Smoking and development of type 2 diabetes in patients with decreased functional capacity

OBJECTIVE: Data regarding the possible contribution of cigarette smoking to development of type 2 diabetes are scarce and inconclusive. Patients with impaired functional capacity and diminished physical activity are prone to develop new diabetes. However, the role of smoking on diabetes incidence among these patients has not been specifically investigated. The present study was aimed to evaluate the association between cigarette smoking and development of type 2 diabetes in patients with coronary artery disease and decreased functional capacity over a 6.2-year follow-up period. METHODS: The study sample comprised 630 nondiabetic patients aged 45-74 years, with a fasting blood glucose of <126 mg/dl and with impaired functional capacity (New York Heart Association functional class II and III). The sample was classified into two groups: 1) non smokers (never and past smokers pooled together)--552 patients and 2) current smokers--78 patients. RESULTS: Smokers were younger but they had a relatively unfavorable lipid profile (with respect to apolipoproteins A, triglyceride and HDL-cholesterol levels). No significant differences between the groups were found for weight, body mass index, total cholesterol and blood pressure. During the follow-up, development of new diabetes was recorded in 98 patients: in 80 (14.5%) non smokers and in 18 (23.1%) smokers, p=0.05. Among the non smokers, there were no significant differences in diabetes incidence between 357 past smokers and 195 never smokers: respectively, 48 (13.4%) and 32 (16.4%), p=0.34. In addition, all-cause mortality among the smokers (23.1%) was significantly higher than in non smokers (12.7%), p=0.01. Multivariate analysis identified current smoking as an independent predictor of increased risk of new diabetes development with a hazard ratio of 1.94 (95% confidence interval 1.16-3.25). CONCLUSIONS: Current smoking was associated with an independent two-fold increased risk for development of type 2 diabetes in patients with impaired functional capacity.     

Seropositive rheumatoid arthritis associated with decreased diffusion capacity of the lung.

Sixty-two patients with classical or definite rheumatoid arthritis were subjected to lung function analysis. The various parameters--spirography, plethysmography, blood gas analysis, measurement of lung compliance, and diffusion capacity--were correlated with duration and stage of disease, and with rheumatoid factor titres. A statistically significant correlation was found to exist between Rose-Waaler titre and specific diffusion capacity. Similar results between Rose-Waaler titre and lung compliance, however, were not statistically significant.     

Global fibrinolytic capacity is decreased in polycystic ovary syndrome,suggesting a prothrombotic state

The polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD). Insulin resistance (IR), hyperandrogenism, and dyslipidemia are well-known cardiovascular risk factors in PCOS. Impaired fibrinolysis could also contribute to the development of CVD in PCOS. Global fibrinolytic capacity (GFC) is a recently developed method, which is reflected by the amount of generated D-dimer when the fibrinolysis of a freeze-dried fibrin clot is stopped by introducing aprotinin. GFC is sensitive to all the factors involved in the process of fibrinolysis. We evaluated whether women with PCOS have any alterations in the GFC and other essential hemostatic parameters. Fifty-nine nonobese, normal glucose-tolerant women with PCOS (age, 22.9 +/- 4.4 yr; body mass index, 23.0 +/- 2.4 kg/m(2) ) and 23 age- and body mass index-matched healthy controls participated. We measured GFC and triglycerides; total cholesterol; HDL-cholesterol (HDL-C); lipoprotein-a; prothrombin time; partial thromboplastin time; thrombin time; antithrombin III; factors II, V, VII, and X; fibrinogen; plasminogen; antiplasmin; and D-dimer. Serum glucose and insulin (at baseline and during a 75-g 2-h oral glucose tolerance test) were also measured, and IR was assessed by homeostatic model assessment. GFC was significantly lower in the PCOS group, compared with the control group (2.49 +/- 1.6 vs. 5.95 +/- 2.43 microg/ml, P < 0.001). All the other coagulation and fibrinolysis parameters were comparable between the two groups. The PCOS group had lower HDL-C and higher IR values. GFC was correlated with testosterone and free testosterone negatively and with HDL-C positively. There was no correlation between GFC and any of the IR parameters. Our results suggest that women with PCOS have impaired fibrinolysis, as reflected by the decreased GFC. This impairment is not related to the IR and may increase the risk of CVD in PCOS.     

Laparoscopic bladder diverticulectomy for large bladder diveticulum: a case report

Bladder diverticula are herniations of the bladder mucosa through the bladder wall musculature. Acquired bladder diverticula are the result of outlet obstruction, mostly benign prostate enlargement, infections, or urethral stricture. Traditionally, bladder diverticulum was excised by the open method. However, the laparoscopic technique has been widely used to treat many urologic diseases, including bladder diverticulum. Laparoscopic diverticulectomy can be performed transperitoneally or extraperitoneally. We report our initial experience with laparoscopic transperitoneal diverticulectomy for a large bladder diverticulum caused by bladder outlet obstruction. The patient had satisfactory micturition and was discharged on the eighth postoperative day.     

A case of protein-losing enteropathy in idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura with decreased IgA

A young woman presented with high fever and edema in January, 1984, and was diagnosed as having systemic lupus erythematosus. Prednisolone administration failed to improve her symptoms. In May she was admitted to hospital because of elevated erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), hypoproteinemia, hypogammaglobulinemia, hypocomplementemia, positive antinuclear antibody, elevated immune complex level, and diarrhea. Edema disappeared following administration of diuretics and albumin, although the pathogenesis was still undetermined. In September, she was referred to our institution because of severe watery diarrhea and hypoproteinemia. Endoscopic examination showed a diffuse inflammatory lesion in the duodenum and the colon. Radioisotopic⁵¹Cr-albumin study results were compatible with protein-losing enteropathy. Hypoproteinemia and inflammatory changes of the intestine were improved by antibiotics, suggesting that the inflammatory lesion was caused by bacterial infection. Despite the improvements in clinical symptoms and laboratory findings, the serum IgA level was still low and the thrombocytopenia remained. The morphological characteristics of the megakaryocytes were consistent with idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura. In May, 1986, the thrombocytopenia deteriorated, causing purpura. Prednisolone was administered again, and this resulted in normalization of the platelet count, although the IgA level remained low. Finally the prednisolone was stopped, and the IgA level gradually recovered, with the improvement of the enterocolitis. The exact pathogenesis of the whole picture in this case is unclear, but an 8-year-long clinical course suggests that the protein-losing was caused by an infectious enterocolitis superimposed on IgA deficiency.     

Effect of decreased local circulation on the absorptive capacity of a small-intestine loop in the dog

Summary The effect of local decrease of circulation (produced by arterial clamping) on the absorptive capacity of an isolated small-intestine loop in the dog was examined.In the case of isotonic glucose solution, a certain degree of reduction of blood supply did not result in a proportionate impairment of the absorptive capacity, because of a compensatory increase of the arteriovenous oxygen difference. In the case of glycocoll, the function of the local compensating mechanism observed with glucose could not be found. The absorption of sorbose was not influenced by the change of blood supply; the authors suppose, therefore, that its absorption occurs mostly through passive resorption.     

A case of Gitelman's syndrome with decreased angiotensin II-forming activity.

Gitelman's syndrome (GS) is a variant of Bartter's syndrome (BS) characterized by hypokalemic alkalosis, hypomagnesemia, hypocalciuria and secondary aldosteronism without hypertension. A 31-year-old Japanese man who had suffered from mild hypokalemia for 10 years was admitted to our hospital. He had metabolic alkalosis, hypokalemia and hypocalciuria. Since he had two missense mutations (R261C and L623P) in the thiazide-sensitive Na-Cl cotransporter (TSC) gene (SLC12A3), he was diagnosed as having GS. He showed hyperreninism and a high angiotensin I (Ang I) level, whereas his angiotensin II (Ang II) and aldosterone levels were not elevated. His angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) activities were normal, and administration of captopril inhibited the production of Ang II and aldosterone. We evaluated the Ang II-forming activity (AIIFA) of other enzymes in his lymphocytes. Interestingly, chymase-dependent AIIFA was not detected in the lymphocytes. Together, these results suggest that the lack of chymase activity resulted in the manifestation of GS without hyperaldosteronism.     

Mechanisms for decreased exercise capacity after bed rest in normal middle-aged men

The mechanisms responsible for the decrease in exercise capacity after bed rest were assessed in 12 apparently healthy men aged 50 +/- 4 years who underwent equilibrium gated blood pool scintigraphy during supine and upright multistage bicycle ergometry before and after 10 days of bed rest. After bed rest, echocardiographically measured supine resting left ventricular end-diastolic volume decreased by 16% (p less than 0.05). Peak oxygen uptake during supine effort after bed rest was diminished by 6% (p = not significant [NS]), whereas peak oxygen uptake during upright effort declined by 15% (p less than 0.05). After bed rest, increases in heart rate were also greater during exercise in the upright than in the supine position (p less than 0.05). Values of left ventricular ejection fraction increased normally during both supine and upright effort after bed rest and were higher than corresponding values before bed rest (p less than 0.05). After bed rest, increased left ventricular ejection fraction and heart rate largely compensated for the reduced cardiac volume during supine effort, but these mechanisms were insufficient to maintain oxygen transport capacity at levels during upright effort before bed rest. These results indicate that orthostatically induced cardiac underfilling, not physical deconditioning or left ventricular dysfunction, is the major cause of reduced effort tolerance after 10 days of bed rest in normal middle-aged men.     

Thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura associated with severe acute pancreatitis in a context of decreased ADAMTS13 activity: a case report

Thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (TTP) is a severe multisystemic microvascular disease defined by the association of hemolytic anemia, thrombocytopenia, acute renal failure, fever, and neurological disorders. The pathophysiology has recently been elucidated by the discovery of a von Willebrand factor-cleaving protease (ADAMTS13) deficiency involved in platelet aggregation and ischemia. The association between TTP and acute pancreatitis (AP) has rarely been reported, described either as a cause or a consequence. The role of ADAMTS13 during AP is still unknown. We describe the case of a 41-year-old woman who developed a TTP, with decreased ADAMTS13 activity, associated with severe AP. Published cases of thrombotic microangiopathy associated with AP are reviewed. The pathophysiology, management, prognostic factors, and rationale for treatment are discussed. AP should be sought in patients with TTP presenting with abdominal pain. On the other hand, TTP should be considered in patients with AP and thrombocytopenia.     

An unusual way to diagnose a rare case of bladder carcinoma in a patient with Crohn's disease

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Crohn's disease of unknown etiology may involve the urinary tract and may include a mass lesion on cystoscopy. PATIENTS AND RESULTS: We present an unusual case of asymptomatic urinary bladder carcinoma in a patient undergoing surgery for Crohn's ileitis.