[Utility of QTc interval for the diagnosis of cardiac autonomic neuropathy in type 2 diabetes mellitus]. / Importanta intervalului QTc în diagnosticarea neuropatiei autonome cardiace în diabetul zaharat tip 2.

UNLABELLED: Prolonged QTc interval is a rapid objective method for detecting diabetic cardiac autonomic neuropathy (CAN). Diabetic CAN is a well recognized complication of diabetes mellitus type 2, and its incidence has been reported to be 20-40%, but detection of CAN is not a practical screening method for a large number of diabetic patients. METHOD: 65 cases of type 2 diabetes mellitus with no clinical evidence of cardiac disease were subjected to a battery of 5 non-invasive autonomic function tests as recommended by Ewing; these included deep breath test, orthostatic stress (30:15 ratio), Valsalva ratio, diastolic blood pressure rise with sustained hand grip, and postural hypotension on standing. A score of 2 or larger denoted CAN. QT interval was calculated by Atria 3100 interpretive electrocardiograph. The QTc was determined with Bazett's formula, and a value exceeding 440 msec was considered prolonged. RESULTS: 24 cases of type 2 diabetes mellitus (36.92%) were found to have CAN. QTc prolongation was observed in diabetics (433.89 +/- 30.37 ms) by comparison with control group 421.2 +/- 24.6 ms (F = 4.9, p = 0.03). QTc was much higher in diabetics with CAN (442.4 +/- 32.69 ms) vs. diabetics without CAN (424.48 +/- 23.45 ms). QTc prolongation correlated positively with the degree of cardiac autonomic neuropathy. CONCLUSIONS: The study has shown that QTc prolongation is an easy and specific testing method for diabetic cardiac autonomic failure.

[Study of bioelectrical properties of acupuncture areas]. / Contributii la studiul proprietatilor bioelectrice a zonelor de acupunctura.

The research has as a goal the investigation of the bioelectrical behaviour of the acupunctural areas in order to obtain a scientific substantiation of the correspondence between the extreme--eastern medical tradition and the academical medicine. It is obvious that the Chinese traditional medicine knows a certain mechanism of ensurance of homeostasis of the organisms, a mechanism represented, according to the Chinese medical tradition, by the net of acupuncture points and meridians. The experimental data presented in this paper lead to the discovery of the fact that this net works as the fourth system of integration, the electrical--regulator one. The maintenance of the internal homeostasis of the superior organisms and their adaptation to the environment is ensured by the neuro-endocrine and circulatory systems through a mechanism described by Selye under the name of the Uncertain General Syndrome of Adaptation represented by the hypothalamo-hypophyso-corticoadrenal axis. The evolution of these systems and of their mechanisms can be supervised on the basis of the cortisole concentration. The research emphasized the direct proportionality between the cortisone levels and the variation of the electrical values of the acupuncture points, a fact that demonstrates the involvement of the net of acupuncture points and meridians in the maintenance processes of the homeostasis, control, adjustment and adaptation of the living organisms. Additionally, the analysis of the bioelectrical behavior of the acupuncture areas led to the conclusion that the morpho-functional substrate of this net is the conjunctive tissue. The physical-chemical properties of the interstitial connective tissue assures its working as an electro-regulator system on one side and as a harmonization agent of the neuro-endocrine and circulatory systems on the other side, this aspect being to be developed in a future paper.

[Changes of spirographic parameters in type 2 diabetes mellitus]. / Modificarile parametrilor spirografici in diabetul zaharat tip 2.

UNLABELLED: Diabetes mellitus (DM), metabolic disease with chronic evolution, affects various organs through its macro- and micro-angiopathic complications which it causes, one of this target organs for diabetes being the lungs. OBJECTIVES: The aim of the study is to evaluate the relationship between type 2 diabetes mellitus and the pulmonary function. MATERIAL AND METHOD: 50 non-smoking patients diagnosed with type 2 DM, without respiratory problems were included in this study. The control group consisted of 50 healthy volunteers with same age and height as those with diabetes. For all patients there were measured: height, weight, body mass index, plasma glucose, serum cholesterol, trigycerides. Then there were determined by computerized spirometry: forced vital capacity (FVC), forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV1), peak expiratory flow (PEF), maximal expiratory flow at 50% from vital capacity (MEF50). These patients were re-evaluated after a 3-year period measuring the same parameters. RESULTS: The study has shown a statistically significant decrease of spirographic parameters (FVC, FEV1, PEF, MEF50) in patients with over 5 years of evolution of type 2 DM, by comparison with the control group. The higher the metabolic unbalance, the lower were these parameters. CONCLUSIONS: Type 2 DM has long-term effects and determines disfunctions and deficiencies of various organs. Our study shows that the lung is a target organ for type 2 DM as well.

[Visual evoked potentials (VEP) in the diagnosis and monitoring of ophthalmic diseases]. / Potentialul evocat vizual in diagnosticul si monitorizarea afectiunilor oftalmologice.

MATERIAL AND METHOD: 20 patients were examined (40 eyes) with different ophthalmic affections, age between 57 and 72 years old, 15 female and 5 male. RESULTS: Visual acuity was evaluated between 0.00 and 1.00 with correction. The laboratory exploration reveals changes of the lipidic profile--in 20% cases and the glucidic profile--in 12.50% cases. The inflammatory aspect also has been changed (the erytrocite sedimentation rate, the fibrinogen, reactive C protein)-- cases. The electrophysiological paraclinical exploration concentrated on recording the visual evoked potentials (VEP) of all patients. The record of visual evoked potential (VEP) pointed out in the majority of cases a increase of the P100 wave's latency, as well as modifications of the amplitude and form of the P100 waves, especially at patients examined and diagnosed with glaucoma, intraocular hypertension, ischemical nonarteritic anterior optical neuropaties or preatrophic globe. CONCLUSION: e consider that the record of the VEP - P100 wave, absolutely uninvasive exploration, may constitute an efficient way for the diagnosis and monitoring of patients with ophtalmic affections, even at early stages, orientating the physician in therapeuthical conduct.

[Considerations regarding the treatment of the algodystrophy using the acupuncture]. / Consideratii privind tratamentul algoneurodistrofiilor cu ajutorul acupuncturii.

MATERIAL AND METHOD: A team made up of 14 subjects with algodystrophy (AD) was studied at the level of the distal zone of one superior member result of the radius and/or ulna fracture, which needed an immobilization device for 30-40 days, using acupuncture. RESULTS: The results were compared with those obtained at a witness team treated by electro-physical recovery (ultrasound-therapy, ultrasound-phoresis with hydrocortisone, Bernard diadynamic currents and physiotherapy). Taking into account that AD is the local expression of the General Syndrome of Adaptation, the acupuncture method was used for the improvement of the integration function of the conjunctive tissue. CONCLUSION: Through the treatment with acupuncture the treatment period is much shorter, and the movement functions are much better.

[Ionic calcium and magnesium from pharmaceutical product BEROCCA effects on neuromuscular excitability]. / Efectul ionilor de calciu si magneziu din produsul farmaceutic BEROCCA asupra excitabilitatii neuro-motorii.

The important physiological role of calcium and magnesium ions is all over recognised, about a lot of enzymatic reactions. Magnesium deficit produce neuromuscular hyper-reactivity, psychic reactions, functional hypoparathyroidism, increase of K+ channels membranes permeability, while hypermagnesemia decrease Ach release from neuromuscular synapsis, with post-synaptic excitability decreasing. Using BEROCCA (Hoffman la Roche) 1 cp/day, 30 days at the teenagers with behaviour troubles and at a goup of pregnant women (trimester I-III) with paresthesia, irritability, sleeplessness, we observed an improve of clinical signs, increasing plasma Ca2+ and Mg2+. EEG and EMG prove the beneficial effects of pharmaceutical product BEROCCA.

[Consideration on high gradient magnetic separation of red cells]. / Consideratii asupra separarii eritrocitelor în gradient înalt de câmp magnetic.

The red cells exhibit a proper magnetism due to hemoglobin. In a prototype of high gradient magnetic separator equipped with an ordered ferromagnetic matrix, a set of experiments with blood to determine the influence of the process parameters on the efficiency of the erythrocytes capture was realized. Dependent on the values of the magnetic induction (1.76-2.01 T), average blood flow velocity through the matrix (0.55-1.1 mm/s), and stationary time in the matrix, different values of concentration for the red cells in the matrix were obtained. For tests realized with integral blood, the concentration was approximately 20%, while for tests with diluted blood the concentration fluctuated from 14.51% to 29.90%. A blood recirculation through the matrix led to a concentration of 37.86%. The magnetic separation method permits an acceptable red cells concentration, without apparent destructive effects on the cells.

[The neurotransmitters and alcohol dependence]. / Neurotransmitatorii si dependenta de alcool.

Exist many interactions of the endogenous system with dopaminergic, serotinergic, GABA--ergig, and glutamat--ergic, as well as the role of these interactions in mediating stress response, analgesia and in appearance the alcoholism. Thus pharmacological blockade of the endogenous opioid system by mu or delta opioid receptor antagonists prevents ethanol's activation of the dopamine system and reduces ethanol consumption. The role of genetic factors in alcohol dependency is recognized. The applicability of PET, SPECT, MRS, functional neuroimaging in the study have a very importance, for demonstrates the changes in regional cerebral blood flow at the alcoholics.