Two novel homologous proteins of Streptomyces coelicolor and Streptomyces lividans are involved in the formation of the rodlet layer and mediate attachment to a hydrophobic surface.

The filamentous bacteria Streptomyces coelicolor and Streptomyces lividans exhibit a complex life cycle. After a branched submerged mycelium has been established, aerial hyphae are formed that may septate to form chains of spores. The aerial structures possess several surface layers of unknown nature that make them hydrophobic, one of which is the rodlet layer.

Renal threshold for glucose in non-insulin-dependent diabetic patients.

Measurement of glycosuria is still widely used for home monitoring of glycaemia control in non-insulin-dependent diabetes (NIDDM). This method has been criticized because the renal threshold for glucose (RTglu) varies between subjects. In order to evaluate the validity of RTglu by measuring corresponding measurements of blood and urine glucose in NIDDM patients, we studied the blood/urine glucose relationship in 24 NIDDM patients.

Crystallographic studies of the interaction of cyclodextrin glycosyltransferase from Bacillus circulans strain 251 with natural substrates and products.

Asp-229, Glu-257, and Asp-328 constitute the catalytic residues in cyclodextrin glycosyl transferase from Bacillus circulans strain 251. Via site-directed mutagenesis constructed D229N, E257Q, and D328N mutant proteins showed a 4,000-60,000-fold reduction of cyclization activity. A D229N/E257Q double mutant showed a 700,000-fold reduction and was crystallized for use in soaking experiments with alpha-cyclodextrin.

The effect of acute hyperglycemia on the plasma C-peptide response to intravenous glucagon or to a mixed meal in insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus.

The dose-response relationships between prestimulatory blood glucose concentration and the plasma C-peptide responses to stimulation with 1 mg of glucagon iv or a standard mixed meal were studied in 8 C-peptide positive patients with insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus. Hyperglycemia was maintained for 90 min before stimulation using a hyperglycemic clamp technique. Each test was performed at the steady state blood glucose levels approximately 5, approximately 12, and approximately 20 mmol/l.

Sulfonylureas. Why, which, and how?

Although controversies remain as to the usefulness of sulfonylureas, most evidence is in favor of their use in many if not patients with non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus. When used properly, sulfonylureas improve insulin secretion and action, and these effects may be maintained for years. If combined with hypocaloric dietary regulation, rapid- and short-acting sulfonylureas may help patients reach and maintain euglycemia without provoking chronic hyperinsulinemia or weight increase.

Acute actions of sulfonylurea drugs during long-term treatment of NIDDM.

The acute effect of sulfonylurea drugs during long-term treatment was evaluated in two separate studies. In the first study, the levels of plasma glucose, insulin, and C-peptide were measured after intake of 10 mg glyburide alone or together with a standardized mixed meal in 10 non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM) patients treated with 10-20 mg glyburide/day for greater than 2 yr. There was no acute effect of glyburide on the insulin and C-peptide responses to the meal or during continued fasting, indicating the absence of an acute insulinotropic action of glyburide during chronic treatment.

[Non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus. Diagnosis and treatment. An interpretation].

There are approximately 100,000 non-insulin-dependent diabetics in the Danish population and the incidence appears to be increasing. As the disease is complicated by a series of arteriosclerotic manifestations together with hypertension and eye changes, it presents great problems in the primary and also in the secondary sector. The Danish Association for Internal Medicine has, on this basis, prepared an explanatory report with the main object of establishing guidelines for treatment of the disease both medically and by organisation.

Metabolic effect of islet B-cell function in insulin-treated diabetes.

We studied the relationship between endogenous insulin secretion and fasting levels of plasma free fatty acids (FFA), plasma acetoacetate plus plasma 3-hydroxybutyrate (total ketone bodies), blood glucose, and HbA1 in 132 diabetic outpatients treated with conventional insulin regimens. Patients were divided into four groups according to plasma C-peptide concentration after intravenous stimulation with glucagon: one group with C-peptide stimulation less than 0.06 nmol/l, one group with C-peptide stimulation 0.

Fasting plasma C-peptide, glucagon stimulated plasma C-peptide, and urinary C-peptide in relation to clinical type of diabetes.

Many patients with Type 2 (non-insulin-dependent) diabetes mellitus are treated with insulin in order to control hyperglycaemia. We studied fasting plasma C-peptide, glucagon stimulated plasma C-peptide, and 24 h urinary C-peptide in relation to clinical type of diabetes in 132 insulin treated diabetic subjects. Patients were classified clinically as Type 1 (insulin-dependent) diabetic subjects in the presence of at least two of the following criteria: 1) significant ketonuria, 2) insulin treatment started within one year after diagnosis, 3) age of diagnosis less than or equal to 40 years, and 4) weight below 110% of ideal weight of the same age and sex.

Sensitivity and reproducibility of urinary C-peptide as estimate of islet B-cell function in insulin-treated diabetes.

The aims of the present study were to evaluate the ability of urinary C-peptide determination to demonstrate presence of residual insulin secretion, and to evaluate the reproducibility of urinary C-peptide excretion in 125 insulin-treated diabetic patients. C-peptide was determined in two consecutive 24-h urine specimens and related to plasma C-peptide 6 min after the intravenous injection of 1 mg glucagon. The detection limit of C-peptide in plasma was defined analytically (greater than or equal to 0.

Sulphonylurea antidiabetic drugs. An update of their clinical pharmacology and rational therapeutic use.

Apart from the amelioration of symptoms, a major aim of the treatment of non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM, type 2 diabetes) should be the prevention of cardiovascular complications. These are associated with the chronic hyperglycaemia that is characteristic of NIDDM, and the risk of complications is already increased in subjects with impaired glucose tolerance (IGT). For these reasons, and because hyperglycaemia appears to be a self-perpetuating condition, treatment should be introduced as early as possible and should be aimed at normalisation of blood glucose.

The beta-cell response to glucagon and mixed meal stimulation in non-insulin dependent diabetes.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the correlations of the C-peptide and insulin responses after stimulation with glucagon intravenously as well as the 24-h urinary excretion of C-peptide to the C-peptide response to a standard mixed meal in 30 patients with non-insulin dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM). Fasting plasma C-peptide as well as the C-peptide and insulin responses to glucagon, showed similar but only modest correlations with the C-peptide response to the meal. Urinary C-peptide showed no correlation with the C-peptide response to the meal, but correlated modestly with fasting plasma C-peptide (r = 0.

Classification of newly diagnosed diabetic patients as insulin-requiring or non-insulin-requiring based on clinical and biochemical variables.

In a prospective study of 41 consecutively referred newly diagnosed diabetic patients, we evaluated the predictive value of fasting and glucagon-stimulated C-peptide values, ketonuria, age, and body weight in the classification of subjects as insulin-requiring (IR) or non-insulin-requiring (NIR). The patients were followed up for greater than or equal to 12 mo and classified as NIR if adequate glycemic control could be achieved without insulin (i.e.

Insulin action and insulin secretion in identical twins with MODY. Evidence for defects in both insulin action and secretion.

To evaluate the pathogenetic mechanisms responsible for development of diabetes in the genetically inherited disease maturity-onset diabetes of the young (MODY), we have investigated a pair of identical twins (19 yr old) from a MODY family. One twin had nondiabetic fasting plasma glucose values but impaired glucose tolerance (IGT), whereas the other suffered from frank diabetes (fasting plasma glucose 12.5 mM).

Insulin requirement in non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus: relation to simple tests of islet B-cell function and insulin sensitivity.

Evaluation of simple tests of islet B-cell function and insulin sensitivity as predictors of metabolic control was performed during 3 months of insulin withdrawal in 25 insulin-treated diabetic subjects. All patients had a glucagon stimulated plasma C-peptide concentration above 0.33 nmol/l and a fasting plasma C-peptide concentration above 0.

Interaction of ethanol and glipizide in humans.

The hypoglycemic effect of 2.5 mg glipizide and the potentiation of this effect by ethanol were studied in 10 normal-weight nondiabetic subjects. The reductions in blood glucose concentrations were similar in time of onset and extent (2 mM) whether glipizide was taken alone or in combination with ethanol.

Reproducibility of beta-cell function estimates in non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus.

We evaluated the reproducibility of different estimates of endogenous insulin secretion in 30 patients with non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM). Fasting blood glucose concentration was similar on the 2 days of study. The coefficients of variation of fasting plasma C-peptide, plasma C-peptide 6 min after the injection of 1 mg i.

Correlations between fasting plasma C-peptide, glucagon-stimulated plasma C-peptide, and urinary C-peptide in insulin-treated diabetics.

This study correlated fasting plasma C-peptide (CP), plasma CP 6 min after stimulation with 1 mg glucagon i.v., and the mean of three 24-h urinary excretions of C-peptide (UCP)/creatinine in 132 insulin-treated diabetics.

Prevalence of fasting hyperglycemia and known non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus classified by plasma C-peptide: Fredericia survey of subjects 60-74 yr old.

A Danish population of 5699 individuals (60-74 yr old) was screened by fasting blood glucose (FBG) and interviewed about known diabetes. The distribution of FBG in individuals not known to have diabetes showed no sex difference or significant variation with age. Fasting hyperglycemia (FH), defined as FBG greater than or equal to mM in subjects without a history of diabetes, was found in 1.

ELISA for human proinsulin.

A micro enzyme-linked-immunosorbent-assay (ELISA) for monitoring circulating human proinsulin (hPI) was developed. A micro test plate was coated with guinea pig anti-insulin antibody. As labelling system peroxidase-labelled F(ab1)2-fragments of a guinea pig anti-human-C-peptide was used.