Effects of weight loss after bariatric surgery for morbid obesity on vascular endothelial growth factor-A, adipocytokines, and insulin.

BACKGROUND: Adipocytes regulate blood vessel formation, and in turn endothelial cells promote preadipocyte differentiation through the expression of proangiogenic factors, such as vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF)-A. Some adipocytokines and hormones also have an effect on vascular development. OBJECTIVES: Our objectives were to analyze the relationship between weight and circulating VEGF-A in morbidly obese subjects before and after bariatric surgery, and investigate the relationship between circulating VEGF-A and certain adipocytokines and hormones regulating adipocytes. METHODS: A total of 45 morbidly obese women and nine lean females were included in the study. Patients underwent bariatric surgery: vertical banded gastroplasty (n=17), gastric bypass (n=17), and biliopancreatic diversion (n=11). Serum samples for VEGF-A, adiponectin, leptin, ghrelin, and insulin were obtained preoperatively and 9-12 months after surgery. RESULTS: Obese patients showed significantly higher VEGF-A levels than controls (306.3+/-170.3 vs. 187.6+/-91.9 pg/ml; P=0.04), decreasing to 246.1+/-160.4 after surgery (P<0.001), with no differences among surgical procedures. In controls there was an inverse correlation between VEGF-A and ghrelin (r=-0.85; P<.01), but not in obese patients. Leptin and insulin concentrations were increased in obese patients, with a significant decrease shown after weight loss with surgery. Conversely, adiponectin concentrations were lower in obese patients, with a significant increase shown after weight loss with surgery. Ghrelin was higher in controls than obese patients, decreasing after gastric bypass and biliopancreatic diversion, but not after vertical banded gastroplasty. CONCLUSION: Serum VEGF-A levels are significantly higher in obese patients than in lean controls, decreasing after weight loss with bariatric surgery, behaving similarly to other hormones related to adipose mass like leptin and insulin.

Family physician and endocrinologist coordination as the basis for diabetes care in clinical practice.

BACKGROUND: To estimate the proportion of diabetic patients (DPts) with peripheral vascular disease treated at a primary health care site after an endocrinologist-based intervention, who meet ATP III and Steno targets of metabolic control, as well as to compare the outcome with the results of the patients treated by endocrinologists. METHODS: A controlled, prospective over 30-months period study was conducted in area 7 of Madrid. One hundred twenty six eligible diabetic patients diagnosed as having peripheral vascular disease between January 2003 and June 2004 were included in the study. After a treatment period of three months by the Diabetes team at St Carlos Hospital, 63 patients were randomly assigned to continue their follow up by diabetes team (Group A) and other 63 to be treated by the family physicians (FP) at primary care level with continuous diabetes team coordination (Group B). 57 DPts from Group A and 59 from Group B, completed the 30 months follow-up period. At baseline both groups were similar in age, weight, time from diagnosis and metabolic control. The main outcomes of this study were the proportion of patients meeting ATP III and Steno goals for HbA1c (%), Cholesterol, HDL cholesterol, LDL cholesterol, triglycerides, blood pressure, albumine-to-creatinine excretion ratio (ACR), body mass index (BMI), waist circumference (WC), anti-aggregation treatment and smoking status. RESULTS: At the end of the follow up, no differences were found between the groups. More than 37% of diabetic patients assigned to be treated by FP achieved a HbA1c < 6.5%, more than 50% a ACR < 30 mg/g, and more than 80% reached low risk values for cholesterol, LDL cholesterol, triglycerides, diastolic blood pressure and were anti-aggregated, and 12% remained smokers. In contrast, less than 45% achieved a systolic blood pressure < 130 mm Hg, less than 12% had a BMI < 25 Kg.m-2 (versus 23% in group A; p < 0.05) and 49%/30% (men/women) had a waist circumference of low risk. CONCLUSION: Improvements in metabolic control among diabetic patients with peripheral vascular disease treated at a primary health care setting is possible, reaching similar results to the patients treated at a specialized level. Despite such an improvement, body weight control remains more than poor in both levels, mainly at primary care level. General practitioner and endocrinologist coordination care may be important to enhance diabetes management in primary care settings. TRIAL REGISTRATION: Clinical Trial number ISRCTN75037597.

Evaluación de dos inmunoensayos altamente sensibles para la determinación de IGF-1 y GH séricas tras sobrecarga oral de glucosa en controles sanos / Evaluation of two highly sensitive assays for serum IGF-1 and GH determination following oral glucose tolerance test in healthy controls

Objetivo: Evaluar 2 ensayos sensibles para la determinación de insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1) y somatotropina (GH) tras la prueba de sobrecarga oral de glucosa (SOG) en controles sanos. Métodos: Se realizó una SOG con 75 g a 19 adultos sanos y se determinaron las concentraciones séricas de IGF-1 y GH. Las concentraciones de GH e IGF-1 se midieron mediante un ensayo inmunorradiométrico sensible (IRMA) y por un ensayo inmunométrico quimioluminiscente muy sensible (CLIA). Resultados: La concentración media de IGF-1 fue 153 ± 65 ng/ml medida por IRMA y 144 ± 56 ng/ml por CLIA. Las concentraciones medianas (rango intercuartílico) de GH basal por IRMA frente a CLIA fueron 0,8 (0,5-3) mg/l frente a 0,5 (0,1-2,4) mg/l. La mediana del nadir de GH medido por IRMA fue 0,4 (0,3-0,5) mg/l y 0,08 (0,01-0,22) mg/l con CLIA. Cuando en cada sujeto se calculó el cociente de GH basal IRMA/CLIA, se obtuvo una mediana del ratio en todo el grupo de 1,68. Igualmente, la mediana del ratio del nadir de GH IRMA/CLIA total fue 4,44. Uno de los sujetos no consiguió una supresión por debajo de los valores establecidos, con un nadir de GH de 1,2 mg/l por IRMA y 1 mg/l por CLIA, sobrepasando el punto de corte tradicional que define la presencia de acromegalia cuando el método de medida fue IRMA. Conclusiones: La evaluación del eje GH/IGF-1 debería realizarse con un ensayo inmunométrico quimioluminiscente muy sensible (CLIA). En nuestra opinión, no hay necesidad de rebajar el punto de corte en la supresión de GH para establecer el diagnóstico de acromegalia. No encontramos diferencias significativas en cuanto a sexo, IMC o edad respecto al nadir de GH, por lo que nuestros datos no apoyan la utilización de diferentes criterios para el cribado de acromegalia en varones y mujeres o en jóvenes y mayores (AU)

Objective: To evaluate 2 highly sensitive assays for serum insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) and growth hormone (GH) determination following an oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) in healthy controls. Methods: Nineteen healthy adults underwent a standard 75 g OGTT and GH and IGF-1 were measured. Serum GH and IGF-1 levels were assayed by a sensitive immunoradiometric assay (IRMA) and a highly sensitive chemiluminescent immunometric assay (CLIA). Results: The mean IGF-1 concentration was 153 ± 65 ng/ml measured by IRMA and 144 ± 56 ng/ml measured by CLIA. The median (interquartile range) basal GH concentrations by IRMA vs CLIA were 0.8 (0.5-3) mg/l vs 0.5 (0.1-2.4) mg/l. The median nadir GH measured by IRMA in these subjects was 0.4 (0.3-0.5) mg/l, and the mean nadir GH by CLIA was 0.08 (0.01-0.22) mg/l. When a ratio of basal IRMA/CLIA GH was calculated in each subject, the median ratio of basal IRMA/CLIA GH concentrations in subjects overall was 1.68. Similarly, the median ratio of nadir IRMA/CLIA GH values was 4.44. One of the subjects did not achieve GH suppression into the established normal range, with a GH nadir of 1.2 mg/l by IRMA and 1 mg/l by CLIA, overlapping with the traditional cut-off defining acromegaly when GH suppression was measured by IRMA. Conclusions: Highly sensitive chemiluminescent immunometric assays should be used to assess the GH/IGF-1 axis. In our opinion, there is no need for a lower GH suppression cut-off for diagnosing acromegaly. We found no significant gender-, BMI- or age-related differences in nadir GH levels and thus our results do not support different OGTT criteria for screening of acromegaly in men and women, or in younger and older subjects (AU)

Evaluation of two highly sensitive assays for serum IGF-1 and GH determination following oral glucose tolerance test in healthy controls.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate 2 highly sensitive assays for serum insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) and growth hormone (GH) determination following an oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) in healthy controls. METHODS: Nineteen healthy adults underwent a standard 75g OGTT and GH and IGF-1 were measured. Serum GH and IGF-1 levels were assayed by a sensitive immunoradiometric assay (IRMA) and a highly sensitive chemiluminescent immunometric assay (CLIA). RESULTS: The mean IGF-1 concentration was 153±65ng/ml measured by IRMA and 144±56ng/ml measured by CLIA. The median (interquartile range) basal GH concentrations by IRMAvs CLIA were 0.8 (0.5-3) µg/l vs 0.5 (0.1-2.4) µg/l. The median nadir GH measured by IRMA in these subjects was 0.4 (0.3-0.5) µg/l, and the mean nadir GH by CLIA was 0.08 (0.01-0.22) µg/I. When a ratio of basal IRMA/CLIA GH was calculated in each subject, the median ratio of basal IRMA/CLIA GH concentrations in subjects overall was 1.68. Similarly, the median ratio of nadir IRMA/CLIA GH values was 4.44. One of the subjects did not achieve GH suppression into the established normal range, with a GH nadir of 1.2 µg/l by IRMA and 1 µg/l by CLIA, overlapping with the traditional cut-off defining acromegaly when GH suppression was measured by IRMA. CONCLUSIONS: Highly sensitive chemiluminescent immunometric assays should be used to assess the GH/IGF-1 axis. In our opinion, there is no need for a lower GH suppression cut-off for diagnosing acromegaly. We found no significant gender-, BMI- or age-related differences in nadir GH levels and thus our results do not support different OGTT criteria for screening of acromegaly in men and women, or in younger and older subjects.

A preventative foot care programme for people with diabetes with different stages of neuropathy.

The aim of this study was to assess the efficacy of a preventative foot care programme, applied in a normal outpatient setting to decrease the incidence of foot ulcers in people with diabetes diagnosed as having neuropathy by neuropathy disability score (NDS), in relation to the severity of neuropathy based on the vibration perception threshold (VPT). A structured continuous preventative foot care programme was designed to ensure proper footwear, walking foot hygiene, callus care, nailcutting, water temperature checks, use of warming devices, bathroom surgery, foot care products and self-inspection. Continual foot-care education and treatment, including podiatry, were available. Evaluation was at least every 6 months. Diabetic patients (n=308) with neuropathy (NDS > or =6), 72.3+/-10.7 years old, 45% men, 10.9+/-8.8 years duration of diabetes, and HbA(1c) 6.5+/-1.3%, without a history of foot lesions were recruited over 3 years and followed-up for 4.6 (3-6) years. A low risk group (n=124) had a VPT<25 V while 184 had a VPT > or =25 V (high risk). In all 220 patients (71%) complied with the programme, compliance being 76 and 68% in low and high risk groups. The low risk group developed nine ulcers in nine patients, and the high risk group 24 ulcers in 19 patients. Of these eight and 19 ulcers, respectively, were in the non-compliant patient group, giving relative risk of 22 and eight compared with people attending the programme. Thus compliance with a preventative foot programme reduces the incidence of foot ulceration in people with diabetes with neuropathy. This decrease is relatively greater in patients with less severity of neuropathy. The simple design should be widely generalisable.