Triple Oral Antidiabetic Therapy

Our objective was to determine the efficacy of adding acarbose to the combination of metformin and a sulfonylurea in the treatment of type II diabetes mellitus. Acarbose was added to the treatment regimen of 11 type II diabetic patients who were not adequately controlled on the combination of a sulfonylurea and metformin. Glycosylated hemoglobin before and after the addition of acarbose was compared to assess the efficacy of this additional therapy. One patient did not tolerate acarbose therapy. Of the remaining ten patients, the mean improvement in glycosylated hemoglobin with the addition of acarbose was 1.4 percentage points, p = 0.01. Eight patients had improvements in glycosylated hemoglobin; mean improvement, 2.0 percentage points. Two patients’ glycohemoglobin values worsened. Thus, the addition of acarbose to the treatment regimen of type II diabetic patients presently on a combination of a sulfonylurea and metformin improves glycemic control.     

尼莫地平联合阿卡波糖治疗糖尿病周围神经病变的临床研究

目的观察尼莫地平联合阿卡波糖治疗糖尿病周围神经病变的临床疗效及对神经传导速度与神经相关生长因子的影响。方法将我院收治的76例糖尿病周围神经病变患者,随机分为试验组和对照组,每组38例。对照组给予尼莫地平40 mg,每天3次;试验组在对照组的基础上给予阿卡波糖50 mg,每天3次。所有患者均连续治疗1个月。比较2组患者的临床疗效、神经传导速度、神经相关生长因子和药物不良反应发生情况。结果治疗后,试验组的临床总有效率为89.47%(34例/38例),对照组为60.53%(23例/38例),差异有统计学意义(P<0.05)。治疗后,试验组腓总神经、正中神经运动神经传导速度(MCV)和感觉神经传导速度(SCV)分别为(45.88±4.06),(51.69±4.56),(44.12±4.09),(46.29±5.71)m·s^-1;对照组分别为(41.16±3.83),(44.98±4.46),(39.52±3.19),(43.13±4.46)m·s^-1,差异均有统计学意义(均P<0.05)。试验组的游离脂肪酸(FFA)、肿瘤坏死因子-α(TNF-α)、人磷髓脂碱性蛋白(MBP)水平分别为(471.45±44.28)μmol·L^-1,(11.15±1.18)pg·mL^-1,(1.90±0.14)μg·L^-1;对照组分别为(542.79±46.68)μmol·L^-1,(18.21±1.92)pg·mL^-1,(3.41±0.38)μg·L^-1(均P<0.05)。试验组血管内皮生长因子(VEGF)、人脑源性神经营养因子(BDNF)水平分别为(943.39±97.85),(4.87±0.58)ng·L^-1;对照组分别为(755.94±70.11),(3.09±0.26)ng·L^-1,差异均有统计学意义(均P<0.05)。试验组出现腹泻1例,腹胀3例,药物不良反应发生率为10.53%(4例/38例);对照组出现轻度头晕1例,消化道反应2例,腹胀和轻度腹部不适2例,药物不良反应发生率为13.16%(5例/38例),差异无统计学意义(P>0.05)。结论尼莫地平联合阿卡波糖治疗糖尿病周围神经病变,能有效改善患者神经传导速度与神经相关生长因子,临床疗效良好,安全性高。     

阿卡波糖联合诺和锐30治疗2型糖尿病血糖控制欠佳患者的疗效观察

目的 探讨阿卡波糖联合诺和锐30治疗2型糖尿病血糖控制欠佳者的临床疗效。方法 南京大学医院收治的52例血糖控制欠佳的2型糖尿病患者随机分为治疗组（27例）和对照组（25例）。对照组给予诺和锐30注射液,2次/d,早晚餐前皮下注射。治疗组于三餐前口服阿卡波糖片,50 mg/次,3次/d,诺和锐30注射液的用法同对照组。治疗12周后,比较两组患者治疗前后空腹血糖（FBG）、餐后2 h血糖（2 h PG）、糖化血红蛋白（HbA1c）、体质量指数（BMI）、血脂变化情况及胰岛素用量。结果 治疗后,两组患者FBG、HbA1c均较治疗前明显降低,治疗前后差异有统计学意义（P<0.05）。治疗后,治疗组患者HbA1c水平明显低于对照组,两组比较差异有统计学意义（P<0.05）。治疗后,两组全天七点血糖水平均较治疗前明显降低,同组治疗前后差异有统计学意义（P<0.05）;同时,治疗组三餐后2 h PG均显著低于对照组,两组比较差异有统计学意义（P<0.05）。治疗组血糖达标时间明显短于对照组,两组比较差异有统计学意义（P<0.05）。结论 阿卡波糖联合诺和锐30治疗血糖控制欠佳的2型糖尿病患者具有较好的临床疗效,可有效控制餐后血糖水平,具有良好的临床应用价值。     

阿卡波糖干预老年冠心病并糖耐量减低患者疗效及机制的研究

目的探讨阿卡波糖干预对合并糖耐量减低（IGT）的老年冠心病患者预后的影响及其心脏保护作用机制。方法 163例合并IGT的老年冠心病患者随机分为干预组（81例）和对照组（82例）,两组给予相同基础治疗,干预组同时给予阿卡波糖（50mg,每日3次）治疗,平均随访2.4年,观察主要心血管事件（MACE）（包括心血管病因死亡、非致命性心肌梗死、新发生的心绞痛、非致命性脑卒中、严重心力衰竭）发生情况并对血清高敏C反应蛋白（hsCRP）与颈动脉内膜中层厚度（IMT）的关系进行统计学分析。结果平均随访2.4年后,干预组MACE发生率明显降低（19.8%vs 39.2%,P〈0.01）,同时干预组治疗后hsCRP和颈动脉IMT显著低于对照组,干预组hsCRP（2.92±0.63）mg/L vs对照组（6.69±0.92）mg/L,干预组IMT（1.13±0.45）mm vs对照组（1.32±0.55）mm（P〈0.01或〈0.05）;多元逐步回归分析示餐后2小时血糖（2hPG）、体质量指数（BMI）为hsCRP升高的危险因素,同时hsCRP、2hPG为颈动脉IMT增厚的独立危险因素（均P〈0.05）;两组间严重胃肠不良反应发生率差异无统计学意义（P〉0.05）。结论阿卡波糖可通过控制餐后血糖改善亚临床炎症状态,进而延缓颈动脉IMT增厚,最终获得心血管收益,同时老年患者对该药耐受性良好。     

Glycemic variability in insulin treated type 2 diabetes with well-controlled hemoglobin A1c and its response to further treatment with acarbose

Background  Glycemic variability, an HbA1c-independent risk factor, has more deleterious effects than sustained hyperglycemia in the development of diabetic complications. This study analyzed the characteristics of glycemic variability in type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) with HbA1c <6.5% in duration of twice daily premixed insulin treatment and the effect of further treatment with acarbose.

Methods  Eighty-six T2DM patients who used premixed insulin analogue (insulin aspart 30) twice daily and had HbA1c <6.5% and 20 controlled subjects with normal glucose regulation (NGR) were monitored using the continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) system. The mean amplitude of glycemic excursions (MAGE), mean of daily differences (MODD) were used for assessing intra-day, inter-day glycemic variability. Hypoglycemia was defined as glucose level <3.9 mmol/L for at least 15 minutes in CGM. According to reference values of MAGE, T2DM patients were classified into two groups: low-MAGE group with MAGE <3.4 mmol/L (L-MAGE) and high-MAGE group with MAGE ≥3.4 mmol/L (H-MAGE). H-MAGE group received further treatment with acarbose for 2 weeks and was monitored a second time with CGM system.

Results  After first CGM, L-MAGE group had 41 cases, and H-MAGE group had 45 cases. The MAGE and MODD of T2DM group were all higher than those of subjects with NGR (P <0.01). Twenty-four percent (n=11) in H-MAGE group had a total of 13 hypoglycemic events, 10 of the 13 events occurred at night, meanwhile 5% (n=2) in L-MAGE group had a total of 2 hypoglycemic events, which also occurred at night (hypoglycemic events: 24% vs. 5%, χ²=6.40, P <0.01). MAGE value was correlated with hypoglycemia value and 2-hour postprandial plasma glucose value (r=–0.32 and 0.26, respectively, P <0.05). After further acarbose therapy and secondly CGM, MAGE and MODD values in H-MAGE group were all significantly decreased (40%, P <0.01, and 15%, P <0.05, respectively), but remained higher than in the subjects with NGR (P <0.05); 2% (n=1) had a total of 1 hypoglycemic event, incidence significantly decreased (2% vs. 24%, χ²=9.61, P <0.01).

Conclusions  CGM system can detect the glycemic variability and asymptomatic hypoglycemic events of T2DM with well-controlled HbA1c in duration of insulin treatment. Combination therapy of premixed insulin twice daily with acarbose can flat glycemic variability and decrease hypoglycemic events.

     

Acarbose plus metformin fixed-dose combination in the management of type 2 diabetes

Introduction: The prevalence of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is increasing worldwide. Concerns in the management of diabetes include drug-induced hypoglycemia, poor control of postprandial blood glucose level and weight gain. A carbohydrate-rich diet can cause more load on the intestinal cells producing α-glucosidase. Many patients need combination treatment based on their level of glycemic control and other associated parameters. In such cases, a therapy that provides effective glycemic control with minimal or no risk of adverse events like hypoglycemia or weight gain is highly desired. The chances of cardiovascular events are high in diabetes patients; hence, medicines providing benefits beyond glycemic control such as reduced cardiovascular risk factors may be ideal in such patients.

Areas covered: Current available data are related to the rationale and clinical trials on the fixed-dose combination of acarbose plus metformin in management of type 2 diabetes.

Expert opinion: Combination therapy is routinely prescribed in the management of T2DM. Drugs with complimentary mechanisms should be used to maximize the efficacy of combination therapy. The combination of metformin and acarbose is a rational therapy because of their different and complimentary mechanisms of action, which provides effective glycemic control with additional cardiovascular benefits and minimizes adverse events.     

Pharmacotherapy of polycystic ovary syndrome--an update

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a persisting challenge to clinical and basic research scientists as none of the presently available medications have been fully able to combat these consequences. The aim of the present review is to summarize the different lines of treatment available for the different symptomologies that women with PCOS presents. In this comprehensive review, search was made for various treatment options available for PCOS by using Cochrane library, Pubmed, Medline, in addition to the relevant printed medical journals and periodicals. The search results revealed that oral contraceptives containing oestrogen and progesterone regularize the menstruation, antiandrogens like spironolactone and drosperinone have proven to be effective in hirsutism and acne, clomiphene is the gold standard for ovulation induction, but multiple pregnancies and clomiphene failure add to its limitation. Hence, aromatase inhibitors like letrozole, low-dose gondotropins, and ovarian drilling procedure have shown to be beneficial effect in clomiphene-resistant cases. Insulin sensitizers such as metformin, thiazolidinediones, and d-chiro-inositol increase insulin sensitivity and improve ovulation rate. Recently, melatonin, N-acetyl cysteine, acarbose, and statins have shown positive results in different symptomologies of PCOS. The results show that PCOS treatment constitutes varied line of treatment depending upon the clinical features with which a woman is presenting. Still, unfortunately, none of the treatments are fully able to combat the PCOS.