1,721,078 research outputs found
Painful and painless diabetic neuropathy: one disease or two?
No full textPainful diabetic polyneuropathy (PDPN) is generally considered a variant of
diabetic polyneuropathy (DPN) but the identification of distinctive aspects that
characterize painful compared with painless DPN has however been addressed in
many studies, mainly with the purpose of better understanding the mechanisms of
neuropathic pain in the scenario of peripheral nerve damage of DPN, of
determining risk markers for pain development, and also of recognizing who might
respond to treatments. This review is aimed at examining available literature
dealing with the issue of similarities and differences between painful and
painless DPN in an attempt to respond to the question of whether painful and
painless DPN are the same disease or not and to address the conundrum of why some
people develop the insensate variety of DPN whilst others experience distressing
pain. Thus, from the perspective of comparing painful with painless forms of DPN,
this review considers the clinical correlates of PDPN, its distinctive framework
of symptoms, signs, and nerve functional and structural abnormalities, the
question of large and small fiber involvement, the peripheral pain mechanisms,
the central processing of pain and some new insights into the pathogenesis of
pain in peripheral polyneuropathies and PDPN
1965-2015, 1991-2015. 50 years of the EASD, 25 years of Neurodiab. Enduring friendship. A legacy for the future
No full textThrough original documents, the memories of the protagonists, members’ contributions, and a rich photo gallery, this book follows the 25-year history of Neurodiab: the initial idea of a
European study group on diabetic neuropathy, the foundation, the structure, the cornerstones of Neurodiab’s identity, the essence of the annual meetings, their friendly atmosphere, the achievements obtained, the memory of members passed away, the lovesome places and convivial moments spent together. This collective report testifies the founders’ brightness, the passion of the organizers, the members’ dedication, the opportunities for the young researchers, the openness of this Europe-based scientific community to the enriching contributions by other countries. The book is a tribute to Neurodiab and its members, aiming to convey the friendly spirit of this research community and to pass a legacy of inspired dedication to the study of diabetic neuropathy
Association between a MIR499A polymorphism and diabetic neuropathy in type 2 diabetes.
No full textAims: Diabetic polyneuropathy (DPN) and cardiovascular autonomic neuropathy (CAN) affect a large percentage of diabetic people and impact severely on quality of life. As it seems that miRNAs and their variations might play a role in these complications, we investigated whether the rs3746444 SNP in the MIR499A gene could be associated with susceptibility to DPN and/or CAN.
Methods: We analyzed 150 participants with type 2 diabetes. DNA was extracted from peripheral blood samples and genotyping was performed by TaqMan genotyping assay. Cardiovascular tests, MNSI-Q and MDNS for neuropathic symptoms and signs, VPT, and thermal thresholds were used for CAN and DPN assessment. We performed a genotype-phenotype correlation analysis.
Results: We observed that the GG genotype was associated with a higher risk of developing CAN (P=0.002 and OR=16.08, P=0.0005 and OR=35.02, for early and confirmed CAN, respectively) and DPN (P=0.037 and OR=6.56), after correction for BMI, sex, age, HbA1c and disease duration. Moreover, the GG genotype was associated with worse values of MDNS (P=0.017), VPT (P=0.01), thermal thresholds (P=0.01), and CAN score (P<0.001). A logistic multivariate analysis confirmed that MIR499A GG genotype, disease duration and HbA1c contributed to early CAN (R2=0.26), while the same variables and age contributed to DPN (R2=0.21). With a multiple linear regression, we observed that GG genotype (P=0.001) and disease duration (P=0.035) were the main variables contributing to the CAN score (R2=0.35).
Conclusions: We described for the first time that the MIR499A genetic variation could be involved in diabetic neuropathies susceptibility. In particular, patients carrying the rs3746444 GG genotype had a higher risk of CAN development, together with a more severe form of CAN
Mitochondrial DNA Copy Number in Peripheral Blood Is Reduced in Type 2 Diabetes Patients with Polyneuropathy and Associated with a MIR499A Gene Polymorphism.
No full textOur aim was to evaluate in a cohort of 125 Italian patients with type 2 diabetes (T2D), who underwent neurological evaluation, the possible differences in the number of mitochondrial DNA copies (mtDNA) comparing positive and negative patients for cardiovascular autonomic neuropathy (CAN) or diabetic peripheral neuropathy (DPN) and comparing them with healthy controls. We also investigated a possible correlation of the number of mtDNA copies with the polymorphism rs3746444 of the MIR499A. T2D patients show a decrease in the number of mtDNA copies compared to healthy controls (p = 2 × 10-10). Dividing the T2D subjects by neurological evaluation, we found a significant mtDNA decrease in patients with DPN compared with those without (p = 0.02), while no differences were observed between subjects with and without CAN. Furthermore, the homozygous variant genotype for the polymorphism rs3746444 of MIR499A correlates with a decrease in the number of mtDNA copies, particularly in T2D patients (p = 0.009). Our data show a decrease in the number of mtDNA copies in subjects with T2D and suggest that this decrease is more evident in patients who develop DPN. Furthermore, the association of the variant allele of MIR499A with the number of mtDNA copies allows us to hypothesize a possible effect of this polymorphism in oxidative stress
Neuropathic pain impact on sleep and circadian rhythm of blood pressure in painful diabetic polyneuropathy
No full textGoing Beyond Counting First Authors in Author Co-citation Analysis
Full text linkThe 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
A Novel Association Between Nondipping and Painful Diabetic Polyneuropathy
No full textWe hypothesized the meaningful coexistence of neuropathic pain and nondipping in painful diabetic polyneuropathy (PDPN).RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS: In 113 patients with PDPN, with painless diabetic polyneuropathy (DPN(+)) and without DPN (DPN(-)), neuropathic pain, sleep, risk for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), autonomic function, and blood pressure (BP) circadian pattern were assessed using the Douleur Neuropathique en 4 Questions (DN4), the Medical Outcomes Study Sleep Scale, the Berlin Questionnaire, cardiovascular reflex tests, and ambulatory BP monitoring.RESULTS: Patients with PDPN showed higher nighttime systolic BP (130.4 ± 15.6 mmHg) than both DPN(-) (119.9 ± 10.6 mmHg; P < 0.0001) and DPN(+) patients (124.2 ± 12.3 mmHg; P < 0.05), and lower day-night difference (∆) in systolic BP (5.5 ± 6.5 vs. 8.6 ± 7.7%; P < 0.05) and diastolic BP than DPN(-) patients. In a stepwise regression analysis, orthostatic hypotension, high risk for OSA, and PDPN (DN4 interview) were independent determinants of ∆ in systolic BP (r = 0.46; P = 0.0001), ∆ in diastolic BP, and nighttime systolic BP.CONCLUSIONS: PDPN is associated with higher nocturnal systolic BP and impaired BP circadian pattern independent of pain-related comorbidities, suggesting a condition of high cardiovascular risk
Variations on the Author
Full text link“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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