The role of insulin-like growth factor-1 and growth hormone in the mortality of patients with acromegaly after trans-sphenoidal surgery.

Context: Acromegaly is associated with a significant increase in mortality. With the development of new modalities of treatment, it has become important to identify prognostic factors relating to mortality.

Objective: This study aimed to determine the all-cause mortality of patients with acromegaly after trans-sphenoidal surgery, and assess the impact of biochemical markers on survival.

Effects of health education on glycemic control during holiday time in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus.

Objective: To investigate whether the effects of regular diabetes health education or a holiday-specific pamphlet before the Chinese New Year holiday period could improve glycemic control during the winter holidays among patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus.

Study Design: Randomized controlled trial.

Methods: The study was conducted from October 2004 to December 2005 in Taipei Veterans General Hospital.

Decrease heart rate variability but preserve postural blood pressure change in type 2 diabetes with microalbuminuria.

Background: This study compares the cardiovascular autonomic function in type 2 diabetes with and without microalbuminuria, in order to identify the possible links between early nephropathy and diabetic autonomic neuropathy (DAN).

Methods: Cardiovascular reflex tests were performed to determine the cardiovascular autonomic function. Thirty cases of type 2 diabetes with microalbuminuria were studied for evidence of DAN to compare with a normoalbuminuric group of 56 diabetic patients.

A prospective study of glycemic control during holiday time in type 2 diabetic patients.

Objective: In the U.K. Prospective Diabetes Study, A1C increased from 1.

A comparison of fructosamine and HbA1c for home self-monitoring blood glucose levels in type 2 diabetes.

Background: Optimal glycemic control is believed to be essential in patients with diabetes to minimize any long-term complications. Measurement of the levels of glycated protein, such as fructosamine and glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c), is the most reliable method for assessing a period of glycemic control. This prospective study was performed to investigate whether fructosamine or HbA1c could provide a reliable index of glycemic control in type 2 diabetes.