Herschel Sandberg

Effects of coffee ingestion on oral glucose tolerance curves in normal human subjects

Abstract Oral glucose tolerance tests were performed on 23 normal subjects and then repeated one week later. On one occasion, the test meal consisted of glucose dissolved in water and flavored with lemon juice; on the other occasion, 5 Gm. of instant coffee were also added to the meal. The order of administration of the respective meals was randomized. Serial blood samples were obtained and analyzed for blood glucose concentration, serum free fatty acid levels and the serum immunoreactive insulin values. Paired comparisons of the data were made and the following results were obtained: (1) The subjects ingesting coffee plus glucose had significantly lower blood glucose levels 30 and 60 minutes postprandium than those consuming the glucose solution without coffee. (2) Three hours after ingestion of the test meal, the free fatty acid levels of the subjects receiving coffee with glucose were significantly higher than those receiving glucose without coffee. (3) No statistically significant differences between the two groups were found at any time period for the serum immunoreactive insulin levels. It is possible that coffee ingestion reduced the peak postprandial blood glucose levels by mobilizing a hormone from the gastrointestinal tract such as secretin, pancreozymin, or the newly discovered substance with glucagon-like immunoreactivity described by Unger et al37.

Effects of an oral glucose load on serum immunoreactive insulin, free fatty acid, growth hormone and blood sugar levels in young and elderly subjects.

In 29 healthy young adults and 22 ambulatory elderly subjects, a study was made of the effects of an oral glucose load on the levels of serum immunoreactive insulin (IRI), free fatty acids (FFA), growth hormone (HGH) and blood glucose. In the elderly, the pre‐load blood glucose and serum IRI levels were higher than in the younger group, reached the peak more gradually, and took longer to return to the baseline values. There was no significant difference in the serum FFA levels between the two groups until 3 hours after the glucose load, at which time the FFA values had returned to the fasting level in the young subjects but remained depressed in the elderly subjects. Serum HGH fasting levels in the elderly males were significantly higher than in the younger males and remained so at 1–2 hours after the glucose load. For the females, the numbers were too small and the intragroup variability too great to permit drawing conclusions. The total findings lend support to Dilmans hypothesis of a genetically programmed elevation of the hypothalamic threshold to feedback suppression, with age.

Effects of alcohol ingestion on growth hormone levels: Their relation to 11-hydroxycorticoid levels and serum FFA*

The effects of alcohol, 1.5 ml/kg, administered orally in a 20% solution, on the concentration of human growth hormone (HGH), free fatty acids (FFA), 11-hydroxycorticoids, glucose, and immunoreactive insulin (IRI) were studied in 11 healthy males. The results were compared with a control study in each subject in which water alone was ingested. The alcohol-consuming phase showed a significant rise in serum HGH levels, plasma 11-hydroxycorticoid concentration and a sharp drop in serum FFA levels with no change in blood glucose or serum IRI. This lowering of FFA was felt to be due to decreased influx of these acids from the fat depots. The appearance of a drop in serum FFA, along with a rise in HGH levels, suggests the possibility that these findings may be causally related.

Studies of inhibition of the plasmin-plasminogen fibrinolytic enzyme system in patients with myocardial infarction∗

Abstract The plasma of twenty-one patients with acute myocardial infarction who had not received heparin and the plasma of thirty-seven patients with acute myocardial infarction who had received heparin were tested for antiplasmin activity. The plasma of twenty-nine control subjects was similarly tested. Plasma fibrinogen levels were determined in these groups. Antiplasmin activity was increased significantly over the control group in both groups of patients with myocardialin farction. Plasma fibrinogen levels paralleled the increased antiplasmin activity. A brief review of the literature on fibrinolysin inhibitors and their possible relation to the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis is discussed. The increased antiplasmin activity in patients with myocardial infarction appears to confirm the importance of impaired fibrinolytic processes in atherosclerosis.

Experiences with inhibitors to the plasmin-plasminogen system in the human subject: Their modifications by thrombolysin therapy☆

Abstract A semi-quantitative method was devised to determine thrombolysin inhibitor activity in human plasma. This was determined in normal control subjects, in patients with acute myocardial infarction and in patients with various thromboembolic disease states, as well as before and after the administration of thrombolysin. Increased inhibition to the plasmin-plasminogen system was found in the plasma of patients with acute myocardial infarction and thrombo-embolic disease. The plasma fibrinogen concentration was elevated in all instances in which increased inhibitors were found in the plasma. Both plasma inhibitors and plasma fibrinogen concentrations were lowered following the administration of thrombolysin. The inhibitors were believed to be identical with the trypsin inhibitors reported by Shulman and possibly with the slow inhibitor reported by Norman and Hill.

The fibrinolytic system and use of fibrinolysin in myocardial infarction; preliminary report.

Abstract Twenty-eight normal subjects and thirty patients with acute myocardial infarction were studied for spontaneous fibrinolytic activity and antiplasmin activity. No spontaneous fibrinolytic activity was observed in any of these persons. A significantly higher antiplasmin level was noted in the patients with myocardial infarction. Ten subjects with acute myocardial infarction were treated with plasmin infusion. Relief of pain in the chest was noted in eight. Improvement in the T wave and S-T segments observed in five patients immediately following the infusion might be attributed to the infusion. The most common undesirable reaction was pyrexia, which occurred in five patients. Chills, flushes and headache were relatively common. Occasionally, nausea and mild hypotension were also observed. Though the hypotensive and other undesirable side effects deter routine use of this drug in the management of myocardial infarction, the results obtained are encouraging and warrant further observations in a larger series.

Disappearance curves of intravenously administered I131-triolein in the human subject

Abstract 1. 1. Synthetic emulsions containing I 131 -triolein were administered intravenously to nine control subjects with no evidence of lipid disease, five patients with myocardial infarction, three with hypothyroidism and one with primary amyloidosis of the heart. 2. 2. No severe toxic reactions were noted. 3. 3. Disappearance curves of radioactivity from the whole blood, the circulating lipoprotein and the ratio of the circulating lipoprotein to whole blood were obtained. These showed a rapid disappearance phase, followed by a slower disappearance phase and evidence of recycling. 4. 4. There was no difference between the control group and the patients with myocardial infarction. 5. 5. The patients with hypothyroidism and the patient with primary amyloidosis showed delayed excretion of the radioactivity from the blood and circulating lipoprotein fraction.

Oral I131 triolein tolerance curves in elderly subjects with coronary artery disease

Abstract 1. 1. Oral I 131 triolein tolerance curves were performed on ten subjects with coronary artery disease, sixty years of age or older, and on sixteen subjects who were less than sixty years old. 2. 2. Elevated levels of radioactivity were found in the whole blood and circulating lipoprotein fraction of the younger group. 3. 3. Values similar to those in normal control subjects were found in the older subjects. 4. 4. The results were attributed to a difference in lipid absorption between the older and younger groups.

Studies of the plasmin-plasminogen system in thromboembolic diseases: Its modifications by thrombolysin therapy∗☆

Abstract Blood samples from twenty-two patients with thromboembolic disease were studied using the following tests: plasma fibrinogen, clot lysis by undiluted and diluted plasma, euglobulin lysis time and antiplasmin activity. Plasmin was administered later to fourteen of these patients. The plasma fibrinogen and antiplasmin activity were approximately 70 per cent higher in patients with thromboembolic disease than the levels of activity in normal control subjects. Following the administration of plasmin, antiplasmin activity and clot lysis time in diluted plasma declined sharply, but the plasma fibrinogen was only slightly diminished. Plasmin therapy was most effective in acute thrombophlebitic states of recent origin. Elevation of temperature and hot flushes were the most frequently encountered adverse reactions.

Effects of various routes of caffeine administration on oral and intravenous glucose tolerance tests in dogs

Abstract Oral glucose tolerance tests were performed four times on 15 dogs with an interval of at least three days between each test: glucose solution alone formed the test meal; caffeine sodium benzoate was mixed with the glucose solution and fed to the animal; glucose solution was administered orally and caffeine was given intravenously; the glucose solution was given orally and the caffeine was administered intramuscularly. The order of administration of the respective tests was randomized. Blood samples were taken at serial intervals and analyzed for blood glucose and serum immunoreactive insulin levels. Intravenous glucose tolerance tests were also run four times on 11 dogs where the regimen consisted of glucose solution alone, glucose intravenously and caffeine intravenously, glucose I.V. and caffeine orally, and glucose I.V. and caffeine I.M. Serial blood samples were drawn and likewise analyzed for glucose and immunoreactive insulin values. The oral glucose tolerance tests were markedly altered by administration of caffeine. Thirty, 60 and 90 minutes after the ingestion of caffeine blood glucose was significantly lower than the untreated group (p=