Longitudinal evaluation of two different COVID-19 vaccination strategies in individuals with and without previous SARS-CoV-2 infection.

Background: We tested the antibody response to SARS-CoV-2 vaccination in individuals with and without previous infection that received different vaccination strategies.

Methods: We recruited 203 volunteers. Individuals who have had SARS-CoV-2 infection during the six months preceding vaccination received one dose (group 1), the others received two (group 2).

[Insulin resistance in the uremic patient: effects of hemodialysis].

The carbohydrate metabolism abnormalities present in uremia have been attributed to a combination of peripheral resistance to insulin and inhibition of insulin release secondary to beta cells insensitivity. Previous studies evaluated the chronic effects of hemodialysis on glucose metabolism, while acute effects were not examined. In 12 uremic subjects undergoing hemodialysis (3 times a week) the fasting serum levels of glucose, insulin and C-peptide were measured, and the glucose/insulin ratio was calculated as an index of peripheral sensitivity to insulin before and after dialysis.

[Increase of circulating levels of insulin and C-peptide: common factors in essential hypertension and overweight].

The aim of our study was to investigate the hypothesis that insulin resistance is involved in the pathogenesis of essential hypertension, and to explain whether hyperinsulinemia in this condition is the result of either pancreas overproduction or defective hepatic insulin clearance. In 14 lean normotensive, 17 overweight normotensive, 17 lean essential hypertensive, and 20 overweight essential hypertensive subjects, we measured, after overnight fasting, blood glucose, serum insulin, and serum C-peptide, and calculated the glucose/insulin and the insulin/C-peptide ratios, which can be commonly taken as indexes of peripheral sensitivity to insulin and hepatic insulin clearance, respectively. When compared to lean normotensives, overweight and/or hypertensive patients exhibited higher serum insulin and C-peptide concentrations, and a lower glucose/insulin ratio.

[Trans-membrane cationic flow and hemodialysis].

Abnormalities of intracellular ion concentrations and transmembrane fluxes were reported in uremia. In RBC from 12 chronically hemodialyzed patients (age 41 + 12, 7 men, 5 women; mean dialysis duration 31 + 24 months), we evaluated the acute effects of hemodialysis on intracellular Na and K concentrations, ouabain sensitive Na/K pump, furosemide sensitive Na/K cotransport, Na/Li countertransport, and passive permeability to Na. Six patients were normotensive and 6 were taking antihypertensive drugs which were withdrawn before the study.

Insulin resistance and beta-cell hypersecretion in essential hypertension.

To determine whether a decreased sensitivity to insulin is involved in the pathogenesis of essential hypertension, fasting blood glucose, serum insulin, serum C peptide, the glucose:insulin ratio and the insulin:C-peptide ratio were measured in 14 lean normotensives, 17 overweight normotensives, 17 lean hypertensives and 20 overweight hypertensives. Compared with the lean normotensives, the patients who were overweight, those with hypertension and those who were both overweight and hypertensive showed increased fasting serum insulin and C-peptide levels, and a lower glucose:insulin ratio. No significant difference between the normotensive and the hypertensive subjects was found in the insulin:C-peptide ratio.