[C-peptide levels in secondary sulfonylurea resistant diabetics].

In the presence of clinical features of secondary drug failure--even after reeducation on diet and intensive control of patients--is difficult to make a decision to switch on insulin. Therefore the serum C-peptide concentrations were assessed in order to get supporting data. From 35 patients with suspected secondary drug failure the therapy of 11 patients was continued with insulin, 24 patients remained on glibenclamide therapy.

The effect of azathioprine, cyclosporine A and insulin on the in vitro lymphocyte-mediated cytotoxicity in type I diabetic patients.

Previously both specific and nonspecific immune reactions have been reported in patients with type I diabetes mellitus. In this study the effect of various immunosuppressive drugs and insulin was studied on in vitro lymphocyte-mediated cytotoxicity in 20 type I diabetic patients. Twenty sex- and age-matched healthy subjects served as controls.

Human pancreatic extract and rat pancreatic islet homogenate-coated chicken erythrocytes as targets of lymphocyte-mediated cytotoxicity in type I diabetic patients.

In this study 51Cr-labeled chicken erythrocytes coated with human pancreatic extract or rat pancreatic islet homogenate served as target cells for the detection of lymphocyte-mediated cytotoxicity in type I-diabetics. T-lymphocytes from type I-diabetic patients showed a significant cytotoxic capacity against target cells coated with human antigens as well as rat pancreatic islet homogenate. The frequency and intensity of cytotoxicity proved to be similar against the two types of targets.

Immune reactions in patients with type I and with type II diabetes mellitus.

Since several data refer to the role of immune processes in the pathogenesis of diabetes mellitus, this study was performed to compare aspecific and specific immune reactions in type I- and in type II diabetic patients over a six month period. The percentage and the absolute number of SRBC-rosette forming active E(A), of theophylline-resistant E(Thr) and of ORCB-rosette forming T(M)-cell subsets proved to be elevated in newly diagnosed type I but reduced in type II diabetic patients. Also an elevated percentage of HLA-DR positive, activated T cells was found in the majority of recent-onset type I diabetics.