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J Vidal

Publications and source records attributed to J Vidal.

At least 55 records · Page 3Linked to original sources
PubMed2001

Intrathecal baclofen after traumatic brain injury: early treatment using a new technique to prevent spasticity.

BACKGROUND: In the early course of severe head trauma, the clinical value of intrathecal administration of baclofen to reduce autonomic disorders and spasticity has not been established. METHODS: We studied four patients (Glasgow Coma Scale score 3 or 4) with autonomic disorders and spasticity who failed to respond to conventional treatment during the early course of head injury. Baclofen (25 microg/mL) was infused continuously through an intrathecal catheter inserted at patient bedside and subcutaneously tunneled. When this treatment was successful, the spinal catheter was removed and surgically replaced by another catheter connected to a subcutaneous pump. Clinical follow-up was obtained at 6 months after the head injury. RESULTS: Mean delay for the initiation of intrathecal baclofen was 25 days (range, 21 to 31 days), and optimal dose was 385 +/- 185 microg/day. In all patients, the Ashworth score was consistently reduced (3.5 +/- 0.5 vs. 4.5 +/- 0.5 for upper limbs and 2 +/- 0.5 vs. 4.5 +/- 0.5 for lower limbs), as were both the frequency and intensity of autonomic disorders. The spinal catheters were used during a mean period of 9.5 +/- 1.7 days without complications. All three survivors were equipped with a programmable pump and had a lower Ashworth score at 6 months. Autonomic disorders had disappeared in two patients and remained modest in the remaining patient. CONCLUSION: Continuous administration of baclofen via the intrathecal route using this new technique seems to reduce autonomic disorders and spasticity during the early course of severe traumatic head injury.

Adult↗
PubMed2001

Identification and functional analysis of mutations in FAD-binding domain of mitochondrial glycerophosphate dehydrogenase in caucasian patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus.

Ca2+-responsive mitochondrial FAD-linked glycerophosphate dehydrogenase (mGPDH) is a key component of the pancreatic beta-cell glucose-sensing device. The purpose of this study was to examine the association of mutations in the cDNA coding for the FAD-binding domain of mGPDH and to explore the functional consequences of these mutations in vitro. To investigate this association in type 2 diabetes mellitus, we studied a cohort of 168 patients with type 2 diabetes and 179 glucose-tolerant control subjects of Spanish Caucasian origin by single-stranded conformational polymorphism analysis. In vitro site-directed mutagenesis was performed in the mGPDH cDNA sequence to reproduce those mutations that produce amino acid changes in a patient with type 2 diabetes. We detected mutations in the mGPDH FAD-binding domain in a single patient, resulting in a Gly to Arg amino acid change at positions 77, 78, and 81 and a Thr to Pro at position 90. In vitro expression of the mutated constructs in Xenopus oocytes resulted in a significantly lower enzymatic activity than in cells expressing the wild-type form of the enzyme. Our results indicate that although mutations in the mGPDH gene do not appear to have a major role in type 2 diabetes mellitus, the reduction in mGPDH enzymatic activity associated with the newly described mGPDH mutations suggests that they may contribute to the disease in some patients.

Aged↗
PubMed2001

Islet amyloid develops diffusely throughout the pancreas before becoming severe and replacing endocrine cells.

Islet amyloid occurs in >90% of type 2 diabetic patients and may play a role in the pathogenesis of this disease. To determine whether islet amyloid occurs diffusely throughout the pancreas, whether it affects islets equally, and whether it decreases islet endocrine cells, we characterized islet amyloidosis by computerized fluorescence microscopy in transgenic mice that develop typical islet amyloid. These mice produce the unique amyloidogenic component of human islet amyloid, human islet amyloid polypeptide (hIAPP). The prevalence of amyloid (number of islets containing amyloid/total number of islets x 100) and the severity of amyloid (Sigmaamyloid area/Sigmaislet area x 100) were found to be uniform throughout the pancreas. Furthermore, a high prevalence of amyloid was observed in islets when the severity of amyloid was only 1.5% of the islet area, suggesting a diffuse distribution of amyloid from the very early stages of islet amyloidosis. In 12 hIAPP transgenic mice with an amyloid severity of 9.6 +/- 3.4%, the proportion of islets composed of beta- and delta-cells was reduced in the transgenic mice compared with 6 nontransgenic mice that do not develop amyloid (beta-cells: 62.9 +/- 3.1% vs. 75.5 +/- 0.9%, P = 0.02; delta-cells: 2.8 +/- 0.5% vs. 4.4 +/- 0.4%, P = 0.05), whereas the proportion of islets composed of alpha-cells did not significantly differ between the two groups of mice. In the individual islets in these transgenic mice, amyloid severity was inversely correlated with beta-cell, (r = -0.59, P < 0.0001), alpha-cell (r = -0.32, P < 0.0001), and delta-cell (r = -0.25, P < 0.0001) areas. In conclusion, islet amyloidosis occurs uniformly throughout the pancreas, affecting all islets before becoming severe. A reduction in islet endocrine mass starts at this early stage of islet amyloid development and progresses as amyloid mass increases.

Amyloid↗
PubMed2000

Interaction induced delocalization for two particles in a periodic potential

We consider two interacting particles evolving in a one-dimensional periodic structure embedded in a magnetic field. We show that the strong localization induced by the magnetic field for particular values of the flux per unit cell is destroyed as soon as the particles interact. We study the spectral and dynamical aspects of this transition.

Journal Article↗
PubMed2000

A DNA-binding activity for the promoter of the gene encoding C(4) phosphoenolpyruvate carboxylase is modulated by phosphorylation during greening of the Sorghum leaf.

Electrophoresis mobility shift assay (EMSA) identified nuclear proteins with binding activity to a 430 bp promoter fragment of the Sorghum C(4) phosphoenolpyruvate carboxylase gene (SvC4). The DNA binding activities (two main retarded bands; PC1 and PC2) were high in nuclear extracts from etiolated leaves, decreased during greening and became very low or null in nuclear extracts from green leaves. This process was found to be mediated by phytochrome and was apparently irreversible since the DNA-binding activities were not restored in green plants kept in continuous darkness. The AT-rich region of the promoter fragment was identified to be the interaction domain of PC2. The detection of PC2 with EMSA was markedly reduced by preincubation of nuclear protein extracts with Mg-ATP or Mg-GTP and restored in the presence of a general protein serine/threonine-kinase inhibitor, K252a. The results suggested that the PC2 binding activity was modulated by phosphorylation during the greening process of the Sorghum leaf.

Journal Article↗
PubMed2000

Early effects of exogenous arginine after the implantation of prosthetic material into the rat abdominal wall.

We have investigated the effects of high arginine (Arg) levels (7.5 mg/100 g body weight per hour) on the early integration of biocompatible mesh grafts into the rat abdominal wall. Studies were performed over implantation intervals of 6, 12, 24 or 48 hours (n=12, each). Arginine and related compounds were quantified in plasma, wound fluids and multiple tissues. Plasma nitric oxide (NO) production was studied. Strips were taken from the polypropylene fiber-host tissue interfaces (PTIs) for optical microscopic analysis and for immunohistochemical analysis using rat-specific antibodies against type I and type III collagens. Exogenous Arg was metabolized at the peripheral tissues but reliably reached the wound space. High amounts of Arg and ornithine (Orn) were detected in the specimens considered. No changes on citrulline (Ctr) or NO concentrations were observed, overall suggesting that, during the period studied, the arginase pathway predominated. The acute scarring response differed significantly in the two placements considered. The P-SS interface evidenced more extensive new tissue growth than the P-DS interface. Forty-eight hours after mesh implantation cellular infiltration, fibroblast proliferation, and mesh-surrounding angiogenesis were higher in the arginine-treated rats. Type III collagen staining was related to arginine treatment, being higher (++) in the study group. In conclusion, and independently of the site of mesh placement, supplemental Arg seemed to favorably affect early local collagen deposition. This could be potentially helpful to ameliorate the integration of biomaterials into the tissues and, consequently, to allow for the design of more selective therapeutic strategies to prevent hernia recurrence rates.

Abdominal Muscles↗
PubMed2000

Seroepidemiology of varicella-zoster virus infection in Catalonia (Spain). Rationale for universal vaccination programmes.

With the aim of designing a strategy for vaccination against varicella-zoster virus (VZV), the results of a seroepidemiological survey on VZV infection carried out in a sample of the population of Catalonia are presented. Representative samples from schoolchildren (30 schools) and adults (97 municipal areas) were obtained by random cluster sampling. In the study, 883 children and 1253 adults were included. Age, gender, place of birth, place of residence, educational level and occupation were investigated in the study subjects. An ELISA test was used to measure varicella antibodies. The prevalence of varicella antibodies increased with age, being 85% in the 5-9 years age group, 92% in the 10-14 years age group, 94% in the 15-34 years age group and almost 100% in people over 35. No association was found between sociodemographic variables studied and prevalence levels of antibodies. These results suggest that the best vaccination strategy in Catalonia would be to add a temporary vaccination programme of pre-adolescents at 12 years to routine vaccination at 15 months.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2000

Changes in the seroepidemiology of hepatitis B infection in Catalonia 1989-1996.

The objective of this study was to investigate the prevalence of hepatitis B markers in a representative sample of 2142 subjects in Catalonia, Spain, and to compare it with previous studies. Multiple logistical regression analysis was carried out to determine variables associated with the markers studied. The prevalence of anti-HBc and HBsAg was 9.1% and 1.2%, respectively. Male gender, urban habitat, birth place outside Catalonia and lower social class were associated with the presence of anti-HBc. Carrier status was only associated with male gender. Between 1989 and 1996 there was a decrease of 46% in the prevalence of serum HBV markers mainly in the 25-44 (P<0.0001) and 35-64 year (P=0.0002) age groups, in those born in Catalonia (P=0.003) and in those in the higher social classes (P<0.0001). These decreases can be explained by the improved socioeconomic conditions and, partially, by the routine pre-adolescent and risk group programmes of immunization.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2000

[Prevalence and factors associated to the presence of fatty liver in apparently healthy adult men].

BACKGROUND: Alcohol intake in one of the factors associated with fatty liver, although its contribution as well as other factors have not been completely established. Therefore the aim of this study was to assess the prevalence and associated factors for fatty liver diagnosed by ultrasonography. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: 1,801 presumably healthy male workers (age range 18-60 years). A complete physical and laboratory investigations, including HBsAg and anti-HCV antibodies, a detailed interview on alcohol intake, and an abdominal ultrasound examination were performed in all cases. Diagnosis of fatty liver was based on defined ultrasonographic criteria. RESULTS: Eighty eight cases were excluded because of the HBsAg or anti-HCV positivity or incomplete ultrasonography. Among the remaining 1,713 cases, 236 (13.8%; 12.2-15.4) had fatty liver. Logistic regression analysis disclosed age (RR: 1.04; CI 95%; 1.03-1.05), ethanol intake > 40 g/d (2.19; 1.81-2.65), gamma-glutamyl-transferase > 40 U/l (3.51; 2.95-4.18), body mass index > 30 (3.87; 3.22-4.66) and glycemia > 120 mg/dl (2.69; 1.85-3.90) as the risk factors for fatty liver. Fatty liver was present in 8.8% of cases who did not have obesity, diabetes or hypercholesterolemia. When the subjects with obesity, hyperglycemia or hypercholesterolemia were excluded, regression analysis confirmed age, ethanol intake and gamma-glutamyl-transferase as independent factors associated with fatty liver. CONCLUSIONS: Age, alcohol intake, obesity, and increased serum levels of glucose, cholesterol and gammaglutamyl transferase are the main factors associated with fatty liver in presumably healthy adult men.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2000

Oophorectomy promotes islet amyloid formation in a transgenic mouse model of Type II diabetes.

AIMS/HYPOTHESIS: In Type II (non-insulin-dependent) diabetes mellitus, amyloid depletes islet mass. We previously found that 81% of male human islet amyloid polypeptide (IAPP) transgenic mice but only 11% of female mice developed islet amyloid, suggesting that either testosterone promotes or ovarian products protect against amyloid deposition. METHODS: We did a bilateral oophorectomy or sham procedure in female human IAPP transgenic mice (n = 11 and n = 8, respectively) and in female non-transgenic mice (n = 7 and n = 9, respectively) at 6-8 weeks of age. Animals were followed for 1 year on a 9% fat (w/w) diet. Before we killed them we measured, fasting plasma human IAPP and did an intraperitoneal glucose tolerance test. Pancreatic content of IAPP and immunoreactive insulin (IRI) were estimated and pancreata were analysed for islet amyloid. RESULTS: No amyloid was detected in either the sham-operated transgenic mice or, as expected, in both groups of non-transgenic mice. In strong contrast, 7 of 11 (64%) oophorectomized mice developed islet amyloid (p < 0.05). Amyloid deposition in the oophorectomized transgenic mice was not associated with any differences in incremental body weight, fasting human IAPP concentrations or glucose tolerance between the groups. Furthermore, pancreatic content of mouse IAPP, human IAPP and immunoreactive insulin did not differ between groups. CONCLUSION/INTERPRETATION: Oophorectomy is associated with an enhancement of islet amyloid formation in the absence of changes in glucose tolerance, circulating IAPP or pancreatic content of IRI, mouse or human IAPP. Thus, the early stages of islet amyloidogenesis seem to be independent of glucose tolerance, with ovarian products having a protective role.

Amyloid↗
PubMed2000

Epidemiology of community-acquired pneumonia in adults: a population-based study.

In this prospective study, the authors assessed the incidence, aetiology, and outcome of patients with community-acquired pneumonia in the general population. From December 1993 to November 1995, a study was performed in a mixed residential-industrial urban population of the "Maresme" region in Barcelona, Spain. All subjects > or =14 yrs of age (annual average population size 74,368 inhabitants) with clinically suspected community-acquired pneumonia were registered. All cases were re-evaluated by chest radiographs on the 5th day of illness and at monthly intervals until complete recovery. Urine and blood samples were obtained for culture and antigen detection. When lower respiratory tract secretions were obtained, these were also cultured. There were 241 patients with community-acquired pneumonia, with an annual incidence rate of 1.62 cases (95% confidence interval, 1.42-1.82) per 1,000 inhabitants. Incidence rates increased by age groups and were higher in males than in females. Of 232 patients with aetiological data, 104 had an identifiable aetiology. A total of 114 pathogens were found (single pathogen 94, two pathogens 10). There were 81 episodes of bacterial infection and 33 of viral infection. The most common pathogens were Streptococcus pneumoniae, Chlamydia pneumoniae, and influenza A and B viruses. No case of Hantavirus infection was found. The rate of hospital admission was 61.4% with a mean+/-SD length of 11.7+/-10.1 days, a mean period of 23.0+/-14.3 days inactivity, and an overall mortality rate of 5%. The high rate of hospital admission, prolonged stay in hospital, and long period of inactivity all continue to constitute a social and health care burden of community-acquired pneumonia.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2000

Post-traumatic syringomyelia following complete neurological recovery.

OBJECTIVE: To describe the later neurologic deterioration secondary to the appearance of a post-traumatic syringomyelic cavity, in a patient who, in the initial phase, had an incomplete spinal cord lesion (ASIA C), which improved to ASIA E. METHODS: A 52-year-old male patient who, at the age of 19 (1965), suffered a spinal cord injury. He presented with a fracture of the sixth and seventh cervical neurological segment at the time of the lesion, evolving to ASIA E. Nine years after the traumatism, he began to feel pain accompanied by a sensory and motor deficit. RESULTS: With the aid of myelography and MRI, the existence of a syringomyelic cavity was detected, which extended from the fourth to the seventh cervical segments. The patient was operated on, on various occasions, placing a syringo-subarachnoid shunt. The neurological status of the patient continued to deteriorate and, at present, he has a complete lesion below the fourth neurological cervical segment with a partially preserved sensitive area up to T1. CONCLUSION: The development of the syringomyelic cavity could be one of the causes of later neurologic deterioration in patients with traumatic spinal cord injury with neurological recovery 'ad integrum' in the initial phase of spinal cord injury.

Cervical Vertebrae↗
PubMed2000

Humoral immune responses during a malaria vaccine trial in Tanzanian infants.

The development of a malaria vaccine is a priority for improved and sustained malaria control. Optimal use of a vaccine in Africa will only be achieved if it can be delivered through the Expanded Programme of Immunization (EPI). We have completed a trial of the peptide vaccine SPf66 in Tanzanian infants, given alongside the EPI vaccines. This paper describes the humoral responses to SPf66 and the EPI vaccines. A total of 1207 infants were recruited into a two-arm, double-blind, individually randomized placebo-controlled trial of SPf66. The objectives of the trial were to determine the safety, immunogenicity and efficacy of SPf66 and to assess interactions with EPI vaccines when three doses of SPf66 were delivered alongside the EPI vaccines. Cross-sectional surveys were carried out to asses seroconversion rates to the EPI vaccines and the antibody response to SPf66 (NANP)50 and Plasmodium falciparum lysates. Seroconversion rates to EPI vaccines were high and no statistically significant differences in prevalence or titres were found between SPf66 and placebo recipients. IgG antibodies against SPf66 (NANP)50 and whole P. falciparum lysate were present in high titres in mothers of recruited children at the time of birth. Vaccination with SPf66 stimulated a good anti-SPf66 IgG response which declined to preimmunization levels by 2 years of age and which was not associated with protection against clinical malaria. The vaccine induced no IgG antibodies against (NANP)50 or P. falciparum lysates. SPf66 stimulated a humoral immune response when given to very young infants and did not interfere with seroconversion to EPI vaccines. The response to SPf66 was qualitatively different from that seen in older children, in whom SPf66 has been shown to be moderately efficacious. This difference raises concerns about the difficulties of immunizing very young infants who need to be targeted by antimalarial vaccination programs.

Animals↗
PubMed2000

An increase in phosphoinositide-specific phospholipase C activity precedes induction of C4 phosphoenolpyruvate carboxylase phosphorylation in illuminated and NH4Cl-treated protoplasts from Digitaria sanguinalis.

A Ca2+-dependent phosphoinositide-specific phospholipase C (PI-PLC) activity has been characterized in the microsomal fraction of Digitaria sanguinalis mesophyll cell protoplasts. Microsomal PI-PLC was found to be inhibited in vitro by a mammalian anti-PLC-delta1 antibody and by the aminosteroide U-73122, an inhibitor of PI-PLC activity in animal cells. In Western blot experiments, the antibody recognized an 85 kDa protein in both microsomal protein extracts from mesophyll protoplasts and rat brain protein extracts containing the authentic enzyme. The involvement of the microsomal PI-PLC in the light-dependent transduction pathway leading to the phosphorylation of C4 phosphoenolpyruvate carboxylase (PEPC) was investigated in D. sanguinalis protoplasts. A transient increase in the PI-PLC reaction product inositol-1,4,5-trisphosphate (Ins(1,4, 5)P3) was observed in situ during early induction of the C4 PEPC phosphorylation cascade. U-73122, but not the inactive analogue U-73343, efficiently blocked the transient accumulation of Ins(1,4, 5)P3, and both the increase in C4 PEPC kinase activity and C4 PEPC phosphorylation in illuminated and weak base-treated protoplasts. Taken together, these data suggest that PI-PLC-based signalling is a committed step in the cascade controlling the regulation of C4 PEPC phosphorylation in C4 leaves.

Animals↗
PubMed2000

Cytopenia and past human parvovirus B19 infection in patients with primary Sjögren's syndrome.

OBJECTIVES: To determine the clinical significance of human parvovirus B19 infection in patients with primary Sjögren's syndrome (SS) and to investigate the immunologic and hematologic features related to B19 infection. METHODS: We included 80 consecutive patients with primary SS (74 women and 6 men), with a mean age of 62 years (range, 24 to 87 years) that were seen in our Unit. All patients fulfilled the European Community criteria for SS. As controls, we included 140 consecutive sera samples analyzed for B19 antibodies in our Microbiology Department and obtained from adult inpatients and outpatients of our Hospital. Serum from all patients and controls was tested for antibodies to B19 by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Additionally, the presence of B19 DNA in serum and in circulating leukocytes was investigated by nested polymerase chain reaction (PCR). RESULTS: Serological evidence of past B19 infection (positive IgG antibodies without IgM antibodies) was present in 28 (35%) patients with primary SS. None of these patients showed evidence for B19 viremia, and B19 virus DNA was not detected in the circulating leukocytes of IgG-B19(+) patients. Positivity for IgM antibodies to B19 was not detected in any patient. When compared with patients without evidence of past B19 infection, those with primary SS and past B19 infection showed a higher prevalence of cytopenia (57% v 15%; P < .001), and, specifically, of leukopenia (36% v 4%; P < .001). Additionally, when compared with controls positive for IgG-B19, SS patients with these antibodies had a higher prevalence of cytopenia (57% v 13%; P < .001), leukopenia (36% v 3%; P < .001) and thrombocytopenia (21% v 0%; P = .003). CONCLUSIONS: Serological evidence of past B19 infection is associated with the presence of cytopenia in our patients with primary SS. A possible relationship between B19 infection and the presence of cytopenia in primary SS may occur in some patients immunologically or genetically predisposed.

Adult↗
PubMed2000

Genetic and clinical characterisation of maturity-onset diabetes of the young in Spanish families.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the frequencies of the major maturity-onset diabetes of the young (MODY) subtypes in a panel of Spanish families and to assess phenotypic differences in patients with the different subtypes of MODY. METHODS: Forty-eight subjects from twenty families with clinical diagnosis of MODY were studied. They underwent a standardised clinical examination and a 75-g oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) was performed. Estimations of insulin sensitivity (%S) and insulin secretion capacity (%B) were calculated by the computer-solved homeostasis model assessment (HOMA). Mutations in the coding regions of hepatocyte nuclear factor (HNF)-4alpha/MODY1, glucokinase (GCK/MODY2) and HNF-1alpha/MODY3 genes were investigated by single strand comformation polymorphism and sequencing analysis. RESULTS: Mutations in the GCK and HNF-1alpha genes were observed in 5 (25%) and 7 (35%) families respectively. Novel mutations included R385X, M238fsdelT, V226fsdelTinsAA and S418-7del11 in the GCK gene, and S121fsdelC, V133M, R159Q and V259D in the HNF-1alpha gene. No MODY1 families were found. Subjects which were neither MODY2 nor MODY3 (MODY-X) had a higher fasting glucose than subjects in the other groups. Insulin secretion capacity was similar in the three groups and the insulin sensitivity was decreased in MODY-X subjects. Glucose levels were significantly higher and insulin levels significantly lower, throughout the OGTT, in MODY3 compared with MODY2 subjects. CONCLUSIONS: Mutations in the GCK/MODY2 and HNF-1alpha/MODY3 genes account for the majority of cases in a panel of Spanish MODY families, with MODY3 being the most frequent subtype. The relative frequencies and the clinical characteristics of these MODY subtypes are in agreement with data previously reported in other European populations. MODY-X patients seem to present a heterogeneous clinical profile.

Adult↗
PubMed2000

Effects of nicotinamide and intravenous insulin therapy in newly diagnosed type 1 diabetes.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effect of intravenous insulin therapy combined with nicotinamide in the metabolic control and beta-cell function of newly diagnosed type 1 diabetic subjects in comparison with intensive insulin therapy and nicotinamide alone. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS: A total of 34 newly diagnosed type 1 diabetic patients were included. After the correction of initial metabolic disturbances, subjects were randomly assigned to the following three groups within 72 h after admission: 1) intensive insulin therapy + placebo (C) (n = 12); 2) intensive insulin therapy + nicotinamide, 700 mg three times a day (NIC) (n = 11); and 3) 72-h intravenous insulin followed by intensive insulin therapy + nicotinamide, 700 mg three times a day (NIV) (n = 11). The subjects were monitored for 12 months. GAD, tyrosine phosphatase antibodies, and insulin autoantibodies were measured. C-peptide was measured basally and after 2, 4, 6, 8, and 10 min of 1 mg intravenous glucagon. HbA1c, glucagon, and antibody measurements were determined initially and at 1, 3, 6, 9, and 12 months. RESULTS: HbA1c values declined to normal after treatment was initiated in all groups and remained not significantly different during the follow-up period. We did not find differences between experimental (NIC and NIV) and placebo (C) groups in terms of beta-cell function, considering basal or glucagon-stimulated C-peptide (maximal stimulated C-peptide and area under the curve [AUC] of C-peptide) values during the follow-up period. After pooling data from the NIC and NIV groups (both including nicotinamide) and comparing it with data from the C group, the results remained unchanged. At diagnosis, GAD positivity was observed in 10 of 12, 8 of 11, and 10 of 11 subjects (NS) in the C, NIC, and NIV groups, respectively, and IA2 positivity was observed in 3 of 12, 4 of 11, and 4 of 11 subjects (NS) in the C, NIC, and NIV groups, respectively. Antibody titers displayed a similar behavior in all groups during the follow-up period. CONCLUSIONS: Our pilot study failed to demonstrate that the addition of 72-h intravenous insulin and nicotinamide to conventional intensive insulin therapy produces any beneficial effect in newly diagnosed type 1 diabetic subjects in terms of beta-cell function and metabolic control.

Adult↗