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Aims To correlate the values of MBG to HbA1c in Greek patients with Type 2 diabetes and/or metabolic syndrome. Methods We followed up 140 Greek adult patients: 92 patients with Type 2 diabetes treated with insulin or oral glucose-lowering medication, and 48 patients with newly diagnosed Type 2 diabetes or metabolic syndrome not receiving any treatment. MBG was calculated for each patient from self-measurements of blood glucose using a portable glucometer, made six times a day (before eating and 2 h after a meal), three times a week for 1 month. HbA1c was determined by HPLC at 0 and 12 weeks. Results HbA1c at 0 ( x) and 12 weeks ( y) correlated strongly ( y = 0.790 x + 1.115, r = 0.92), confirming that the patient's glycaemic status remained stable during the whole period of follow-up. Linear regression was performed on MBG values; HbA1c at 12 weeks, sex, age, body mass index (BMI) and patient status (Type 2 diabetes treated or not) were used as independent variables. None of the independent variables reached statistical significance in the model, with the exception of HbA1c at 12 weeks. The final model was: MBG (mg/dl) = (34.74 × HbA1c) – 79.21, r = 0.93; or MBG (mmol/l) = 1.91 × HbA1c – 4.36, r = 0.93. Conclusions Our results establish for the first time a strong correlation between MBG and HbA1c in Type 2 diabetic patients and support the idea of expressing HbA1c results as MBG. This will help patients to gain a clearer interpretation of the result, with less confusion. This simplification will allow every person with diabetes using home glucose-monitoring to understand his or her own target level. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Evidence suggests that soluble CD40-ligand (sCD40L) is elevated in coronary artery disease (CAD) and is released from activated platelets during the acute myocardial infarction (AMI). Although sCD40L is part of immune response, the mechanisms regulating its release in different disease states remain unknown. Materials and methods This study enrolled 596 subjects: 201 patients with stable CAD, 109 patients with AMI and 286 healthy controls. Circulating levels of sCD40L, interleukin-6 (IL-6), soluble vascular cell adhesion molecule-a (sVCAM-1) and soluble intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (sICAM-1) were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Results Patients with AMI ( n = 109) had higher levels of sCD40L and IL-6 compared to both CAD ( n = 201) ( P < 0·01) and controls ( n = 286) ( P < 0·01), while CAD also had higher levels of sCD40L and IL-6 compared to controls ( P < 0·01). Similarly, sICAM-1 and sVCAM-1 levels were higher in CAD and AMI compared to controls ( P < 0·05). IL-6 was the only parameter independently associated with sCD40L in healthy individuals [β (SE):0·491(0·096), P = 0·0001]. However, in CAD or AMI, only diabetes mellitus [β (SE): 2·689 (1·082), P = 0·044 and β (SE): 10·406 (3·215), P = 0·002, respectively] and smoking [β (SE): 3·470 (1·111), P = 0·002 and β (SE): 9·694 (2·478), P = 0·0001, respectively] (but not IL-6), were independently associated with sCD40L levels. Conclusions Both CAD and AMI are accompanied by increased levels of sCD40L in parallel with an elevation of proinflammatory cytokine IL-6 and adhesion molecules sVCAM-1 and sICAM-1. Diabetes mellitus and smoking (but not IL-6 or adhesion molecules) were the only factors independently associated with sCD40L levels in CAD and AMI patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article describes the case of a 66-year-old female patient with a history of recurrent ovarian adenocarcinoma and endometrioid ovarian cystadenocarcinoma, which are consistent with the diagnosis of Sister Mary Joseph's nodule. The diagnosis was confirmed after the patient was subjected to cytological smears and thin prep cytology, monoclonal antibodies and computed tomography (CT) scan of the abdomen. A discussion on the clinical description of Sister Mary Joseph's nodule is offered.