Deep immunophenotyping reveals that autoimmune and autoinflammatory disorders are spread along two immunological axes capturing disease inflammation levels and types.

OBJECTIVES: Based on genetic associations, McGonagle and McDermott suggested a classification of autoimmune and autoinflammatory diseases as a continuum ranging from purely autoimmune to purely autoinflammatory diseases and comprising diseases with both components. We used deep immunophenotyping to identify immune cell populations and molecular targets characterising this continuum. METHODS: We collected blood from 443 patients with one of 15 autoimmune or autoinflammatory diseases and 71 healthy volunteers. Deep phenotyping was performed using 13 flow cytometry panels characterising over 600 innate and adaptive cell populations. Unsupervised and supervised analyses were conducted to identify disease clusters with their common and specific cell parameters. RESULTS: Unsupervised clustering categorised these diseases into five clusters. Principal component analysis deconvoluted this clustering into two immunological axes. The first axis was driven by the ratio of LAG3+ to ICOS+ in regulatory T lymphocytes (Tregs), and segregated diseases based on their inflammation levels. The second axis was driven by activated Tregs and type 3 innate lymphoid cells (ILC3s), and segregated diseases based on their types of affected tissues. We identified a signature of 23 cell populations that accurately characterised the five disease clusters. CONCLUSIONS: We have refined the monodimensional continuum of autoimmune and autoinflammatory diseases as a continuum characterised by both disease inflammation levels and targeted tissues. Such classification should be helpful for defining therapies. Our results call for further investigations into the role of the LAG3+/ICOS+ balance in Tregs and the contribution of ILC3s in autoimmune and autoinflammatory diseases. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: NCT02466217.

Clinical correlates of lifetime and current comorbidity patterns in autoimmune and inflammatory diseases.

BACKGROUND: Autoimmune and inflammatory diseases (AIDs) are a heterogeneous group of disorders with diverse etiopathogenic mechanisms. This study explores the potential utility of family history, together with present and past comorbidities, in identifying distinct etiopathogenic subgroups. This approach may facilitate more accurate diagnosis, prognosis and personalized therapy. METHODS: We performed a multiple correspondence analysis on patients' comorbidities, followed by hierarchical principal component clustering of clinical data from 48 healthy volunteers and 327 patients with at least one of 19 selected AIDs included in the TRANSIMMUNOM cross-sectional study. RESULTS: We identified three distinct clusters characterized by: 1) the absence of comorbidities, 2) polyautoimmunity, and 3) polyinflammation. These clusters were further distinguished by specific comorbidities and biological parameters. Autoantibodies, allergies, and viral infections characterized the polyautoimmunity cluster, while older age, BMI, depression, cancer, hypertension, periodontal disease, and dyslipidemia characterized the polyinflammation cluster. Rheumatoid arthritis patients were distributed across all three clusters. They had higher DAS28 and prevalence of extra-articular manifestations when belonging to the polyinflammation and polyautoimmunity clusters, and also lower ACPA and RF seropositivity and higher pain scores within the polyinflammation cluster. We developed a model allowing to classify AID patients into comorbidity clusters. CONCLUSIONS: In this study, we have uncovered three distinct comorbidity profiles among AID patients. These profiles suggest the presence of distinct etiopathogenic mechanisms underlying these subgroups. Validation, longitudinal stability assessment, and exploration of their impact on therapy efficacy are needed for a comprehensive understanding of their potential role in personalized medicine.

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease biomarkers estimate cardiovascular risk based on coronary artery calcium score in type 2 diabetes: a cross-sectional study with two independent cohorts.

BACKGROUND: Studies have demonstrated that coronary artery calcification on one hand and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) on the other hand are strongly associated with cardiovascular events. However, it remains unclear whether NAFLD biomarkers could help estimate cardiovascular risk in individuals with type 2 diabetes (T2D). The primary objective of the present study was to investigate whether the biomarkers of NAFLD included in the FibroMax® panels are associated with the degree of coronary artery calcification in patients with T2D. METHODS: A total of 157 and 460 patients with T2D were included from the DIACART and ACCoDiab cohorts, respectively. The coronary artery calcium score (CACS) was measured in both cohorts using computed tomography. FibroMax® panels (i.e., SteatoTest®, FibroTest®, NashTest®, and ActiTest®) were determined from blood samples as scores and stages in the DIACART cohort and as stages in the ACCoDiab cohort. RESULTS: CACS significantly increased with the FibroTest® stages in both the DIACART and ACCoDiab cohorts (p-value for trend = 0.0009 and 0.0001, respectively). In DIACART, the FibroTest® score was positively correlated with CACS in univariate analysis (r = 0.293, p = 0.0002) and remained associated with CACS independently of the traditional cardiovascular risk factors included in the SCORE2-Diabetes model [ß = 941 ± 425 (estimate ± standard error), p = 0.028]. In the ACCoDiab cohort, the FibroTest® F3-F4 stage was positively correlated with CACS in point-biserial analysis (rpbi = 0.104, p = 0.024) and remained associated with CACS after adjustment for the traditional cardiovascular risk factors included in the SCORE2-Diabetes model (ß = 234 ± 97, p = 0.016). Finally, the prediction of CACS was improved by adding FibroTest® to the traditional cardiovascular risk factors included in the SCORE2-Diabetes model (goodness-of-fit of prediction models multiplied by 4.1 and 6.7 in the DIACART and ACCoDiab cohorts, respectively). In contrast, no significant relationship was found between FibroMax® panels other than FibroTest® and CACS in either cohort. CONCLUSIONS: FibroTest® is independently and positively associated with the degree of coronary artery calcification in patients with T2D, suggesting that FibroTest® could be a relevant biomarker of coronary calcification and cardiovascular risk. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov identifiers NCT02431234 and NCT03920683.

TLC-NOSF dressings as a first-line local treatment of chronic wounds: a systematic review of clinical evidence.

OBJECTIVE: Several national and international guidelines recommend lipidocolloid technology with a nano-oligosaccharide factor (TLC-NOSF) dressings (UrgoStart dressing range, Laboratoires Urgo, France) for treating patients with chronic wounds. However, these dressings are still often reported as second-line options, potentially leading to loss of opportunity for patients and additional costs for payers. This review aimed to explore the reported wound healing and patient outcomes as well as the related costs when the dressings were used as first-line treatment in patients with different types of chronic wounds. METHOD: A systematic review of the literature was conducted. Databases (MEDLINE, Embase, Emcare, and Google Scholar) were searched up to 1 February 2024, without any language or time period limitations. Studies were eligible if the evaluated dressings had been used as a first-line treatment for chronic wounds, that is, as an integral part of the standard of care (SoC) at the patient's first presentation and/or in recent wounds. The main evaluation criteria included: wound healing rate; time to reach wound closure; change in patients' quality of life (QoL); and associated costs. The quality of evidence of the included studies was appraised using well-recognised risk-of-bias tools suitable for different study designs. A narrative synthesis describes the findings in three sections depending on the type of comparison. This report followed the principles of the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines. RESULTS: A total of 17 studies published between 2017 and 2024 met the eligibility criteria. A comparative analysis between TLC-NOSF dressings and standard dressings, both of which were used as first-line treatment, was reported in nine studies. A comparative analysis between the use of TLC-NOSF dressings as first-line and second-line treatments was reported in eight studies, and five studies reported a systematic use of the TLC-NOSF dressing as first-line treatment without a control group. Overall, the included studies had a relatively low risk of bias for the respective types of evidence. Data of 10,191 patients of both sexes and different age groups with a total of 10,203 wounds (diabetic foot ulcers, leg ulcers, pressure injuries, and other types of chronic wounds) were included in the analysis: 7775 treated with the evaluated dressing and 2428 treated with a comparator dressing. The data suggested that using TLC-NOSF as a first-line treatment for chronic wounds consistently resulted in significantly higher healing rates, shorter healing times, and cost savings compared with standard dressings used under similar conditions. Real-life evidence confirmed the results obtained in clinical trials and economic models, within similar ranges, regardless of the settings involved or of the characteristics of the patients and wounds treated. The wound healing rates ranged around 70-80% by week 20/24 and time-to-heal was reported on average around seven weeks, with slightly longer times reported in wounds with a more severe prognosis. Furthermore, the dressings were shown to improve patient QoL, and were well tolerated and accepted, supporting a wider adoption approach. CONCLUSION: The results of this review are aligned with the current guidelines recommending the use of TLC-NOSF dressings in the treatment of patients with chronic wounds. They support its wider implementation as a first-line treatment and as an integral part of SoC for these wounds in the daily practice of all centres involved in their management.

Use of the SINBAD score as a predicting tool for major adverse foot events in patients with diabetic foot ulcer: A French multicentre study.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the relationship between the site, ischaemia, neuropathy, bacterial infection, area, depth (SINBAD) score and major adverse foot events in patients with diabetes and foot ulcers. METHODS: For this retrospective ancillary study, patients (n = 537) followed for a diabetic foot ulcer (DFU) in six French hospitals were included between 1 February 2019 and 17 March 2019, and between 1 February 2020 and 17 March 2020. The SINBAD score was assessed at inclusion. The frequency of a composite outcome consisting of eight major adverse foot events (MAFE) was assessed after 5-6 months of follow-up: hospitalisation for DFU, septic surgery, revascularisation, minor amputation, major amputation, death, secondary infection and ulcer recurrence. A logistical regression explored the link between the SINBAD score and MAFE and each of its component. RESULTS: A low SINBAD score (from 0 to 3) was observed in 61% of patients and a high (from 4 to 6) in 39%. MAFE occurred in, respectively, 24% and 28% of these patients. Multivariate analyses showed a significant relationship between the SINBAD score and MAFE, with the continuous SINBAD score: odds ratio (OR) 1.72 [95% CI (1.51-1.97)] or dichotomic SINBAD score (values: 0-3 and 4-6): OR 3.71 [95% CI (2.54-5.42)]. The SINBAD score (continuous or dichotomic) at inclusion was also significantly associated with six out of the eight components of the MAFE. CONCLUSIONS: The SINBAD score is a useful tool for predicting major adverse foot events.

The short-term prognosis of diabetic foot ulceration is independent of nutritional status at admission.

Diabetic foot ulcers are one of the complications of diabetes. Malnutrition is one of the risk factors for wounds but, on the other hand, diabetic foot ulceration may promote malnutrition. In this single-centre retrospective study we evaluated the frequency of malnutrition at first admission and the severity of foot ulceration. We demonstrated that malnutrition at admission correlated with duration of hospitalisation and with death rate rather than with the risk of amputation. Our data challenged the concept that protein-energy deficiency may worsen the prognosis of diabetic foot ulcers. Nevertheless, it is still important to screen nutritional status at baseline and during the follow-up in order to start specific nutritional support therapy as soon as possible in order to reduce morbidity/mortality related to malnutrition.

Cardiac adipose tissue volume and IL-6 level at admission are complementary predictors of severity and short-term mortality in COVID-19 diabetic patients.

BACKGROUND: COVID-19 diabetic adults are at increased risk of severe forms irrespective of obesity. In patients with type-II diabetes, fat distribution is characterized by visceral and ectopic adipose tissues expansion, resulting in systemic inflammation, which may play a role in driving the COVID-19 cytokine storm. Our aim was to determine if cardiac adipose tissue, combined to interleukin-6 levels, could predict adverse short-term outcomes, death and ICU requirement, in COVID-19 diabetic patients during the 21 days after admission. METHODS: Eighty one consecutive patients with type-II diabetes admitted for COVID-19 were included. Interleukin-6 measurement and chest computed tomography with total cardiac adipose tissue index (CATi) measurement were performed at admission. The primary outcome was death during the 21 days following admission while intensive care requirement with or without early death (ICU-R) defined the secondary endpoint. Associations of CATi and IL-6 and threshold values to predict the primary and secondary endpoints were determined. RESULTS: Of the enrolled patients (median age 66 years [IQR: 59-74]), 73% male, median body mass index (BMI) 27 kg/m2 [IQR: 24-31]) 20 patients had died from COVID-19, 20 required intensive care and 41 were in conventional care at day 21 after admission. Increased CATi and IL-6 levels were both significantly related to increased early mortality (respectively OR = 6.15, p = 0.002; OR = 18.2, p < 0.0001) and ICU-R (respectively OR = 3.27, p = 0.01; OR = 4.86, p = 0.002). These associations remained significant independently of age, sex, BMI as well as troponin-T level and pulmonary lesion extension in CT. We combined CATi and IL-6 levels as a multiplicative interaction score (CATi*IL-6). The cut-point for this score was ≥ 6386 with a sensitivity of 0.90 and a specificity of 0.87 (AUC = 0.88) and an OR of 59.6 for early mortality (p < 0.0001). CONCLUSIONS: Cardiac adipose tissue index and IL-6 determination at admission could help physicians to better identify diabetic patients with a potentially severe and lethal short term course irrespective of obesity. Diabetic patients with high CATi at admission, a fortiori associated with high IL-6 levels could be a relevant target population to promptly initiate anti-inflammatory therapies.

Impaired hypoxic ventilatory drive induced by diabetic autonomic neuropathy, a cause of misdiagnosed severe cardiac events: brief report of two cases.

BACKGROUND: Sudden cardiac deaths are twice more frequent in diabetic patients with cardiac autonomic neuropathy. Sudden cardiac death etiologies remain unclear and no recommendations are made to identify factors associated with cardiorespiratory arrest in diabetic patients. We hypothesized, from two clinical cases, that impaired hypoxic ventilatory drive, induced by diabetic autonomic neuropathy, is a cause of misdiagnosed severe cardiac events. CASE PRESENTATION: We describe the cases of two patients with isolated low blood saturation on pulse oximeter during the systematic nurse check-up (77% and 85% respectively) contrasting with the absence of any complaint such as dyspnea, polypnea or other respiratory insufficiency signs observed during the clinical examination. Arterial blood gas measurements subsequently confirmed that blood oxygen saturation was low and both patients were indeed hypoxemic. Patient 1 suffered from vascular overload complicated by cardiac arrest caused by hypoxemia in light of the quick recovery observed after ventilation. Pulmonary edema was diagnosed in patient 2. The common denominator of these 2 cases described in this brief report is the absence of respiratory failure clinical signs contrasting with the presence of confirmed hypoxemia. Also, in both cases, such absence of precursory signs seems to be induced by an impaired ventilatory drive to hypoxemia. This appears to be related to the autonomic diabetic neuropathy encountered in those 2 patients. CONCLUSIONS: Therefore, we describe, in this brief report, cardiac autonomic neuropathy as a cause of impaired hypoxic ventilatory drive involved in severe acute cardiorespiratory events in two type 1 diabetic patients. We assume that altered response to hypoxemia due to cardiac autonomic neuropathy and non-functional central neurological breathing command could play a key role in sudden deaths among diabetic patients. An important point is that hypoxemia can be easily missed since no clinical signs of respiratory failure are reported in these two clinical cases. Systematic screening of cardiac autonomic neuropathy in diabetic patients and proactive detection of impaired hypoxic ventilatory drive for early management (e.g. treatment of hypoxemia) should be systematically undertaken in diabetic patients to prevent its dramatic consequences such as cardiorespiratory arrest and death.

Diabetic foot ulcer management in a multidisciplinary foot centre: one-year healing, amputation and mortality rate.

OBJECTIVE: To describe the rates of healing, major amputation and mortality after 12 months in patients with a new diabetic foot ulcer (DFU) and their care in a French diabetic foot service (DFS). METHOD: A prospective single-centre study including patients from March 2009 to December 2010. The length of time to healing, minor amputation, major amputation and mortality rate after inclusion were analysed using the Kaplan-Meier method. RESULTS: Some 347 patients were included (3% lost to follow-up), with a median follow-up (IQR) of 19 (12-24) months. The mean (SD) age was 65±12 years, 68% were male, and the median duration of the ulcer was 49 (19-120) days. Complications of the DFU were ischaemia (70%), infection (55%) and osteomyelitis (47%). Of the patients, 50% were inpatients in the DFS at inclusion (median duration of hospitalisation 26 (15-41) days). The rate of healing at one year was 67% (95% confidence interval (CI): 61-72); of major amputation 10% (95% CI: 7-17); of minor amputation 19% (95% CI: 14-25), and the death rate was 9% (95% CI: 7-13). Using an adjusted hazard ratio, the predictive factors of healing were perfusion and the area of the wound. The risk factors for a major amputation were active smoking and osteomyelitis. The risk factors for mortality were perfusion and age. CONCLUSION: This study confirms the need to treat DFUs rapidly, in a multidisciplinary DFS.

Low-dose IL-2 in children with recently diagnosed type 1 diabetes: a Phase I/II randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled, dose-finding study.

AIMS/HYPOTHESIS: Low-dose IL-2 (ld-IL2) selectively activates and expands regulatory T cells (Tregs) and thus has the potential to skew the regulatory/effector T (Treg/Teff) cell balance towards improved regulation. We investigated which low doses of IL-2 would more effectively and safely activate Tregs during a 1 year treatment in children with recently diagnosed type 1 diabetes. METHODS: Dose Finding Study of IL-2 at Ultra-low Dose in Children With Recently Diagnosed Type 1 Diabetes (DF-IL2-Child) was a multicentre, double-blinded, placebo-controlled, dose-finding Phase I/II clinical trial conducted in four centres at university hospitals in France: 24 children (7-14 years old) with type 1 diabetes diagnosed within the previous 3 months were randomly assigned 1:1:1:1 to treatment by a centralised randomisation system, leading to a 7/5/6/6 patient distribution of placebo or IL-2 at doses of 0.125, 0.250 or 0.500 million international units (MIU)/m2, given daily for a 5 day course and then fortnightly for 1 year. A study number was attributed to patients by an investigator unaware of the randomisation list and all participants as well as investigators and staff involved in the study conduct and analyses were blinded to treatments. The primary outcome was change in Tregs, expressed as a percentage of CD4+ T cells at day 5. It pre-specified that a ≥60% increase in Tregs from baseline would identify Treg high responders. RESULTS: There were no serious adverse events. Non-serious adverse events (NSAEs) were transient and mild to moderate. In treated patients vs placebo, the commonest NSAE was injection site reaction (37.9% vs 3.4%), whereas other NSAEs were at the same level (23.3% vs 19.2%). ld-IL2 induced a dose-dependent increase in the mean proportion of Tregs, from 23.9% (95% CI -11.8, 59.6) at the lowest to 77.2% (44.7, 109.8) at the highest dose, which was significantly different from placebo for all dose groups. However, the individual Treg responses to IL-2 were variable and fluctuated over time. Seven patients, all among those treated with the 0.250 and 0.500 MIU m-2 day-1 doses, were Treg high responders. At baseline, they had lower Treg proportions in CD4+ cells than Treg low responders, and serum soluble IL-2 receptor α (sIL-2RA) and vascular endothelial growth factor receptor 2 (VEGFR2) levels predicted the Treg response after the 5 day course. There was no significant change in glycaemic control in any of the dose groups compared with placebo. However, there was an improved maintenance of induced C-peptide production at 1 year in the seven Treg high responders as compared with low responders. CONCLUSIONS/INTERPRETATION: The safety profile at all doses, the dose-dependent effects on Tregs and the observed variability of the Treg response to ld-IL2 in children with newly diagnosed type 1 diabetes call for use of the highest dose in future developments. The better preservation of insulin production in Treg high responders supports the potential of Tregs in regulating autoimmunity in type 1 diabetes, and warrants pursuing the investigation of ld-IL2 for its treatment and prevention. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT01862120. FUNDING: Assistance Publique-Hôpitaux de Paris, Investissements d'Avenir programme (ANR-11-IDEX-0004-02, LabEx Transimmunom and ANR-16-RHUS-0001, RHU iMAP) and European Research Council Advanced Grant (FP7-IDEAS-ERC-322856, TRiPoD).

Circulating Receptor Activator of Nuclear Factor kB Ligand and triglycerides are associated with progression of lower limb arterial calcification in type 2 diabetes: a prospective, observational cohort study.

BACKGROUND: Lower limb arterial calcification is a frequent, underestimated but serious complication of diabetes. The DIACART study is a prospective cohort study designed to evaluate the determinants of the progression of lower limb arterial calcification in 198 patients with type 2 diabetes. METHODS: Lower limb arterial calcification scores were determined by computed tomography at baseline and after a mean follow up of 31.20 ± 3.86 months. Serum RANKL (Receptor Activator of Nuclear factor kB Ligand) and bone remodeling, inflammatory and metabolic parameters were measured at baseline. The predictive effect of these markers on calcification progression was analyzed by a multivariate linear regression model. RESULTS: At baseline, mean ± SD and median lower limb arterial calcification scores were, 2364 ± 5613 and 527 respectively and at the end of the study, 3739 ± 6886 and 1355 respectively. Using multivariate analysis, the progression of lower limb arterial log calcification score was found to be associated with (ß coefficient [slope], 95% CI, p-value) baseline log(calcification score) (1.02, 1.00-1.04, p < 0.001), triglycerides (0.11, 0.03-0.20, p = 0.007), log(RANKL) (0.07, 0.02-0.11, p = 0.016), previous ischemic cardiomyopathy (0.36, 0.15-0.57, p = 0.001), statin use (0.39, 0.06-0.72, p = 0.023) and duration of follow up (0.04, 0.01-0.06, p = 0.004). CONCLUSION: In patients with type 2 diabetes, lower limb arterial calcification is frequent and can progress rapidly. Circulating RANKL and triglycerides are independently associated with this progression. These results open new therapeutic perspectives in peripheral diabetic calcifying arteriopathy. Trial registration NCT02431234.

Effectiveness of interventions to enhance healing of chronic foot ulcers in diabetes: a systematic review.

The management of diabetic foot ulcers (DFU) remains a challenge, and there is continuing uncertainty concerning optimal approaches to wound healing. The International Working Group of the Diabetic Foot (IWGDF) working group on wound healing has previously published systematic reviews of the evidence in 2008, 2012 and 2016 to inform protocols for routine care and to highlight areas which should be considered for further study. The working group has now updated this review by considering papers on the interventions to improve the healing of DFU's published between June 2014 and August 2018. Methodological quality of selected studies was independently assessed by a minimum of two reviewers using the recently published 21-point questionnaire as recommended by IWGDF/European Wound Management Association, as well as the previously incorporated Scottish Intercollegiate Guidelines Network criteria. Of the 2275 papers identified, 97 were finally selected for grading following full text review. Overall, there has been an improvement in study design and a significant rise in the number of published studies. While previous systematic reviews did not find any evidence to justify the use of newer therapies, except for negative pressure wound therapy in post-surgical wounds, in this review we found additional evidence to support some interventions including a sucrose-octasulfate dressing, the combined leucocyte, fibrin and platelet patch as well as topical application of some placental membrane products, all when used in addition to usual best care. Nonetheless, the assessment and comparison of published trials remains difficult with marked clinical heterogeneity between studies: in patient selection, study duration, standard of usual care provision and the timing and description of the clinical endpoints.

Guidelines on use of interventions to enhance healing of chronic foot ulcers in diabetes (IWGDF 2019 update).

The International Working Group on the Diabetic Foot (IWGDF) has published evidence-based guidelines on the prevention and management of diabetic foot disease since 1999. In conjunction with advice from internal and external reviewers and expert consultants in the field, this update is based on a systematic review of the literature centred on the following: the Population (P), Intervention (I), Comparator (C) and Outcomes (O) framework; the use of the SIGN guideline/Cochrane review system; and the 21 point scoring system advocated by IWGDF/EWMA. This has resulted in 13 recommendations. The recommendation on sharp debridement and the selection of dressings remain unchanged from the last recommendations published in 2016. The recommendation to consider negative pressure wound therapy in post-surgical wounds and the judicious use of hyperbaric oxygen therapy in certain non-healing ischaemic ulcers also remains unchanged. Recommendations against the use of growth factors, autologous platelet gels, bioengineered skin products, ozone, topical carbon dioxide, nitric oxide or interventions reporting improvement of ulcer healing through an alteration of the physical environment or through other systemic medical or nutritional means also remain. New recommendations include consideration of the use of sucrose-octasulfate impregnated dressings in difficult to heal neuro-ischaemic ulcers and consideration of the use of autologous combined leucocyte, platelet and fibrin patch in ulcers that are difficult to heal, in both cases when used in addition to best standard of care. A further new recommendation is the consideration of topical placental derived products when used in addition to best standard of care.

Head-to-head comparison of the diagnostic performances of Rubidium-PET and SPECT with CZT camera for the detection of myocardial ischemia in a population of women and overweight individuals.

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to compare the diagnostic performances for the detection of myocardial ischemia of 82-Rb-PET-MPS and 99m-Tc-SPECT-MPS in overweight individuals and women. METHODS AND RESULTS: Men with BMI ≥ 25 and women referred for MPS were considered for inclusion. All individuals underwent 99m-Tc-SPECT-MPS with CZT cameras and 82-Rb-PET-MPS in 3D-mode. Individuals with at least one positive MPS were referred for coronary angiography (CA) with FFR measurements. A criterion for positivity was a composite endpoint including significant stenosis on CA or, in the absence of CA, the occurrence of acute coronary event during the following year. 313 patients (46% women) with mean BMI of 31.8 ± 6.5 were included. Sensitivity for the detection of myocardial ischemia was higher with 82-Rb-PET-MPS compared with 99m-Tc-SPECT-MPS (85% vs. 57%, P < .05); specificity was equally high with both imaging techniques (93% vs. 94%, P > .05). 82-Rb-PET allowed for a more accurate detection of patients with a high-risk coronary artery disease (HR-CAD) than 99m-Tc-SPECT-MPS (AUC = 0.86 vs. 0.75, respectively; P = .04). CONCLUSIONS: In women and overweight individuals, 82-Rb-PET-MPS provides higher sensitivity for the detection of myocardial ischemia than 99m-Tc-SPECT-MPS thanks to a better image quality and an improved detection of HR-CAD.

Diabetic foot ulcer management in a multidisciplinary foot centre: one-year healing, amputation and mortality rate.

OBJECTIVE: To describe the rates of healing, major amputation and mortality after 12 months in patients with a new diabetic foot ulcer (DFU) and their care in a French diabetic foot service (DFS). METHOD: A prospective single-centre study including patients from March 2009 to December 2010. The length of time to healing, minor amputation, major amputation and mortality rate after inclusion were analysed using the Kaplan-Meier method. RESULTS: Some 347 patients were included (3% lost to follow-up), with a median follow-up (IQR) of 19 (12-24) months. The mean (SD) age was 65±12 years, 68% were male, and the median duration of the ulcer was 49 (19-120) days. Complications of the DFU were ischaemia (70%), infection (55%) and osteomyelitis (47%). Of the patients, 50% were inpatients in the DFS at inclusion (median duration of hospitalisation 26 (15-41) days). The rate of healing at one year was 67% (95% confidence interval (CI): 61-72); of major amputation 10% (95% CI: 7-17); of minor amputation 19% (95% CI: 14-25), and the death rate was 9% (95% CI: 7-13). Using an adjusted hazard ratio, the predictive factors of healing were perfusion and the area of the wound. The risk factors for a major amputation were active smoking and osteomyelitis. The risk factors for mortality were perfusion and age. CONCLUSION: This study confirms the need to treat DFUs rapidly, in a multidisciplinary DFS.

Optimal wound closure of diabetic foot ulcers with early initiation of TLC-NOSF treatment: post-hoc analysis of Explorer.

OBJECTIVE: In March 2018, the Explorer study, an international, double-blind, randomised controlled trial (RCT), established that adding a TLC-NOSF (UrgoStart Contact, Laboratoires Urgo, France) dressing to good local standard of care (SoC) significantly and substantially increases wound closure and reduces the healing time of neuroischaemic diabetic foot ulcers (DFU). Besides the TLC-NOSF treatment, the wound duration was the only other covariate that had an influence on the wound closure rate in the regression model used in the original study. The purpose of this work was to further document the impact of wound duration on the healing outcomes of the DFUs included in the Explorer study and to discuss complementary pragmatic observations on the TLC-NOSF effect. METHOD: In this post-hoc analysis of the Explorer data, the wound closure rates by week 20 are reported for the global cohort (n=240, Intention-to-treat population) and for the treated (n=126) and control groups (n=114) according to DFU duration and location. RESULTS: For the combined group, wound closure rates decreased with the increase of wound duration at baseline (from 57% in wounds ≤2 months to 19% in wounds >11 months). Whatever the wound duration subgroups analysed, higher closure rates were reported in the TLC-NOSF group than in the control group. However, the maximal difference between the two treatments was reported in wounds with a duration of ≤2 months (71% versus 41%, 30 percentage points difference, Relative Risk 1.7, 95% Confidence Interval 1.1 to 2.8). Regarding wound location subgroup analyses, the outcomes were always in favour of the TLC-NOSF treatment, with closure rates ranging between 43% and 61% within the TLC-NOSF group, and between 25% and 40% within the control group. CONCLUSION: This clinical evidence supports that treating DFUs with TLC-NOSF dressing and good SoC results in higher wound closure rates than with a neutral dressing and the same good standard of care, whatever the duration and the location of the treated wounds. However, the earlier the TLC-NOSF dressing is initiated in DFU treatment, the greater the benefits.

Relationship between cardiac microvascular dysfunction measured with 82Rubidium-PET and albuminuria in patients with diabetes mellitus.

BACKGROUND: Albuminuria is of one the strongest predictors of cardiovascular disease (CVD) in diabetes. Diabetes is associated with cardiac microvascular dysfunction (CMD), a powerful, independent prognostic factor for cardiac mortality. The aim of this study was to evaluate the relationship between CMD and microvascular complications in patients without known CVD. METHODS: In this monocentric study, myocardial flow reserve (MFR) was measured with cardiac 82Rubidium positron emission tomography (Rb-PET) in 311 patients referred to nuclear medicine department of Bichat University Hospital for screening of coronary artery disease from 2012 to 2014. Patients with hemodynamically relevant stenosis on coronary angiography or myocardial ischemia on Rb-PET were excluded. Among patients with diabetes, MFR values were compared according to the presence of retinopathy and albuminuria. RESULTS: Overall, 175 patients (118 with type 2 diabetes) were included. MFR was significantly lower in patients with diabetes compared with those without diabetes (2.6 ± 1.1 vs. 3.3 ± 1.7; p < 0.005). In patients with diabetes, MFR decreased progressively in relation to albumin urinary excretion (normoalbuminuria: 2.9 ± 1.1, microalbuminuria: 2.3 ± 1.0, macroalbuminuria: 1.8 ± 0.7; p < 0.0001). MFR was not significantly different in patients with vs. without retinopathy (2.4 ± 1.0 vs. 2.7 ± 1.1, p = 0.07). Microalbuminuria and macroalbuminuria remained strongly associated with impaired MFR after multiple adjustments [odds ratio 2.6 (95% CI 1.1-8.4) and 5.3 (95% CI 1.2-44.7), respectively]. This association was confirmed when analyses were restricted to patients with low levels of coronary calcifications on computed tomography. CONCLUSIONS: Impaired MFR was more frequent in patients with diabetes and was strongly associated with the degree of albuminuria suggesting that CMD and albuminuria might share common mechanisms.

Gestational diabetes and adverse perinatal outcomes from 716,152 births in France in 2012.

AIMS/HYPOTHESIS: The aim of this study was to assess the risk of adverse perinatal outcomes in gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) in a large national cohort. METHODS: All deliveries taking place after 22 weeks in France in 2012 were included by extracting data from the hospital discharge database and the national health insurance system. The diabetic status of mothers was determined by the use of glucose-lowering agents and by hospital diagnosis. Outcomes were analysed according to the type of diabetes and, in the GDM group, whether or not diabetes was insulin-treated. RESULTS: The cohort of 796,346 deliveries involved 57,629 (7.24%) mothers with GDM. Mother-infant linkage was obtained for 705,198 deliveries. The risks of adverse outcomes were much lower with GDM than with pregestational diabetes. After limiting the analysis to deliveries after 28 weeks to reduce immortal time bias, the risks of preterm birth (OR 1.3 [95% CI 1.3, 1.4]), Caesarean section (OR 1.4 [95% CI 1.4, 1.4]), pre-eclampsia/eclampsia (OR 1.7 [95% CI 1.6, 1.7]), macrosomia (OR 1.8 [95% CI 1.7, 1.8]), respiratory distress (OR 1.1 [95% CI 1.0, 1.3]), birth trauma (OR 1.3 [95% CI 1.1, 1.5]) and cardiac malformations (OR 1.3 [95% CI 1.1, 1.4]) were increased in women with GDM compared with the non-diabetic population. Higher risks were observed in women with insulin-treated GDM than those with diet-treated GDM. After limiting the analysis to term deliveries, an increased risk of perinatal mortality was observed. After excluding women suspected to have undiagnosed pregestational diabetes, the risk remained moderately increased only for those with diet-treated GDM (OR 1.3 [95% CI 1.0, 1.6]). CONCLUSIONS/INTERPRETATION: GDM is associated with a moderately increased risk of adverse perinatal outcomes, which is higher in insulin-treated GDM than in non-insulin-treated GDM for most outcomes.

Association between metformin use and below-the-knee arterial calcification score in type 2 diabetic patients.

BACKGROUND: Vascular calcification (VC) is common in type 2 diabetes, and is associated with cardiovascular complications. Recent preclinical data suggest that metformin inhibits VC both in vitro and in animal models. However, metformin's effects in patients with diabetic VC have not previously been characterized. The present study investigated the association between metformin use and lower-limb arterial calcification in patients with type 2 diabetes and high cardiovascular risk. METHODS: The DIACART cross-sectional cohort study included 198 patients with type 2 diabetes but without severe chronic kidney disease. Below-the-knee calcification scores were assessed by computed tomography and supplemented by colour duplex ultrasonography. Data on anti-diabetic drugs were carefully collected from the patients' medical records and during patient interviews. Biochemical and clinical data were studied as potential confounding factors. RESULTS: Metformin-treated patients had a significantly lower calcification score than metformin-free patients (mean ± standard deviation: 2033 ± 4514 and 4684 ± 9291, respectively; p = 0.01). A univariate analysis showed that metformin was associated with a significantly lower prevalence of severe below-the-knee arterial calcification (p = 0.02). VC was not significantly associated with the use of other antidiabetic drugs, including sulfonylureas, insulin, gliptin, and glucagon like peptide-1 analogues. A multivariate logistic regression analysis indicated that the association between metformin use and calcification score (odds ratio [95% confidence interval] = 0.33 [0.11-0.98]; p = 0.045) was independent of age, gender, tobacco use, renal function, previous cardiovascular disease, diabetes duration, neuropathy, retinopathy, HbA1c levels, and inflammation. CONCLUSIONS: In patients with type 2 diabetes, metformin use was independently associated with a lower below-the-knee arterial calcification score. This association may contribute to metformin's well-known vascular protective effect. Further prospective investigations of metformin's potential ability to inhibit VC in patients with and without type 2 diabetes are now needed to confirm these results.

A Fully Automated Web-Based Program Improves Lifestyle Habits and HbA1c in Patients With Type 2 Diabetes and Abdominal Obesity: Randomized Trial of Patient E-Coaching Nutritional Support (The ANODE Study).

BACKGROUND: The prevalence of abdominal obesity and type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is a public health challenge. New solutions need to be developed to help patients implement lifestyle changes. OBJECTIVE: The objective of the study was to evaluate a fully automated Web-based intervention designed to help users improve their dietary habits and increase their physical activity. METHODS: The Accompagnement Nutritionnel de l'Obésité et du Diabète par E-coaching (ANODE) study was a 16-week, 1:1 parallel-arm, open-label randomized clinical trial. Patients with T2DM and abdominal obesity (n=120, aged 18-75 years) were recruited. Patients in the intervention arm (n=60) had access to a fully automated program (ANODE) to improve their lifestyle. Patients were asked to log on at least once per week. Human contact was limited to hotline support in cases of technical issues. The dietetic tool provided personalized menus and a shopping list for the day or the week. Stepwise physical activity was prescribed. The control arm (n=60) received general nutritional advice. The primary outcome was the change of the dietary score (International Diet Quality Index; DQI-I) between baseline and the end of the study. Secondary endpoints included changes in body weight, waist circumference, hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) and measured maximum oxygen consumption (VO2 max). RESULTS: The mean age of the participants was 57 years (standard deviation [SD] 9), mean body mass index was 33 kg/m² (SD 4), mean HbA1c was 7.2% (SD 1.1), and 66.7% (80/120) of participants were women. Using an intention-to-treat analysis, the DQI-I score (54.0, SD 5.7 in the ANODE arm; 52.8, SD 6.2 in the control arm; P=.28) increased significantly in the ANODE arm compared to the control arm (+4.55, SD 5.91 vs -1.68, SD 5.18; between arms P<.001). Body weight, waist circumference, and HbA1c changes improved significantly in the intervention. CONCLUSIONS: Among patients with T2DM and abdominal obesity, the use of a fully automated Web-based program resulted in a significant improvement in dietary habits and favorable clinical and laboratory changes. The sustainability of these effects remains to be determined. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT02343107; http://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT02343107 (Archived by WebCite at http://www.webcitation.org/6uVMKPRzs).