Aims/hypothesis. The aim of the work was to evaluate the vestibular organ condition in children and young adults suffering from Type I (insulin-dependent) diabetes mellitus. Methods. The group examined consisted of 95 children and young adults aged from 6 to 28 years with Type I diabetes diagnosed. The diabetic group was divided into subgroups according to duration of the disease, compensation of the disease, and presence and character of hypoglycaemic incidents, and presence of diabetic complications. The control group consisted of 44 healthy children and young adults aged 6 to 28 years. After collecting detailed medical history in each case an electronystagmographic test was performed using the computed two-canal electronystagmographer. Results. Within the diabetic group 6 patients complained about vertigo and balance disorders. Spontaneous nystagmus occurred in 10 cases, positional one in 21 cases. Impaired optokinesis occurred in 36 cases and impaired eye tracking test in 33 cases. In caloric tests there was partial canal paresis in 4 cases and directional preponderance in 7 cases. Conclusion/interpretation. Metabolic disturbances present in Type I diabetes cause disturbances in different parts of vestibular organ but mostly in its central part. Comparing disturbances in the vestibular organ with clinical and biochemical parameters characterising diabetes, the range of vestibular organ impairment in diabetes mellitus type 1 seems to depend mainly on the presence and character of hypoglycaemic incidents and the duration of the disease and to some extent on the compensation of diabetes. [Diabetologia (2002) 45:728-734]

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Vitamin D (VD) and its different analogues, besides their classic role as regulators of calcium and phosphor homeostasis, have emerged as a large family of antiproliferative agents. Such properties suggested VD potential as a therapy for chronic inflammatory diseases, including nasal polyposis (NP). NP growth involves both an inflammatory process and the proliferation of fibroblast as an important factor inducing aberrations in the phenotype of the epithelium. The aim of this study was to investigate the possible influence of 1alpha,25-dihydroxyvitamin D(3) (calcitriol) and 1alpha,24(R)-dihydroxyvitamin D(3) (tacalcitol) in monotherapy and in combination with budesonid R (BR) on NP fibroblast proliferation. The study involved 26 samples of NP. NP cells were cultured on 96-well plates beginning with a concentration of 5 x 10(3) cells per well with RPMI 1640 medium supplemented with antibiotics and 10% foetal bovine serum. After the fourth to sixth passage the medium was replaced with a nutrient medium with calcitriol or tacalcitol in a defined concentration (from 10(-9) M to 10(-3) M) alone or in combination with BR in 1:1, 1:3 or 3:1 ratios, each at concentrations from 10(-5) M to 10(-3) M. Growth inhibition of nasal fibroblasts exposed to calcitriol or tacalcitol was noted. Significant antiproliferating activity was observed at calcitriol concentrations of 10(-4) M and 10(-3) M after 48 h, and at a concentration of 10(-3) M after 72 h with the percentage of proliferating cells reduced to 30% compared to the control samples (P < 0.05). In cells treated with tacalcitol the maximal effect was seen at 10(-4) M after 48 h and at 10(-3)M after 72 h with a 60% inhibition with respect to the control (P < 0.05). The inhibition of fibroblast proliferation reached the maximal level when they were exposed to calcitriol: BR (1 : 1) or tacalcitol: BR (1 : 1), each at a concentration of 10(-4) M, after 72 h (82% and 69%, respectively). The antiproliferative activity of calcitriol and tacalcitol in NP cultures was confirmed. Because of its lower toxicity and higher activity tacalcitol seems to be the more promising agent in NP therapy, both as a single medication and in treatment protocols with BR.