Pseudohypoparathyroidism: a rare but important cause of hypocalcaemia.

We present a 46-year-old Caucasian lady with symptomatic hypocalcaemia. Investigations revealed markedly raised parathyroid hormone (PTH) levels with vitamin D deficiency. A number of conditions causing secondary hyperparathyroidism were ruled out from her medical history and initial investigations.

The effect of oral folic acid upon plasma homocysteine, endothelial function and oxidative stress in patients with type 1 diabetes and microalbuminuria.

Aims: The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of oral folic acid supplementation upon plasma homocysteine (HCY), endothelial function and oxidative stress on patients with type 1 diabetes and microalbuminuria to test the hypothesis that oral folic acid would lower plasma HCY and thereby improve endothelial function and reduce oxidant stress in this high-risk group of patients.

Methods: We measured plasma HCY, forearm blood flow, total antioxidant status and whole blood glutathione at baseline and after 2 months treatment with oral folic acid or placebo in 16 patients with type 1 diabetes and microalbuminuria.

Results: Plasma HCY fell by 25% in the folic acid group but there was no difference in endothelial function or markers of oxidant stress in the treatment group.

Plasma homocysteine, oxidative stress and endothelial function in patients with Type 1 diabetes mellitus and microalbuminuria.

Aims: The purpose of this study was to examine the associations between endothelial function, plasma homocysteine and oxidative stress in patients with Type 1 diabetes mellitus (DM) and microalbuminuria compared with DM patients with normoalbuminuria and non-diabetic control subjects. We wished to test the hypothesis that increased cardiovascular risk in patients with Type 1 diabetes and microalbuminuria may be in part as a result of hyperhomocysteinaemia-mediated oxidative stress leading to impaired endothelial function.

Methods: We measured forearm blood flow, total plasma homocysteine, total antioxidant status (TAOS) and whole blood glutathione in 31 DM patients, 16 with microalbuminuria and 15 with normoalbuminuria, and 15 non-diabetic control subjects.

Diabetic erectile dysfunction--an indicator of generalised endothelial function per se?

Erectile dysfunction (ED) affects up to 70% of men with diabetes. However, the pathophysiology of ED in diabetes remains uncertain with both neuronal and vascular factors cited. We examined whether ED is an indicator of generalized endothelial dysfunction.

Angiotensin II does not affect endothelial tone in Type 1 diabetes-results of a double-blind placebo controlled trial.

Aims: Previously, we have demonstrated that patients with normoalbuminuric Type 1 diabetes are characterized by impaired nitric oxide bioavailability compensated for by increased vasodilatory prostanoid-mediated vasodilation. Experimental evidence suggests vascular responses to endogenous angiotensin II involve the nitric oxide and prostaglandin pathways. We examined whether selective blockade of angiotensin II influences endothelial tone with particular reference to the nitric oxide/prostaglandin pathways in patients with Type 1 diabetes free from vascular complications.