Encephalopathy of Autoimmune Origin: Steroid-Responsive Encephalopathy With Associated Thyroiditis.

Background/Objective: Our objective is to highlight the importance of identifying symptoms of steroid-responsive encephalopathy with associated thyroiditis (SREAT), especially in the setting of intermittent cognitive dysfunction, and to inform that SREAT can develop even in patients with a history of partial thyroidectomies. Case Report: We present a case of a 51-year-old woman with a long-standing history of hypothyroidism presenting with acute onset myoclonus, involuntary tremors, fatigue, malaise, and palpitations for two weeks, with intermittent lapses in cognitive function. The patient's workup is completely within normal limits, including her cognition, except for elevated thyroid stimulating hormone levels and markedly elevated levels of antithyroid peroxidase antibodies, despite the fact that she previously had a partial thyroidectomy. Discussion: SREAT is an autoimmune condition characterized by cognitive dysfunction, elevated thyroid autoantibodies, and therapeutic response to corticosteroids. SREAT is primarily considered a diagnosis of exclusion. A crucial feature is the hallmark of significant improvement in symptoms when glucocorticoids are administered. There is a significant correlation between patients with elevated antithyroid peroxidase antibodies and new-onset SREAT. Although total thyroidectomy has been reported as a definitive treatment of SREAT, response to corticosteroids is the "sine qua non" in diagnosing this condition. Conclusion: Hashimoto's thyroiditis can lead to a rare complication called SREAT, presenting with various neurologic symptoms. Prompt glucocorticoid treatment is vital, and a positive response confirms the diagnosis. Total thyroidectomy may be necessary for definitive SREAT treatment. More research is needed for alternate treatments and an understanding of the pathophysiology of SREAT.

Unilateral Thyroid Lobe Involvement of Graves Disease.

A 30-year-old man presented with 3-year history of Graves disease. He was initially diagnosed after he developed unilateral proptosis and was initiated on methimazole 5 mg, on which he was currently euthyroid. Visible right-sided thyromegaly and trouble swallowing developed 2 months after presentation to our practice. Biochemical evaluation revealed suppressed TSH, normal free T4 and total T3, and elevated thyroid stimulating immunoglobulin with normal thyroid receptor antibody. An ultrasound of the thyroid demonstrated left-sided small nodules with right-sided thyromegaly. A nuclear medicine uptake scan revealed significantly greater uptake in the right thyroid lobe, with overall minimal uptake in the left lobe. The need for definitive therapy that would not exacerbate orbitopathy was discussed, and the patient elected for a right-sided hemithyroidectomy. Postoperative biochemical evaluation demonstrated biochemical euthyroidism despite continued elevation in thyroid stimulating immunoglobulin and newly elevated thyroid receptor antibody while remaining off methimazole. Graves disease can rarely involve a single thyroid lobe. Given the rarity, further investigation is needed to determine the natural course of this form of Graves disease.

Glucagon-Like Peptide 1 Analogues as Adjunctive Therapy for Patients With Type 1 Diabetes: An Updated Systematic Review and Meta-analysis.

CONTEXT: Concomitant obesity is common among patients with type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM), yet adjunctive therapy options are scarce. OBJECTIVE: We assess the efficacy and adverse outcomes of glucagon-like peptide 1 (GLP-1) analogues when used as adjunctive therapy for T1DM. METHOD: PubMed, EMBASE, Cochrane Central, and Scopus databases were searched for randomized controlled trials up to December 2022. Efficacy outcomes were A1c level, body weight, and total daily insulin (TDI) after ≥12 weeks of GLP-1 therapy. We also assessed 12 different adverse outcomes. Subgroup analysis was done for newly diagnosed or C-peptide positive (C-pos) patients. We report the certainty of evidence based on the GRADE assessment tool. RESULTS: A total of 24 studies using 4 different GLP-1 analogues with a total of 3377 patients were included. Liraglutide had the most substantial evidence with effect sizes on A1c (-0.09%/mg), weight (-2.2 kg/mg), and TDI (-4.32 IU/mg). Liraglutide dose was the greatest predictor of greater average weight loss and TDI decrease but was associated with higher odds of nausea (OR 6.5; 95% CI, 5.0-8.4) and ketosis (OR 1.8; 95% CI, 1.1-2.8). Odds of severe (OR 0.67; 95% CI, 0.43-1.04) or symptomatic hypoglycemia (OR 0.89; 95% CI, 0.53-1.51) were not significantly elevated. Among C-pos patients, greater A1c decrease (-0.51% vs -0.28%) but similar weight loss and TDI were seen. Effect sizes for exenatide were similar, but studies had higher risk of bias and safety data were sparse. CONCLUSION: Our meta-analysis supports therapeutic benefits of liraglutide for patients with T1DM mainly for weight loss and insulin dose reduction. Newly diagnosed or C-pos patients do not appear to experience greater weight loss benefits.

Efficacy of recurrent transcutaneous magnetic stimulation in the treatment of diabetic peripheral neuropathy: Multicenter randomized trial.

AIMS: Transcutaneous magnetic stimulation (TCMS) is successful in decreasing pain in several neurologic conditions. This multicenter parallel double-blind phase II clinical trial is a follow-up to a pilot study that demonstrated pain relief in patients with diabetic peripheral neuropathy (DPN) treated with TCMS. METHODS: Thirty-four participants with confirmed DPN and baseline pain score ≥ 5 were randomized to treatment at two sites. Participants were treated with either TCMS (n = 18) or sham (n = 16) applied to each foot once a week for four weeks. Pain scores using the Numeric Pain Rating Scale after 10 steps on a hard floor surface and answers to Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System pain questions were recorded by participants daily for 28 days. RESULTS: Thirty-one participants completed the study and were analyzed. Average pain scores decreased from baseline in both the groups. The difference in pain scores between TCMS and sham treatments was -0.55 for morning, -0.13 for evening, and -0.34 overall, below the pre-determined clinically relevant difference of -2. Moderate adverse events that resolved spontaneously were experienced in both treatment arms. CONCLUSION: In this two-arm trial, TCMS failed to demonstrate a significant benefit over sham in patient reported pain suggesting a substantial placebo effect in our previous pilot study. TRIAL REGISTRATION: TCMS for the Treatment of Foot Pain Caused By Diabetic Neuropathy, https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT03596203, ID-NCT03596203.

Association between bisphosphonate use and stroke risk: a meta-analysis.

Previous studies have suggested that bisphosphonates may reduce stroke risk. This meta-analysis, which included 21 studies with 741,274 participants, revealed that bisphosphonates might be associated with lower stroke risk. However, evidence derived from randomized controlled trials identified no statistically significant association. Future high-quality studies are still required to determine causality. PURPOSE: Whether bisphosphonates may reduce the risk of stroke remains inconclusive. We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis to evaluate the association between bisphosphonate use and the risk of stroke based on up-to-date evidence. METHODS: We searched for studies evaluating the effects of bisphosphonate on the risk of stroke from inception until January 3, 2022, on PubMed, Embase, Scopus, and Cochrane libraries and updated our search until August 22, 2022, using PubMed to identify any new potential published studies. Two or more reviewers independently screened articles, extracted data, and assessed the study quality. We retrieved the data to synthesize the pooled relative risk (RR) of stroke associated with bisphosphonate use compared with controls; random-effects models were used for meta-analysis. RESULTS: A total of 21 studies (7 randomized controlled trials [RCTs] and 14 observational studies) involving 741,274 participants were included in our meta-analysis. Overall, bisphosphonate use was associated with a lower risk of stroke, but the result was only borderline significant (pooled RR = 0.87, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.76-0.99, p = 0.048), and high between-study heterogeneity was found (I2 = 83.7%). Subgroup analyses showed that the evidence derived from RCTs suggested no significant association between bisphosphonate use and stroke risk (pooled RR = 0.93, 95% CI: 0.76-1.13, p = 0.462; I2 = 13.4%). CONCLUSION: Our results suggest that bisphosphonate use is associated with a lower risk of stroke. However, the current evidence does not lead to a definite conclusion due to the borderline statistical significance and high between-study heterogeneity. Future studies, especially RCTs, are necessary to assess causality.

Risk of serious hypoglycaemia in patients with atrial fibrillation and diabetes concurrently taking antidiabetic drugs and oral anticoagulants: a nationwide cohort study.

AIMS: Evidence regarding the risks of serious hypoglycaemia for patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) and diabetes mellitus (DM) taking antidiabetic medications with concurrent non-vitamin K antagonist oral anticoagulants (NOACs) vs. warfarin is limited. This study aimed to investigate this knowledge gap. METHODS AND RESULTS: This retrospective cohort study used nationwide data from Taiwan's National Health Insurance Research Database and included a total of 56 774 adult patients treated with antidiabetic medications and oral anticoagulants between 1 January 2012 and 31 December 2020. The incidence rate ratios (IRRs) of serious hypoglycaemia were estimated for patients taking antidiabetic drugs with NOACs vs. warfarin. Poisson regression models with generalized estimating equations accounting for intra-individual correlation across follow-up periods were used. Stabilized inverse probability of treatment weighting was used to create treatment groups with balanced characteristics for comparisons. Compared to concurrent use of antidiabetic drugs with warfarin, those with NOACs showed a significantly lower risk of serious hypoglycaemia (IRR = 0.73, 95% CI: 0.63-0.85, P < 0.001). In the analyses of each NOAC, patients taking dabigatran (IRR = 0.76, 95% CI: 0.63-0.91, P = 0.002), rivaroxaban (IRR = 0.72, 95% CI: 0.61-0.86, P < 0.001), and apixaban (IRR = 0.71, 95% CI: 0.57-0.89, P = 0.003) showed a significantly lower risk of serious hypoglycaemia than those taking warfarin. CONCLUSION: In patients with AF and DM taking antidiabetic drugs, concurrent use of NOACs was associated with a lower risk of serious hypoglycaemia than concurrent use of warfarin.

Eliciting Low-Risk Thyroid Cancer Treatment Preferences Using Clinical Vignettes: A Pilot Study.

OBJECTIVE: While surgical resection has been the traditional standard treatment for small (≤1 cm), differentiated thyroid cancers, active surveillance (AS) and radiofrequency ablation (RFA) are increasingly considered. The aim of this study was to explore patient preferences in thyroid cancer treatment using a series of clinical vignettes. METHODS: Thyroid cancer survivors and general population volunteers were recruited to rank experience-driven clinical vignettes in order of preference. Rankings were compared using Wilcoxon signed rank. Formative qualitative methods were used to develop and refine clinical vignettes that captured 4 treatments-thyroid lobectomy (TL), total thyroidectomy (TT), AS, and RFA-along with 6 treatment complications. Content was validated via interviews with 5 academic subspecialists. RESULTS: Nineteen volunteers participated (10 survivors, 9 general population). Treatment complications were ranked lower than uncomplicated counterparts in 99.0% of cases, indicating excellent comprehension. Counter to our hypothesis, among uncomplicated vignettes, median rankings were 1 for AS, 2 for RFA, 3.5 for TL, and 5 for TT. Trends were consistent between thyroid cancer survivors and the general population. AS was significantly preferred over RFA (P = .02) and TT (P < .01). Among surgical options, TL was significantly preferred over TT (P < .01). CONCLUSION: When treatments for low-risk thyroid cancer are described clearly and accurately through clinical vignettes, patients may be more likely to choose less invasive treatment options over traditional surgical resection.

Type 1 diabetes: key drug targets and how they could influence future therapeutics.

INTRODUCTION: Despite significant strides made in the management of T1DM, standard management is still insulin analog therapy. Some non-insulin therapies traditionally reserved for the treatment of T2DM have been explored in caring for patients with T1DM, and pancreas transplant is an option for few. However, T1DM remains a challenging disease to manage, encouraging development of novel pharmacologic agents. AREAS COVERED: We retrieved PubMed, Cochrane Library, Scopus, Google Scholar, and ClinicalTrials.gov records to identify studies and articles focused on new pharmacologic advances to treat T1DM. EXPERT OPINION: Recent research has focused on new targets of pharmacologic treatment of T1DM. Beta-cell preservation through immunomodulation or inhibiting inflammation hopes to delay or halt the progression of the disease. Beta cell regeneration through islet cell transplant or modification in transcription pathways aim to reverse the disease effects. Multiple other new targets such as glucagon antagonism and glucokinase activation are also in development as a potential adjunctive therapy. These new therapeutic targets offer the hope of reducing the daily burden of diabetes management with eventual insulin discontinuation for many individuals with T1DM.

Risk of heart failure in elderly patients with atrial fibrillation and diabetes taking different oral anticoagulants: a nationwide cohort study.

BACKGROUND: Heart failure (HF) is a critical complication in elderly patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) and diabetes mellitus (DM). Recent preclinical studies suggested that non-vitamin K antagonist oral anticoagulants (NOACs) can potentially suppress the progression of cardiac fibrosis and ischemic cardiomyopathy. Whether different oral anticoagulants influence the risk of HF in older adults with AF and DM is unknown. This study aimed to evaluate the risk of HF in elderly patients with AF and DM who were administered NOACs or warfarin. METHODS: A nationwide retrospective cohort study was conducted based on claims data from the entire Taiwanese population. Target trial emulation design was applied to strengthen causal inference using observational data. Patients aged ≥ 65 years with AF and DM on NOAC or warfarin treatment between 2012 and 2019 were included and followed up until 2020. The primary outcome was newly diagnosed HF. Propensity score-based fine stratification weightings were used to balance patient characteristics between NOAC and warfarin groups. Hazard ratios (HRs) were estimated using Cox proportional hazard models. RESULTS: The study included a total of 24,835 individuals (19,710 NOAC and 5,125 warfarin users). Patients taking NOACs had a significantly lower risk of HF than those taking warfarin (HR = 0.80, 95% CI 0.74-0.86, p < 0.001). Subgroup analyses for individual NOACs suggested that dabigatran (HR = 0.86, 95% CI 0.80-0.93, p < 0.001), rivaroxaban (HR = 0.80, 95% CI 0.74-0.86, p < 0.001), apixaban (HR = 0.78, 95% CI 0.68-0.90, p < 0.001), and edoxaban (HR = 0.72, 95% CI 0.60-0.86, p < 0.001) were associated with lower risks of HF than warfarin. The findings were consistent regardless of age and sex subgroups and were more prominent in those with high medication possession ratios. Several sensitivity analyses further supported the robustness of our findings. CONCLUSIONS: This nationwide cohort study demonstrated that elderly patients with AF and DM taking NOACs had a lower risk of incident HF than those taking warfarin. Our findings suggested that NOACs may be the preferred oral anticoagulant treatment when considering the prevention of heart failure in this vulnerable population. Future research is warranted to elucidate causation and investigate the underlying mechanisms.

Emerging drugs for the treatment of diabetic nephropathy.

INTRODUCTION: Diabetic nephropathy remains a significant economic and social burden on both the individual patient and health-care systems as the prevalence of diabetes increases in the general population. The complex pathophysiology of diabetic kidney disease poses a challenge in the development of effective medical treatments for the disease. However, the multiple facets of diabetic nephropathy also offer a variety of potential strategies to manage this condition. AREAS COVERED: We retrieved PubMed, Cochrane Library, Scopus, Google Scholar, and ClinicalTrials.gov records to identify studies and articles focused on new pharmacologic advances to treat diabetic nephropathy. EXPERT OPINION: RAAS blockers have remained the mainstay of therapy for DM nephropathy for many years, with only recent advancements with SGLT2 inhibitors and nonsteroidal MRAs. Better understanding of the long-term renal effects of ambient hyperglycemia, ranging from hemodynamic changes to increased production of oxidative and pro-inflammatory substances, has evolved our approach to the treatment of diabetic nephropathy. With continuing research for new therapeutics as well as combination therapy, the medical community may be able to better ease the burden of diabetic kidney disease.

Voriconazole-Induced Diffuse Periostitis.

Background/Objective: Voriconazole treatment has been associated with diffuse periostitis, especially in immunocompromised patients who have had transplants or are on immunosuppressants. Here, we present a case of diffuse periostitis induced by prophylactic low-dose voriconazole for pulmonary aspergillosis. Case Report: A 66-year-old woman presented with 1 year of progressive, diffuse bone pain most prominent over the left shoulder and bilateral hips. She had a history of sarcoidosis requiring a single orthotopic lung transplant. Left phalangeal soft tissue swelling and painful nodules without clubbing were noted on examination. Prophylactic voriconazole 200 mg twice a day for pulmonary aspergillosis was prescribed for over 7 years. Elevated levels of alkaline phosphatase (469 units/L [reference range, 38-126]), bone-specific alkaline phosphatase (125 µg/L [0-20]), and parathyroid hormone (137 pg/mL [8-54]) and normal c-telopeptide level (842 pg/mL [34-1037]) were noted. Radiographs showed "multifocal periostitis" in both hip joints and bilateral proximal femurs, findings suggestive of voriconazole-induced periostitis deformans. Voriconazole was discontinued, and the patient improved symptomatically, despite persistent bone deformities on imaging. Discussion: Diffuse bone pain can be due to various pathologies, including metabolic or inflammatory diseases and bone tumors. Voriconazole-induced periostitis is caused by skeletal fluorosis, which can result in diffuse bone pain. It is a clinical diagnosis that is supported with radiologic findings, including focal, nodular, dense, and irregular periosteal reactions. Biochemical evaluation may reveal elevated alkaline phosphatase levels, but it is usually related to normal voriconazole trough levels. Periostitis is a benign condition, and discontinuation of the drug usually leads to clinical improvement. Conclusion: Voriconazole-induced periostitis should be considered as a diagnosis in elderly, immunosuppressed patients with diffuse bone pain on antifungal treatment. Early recognition of voriconazole-induced periostitis may result in both improved patient clinical outcomes and avoidance of unnecessary diagnostic testing.

Real-time continuous glucose monitoring improves glycemic control and reduces hypoglycemia: Real-world data.

AIM: To study the effect of real time continuous glucose monitor (RT-CGM) use on glycemic parameters in patients with diabetes mellitus (DM) in real world practice. METHODS: We retrospectively studied 91 adult subjects with DM who had been using Dexcom™ RT-CGM. Two consecutive hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c), both prior to and after at least 3 months of RT-CGM initiation, were collected. A total of 31 subjects completed a 5-14 day user blinded CGM using a Freestyle Libre™ prior to RT-CGM initiation. The first two week period following at least 3 months use of RT-CGM was analyzed for CGM metrics. RESULTS: A total of 51.6 % of subjects had T1DM, 34.1 % used continuous subcutaneous insulin infusion (CSII), and 62.6 % had DM for > 10 years. Both HbA1c obtained following RT-CGM initiation decreased significantly compared to baseline (8.11 + 1.47% vs 7.69 + 1.25 %; P = 0.002 & 8.16 + 1.51 % vs 7.62 + 1.06 %; P = 0.001). Subjects with baseline HbA1c > 7.0 % showed even more robust reduction in both HbA1c after RT-CGM initiation (8.74 + 1.24 % vs 7.99 + 1.22 %; P = 0.000 & 8.74 + 1.32 % vs 7.85 + 1.07 %; P = 0.001). On comparison of CGM metrics, there was a significant reduction in time spent in hypoglycemia (sugars < 70 mg/dl) including severe hypoglycemia (sugars < 54 mg/dl) after initiation of the RT-CGM (9.16 + 8.68 % vs 1.29 + 2.21 %; P = <0.001 & 4.58 + 5.43 % vs 0.28 + 0.58 %; P = <0.001). CoV of glucose was also decreased significantly (39.61 + 9.36 % vs 31.06 + 6.74 %; P = <0.001) with RT- CGM use. CONCLUSION: RT-CGM use for at least 3 months in patients with DM results in meaningful HbA1c reductions with stable glycemic control without increasing the risk of hypoglycemia.

Low-Risk Papillary Thyroid Cancer: Treatment De-Escalation and Cost Implications.

INTRODUCTION: The American Thyroid Association (ATA) updated consensus guidelines in 2015 for radioactive iodine (RAI) and resection for low-risk papillary thyroid cancer. The objective of this study was to describe the evolution of institutional practice patterns and estimate the cost implications of these trends. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Patients with cT1-T2N0 papillary thyroid cancer were identified via an institutional tumor registry. Incidences of total thyroidectomy or RAI were tracked longitudinally using cumulative sum. Real-world costs for RAI and each surgical encounter were adjusted for inflation and standardized to national average costs from National Inpatient Sample cost data. RESULTS: Sixty-one patients met inclusion criteria between 2007 and 2018. Among these, 28 patients underwent total thyroidectomies and received RAI treatments based on criteria pre-dating the 2015 ATA guidelines. Cumulative sum revealed significant decreases in the rate of total thyroidectomy following May 2015 (15.8% versus 59.5%, P = 0.002) and RAI following March 2013 (3.0% versus 32.1%, P = 0.002). There were no locoregional recurrences in either period. The average cost savings attributable to these institutional practice changes was $1580 per patient. CONCLUSIONS: De-escalation in surgical and RAI utilization for low-risk papillary thyroid cancer according to 2015 ATA guidelines is associated with a substantial decrease in real-world costs.

Diabetes-Related Complications and Mortality in Patients With Atrial Fibrillation Receiving Different Oral Anticoagulants : A Nationwide Analysis.

BACKGROUND: Evidence about the association between types of oral anticoagulants and hazards of diabetes complications is limited in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) and diabetes mellitus (DM). OBJECTIVE: To compare the hazards of diabetes complications and mortality between patients with AF and DM receiving non-vitamin K antagonist oral anticoagulants (NOACs) and those receiving warfarin. DESIGN: A retrospective cohort study. SETTING: Nationwide data obtained from Taiwan's National Health Insurance Research Database. PATIENTS: Patients with AF and DM receiving NOACs or warfarin between 2012 and 2017 in Taiwan were enrolled. Treatment groups were determined by patients' first initiation of oral anticoagulants. MEASUREMENTS: Hazards of diabetes complications (macrovascular complications, microvascular complications, and glycemic emergency) and mortality in the NOAC and warfarin users were investigated with a target trial design. Cause-specific Cox proportional hazards models were used to estimate hazard ratios (HRs). Propensity score methods with stabilized inverse probability of treatment weighting were applied to balance potential confounders between treatment groups. RESULTS: In total, 19 909 NOAC users and 10 300 warfarin users were included. Patients receiving NOACs had significantly lower hazards of developing macrovascular complications (HR, 0.84 [95% CI, 0.78 to 0.91]; P < 0.001), microvascular complications (HR, 0.79 [CI, 0.73 to 0.85]; P < 0.001), glycemic emergency (HR, 0.91 [CI, 0.83 to 0.99]; P = 0.043), and mortality (HR, 0.78 [CI, 0.75 to 0.82]; P < 0.001) than those receiving warfarin. Analyses with propensity score matching showed similar results. Several sensitivity analyses further supported the robustness of our findings. LIMITATION: The claims-based data did not allow for detailed data on patients' lifestyles and laboratory examinations to be obtained. CONCLUSION: Non-vitamin K antagonist oral anticoagulants were associated with lower hazards of diabetes complications and mortality than warfarin in patients with AF and DM. PRIMARY FUNDING SOURCE: Hualien Tzu Chi Hospital.

Effects of Proton Pump Inhibitors on Glycemic Control and Incident Diabetes: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis.

CONTEXT: Whether proton pump inhibitors (PPI) can improve glycemic control among individuals with diabetes or decrease the risk of incident diabetes in the general population is unclear. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the impact of PPI therapy on glycemic control among individuals with diabetes and the risk of diabetes among those without diabetes. RESULTS: PubMed, Embase, Scopus, and ClinicalTrials.gov were searched from inception to November 21, 2020. We included studies comparing glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c) or fasting blood glucose (FBG) among individuals with diabetes treated with and without PPI therapy as an add-on to standard therapy. Studies evaluating the risk of incident diabetes among individuals taking PPI were assessed. We performed dual independent review, data extraction, and quality assessment. Weighted mean differences between groups or relative risks were imputed using random-effects models. RESULTS: Seven studies (n = 342) for glycemic control and 5 studies (n = 244 439) for risk of incident diabetes were included. Compared with standard therapy, add-on PPI was associated with a significant decrease in HbA1c (WMD, -0.36 %; 95% CI, -0.68 to -0.05; P = 0.025) and FBG (WMD, -10.0 mg/dL; 95% CI, -19.4 to -0.6; P = 0.037). PPI use did not reduce the risk of incident diabetes (pooled RR, 1.10; 95% CI, 0.89 to 1.34; P = 0.385). CONCLUSION: Add-on PPI improved glycemic indices among individuals with diabetes but did not alter the risk of incident diabetes. The effects of PPI on glycemic control should be considered when prescribing antacids to patients with diabetes.

Fracture Risks in Patients Treated With Different Oral Anticoagulants: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Background Evidence on the differences in fracture risk associated with non-vitamin K antagonist oral anticoagulants (NOAC) and warfarin is inconsistent and inconclusive. We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis to assess the fracture risk associated with NOACs and warfarin. Methods and Results We searched PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library, Scopus, Web of Science, and ClinicalTrials.gov from inception until May 19, 2020. We included studies presenting measurements (regardless of primary/secondary/tertiary/safety outcomes) for any fracture in both NOAC and warfarin users. Two or more reviewers independently screened relevant articles, extracted data, and performed quality assessments. Data were retrieved to synthesize the pooled relative risk (RR) of fractures associated with NOACs versus warfarin. Random-effects models were used for data synthesis. We included 29 studies (5 cohort studies and 24 randomized controlled trials) with 388 209 patients. Patients treated with NOACs had lower risks of fracture than those treated with warfarin (pooled RR, 0.84; 95% CI, 0.77-0.91; P<0.001) with low heterogeneity (I2=38.9%). NOACs were also associated with significantly lower risks of hip fracture than warfarin (pooled RR, 0.89; 95% CI, 0.81-0.98; P=0.023). A nonsignificant trend of lower vertebral fracture risk in NOAC users was also observed (pooled RR, 0.74; 95% CI, 0.54-1.01; P=0.061). Subgroup analyses for individual NOACs demonstrated that dabigatran, rivaroxaban, and apixaban were significantly associated with lower fracture risks. Furthermore, the data synthesis results from randomized controlled trials and real-world cohort studies were quite consistent, indicating the robustness of our findings. Conclusions Compared with warfarin, NOACs are associated with lower risks of bone fracture.

Biochemical follow-up of nonfunctioning benign thyroid nodules.

OBJECTIVE: For the biochemical follow-up of benign thyroid nodules, some authors recommend periodic lifelong measurement of thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) to assess for the development of toxic nodules over time. The purpose of this retrospective study was to assess the incidence of thyroid dysfunction over time in patients with benign thyroid nodule(s), with a normal TSH at diagnosis and to identify any factors that may predict biochemical dysfunction over time. METHODS: Medical records of patients with the diagnosis of thyroid nodule(s) between January 2011 and August 2014 were reviewed. Patients who had TSH measurement within 1 year of initial diagnostic ultrasound (US) were included. RESULTS: One-hundred fifty-seven patients identified with thyroid nodule(s) satisfied inclusion criteria. At a median follow-up of 45 (34-63) months, 13 (8.3%) patients developed thyroid dysfunction. The mean initial TSH in the group which developed subclinical hyperthyroidism (0.65 mIU/mL) was statistically different from the group that did not develop thyroid dysfunction (1.37 mIU/mL, P: 0.007). More patients with TSH <1 mIU/L developed thyroid dysfunction as compared to subjects with TSH ≥1 mIU/L (P: .022). There was no significant difference in the incidence of thyroid dysfunction on the basis of gender, race, smoking status, TPO Ab positivity and number of nodules at diagnosis. CONCLUSIONS: We recommend re-examining the current practice and clinical utility of frequent TSH monitoring in all patients with thyroid nodules, particularly if initial TSH level is ≥1 mIU/L.