Metabolic and cardiovascular effects of beta cell replacement in type 1 diabetes.

Type 1 diabetes is associated with high morbidity and mortality, mostly due to the acute and chronic complications of the disease. Restoration of the lost beta cell mass by pancreas transplantation is the treatment of choice in selected type 1 diabetic patients. Growing data show that successful pancreas transplantation normalizes the metabolic alterations of diabetes, and can slow the progression, stabilize, and even favor the regression of secondary complications of the disease, including those at the cardiovascular level.

Long-term (5 years) efficacy and safety of pancreas transplantation alone in type 1 diabetic patients.

Background: Although combined pancreas and kidney transplantation is an established procedure for the treatment of type 1 diabetes (T1D) in patients with end-stage renal disease, the role of pancreas transplant alone (PTA) in the therapy of T1D subjects with preserved kidney function is still matter of debate.

Methods: We report our single-center experience of PTA in 71 consecutive T1D patients all with a posttransplant follow-up of 5 years. Patient and pancreas (normoglycemia in the absence of any antidiabetic therapy) survivals were determined, and several clinical parameters (including risk factors for cardiovascular diseases) were assessed.

Results of pancreas transplantation alone with special attention to native kidney function and proteinuria in type 1 diabetes patients.

We report on our single-center experience with pancreas transplantation alone (PTA) in 71 patients with type 1 diabetes, and a 4-year follow-up. Portal insulin delivery was used in 73.2% of cases and enteric drainage of exocrine secretion in 100%.

Weight loss and quality of life in chronic heart failure patients.

Objectives: To evaluate the impact of a planned body weight reduction on quality of life (QoL) in obese/overweight chronic heart failure (CHF) patients.

Methods: Thirty-four obese/overweight chronic heart failure patients (24 men, mean age 67.8 +/- 9.

Survival and hospitalization in a nurse-led domiciliary intervention for elderly heart failure patients.

Aim: Heart failure in the elderly population represents a complex clinical situation associated with frequent hospitalizations and numerous comorbidities. The present study aimed to evaluate the impact of a domiciliary-based nurse-led strategy in a group of very elderly patients affected by heart failure who were regularly seen at an outpatient heart failure clinic (HFC).

Methods: Patients were periodically assessed in their homes by two trained nurses under supervision of the cardiologists of the HFC.

Pancreas transplant alone determines early improvement of cardiovascular risk factors and cardiac function in type 1 diabetic patients.

Background: The effects of pancreas transplant alone (PTA) on cardiovascular risk factors (CRF) and cardiac function in type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) patients are still unsettled.

Methods: We studied 13 T1DM patients who received PTA with portal drainage and 11 matched control patients. Parameters of glucose and lipid metabolism and several additional classic CRF were assessed before and up to 6 months posttransplant.