Clinical use of an analysis of oxidative stress and IL-6 as the promoters of diabetic polyneuropathy.

Aim To investigate interleukin 6 (IL-6) values depending on duration of diabetes mellitus (DM) and evaluate possible correlation with diabetic polyneuropathy. Methods The research study included 90 patients with DM divided into three groups (30 patients each) according to the duration of DM: group A - patients who had DM for less than 10 years, group B - duration of DM was 10 to 20 years, and group C - patients with DM over 20 years. Control group (K) included 30 healthy participants. Results IL-6 was significantly higher in the healthy control group, 180.318 pg/mL±94.18, than in group A, 47.23pg/ml±34.8, group B, 43.31pg/ml±33.17, and group C, 70.39 pg/ml±59.26 (p=0.0001). All groups had significantly different values of IL-6 between each other (p=0.0001). Level of IL-6 was in correlation with diabetic polyneuropathy in the group A (the youngest participants) (p=0.0001). In other groups there was no significant correlation between IL-6 and diabetic polyneuropathy. Conclusion The level of IL-6 was in correlation with neuropathy among younger patients. A higher level of IL-6 in the control group than in diabetic groups is a sign of stronger inflammatory response among younger and healthy people than in patients with DM.

The role of metabolic therapy with trimetazidine in effort tolerance in patients with ischemic heart disease.

Aim To investigate whether or not additional treatment of ischemic heart disease with trimetazidine could improve effort tolerance and overall quality of life of patients with ischemic heart disease. Methods The study included 200 patients with ischemic heart disease. The sample was divided into 2 randomly selected groups: experimental and control group. The diagnostic procedures included: trade-mill test according to Bruce protocol, heart ultrasound for assessment of ejection fraction, test for the assessment of quality of life and subjective problems (Short Form SF 36). Patients were tested for time of discharge from hospital, after 6 and 12 months, including re-evaluation of the overall condition of the previous period. Results Patients have been tested for the tolerance of effort with the measurement Metabolic Equivalent of TASK (METs), which is the equivalent of physical labor. Patients treated with trimetazidine since the time of hospital discharge achieved an average of 3.68, after 6 months 5.68, and after 12 months 7.79 METs. The control group achieved 3.68, 3.59 and 3.87 METs, respectively. Using Mann-Whitney test no difference at discharge time (p=0.880), but after six and twelve months there was some difference (p<0.001). Results of ejection fraction measured by echocardiography were similar. No difference between the two groups with regard to time of discharge (p=0.821, but p<0.001 after six and twelve months, respectively). Conclusion Patients treated with conventional therapy including trimetazidine have better tolerance to effort and better ejection fraction on heart ultrasound examination in comparison with those treated without trimetazidine, so trimetazidin improve the metabolic balance of heart muscle.