Comparison of blood glucose and insulin responses in non-insulin dependent diabetic patients. Studies with spaghetti and potato taken alone and as part of a mixed meal

Recently, we demonstrated that spaghetti caused significantly lower glycaemic response than rice and potato in insulin-dependent diabetic (IDDM) subjects and that this difference was also present when spaghetti and potato were taken as part of a mixed meal. We have now compared the blood glucose and insulin responses to 50 g of carbohydrate in the form of white bread, potato and white spaghetti in 6 non-insulin-dependent diabetic (NIDDM) patients. The blood glucose response after white spaghetti observed over a 3-h period was only 60 +/- 10 per cent (P less than 0.02) of that seen in response to potato (395 +/- 116 mmol/l x 180 min vs 641 +/- 108 mmol/l x 180 min) and 47 +/- 9 per cent (P less than 0.01) of that seen in response to white bread (395 +/- 116 mmol/l x 180 min vs 805 +/- 93 mmol/l x 180 min). Insulin responses showed an identical pattern reflecting the glycaemic responses. To see if the difference in the glucose responses in NIDDM patients is preserved if these carbohydrate-rich foods are taken as part of a mixed meal we looked at the blood glucose and insulin responses to 50 g of carbohydrate in the form of potato and white spaghetti when ingested together with bolognese sauce (167 g) in 7 NIDDM patients.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Clonidine in the treatment of Tourette's syndrome exacerbation due to haloperidol withdrawal

A patient with long-standing Tourette's syndrome had a dramatic exacerbation of symptoms following the rapid withdrawal of haloperidol. Clonidine administration resulted in a disappearance of tics, which recurred 6 days later. The role of clonidine in blocking withdrawal-induced symptoms in patients with Tourette's syndrome treated with long-term neuroleptics is discussed from a clinical and neurobiological perspective. The implications of this case for the treatment of supersensitivity psychosis and tricyclic withdrawal states with clonidine are also discussed.     

Antibody levels against Streptococcus pneumoniae and Haemophilus influenzae type b in a population of splenectomized individuals with varying vaccination status.

In order to determine antibody levels against Streptococcus pneumoniae (pneumococcus) and Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib) in a population of splenectomized subjects, 561 persons in a Danish county, splenectomized between 1984 and 1993 were identified. Two hundred and thirty-five were alive and 149 participated in the study. Each person donated a blood sample for antibody determination by ELISA. Though vaccine coverage among the 149 persons was 91% only 52% had ''protective'' levels of pneumococcal antibodies. Despite recommendations for regular follow-up on pneumococcal antibody levels this had only been carried out in 4% of the subjects. Splenectomized subjects who needed pneumococcal revaccination were significantly more likely to have received their initial vaccination less than 14 days before or after splenectomy, as recommended, than those not requiring revaccination. Therefore, the timing of initial pneumococcal vaccination in relation to splenectomy seems to be important. All persons had Hib antibody levels higher than 0.15 microgram/ml and 60% had levels higher than 1 microgram/ml, which are the levels thought to provide short term and long term protection, respectively. In total, 37% of the 149 persons tested had pneumococcal and Hib antibody levels thought to correlate with protection from serious infections.     

Mothers' benefit of a self-care booklet and a self-care educational session at child health centres

Mothers' benefit of a mass-distributed self-care booklet and a self-care educational session about young children's minor illnesses were investigated. The following questions were studied: (1) Do mothers of infants read and benefit from a self-care booklet? (2) Is the mothers' knowledge about self-care improved more if the booklet is supplemented by a self-care educational session? 265 (92%) of 288 randomly sampled Swedish mothers whose first child was 6-12 months of age were interviewed regarding their knowledge about self-care. Shortly thereafter a self-care booklet was mailed to all households in Uppsala county and 6.5 months later a new group of 572 mothers was randomly sampled. Among the 572 mothers, 332 (58%) were randomized to a self-care session organized at child health centres and 240 (42%) were not invited to a session. Of the 572 mothers, 530 (93%) were later interviewed about the booklet, the session and their knowledge about self-care. 69% participated among the mothers randomized to the session. Among these mothers, 99% recalled the booklet and 96% had read the child care section. Among the mothers not invited to the session, 68% recalled the booklet and 60% had read the child care section. The mothers who had read the child care section would follow the recommendations about when to seek (and not to seek) medical care significantly better than those who had not read it (P less than 0.003).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Epidural blood patch illustrated by CT-epidurography

Four patients, who received epidural blood patch to treat postdural puncture headache, were examined with computed tomography in order to demonstrate the distribution of the injected blood. Blood alone could not be identified, but adding 2 ml contrast agent Iohexol 180 mg J/ ml (Omnipaque®, Nycomed Imaging) to 18 ml blood gave an excellent demonstration of the distribution of the blood in the epidural space, both cranio-caudally (7–14 segments) and spatially in relation to the epidural septae. The blood-contrast media had a strong affinity to the dural sac. There was no support of the spacefilling effect of blood patch.     

Anal sphincter size measured by endosonography in healthy volunteers. Effect of age, sex, and parity.

The anal sphincter muscles consist of the circular internal and external sphincters together with the sling-shaped associated puborectalis muscle. Ten men, 10 women with no vaginal deliveries, and 10 women with one or more vaginal deliveries were studied with anal endosonography using a 7 MHz multiplanar endoprobe. The thickness of the internal sphincter and the thickness, length, and cross-sectional area of the external sphincter were measured and related to age, sex, and parity. Reproducibility was assessed by similar measurements on different days in 10 volunteers. Anal sphincter size was the same in men and women and was not affected by the number of child births. Internal sphincter muscle thickness increased with age. Anal manometry and electromyography with an anal sponge were performed in all volunteers but the results did not correlate to any of the anal sphincter dimensions. Our conclusion is that although there are some limitations, endosonography can be used to determine the size of the anal sphincter muscles.     

The Troms? study: physical fitness, self reported physical activity, and their relationship to other coronary risk factors.

STUDY OBJECTIVE--The aim was to investigate the associations between physical fitness, leisure physical activity, and coronary risk factors. DESIGN--This was a cross sectional study of a random sample of men and women, following a population survey. SETTING--The municipality of Troms?, Norway in 1986-1987. PARTICIPANTS--All men born 1925-1966 and all women born 1930-1966 were invited to the survey; 21,826 subjects attended (81% of the eligible population): of these, 297 men and 312 women, randomly selected, attended the present study (attendance rates 94% in men and 89% in women). MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS--Fitness was tested by bicycle ergometry. Physical activity was reported on a questionnaire. Multiple regression analysis was performed with fitness and leisure activity as dependent variables, and coronary risk factors as independent variables. Fitness and leisure activity were positively related (p less than 0.05). Prominent findings for fitness were negative associations with age and smoking (p less than 0.05), and positive associations with body mass index in both sexes (p less than 0.01). HDL cholesterol and systolic blood pressure were significant predictors of fitness in men (p less than 0.01). Smoking emerged as a strong negative predictor for leisure activity in women (p less than 0.01), and a negative relation between leisure activity and total cholesterol was found in men (p less than 0.01). CONCLUSIONS--The study indicates that coronary risk factors are more closely linked to physical fitness than to leisure physical activity.     

Perforation Rates for Nonsterile Examination Gloves in Routine Dermatologic Procedures

BACKGROUND: Low cost, nonsterile examination gloves are used routinely to perform various dermatologic procedures. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the perforation rate of nonsterile examination gloves in routine dermatologic procedures. METHODS: Three hundred fifty nonsterile latex examination gloves used to perform shave biopsies were evaluated for perforations using an air inflation/water submersion method. Ninety gloves, which were intentionally perforated with a 30-gauge needle, were used as controls to assess our evaluation method. RESULTS: Eight of the 350 gloves were found to have a perforation, which corresponds to a 2.3% perforation rate. Seven of the eight perforations were found in the web space between the second and third finger sleeves, with one being an obvious manufacturing error. All 90 perforations of the control group were correctly identified. CONCLUSION: There appears to be a very low risk of glove perforation when nonsterile examination gloves are used in routine dermatologic procedures.     

Postoperative Cognitive Dysfunction in Middle-aged Patients

Background: Postoperative cognitive dysfunction (POCD) after noncardiac surgery is strongly associated with increasing age in elderly patients; middle-aged patients (aged 40-60 yr) may be expected to have a lower incidence, although subjective complaints are frequent.

Methods: The authors compared the changes in neuropsychological test results at 1 week and 3 months in patients aged 40-60 yr, using a battery of neuropsychological tests, with those of age-matched control subjects using Z-score analysis. They assessed risk factors and associations of POCD with measures of subjective cognitive function, depression, and activities of daily living.

Results: At 7 days, cognitive dysfunction as defined was present in 19.2% (confidence interval [CI], 15.7-23.1) of the patients and in 4.0% (CI, 1.6-8.0) of control subjects (P < 0.001). After 3 months, the incidence was 6.2% (CI, 4.1-8.9) in patients and 4.1% (CI, 1.7-8.4) in control subjects (not significant). POCD at 7 days was associated with supplementary epidural analgesia and reported avoidance of alcohol consumption. At 3 months, 29% of patients had subjective symptoms of POCD, and this finding was associated with depression. Early POCD was associated with reports of lower activity scores at 3 months.