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Biomedical subjects

I Mincu

Publications and source records attributed to I Mincu.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1990

Peripheral sympathetic neuropathy evaluated by recording the evoked electrodermal response using an impedance reactometer.

Autonomic nervous dysfunction was indirectly evaluated on the basis of the skin electrical resistance relative variation (SERV), recorded by our recently developed system, with two pairs of surface electrodes placed on the palm and on the sole of the foot, after the application to the subject of a sensory stimulus (sound 60 dB, 860 Hz, 0.5 s duration) or in the course of a Valsalva manoeuvre. The results were digitally measured and recorded on thermosensitive millimetric paper analysing the following parameters: latency (LT), i.e. the time interval(s) between application of the stimulus and onset of SERV, both at palm (LTh) and foot (LTf); amplitude of the response (mm) recorded and evaluated in the form of SERV; velocity of the response as rate of time change (Vr) and autonomic conduction velocity, -ACV (m/s), calculated by the height/LT ratio. The present study refers to a group of 60 diabetic patients: 32 F/28 M; mean age +/- SD 46.8 +/- 11.8 years; 29 insulin-dependent, 21 non-insulin-dependent; duration of diabetes 8.6 +/- 4.6 years. The data were compared to those recorded in a group of 50 nondiabetics (22 F/28 M; mean age 47.5 +/- 14.1 years) who were apparently healthy. A significant statistical difference (P less than 0.001) was found between diabetic patients and controls for all studied parameters: LTh (s) 2.65 +/- 1.2 vs. 1.91 +/- 0.6; LTf(s) 3.6 +/- 1.4 vs. 2.6 +/- 0.7; SERV (mm) 7.5 +/- 4.8 vs. 18.5 +/- 6.6; Vr (mm) 4.4 +/- 2.1 vs. 13.5 +/- 5.3; ACT (m/s) 0.41 +/- 0.23 vs. 0.97 +/- 0.18.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adolescent↗
PubMed1989

Measurement of perception threshold to an electric stimulus using a phase-sensitive technique in normal and diabetic subjects.

To evaluate the functional state of peripheral sensitivity we measured the perception threshold to an electrical stimulus applied deeply at the level of the lower limbs in both diabetic and nondiabetic patients. The data were obtained using a phase-sensitive technique with a sinusoidal applied voltage at 1592 Hz. The test signal applied through needle electrodes was monitored using a current-to-voltage convertor, the current being considered to have two components, one resistive (IR) in phase with the voltage V across the electrodes, and the other capacitive (IC) 90 degrees out of phase. A significantly (p less than 0.001) higher perception threshold was found in diabetic patients than in nondiabetic subjects with all three electrical variables measured: IR, IC and V.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1987

Evaluation of an intensified insulin treatment and teaching programme as routine management of type 1 (insulin-dependent) diabetes. The Bucharest-Düsseldorf Study.

It has been questioned whether aiming at near-normoglycaemia by intensified insulin treatment regimens is feasible and safe for the majority of patients with insulin-dependent diabetes. In this study, intensified insulin injection therapy (including blood glucose self-monitoring and multiple insulin injections) based upon a 5-day inpatient group teaching programme was evaluated in Type 1 (insulin-dependent) diabetes mellitus in the centralised health care system of Bucharest. One hundred patients (group A, initial HbA1 12.5%) were followed for 1 year on their standard therapy (individual teaching, no metabolic self-monitoring), and thereafter for 1 year on intensified therapy. Another 100 patients (group B, HbA1 12.3%) were followed for 2 years on intensified therapy. A third 100 patients (group C, HbA1 11.7%) were assigned to a basic 4-day inpatient group teaching programme with conventional insulin therapy (including self-monitoring of glucosuria and acetonuria) and followed for 1 year. Mean HbA1 remained unchanged after standard treatment (group A: 12.8% at 12 months), but decreased during intensified therapy (group A: 10.1% at 24 months; group B: 9.3% at 12 months, 9.5% at 24 months; p less than 0.0001). In group C, no change was found compared to standard treatment (i.e. group A at 12 months). Incidence rates of ketoacidosis were 0.16 episodes per patient per year during standard treatment, 0.01 during intensified treatment (p less than 0.01) and 0.04 in group C (p less than 0.025). Hospitalisation rates were reduced by 60% during intensified therapy and by 40% in group C. Frequency of severe hypoglycaemia was not significantly different between the three treatment regimens. Thus, under the condition that insulin treatment is based upon a structured and comprehensive training of the patient, intensified insulin injection therapy performed as routine treatment of Type 1 diabetes significantly lowers HbA1 levels without increasing the risk of severe hypoglycaemia.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1979

The effects of short-term exposure to crowding stress on the pancreatic islets morphology and glycemia in mice.

Behavior, pancreatic islets morphology and plasma glucose levels of male mice exposed for 2, 4, 24 and 48 hours to crowding stress were investigated. The crowding induced an intense turmoil state associated with enhanced irritability and aggressiveness among the specimens of all experimental groups. Violent fights occurred especially in the first 4--6 hours, generally with the death of 1--2 individuals from each group. The changes recorded in the pancreatic islets affected first (2 hours) exclusively the insulin-producing cells, and in subsequent intervals they progressively expanded over all cell types. The changes occurred during the experiment in all islet cell types; however the B-cells showed by far the most pronounced alterations irrespective of the studied time interval. Most changes suggested the stimulation of the entire gland secretory activity, but particularly of B-cells, which was also proved by low glycemia values recorded at 3 of the 4 crowding time intervals. On the other hand, some alterations, occurring first at 24 hours, were regarded as signs of a moderate B-cells secretory hypoactivity; they may partly support the slight hyperglycemia obtained at this time interval. The significance of the above short-term observations in the induction of glycoregulation disturbances, diabetes included, as well as the presumably mediation role of adrenal-cortex and -medulla hormones under stress conditions are discussed and correlated with findings reported in literature.

Animals↗
PubMed1978

The effects of crowding stress on the pancreatic islets morphology in golden hamsters.

Behavior and the pancreatic islets morphology of golden hamsters exposed for different periods (24 h, 15 and 30 d) to crowding stress were investigated. The crowding induced an intensive turmoil and enhanced irritability and aggressiveness, particularly among the female specimens. Within a week, a rank hierarchy seemed to establish and therefore, later the fighting incidence was more reduced. Marked morphological alterations were recorded in the endocrine pancreas, affecting in various degrees all cell types, but especially the insulin-producing cells. The B-cells showed increased sizes, higher incidence of mitotic divisions, a drastical reduction of secretory granules amounts, enlargement of GOLGI complexes, mitochondria swelling and extension of the ergastoplasm. On the other hand, after 30 d, part of these cells displayed pycnotic nuclei, large cytoplasmic vacuoles and increased number of lasosomes and lipid inclusions. Due to the B-cell hyperplasia, the relative number of both A1- and A2-cells per islet occurred diminished and their typical localization modified. The islets of 15 and 30 d crowded specimens showed enlarged sinusoids and clear peri-insular spaces. The above morphological modifications, which suggest as a whole the global stimulation of gland secretory activity, are presented in relation with other authors findings. The presumably involvements of adrenal-cortex and -medulla hormones in the mediation of stress-induced glycemic and pancreatic alterations are discussed.

Animals↗
PubMed1976

The epidemiology of hyperlipoproteinemia in a Rumanian general population sample. Study of 7,085 cases.

Using a two stages screening method the prevalence in the general population of hyperlipoproteinemias (HLP), separated in the five types proposed by Fredrickson, Levy and Lees, and adopted by WHO has been studied. The study included 7,085 subjects of both sexes, aged 25-65 years, representing 84,52 % of a population taken at random within a district of Bucarest. HLP was found in 1,013 cases, i.e. 14,29 % of the investigated population. 48.37 % were men and 51.63 % women. The prevalence of HLP was lowest in the first decace of age studied (25-35 years) and highest in the last two decades (45-65 years). Overweight was more frequently encountered in these patients (64.46 %) than in the total population (32.3 %). Of the 1,013 cases with HLP, 42.35 % (6.05 % of the total population) were of type IV, 27.05 % (3.86 % of the total population) of type II-b, 22.80 % (3.26 % of the total population) of type II-a, 4.74 % (0.67 % of the total population) of the type III and 3.06 % (0.43 % of the total population) of the type V. 22.70 % of the HLP patients were considered primary familial HLP, 66.54 % primary non-familial HLP and 10.76 % secondary HLP; IN 109 secondary HLP, the most frequently encountered disease was diabetes mellitus (42.20 %), followed by hypothyroidism (24.77 %), alcoholism (12.84 %), obstructive liver diseases (9.17 %), pancreatitis (5.50 %), nephrotic syndrome (2.75 %) and treatment with estrogens and steroids (2.75 %).

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Study of plasma osmolarity during the treatment of diabetic ketoacidoses.

Analysis of 610 cases of diabetic ketoacidosis, of which 210 severe cases, showed that before beginning the treatment 6.2% of the patients presented hypoosmolarity, 41.4% normoosmolarity (dysosmolarity) and 52.2% hyperosmolarity. In predominantly hypernatremic hyperosmolarity (5.9% of cases) the authors recommend weak alkaline hypotonic electrolytic solutions (222 mOsm/l). 5% glucose solution and insulin in small doses less than 5 U/h; in predominantly hyperglycemic hyperosmolarity, weak alkaline isotonic electrolytic solutions (309 mOsm/l) and insulin in medium doses (6--8 U/h); in exclusively hyperglycemic hyperosmolarity, hypertonic electrolytic solutions (395 mOsm/l) associated with sufficient insulin dosis (8--12 U/h).

Adolescent↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Not only quantitative but also qualitative changes of serum immunoglobulins in diabetes mellitus.

To extend previous observations on the quantitative changes of IgA and other serum Ig in diabetics, additional immunochemical investigations were carried out in 96 patients, 63 males and 33 females, mean age 43.5 +/- 15.7 years, 51 with type 1 (insulin-dependent) and 45 with type 2 (non-insulin-dependent) diabetes. The immunological data were correlated with the clinical-metabolic aspects. In the whole group, the IgA level was increased (144.1 +/- 57.2 I.U.). Significant differences were recorded with respect to age for IgG, to age and diabetes type for IgA, to sex for IgM. Qualitative Ig changes, reflecting disturbances of molecular structure, mainly for IgG, seldom for IgM, but never for IgA, were observed in 20% of the patients with both types of diabetes, more seldom in cases with long disease duration. The IgG with qualitative changes were purified and their functional capacity of inhibiting the natural cytotoxic activity (NK) was tested in comparison with that induced by pretreatment of the effectory cells with normal IgG. Some of these modified IgG showed a reduced capacity of inhibiting the NK activity. These data confirm the existence of certain quantitative changes of the main serum Ig in diabetics and reveal the presence of qualitative disorders of the IgG molecules, with consequences on their functionality.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

No relationship between insulin antibodies and hypoglycemia in insulin-treated diabetic patients.

It has been speculated that insulin antibodies may contribute to the hypoglycemic attacks in insulin-treated diabetic patients. To address this hypothesis, we analyzed in a first part of the study the frequency to hypoglycemia in two groups of diabetic patients, one (Group A, 38 cases) with at least two episodes of severe hypoglycemia in the last year and another (Group B, 38 cases) without severe hypoglycemia in the last 3 years. In the second part of this study, we analyzed the frequency of severe and moderate episodes of hypoglycemia in another two groups of diabetics, one (Group C, 32 cases) with high insulin antibody titre (greater than or equal to 20% binding, mean +/- SD 31.2 +/- 8.1%) and another with low insulin antibody titre (less than 10% binding, mean +/- SD, 5.1 +/- 2.2%). No significant difference was found for bound insulin between diabetics with frequent hypoglycemic episodes (2.3 +/- 0.2/patient/year--Group A) and those without severe hypoglycemic episodes (Group B), i.e., bound insulin 4.89 +/- 3.21% in group A versus 5.32 +/- 4.5% in group B. Conversely, the frequency of severe episodes of hypoglycemia was similar in diabetic patients with high (31.2 +/- 8% binding in group C) and respectively low (5.1 +/- 2.1% binding in group D) insulin antibody titre, i.e., 0.15 episodes/patient/year in group C and 0.17 episodes/patient/year in group D.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Cholesterol and lipid levels in the hair: indicators of the lipid metabolism balance.

A new method of long term, retrospective evaluation of the lipid metabolism balance, by cholesterol and lipid assays in the human hair, is described. The correlation index between the blood and the hair cholesterol and lipid concentrations was + 0.980 and + 0.9925, respectively. The effects of hypolipemic diet and drug therapy on the cholesterol and lipid values were studied comparatively in the blood and in successive hair segments. The results demonstrate that the new method permits an evaluation of the therapy effectiveness and of the lipid metabolism variations during several weeks or months.

Cholesterol↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Pancreas transplantation. Experimental and clinical trials.

The ever increasing incidence of diabetes mellitus has stimulated the immunologic investigations concerned with the role of heredity and the toleration rate of transplants of pancreas organ or islet structures. Concomitant or subsequent trials have attempted to define or avoid the apparently diabetogenic factors. With respect to the effectiveness of diabetes therapy, one cannot deny the contrast between the practical and the theoretical aspects. Besides the technical difficulties, the pancreas organ or islet cell transplants are confronted with the still limited possibilities of immunosuppression. The recent concept of a bioartificial organ is an attempt to avoid such disadvantages. The present paper is a review of the main achievements of the experimental and the clinical trials in the above-mentioned directions of research work.

Animals↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Evaluation of the metabolic balance in type 1 (insulin-dependent) diabetics, by assay of the hair biochemical components.

A new method of long-term retrospective evaluation of the metabolic balance in type 1 diabetic was based on the variations of the hair biochemical components. Glucose, proteic sulfur and amino acid assays were performed in two consecutive hair segments, proximal and distal, of 1.5 cm each. The differences between the glucose and the sulfur values in the two segments correlated with the HbA1 levels (r = +0.971 and r = +0.957, respectively), being statistically significant in both situations (p less than 0.001). The hair components assay permits to follow up the diabetics' metabolic balance on longer time periods than by determination of the HbA1 values.

Adolescent↗