Fixed-dose combination of empagliflozin and linagliptin for the treatment of patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus: A systematic review and meta-analysis

The present meta-analysis evaluated the efficacy and safety of empagliflozin + linagliptin combination compared with either monotherapy [n=6 randomized controlled trials; 2857 adults with type 2 diabetes (T2DM) on diet + exercise ± metformin; 39.7% women; mean age: 54.6–59.9 years]. The combination of empagliflozin 10 mg + linagliptin 5 mg led to significantly greater reductions in glycated haemoglobin (HbA1c) compared with either drug alone over 24 weeks: weighted mean difference [WMD; −0.72%, 95% confidence interval (CI): −1.04, −0.40], and fasting plasma glucose (−1.60 mmol/L 95% CI: −2.21, −1.00). Similar results were observed when empagliflozin 25 mg + linagliptin 5 mg was compared with linagliptin 5 mg monotherapy or with empagliflozin 10 or 25 mg monotherapy. Patients with T2DM treated with the drug combination had more than three times higher likelihood of achieving HbA1c <7% than those on either monotherapy. Weight reduction was significantly greater in the combination group only when compared with linagliptin monotherapy. Safety profile was similar between combination treatment and monotherapies. Overall, the empagliflozin + linagliptin combination had superior efficacy and similar safety in achieving euglycaemia compared with either monotherapy. This combination, administered once daily, has the potential to reduce regimen complexity, enhance adherence and improve outcomes in clinical practice.     

Minimization of bias in measures of gestational weight gain

Gestational weight gain (GWG) is an important predictor of adverse pregnancy outcomes including gestational diabetes, preterm birth, delivery by caesarean and post‐partum weight retention. The Institute of Medicine guidelines on GWG are widely adopted, and GWG is widely researched as an outcome of interest in lifestyle interventions during pregnancy. However, estimation of prepregnancy weight and measurement of weight prior to delivery introduce bias into measures of GWG. This review discusses the sources of bias in measures of GWG and the potential effect of bias on the relationship between adverse pregnancy outcomes associated with GWG. Bias in measures of GWG can be minimized by using measured weight at the first antenatal appointment in early pregnancy rather than self‐reported prepregnancy weight and by adjusting for gestational age when the last weight is collected earlier than the delivery date. Bias owing to gestational age is an important potential confounder in the relationship between GWG and adverse pregnancy outcomes.     

Social norms and obesity prevalence: From cohort to system dynamics models

Group‐level obesity can be seen as an emergent property of a complex system, consisting of feedback loops between individual body weight perception, individual weight‐related behaviour and group‐level social norms (a product of group‐level ‘normal' body mass index (BMI) and sociocultural ‘ideal' BMI). As overweight becomes normal, the norm might be counteracting health awareness in shaping individual weight‐related behaviour. System dynamics modelling facilitates understanding and simulating this system's emergent behaviour. We constructed six system dynamics models (SDMs) based on an expert‐informed causal loop diagram and data from six sociocultural groups (Dutch, Moroccan and South‐Asian Surinamese men and women). The SDMs served to explore the effect of three scenarios on group‐level BMI: ‘what if' weight‐related behaviour were driven by (1) health awareness, (2) norms or (3) a combination of the two. Median BMI decreased approximately 50% and 30% less in scenarios 2 and 3, respectively, than in 1. In men, the drop in BMI was approximately two times larger in scenario 1 versus 3, whereas in women, the drop was approximately equal in these scenarios. This study indicates that the overweight norm in men holds group‐level BMI close to overweight despite health awareness. Since norms are counteracting health awareness less strongly in women, other drivers of obesity must be more relevant.     

Successful weight loss maintenance: A systematic review of weight control registries

Weight loss maintenance is a major challenge for obesity treatment. Weight control registries can be useful in identifying psychological and behavioural factors that could contribute to better long‐term success. The objective of this study is to describe the existing weight control registries and their participants and identify correlates of weight loss maintenance. A comprehensive search of peer‐reviewed articles published until November 2018 was conducted in PubMed, Web of Science, and Scopus. Studies that reported results from weight control registries were considered. Fifty‐two articles, corresponding to five registries (the United States, Portugal, Germany, Finland, and Greece), were included. Registries differed in inclusion criteria and procedures. Of 51 identified weight loss and maintenance strategies, grouped in 14 domains of the Oxford Food and Activity Behaviors taxonomy, the following were the most frequently reported: having healthy foods available at home, regular breakfast intake, increasing vegetable consumption, decreasing sugary and fatty foods, limiting certain foods, and reducing fat in meals. Increased physical activity was the most consistent positive correlate of weight loss maintenance. To our knowledge, this is the first systematic review of information about successful weight loss maintenance obtained from weight control registries. Key common influential characteristics of success were identified, which can inform future prospective studies and weight management initiatives.     

An evaluation of the impact of lifestyle interventions on body weight in postpartum women: A systematic review and meta‐analysis

The established efficacy in postpartum lifestyle interventions has not been translated into better outcomes. This systematic review and meta‐analysis assess the penetration (the proportion of women invited within the target population), implementation (fidelity), participation (the proportion of those invited who enrolled), and effect (weight loss compared to controls) (PIPE) of randomized controlled trials of lifestyle interventions in postpartum women (within two years after birth). MEDLINE, EMBASE, Pubmed, and other databases and clinical trial registries were searched up to the 3rd of May 2019. Data was extracted from published reports and missing data was obtained from study authors. The quality of the studies was appraised using the Cochrane Risk of Bias tool (2·0). Main outcomes were the PIPE impact metrics and changes in body weight. Thirty‐six trials (49 publications) were included (n=5,315 women). One study provided sufficient information to calculate the population penetration rate (2·5%). All studies provided implementation (fidelity) information, but over half had low program fidelity. The participation rate was calculated for nine studies (0·94% to 86%). There was significant change in body weight (mean difference (MD) (95% confidence interval, CI) of ‐2·33 (‐3·10 to ‐1·56). This highlights the inadequacy of conventional RCTs to inform implementation. Future research should broaden methods to pragmatic trials.     

不同剂量低分子肝素雾化吸人对急性肺损伤／急性呼吸窘迫综合征的作用

目的探讨不同剂量低分子肝素（LMWH）雾化吸入对急性肺损伤／急性呼吸窘迫综合征ALI／ARDS的治疗作用。方法将急诊ICU收治的（ALI／ARDS）患者64例随机分为对照组、LMWH低剂量雾化治疗组和LMWH高剂量雾化治疗组,分别测定并比较各组治疗前后的氧合指数、急性生理学和长期健康评定（APACHE）Ⅱ评分、7d病死率和凝血功能。结果低剂量和高剂量LMWH雾化吸入治疗后,ALI／ARDS患者的氧合指数提高（P〈0．05）,APACHEⅡ评分及7d病死率降低（P〈0．05）,凝血酶原时间（PT）以及活化部分凝血酶原时间（APTT）无显著变化（P〉0．05）,高、低剂量组间无显著差异,而对照组上述指标均未见明显改变。低、高剂量LMWH雾化吸收治疗组7d病死率均为13．6％,显著低于对照组25％（χ2=0．877,P=0．349）。结论高、低剂量的LMWH雾化吸人治疗均可以改善氧合,缓解ALI／ARDS患者的症状,降低病死率,而且不会引起明显出血倾向,是ALI／ARDS的一种有前景的治疗手段。     

儿童遗传病病因的探寻者 ——李巍教授团队

首都医科大学附属北京儿童医院李巍教授团队利用医学遗传学、基因组学与生物信息学、细胞生物学等多学科前沿研究手段,通过鉴定白化病等儿童遗传病的致病基因,探寻其发病机制,为出生缺陷干预提供新的技术手段和干预方案。     

高、低频超声联合应用在老年人急性阑尾炎诊断中的价值

目的探讨高、低频超声联合应用在老年急性阑尾炎患者中的诊断价值。方法对2013年在我院急救中心就诊的62名老年急性阑尾炎患者,先用低频超声检查,后行高频超声检查,确定阑尾位置、走形、回声及血流情况,做出急性阑尾炎的超声诊断。结果 62名老年急性阑尾炎患者中,低、高频联合超声诊断检出58例,漏诊3例,误诊1例,与术后病理诊断符合率为93.5%。结论低频及高频超声联合检查急性阑尾炎分别从整体和局部入手,起到互补的作用,从而提高阑尾炎的显示率及诊断的准确性。