Published in Klinische Wochenschrift
Glutathione plays an important role in biology and medicine. Most cells of plants and animals contain high concentrations of reduced glutathione and a much smaller amount of oxidised glutathione. GSH is important for several metabolic functions of live cells, e.g. the protection of oxidative stress by peroxides, mediation of enzyme reactions, regul...
Published in Klinische Wochenschrift
The peptide vasoconstrictor angiotensin II (Ang II), originally described as deriving exclusively from the plasma renin angiotensin system, has now been demonstrated to be produced independently of such sources. Local tissue angiotensin-generating systems are well documented. There is increasing evidence that these locally produced vasoconstrictor ...
Published in Klinische Wochenschrift
Epidemiological data reviewed suggest that diabetes itself increases the cardiac risk of diabetics (types I and II), independently from the development of coronary heart disease and in addition to other risk factors (hypertension, hypercholesterolemia, hypertriglyceridemia, smoking and others), presumably by a specific myocardial disease called "di...
Published in Klinische Wochenschrift
Metabolism of proteins which compose capillary basement membrane is altered in diabetic patients. In the kidney, this leads to an impaired permselectivity of glomerular basement membrane and consequently to onset of proteinuria. Proteinuria which is often increased by hemodynamic factors, initiates and promotes the development of diabetic glomerusc...
Published in Klinische Wochenschrift
Diastolic dysfunction is often present in patients with arterial hypertension. It is not only the consequence of an increased left ventricular muscle mass but also due to a progressive fibrosis of the cardiac interstitium. Experimental studies have shown a close relationship between the degree of interstitial cardiac fibrosis and the activity of th...
Published in Klinische Wochenschrift
Surprisingly enough, insulin has recently been suspected of promoting cardiovascular complications, provided it becomes effective in excess concentrations at the vascular walls. This applies to both endogenous hyperinsulinemia and insulin substitution performed exogenously with high insulin doses. Several large population studies in non-diabetics -...
Published in Klinische Wochenschrift
Published in Klinische Wochenschrift
By the term "insulin resistance" we understand the attenuation of insulin-stimulated glucose uptake, which is mainly due to attenuated glycogen synthesis in skeletal muscle and is partially compensated with regard to plasma glucose homeostasis by hyperinsulinemia. Other mechanisms of insulin are either not attenuated or are less so and may contribu...
Published in Klinische Wochenschrift
Protein meals and infusion of amino acids cause an increase of glomerular filtration rate in humans and animals with normal renal function despite the circulating renin concentration remaining unchanged. The renal hemodynamic response is not altered by angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors, but it is obliterated by cyclooxygenase inhibitors. By ...
Published in Klinische Wochenschrift
The importance of the renin-angiotensin system in the eye has not been clearly established, nor is it known whether it is of importance in the evolution of diabetic retinopathy. Circulating renin is produced in the kidney and other tissues; its main importance is in the control of blood pressure. Elevated levels have been found in diabetic patients...
