Stress echocardiography for risk assessment of diabetic patients.

Coronary artery disease in patients suffering from diabetes mellitus will become an increasing problem in the future. Because diabetic patients benefit from treatment of symptomatic but also asymptomatic coronary artery disease, early diagnosis is warranted. The diagnostic techniques used to detect ischaemia, with a focus on stress echocardiography, are described.

The use of sulphonylureas in the elderly.

Type 2 diabetes mellitus is a heterogeneous disorder characterised by defects in insulin secretion as well as reduced insulin action. During aging, glucose intolerance will gradually develop, and this is manifested primarily by an increase in the postprandial blood glucose response while fasting blood glucose levels are often less elevated. Abnormal beta-cell secretion of insulin is a main feature of this.

Consequences of long-term hyperparathyroidism.

We describe a young woman with long-term untreated hyperparathyroidism with a superimposed vitamin D deficiency and an extremely decreased bone mineral density that was complicated by a vertebral fracture. Despite pretreatment with intravenous pamidronate and short-term vitamin D supplementation, severe and long-standing hypocalcaemia ('hungry bone syndrome') developed after parathyroidectomy. We discuss the consequences of hyperparathyroidism, especially the effects on bone, the complications of parathyroidectomy and the possibilities of preoperative treatment with bisphosphonates.

New treatments for patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus.

In subjects with type 2 diabetes, both defects of insulin secretion and insulin resistance contribute to the development of hyperglycaemia. The major goals of treatment are to optimise blood glucose control, and normalise the associated lipid disturbances and elevated blood pressure. Pharmacologic treatment is often necessary.

A patient with combined mediastinal, mesenteric and retroperitoneal fibrosis.

We report a patient with combined mediastinal, mesenteric and retroperitoneal fibrosis who first presented with signs of a superior vena cava syndrome. She was successfully treated with corticosteroids. The aetiology, clinical picture, and possible therapy of idiopathic fibrosclerosis are discussed.