Effects of early use of pioglitazone in combination with metformin in patients with newly diagnosed type 2 diabetes

ABSTRACT

Background: Type 2 diabetes is characterised by a progressive decline in HbA_1c control over time. Early combination therapy, rather than sequential introduction of individual oral glucose-lowering agents, has been proposed to prevent this gradual rise in HbA_1c. This observational study assessed the effect of early dual combination oral glucose-lowering therapies within 6 months of diagnosis in newly diagnosed, drug-naïve patients with type 2 diabetes.

Patients and methods: This was an observational, open-label, non-randomised study in newly diagnosed patients with type 2 diabetes, aged 35–70 years, with HbA_1c levels >?8.0% at diagnosis or >?7.0% at the 3–6-month follow-up. Patients were allocated to dietary management alone if the HbA_1c level was 7.0–8.0% at diagnosis. Metformin combined with gliclazide, repaglinide, or pioglitazone was given at diagnosis if the HbA_1c was >?8.0%. Similar treatments were introduced at 3–6 months if the HbA_1c was >?7.0%. Over a 3-year period, HbA_1c was measured at 3-monthly intervals. All patients underwent regular dietetic review. Target HbA_1c was ≤?7.0%.

Results: 416 patients were considered eligible for inclusion, with a mean (±?SD) age of 54.1 ± 9.2 years, BMI of 33.5 ± 6.1?kg/m², and baseline HbA_1c of 8.6 ± 1.7%. A mixed model analysis of variance on the 178 patients who started with combination therapy, either immediately or after a 3–6 month period on diet, showed that metformin plus gliclazide, repaglinide, or pioglitazone was associated with a gradual increase in HbA_1c values. Amongst those patients treated with the metformin/pio­glitazone combination there was an estimated 0.1% increase in HbA_1c/year. This was much less pronounced than the rises seen in HbA_1c/year of 0.5% with the met­formin/gliclazide and metformin/repaglinide combinations.

Conclusions: This preliminary analysis of an obervational, non-randomised, open-label ongoing study has shown that early use of combination therapy at time of diagnosis or within the first 3–6 months following diagnosis with metformin plus pioglitazone in newly diagnosed type 2 diabetes results in a slower deterioration in glycaemic control than that with metformin combined with either gliclazide or repaglinide. This may be due to the β?cell protective properties of pioglitazone. These results need to be confirmed by further studies with a more robust design and methodology.     

飞蛾藤属植物的多指标含量测定及化学模式识别研究

目的 建立HPLC测定飞蛾藤属植物多指标含量的方法，为飞蛾藤属植物的质量控制提供参考。方法 采用Agilent 5 TC-C₁₈色谱柱(250 mm×4.6 mm，5 μm)，流动相乙腈-0.1%磷酸梯度洗脱，体积流量1.0 mL·min^-1，柱温25 ℃，检测波长345 nm；并结合聚类分析、主成分分析及偏最小二乘判别分析评价飞蛾藤属植物中9种成分的差异。结果 9种成分在各自范围内线性关系良好(r>0.999 0)，精密度、稳定性及重复性试验结果的RSD均<3.00%，平均加样回收率为97.29%~103.21%。聚类分析、主成分分析及偏最小二乘判别分析结果显示，16批飞蛾藤属植物可明显分开，组内样品有很强的相似性，而组间样品差异较大。通过PLS-DA中变量重要性投影分析发现4个差异性指标成分，分别为绿原酸、异绿原酸A、N-反式-阿魏酰酪胺和东莨菪内酯。结论 建立了简便、精密的飞蛾藤属植物多指标含量测定方法，且通过统计方法证明绿原酸、异绿原酸A、N-反式-阿魏酰酪胺和东莨菪内酯为飞蛾藤属植物质量差异性评价的指标成分，为飞蛾藤属植物的区分及质量控制提供参考。     

Reproducibility of the Balance Evaluation Systems Test (BESTest) and the Mini-BESTest in school-aged children

This study evaluated the intra-rater, inter-rater and test-retest reproducibility of the Full-BESTest and Mini-BESTest when assessing postural control in children. Thirty-four children aged 7–17 years participated in intra-rater and inter-rater evaluation, and 22 children repeated assessment six weeks later for evaluation of test-retest reliability. Postural control was assessed using the Full Balance Evaluation Systems Test (Full-BESTest) and the short-form Mini-BESTest. Intra-rater, inter-rater and test-retest reproducibility were examined using video assessment. Test-retest reproducibility was also assessed in real-time. Reproducibility was examined by agreement and reliability statistics. Agreement was calculated using percentage of agreement, Limits of Agreement and Smallest Detectable Change. Reliability was calculated using Intra-class Correlation Coefficients. Results showed that the reliability of Total Scores was excellent for the Full-BESTest for all conditions (all ICCs > 0.82), whereas the Mini-BESTest ranged from fair to excellent (ICC = 0.56–0.86). Percentage of Domain Scores with good-excellent reliability (ICCs > 0.60) was slightly higher for the Full-BESTest (66%) compared to the Mini-BESTest (59%). Smallest Detectable Change scores were good to excellent for the Full-BESTest (2%–6%) and for the Mini-BESTest (5%–10%) relative to total test scores. Both the Full-BESTest and Mini-BESTest can discriminate postural control abilities within and between days in school-aged children. The Full-BESTest has slightly better reproducibility and a broader range of items, which could be the most useful version for treatment planning. We propose minor modifications to improve reproducibility for children, and indicate the modified version by the title Kids-BESTest. Future psychometric research is recommended for specific paediatric clinical populations.     

贵州省112所医院医院感染质量控制指标调查分析

目的通过对贵州省112所医院感染控制监测数据收集和分析,了解贵州省及各地州市医院感染基本情况与发生特点,为制定医院感染预防与控制措施提供参考。方法 2012年1月1日-9月30日对112所贵州省各地州市二级以上医院的感染率、抗菌药物使用、手术部位感染及重点部位感染相关数据进行统计分析,各医院通过邮件、传真形式上传数据至省质量控制中心,由质量控制中心审核数据后,录入、分析。结果共112所医院参与调查,106所医院参与感染率调查,占94.64%;共调查医院患者4 4 771例,发生医院感染1 279例、1 349例次,感染率2.84%、例次感染率3.21%;37 128例住院患者抗菌药物使用、预防用药、治疗用药的平均使用率分别为44.54%、28.91%、71.09%,病原菌送检率19.41%;调查手术患者58 598例,术后发生切口感染670例,感染率为1.14%,肺部感染156例感染率为0.27%。结论通过对贵州省各级医院横断面调查,掌握医院感染变化趋势,提示各医疗机构应进一步规范医院感染病例监测,加强抗菌药物合理使用,提高病原菌送检率,减少耐药菌发生,认真落实重点部位感染预防相关指南,以降低侵入性操作的感染率。     

Falls prevention activities among community-dwelling elderly in the Netherlands: A Delphi study

IntroductionThis study aimed to provide an overview of the current falls prevention activities in community-dwelling elderly with an increased risk of falling in the Netherlands. Therefore, we determined: a) how health professionals detect community-dwelling elderly with an increased risk of falling; b) which falls prevention activities are used by health professionals and why; c) how elderly can be stimulated to participate in falls prevention programs; and d) how to finance falls prevention.MethodsA two-round online Delphi study among health experts was conducted. The panel of experts (n = 125) consisted of community physiotherapists, community nurses, general practitioners, occupational therapists and geriatricians, from all over the Netherlands. The median and Inter Quartile Deviation (IQD) were reported for the questions with 5-point Likert scales, ranging from ‘least’ (1) to ‘most’ (5).ResultsRespectively 68% (n = 85/125) and 58% (n = 72/125) of the panel completely filled in the first and second round questionnaires. According to the panel, regular detection of fall risk of community-dwelling elderly with an increased risk of falling hardly takes place (median = 2 [hardly]; IQD = 1). Furthermore, these elderly are reluctant to participate in annual detection of fall risk (median = 3 [reluctant]; IQD = 1). According to 73% (n = 37/51) of the panel, 0–40% of the elderly with an increased risk of falling are referred to exercise programs. In general, the panel indicated that structural follow-up is often lacking. Namely, after one month (n = 21/43; 49%), three months (n = 24/42; 57%), and six months (n = 27/45; 60%) follow-up is never or hardly ever offered. Participation of elderly in falls prevention programs could be stimulated by a combination of measures. Should a combination of national health education, healthcare counseling, and removal of financial barriers be applied, 41–80% of the elderly is assumed to participate in falls prevention programs (n = 47/64; 73%). None of the panel members indicated full financing of falls prevention by the elderly. A number of individuals are considered key in falls prevention activities, such as the general practitioner, physiotherapist, and informal caregiver.ConclusionThis Delphi study showed clear directions for improving falls prevention activities and how to increase participation rates.