Glucocorticoids

Author(s):  
Johannes W.G. Jacobs ◽  
Marlies C. van der Goes ◽  
Johannes W.J. Bijlsma ◽  
José A.P. da Silva

Glucocorticoids still are the most effective, broadly applicable, and cheapest immunosuppressive drugs used in the treatment of rheumatic conditions. In rheumatoid arthritis (RA) they are applied for their symptomatic effects but also for disease-modifying properties. The risk of adverse effects of glucocorticoid therapy in RA is dependent on patient (age, comorbidity, and comedication), glucocorticoid dose, type and route of administration, and treatment duration. Toxicity is important in treatment decisions, but for low-dose glucocorticoids, overestimation of the risk of adverse effects should be avoided. Monitoring safety of this therapy only requires that good follow-up of rheumatic patients in daily practice is extended with screening for osteoporosis, and pretreatment assessments of fasting blood glucose levels, risk factors for glaucoma, and a check for ankle oedema.

2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Julia Schmolinsky ◽  
Thomas Kocher ◽  
Wolfgang Rathmann ◽  
Henry Völzke ◽  
Christiane Pink ◽  
...  

Abstract We estimated effects of diabetes mellitus and metabolic control on long-term change in coronal caries and restorative status using 11-year-follow-up data from the population-based Study of Health in Pomerania. Data of 3731 participants with baseline and 5- and 11-year follow-up information were included. Diabetes was defined via self-reported physician´s diagnosis or intake of glucose-lowering drugs or hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) ≥6.5% or fasting blood glucose levels ≥11.1 mmol/l. The diabetes status was defined as no diabetes (HbA1c < 6.5% or non-fasting blood glucose <11.1 mmol/l), subjects with known or undetected diabetes mellitus and HbA1c ≤ 7% (well-controlled diabetes), and subjects with known or undetected diabetes mellitus and HbA1c > 7% (poorly-controlled diabetes). The caries status was clinically assessed using the half-mouth method and the Decayed Missing Filled Surfaces (DMFS) index and its component scores were determined. Covariate-adjusted linear mixed models were evaluated. Rates in change in DMFS were significantly higher in subjects with poorly-controlled diabetes compared to subjects without diabetes. Subjects with poorly- and well-controlled diabetes had significantly higher rates in change in Missing Surfaces (MS) compared to subjects without diabetes. For the DFS, rates in change were significantly lower for subjects with well-controlled diabetes and higher for subjects with poorly-controlled diabetes as compared to subjects without diabetes. Concordantly, all rates in change increased proportional to HbA1c levels. Effects were even more pronounced in subjects with diabetes duration of ≥5 years. Subjects with poorly-controlled diabetes are at higher risk for caries progression compared to subjects without diabetes, especially in case of longer disease duration.


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hongyun Liu ◽  
Ping Zhan ◽  
Fangang Meng ◽  
Weidong Wang

Abstract Background Cervical vagus nerve stimulation (VNS) has been widely accepted as adjunctive therapy for drug-resistant epilepsy and major depression. Its effects on glycemic control in humans were however poorly understood. The aim of our study was to investigate the potential effects of VNS on fasting blood glucose in patients with drug-resistant epilepsy.Methods Patients with drug-resistant epilepsy who had received VNS implants at the same hospital in a randomized, controlled trial were retrospectively studied. Effects on fasting blood glucose, weight, body mass index and blood pressure were evaluated at 4, 8 and 12 months of follow-up.Results 32 subjects (11 females/21males, 19±9 years, body mass index 22.2±4.0 kg/m 2 ) completed 12-month follow-up. At the 4 months, there were no significant changes in fasting blood glucose concentrations from baseline to follow-up in both Sham-VNS (4.89±0.54 vs. 4.56±0.54 mmol/L, p=0.101) and VNS (4.80±0.54 vs. 4.50±0.56 mmol/L, p=0.117) groups. However, after 8 (4.90±0.42 mmol/L, p=0.001) and 12 (4.86±0.40 mmol/L, p=0.002) months of VNS, fasting blood glucose levels significantly increased compared to baseline values (4.52±0.54 mmol/L). Changes in fasting blood glucose concentrations at both 8 (R 2 =0.502, p<0.001) and 12 (R 2 =0.572, p<0.001) months were negatively correlated with baseline fasting blood glucose levels.Conclusions Our study suggests that chronic cervical VNS elevates fasting blood glucose levels with commonly used stimulation parameters in patients with epilepsy.Trial registration: VNSRE, NCT02378792. Registered 4 March 2015 - Retrospectively registered, https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT02378792


2021 ◽  
Vol 34 (10) ◽  
pp. 1125-1125
Author(s):  
Xu Han ◽  
Qian Liu ◽  
Yi-han Ma ◽  
Xiao-ming Zheng ◽  
Chun-yu Ruan ◽  
...  

Abstract Background To investigate the relationship between baseline fasting blood glucose levels and the progression of arterial stiffness in nondiabetic population. Methods In this research, the individuals participated in the Kailuan research cohort and completed 2 tests of brachial–ankle pulse wave velocity (baPWV) from 2010 to 2018 and were not diabetic at the first baPWV testing were included. A multiple linear regression was applied to analyze the impact of baseline fasting blood glucose levels on baPWV and its progress during the follow-up. Results A total of 16,875 with 10,453 male (61.94%) subjects met the inclusion criteria. The average age at baseline (the first baPWV measurement) was (45.9 ± 13.0) years old and the average baPWV was (1,439.0 ± 309.3) cm/s. During the follow-up (the second baPWV measurement), the average age was (49.6 ± 13.3) years old, and the average baPWV was (1,494.6 ± 334.3) cm/s. The baPWV progression in the observed subjects was (55.7 ± 233.4) cm/s. After adjusted for other confounding factors, multiple linear regression analysis found that there was a positive correlation between the baseline fasting blood glucose levels and the follow-up baPWV. With every 1 mmol/l baseline fasting blood glucose increase, the follow-up baPWV increased 16.89 cm/s. With every 1 mmol/l fasting blood glucose level increase, the progress of baPWV increased by 3.70 cm/s. Conclusions Fasting blood glucose levels in nondiabetics affect arterial stiffness during follow-up. Elevated fasting blood glucose levels during the follow-up period are a risk factor that may increase the progression of arterial stiffness.


1984 ◽  
Vol 106 (4) ◽  
pp. 511-515 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gunnar Stenström ◽  
Lars Sjöström ◽  
Ulf Smith

Abstract. Sixty patients undergoing operation for phaeochromocytoma were investigated in the pre- and postoperative states with respect to fasting blood glucose levels. When 6 previously known or suspected diabetics were excluded, preoperative diabetes (fasting blood glucose levels ≥ 7.0 mmol/l) were found in 3 of 13 (23%) with sustained hypertension, in 6 of 12 (50%) with sustained hypertension associated with paroxysms and in 4 of 24 (17%) with paroxysmal hypertension. None of the 5 patients with atypical clinical symptoms had glucose levels ≥ 7.0 mmol/l. In the groups of patients with particularly high urinary excretion of catecholamines and vanilmandelic acid higher blood glucose levels were also found. The postoperative blood glucose levels in the follow-up study were normal and < 5.8 mmol/l in all cases except in 3 of the 4 still living patients with a previously known diabetes and in 1 patient with a malignant tumour. Thus, manifest diabetes, defined as fasting glucose levels ≥ 7.0 mmol/l, is frequently present in patients with phaeochromocytoma (24% in the present study) and the diabetes is reversed by removal of the tumour.


2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (24) ◽  
pp. 9147
Author(s):  
Imane Es-Safi ◽  
Hamza Mechchate ◽  
Amal Amaghnouje ◽  
Anna Calarco ◽  
Smahane Boukhira ◽  
...  

The seeds of Ammodaucus leucotrichus Cosson and Durieu have been used in the North African Sahara as a traditional medicine to treat diabetes. The present study investigates the antidiabetic, antihyperglycemic, and anti-inflammatory properties of the defatted hydroethanolic extract of Ammodaucus leucotrichus (DHEAM). The antidiabetic and the antihyperglycemic studies were assessed on alloxan-induced diabetic with orally administered doses of DHEAM (100 and 200 mg/kg). At the same time, its anti-inflammatory propriety was evaluated by measuring edema development in the Wistar rats paw induced with carrageenan. Treatment of diabetic mice with DHEAM for four weeks managed their high fasting blood glucose levels, improved their overall health, and also revealed an excellent antihyperglycemic activity. Following the anti-inflammatory results, DHEAM exhibited a perfect activity. HPLC results revealed the presence of seven molecules (chlorogenic acid, 3-p-coumaroylquinic acid, gallic acid, ferulic acid, myricetin, quercetin, luteolin). This work indicates that the DHEAM has an important antidiabetic, antihyperglycemic, and anti-inflammatory effect that can be well established as a phytomedicine to treat diabetes.


2006 ◽  
Vol 13 (04) ◽  
pp. 687-690
Author(s):  
MUNIR AKMAL LODHI ◽  
GHULAM SHABBIR ◽  
NASIR ALI SHAH

Objectives: Recurrent episodes of neonatal hypoglycemia are strongly associated with long termphysical and neuro-developmental deficits. (1) Moreover in neonates hypoglycemia can be overlooked as it may havenonspecific symptoms only. (2) This study was therefore carried out to analyse the risk factors associated with neonatalhypoglycemia and to evaluate the risk factors which have predictive value in its diagnosis. .Design: Based case controlstudy. Period: Six months from January 2005 to June 2005. Setting CMH Pano Aqil. Material and Methods: 385newborns were studied. Newborns of both civilians as well as military personnel were included in the study. 11newborns were excluded. Out of remaining 347 patients 101 were found to be hypoglycemia. Five risk factors (low birthweight, Birth Asphyxia, Neonatal sepsis, Meconeum aspiration syndrome delayed feeding ) strongly and independentlypredicated the risk of hypoglycemia. Results: The most common associated risk factor was low birth weight (47.47%)followed by delayed feeding (46.29%). Blood sampling for glucose estimation was done at birth / admission at 6 hours,12 hours, 24 hours and 48 hours. Test was initially performed by glucometer, the reading which were confirmed bylaboratory testing in border line case. Conclusions: In neonates with associated risk factors it is cost affective to carryout blood glucose levels at the time of birth and follow up readings taken as indicated by clinical progress later on.


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