Hostility, Race, and Glucose Metabolism in Nondiabetic Individuals

OBJECTIVE— The present study was designed to determine whether hostility is differentially related to measures of glucose metabolism in African-Americans and Caucasians. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS— The relationship of hostility, as measured by a subset of the Cook-Medley hostility scale (CMHOST) inventory items, to various parameters of glucose metabolism were examined in a young, healthy sample of male and female African-American and Caucasian volunteers. Fasting blood samples were collected during an inpatient admission, at which time the CMHOST was also administered. RESULTS— In the entire sample, the CMHOST was found to be significantly correlated with fasting glucose and insulin sensitivity, as measured by the homeostatic model assessment (HOMA). However, the relationship of hostility to these parameters of glucose metabolism was different in African-American and Caucasian subjects. Hostility was significantly related to fasting glucose in African-Americans and to insulin sensitivity and fasting insulin in Caucasian subjects. The relationship of hostility to insulin sensitivity and fasting insulin was partially dependent on BMI in Caucasians, but the relationship of hostility to fasting glucose was unrelated to BMI in African-Americans. CONCLUSIONS— Our data suggest that the relationship of hostility to measures of glucose metabolism is mediated differently in these two ethnic groups. Therefore, hostility seems to be part of a constellation of risk-related behaviors related to BMI in Caucasians but independently related to fasting glucose in African-Americans

The effects of baseline characteristics, glycaemia treatment approach, and glycated haemoglobin concentration on the risk of severe hypoglycaemia: post hoc epidemiological analysis of the ACCORD study

Objectives To investigate potential determinants of severe hypoglycaemia, including baseline characteristics, in the Action to Control Cardiovascular Risk in Diabetes (ACCORD) trial and the association of severe hypoglycaemia with levels of glycated haemoglobin (haemoglobin A1C) achieved during therapy

Robertsite, Ca2MnIII3O2(PO4)3·3H2O

Robertsite, ideally Ca2Mn3O2(PO4)3·3H2O [calcium manganese(III) tris(orthophosphate) trihydrate], can be associated with the arseniosiderite structural group characterized by the general formula Ca2A3O2(TO4)3·nH2O, with A = Fe, Mn; T = As, P; and n = 2 or 3. In this study, single-crystal X-ray diffraction data were used to determine the robertsite structure from a twinned crystal from the type locality, the Tip Top mine, Custer County, South Dakota, USA, and to refine anisotropic displacement parameters for all atoms. The general structural feature of robertsite resembles that of the other two members of the arseniosiderite group, the structures of which have previously been reported. It is characterized by sheets of [MnO6] octahedra in the form of nine-membered pseudo-trigonal rings. Located at the center of each nine-membered ring is a PO4 tetrahedron, and the other eight PO4 tetrahedra sandwich the Mn–oxide sheets. The six different Ca2+ ions are seven-coordinated in form of distorted pentagonal bipyramids, [CaO5(H2O)2], if Ca—O distances less than 2.85 Å are considered. Along with hydrogen bonding involving the water molecules, they hold the manganese–phosphate sheets together. All nine [MnO6] octahedra are distorted by the Jahn–Teller effect

Adherence to Guidelines and its Effects on Hospitalizations with Complications of Type 2 Diabetes

OBJECTIVES: To study the discrepancy between actual and recommended rates of use among several measures of screening for complications of diabetes in a national longitudinal sample, the correlations among measures of adherence, and whether or not higher rates of adherence reduce hospitalizations for complications of diabetes. The key study hypothesis was that lack of adherence to professional recommendations for diabetes care leads to adverse health outcomes for elderly persons. METHODS: Administrative claims and survey data for 1994-­1999 on a nationally representative sample of Medicare beneficiaries age 65+. Principal components analysis and instrumental variables probit regression methods were used. RESULTS: Most Medicare beneficiaries diagnosed with type 2 diabetes had at least one physician visit per year, but rates of screening (eye examinations and HbA1c, lipid, microalbumin and urine tests) fell far short of recommendations. Correlations among use rates for various types of screening were positive but far less than one, suggesting that failure to screen reflects a complex set of underlying factors. Increased rates of adherence were observed for HbA1c and lipid testing over the observation period. Higher use was associated with lower rates of hospitalization for complications of diabetes (vascular (p=0.007), renal (p=0.002), and other complication (p=0.005)). CONCLUSIONS: Adherence to guidelines was associated with significantly reduced rates of hospitalization. Continued analysis of the trends in clinical practice is needed to demonstrate the effectiveness of standardized guidelines for the care of patients with diabetes

HARMONY 3: 104-Week Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo- and Active-Controlled Trial Assessing the Efficacy and Safety of Albiglutide Compared With Placebo, Sitagliptin, and Glimepiride in Patients With Type 2 Diabetes Taking Metformin.

To compare the efficacy and safety of weekly albiglutide with daily sitagliptin, daily glimepiride, and placebo.RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS: Patients with type 2 diabetes receiving metformin were randomized to albiglutide (30 mg), sitagliptin (100 mg), glimepiride (2 mg), or placebo. Blinded dose titration for albiglutide (to 50 mg) and glimepiride (to 4 mg) was based on predefined hyperglycemia criteria. The primary end point was change in HbA1c from baseline at week 104. Secondary end points included fasting plasma glucose (FPG), weight, and time to hyperglycemic rescue.RESULTS: Baseline characteristics were similar among the albiglutide (n = 302), glimepiride (n = 307), sitagliptin (n = 302), and placebo (n = 101) groups. Baseline HbA1c was 8.1% (65.0 mmol/mol); mean age was 54.5 years. The mean doses for albiglutide and glimepiride at week 104 were 40.5 and 3.1 mg, respectively. At week 104, albiglutide significantly reduced HbA1c compared with placebo (-0.9% [-9.8 mmol/mol]; P < 0.0001), sitagliptin (-0.4% [-4.4 mmol/mol]; P = 0.0001), and glimepiride (-0.3% [-3.3 mmol/mol]; P = 0.0033). Outcomes for FPG and HbA1c were similar. Weight change from baseline for each were as follows: albiglutide -1.21 kg (95% CI -1.68 to -0.74), placebo -1.00 kg (95% CI -1.81 to -0.20), sitagliptin -0.86 kg (95% CI -1.32 to -0.39), glimepiride 1.17 kg (95% CI 0.70-1.63). The difference between albiglutide and glimepiride was statistically significant (P < 0.0001). Hyperglycemic rescue rate at week 104 was 25.8% for albiglutide compared with 59.2% (P < 0.0001), 36.4% (P = 0.0118), and 32.7% (P = 0.1504) for placebo, sitagliptin, and glimepiride, respectively. Rates of serious adverse events in the albiglutide group were similar to comparison groups. Diarrhea (albiglutide 12.9%, other groups 8.6-10.9%) and nausea (albiglutide 10.3%, other groups 6.2-10.9%) were generally the most frequently reported gastrointestinal events.CONCLUSION: Added to metformin, albiglutide was well-tolerated; produced superior reductions in HbA1c and FPG at week 104 compared with placebo, sitagliptin, and glimepiride; and resulted in weight loss compared with glimepiride