European journal of clinical investigation
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Eur. J. Clin. Invest. · Mar 2008
Randomized Controlled Trial Multicenter StudyImprovement of glycaemic control by nateglinide decreases systolic blood pressure in drug-naive patients with type 2 diabetes.
It has been speculated that oral hypoglycaemic agents that block K-ATP channels could potentially increase blood pressure by blocking such channels in vascular myocytes. No information about this issue exists regarding nateglinide. ⋯ In drug-naive patients with type 2 diabetes, the improvement in glycaemic control with nateglinide is associated with a decrease in systolic blood pressure.
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Eur. J. Clin. Invest. · Feb 2008
Expression of the multidrug resistance proteins MRP2 and MRP3 in human cholangiocellular carcinomas.
Cholangiocellular carcinomas and gallbladder carcinomas are highly aggressive tumours with a poor prognosis and are generally regarded as chemoresistant tumours. Overexpression of ATP-binding cassette transporters of the multidrug resistance protein (MDR) and multidrug resistance-related protein (MRP) family in cancer cells is a major cause for the multidrug resistance phenotype in vitro and in vivo. To further define the role of MRP family members in biliary tract cancer, we studied the expression and localization of MRP2 and MRP3 in cholangiocellular carcinomas and gallbladder carcinomas. ⋯ Our findings suggest that the intrinsic multidrug resistance of cholangiocellular and gallbladder carcinomas seems to be independent of MRP2 expression while the expression of MRP3 may contribute to the MDR phenotype.
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Eur. J. Clin. Invest. · Dec 2007
ReviewThe role of calcimimetics in the treatment of hyperparathyroidism.
Calcimimetics reduce serum levels of parathyroid hormone (PTH) and calcium, with a leftward shift in the set-point for calcium-regulated PTH secretion. The aim of this publication is to review the data available for calcimimetics in primary, secondary and tertiary hyperparathyroidism (HPT). Parathyroidectomy (PTX) is currently the only curative treatment for primary HPT, and recommended for patients with moderate-to-severe disease, as defined by a 2002 National Institute's of Health summary statement. ⋯ In addition, observational analyses of use of calcimimetics in the ESRD population have shown a reduction of important clinical outcomes. In renal allograft recipients with tertiary HPT and hypercalcaemia, calcimimetics are a promising treatment option to control the parameters of calcium phosphate metabolism and may be a valid alternative to PTX. Based on its unique mechanism of action, the calcimimetic cinacalcet may play a role in the medical treatment of primary and tertiary forms of HPT, in addition to the registered indication for the treatment of secondary HPT.
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Eur. J. Clin. Invest. · Nov 2007
Randomized Controlled TrialLong-term prognostic value of B-type natriuretic peptide in cardiac and non-cardiac causes of acute dyspnoea.
B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP) levels significantly predict increased risk of death in heart failure. The predictive role of BNP levels in patients with non-cardiac causes of acute dyspnoea presenting to the emergency department is not well characterized. ⋯ BNP levels are strong and independent predictors for long-term mortality in unselected dyspnoeic patients presenting to the emergency department independent from the cause of dyspnoea.
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Eur. J. Clin. Invest. · Oct 2007
Acute phase proteins do not account for unmeasured anions in critical illness.
The increasingly recognized prognostic impact of the strong ion gap in critical illness is in contrast to its largely unknown chemical nature. Experimental and clinical evidence suggest that acute phase proteins might account for elevation of the strong ion gap. The hypothesis of this investigation was that acute phase proteins account for strong ion gap in critically ill patients. ⋯ Acute phase proteins do not account for an elevated strong ion gap in critically ill patients.