The role of chloramines in treatment of diabetic foot ulcers: an exploratory multicentre randomised controlled trial

BACKGROUND

Chronic foot ulcers in diabetes are serious, costly and frequently difficult to heal. Recent guidelines conclude that new dressings and treatments generally fail to show superiority compared with standard of care. Several mechanisms are probably responsible for impaired healing of chronic foot ulcers, including inflammation and infection. Chloramines have presumed antiseptic and antibacterial properties, and have shown to be a useful treatment in odontology.

METHODS

In an explorative open randomised controlled multi-centre study, we compared chloramine-based treatment with current standard of care for 12 weeks and follow-up for 24 weeks. Seventeen patients in each group, mean age about 70, duration of diabetes > 20 years and foot ulcers about 1.5 years, completed the 12 weeks study.

RESULTS

After 5 weeks, the difference between the groups in relative reduction in ulcer area was statistically significant (p=0.016). Absolute change in ulcer area was first statistically significant within the chloraminetreated group after 2 weeks (p=0.026), after 8 weeks in the control group (p=0.0023), with significant difference between groups after 5 weeks (p=0.024). The approximate relative decrease per week was 19.4% (95%CI 12.2, 26.0; p<0.0001) in the chloramine-treated group and 11.7% (95%CI 6.4, 16.7; p<0.0001; between-group difference p=0.083). After 9 weeks 7 patients had healed in the chloraminetreated group, but only one in the control group (p=0.039). There were no statistically significant differences in wound healing at 12 or 24 weeks, and no marked differences in signs of infection, pain, quality of life (EQ-5D), or incidence of adverse events.

CONCLUSIONS

Chloramine-based treatment seems to be efficacious, particularly in the early phase of the care of infected diabetic foot ulcers. It is safe and easy to use, and could prove to be a valuable addition in the treatment arsenal, providing non-surgical debridement. Future studies will evaluate its role in wound care.

LDL cholesterol is not a good marker of cardiovascular risk in Type 1 diabetes

AIM

LDL cholesterol (LDL-C) is considered an important cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factor. Less is known in Type 1 diabetes. We assessed LDL-C and total cholesterol to HDL cholesterol ratio (TC/HDL-C) as predictors of CVD in Type 1 diabetes.

METHODS

The study monitored 30 778 people with Type 1 diabetes, baseline 2003-2006, to 31 December 2011. Cox regression analyses were performed with LDL-C and TC/HDL-C as predictors of fatal/non-fatal CVD. Models were adjusted for traditional CVD risk factors.

RESULTS

Hazard ratios (HR) (with 95% CI) per 1 mmol/l increase in LDL-C for CVD were 1.09 (1.01-1.18) in people without lipid-lowering medication and 1.02 (0.95-1.09) in people with lipid-lowering medication (P = 0.02 and 0.65). In people aged 40 years or older having a CVD risk factor, and in people with a history of CVD, HR was 1.07 (0.99-1.16) and 1.02 (0.92-1.13) (P = 0.07 and 0.66). HR per 1 unit increase in TC/HDL-C was 1.12 (1.05-1.20) in people without lipid-lowering medication and 1.08 (1.02-1.15) in people with lipid-lowering medication (P < 0.001 and 0.01). For people aged 40 or older and people with a history of CVD, HR was 1.16 (1.09-1.24) and 1.04 (0.95-1.14) (P < 0.001 and 0.43). Broken down into octiles, LDL-C was not a significant predictor of CVD in any group. Higher octiles of TC/HDL-C were significant predictors for CVD in people without lipid-lowering medication and in those aged 40 years or older.

CONCLUSION

In this study of people with Type 1 diabetes in clinical practice, LDL-C was not a good predictor of CVD. We found no support for an LDL-C cut-off point < 2.6 mmol/l. TC/HDL-C seems more reliable as a marker for CVD risk when considering primary prevention.

Minor Contribution of Endogenous GLP-1 and GLP-2 to Postprandial Lipemia in Obese Men

Context

Glucose and lipids stimulate the gut-hormones glucagon-like peptide (GLP)-1, GLP-2 and glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide (GIP) but the effect of these on human postprandial lipid metabolism is not fully clarified.

Objective

To explore the responses of GLP-1, GLP-2 and GIP after a fat-rich meal compared to the same responses after an oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) and to investigate possible relationships between incretin response and triglyceride-rich lipoprotein (TRL) response to a fat-rich meal.

Design

Glucose, insulin, GLP-1, GLP-2 and GIP were measured after an OGTT and after a fat-rich meal in 65 healthy obese (BMI 26.5–40.2 kg/m²) male subjects. Triglycerides (TG), apoB48 and apoB100 in TG-rich lipoproteins (chylomicrons, VLDL₁ and VLDL₂) were measured after the fat-rich meal.

Main Outcome Measures

Postprandial responses (area under the curve, AUC) for glucose, insulin, GLP-1, GLP-2, GIP in plasma, and TG, apoB48 and apoB100 in plasma and TG-rich lipoproteins.

Results

The GLP-1, GLP-2 and GIP responses after the fat-rich meal and after the OGTT correlated strongly (r = 0.73, p<0.0001; r = 0.46, p<0.001 and r = 0.69, p<0.001, respectively). Glucose and insulin AUCs were lower, but the AUCs for GLP-1, GLP-2 and GIP were significantly higher after the fat-rich meal than after the OGTT. The peak value for all hormones appeared at 120 minutes after the fat-rich meal, compared to 30 minutes after the OGTT. After the fat-rich meal, the AUCs for GLP-1, GLP-2 and GIP correlated significantly with plasma TG- and apoB48 AUCs but the contribution was very modest.

Conclusions

In obese males, GLP-1, GLP-2 and GIP responses to a fat-rich meal are greater than following an OGTT. However, the most important explanatory variable for postprandial TG excursion was fasting triglycerides. The contribution of endogenous GLP-1, GLP-2 and GIP to explaining the variance in postprandial TG excursion was minor.

Total costs of basal or premixed insulin treatment in 5077 insulin-naïve type 2 diabetes patients: register-based observational study in clinical practice

Background

To investigate the costs of treatment with basal insulin (insulin NPH [NPH], insulin glargine [IG], insulin determir [IG]), and premixed insulin (PM) in routine clinical care.

Methods

Cohort study based on data from the Swedish National Diabetes Register, including 5077 insulin-naïve men and women with type 2 diabetes, resident in a distinct geographical region of Sweden. Patients were included between 1 July 2006 and 31 December 2009 and followed for 12 months. All drug- and healthcare-related costs, stratified by diabetes-related or non-diabetes care contacts, were quantified and compared to baseline.

Results

Initiation of insulin treatment generally entails increased diabetes-related health care contacts and treatment costs, and decrease in health care costs. The median changes in costs were generally smaller than the mean changes, reflecting great variations between patients. The treatment costs were higher for IG, ID and PM compared with NPH, although higher age, history cardiovascular disease and diabetes complications as well as higher diabetes-related and other treatment costs were independent predictors. Overall, only PM (but not IG or ID) were associated with higher diabetes-related health care costs, although these were also independently predicted by cardiovascular morbidity and markers of complicated diabetes.

Conclusions

This study demonstrates that the initiation of insulin in patients with type 2 diabetes in clinical practice leads to increased health care contacts, overall and treatment costs, but also generally results in a decrease in health care costs. The diabetes-related treatment cost was lowest using NPH insulin but only premixed insulin was associated with higher diabetes-related health care costs than NPH.

Electronic supplementary material

The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s40842-015-0017-1) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Comparison of Adipose Distribution Indices with Gold Standard Body Composition Assessments in the EMPA-REG H2H SU Trial: A Body Composition Sub-Study

INTRODUCTION

Excess adiposity contributes to cardiometabolic disease. Although adipose depots can be measured using imaging, implementation remains limited in practice. Data comparing surrogate indices of total and visceral adiposity with gold standard measurements in the context of a clinical trial population are lacking. We explored the relationships between adipose distribution indices and imaging assessments of body composition using baseline data from the EMPA-REG H2H SU™ trial.

METHODS

118 participants from the Phase III trial of empagliflozin 25 mg vs. glimepiride 1-4 mg enrolled in a dedicated sub-study underwent assessment of total fat and fat-free mass by dual x-ray absorptiometry (n = 93) and abdominal visceral (VAT) and subcutaneous adipose tissue by magnetic resonance imaging (n = 99). Correlations with waist circumference (WC), estimated total body fat (eTBF), index of central obesity (ICO), and visceral adiposity index (VAI) were assessed.

RESULTS

eTBF was highly representative of total body fat (Spearman's ρ = 0.73, P < 0.001) but not associated with VAT. WC and ICO were strongly, and VAI to a lesser degree, correlated with VAT (ρ = 0.66, P < 0.001; ρ = 0.52, P < 0.001; ρ = 0.24, P = 0.02, respectively).

CONCLUSION

These findings support the use of eTBF and WC or ICO as surrogate indices for total body fat and VAT, respectively, in the absence of gold standard imaging methodology.

Cardiovascular disease and mortality in patients with type 2 diabetes after bariatric surgery in Sweden: a nationwide, matched, observational cohort study

BACKGROUND

In patients with diabetes and obesity specifically, no studies have examined mortality after bariatric surgery. We did a nationwide study in Sweden to examine risks of cardiovascular disease and mortality in patients with obesity and diabetes who had undergone bariatric surgery (Roux-en-Y gastric bypass [RYGB]).

METHODS

In this nationwide, matched, observational cohort study, we merged data for patients who had undergone RYGB registered in the Scandinavian Obesity Surgery Registry with other national databases, and identified matched controls (on the basis of sex, age, BMI, and calendar time [year]) who had not undergone bariatric surgery from the National Diabetes Registry. We assessed risks of cardiovascular disease and death using a Cox proportional-hazards regression model and other methods to examine the treatment effect while accounting for residual confounding. Primary outcomes were total mortality, cardiovascular death, and fatal or non-fatal myocardial infarction.

FINDINGS

Between Jan 1, 2007, and Dec 31, 2014, we obtained data for 6132 patients who had undergone RYGB and 6132 control patients who had not. Median follow-up was 3·5 years (IQR 2·1-4·7). We noted a 58% relative risk reduction (hazard ratio [HR] 0·42, 95% CI 0·30-0·57; p<0·0001) in overall mortality in the RYGB group compared with the controls. The risk of fatal or non-fatal myocardial infarction was 49% lower (HR 0·51, 0·29-0·91; p=0·021) and that of cardiovascular death was 59% lower (0·41, 0·19-0·90; p=0·026) in the RYGB group than in the control group. 5 year absolute risks of death were 1·8% (95% CI 1·5-2·2) in the RYGB group and 5·8% (5·0-6·8) in the control group.

INTERPRETATION

Our findings provide support for the benefits of RYGB surgery for patients with obesity and type 2 diabetes. The causes of these beneficial effects may be the weight reduction per se, changes in physiology and metabolism, improved care and treatment, improvements in lifestyle and risk factors, or combinations of these factors.

FUNDING

Swedish Association of Local Authorities and Regions and Region Västra Götaland.

Risk factors for atrial fibrillation in type 2 diabetes: report from the Swedish National Diabetes Register (NDR)

AIMS/HYPOTHESIS

Atrial fibrillation (AF) is more frequent in patients with diabetes than in the general population. However, characteristics contributing to AF risk in diabetes remain speculative.

METHODS

Observational study of 83,162 patients with type 2 diabetes, aged 30-79 years, with no baseline AF, 17% had history of cardiovascular disease (CVD) and 3.3% history of congestive heart failure (CHF), followed up for development of AF during mean 6.8 years from 2005-2007 to 2012. A subgroup of 67,780 patients without history of CVD or CHF was also analysed.

RESULTS

Using Cox regression, cardiovascular risk factors associated with risk for AF were updated mean BMI (HR 1.31 per 5 kg/m(2)) or obesity (HR 1.51), updated mean systolic BP (SBP; HR 1.13 per 10 mmHg) or hypertension (HR 1.71), and cumulative microalbuminuria (HR 1.21), p < 0.001 for all analyses. Male sex, increasing age and height were also significant predictors. HRs were 1.76 for a history of CHF and 2.56 for in-study CHF, while 1.32 for history of CVD and 1.38 for in-study CHD (p < 0.001). Among patients without history of CVD or CHF, significant predictors were similarly BMI, SBP, and cumulative microalbuminuria and CHF. The risk of AF differed in the subgroups achieving or not achieving a target BP < 140/85 mmHg. The HRs for AF were (per 10 mmHg increase) 0.88 and 1.24, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS/INTERPRETATION

The modifiable risk factors high BP, high BMI and albuminuria were strongly associated with AF in type 2 diabetes. CVD, advancing age and height were also associated with AF in type 2 diabetes.

Metabolic predictors of impaired glucose tolerance and type 2 diabetes in a predisposed population--A prospective cohort study

BACKGROUND

We characterized in detail (oral and intravenous glucose tolerance tests (OGTT and IVGTT), euglycemic hyperinsulinemic clamp, adipose tissue biopsy), healthy first-degree relatives (FDR) of individuals with type 2 diabetes (T2D), to examine predictive factors for future development of impaired glucose tolerance (IGT) or T2D.

METHODS

Non-diabetic FDR (n = 138, mean age 40.5 ± 6.5 years, 57 % women) underwent an extended OGTT every 3 years to assess any deterioration in glucose tolerance status. Differences between groups were assessed by logistic fit for continuous variables and by contingency analysis for categorical variables. Multiple logistic regression analysis was applied to adjust for confounding variables.

RESULTS

At follow-up (mean 5.6 ± 2.4 years) 19 subjects had IGT and 4 had T2D. At baseline these 23 subjects had more family members with T2D, higher fasting plasma glucose, higher OGTT plasma glucose at 120 min, higher HbA1c, lower M-value and higher total cholesterol compared to subjects with normal glucose tolerance (NGT). There were significantly larger changes in weight, BMI, fasting plasma glucose, OGTT plasma glucose at 120 min and HbA1c in individuals developing IGT or T2D during the follow-up period than the subjects remaining NGT. Crude predictors of deteriorating glucose tolerance were age, family history of diabetes and of hypertension, OGTT plasma glucose levels at 60 min, 90 min, and 120 min, as well as serum bilirubin, ALP and creatinine (p-values <0.05). A multiple nominal logistic regression model revealed that male sex, low M-value and high physical exercise (p-values <0.05) predicted development of IGT/T2DM.

CONCLUSION

In sum, genetically predisposed individuals for T2D with deteriorating glucose tolerance exhibit insulin resistance as well as beta-cell and signs of adipose tissue dysfunction, emphasizing the multifactorial pathophysiology in the development of IGT and T2D.

Does the choice of EQ-5D tariff matter? A comparison of the Swedish EQ-5D-3L index score with UK, US, Germany and Denmark among type 2 diabetes patients

Objective

To compare the performance of the recently developed Swedish experience-based time trade-off (TTO) valuation of the EuroQol-5D-3L (EQ-5D-3L) against the hypothetical-based TTO valuations from UK, US, Germany and Denmark.

Methods

Type 2 diabetes patients from the Swedish National Diabetes Register (N = 1 757) responded to EQ-5D-3L questionnaire in 2008. Health utilities were compared using a range of parametric and nonparametric tests. Absolute agreement and consistency were investigated using intra-class correlations coefficients (ICCs) and Bland-Altman plots. Differences in health utilities between known-groups were evaluated. Transition scores for pairs of observed EQ-5D-3L health states were calculated and compared.

Results

The Swedish tariff (SWT) resulted in substantially higher health utilities and differences were more profound for more severe health problems. ICC ranged 0.6 to 0.8 and Bland-Altman plots showed wide limits of agreement. While all tariffs discriminate between known-groups, the effect sizes were generally small. The SWT had higher (lower) known-group validity for macrovascular (microvascular) complications. The SWT and UK tariff were associated with the lowest and the highest mean absolute transition scores, respectively, for 2775 observed pairs of the EQ-5D-3L health states.

Conclusion

There were systematic differences between the SWT and tariffs from other countries meaning that the choice of tariff might have substantial impact on funding decisions. The Swedish experienced-based TTO valuation will give higher priority to life-extending interventions than those which improve quality of life. We suggest that economic evaluations in Sweden include both Swedish experience-based and non-Swedish hypothetical-based valuations through a sensitivity analysis.

Impact of Socioeconomic Status on Cardiovascular Disease and Mortality in 24,947 Individuals With Type 1 Diabetes

OBJECTIVE

Socioeconomic status (SES) is a powerful predictor of cardiovascular disease (CVD) and death. We examined the association in a large cohort of patients with type 1 diabetes.

RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS

Clinical data from the Swedish National Diabetes Register were linked to national registers, whereby information on income, education, marital status, country of birth, comorbidities, and events was obtained. Patients were followed until a first incident event, death, or end of follow-up. The association between socioeconomic variables and the outcomes was modeled using Cox regression, with rigorous covariate adjustment.

RESULTS

We included 24,947 patients. Mean (SD) age and follow-up was 39.1 (13.9) and 6.0 (1.0) years. Death and fatal/nonfatal CVD occurred in 926 and 1378 individuals. Compared with being single, being married was associated with 50% lower risk of death, cardiovascular (CV) death, and diabetes-related death. Individuals in the two lowest quintiles had twice as great a risk of fatal/nonfatal CVD, coronary heart disease, and stroke and roughly three times as great a risk of death, diabetes-related death, and CV death as individuals in the highest income quintile. Compared with having ≤9 years of education, individuals with a college/university degree had 33% lower risk of fatal/nonfatal stroke. Immigrants had 19%, 33%, and 45% lower risk of fatal/nonfatal CVD, all-cause death, and diabetes-related death, respectively, compared with Swedes. Men had 44%, 63%, and 29% greater risk of all-cause death, CV death, and diabetes-related death.

CONCLUSIONS

Low SES increases the risk of CVD and death by a factor of 2-3 in type 1 diabetes.

Insulin pump therapy, multiple daily injections, and cardiovascular mortality in 18,168 people with type 1 diabetes: observational study

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the long term effects of continuous subcutaneous insulin infusion (insulin pump therapy) on cardiovascular diseases and mortality in people with type 1 diabetes.

DESIGN

Observational study.

SETTING

Swedish National Diabetes Register, Sweden 2005-12.

PARTICIPANTS

18,168 people with type 1 diabetes, 2441 using insulin pump therapy and 15,727 using multiple daily insulin injections.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

Cox regression analysis was used to estimate hazard ratios for the outcomes, with stratification of propensity scores including clinical characteristics, risk factors for cardiovascular disease, treatments, and previous diseases.

RESULTS

Follow-up was for a mean of 6.8 years until December 2012, with 114,135 person years. With multiple daily injections as reference, the adjusted hazard ratios for insulin pump treatment were significantly lower: 0.55 (95% confidence interval 0.36 to 0.83) for fatal coronary heart disease, 0.58 (0.40 to 0.85) for fatal cardiovascular disease (coronary heart disease or stroke), and 0.73 (0.58 to 0.92) for all cause mortality. Hazard ratios were lower, but not significantly so, for fatal or non-fatal coronary heart disease and fatal or non-fatal cardiovascular disease. Unadjusted absolute differences were 3.0 events of fatal coronary heart disease per 1000 person years; corresponding figures were 3.3 for fatal cardiovascular disease and 5.7 for all cause mortality. When lower body mass index and previous cardiovascular diseases were excluded, results of subgroup analyses were similar to the results from complete data. A sensitivity analysis of unmeasured confounders in all individuals showed that an unmeasured confounders with hazard ratio of 1.3 would have to be present in >80% of the individuals treated with multiple daily injections versus not presence in those treated with pump therapy to invalidate the significantly lower hazard ratios for fatal cardiovascular disease. Data on patient education and frequency of blood glucose monitoring were missing, which might have influenced the observed association.

CONCLUSION

Among people with type 1 diabetes use of insulin pump therapy is associated with lower cardiovascular mortality than treatment with multiple daily insulin injections.

Impact of ethnicity on progress of glycaemic control in 131,935 newly diagnosed patients with type 2 diabetes: a nationwide observational study from the Swedish National Diabetes Register

OBJECTIVES

Studies on ethnic disparities in glycaemic control have been contradictory, and compromised by excessively broad categories of ethnicity and inadequate adjustment for socioeconomic differences. We aimed to study the effect of ethnicity on glycaemic control in a large cohort of patients with type 2 diabetes.

SETTING

We used nationwide data (mainly from primary care) from the Swedish National Diabetes Register (2002-2011) to identify patients with newly diagnosed (within 12 months) type 2 diabetes.

PARTICIPANTS

We included 131,935 patients (with 713,495 appointments), representing 10 ethnic groups, who were followed up to 10 years.

PRIMARY AND SECONDARY OUTCOME MEASURES

Progress of glycated haemoglobin (HbA1c) for up to 10 years was examined. Mixed models were used to correlate ethnicity with HbA1c (mmol/mol). The effect of glycaemic disparities was examined by assessing the risk of developing albuminuria. The impact of ethnicity was compared to that of income, education and physical activity.

RESULTS

Immigrants, particularly those of non-Western origin, received glucose-lowering therapy earlier, had 30% more appointments but displayed poorer glycaemic control (2-5 mmol/mol higher HbA1c than native Swedes). Probability of therapy failure was 28-111% higher for non-Western groups than for native Swedes. High-income Western groups remained below the target-level of HbA1c for 4-5 years, whereas non-Western populations never reached the target level. These disparities translated into 51-92% higher risk of developing albuminuria. The impact of ethnicity was greater than the effect of income and education, and equal to the effect of physical activity.

CONCLUSIONS

Despite earlier pharmacological treatment and more frequent appointments, immigrants of non-Western origin display poorer glycaemic control and this is mirrored in a higher risk of developing albuminuria.

Blood pressure level and risk of major cardiovascular events and all-cause of mortality in patients with type 2 diabetes and renal impairment: an observational study from the Swedish National Diabetes Register

AIMS/HYPOTHESIS

We assessed the relationship between BP and risk of cardiovascular events (CVEs) and all-cause mortality in patients with type 2 diabetes and renal impairment (estimated GFR < 60 ml min(-1) 1.73 m(-2)) treated in clinical practice.

METHODS

A total of 33,356 patients (aged 75 ± 9 years, diabetes duration of 10 ± 8 years) with at least one serum creatinine and BP value available in the Swedish National Diabetes Register between 2005 and 2007 were followed up until 2011 or death. The relationships between mean BPs, CVEs and all-cause mortality were examined using time-dependent Cox models to estimate HRs, adjusting for cardiovascular risk factors and ongoing medications.

RESULTS

During the follow-up period (mean 5.3 years), 11,317 CVEs and 10,738 deaths occurred. The lowest risks of CVEs and all-cause mortality were observed with a systolic BP (SBP) of 135-139 and a diastolic BP (DBP) of 72-74 mmHg, and the highest risks were observed for those with SBP intervals 80-120 (CVE HR 2.3 [95% CI 2.0, 2.6] and all-cause mortality HR 2.4, [95% CI 2.1, 2.7]) and 160-230 mmHg (CVE HR 3.0 [95% CI 2.6, 3.3] and all-cause mortality HR 2.0 [95% CI 1.8-2.3]) and DBP intervals 40-63 mmHg (CVE HR 2.0 [95% CI 1.8, 2.2], all-cause mortality HR 2.0 [95% CI 1.8, 2.2]) and 83-125 mmHg (CVE HR 2.3 [95% CI 2.0, 2.5], all-cause mortality HR 2.3 [95% CI 2.0, 2.6]).

CONCLUSIONS/INTERPRETATION

In this nationwide cohort of patients with type 2 diabetes and renal impairment, the risk of CVEs and all-cause mortality increased significantly with both high and low BPs, while an SBP of 135-139 mmHg and DBP of 72-74 mmHg were associated with the lowest risks of CVEs and death.

Durability of oral hypoglycemic agents in drug naïve patients with type 2 diabetes: report from the Swedish National Diabetes Register (NDR)

OBJECTIVE

To analyze the durability of monotherapy with different classes of oral hypoglycemic agents (OHAs) in drug naïve patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) in real life.

METHODS

Men and women with T2DM, who were new users of OHA monotherapy and registered in the Swedish National Diabetes Register July 2005-December 2011, were available (n=17 309) and followed for up to 5.5 years. Time to monotherapy failure, defined as discontinuation of continuous use with the initial agent, switch to a new agent, or add-on treatment of a second agent, was analyzed as a measure of durability. Baseline characteristics were balanced by propensity score matching 1:5 between groups of sulfonylurea (SU) versus metformin (n=4303) and meglitinide versus metformin (n=1308). HRs with 95% CIs were calculated using Cox regression models.

RESULTS

SU and meglitinide, as compared with metformin, were associated with increased risk of monotherapy failure (HR 1.74; 95% CI 1.56 to 1.94 and 1.66; 1.37 to 2.00 for SU and meglitinide, respectively). When broken down by type of monotherapy failure, SU and meglitinide were associated with an increased risk of add-on treatment of a second agent (HR 3.14; 95% CI 2.66 to 3.69 and 2.52; 1.89 to 3.37 for SU and meglitinide, respectively) and of switch to a new agent (HR 2.81; 95% CI 2.01 to 3.92 and 3.78; 2.25 to 6.32 for SU and meglitinide, respectively). The risk of discontinuation did not differ significantly between the groups.

CONCLUSIONS

In this nationwide observational study reflecting clinical practice, SU and meglitinide showed substantially increased risk of switch to a new agent or add on of a second agent compared with metformin. These results indicate superior glycemic durability with metformin compared with SU and also meglitinide in real life.

Diabetes care--improvement through measurement

The National Diabetes Register (NDR) of Sweden was initiated in response to The Saint Vincent Declaration (published 1990), to provide a tool for continuous quality assurance in diabetes care. The original purpose, to monitor the results of health centres from year to year and to compare these with national and regional means, is still the most important one, while continuous follow-up of guidelines, treatments and complications are as important on a national level. The data reported contain basal clinical characteristics of the patients, as well as measures of risk-factor control and the presence of diabetes complications. Many clinics use templates within the medical record systems to verify that all information relevant to good quality assurance in diabetes care is complete, and thereafter export data to NDR. In order to create extra value, the NDR web interface, online at ndr.nu, offers functions to use when interacting with the individual patient, such as reports of all information reported to NDR, including medications and risk-factor control. The clinical results are thus reported back to the health centres (printed and instantaneously online), but are also used for scientific analyses. Such are required by the funding bodies to develop the analytical methods by quality registers, and to widely spread information, including publishing in scientific journals. Ongoing studies address, e.g., the effects of different glucose-lowering therapies, the role of ethnicity and migration, patient-reported outcomes and risks of morbidity and mortality in diabetes mellitus.

The triglycerides-to-HDL-cholesterol ratio and cardiovascular disease risk in obese patients with type 2 diabetes: an observational study from the Swedish National Diabetes Register (NDR)

AIMS

Assessing the association between BMI and risk of coronary heart disease (CHD), cardiovascular disease (CVD) and mortality in patients with type 2 diabetes, also with regard to higher or lower levels of the ratio triglycerides-to-HDL-cholesterol (TG:HDL).

METHODS

54,061 patients with BMI≥18.5kg/m(2), mean age and duration 61.5±8 and 6.9±6 years, 59% males, 14% with CVD history, from the Swedish National Diabetes Register, followed for mean 4.8 years.

RESULTS

Adjusting at Cox regression for non-BMI-linked (age, sex, smoking, CVD history) and BMI-linked (blood lipids, blood pressure, HbA1c, albuminuria) covariates, hazard ratios (HR) for fatal/nonfatal CHD and CVD were mainly increased with prominent obesity (BMI≥35kg/m(2)), 1.19 (p=0.01) and 1.17 (p=0.009), compared to normal weight (BMI 18.5-24.9kg/m(2)), although increased also with obesity (BMI 30-34.9kg/m(2)), 1.34 and 1.30 (p<0.001), when adjusting only for non-BMI-linked covariates. Stratifying by 75th percentile of TG:HDL, with normal weight and TG:HDL<1.9 as reference, obese and prominently obese with TG:HDL≥1.9 had considerably increased HR around 1.7 for fatal/nonfatal CHD and 1.6 for CVD (p<0.001), while obese and prominently obese with TG:HDL<1.9 only had HR 1.2-1.3 for CHD and CVD (p0.003-<0.01).

CONCLUSION

Obese T2D patients with high TG:HDL, associated with increased insulin resistance, had considerably increased risk of CHD and CVD.

Predicting mortality in people with type 2 diabetes mellitus after major complications: a study using Swedish National Diabetes Register data

AIM

To predict mortality risk and life expectancy for patients with type 2 diabetes after a major diabetes-related complication.

METHODS

The study sample, taken from the Swedish National Diabetes Register, consisted of 20 836 people with type 2 diabetes who had their first major complication (myocardial infarction, stroke, heart failure, amputation or renal failure) between January 2001 and December 2007. A Gompertz proportional hazards model was derived which determined significant risk factors associated with mortality and was used to estimate life expectancies.

RESULTS

Risk of death changed over time according to type of complication, with myocardial infarction initally having the highest initial risk of death, but after the first month, the risk was higher for heart failure, renal failure and amputation. Other factors that increased the risk of death were male gender (hazard ratio 1.06, 95% CI 1.02-1.12), longer duration of diabetes (hazard ratio 1.07 per 10 years, 95% CI 1.04-1.10), smoking (hazard ratio 1.51, 95% CI 1.40-1.63) and macroalbuminuria (hazard ratio 1.14, 95% CI 1.06-1.22). Low BMI, low systolic blood pressure and low estimated GFR also increased mortality risk. Life expectancy was highest after a stroke, myocardial infarction or heart failure, lower after amputation and lowest after renal failure. Smoking and poor renal function were the risk factors which had the largest impact on reducing life expectancy.

CONCLUSIONS

Risk of death and life expectancy differs substantially among the major complications of diabetes, and factors significantly increasing risk included smoking, low estimated GFR and albuminuria.

Trapping and instability of directional gravity waves in localized water currents

The influence of localized water currents on the nonlinear dynamics and stability of large amplitude, statistically distributed gravity waves is investigated theoretically and numerically by means of an evolution equation for a Wigner function governing the spectrum of waves. It is shown that water waves propagating in the opposite direction of a localized current channel can be trapped in the channel, which can lead to the amplification of the wave intensity. Under certain conditions the wave intensity can be further localized due to a self-focusing (Benjamin-Feir) instability. The localized amplification of the wave intensity may increase the probability of extreme events in the form of freak waves, which have been observed in connection with ocean currents.

Metabolic effects of Basal or premixed insulin treatment in 5077 insulin-naïve type 2 diabetes patients: registry-based observational study in clinical practice

INTRODUCTION

To investigate the clinical effects associated with premixed insulin (PM) and basal insulin [insulin NPH (NPH), insulin glargine (IG), insulin detemir (ID)], in insulin-naïve patients with type 2 diabetes in routine clinical care.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Cohort study based on data from the Swedish National Diabetes Register, including 5,077 patients, resident in the Western region of Sweden. Patients were included between 1 July 2006 and 31 December 2009 and followed for 12 months. Changes in HbA1c, body mass index (BMI) and required insulin doses were compared between the different insulin types. Covariance adjustments were performed to adjust for differences between the groups.

RESULTS

NPH, IG, ID and PM were all associated with significant reductions in HbA1c, mean ± standard deviation ranged between 6.6 ± 17.4 mmol/mol (IG) and 8.9 ± 17.7 mmol/mol (NPH), during the 12 months of follow-up. There were no statistically significant differences in the magnitude of HbA1c reduction between the insulin types. PM required 59% higher and ID 25% higher insulin doses to achieve a similar HbA1c reduction as NPH. PM was associated with a significantly greater increase in BMI compared with NPH (p = 0.016), while IG and ID did not differ significantly from NPH. The number of patients experiencing severe hypoglycemia was low, but highest in patients treated with PM (p = 0.023).

CONCLUSIONS

NPH, IG, ID and PM were found to be equally effective in lowering HbA1c in insulin-naïve patients with type 2 diabetes in routine clinical care in Sweden. The effects on weight, dose and treatment persistence support the recommendation of NPH or IG as first and second choices in this group of patients requiring initiation of insulin treatment.

The effect of alogliptin and pioglitazone combination therapy on various aspects of β-cell function in patients with recent-onset type 2 diabetes

OBJECTIVE

Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) management requires continuous treatment intensification due to progressive decline in β-cell function in insulin resistant individuals. Initial combination therapy of a dipeptidyl peptidase (DPP)-4 inhibitor with a thiazolidinedione (TZD) may be rational. We assessed the effects of the DPP4 inhibitor alogliptin (ALO) combined with the TZD pioglitazone (PIO), vs ALO monotherapy or placebo (PBO), on β-cell function and glycemic control in T2DM.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

A 16-week, two-center, randomized, double-blind, PBO-controlled, parallel-arm intervention study in 71 patients with well-controlled T2DM (age 59.1±6.3 years; A1C 6.7±0.1%) treated with metformin, sulfonylurea, or glinide monotherapy was conducted. Patients were treated with combined ALO 25 mg and PIO 30 mg daily or ALO 25 mg daily monotherapy or PBO. Main outcome measures included change in A1C and fasting plasma glucose (FPG) from baseline to week 16. In addition, change in β-cell function parameters obtained from standardized meal tests at baseline and at week 16 was measured.

RESULTS

ALO/PIO and ALO decreased A1C from baseline by 0.9±0.1 and 0.4±0.2% respectively (both P<0.001 vs PBO). FPG was decreased to a greater extent by ALO/PIO compared with ALO monotherapy (P<0.01). ALO/PIO treatment improved β-cell glucose sensitivity (vs PBO; P<0.001) and fasting secretory tone (vs PBO; P=0.001), while ALO monotherapy did not change β-cell function parameters. All treatments were well tolerated.

CONCLUSION

Short-term treatment with ALO/PIO or ALO improved glycemic control in well-controlled T2DM patients, but only combined ALO/PIO improved β-cell function. These data support that initial combination therapy with a DPP4 inhibitor and TZD to address multiple core defects in T2DM may be a sensible approach.

Albuminuria and renal function as predictors of cardiovascular events and mortality in a general population of patients with type 2 diabetes: a nationwide observational study from the Swedish National Diabetes Register

OBJECTIVE

Reduced renal function and albuminuria predict cardiovascular (CV) events and mortality in type 2 diabetes (T2D). In addition, we evaluated the role of co-existing congestive heart failure (CHF) and other CV risk factors on CV events in a large observational population-based cohort of T2D patients.

RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS

We included 66,065 patients with T2D who were reported to the National Diabetes Register (NDR) in Sweden between 2003-2006 with a follow-up of 5.7 years. Data on outcomes were collected from the cause of death and hospital discharge registers.

RESULTS

A total of 10% of patients experienced a CV event and 3.7% of these were fatal. Increasing levels of albuminuria and renal impairment were independently associated with increasing risk of CV events and all-cause mortality also when adjusting for CHF. In normoalbuminuric patients, a reduction in renal function is an important predictor of CV events and all-cause mortality. Glycaemic control (high HbA1c), smoking and hyperlipidaemia had important effects on risk for CV events in patients with albuminuria, while high blood pressure, but not glycaemic control, had an effect in patients with normoalbuminuric renal impairment.

CONCLUSION

Albuminuria and renal impairment are independent risk factors for CV outcomes and mortality in T2D, albuminuria being the strongest risk factor and relevant at all levels of renal function. In normoalbuminuric patients, a reduction in renal function is an important predictor of CV events and all-cause mortality.

LDL-cholesterol versus non-HDL-to-HDL-cholesterol ratio and risk for coronary heart disease in type 2 diabetes

AIMS

We assessed the association between different blood lipid measures and risk of fatal/nonfatal coronary heart disease (CHD), which has been less analysed previously in type 2 diabetes.

DESIGN, METHODS

Observational study of 46,786 patients with type 2 diabetes, aged 30-70 years, from the Swedish National Diabetes Register, followed for a mean of 5.8 years until 2009. Baseline and updated mean low-density lipoprotein (LDL)-, high-density lipoprotein (HDL)-, non-HDL-cholesterol, and non-HDL-to-HDL-cholesterol ratio were measured.

RESULTS

Hazard ratios (HR) for CHD with quartiles 2-4 of baseline lipid measures, with lowest quartile 1 as reference: 1.03-1.29-1.63 for LDL; 1.23-1.41-1.95 for non-HDL; 1.29-1.39-1.57 for HDL; and 1.31-1.67-2.01 for non-HDL:HDL, all p < 0.001 except for quartile 2 of LDL, when adjusted for clinical characteristics and nonlipid risk factors. A similar picture was seen with updated mean values. Splines with absolute 6-year CHD rates in a Cox model showed decreasing rates only down to around 3 mmol/l for LDL, with linearly decreasing rates to the lowest level of non-HDL:HDL. Non-HDL and HDL were independent additive risk factors for CHD risk. HRs per 1 SD continuous decrease in baseline or updated mean HDL were 1.14-1.17 when fully adjusted as above, and 1.08-1.13 when also adjusted for non-HDL (p < 0.001). HRs were 1.13-1.16 adjusted for LDL, and 1.22-1.26 adjusted for total cholesterol and triglycerides (p < 0.001). Splines showed progressively increasing 6-year CHD rates with lower HDL down to 0.5 mmol/l.

CONCLUSIONS

This study suggests that lower levels of non-HDL:HDL are a better risk marker for CHD than LDL-cholesterol below 3 mmol/l.

Towards renewed health economic simulation of type 2 diabetes: risk equations for first and second cardiovascular events from Swedish register data

OBJECTIVE

Predicting the risk of future events is an essential part of health economic simulation models. In pursuit of this goal, the current study aims to predict the risk of developing first and second acute myocardial infarction, heart failure, non-acute ischaemic heart disease, and stroke after diagnosis in patients with type 2 diabetes, using data from the Swedish National Diabetes Register.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

Register data on 29,034 patients with type 2 diabetes were analysed over five years of follow up (baseline 2003). To develop and validate the risk equations, the sample was randomly divided into training (75%) and test (25%) subsamples. The Weibull proportional hazard model was used to estimate the coefficients of the risk equations, and these were validated in both the training and the test samples.

RESULTS

In total, 4,547 first and 2,418 second events were observed during the five years of follow up. Experiencing a first event substantially elevated the risk of subsequent events. There were heterogeneities in the effects of covariates within as well as between events; for example, while for females the hazard ratio of having a first acute myocardial infarction was 0.79 (0.70-0.90), the hazard ratio of a second was 1.21 (0.98-1.48). The hazards of second events decreased as the time since first events elapsed. The equations showed adequate calibration and discrimination (C statistics range: 0.70-0.84 in test samples).

CONCLUSION

The accuracy of health economic simulation models of type 2 diabetes can be improved by ensuring that they account for the heterogeneous effects of covariates on the risk of first and second cardiovascular events. Thus it is important to extend such models by including risk equations for second cardiovascular events.

Ongoing treatment with renin-angiotensin-aldosterone-blocking agents does not predict normoalbuminuric renal impairment in a general type 2 diabetes population

AIM

To examine the prevalence and the clinical characteristics associated with normoalbuminuric renal impairment (RI) in a general type 2 diabetes (T2D) population.

METHODS

We included 94 446 patients with T2D (56% men, age 68.3±11.6 years, BMI 29.6±5.3 kg/m², diabetes duration 8.5±7.1 years; means±SD) with renal function (serum creatinine) reported to the Swedish National Diabetes Register (NDR) in 2009. RI was defined as estimated glomerular filtration (eGFR)<60 ml/min/1.73 m² and albuminuria as a urinary albumin excretion rate (AER) >20 μg/min. We linked the NDR to the Swedish Prescribed Drug Register, and the Swedish Cause of Death and the Hospital Discharge Register to evaluate ongoing medication and clinical outcomes.

RESULTS

17% of the patients had RI, and 62% of these patients were normoalbuminuric. This group of patients had better metabolic control, lower BMI, lower systolic blood pressure and were more often women, non-smokers and more seldom had a history of cardiovascular disease as compared with patients with albuminuric RI. 28% of the patients with normoalbuminuric RI had no ongoing treatment with any RAAS-blocking agent. Retinopathy was most common in patients with RI and albuminuria (31%).

CONCLUSIONS

The majority of patients with type 2 diabetes and RI were normoalbuminuric despite the fact that 25% of these patients had no ongoing treatment with RAAS-blocking agents. Thus, RI in many patients with type 2 diabetes is likely to be caused by other factors than diabetic microvascular disease and ongoing RAAS-blockade.

Quantum-electrodynamical parametric instability in the incoherent photon gas

We present a theory for the quantum-electrodynamical (QED) parametric scattering instability of an intense photon pulse in an incoherent radiation background. The pump electromagnetic (EM) wave can decay into a scattered daughter EM wave and an acousticlike wave due to the QED vacuum polarization nonlinearity. By a linear instability analysis we obtain a nonlinear dispersion relation for the growth rate of the scattering instability. The nonlinear QED scattering instability can give rise to the exchange of orbital angular momentum between intense Laguerre-Gaussian mode photon pulses and the two daughter waves, which may be a useful method to detect the highly energetic photon gases existing in the vicinity of rotating dense bodies in the Universe, such as pulsars and magnetars. The observation of the scattered waves may reveal information about the twisted acoustic waves in the incoherent photon gas.

Predicting Changes in Cardiovascular Risk Factors in Type 2 Diabetes in the Post-UKPDS Era: Longitudinal Analysis of the Swedish National Diabetes Register

The aim of the current study was to provide updated time-path equations for risk factors of type-2-diabetes-related cardiovascular complications for application in risk calculators and health economic models. Observational data from the Swedish National Diabetes Register were analysed using Generalized Method of Moments estimation for dynamic panel models (N = 5,043, aged 25-70 years at diagnosis in 2001-2004). Validation was performed using persons diagnosed in 2005 (n = 414). Results were compared with the UKPDS outcome model. The value of the risk factor in the previous year was the main predictor of the current value of the risk factor. People with high (low) values of risk factor in the year of diagnosis experienced a decreasing (increasing) trend over time. BMI was associated with elevations in all risk factors, while older age at diagnosis and being female generally corresponded to lower levels of risk factors. Updated time-path equations predicted risk factors more precisely than UKPDS outcome model equations in a Swedish population. Findings indicate new time paths for cardiovascular risk factors in the post-UKPDS era. The validation analysis confirmed the importance of updating the equations as new data become available; otherwise, the results of health economic analyses may be biased.

Aspirin treatment and risk of first incident cardiovascular diseases in patients with type 2 diabetes: an observational study from the Swedish National Diabetes Register

OBJECTIVES

To investigate the benefits and risks associated with aspirin treatment in patients with type 2 diabetes and no previous cardiovascular disease (CVD) in clinical practice.

DESIGN

Population-based cohort study between 2005 and 2009, mean follow-up 3.9 years.

SETTING

Hospital outpatient clinics and primary care in Sweden.

PARTICIPANTS

Men and women with type 2 diabetes, free from CVD, including atrial fibrillation and congestive heart failure, at baseline, registered in the Swedish National Diabetes Register, with continuous low-dose aspirin treatment (n=4608) or no aspirin treatment (n=14 038).

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

Risks of CVD, coronary heart disease (CHD), stroke, mortality and bleedings, associated with aspirin compared with no aspirin, were analysed in all patients and in subgroups by gender and estimated cardiovascular risk. Propensity scores were used to adjust for several baseline risk factors and characteristics at Cox regression, and the effect of unknown covariates was evaluated in a sensitivity analysis.

RESULTS

There was no association between aspirin use and beneficial effects on risks of CVD or death. Rather, there was an increased risk of non-fatal/fatal CHD associated with aspirin; HR 1.19 (95% CI 1.01 to 1.41), p=0.04. The increased risk of cardiovascular outcomes associated with aspirin was seen when analysing women separately; HR 1.41 (95% CI 1.07 to 1.87), p=0.02, and HR 1.28 (95% CI 1.01 to 1.61), p=0.04, for CHD and CVD, respectively, but not for men separately. There was a trend towards increased risk of a composite of bleedings associated with aspirin, n=157; HR 1.41 (95% CI 0.99 to 1.99).

CONCLUSIONS

The results support the trend towards more restrictive use of aspirin in patients with type 2 diabetes and no previous CVD. More research is needed to explore the differences in aspirin's effects in women and men.

Nonlinear dynamics of large-amplitude dust acoustic shocks and solitary pulses in dusty plasmas

We present a fully nonlinear theory for dust acoustic (DA) shocks and DA solitary pulses in a strongly coupled dusty plasma, which have been recently observed experimentally by Heinrich et al. [Phys. Rev. Lett. 103, 115002 (2009)], Teng et al. [Phys. Rev. Lett. 103, 245005 (2009)], and Bandyopadhyay et al. [Phys. Rev. Lett. 101, 065006 (2008)]. For this purpose, we use a generalized hydrodynamic model for the strongly coupled dust grains, accounting for arbitrary large-amplitude dust number density compressions and potential distributions associated with fully nonlinear nonstationary DA waves. Time-dependent numerical solutions of our nonlinear model compare favorably well with the recent experimental works (mentioned above) that have reported the formation of large-amplitude nonstationary DA shocks and DA solitary pulses in low-temperature dusty plasma discharges.

Negative energy waves and quantum relativistic Buneman instabilities

The quantum relativistic Buneman instability is investigated theoretically using a collective Klein-Gordon model for the electrons and a cold fluid model for the ions. The growth rate and unstable wave spectrum is investigated in different parameter regimes corresponding to various degrees of relativistic and quantum effects. The results may be important for streaming instabilities involving ion dynamics in very dense plasmas.

Long-term mortality in patients with type 2 diabetes undergoing coronary angiography: the impact of glucose-lowering treatment

AIMS/HYPOTHESIS

The aim of this study was to analyse whether the increased mortality rates observed in insulin-treated patients with type 2 diabetes and coronary artery disease are explained by comorbidities and complications.

METHODS

A retrospective analysis of data from two Swedish registries of type 2 diabetic patients (n = 12,515) undergoing coronary angiography between the years 2001 and 2009 was conducted. The association between glucose-lowering treatment and long-term mortality was studied after extensive adjustment for cardiovascular- and diabetes-related confounders. Patients were classified into four groups, according to glucose-lowering treatment: diet alone; oral therapy alone; insulin in combination with oral therapy; and insulin alone.

RESULTS

After a mean follow-up time of 4.14 years, absolute mortality rates for patients treated with diet alone, oral therapy alone, insulin in combination with oral therapy and insulin alone were 19.2%, 17.4%, 22.9% and 28.1%, respectively. Compared with diet alone, insulin in combination with oral therapy (HR 1.27; 95% CI 1.12, 1.43) and insulin alone (HR 1.62; 95% CI 1.44, 1.83) were associated with higher mortality rates. After adjustment for baseline differences, insulin in combination with oral glucose-lowering treatment (HR 1.22; 95% CI 1.06, 1.40; p < 0.005) and treatment with insulin only (HR 1.17; 95% CI 1.02, 1.35; p < 0.01) remained independent predictors for long-term mortality.

CONCLUSIONS/INTERPRETATION

Type 2 diabetes patients treated with insulin and undergoing coronary angiography have a higher long-term mortality risk after adjustment for measured confounders. Further research is needed to evaluate the optimal glucose-lowering treatment for these high-risk patients.

Glucose-lowering treatment and clinical results in 163 121 patients with type 2 diabetes: an observational study from the Swedish national diabetes register

AIMS

To analyse clinical characteristics and treatment results in unselected type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) patients, with non-pharmacological treatment as well as the most commonly used pharmacological glucose-lowering treatment regimens, in everyday clinical practice.

METHODS

In this population-based cross-sectional study, information was linked from the Swedish National Diabetes Register, Prescribed Drug Register and Patient Register. T2DM patients with non-pharmacological treatment and T2DM patients continuously using the 12 most common pharmacological treatment regimens were included in the study (n = 163121).

RESULTS

There were statistically significant differences in clinical characteristics between the groups. Patients with insulin-based treatment regimens had the longest duration of diabetes and more cardiovascular risk factors than the T2DM-population in general. The proportion of patients reaching HbA1c ≤ 7% varied between 70.1% (metformin) and 25.0% [premixed insulin (PMI) + SU) in patients with pharmacological treatment. 84.8% of the patients with non-pharmacological treatment reached target. Compared to patients on metformin, patients on other pharmacological treatments had a lower likelihood, with hazard ratios ranging from 0.58; 95% confidence interval (CI), 0.54-0.63 to 0.97;0.94-0.99, of having HbA1c ≤ 7% (adjusted for covariates). Patients on insulin-based treatments had the lowest likelihood, while non-pharmacological treatment was associated with an increased likelihood of having HbA1c ≤ 7%.

CONCLUSION

This nation-wide study shows insufficiently reached treatment goals for haemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) in all treatment groups. Patients on insulin-based treatment regimens had the longest duration of diabetes, more cardiovascular risk factors and the highest proportions of patients not reaching HbA1c target.

Stimulated scattering of electromagnetic waves carrying orbital angular momentum in quantum plasmas

We investigate stimulated scattering instabilities of coherent circularly polarized electromagnetic (CPEM) waves carrying orbital angular momentum (OAM) in dense quantum plasmas with degenerate electrons and nondegenerate ions. For this purpose, we employ the coupled equations for the CPEM wave vector potential and the driven (by the ponderomotive force of the CPEM waves) equations for the electron and ion plasma oscillations. The electrons are significantly affected by the quantum forces (viz., the quantum statistical pressure, the quantum Bohm potential, as well as the electron exchange and electron correlations due to electron spin), which are included in the framework of the quantum hydrodynamical description of the electrons. Furthermore, our investigation of the stimulated Brillouin instability of coherent CPEM waves uses the generalized ion momentum equation that includes strong ion coupling effects. The nonlinear equations for the coupled CPEM and quantum plasma waves are then analyzed to obtain nonlinear dispersion relations which exhibit stimulated Raman, stimulated Brillouin, and modulational instabilities of CPEM waves carrying OAM. The present results are useful for understanding the origin of scattered light off low-frequency density fluctuations in high-energy density plasmas where quantum effects are eminent.

HbA1C and cancer risk in patients with type 2 diabetes--a nationwide population-based prospective cohort study in Sweden

Background

Diabetes is associated with increased cancer risk. The underlying mechanisms remain unclear. Hyperglycemia might be one risk factor. HbA1c is an indicator of the blood glucose level over the latest 1 to 3 months. This study aimed to investigate association between HbA1c level and cancer risks in patients with type 2 diabetes based on real life situations.

Methods

This is a cohort study on 25,476 patients with type 2 diabetes registered in the Swedish National Diabetes Register from 1997–1999 and followed until 2009. Follow-up for cancer was accomplished through register linkage. We calculated incidences of and hazard ratios (HR) for cancer in groups categorized by HbA1c ≤58 mmol/mol (7.5%) versus >58 mmol/mol, by quartiles of HbA1c, and by HbA1c continuously at Cox regression, with covariance adjustment for age, sex, diabetes duration, smoking and insulin treatment, or adjusting with a propensity score.

Results

Comparing HbA1c >58 mmol/mol with ≤58 mmol/mol, adjusted HR for all cancer was 1.02 [95% CI 0.95–1.10] using baseline HbA1c, and 1.04 [95% CI 0.97–1.12] using updated mean HbA1c, and HRs were all non-significant for specific cancers of gastrointestinal, kidney and urinary organs, respiratory organs, female genital organs, breast or prostate. Similarly, no increased risks of all cancer or the specific types of cancer were found with higher quartiles of baseline or updated mean HbA1c, compared to the lowest quartile. HR for all cancer was 1.01 [0.98–1.04] per 1%-unit increase in HbA1c used as a continuous variable, with non-significant HRs also for the specific types of cancer per unit increase in HbA1c.

Conclusions

In this study there were no associations between HbA1c and risks for all cancers or specific types of cancer in patients with type 2 diabetes.

Relativistic Klein-Gordon-Maxwell multistream model for quantum plasmas

A multistream model for spinless electrons in a relativistic quantum plasma is introduced by means of a suitable fluidlike version of the Klein-Gordon-Maxwell system. The one- and two-stream cases are treated in detail. A new linear instability condition for two-stream quantum plasmas is obtained, generalizing the previously known nonrelativistic results. In both the one- and two-stream cases, steady-state solutions reduce the model to a set of coupled nonlinear ordinary differential equations, which can be numerically solved, yielding a manifold of nonlinear periodic and soliton structures. The validity conditions for the applicability of the model are addressed.

Novel attractive force between ions in quantum plasmas

We report a new attractive force between ions that are shielded by degenerate electrons in quantum plasmas. Specifically, we show that the electric potential around an isolated ion has a hard core negative part that resembles the Lennard-Jones-type potential. Physically, the new electric potential is attributed to the consideration of the quantum statistical pressure and the quantum Bohm potential, as well as the electron exchange and electron correlations due to electron-1/2 spin within the framework of the quantum hydrodynamical description of quantum plasmas. The shape of the attractive potential is determined by the ratio between the Bohr radius and the Wigner-Seitz radius of degenerate electrons. The existence of the hard core negative potential will be responsible for the attraction of ions forming lattices and atoms or molecules, as well as for critical points and phase transitions in quantum plasmas at nanoscales.

Lowering of postprandial lipids in individuals with type 2 diabetes treated with alogliptin and/or pioglitazone: a randomised double-blind placebo-controlled study

AIMS/HYPOTHESIS

Pharmacological augmentation of glucagon-like peptide 1 receptor signalling by dipeptidyl peptidase 4 (DPP-4) inhibition reduced intestinal lipoprotein secretion in experimental studies, suggesting that DPP-4 inhibitors may ameliorate dyslipidaemia and thus reduce cardiovascular risk in patients with type 2 diabetes. We assessed the effects of alogliptin (Alo) and Alo co-administered with pioglitazone (Pio) vs placebo (Pbo) on triacylglycerol (TG)-rich lipoproteins in type 2 diabetes before and following a high-fat meal.

METHODS

Seventy-one patients (age 18-70 years), who did not reach HbA(1c) 6.5% (48 mmol/mol) with lifestyle and/or metformin, sulfonylurea or glinide therapy, participated in this 16 week, double-centre (university hospitals) Pbo-controlled parallel-group study. All participants, people doing measurements or examinations, and people assessing the outcomes were blinded to group assignment. Fasting TG 1.7-5.0 mmol/l was among the entry criteria. Patients received a high-fat mixed meal before and 4 and 16 weeks after randomisation (allocation by central office) to Alo (n = 25), Alo/Pio (n = 22) or Pbo (n = 24). Blood was sampled at pre-specified intervals, starting at 15 min before and ending 8 h after meal ingestion.

RESULTS

At week 16, Alo (n = 25) and Alo/Pio (n = 21) vs Pbo (n = 24) produced similar significant reductions in total postprandial TG response (incremental AUC [iAUC]; p < 0.001), as well as in chylomicron TG (p < 0.001) and VLDL1 TG iAUCs (p < 0.001 and p = 0.012, respectively). Postprandial chylomicron apolipoprotein B-48 iAUC showed a significant decrease after Alo treatment (p = 0.028), and a non-significant trend towards a decrease with Alo/Pio (p = 0.213). The incidence of adverse events was low and consistent with previous studies.

CONCLUSIONS/INTERPRETATION

Treatment with Alo and Alo/Pio produced significant reductions in postprandial TG and TG-rich lipoproteins, contributing to an improved overall cardiometabolic risk profile in type 2 diabetes. The data support the concept that incretins not only modulate glucose metabolism but also influence chylomicron metabolism in intestinal cells.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

ClinicalTrials.gov number NCT00655863.

The relationship between the exposure time of insulin glargine and risk of breast and prostate cancer: an observational study of the time-dependent effects of antidiabetic treatments in patients with diabetes

AIMS

To elucidate methodological questions in assessing the relationship between insulin treatment and cancer, since the risk of tumour growth generally increases with longer exposure time and higher dose of a growth promoting substance.

METHODS

Continuous hazard functions for risk of breast and prostate cancer were estimated in relation to exposure of insulin glargine among diabetic patients included in the record system, Diab-Base, as well as in the general population in Sweden.

RESULTS

In 7942 female diabetic patients, mean follow-up 7.0 years, 2014 patients initiated insulin glargine with a mean follow-up of 3.5 years. Among 11,613 men, mean follow-up 6.9 years, 2760 had a mean follow-up with glargine of 3.4 years. Risk of prostate cancer decreased significantly with longer exposure to insulin glargine (p=0.032), although average risk versus non-glargine was non-significantly higher (HR 1.37, 95% CI 0.78-2.39). The breast cancer risk did not change with longer exposure to insulin glargine (p=0.35) and the mean risk was similar for glargine and non-glargine (p=0.12). With higher dose of insulin glargine, there was an increase in risk of prostate (p=0.037) and breast cancer (p=0.019). In diabetics, the mean risk of prostate cancer was decreased (HR 0.68, 95% CI 0.59-0.79) but similar for breast cancer (HR 0.95, 95% CI 0.78-1.14) compared to the general population and did not change with longer diabetes duration (p=0.68 and p=0.53 respectively).

CONCLUSIONS

Analysing continuous hazard functions for cancer risk in relation to exposure time to an antidiabetic agent is an important complementary tool in diabetes and cancer research.

Time trends in absolute and modifiable coronary heart disease risk in patients with Type 2 diabetes in the Swedish National Diabetes Register (NDR) 2003-2008

AIMS

The aim was to evaluate treatment goal achievements early in the course of Type 2 diabetes, and their effect on 10-year risk of coronary heart disease in patients receiving usual care.

METHODS

Assessment of risk factor control 3 years after diagnosis in patients with Type 2 diabetes with no previous coronary heart disease included from the Swedish National Diabetes Register; a total of 19,382 patients (mean age 58 years) in cross-sectional surveys from 2003 to 2008, and a subgroup of 4293 patients followed individually from year of diagnosis to follow-up after a mean 2.6 years. Estimation of absolute 10-year risk of coronary heart disease using the U.K. Prospective Diabetes Study risk engine, and modifiable 10-year risk defined as percentage excess risk above patients with 'normal' risk factor values.

RESULTS

Treatment goals for HbA1c , blood pressure, total and LDL cholesterol were achieved in 78.4, 65.5, 55.6% and 61.0%, respectively, in the cross-sectional survey in 2008, following a trend of generally improved control. In the individually followed patients in the subgroup, mean absolute 10-year coronary heart disease risk increased from 13.7% (men/women 16.9/9.5%) to 14.2 (men/women 17.6/9.6%) (P < 0.001) from year of diagnosis to follow-up after 2.6 years, while mean modifiable risk decreased from 37.7% (men/women 28.6/49.9%) to 19.1% (13.2/26.9%) (P < 0.001 in all).

CONCLUSIONS

A high achievement of treatment goals and a low mean modifiable 10-year coronary heart disease risk was found at the 3-year follow-up, both in the cross-sectional survey in 2008 and in patients individually followed since diagnosis. This indicates the feasibility and significance of early multifactorial risk factor treatment.

Effectiveness and safety of metformin in 51 675 patients with type 2 diabetes and different levels of renal function: a cohort study from the Swedish National Diabetes Register

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the effectiveness and safety of metformin use in clinical practice in a large sample of pharmacologically treated patients with type 2 diabetes and different levels of renal function.

DESIGN

Observational study between July 2004 and December 2010, mean follow-up 3.9 years.

SETTING

Hospital outpatient clinics and primary care in Sweden.

PARTICIPANTS

51 675 men and women with type 2 diabetes, registered in the Swedish National Diabetes Register, and on continuous glucose-lowering treatment with oral hypoglycaemic agents (OHAs) or insulin.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

Risks of cardiovascular disease (CVD), all-cause mortality and acidosis/serious infection, associated with each treatment regimens, were analysed in all patients and in subgroups with different estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) intervals. Covariance adjustment and propensity scores were used to adjust for several baseline risk factors and characteristics at Cox regression.

RESULTS

Compared with metformin in monotherapy, HRs for fatal/non-fatal CVD and all-cause mortality with all other OHAs combined (approximately 80% sulphonylureas) in monotherapy were 1.02 (95% CI 0.93 to 1.12) and 1.13 (1.01 to 1.27), while 1.18 (1.07 to 1.29) and 1.34 (1.19 to 1.50) with insulin in monotherapy, adjusting using propensity scores. Metformin, compared with any other treatment, showed reduced risks of acidosis/serious infection (adjusted HR 0.85, 95% CI 0.74 to 0.97) and all-cause mortality (HR 0.87, 95% CI 0.77 to 0.99), in patients with eGFR 45-60 ml/min/1.73 m(2), and no increased risks of all-cause mortality, acidosis/serious infection or CVD were found in patients with eGFR 30-45 ml/min/1.73 m(2).

CONCLUSIONS

Metformin showed lower risk than insulin for CVD and all-cause mortality and slightly lower risk for all-cause mortality compared with other OHA, in these 51 675 patients followed for 4 years. Patients with renal impairment showed no increased risk of CVD, all-cause mortality or acidosis/serious infection. In clinical practice, the benefits of metformin use clearly outbalance the risk of severe side effects.

Adipocyte mitochondrial genes and the forkhead factor FOXC2 are decreased in type 2 diabetes patients and normalized in response to rosiglitazone

BACKGROUND

FOXC2 has lately been implicated in diabetes and obesity as well as mitochondrial function and biogenesis and also as a regulator of mtTFA/Tfam. In this study, the expression of FOXC2 and selected genes involved in mitochondrial function and biogenesis in healthy subjects and in a matched cohort with type 2 diabetes patients before and after treatment with rosiglitazone was determined. Quantitative real time PCR was used to analyze both RNA and DNA from biopsies from subcutaneous adipose tissue.

METHODS

Blood samples and subcutaneous abdominal fat biopsies were collected from 12 T2D patients, of which 11 concluded the study, pre-treatment and 90 days after initiation of rosiglitazone treatment, and from 19 healthy control subjects on the first and only visit from healthy subjects. Clinical parameters were measured on the blood samples. RNA and DNA were prepared from the fat biopsies and gene expression was measured with real time PCR.

RESULTS

The expression level of genes in the mitochondrial respiratory complexes I - IV were significantly downregulated in the diabetic patients and restored in response to rosiglitazone treatment. Rosiglitazone treatment also increased the relative number of mitochondria in diabetic patients compared with controls. Furthermore, the transcription factors FOXC2 and mtTFA/Tfam displayed a response pattern identical to the mitochondrial genes.

CONCLUSIONS

FOXC2, mtTFA/Tfam and subunits of the respiratory complexes I - IV show equivalent regulation in gene expression levels in response to TZD treatment. This, together with the knowledge that FOXC2 has a regulatory function of mtTFA/Tfam and mitochondrial biogenesis, suggests that FOXC2 has a possible functional role in the TZD activated mitochondrial response.

A new model for 5-year risk of cardiovascular disease in Type 1 diabetes; from the Swedish National Diabetes Register (NDR)

AIMS

We assessed the association between risk factors and cardiovascular disease in an observational study of patients with Type 1 diabetes from the Swedish National Diabetes Register.

METHODS

A derivation sample of 3661 patients, aged 30-65 years, 6.1% with previous cardiovascular disease, baseline 2002, and 197 cardiovascular disease events when followed for 5 years until 2007. A separate validation data set of 4484 patients, baseline 2003, 201 cardiovascular disease events when followed for 4 years.

RESULTS

Adjusted hazard ratios at Cox regression for fatal/non-fatal cardiovascular disease were: diabetes duration 2.76 (2.21-3.44); onset age 1.47 (1.21-1.78); log ratio total cholesterol:HDL cholesterol 1.26 (1.09-1.45); log HbA(1c) 1.19 (1.03-1.38); log systolic blood pressure 1.17 (1.01-1.34) (1 SD increase in continuous variables); smoker 1.76 (1.27-2.46); macroalbuminuria (> 200 μg/min) 1.52 (1.10-2.10); previous cardiovascular disease 3.51 (2.54-4.84). All eight variables were used to elaborate a risk equation for 5-year cardiovascular disease risk. Regarding calibration in the derivation data set, ratio predicted 5-year risk (mean 5.4 ± 7.9%) to observed event rate was 1.0. Discrimination was sufficient, with C-statistic 0.83, sensitivity and specificity 72 and 77%, respectively, for the top quartile of predicted risk. Similarly, calibration and discrimination were adequate in the validation data set: ratio of predicted 4-year risk/observed rate 0.94, C-statistic 0.80, sensitivity and specificity 62 and 77%, respectively, for the top quartile.

CONCLUSIONS

This 5-year cardiovascular disease risk model from a large observational study of patients with Type 1 diabetes in routine care showed adequate calibration and discrimination and can be useful for clinical practice. It should also be tested in patients with Type 1 diabetes from other countries.