Diabetes-Related Autoantibodies in Children With Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia

[No abstract available

Physical activity/exercise training in type 2 diabetes. The role of the Italian Diabetes and Exercise Study

Cardiorespiratory fitness is inversely related to the development of type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. Trials in individuals with impaired glucose tolerance have highlighted the role of physical activity/exercise in the prevention of type 2 diabetes. Moreover, physical activity and exercise training have been recognized as treatment options for patients with type 2 diabetes. Both aerobic and resistance training were shown to produce beneficial effects by reducing HbA1c, inducing weight loss and improving fat distribution, lipid profile and blood pressure in patients with type 2 diabetes. Mixed aerobic and resistance training was recently shown to be more effective than either one alone in ameliorating HbA1c. However, further research is needed to establish the volume, intensity and type of exercise that are required to reduce cardiovascular burden and particularly to define the best strategy for promoting long-term compliance and durable lifestyle changes in individuals with type 2 diabetes. The Italian Diabetes Exercise Study (IDES) is a prospective Italian multicentre randomized controlled trial, of larger size and longer duration than previously published trials. It has been designed to assess the combined effect of structured counselling and supervisedmixed (aerobic plus resistance) exercise training, as compared with counselling alone, on HbA1c and other cardiovascular risk factors as well as fitness parameters in individuals with type 2 diabetes and the metabolic syndrome. This study was also aimed at testing a sustainable strategy for promoting and maintaining a sufficient level of physical activity among individuals with type 2 diabetes to be implemented at the population level. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd

Exaggerated glucagon secretion in diabetic and non-diabetic subjects with surgical porto-caval anastomosis

Pancreatic glucagon (IRG) levels in the postabsorptive (fasting) state and in response to arginine test (ATT), have been investigated in 17 subjects with porto-caval anastomosis (PCA). Out of these, seven subjects were insulin-treated diabetics, 5 were untreated diabetics, and 5 had no evidence of clinical diabetes. Basal and stimulated IRG values in the overall group of PCA subjects were significantly increased in comparison to 14 normal controls. No significant difference was found between the three groups of patients in respect to IRG values. The mean fasting IRG levels, grouped in relation to the age of shunt, were significantly raised six months after surgery. In addition no significant difference in IRG values (fasting or stimulated) was observed in relation to the entity of the liver disease (child degree) or to the type of surgical shunt. Finally, when PCA patients with or without encephalopathy were considered, fasting and peak IRG values were significantly increased in those patients with encephalopathy