New sagittal abdominal diameter and transverse abdominal diameter based equations to estimate visceral fat area in type 2 diabetes patients.

OBJECTIVE: Computed Tomography (CT) or Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) are considered gold standards for measuring visceral fat area (VFA). However, their relatively high prices and potential radiation exposure limit their widespread use in clinical practice and everyday life. Therefore, our study aims to develop a VFA estimated equation based on sagittal abdominal diameter (SAD) and transverse abdominal diameter (TAD) using anthropometric indexes. To the best of our knowledge, there have been limited studies investigating this aspect thus far. METHODS: This study was designed as a cross-sectional, retrospective cohort survey. A total of 288 patients (167 males and 121 females) aged 18-80 with type 2 diabetes (T2D) were consecutively collected from a multicenter hospital, and VFA was measured by CT. Subsequently, variables highly correlated with VFA were screened through general linear correlation analysis. A stepwise regression analysis was then conducted to develop a VFA estimated equation. Discrepancies between the estimated and actual VFA values were assessed using the Bland-Altman method to validate the accuracy of the equation. RESULTS: In the female T2D population, triglyceride (TG), SAD, TAD were found to be independently correlated with VFA; in the male T2D population, BMI, TG, SAD and TAD showed independent correlations with VFA. Among these variables, SAD exhibited the strongest correlation with VFA (r = 0.83 for females, r = 0.88 for males), followed by TAD (r = 0.69 for females, r = 0.79 for males). Based on these findings, a VFA estimated equation was developed for the T2D population: VFA (male) =-364.16 + 15.36*SAD + 0.77*TG + 9.41*TAD - 5.00*BMI (R2 = 0.75, adjusted R2 = 0.74); VFA(female)=-170.87 + 9.72*SAD-24.29*(TG^-1) + 3.93*TAD (R2 = 0.69, adjusted R2 = 0.68). Both models demonstrated a good fit. The Bland-Altman plot indicated a strong agreement between the actual VFA values and the estimated values, the mean differences were close to 0, and the majority of differences fell within the 95% confidence interval. CONCLUSIONS: In the T2D population, a VFA estimated equation is developed by incorporating SAD and TAD along with other measurement indices. This equation demonstrates a favorable estimated performance, suggesting to the development of novel and practical VFA estimation models in the future study.

Comparison of Efficacy and Adherence of Patient-Preferred (1 Unit Daily) and ADA/EASD Guideline-Recommended (2 Units Every 3 Days) Basal Insulin Titration Algorithms: Multicenter, Randomized, Clinical Study.

Aim: Insulin titration often faces inertia, hindering glycemic control. A patient-centered approach empowers patients to overcome this inertia. This study aims to compare the effectiveness of patient-preferred and guideline-recommended self-titration algorithms in achieving glycemic targets and improving adherence. Methods: Outpatients with type 2 diabetes (T2D) who did not respond to oral antihyperglycemic drugs (OAD) were assessed. They were randomly assigned to patient-preferred and guideline-recommended groups. In the patient-preferred group, individuals selected an algorithm to self-adjust their insulin glargine dosage by 2 units every 3 days if the mean fasting blood glucose (FBG) over the past 3 consecutive days was ≥7.0 mmol/L, or by 1 unit daily if the FBG on the same day was ≥7.0 mmol/L. In the guideline-recommended group, insulin glargine was titrated by 2 units every 3 days if the mean FBG over the past 3 consecutive days was ≥7.0 mmol/L. The FBG target was set below <7.0 mmol/L. Results: Thirty-nine participants in the patient-preferred group and 42 in the guideline-recommended group completed the study. The cumulative rates of achieving the FBG target in the patient-preferred group compared to the guideline-recommended group were 69.2% vs 54.8% (χ²=1.792, p=0.181) in week 1, 89.7% vs 73.8% (χ²=3.403, p = 0.065) in week 2, 94.9% vs 76.2% (χ²=17.638, p=0.000) in week 3, and 100.0% vs 88.1% (χ²=4.405, p=0.036) in week 4. Adherence rates were significantly higher in the patient-preferred group (97.4%, 37/38) compared to the guideline-recommended group (66.7%, 28/42) (χ²=12.688, p=0.000). Insulin glargine dosage at FBG target achievement was 21.2±4.3 U in the patient-preferred group and 18.8±6.7 U in the guideline-recommended group (t=1.888, p=0.063). Hypoglycemia was reported in 1 patient in the guideline-recommended group, with no instances in the patient-preferred group. Conclusion: The patient-preferred self-titration algorithm demonstrates a higher rate of reaching glucose targets and improved adherence. Trial Registration Number: ChiCTR2100050805.

Partial Thyroid Hormone-Binding Globulin Deficiency: A Case Report and Literature Review.

Background: Thyroxine binding globulin (TBG) deficiency is a rare thyroid disease, mostly caused by genetic mutations and acquired by X-linked recessive inheritance. The clinical features of children with TBG deficiency and their family members were summarised and the Serpina7 gene mutation was analysed, providing a reference for the differentiation of TBG deficiency. Methods: Thyroid function was detected in TBG deficient patients, and genetic analysis was performed using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and direct DNA sequencing to detect the characteristics of TBG mutants. Using "thyroxine binding globulin, gene and mutation" as keywords, PubMed (biomedical literature database), Web of Science and other databases were searched for relevant studies to collect and summarise relevant information. Results: The TBG (14.7 µg/mL), 70% triiodothyronine (T3) (<0.3 nmol/L), total T3 (Tr3) (<0.05 ng/mL) and thyroxine (T4) (14.72 nmol/L) values were lower than normal, while the thyrotropin (TSH) (2.33 uIU/mL), free T3 (FT3) (1.62 pmol/L), and free T4 (FT4) (11.39 pmol/L) values were normal. These values indicate a TBG partially deficient phenotype. Using PCR amplification and direct sequencing of the target gene, a missense mutation in exon 4 of the Serpina7 gene was found in the patient and the father, and the nucleic acid variant was C.909 (exon 4) g > T; the patient was heterozygous and the father was hemizygous. The literature search retrieved a total of 45 studies, most of which were related to mutations in the Serpina7 gene. The mutation locations included exons, introns, enhancers and promoters, with exons the predominant location. A total of 49 variants of the Serpina7 gene were identified. Conclusion: Serpina7 C.909G (P.L303F) is a mutation acquired from the father by X-linked recessive inheritance. The main clinical features of TBG deficiency patients are low serum T4, T3 and TBG levels, normal TSH, FT3 and FT4 levels, and no clinical manifestations.