In a nutshell This study examined the long-term effectiveness of liraglutide in type 2 diabetic patients. Some background Liraglutide (Victoza) is an oral drug used to reduce blood glucose (sugar) levels in patients with type 2 diabetes (T2D). Clinical trials have shown liraglutide to be effective in reducing blood glucose...
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In a nutshell This study examined whether exercise is beneficial in improving control of blood glucose levels and reducing the risk of cardiovascular disease in type 1 diabetics. Some background Exercise is known to reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease (the narrowing or blockage of blood vessels which can lead to heart...
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In a nutshell This study examined whether adjusting the dose of pramlintide based on the insulin dose is safe and effective. Some background Amylin is a hormone produced by the pancreas which delays the passage of food through the stomach and therefore reduces appetite, resulting in weight loss. Amylin and insulin (hormone which reduces...
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In a nutshell The aim of this study was to determine whether the proportion of platelets and neutrophils can be used to predict long-term negative outcomes in patients who have had a percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI, a procedure done to improve blood flow and prevent heart attacks). Some background Neutrophils are cells that are...
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In a nutshell The authors aimed to determine the effect of two genes – ERG and PTEN – as markers in prostate cancer progression. Some background Prostate surgery is a common treatment in prostate cancer. It involves surgically removing the prostate gland. The ERG gene is a cancer gene that contains a protein...
Read MoreIn a nutshell The authors determined the benefit of docetaxel (Taxotere) and prednisone (Deltasone) in treating metastatic (cancer that spreads) hormone-resistant prostate cancer. Some background Hormone therapy is a common treatment for prostate cancer. It targets the male sex hormones active in prostate cancer, such as testosterone. In...
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In a nutshell The authors determined the effect of PTEN in tumor upgrading in prostate cancer patients. Some background Prostate surgery is a common treatment in prostate cancer. It involves surgically removing the prostate gland. The PTEN gene acts as a tumor supressor (protects normal cells from progressing to...
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In a nutshell This study examined the medium-term outcomes of single-incision laparoscopic surgery in the treatment of rectal cancer. Some background One major aspect of treatment for rectal cancer is surgery to remove the cancerous tissue. This is generally a major surgery which can be difficult to recover from. Newer techniques, such as...
Read MoreIn a nutshell This study examined the variation in HbA1c with age in young type 1 diabetics. Some background Managing blood sugar (glucose) levels in patients with type 1 diabetes (T1D) is important to prevent long-term complications such as kidney disease and eye disease. The HbA1c is the average blood glucose levels over 3...
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In a nutshell This study examined whether blood glucose levels remain in the recommended range in women with gestational diabetes on a high complex carbohydrate and low fat diet. Some background Diets for women diagnosed with gestational diabetes generally involve reducing carbohydrate intake to 30-40% of total calorie intake. However, this can...
Read MoreIn a nutshell This review discussed the use of second-line chemotherapy (therapy after disease progression despite initial treatment) in colorectal cancer. Some background Patients with advanced (spread to lymph nodes and beyond) colorectal cancer often require a second round of chemotherapy following their first treatments. The use of multiple...
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In a nutshell The authors investigated the effectiveness and patient response (tolerance) to vemurafenib (Zelboraf) treatment in advanced melanoma. Some background In advanced melanoma (stage III/ IV), cancer spreads from the skin to other parts of the body (metastasis). BRAF genes are often mutated (permanently...
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