Pretibial myxedema as the initial manifestation of Graves' disease.

Pretibial myxedema (PM) is a localized thickening of the pretibial skin due to accumulation of acid mucopolysacharides (glycosaminoglycans). Its pathogenesis is still under investigation. Pretibial myxedema, exophthalmus and thyroid acropachy are the dassic extrathyroidal manifestations of Graves' disease.

Gait abnormalities in diabetic neuropathy.

Objective: To investigate the effect of peripheral neuropathy on gait in diabetic patients.

Research Design And Methods: Gait analysis was performed in the following groups matched for age, sex, and BMI: 20 normal healthy control subjects (NC), 20 non-neuropathic diabetic control subjects (DC), 20 neuropathic diabetic subjects (DN), and 20 neuropathic diabetic subjects with a history of foot ulceration (DNU). All subjects with orthopedic foot problems were excluded from the study.

Postural instability in diabetic neuropathic patients at risk of foot ulceration.

Diabetic peripheral neuropathy is believed to cause postural instability due to abnormal proprioception. We assessed body sway in four groups, each of 20 subjects, matched for age, sex, and BMI: non-diabetic controls, non-neuropathic diabetic controls, subjects with diabetic neuropathy and no history of foot ulceration, and subjects with diabetic neuropathy and a history of foot ulceration. Postural sway was assessed on a Kistler force plate using the Romberg test, measuring the standard deviation of the centre of pressure in both sagittal (antero-posterior movement) and frontal (side to side movement) planes with eyes open and closed.

The role of diabetic neuropathy and high plantar pressures in the pathogenesis of foot ulceration.

Diabetic foot ulceration is currently a serious medical problem and has, therefore, attracted much research attention during the last two decades. Previous foot ulceration, diabetic neuropathy, limited joint mobility, high plantar pressures, microangiopathy, macroangiopathy and diabetic nephropathy have already been identified as risk factors for future foot ulceration. Neuropathy has clearly been shown to be an essential permissive factor in the development of ulceration in the non-ischaemic foot.

[Effect of induced hyperglycemia on contrast sensitivity function in insulin-dependent diabetic patients].

Acute hyperglycemia in diabetes mellitus is often associated with transient subjective visual disturbances that have not yet been objectively evaluated. We used a contrast sensitivity (CS) test to assess functional visual disturbances in provoked hyperglycemia in 20 patients with well-controlled insulin-dependent diabetes (40 eyes) with no evidence of diabetic retinopathy and with intact visual acuity (age: 32 +/- 8.2 years, duration of diabetes: 11.

Efficacy of a new needleless insulin delivery system monitoring of blood glucose fluctuations and free insulin levels.

A new insulin delivery system Vitajet has been invented which involves a high-pressure spring and obviates the use of needle injections. To study its efficacy we compared blood glucose fluctuations, integrated glycemia, free insulin and total free insulin concentrations in six insulin-dependent diabetics. After obtaining a steady state of carbohydrate metabolism overnight by feedback control through the artificial endocrine pancreas (AEP) Biostator, the patients received their usual morning and evening doses of insulin by either conventional injection or Vitajet in random order.