Clinical endocrinology
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Clinical endocrinology · Feb 2006
The tumour necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha-308GA promoter polymorphism is related to prenatal growth and postnatal insulin resistance.
Variation in the tumour necrosis factor gene, (TNF) has been associated with insulin resistance traits. We questioned whether the TNF-308G/A polymorphism is associated with birthweight and insulin resistance in children born small for gestational age (SGA), a patient population known to be at risk for insulin resistance. ⋯ SGA children show increased frequency of the TNF-308G allele, an allele that is associated with prenatal growth and with postnatal insulin resistance. The TNF-308G/A polymorphism may have implications in the growth and metabolic abnormalities that characterise SGA children.
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Clinical endocrinology · Feb 2006
Intravenous glucose intake independently related to intensive care unit and hospital mortality: an argument for glucose toxicity in critically ill patients.
It is assumed that the toxic effects of glucose play a role in the outcome of critically ill patients. We studied the impact of the amount of infused glucose as a determinant of mortality. ⋯ In long-stay ICU patients without blood glucose level control, the ICU and hospital mortality was independently related to the mean amount of infused glucose. In addition, mortality in patients with a mean glucose level above 8.0 mmol/l was higher. Both these determinants of mortality can exert their effects by insulin-independent uptake of glucose with subsequent toxic intracellular effects.