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Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the most significant prognostic factor in individuals with type 2 diabetes (T2D). However, a significant number of individuals may develop CVD that does not present with the classic angina-related or heart failure symptoms. In these cases, CVD may seem to be 'silent' or 'asymptomatic', but may be more accurately characterised as unrecognised diabetic cardiac impairment. An initial step to raise awareness of unrecognised CVD in individuals with T2D would be to reach a consensus regarding the terminology used to describe this phenomenon. By standardising the terminologies, and agreeing on the implementation of an efficient screening program, it is anticipated that patients will receive an earlier diagnosis and appropriate and timely treatment. Given the availability of anti-diabetic medications that have been shown to concomitantly reduce CV risk and mortality, it is imperative to improve early identification and initiate treatment as soon as possible in order to enable as many patients with T2D as possible to benefit.

Self-monitoring of blood glucose (SMBG) is universally considered to be an integral part of type 1 diabetes management and crucial for optimizing the safety and efficacy of complex insulin regimens. This extends to type 2 diabetes patients on intensive insulin therapy, and there is also a growing body of evidence suggesting that structured SMBG is beneficial for all type 2 diabetes patients, regardless of therapy. However, access to SMBG can be limited in many countries in Central and Eastern Europe. A consensus group of diabetes experts from 10 countries in this region (with overlapping historical, political, and social environments)--Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, and Ukraine--was formed to discuss the role of SMBG across the spectrum of patients with diabetes. The group considered SMBG to be an essential tool that should be accessible to all patients with diabetes, including those with non-insulin-treated type 2 diabetes. The current article summarizes the evidence put forward by the consensus group and provides their recommendations for the appropriate use of SMBG as part of individualized patient management. The ultimate goal of these evidence-based recommendations is to help patients and providers in Central and Eastern Europe to make optimal use of SMBG in order to maximize the efficacy and safety of glucose-lowering therapies, to prevent complications, and to empower the patient to play a more active role in the management of their diabetes.

Unlabelled: BIBYII STUDY OBJECTIVE: To obtain experience with longterm (24 months) exenatide treatment (Byetta) in patients with diabetes mellitus type 2 from a common clinical practice of diabetology departments in the Czech Republic. TYPE OF OBSERVATION: Observational study conducted by a randomly selected group of outpatient medical practitioners from 28 diabetology departments in the Czech Republic. OBSERVED AND ASSESSED POPULATION: From the original population of 465 patients, who underwent a minimum of three months Byetta treatment, 169 patients (36.6%) remained during the second prolonged observation after 18 months, and 76 patients completed 24 months of uninterrupted Byetta treatment. The following basic information about the patients was collected: year of birth, sex, age when diabetes mellitus (DM) manifested, height, maximum weight before diabetes and when DM manifested. The study recorded the following values in three- month intervals: weight, waistline, glycated haemoglobin (HbA1c), and DM treatment. The population of the prolonged observation comprised 50.3% women and 49.7 % men, and the average age at the time of DM2 manifestation was 48.0 (20- 73 years)., Results: At the beginning of Byetta treatment, the average maximum BMI in the subpopulation observed for 24 months was 38.44; after 3, 6, 9, 12 and 24 months the following levels were measured, respectively: 36.79, 36.22, 35.91, 35.57 and 35.58. The original HbA1c level of 7.44% at the beginning of Byetta treatment decreased after 3, 6, 9, 12 and 24 months to 6.33, 5.98, 5.83, 5.86 and 5.93%., Conclusion: Adding Byetta to the currently applied treatment of obese patients with diabetes mellitus type 2 over a period of 24 months has led to an improvement in HbA1c level by 1.51%, and BMI level was reduced by 2.37 after two years of Byetta treatment.

Unlabelled: BIBY STUDY OBJECTIVE: To obtain experience with exenatide treatment (Byetta) in patients with diabetes mellitus type 2 in a common clinical practice ofdiabetology departments. TYPE OF OBSERVATION: Observational study conducted by a randomly selected group of outpatient medical practitioners from 28 diabetology departments in the Czech Republic. OBSERVED AND ASSESSED POPULATION: 465 patients underwent at least three months of Byetta treatment; 347 persons (74.6% ofthe research population) stayed forthe extended observation of 6-12 months. Apart from the basic identification data (year of birth, sex, age when diabetes mellitus manifested, height, maximum patient weight before diabetes and when diabetes mellitus manifested), the following information was recorded in three-month intervals: weight, waistline, glycated haemoglobin (HbA(1c)), and diabetes mellitus treatment The population included 50.3% women and 49.7% men, and the average age at the time of diabetes manifestation was 48 (20-73 years). The period between the diabetes manifestation and the start of exenatide treatment was 8.3 years on average., Results: The average maximum BMI value before the detection of diabetes was 39.05 (+/- 6.73); at the time of the diabetes manifestation 37.88 (+/- 6.40); and at the start of Byetta treatment 39.01 (+/- 6.22). The BMI after three, six, and 12 months of treatment was as follows: 37.86 (+/- 6.12), 37.18 (+/- 6.0), and 36.60 (+/- 6.21); it decreased by > or = 0.5 in 83.3% patients who were under observation for 12 months. HbA(1c) value decreased in the first three months from 7.39% (+/- 1.57) to 6.41% (+/- 1.34), p < 0.0001. In the period of three-six months, the value decreased to 6.22% (+/- 1.34), and after 12 months, HbA(1c) was at 6.04 (+/- 1.20). An improvement in HbA(1c) value of 0.5-2.0% occurred after the first year in 49% of our research population. The waistline was measured on a regular basis in only 267 patients (58.9%). The average initial value of 120.7 cm was reduced within three months of the treatment to 118.3 cm, and within six and 12 months to 117.3 and 112.6 cm respectively., Conclusion: Adding Byetta to the currently applied treatment of obese patients with diabetes mellitus type 2 led, in 66.8% of the population, to a statistically significant reduction in HbA(1c) levels in the first three-six months of the treatment; after 12 months of treatment, 25% of the population was still showing an improvement in HbA(1c) of > 2.0%. Of observed patients, 74.4% significantly reduced their BMI (by > 0.5) during the first three months; 39.6% of patients reduced their BMI in the period of three-six months.

Aims: Development of inhaled insulin has increased the need to understand its pulmonary safety. This study evaluated pulmonary function changes in diabetes patients receiving inhaled Technosphere Insulin (TI) or usual antidiabetes treatment (usual care)., Methods: This randomized, open-label study was conducted at 220 sites (25 July 2005 to 29 August 2008). Pulmonary function tests [forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV(1)), forced vital capacity (FVC), total lung capacity (TLC) and lung diffusion capacity for carbon monoxide (DL(CO))] were prospectively followed over 2 years in patients with type 1 or type 2 diabetes receiving TI (n = 730) or usual care (n = 824), along with a cohort without diabetes not receiving any specific therapy (n = 145)., Results: Baseline demographics and pulmonary function were similar between diabetes treatment groups. Lung function declined from baseline in all groups. TI was non-inferior to usual care for mean change in FEV(1) from baseline to month 24 [mean (s.e.m.) 0.037 (0.0119) l; 95% CI 0.014 to 0.060] using mixed-model repeated-measure with a pre-specified non-inferiority margin of 50 ml/year. After a greater initial decline at month 3 with TI, rate of change (slope) in FEV(1), FVC and DL(CO) (months 3-24) was not statistically different between treatment groups. TI was well tolerated; no serious safety concerns emerged. The most common respiratory event associated with TI was mild, transient cough, occurring within minutes of inhalation., Conclusions: Observed changes in lung function with TI were small, occurred early after therapy initiation, remained non-progressive over 2 years and were unlikely to be clinically meaningful., (© 2011 Blackwell Publishing Ltd.)

Aim(s): The aim of the PREDICTIVE study, a large, multinational observational trial, was to evaluate the efficacy and safety of insulin detemir (IDet) in routine clinical practice., Methods: Twelve-week follow-up data from patients with type 1 (T1D) or type 2 (T2D) diabetes in the European cohort switched from once (qd) or twice (bid) daily insulin glargine (IGlarg) (+/-oral antidiabetic therapy) to qd IDet in a basal-bolus regimen. End-points, assessed from patient recall/diaries, included incidence of serious adverse drug reactions, glycaemic parameters, hypoglycaemia and weight change., Results: The analysis included 1285 patients with T1D (n = 508) or T2D (n = 777). At 12 weeks, glycosylated haemoglobin (HbA1c) was significantly reduced (qd IGlarg to qd IDet: T1D, -0.47%; T2D, -0.51%; p < 0.0001 for both; bid IGlarg to qd IDet: T1D, -0.31%; T2D, -0.89%, p < 0.05 for both). Fasting blood glucose (FBG) and FBG variability were also reduced. Reductions in overall, major and nocturnal hypoglycaemic events were observed after switching from qd IGlarg to qd IDet (overall, T1D, 39.7-18.85 episodes/patient-year; overall, T2D, 11.57-2.99 episodes/patient-year, p < 0.0001 for both). Similar reductions were observed in bid IGlarg to qd IDet patients. Mean weight change was -0.3 to -0.4 kg across patient groups., Discussion: Switching from IGlarg to qd IDet was associated with improvements in glycaemic parameters with no associated increase in hypoglycaemic episodes or weight gain., Conclusion: Patients with T1D and T2D may be switched from IGlarg to qd IDet as part of a basal-bolus regimen.

Introduction: The PREDICTIVE project was an international multicentric, open observation study evaluating the safety and efficiency of insulin detemir in clinical practice. 1,695 type 1 or 2 diabetes mellitus (DM) patients were enrolled in the study in the Czech Republic. The patients were treated by insulin detemir for the period of 26 weeks in accordance with the standard scheme implemented by the treating doctor. The primary objective of the study was to monitor the incidence of serious adverse events including severe hypoglycaemias. The secondary objective of the study (the number of adverse events, the incidence of all and nocturnal hypoglycaemic episodes, the variability of fasting glycaemia, the change in HbA1c at the end of the study, the change in the patients' weight) focused on the safety and efficiency of diabetes treatment., Results: Insulin detemir therapy resulted in a statistically significant decrease in all nocturnal episodes (from 26.8 to 10.4 episodes/patient/year in type 1 DM; from 9.2 to 2.6 in persons with type 2 DM), in severe nocturnal episodes (from 2.5 to 0.1 episode/patient/year in type 1 DM, and from 0.6 to 0 in type 2 DM), and also in hypoglycaemic nocturnal episodes (from 7.2 to 1.8 episode/patient/year in type 1 DM and from 1.7 to 0.3 in type 2 DM) as compared with the period preceding the therapy. In addition, detemir therapy resulted in a statistically significant improvement of diabetes compensation characterised by a decrease in the average HbAlc from 7.6% to 6.7% in type 1 DM patients, and from 7.9% to 7.0% in type 2 DM patients. Average fasting glycaemia recorded a significant decrease by 2.4 mmol/l in type 1 DM patients, and by 2.3 mmol/l in type 2 DM patients. Also the variability of fasting glycaemia recorded a significant decrease at the end of the study in both patient groups. No major change in weight was recorded in the course of the study in persons with type 1 DM, while a significant decrease in weight was recorded for type 2 DM patients., Conclusion: The results of the study PREDICTIVE confirmed the data from randomised studies on the safety and efficiency of insulin detemir treatment in the conditions of standard clinical practice in the Czech Republic.

Objective: PREDICTIVE is a multi-national, prospective, observational study, assessing the safety and efficacy of insulin detemir in patients with diabetes., Research Design and Methods: The European cohort includes 20,531 patients with diabetes (7420 type 1) from 11 countries. A subgroup of 4782 type 1 patients were transferred from a basal-bolus regimen with NPH insulin (n = 3117) or insulin glargine (n = 1665) to insulin detemir basal-bolus therapy; or from a human insulin basal-bolus regimen (n = 570) to insulin detemir/insulin aspart (part of the pre-study NPH group). Mean follow-up was 14.4 weeks. The primary endpoint was serious adverse drug reactions (SADRs), including major hypoglycaemia. Secondary endpoints were: incidence of overall and nocturnal hypoglycaemia; haemoglobin A(1c) (HbA(1c)); fasting glucose; within-patient fasting glucose variability; and change in body weight., Results: SADRs were reported by 62 (2.0%) patients previously receiving NPH insulin, 45 (2.7%) patients previously receiving insulin glargine and seven (1.2%) patients previously receiving human basal-bolus insulins. Major hypoglycaemia was significantly reduced in NPH insulin (55%), insulin glargine (51%), and human basal-bolus insulin groups (54%; p < 0.0001 for all). Total and nocturnal hypoglycaemic episodes were also significantly reduced in all groups (p < 0.0001 for all). HbA(1c) was reduced in patients previously receiving NPH insulin (0.5%), insulin glargine (0.4%), and human basal-bolus insulins (0.6%; p < 0.0001 for all). Mean fasting glucose and within-patient fasting glucose variability significantly decreased in all patients (p < 0.0001 for all). Body weight remained stable., Conclusions: In this open-label, prospective, observational study, insulin detemir basal-bolus therapy improved glycaemic control and reduced hypoglycaemia with weight neutrality in type 1 patients in actual clinical practice.

Unlabelled: The aim of our study was to assess the accuracy and limitations of ultrasound guided fine-needle aspiration cytology (FNAC) of thyroid nodules., Methods: The usg-FNAC results of 245 patients with thyroid nodules, who afterwards underwent thyroid surgery or who died, and autopsies were carried out, and compared retrospectively with cytologic results. Patients with malignant cytologic conclusion without histological confirmation after surgery or autopsy were excluded from the study (9 persons). The usg-FNAC results were divided as follows: group 1: diagnosis of malignancy (n = 30), group 2: suspicion of malignancy (n = 28), group 3: benign (n = 126), group 4: inconclusive (n = 29)., Results: Assuming the cytologic results of group 1 and group 2 were interpreted as being malignant and those of group 3 as being benign, the sensitivity, specificity and accuracy of usg-FNAC were 90 %, 85 % and 86 % respectively. Comparing the cytologic conclusions between a group of patients with follicular lesions and a subgroup of other lesions a statistically significant difference (p < 0,01) between both subgroups using Fisher's test was found. Sensitivity, specificity and diagnostic accuracy in subgroup of follicular lesions were low (71 %, 63 %, 67 %), while in the subgroup of other lesions were high (94 %, 86 %, 88 %). FNAC can specify the nature of focal lesion with high sensitivity, specificity and diagnostic accuracy in the cases of non-follicular lesions. Histological evaluation is required to specification of the nature in cases in which cytology is indicative of follicular proliferation.