The influence of incretin mimetics on cardiovascular risk factors in diabetes.

The authors discuss the strategy of use of incretin hormones in type 2 diabetes treatment in the context of cardiovascular complications. The results of the phase III study on human GLP-1 (Glucagon-like peptide-1) analogue-liraglutide have been presented under common acronym LEAD (Liraglutide-Effect and Action In Diabetes). The liraglutide therapy improved glycemic control with low hypoglycemia risk and decreased glycated hemoglobin by an average 1,13%.

Serum soluble glycoprotein 130 concentration is inversely related to insulin sensitivity in women with polycystic ovary syndrome.

Objective: Insulin resistance might play a role in the pathogenesis of polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS). The family of glycoprotein 130 (gp130) cytokines could influence insulin action. One of these cytokines is interleukin (IL)-6, which exerts a short-term insulin-sensitizing effect, whereas in a long-term period, it might induce insulin resistance.

Insulin resistance, serum adiponectin, and proinflammatory markers in young subjects with the metabolic syndrome.

Insulin resistance is the underlying metabolic abnormality in the metabolic syndrome. The low-grade chronic inflammation may be associated with metabolic risk factors and atherogenesis. The aim of our study was to establish the link between the metabolic syndrome, as defined by the National Cholesterol Education Program (NCEP) criteria, and insulin sensitivity, serum adiponectin, and parameters of chronic inflammation in young subjects.

Effectiveness of the iodine prophylaxis model adopted in Poland.

Objective: Most of the Polish territory has been classified as an iodine-deficient and endemic goiter area according to the International Council for Control of Iodine Deficiency (ICCIDD) criteria. In 1997 the obligatory model of iodine prophylaxis was implemented. Our investigations were aimed at the effectiveness of iodine prophylaxis in Poland.

[Obesity as a risk factor of chronic kidney disease in patients undergoing primary angioplasty].

The number of patients with chronic kidney disease-CKD is still growing. Overweight and obesity present also an important problem of world public health. However, there are not many data showing possible association between obesity and incresing risk of development of renal failure recently it has been demonstrated that in obese patients secondary focal segmental glomerulosclerosis and glomerular hypertrophy appear more frequently.

Glycosaminoglycans urinary excretion as a marker of the early stages of diabetic nephropathy and the disease progression.

Background: Diabetes mellitus affects the metabolism of several components of extra-cellular matrix, including glycosaminoglycans (GAG). Alterations in the metabolism of GAG may play an important role in the development of diabetic complications.

Methods: Consequently, the relationship between diabetic nephropathy and urinary GAG excretion has been estimated in 86 diabetic patients (33 type 1 diabetes mellitus (DM), 53 type 2 DM) in comparison to 30 healthy controls (Figure 1).

[Glucokinase gene mutations in gestational diabetes in Polish population. Prediction of diabetes mellitus development after delivery].

Gestational Diabetes Mellitus (GDM) comprises different forms of glucose metabolism disturbances with first recognition during pregnancy. There are a number of publications that have suggested that diabetes with onset during pregnancy is not a monogeneous disease and apart from "classical" form of GDM, which precedes type 2 diabetes development, MODY 2 diabetes, caused by monogenic defect of glucokinase gene, is relatively frequent "subtype" of gestational diabetes. The aim of our study was to estimate the risk of diabetes mellitus development, including MODY 2 diabetes, between 6 months - 10 years after delivery in 225 women with gestational diabetes.

Plasma adiponectin and E-selectin concentrations in patients with coronary heart disease and newly diagnosed disturbances of glucose metabolism.

Purpose: Adiponectin is a fat derived hormone, which enhances insulin sensitivity. In experimental studies adiponectin was shown to have antiatherogenic properties by suppressing endothelial expression of adhesion molecules. Therefore, the aim of the study was to evaluate plasma adiponectin and E-selectin concentrations in patients with coronary artery disease and impaired glucose metabolism and evaluation of their relationship with selected anthropometric, biochemical and clinical parameters.

[Prevalence of autoimmunological disorders of the thyroid in children in the Białystok population].

Up-to-date observations in the regions where effective food iodine supplementation was introduced confirm a significant decrease in goiter incidence. However, in some regions the incidence of goiter remains unchanged or even the increase in the frequency of autoimmunological diseases of the thyroid like, Grave's-Basedov disease and chronic/subacute lymphocytic thyroiditis is observed. The purpose of the study was to evaluate the prevalence of autoimmunological diseases of the thyroid in children aged 6-13 years in the Polish population after 5 years of obligatory iodine supplementation program.

[Tumor necrosis factor-alpha system in patients with gestational diabetes].

Tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) system is potentially involved in the development of insulin resistance during pregnancy. Plasma concentrations of TNF-alpha and its soluble receptors sTNFR-1 and sTNFR-2 were measured in 80 patients with gestational diabetes (GDM) (mean age 29.0 +/- 4.

[Evaluation of influence of selenium, copper, zinc and iron concentrations on thyroid gland size in school children with normal ioduria].

Unlabelled: Proper diet with regard to quantity and quality of meals is of vital importance for normal development and functioning of the organism. There are many proofs that environmental factors play an important role in the pathogenesis of goiter. Iodine deficit in diet is best known of all factors contributing to goiter.

An alternative spliced variant of circulating soluble tumor necrosis factor-alpha receptor-2 is paradoxically associated with insulin action.

Objective: Serum concentrations of soluble tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) receptor 2 (sTNFR2) are associated with insulin resistance. In a recent study, we provided evidence for the existence of a biologically active form of sTNFR2 produced by alternative splicing (DS-TNFR2). We aimed to evaluate whether this circulating DS-TNFR2 is associated with insulin action in humans.

Plasma adiponectin concentration and tumor necrosis factor-alpha system activity in lean non-diabetic offspring of type 2 diabetic subjects.

Objective: There is growing evidence that adiponectin function is related to the pathogenesis of insulin resistance. Insulin resistance might be present even in lean subjects with a strong family history of type 2 diabetes. The aim of the study was to look for adiponectin's role in the pathogenesis of insulin resistance in offspring of type 2 diabetic patients, and its relation to the activity of the tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha system.

Interleukin 18 and sICAM-1 serum levels in families with type 1 diabetes mellitus.

It is well known that subjects with type 1 diabetes are at an increased risk of death from coronary heart disease in comparison to non-diabetic age-matched individuals because hyperglycaemia is believed to be a key risk factor for the development of micro- and macrovascular complications. On the other hand there is increasing evidence about the role of inflammatory mediators in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis and the development of acute coronary syndromes. It has been recently suggested that IL-18 and sICAM-1 have a strong predictive value for cardiovascular diseases and deaths in patients with coronary artery disease and/or in apparently healthy men.

[Evaluation of the thyroid size among school children aged 6-13 with the normal iodine excretion in the urine and the usability of referential values still applied].

Background: The evaluation criteria of the enlarged thyroid gland becomes a key problem when analyzing the prevalence of goiter in the population of school children. The review of the literature and own experience indicate lack of a consensus concerning this problem among researchers. Similarly, in the report of WHO in the year 2001 concerning the problem of iodine deficit and goiter endemia, experts did not present universal referential values of the thyroid size in ultrasonography for children population aged 6-15 years living in the regions of proper iodine supply in the diet, thus suggesting the necessity of working out regional norms.

[The level of IGF-1 and TGF-beta-1 in the blood serum and the thyroid size in children with normal ioduria].

Background: Growth factors--IGF-1 and TGF-beta1 are well documented factors regulating proliferation of follicle cells of the thyroid in many experiments in vitro. It has been proved so far that IGF-1 stimulates cellular mitogenesis of thyrocytes, whereas TGF-beta1 inhibits proliferation of follicle cells of the thyroid in experimental conditions.

Objectives: The aim of the study was to evaluate the correlation between serum concentrations of IGF-1 and TGF-beta1 and the size of the thyroid in children with normal ioduria.

Tumor necrosis factor alpha system and plasma adiponectin concentration in women with gestational diabetes.

Plasma concentrations of adiponectin, tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) and its soluble receptors sTNFR-1 and sTNFR-2 were measured in 80 patients with gestational diabetes (GDM) (mean age 29.0 +/- 4.9 years) and 30 pregnant women with normal glucose tolerance (NGT) (mean age 28.

Homocysteine concentrations and vascular complications in patients with type 2 diabetes.

Objective: Hyperhomocysteinemia is a well known risk factor for the diseases of the cardiovascular system, which seem to be the main cause of increased mortality in patients with type 2 diabetes. The aim of the study was to evaluate the levels of homocysteine in patients with type 2 diabetes in respect to the regimen of diabetes treatment as well as the presence of diabetic complications.

Methods: The investigation was carried out in the group of 64 patients with type 2 diabetes and in 18 healthy subjects from the control group.

[Postpartum maternal plasma leptin levels and their relationship to gestational diabetes mellitus].

Unlabelled: Leptin is a protein hormone mainly produced by the adipocytes. Apart from its autocrine role within the placenta in humans, plasma circulating leptin contributes to the endocrine function. Leptin levels may serve as an index of metabolic and energy balance in pregnancy.

[Serum Fas in patients with Graves' ophthalmopathy as a marker of activity of the ocular inflammatory infiltration].

Unlabelled: Apoptosis plays an important role in the pathogenesis of autoimmune thyroid diseases. Soluble form of Fas (sFas) appeared as reliable markers of inflammation activity in rheumatic autoimmune diseases. The aim of the study was an estimation of sFas in patients with Graves' disease with ophthalmopathy during treatment with corticosteroids to assess their potential as a guideline of immunosuppressive therapy.

[Chronic complications in adult patients with newly diagnosed diabetes mellitus in relation to the presence of humoral autoimmune markers against pancreatic islet cells].

Unlabelled: Latent autoimmune diabetes in adults (LADA) is subtype of diabetes type 1. It is well know, that 50% patients with new diagnosed diabetes type 2 present late complications. As far we don't know how many patients with new diagnosed diabetes have late complications according to presence of antibodies against islet antigens.

Comparison of simple indices of insulin sensitivity using the euglycemic hyperinsulinemic clamp technique.

Background: Insulin resistance is an important factor in the pathogenesis of type 2 diabetes mellitus and other diseases, collectively known as "metabolic syndrome". The gold standard in measuring insulin resistance is glucose clamp, but this method is difficult to apply in large studies. Therefore, indirect indices of insulin sensitivity are proposed.

Relationship between insulin sensitivity and sphingomyelin signaling pathway in human skeletal muscle.

In vitro studies revealed that insulin resistance might be associated with the intracellular formation of ceramide, the second messenger in the sphingomyelin signaling pathway. The aim of the present study was to examine the content and composition of fatty acids in ceramide and sphingomyelin in human muscle and to evaluate their relationships with insulin sensitivity. The study was conducted on 27 male subjects with normal glucose tolerance.

[Factors influencing platelet procoagulant activity in type II diabetic patients. The role of sodium-proton exchange].

The aim of our study was the estimation of platelet sodium-proton exchanger activity and platelet pro-coagulant activity, expressed as the availability of platelet factor 3 (PF3) and thrombin generation, in 83 type 2 diabetic patients (mean age 56.7 +/- 7.8 years) and 40 healthy subjects (mean age 54.