Effect of empagliflozin on ectopic fat stores and myocardial energetics in type 2 diabetes: the EMPACEF study.

BACKGROUND: Empagliflozin is a sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 (SGLT2) inhibitor that has demonstrated cardiovascular and renal protection in patients with type 2 diabetes (T2D). We hypothesized that empaglifozin (EMPA) could modulate ectopic fat stores and myocardial energetics in high-fat-high-sucrose (HFHS) diet mice and in type 2 diabetics (T2D). METHODS: C57BL/6 HFHS mice (n = 24) and T2D subjects (n = 56) were randomly assigned to 12 weeks of treatment with EMPA (30 mg/kg in mice, 10 mg/day in humans) or with placebo. A 4.7 T or 3 T MRI with 1H-MRS evaluation-myocardial fat (primary endpoint) and liver fat content (LFC)-were performed at baseline and at 12 weeks. In humans, standard cardiac MRI was coupled with myocardial energetics (PCr/ATP) measured with 31P-MRS. Subcutaneous (SAT) abdominal, visceral (VAT), epicardial and pancreatic fat were also evaluated. The primary efficacy endpoint was the change in epicardial fat volume between EMPA and placebo from baseline to 12 weeks. Secondary endpoints were the differences in PCr/ATP ratio, myocardial, liver and pancreatic fat content, SAT and VAT between groups at 12 weeks. RESULTS: In mice fed HFHS, EMPA significantly improved glucose tolerance and increased blood ketone bodies (KB) and ß-hydroxybutyrate levels (p < 0.05) compared to placebo. Mice fed HFHS had increased myocardial and liver fat content compared to standard diet mice. EMPA significantly attenuated liver fat content by 55%, (p < 0.001) but had no effect on myocardial fat. In the human study, all the 56 patients had normal LV function with mean LVEF = 63.4 ± 7.9%. Compared to placebo, T2D patients treated with EMPA significantly lost weight (- 2.6 kg [- 1.2; - 3.7]) and improved their HbA1c by 0.88 ± 0.74%. Hematocrit and EPO levels were significantly increased in the EMPA group compared to placebo (p < 0.0001, p = 0.041). EMPA significantly increased glycosuria and plasma KB levels compared to placebo (p < 0.0001, p = 0.012, respectively), and significantly reduced liver fat content (- 27 ± 23 vs. - 2 ± 24%, p = 0.0005) and visceral fat (- 7.8% [- 15.3; - 5.6] vs. - 0.1% [- 1.1;6.5], p = 0.043), but had no effect on myocardial or epicardial fat. At 12 weeks, no significant change was observed in the myocardial PCr/ATP (p = 0.57 between groups). CONCLUSIONS: EMPA effectively reduced liver fat in mice and humans without changing epicardial, myocardial fat or myocardial energetics, rebutting the thrifty substrate hypothesis for cardiovascular protection of SGLT2 inhibitors. Trial registration NCT, NCT03118336. Registered 18 April 2017, https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT03118336.

Obstructive sleep apnoea syndrome in patients living with diabetes: Which patients should be screened?

AIM: Because type 2 diabetes (T2D) is related to obesity, it is often associated with obstructive sleep apnoea syndrome (OSAS), although OSAS is also frequently diagnosed in patients with type 1 diabetes (T1D) and may promote gestational diabetes. Thus, this systematic review of the scientific evidence aimed to evaluate the epidemiological association between OSAS and all forms of diabetes, the current understanding of the pathophysiological mechanisms behind these associations, the expected benefits and limitations of OSAS treatment in patients with diabetes and, finally, to propose which patients require screening for OSAS. METHODS: A panel comprising French expert endocrinologists and pneumologists was convened. Two of these experts made a search of the relevant literature for each subpart of the present report; all panel experts then critically reviewed the entire report separately as well as collectively. RESULTS: There is little evidence to support the notion that OSAS treatment improves glycated haemoglobin, although it may improve nighttime blood glucose control and insulin sensitivity. However, there is robust evidence that OSAS treatment lowers 24-h blood pressure. CONCLUSION: The high prevalence of OSAS in patients with T1D and T2D justifies screening for the syndrome, which should be based on clinical symptoms, as the benefits of OSAS treatment are mainly improvement of symptoms related to sleep apnoea. There are also several clinical situations wherein screening for OSAS seems justified in patients with diabetes even when they have no symptoms, particularly to optimalize control of blood pressure in cases of resistant hypertension and microvascular complications.

Exenatide decreases liver fat content and epicardial adipose tissue in patients with obesity and type 2 diabetes: a prospective randomized clinical trial using magnetic resonance imaging and spectroscopy.

AIM: To conduct a prospective randomized trial to investigate the effect of glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) analogues on ectopic fat stores. METHODS: A total of 44 obese subjects with type 2 diabetes uncontrolled on oral antidiabetic drugs were randomly assigned to receive exenatide or reference treatment according to French guidelines. Epicardial adipose tissue (EAT), myocardial triglyceride content (MTGC), hepatic triglyceride content (HTGC) and pancreatic triglyceride content (PTGC) were assessed 45 min after a standardized meal with 3T magnetic resonance imaging and proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy before and after 26 weeks of treatment. RESULTS: The study population had a mean glycated haemoglobin (HbA1c) level of 7.5 ± 0.2% and a mean body mass index of 36.1 ± 1.1 kg/m(2) . Ninety five percent had hepatic steatosis at baseline (HTGC ≥ 5.6%). Exenatide and reference treatment led to a similar improvement in HbA1c (-0.7 ± 0.3% vs. -0.7 ± 0.4%; p = 0.29), whereas significant weight loss was observed only in the exenatide group (-5.5 ± 1.2 kg vs. -0.2 ± 0.8 kg; p = 0.001 for the difference between groups). Exenatide induced a significant reduction in EAT (-8.8 ± 2.1%) and HTGC (-23.8 ± 9.5%), compared with the reference treatment (EAT: -1.2 ± 1.6%, p = 0.003; HTGC: +12.5 ± 9.6%, p = 0.007). No significant difference was observed in other ectopic fat stores, PTGC or MTGC. In the group treated with exenatide, reductions in liver fat and EAT were not associated with homeostatic model assessment of insulin resistance index, adiponectin, HbA1c or fructosamin change, but were significantly related to weight loss (r = 0.47, p = 0.03, and r = 0.50, p = 0.018, respectively). CONCLUSION: Our data indicate that exenatide is an effective treatment to reduce liver fat content and epicardial fat in obese patients with type 2 diabetes, and these effects are mainly weight loss dependent.

A pilot study of gestational diabetes mellitus not controlled by diet alone: First-line medical treatment with myoinositol may limit the need for insulin.

AIM: This study assessed whether myoinositol might be a first-line medical treatment for gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM). METHODS: For 12 months, women with GDM not controlled by diet (n=32) were prospectively treated with myoinositol 1200mg and folic acid 400µg/day, while consecutive women (n=28) with insulin-requiring GDM treated during the previous year at our centre constituted the control group. Baseline characteristics and care were similar in both groups. RESULTS: Insulin was required in eight women (25%) in the myoinositol group who, compared with the 24 who did not need insulin, were older (37±5 vs. 32±5 years, respectively; P=0.018) and had a larger percentage of high self-monitored glucose values (45±8% vs. 32±14%; P<0.0001) during the week prior to the introduction of myoinositol treatment. All of the women had similar pregnancy outcomes regardless of their GDM management, although less labour induction was required in the myoinositol group (OR: 0.22 [0.07-0.65]), which had no side effects. CONCLUSION: This pilot study suggests that myoinositol may be a safe first-line medical treatment for uncontrolled GDM.

Options for intensification of basal insulin in type 2 diabetes: Premeal insulin or short-acting GLP-1 receptor agonists?

Type 2 diabetes is an evolutive disease with a progressive defect of beta-cell insulin secretion. This characteristic points to a need for treatment that takes into account such a natural history. When oral antidiabetic drugs fail to achieve the patient's target HbA1c level, basal insulin treatment is usually initiated and titrated in association with oral drugs to manage fasting hyperglycaemia. Over a period of time, it is enough to simply achieve the HbA1c target. However, when even a good fasting blood glucose level is no longer sufficient to control overall glycaemia, then prandial treatment must be combined with the titrated basal insulin to deal with the postprandial hyperglycaemia responsible for the elevation of HbA1c. Of the different therapeutic options now available for this, rapid-acting insulins and GLP-1 receptor agonists (RAs) can be used. Rapid-acting insulins can be added either at each meal, achieving full insulin supplementation with a basal-bolus regimen, or at the main meal only as a "basal-plus" regimen. Compared with the full basal-bolus, the basal-plus strategy is associated with fewer injections, yet provides similar efficacy in terms of HbA1c improvement, but with less weight gain and lower hypoglycaemic risk. As for GLP-1 RAs, numerous studies, and especially those using short-acting GLP-1 RAs, have demonstrated more pronounced effects on postprandial hyperglycaemia, good complementary effects with basal insulin, and significant improvement of HbA1c with no weight gain and a low risk of hypoglycaemia. Similarly, direct and indirect comparisons of the use of rapid-acting insulins and GLP-1 RAs to intensify basal insulin have shown comparable efficacy in terms of HbA1c control, but with less weight gain and fewer hypoglycaemic episodes with GLP-1 RAs.

Independent positive association of plasma ß-carotene concentrations with adiponectin among non-diabetic obese subjects.

PURPOSE: Many epidemiological studies find an inverse correlation between carotenoids intake or carotenoids plasma concentrations and body mass index (BMI), insulin resistance or metabolic syndrome in the general population. However, it is not clear whether these relationships occur in obese population. METHODS: We conducted a cross-sectional study in 108 obese non-diabetic patients. RESULTS: There was an inverse correlation between plasma levels of pro-vitamin A carotenoids (α-carotene, ß-carotene and ß-cryptoxanthin) and both BMI and insulin resistance (estimated by the HOMA-IR). No correlation between plasma concentrations of lycopene or lutein/zeaxanthin and BMI or insulin resistance was found. The inverse association between the three pro-vitamin A carotenoids and HOMA-IR disappeared after adjustment for BMI and waist circumference. Interestingly, we identified a positive association between concentrations of ß-carotene and adiponectin in plasma that was independent of sex, age, smoking status, BMI and waist circumference. To our knowledge, such association has never been described in obese patients. CONCLUSION: These results suggest the existence of a favourable effect of ß-carotene on insulin sensitivity in obese individuals that could involve a positive regulation of adiponectin, either directly or via its pro-vitamin A activity. The demonstration of the potential benefits of ß-carotene towards insulin sensitivity would open the way to dietary strategies to prevent metabolic syndrome.

Ramadan fasting with diabetes: an interview study of inpatients' and general practitioners' attitudes in the South of France.

AIM: The aim of this study was to evaluate attitudes in hospital inpatients and physicians towards Ramadan fasting and diabetes in Marseille. METHODOLOGY: This cross-sectional study was conducted during the three months prior to the month of Ramadan. A total of 101 patients (age: 57±17 years) and 101 general practitioners (GPs) were recruited into the study. RESULTS: The patients had low levels of education (52% illiteracy). Of the 101 patients, 52 continued to fast during Ramadan, and only 65 patients had discussed the matter with their GP. Of these, 36 were told that fasting was forbidden, but more than half (n=19) fasted despite the medical advice. Six patients thus experienced daily hypoglycaemia because they had continued to take their hypoglycaemic agent or insulin analogue at noon. Both inadequate education and religious attitudes were found to endanger patients during the fast: 15 patients skipped the meal scheduled before dawn, five of whom persisted in taking their sulphonylurea. Also, 27% of patients refused, in spite of daytime hypoglycaemia, to ingest anything orally to avoid breaking their fast. Among the GP population, medical knowledge of Ramadan fasting with diabetes was low, leading to medically unjustified negative advice for fasting and a lack of patient education on adjusting treatments. This particular situation weakened the patient-physician relationship. CONCLUSION: This study confirms the importance of Ramadan fasting for Muslim patients, and reveals a wide cross-cultural gap between GPs and their patients. Systematic advice on treatment adjustment needs to be given. For this reason, we encourage more sensitive care of these patients and more medical training for physicians.

Advances in pump technology: insulin patch pumps, combined pumps and glucose sensors, and implanted pumps.

This review discusses the most recent developments in insulin pump technology. The benefits of the insulin pump to patients with type 1 diabetes are recognized both for its metabolic effectiveness and its positive effects on quality of life. The current pumps are reliable, small and light, and are becoming more and more sophisticated. Nevertheless, there remain practical and psychological constraints for the patient. However, recent patch-pump advances should simplify the technical aspects of pump treatment and enhance patient comfort. Another advance combines the insulin pump with a glucose sensor. Such a combination is logical for optimizing pump use and, to that end, developing an automated or 'closed-loop'system that permits the delivery of subcutaneous insulin adjusted according to measured levels of subcutaneous glucose. Finally, implanted insulin pumps have proven their worth not only because of their simple use, but also for their contribution in the artificial pancreas project. Indeed, the prompt response with intraperitoneal administration of insulin makes it of interest for use in a closed-loop system.

Charcot's foot: newest findings on its pathophysiology, diagnosis and treatment.

Charcot neuro-osteoarthropathy (CNO) is one of the more devastating complications affecting diabetic patients with peripheral and/or autonomic neuropathy. The acute phase of the disease is often misdiagnosed, and can rapidly lead to deformity and amputation. The rapid progression towards foot deformation calls for early detection and intervention. Classical neurotraumatic and neurotrophic theories fail to explain all of the features of the condition, although recent advances that have clarified the mechanisms underlying the pathophysiology may make up for this lack. In particular, new data have emerged on the central role of the RANK/RANK-ligand (RANK-L)/osteoprotegerin (OPG) system in the pathogenesis of osteopenia. Also, it is now recognized that the acute phase of CNO can be triggered by any factor leading to local inflammation of the foot, especially in predisposed patients. As the cornerstone of treatment remains any method that avoids weight-bearing on the foot, the primary importance of the RANK/RANK-L/OPG signalling pathway is that it opens up the field to new treatment strategies for the future.

Effect of sleep apnea syndrome on the circadian profile of cortisol in obese men.

It has been hypothesized that sleep apnea syndrome (SAS) increases hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis activity and, through increased cortisol levels, participates in the pathophysiology of metabolic and cardiovascular complications. We compared the circadian profiles of cortisol in obese men with [obSAS+; apnea-hypopnea index (AHI) >or= 20/h] and without SAS (obSAS-; AHI

Systemic allergy to human insulin and its rapid and long acting analogs: successful treatment by continuous subcutaneous insulin lispro infusion.

Since the introduction of highly purified human recombinant insulin, allergy to insulin has become a very rare clinical situation, encountered in less than 1% of patients. It results in potentially life-threatening immediate or delayed, local and general manifestations. Different treatments of unequal efficiency have been proposed, the use of insulin analogs showing benefits in certain situations. We report the case of a type 2 diabetic patient who presented local reactions and then an anaphylactic shock after the introduction of insulin analog premixes. Intra-dermal reactions performed with porcine, human and insulin analogs preparations (aspart, lispro, glargine) were all positive, as well as the specific anti-insulin IgE measurement. Because we could not achieve normoglycaemia with maximal oral treatment and low caloric diet, we decided to attempt a desensitisation by continuous subcutaneous infusion of insulin lispro, since the lowest skin reaction was obtained with this insulin. We were able to induce a tolerance, by means of very low basal rate, very slowly increased, without any boluses, and maintaining antihistamine therapy. Six months later, the patient remains free of any symptom and has achieved a quite good glycaemic control. We describe for the first time a case of allergy to human insulin and to all available rapid and long acting analogs. We show the interest of a treatment with CSII of analogs in order to induce tolerance.

[Gelatinous bone marrow transformation in anorexia nervosa]. / Transformation gélatineuse de la moelle osseuse au cours de l'anorexie mentale.

Moderate hematologic abnormalities, like anemia or leukopenia, are frequently seen in anorexia nervosa, whereas pancytopenia and bone marrow abnormalities are uncommon. We report a case of tricytopenia with gelatinous bone marrow transformation in anorexia nervosa. Marrow gelatinous transformation (also called serous fat atrophy or starvation marrow) is characterized by the association of marrow hypoplasia and interstitial infiltration of a ground gelatinous substance (acidic mucopolysaccharides). Changes in peripheral blood cell counts are various and moderate, and do not always reflect the severity of bone marrow damage. The pathogenesis is not yet well elucidated but is certainly related to the nutritional status because gelatinous bone marrow transformation is found in anorexia nervosa and in other clinical situations with cachexia. Gelatinous transformation of the marrow is reversible with feeding.

[The beginnings of vaccine diffusion in France (1800-1850)]. / Les débuts de la diffusion de la vaccine en France (1800-1850).

First factor of mortality at the eighteenth century, smallpox killed each year about 50.000 to 80.000 people in France and 25.000 to 30.000 in England. In 1796, Edward Jenner discovered the fabulous properties of the cowpox which, transplanted from cow to human, immunized against the disease. In France, between 1800 and 1850, a few hundreds of vaccinators took part in a significant crusade against smallpox. They went in the villages and the thatched cottages, fought against the routine, and, sometimes, against the hostility of the mayors or the priests. Moreover, the cow-pox often missed or lost its strength. Despite everything, their efforts were crowned success: during the nineteenth century, small-pox mortality drops by 90%.