The effects of strength and endurance training in patients with rheumatoid arthritis.

Patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) suffer from muscle loss, causing reduced muscle strength and endurance. The current study aimed to: (1) evaluate the effects of combined strength and endurance training (CT) on disease activity and functional ability in patients with RA and (2) investigate the benefits of a 6-month supervised CT program on muscle strength, cardio-respiratory fitness, and body composition of RA patients. Forty patients with RA, aged 41-73 years, were recruited for the current study.

Effects of progressive strength training on muscle mass in type 2 diabetes mellitus patients determined by computed tomography.

Objective: To examine the effect of a 4-month progressive strength training program on muscle and fat mass assessed by computed tomography (CT) in type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) patients, and to assess the relationships of changes in muscle cross-section area (CSA) with glycaemic control.

Methods: Twenty adults (mean age +/- SE: 56.4 +/- 0.

The benefit of strength training on arterial blood pressure in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus measured with ambulatory 24-hour blood pressure systems.

Background: An ambulatory 24-hour BP-monitoring (ABPM) is of paramount importance, while patients are engaged in their usual activities, for a better representation of blood pressure (BP). ABPM provides not only automated measurements of brachial-artery pressure over a 24-hour period but also a highly reproducible circadian profile. The purpose of this investigation was to evaluate the effect of strength training (ST) on BP in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2D) and to obtain new and important information on BP profiles over 24-hour by using an ABPM.

Relation of fasting plasma peptide YY to glucose metabolism and cardiovascular risk factors after restrictive bariatric surgery.

Introduction: Surgically induced weight loss results in reduction of comorbidities in severely obese humans. Reversal of abnormal secretion of appetite-regulating gut hormones such as peptide YY (PYY) could be contributing to the improvement of cardiovascular risk factors.

Methods: Severely obese patients (n = 42, BMI = 45.

Vascular endothelial growth factor in patients with psoriatic arthritis.

Objective: To determine the levels of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in patients with active psoriatic arthritis, patients with inactive psoriatic arthritis, and healthy controls. Serum VEGF levels were correlated with clinical and laboratory features in patients with active psoriasis arthritis.

Methods: Serum samples from 14 patients with active psoriatic arthritis, 14 patients with inactive psoriatic arthritis, and 9 healthy controls were investigated.

[Psoriatic arthritis].

This article presents an overview of psoriatic arthritis, including the origin, genetic influence and immunologic factors involved in its evolution. The clinical features of psoriatic arthritis are also reviewed in this article, and a discussion of the diagnosis and treatment is included. We have highlighted the current psoriasis treatments, new biological therapies, and their use in practice.

The metabolic effects of long term exercise in Type 2 Diabetes patients.

Introduction: The effectiveness of physical exercise in the management of diabetes mellitus type 2 is well established. The purpose of this investigation was to evaluate the effect of long term exercise on glycemic and metabolic control measured after eight months in contrast to patients who had ceased their training after four months.

Methods: After an effective 4 months' strength training or endurance training period, ten patients (5 male and 5 female, mean age +/- SE:57.

Short-term infliximab therapy improves symptoms of psoriatic arthritis and decreases concentrations of cartilage oligomeric matrix protein.

Objective: The aim of the current study was to evaluate the short-term effects of anti-tumour necrosis factor alpha (infliximab) therapy on serum cartilage oligomeric matrix protein (COMP) levels, a possible biomarker of cartilage destruction.

Methods: Nine consecutive patients with active psoriatic arthritis (PsA) were treated with infliximab for 6 weeks. Serum COMP levels were measured and correlated to pre-established disease activity outcome variables: pain as assessed by the patient, using the 100 mm visual analogue scale (VAS), duration of morning stiffness (MGST), swollen joint count (SJC), tender joint count (TJC), erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), and C-reactive protein (CRP).

Strength and endurance training lead to different post exercise glucose profiles in diabetic participants using a continuous subcutaneous glucose monitoring system.

Background: Although both strength training (ST) and endurance training (ET) seem to be beneficial in type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2D), little is known about post-exercise glucose profiles. The objective of the study was to report changes in blood glucose (BG) values after a 4-month ET and ST programme now that a device for continuous glucose monitoring has become available.

Materials And Methods: Fifteen participants, comprising four men age 56.

HDL therapy: the next big step in the treatment of atherosclerosis?

Despite significant reductions in mortality with statins and increasingly lower targets of low-density-lipoprotein cholesterol, two thirds of cardiovascular events cannot be prevented with current treatments. Therefore, a clear need for additional therapeutic interventions to complement the results of low-density lipoprotien lowering, exists. One prime target for new interventions is high-density lipoprotein (HDL) and/or its apolipoproteins.

Continuous glucose monitoring in diabetic long distance runners.

Marathon running is growing in popularity, and many diabetic patients are participating in various marathon races all over the world each year. This study aimed to investigate the prevalence and extent of glycemic excursions (hypo- and hyperglycemic) during a marathon run in patients with well-controlled diabetes mellitus using a continuous glucose monitoring system (CGMS). Five subjects with type 1 and one patient with type 2 diabetes mellitus were monitored with the Medtronic MiniMed CGMS during the 2002 Vienna City Marathon (n = 3) or the "Fernwärme run" (n = 3) long distance runs of 42.

Increased C282Y heterozygosity in gestational diabetes.

Background: Hereditary hemochromatosis is an autosomal recessive disorder of iron metabolism that is characterized by excess accumulation of iron in various organs and often leads to diabetes mellitus (DM). To study whether mutations in the hemochromatosis gene (HFE) could be a risk factor for the development of gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM), the prevalence of HFE mutations in patients with GDM was compared to that of healthy pregnant controls.

Methods: GDM was diagnosed in 208 of 2,421 pregnant woman screened between the 24th and 28th week of gestation over a period of 18 months.

The relative benefits of endurance and strength training on the metabolic factors and muscle function of people with type 2 diabetes mellitus.

Objective: To compare the effects of a 4-month strength training (ST) versus aerobic endurance training (ET) program on metabolic control, muscle strength, and cardiovascular endurance in subjects with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2D).

Design: Randomized controlled trial.

Setting: Large public tertiary hospital.

HFE genotyping demonstrates a significant incidence of hemochromatosis in undifferentiated arthritis.

Objective: Hereditary hemochromatosis is a common autosomal recessive disorder of iron metabolism. Among Northern Europeans the carrier frequency is estimated to be 1 in 10, while up to 1 in 200 is affected by the disease. Arthropathy is one early clinical manifestation of this disease, but the articular features are often misdiagnosed.

Effects of LDL-immunoapheresis on plasma concentrations of vitamin E and carotenoids in patients with familial hypercholesterolemia.

Recently very potent extracorporeal cholesterol-lowering treatment options have become available for patients with hypercholesterolemia. LDL immunoapheresis treatment selectively removes LDL and lipoprotein(a) from the circulation. Since LDL is the major carrier of lipophilic antioxidants in plasma, the purpose of the present study was to assess the effects of a single LDL apheresis treatment on plasma concentrations of tocopherols (alpha- and gamma-tocopherol) and carotenoids (alpha- and beta-carotene, zeaxanthin, cryptoxanthin, canthaxanthin, lycopene, and retinol).

Pamidronate increases bone mineral density in women with postmenopausal or steroid-induced osteoporosis.

Introduction: We aimed to determine the efficacy and safety of a cyclic intravenous therapy with pamidronate in patients with postmenopausal or glucocorticoid-induced osteoporosis.

Methods: We enrolled 86 Austrian female patients with postmenopausal (n = 69, mean age 68.13 +/- 1.

Plasma ghrelin in obesity before and after weight loss after laparoscopical adjustable gastric banding.

Weight reduction after gastric bypass surgery has been attributed to a decrease of the orexigenic peptide ghrelin, which may be regulated by insulin and leptin. This study examined effects of long-term weight loss after laparoscopical adjustable gastric banding on plasma ghrelin and leptin concentrations and their relationship with insulin action. Severely obese patients (15 women, three men, 36 +/- 12 yr) underwent clinical examinations every 3 months and modified oral glucose tolerance tests to assess parameters of insulin sensitivity and secretion every 6 months.

Improvement of insulin resistance and early atherosclerosis in patients after gastric banding.

Objective: To evaluate the effect of massive weight loss on insulin sensitivity, soluble adhesion molecules, and markers of the insulin resistance syndrome (IRS).

Research Methods And Procedures: Eighteen morbidly obese patients underwent gastric banding and were evaluated before and 6 and 12 months after surgery. Total insulin secretion, hepatic insulin extraction, and insulin sensitivity were analyzed by oral glucose-tolerance test model analysis.

[Methotrexate therapy in rheumatologic diseases--an update].

This article summarizes the recent literature on low-dose methotrexate in the rheumatologic illnesses. It reviews the efficacy of these agents, the use of combination therapy, and the importance of early treatment with this disease modifying antirheumatic drug. The anti-inflammatory and immunosuppressive effects as well as the toxicity of the drug in rheumatoid arthritis and other diseases are further defined.

Relationship of non-LDL-bound apo(a), urinary apo(a) fragments and plasma Lp(a) in patients with impaired renal function.

Background: Plasma lipoprotein (a) [Lp(a)] has been shown to be a risk factor for atherosclerosis in numerous studies. However, the catabolism of this lipoprotein is not very clear. We and others have shown that Lp(a) is excreted into urine in the form of fragments.

Effect of gastric banding on aminoterminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide in the morbidly obese.

Objective: Aminoterminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP), like brain natriuretic peptide, might have diagnostic utility in detecting left ventricular hypertrophy and/or left ventricular dysfunction. The aim of the study was to investigate the relationship between morbid obesity and NT-proBNP and the effect of weight reduction on this parameter.

Research Methods And Procedures: A total of 34 morbidly obese patients underwent laparoscopic adjustable gastric banding (LAGB).

Intravenous anti TNF-alpha antibody therapy leads to elevated triglyceride and reduced HDL-cholesterol levels in patients with rheumatoid and psoriatic arthritis.

Background & Aims: We investigated the effect of Infliximab, an anti TNF-alpha antibody, on plasma lipids and lipoproteins in patients with rheumatoid arthritis and psoriatic arthritis.

Methods: Five male and 10 female patients with a mean age of 56.7 years were included in this study.

Acute-phase response and immunological markers in morbid obese patients and patients following adjustable gastric banding.

Objective: We measured markers of acute-phase response and immunological markers in morbid obese patients and in formerly morbid obese patients after a massive weight loss following adjustable gastric banding (GB).

Subjects: A total of 49 morbid obese female patients with a body mass index (BMI) above 40 kg/m(2) were investigated during a study period of 6 months. Of these, 24 patients received a gastric banding (GB) and lost a minimum of 20 kg in 1 y (GB group) and 25 patients maintained their weight (obese group).

Mutations of the HFE gene in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma.

Objective: Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a late consequence of severe liver disease. Patients with genetic hemochromatosis may be at risk for HCC, but limited information is available on the relationship of HCC and heterozygosity for the HFE gene mutations.

Methods: HFE mutations (C282Y and H63D) were assessed in 162 consecutive patients (131 men/31 women) with HCC.