The Finland-United States investigation of non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus genetics (FUSION) study. II. An autosomal genome scan for diabetes-related quantitative-trait loci.

Type 2 diabetes mellitus is a complex disorder encompassing multiple metabolic defects. We report results from an autosomal genome scan for type 2 diabetes-related quantitative traits in 580 Finnish families ascertained for an affected sibling pair and analyzed by the variance components-based quantitative-trait locus (QTL) linkage approach. We analyzed diabetic and nondiabetic subjects separately, because of the possible impact of disease on the traits of interest. In diabetic individuals, our strongest results were observed on chromosomes 3 (fasting C-peptide/glucose: maximum LOD score [MLS] = 3.13 at 53.0 cM) and 13 (body-mass index: MLS = 3.28 at 5.0 cM). In nondiabetic individuals, the strongest results were observed on chromosomes 10 (acute insulin response: MLS = 3.11 at 21.0 cM), 13 (2-h insulin: MLS = 2.86 at 65.5 cM), and 17 (fasting insulin/glucose ratio: MLS = 3.20 at 9.0 cM). In several cases, there was evidence for overlapping signals between diabetic and nondiabetic individuals; therefore we performed joint analyses. In these joint analyses, we observed strong signals for chromosomes 3 (body-mass index: MLS = 3.43 at 59.5 cM), 17 (empirical insulin-resistance index: MLS = 3.61 at 0.0 cM), and 19 (empirical insulin-resistance index: MLS = 2.80 at 74.5 cM). Integrating genome-scan results from the companion article by Ghosh et al., we identify several regions that may harbor susceptibility genes for type 2 diabetes in the Finnish population.

Models of madness: Science and soul.

The historical interplay between psychiatry and religion is placed in a contemporary context here. In their zeal to embrace new discoveries and technologies in neurophysiology, modern psychiatrists are losing sight of spiritual and cultural dimensions. From a biological perspective, there is confusion about what constitutes a cause, a concomitant, or a consequence of mental illness. Computer metaphors are being used to explain mental illness. This article examines such trends and questions whether, in the decade of the brain, psychiatry is in danger of losing its soul.

[Theophylline plus salbutamol in chronic bronchial obstruction. The additive effects of combination therapy in comparison with salbutamol monotherapy]. / Theophyllin plus Salbutamol bei chronischer Bronchialobstruktion. Additive Effekte der Kombinationstherapie im Vergleich zur Salbutamol-Monotherapie.

In a placebo controlled double-blind study of 40 chronic obstructive patients, the effects of combination treatment with slow-release theophylline and salbutamol (aerosol) was compared with salbutamol monotherapy. The randomized patient groups each containing 20 patients received-for a period of 8 days in each case-2 x 350 mg slow-release theophylline and an individual number of measured doses (puffs) salbutamol aerosol per day or only the beta-sympathicomimetic aerosol and placebo capsules. Lung function measurements and a subjective assessment of the clinical status of the patients were obtained at the beginning and the end of the study. As the most important parameter of the antiobstructive effect of therapy the airway resistance (Rt) was employed. On completion of treatment Rt in the group receiving combination therapy was decreased on average from 0.52 kPa/l/s to 0.28 kPa/l/s, significantly more than in the placebo group (0.55 kPa/l/s to 0.46 kPa/l/s). In addition, more marked subjective improvement in the clinical status was observed in the patients on salbutamol and theophylline as compared with the patients on salbutamol aerosol only.

Cardiopulmonary adjustment and metabolic response to maximal and submaximal physical exercise of boys and girls at different stages of maturity.

Cardiopulmonary and metabolic variables were investigated at maximal and submaximal bicycle ergometer exercises in 41 swimmers of both sexes, 8--18 years old. VO2 max and VO2 max . HR-1 were higher in boys than in girls and increased with maturity, while VO2 max. kg-1 and HVE were not influenced by this. The HV increased clearly during this growth period, the pubertal and postpubertal subjects showing 16 and 17% higher values for HV and HV . kg-1 than those reported in normal schoolchildren populations. During the submaximal exercise at 70% VO2 max the highest HR values were found in the prepubertal group, whilst the lowest were observed in the postpubertal subjects. These findings suggest that a given percentage of VO2 max as a reference unit, is more reliable than a certain HR to obtain comparable results in subjects with different ages. Blood samples were collected before, during, and after the submaximal exercise. Blood glucose and FFA did not differ in relation to the stages of maturity. During exercise, insulin decreased in prepubertal children, did not alter in pubertal adolescents, and increased in postpubertal subjects. The lactate concentration, during exercise, increased in relation to maturity. The same results were found for HGH, but no differences were found with regard to sex. Since the pattern of HGH secretion during exercise is similar to that found after arginine and insulin administration it is assumed that the same mechanism (i.e., sex hormones) triggers the HGH release.