Long-term beneficial effect of islet transplantation on diabetic macro-/microangiopathy in type 1 diabetic kidney-transplanted patients

OBJECTIVE: Our aim was to evaluate the long-term effects of transplanted islets on diabetic macro-/microangiopathy in type 1 diabetic kidney-transplanted patients. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS: A total of 34 type 1 diabetic kidney-transplanted patients underwent islet transplantation and were divided into two groups: successful islet-kidney transplantation (SI-K; 21 patients, fasting C-peptide serum concentration >0.5 ng/ml for >1 year) and unsuccessful islet-kidney transplantation (UI-K; 13 patients, fasting C-peptide serum concentration <0.5 ng/ml). Patients cumulative survival, cardiovascular death rate, and atherosclerosis progression were compared in the two groups. Skin biopsies, endothelial dependent dilation (EDD), nitric oxide (NO) levels, and atherothrombotic risk factors [von Willebrand factor (vWF) and D-dimer fragment (DDF)] were studied cross-sectionally. RESULTS: The SI-K group showed a significant better patient survival rate (SI-K 100, 100, and 90% vs. UI-K 84, 74, and 51% at 1, 4, and 7 years, respectively, P = 0.04), lower cardiovascular death rate (SI-K 1/21 vs. UI-K 4/13, chi(2) = 3.9, P = 0.04), and lower intima-media thickness progression than the UI-K group (SI-K group: delta1-3 years -13 +/- 30 micro m vs. UI-K group: delta1-3 years 245 +/- 20 micro m, P = 0.03) with decreased signs of endothelial injuring at skin biopsy. Furthermore, the SI-K group showed a higher EDD than the UI-K group (EDD: SI-K 7.8 +/- 4.5% vs. UI-K 0.5 +/- 2.7%, P = 0.02), higher basal NO (SI-K 42.9 +/- 6.5 vs. UI-K 20.2 +/- 6.8 micro mol/l, P = 0.02), and lower levels of vWF (SI-K 138.6 +/- 15.3 vs. UI-K 180.6 +/- 7.0%, P = 0.02) and DDF (SI-K 0.61 +/- 0.22 vs. UI-K 3.07 +/- 0.68 micro g/ml, P < 0.01). C-peptide-to-creatinine ratio correlated positively with EDD and NO and negatively with vWF and DDF. CONCLUSIONS: Successful islet transplantation improves survival, cardiovascular, and endothelial function in type 1 diabetic kidney-transplanted patient

normalization of multiple hemostatic abnormalities in uremic type 1 diabetic patients after kidney pancreas transplantation

To evaluate the effects of kidney-pancreas transplantation on hemostatic abnormalities in uremic type 1 diabetic patients, we conducted a cross-sectional study involving 12 type 1 diabetic patients, 30 uremic type 1 diabetic patients, 27 uremic type 1 diabetic patients who had a kidney-pancreas transplant, 12 uremic type 1 diabetic patients who had a kidney-alone transplant, and 13 healthy control subjects. We evaluated platelet and clotting system. Platelets in the group of uremic type 1 diabetic patients were significantly larger than platelets in the other groups. Resting calcium levels were significantly higher in the uremic type 1 diabetic patients and uremic type 1 diabetic patients who had a kidney-alone transplant than in the type 1 diabetic patients who had a kidney-pancreas transplant and control subjects. CD41 expression was significantly reduced in platelets from the uremic type 1 diabetic patients compared with the other groups. Levels of hypercoagulability markers in the type 1 diabetic patients who had a kidney-pancreas transplant and, to a lesser extent, the uremic type 1 diabetic patients who had a kidney-alone transplant but not the uremic type 1 diabetic patients were similar to those of the control subjects. A reduction in natural anticoagulants was evident in the uremic type 1 diabetic patients, whereas near-normal values were observed in the type 1 diabetic patients who had a kidney-pancreas transplant and uremic type 1 diabetic patients who had a kidney-alone transplant. Hemostatic abnormalities were not observed in type 1 diabetic patients who had a kidney-pancreas transplant. This finding might explain the lower cardiovascular death rate observed in type 1 diabetic patients who had a kidney-pancreas transplant compared with uremic type 1 diabetic patients who had a kidney-alone transplant or uremic type 1 diabetic patients

Ultrastructural localization of cholecystokinin in endocrine cells of the dog duodenum by the immunogold technique

Cholecystokinin (CCK) has been localized by the immunogold technique in a type of endocrine cell of the dog duodenum characterized by small (166 +/- 38 nm) secretory granules with fairly dense, homogeneous core separated from its enveloping membrane by a thin clear space. The CCK cell is immunocytochemically distinct and cytologically different from other types of endocrine cells, as the secretin, GIP and motilin cells, already identified in the dog duodenum

Endocrine cells of the digestive system.

none6SOLCIA E.; CAPELLA C.; BUFFA R.; USELLINI L.; FIOCCA R.; SESSA F.Solcia, E.; Capella, C.; Buffa, R.; Usellini, L.; Fiocca, Roberto; Sessa, F