1,721,129 research outputs found

    Lipoprotein(a), apolipoprotein(a) polymorphism and coronary atherosclerosis severity in type 2 diabetic patients.

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    (0) Save to: more options Lipoprotein(a), apolipoprotein(a) polymorphism and coronary atherosclerosis severity in type 2 diabetic patients Author(s): Gazzaruso, C (Gazzaruso, C); Bruno, R (Bruno, R); Pujia, A (Pujia, A); De Amici, E (De Amici, E); Fratino, P (Fratino, P); Solerte, SB (Solerte, SB); Garzaniti, A (Garzaniti, A) Source: INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF CARDIOLOGY Volume: 108 Issue: 3 Pages: 354-358 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijcard.2005.05.022 Published: APR 14 2006 Times Cited: 8 (from Web of Science) Cited References: 27 [ view related records ] Citation Map Abstract: Background: Few and conflicting data are available in the literature on the association between Lp(a) levels and the severity of coronary artery disease (CAD) in diabetic patients. In addition, no studies took into account the role of apo(a) polymorphism. The purpose of the present study was to analyse the association of the degree of coronary atherosclerosis with Lp(a) levels and apo(a) polymorphism in a large group of type 2 diabetic patients. Methods: The study population consisted of 227 consecutive type 2 diabetic patients undergoing a routine coronary angiography to evaluate chest pain or suspected CAD. The patients were subdivided into four subgroups according to the number of coronary arteries diseased: normal arteries (n = 26), mono-vessel disease (n = 67), bi-vessel disease (n = 54) and multi-vessel disease (n = 80). Results: Lp(a) levels (normal arteries: 14.6 +/- 19.6 mg/dl; mono-vessel disease: 19.0 +/- 16.4 mg/dl; bi-vessel disease: 19.3 +/- 15.1 mg/dl; multi-vessel disease: 26.5 +/- 16.8 mg/dl; p < 0.001) and the percentages of patients with at least one isoform of low molecular weight (normal arteries: 23.1%; mono-vessel disease: 38.8%; bi-vessel disease: 75.9%; multi-vessel disease: 81.2%; p < 0.001) were significantly correlated with increasing number of coronary vessels diseased. Multiple logistic regression analysis showed that both Lp(a) levels (OR: 1.31; 95% CI: 1.02-4.11) and apo(a) polymorphism (OR: 3.43; 95% CI: 1.67-7.05) were independent predictors of CAD severity. Conclusions: Our data suggest that Lp(a) levels and apo(a) polymorphism may be reliable predictors of CAD severity in type 2 diabetic patients

    Insulin and GH-IGF-I axis: endocrine pacer or endocrine disruptor?

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    Growth hormone/insulin-like growth factor (IGF) axis may play a role in maintaining glucose homeostasis in synergism with insulin. IGF-1 can directly stimulate glucose transport into the muscle through either IGF-1 or insulin/IGF-1 hybrid receptors. In severely decompensated diabetes including diabetic ketoacidosis, plasma levels of IGF-1 are low and insulin delivery into the portal system is required to normalize IGF-1 synthesis and bioavailability. Normalization of serum IGF-1 correlated with the improvement of glucose homeostasis during insulin therapy providing evidence for the use of IGF-1 as biomarker of metabolic control in diabetes. Taking apart the inherent mitogenic discussion, diabetes treatment using insulins with high affinity for the IGF-1 receptor may act as an endocrine pacer exerting a cardioprotective effect by restoring the right level of IGF-1 in bloodstream and target tissues, whereas insulins with low affinity for the IGF-1 receptor may lack this positive effect. An excessive and indirect stimulation of IGF-1 receptor due to sustained and chronic hyperinsulinemia over the therapeutic level required to overtake acute/chronic insulin resistance may act as endocrine disruptor as it may possibly increase the cardiovascular risk in the short and medium term and mitogenic/proliferative action in the long term. In conclusion, normal IGF-1 may be hypothesized to be a good marker of appropriate insulin treatment of the subject with diabetes and may integrate and make more robust the message coming from HbA1c in terms of prediction of cardiovascular risk

    Insulin and GH-IGF-I axis: endocrine pacer or endocrine disruptor?

    No full text
    Growth hormone/insulin-like growth factor (IGF) axis may play a role in maintaining glucose homeostasis in synergism with insulin. IGF-1 can directly stimulate glucose transport into the muscle through either IGF-1 or insulin/IGF-1 hybrid receptors. In severely decompensated diabetes including diabetic ketoacidosis, plasma levels of IGF-1 are low and insulin delivery into the portal system is required to normalize IGF-1 synthesis and bioavailability. Normalization of serum IGF-1 correlated with the improvement of glucose homeostasis during insulin therapy providing evidence for the use of IGF-1 as biomarker of metabolic control in diabetes. Taking apart the inherent mitogenic discussion, diabetes treatment using insulins with high affinity for the IGF-1 receptor may act as an endocrine pacer exerting a cardioprotective effect by restoring the right level of IGF-1 in bloodstream and target tissues, whereas insulins with low affinity for the IGF-1 receptor may lack this positive effect. An excessive and indirect stimulation of IGF-1 receptor due to sustained and chronic hyperinsulinemia over the therapeutic level required to overtake acute/chronic insulin resistance may act as endocrine disruptor as it may possibly increase the cardiovascular risk in the short and medium term and mitogenic/proliferative action in the long term. In conclusion, normal IGF-1 may be hypothesized to be a good marker of appropriate insulin treatment of the subject with diabetes and may integrate and make more robust the message coming from HbA1c in terms of prediction of cardiovascular risk

    Diabetes in Cushing syndrome: basic and clinical aspects.

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    Diabetes mellitus is a frequent complication of Cushing syndrome (CS) which is caused by chronic exposure to glucocorticoid excess, either endogenous or exogenous, and that is characterized by several clinical symptoms such as central obesity, purple striae, proximal muscle weakness, acne, hirsutism and neuropsychological disturbances. Diabetes occurs as a consequence of an insulin-resistant state together with impaired insulin secretion which are induced by glucocorticoid excess. The management of patients with CS and diabetes mellitus includes the treatment of hyperglycemia and, when possible, the correction of glucocorticoid excess. This review focuses on the disorders of glucose metabolism in patients exposed to glucocorticoid excess, addressing both the pathophysiological aspects and the clinical and therapeutic implications

    Going Beyond Counting First Authors in Author Co-citation Analysis

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    The present study examines one of the fundamental aspects of author co-citation analysis (ACA) - the way co-citation counts are defined. Co-citation counting provides the data on which all subsequent statistical analyses and mappings are based, and we compare ACA results based on two different types of co-citation counting - the traditional type that only counts the first one among a cited work's authors on the one hand and a non-traditional type that takes into account the first 5 authors of a cited work on the other hand. Results indicate that the picture produced through this non-traditional author co-citation counting contains more coherent author groups and is therefore considerably clearer. However, this picture represents fewer specialties in the research field being studied than that produced through the traditional first-author co-citation counting when the same number of top-ranked authors is selected and analyzed. Reasons for these effects are discussed

    Variations on the Author

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    “Variations on the Author” discusses two of Eduardo Coutinho’s recent films (Um Dia na Vida, from 2010, and Últimas Conversas, posthumously released in 2015) and their contribution to the general question of documentary authorship. The director’s filmography is characterized by a consistent yet self-effacing form of authorial self-inscription: Coutinho often features as an interviewer that rather than express opinions propels discourses; an interviewer that is good at listening. This mode of self-inscription characterizes him as an author who is not expressive but who is nonetheless markedly present on the screen. In Um Dia na Vida, however, Coutinho is completely absent form the image, while Últimas Conversas, on the contrary, includes a confessional prologue that moves the director from the margins to the center of his films. This article examines the ways in which these works stand out in the filmography of a director who offers new insights into the notion of cinematic authorship
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