European journal of clinical investigation
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Eur. J. Clin. Invest. · Mar 2002
Randomized Controlled Trial Clinical TrialAlcohol consumption alters insulin secretion and cardiac autonomic activity.
Alcohol may have a cardioprotective effect. One possible mechanism is by modifying insulin resistance/secretion. The aims of this study were: (i) to examine the effect of short-term alcohol consumption on the metabolic control of glucose tolerance; (ii) to study the influence of short-term alcohol consumption on cardiac autonomic activity using spectral analysis of heart rate variability. ⋯ The finding of no difference in insulin sensitivity between the two groups contrasts with, but does not entirely contradict, the results of previous epidemiological studies--perhaps suggesting that longer term changes such as liver enzyme induction may be important. The difference in insulin secretion questions the validity of previous studies of the influence of alcohol on insulin sensitivity, where insulin levels were used as a surrogate for insulin resistance.
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Eur. J. Clin. Invest. · Nov 2001
Postnatal increase of procalcitonin in premature newborns is enhanced by chorioamnionitis and neonatal sepsis.
To determine the influence of chorioamnionitis and neonatal sepsis on procalcitonin (PCT) levels in very-low-birth-weight (VLBW) infants within the first week of life. ⋯ In the group of VLBW infants the PCT level within 72 h of delivery was markedly increased in patients with chorioamnionitis. Compared with I : T and CRP, PCT appears to be a more sensitive marker of neonatal sepsis.
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Eur. J. Clin. Invest. · Nov 2001
CommentHeterogeneity of smooth muscle cells in advanced human atherosclerotic plaques: intimal smooth muscle cells expressing a fibroblast surface protein are highly activated by platelet-released products.
In vascular disease, smooth muscle cells (SMC) undergo phenotypic modulation and may acquire properties resembling those of fibroblasts in tissue wound healing. ⋯ Our results suggest that the expression of FSP in SMC could indicate an activated phenotype, and the presence of highly positive FSP cells in the atherosclerotic lesions might be indicative of an increased SMC responsiveness to processes that locally generate thrombin and activate platelets.
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Eur. J. Clin. Invest. · Sep 2001
Damaged myocytes as detected by the colocalization of DNA fragmentation and tissue transglutaminase and their prognostic significance in enterovirus-associated dilated cardiomyopathy.
Apoptotic cardiac myocytes have been described in chronic heart failure, but no data exist on the relationship between these 'damaged' myocytes and myocardial detection of enterovirus RNA often associated with dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM). ⋯ Our results favour the view that enterovirus-positive patients with DCM have less damaged myocytes and a better haemodynamic course than enterovirus-negative patients.