Assessment of plasma dexamethasone levels after 1-mg dexamethasone suppression test in adults with obesity.

BACKGROUND: The 1-mg overnight dexamethasone suppression test is the most frequently used screening test for Cushing's syndrome. It has been proposed that people with obesity may have insufficient plasma dexamethasone levels for the test which may result in false positives. We sought to compare the plasma dexamethasone levels after 1-mg dexamethasone suppression test in healthy obese participants and in optimal-weight participants. METHODS: A total of 30 optimal-weight participants (BMI ≤ 25 kg/m2 ) and 62 obese participants (BMI > 25 kg/m2 ) were enroled in the study. Obese participants were further divided into class 1 (25-29.9 kg/m2 ) and class 2 (>30 kg/m2 ). After a standard overnight 1-mg dexamethasone suppression test, blood samples were obtained for serum cortisol and plasma dexamethasone levels. Plasma dexamethasone levels were quantified using liquid chromatography - mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS). RESULTS: No significant difference in plasma dexamethasone levels were found between obese and optimal-weight participants (3.31 ± 1.35 vs. 2.82 ± 1.11 nmol/L, mean ± SD; p = .09 respectively). There were also no correlations found between sex, BMI, body surface area and plasma dexamethasone levels. There was also no significant difference in the proportion of participants who achieved a plasma dexamethasone level >3.3 nmol/L in comparison between obesity class 1, obesity class 2, and optimal-weight groups. CONCLUSION: Our results suggest that obesity does not affect plasma dexamethasone levels. However, dexamethasone measurement may still be helpful in patients who are being investigated for Cushing's syndrome and suspected to have a false-positive DST.

The effectiveness of telemonitoring and integrated personalized diabetes management in people with insulin-treated type 2 diabetes mellitus.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effectiveness of integrated personalized diabetes management (iPDM) through telemedicine (tele-iPDM) with regard to glycaemic control. METHODS: A 6-month single-centre, open-label, prospective randomized controlled trial enrolled insulin-treated patients with type 2 diabetes, aged 18-65 years with glycated haemoglobin (HbA1c) levels of 7.5%-10.5%. The tele-iPDM group received insulin adjustment by investigators through a cloud-based telemonitoring platform for 6 months (blood glucose monitoring reviewed weekly from Weeks 0 to 12 and then monthly from Weeks 13 to 24). The control group performed self-monitoring and insulin adjustment. The primary outcome was the difference in HbA1c change from baseline between the two groups at 24 weeks. Secondary outcomes included changes in HbA1c at 12 weeks, fasting plasma glucose, body weight, body mass index (BMI), the percentage of individuals achieving HbA1c <7% at 24 weeks, the percentage of individuals with an HbA1c reduction of >0.5% at 24 weeks, and incidences of hypoglycaemic events. RESULTS: A total of 151 participants were enrolled, with a mean age of 53.36 ± 8.08 years and a mean diabetes duration of 12.38 ± 8.47 years. The baseline HbA1c was 8.47 ± 0.76%. The mean HbA1c decreased from baseline to 12 and 24 weeks in both groups. At 12 weeks, HbA1c reduction from baseline was -1.2% (95%CI -1.42 to -0.98) in the tele-iPDM group and -0.57% (95%CI -0.79 to -0.36) in the control group. The mean difference in HbA1c between the tele-iPDM and usual care groups at 12 weeks was -0.63% (95%CI -0.94 to -0.32; p < 0.001). At 24 weeks, HbA1c reduction from baseline was -1.14% (95%CI -1.38 to -0.89) in the tele-iPDM group and - 0.49% (95%CI -0.73 to -0.25) in the control group. The mean difference in HbA1c between the tele-iPDM and usual care groups was -0.65% (95%CI -0.99 to -0.30; p < 0.001). There were no significant differences in body weight, BMI, or hypoglycaemic events between the two groups. CONCLUSION: Telemonitoring can support the iPDM care model in individuals with insulin-treated type 2 diabetes. It improves the efficiency of diabetes care, enhances glycaemic control at 12 weeks, and sustains glycaemic control at 24 weeks.

Association of osteoporosis and sarcopenia with fracture risk in transfusion-dependent thalassemia.

Patients with transfusion-dependent thalassemia (TDT) have an increased risk of osteoporosis and fractures. They also have several potential factors associated with sarcopenia. There has been currently no study on sarcopenia and its association with falls and fractures in TDT. This study aims to determine the prevalence of and factors associated with osteoporosis, fragility fractures, and sarcopenia in adults with TDT. A cross-sectional study was conducted at the hematologic clinic at King Chulalongkorn Memorial Hospital, Bangkok, Thailand. Clinical data and laboratory testing were collected. Bone mineral density and morphometric vertebral fracture were assessed. Sarcopenia was defined using the 2014 and 2019 Asian Working Group for Sarcopenia (AWGS) criteria. We included 112 TDT patients aged 35.1 ± 12.5 years. The prevalence of osteoporosis was 38.4%. Fragility fractures were found in 20.5% of patients. Lower BMI (OR 0.29; 95% CI 0.12-0.72, P = 0.007) and hypogonadal state (OR 3.72; 95% CI 1.09-12.74, P = 0.036) were independently associated with osteoporosis. According to the 2014 AWGS criteria, the prevalence of overall sarcopenia and severe sarcopenia was 44.6% and 13.4%, respectively. Severe sarcopenia was strongly associated with fragility fractures (OR 4.59, 95% CI 1.21-17.46, P = 0.025). In conclusion, osteoporosis, fragility fractures, and sarcopenia were prevalent in adults with TDT. Severe sarcopenia was associated with fragility fractures. Early osteoporosis and sarcopenia screening and prevention may reduce fracture risk and its complications in these patients.