Search PubMed⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

P Damm

Publications and source records attributed to P Damm.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

Iodine deficiency in pregnancy in Denmark. Regional variations and frequency of individual iodine supplementation.

Iodine requirements are increased during pregnancy and lactation and adequate iodine intake is important for normal brain development of the fetus/newborn child. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the extent to which this increase in iodine requirement is met in pregnant women living in various regions of Denmark. One hundred and fifty-two healthy pregnant women admitted to five different Danish departments of obstetrics participated in the study. Iodine status was evaluated by measurement of iodine in spot urine at day five after delivery and by careful history of the intake of iodine containing vitamin/mineral tablets. Approximately one third of the women had received tablets containing iodine. In women who had not received iodine supplementation urinary iodine was low with a median value of 39.7 micrograms/g creatinine (Aalborg 28, Randers 33, Ringkøbing 34, Arhus 43 and Copenhagen 62 micrograms/g creatinine). These values are far below internationally recommended levels. The consequences remain to be evaluated and no firm recommendations can be given. It seems reasonable, however, to recommend a high intake of food containing iodine (e.g. milk products) during pregnancy and lactation. Since nearly all the women took some kind of vitamin/mineral supplementation it could be considered to advocate intake of vitamin/mineral tablets containing iodine.

Adolescent↗

Decreased alpha-fetoprotein in amniotic fluid and maternal serum in diabetic pregnancy.

OBJECTIVE: To determine a reference level for alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) in the amniotic fluid (AF) in pregnant women with insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus in order to suggest an explanation for the observed decrease in maternal serum AFP. METHODS: Alpha-fetoprotein was measured in AF, maternal serum, or both in the second trimester in 287 pregnant women with insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus. Retrospectively, these AFP values were correlated with glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1C) levels, early fetal growth delay, and congenital malformations. RESULTS: The median concentration of AFAFP was 0.89 multiples of the normative median (MoM) (n = 280; 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.88-0.93 MoM); the maternal serum AFP (MSAFP) value was 0.78 MoM (n = 155; 95% CI 0.77-0.84 MoM). A statistically significant but weak positive correlation was found between HbA1C and MSAFP (r2 = 0.033, P = .03), but the correlation with AFAFP was not statistically significant. The levels of AFP did not correlate with early fetal growth delay. One neural tube defect, but none of the 11 other major malformations, was detected by AFP screening. CONCLUSIONS: A physiologic basis for the decreased AFAFP and MSAFP levels is still obscure. Screening for congenital malformations in diabetic pregnancies should include both a mid-gestation ultrasound scan and MSAFP measurement. However, routine amniocentesis does not seem to be indicated. Concentrations of AFAFP may be corrected for the observed decrease.

Amniotic Fluid↗

Insulin receptor binding and tyrosine kinase activity in skeletal muscle from normal pregnant women and women with gestational diabetes.

OBJECTIVE: To ascertain whether the decreased glucose tolerance and insulin resistance found in normal and gestational diabetic pregnancy might be associated with changes in insulin receptor function. METHODS: Eight nonpregnant healthy women (nonpregnant controls), eight healthy pregnant women (pregnant controls), and eight women with gestational diabetes were investigated. All were non-obese. Muscle biopsies were obtained from the vastus lateralis muscle, and insulin binding and tyrosine kinase activities in partially purified skeletal muscle insulin receptors were studied. The pregnant controls were investigated in late pregnancy, and the women with gestational diabetes were investigated at the time of diagnosis of gestational diabetes. A further examination was carried out 2 months after delivery. RESULTS: Insulin binding at tracer insulin concentration (60 pmol/L) was diminished in women with gestational diabetes compared to nonpregnant controls (P < .05), whereas normal pregnant women did not differ from the other two groups. Postpartum, no differences in insulin binding were found between the groups. Basal and maximal tyrosine kinase activities toward the exogenous substrate poly(Glu4Tyr1) were the same in nonpregnant controls, pregnant controls, and women with gestational diabetes. Postpartum, no differences in tyrosine kinase activity were found among the groups. Moreover, no significant differences in insulin binding or tyrosine kinase activity were found comparing pregnancy and postpartum values within the groups. CONCLUSION: The insulin resistance found in normal and gestational diabetic pregnancy is not likely to be caused by a defective insulin receptor tyrosine kinase, whereas decreased insulin receptor binding might have some pathogenic importance in gestational diabetes.

Adult↗

Predictive factors for the development of diabetes in women with previous gestational diabetes mellitus.

OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study was to determine the incidence of diabetes in women with previous dietary-treated gestational diabetes mellitus and to identify predictive factors for development of diabetes. STUDY DESIGN: Two to 11 years post partum, glucose tolerance was investigated in 241 women with previous dietary-treated gestational diabetes mellitus and 57 women without previous gestational diabetes mellitus (control group). RESULTS: Diabetes developed in 42 (17.4%) women with previous gestational diabetes mellitus (3.7% insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus and 13.7% non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus). Diabetes did not develop in any of the controls. Predictive factors for diabetes development were fasting glucose level at diagnosis (high glucose, high risk), preterm delivery, and an oral glucose tolerance test result that showed diabetes 2 months post partum. In a subgroup of previous patients with gestational diabetes mellitus in whom plasma insulin was measured during an oral glucose tolerance test in late pregnancy a low insulin response at diagnosis was found to be an independent predictive factor for diabetes development. CONCLUSIONS: Women with previous dietary-treated gestational diabetes mellitus have a considerably increased risk of later having diabetes. Follow-up investigations are therefore important, especially in those women with previous gestational diabetes mellitus in whom the identified predictive factors are present.

Adult↗

Menstrual cycle and skin reactivity.

The hypothesis was tested that a cyclic variation exists in skin reactivity to irritant stimuli. Twenty-nine healthy women with regular menstrual cycles were challenged with sodium lauryl sulfate as an irritant patch test at day 1 and at days 9 through 11 of the menstrual cycle. The skin response to the applied irritant stimulus was evaluated by visual scoring and also quantified by measurements of transepidermal water loss, edema formation, and blood flow in the skin. The skin response to challenge with sodium lauryl sulfate was found to be significantly stronger at day 1 than at days 9 through 11 in the menstrual cycle as evaluated by visual scoring (p less than 0.05) as well as by measurement of transepidermal water loss (p less than 0.05) and edema formation (p less than 0.005).

Adult↗

Preconception counseling and contraception after gestational diabetes.

Women with gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) diagnosed in the period 1978-1984 were followed for on average 6 yr after the index pregnancy. Thirty percent had diabetes mellitus at the follow-up examination, and preliminary results indicate that at least another third will develop diabetes during a subsequent pregnancy. Therefore, family planning and contraceptive guidance should follow the lines for women with pregestational diabetes. When low-dose hormonal contraceptives containing ethinyl estradiol and levonorgestrel were given to women with previous GDM, glucose tolerance and lipoprotein levels remained unchanged during a 6-mo treatment. However, insulin response to oral glucose increased significantly after hormonal intake for 6 mo. A triphasic preparation resulted in a significantly lower insulin response than a low-dose monophasic preparation. However, the results indicate that low-dose oral-contraceptive compounds appear to be safe for women with previous GDM when administered for limited periods. At the follow-up examination, we found no increased risk of developing diabetes in women with previous GDM who used oral contraception. We consider the intrauterine contraceptives (IUD) a safe and effective alternative for women with previous GDM. Of 154 women with GDM, 33% chose IUD, 22% a combination-type oral contraceptive, and 16% barrier methods as their first choice of contraception 2 mo postpartum. We conclude that family planning and qualified contraceptive advice are important in women with previous GDM.

Contraception↗

Incidence of fetal chromosome abnormalities in insulin dependent diabetic women.

In order to screen for fetal neural tube defects and chromosome abnormalities, amniocentesis was carried out in 334 women with insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM) between 1979 and 1987. Two cases (0.6%; 95% confidence limits 0.1-2.2%) of fetal chromosome abnormality were found: one case of Klinefelter's syndrome and one case of de novo translocation. This is comparable to the overall incidence of chromosome abnormality found at birth and is also comparable to the incidence of fetal chromosome abnormality (1.0%) found by amniocentesis at our Department in a group of 2,264 young non-diabetic women with little risk of contracting genetic disorders. The results suggest that maternal IDDM does not increase the risk of fetal chromosome abnormality and consequently screening by amniocentesis for chromosome abnormalities among diabetic women does not seem to be indicated.

Adult↗

Simultaneous determination of the sulphonylurea glimepiride and its metabolites in human serum and urine by high-performance liquid chromatography after pre-column derivatization.

A sensitive and selective high-performance liquid chromatographic method has been developed for a new sulphonylurea, glimepiride, and its metabolites. The assay involves extraction with diethyl ether, thermolysis of the sulphonylureas at 100 degrees C and trapping of the resulting amines with 2,4-dinitrofluorobenzene. The derivatives were quantitated on a reversed-phase column by absorbance at 350 nm using a step gradient for the three compounds in serum and an isocratic run for the metabolites in urine. Analogous compounds were used as internal standards. The detection limit was 5 ng/ml for glimepiride and metabolite II and 10 ng/ml for metabolite I using 1 ml of serum. The method has been applied to the analysis of serum and urine samples from pharmacokinetic studies in humans.

Administration, Oral↗

Prevention of breast pain and milk secretion with bromocriptine after second-trimester abortion.

Within 24 hours after abortion, 62 patients with a mean gestational age of 19 weeks, who had either induced (n = 50) or spontaneous (n = 12) abortions were randomly allocated to three groups: Group 1, bromocriptine 2.5 mg twice daily for 2 weeks; Group 2, placebo tablets 1 tablet twice daily for 2 weeks; Group 3, no treatment. Fifty-two patients completed the study (bromocriptine n = 18, placebo n = 18 and no treatment n = 16). Placebo had no apparent influence on breast symptoms. In both the placebo group and the untreated group, breast pain and milk secretion peaked on days 3 to 7, and milk secretion often continued for 3 weeks. Only 3/34 (9%) of untreated and placebo treated patients were free of breast symptoms. Compared with placebo, bromocriptine caused a significant reduction in the objective assessment score of breast tenderness (p less than 0.05) and milk secretion (p less than 0.01), in serum prolactin (PRL) (p less than 0.001) and in the subjective assessment score of breast pain (p less than 0.01) and milk secretion (p less than 0.01). Alleviation of breast pain and prevention of milk secretion appears to be indicated after second-trimester abortion, and treatment with bromocriptine is efficacious.

Abortion, Induced↗

Glucocorticoid receptors in monocytes in type 1 diabetes mellitus.

Glucocorticoid receptor binding characteristics were investigated in 8 males with poorly controlled Type 1 diabetes mellitus and 14 healthy males. The cell type studied was monocytes, and a method for correction for heterogeneity in glucocorticoid binding in a mononuclear leucocyte population was introduced. The number of receptors and the dissociation constant KD were, respectively, 13,699 and 2.93 X 10(-8) mol/l for the control group and 15,788 and 2.75 X 10(-8) mol/l for diabetics (p greater than 0.05). In diabetics, KD correlated negatively with blood glucose (r = 0.762, p less than 0.05) indicating an increased sensitivity to cortisol at high blood glucose levels. In 6 of the diabetics and 7 of the control group, a simultaneous insulin receptor study was carried out. However, glucocorticoid receptor binding characteristics did not correlate with insulin receptor binding characteristics or with HbA1c. In conclusion, no major abnormalities in glucocorticoid receptor binding characteristics could be demonstrated in Type 1 diabetes mellitus.

Adult↗

[Cimetidine treatment of stomach cancer].

The effect of cimetidine treatment in cancer of the stomach was investigated in a double-blind, multicentre study comprising eight departments in Greater Copenhagen. Immediately after operation (or the decision not to operate) 181 patients were subdivided at random to treatment with a placebo or cimetidine in a dosage of 400 mg twice daily for two years or until death. Compliance control was carried out every third month. The mean survival in the cimetidine group (450 days, 1-1,826) was significantly longer (p = 0.02) than in the placebo group (316 days, 1-1,653).

Adult↗

Significant decrease in congenital malformations in newborn infants of an unselected population of diabetic women.

In an unselected and consecutive series of 1858 newborn infants of diabetic mothers, born in the Rigshospital, Copenhagen, in the period 1967 to 1986, congenital malformations were studied. The malformation rate in White Classes B to F was remarkably constant from 1967 to 1981, but a significant decrease in major congenital malformations was found in the period 1982 to 1986 versus 1977 to 1981 (2.7% vs. 7.4%, p less than 0.05). This decrease was mainly due to a fourfold decline in major congenital malformations in White Classes D and F (p less than 0.01), and consequently a correlation between the severity of maternal diabetes and the frequency of congenital malformations was no longer present. In the offspring of a control group of 1715 nondiabetic women, major congenital malformations were found in 1.7% (p greater than 0.05). Seventy-five percent of the diabetic pregnancies were planned, and in these pregnancies only 1% of the infants had major congenital malformations. The frequency of fatal malformations in White Classes B to F was still significantly higher than in the control group (p less than 0.001).

Abnormalities, Multiple↗

Effect of cimetidine on survival after gastric cancer.

The effect of cimetidine on survival was investigated in 181 patients with gastric cancer. Immediately after operation or the decision not to operate, the patients were randomised in double-blind fashion to placebo or cimetidine 400 mg twice daily for two years or until death, with review every three months. Median survival in the cimetidine group was 450 days (range 1-1826) and in the placebo group 316 days (1-1653). The relative survival rates (cimetidine/placebo) were 45%/28% at 1 year, 22%/13% at 2 years, 13%/7% at 3 years, 9%/3% at 4 years, and 2%/0% at 5 years. Survival in the cimetidine group was significantly longer than in the placebo group.

Actuarial Analysis↗

Quantification of the enantiomers of ofloxacin in biological fluids by high-performance liquid chromatography.

Two methods for the determination of (+)- and (-)-ofloxacin in biological fluids by high-performance liquid chromatography are described. The first method is separation on a chiral stationary phase with bovine serum albumin immobilized on silica gel. The second is the coupling of ofloxacin to L-leucinamide via diphenylphosphinyl chloride activation. The diastereoisomeric derivatives are then separated on a common reversed-phase column. The second method revealed only slight differences in the pharmacokinetics of (+)- and (-)-ofloxacin in humans after an intravenous administration of racemic ofloxacin.

Anti-Infective Agents↗

A prospective, controlled study of prophylactic drainage after colonic anastomoses.

A prospective, randomized, controlled trial was designed to study the influence of a corrugated latex drain on anastomotic integrity, wound infection, and respiratory complications after elective colonic resections above the pelvic peritoneum. Sixty patients entered the trial; 28 were drained and 32 undrained. Three patients in the undrained group died soon after surgery of causes unrelated to their colon anastomoses. There were no other differences in the incidence of postoperative complications in the two groups. When an anastomosis leaked, neither feces nor pus emerged via the drain. It is concluded that while the drains did not increase the incidence of postoperative complications, neither did they accomplish the purpose for which they were inserted. If, in addition, the economic cost of drainage is considered, it would seem that there is no advantage in inserting prophylactic drains after colonic anastomoses and their routine use needs to be reconsidered.

Adult↗