed an impaired protective sense when tested with Semmes-Weinstein monofilament 5.07 (10 g), and 92% of them showed peripheral polyneuropathy in nerve conduction study (NCS). The mean vibration score of the Rydel-Seiffer graduated tuning fork in patients with peripheral polyneuropathy in nerve conduction (NCV) study was 5.38+/-2.0, which was significantly different from that of patients without polyneuropathy in NCS. Among the deformities identified on examination, callus, corn, and hallux valgus were the greatest. While checking the ankle/ brachial index (ABI), we also evaluated the integrity of vasculature in the lower extremities. After extensive evaluation, we classified the patients into eight groups (category 0,1,2,3,4A,4B,5,6). The result of this study suggested that the Semmes-Weinstein monofilament test, Rydel-Seiffer graduated tuning fork test, and checking the ankle/brachial index were simple techniques for evaluating pathologic change in the diabetic foot by office screening, and that this screening based on treatment-oriented classification helps to reduce pedal complications in a diabetic population.     

Peripheral neuropathy in patients with diabetes mellitus presenting as Bell's palsy

The aim of this study is to evaluate the peripheral nerves in diabetes mellitus with or without peripheral facial paralysis (PFP). A total of 49 diabetic patients with PFP within the last year (23 females, mean age 60.3 +/- 9.3), and 83 diabetic patients without PFP (41 females, mean age 59.5 +/- 9.9) were enrolled. The neurological examination, eye-blinking response, needle EMG and electrophysiological parameters of peripheral nerves were evaluated. The neuropathic pain, other positive and negative sensory symptoms were statistically more frequent in controls than the PFP group, while no difference was noted in total neuropathy score. Sural sensorial nerve action potential amplitudes were same in both groups, but median nerve amplitudes were significantly lower in the PFP group. It is suggested that PFP is not a part of multifocal neuropathy in diabetes mellitus. However, at least some parts of the nerve conduction studies were involved, focal neuropathies were more frequent while sensory neuropathies with small nerve fiber involvement were less frequent in diabetes patients with PFP.     

The Role of Insulin Resistance in Diabetic Neuropathy in Koreans with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus: A 6-Year Follow-Up Study

Purpose

We previously reported that insulin resistance, low high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol, and glycaemic exposure Index are independently associated with peripheral neuropathy in Korean patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus. We followed the patients who participated in that study in 2006 for another 6 years to determine the relationship between insulin resistance and neuropathy.

Materials and Methods

This study involved 48 of the original 86 Korean patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus who were referred to the Neurology clinic for the assessment of diabetic neuropathy from January 2006 to December 2006. These 48 patients received management for glycaemic control and prevention of diabetic complications in the outpatient clinic up to 2012. We reviewed blood test results and the nerve conduction study findings of these patients, taken over a 6-year period.

Results

Low HDL cholesterol and high triglycerides significantly influenced the development of diabetic neuropathy. Kitt value (1/insulin resistance) in the previous study affected the occurrence of neuropathy, despite adequate glycaemic control with HbA1c <7%. Insulin resistance affected the development of diabetic neuropathy after 6 years: insulin resistance in 2006 showed a positive correlation with a change in sural sensory nerve action potential in 2012.

Conclusion

Diabetic neuropathy can be affected by previous insulin resistance despite regular glycaemic control. Dyslipidaemia should be controlled in patients who show high insulin resistance because HDL cholesterol and triglycerides are strongly correlated with later development of diabetic neuropathy.     

Comparison of the sensitivities of plantar nerve conduction techniques for early detection of diabetic sensory polyneuropathy

The purpose of this study was to determine the most sensitive diagnostic test for nerve conduction study (NCS) of the foot for early detection of diabetic polyneuropathy. We compared the sensitivities for diagnosis of sensory polyneuropathy of four different nerve conduction techniques in the same nerves: nerve conduction studies of the medial plantar nerve with surface electrodes using three different techniques and a nerve conduction study of the digital and interdigital nerves of the foot using a near-nerve needle technique. In 25 patients with diabetic polyneuropathy with normal routine NCS, diagnosis of sensory neuropathy was confirmed by medial plantar NCS in 5 patients (20.0%) using Guiloff's method, in 5 patients (20.0%) using Ponsford's method and in 9 patients (36.0%) using Hemmi's method. In digital and interdigital NCS of the foot, a definite neuropathy pattern was observed in 15 patients (60.0%). The most common abnormality was low amplitude of sensory nerve action potential, indicating axonal degeneration. This study demonstrated that digital and interdigital NCS using the near-nerve needle technique is a more sensitive method for detection of early-stage diabetic polyneuropathy.     

Autoimmune markers and neurological complications in non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus.

To verify whether autoimmune markers related to nervous system structures and other autoimmunity indexes present in diabetes mellitus are associated with subclinical neuropathy, we examined 48 non-insulin-dependent diabetic patients with and without neuroelectrophysiological alterations. Nerve conduction velocity at the external sciatic-popliteal nerve, at the sural nerve, at the median and ulnar nerves level has been evaluated. Autoimmunity was investigated by evaluating glutamic acid decarboxylase (GAD-Ab), insulin (IAA), GM3, GD3 and GT1b gangliosides, pancreatic islet cell (IC-A) and anti-nervous-tissue autoantibody presence. Nerve conduction velocities were decreased in 72.9% of diabetic patients. Anti-insulin antibodies were detected in seven non-insulin created diabetic patients and in higher amount in subjects with (17.1%) than in those without (7.7%) asymptomatic neuropathy. Anti-GM3 antibodies were detected in four diabetic patients all of whom presented neurological complication. A significant correlation has been found between neurological damage and presence of anti-insulin antibodies (p<0.05). In the case of GM3 autoantibody, a similar result was obtained, but the data failed to reach statistical significance. Our data demonstrate that autoimmunity might play a role in the development of peripheral neuropathy.     

糖尿病患者周围神经传导速度及其临床意义

目的探讨糖尿病患者周围神经传导速度的变化及其临床意义。方法应用日本光电MEB-2200型肌电／诱发电位仪，对56例临床上确诊为糖尿病的患者和30例健康人，进行了周围运动神经传导速度（MCV）及感觉神经传导速度（SCV）检查及研究。并进行对照分析。结果56例患者中MCV或SCV至少有一项异常者37例，占66％（37／56例）。其中正中神经异常率为35．7％（40／112侧），尺神经异常率为26．8％（30／112侧），腓总神经异常率为61．6％（69／112侧）。而临床上确诊有周围神经病变者仅为17．9％（10／56）。病程大于10年的糖尿病患者组MCV、SCV与健康人比较有统计学意义（P〈0．01）。异常率下肢高于上肢，且传导速度的改变呈双侧对称性并与病程有关。结论神经传导速度的测定对早期诊断糖尿病性周围神经病变（DPN）是有价值的。     

Somato-sensory evoked potentials in diabetes type I

Twenty-nine young patients with insulin dependent diabetes were studied. Clinical findings, metabolic profile, and neurophysiological data were correlated. Nerve conduction velocity (NCV) and Somato-sensory Evoked Potential (SEPs) were recorded stimulating the median nerve and the posterior tibial nerve bilaterally. High incidence of distal neuropathy was present in our cases plus a significant alteration of the plexus conduction, at the level of brachial plexus and of the cauda. We conclude that even in young diabetic patients the damage can be multifocal, and SEP technique could contribute to a more accurate study of neurological complication in the diabetic disease.     

Burden and pattern of micro vascular complications in type 2 diabetes in a tertiary health institution in Nigeria

Introduction

Diabetes mellitus (DM) afflicts at least 5 million people in Nigeria, with more than 80% having type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Microvascular complications increase both morbidity and mortality inpatients with T2DM. The aims of this study were to report the burden of various microvascular complications in T2DM and to identify various factors associated with these complications in patients with T2DM attending the diabetes outpatients'' clinic.

Methods

Ninety (90) patients with T2DM who have attended diabetes clinic for at least 3 months were recruited for this study. Detailed history, physical examination and biochemical analysis was done in each of the patients. All patients underwent a detailed standard evaluation to detect diabetic retinopathy (fundoscopy), neuropathy (10g monofilament and/or diabetes neuropathy scores), and nephropathy (microalbuminuria, macroalbuminuria, serum creatinine and estimated glomerular filtration rate).

Results

There was high prevalence of microvascular complications among patients with T2DM. Almost half of patients with T2DM had some form of microvascular complications; diabetic neuropathy being the commonest (69.6%),followed by nephropathy (54.5%) and retinopathy (48.9%). The factors associated with developing these complications were increasing age, duration of diabetes, hypertension and dyslipidaemia for nephropathy and neuropathy.

Conclusion

There is a high burden of microvascular complications in patients with type 2 diabetes. Age, male gender, hypertension, glycaemic control, BMI and duration of diabetes, and glycaemic control were factors associated with microvasular complications.     

Evaluation of the peroxynitrite decomposition catalyst Fe(III) tetra-mesitylporphyrin octasulfonate on peripheral neuropathy in a mouse model of type 1 diabetes

Whereas the important role of free radicals in diabetes-associated complications is well established, the contributions of the highly reactive oxidant peroxynitrite have not been properly explored. The present study used a pharmacological approach to evaluate the role of peroxynitrite in peripheral diabetic neuropathy. Control and STZ-diabetic mice were maintained with or without treatment with the potent peroxynitrite decomposition catalyst Fe(III) tetramesitylporphyrin octasulfonate (FeTMPS), at doses of 5 or 10 mg/kg/day in the drinking water for 3 weeks after an initial 3 weeks without treatment. Mice with a 6-week duration of diabetes developed clearly manifest motor (MNCV) and sensory nerve conduction velocity (SNCV) deficits, thermal hypoalgesia (paw withdrawal, tail-flick, and hot plate tests), mechanical hypoalgesia (tail pressure Randall-Sellito test), tactile allodynia (flexible von Frey filament test), and approximately 44% loss of intraepidermal nerve fibers. They also had increased nitrotyrosine and poly(ADP-ribose) immunofluorescence in sciatic nerve, grey matter of the spinal cord, and dorsal root ganglion neurons. FeTMPS treatment alleviated or essentially corrected (at a dose of 10 mg/kg/day) MNCV and SNCV deficits, and was associated with less severe small sensory nerve fiber dysfunction and degeneration. Nitrotyrosine and poly(ADP-ribose) immunofluorescence in sciatic nerve, spinal cord, and dorsal root ganglion neurons in peroxynitrite decomposition catalyst-treated diabetic mice was markedly reduced. In conclusion, peroxynitrite contributes to large motor, large sensory, and small sensory fiber neuropathy in streptozotocin-diabetic mice. The findings provide rationale for development of potent peroxynitrite decomposition catalysts for the treatment of diabetic neuropathy.     

The relationship of autonomic functional disturbance and atherosclerosis in type 2 diabetes

The aim of the study was to assess the relationship between the autonomic nerve disturbance and atherosclerotic changes in patients with type 2 diabetes. Aortic distensibility and max carotid intima-media thickness (Max IMT) were evaluated using brachial ankle pulse wave velocity (PWV) and high-resolution B-mode ultrasonography, respectively, in 135 patients (69 men, 66 women, 57 +/- 16 years) with type 2 diabetes. The autonomic neuropathy was evaluated using coefficient of variation of the RR interval (CV(R-R)) of electrocardiograms recorded at rest in a supine position. There was a significant negative correlation between CV(R-R)and Max IMT (r= -0.488, p< 0001). There were also significant negative correlations between CVR-(R a)nd the left and the right PWV(r=0.518, p<0.001; r=0.551, p<0.001, respectively). Patients with normal Max IMT, but decreased CVR-R, had a high PWV compared to patients with normal Max IMT and normal CVR-(R. )Therefore, decreased CVR-(R i)n type 2 diabetic patients may reflect atherosclerotic changes. Thus, the measurement of CVR-(R i)s a simple and quantitative test for assessing atherosclerotic as well as neuropathic complications in diabetic patients.     

Role of Blink Reflex in diagnosis of subclinical cranial neuropathy in Diabetic Mellitus type II

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Peripheral Neuropathy (PN) is one of the late complications of Diabetes Mellitus. Cranial nerves III, VII and V are among the most commonly affected in diabetic patients. Traditional Electrodiagnosis (Edx) studies are useful method for diagnosis of PN and symptomatic cranial neuropathy, and may not be useful for detecting subclinical involvement of cranial nerves. The main objective of this study is to evaluate the role of Blink Reflex (BR) for early diagnosis of cranial neuropathy in diabetic patients with PN. DESIGN: A prospective study was performed on NIDDM patients with a PN. 188 subjects were included in our study in which 142 acted as healthy subjects and 46 as diabetic patients. Patients were excluded with prior history of cranial nerve lesions, stroke, and other disease with polyneuropathy or drug-induced neuropathy. Routine nerve conduction studies were performed and only patients with PN were included in this study. RESULTS: Abnormalities were found in 54.4% of patients. R1, IR2 and CR2 were prolonged relative to healthy group. Statistically there was no significant difference in R/D ratio of patients (P = 0.201). Also there was a positive correlation between R1, IR2 and CR2 latencies with duration of diabetes and severity of polyneuropathy, but not for R/D. The greatest correlation was shown in R1 latency (69.9% abnormality). CONCLUSION: BR is a non-invasive and very useful method for evaluation and diagnosis of subclinical cranial nerve involvement in diabetic patients.     

Early peripheral nerve abnormalities in impaired glucose tolerance

Increased prevalence of impaired glucose tolerance (IGT) has been recently detected in patients with painful sensory neuropathy. To determine whether nerve abnormalities are present in IGT we investigated IGT subjects without clinical neuropathy. Nerve conduction studies (NCS) were performed in 12 subjects with IGT without symptoms and signs of neuropathy. The results were compared with those obtained from 12 patients with type 2 diabetes (DM) without clinical neuropathy and 12 healthy controls. Sensory NCS of the sural nerve were performed on different segments, the distal-leg (10 cm proximal to the lateral malleolus) and the proximal-leg segment (10 cm more proximal). The distal conduction velocity of the sural nerve was increased in IGT subjects, compared both to healthy controls and DM patients. No difference was found among the groups with respect to the sensory conduction velocity of the sural nerve fibers in the proximal-leg segment. A reduction of both distal and proximal amplitudes of the sural nerve action potentials was detected in DM patients compared with IGT subjects and controls. The abnormal conduction velocity in the distal segment of the sural nerve, observed in IGT subjects without clinical neuropathy, suggests that the myelin dysfunction of the distal sensory fibers represents the earliest detectable nerve response to the hyperglycemia. The reduced amplitude of the sural nerve action potential in asymptomatic patients with DM arises from the axonal degeneration and represents a more advanced stage of nerve disease.     

Autonomic neuropathy in type I diabetes: influence of duration and other diabetic complications

To evaluate the influence of duration on the development of autonomic neuropathy (AN) a group of type I diabetic patients (n = 58) who had been diagnosed between the ages of 15 and 25 years was investigated. The duration of diabetes varied from 2 months to 30 years (mean 13 years). AN tests included a deep breathing test (E/I ratio) and an orthostatic test on tilt table (acceleration and brake indices) and the results were corrected for age. A clear correlation between AN test and duration of diabetes was shown only for the E/I ratio (r = -0.44, p less than 0.001). On the other hand, deteriorations in the brake index were unrelated to the duration of diabetes and occurred early; 35% of the patients with a duration of 10 years or less showed an abnormal brake index. Autonomic test deviations were related to other diabetic complications. The E/I ratio and the acceleration index were especially low in patients with retinopathy as well as in patients with symptoms of AN if combined with peripheral neuropathy (PN). The brake index was low in patients with symptoms of AN independent of PN.     

Luteolin improves the impaired nerve functions in diabetic neuropathy: behavioral and biochemical evidences

Peripheral neuropathies are a major cause of morbidity in patients with diabetes mellitus. Up to now, drugs for improving the impaired nerve functions has been lacking for diabetic neuropathy. The antioxidant and neuroprotective effects of luteolin make it an attractive candidate for diabetic neuropathy. The present study was designed to investigate the putative beneficial effect of luteolin on diabetic neuropathy. Diabetic rats were intraperitoneally treated with daily luteolin (50 mg/kg, 100 mg/kg and 200 mg/kg) or vehicle for 3 weeks from the 28^th day after streptozotocin injection. Behavioral, electrophysiological and biochemical studies were performed to evaluate the effect of luteolin on the impaired nerve functions in diabetic neuropathy. It was found that luteolin dose dependently alleviated abnormal sensation, improved nerve conduction velocities and nerve blood flow in diabetic rats. Biochanical analysis showed that luteolin significantly lowered the reactive oxygen species production and malondialdehyde level, as well as increased antioxidants activities in a dose dependent manner. In addition, luteolin significantly up-regulated the protein levels of nuclear factor-E2-related factor-2 (Nrf2) and heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) in diabetic nerves. Taken together, luteolin is capable of improving diabetes-induced deficit in motor and sensory functions, which could be attributable, at least in part, to its Nrf2-dependent antioxidant capacity. The findings in the present study highlight the therapeutic value of luteolin for diabetic neuropathy.     

Decrease of macrovascular hyperemic response of blood flow in diabetics with arterial neuropathy

Summary Doppler sonographic examination of 51 diabetic subjects showed that the macrovascular hyperemic response of the pedal blood flow was negatively correlated to the duration of the disease (p<0.01). In comparison with non-diabetic controls (n=20), the response was increased by more than 210% in newly detected diabetics, but decreased by more than 20% in long-term diabetics. Vascular response was correlated also not only to the duration of the diabetes, but to peripheral neuropathy (p<0.001). The hyperemic response was reduced in patients with reduced nerve conduction time, or somatic neuropathy (142+152%,p< 0.005), and in patients with reduced arterial pulsation, or autonomic neuropathy (152+88,p< 0.005), both in comparison with non-diabetic controls (293±108%). The frequency of decreased macrovascular hyperemic response was in agreement with somatic neuropathy in 69.7% and with autonomic neuropathy in 75.8% of all patients. The results demonstrate that the macrovascular hyperemic response of blood flow in diabetic feet is already reduced at an early stage of peripheral neuropathy without peripheral vascular occlusive disease. The functional reduction of pedal blood flow may be important for the development of diabetic foot gangrene.Abbreviations PVD Peripheral vascular disease - ATR Achilles tendon reflex - RPT Pulse reappearance time - NPM Nervus peroneus motoricus - NSS Nervus suralis sensiblis     

神经传导速度早期诊断糖尿病性周围神经病

本文对58例糖尿病人进行了神经传导速度(NCV)测定,其中有周围神经损害的症状和体征,临床诊断为糖尿病并发周围神经病者32例,临床无周围神经损害的糖尿病者26例。其结果表明,NCV测定为判断周围神经损害的一种客观指标,且感觉神经测定比运动神经敏感,下肢胫神经测定比上肢敏感,也可提示亚临床期的周围神经病变,有助于糖尿病性周围神经病的早期诊断。     

糖尿病周围神经病变临床诊断的研究进展

糖尿病周围神经病变（DPN）是糖尿病最常见的慢性并发症之一,患者可出现肢体的麻木、疼痛及感觉异常,其中以远端对称性多发性周围神经病变（DSPN）最为多见。目前DPN的筛查方式多样,其中五项筛查、单丝和音叉检查是临床常用的初筛方式,各类量表可为DPN作等级评估,神经传导速度（NCV）是目前公认的诊断金标准。此外,高频超声、角膜共聚焦显微镜、磁共振神经成像等新兴检查方法优势逐步显露。由于DPN是炎症、氧化应激、免疫损伤等多种因素共同作用的结果,因此医师们也在积极探索相关血清学指标,以求为DPN的早期诊断提供更多临床依据。     

The cutaneous silent period in diabetes mellitus

The cutaneous silent period (CSP) may be useful as a method for the evaluation of smaller and unmyelinated fiber dysfunctions. CSP refers to the brief interruption in voluntary contraction that follows strong electrical stimulation of a cutaneous nerve. The aim the present study is to establish whether CSP can be instrumental in the determination of diabetic neuropathy. The nerve conduction studies and CSP evaluations were both used in patients with Diabetes Mellitus and control group. All patients were given clinical neurological examinations for the determination of small-fiber neuropathy (SFN). The CSP values for patients with SFN were compared with values of those without SFN. The nerve conduction velocities had changed unfavorably in diabetic patients. No median nerve CSP reponse could be obtained in two of the diabetic patients. CSP latency (84.6+/-14.0) in diabetics was longer than controls (76.2+/-13.1) (p=0.018). The duration of CSP was similar for the two groups (p=0.46). The CSP latency showed a correlation with routine nerve conduction studies. While the CSP latencies (86.7+/-15.8) of patients who were clinically diagnosed with SFN were similar to the latencies (81.3+/-10.4) of patients without SFN (p=0.606), the duration of CSP (44.6+/-13.7) in patients with SFN was shorter than the duration (55.3+/-12.2) in patients without SFN (p=0.012). These results indicate that even though the CSP does not provide any advantage over routine electrodiagnostic studies in determining diabetic neuropathy, still it may be a useful method for the early detection of diabetic SFN.     

皮肤交感反应对糖尿病自主神经病的诊断价值

目的：探讨皮肤交感反应（SSR）检查对诊断糖尿病自主神经病的价值。方法：将122例2型糖尿病患者分为有自主神经症状组（71例）和无自主神经症状组（51例）,每位患者进行神经传导检查及SSR检查。分析比较两组患者SSR与神经传导检查结果的差异。结果：两组间SSR、神经传导的检查结果比较差异无统计学意义（P〉0．05）。43例SSR正常的患者中有29例（65．9％）有自主神经症状,22例（51。2％）病程短于5年;79例SSR异常的患者中有43例（54．4％）有自主神经症状,37例（46．8％）糖化血红蛋白（HbA1C）高于8．5％。结论：SSR与自主神经症状无明显相关性;糖尿病控制情况及病程对SSR结果均有影响。     

神经传导速度对糖尿病周围神经病的诊断价值

目的 :探讨神经传导速度 (NCV)对糖尿病周围神经病 (DPN)的诊断价值。方法 :对 5 0例糖尿病患者分为有症状组和无症状组 ,进行周围神经NCV的测定 ,与健康人对照 ,同时行相关因素分析。结果 :糖尿病患者运动神经传导速度 (MCV)、感觉神经传导速度 (SCV)与健康人比较存在明显差异 ,且有症状组更显著 (P <0 0 5 ) ;患者的NCV与空腹血糖无明显相关 ,而与病程长短呈正相关。结论 :周围神经NCV的检测有助于DPN的早期诊断