Genetics of diabetes complications

Chronic hyperglycemia and duration of diabetes are the major risk factors associated with development of micro- and macrovascular complications of diabetes. Although it is believed that hyperglycemia induces damage to the particular cell subtypes, e.g., mesangial cells in the renal glomerulus, capillary endothelial cells in the retina, and neurons and Schwann cells in peripheral nerves, the exact mechanisms underlying these damaging defects are not yet well understood. Clustering of micro- and macrovascular complications in families of patients with diabetes suggests a strong genetic susceptibility. However, until now only a handful number of genetic variants were reported to be associated with either nephropathy (ACE, ELMO1, FRMD3, and AKR1B1) or retinopathy (VEGF, AKR1B1, and EPO), and only a few studies were carried out for genetic susceptibility to cardiovascular diseases (ADIPOQ, GLUL) in patients with diabetes. It is, therefore, obvious that the accumulation of more data from larger studies and better phenotypically characterized cohorts is needed to facilitate genetic discoveries and unravel novel insights into the pathogenesis of diabetic complications.     

Nasal surgery complications

This study examines the incidence of serious complications in nasal surgery and discusses the diagnosis and management of these complications. The authors review 259 consecutive cases performed between January 1, 1983, and August 31, 1988. One-hundred and ninety-five patients had septorhinoplasties, 29 had septoplasties, and 35 had rhinoplasties. Thirteen of these cases involved serious complications as follows: hemorrhage (5), perforation (4), infections (3), and pneumocephalus (1). All the patients with these serious complications had associated septal and/or turbinate surgery. The diagnosis and management of these complications will be discussed. In this small series of nasal surgery patients, the incidence of serious complications was 5.0 percent, with no fatalities reported. The higher incidence of serious complications occurred when associated septal and/or turbinate surgery was required. Awareness of these complications is essential because of the increasing number of patients presenting to plastic surgeons for nasal surgery in whom associated septal and/or turbinate surgery is necessary.     

Neurosurgical complications of anticoagulant therapy

Ten cases of subdural hematoma and one case of spinal epidural hematoma encountered in patients who were receiving anticoagulant therapy are discussed.This surprisingly large number of complications was observed within three years in a single hospital and represents 36.6% of all chronic and subacute subdural hematomas seen during the same period. The cases are analyzed and the conclusion reached that the causal relationship between anticoagulant therapy and hemorrhage cannot be denied.Suggestions are made as to how to decrease the danger of such complications.