Preventing severe hypoglycemia in adults with type 2 diabetes (PHT2): Design, delivery and evaluation framework for a randomized controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: Severe hypoglycemia is a common and feared complication of medications used to lower blood glucose levels in individuals with diabetes. Psychoeducational interventions can prevent severe hypoglycemia in individuals with type 1 diabetes (T1D). We aim to determine the effectiveness of this approach among adults with type 2 diabetes (T2D) at elevated risk for severe hypoglycemia. METHODS: Preventing Hypoglycemia in Type 2 diabetes (PHT2) is a two-arm, parallel, randomized controlled trial. Participants are eligible if they are adults with T2D receiving care at an integrated group practice in Washington state and have experienced one or more episodes of severe hypoglycemia in the prior 12 months or have impaired awareness of hypoglycemia (Gold score ≥ 4). Participants are randomized to proactive nurse care management with or without my hypo compass, an evidence-based, psychoeducational intervention combining group and individual self-management training. For this study, my hypo compass was adapted to be suitable for adults with T2D and from an in-person to a virtual intervention over videoconference and telephone. The primary outcome is any self-reported severe hypoglycemia in the 12 months following the start of the intervention. Secondary outcomes include biochemical measures of hypoglycemia, self-reported hypoglycemia awareness, fear of hypoglycemia, and emergency department visits and hospitalizations for severe hypoglycemia. The study includes a process evaluation to assess implementation fidelity and clarify the causal pathway. CONCLUSION: The PHT2 trial will compare the effectiveness of two approaches for reducing severe hypoglycemia in adults with T2D. TRIAL REGISTRATION: clinicaltrials.gov, # NCT04863872.

Prolactin-Secreting Pituitary Carcinoma with Dural Metastasis: Diagnosis, Treatment, and Future Directions.

BACKGROUND: Pituitary carcinoma is extremely rare, representing approximately 0.2% of all surgically resected pituitary neoplasms. It is thought to arise from World Health Organization grade II (atypical) pituitary adenomas. Pituitary carcinoma is defined by metastasis; it is otherwise indistinguishable from atypical pituitary adenomas, which can be considered carcinoma in situ. Pituitary carcinoma is difficult to diagnose and treat and is associated with poor long-term outcomes. CASE DESCRIPTION: A 75-year-old man presented with a highly aggressive and treatment-refractory atypical prolactinoma that transformed into a prolactin carcinoma. Although the patient experienced early hormonal and surgical remission and local tumor control after tumor resection and fractionated radiation, isolated dural-based metastases were subsequently noted following gradual elevation in serum prolactin despite ongoing dopamine agonist therapy. En bloc resection was performed of the pathology-confirmed, prolactin-staining dural metastases. At 1-year follow-up, there was no further evidence of metastatic disease, and normalization of serum prolactin was observed. CONCLUSIONS: Long-term surveillance using serum prolactin as a tumor biomarker and correlation to imaging studies were critical for the diagnosis and interval screening for recurrence. This technique can be applied to all secretory atypical pituitary adenomas to improve early detection of potential metastasis. Further research, especially of genetic and epigenetic characteristics, could readily improve the diagnosis and treatment of pituitary carcinomas.

Creating a clinical screening questionnaire for eating behaviors associated with overweight and obesity.

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to associate questions about specific eating behaviors with weight. Our ultimate goal was to create a clinical screening questionnaire for eating behaviors associated with overweight and obesity. METHODS: We developed a questionnaire based on eating behaviors associated with overweight and obesity. After pilot testing and revision, we administered the questionnaire to patients in 2 primary care clinics from the Utah Health Research Network. We analyzed the relationship between measured body mass index, demographic factors, and responses to screening questions about eating behaviors and physical activity. RESULTS: We collected 261 completed questionnaires with weight and height measurements. With regression analysis, questions about consumption of beverages with sugar added, fruits and vegetables, and full portions served at restaurants as well as questions about physical activity were associated with body mass index and being overweight and/or obese. CONCLUSIONS: We suggest that future research about eating behaviors focus on the questions regarding typical consumption of beverages with sugar added, fruits and vegetables, and full portions served at restaurants to further develop a tool for clinical screening.