Effects of diabetes mellitus, chronic renal failure and hemodialysis on serum and salivary antioxidant status.

Aim: To analyze various oxidative stress parameters in the saliva and serum of patients with chronic renal failure (CRF) and/or diabetes mellitus (DM), and to compare them in dialytic vs. pre-dialytic patients.

Method: 50 consenting patients were divided into five subgroups of patients: severe CRF (dialytic) without DM, severe CRF (dialytic) with DM, mild CRF (pre-dialytic) without DM, mild CRF (pre-dialytic) with DM, and with DM but without CRF (controls).

Relation between sense of coherence and glycemic control in type 1 and type 2 diabetes.

In this study, the authors examined the relation between glycemic control and sense of coherence (SOC) and the mediating role of psychological distress and of adherence to self-care behaviors in 67 people with type 1 and type 2 diabetes. In addition, 29 individuals without any chronic disease composed a control group. The authors determined glycemic control by glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c) measures.

Genetically determined heterogeneity in hemoglobin scavenging and susceptibility to diabetic cardiovascular disease.

A major function of haptoglobin (Hp) is to bind hemoglobin (Hb) to form a stable Hp-Hb complex and thereby prevent Hb-induced oxidative tissue damage. Clearance of the Hp-Hb complex can be mediated by the monocyte/macrophage scavenger receptor CD163. We recently demonstrated that diabetic individuals homozygous for the Hp 2 allele (Hp 2-2) were at 500% greater risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD) compared with diabetic individuals homozygous for the Hp 1 allele (Hp 1-1).

Haptoglobin phenotype and diabetic nephropathy.

Aims/hypothesis: To determine if the haptoglobin 2 allele is associated with an increased risk for the development of diabetic nephropathy.

Methods: This study included 110 consecutive normotensive subjects with Type I (insulin-dependent) diabetes mellitus and Type II (non-insulin-dependent) diabetes mellitus seen in two outpatient clinics in Israel. Diabetes duration was greater than 10 years for Type I diabetes and more than 5 years for Type II diabetic subjects.

Dietary supplementation of a natural isomer mixture of beta-carotene inhibits oxidation of LDL derived from patients with diabetes mellitus.

Background: Accelerated atherosclerosis is common in patients with diabetes mellitus which may be linked to increased lipid peroxidation. Therefore, we compared the oxidation of LDL derived from patients with diabetes to normoglycemic controls and followed-up the effect of dietary beta-carotene supplementation on LDL oxidation.

Methods: Twenty patients with long-standing non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus were studied in comparison with age- and sex-matched control subjects.