Effect of prolonged gliclazide therapy in non-insulin dependent diabetic subjects.

The effect of prolonged gliclazide treatment on diabetic metabolic control was studied in 10 subjects with non-insulin dependent diabetes mellitus. Patients were examined before, after 15 days of treatment with diet alone and, again, after 60 days of treatment with diet plus gliclazide. Gliclazide did not restore the abnormality of blood glucose, free insulin and C-peptide response to an intensive stimulus of glucose load, although fasting and after-load blood glucose, fasting glycosylated haemoglobin, alanine and lactate significantly decreased after prolonged treatment with diet plus gliclazide, but not with diet alone. These findings support the assumption that the efficacy of prolonged treatment with gliclazide might be related to its extrapancreatic effects on glucose homeostasis.

Calcium hormones in diabetic pregnancy.

To evaluate calcium hormones in diabetic pregnancy, eleven diabetic pregnant women were studied by measuring serum total calcium, phosphorus by conventional methods, and parathyroid hormone, calcitonin and 25-hydroxycholecalciferol, by radioimmunologic methods, serially every four weeks, beginning at 16th week throughout 36th week of gestation. Serum total calcium, phosphorus and parathyroid hormone levels dit not differ between diabetic and non diabetic pregnant women, nor between all pregnant women and age-matched non pregnant healthy women. Serum calcitonin levels, although significantly higher than those of age-matched non pregnant women, did not differ between diabetic and non diabetic pregnant women, maintaining constant with the progression of pregnancy. Serum 25-hydroxycholecalciferol levels, although contained within the normal range, increased significantly in the third trimester of gestation both in non diabetic pregnant women and, even though later, in diabetic pregnant women.

[Plasma levels of triglycerides, cholesterol, non-esterified fatty acids and uric acid, during oral glucose load, in subjects with type II diabetes and diminished glucose tolerance]. / Livelli plasmatici di trigliceridi, colesterolo, NEFA ed acido urico, in corso si carico orale di glucosio, in soggetti con diabete di tipo II e con diminuita tolleranza glicidica.

In order to study triglycerides, cholesterol, FFA and uric acid plasma levels after OGTT, 10 type II diabetics, 8 IGT subjects, 10 controls were studied. A progressive decrease of FFA plasma values in all groups is shown; there is also an increase in triglycerides vs. basal values in all groups, at 240'. In diabetics and IGT groups there are higher cholesterol levels than controls; IGT subjects have the highest uric acid levels, which in all groups decrease at 180' and 240'. We conclude triglycerides, FAA, uric acid are modified, cholesterol levels are unaffected by glucose oral load in all groups.

Study of pituitary secretion in relation to retinopathy in patients with juvenile diabetes mellitus.

Fifteen juvenile diabetic patients with normal eye fundus, 6 with non proliferative retinopathy, 5 with proliferative retinopathy and 5 healthy control subjects were studied in order to investigate pituitary function in relation to diabetic retinopathy. ACTH values at 08(00) and 18(00), hPRL and TSh secretion in response to 200 microgram TRH i.v., and GH secretion in response to 500 mg oral L-dopa were evaluated. In all diabetic subjects, 08(00) ACTH levels were lower than in controls. Basal hPRL, TSH and GH values of the diabetics did not differ from those of the controls. No significant differences were found in hPRL levels in response to TRH, whereas significantly lower TSH responses were found in the diabetics. L-dopa caused a significantly different response of GH in the diabetic subjects compared to controls. There is thus a considerable derangement in pituitary hormone secretion in juvenile diabetics mellitus.

[Effects of prolonged fasting and vagotomy on the ultrastructure of contractile myocardium in pigeons]. / Effetti del digiuno prolungato e della vagotomia sull'ultra struttura del miocardio contrattile degli uccelli.

Ultrastructural changes in pigeon heart following long fasting and vagotomy are reported. In the fasting pigeons several fat droplets surrounding the adjacent nearest mitochondria represent the most important finding. Conversely, in the fasting and vagotomized pigeons the mean finding is a large decrease of fat droplets. Ultrastructural findings appear related with biochemical changes by different experimental conditions.