Do patients with newly diagnosed type 2 diabetes have impaired physical fitness, and energy expenditures?

BACKGROUND: The disease-related components such as physical fitness and daily energy expenditure may change in each progressive period of type 2 diabetes. The purpose of this study was to compare the maximal aerobic capacity (VO2 max), muscle strength, trunk flexibility, total energy expenditure, daily physical activity, resting metabolic rate (RMR), body composition, and body fat distribution in newly diagnosed type 2 diabetic patients with those of healthy controls. METHODS: Eighty patients (40 male, 40 female) with type 2 diabetes and 80 (40 male, 40 female) controls were included in this study. All participants completed the measurements. RESULTS: It was determined that the VO2 max, muscle strength, daily number of steps, and total energy expenditure were lower, and the body fat percentage, and central obesity were higher in male and female type 2 diabetic patients, when compared with the controls. In addition, the lean body mass was decreased in male diabetic patients, compared with the controls. The fasting plasma glucose showed negative correlations with the maximal aerobic capacity, daily number of steps, and muscle strength in the patients in both genders. RMR and trunk flexibility values were not significantly different between the patients and the controls in either gender. CONCLUSION: We suggest that using exercise intervention especially comprised of strength training and aerobic activities, including not only daily slow activities but also moderate to vigorous activities, as a lifestyle modification in newly diagnosed type 2 diabetic patients might be helpful for the development of earlier and more successful illness management strategies.

The stability of choline ascorbate.

The stability of choline ascorbate was studied considering concentration, temperature, and pH of the drug solution. Our results revealed that choline ascorbate is almost fully stable with respect to these parameters. Practically no loss was observed when 3 x l0(-1) (50%) drug solution is preserved in the refrigerator, at ambient temperature, or at 37 degrees C for one year, a finding that favors the high stability of this compound. Choline ascorbate was also found to be more stable in comparison to vitamin C and crystalline ascorbic acid. Its dilution within a vitamin B solution did not modify the amount of ascorbic acid within 120 min at ambient temperature. We conclude that the choline ascorbate form of ascorbic acid appears to be more reliable and promising when the quality of therapy with this agent is concerned.

Lidocaine 10% in the endotracheal tube cuff: blood concentrations, haemodynamic and clinical effects.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects (common haemodynamic variables, peak cuff pressures, the incidence of reaction ('bucking') during extubation and the incidence of sore throat after operation) of lidocaine 10% instilled into the endotracheal tube cuff in intubated patients. Plasma concentrations of lidocaine were assayed. Seventy ASA class I-II patients scheduled for plastic surgery were studied. Patients were randomly divided in two groups: the cuff of the endotracheal tube was inflated with either lidocaine 10% (group L) or with saline (group S) immediately after endotracheal intubation. In group L patients, the haemodynamic changes were less (P < 0.05), and the peak cuff pressure was lower (P < 0.01) than for group S. At extubation, more patients reacted ('bucked') in group S (70.5% vs. 19.4%, P < 0.01). The incidence and severity of sore throat were significantly lower in group L 1 and 24-h after extubation. Plasma lidocaine concentrations did not reach toxic values. Lidocaine 10%, compared with saline, in the endotracheal tube cuff was associated with less disturbance of haemodynamic responses and less incidence of bucking during tracheal extubation. Lidocaine was also effective in reducing of incidence and severity of sore throat after operation.

Penetration of ciprofloxacin into pleural fluid.

The penetration of oral 1000 mg/day ciprofloxacin into pleural fluid is investigated in 15 patients with exudative pleural effusion. After 4 days of ciprofloxacin therapy ciprofloxacin concentrations were measured in plasma and pleural exudate simultaneously by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Mean serum ciprofloxacin level was 1.58 +/- 0.91 mg/L and mean pleural exudate concentration was 1.00 +/- 0.59 mg/L. The concentrations achieved were all above the MIC90 of the majority of Gram-positive and Gram-negative pathogens. It is concluded that ciprofloxacin penetrates well into the pleural fluid.