Dependent censoring bias assessment using inverse probability of censoring weights: Type 2 diabetes mellitus risk in patients initiating bisoprolol versus other antihypertensives in a Clinical Practice Research Datalink cohort study.

Dependent censoring involves a preferential attrition of a subgroup of interest; occurring in survival analysis, it may impact interpretation by introducing a selection bias. To assess the potential bias in a comparison of bisoprolol to other antihypertensives in terms of Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) incidence, inverse probability of censoring weights (IPCW) was used. It was further used to contextualize results obtained through competing risks analysis.

Real-World Effectiveness of Beta-Blockers versus Other Antihypertensives in Reducing All-Cause Mortality and Cardiovascular Events.

Aim: The aim of the study was to compare the effectiveness of beta-blockers with other antihypertensive classes in reducing all-cause mortality, cardiovascular-related mortality and the risk of cerebrocardiovascular events.

Methods: This noninterventional study was conducted within the UK Clinical Practice Research Datalink. Hypertensive patients who initiated antihypertensive monotherapy were allocated to one of five cohorts: beta-blockers; angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors (ACEi); angiotensin II receptor blockers (ARB); calcium channel blockers (CCB); and diuretics.

Effectiveness of bisoprolol versus other β-blockers and other antihypertensive classes: a cohort study in the Clinical Practice Research Datalink.

To compare blood pressure (BP) and safety outcomes in patients with hypertension initiating bisoprolol, versus other β-blockers, angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors/angiotensin II receptor blockers, calcium channel blockers or diuretics. New user cohort study. Patients initiating bisoprolol were matched with up to four patients, in each comparator cohort using propensity score.

Metformin for diabetes prevention: update of the evidence base.

We have conducted a narrative review based on a structured search strategy, focusing on the effects of metformin on the progression of non-diabetic hyperglycemia to clinical type 2 diabetes mellitus. The principal trials that demonstrated a significantly lower incidence of diabetes in at-risk populations randomized to metformin (mostly with impaired glucose tolerance [IGT]) were published mainly from 1999 to 2012. Metformin reduced the 3-year risk of diabetes by -31% in the randomized phase of the Diabetes Prevention Program (DPP), -58% for intensive lifestyle intervention (ILI).

Observational study of the efficacy of prolonged-release metformin in people with prediabetes.

Prediabetes is characterized by elevation of indices of blood glucose that is insufficient to provoke a diagnosis of type 2 diabetes, but markedly increases the risk of developing type 2 diabetes in the future. Lifestyle interventions are the main therapeutic intervention for the management of prediabetes. Current guidelines also support treatment of prediabetes with metformin for selected subgroups of patients, and metformin has a therapeutic indication for this use in a number of countries.

The cost-effectiveness of metformin in pre-diabetics: a systematic literature review of health economic evaluations.

: Our aim was to systematically identify and appraise cost-effectiveness studies of metformin in prediabetic subjects.: A systematic literature review was conducted and reported according to standard guidlines. The search was conducted in PubMed, Embase, International Society for Pharmacoeconomics and Outcomes Research (ISPOR) presentation database and the Cost-Effectiveness Analysis (CEA) and Center for Reviews and Dissemination (CRD) registries.

Global epidemiology of prediabetes - present and future perspectives.

Prediabetes is defined as an intermediate state of hyperglycaemia with glucose levels above the normal state but below the diagnostic levels of diabetes. It is increasingly recognised as an important metabolic state, as individuals with prediabetes are at high risk of developing overt diabetes and its associated complications. A better understanding of prediabetes could help with earlier identification, thereby allowing earlier intervention, potentially lowering the number of individuals who go on to develop diabetes.

Therapeutic challenges in the application of serum thyroid stimulating hormone testing in the management of patients with hypothyroidism on replacement thyroid hormone therapy: a review.

Normalizing serum thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) levels by lifelong treatment with levothyroxine (LT4) remains the primary goal of therapy for patients with hypothyroidism. The reference ranges for TSH are derived from populations with (supposedly) normal thyroid function. But, TSH results are affected by a number of factors including alterations in TSH levels with age, concurrent illnesses, circadian rhythm, inter- and intra-assay differences, and some commonly used medications that interfere with thyroid function or the TSH test.

Prediabetes management in the Middle East, Africa and Russia: Current status and call for action.

Most data on the burden of diabetes and prediabetes are from countries where local infrastructure can support reliable estimates of the burden of non-communicable diseases. Countries in the Middle East and Africa, together with Russia, have a total population of almost 2 billion, but have been relatively overlooked by authors in this field. We reviewed the prevalence and drivers of prediabetes and diabetes across this large region.

A new formulation of levothyroxine engineered to meet new specification standards.

Small variations in the dose of levothyroxine have been associated with marked variations in thyroid function in people with hypothyroidism. Accordingly, regulators have identified levothyroxine as a "narrow therapeutic index" drug subject to more stringent regulations compared with other drugs, in terms of the accuracy and stability of the amount of active drug in each tablet (typically required to be 95-105% of the labelled amount over its full shelf life), and its bioavailability geometric mean ratios (90% confidence intervals between 90-111.1%, including 100%).

Treatment of Hypertensive Patients with a Fixed-Dose Combination of Bisoprolol and Amlodipine: Results of a Cohort study with More Than 10,000 Patients.

Introduction: Many patients need more than one antihypertensive agent for effective blood pressure (BP) control. Prescription of a fixed-dose combination (FDC) of bisoprolol and amlodipine in one tablet has been shown to significantly improve patient adherence. This non-interventional study investigated the effects on adherence and BP control of switching from a free-dose combination of the two antihypertensive substances to a FDC in a larger patient population.

Therapeutic Use of Metformin in Prediabetes and Diabetes Prevention.

People with elevated, non-diabetic, levels of blood glucose are at risk of progressing to clinical type 2 diabetes and are commonly termed 'prediabetic'. The term prediabetes usually refers to high-normal fasting plasma glucose (impaired fasting glucose) and/or plasma glucose 2 h following a 75 g oral glucose tolerance test (impaired glucose tolerance). Current US guidelines consider high-normal HbA1c to also represent a prediabetic state.

Vitamin B status in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus with and without incipient nephropathy.

Aim: To investigate the vitamin B status, with particular focus on vitamin B6, in adults with and without incipient nephropathy secondary to type 2 diabetes mellitus.

Methods: Plasma and/or urine concentrations of vitamins B₆, B₁, B₁₂, related vitamers and biomarkers (including total homocysteine, methylmalonic acid) were measured in 120 adults with type 2 diabetes (including 46 patients with microalbuminuria) and 52 non-diabetic control subjects.

Results: Plasma concentrations of pyridoxal 5'-phosphate (PLP) were significantly lower in patients with type 2 diabetes than in control subjects (median: 22.

Efficacy of vitamin D3 as add-on therapy in patients with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis receiving subcutaneous interferon β-1a: a Phase II, multicenter, double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial.

Recent studies have demonstrated the immunomodulatory properties of vitamin D, and vitamin D deficiency may be a risk factor for the development of MS. The risk of developing MS has, in fact, been associated with rising latitudes, past exposure to sun and serum vitamin D status. Serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D] levels have also been associated with relapses and disability progression.

Cyanide poisoning and cardiac disorders: 161 cases.

Background: Inhalation of hydrogen cyanide from smoke in structural fires is common, but cardiovascular function in these patients is poorly documented.

Objective: The objective was to study the cardiac complications of cyanide poisoning in patients who received early administration of a cyanide antidote, hydroxocobalamin (Cyanokit; Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany [in the United States, marketed by Meridian Medical Technologies, Bristol, TN]).

Methods: The medical records of 161 fire survivors with suspected or confirmed cyanide poisoning were reviewed in an open, multicenter, retrospective review of cases from the Emergency Medical Assistance Unit (Service d'Aide Médical d'Urgence) in France.

Prolonged-release nicotinic acid in patients with atherosclerotic disease in the Netherlands.

Objectives: High-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol elevation is associated with an improved outcome in patients with atherosclerotic disease. Niaspan, a prolonged-release nicotinic acid, was evaluated during the Niaspan-Induced HDL Elevation for Optimizing Risk Control (NEMO) study in The Netherlands.

Methods: NEMO was a 6-month, prospective, observational, multicentre, open-label study.

Influence of the timing of low-dose aspirin on tolerability of prolonged-release nicotinic acid in patients at elevated cardiovascular risk.

Objectives: To investigate the effect of low-dose aspirin administered in the morning or evening on the rate of discontinuation of prolonged-release nicotinic acid (Niaspan) due to flushing in patients at elevated cardiovascular risk.

Research Design And Methods: This was an observational, non-interventional study in patients at elevated cardiovascular risk due to cardiovascular disease or type 2 diabetes. Patients received prolonged-release nicotinic acid and aspirin under the usual care of their physician for 15 weeks.

Prolonged-release nicotinic acid for the management of dyslipidemia: an update including results from the NAUTILUS study.

Low HDL-cholesterol (<1.02 mmol/L [40 mg/dL] in men or <1.29 mmol/L [50 mg/dL] in women) occurs in about one-third of European patients with dyslipidemia and is an independent cardiovascular risk factor.

Correction of low HDL cholesterol to reduce cardiovascular risk: practical considerations relating to the therapeutic use of prolonged-release nicotinic acid (Niaspan).

Background: Substantial residual cardiovascular risk persists despite effective LDL lowering treatment in populations at elevated risk for adverse cardiovascular outcomes. Low HDL cholesterol is an independent cardiovascular risk factor and occurs in about one-third of patients treated for dyslipidaemia in Europe. Moreover, randomised intervention studies have shown that increasing HDL cholesterol improves cardiovascular outcomes.

Safety and tolerability of prolonged-release nicotinic acid in statin-treated patients.

Objective: To evaluate the safety and tolerability of prolonged-release nicotinic acid (Niaspan) added to statin therapy in patients at increased cardiovascular risk.

Methods: This was a 6-month, prospective, observational, multicentre, open-label evaluation of prolonged-release nicotinic acid (maximum dose 2000 mg/day) in statin-treated patients with cardiovascular disease and/or type 2 diabetes. The primary endpoint was the safety and tolerability of prolonged-release nicotinic acid, with special regard to treatment-related adverse drug reactions (ADRs).

Evaluation of the safety and tolerability of prolonged-release nicotinic acid in a usual care setting: the NAUTILUS study.

Objective: The main objective was to evaluate the safety and tolerability of prolonged-release nicotinic acid (niacin; Niaspan) in an usual care setting with patients receiving treatment for dyslipidaemia in Germany: the multiceNtre, open, uncontrolled sAfety and tolerability stUdy of a modified-release nicoTinic acId formuLation in sUbjects with dySlipidaemia and low HDL-cholesterol (NAUTILUS).

Research Design And Methods: This was a multicentre, open-label, 15-week study. Eligible patients had a diagnosis of dyslipidaemia with lipids inadequately controlled by 4 weeks of diet treatment.

Iodine nutrition improves in Latin America.

Iodine deficiency has been a public health problem in most Latin American countries. Massive programs of salt iodization have achieved great progress toward its elimination but no consistent monitoring has been applied. We used the ThyroMobil model to visit 163 sites in 13 countries and assess randomly selected schoolchildren of both genders 6-12 years of age.