A polymorphism in the promoter of UCP2 gene modulates lipid levels in patients with type 2 diabetes

A G/A single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) in the position -866 of the UCP2 promoter modulates UCP2 expression in adipose tissue and pancreatic beta-cell, and is associated with variations of body mass index (BMI) and insulin secretion in nondiabetic subjects. We investigated associations of this SNP with traits related to obesity, dyslipidemia, and hyperglycemia in patients with type 2 diabetes. The -866 G/A SNP in the UCP2 promoter was genotyped by PCR/RFLP in 681 type 2 diabetic patients. Increased triglyceride (> or = 1.70 mM), total cholesterol (> or = 6.0 mM) and LDL-cholesterol (> or = 3.35 mM) levels were significantly less frequent in homozygous carriers of the G-allele than in homozygous carriers of the A-allele. Odds ratios for the risk of dyslipidemia in GG vs AA carriers were 0.45, 0.57, and 0.50, for triglyceride, total cholesterol and LDL-cholesterol, respectively (all p<0.007). No genetic effects of this polymorphism on the BMI or on traits related to the severity of hyperglycemia were observed. In conclusion, a common polymorphism in the promoter region of the UCP2 gene modulates triglycerides and cholesterol levels in French Caucasian subjects with type 2 diabetes. The implications of this effect in the evolution of type 2 diabetes and its macrovascular complications deserve to be investigated.     

Adrenal insufficiency and diabetes mellitus secondary to the use of topical corticosteroids for cosmetic purpose

We report a case of symptomatic topical corticosteroid-induced adrenal insufficiency and diabetes in a 46-yr old HIV 1 positive woman of African descent. Topical Betamethasone dipropionate 0.05%-containing creams were used for the purpose of bleaching over a 2 month period prior to the acute episode. She recovered from her acute onset diabetes with ketosis and adrenal insufficiency a few months after withdrawal of corticosteroids. Despite possible discussion about pathophysiology of diabetes because acute-onset remitting diabetes is not rare in patients of African descent, and diabetes may occur in patients taking anti-retroviral treatments, no other cause of a hypothalamo-pituitary-adrenal axis disorder was found. This case suggests that chronic use of high dose topical corticosteroid containing creams should be ruled out in patients presenting with Hypothalamo-Pituitary-Adrenal hypofunction.     

Updating of the 12th consensus conference of the Société de Réanimation de langue française (SRLF): catheter related infections in the intensive care unit

Concerning catheter-related infections, many studies have been conducted until the last consensus conference of the Société de réanimation de langue française (SRLF) in 1994. This text is the synthesis of the considerable amount of work performed by the experts of the society to review recent studies. The experts’ texts as well as extensive bibliography are available at http://www.srlf.org.     

The significance of distal bronchial samples with commensals in ventilator-associated pneumonia: colonizer or pathogen?

STUDY OBJECTIVE: To investigate the role of oropharyngeal and cutaneous commensal microorganisms (OCCs) as a cause of ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP). DESIGN: Retrospective analysis of the medical and microbiological records. SETTING: One medical-surgical ICU. PATIENTS: All VAP episodes recorded during a 10-year period were reviewed. All patients with suspected VAP underwent bronchoscopy with protected-specimen brush (PSB) sampling and BAL before any change in antibiotic therapy was made. OCC-VAP was defined as VAP with significant growth in quantitative cultures (PSB yielded > or = 10(3) cfu/mL and/or BAL yielded > or = 10(4) cfu/mL) of OCCs only. Three experts reviewed the episodes. Exposed patients (ie, those with OCC-VAP) and unexposed patients (ie, patients without VAP) matched on condition severity at ICU admission and mechanical ventilation duration were compared. RESULTS: Twenty-nine episodes in 28 patients with > or = 10(4) cfu/mL OCCs in BAL fluid and/or > or = 10(3) cfu/mL OCCs in PSB specimens were found. All patients in these episodes had new radiologic lung infiltrates, with 26 episodes involving purulent tracheal aspirates, 23 episodes involving temperatures > or = 38.5 degrees C, and 18 episodes involving > or = 11,000 leukocytes/ microL. The main OCCs found were non-beta-hemolytic Streptococcus spp (n = 12), Neisseria spp (n = 7), and coagulase-negative Staphylococcus spp (n = 6). Other possible reasons for fever and the presence of new chest infiltrates were found in 20 and 17 patients, respectively. Histologic evidence of pneumonia was found in 2 of the 10 patients who died. The three experts agreed on the diagnosis for 23 patients. In the OCC-VAP group only, the mean (+/- SD) logistic organ dysfunction (LOD) scores increased significantly (LOD score, 2 +/- 4; p = 0.008) during the 3 days before bronchoscopy, and ICU stay duration was longer than in the unexposed group. The exposed/unexposed study found no difference in mortality. CONCLUSION: OCCs may behave like classic nosocomial pathogens in critically ill patients.     

Spontaneous rupture of non-tumoral kidneys in patients with end stage renal failure: risks and management

OBJECTIVES: To determine the risks and treatment modalities of spontaneous subcapsular or perinephric bleeding in end stage renal patients. METHODS: 8 patients with end stage renal failure developed a spontaneous hemorrhage of one of their native kidneys and were referred to our institution. They were all men. Six of them presented an acquired renal cystic disease. Symptoms included sudden abdominal pain in 7 patients, vomiting in 2 and hematuria in 1. Symptoms were always associated with a hemoglobin decrease. Four patients were receiving oral anticoagulants for various reasons and one had thrombopenia. Bleeding was confirmed by computerized tomography and nephrectomy undertaken in all cases. RESULTS: 3 patients died in the immediate post-operative period. Histologic findings confirmed bleeding and did not find any other abnormality than those related to renal insufficiency (cysts and atrophy). CONCLUSION: Renal rupture should be considered in case of unexplained distress or sudden fall of the hemoglobin especially when patients are on anticoagulants. Surgery is our preferred treatment because of the frequency of unrevealed tumours and the potential mortality of massive hematomas.     

A dinucleotide repeat polymorphism at the poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase gene is not associated with predisposition to type 1 diabetes in French Caucasians

The poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP) is a nuclear enzyme that detects and binds DNA strand breaks. Excessive PARP activation leads to the death of mice islet beta-cells by depleting cellular energy reserves. On the other hand, PARP-mutant mice are resistant to streptozotocine-induced diabetes, and in the non-obese diabetic (NOD) mouse model, treatment with nicotinamide, a PARP inhibitor, protects islet cells against cytotoxic actions in vitro and results in a decreased incidence of type 1 diabetes. PARP gene in human is located within a recently identified type 1 diabetes-susceptibility region on chromosome 1q41-42, and contains a polymorphic CA dinucleotide repeat in the promoter region. To consider the putative involvement of PARP polymorphism in predisposition to type 1 diabetes, we performed genotyping for the various alleles of the CA dinucleotide repeat in 158 unrelated French Caucasian patients with type 1 diabetes and 193 ethnically-matched healthy controls. We found no significant difference of PARP alleles distribution between patients and controls, even after stratification of the patients according to HLA class II genotype or to age at disease onset. Our results suggest that this PARP polymorphism does not influence susceptibility to type 1 diabetes in French Caucasians.     

Insulin autoimmune syndrome: a rare cause of hypoglycaemia not to be overlooked

We report the case of a Caucasian patient with insulin autoimmune syndrome (IAS), defined as the association of hypoglycaemic attacks with insulin autoantibodies in individuals not previously treated with exogenous insulin. This rare syndrome (more than 200 published cases) has been reported mainly in Japan. Most affected patients present with other autoimmune disorders, most often Graves' disease. In most cases, insulin autoantibodies appear a few weeks after the beginning of treatment with a drug containing a sulphyldryl group. A significant increase in insulin and C-peptide plasma concentrations and the presence of other antiorgan antibodies are observed. The susceptibility haplotype is present in the Japanese population, which may account for the high frequency of IAS. Spontaneous remission is observed in 80% of cases, with cessation of hypoglycaemic attacks and disappearance of insulin autoantibodies some months after withdrawal of the drug. This rare cause of hypoglycaemia in Caucasian subjects should be considered in aetiologic investigation of spontaneous hypoglycaemia.