Endocrine Abstracts

Background: Glucose intolerance produces structural and functional changes in the arterial wall which contribute to the excess cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. The present study investigated association between glucose tolerance status and arterial stiffness in subjects with normal and impaired glucose regulation (IGR).Methods: The study group consisted of 283 Caucasian subjects, including 111 subjects with normal glucose tolerance (NGT), 61 subje...

Objective: Vascular atherosclerotic changes, mediated by environmental and genetic factors, develop years before an event. Detection of vascular damage, using ultrasonographic measurement of carotid IMT, is predictive of future cardiovascular events. The present study was designed to investigate the impact of gestational weight gain (GWG) on early atherosclerotic changes during late pregnancy, using intima media thickness (IMT), as well as placental vascular circulation and in...

Introduction: Metformin is effective in reducing cardiovascular mortality, however may decrease vitamin B12 and folate levels, and increase levels of homocysteine. Hyperhomocysteinemia is associated with adverse impact on lipid parameters and renal function. The present study was designed to determine the effect of homocysteine lowering therapy by using group B vitamins and folate supplementations on lipid metabolism especially HDL cholesterol as well as kidney function assess...

Background: Obesity in pregnancy is associated with hyperinsulinemia, impaired endothelial function, inflammatory up-regulation and higher risk of placental pathological lesions. However not all obese individuals demonstrate similar metabolic profiles. The present study was designed to investigate placental histopathology in lesions that are associated with maternal and fetal circulation abnormalities, in nonobese and obese women with and without metabolic alterations.<p c...

Objective: Adiponectin is an adipocyte-derived collagen-like protein, highly specific to adipose tissue and may represent an important link between obesity and atherosclerosis. The present study was designed to investigate a possible association between serum adiponectin levels and early vascular changes in obese patients as determined by intima media thickness (IMT) and arterial pulse-wave contour analysis.Design: Obese subjects (n=47) were evalu...

Background: The present study was designed to investigate the impact of osteopontin (OPN) in different tissue (e.g., plasma, muscles and bone) on amputation rate (in-hospital and during one year follow-up) for non-healing diabetic foot ulcers (DFUs).Methods: This pilot study consisted of 30 diabetic patients, hospitalized due to non-healing DFUs. Patients were divided into two groups: Group 1 included 14 patients who underwent limb-preserved debridement ...

Objective: The present study was designed to investigate the impact of insulin treatment on placental maternal and fetal vascular circulation in obese and non-obese women with gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM).Design and methods: One hundred and ninety two women with GDM who gave birth and underwent a placental histopathological examination at Wolfson Medical Center were included in the study: 123 women who were treated with diet (Group 1) and 69 women...