Evaluation of serum markers in the LRF CLL4 trial: β2-microglobulin but not serum free light chains, is an independent marker of overall survival.

Chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) is characterized by heterogeneous clinical behavior and there is a need for improved biomarkers. The current study evaluated the prognostic significance of serum free light chains (sFLC, kappa, and lambda) and other serum markers (bar, serum thymidine kinase (sTK), soluble CD23, and LDH) together with established biomarkers in 289 patients enrolled into the LRF CLL4 trial. In a multivariable analysis of serum markers alone, higher big and kappa light chains were statistically significant in predicting disease progression and higher blg, and sTK in predicting mortality.

Avoiding hypoglycaemia while achieving good glycaemic control in type 2 diabetes through optimal use of oral agent therapy.

Background: Patients with type 2 diabetes appear to be at relatively low risk of severe hypoglycaemia and hypoglycaemia unawareness in the early stages of disease. However, declining endogenous insulin secretory capacity due to beta-cell dysfunction/failure eventually produces vulnerability similar to type 1 diabetes. Severe hypoglycaemia itself is associated with serious morbidity and sometimes mortality, and represents an important barrier to achieving glycaemic goals and thus may reduce the protection from diabetes-related morbidity provided by good glycaemic control.

Multicentre randomised controlled trial of the clinical and cost-effectiveness of a bypass-surgery-first versus a balloon-angioplasty-first revascularisation strategy for severe limb ischaemia due to infrainguinal disease. The Bypass versus Angioplasty in Severe Ischaemia of the Leg (BASIL) trial.

Objective: To compare a 'bypass-surgery-first' with a 'balloon-angioplasty-first' revascularisation strategy in patients with severe limb ischaemia (SLI) due to infrainguinal disease requiring immediate/early revascularisation.

Design: A stratified randomised controlled trial. A Delphi consensus study of vascular surgeons' and interventional radiologists' views on SLI treatment was performed before the trial.

Insulin for type 2 diabetes: choosing a second-line insulin regimen.

Unlabelled: Guidance has been published on the choice of initial insulin regimen for patients with type 2 diabetes [NPH (isophane) insulin or a long-acting insulin analogue] but not on how to choose a second regimen when glycaemic control becomes unsatisfactory.

Aims: To develop pragmatic clinical guidance for choosing a second-line insulin regimen tailored to the individual needs of patients with type 2 diabetes after failure of first-line insulin therapy.

Methods: Formulation of a consensus by expert panel based on published evidence and best clinical practice, taking into account patient preferences, lifestyle and functional capacity.

Inhaled insulin: new technology, new possibilities.

The prevalence of diabetes is reaching epidemic proportions with an increasing need for new therapies. Several new therapies are in development and amongst these is inhaled insulin. Inhaled insulin is a novel way of delivering insulin and has been shown to have an efficacy comparable to subcutaneous insulin in patients with both type 1 and type 2 diabetes.

An open, randomized, parallel-group study to compare the efficacy and safety profile of inhaled human insulin (Exubera) with metformin as adjunctive therapy in patients with type 2 diabetes poorly controlled on a sulfonylurea.

Objective: To compare the efficacy and safety profile of adding inhaled human insulin (INH; Exubera) or metformin to sulfonylurea monotherapy in patients with poorly controlled type 2 diabetes.

Research Design And Methods: We performed an open-label, parallel, 24-week, multicenter trial. At week -1, patients uncontrolled on sulfonylurea monotherapy were divided into two HbA(1c) (A1C) arms: > or =8 to < or =9.