Effects of lifestyle interventions on the prevention of type 2 diabetes and reversion to normoglycemia by prediabetes phenotype: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.

Objective: To explore the effects of lifestyle interventions on the prevention of type 2 diabetes (T2D) and reversion to normoglycemia by prediabetes phenotype.

Methods: We searched MEDLINE, Embase, and the Cochrane Library for randomized controlled trials (RCTs) that evaluated the effects of lifestyle interventions in adults with prediabetes for a minimum duration of one year. Two reviewers independently screened articles, extracted data, and performed quality assessment.

Turn TRAIL Into Better Anticancer Therapeutic Through TRAIL Fusion Proteins.

Background: TNF-related apoptosis-inducing ligand (TRAIL) belongs to the tumor necrosis factor superfamily. TRAIL selectively induces apoptosis in tumor cells while sparing normal cells, which makes it an attractive candidate for cancer therapy. Recombinant soluble TRAIL and agonistic antibodies against TRAIL receptors have demonstrated safety and tolerability in clinical trials.

Non-diabetes status after diagnosis of impaired glucose tolerance and risk of long-term death and vascular complications: A post hoc analysis of the Da Qing Diabetes Prevention Outcome Study.

Background: The association between years of non-diabetes status after diagnosis of impaired glucose tolerance (IGT) and the risk of long-term death and cardiovascular outcomes needed to be clarified.

Methods And Findings: In this post hoc analysis, we included 540 individuals with IGT who participated in the original Da Qing Diabetes Prevention Study (DQDPS). In the DQDPS, all participants were diagnosed with IGT by a 75 g oral glucose tolerance test and randomized to intervention or control groups with a 6-year lifestyle intervention trial.

Experience of X-linked hypophosphatemic rickets in the Gulf Cooperation Council countries: case series.

Summary: X-linked hypophosphatemic rickets (XLH), the most prevalent form of inherited hypophosphatemic rickets, is caused by loss-of-function mutations in the gene encoding phosphate-regulating endopeptidase homolog, X-linked (PHEX). This case series presents 14 cases of XLH from Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries. The patients' medical history, biochemical and radiological investigative findings, as well as treatment responses and side effects from both conventional and burosumab therapy, are described.

Development and validation of a risk score nomogram model to predict the risk of 5-year all-cause mortality in diabetic patients with hypertension: A study based on NHANES data.

Background: The present study aimed to develop and validate a prediction nomogram model for 5-year all-cause mortality in diabetic patients with hypertension.

Methods: Data were extracted from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES). A total of 3291 diabetic patients with hypertension in the NHANES cycles for 1999-2014 were selected and randomly assigned at a ratio of 8:2 to the training cohort (n = 2633) and validation cohort (n = 658).

Circulating palmitoyl sphingomyelin levels predict the 10-year increased risk of cardiovascular disease death in Chinese adults: findings from the Da Qing Diabetes Study.

Background: Higher levels of palmitoyl sphingomyelin (PSM, synonymous with sphingomyelin 16:0) are associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD) in people with diabetes. Whether circulating PSM levels can practically predict the long-term risk of CVD and all-cause death remains unclear. This study aimed to investigate whether circulating PSM is a real predictor of CVD death in Chinese adults with or without diabetes.

Clinical and molecular genetic analysis of cytologically uncertain thyroid nodules in patients with thyroid disease.

Background: The current requirement is to establish the preoperative diagnosis accurately as possible and to achieve an adequate extent of surgery. The aim of this study was to define the preoperative clinical and molecular genetic risks of malignancy in indeterminate thyroid nodules (Bethesda III and IV) and to determine their impact on the surgical strategy.

Methods: Prospectively retrospective analysis of 287 patients provided the basis of preoperative laboratory examination, sonographic stratification of malignancy risks and cytological findings.

Real-World Observational Study on Vildagliptin With Insulin (VIL-INS) or Vildagliptin and Metformin With Insulin (VIL-MET-INS) Therapy in Indian Patients With Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus.

Background And Objective:  The therapeutic use of vildagliptin and insulin (VIL-INS) or vildagliptin and metformin in combination with insulin (VIL-MET-INS) in the Indian scenario has yet to be explored by generating real-world evidence. Therefore, the present study aimed to evaluate the demographic, clinical characteristics, and treatment patterns of patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) in Indian settings in the above context.

Methodology:  This observational study conducted at 600 healthcare centers in India retrospectively analyzed data of adult patients with T2DM who had been treated with either vildagliptin with insulin or a combination of vildagliptin and metformin with insulin.

Adam, amigo, brain, and K channel.

Voltage-dependent K (Kv) channels are diverse, comprising the classical  - Kv2,  - Kv1,  - Kv4, and  - Kv3 families. The family alone consists of Kv1.1, Kv1.

Insights into the genetics of menopausal vasomotor symptoms: genome-wide analyses of routinely-collected primary care health records.

Background: Vasomotor symptoms (VMS) can often significantly impact women's quality of life at menopause. In vivo studies have shown that increased neurokinin B (NKB) / neurokinin 3 receptor (NK3R) signalling contributes to VMS, with previous genetic studies implicating the TACR3 gene locus that encodes NK3R. Large-scale genomic analyses offer the possibility of biological insights but few such studies have collected data on VMS, while proxy phenotypes such as hormone replacement therapy (HRT) use are likely to be affected by changes in clinical practice.

Diagnosis and treatment of anti-insulin antibody-mediated labile glycaemia in insulin-treated diabetes.

Aims: Anti-insulin antibodies in insulin-treated diabetes can derange glycaemia, but are under-recognised. Detection of significant antibodies is complicated by antigenically distinct insulin analogues. We evaluated a pragmatic biochemical approach to identifying actionable antibodies, and assessed its utility in therapeutic decision making.

Development of models to predict 10-30-year cardiovascular disease risk using the Da Qing IGT and diabetes study.

Background: This study aimed to develop cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk equations for Chinese patients with newly diagnosed type 2 diabetes (T2D) to predict 10-, 20-, and 30-year of risk.

Methods: Risk equations for forecasting the occurrence of CVD were developed using data from 601 patients with newly diagnosed T2D from the Da Qing IGT and Diabetes Study with a 30-year follow-up. The data were randomly assigned to a training and test data set.

Rare forms of genetic paediatric adrenal insufficiency: Excluding congenital adrenal hyperplasia.

Adrenal insufficiency (AI) is a severe endocrine disorder characterized by insufficient glucocorticoid (GC) and/or mineralocorticoid (MC) secretion by the adrenal glands, due to impaired adrenal function (primary adrenal insufficiency, PAI) or to insufficient adrenal stimulation by pituitary ACTH (secondary adrenal insufficiency, SAI) or tertiary adrenal insufficiency due to hypothalamic dysfunction. In this review, we describe rare genetic causes of PAI with isolated GC or combined GC and MC deficiencies and we also describe rare syndromes of isolated MC deficiency. In children, the most frequent cause of PAI is congenital adrenal hyperplasia (CAH), a group of adrenal disorders related to steroidogenic enzyme deficiencies, which will not be included in this review.

A study of acromegaly-associated headache with somatostatin analgesia.

The aim of this study is to characterise somatostatin analogue-responsive headache in acromegaly, hitherto not systematically documented in a significant cohort. Using the UK pituitary network, we have clinically characterised a cohort of 18 patients suffering from acromegaly-related headache with a clear response to somatostatin analogues. The majority of patients had chronic migraine (78%) as defined by the International Headache Society diagnostic criteria.

Participants' and Health Care Providers' Insights Regarding a Web-Based and Mobile-Delivered Healthy Eating Program for Disadvantaged People With Type 2 Diabetes: Descriptive Qualitative Study.

Background: Healthy eating is a key element of type 2 diabetes (T2D) self-management. Digital interventions offer new avenues to reach broad audiences to promote healthy eating behaviors. However, acceptance of these interventions by socioeconomically disadvantaged people (eg, those with lower levels of education and income or from ethnic minority groups) has not yet been fully evaluated.

Effects of GLP-1 Infusion Upon Whole-body Glucose Uptake and Skeletal Muscle Perfusion During Fed-state in Older Men.

Introduction: Ageing skeletal muscles become both insulin resistant and atrophic. The hormone glucagon-like peptide 1 (GLP-1) facilitates postprandial glucose uptake as well as augmenting muscle perfusion, independent of insulin action. We thus hypothesized exogenous GLP-1 infusions would enhance muscle perfusion and positively affect glucose metabolism during fed-state clamps in older people.

Severe osteoporosis as atypical presentation of hereditary hemochromatosis.

Besides important metabolic repercussions, iron overload is reported to be associated with deleterious effects on articulations and bones. We present the case of a male patient diagnosed with severe osteoporosis and vertebral fracture, in whom the evaluation for secondary osteoporosis revealed hereditary hemochromatosis.

Real-world application of ATA Guidelines in over 600 aspirated thyroid nodules: is it time to change the size cut-offs for FNA?

Background: The 2015 American Thyroid Association (ATA) Guidelines recommend the following size cut-offs based on sonographic appearances for subjecting nodules to fine-needle aspiration (FNA) biopsy: low risk: 15 mm and intermediate risk and high risk: 10 mm.

Objective: We conducted a 'real-world' study evaluating the diagnostic performance of the ATA cut-offs against increased thresholds, in the interest of safely limiting FNAs.

Methods: We performed a retrospective analysis of prospectively collected data on 604 nodules which were sonographically risk-stratified as per the ATA Guidelines and subsequently subjected to ultrasound-guided FNA.

Long-term influence of type 2 diabetes and metabolic syndrome on all-cause and cardiovascular death, and microvascular and macrovascular complications in Chinese adults - A 30-year follow-up of the Da Qing diabetes study.

Aims: To examine the long-term influence of metabolic syndrome (MetS) on death and vascular complications.

Methods: Altogether, 1419 individuals with different levels of glycemia and MetS were recruited for this study. The participants were followed up for 30 years to assess outcomes.

Demonstration of the inferior intercavernous sinus is closely linked to the extent of pneumatization of the sphenoid sinus: useful information for the pituitary surgeon.

Purpose: To study the utility of T2-weighted MRI sequences in the identification of the inferior intercavernous sinus (IICS), a potential source of bleeding during transsphenoidal surgery of pituitary adenomas.

Methods: Pituitary sagittal T1W and coronal T2W MRI sequences were analyzed in 237 consecutive patients, after the exclusion of postoperative MRIs and those revealing an empty sella or a pituitary macroadenoma. Sphenoid sinus pneumatization was defined as incomplete (group 1) if it did not reach the nadir of the sella turcica, as complete (group 2) if it extended beyond the nadir of the sella or asymmetric (group 3), when only one side of the sinus was completely pneumatized.