bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Insulin sensitivity increase after calcium supplementation and change in intraplatelet calcium and sodium–hydrogen exchange in hypertensive patients with Type 2 diabetes1
Authors: Pikilidou M. I. , Lasaridis A. N. , Sarafidis P. A. , Befani C. D. , Koliakos G. G. , Tziolas I. M. , Kazakos K. A. , Yovos J. G. , Nilsson P. M. 
Published: January 2009

AbstractAims/hypothesis To investigate the effect of oral calcium (Ca2+) supplementation on insulin sensitivity measured by the euglycaemic hyperinsulinaemic clamp, intraplatelet cationic concentration of Ca2+([Ca2+]i) and the transmembrane sodium–hydrogen exchanger (NHE) activity in erythrocytes in subjects with Type 2 diabetes and hypertension.Patients and methods In this parallel randomized controlled single‐blinded trial, 31 patients were allocated to receive either 1500 mg of Ca2+orally, daily (n = 15) or no treatment (n = 16) for 8 weeks. At baseline and at the end of the 8‐week period insulin sensitivity, [Ca2+]iand the first isoform of NHE (NHE‐1) activity were measured.Results At the end of the study, subjects who received Ca2+supplementation showed higher insulin sensitivity (ΔM‐value 0.32 ± 0.5 mmol/minP < 0.05) and lower [Ca2+]i(125.0 ± 24.7 to 80.4 ± 10.6 nmol/l,P < 0.05, mean ± sem) and NHE‐1 activity (79.5 ± 10.0 to 52.1 ± 6.4 mmol Na/l red cell/h,P < 0.05). None of the above parameters were changed in the control group. Simple regression analysis demonstrated the change in [Ca2+]isignificantly determined insulin sensitivity change (β = −0.36,P < 0.05).Conclusions/interpretation Oral Ca2+supplementation improves insulin sensitivity in patients with Type 2 diabetes and hypertension. These changes are likely to be mediated by changes in intracellular ionic Ca2+. NHE‐1 activity was also reduced after Ca2+supplementation but its role in insulin sensitivity requires further investigation.
A randomized trial investigating the 12‐month changes in physical activity and health outcomes following a physical activity consultation delivered by a person or in written form in Type 2 diabetes: Time2Act
Authors: Kirk A. , Barnett J. , Leese G. , Mutrie N. 
Published: January 2009

AbstractBackground and aims  Physical activity is a cornerstone of Type 2 diabetes management but is underutilized. Physical activity consultations increase physical activity in people with Type 2 diabetes but resources are often limited. Time2Act is a randomized control trial to study the 12‐month effectiveness of a physical activity consultation delivered by a person or in written form, in contrast to standard care, for people with Type 2 diabetes.Methods  A total of 134 inactive people with Type 2 diabetes in a contemplation or preparation stage were randomized to either intervention or standard care. Objective (accelerometer) and subjective (7‐day recall) physical activity levels were measured over 1 week, along with physiological [blood pressure, body mass index (BMI), waist circumference] and biochemical [glycated haemoglobin (HbA1c), total and high‐density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol] measures at baseline, 6 and 12 months.Results  Neither a physical activity consultation delivered by a person nor in written form was better than standard care at increasing physical activity levels or improving health outcomes in the full study cohort. Total and HDL cholesterol, waist circumference and both systolic and diastolic blood pressure improved over 12 months in all groups, whilst HbA1c improved over 6 months. In a subgroup (baseline pedometer steps < 5000/day), the physical activity consultation delivered by a person significantly increased physical activity over 12 months and the standard care group significantly decreased.Conclusions  More research is needed which not only investigates the most economical and effective methods to promote physical activity, but also the best setting to conduct physical activity consultations and the participant factors affecting uptake of physical activity in Type 2 diabetes.
Sudomotor dysfunction is associated with foot ulceration in diabetes
Authors: Tentolouris N. , Marinou K. , Kokotis P. , Karanti A. , Diakoumopoulou E. , Katsilambros N. 
Published: January 2009

AbstractAim  To examine the relationship between sudomotor dysfunction and foot ulceration (FU) in patients with diabetes.Methods  Ninety patients with either Type 1 or Type 2 diabetes [30 without peripheral sensorimotor neuropathy (PN), 30 with PN but without FU and 30 with FU] were recruited in this cross‐sectional study. Assessment of PN was based on neuropathy symptom score (NSS), neuropathy disability score (NDS) and vibration perception threshold (VPT). Sudomotor dysfunction was assessed using the sympathetic skin response (SSR). Cardiac autonomic nervous system activity was assessed by the battery of the classical autonomic function tests.Results  Patients with foot ulcers had longer duration of diabetes, higher values of VPT and NDS and lower values of the autonomic functions tests in comparison with the other study groups. Sudomotor dysfunction and cardiac autonomic neuropathy were significantly more common in the FU group. Multivariate logistic regression analysis after adjustment for gender, body mass index, duration of diabetes and glycated haemoglobin (HbA1c) demonstrated that the odds ratio (95% confidence intervals) of FU increased with measures of neuropathy such as NDS ≥ 6 (10.2, 6.2–17.3) and VPT ≥ 25 volts (19.8, 9.9–47.5), but was also significantly increased with absent SSR (15.3, 5.3–38.4).Conclusions  Sudomotor dysfunction is associated with increased risk of FU and should be included in the screening tests for identification of diabetic patients at risk of ulceration.
Managing young people with Type 1 diabetes in a ‘rave’ new world: metabolic complications of substance abuse in Type 1 diabetes
Authors: Lee P. , Greenfield J. R. , Campbell L. V. 
Published: January 2009

AbstractThe taxing transition from adolescence towards adulthood intensifies the impact of a chronic illness such as Type 1 diabetes. It is not uncommon for young people with Type 1 diabetes to use recreational drugs for emotional relief to escape the day‐to‐day burden of chronic disease. Despite increasing use, especially in the setting of ‘rave’ parties, there is professional lack of understanding of the impact of recreational drug use on glycaemia and metabolic complications. The current review describes the prevalence of substance abuse in Type 1 diabetes and the acute impact of designer drugs on its management. We propose a practical approach to improve care of young people with Type 1 diabetes using designer drugs.
Inflammation, hepatic enzymes and resistance training in individuals with metabolic risk factors
Authors: Levinger I. , Goodman C. , Peake J. , Garnham A. , Hare D. L. , Jerums G. , Selig S. 
Published: January 2009

AbstractAims  Increases in inflammatory markers, hepatic enzymes and physical inactivity are associated with the development of the metabolic syndrome (MetS). We examined whether inflammatory markers and hepatic enzymes are correlated with traditional risk factors for MetS and studied the effects of resistance training (RT) on these emerging risk factors in individuals with a high number of metabolic risk factors (HiMF, 2.9 ± 0.8) and those with a low number of metabolic risk factors (LoMF, 0.5 ± 0.5).Methods  Twenty‐eight men and 27 women aged 50.8 ± 6.5 years (mean ± sd) participated in the study. Participants were randomized to four groups, HiMF training (HiMFT), HiMF control (HiMFC), LoMF training (LoMFT) and LoMF control (LoMFC). Before and after 10 weeks of RT [3 days/week, seven exercises, three sets with intensity gradually increased from 40–50% of one repetition maximum (1RM) to 75–85% of 1RM], blood samples were obtained for the measurement of pro‐inflammatory cytokines, C‐reactive protein (CRP), γ‐glutamyltransferase (GGT) and alanine aminotransferase (ALT).Results  At baseline, HiMF had higher interleukin‐6 (33.9%), CRP (57.1%), GGT (45.2%) and ALT (40.6%) levels, compared with LoMF (all P < 0.05). CRP, GGT and ALT correlated with the number of risk factors (r = 0.48, 0.51 and 0.57, respectively, all P < 0.01) and with other anthropometric and clinical measures (r range from 0.26 to 0.60, P < 0.05). RT did not significantly alter inflammatory markers or hepatic enzymes (all P > 0.05).Conclusions  HiMF was associated with increased inflammatory markers and hepatic enzyme concentrations. RT did not reduce inflammatory markers and hepatic enzymes in individuals with HiMF.
Serum VEGF increases in diabetic polyneuropathy, particularly in the neurologically active symptomatic stage
Authors: Deguchi T. , Hashiguchi T. , Horinouchi S. , Uto T. , Oku H. , Kimura K. , Makisumi K. , Arimura K. 
Published: January 2009

AbstractAim  To identify the relationship between vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and diabetic polyneuropathy (DPN).Methods  Two hundred and twenty diabetic patients participated, 113 with DPN and 107 without DPN. All patients were also classified according to the four stages of DPN (no neuropathy: stage 0; asymptomatic neuropathy: stage 1; symptomatic neuropathy: stage 2; disabling neuropathy: stage 3). Serum VEGF concentration was measured using an enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and levels between the patients with and without DPN and also between the different stages of DPN, were compared.Results  The mean serum VEGF level in all patients was 264.6 ± 218.8 pg/ml. The mean serum VEGF level was higher in patients with DPN (310.1 ± 224.3 pg/ml) than in the patients without DPN (216.5 ± 204.0 pg/ml, P = 0.0014). Serum VEGF was higher in the ‘symptomatic’ stage (stage 2, 364.8 ± 225.9 pg/ml) in comparison with the ‘asymptomatic’ (stage 1, 256.7 ± 224.4 pg/ml, P = 0.015) and ‘disabling’ (stage 3, 180.3 ± 109.4 pg/ml, P = 0.042) stages. The mean serum VEGF level in patients with diabetic retinopathy (261.1 ± 210.6 pg/ml) and in patients with diabetic nephropathy (241.5 ± 185.7 pg/ml) was not increased.Conclusions  The serum VEGF level is increased in patients with DPN, particularly in patients in the neurologically active ‘symptomatic’ stage.
Not all roads lead to Rome—a review of quality of life measurement in adults with diabetes
Authors: Speight J. , Reaney M. D. , Barnard K. D. 
Published: January 2009

AbstractAims  Quality of life (QoL) is recognized widely as an important health outcome in diabetes, where the burden of self‐management places great demands on the individual. However, the concept of QoL remains ambiguous and poorly defined. The aim of our review is to clarify the measurement of QoL in terms of conceptualization, terminology and psychometric properties, to review the instruments that have been used most frequently to assess QoL in diabetes research and make recommendations for how to select measures appropriately.Methods  A systematic literature search was conducted to identify the ten measures most frequently used to assess QoL in diabetes research (including clinical trials) from 1995 to March 2008.Results  Six thousand and eight‐five abstracts were identified and screened for instrument names. Of the ten instruments most frequently used to assess ‘QoL’, only three actually do so [i.e. the generic World Health Organization Quality of Life (WHOQOL) and the diabetes‐specific Diabetes Quality of Life (DQOL) and Audit of Diabetes‐Dependent Quality of Life (ADDQoL)]. Seven instruments more accurately measure health status [Short‐Form 36 (SF‐36), EuroQoL 5‐Dimension (EQ‐5D)], treatment satisfaction [Diabetes Treatment Satisfaction Questionnaire (DTSQ)] and psychological well‐being [Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS), Well‐Being Questionnaire (W‐BQ), Problem Areas in Diabetes (PAID)].Conclusions  No single measure can suit every purpose or application but, when measures are selected inappropriately and data misinterpreted, any conclusions drawn are fundamentally flawed. If we value QoL as a therapeutic goal, we must ensure that the instruments we use are both valid and reliable. QoL assessment has the proven potential to identify ways in which treatments can be tailored to reduce the burden of diabetes. With careful consideration, appropriate measures can be selected and truly robust assessments undertaken successfully.
Distinct conformational changes in activated agonist‐bound and agonist‐free glycine receptor subunits
Authors: Pless Stephan A. , Lynch Joseph W. 
Published: January 2009

AbstractLigand binding to Cys‐loop receptors produces either global conformational changes that lead to activation or local conformational changes that do not. We found that the fluorescence of a fluorophore tethered to R271C in the extracellular M2 region of the α1 glycine receptor increases during glycine activation but not during ivermectin activation. This prompted the hypothesis that this signal reports a glycine‐mediated conformational change not essential for activation. We tested this by investigating whether the fluorescence signal depended on whether the fluorophore was attached to a glycine‐free or a glycine‐bound subunit. Agonist‐free subunits were created by incorporating T204A and R65K mutations, which disrupted glycine binding to both (+) and (−) subunit interfaces. In heteromeric receptors comprising wild‐type and R65K,T204A,R271C triple‐mutant subunits, the fluorescence response exhibited a drastically reduced glycine sensitivity relative to the current response. Two conclusions can be drawn from this. First, because the labeled glycine‐free subunits were activated by glycine binding to neighboring wild‐type subunits, our results provide evidence for a cooperative activation mechanism. However, because the fluorescent label on glycine‐free subunits does not reflect movements at the channel gate, we conclude that glycine binding also produces a local non‐concerted conformational change that is not essential for receptor activation.
Phosphatidylinositol 3 kinase–Akt signaling serves as a circadian output in the retina
Authors: Ko Michael L. , Jian Kuihuan , Shi Liheng , Ko Gladys Y.‐P. 
Published: January 2009

AbstractThe daily rhythm of L‐type voltage‐gated calcium channels (L‐VGCCs) is part of the cellular mechanism underlying the circadian regulation of retina physiology and function. However, it is not completely understood how the circadian clock regulates L‐VGCC current amplitudes without affecting channel gating properties. The phosphatidylinositol 3 kinase–protein kinase B (PI3K–Akt) signaling pathway has been implicated in many vital cellular functions especially in trophic factor‐induced ion channel trafficking and membrane insertion. Here, we report that PI3K–Akt signaling participates in the circadian phase‐dependent modulation of L‐VGCCs. We found that there was a circadian regulation of Akt phosphorylation on Thr308 that peaked at night. Inhibition of PI3K or Akt significantly decreased L‐VGCC current amplitudes and the expression of membrane‐bound L‐VGCCα1D subunit only at night but not during the subjective day. Photoreceptors transfected with a dominant negative Ras had significantly less expression of phosphorylated Akt and L‐VGCCα1D subunit compared with non‐transfected photoreceptors. Interestingly, both PI3K–Akt and extracellular signal‐related kinase were downstream of Ras, and they appeared to be parallel and equally important pathways to regulate L‐VGCC rhythms. Inhibition of either pathway abolished the L‐VGCC rhythm indicating that there were multiple mechanisms involved in the circadian regulation of L‐VGCC rhythms in retina photoreceptors.
Mutant Pink1 induces mitochondrial dysfunction in a neuronal cell model of Parkinson’s disease by disturbing calcium flux
Authors: Marongiu Roberta , Spencer Brian , Crews Leslie , Adame Anthony , Patrick Christina , Trejo Margarita , Dallapiccola Bruno , Valente Enza Maria , Masliah Eliezer 
Published: January 2009

AbstractParkinson’s disease (PD) is characterized by accumulation of α‐synuclein (α‐syn) and degeneration of neuronal populations in cortical and subcortical regions. Mitochondrial dysfunction has been considered a potential unifying factor in the pathogenesis of the disease. Mutations in genes linked to familial forms of PD, including SNCA encoding α‐syn and Pten‐induced putative kinase 1 (PINK1), have been shown to disrupt mitochondrial activity. We investigated the mechanisms through which mutant Pink1 might disrupt mitochondrial function in neuronal cells with α‐syn accumulation. For this purpose, a neuronal cell model of PD was infected with virally‐delivered Pink1, and was analyzed for cell survival, mitochondrial activity and calcium flux. Mitochondrial morphology was analyzed by confocal and electron microscopy. These studies showed that mutant (W437X) but not wildtype Pink1 exacerbated the alterations in mitochondrial function promoted by mutant (A53T) α‐syn. This effect was associated with increased intracellular calcium levels. Co‐expression of both mutant Pink1 and α‐syn led to alterations in mitochondrial structure and neurite outgrowth that were partially ameliorated by treatment with cyclosporine A, and completely restored by treatment with the mitochondrial calcium influx blocker Ruthenium Red, but not with other cellular calcium flux blockers. Our data suggest a role for mitochondrial calcium influx in the mechanisms of mitochondrial and neuronal dysfunction in PD. Moreover, these studies support an important function for Pink1 in regulating mitochondrial activity under stress conditions.
Pre‐synaptic nicotinic and D2receptors functionally interact on dopaminergic nerve endings of rat and mouse nucleus accumbens
Authors: Grilli Massimo , Zappettini Stefania , Zoli Michele , Marchi Mario 
Published: January 2009

AbstractThe existence of pre‐synaptic auto‐ and hetero receptors which modulate neurotransmitter release is well documented. Emerging evidence show that in some cases these pre‐synaptic receptors may also cross‐talk with each other. The aim of the present work was to investigate whether acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs) and dopamine (DA) autoreceptors, which are both able to modulate DA release, functionally interact on the same nerve endings. We used rat and mouse nucleus accumbens synaptosomes pre‐labeled with [3H]DA and exposed to nicotinic and dopaminergic receptor ligands. Both nicotinic agonists and 4‐aminopyridine (4‐AP) provoked [3H]DA release which was inhibited by quinpirole and blocked by sulpiride and raclopride. Both the inhibitory effect of quinpirole and the stimulatory effect of (−)nicotine did not change when the nAChRs or the DA receptors were desensitized. (−)Nicotine and 4‐AP were able to stimulate [3H]DA overflow also in mouse synaptosomes and this overflow was partially inhibited by quinpirole. In the β2knockout mice quinpirole was still able to inhibit the [3H]DA overflow elicited by 4‐AP. To conclude: in rat and mouse the (−)nicotine evoked‐release can be modulated by D2/D3autoreceptors present on the DA terminals and nAChRs function is independent from D2/D3autoreceptors which themselves may function independently from the activation of nAChRs.
Working profiles of dental hygienists in public and private practice in Finland and Norway
Authors: Tseveenjav B , Virtanen JI , Wang NJ , Widström E 
Published: January 2009

Abstract:  Aim:  The aim was to compare the working profiles of Finnish and Norwegian dental hygienists in public and private practice. To this end, we compared the procedures performed, the type of patients and the time devoted to different tasks.Subjects and methods:  A questionnaire survey was originally conducted among a representative sample of dental hygienists in Finland (n = 595) and all authorized dental hygienists in Norway (n = 1 138) in 2004. The questionnaires collected data on the dental hygienists’ age, gender, year of graduation, working experience, work sector (private or public), working time spent on different activities and patient groups. The questionnaire also assessed how frequently the dental hygienists performed 25 different treatment measures.Results:  The Norwegian dental hygienists spent 45.4% of their clinical time on check‐ups, whereas the Finns spent 49.9% of their time scaling. Dental hygienists in Finland and Norway working in the public sector spent 42.9% and 74.6% of their working time dealing with children and youth respectively.Conclusions:  The working profiles of dental hygienists in Finland and Norway were quite similar, although differences in distribution by activities, type of patients and treatment measures do exist. The main activity of the dental hygienists was clinical work. The most commonly practised clinical activity among Finnish dental hygienists was scaling, and among Norwegians, check‐ups. Public dental hygienists in both countries dealt mainly with children and youths. Oral hygiene instruction was the most commonly reported treatment measure among both Finns and Norwegians.
A discourse on the nature of dental hygiene knowledge and knowing
Authors: Cobban SJ , Edgington EM , Myrick F , Keenan L 
Published: January 2009

Abstract:  Objective:  Historically, dental hygiene has adopted theory and research from other health disciplines, without adequately modifying these concepts to reflect the unique dental hygiene practice context, leaving dental hygiene’s research and theory base underdeveloped. Dental hygiene has yet to articulate its epistemological assumptions – the nature, scope and object of dental hygiene knowledge – or to fully describe the patterns of knowing that are brought to practice.Methods:  This paper uses a method of inquiry from philosophy to begin the discourse about dental hygiene ways of knowing. In nursing, Carper identified four fundamental patterns of knowing: empirics or the science of nursing; aesthetics or the art of nursing; personal knowledge and ethical or moral knowledge. These patterns were used to explore this concept within dental hygiene.Results:  There is more to the nature of dental hygiene knowledge and knowing than rote application of technique‐related or research‐based information in practice, including judgements about when and how to use different types of information that are used. Currently, empirical forms of knowledge seem to be disproportionately valued, yet evidence was found for all of Carper’s four patterns of knowing.Conclusions:  Carper’s work on patterns of knowing in nursing provided a useful framework to initiate the discourse on ways of knowing in dental hygiene. These results are submitted for others to challenge, refine and extend, for continuing the discussion. Dental hygiene leaders and scholars need to engage in discourse about extending the epistemological assumptions to reflect reality.