Diabetes Control in the Federated States of Micronesia

Many Pacific island countries (PICs) report extraordinarily high rates of diabetes mellitus (Tukuitonga 2016). This disease contributes significantly to the dizzying regional and global increases in non-communicable diseases (NCDs). In the Federated States of Micronesia (FSM), the International Diabetes Federation (IDF) estimates that 12 per cent of persons aged 20–79 suffer diabetes, against a global average of circa 8.8 per cent (IDF 2017: 126, 41, 43). This In Brief highlights challenges shared with other PICs, especially those of climate change and problems with data, and presents certain FSM efforts to tackle diabetes in this context.AusAI

The genome sequence of the downland villa bee-fly, Villa cingulata (Meigen, 1804)

We present a genome assembly from an individual male Villa cingulata (the Downland Villa bee-fly; Arthropoda; Insecta; Diptera; Bombyliidae). The genome sequence is 412.6 megabases in span. Most of the assembly is scaffolded into 10 chromosomal pseudomolecules, including the X and Y sex chromosomes. The mitochondrial genome has also been assembled and is 22.43 kilobases in length

The genome sequence of the Large Sharp-tail Bee, Coelioxys conoideus (Illiger,1806) [version 1; peer review: 2 approved]

We present a genome assembly from an individual female Coelioxys conoideus (the Large Sharp-tail Bee; Arthropoda; Insecta; Hymenoptera; Megachilidae). The genome sequence is 417.6 megabases in span. Most of the assembly is scaffolded into 12 chromosomal pseudomolecules. The mitochondrial genome has also been assembled and is 20.8 kilobases in length

Empagliflozin in Patients with Chronic Kidney Disease

Background The effects of empagliflozin in patients with chronic kidney disease who are at risk for disease progression are not well understood. The EMPA-KIDNEY trial was designed to assess the effects of treatment with empagliflozin in a broad range of such patients. Methods We enrolled patients with chronic kidney disease who had an estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) of at least 20 but less than 45 ml per minute per 1.73 m(2) of body-surface area, or who had an eGFR of at least 45 but less than 90 ml per minute per 1.73 m(2) with a urinary albumin-to-creatinine ratio (with albumin measured in milligrams and creatinine measured in grams) of at least 200. Patients were randomly assigned to receive empagliflozin (10 mg once daily) or matching placebo. The primary outcome was a composite of progression of kidney disease (defined as end-stage kidney disease, a sustained decrease in eGFR to < 10 ml per minute per 1.73 m(2), a sustained decrease in eGFR of & GE;40% from baseline, or death from renal causes) or death from cardiovascular causes. Results A total of 6609 patients underwent randomization. During a median of 2.0 years of follow-up, progression of kidney disease or death from cardiovascular causes occurred in 432 of 3304 patients (13.1%) in the empagliflozin group and in 558 of 3305 patients (16.9%) in the placebo group (hazard ratio, 0.72; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.64 to 0.82; P < 0.001). Results were consistent among patients with or without diabetes and across subgroups defined according to eGFR ranges. The rate of hospitalization from any cause was lower in the empagliflozin group than in the placebo group (hazard ratio, 0.86; 95% CI, 0.78 to 0.95; P=0.003), but there were no significant between-group differences with respect to the composite outcome of hospitalization for heart failure or death from cardiovascular causes (which occurred in 4.0% in the empagliflozin group and 4.6% in the placebo group) or death from any cause (in 4.5% and 5.1%, respectively). The rates of serious adverse events were similar in the two groups. Conclusions Among a wide range of patients with chronic kidney disease who were at risk for disease progression, empagliflozin therapy led to a lower risk of progression of kidney disease or death from cardiovascular causes than placebo