Search PubMed⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

D R Hadden

Publications and source records attributed to D R Hadden.

At least 91 records · Page 5Linked to original sources

Correction of fasting hyperglycaemia with insulin or sulphonylurea lowers fasting ketone levels, but does not alter resting or post-glucose energy expenditure in non insulin dependent diabetes. Differences between the OGTT and the glucose clamp.

Sixteen non-obese non insulin dependent diabetic patients had a 75 g oral glucose tolerance test with simultaneous measurement of intermediary metabolites and of overall energy expenditure by indirect calorimetry during the test. The same patients had a 3H3 glucose infusion and hyperinsulinaemic glucose clamp procedure with glucose held at 10.0 mmol/l and insulin infused at 40 mU/m2/min. The changes in glucose and fat metabolism, in total energy balance and the fall in RQ during the glucose tolerance test did not correlate with the measures of hepatic glucose output or peripheral insulin resistance in these patients. Although the concept of insulin resistance is useful in considering the non insulin dependent diabetic state, the data derived from the body responses to a single glucose load are more relevant to the day to day fluctuation of the internal environment.

Blood Glucose↗

The growth hormone response to growth hormone releasing hormone in patients previously treated with bilateral adrenalectomy alone for Cushing's disease.

Human growth hormone releasing hormone (GHRH) fails to stimulate human growth hormone (GH) in hypercortisolism. In order to study whether the responsiveness to GHRH stimulation returns after cure of the hypercortisolism, the GH response to GHRH was examined in 8 patients at least 5 yr after they had undergone bilateral adrenalectomy as their sole treatment for Cushing's disease. None had current evidence of a pituitary macroadenoma. A group of 8 healthy subjects matched for age and sex formed the control group. All patients and subjects received an iv injection of GHRH 1 microgram/kg, after an overnight fast, blood samples were taken before and at 15, 30, 45, 60, 90 and 120 min. There was no statistical difference between the peak GH or area under curve (AUC) response (median, range) in the two groups studied (adrenalectomized peak GH 9.2 (4.6-32.0) vs 16.5 (7.5-63) mU/l, adrenalectomized AUC response 647.5 (344.2-1489.5) vs 1103.5 (339.7-5188.5) mU/l. Patients with Cushing's disease once cured of hypercortisolism, have a GH response to GHRH.

Adrenalectomy↗

A T cell receptor beta chain polymorphism is associated with patients developing insulin-dependent diabetes after the age of 20 years.

We have studied the BglII polymorphism near the T cell receptor beta chain constant region (TcR-C beta) gene, HLA-DR genotypes and certain autoimmune features in 102 patients with type I (insulin-dependent) diabetes. There was a significant decrease in the frequency of the 1:1 genotype (P = 0.008) and an increase in the 1:2 genotype (P = 0.03) of the BglII TcR polymorphism in the group of patients who developed type-I diabetes after the age of 20 years. This group of patients also showed an increased incidence of autoantibodies (especially islet cell antibody), a family history of diabetes and the presence of other autoimmune diseases. The frequency of this polymorphism in patients who developed type I diabetes before the age of 20 years was similar to a non-diabetic group. These results suggest that there are two genetically distinct groups of patients with type I diabetes. HLA-DR3 and HLA-DR4 genotypes were also increased in the diabetic patients but no significant difference was observed between HLA-DR genotypes, the TcR-C beta genotypes, the age of diagnosis or with other autoimmune features. Patients developing type I (insulin-dependent) diabetes after the age of 20 years have an additional genetic susceptibility for diabetes associated with the TcR-C beta gene.

Adolescent↗

Increased interleukin 2 receptor expression in post-gestational women: relationship to impaired glucose tolerance and islet cell antibodies in pregnancy.

Fifteen women with positive islet cell antibodies were identified in a group of 115 consecutive patients found to have impaired glucose tolerance in pregnancy. These subjects were postulated to be at increased risk of later developing type 1 diabetes mellitus. They were examined post--partum for HLA types known to be associated with this disease and for any increase in Interleukin 2 receptor expression or alteration of T cell subsets of possible relevance to its pathogenesis. Fifteen women negative for islet antibodies and with normal glucose tolerance during previous pregnancy and 15 women with a normal fasting plasma glucose who had never been pregnant were studied as controls. Using flow cytometric techniques a significant increase in both the number and proportion of activated (Interleukin 2 receptor, CD25) lymphocytes in the peripheral blood of women who had islet cell antibodies and previous impaired glucose tolerance in pregnancy was found (0.14 +/- SE 0.03 x 10(9)/l; 7.1 +/- 1.1%) when compared with normal parous controls (0.09 +/- 0.01 x 10(9)/l; 4.2 +/- 0.6%), p less than 0.01 x 10(9)/l; showed significant increases when compared with nulliparous controls (0.04 +/- 0.01 x 10(9)/l; 2.1 +/- 0.2%), p less than 0.01. No differences were detected between the three groups with respect to total T-lymphocytes (CD3), helper T-lymphocytes (CD4), suppressor cytotoxic T-lymphocytes (CD8), or the inducer of suppressor (Leu 3+/Leu 8+) subset of T-lymphocytes. Three women persistently islet cell antibody positive, two of whom were HLA DR4, showed impaired glucose tolerance at the time of lymphocyte subset analysis, while two further patients, one DR3 and the other DR4, had developed type 1 (insulin-dependent) diabetes. No correlation between increased Interleukin 2 receptor expression and glucose intolerance was demonstrated. We conclude that islet cell antibody positive women with impaired glucose tolerance during pregnancy are at increased risk of later developing type 1 diabetes but that heightened immune activation present in these women is in part a post-pregnancy phenomenon.

Adolescent↗

Studies on the pathogenesis of hypertension in Cushing's disease and acromegaly.

The pathogenesis of the hypertension associated with Cushing's syndrome and with acromegaly is poorly understood. We have investigated the possible roles of sodium retention, activation of the renin-angiotensin system and increased sympathetic nervous system activity in untreated patients. In 11 patients with Cushing's disease, seven of whom were hypertensive, total exchangeable sodium was normal despite increased levels of the mineralocorticoid hormones, 11-deoxy-corticosterone and corticosterone. The renin-angiotensin system was also normal. Cardiac sensitivity to the beta-receptor agonist isoprenaline was increased, but this was not due to an increase in beta-adrenoceptor density. Hypertension in Cushing's disease is neither sodium-dependent nor angiotensin II-mediated, but increased cardiac sensitivity to catecholamines, by increasing cardiac output, may contribute to the pathogenesis of hypertension. In nine patients with acromegaly (three of whom were hypertensive) total exchangeable sodium was elevated. Although no correlation between blood pressure and exchangeable sodium was found, hypertension in acromegaly is probably sodium dependent. No evidence was found for a pathogenetic role for either the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone or the sympathetic nervous system.

Acromegaly↗

Ascertainment and natural history of treated acromegaly in Northern Ireland.

The prevalence of known cases of acromegaly in Northern Ireland in 1984 was 6.3 per 100,000 population. The incidence of newly-diagnosed cases over the preceding 25 years was 5.5 patients per year, or 0.4 patients per 100,000 population per year. This rate would be equivalent to about 200 new cases per year in the United Kingdom. Four options have been available to most of these patients--surgical hypophysectomy (transfrontal or transsphenoidal), pituitary radiotherapy (usually external cobalt beam), drug treatment with bromocriptine, or no treatment. Choice of treatment has been mainly influenced by tumour size, with the larger pituitary adenomas having surgery initially. No single form of treatment has been successful in achieving a clinical remission or cure in more than a minority of cases. The most successful outcome has been where total pituitary ablation has been achieved. Life-table analysis for the whole group shows life expectancy which is not markedly different for that of an age-matched population from Northern Ireland. Morbidity related to long term osteoarthritis and treatment complications remain a major problem. The incidence of malignant tumours is higher than would be expected.

Acromegaly↗

Long-term glycaemic control and diabetic retinopathy.

216 patients with insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus were studied by retinal photography, and the absence or presence of retinopathy was related to the mean of serial glycosylated haemoglobin measurements (mean HbA1) carried out every 3 months during the previous 6 years. 122 patients had no diabetic retinopathy, 86 had background retinopathy, and 8 proliferative retinopathy. Mean HbA1 levels showed a strong correlation with increasingly severe grades of retinopathy, even when differences in duration of diabetes were taken into account. Proliferative retinopathy was seen only in patients with mean HbA1 above 10%. These results support the view that the development of diabetic retinopathy is related to long-term glycaemic control and emphasise the desirability, and possible benefit, of achieving control as close to normal as is possible for each individual patient.

Adolescent↗

Urinary albumin excretion in diabetic pregnancy.

We have analysed the results of urinary albumin excretion in timed overnight urine samples once every two weeks during pregnancy and post-natally in 25 non-diabetic women and 14 women with Type 1 (insulin-dependent) diabetes who were Albustix negative and had urinary albumin excretion less than 15 micrograms.min-1 at conception. Urinary albumin excretion did not vary significantly in the first two trimesters in either group and at 28 weeks was 2.73 micrograms.min-1 (0.32-251.68) (median and range) in the diabetic women and 2.53 micrograms.min-1 (0.90-13.37) in control patients (not significant). During the third trimester urinary albumin excretion increased, and levels were significantly higher in diabetic patients from 36 weeks (9.37 (0.9-31.78) vs 3.52 (0.19-33.74) micrograms.min-1, p less than 0.01) until delivery. In both groups, urinary albumin excretion reached a peak within the week following delivery - diabetic 17.42 micrograms.min-1 (2.03-46.64), control subjects 16.29 micrograms.min-1 (1.53-35.56), but six weeks after delivery, levels were similar to those in early pregnancy. The effect of pregnancy on urinary albumin excretion in these diabetic women would appear to be an exaggeration of the normal pattern, with levels returning to normal post-delivery. It is not possible to know if this has significance for future renal function, but it would be important to investigate this phenomenon in patients who already have raised urinary albumin excretion at conception.

Adult↗

Partially compensated hypoadrenalism presenting with persistent skin pigmentation.

A 33-year-old female presented in 1966 with striking pigmentation, typical of Addison's disease, and amenorrhea. Endocrine assessment then showed normal basal serum cortisol and urinary hydroxysteroid levels, but serum cortisol did not respond to stimulation with either exogenous ACTH or lysine vasopressin. Steroid replacement treatment was started. Treatment was discontinued by the patient on her own initiative and after some yr she was lost to follow-up. Reassessment in 1986 showed a pigmented patient who had continued in good health. She had a normal basal serum cortisol level with circadian variation. Plasma ACTH levels were high but showed diurnal rhythmicity and suppressed incompletely with 2 mg or 8 mg of dexamethasone/24 h. Plasma aldosterone levels were normal and showed appropriate postural changes, but plasma renin levels were high. This patient has an immunological profile of autoimmune disease with positive adrenal, thyroid microsomal and gastric parietal cell antibodies with a history of a premature menopause which may also be of autoimmune origin. She has been seen over a 20-yr period and despite her appearance still has no biochemical evidence of glucocorticoid or mineralocorticoid deficiency. It is suggested that the patient had compensated hypoadrenalism, with serum cortisol levels maintained in the normal range by high plasma ACTH levels and serum aldosterone levels maintained by high renin levels. The long term result of the high ACTH levels was increased skin pigmentation.

Adrenal Insufficiency↗

Basal and saline-stimulated levels of plasma atrial natriuretic factor in acromegaly.

We have studied plasma ANF before and after a 4-h intravenous infusion of normal saline in eight subjects with active acromegaly and in eight age and sex-matched control subjects. Plasma ANF, serum aldosterone and blood pressure were measured basally and after 2 and 4 h and plasma renin activity basally and after 4 h. Basal plasma ANF was similar in each group (4.4 +/- 1.5 pmol/l (mean +/- SEM) in acromegalic subjects and 5.3 +/- 0.7 pmol/l in controls NS). Plasma ANF did not rise significantly after saline in the acromegalic group (2-h value, 5.9 +/- 0.9; 4-h value, 5.1 +/- 0.9 pmol/l) but did rise significantly in the control group (2-h value, 8.9 +/- 1.9; 4-h value 9.5 +/- 1.3 pmol/l, both values P less than 0.05 vs basal level). The 4-h ANF value was significantly higher in the control group than in the acromegalic group (P less than 0.05). Basal and stimulated serum aldosterone values were similar in the two groups. Plasma renin activity suppressed to a lesser extent in the acromegalic group after 4 h. The facts that basal plasma ANF was not raised in acromegalic subjects and did not respond to saline stimulation demonstrate that an abnormality of ANF control may be an important factor in the aetiology of the expanded sodium status of patients with acromegaly and hence may contribute to the hypertension seen in patients with growth hormone excess.

Acromegaly↗

Plasma ACTH responses to cortisol infusion are similar in patients with primary hypoadrenalism and patients studied some years after bilateral adrenalectomy for Cushing's syndrome.

It has been suggested that the first-phase feedback of steroid feedback on ACTH secretion is abnormal in Cushing's disease patients studied after adrenalectomies. We have performed hydrocortisone infusions (100 mg over 2 h) in 15 patients who had previously undergone bilateral adrenalectomy for Cushing's disease. None had had any pituitary-directed therapy and none had a pituitary macroadenoma. Their responses were compared with a group of seven hypoadrenal patients. A significant rise in serum cortisol was observed between 5 and 10 min in both groups. The first significant fall in ACTH occurred between 30 and 45 min in both groups. There was no abnormality of first-phase feedback in the Cushing's group and our results do not therefore support previous speculation that such an abnormality provides evidence for a higher central nervous system (CNS) aetiology of Cushing's disease.

Adrenal Insufficiency↗

Bilateral inferior petrosal sinus sampling as a routine procedure in ACTH-dependent Cushing's syndrome.

Bilateral inferior petrosal sinus sampling was successfully performed in 12 of 13 consecutive patients with ACTH-dependent Cushing's syndrome. Ten of the patients subsequently had transsphenoidal pituitary microsurgery. Eight patients in whom the inferior petrosal sinus to peripheral vein ACTH level ratio was 1.5 or greater were found to have a pituitary adenoma. One of the remaining two patients who had ratios less than 1.5 had pituitary hyperplasia while the other had no identified abnormality. In five of the patients with pituitary tumour a ratio above 1.5 was present on only one side. Bilateral petrosal sampling is therefore always necessary. Tumour localization within the pituitary was only poorly predicted by either petrosal sinus sampling (four of eight) or computed tomography scanning (three of eight). If petrosal sinus sampling is used early in the differential diagnosis of ACTH-dependent hypercortisolism, then the use of other differential diagnostic tests may not always be necessary.

Adenoma↗

Phaeochromocytoma in pregnancy. Five cases and a review of the literature.

We report five patients with phaeochromocytoma associated with pregnancy and review the 42 other cases reported in the literature from 1980 to 1987. The overall maternal mortality was 17% and the fetal loss 26%; antenatal diagnosis of phaeochromocytoma reduced the maternal mortality to zero and the fetal loss to 15%, but was made in only 53% of the patients. Although phaeochromocytoma is rare, a high index of clinical suspicion must be maintained and all those at risk investigated if earlier diagnosis and improved outcome are to be achieved. Once the diagnosis is confirmed, alpha-blockade is essential and beta-blockade may be required. CT scan or magnetic resonance imaging may be used to localize the tumour during the antenatal period. In the first and second trimesters, tumour resection has a good fetal outcome; in later pregnancy, delivery by elective caesarean section followed by tumour resection is recommended.

Adrenal Gland Neoplasms↗

Growth hormone treatment in adults with growth hormone deficiency: effect on muscle fibre size and proportions.

The effect of a 6-month period of substitution therapy with recombinant human growth hormone (rhGH) on muscle fibre size and muscle fibre type proportions has been investigated in a group of 13 adults with growth hormone deficiency. All had a peak growth hormone (GH) response to insulin-induced hypoglycaemia of less than 7 mU/l. There was no statistically significant change in the lesser fibre diameter or fibre proportions of either type 1 or type 2 muscle fibres in the rhGH group, as compared with placebo.

Adult↗

A weight-related intravenous dexamethasone suppression test distinguishes obese controls from patients with Cushing's syndrome.

To establish a rapid test for Cushing's syndrome we measured serum cortisol during and following iv dexamethasone infusion (5 micrograms.kg-1.h-1 for 5 h from 10.00 h) in simple obesity (N = 19) and in Cushing's syndrome (N = 12). We had first established that 5 micrograms.kg-1.h-1 was the lowest dose which consistently lowered serum cortisol in simple obesity. In obesity, serum cortisols ranged from undetectable (less than 30) to 48 nmol/l at 17.00, less than 30 to 37 at 19.00 and less than 30 to 38 at 08.00 h the following day. Serum cortisol at these three times did not show any overlap between simple obesity and Cushing's syndrome. Having established these findings we proceeded to study a group of patients with polycystic ovarian disease. These patients behaved differently. Their values at 17.00 and 19.00 h did not overlap those of Cushing's syndrome. However, at 08.00 h, 5 of the 7 had values within the range seen in Cushing's syndrome with a mean of 290 +/- 99 nmol/l. In conclusion, 17.00 and 19.00 h serum cortisol levels distinguish between Cushing's syndrome and both simple obesity and polycystic ovarian disease. However, in the latter, cortisol suppression is less prolonged than in simple obesity. This finding may be important for our understanding of the pathogenesis of the disease.

Adult↗