Impact of SGLT2 inhibitors on the mechanisms of myocardial dysfunction in type 2 diabetes: A prospective non-randomized observational study in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus without overt heart disease.

AIMS: This prospective observational study evaluated the possible mechanisms of action of SGLT2 inhibitors (SGLT2i) in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) without overt heart disease. METHODS: The study was designed to verify whether SGLT2i impact biomarkers of: myocardial stress-NT-proBNP, inflammation-high sensitivity C-reactive protein, oxidative stress -myeloperoxidase, functional and structural echocardiographic parameters, in patients with T2DM on metformin (heart failure stages A and B) who needed treatment intensification with a second antidiabetic agent. The patients were divided in two groups - the ones planned to receive SGLT2i or DPP-4 inhibitor (except saxagliptin). At baseline, and after six months of therapy, 64 patients underwent blood analysis, physical and echocardiography examination. RESULTS: There were no significant differences between the two groups in terms of biomarkers of myocyte and oxidative stress, inflammation and blood pressure. Body mass index, triglycerides, aspartate aminotransferase, uric acid, E/E', deceleration time and systolic pressure in the pulmonary artery significantly decreased, while stroke volume, indexed stroke volume, high-density lipoprotein, hematocrit and hemoglobin significantly increased in the group on SGLT2i. CONCLUSIONS: According to the results, SGLT2i mechanisms of action comprise rapid changes in body composition and metabolic parameters, reduced cardiac load and improvement in diastolic and systolic parameters.

Investigating the role of obstructive pulmonary diseases and eosinophil count at admission on all-cause mortality in SARS-CoV-2 patients : A single center registry-based retrospective cohort study.

INTRODUCTION: The impact of asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) in the setting of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV­2) infection is not clearly defined. Blood eosinophil count is a standard diagnostic test which, according to the previously published literature, might have a potential prognostic role on mortality in patients with SARS-CoV­2 infection. AIM: To investigate the potential prognostic value of peripheral blood eosinophil count on all-cause mortality of patients hospitalized with SARS-CoV­2 infection, as well as to assess the impact of asthma or COPD premorbidity on all-cause mortality. MATERIAL AND METHODS: We conducted a retrospective registry-based cohort study. Survival analysis was performed by employing the Cox proportional hazards regression model at 30 days of follow-up. Prognostic value of eosinophil count on all-cause mortality was assessed using receiver-operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis. RESULTS: A total of 5653 participants were included in the study. Our model did not reveal that pre-existing asthma or COPD is a statistically significant covariate for all-cause mortality but, indicated that higher eosinophil count at admission might have a protective effect (hazard ratio, HR 0.13 (95% confidence interval, CI 0.06-0.27), p = 0.0001). ROC curve analysis indicates cut-off value of 20 cells/mm3 (81% specificity; 30.9% sensitivity). CONCLUSION: Our results indicate that eosinophil count at hospital admission might have a potential prognostic role for all-cause mortality at 30 days of follow-up; however this was not demonstrated for pre-existing obstructive lung diseases.

Validation of the fractional exhaled breath temperature measurement: reference values.

Exhaled breath temperature (EBT) is a known biomarker of inflammation and airways blood flow. As opposed to previous studies, we were able to measure temperature of separate fractions of exhaled breath (fEBT) (those from the peripheral and central airways). The aim was to validate the fEBT measurement method to determine the reference values and the influence of endogenous and exogenous factors on fEBT in healthy subjects. This cross-sectional study included 55 healthy adults in whom fEBT was repeatedly measured, two days in a row, using a FractAir®device. Also, basal metabolic rate, level of physical activity, distance from the main road, outdoor and ambient temperature, air pressure and humidity, haematology and inflammation markers, lung function, cumulative EBT and body temperature at characteristic points on the body were measured. The results showed that fEBT from central airways was lower compared to fEBT from the periphery and that fEBTs were not related to body temperature (p> 0.05 for all). We also showed repeatability of fEBT measurements for two consecutive days. All EBT fractions correlated significantly with ambient temperature (<0.01). No associations of fEBT with other personal and external factors were found using multivariate analysis. At room temperature of 22 °C, the physiological temperature values of the first fraction were 23.481 ± 3.150 °C, the second fraction 26.114 ± 4.024 °C and the third fraction 28.216 ± 3.321 °C. The proposed reference values represent the first part of validation of fEBT as the method for the use in clinical practice.