Evaluation of a community diabetes initiative: Integrating diabetes care.

Aims: To evaluate the impact of a community diabetes initiative, aiming to improve the efficiency of type 2 diabetes (T2DM) care within the Cardiff and Vale Health Board.

Methods: In 2012, a community diabetes initiative was introduced in Cardiff and Vale. Ten National Health Service (NHS) consultant diabetologists and three nurse specialists supported 69 general practices in this region.

Review article: Left ventricular dysfunction and heart failure in metabolic syndrome and diabetes without overt coronary artery disease--do we need to screen our patients?

The metabolic syndrome and its components, glucose intolerance, T2DM, hypertension, dyslipidaemia and obesity are increasingly common. Patients with the metabolic syndrome have a higher prevalence of chronic heart failure (CHF) and, once diagnosed, CHF in such subjects is associated with a higher mortality than in those without this co-morbidity. However, early diagnosis of LV systolic dysfunction and symptomatic heart failure may prevent deterioration of heart failure and improve prognosis.

The PPAR-gamma activator, Rosiglitazone, inhibits actin polymerisation in monocytes: involvement of Akt and intracellular calcium.

Monocyte hyperactivation as seen in diabetes results in increased cytoskeletal rigidity and reduced cell deformability leading to microchannel occlusions and microvascular complications. The thiazolidinediones (TZDs) are PPAR-gamma agonists that have been reported to exert beneficial non-metabolic effects on the vasculature. This study demonstrates that the TZD, Rosiglitazone, significantly reduces f-MLP-induced actin polymerisation in human monocytic cells (p < 0.

Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-gamma agonists in atherosclerosis: current evidence and future directions.

Purpose Of Review: The prevalence of type 2 diabetes globally is reaching epidemic proportions. Type 2 diabetes is strongly associated with increased risk of cardiovascular disease. Atherosclerosis is thought to arise as a result of a chronic inflammatory process within the arterial wall.