To evaluate the effect of the sustained-release formulation of indapamide (indapamide SR) in type 2 diabetic patients with mild-to-moderate hypertension and its possible side effects, particularly on glucose metabolism and lipid profiles. A total of 64 patients randomly received 1.5 mg of indapamide SR or placebo once daily for 3 months. The effects were evaluated by 24-h ambulatory blood pressure monitor, fasting blood sampling for biochemistry, lipid profiles, and frequently sampled intravenous glucose tolerance test. The changes in standing and supine blood pressure (BP) were significant (154.7 ± 9.4/94 ± 2.9 mm Hg v 134.4 ± 5.1/82.4 ± 5 mm Hg and 155 ± 9.8/94.6 ± 3.6 mm Hg v 135.1 ± 4.9/82.1 ± 4.7 mm Hg) in the indapamide group, but not in the placebo group. According to the 24-h ambulatory blood pressure monitor reading, a significant reduction was observed in not only in the whole-day mean BP (mean systolic BP/mean diastolic BP, 149 ± 19.3/87.6 ± 11.3 mm Hg v 135.7 ± 12.6/79.6 ± 9 mm Hg) but also the whole-day mean median arterial pressure (109 ± 12.7 mm Hg v 98.7 ± 8.2 mm Hg) for the indapamide group, but not the placebo group. There were no changes in biochemical data including serum sodium, potassium, chloride, uric acid, alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase, blood urea nitrogen, creatinine, lipid profiles, fasting blood glucose, insulin, hemoglobin Alc, and glucose metabolism parameters (insulin sensitivity, glucose effectiveness, and acute insulin response) from frequently sampled intravenous glucose tolerance test after indapamide or placebo therapy. Indapamide SR can significantly lower the whole-day BP in hypertensive patients with type 2 diabetes. Also, it did not alter or aggravate patients’ lipid profiles, glucose metabolism, and did not exert possible side effects of hypokalemia and hyperuricemia. Therefore, monotherapy with indapamide SR should be suggested in type 2 diabetic patients with mild-to-moderate hypertension.

The efficacy of thyroxine (T₄) for solitary non‐toxic thyroid nodule remains uncertain. In this study, 60 patients with solitary non‐toxic thyroid nodule were divided randomly into two groups. Group I (n = 30) received thyroxine 100 µg/day for 6 months and group II (n = 30) received placebo. The volume of the thyroid nodules in 11 patients decreased more than 50% after thyroxine therapy (36.7%, responders). In these 11 patients, the mean serum thyroglobulin level decreased significantly (340 ± 115 to 162 ± 86 µg/l, p < 0.01). Compared with the non‐responders (n = 19, 63.3%), the serum thyroglobulin level before treatment was significantly higher (340 ± 115 vs. 220 ± 102 µg/l, p < 0.05). Thyroxine‐suppressive therapy is proved as a useful tool in reducing nodule size in some patients with solitary thyroid nodules. The patients with a higher serum thyroglobulin level generally respond better to thyroxine‐suppressive therapy.

Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is an independent risk factor of knee osteoarthritis (KOA). This study was mainly based on data from the Taiwan National Health Insurance Database. Using big data analysis, we showed that glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonist (GLP-1RA) treatment is helpful for patients with T2DM who have a lower risk of KOA or total knee replacement (TKR). A total of 35,762 patients with T2DM were included in this study. We divided these patients into 988 patients with T2DM without KOA and 372 patients with T2DM with KOA who received GLP-1RA treatment and those who did not receive GLP-1RA treatment. The patients were matched for sex, age, and inclusion date by 1:1 propensity score, which was included in the control group. Cox proportional hazards analyses were performed to compare KOA risk and TKR rate during a maximum follow-up period of 5 years. There were 1976/744 patients with T2DM without/with KOA who received and did not receive GLP-1RA treatment, including 1052/322 men (53.24/43.28%) and 924/422 women (46.76/56.72%). At the end of follow-up, there were 46/39 (4.66/10.48%) patients with T2DM without/with KOA who received GLP-1RA treatment and underwent KOA/TKR were lower than those without GLP-1RA treatment 87/70 (8.81/18.82%). Cox proportional hazard regression analysis showed a lower rate of KOA/TKR among patients with GLP-1RA treatment (adjusted hazard ratio [HR] = .852; 95% confidence interval [CI] = .784–.930, P < .001/ adjusted HR = .913; 95% CI = .885–.977, P = .015, respectively). Kaplan–Meier analysis showed that the cumulative risk of KOA/TKR in patient with/without GLP-1RA was significantly different (log-rank test, P < .001/P < .001, respectively). This study aimed to provide clinicians with the option of GLP-1RA as a treatment for patients with T2DM with or without KOA to reduce the risk of KOA or TKR among such patients.

To assess the efficacy of sibutramine 15 mg once daily as weight reduction in overweight and obese (body mass index >25 kg/m²) Chinese female type 2 diabetic patients and to evaluate the influence of weight loss on diabetic control, a randomised, double‐blind, placebo‐control, 12‐week study was conducted. Chinese female type 2 diabetic patients, poorly controlled glucose levels and HbA_1C > 8% were randomly assigned to two groups. In addition to their hypoglycaemic agents (maximal doses of sulphonylureas and metformin), one group (n = 30) received a sibutramine 15 mg once daily for 12 weeks, and the other (n = 30) received placebo for the same period. Comparing the changes that occurred after 12 weeks in the sibutramine and placebo groups, the former showed significantly greater reduction in body weight (2.5 vs. 0.1 kg, p < 0.05), fasting plasma insulin level (28.8 vs. 2.4 pmol/l, p < 0.01), 2‐h postprandial blood glucose after standard test meal (3.2 vs. 1.1 mmol/l, p < 0.01), insulin resistance (5.1 vs. 0.2, p < 0.01), HbA1C (1.7% vs. 0.2%, p < 0.05), triglyceride (0.43 vs. 0.12 mmol/l, p < 0.05) and total cholesterol (0.52 vs. 0.08 mmol/l, p < 0.05). No significant differences were found between treatment groups in blood pressure and heart rate. The addition of sibutramine to diet and oral hypoglycaemic therapy resulted in significant weight loss and improvement in metabolic parameters in the treatment group. Sibutramine should be considered for use alongside diet and oral hypoglycaemic therapy in Chinese overweight and obese women with poorly controlled type 2 diabetes.