Factors influencing the prognosis of vascular disease in insulin-deficient diabetes of long duration: a seven-year follow-up.

Fifty-one insulin-dependent nonobese diabetics with duration of disease from 15 to 40 yr were reassessed after 7 yr. Those presenting with clinical vascular disease, hypertension, or elevated fasting triglycerides initially were found to have a bad prognosis. Serum cholesterol fasting blood sugar, age, or duration of diabetes were not related to outcome, Acute insensitivity to intravenous insulin was correlated with presence of initial vascular disease and was significantly related to both death and clinical deterioration in either large or small vessels over the period of follow-up. Insulin sensitivity was reproducible and may be of value in predicting the progression of long-term vascular changes in the insulin-requiring diabetic.     

SERUM THYROGLOBULIN LEVELS IN PRETERM NEONATES

Serum thyroglobulin (Tg) levels were determined in preterm neonates. Very high values were found at birth. A significant negative correlation was observed between Tg levels and gestational age. A longitudinal study indicates that a very sharp decrease in Tg levels occurred after birth. Three weeks after birth, the values were close to the values of full-term neonates. These high hTg values could result either from an increased turnover of hTg or from a lower clearance rate of this iodoprotein.     

Tissue characterization of the testes using ultrasonic CT. Work in progress

Ultrasonic computed tomography (UCT) can aid in characterizing tissue for the detection and diagnosis of leukemic infiltration of the testes. Preliminary studies in 6 healthy adults and 26 patients (3-20 years old) with leukemia or non-Hodgkin lymphoma suggest that elevated speed of sound in the testis may be an indicator of leukemic infiltration. UCT may become an important screening method for detecting testicular involvement. In long-term follow-up, UCT can be performed more frequently and easily than biopsy, which is the current screening method.