European journal of clinical investigation
-
Eur. J. Clin. Invest. · Mar 2013
Comparative StudyType 2 diabetes and 1-year mortality in intensive care unit patients.
Data on the prognostic impact of diabetes and diabetic complications in intensive care unit (ICU) patients are limited and inconsistent. We, therefore, examined mortality in ICU patients with type 2 diabetes with and without pre-existing heart and kidney diseases compared with nondiabetic patients. ⋯ ICU patients with type 2 diabetes had higher 1-year mortality compared with nondiabetic ICU patients, particularly those with pre-existing kidney disease.
-
Eur. J. Clin. Invest. · Mar 2013
Plasma HMGB-1 after the initial dose of epirubicin/docetaxel in cancer.
The response of breast cancer patients to neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NCT) is highly heterogeneous, and reliable predictive instruments remain to be defined. High-mobility group box-1 (HMGB-1) protein is a cell death marker, which is easily detectable in plasma. We hypothesized that the initial dose of NCT with epirubicin/docetaxel induces changes in plasma HMGB-1 which could allow for an early prediction of response to therapy. ⋯ Our data suggest that early dynamic changes of plasma HMGB1 could be a promising biomarker to predict the final response to NCT in breast cancer patients.
-
Eur. J. Clin. Invest. · Feb 2013
Visceral adiposity index is highly associated with adiponectin values and glycaemic disturbances.
Visceral Adiposity Index (VAI) is a gender-specific mathematical index estimated with the use of simple anthropometric (body mass index and waist circumference) and biochemical (triglycerides and high density lipoprotein cholesterol) parameters. Recent studies have shown that VAI reflects accurately the degree of visceral adiposity and insulin resistance. However, up to now, VAI has not been evaluated if it correlates with carbohydrate metabolism disorders, as well as with adipokine secretion from the fat mass. ⋯ We report for the first time the direct relations of VAI with adipose tissue secretion, as well as with functional glycaemic disorders. Because VAI is estimated easily with data obtained in everyday practice, it could be used as an indirect index of adiponectin levels and the risk of impaired glucose metabolism.
-
Eur. J. Clin. Invest. · Feb 2013
Arrhythmias in primary hyperparathyroidism evaluated by exercise test.
Hypercalcemia induces arrhythmias and shortening of QT. The aim of this study was to investigate risk factors for occurrence of arrhythmias in patients with primary hyperparathyroidism (PHPT) during bicycle ergometer exercise test (ET). ⋯ In patients with PHPT, an increased occurrence of VPBs and a different QTc adaptation during ET were observed and may represent risk factors for major arrhythmias.
-
Eur. J. Clin. Invest. · Feb 2013
Digoxin-associated decrease in parathyroid hormone (PTH) concentrations in patients with atrial fibrillation.
Parathyroid hormone (PTH) secretion is regulated mainly by the calcium sensor receptor. Recently, other components of calcium homoeostasis have been revealed, namely the effect of Klotho on stimulation of PTH secretion by the recruitment of Na-K-ATPase and by its being a cofactor in the inhibitory effect of FGF 23 on PTH secretion. It seems that ouabain, a Na-K-ATPase inhibitor, prevents the increase in PTH secretion in a hypocalcemic environment, as observed in mouse and bovine tissues. We hypothesized that digoxin, which is similar to ouabain in its effect on the sodium pump, might decrease PTH levels in humans. ⋯ Although the patients were normocalcemic, plasma PTH concentrations decreased with digoxin treatment. The effect of the sodium pump on PTH secretion might be important in human PTH homoeostasis and might be a potential target for the treatment of disturbances in calcium homoeostasis.