Glycated haemoglobin or mean blood glucose as indicators of metabolic control in Type 2 diabetes?

The aim of the study was to assess whether HbA(1c) levels reflected mean blood glucose (MBG) levels in Type 2 diabetes. Despite the good correlation between HbA(1c) and MBG, one-third of the patients had consistently higher HbA(1c) or lower HbA(1c) levels than that expected under the hypothesis that HbA(1c) is solely determined by MBG, suggesting the existence of different haemoglobin glycation phenotypes. The use of HbA(1c) alone for glycemic control monitoring in these patients could be insufficient to clearly trace their risk of complications.

Persistent platelet activation in patients with type 2 diabetes treated with low doses of aspirin.

Background: The percentage of diabetic patients who do not benefit from the protective effect of aspirin is larger than in other populations at cardiovascular risk.

Objective: We compared the ability of aspirin to suppress TxA2 and platelet activation in vivo, in type-2 diabetics vs. high-risk non-diabetic patients.

[Percutaneous renal biopsy in children: use of a fine needle].

Percutaneous renal biopsies were performed on native kidneys in 40 children and adolescent, aged 1.7-13 (mean 6.7) years.

Impaired left ventricular diastolic function and vascular postischemic vasodilation associated with microalbuminuria in IDDM patients.

Objective: Microalbuminuria is considered an important predictor of cardiovascular events in diabetic patients. In this study, a possible association of microalbuminuria with significant changes in left ventricular (LV) morphology and function and generalized vascular dysfunction was analyzed in insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM) patients without hypertension, coronary artery disease, or autonomic dysfunction.

Research Design And Methods: Thirty-four young long-term IDDM patients, 16 with and 18 without microalbuminuria, and 20 control subjects were studied.

[Neonatal hemoperitoneum: role of ultrasonography. Experience with 4 cases].

This study was aimed at investigating the role of US in the newborn with a clinical suspicion of hemoperitoneum. Hemoperitoneum is a dramatic clinical event which may be caused by some obstetrical and fetal factors--breech or complicated delivery, hepatomegaly, macrosomy, anoxic liver congestion being the most frequent causes. Direct or indirect trauma of an abdominal organ during delivery represents the major pathogenetic factor.

Multiple cyclic AMP receptors are linked to adenylyl cyclase in Dictyostelium.

cAMP receptor 1 and G-protein alpha-subunit 2 null cell lines (car1- and g alpha 2-) were examined to assess the roles that these two proteins play in cAMP stimulated adenylyl cyclase activation in Dictyostelium. In intact wild-type cells, cAMP stimulation elicited a rapid activation of adenylyl cyclase that peaked in 1-2 min and subsided within 5 min; in g alpha 2- cells, this activation did not occur; in car1- cells an activation occurred but it rose and subsided more slowly. cAMP also induced a persistent activation of adenylyl cyclase in growth stage cells that contain only low levels of cAMP receptor 1 (cAR1).

Molecular genetic analysis of two G alpha protein subunits in Dictyostelium.

In Dictyostelium, chemotaxis to folate during growth and cAMP during aggregation is controlled via cell surface receptors. To study the role of two G alpha proteins (G alpha 1 and G alpha 2) in these responses, we examined the physiological and biochemical effects of null mutations caused by antisense mutagenesis and gene disruptions. Disruption of G alpha 2 results in an aggregation-deficient phenotype and a loss of cAMP receptor-mediated functions, including activation of adenylate cyclase, guanylate cyclase, and gene expression and in a loss of GTP-mediated decrease in receptor affinity for cAMP, but it has no effect on chemotaxis to folate or folate activation of guanylate cyclase.

Multiple alpha subunits of guanine nucleotide-binding proteins in Dictyostelium.

Previous results have shown that chemotaxis and the expression of several classes of genes in Dictyostelium discoideum are regulated through a cell surface cAMP receptor interacting with guanine nucleotide-binding proteins (G proteins). We now describe cloning and sequencing of cDNAs encoding two G alpha protein subunits from Dictyostelium. The derived amino acid sequences show that they are 45% identical to each other and to G alpha protein subunits from mammals and yeast.

Regulation and function of G alpha protein subunits in Dictyostelium.

We have examined the developmental regulation and function of two G alpha protein subunits, G alpha 1 and G alpha 2, from Dictyostelium. G alpha 1 is expressed in vegetative cells through aggregate stages while G alpha 2 is inducible by cAMP pulses and preferentially expressed in aggregation. Our results suggest that G alpha 2 encodes the G alpha protein subunit associated with the cAMP receptor and mediates all known receptor-activated intracellular signal transduction processes, including chemotaxis and gene regulation.

G-protein-linked signal transduction systems control development in Dictyostelium.

G-protein-linked cAMP receptors play an essential role in Dictyostelium development. The cAMP receptors are proposed to have seven transmembrane domains and a cytoplasmic C-terminal region. Overexpression of the receptor in cells, when the endogenous receptor is not present, results in a 10- to 50-fold increase in cAMP-binding sites.

Immunological detection of G-protein alpha-subunits in Dictyostelium discoideum.

Putative G-protein alpha-subunits in Dictyostelium discoideum were detected on western blots using the antiserum A-569, raised against a peptide whose sequence is found in alpha-subunits of all known GTP-binding signal transducing proteins. Two bands with a MW of 40 kDa and 52 kDa were specifically recognized by the common peptide antiserum; the staining of both bands was strongly reduced when the antiserum was preincubated with the peptide that was used for antibody production. D.

[Monoclonal gammopathies in the aged].

60 cases of monoclonal (benign and malignant) are presented. All the patients are divided into two sub-groups according to the age (until and after 65th years old). They were recovered in the Medical and Geriatric divisions of "Renzetti" civic Hospital in Lanciano.

[Hereditary blood anomalies in the Abruzzi population in Valle del Sangro: from hematologic genetics to the history of a population].

A high incidence of hereditary blood anomalies (particularly Pelger-Huët's congenital granulocytic anomaly and Lepore haemoglobinopathy) is reported in the people of the Sangro Valley (Abruzzo, South Italy). The clinical, haematological, genetic and demographic implications of the high incidence of these pathologies are discussed.

[Multiple neoplastic combinations in the aged. Case contribution].

Four cases of patients suffering from more than one type of neoplasia are described. Plasmocytoma was found in three of the four cases. Links between old age, cancer and immunity are put forward in relation to the geriatric age of the four patients.

Inhibition of phytohemagglutinin-induced lymphocyte mitogenesis by lipoxygenase metabolites of arachidonic acid: structure-activity relationships.

Phytohemagglutinin (PHA)-induced mitogenesis of mixed mouse spleen lymphocyte populations, measured by [3H]thymidine incorporation, was completely inhibited by micromolar concentrations of certain hydroxyeicosatetraenoic acids (HETE's). These are lipoxygenase metabolites of arachidonic acid which are synthesized in considerable concentrations by macrophages, lymphocytes, and other components of the immune system when appropriately stimulated. In the studies described here, the structural requirements for the maximum antimitogenic activities were examined.

[Neonatal gastric obstruction].

Gastric outlet obstruction in newborn may be due to segmental atresia or mucosal diaphragm. The authors report two cases of pyloric obstruction and they consider the etiopathogenetic and diagnostic aspects.