Metabolic syndrome, insulin resistance and kidney function in non-diabetic individuals.

Background: Metabolic syndrome has been recently identified as a risk factor for chronic kidney disease (CKD). Since the five individual components of the metabolic syndrome have also been identified as risk factors for CKD, the metabolic syndrome diagnosis may represent an aggregate of CKD risk factors. On the other hand, the components of the metabolic syndrome are also associated with insulin resistance, which may directly mediate the increased CKD risk.

Estimates of insulin secretory function in apparently healthy volunteers vary as a function of how the relevant variables are quantified.

Background: Several surrogate estimates have been used to define relationships between insulin action and pancreatic β-cell function in healthy individuals. Because it is unclear how conclusions about insulin secretory function depend on specific estimates used, we evaluated the effect of different approaches to measurement of insulin action and secretion on observations of pancreatic β-cell function in individuals whose fasting plasma glucose (FPG) was <7.0 mmol/L (126 mg/dL).

Interferon Alfa-2b or not 2b? Significant differences exist in the decision-making process between melanoma patients who accept or decline high-dose adjuvant interferon Alfa-2b treatment.

Background: Patients with thick (Breslow>4 mm) primary melanoma and/or regional nodal metastasis have a high risk of tumor recurrence. High-dose adjuvant interferon (IFN) alfa-2b offers
Objective: The objective was to determine which prognostic factors and patient characteristics are significant in the decision to undergo IFN therapy.