Effectiveness and Tolerability of Vildagliptin and the Single Pill Combination of Vildagliptin and Metformin in "Real-World" Management of Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus: The G-FORCE Study.

Introduction: Randomized clinical trials showed that vildagliptin is well tolerated and leads to clinically meaningful decreases in glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) and fasting plasma glucose (FPG) both in monotherapy and as add-on therapy in inadequately controlled type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) patients. Nevertheless, there is an increased interest for real-life studies to confirm the clinical trial findings in the setting of a daily clinical practice. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness and tolerability of vildagliptin in a real-life clinical setting and to explore factors determining drug adherence and T2DM management.

Patient engagement impacts glycemic management with vildagliptin and vildagliptin/metformin (single pill) regimens in type 2 diabetes mellitus (the GLORIOUS study).

Aims: To evaluate the real-world effectiveness of vildagliptin and vildagliptin/metformin, combined with patient engagement, on glycemic outcomes. Patient engagement included both clinicians' engaging patients through education and counseling; and patients' self-engagement through disease awareness, lifestyle changes, and medication adherence.

Methods: Prospective, observational, open-label, multi-center, pharmacoepidemiologic study of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) patients treated de novo with vildagliptin or vildagliptin/metformin.

Remission over 3 years in patients with Paget disease of bone treated with a single intravenous infusion of 5 mg zoledronic acid.

Using data from the Belgian Paget's Disease Registry of 142 patients treated with a 5 mg intravenous infusion of zoledronic acid, we examined disease remission over 3 years in 98 patients with Paget disease of bone (PDB) seen in routine practice. Median age was 76 years, most patients (60.2 %) were male, and all were Caucasian.

Clinical, Quality of Life, Patient Adherence, and Safety Outcomes of Short-Course (12 Weeks) Treatment with Cyclosporine in Patients with Severe Psoriasis (the Practice Study).

Background: Apart from clinical outcomes, the "real-world" outcomes of intermittent short-course cyclosporine treatment remain poorly documented.

Objective: To evaluate various outcomes of short-course cyclosporine treatment for severe psoriasis; and to describe dermatologists' use of the Rule of Tens.

Methods: A 12-week pharmacoepidemiological study; 112 evaluable patients recruited by 43 dermatologists.

Plasminogen activators are involved in the degradation of bone by osteoclasts.

Osteoclastic bone degradation depends on the activity of several proteolytic enzymes, in particular to those belonging to the classes of cysteine proteinases and matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs). Yet, several findings suggest that the two types of plasminogen activators (PA), the tissue- and urokinase-type PA (tPA and uPA, respectively) are also involved in this process. To investigate the involvement of these enzymes in osteoclast-mediated bone matrix digestion, we analyzed bone explants of mice that were deficient for both tPA and uPA and compared them to wild type mice.

Placental growth factor mediates mesenchymal cell development, cartilage turnover, and bone remodeling during fracture repair.

Current therapies for delayed- or nonunion bone fractures are still largely ineffective. Previous studies indicated that the VEGF homolog placental growth factor (PlGF) has a more significant role in disease than in health. Therefore we investigated the role of PlGF in a model of semi-stabilized bone fracture healing.

Disorders of calcium homeostasis.

To ensure a multitude of essential cellular functions, the extracellular concentration of calcium is maintained within a narrow physiological range. This depends on integrated regulation of calcium fluxes with respect to the intestine, kidneys and bone. The precise regulation of serum calcium is controlled by calcium itself, through a calcium receptor and several hormones, the most important of which are parathyroid hormone and 1,25(OH)(2) vitamin D.

Revascularization of ischemic tissues by PlGF treatment, and inhibition of tumor angiogenesis, arthritis and atherosclerosis by anti-Flt1.

The therapeutic potential of placental growth factor (PlGF) and its receptor Flt1 in angiogenesis is poorly understood. Here, we report that PlGF stimulated angiogenesis and collateral growth in ischemic heart and limb with at least a comparable efficiency to vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF). An antibody against Flt1 suppressed neovascularization in tumors and ischemic retina, and angiogenesis and inflammatory joint destruction in autoimmune arthritis.