Angiotensin II receptor blockers decreased blood glucose levels: a longitudinal survey using data from electronic medical records

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>A beneficial effect on glucose metabolism is reported with angiotensin receptor blocker (ARB) treatment of hypertension. The effect on blood glucose level during the course of treatment with ARBs in clinical cases is uncertain. Our objectives were to survey the changes in glucose and HbA1c levels in patients with hypertension over a one-year period, and to study the correlations between these values and the time after the start of ARB therapy.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>We conducted a retrospective longitudinal survey of blood glucose and HbA1c measurements in Japanese patients aged ≥20 years with newly diagnosed hypertension but without diabetes, who had received ARB monotherapy with candesartan cilexetil, losartan potassium, olmesartan medoxomil, telmisartan, or valsartan during the period from December 2004 to November 2005. Data including 2465 measurements of non-fasting blood glucose in 485 patients and 457 measurements of HbA1c in 155 patients were obtained from electronic medical records of Nihon University School of Medicine. Linear mixed effects models were used to analyze the relationship between these longitudinal data of blood examinations and covariates of patient age, sex, medication, and duration of ARB therapy.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Casual blood glucose level was associated with the duration of treatment (P < 0.0001), but not with age, sex, or medication. Blood glucose level was significantly decreased during the periods of 0~3 months (P < 0.0001) and 3~6 months (P = 0.0081) compared with baseline, but was not significantly different between 6~12 months and baseline. There was no association between HbA1c level and covariates of sex, age, medication and duration of treatment.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Our findings provide new clinical evidence that the effects of ARBs on glucose metabolism may change during the course of treatment, suggesting a blood glucose-lowering effect in the short-term after the start of treatment.</p

Emulsification Properties of Poly(lactide-block-ethylene glycol-block-lacticide) Block Polymers

Homo-and copolymers of poly(lactic acid) have gathered much attention because of their biodegradability and biocompatibility. They have numerous applications in the biomedical field due to their potential. In their polymers, we are interested in poly(lactic acid)-poly(ethylene glycol) block polymers. The amphiphilic triblock copolymers, poly(DL-lactic acid)-poly(ethylene glycol)-poly(DL-lactic acid)(PLEL), have known to be surface-active ability. Therefore, we have studied emulsification properties with the polymers. PLEL were prepared by ring-opening copolymerization of DL-lactide and poly(ethylene glycol) catalyzed by stannous 2-ethylhexanoate. We prepared ethyl acetate-water-PLEL emulsion and applied this emulsion to biodegradable polymer scaffolds. PLA scaffolds were prepared by an emulsion freeze-drying method. These scaffolds were made by varying water weight fraction. Their surface pore size became larger with increasing water weight fraction

Effect of candesartan monotherapy on lipid metabolism in patients with hypertension: a retrospective longitudinal survey using data from electronic medical records

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Studies focusing on the add-on effects of angiotensin II type 1 receptor blockers (ARBs) other than their antihypertensive effect are receiving attention. However, the effects of prolonged administration of ARBs on lipid metabolism in clinical cases are unclear. Our aims were to survey the changes in plasma lipid profile in patients with hypertension over a one-year period, and to examine the correlations between these values and the time after the start of ARB monotherapy with candesartan.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>We carried out candesartan monotherapy in patients with mild to moderate hypertension and examined the longitudinal changes in plasma lipid profile. Data from 405 patients for triglyceride (TG), 440 for total cholesterol (TC), 313 for high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) and 304 for low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) were obtained from the electronic medical records (EMRs) in the Clinical Data Warehouse (CDW) of Nihon University School of Medicine (NUSM). The inverse probability of treatment weighting (IPTW) method (calculated from the inverse of the propensity score) was used to balance the covariates and reduce bias in each treatment duration. Linear mixed effects models were used to analyse the relationship between these longitudinal data of blood examinations and covariates of patient sex, age, diagnosis of diabetes mellitus (DM) and duration of candesartan monotherapy.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Plasma HDL-C level was associated with sex, duration of treatment, and interaction of sex and treatment duration, but not with age or diagnosis of DM. HDL-C level was significantly decreased during the 6~9 months period (p = 0.0218) compared with baseline. TG and TC levels were associated with sex, but not with age, diagnosis of DM or treatment duration. LDL-C level was not associated with any covariate. Analysis of the subjects divided by sex revealed a decrease in HDL-C in female subjects (during the 6~9 months period: p = 0.0054), but not in male subjects.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>Our study revealed that administration of candesartan slightly decreased HDL-C in female subjects. However, TG, TC and LDL-C levels were not influenced by candesartan monotherapy. Candesartan may be safely used for patients with hypertension with respect to lipid metabolism, because the effect of candesartan on lipids may be small.</p

Reconstruction of a high-resolution image on a compound-eye image-capturing system

This paper was published in Optics Express and is made available as an electronic reprint with the permission of OSA. The paper can be found at the following URL on the OSA website: http://dx.doi.org/10.1364/AO.43.001719 Systematic or multiple reproduction or distribution to multiple locations via electronic or other means is prohibited and is subject to penalties under law

Preparation and In Vitro Release Property of PLA Microspheres Enclosing Antitumor Agent

Recently, many antitumor agents developed. Irinotecan hycrochloride (CPT) has a great side effect even though it is well effective against the cancer. Drug delivery system (DDS) medicine indicates that the release rate of medicine is constant for a long time. Therefore, in order to materialize the general idea of DDS, we applied microencapsulation technique to prepare biodegradable polymer microspheres (MS) enclosing antitumor drug having no side effect. Polylactide microparticles enclosing antitumor agent were prepared by solvent evaporation method under various operation conditions. The effects of operation parameter on release rate of drug and morphology of microparticles were studied