Bm Fisher

The Effects of Diabetes and Autonomic Neuropathy on Parotid Salivary Flow in Man

Stimulated parotid salivary flow studies were performed on 20 non‐diabetic subjects and on 30 patients with insulin‐dependent diabetes mellitus who had been screened for autonomic neuropathy using tests of cardiovascular reflexes. Electrical gustometry was performed to detect the taste threshold.

Plasma hepatic glutathione S-transferase concentrations after insulin-induced hypoglycaemia in normal subjects and diabetic patients

Plasma glutathione S‐transferase basic isoenzyme (GST B1) concentrations have been measured by specific radioimmunoassay in Type 1 diabetic patients and in normal subjects, before and after controlled insulin‐induced hypoglycaemia, and in a further group of Type 1 diabetic patients in hypoglycaemic coma. The activities of alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate amino‐transferase (AST), and gamma‐glutamyl transferase (γGT) were also measured. GST B1 concentrations were significantly increased 3 h after controlled insulin‐induced hypoglycaemia, both in the diabetic patients (p < 0.02) and in the normal group (p < 0.05), but the magnitude of the rise did not differ between these two groups. Four of the 9 patients presenting in hypoglycaemic coma had a GST B1 concentration above the reference range. ALT, AST, and γGT activities did not rise following hypoglycaemia in any of the groups.