Characteristics of eating behavior and the level of hormones regulating the appetite in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus and body mass index more than 35 kg /m2

Background. The role of the hormones in eating behavior in the regulation of appetite has been well studied, but their relationship with various types of eating behavior has not been established. Aims. To study the frequency of different types of eating behavior, hunger/satiety feeling estimated by the visual analog scale and levels of leptin and gastrointestinal tract hormones that are involved in appetite regulation, fat and carbohydrate metabolism (ghrelin and glucagon-like peptide 1) in patients with diabetes mellitus type 2 and obesity. Materials and methods. The study included 35 people with obesity (BMI>35 kg/m2) and diabetes mellitus type 2 (T2DM) who received the stable sugar-lowering therapy, the median body mass index (BMI) was 40,1 [36,5; 49,6] kg/m2, the median age was 58 [52,5; 64] years. Blood tests for insulin, leptin, ghrelin, glucagon-like peptide-1, C-peptide, glucose, glycated hemoglobin and lipids profile were done in all cases, also HOMA-IR and HOMA-β were calculated. All patients completed questionnaires determining eating behavior type and hunger/satiety feeling severity. Results. In patients with T2DM and obesity a high frequency of combination of different types of eating behavior were found, it was 54,3%. Among the isolated types, restrictive eating behavior was more common – in 40%. In patients with different types of eating behavior the tendency to difference in the level of hormones regulating appetite was found, but it was not significant. High frequency of an appropriate reduction of postprandial ghrelin level was found in patients with restrictive type of eating behavior. Correlation between the level of hormones regulating appetite and hunger/satiety feeling was weak, it might reflect the resistance to these hormones in patients with severe obesity and T2DM. At the same time the relationship between the ghrelin level and the β-cells functional state parameters was significant. Conclusions. The severity of leptin and ghrelin resistance correlated with each other in T2DM and obesity patients; the severity of ghrelin resistance was associated with the beta cells functional state; according to our data postprandial ghrelin level may have opposite changes in patients with T2DM and obesity and its adequate reduction is more common for patients with restrictive type of eating behavior

Bromhexine Hydrochloride Prophylaxis of COVID-19 for Medical Personnel: A Randomized Open-Label Study

Background. Bromhexine hydrochloride has been suggested as a TMPRSS2 protease blocker that precludes the penetration of SARS-CoV-2 into cells. We aimed to assess the preventive potential of regular bromhexine hydrochloride intake for COVID-19 risk reduction in medical staff actively involved in the evaluation and treatment of patients with confirmed or suspected SARS-CoV-2 infection. Methods. In a single-centre randomized open-label study, medical staff managing patients with suspected and confirmed COVID-19 were enrolled and followed up for 8 weeks. The study began at the initiation of COVID-19 management in the clinic. The study was prematurely terminated after the enrollment of 50 participants without a history of SARS-CoV-2 infection: 25 were assigned to bromhexine hydrochloride treatment (8 mg 3 times per day), and 25 were controls. The composite primary endpoint was a positive nasopharyngeal swab polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test for SARS-CoV-2 or signs of clinical infection within 28 days and at week 8. Secondary endpoints included time from the first contact with a person with COVID-19 to the appearance of respiratory infection symptoms; the number of days before a first positive SARS-CoV-2 test; the number of asymptomatic participants with a positive nasopharyngeal swab test; the number of symptomatic COVID-19 cases; and adverse events. Results. The rate of the combined primary endpoint did not differ significantly between the active treatment group (2/25 [8%]) and control group (7/25 [28%]); P=0.07. A fewer number of participants developed symptomatic COVID-19 in the treatment group compared to controls (0/25 vs. 5/25; P=0.02). Conclusion. Although the study was underpowered, it showed that Bromhexine hydrochloride prophylaxis was associated with a reduced rate of symptomatic COVID-19. The prophylactic treatment was not associated with a lower combined primary endpoint rate, a positive swab PCR test, or COVID-19 (ClinicalTrials.gov number, NCT04405999)