The diagnosis of "pathological hyperglycaemia' in gestational diabetes in a high risk obstetric population

In order to define a level of "pathological hyperglycaemia', i.e. glucose intolerance that predicts perinatal morbidity among the obstetric population, 100 g glucose tolerance tests (GTTs) were performed in 660 patients attending for antenatal care at the University Hospital in Jeddah. The results were analysed in two ways: (1) patients were stratified according to the number of abnormal glucose values on the GTTs and (2) patients were placed into one of three groups according to the 100 g GTT diagnostic criteria, i.e. normal (non-GDM), abnormal with fasting blood glucose (FBG) > or = 5.8 mmol l-1 (GDM), and abnormal with FBG < 5.8 mmol l-1 (gestational induced hyperglycaemia, GIH). Although there was a stepwise association between fetal/maternal morbidity with increasing number of abnormal glucose values, no level of glucose intolerance could be defined as a threshold level for normal response. However, when stratified by FBG, GDM patients were significantly heavier (78.5 kg +/- SD 14.9), had a higher incidence of both macrosomia (27.5%) and operative delivery (25.3%) than the other two groups (14.7%, 14.3%, and 15.4%, 12.8% in the non-GDM and GIH, respectively). It is suggested that among patients with abnormal GTT results a FBG > or = 5.8 mmol l-1 identifies a threshold for true "pathological hyperglycaemia'.     

Usefulness of a breakfast test in the management of women with gestational diabetes

OBJECTIVE: To assess the usefulness of a breakfast test in determining which women with gestational diabetes do not need self-monitoring of blood glucose levels (home monitoring). METHODS: A 1-hour post-standardized breakfast blood glucose below 7.8 mmol/L (140 mg/dL) was measured in 227 women and at or above 7.8 mmol/L in 115. Within each group, women were randomized to home monitoring with a meter or to clinic follow-up. Target glucose values were 5.3 mmol/L (95 mg/dL) fasting, 5.6 mmol/L (101 mg/dL) before meals, and 7.8 mmol/L (140 mg/dL) 1 hour postprandial. Up to these thresholds women on clinic follow-up were transferred to home monitoring. Insulin therapy was started on the same thresholds in women randomized or transferred to home monitoring. Large for gestational age (LGA) newborns represented the main outcome, with the transfer rate to home monitoring and need of insulin therapy the secondary ones. RESULTS: The LGA delivery rate was not significantly different in the two follow-up groups in women with a breakfast result below 7.8 mmol/L (9.8 versus 4.3%) but was higher in the clinic follow-up among women with a breakfast result at or above 7.8 mmol/L (13.3% versus 30.9%; P < .05). Fewer women with a breakfast result below 7.8 mmol/L were transferred to home monitoring (2.6 versus 52.7%; P < .001) or started on insulin therapy (3.6 versus 25.2%; P < .001). The breakfast test cutoff of 7.8 mmol/L predicted insulin need with a sensitivity of 91.0% and a specificity of 72.0% CONCLUSION: A breakfast test is useful in identifying a low-risk population in which clinic follow-up may be used safety.     

The 75-g glucose tolerance test in pregnancy: a reference range determined on a low-risk population and related to selected pregnancy outcomes

OBJECTIVE: To determine a reference range for the 75-g glucose tolerance test (GTT) in pregnancy using a group of women at low risk for gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) and to determine the validity of this reference range by examining selected pregnancy outcomes for glucose-tolerant women with a 2-h result on the GTT up to 1.0 mmol/l below the diagnostic level for GDM compared with treated women with GDM. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS: The reference range for the GTT was determined in 573 Caucasian women with an age <25 years and a BMI of <25 kg/m2. Selected pregnancy outcomes were compared between 272 treated women with GDM (diagnosed on the basis of a 2-h glucose level > or =8.0 mmol/l) and 308 women with a 2-h glucose level of 7.0-7.9 mmol/l. RESULTS: There was 95% confidence that at least 95% of all the fasting glucose levels are < or =5.1 mmol/l(92 mg/dl) and 95% confidence that at least 95% of all the 2-h glucose levels were < or =7.8 mmol/l (140 mg/dl). Treated women with GDM had a significantly reduced rate of large-for-gestational-age infants compared with glucose-tolerant women, without any increase in the rate of small-for-gestational-age infants or obstetric interventions. CONCLUSIONS: The reference range for the GTT in pregnancy should be determined on a low-risk population rather than on a total population. Consideration should be given to lowering the fasting glucose level to 5.0 mmol/l (90 mg/dl) and the 2-h level to 7.8 mmol/ (140 mg/dl). Glucose-tolerant women below this relatively low reference range have an increased rate of large-for-gestational-age infants and may benefit from treatment.     

Threshold value of glucose screening tests in pregnancy: could it be standardized for every population?

We aimed to determine a threshold value that perfectly demarcates women at high risk for gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) in the Turkish population. One thousand gravid women of 24 to 32 weeks of gestation were given 50 g, 1-hour glucose screening tests. A 100 g, 3-hour glucose tolerance test (GTT) was performed on all patients whose screening test plasma glucose value was 130 mg/dL or greater. The sensitivity and specificity of each screening test value was found, and the GDM rate of each value was calculated. Three-hundred-and-five patients were identified for GTT and 66 were shown to have GDM with two or more abnormal values in GTT. The incidence of GDM was found to be 6.6%. The maximum specificity and sensitivity were met at 140 mg/dL. However, this value underestimated 12% of patients with GDM, and the lowest value for a positive GTT appeared to be 134 mg/dL. We recommend a 135 mg/dL threshold for GTT since this threshold accurately diagnoses almost all women with GDM while eliminating unnecessary GTT.     

Perinatal complications following gestational diabetes mellitus how 'sweet' is ill?

OBJECTIVE: We tested the effect of patient compliance, fasting plasma glucose on oral glucose tolerance test, maternal body constitution, and the method of treatment (diet versus insulin) on the perinatal outcome of patients with gestational diabetes mellitus. STUDY DESIGN: A prospective population-based study compared the perinatal outcome of patients with gestational diabetes mellitus (n = 470) (diabetic with regard to the parameters specified above) and a contemporaneous control group (nondiabetic, n = 250). RESULTS: The diabetic and control groups were matched in demographic characteristics. Patient compliance reduced the rate of macrosomia (14.4%) and neonatal hypoglycemia (3.4%) but not to the levels of the control group (5.2% and 1.2% respectively, p < 0.05). The level of fasting plasma glucose on the oral glucose tolerance test had no effect on perinatal outcome. Intensified (insulin) treatment reduced the rate of macrosomia and large-for-gestational age infants in the subgroups with intermediate and high levels of fasting plasma glucose on the oral glucose tolerance test (9.5%/14.2% and 12.2%/24.2% respectively), again not to levels of the control group (5.2%/10.8%). Obese patients were found to have more perinatal complications than lean patients. Intensified (insulin) treatment has proved to be beneficial in terms of reducing the rate of perinatal complications in the obese patients, but not to the corresponding levels of the control group. Such treatment had no effect on the lean patients. CONCLUSIONS: Strict control of maternal hyperglycemia and high patient compliance are imperative for an effective reduction of perinatal complication in patients with gestational diabetes mellitus. The desired plasma glucose level in the glycemic control of these patients should be further reduced, thus bringing the rate of perinatal complications to that of the normal population.     

Relationships between maternal glucose intolerance and neonatal blood glucose

Blood glucose changes in 63 infants during the first three hours of life were related to indices of glucose tolerance of their mothers. Of the mothers, 34 had insulin-dependent diabetes, 16 had gestational diabetes, and 11 had minor abnormalities of glucose tolerance. The fasting blood glucose level of the mother and the umbilical cord blood glucose level were both proportional to the rate of glucose decline in the infant after birth which, in turn, was inversely related to the lowest glucose level attained within three hours. Hypoglycemia occurred in 77% of the infants of diabetic mothers, 25% of the infants of mothers with gestational diabetes, and one of 12 (8%) of infants of mothers with minor degrees of glucose intolerance. The blood glucose level at two hours during an oral glucose tolerance test in the mother can be used to predict the probability of her infant having neonatal hypoglycemia.     

The effects of the sealed record in adoption

A 3-hour oral glucose tolerance test was conducted in "normal" women before and after 12 months of contraceptive treatment with daily 0.25-mg ethynodiol diacetate tablets. There was no significant change in the subjects' weight between the two tests. All but the 3-hour individual group glucose values were significantly elevated at the 1-year test, and 16.7% of the tolerance curves became "borderline abnormal". The group plasma insulin values for the 0.5-, 1-, and 2-hour samples during the 1-year test were also significantly elevated. There was a significant decrease in the group fasting triglyceride levels but no change in the fasting cholesterol levels. These data suggest that some of the 19-norprogestogens may adversely affect carbohydrate metabolism.     

The role of nitric oxide in inhibitory neurotransmission in the middle cerebral artery of the sheep

We examined the pregnancy outcome of 112 women classified as minor degrees of glucose intolerance (MDGI) in pregnancy in a screening program based on Carpenter and Coustan's criteria. The MDGI group comprised 49 women with abnormal oral glucose challenge test (OGCT) followed by normal OGTT (group A), and 63 with "borderline" OGTT (1 abnormal value, group B). No treatment was offered to 88 MDGI women, while 26 received dietary advice and metabolic monitoring. A control group was constituted from 112 age- and BMI-matched negative screenees. Similar rates of cesarean sections and macrosomia, but higher rate of large for gestational age (LGA) babies (25.9% vs 14.3%) were found in MDGI, without difference between groups A and B. When comparing treated and untreated MDGI, lower LGA incidence (11.5% vs 30.2%) and no macrosomia were found in the former. In conclusion, untreated MDGI may present excessive fetal growth, which can be normalized by dietary treatment and metabolic monitoring.     

Relationship between concentration of serum leptin and fetal growth

The serum leptin concentration reflects the amount of adipose tissue in the body. Although fat deposition in the fetus in the third trimester markedly increases, the role of leptin during pregnancy has not been clarified. In the present study, whether or not the serum leptin concentration correlates with growth in utero was investigated, in addition to how leptin levels change in the first few days after birth. One hundred sixteen Japanese infants were divided into term (n = 91) and preterm groups (n = 25). Term infants were divided into 3 subgroups: birth weight appropriate for gestational age (AGA) (n = 44), birth weight large for gestational age (LGA) (n = 28), and birth weight small for gestational age (SGA) (n = 19). Longitudinal changes in the concentration of serum leptin after birth were examined in 48 infants. The serum leptin concentration was determined by RIA. No significant difference in leptin levels between cord sera and infants' sera obtained within the first 6 h of life (n = 28) was observed. Within the first 6 h of life, the concentration of serum leptin in LGA infants (12.8 +/- 10.2 ng/mL) and SGA infants (1.6 +/- 1.1 ng/mL) was significantly higher and lower, respectively, than that in the AGA infants (4.4 +/- 3.0 ng/mL) (P < 0.01). A significant positive correlation was found between the leptin concentration within 6 h of life and birth body weight (r = 0.59, P < 0.01). After birth, the concentration of leptin in LGA and AGA infants significantly decreased to the level in SGA infants within 72 h [corrected] of delivery (P < 0.05). After 72 h [corrected] of life, no significant differences in the concentration of leptin were observed among the three groups, and low levels continued to 7 days of age. These findings indicate that serum level of leptin correlates with fetal body weight gain.     

Examination of nerve distribution to masticatory muscles using a silicone permeation technique

Recently new definitions were agreed for the glucose tolerance test (GTT), for impaired glucose tolerance and for the classification of diabetes mellitus. The World Health Organization and the American Diabetes Association have been active on this point. The fasting glucose value has been lowered and been brought into line with the two hour value of the GTT. Fasting glucose values can now be used for the diagnosis of diabetes mellitus and of impaired glucose tolerance. The new classification is based on differences in cause of the diabetes. The classification includes diabetes mellitus types 1 and 2, pregnancy diabetes and 'other forms of diabetes'.     

Acarbose in NIDDM patients with poor control on conventional oral agents. A 24-week placebo-controlled study

OBJECTIVE: To determine the efficacy of acarbose, compared with placebo, on the metabolic control of NIDDM patients inadequately controlled on maximal doses of conventional oral agents. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS: In this three-center double-blind study, 90 Chinese NIDDM patients with persistent poor glycemic control despite maximal doses of sulfonylurea and metformin were randomly assigned to receive additional treatment with acarbose 100 mg thrice daily or placebo for 24 weeks, after 6 weeks of dietary reinforcement. Efficacy was assessed by changes in HbA1c, fasting and 1-h postprandial plasma glucose and insulin levels, and fasting lipid levels. RESULTS: Acarbose treatment was associated with significantly greater reductions in HbA1c (-0.5 +/- 0.2% vs. placebo 0.1 +/- 0.2% [means +/- SEM], P = 0.038), 1-h postprandial glucose (-2.3 +/- 0.4 mmol/l vs. placebo 0.7 +/- 0.4 mmol/l, P < 0.001) and body weight (-0.54 +/- 0.32 kg vs. placebo 0.42 +/- 0.29 kg, P < 0.05). There was no significant difference between the two groups regarding changes in fasting plasma glucose and lipids or fasting and postprandial insulin levels. Flatulence was the most common side effect (acarbose vs. placebo: 28/45 vs. 11/44, P < 0.05). One patient on acarbose had asymptomatic elevations in serum transaminases that normalized in 4 weeks after acarbose withdrawal. Another patient on acarbose developed severe hypoglycemia; glycemic control was subsequently maintained on half the baseline dosage of sulfonylurea. CONCLUSIONS: In NIDDM patients inadequately controlled on conventional oral agents, acarbose in moderate doses resulted in beneficial effects on glycemic control, especially postprandial glycemia, and mean body weight. Additional use of acarbose can be considered as a useful alternative in such patients if they are reluctant to accept insulin therapy.     

Post-transplant hyperlipidaemia: low-dose lovastatin lowers atherogenic lipids without plasma accumulation of lovastatin

PURPOSE: To compare the therapeutic potential of acarbose, metformin, or placebo as first line treatment in patients with non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM). PATIENTS AND METHODS: Ninety-six patients with NIDDM (35-70 years of age, body mass index (BMI) < or = 35 kg/m2, insufficiently treated with diet alone, glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c; 7% to 11%) were randomized into 3 groups and treated for 24 weeks with acarbose, 3 x 100 mg/day, or metformin, 2 x 850 mg/day, or placebo. Efficacy, based on HbA1c (primary efficacy criterion), fasting blood glucose (BG) and insulin, 1 hour postprandial BG and insulin (after standard meal test), postprandial insulin increase, plasma lipid profile, and tolerability, based on subjective symptoms and laboratory values were determined every 6 weeks. Analysis of covariance was performed for endvalues with adjustment on baseline values. Ninety-four patients were valid for efficacy evaluation. RESULTS: Both active drugs showed the same improvement of efficacy criteria compared with placebo. Baseline adjusted means at endpoint were as follows: BG, fasting and 1 hour postprandial, 9.2 mM and 10.9 mM with placebo, 7.6 mM and 8.7 mM with acarbose, and 7.8 mM and 9.0 mM with metformin; HbA1c was 9.8% with placebo, 8.5% with acarbose, and 8.7% with metformin. Comparisons: acarbose versus placebo and metformin versus placebo were statistically significant, but not acarbose versus metformin. No effect on fasting insulin could be observed. Relative postprandial insulin increase was 1.90 with placebo, 1.09 with acarbose, and 1.03 with metformin. Comparisons: acarbose versus placebo and metformin versus placebo were statistically significant, but not acarbose versus metformin. With respect to lipid profile, acarbose was superior to metformin. Low-density lipoprotein (LDL)/high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol ratio increased by 14.4% with placebo, was unchanged with metformin, but decreased by 26.7% with acarbose. Comparisons: acarbose versus placebo and acarbose versus metformin were statistically significant, but not metformin versus placebo. Slight body weight changes were observed with acarbose (-0.8 kg) and metformin (-0.5 kg), but not with placebo. Acarbose led to mild or moderate intestinal symptoms in 50% of the patients within the first 4 weeks, but in only 13.8% of the patients within the last 4 weeks. CONCLUSIONS: Acarbose and metformin are effective drugs for the first line monotherapy of patients with NIDDM. With respect to plasma lipid profile, especially HDL cholesterol, LDL cholesterol and LDL/HDL cholesterol ratio acarbose may be superior to metformin.     

Pregnancy outcomes among women with and without diabetic microvascular disease (White's classes B to FR) versus non-diabetic controls

The objective of this paper is to evaluate the impact of contemporary management on the maternal and neonatal outcomes of pregnancies complicated by diabetes in women with microvascular disease versus women without microvascular disease. The study population consisted of two hundred and eighty-eight (288) pregnant women with pregestational diabetes and one hundred and fifty (150) healthy pregnant controls. Diabetic women were grouped according to the presence (n = 103) or absence of diabetic microvascular disease (n = 185). Data were collected regarding diabetes management, level of glycemic control, and the development of antenatal complications. Maternal and neonatal outcomes were compared among the three groups. Women in the diabetes groups were stratified according to mean blood glucose levels and glycosylated hemoglobin during each trimester. There was no significant difference found between the two diabetes groups in terms of preterm labor, polyhydramnios, pyelonephritis, and growth restriction. The only maternal complications that occurred with increased incidence among women with microvascular disease were acute hypertensive complications (51.6 vs. 32.9%; p<0.05). However, when the diabetes groups were compared to healthy controls, a significant difference was seen in all maternal and neonatal complications. Preterm delivery, polyhydramnios, and large-for-gestational-age (LGA) infants were associated with poor third-trimester metabolic control as compared with others in satisfactory metabolic controls: 30.8 vs. 11.4% for preterm delivery; 17.3 vs. 5.1% for polyhydramnios; 51.9 vs. 33.9% for LGA; p<0.05. Congenital malformations were associated with poor first-trimester glucose control (5.8 vs. 1.3% anomalies in well-controlled women). Furthermore, major congenital malformations were also significantly increased in the offspring of women with diabetic microvascular disease 6.8%, as compared to 1.69% in diabetic women without microvascular disease; p<0.01. The incidence of hypertensive complications did not differ between the two diabetic groups. Pregestational diabetic women with and without microvascular disease can be counseled to anticipate comparably favorable pregnancy outcomes, although maternal and neonatal complications may exceed that experienced by pregnant women without diabetes mellitus.     

New imidazoles as probes of the active site topology and potent inhibitors of beta-glucosidase

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the long-term efficacy, safety, and tolerability of the alpha-glucosidase inhibitor miglitol in the treatment of African-American patients with type 2 diabetes. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS: A total of 345 African-American type 2 diabetic patients (mean age 55.6 years, BMI 31.9 kg/m2, duration of diabetes 4.9 years, baseline HbA1C 8.7%) treated with either diet alone or sulfonylurea were randomized to 1 year of double-blind treatment with either placebo (n = 117) or miglitol (n = 228) at doses of 50 or 100 mg t.i.d., titrated based on tolerability. The primary efficacy criterion was change from baseline in HbA1C at the 6-month visit. Secondarily efficacy parameters included changes from baseline in plasma glucose and serum insulin (both fasting and 120 min after a standardized test meal), fasting lipids, and urinary albumin-to-creatinine ratio. Safety and tolerability evaluations were primarily based on reporting of adverse events and symptoms and on periodic laboratory analyses. RESULTS: Miglitol treatment was associated with a mean placebo-subtracted reduction in HbA1C from baseline of 1.19% at 6 months. Fasting and 120-min postprandial plasma glucose levels were reduced in parallel to HbA1C, in association with miglitol treatment. Significant reductions versus placebo in 120-min postprandial insulin levels, in LDL cholesterol, and in fasting triglycerides, were also seen in the miglitol group at individual study time points. Softer, more frequent stools and flatulence were significantly more common in the miglitol group. Urinary tract infections, hematuria, and herpes simplex infections were significantly more common in the placebo group. CONCLUSIONS: Miglitol treatment appears to be at least as efficacious in the African-American type 2 population as in the U.S. type 2 population at large, with comparable tolerability. alpha-Glucosidase treatment may be an important therapeutic option in these patients in view of their greater risk for microvascular complications and the accumulating body of evidence that better glucose control reduces the risk of these complications.     

Assessing the risk of gestational diabetes in twin gestation

This study examines the hypothesis that twin gestation is a risk factor for gestational diabetes. In a retrospective analysis, the incidence of gestational diabetes in twin and singleton pregnancies was determined in groups matched for maternal age, weight, and parity. One-hour oral glucose challenge tests (50 g) were used to screen 9185 pregnant women. Gestational diabetes was diagnosed when abnormal screens (> or = 130 mg/dL) were followed by two or more abnormal values on a 3-hour (100 g) glucose tolerance test using National Diabetes Data Group (NDDG) criteria. A twin gestation was identified in 1.5% (138/9185) of the pregnancies. Gestational diabetes was diagnosed in 5.8% (8/138) and 5.4% (439/9047) of the twin and singleton pregnancies, respectively. The incidence of gestational diabetes is similar for singleton and twin gestations.     

Prognosis of infants of diabetic mothers in relation to neonatal hypoglycaemia

A prospective follow-up study was conducted to determine whether neonatal hypoglycaemia in infants of diabetic mothers affects subsequent neurological and intellectual performance. 37 such infants (25 hypoglycaemic and 12 non-hypoglycaemic) were examined for physical, neurological and developmental performance at an average age of 4 1/2 years. 11 children were abnormal, with generalised retardation and neurological abnormalities, or delays in particular areas of development; three children were possibly abnormal; and 23 children were normal. Abnormality at follow-up could not be related to neonatal blood glucose level, to the duration of hypoglycaemia or to any other measurement made in the neonatal period, nor to any factor relating to the maternal diabetes. Compared with the normal children, the abnormal group had slightly small head-circumferences at birth relative to their gestational age, but a follow-up there was no difference in head size. At follow-up the children of diabetic mothers tended to be shorter than average. The poor prognosis of the infants in this study was not due to brain damage caused by neonatal hypoglycaemia.     

Tissue factor in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis

The Otsuka Long-Evans Tokushima Fatty (OLETF) rat is an animal model for obese NIDDM. We performed a genome wide scan in F2 progenies obtained by crossing OLETF rats with two control strains, Long-Evans Tokushima Otsuka (LETO) and Fisher-344(F-344) rats. Since diabetes develops only in male progenies, we used only male F2 rats for the linkage studies.Highly significant linkage was observed between the phenotype, postprandial hyperglycemia and P-450ald locus on chromosome 1 and D7Mit 11 locus on chromosome 7. In addition, suggestive linkage was found between fasting glucose level and body weight and these two loci. Four other regions (D1Mit12, D2Mit11, D5Mgh14, and D17Arb1) on chromosome 1, 2, 5, and 17 were detected to influence body weight, fasting glucose level or postprandial hyperglycemia independently. We concluded that non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus(NIDDM) in OLETF rats is regulated by multiple genes which affect fasting, postprandial hyperglycemia, and obesity differently.     

Three dimensional stress analysis of the human femur

Plasma glucose, insulin and triglyceride changes in response to a standard breakfast and an oral glucose tolerance test have been studied in normal, obese and diabetic subjects. Mild diabetics with an abnormal oral glucose tolerance test may have normal or near-normal incremental glucose responses to a standard breakfast. A raised fasting plasma glucose is the predominant day-to-day glucose abnormality of mild diabetes. Diabetics have decreased insulin responses to oral glucose compared with the meal, and the deficient insulin response to glucose probably accounts for both the raised fasting plasma glucose levels and the abnormal oral GTT. The initial insulin response to a meal is normal in mild diabetics, and is probably stimulated by secretogogues other than glucose. The oral glucose tolerance test is apposite for the diagnosis of diabetes in view of the impaired insulin response to glucose, but accurate measurement of the basal plasma glucose may be of equal value. The diabetic and obese subjects had normal triglyceride levels, and there was no detectable impairment of disposal of the exogenous triglyceride following the breakfast.     

Correlation of factor VIIa values with factor VII gene polymorphism, fasting and postprandial triglyceride levels, and subclinical carotid atherosclerosis

BACKGROUND: Factor VII plays a pivotal role in coagulation. Factor VIIc levels were reported to be a risk factor for fatal coronary heart disease (CHD). Factor VIIc and VIIag levels were noted to be positively associated with plasma triglyceride (TG) levels and influenced by a VII gene polymorphism. The purpose of this study is to determine whether these associations are related to activated factor VII (factor VIIa). METHODS AND RESULTS: Fasting and 3.5-hour postprandial samples from 216 cases with subclinical atherosclerosis and 341 matched controls selected from the ARIC cohort were assayed for levels of factors VIIa, VIIc, and VIIag and TG, and factor VII codon 353 gene polymorphism. The level of factor VIIa was higher in Arg/Arg than in Arg/Gln+Gln/Gln genotypes, and the difference was in accord with that of factors VIIag and VIIc. However, the factor VIIa difference was statistically insignificant. Factor VIIa values were not correlated with fasting or 3.5-hour postprandial TG levels, nor were they associated with subclinical atherosclerosis. CONCLUSIONS: Factor VIIa levels, like factor VIIag and VIIc levels, are influenced by factor VII gene codon 353 polymorphism. However, unlike factor VIIag or VIIc, factor VIIa is not influenced by TG levels; none of these is associated with subclinical atherosclerosis.     

Methods for estimating HIV prevalence: A comparison of extrapolation from surveys on infection rate and risk behaviour with back-calculation for the Netherlands

SUBJECTS AND METHODS: 227 of subjects with a 2-hour plasma glucose concentration of 120-199 mg/dl were selected from 413 participants who had two or more 75 g OGTT in health examinations from 1987-1995. From these subjects we established 8 groups according to initial 2-hour plasma glucose concentration 120-199 mg/dl stratified by 10 mg/dl, and calculated the total percentages of participants whose 2-hour plasma glucose concentration reached 200 mg/dl or greater over a 1-8 years (2.7 +/- 1.7 years, mean +/- SD) observation period. In 36 subjects who were tested annually over a four year period (4 times), the mean values of their 4 values were analyzed for relationships to coefficients of variation of the 2-hour plasma glucose. RESULTS: By stratified groups (from lowest to highest) of those with an initial plasma glucose concentration of 120-159 mg/dl, 7.4%, 12.1%, 16.1%, and 15.0% attained values of 200 mg/dl and higher, respectively in 1-8 years. On the other hand, 29.6%, 29.6%, 39.1%, and 47.4% of those with an initial plasma glucose concentration of 160-199 mg/dl moved to a diabetic type after 1-8 years, respectively. The percentages of those who ended up with levels of 200 mg/dl and greater at 2-hours tended to increase in subjects whose initial 2-hour plasma glucose concentration was over 160 mg/dl in comparison with patients below that initial level. CONCLUSIONS: From these results, it appears that subjects with 160-199 mg/dl 2-hour glucose concentration, which is considered a borderline status, are at high risk for future abnormal levels (> 200 mg/dl at 2-hours) and should be managed as a high risk level group for prevention of diabetes.