Insulin glargine compared with premixed insulin for management of insulin-naïve type 2 diabetes patients uncontrolled on oral antidiabetic drugs : the open-label, randomized GALAPAGOS study

Q3Q1Aims: Demonstrate superiority of insulin glargine (±glulisine) strategy versus premixed insulin strategy for percentage of patients reaching HbA1c b7% (b53 mmol/mol) at study end without any documented symptomatic hypoglycemia (bloof glucose [BG] ≤3.1 mmol/L) in type 2 diabetes (T2DM) patients failing oral agents. Methods: This 24-week, open-label, multinational trial randomized patients to glargine OD or premix OD or BID, continuing metformin ± insulin secretagogue (IS). Second premix injection could be added any time; glulisine could be added with main meal in glargine OD patients with HbA1c ≥7% and fasting blood glucose (FBG) b7 mmol/L at week 12. IS was stopped with any second injection. Insulin titration targeted FBG ≤5.6 mmol/L. Results: Modifiedintent-to-treat population comprised 923 patients (glargine, 462; premix, 461). Baseline characteristics were similar (mean T2DM duration: 9 years; HbA1c: 8.7% (72 mmol/mol); FBG: 10.4 mmol/L). Primary endpoint was achieved by 33.2% of glargine (±glulisine) and 31.4% of premix patients. Superiority was not demonstrated, but non-inferiority was (pre-specifiedmargin: 25% of premix rate). More patients using premix achieved target (52.6% vs. 43.2%, p = 0.005); symptomatic hypoglycemia was less with glargine (1.17 vs. 2.93 events/patient–year). Conclusions: Glargine (±glulisine) and premix strategies resulted in similar percentages of well-controlled patients without hypoglycemia, with more patients achieving target HbA1c with premix whereas overall symptomatic hypoglycemia was less with glargine.N/

LEADER 7: cardiovascular risk profiles of US and European participants in the LEADER diabetes trial differ

Abstract Aims To determine whether US and European participants in the Liraglutide Effect and Action in Diabetes: Evaluation of cardiovascular outcome Results (LEADER) trial differ regarding risk factors for cardiovascular mortality and morbidity. Methods Baseline data, stratified for prior cardiovascular disease (CVD), were compared using multivariable logistic regression analysis to establish whether region is an independent determinant of achieved targets for glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c), blood pressure (BP), and low-density lipoprotein (LDL)-cholesterol. Results Independent of CVD history, US participants were more often of non-White origin and had a longer history of type 2 diabetes, higher body weight, and higher baseline HbA1c. They had substantially lower systolic and diastolic BP, and a marginally lower LDL-cholesterol level. Fewer US participants were diagnosed with left ventricular dysfunction. In the largest group of patients, those with prior CVD and the highest cardiovascular risk, US participants were more often female, had a higher waist circumference, and had a decreased estimated glomerular filtration rate, but less frequently prior myocardial infarction or angina pectoris. Conclusions There were baseline differences between US and European participants. These differences may result from variation in regional targets for cardiovascular risk factor management, and should be considered in the analysis and reporting of the trial results. Clinical trial identifier: ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT0117904

Efficacy and safety of once-monthly pasireotide in Cushing's disease: A 12 month clinical trial

© 2017 Elsevier Ltd. Background: Cushing's disease is a rare debilitating endocrine disorder for which few prospective interventional studies have been done. We report results of the first phase 3 trial assessing long-acting intramuscular pasireotide in patients with Cushing's disease. Methods: In this phase 3 clinical trial we recruited patients aged 18 years or older with persistent, recurrent, or de-novo (non-surgical candidates) Cushing's disease who had a mean urinary free cortisol (mUFC) concentration (from three 24 h samples) of 1·5-5·0 times the upper limit of normal (ULN), a normal or greater than normal morning plasma adrenocorticotropic hormone concentration, and a pituitary source of Cushing's syndrome, from 57 sites across 19 countries. Exclusion criteria included previous pasireotide treatment, mitotane therapy within 6 months, and pituitary irradiation within 10 years. We randomly allocated patients 1:1 (block size of four) using an interactive-response-technology system to intramuscular pasireotide 10 mg or 30 mg every 4 weeks for 12 months (in the core phase). We stratified randomisation by screening mUFC concentration (1·5 to < 2·0 × ULN and 2·0-5·0 × ULN). The dose could be uptitrated (from 10 mg to 30 mg or from 30 mg to 40 mg) at month 4 if the mUFC concentration was greater than 1·5 × ULN, and at month 7, month 9, or month 12 if the mUFC concentration was greater than 1·0 × ULN. Investigators, patients, site personnel, and those assessing outcomes were masked to dose group allocation. The primary endpoint was the proportion of patients in each group with an mUFC concentration of less than or equal to the ULN at month 7. Efficacy analyses were based on intention to treat. This trial is registered with ClinicalTrials.gov, number NCT01374906. Findings: Between Dec 28, 2011, and Dec 9, 2014, we randomly allocated 150 patients to receive pasireotide 10 mg (74 [49%] patients) or 30 mg (76 [51%] patients). The primary efficacy endpoint was met by 31 (41·9% [95% CI 30·5-53·9]) of 74 patients in the 10 mg group and 31 (40·8% [29·7-52·7] ) of 76 in the 30 mg group. The most common adverse events were hyperglycaemia (36 [49%] in the 10 mg group and 36 [47%] in the 30 mg group), diarrhoea (26 [35%] and 33 [43%] ), cholelithiasis (15 [20%] and 34 [45%] ), diabetes mellitus (14 [19%] and 18 [24%] ), and nausea (15 [20%] and 16 [21%] ). Serious adverse events suspected to be study drug related were reported in eight (11%) patients in the 10 mg group and four (5%) in the 30 mg group. Two (3%) patients in the 30 mg group died during the study (pulmonary artery thrombosis and cardiorespiratory failure); neither death was judged to be related to the study drug. Interpretation: Long-acting pasireotide normalised mUFC concentration in about 40% of patients with Cushing's disease at month 7 and had a similar safety profile to that of twice-daily subcutaneous pasireotide. Long-acting pasireotide is an efficacious treatment option for some patients with Cushing's disease who have persistent or recurrent disease after initial surgery or are not surgical candidates, and provides a convenient monthly administration schedule. Funding: Novartis Pharma AG

Hypercalcemia of primary hyperparathyroidism was treated by cinacalcet in a patient with liver cirrhosis.

Cinacalcet is a type II calcimimetic agent which is an allosteric modulator of the calcium-sensing receptor (CaR) located on the surface of the parathyroid cells. Cinacalcet increases the sensitivity of CaR via binding to the transmembrane region of CaR. Increasing sensitivity of CaR causes reduced secretion of parathyroid hormone (PTH) and suppression of serum calcium levels. Cinacalcet has recently been approved by Federal Drug Administration (FDA) for the treatment of patients with secondary hyperparathyroidism on maintenance dialysis and hypercalcemia in patients with parathyroid cancer. It is used also in Europe for both indications. Several controlled studies have shown that cinacalcet is effective in normalizing serum calcium levels also in primary hyperparathyroidism. Cinacalcet is metabolized primarily in the liver by N-dealkylation leading to carboxylic acid and oxidation of naphthalene ring to form dihydrodiols. The safety and optimal dosage of the drug in hypercalcemic patients with liver impairment remains unclear. We present a patient with Child-Pugh B class primary biliary cirrhosis who presented with moderate hypercalcemia and was diagnosed as primary hyperparathyroidism. As she refused having parathyroid surgery for her parathyroid adenoma at first, her hypercalcemia was treated successfully with 30mg/day cinacalcet for 6 months. Cinacalcet was discontinued after 6 months. Her calcium level increased gradually. As she accepted surgery this time, her parathyroid adenoma was removed by minimally invasive parathyroidectomy. Parathyroid adenoma was confirmed pathologically. Her calcium levels maintained within the normal ranges after surgery

Misdiagnosis due to the hook effect in prolactin assay.

Objectives: To describe a patient who was misdiagnosed as having a nonfunctional pituitary tumor due to the hook effect on prolactin measurements. Clinical Presentation and Intervention: A 45-year-old female was admitted with visual disturbances, panhypopituitarism and central diabetes insipidus due to pituitary tumor recurrence. She had been operated 4 times earlier and received cranial irradiation for a suspected nonfunctional pituitary adenoma. Serum prolactin was moderately elevated (164.5 ng/ml), but increased markedly after 1: 100 dilution to 14,640 ng/ml. Diagnosis of a giant macroprolactinoma was made and cabergoline was started. Prolactin level normalized and a mild shrinkage of the tumor was achieved after 12 months of therapy. Conclusion: The hook effect must be kept in mind while evaluating a giant pituitary adenoma with moderately elevated prolactin levels. This way unnecessary surgical procedures or irradiation may be avoided. Copyright (c) 2008 S. Karger AG, Basel

Thyroid hemiagenesis with multinodular goiter: a case report and review of the literature.

Thyroid hemiagenesis is a very rare abnormality, in which one thyroid lobe fails to develop. Most of the patients diagnosed have an associated thyroidal disease. The true prevalence of thyroid hemiagenesis is not known, but it is estimated to be 0.02% in normal children. We report a forty-five year-old female patient with a multinodular goiter in left lobe, associated with hemiagenesis of right lobe and isthmus

THE USE OF LOW DOSE PREDNISOLONE IN PATIENTS WITH SUBACUTE THYROIDITIS AND ITS EFFECT ON IMPAIRED LIFE AND SLEEP QUALITY.

Context. Subacute thyroiditis is an inflammatory thyroid disease, which is treated by nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) or steroids

Is there an association between non-functioning adrenal adenoma and endothelial dysfunction?

Background and aim: Subtle changes in hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis of subjects with non-functioning adrenal adenoma may be associated with endothelial alterations. We sought to investigate endothelial function, visceral adiposity and osteoprotegerin (OPG) and interleukin-18 (IL-18) levels in subjects with non-functioning adrenal adenomas. Subjects and methods: The adenoma group included 40 subjects without clinical and subclinical findings of hypercortisolism or other adrenal gland disorders. Twenty-two body mass index-matched controls were also enroled. The patients and control subjects underwent hormonal evaluation and assessment of anthropometric and metabolic parameters. Endothelial function was assessed with flow-mediated dilatation (FMD) of the brachial artery and intima media thickness (IMT) of common carotid arteries. Visceral adipose tissue area was measured by computed tomography. Plasma OPG and serum IL-18 levels were also measured. Results: When compared with healthy controls, the adenoma group had elevated systolic blood pressure, post-dexamethasone suppression test cortisol and reduced DHEAS. Visceral adipose tissue area and IMT of common carotid arteries were comparable. In the adenoma group, FMD of the brachial artery was significantly impaired and IL-18 level was significantly elevated. Visceral adipose tissue area was independently related with FMD. Homeostasis model assessment (HOMA) was the independent factor associated with visceral adipose tissue area. Cortisol, DHEAS and visceral adipose tissue area were independently associated with HOMA. Conclusions: We achieved evidence that could be attributable to endothelial alterations in subjects with non-functioning adrenal adenomas. Impaired FMD appeared to be a consequence of subtle changes in HPA axis in terms of elevated cortisol and reduced DHEAS as these conditions were known to disturb endothelial-dependent vasodilatation. (J. Endocrinol. Invest. 34: 265-270, 2011) (C) 2011, Editrice Kurti