Spectral and directional reflectance of the fovea in diabetes mellitus: Photoreceptor integrity, macular pigment and lens

Our aim was to assess the integrity of the photoreceptors in the fovea, and to measure the optical density of the macular pigment and the eye lens in patients with diabetes mellitus, and to compare the results with those of a group of healthy subjects. The directional and spectral properties of the light reflected from a 1.9 deg field centered...

Moderate alcohol consumption lowers the risk of type 2 diabetes: A meta-analysis of prospective observational studies

OBJECTIVE - This meta-analysis was undertaken to obtain insight regarding the shape and strength of the relationship between alcohol consumption and the risk of type 2 diabetes, the effects of adjustment for confounders, and the effect of modification by type 2 diabetes definition, sex, and BMI. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS - The 15 original...

The positive effect on determinants of physical activity of a tailored, general practice-based physical activity intervention

PACE (Physician-based Assessment and Counseling for Exercise) is an individualized theory-based minimal intervention strategy aimed at the enhancement of regular physical activity. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of a PACE intervention applied by general practitioners (GPs) on potential determinants of physical activity....

Hepatic Steatosis: A Mediator of the Metabolic Syndrome. Lessons from Animal Models

Epidemiological studies in humans, as well as experimental studies in animal models, have shown an association between visceral obesity and dyslipidemia, insulin resistance, and type 2 diabetes mellitus. Recently, attention has been focused on the excessive accumulation of triglycerides (TG) in the liver as part of this syndrome. In this review,...

Decrease of hemostatic cardiovascular risk factors by aggressive vs. conventional atorvastatin treatment in patients with Type 2 diabetes mellitus.

BACKGROUND: Patients with Type 2 diabetes mellitus have increased levels of hemostatic risk variables for cardiovascular disease, such as fibrinogen, von Willebrand factor (VWF), factor (F)VIIa, d-dimer and plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1). OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the effect of aggressive vs. standard dose atorvastatin on hemostatic...

Insulineresistentie en diabetes mellitus type 2 bij kinderen met overgewicht [Insulin resistance and diabetes type 2 in overweight children]

The prevalence of overweight and obesity in children is increasing significantly. This increase is attended by an increase in diabetes type 2 in children and adolescents. The most important risk factor for the rise of insulin resistance amongst young people is overweight. The diagnostic criteria for diabetes mellitus in young people are: (a)...

Het instellen op insuline van patiënten met diabetes mellitus type 2: In een transmurale organisatievorm minstens even effectief als poliklinisch; een retrospectief onderzoek met 4 jaar follow-up [Initiating insulin therapy in patients with diabetes mellitus type 2: In a transmural form of care at least as effective as an outpatients form; a retrospective study with a 4-year follow-up]

Objective. Assessing whether the initiation of insulin therapy in patients with diabetes mellitus type 2 can be delivered as effectively in a structured transmural care model as in the more usual outpatients structure. Design. Retrospective comparative cohort study. Method. In 1997 data were collected from 52 patients with diabetes mellitus type...

Angiotensin converting enzyme inhibiting therapy is associated with lower vitreous vascular endothelial growth factor concentrations in patients with proliferative diabetic retinopathy

Aims/hypothesis. Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) is thought to be instrumental in the progression of diabetic retinopathy. Indications exist that the renin-angiotensin system is involved in VEGF overexpression. We assessed the vitreous VEGF concentrations in patients and related them to anti-hypertensive treatment, with special...

Moderate alcohol consumption: Effects on lipids and cardiovascular disease risk

Light to moderate alcohol consumption is associated with a reduced risk of coronary heart disease, as well as ischaemic stroke and possibly type 2 diabetes. Epidemiological and physiological data are in favour of a causal relationship. Proposed protective mechanisms include the stimulation of HDL-mediated processes such as reverse cholesterol...

Serum homocysteine is weakly associated with von Willebrand factor and soluble vascular cell adhesion molecule I, but not with C-reactive protein in type 2 diabetic and non-diabetic subjects - The Hoorn Study

Background: Hyperhomocysteinaemia may constitute an independent risk factor for cardiovascular disease, but it is still unclear by which pathophysiological mechanisms homocysteine (tHcy) may promote atherothrombosis. The aim of this study was firstly to examine whether tHcy is associated with endothelial dysfunction, increased adherence of...

The influence of improved glycaemic control with insulin and sulphonylureas on acute phase and endothelial markers in Type II diabetic subjects

Aims/hypothesis. Improved glycaemic control might reduce both microvascular and macrovascular complications of Type II diabetes (non-insulin-dependent) mellitus. To explore such possible mechanisms, we investigated the effects of intensive treatment on markers of endothelial dysfunction and of acute phase activation, using both sulphonylureas...

von Willebrand factor, C-reactive protein, and 5-year mortality in diabetic and nondiabetic subjects: The Hoorn study

Increased levels of von Willebrand factor (vWf) and C-reactive protein (CRP) predict cardiovascular mortality in selected populations. It is uncertain whether vWf and CRP predict mortality in a general population and whether vWf and CRP predict mortality through similar pathways. This study investigated the association of vWf and CRP with...

Heterogeneous nature of microalbuminuria in NIDDM: Studies of endothelial function and renal structure

Microalbuminuria (MA) is associated with microangiopathy (renal and retinal lesions) in insulin-dependent diabetic (IDDM) patients. In contrast MA does not reflect microvascular damage in a substantial number of non- insulin-dependent diabetic (NIDDM) patients. MA predicts cardiovascular disease in NIDDM patients with increased von Willebrand...

Short-term oestrogen replacement therapy improves insulin resistance, lipids and fibrinolysis in postmenopausal women with NIDDM

Oestrogen replacement therapy is associated with a decreased risk of cardiovascular disease in postmenopausal women. Patients with non-insulin- dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM) have an increased cardiovascular risk. However, oestrogen replacement therapy is only reluctantly prescribed for patients with NIDDM. In a double blind randomized...

Effect of 17β-estradiol on plasma lipids and LDL oxidation in postmenopausal women with type II diabetes mellitus

In type II diabetes mellitus the altered hormonal state after menopause may represent an additional cardiovascular risk factor. Estrogen replacement therapy (ERT) is associated with a decreased cardiovascular risk, at least in nondiabetic post-menopausal women. We studied the effect of ERT on plasma lipids and lipoproteins and on LDL oxidation...

Diabetic angiopathy: Tracking down the culprits