Urinary CCN2 (CTGF) as a possible predictor of diabetic nephropathy: preliminary report.

Background: It is currently impossible to reliably predict which diabetic patients will develop nephropathy and progress to kidney failure. Microalbuminuria, often regarded as a predictor of overt diabetic renal disease is, in fact, an indicator of established glomerular damage. We have shown that glomerular expression of the prosclerotic cytokine CCN2 (CTGF) is greatly up-regulated early in experimental and in human diabetes and mesangial cell exposure to CCN2 increases its production of extracellular matrix (ECM) molecules responsible for glomerulosclerosis.

Ongoing assessment of health status in patients with diabetes mellitus.

In 1990, the Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism of Henry Ford Hospital established an Outcomes Management data base for patients with Type I and Type II diabetes. A first cohort of 117 patients completed a baseline and 6-month follow-up assessment; a second cohort of 116 patients completed the baseline assessment. Assessment at each time point includes: the Short Form--36 Questions (SF-36) health status instrument; a set of clinical variables known as the Diabetes TyPE scale Form 2.

Disturbances in lipid metabolism associated with chylothorax and its management.

Changes in circulating lipid status were studied in a 70-year-old woman during management of chylothorax that included chest drainage, pleuroperitoneal shunting, and a successful thoracic duct ligation. Hypolipidemia with a relative decline in high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol was apparent at presentation. Following recovery, serum HDL cholesterol rose to the upper limit of normal.

An ambulatory approach to self-care of diabetes.

Managing the insulin-requiring diabetic patient in an ambulatory setting includes metabolic regulation of the diabetes and education in its self-care. Means of achieving these goals include structured group or one-on-one individualized sessions. Third party policies relating to ambulatory care are challenged and their need for fiscal support emphasized.