en

Hospitalization for Lactic Acidosis Among Patients With Reduced Kidney Function Treated With Metformin or Sulfonylureas

OBJECTIVE

To compare the risk of lactic acidosis hospitalization between patients treated with metformin versus sulfonylureas following development of reduced kidney function.

RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS

This retrospective cohort combined data from the National Veterans Health Administration, Medicare, Medicaid, and the National Death Index. New users of metformin or sulfonylureas were followed from development of reduced kidney function (estimated glomerular filtration rate [eGFR] <60 mL/min/1.73 m2 or serum creatinine ≥1.4 mg/dL [female] or 1.5 mg/dL [male]) through hospitalization for lactic acidosis, death, loss to follow-up, or study end. Lactic acidosis hospitalization was defined as a composite of primary discharge diagnosis or laboratory-confirmed lactic acidosis (lactic acid ≥2.5 mmol/L and either arterial blood pH <7.35 or serum bicarbonate ≤19 mmol/L within 24 h of admission). We report the cause-specific hazard of lactic acidosis hospitalization between metformin and sulfonylureas from a propensity score–matched weighted cohort and conduct an additional competing risks analysis to account for treatment change and death.

RESULTS

The weighted cohort included 24,542 metformin and 24,662 sulfonylurea users who developed reduced kidney function (median age 70 years, median eGFR 55.8 mL/min/1.73 m2). There were 4.18 (95% CI 3.63, 4.81) vs. 3.69 (3.19, 4.27) lactic acidosis hospitalizations per 1,000 person-years among metformin and sulfonylurea users, respectively (adjusted hazard ratio [aHR] 1.21 [95% CI 0.99, 1.50]). Results were consistent for both primary discharge diagnosis (aHR 1.11 [0.87, 1.44]) and laboratory-confirmed lactic acidosis (1.25 [0.92, 1.70]).

CONCLUSIONS

Among veterans with diabetes who developed reduced kidney function, occurrence of lactic acidosis hospitalization was uncommon and not statistically different between patients who continued metformin and those patients who continued sulfonylureas.




en

Metabolic Factors, Lifestyle Habits, and Possible Polyneuropathy in Early Type 2 Diabetes: A Nationwide Study of 5,249 Patients in the Danish Centre for Strategic Research in Type 2 Diabetes (DD2) Cohort

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the association of metabolic and lifestyle factors with possible diabetic polyneuropathy (DPN) and neuropathic pain in patients with early type 2 diabetes.

RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS

We thoroughly characterized 6,726 patients with recently diagnosed diabetes. After a median of 2.8 years, we sent a detailed questionnaire on neuropathy, including the Michigan Neuropathy Screening Instrument questionnaire (MNSIq), to identify possible DPN (score ≥4) and the Douleur Neuropathique en 4 Questions (DN4) questionnaire for possible associated neuropathic pain (MNSIq ≥4 + pain in both feet + DN4 score ≥3).

RESULTS

Among 5,249 patients with data on both DPN and pain, 17.9% (n = 938) had possible DPN, including 7.4% (n = 386) with possible neuropathic pain. In regression analyses, central obesity (waist circumference, waist-to-hip ratio, and waist-to-height ratio) was markedly associated with DPN. Other important metabolic factors associated with DPN included hypertriglyceridemia ≥1.7 mmol/L, adjusted prevalence ratio (aPR) 1.36 (95% CI 1.17; 1.59); decreased HDL cholesterol <1.0/1.2 mmol/L (male/female), aPR 1.35 (95% CI 1.12; 1.62); hs-CRP ≥3.0 mg/L, aPR 1.66 (95% CI 1.42; 1.94); C-peptide ≥1,550 pmol/L, aPR 1.72 (95% CI 1.43; 2.07); HbA1c ≥78 mmol/mol, aPR 1.42 (95% CI 1.06; 1.88); and antihypertensive drug use, aPR 1.34 (95% CI 1.16; 1.55). Smoking, aPR 1.50 (95% CI 1.24; 1.81), and lack of physical activity (0 vs. ≥3 days/week), aPR 1.61 (95% CI 1.39; 1.85), were also associated with DPN. Smoking, high alcohol intake, and failure to increase activity after diabetes diagnosis associated with neuropathic pain.

CONCLUSIONS

Possible DPN was associated with metabolic syndrome factors, insulin resistance, inflammation, and modifiable lifestyle habits in early type 2 diabetes.




en

Use of Glucagon-Like Peptide 1 Receptor Agonists and Risk of Serious Renal Events: Scandinavian Cohort Study

OBJECTIVE

To assess the association between use of glucagon-like peptide 1 (GLP-1) receptor agonists and risk of serious renal events in routine clinical practice.

RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS

This was a cohort study using an active-comparator, new-user design and nationwide register data from Sweden, Denmark, and Norway during 2010–2016. The cohort included 38,731 new users of GLP-1 receptor agonists (liraglutide 92.5%, exenatide 6.2%, lixisenatide 0.7%, and dulaglutide 0.6%), matched 1:1 on age, sex, and propensity score to a new user of the active comparator, dipeptidyl peptidase 4 (DPP-4) inhibitors. The main outcome was serious renal events, a composite including renal replacement therapy, death from renal causes, and hospitalization for renal events. Secondary outcomes were the individual components of the main outcome. Hazard ratios (HRs) were estimated using Cox models and an intention-to-treat exposure definition. Mean (SD) follow-up time was 3.0 (1.7) years.

RESULTS

Mean (SD) age of the study population was 59 (10) years, and 18% had cardiovascular disease. A serious renal event occurred in 570 users of GLP-1 receptor agonists (incidence rate 4.8 events per 1,000 person-years) and in 722 users of DPP-4 inhibitors (6.3 events per 1,000 person-years, HR 0.76 [95% CI 0.68–0.85], absolute difference –1.5 events per 1,000 person-years [–2.1 to –0.9]). Use of GLP-1 receptor agonists was associated with a significantly lower risk of renal replacement therapy (HR 0.73 [0.62–0.87]) and hospitalization for renal events (HR 0.73 [0.65–0.83]) but not death from renal causes (HR 0.72 [0.48–1.10]). When we used an as treated exposure definition in which patients were censored at treatment cessation or switch to the other study drug, the HR for the primary outcome was 0.60 (0.49–0.74).

CONCLUSIONS

In this large cohort of patients seen in routine clinical practice in three countries, use of GLP-1 receptor agonists, as compared with DPP-4 inhibitors, was associated with a reduced risk of serious renal events.




en

Efficacy and Safety of 1:1 Fixed-Ratio Combination of Insulin Glargine and Lixisenatide Versus Lixisenatide in Japanese Patients With Type 2 Diabetes Inadequately Controlled on Oral Antidiabetic Drugs: The LixiLan JP-O1 Randomized Clinical Trial

OBJECTIVE

To assess the efficacy and safety of a 1:1 fixed-ratio combination of insulin glargine and lixisenatide (iGlarLixi) versus lixisenatide (Lixi) in insulin-naive Japanese patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) inadequately controlled on oral antidiabetic drugs (OADs).

RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS

In this phase 3, open-label, multicenter trial, 321 patients with HbA1c≥7.5 to ≤10.0% (58–86 mmol/mol) and fasting plasma glucose (FPG) ≤13.8 mmol/L (250 mg/dL) were randomized 1:1 to iGlarLixi or Lixi for 52 weeks. The primary end point was change in HbA1c at week 26.

RESULTS

Change in HbA1c from baseline to week 26 was significantly greater with iGlarLixi (–1.58% [–17.3 mmol/mol]) than with Lixi (–0.51% [–5.6 mmol/mol]), confirming the superiority of iGlarLixi (least squares [LS] mean difference –1.07% [–11.7 mmol/mol], P < 0.0001). At week 26, significantly greater proportions of patients treated with iGlarLixi reached HbA1c <7% (53 mmol/mol) (65.2% vs. 19.4%; P < 0.0001), and FPG reductions were greater with iGlarLixi than Lixi (LS mean difference –2.29 mmol/L [–41.23 mg/dL], P < 0.0001). Incidence of documented symptomatic hypoglycemia (≤3.9 mmol/L [70 mg/dL]) was higher with iGlarLixi (13.0% vs. 2.5%) through week 26, with no severe hypoglycemic events in either group. Incidence of gastrointestinal events through week 52 was lower with iGlarLixi (36.0% vs. 50.0%), and rates of treatment-emergent adverse events were similar.

CONCLUSIONS

This phase 3 study demonstrated superior glycemic control and fewer gastrointestinal adverse events with iGlarLixi than with Lixi, which may support it as a new treatment option for Japanese patients with T2DM that is inadequately controlled with OADs.




en

Decreased Vagal Activity and Deviation in Sympathetic Activity Precedes Development of Diabetes

OBJECTIVE

The objective of this study was to examine whether altered heart rate variability (HRV) could predict the risk of diabetes in Asians.

RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS

A cohort study was conducted in 54,075 adults without diabetes who underwent 3-min HRV measurement during health checkups between 2011 and 2014 at Kangbuk Samsung Hospital. We analyzed the time domain (SD of the normal-to-normal interval [SDNN] and root mean square differences of successive normal-to-normal interval [RMSSD]) and the frequency domain (total power, normalized low-frequency power [LF], and normalized high-frequency power [HF] and LF/HF ratio). We compared the risk of diabetes until 2017 according to tertiles of heart rate and HRV variables, with tertile 1 serving as the reference group.

RESULTS

During 243,758.2 person-years, 1,369 subjects were diagnosed with diabetes. Both time and frequency domain variables were lower in the group with diabetes, with the exception of those with normalized LF and LF/HF ratio. In Cox analysis, as SDNN, RMSSD, and normalized HF tertiles increased, the risk of diabetes decreased (hazard ratios [95% CIs] of tertile 3: 0.81 [0.70–0.95], 0.76 [0.65–0.90], and 0.78 [0.67–0.91], respectively), whereas the risk of diabetes increased in the case of heart rate, normalized LF, and LF/HF ratio (hazard ratios [95% CIs] of tertile 3: 1.41 [1.21–1.65], 1.32 [1.13–1.53], and 1.31 [1.13–1.53), respectively) after adjusting for age, sex, BMI, smoking, drinking, systolic blood pressure, lipid level, CRP, and HOMA of insulin resistance.

CONCLUSIONS

Abnormal HRV, especially decreased vagal activity and deviation in sympathovagal imbalance to sympathetic activity, might precede incident diabetes.




en

Obstructive Sleep Apnea, a Risk Factor for Cardiovascular and Microvascular Disease in Patients With Type 2 Diabetes: Findings From a Population-Based Cohort Study

OBJECTIVE

To determine the risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD), microvascular complications, and mortality in patients with type 2 diabetes who subsequently develop obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) compared with patients with type 2 diabetes without a diagnosis of OSA.

RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS

This age-, sex-, BMI-, and diabetes duration–matched cohort study used data from a U.K. primary care database from 1 January 2005 to 17 January 2018. Participants aged ≥16 years with type 2 diabetes were included. Exposed participants were those who developed OSA after their diabetes diagnosis; unexposed participants were those without diagnosed OSA. Outcomes were composite CVD (ischemic heart disease [IHD], stroke/transient ischemic attack [TIA], heart failure [HF]), peripheral vascular disease (PVD), atrial fibrillation (AF), peripheral neuropathy (PN), diabetes-related foot disease (DFD), referable retinopathy, chronic kidney disease (CKD), and all-cause mortality. The same outcomes were explored in patients with preexisting OSA before a diagnosis of type 2 diabetes versus diabetes without diagnosed OSA.

RESULTS

A total of 3,667 exposed participants and 10,450 matched control participants were included. Adjusted hazard ratios for the outcomes were as follows: composite CVD 1.54 (95% CI 1.32, 1.79), IHD 1.55 (1.26, 1.90), HF 1.67 (1.35, 2.06), stroke/TIA 1.57 (1.27, 1.94), PVD 1.10 (0.91, 1.32), AF 1.53 (1.28, 1.83), PN 1.32 (1.14, 1.51), DFD 1.42 (1.16, 1.74), referable retinopathy 0.99 (0.82, 1.21), CKD (stage 3–5) 1.18 (1.02, 1.36), albuminuria 1.11 (1.01, 1.22), and all-cause mortality 1.24 (1.10, 1.40). In the prevalent OSA cohort, the results were similar, but some associations were not observed.

CONCLUSIONS

Patients with type 2 diabetes who develop OSA are at increased risk of CVD, AF, PN, DFD, CKD, and all-cause mortality compared with patients without diagnosed OSA. Patients with type 2 diabetes who develop OSA are a high-risk population, and strategies to detect OSA and prevent cardiovascular and microvascular complications should be implemented.




en

Adolescent Obesity and Early-Onset Type 2 Diabetes

OBJECTIVE

Type 2 diabetes (T2D) is increasingly diagnosed at younger ages. We investigated the association of adolescent obesity with incident T2D at early adulthood.

RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS

A nationwide, population-based study evaluated 1,462,362 adolescents (59% men, mean age 17.4 years) during 1996–2016. Data were linked to the Israeli National Diabetes Registry. Weight and height were measured at study entry. Cox proportional models were applied.

RESULTS

During 15,810,751 person-years, 2,177 people (69% men) developed T2D (mean age at diagnosis 27 years). There was an interaction among BMI, sex, and incident T2D (Pinteraction = 0.023). In a model adjusted for sociodemographic variables, the hazard ratios for diabetes diagnosis were 1.7 (95% CI 1.4–2.0), 2.8 (2.3–3.5), 5.8 (4.9–6.9), 13.4 (11.5–15.7), and 25.8 (21.0–31.6) among men in the 50th–74th percentile, 75th–84th percentile, overweight, mild obesity, and severe obesity groups, respectively, and 2.2 (1.6–2.9), 3.4 (2.5–4.6), 10.6 (8.3–13.6), 21.1 (16.0–27.8), and 44.7 (32.4–61.5), respectively, in women. An inverse graded relationship was observed between baseline BMI and mean age of T2D diagnosis: 27.8 and 25.9 years among men and women with severe obesity, respectively, and 29.5 and 28.5 years among low-normal BMI (5th–49th percentile; reference), respectively. The projected fractions of adult-onset T2D that were attributed to high BMI (≥85th percentile) at adolescence were 56.9% (53.8–59.9%) and 61.1% (56.8–65.2%) in men and women, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

Severe obesity significantly increases the risk for incidence of T2D in early adulthood in both sexes. The rise in adolescent severe obesity is likely to increase diabetes incidence in young adults in coming decades.




en

Screening and Treatment Outcomes in Adults and Children With Type 1 Diabetes and Asymptomatic Celiac Disease: The CD-DIET Study

OBJECTIVE

To describe celiac disease (CD) screening rates and glycemic outcomes of a gluten-free diet (GFD) in patients with type 1 diabetes who are asymptomatic for CD.

RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS

Asymptomatic patients (8–45 years) were screened for CD. Biopsy-confirmed CD participants were randomized to GFD or gluten-containing diet (GCD) to assess changes in HbA1c and continuous glucose monitoring over 12 months.

RESULTS

Adults had higher CD-seropositivity rates than children (6.8% [95% CI 4.9–8.2%, N = 1,298] vs. 4.7% [95% CI 3.4–5.9%, N = 1,089], P = 0.035) with lower rates of prior CD screening (6.9% vs. 44.2%, P < 0.0001). Fifty-one participants were randomized to a GFD (N = 27) or GCD (N = 24). No HbA1c differences were seen between the groups (+0.14%, 1.5 mmol/mol; 95% CI –0.79 to 1.08; P = 0.76), although greater postprandial glucose increases (4-h +1.5 mmol/L; 95% CI 0.4–2.7; P = 0.014) emerged with a GFD.

CONCLUSIONS

CD is frequently observed in asymptomatic patients with type 1 diabetes, and clinical vigilance is warranted with initiation of a GFD.




en

Early Metabolic Features of Genetic Liability to Type 2 Diabetes: Cohort Study With Repeated Metabolomics Across Early Life

OBJECTIVE

Type 2 diabetes develops for many years before diagnosis. We aimed to reveal early metabolic features characterizing liability to adult disease by examining genetic liability to adult type 2 diabetes in relation to metabolomic traits across early life.

RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS

Up to 4,761 offspring from the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children were studied. Linear models were used to examine effects of a genetic risk score (162 variants) for adult type 2 diabetes on 229 metabolomic traits (lipoprotein subclass–specific cholesterol and triglycerides, amino acids, glycoprotein acetyls, others) measured at age 8 years, 16 years, 18 years, and 25 years. Two-sample Mendelian randomization (MR) was also conducted using genome-wide association study data on metabolomic traits in an independent sample of 24,925 adults.

RESULTS

At age 8 years, associations were most evident for type 2 diabetes liability (per SD-higher) with lower lipids in HDL subtypes (e.g., –0.03 SD, 95% CI –0.06, –0.003 for total lipids in very large HDL). At 16 years, associations were stronger with preglycemic traits, including citrate and with glycoprotein acetyls (0.05 SD, 95% CI 0.01, 0.08), and at 18 years, associations were stronger with branched chain amino acids. At 25 years, associations had strengthened with VLDL lipids and remained consistent with previously altered traits, including HDL lipids. Two-sample MR estimates among adults indicated persistent patterns of effect of disease liability.

CONCLUSIONS

Our results support perturbed HDL lipid metabolism as one of the earliest features of type 2 diabetes liability, alongside higher branched-chain amino acid and inflammatory levels. Several features are apparent in childhood as early as age 8 years, decades before the clinical onset of disease.




en

Dietary Manganese, Plasma Markers of Inflammation, and the Development of Type 2 Diabetes in Postmenopausal Women: Findings From the Womens Health Initiative

OBJECTIVE

To examine the association between manganese intake and the risk of type 2 diabetes in postmenopausal women and determine whether this association is mediated by circulating markers of inflammation.

RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS

We included 84,285 postmenopausal women without a history of diabetes from the national Women’s Health Initiative Observational Study (WHI-OS). Replication analysis was then conducted among 62,338 women who participated in the WHI-Clinical Trial (WHI-CT). Additionally, data from a case-control study of 3,749 women nested in the WHI-OS with information on biomarkers of inflammation and endothelial dysfunction were examined using mediation analysis to determine the relative contributions of these known biomarkers by which manganese affects type 2 diabetes risk.

RESULTS

Compared with the lowest quintile of energy-adjusted dietary manganese, WHI-OS participants in the highest quintile had a 30% lower risk of type 2 diabetes (hazard ratio [HR] 0.70 [95% CI 0.65, 0.76]). A consistent association was also confirmed in the WHI-CT (HR 0.79 [95% CI 0.73, 0.85]). In the nested case-control study, higher energy-adjusted dietary manganese was associated with lower circulating levels of inflammatory biomarkers that significantly mediated the association between dietary manganese and type 2 diabetes risk. Specifically, 19% and 12% of type 2 diabetes risk due to manganese were mediated through interleukin 6 and hs-CRP, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

Higher intake of manganese was directly associated with a lower type 2 diabetes risk independent of known risk factors. This association may be partially mediated by inflammatory biomarkers.




en

Using the BRAVO Risk Engine to Predict Cardiovascular Outcomes in Clinical Trials With Sodium-Glucose Transporter 2 Inhibitors

OBJECTIVE

This study evaluated the ability of the Building, Relating, Assessing, and Validating Outcomes (BRAVO) risk engine to accurately project cardiovascular outcomes in three major clinical trials—BI 10773 (Empagliflozin) Cardiovascular Outcome Event Trial in Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus Patients (EMPA-REG OUTCOME), Canagliflozin Cardiovascular Assessment Study (CANVAS), and Dapagliflozin Effect on Cardiovascular Events–Thrombolysis in Myocardial Infarction (DECLARE-TIMI 58) trial—on sodium–glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitors (SGLT2is) to treat patients with type 2 diabetes.

RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS

Baseline data from the publications of the three trials were obtained and entered into the BRAVO model to predict cardiovascular outcomes. Projected benefits of reducing risk factors of interest (A1C, systolic blood pressure [SBP], LDL, or BMI) on cardiovascular events were evaluated, and simulated outcomes were compared with those observed in each trial.

RESULTS

BRAVO achieved the best prediction accuracy when simulating outcomes of the CANVAS and DECLARE-TIMI 58 trials. For the EMPA-REG OUTCOME trial, a mild bias was observed (~20%) in the prediction of mortality and angina. The effect of risk reduction on outcomes in treatment versus placebo groups predicted by the BRAVO model strongly correlated with the observed effect of risk reduction on the trial outcomes as published. Finally, the BRAVO engine revealed that most of the clinical benefits associated with SGLT2i treatment are through A1C control, although reductions in SBP and BMI explain a proportion of the observed decline in cardiovascular events.

CONCLUSIONS

The BRAVO risk engine was effective in predicting the benefits of SGLT2is on cardiovascular health through improvements in commonly measured risk factors, including A1C, SBP, and BMI. Since these benefits are individually small, the use of the complex, dynamic BRAVO model is ideal to explain the cardiovascular outcome trial results.




en

Predicting the Risk of Inpatient Hypoglycemia With Machine Learning Using Electronic Health Records

OBJECTIVE

We analyzed data from inpatients with diabetes admitted to a large university hospital to predict the risk of hypoglycemia through the use of machine learning algorithms.

RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS

Four years of data were extracted from a hospital electronic health record system. This included laboratory and point-of-care blood glucose (BG) values to identify biochemical and clinically significant hypoglycemic episodes (BG ≤3.9 and ≤2.9 mmol/L, respectively). We used patient demographics, administered medications, vital signs, laboratory results, and procedures performed during the hospital stays to inform the model. Two iterations of the data set included the doses of insulin administered and the past history of inpatient hypoglycemia. Eighteen different prediction models were compared using the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUROC) through a 10-fold cross validation.

RESULTS

We analyzed data obtained from 17,658 inpatients with diabetes who underwent 32,758 admissions between July 2014 and August 2018. The predictive factors from the logistic regression model included people undergoing procedures, weight, type of diabetes, oxygen saturation level, use of medications (insulin, sulfonylurea, and metformin), and albumin levels. The machine learning model with the best performance was the XGBoost model (AUROC 0.96). This outperformed the logistic regression model, which had an AUROC of 0.75 for the estimation of the risk of clinically significant hypoglycemia.

CONCLUSIONS

Advanced machine learning models are superior to logistic regression models in predicting the risk of hypoglycemia in inpatients with diabetes. Trials of such models should be conducted in real time to evaluate their utility to reduce inpatient hypoglycemia.




en

Strict Preanalytical Oral Glucose Tolerance Test Blood Sample Handling Is Essential for Diagnosing Gestational Diabetes Mellitus

OBJECTIVE

Preanalytical processing of blood samples can affect plasma glucose measurement because on-going glycolysis by cells prior to centrifugation can lower its concentration. In June 2017, ACT Pathology changed the processing of oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) blood samples for pregnant women from a delayed to an early centrifugation protocol. The effect of this change on the rate of gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) diagnosis was determined.

RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS

All pregnant women in the Australian Capital Territory (ACT) are recommended for GDM testing with a 75-g OGTT using the World Health Organization diagnostic criteria. From January 2015 to May 2017, OGTT samples were collected into sodium fluoride (NaF) tubes and kept at room temperature until completion of the test (delayed centrifugation). From June 2017 to October 2018, OGTT samples in NaF tubes were centrifuged within 10 min (early centrifugation).

RESULTS

A total of 7,509 women were tested with the delayed centrifugation protocol and 4,808 with the early centrifugation protocol. The mean glucose concentrations for the fasting, 1-h and 2-h OGTT samples were, respectively, 0.24 mmol/L (5.4%), 0.34 mmol/L (4.9%), and 0.16 mmol/L (2.3%) higher using the early centrifugation protocol (P < 0.0001 for all), increasing the GDM diagnosis rate from 11.6% (n = 869/7,509) to 20.6% (n = 1,007/4,887).

CONCLUSIONS

The findings of this study highlight the critical importance of the preanalytical processing protocol of OGTT blood samples used for diagnosing GDM. Delay in centrifuging of blood collected into NaF tubes will result in substantially lower rates of diagnosis than if blood is centrifuged early.




en

The Association of Energy and Macronutrient Intake at Dinner Versus Breakfast With Disease-Specific and All-Cause Mortality Among People With Diabetes: The U.S. National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, 2003-2014

OBJECTIVE

This study aims to evaluate the association of energy and macronutrient intake at dinner versus breakfast with disease-specific and all-cause mortality in people with diabetes.

RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS

A total of 4,699 people with diabetes who enrolled in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey from 2003 to 2014 were recruited for this study. Energy and macronutrient intake was measured by a 24-h dietary recall. The differences () in energy and macronutrient intake between dinner and breakfast ( = dinner – breakfast) were categorized into quintiles. Death information was obtained from the National Death Index until 2015. Cox proportional hazards regression models were developed to evaluate the survival relationship between and diabetes, cardiovascular disease (CVD), and all-cause mortality.

RESULTS

Among the 4,699 participants, 913 deaths, including 269 deaths due to diabetes and 314 deaths due to CVD, were documented. After adjustment for potential confounders, compared with participants in the lowest quintile of in terms of total energy and protein, participants in the highest quintile were more likely to die due to diabetes (hazard ratio [HR]energy 1.92, 99% CI 1.08–3.42; HRprotein 1.92, 99% CI 1.06–3.49) and CVD (HRenergy 1.69, 99% CI 1.02–2.80; HRprotein 1.96, 99% CI 1.14–3.39). The highest quintile of total fat was related to CVD mortality (HR 1.67, 99% CI 1.01–2.76). Isocalorically replacing 5% of total energy at dinner with breakfast was associated with 4% and 5% lower risk of diabetes (HR 0.96, 95% CI 0.94–0.98) and CVD (HR 0.95, 95% CI 0.93–0.97) mortality, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

Higher intake of energy, total fat, and protein from dinner than breakfast was associated with greater diabetes, CVD, and all-cause mortality in people with diabetes.




en

microRNA-21/PDCD4 Proapoptotic Signaling From Circulating CD34+ Cells to Vascular Endothelial Cells: A Potential Contributor to Adverse Cardiovascular Outcomes in Patients With Critical Limb Ischemia

OBJECTIVE

In patients with type 2 diabetes (T2D) and critical limb ischemia (CLI), migration of circulating CD34+ cells predicted cardiovascular mortality at 18 months after revascularization. This study aimed to provide long-term validation and mechanistic understanding of the biomarker.

RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS

The association between CD34+ cell migration and cardiovascular mortality was reassessed at 6 years after revascularization. In a new series of T2D-CLI and control subjects, immuno-sorted bone marrow CD34+ cells were profiled for miRNA expression and assessed for apoptosis and angiogenesis activity. The differentially regulated miRNA-21 and its proapoptotic target, PDCD4, were titrated to verify their contribution in transferring damaging signals from CD34+ cells to endothelial cells.

RESULTS

Multivariable regression analysis confirmed that CD34+ cell migration forecasts long-term cardiovascular mortality. CD34+ cells from T2D-CLI patients were more apoptotic and less proangiogenic than control subjects and featured miRNA-21 downregulation, modulation of several long noncoding RNAs acting as miRNA-21 sponges, and upregulation of the miRNA-21 proapoptotic target PDCD4. Silencing miR-21 in control subject CD34+ cells phenocopied the T2D-CLI cell behavior. In coculture, T2D-CLI CD34+ cells imprinted naïve endothelial cells, increasing apoptosis, reducing network formation, and modulating the TUG1 sponge/miRNA-21/PDCD4 axis. Silencing PDCD4 or scavenging reactive oxygen species protected endothelial cells from the negative influence of T2D-CLI CD34+ cells.

CONCLUSIONS

Migration of CD34+ cells predicts long-term cardiovascular mortality in T2D-CLI patients. An altered paracrine signaling conveys antiangiogenic and proapoptotic features from CD34+ cells to the endothelium. This damaging interaction may increase the risk for life-threatening complications.




en

The Influence of Baseline Diastolic Blood Pressure on the Effects of Intensive Blood Pressure Lowering on Cardiovascular Outcomes and All-Cause Mortality in Type 2 Diabetes

OBJECTIVE

To examine whether low baseline diastolic blood pressure (DBP) modifies the effects of intensive systolic blood pressure (SBP) lowering on cardiovascular outcomes in type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM).

RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS

The Action to Control Cardiovascular Risk in Diabetes Blood Pressure trial (ACCORD BP), a two-by-two factorial randomized controlled trial, examined effects of SBP (<120 vs. <140 mmHg) and glycemic (HbA1c <6% vs. 7.0–7.9% [<42 vs. 53–63 mmol/mol]) control on cardiovascular events in T2DM (N = 4,731). We examined whether effects of SBP control on cardiovascular composite were modified by baseline DBP and glycemic control.

RESULTS

Intensive SBP lowering decreased the risk of the cardiovascular composite (hazard ratio [HR] 0.76 [95% CI 0.59–0.98]) in the standard glycemic arm but not in the intensive glycemic arm (HR 1.06 [95% CI 0.81–1.40]). Spline regression models relating the effects of the intervention on the cardiovascular composite across the range of baseline DBP did not show evidence of effect modification by low baseline DBP for the cardiovascular composite in the standard or intensive glycemic arms. The relation between the effect of the intensive SBP intervention and baseline DBP was similar between glycemic arms for the cardiovascular composite three-way interaction (P = 0.83).

CONCLUSIONS

In persons with T2DM, intensive SBP lowering decreased the risk of cardiovascular composite end point irrespective of baseline DBP in the setting of standard glycemic control. Hence, low baseline DBP should not be an impediment to intensive SBP lowering in patients with T2DM treated with guidelines recommending standard glycemic control.




en

Effects of Novel Dual GIP and GLP-1 Receptor Agonist Tirzepatide on Biomarkers of Nonalcoholic Steatohepatitis in Patients With Type 2 Diabetes

OBJECTIVE

To determine the effect of tirzepatide, a dual agonist of glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide and glucagon-like peptide 1 receptors, on biomarkers of nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) and fibrosis in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM).

RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS

Patients with T2DM received either once weekly tirzepatide (1, 5, 10, or 15 mg), dulaglutide (1.5 mg), or placebo for 26 weeks. Changes from baseline in alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), keratin-18 (K-18), procollagen III (Pro-C3), and adiponectin were analyzed in a modified intention-to-treat population.

RESULTS

Significant (P < 0.05) reductions from baseline in ALT (all groups), AST (all groups except tirzepatide 10 mg), K-18 (tirzepatide 5, 10, 15 mg), and Pro-C3 (tirzepatide 15 mg) were observed at 26 weeks. Decreases with tirzepatide were significant compared with placebo for K-18 (10 mg) and Pro-C3 (15 mg) and with dulaglutide for ALT (10, 15 mg). Adiponectin significantly increased from baseline with tirzepatide compared with placebo (10, 15 mg).

CONCLUSIONS

In post hoc analyses, higher tirzepatide doses significantly decreased NASH-related biomarkers and increased adiponectin in patients with T2DM.




en

Continuous Positive Airway Pressure Treatment, Glycemia, and Diabetes Risk in Obstructive Sleep Apnea and Comorbid Cardiovascular Disease

OBJECTIVE

Despite evidence of a relationship among obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), metabolic dysregulation, and diabetes, it is uncertain whether OSA treatment can improve metabolic parameters. We sought to determine effects of long-term continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) treatment on glycemic control and diabetes risk in patients with cardiovascular disease (CVD) and OSA.

RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS

Blood, medical history, and personal data were collected in a substudy of 888 participants in the Sleep Apnea Cardiovascular End Points (SAVE) trial in which patients with OSA and stable CVD were randomized to receive CPAP plus usual care, or usual care alone. Serum glucose and glycated hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) were measured at baseline, 6 months, and 2 and 4 years and incident diabetes diagnoses recorded.

RESULTS

Median follow-up was 4.3 years. In those with preexisting diabetes (n = 274), there was no significant difference between the CPAP and usual care groups in serum glucose, HbA1c, or antidiabetic medications during follow-up. There were also no significant between-group differences in participants with prediabetes (n = 452) or in new diagnoses of diabetes. Interaction testing suggested that women with diabetes did poorly in the usual care group, while their counterparts on CPAP therapy remained stable.

CONCLUSIONS

Among patients with established CVD and OSA, we found no evidence that CPAP therapy over several years affects glycemic control in those with diabetes or prediabetes or diabetes risk over standard-of-care treatment. The potential differential effect according to sex deserves further investigation.




en

A Randomized Controlled Trial Comparing Glargine U300 and Glargine U100 for the Inpatient Management of Medicine and Surgery Patients With Type 2 Diabetes: Glargine U300 Hospital Trial

OBJECTIVE

The role of U300 glargine insulin for the inpatient management of type 2 diabetes (T2D) has not been determined. We compared the safety and efficacy of glargine U300 versus glargine U100 in noncritically ill patients with T2D.

RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS

This prospective, open-label, randomized clinical trial included 176 patients with poorly controlled T2D (admission blood glucose [BG] 228 ± 82 mg/dL and HbA1c 9.5 ± 2.2%), treated with oral agents or insulin before admission. Patients were treated with a basal-bolus regimen with glargine U300 (n = 92) or glargine U100 (n = 84) and glulisine before meals. We adjusted insulin daily to a target BG of 70–180 mg/dL. The primary end point was noninferiority in the mean difference in daily BG between groups. The major safety outcome was the occurrence of hypoglycemia.

RESULTS

There were no differences between glargine U300 and U100 in mean daily BG (186 ± 40 vs. 184 ± 46 mg/dL, P = 0.62), percentage of readings within target BG of 70–180 mg/dL (50 ± 27% vs. 55 ± 29%, P = 0.3), length of stay (median [IQR] 6.0 [4.0, 8.0] vs. 4.0 [3.0, 7.0] days, P = 0.06), hospital complications (6.5% vs. 11%, P = 0.42), or insulin total daily dose (0.43 ± 0.21 vs. 0.42 ± 0.20 units/kg/day, P = 0.74). There were no differences in the proportion of patients with BG <70 mg/dL (8.7% vs. 9.5%, P > 0.99), but glargine U300 resulted in significantly lower rates of clinically significant hypoglycemia (<54 mg/dL) compared with glargine U100 (0% vs. 6.0%, P = 0.023).

CONCLUSIONS

Hospital treatment with glargine U300 resulted in similar glycemic control compared with glargine U100 and may be associated with a lower incidence of clinically significant hypoglycemia.




en

Promising New Research on Early Intervention for Autism

CNN reports that a study confirms that early autism intervention in toddlers is effective. A study was completed with a program called the Early Start Denver Model (ESDM). This program involves about twenty hours a week in the child's own home. It involves play and parents can easily learn some of the skills that can be applied in other settings. The study compared a group of toddlers that were given ESDM intervention to a group of toddlers receiving typical community interventions. Both groups showed improvement, but the ESDM group improved IQ by 18 points compared to 8 points with traditional interventions. The study is reporting that some of the children "virtually caught up to the typical kids their age." However, they are not claiming it is a cure for autism. According to the article they are working on a replication study to determine if there are similar results. Personally, I'm looking forward to the results of the replication study and want to find out more about this method. From what I understand it is less of a time constraint than ABA therapy.

This study also demonstrated the need for early intervention, which also includes early identification. When children are diagnosed early, they can begin receiving interventions that are proven effective. The study showed that current methods are working, but there may be a new program that can be even more effective on the horizon.

I'd love to hear more from my readers if you have any experience with ESDM or more information about it.




en

Readers Respond About Your Own Experiences In the Schools

The readers of School Psychologist Blog Files were asked in February to share their own experiences and to vote on a poll "How do you feel about the level of education the school provides your child." It's important to understand that everyone's experience is unique. The readers come from different states, different school systems, and different grade levels. Laws and standards vary somewhat between states. Within any state, there are schools that do a better job suiting the needs of children than others. Within any school system, there are those star schools, and the schools that need more attention. Even within the best schools, there are still going to be individuals who have negative experiences. Within the worst schools, there will be those who have positive experiences. Regardless of your school or your situation, I believe that the readers of this blog care deeply about their child's education and have strong emotions about the education (positive or negative.)

The most popular response was "I generally feel good about the level of education, but have some complaints." I was glad to see that many of you are mostly satisfied. I hope that continues throughout your children's school career. Stay involved, speak up when needed, and compliment those who deserve it.

There was a strong outcry from those who endorsed "I feel as if the school is not supportive and I feel as though I am constantly fighting for his or her rights." This was the second most popular answer. While many feel comfortable with their schools, there are many parents out there who have the unsettling feeling of sending their child to a place they do not feel good about. Many of the readers are feeling that getting appropriate services only comes with a fight. Some of you are not having good experiences. I hope that you are able to find some support and insight here from others.

A few of you feel very thankful for the high level of education that your child is receiving. I am thankful to hear that some of the parents here feel exceptionally good about their child's school. Know this is a blessing that many others do not have.

Feel free to share your comments about experiences and offer some insight to others who may have similar experiences.




en

A Personal Challenge to All Parents

Confession time. I tend to write this blog with my professional hat on, keeping my personal life, personal. Today, I am writing as a mother of two very dear, but very spirited children. People tend to think since I am a School Psychologist, that I know exactly what to do in my own family, and that I should have it all together. The reality is that I have struggles just like everyone else. Sometimes, my kids just don't listen. Sometimes, I feel overwhelmed too. Sometimes, I don't respond in the most positive manner.

Sometimes it can be very difficult to be positive. I know this from experience. While I'm usually an optimistic person, who tends to find good in situations (at least eventually), I sometimes struggle in the heat of the moment. Especially, when I am running late or stressed about something, I have much less tolerance for resistance and disobedience from my children.

In the last few weeks I've really been having a difficult time with the morning routine. There are a lot of procedures that need to occur efficiently in order for everyone to get to work and school on time. I do not like that I have turned into a Drill Sargent with very little patience for any deviation from the schedule. There are mornings that I tell my children to get dressed multiple times and am ignored multiple times. As the clock ticks and it's time to rush out the door with two children (age 5 and 3) who haven't gotten dressed yet, I become more and more negative. By the time we get to the daily "Yes you are wearing a coat- it's 25 degrees outside!" argument with the second child, I have lost all patience. When they walk to the car, I'm behind carrying everything and making sure the door shuts, and have been known to yell "RUN!, RUN TO THE CAR, RUN!" and eventually pick up the meandering child and put her in the car at my own pace. How's that for a start to one's day? I don't feel very good about those days.

Thankfully, not every morning is like that. There are also days that everyone is calm and everyone got ready (although hurriedly), but we got to school/work on time and in good spirits. Specifically I think of a day earlier this week that I handed all the clothes to my five year old and asked him to get himself dressed and see if he could help his little sister a little bit. He helped her step by step, and was extremely proud of himself. I enthusiastically praised him for his help and everyone went to school and work happy that day.

So what is the difference between the crazy mornings and the relatively calm mornings? I want to say- "my kids." I want to say "some mornings they choose to focus on getting dressed and I don't have to argue with them, so we are happy." And while they do play a small part, the biggest factor is ME. I'm the difference. When I am more calm, I have the mindset to be more positive and encouraging, which the children actually respond to. When I am frantic, I think they retreat and are much more prone to act out or start throwing their own fits (about coats or shoes). Yes, there are days that my kids don't listen the first time. However, they are 3 and 5 years old. Also, they don't care if I am late, it means nothing to them. So, what is the main thing I can do to change our crazy mornings. It's not a magic cure to make my kids get ready in a hurried and frantic manner that will get everyone out the door on time. The answer is getting myself up earlier, so I am not stressing about my tardiness and I can focus on helping everyone else get ready.

So here's the challenge to all parents- Take a look at a part of your day that is prone to go poorly with your kids. Think about what you can do yourself to help change the situation. I don't mean what your children could or should do or what you need to do to change your child. Let's take a hard look at yourself first, and see what you can do to yourself to make a positive change in a situation. For my mornings- it's pretty obvious- like it or not, I need to wake up earlier. I'm always saying I should wake up earlier, but that snooze button is quite tempting every morning. Since I'm blogging about it, I now have many people out there to keep me accountable. I'm thinking that if I were not rushed and frantic, then I would be more patient with my kids and able to start using more positive methods for getting them to get ready. While there is an issue that I'm being ignored sometimes- right now I'm just going to focus on making a change to myself. I'm guessing it will spill into everyone else.

Let's all find one small thing we can do ourselves that will help be a blessing for our entire family.




en

What Parents Need to Know About the Special Education Evaluation


I spend most days of my life working with various students who are at different parts in the sped referral process. I attend Child Study Meetings where we decide if we are going to evaluate a student. I observe and screen children and talk with parents and teachers to help the committee make a good decision about whether we should do a special education evaluation.   I evaluate those students (this includes Psychological testing, observations, talking with student/teacher/parent, doing rating scales, etc.). I attend eligibility meetings where we determine if the student is eligible for for special education services. All of this is second nature to me and sometimes I need to stop and remember when a parent comes in, that this is NEW.

When I talk to parents, I find that many parents do not fully understand the special education referral process, even when they nod and act like they do. We as school staff need to do a better job of helping the parents understand the process. Parents also need to speak up and ask questions when there is not understanding.

This is a guide for parents to understand the process of special education testing, the testing components, and some of the test data. It is important to note that schools systems and states will vary to some degree. If you have any questions about the process in your school system, ask your school psychologist, teacher, or principal. Parents have every right to ask questions and usually school personnel are happy to help make this process less anxiety-provoking for you. It is important for parents to understand their rights during the special education process.


Special Education Process

After data shows that interventions have been attempted and if a student is suspected of having a disability, a referral is made to evaluate him or her for special education testing. Once the parents sign the Permission for Testing Forms, timelines begin and the schools have 65 business days to complete the assessments and hold the eligibility meeting. Some states may have a different timeline.

During these 65 days, several testing components will be completed with you and your child. The evaluators will write reports and a copy will be given to parents at the eligibility meeting. However, schools are required to have a copy available for parents to pick up two days before the eligibility meeting. It is advised, that parents take advantage of this and read reports before the meeting to help get familiar with the information and to formulate questions. The reports hold a lot of information that can be overwhelming if you are not familiar with this type of testing. Read Understanding Test Scores to understand the types of tests used and what the scores mean.

Additionally, the meeting is likely to bring forth strong emotions as your child’s difficulties are discussed openly. It can be overwhelming for parents, especially when not prepared. When parents do not read the reports prior to the eligibility meeting, they are the only people at the table who come to the meeting not knowing what to expect.


What if My Child is Found ELIGIBLE for Special Education Services?

Once a child is eligible for special education services, the schools have 30 days to develop an Individualized Education Plan (IEP) for the student. This will consist of accommodations, goals, and describe the services offered. Parents are part of a committee to help create this document. Once it is signed, schools are legally required to follow it. It is reviewed once a year, unless parents or teachers feel that changes are necessary. Every three years, the committee will determine if the student should be reevaluated. This is called a triennial evaluation. Sometimes another full evaluation will be conducted, other times a review of records and updated teacher information is used.


What if My Child is Found INELIGIBLE for Special Education Services?

If your child was found ineligible for special education services and you agree with the eligibility findings, then your child will not receive special education. He or she was evaluated because of a problem that still needs to be addressed within regular education. Ask for a separate meeting with your teacher or a team to determine what accommodations or strategies can be used to help.

If you believe that your child requires special education services and has a disability, but was found ineligible for services, make an appointment to meet with the special education director. If an agreement cannot be reached, you may be able to have an Independent Evaluation at the expense of the school. The results of that testing will be brought back to an eligibility meeting. A child MUST have 2 things before they can receive special education services: They must have a disability and there must be a documented educational impact that the student requires special education services to be successful.






en

Sensory Processing

This article was originally posted on School Psychologist Files.  

Sensory Processing
Our senses help us understand and navigate our world. They help us feel, see, taste, etc. When one or more of those processes is more or less sensitive to world, life feels different to that person. It is hard to understand what it feels like to have sensory differences unless you have sensory differences. It’s easy to tell someone to ignore a noise that doesn’t seem excessively annoying to you. It’s hard to understand when someone has an intense need for pressure unless you have a similar need. Having these sensory differences can be anxiety producing and stressful. In a classroom, it can make that person less attentive or have a more difficult time sitting still. Kids don’t always have the words or understanding to express what they are feeling. As a result, children who have sensory processing issues are often misunderstood. Sensory issues are often associated with children who have an Autism Spectrum Disorder. There is also an association between Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder and sensory issues. Many times a child will have sensory issues and not have any other disability. Those children may have Sensory Processing disorder, which is a neurological disorder that makes processing and responding to sensory information more difficult. A person with Sensory Processing Disorder may be more or less sensitive than most people to any or all of the senses. Sensory Processing Disorder is not yet widely understood by the majority of people. Most people have an idea about what Autism is or ADHD, but people often do not know about Sensory Processing Disorder. Many school professionals have not learned about it and do not understand it. Many parents have never heard of it. If you have any concerns that your child may have difficulty with sensory processing, I strongly recommend The Out-of-Sync Child: Recognizing and Coping with Sensory Processing Disorder, Revised Edition This book was explains the various types of sensory processing and helps parents to understand what their child may be feeling. It is transformative for a parent to finally understand what is going on with their child. Strategies for the Classroom:

 Often making small changes to the environment can help a child regulate his own body and focus in the classroom. A seating disk fits on a chair and is filled with air. It allows a child to wiggle in his seat, without moving around and causing a distraction. The bumps and the movement can provide the sensory input needed to help a child focus better. The ball chair also allows movement and is good for low tone as well. Weighted lap pads help provide proprioceptive input that helps establish increased body awareness, improves attention span and concentration, and has calming benefits.   Strategies for home: Trampolines provide deep pressure. Also, it is great exercise. For some children, when they start having difficulty regulating his or her body, jumping on the trampoline helps provide the needed pressure and will calm the body after a few minutes. The Body Sock is made of tight material that pushes back against the child's movement. This can help children with coordination and spatial positioning.

 Disclaimer: I am not an Occupational Therapist and am not an expert in this area. I am writing this article to raise awareness in sensory issues that can have a huge impact in the classroom and within a family. Sometimes, minor accommodations can make significant improvements in the life of a child, which I have witnessed firsthand. I encourage any parents who think his or her child may have a sensory issue to seek help through an Occupational Therapist. In most cases, this will fall outside of Special Education and schools, unless the sensory issues are associated with a disability, such as Autism. Some schools are more proactive than others and have more Occupational Therapy support than others. Because OT services are not mandated outside of an IEP or 504 Plan, many schools will not be equipped to help you with this. It is recommended that you seek support through an OT, who can provide individual strategies to use in the classroom and at home.




en

Protecting the DREAM: The Potential Impact of Different Legislative Scenarios for Unauthorized Youth

With the Trump administration having announced the end of the DACA program, Congress is facing growing calls to protect unauthorized immigrants who came to the U.S. as children. This fact sheet examines DREAM Act bills introduced in Congress as of mid-2017, offering estimates of who might earn conditional legal status—and ultimately legal permanent residence—based on educational, professional, and other requirements in the legislation.




en

Differing DREAMs: Estimating the Unauthorized Populations That Could Benefit under Different Legalization Bills

2017 saw the introduction of several bills—two of them by Senate Republicans in the weeks following the Trump administration’s announcement that it would terminate the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program—that would provide a pathway to conditional and then legal permanent residence to unauthorized immigrants brought to the United States as children, if they meet a range of educational, professional, and other criteria.




en

A Profile of Current DACA Recipients by Education, Industry, and Occupation

An average of 915 DACA recipients every day will lose their work authorization and protection from deportation once the phaseout of the program moves into full force in spring 2018, MPI estimates. This fact sheet also offers U.S. and state estimates of the school enrollment and educational attainment, workforce participation, and industries and occupations of employment for the nearly 690,000 current DACA holders.




en

International Students in the United States

The United States has long been the top choice for international students from around the world, hosting about 1.1 million foreign students in higher education institutions in 2016-17. However, U.S. enrollment has slowed in recent years due to several factors. This article offers a data snapshot of the population of international students in the United States.




en

Frequently Requested Statistics on Immigrants and Immigration in the United States

Immigrant arrivals to the United States and the makeup of the foreign-born population have been changing in significant ways: Recent immigrants are more likely to be from Asia than from Mexico and the overall immigrant population is growing at a slower rate than before the 2008-09 recession. This useful article collects in one place some of the most sought-after statistics on immigrants in the United States.




en

Police arrest two men in shooting death of Ahmaud Arbery

More than two months after Ahmaud Arbery was fatally shot while jogging near Brunswick, Georgia police arrested two men for the shooting, authorities said.




en

House probe: Trump admin failed to adequately screen travelers from South Korea, Italy for COVID-19

The Trump administration failed to conduct effective screening of passengers from South Korea and Italy for the coronavirus when those countries were experiencing rapid expansion in COVID-19 cases.




en

Labor Dept.: U.S. economy lost 20.5M jobs in April, unemployment near 15%

The United States economy shed more than 20 million jobs last month, the greatest month-to-month decline in history, the Labor Department said Friday in its monthly employment analysis.




en

Pennsylvania, Texas, California among states lifting coronavirus restrictions Friday

California, Iowa, Pennsylvania and Rhode Island are among states that are loosening coronavirus restrictions Friday to gradually revive their economies.




en

DNA genealogy leads police to James E. Zastawnik in 1987 killing of Ohio teen Barbara Blatnik

Cleveland police say they have used DNA research to solve the 33-year-old strangling of a teenage girl, and arrest her killer.




en

Supreme Court puts temporary block on release of evidence in Mueller probe

The Supreme Court on Friday granted a Justice Department request to temporarily block release of secret grand jury material from special counsel Robert Mueller's probe to Congress.




en

Gujarat university, second MBBS examination, forensic medicine question papers, January 2015

Gujarat university, second MBBS examination, forensic medicine question papers, January 2015




en

Resources for Medical Students and Professionals

The mission of Medip Academy Resources site is to provide teaching and learning materials to medical students (UG and PG) and medical professionals. Medip Academy Resources is a platform for sharing University Examination Papers, Medical Educational Materials, Practical Guides, MCQs, Problem solving etc. The resources available on this site are easily searchable and free to download. URL: http://www.medipacademy.com/resources Email: resources@medipacademy.com How to add a resource? Please share your useful resource by email to resources@medipacademy.com Happy Sharing! Dr. Bhaven Kataria Department of Pharmacology, GMERS Medical College, Sola Ahmedabad, Gujarat, India




en

NASA lengthens SpaceX's first crewed mission to International Space Station

The duration of SpaceX's first mission with astronauts on board -- planned for launch at 4:32 p.m. EDT on May 27 from Florida -- has been extended from a few days to potentially weeks aboard the space station.




en

Coldest material in the cosmos could help scientists find dark matter particles

Researchers suggest the coldest material in the universe could reveal the presence of dark matter particles.




en

Amino acid swap may help wheat tolerate rising heat, scientists say

British scientists said Monday that an amino acid swap can help protect wheat crops from rising heat due to global warming.




en

Intensive farming makes epidemics more likely

Intensive farming, characterized by the overuse of antibiotics, large numbers of animals and limited genetic diversity, increases the odds of animal pathogens making the jump to humans and triggering an epidemic.




en

Climate change is influencing where tropical cyclones are formed

Over the last 40 years, climate change has been influencing where tropical cyclones form, according to a new study.




en

Scientists unveil fossil fuel-free jet propulsion that uses microwave air plasmas

Engineers in China have developed a fossil fuel-free jet propulsion prototype design that uses microwave air plasmas.




en

Smarter hardware to make artificial intelligence more energy efficient

Artificial intelligence requires a lot of energy. Simply solving a puzzle can require the equivalent of the energy produced by three nuclear plants in a single hour.




en

New map highlights China's export-driven CO2 emissions

China produces a whole lot of stuff -- stuff that gets bought by the rest of the world. In 2019, China exported approximately $2.5 trillion dollars worth of goods.




en

Researchers find honey bee gene that causes virgin birth

The Cape honey bee, a subspecies found along the southern coast of South Africa, reproduces without having sex. Now, scientists have identified the gene responsible for the bee's virgin births.




en

Cannibalism helps comb jellies survive harsh conditions, invade new environs

The warty comb jelly is native to the western Atlantic, but in recent decades, it has invaded the waters of Eurasia. New research suggests cannibalism is key to the species' ability to move into new environs.




en

Migration &amp; Coronavirus: A Complicated Nexus Between Migration Management and Public Health

This webinar, organized by MPI and the Zolberg Institute on Migration and Mobility at The New School, discussed the state of play around the globe surrounding COVID-19 and examined where migration management and enforcement tools may be useful and where they may be ill-suited to advancing public health goals. 




en

Africa Deepens its Approach to Migration Governance, But Are Policies Translating to Action?

While migration once was a lower-priority topic for African governments, the last decade has seen a deepening in governance. Policymakers have integrated migration into their national development strategies and mainstreamed it across policy domains such as health and education. The actions are promising on paper, yet questions remain about the extent to which they will translate to more effective migration management.




en

Immigration Enforcement in the United States: The Rise of a Formidable Machinery

MPI has released a major study that describes and analyzes today’s immigration enforcement programs, as they have developed and grown in the 25 years since IRCA launched the current enforcement era.