SGLT2 inhibitors in T2D and associated comorbidities - differentiating within the class.

Background: For patients with type 2 diabetes (T2D), cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the single most common cause of mortality. In 2008 and 2012, the Federal Drug Administration (FDA) and the European Medicines Agency (EMA) respectively mandated cardiovascular outcomes trials (CVOTs) on all new anti-diabetic agents, as prospective trials statistically powered to rule out excess cardiovascular risk in patients with T2D. Unexpectedly, some of these CVOTs have demonstrated not only cardiovascular safety, but also cardioprotective effects, as was first shown for the SGLT2 inhibitor empagliflozin in EMPA-REG OUTCOME.

Unrecognised cardiovascular disease in type 2 diabetes: is it time to act earlier?

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the most significant prognostic factor in individuals with type 2 diabetes (T2D). However, a significant number of individuals may develop CVD that does not present with the classic angina-related or heart failure symptoms. In these cases, CVD may seem to be 'silent' or 'asymptomatic', but may be more accurately characterised as unrecognised diabetic cardiac impairment.

Translating recent results from the Cardiovascular Outcomes Trials into clinical practice: recommendations from the Central and Eastern European Diabetes Expert Group (CEEDEG).

Aims: These recommendations aim to improve care for patients with type 2 diabetes (T2D) at high cardiovascular (CV) risk in Central and Eastern Europe. Cardiovascular disease (CVD) and/or chronic kidney disease (CKD) are major interdependent comorbidities in patients with T2D, accounting for 50% of mortality. Following recent CV outcomes trial (CVOT) results, including those from EMPA-REG OUTCOME, LEADER, SUSTAIN™-6 and, most recently, the CANVAS study, it is essential to develop regional expert consensus recommendations to aid physicians in interpreting these newest data to clinical practice.

Validity of multiplex biomarker model of 6 genes for the differential diagnosis of thyroid nodules.

Background: Currently the cytological examination of fine needle aspiration (FNA) biopsies is the standard technique for the pre-operative differential diagnosis of thyroid nodules. However, the results may be non-informative in ~20% of cases due to an inadequate sampling and the lack of highly specific, measurable cytological criteria, therefore ancillary biomarkers that could aid in these cases are clearly needed. The aim of our study was to evaluate the mRNA expression levels of 8 candidate marker genes as the diagnostic biomarkers for the discrimination of benign and malignant thyroid nodules and to find a combination of biomarkers with the highest diagnostic value.

Sperm-associated antigens as targets for cancer immunotherapy: expression pattern and humoral immune response in cancer patients.

The identification of novel cancer-related and immunogenic proteins is still a challenge to be faced to improve antigen-specific tumor immunotherapy. The category of so-called cancer-testis (CT) antigens is one of the most perspective groups of proteins for anticancer immune response activation as normally they are expressed in immunoprivileged tissues and are immunogenic if aberrantly generated in tumors. The heterogeneous group of proteins called sperm-associated antigens (SPAG) might encompass novel CT antigens owing to their common expression in male germ cells, their ability to elicit immune response underlying infertility, and lately proposed oncogenic properties.