[Treatment of chronic hepatitis C with lymphoblastic interferon. Long-term follow-up].

Objectives: A randomized controlled trial was set up to assess the effect of two different therapy regimens with lymphoblastoid interferon on the treatment and follow-up of patients with chronic C hepatitis.

Methods: Eighty-five patients with chronic hepatitis C were randomized into two treatment groups (n = 30 respectively) and one control group (no treatment: n = 25). In one treatment group patients received three million units of alpha-lymphoblastoid interferon.

Plasma vitamin C affects glucose homeostasis in healthy subjects and in non-insulin-dependent diabetics.

In aged healthy (n = 10) and non-insulin-dependent (type II) diabetic (n = 10) subjects matched for age [67.3 +/- 0.5 vs.

Effect of aldose reductase inhibitor (tolrestat) on urinary albumin excretion rate and glomerular filtration rate in IDDM subjects with nephropathy.

Objective: To explore the possible link between diabetic nephropathy and the enhanced activity of the polyol pathway, known to occur in IDDM subjects.

Research Design And Methods: We studied the effects of the aldose reductase inhibitor tolrestat (200 mg/day) on urinary albumin excretion rate and glomerular filtration rate in 20 IDDM patients with diabetic nephropathy.

Results: Six months of placebo treatment produced no significant changes in glomerular filtration rate, urinary albumin excretion rate, and renal plasma flow.

Hyperinsulinemia in patients with hypercholesterolemia.

An independent association between hypercholesterolemia and high insulin levels has not consistently emerged from large-scale epidemiologic observations. We selected 39 patients with elevated low-density (LDL) cholesterol levels but normal body weight, blood pressure, and glucose tolerance, and compared them to 36 normocholesterolemic, healthy control subjects accurately matched to the patients for age, gender, body mass index, and mean arterial blood pressure. Fasting serum total cholesterol concentrations and levels of LDL cholesterol, triglycerides, and apoprotein B were all higher in the patients with hypercholesterolemia than in controls (P < 0.

Plasma GSH/GSSG affects glucose homeostasis in healthy subjects and non-insulin-dependent diabetics.

In healthy subjects (n = 10) and non-insulin-dependent (type II) diabetics (n = 10) matched for age [43.1 +/- 2.2 vs.

Insulin effects on glucose kinetics in non-insulin-dependent diabetic patients with secondary failure to hypoglycaemic agents: role of different modes and rates of delivery.

Objectives: This study aimed at investigating the effects of pulsatile and continuous insulin delivery on glucose kinetics in non-insulin-dependent (type 2) diabetic patients with secondary failure to oral hypoglycaemic agents.

Methods: Seven type 2 diabetic patients underwent a 585 minute glucose-controlled glucose intravenous infusion using the Biostator. The endogenous pancreas secretion was inhibited by somatostatin.

ACE inhibition improves insulin-sensitivity in aged insulin-resistant hypertensive patients.

We have compared the cardiovascular and metabolic responses to five different ACE inhibitors in 86 patients matched for age, body mass index, blood pressure, fasting plasma glucose and insulin levels in a placebo-controlled, double-blind, crossover, randomised trial. In the active drug treatment phase the patients were randomly assigned to one of five ACE inhibitors: captopril (75 mg/day; n = 16); enalapril (20 mg/day; n = 14); quinapril (20 mg/day; n = 17); ramipril (5 mg/day; n = 21) and lisinopril (20 mg/day; n = 18). Placebo and ACE inhibition phases lasted two weeks and were separated by a one week wash-out period.

Daily magnesium supplements improve glucose handling in elderly subjects.

We demonstrated similar plasma concentrations and urinary losses but lower erythrocyte magnesium concentrations (2.18 +/- 0.04 vs 1.

Effects of mild-to-moderate hyperglycaemia per se on glucose production and uptake in the elderly.

Objectives: In order to better understand the mechanisms responsible for the diminished glucose tolerance that occurs in the elderly, the present study aimed at investigating the effect of mild hyperglycaemia on glucose production and uptake in a group of aged subjects. For comparison, a group of young subjects was simultaneously investigated.

Methods: Seven aged (71.

Pulsatile insulin delivery has greater metabolic effects than continuous hormone administration in man: importance of pulse frequency.

The aim of this study was to see if the greater effect of insulin on hepatic glucose output when insulin is given using 13-min pulses in man remains when the same amount of insulin is delivered using 26-min pulses. The study was performed on nine male healthy volunteers submitted to a 325 min glucose-controlled glucose iv infusion using the Biostator. The endogenous secretion of pancreatic hormones was inhibited by somatostatin.

Simvastatin reduces plasma lipid levels and improves insulin action in elderly, non-insulin dependent diabetics.

Twelve elderly non-insulin dependent diabetic patients took part in a double-blind, cross-over, randomized study comparing simvastatin 30 mg/day and placebo. Each treatment period lasted 3 weeks and was separated by a 3 week wash-out period. At the end of each treatment period all subjects underwent in randomized order an oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT; 75 g) and an euglycaemic hyperinsulinaemic (50 mU/kg.

Effects of oxytocin upon the endocrine pancreas secretion and glucose turnover in normal man.

In normal man oxytocin infusion under basal conditions and at pharmacological doses evoked a rapid surge in plasma glucose and glucagon levels followed by a later increase in plasma insulin levels. Simultaneous [D-3H]glucose infusion indicated that oxytocin also produced a prompt and significant increase in hepatic glucose output with a secondary increase in glucose disappearance rate. Eight healthy volunteers were studied during euglycemic glucose clamp and simultaneous [D-3H]glucose infusion, during suppression of endogenous pancreatic secretion by cyclic somatostatin (250 micrograms/h) and during exogenous glucagon (67 ng/min) and insulin (0.

Insulin resistance as cause of increased blood pressure in the elderly: effects on intracellular ion contents.

Previous reports have evidenced a strong relationship between high plasma insulin levels and blood pressure in diabetic and obese subjects but not in the elderly. During aging many patho-physiological changes in cardiovascular functions and autonomic nervous system occur, so that aging per se might be a cause of a 'physiological' increase in blood pressure. Nevertheless, an insulin resistance also develops during aging.

Impaired insulin-mediated erythrocyte magnesium accumulation is correlated to impaired insulin-mediated glucose diposal in aged non-diabetic obese patients.

Basal erythrocyte magnesium levels were significantly lower in obese than lean subjects. In vitro incubation in the presence of 100 mU/l insulin significantly increased magnesium erythrocyte levels in both groups of subjects. However, even in the presence of 100 mU/l, the erythrocyte magnesium content of obese patients was lower than that of control subjects.

Metabolic effects of pulsatile insulin infusion in the elderly.

The present study investigated the metabolic effects of pulsatile insulin delivery at a pulse rate of 2 + 11 and 2 + 18 min in 7 healthy, elderly subjects (71.4 +/- 2.1 years), submitted to 260 min controlled iv glucose infusion via the Biostator.

Pulsatile glucagon has greater hyperglycaemic, lipolytic and ketogenic effects than continuous hormone delivery in man: effect of age.

The present study aimed at investigating the hyperglycaemic, lipolytic and ketogenic effects of small doses of glucagon delivered continuously or in a pulsatile manner. The study was performed in eight healthy young volunteers (24.2 +/- 1.

Pulsatile rather than continuous glucagon infusion leads to greater metabolic derangements in insulin-dependent diabetic subjects.

The present study aimed at investigating the respective effects of continuous and pulsatile intravenous delivery of glucagon in insulin-dependent diabetic subjects. The study was performed in seven insulin-dependent diabetic subjects proven to have no residual insulin secretion. In random order and in different days each subject was submitted to glucagon delivery given continuously (58 ng/min) and in a pulsatile (377 ng/min during 2 min followed by 11 min during which no glucagon was infused) manner.

Exaggerated orthostatic hypotension as first sign of diabetic autonomic neuropathy in the elderly.

Long-standing diabetic subjects have an impaired sympathetic nervous system activity as a consequence of autonomic neuropathy. Moreover, in this latter group of subjects the parasympathetic rather than the sympathetic nervous system seems firstly impaired by glucose metabolism derangements. In the present study we show that, in aged diabetic subjects with a short duration of the disease (less than 5 years), and who are free from diabetic complications, it is possible to evidence a primary compromise of sympathetic rather than parasympathetic nervous system activity since a greater rate of orthostatic hypotension occurred.

Dietary magnesium supplements improve B-cell response to glucose and arginine in elderly non-insulin dependent diabetic subjects.

Hypomagnesemia and low erythrocyte magnesium content are both common findings in non-insulin-dependent diabetic subjects. Moreover, intracellular magnesium may play a crucial role in modulating B-cell response to glucose by interfering with potassium permeability. Eight elderly, moderately obese, non-insulin-dependent diabetic subjects were treated with either magnesium supplementation (3 g/day) to the diet or placebo.

Improved insulin response and action by chronic magnesium administration in aged NIDDM subjects.

In eight aged non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM) subjects, insulin response and action were studied before and after chronic magnesium supplementation (2 g/day) to diet. Chronic magnesium supplementation to diet versus placebo produced 1) a significant increase in plasma (0.83 +/- 0.

Lack of diabetogenic action of calcitonin in subjects affected by insulinoma.

Calcitonin has been shown to affect calcium handling within cells thus impairing insulin secretion and glucose tolerance in healthy subjects. In the present study we investigate the effects of calcitonin on basal and nutrients-induced plasma glucose and insulin levels variations in healthy subjects (n = 10) and in patients affected by islet cell tumor (n = 6). In healthy subjects calcitonin markedly decreased basal and nutrients-induced plasma insulin levels while in patients with islet cell tumor this calcitonin-mediated effect was lost.

Effects of oxytocin delivery on counter-regulatory hormone response in insulin-dependent (type 1) diabetic subjects.

In insulin-dependent (type 1) diabetic subjects (n = 7) with intact hormone response to hypoglycaemia, oxytocin infusion (0.2 mU/min over 60 min) produced significant rises in basal plasma glucagon and adrenaline levels, while it reduced basal plasma cortisol levels. During insulin-induced hypoglycaemia, oxytocin potentiated the increases in plasma glucagon and adrenaline, while an inhibitory effect on plasma cortisol levels was still present.

Impaired insulin-induced erythrocyte magnesium accumulation is correlated to impaired insulin-mediated glucose disposal in type 2 (non-insulin-dependent) diabetic patients.

Plasma and erythrocyte magnesium levels were measured by atomic absorption spectrometry in 12 healthy subjects and 12 moderately obese patients with Type 2 (non-insulin-dependent) diabetes mellitus. Basal plasma and erythrocyte magnesium levels were significantly lower in diabetic patients than in control subjects. In vitro incubation in the presence of 100 mU/l insulin significantly increased magnesium erythrocyte levels in both control subjects (p less than 0.

Advantageous metabolic effects of pulsatile insulin delivery in noninsulin-dependent diabetic patients.

This study was done to compare the actions of pulsatile and continuous insulin administration in eight noninsulin-dependent diabetic patients. Human insulin was delivered in a pulsatile manner (1.3 mU/kg.