Publications by authors named "Basil Issa"

Background: The Manchester Intermittent versus Daily Diet App Study (MIDDAS) tested the feasibility and potential efficacy of two remotely delivered low-energy diet (LED) programmes (800 kcal/day) to support weight loss and remission of type 2 diabetes: continuous [CLED] (8 weeks of daily LED) and intermittent [ILED] (2 days of LED/week for 28 weeks). Understanding participant experiences can help us to understand the acceptability of LED programmes to people with type 2 diabetes, informing future programme development and implementation.

Methods: Twenty participants (10 CLED; 10 ILED) took part in interviews conducted at the end of the active weight loss phase (CLED week 12, ILED week 28).

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Introduction: The prevalence of gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) is rising in the UK and is associated with maternal and neonatal complications. National Institute for Health and Care Excellence guidance advises first-line management with healthy eating and physical activity which is only moderately effective for achieving glycaemic targets. Approximately 30% of women require medication with metformin and/or insulin.

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Background: People from South Asian heritage are at high risk of type 2 diabetes, but there are limited specific strategies to prevent and manage this condition. The aim was to assess the effectiveness of culturally bespoke lifestyle programmes in South Asians that target weight loss for the prevention or remission of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM).

Methods: We performed a systematic review and meta-analysis of intervention trials.

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Background: With type 2 diabetes prevalence rising, low energy diets (total diet replacement and food-based low energy diets) are increasingly used to induce weight loss and achieve diabetes remission. The effectiveness of these diets has been primarily tested in the UK white population but not in the south Asian population at high risk of diabetes. Obtaining the opinion of members of the community on what would constitute a culturally acceptable diet is essential for successful interventions aiming to achieve diabetes remission in south Asians.

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Introduction: Rising levels of overweight and obesity among people with type 1 diabetes (T1D) contribute to insulin resistance, dyslipidaemia, retinopathy, cardiometabolic complications and psychological morbidity. Continuous low-energy diets (CLED) providing approximately 800 kcal (3347 kJ)/day can produce significant weight loss in type 2 diabetes, and intermittent low-energy diets (ILED) may be an alternative. The Manchester Intermittent and Daily diet Type 1 Diabetes App Study (MIDDAS-Type 1) aims to assess the safety, acceptability and feasibility of remotely delivered ILED and CLED programmes for people with T1D and overweight and obesity.

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Context: Guidelines recommend the assessment of cortisol secretion in patients with adrenal incidentalomas (AI) using the overnight dexamethasone suppression test (ONDST). This requires attendance at a health care facility and venepuncture. Alternatively, the ONDST can be done by measuring salivary cortisol and cortisone, which can be collected at home.

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Context: Adrenal incidentalomas (AIs) are increasingly being identified during unrelated imaging. Unlike AI clinical management, data on referral patterns in routine practice are lacking.

Objective: This work aimed to identify factors associated with AI referral.

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Aims: To test the feasibility and potential efficacy of remotely supported intermittent low-energy diets (ILEDs) and continuous low-energy diets (CLEDs) in people with type 2 diabetes (T2D) and the feasibility of a randomized controlled trial comparing the two approaches.

Materials And Methods: Seventy-nine adults with overweight/obesity and T2D (≤8 years duration) were randomized 1:1 to CLED (8 weeks/56 days of daily Optifast 820 kcal (3430 kJ) diet) or isoenergetic ILED (2 days of Optifast and 5 days of a Mediterranean diet/week for 28 weeks). Weight maintenance/continued weight loss was undertaken for the remainder of the 52 weeks.

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Background: Intensive face-to-face weight loss programs using continuous low-energy diets (CLEDs) providing approximately 800 kcal per day (3347 kJ per day) can produce significant weight loss and remission from type 2 diabetes (T2D). Intermittent low-energy diets (ILEDs) and remotely delivered programs could be viable alternatives that may support patient choice and adherence.

Objective: This paper describes the protocol of a pilot randomized controlled trial to test the feasibility and potential efficacy of remotely supported isocaloric ILED and CLED programs among patients with overweight and obesity and T2D.

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Introduction: Adrenal incidentalomas are lesions that are incidentally identified while scanning for other conditions. While most are benign and hormonally non-functional, around 20% are malignant and/or hormonally active, requiring prompt intervention. Malignant lesions can be aggressive and life-threatening, while hormonally active tumours cause various endocrine disorders, with significant morbidity and mortality.

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A 51-year old woman was admitted with multiple cerebral, pulmonary and intra-abdominal abscesses. The combination of apparent immunosuppression, obesity, diabetes mellitus, hypertension, hypokalaemia, osteoporotic fractures and bilateral shoulder avascular necrosis led to a clinical diagnosis of Cushing's syndrome (CS). This was biochemically confirmed as follows: midnight serum cortisol 4275 nmol/L (60-250), non-suppressed overnight dexamethasone suppression test, raised salivary cortisol 716 nmol/L (5-46) and ACTH 639 ng/L (0-46).

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Background: The aim of this study was to explore the influence of extended-release niacin/laropiprant (ERN/LRP) versus placebo on high-density lipoprotein (HDL) antioxidant function, cholesterol efflux, apolipoprotein B100 (apoB)-containing lipoproteins, and mediators of vascular inflammation associated with 15% increase in high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C). Study patients had persistent dyslipidemia despite receiving high-dose statin treatment.

Methods And Results: In a randomized double-blind, placebo-controlled, crossover trial, we compared the effect of ERN/LRP with placebo in 27 statin-treated dyslipidemic patients who had not achieved National Cholesterol Education Program-ATP III targets for low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C).

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Introduction: Niacin is one of the oldest drugs used in the treatment of dyslipidemia. Previously its use has been limited because of excessive flushing. Now an agent laropiprant (LRP) has been developed, which blocks the flushing pathway.

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