Risk factors for in-hospital mortality in patients with type 2 diabetes complicated by community-acquired Klebsiella pneumoniae bacteremia.

BACKGROUND/PURPOSE: Patients with diabetes are at a high risk of infection-related morbidity and mortality. Klebsiella pneumoniae bacilli are prevalent among diabetic patients, especially in Asian populations. The present study aimed to identify risk factors for in-hospital mortality among diabetic patients complicated by community-acquired K. pneumoniae bacteremia. METHODS: We evaluated the clinical characteristics of 341 Taiwanese type 2 diabetic patients who were treated for community-acquired K. pneumoniae bacteremia. We then analyzed outcome predictors, and in particular comorbidities and the site of infection. RESULTS: The overall in-hospital mortality rate was 14.1%. Comorbid cancer was the leading factor, accounting for 32.1% of all cases of mortality. Pulmonary infection, primary bacteremia, afebrile or shock presentation and low serum albumin level were risk factors for in-hospital mortality. Regardless of comorbidities, pulmonary infection [odds ratio (OR) 10.74, 95% confidence interval (CI) 2.02-57.09] and albumin level (OR 0.15, 95% CI 0.03-0.76) were the main risk predictors. The receiver operating characteristic curve indicated that a serum albumin level lower than 2.4 g/dL (71.1% sensitivity and 77.4% specificity) suggested a poor prognosis in the diabetic patients with K. pneumoniae bacteremia. In patients with pulmonary infection, the capsular serotypes of K. pneumoniae were not related to poor outcomes, and an initial presentation of blunted fever or shock were independent factors for mortality. CONCLUSION: Cancer, pulmonary infection, and low serum albumin levels were independent indicators of in-hospital mortality in the diabetic patients complicated by K. pneumoniae bacteremia. The sites of infection and host characteristics should always elicit medical attention when treating these patients.

Effects of a novel short-term continuous subcutaneous insulin infusion program evaluated by continuous glucose monitoring on young adult type 1 diabetic patients in Taiwan.

The aim of this study is to evaluate the effectiveness of blood sugar control by a short-course reinforcement program, consisting of using continuous subcutaneous insulin infusion (CSII) and continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) for young adult type 1 diabetic patients. Twenty-six pump-naïve type 1 diabetic patients were successively enrolled in two years. The mean disease duration was 13 years and the mean HbA1c was 8.8 %. Initially, a 3-day course of CGM was used to evaluate the baseline glycemic status of the subjects, followed by 6-day intensive insulin adjustment by CSII therapy. Thereafter, a second course of CGM was performed to evaluate the effectiveness of our outcomes in comparison to the initial measurements. All participants received necessary education and instruction as required throughout the course of the program. The glucose variability as measured by standard deviation of plasma glucose and mean amplitude of glucose excursion decreased significantly (67.8 ± 2.7 to 52.0 ± 1.8 mg/dL and 140.4 ± 6.5 to 105.5 ± 5.3 mg/dL, p < 0.001). The hypoglycemic events noted per patient were reduced by 46.4% (p = 0.003) and occurred significantly less often during nocturnal periods (-63.2%, p = 0.002). Following the adjustment, the mean daily insulin requirement was reduced by 28.05% (from 0.82 to 0.59 IU/kg) and the new proportion of 40% as basal insulin was found. The short-term CSII program provided significant improvement in blood sugar control for type 1 diabetic patients, by reducing hypoglycemic events, glucose excursion, and insulin dosage in our examined subjects.

Using the 100-g oral glucose tolerance test to predict fetal and maternal outcomes in women with gestational diabetes mellitus.

BACKGROUND: This 5-year cohort study investigated gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) using new diagnostic criteria and predictive factors for maternal and fetal outcomes. METHODS: From March 2001 to February 2006, 8557 pregnant women underwent a 50-g glucose challenge test (GCT) at 24 to 28 weeks of gestation. A diagnosis of GDM was based on a a one-hour plasma glucose level >/= 140 mg/dl on the 50 g GCT, followed by at lease two abnormal values on a 100-g oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT), according to the Carpenter and Coustan modification of the National Diabetes Data Group (NDDG) criteria. Maternal and fetal outcomes were compared with women with normal glucose tolerance (NGT). RESULTS: The incidence of GDM was 7.4%. After excluding women with twin pregnancies, 617 women with GDM and 1250 women with NGT were enrolled for comparison. Older age (33.7 +/- 4.1 vs. 32.2 +/- 4.1, p < 0.001), lower weight gain during pregnancy (13.2 +/- 4.4 vs. 14.6 +/- 4.0 kg, p < 0.001), and higher rates of caesarean section (43.8% vs. 32.7%, p < 0.001) occurred in women with GDM compared to those in the NGT group. The rates of macrosomia and neonatal death were higher in the GDM group than the NGT group (7.0% vs. 1.9%, p < 0.001 and 0.6% vs. 0.0%, p = 0.005 respectively). The fasting glucose on the 100-g OGTT was positively correlated with birth weight in the GDM group (r = 0.117, 95% CI 0.038-0.194, p = 0.004). A value exceeding 90 mg/dl was 80% sensitive and 50% specific for macrosomia. CONCLUSIONS: The incidence of GDM in Taiwan is increasing more than before based on current diagnostic criteria. The fasting glucose on the 100-g OGTT correlates closely with birth weight and is also an independent risk factor for macrosomia. Focusing on women with fasting blood glucose concentrations > 90 mg/dL is anticipated to improve outcomes effectively.

An appropriate indicator for diagnosing gestational diabetes.

BACKGROUND: This study was intended to simplify the diagnostic procedure for gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) through using a single plasma glucose level, after a 100 g oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT), as the most appropriate indicator for diagnosing GDM in pregnant women with a positive 50 g, 1-hour oral glucose challenge test (GCT) in Northern Taiwan. METHODS: A total of 973 native Taipei metropolitan pregnant women with a positive GCT, who underwent a 100 g, 3-hour OGTT were retrospectively surveyed. GDM was defined according to the standards of National Diabetes Data Group. Plasma glucose levels, obtained 1 hour following a GCT and at multiple timing following a 100 g oral glucose load, were used to plot receiver operative characteristic curves to determine the most appropriate indicator for diagnosing GDM. RESULTS: In the 973 pregnant women with a positive GCT, a 2-hour plasma glucose level above 165 mg/dl revealed a sensitivity and specificity of 91.2% and 90.3%, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: To simplify the diagnostic procedure for GDM, we suggest that a 2-hour plasma glucose level above 165 mg/dl after a 100 g OGTT might be an appropriate indicator for diagnosing GDM in women with a positive GCT.

The postpartum metabolic outcome of women with previous gestational diabetes mellitus.

BACKGROUND: This study investigated postpartum metabolic abnormality in women with previous gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) and predictive factors for postpartum glucose intolerance. METHODS: From March 2001 to February 2003, 127 prior-GDM women underwent a 75g oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) and metabolic assessment at least six weeks after delivery. To identify the predictors, clinical variables obtained at the time of GDM were compared. RESULTS: The cumulative incidence rates of diabetes mellitus (DM) and abnormal glucose tolerance (AGT) i.e. impaired fasting glucose or impaired glucose tolerance, in women with previous GDM were 13.4% and 29.1%, respectively. Postpartum body mass index (BMI), total cholesterol, HDL cholesterol, triglycerides, blood pressure, waist-to-hip ratio and fasting C-peptide were not significantly different among DM, AGT and normal glucose tolerance (NGT) women. However, the C-peptide/glucose score was lower in DM than in AGT and NGT women (p < 0.01). DM or AGT women had higher prepregnancy BMI and fasting glucose level for 100g OGTT than NGT women (p < 0.05) at the time of GDM. The fasting glucose value was an independent risk factor. The cutoff point of three abnormal values in 100g OGTT provided 86% sensitivity and 43% specificity for the prediction of postpartum DM or AGT. CONCLUSIONS: High prepregnancy BMI and increased glycemic deterioration at the time of GDM are found in women developing postpartum DM and AGT. The fasting glucose value for 100g OGTT is an independent risk factor and more than three abnormal glucose values offers good diagnostic efficacy in predicting postpartum glucose intolerance.

Significance of postoperative serum thyroglobulin levels in patients with papillary and follicular thyroid carcinomas.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Although there are many factors that affect postoperative serum levels of thyroglobulin (Tg), such levels have been previously used to detect recurrence of papillary and follicular thyroid carcinomas. This study was conducted to elucidate the significance of postoperative levels of Tg in patients with clinical presentations of papillary thyroid carcinoma, follicular thyroid carcinomas, or both. METHODS: To collect data pertaining to patients with thyroid cancer who were treated in Chang Gung Medical Center in Linkou, Taiwan, records relating to a total of 847 patients with pathologically verified papillary or follicular thyroid cancer, all of whom received total thyroidectomy and thyroid remnant ablation with radioactive iodide ((131)I), were studied. To evaluate the clinical significance of postoperative levels of Tg, the patients were categorized into three groups based on postoperative Tg level. Group A was classified as those demonstrating a 1-month postoperative Tg levels less than 1 ng/ml. Group B patients were classified as those displaying a 1-month postoperative Tg levels greater than or equal to 1 ng/ml, but less than 10 ng/ml. Group C patients were classified as those exhibiting a 1-month postoperative Tg levels great than or equal to 10 ng/ml. RESULTS: Of the patients in group A, none presented with distant metastases at the time of diagnosis or during the follow-up period. In group B, 15 patients (3.5%) died of thyroid cancer. In this group, tumor size was an important factor in cancer-related mortality, diagnostic clinical class, and follow-up status. Of the 491 patients in group C, 49 (10.0%) patients died of thyroid cancer. Among the patients in group C, age, histopathologic type, stage of diagnosis, and follow-up Tg values were important factors. Among groups A, B, and C, there were 161 (95.8%), 253 (76.4%), and 129 (37.1%) patients, respectively, with disease-free status at the end of 1998. CONCLUSIONS: Postoperative serum Tg levels can be used as a prognostic indicator in patients with papillary and follicular thyroid cancer. For patients with Tg levels greater than or equal to 10 ng/ml, Tg levels are a useful marker to predict prognosis.