Nitric oxide does not mediate the vasodilation of early human pregnancy.

Background: In early pregnancy, a substantial drop in arterial blood pressure occurs, that might be attributed to enhanced vascular nitric oxide synthesis. We investigated whether nitric oxide mediates the vasodilation that occurs in early human pregnancy.

Methods: Resting and stimulated forearm vascular resistance were measured (venous occlusion plethysmograph) in six women at 10 +/- 3 weeks of uncomplicated pregnancy and in the same women 7 +/- 5 weeks after elective termination of pregnancy.

IRIS II study: intact proinsulin is confirmed as a highly specific indicator for insulin resistance in a large cross-sectional study design.

Background: The cross-sectional IRIS-II study tried to assess the prevalence of insulin resistance and macrovascular disease in orally treated patients with Type 2 diabetes.

Methods: In total, 4,270 patients were enrolled into the study (2,146 male, 2,124 female; mean +/- SD age 63.9 +/- 11.

IRIS II Study: Sensitivity and specificity of intact proinsulin, adiponectin, and the proinsulin/adiponectin ratio as markers for insulin resistance.

Objective: This study was performed to compare the specificity and sensitivity of intact proinsulin, adiponectin, and their ratio (proinsulin/adiponectin) in the prediction of insulin resistance as assessed by the homeostasis model assessment (HOMA) score (> or =2 = resistant).

Research Design And Methods: Using a cross-sectional approach, 500 orally treated patients with type 2 diabetes (272 women, 238 men; mean +/- SD age, 64.8 +/- 11.