Efficacy of lower doses of pioglitazone after stroke or transient ischaemic attack in patients with insulin resistance

Synergistic benefit of thiazolidinedione and sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitor for metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease in type 2 diabetes: a 24-week, open-label, randomized controlled trial

BACKGROUND

The close interplay between metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) and type 2 diabetes supports the need to identify beneficial combination therapies of antidiabetic medications targeted for the treatment of MASLD. This study aimed to investigate the complementary effects of combination therapy with pioglitazone (PIO) and empagliflozin (EMPA) on MASLD in individuals with type 2 diabetes.

METHODS

In a randomized, open-label trial, 50 participants with type 2 diabetes and MASLD were assigned 1:1:1 to receive PIO 15 mg, EMPA 10 mg, or a combination (PIO 15 mg plus EMPA 10 mg) daily for 24 weeks. Liver fat fraction and stiffness were evaluated using magnetic resonance imaging-proton density fat fraction (MRI-PDFF) and magnetic resonance elastography (MRE), respectively.

RESULTS

Combination therapy resulted in the largest reduction in liver fat and stiffness among treatment groups. Participants experiencing a relative reduction ≥ 30% or an absolute reduction ≥ 5% in liver fat were the most prevalent in the combination group (100.0% vs. 57.1% in PIO and 87.5% in EMPA, p = 0.010). In addition, the combination group showed the highest proportion of individuals with a relative reduction ≥ 30% in liver fat and ≥ 20% in liver stiffness than the monotherapy groups (50.0% vs. 21.4% in PIO and 6.3% in EMPA, p = 0.029). Combination therapy did not induce the changes in subcutaneous fat deposition observed in the monotherapy groups, but it did show the most substantial reduction in visceral fat, concurrently showing the largest increase in adiponectin level across the three groups (p = 0.036).

CONCLUSIONS

Combination therapy of PIO with EMPA showed synergistic benefits for MASLD in individuals with type 2 diabetes, compensating for the inadequate or unfavorable effects of monotherapies; ClincialTrials.gov number, NCT03646292.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

The trial was registered at ClinicalTrials.gov (registration number: NCT03646292).

The Many Facets of PPAR-γ Agonism in Obesity and Associated Comorbidities: Benefits, Risks, Challenges, and Future Directions

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

Obesity is strongly associated with cardiometabolic disorders and certain malignancies, emphasizing the key role of adipose tissue in human health. While incretin mimetics have shown effectiveness in glycemic control and weight loss, a holistic strategy for combating obesity and associated comorbidities remains elusive. This review explores peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPAR-γ) agonism as a potential therapeutic approach, highlighting its benefits, addressing its limitations, and outlining future directions for developing more effective treatment strategies.

RECENT FINDINGS

Both natural and synthetic PPAR-γ agonists hold significant therapeutic potential as insulin sensitizers, while also demonstrating anti-inflammatory properties and playing a critical role in regulating lipid metabolism. However, the clinical use of natural agonists is limited by poor bioavailability, while synthetic agents like thiazolidinediones are associated with adverse effects, including fluid retention, weight gain, and bone loss. Current research is focused on developing modified, tissue-specific PPAR-γ agonists, as well as dual PPAR-α/PPAR-γ agonists, with improved safety profiles to mitigate these side effects. Nanotechnology-based drug delivery systems also hold promise for enhancing bioavailability and therapeutic efficacy. Furthermore, the transformative potential of machine learning and artificial intelligence offers opportunities to accelerate advancements in this field. PPAR-γ agonists exhibit significant potential in addressing metabolic syndrome, cardiovascular disease, and cancer. However, their clinical use is restricted by safety concerns and suboptimal pharmacokinetics. Innovations in modified PPAR-γ agonists, nanotechnology-based delivery systems, and computational tools hold promise for creating safer and more effective therapeutic options for obesity and its associated disorders.

Cardiovascular Outcomes With Antidiabetic Drugs in People With Type 2 Diabetes and a Prior Stroke

OBJECTIVE

To assess the comparative effectiveness of sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitors (SGLT2i), thiazolidinediones (TZD), and dipeptidyl peptidase-4 inhibitors (DPP-4i) for the cardiorenal outcomes and mortality in individuals with type 2 diabetes and a prior stroke.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Using the Korean National Health Insurance Service database from 2014 to 2021, a new-user cohort was established through propensity score matching for SGLT2i, TZD, and DPP-4i. The primary outcomes were major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE), comprising myocardial infarction, ischemic stroke, and cardiovascular death. Secondary outcomes included individual components of MACE, hospitalization for heart failure, a composite kidney outcome, and all-cause mortality. Weighted Cox proportional hazard models were used to calculate HRs and 95% CIs.

RESULTS

Among 9733 participants (mean age, 67.2±3.2 years; 46.8% women), the incidence rate of MACE was 220, 202, and 251 per 1000 person-years for the SGLT2i, TZD, and DPP-4i groups. SGLT2i (HR, 0.86; 95% CI, 0.77 to 0.97; P=.01) and TZD (HR, 0.80; 95% CI, 0.70 to 0.90; P<.001) showed a lower risk of MACE compared to DPP-4i. Importantly, no significant difference in MACE was observed between SGLT2i and TZD. TZD was associated with a reduced risk of ischemic stroke, cardiovascular death, and the composite kidney outcome, whereas SGLT2i reduced risks of hospitalization for heart failure, the composite kidney outcome, and all-cause mortality compared to DPP-4i.

CONCLUSION

SGLT2i and TZD use in people with type 2 diabetes and a prior stroke was associated with reduced risks of MACE, the composite kidney outcome, and mortality compared with DPP-4i, with variations in effects on individual outcomes.

American Diabetes Association Professional Practice Committee, ElSayed NA, McCoy RG, Aleppo G, Balapattabi K, Beverly EA, Briggs Early K, Bruemmer D, Ebekozien O, Echouffo-Tcheugui JB, Ekhlaspour L, Gaglia JL, Garg R, Khunti K, Lal R, Lingvay I, Matfin G, Pandya N, Pekas EJ, Pilla SJ, Polsky S, Segal AR, Seley JJ, Stanton RC, Bannuru RR. 3. Prevention or Delay of Diabetes and Associated Comorbidities: Standards of Care in Diabetes-2025

The American Diabetes Association (ADA) "Standards of Care in Diabetes" includes the ADA's current clinical practice recommendations and is intended to provide the components of diabetes care, general treatment goals and guidelines, and tools to evaluate quality of care. Members of the ADA Professional Practice Committee, an interprofessional expert committee, are responsible for updating the Standards of Care annually, or more frequently as warranted. For a detailed description of ADA standards, statements, and reports, as well as the evidence-grading system for ADA's clinical practice recommendations and a full list of Professional Practice Committee members, please refer to Introduction and Methodology. Readers who wish to comment on the Standards of Care are invited to do so at professional.diabetes.org/SOC.

A Green Approach: Optimization of the UPLC Method Using DoE Software for Concurrent Quantification of Pioglitazone and Dapagliflozin in a SNEDDS Formulation for the Treatment of Diabetes

Clinical trials revealed that pioglitazone (PGZ) and dapagliflozin (DGZ) not only maintain normal blood glucose levels but also reduce complications of diabetes mellitus. To meet the demand for simultaneous measurement of these drugs in fixed combinations, an optimized and green UPLC method is required. The present study utilized Design of Experiments (DoE) software to optimize analytical parameters for simultaneous drug analysis. The method was validated for its linearity, accuracy, and precision. Furthermore, the drug content was estimated in different pharmaceutical dosage forms. Finally, Analytical Greenness (AGREE) software was utilized to assess the environmental sustainability of the optimized UPLC method. Drugs were successfully separated using optimized conditions on the C18 Acquity BEH column (2.1 mm × 100 mm, 1.7 μm) at a temperature of 45 °C. The mobile phase consisted of ethanol and 9 mM ammonium formate buffer (43.7:56.3), with elution carried out at a flow rate of 0.246 mL/min. The optimized method showed excellent linearity (R 2 > 0.999), accuracy (92.45-109.25%), and good precision (RSD < 6.27%) for both drugs. In addition, the optimized UPLC method was able to determine the drug content within the marketed pharmaceutical dosage form accurately. The developed UPLC method also prioritized eco-friendliness by using green solvents to minimize the negative impact on the environment. The green UPLC method provides a reliable and accurate approach to estimate PGZ and DGZ in a fixed diabetes treatment combination. It promotes sustainable lab practices and paves the way for analytical methods for new dose combinations.

Cost-Utility Analysis of Low-Dose Pioglitazone in a Population With Prediabetes and a History of Stroke or Transient Ischemic Attack

BACKGROUND

Pioglitazone significantly reduces the risk of stroke in people with diabetes, and in those with prediabetes, it markedly reduces the risk of stroke/myocardial infarction and new-onset diabetes. Low-dose pioglitazone provides most of the clinical benefits of high-dose pioglitazone, with fewer adverse effects. We report an economic evaluation of the cost-effectiveness of low-dose pioglitazone versus placebo from a Canadian public payer perspective in 2023 Canadian dollars.

METHODS AND RESULTS

A Markov model was developed at a lifetime horizon with an annual cycle length and 5 health states (event-free, myocardial infarction, stroke, new-onset diabetes, and death). Transition probabilities were extracted from the IRIS (Insulin Resistance Intervention in Stroke) trial. Health state costs and utilities were based on public sources. Annual discount rates of 1.5% were applied in the reference-case analysis. Probabilistic analyses were conducted to deal with parameter uncertainty through 5000 simulations. The costs were estimated as $24 887 (interquartile range [IQR], $14 632-$41507) for low-dose pioglitazone and $57 301 (IQR, $48 730-$67368) for placebo, resulting in a cost saving of -$30 287 (IQR, -$43 374 to -$14 587) in favor of low-dose pioglitazone. Quality-adjusted life years were estimated as 25.99 (IQR, 24.56-26.81) for the low-dose pioglitazone and 19.44 (IQR, 18.68-20.13) for placebo, resulting in a difference of 6.37 (IQR, 5.07-7.36) in favor of low-dose pioglitazone. Consistent findings were observed from scenario analyses and 1-way probability sensitivity analyses.

CONCLUSIONS

Holding across a wide range of values in modeling parameters, low-dose pioglitazone is found as the dominant strategy versus a placebo.

Medicinal Perspective of 2,4-Thiazolidinediones Derivatives: An Insight into Recent Advancements

2,4-Thiazolidinedione derivatives represent nitrogen-containing heterocyclic compounds utilized in type 2 diabetes mellitus management. Recent advances in medicinal chemistry have unveiled diverse therapeutic potentials and structural modifications of these derivatives. This review delves into novel TZD derivatives, encompassing their synthesis, structure-activity relationships, and pharmacokinetic profiles. Various therapeutic potentials of TZDs are explored, including anticancer, antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, anticonvulsant, antihyperlipidemic, anticorrosive, and antitubercular activities. Additionally, it addresses mitigating side effects associated with marketed TZD derivatives such as weight gain, oedema, fractures, and congestive heart failure in type 2 diabetes mellitus management. The review elaborates on in vivo, in vitro, and ex vivo studies supporting different biological activities, alongside predicting ADME and drug-likeness properties of TZDs. Computational studies are also integrated to elucidate binding modes and affinities of novel TZD derivatives. Furthermore, a plethora of novel TZD derivatives with varied and enhanced therapeutic potentials are presented, warranting further evaluation of their biological activities.

American Diabetes Association Professional Practice Committee, ElSayed NA, Aleppo G, Bannuru RR, Bruemmer D, Collins BS, Ekhlaspour L, Gaglia JL, Hilliard ME, Johnson EL, Khunti K, Lingvay I, Matfin G, McCoy RG, Perry ML, Pilla SJ, Polsky S, Prahalad P, Pratley RE, Segal AR, Seley JJ, Selvin E, Stanton RC, Gabbay RA. 3. Prevention or Delay of Diabetes and Associated Comorbidities: Standards of Care in Diabetes-2024

The American Diabetes Association (ADA) "Standards of Care in Diabetes" includes the ADA's current clinical practice recommendations and is intended to provide the components of diabetes care, general treatment goals and guidelines, and tools to evaluate quality of care. Members of the ADA Professional Practice Committee, an interprofessional expert committee, are responsible for updating the Standards of Care annually, or more frequently as warranted. For a detailed description of ADA standards, statements, and reports, as well as the evidence-grading system for ADA's clinical practice recommendations and a full list of Professional Practice Committee members, please refer to Introduction and Methodology. Readers who wish to comment on the Standards of Care are invited to do so at professional.diabetes.org/SOC.

In praise of pioglitazone: An economically efficacious therapy for type 2 diabetes and other manifestations of the metabolic syndrome

Pioglitazone improves glycaemic control, not only by lowering insulin resistance, but also by improving beta cell function. Because of the improved beta cell function the glycaemic control that occurs with pioglitazone is prolonged. Pioglitazone has positive effects not only on cardiac risk factors and surrogate measures of cardiovascular disease, it also lowers the incidence of cardiac events in patients with diabetes. The recurrence of transient ischaemic attack and ischaemic stroke is also reduced in non-diabetic, insulin-resistant subjects. Utilized at preclinical stages (but not later) of heart failure, pioglitazone improves diastolic function and avoids progression to heart failure. Pioglitazone, through suppression of atrial remodelling, also decreases the incidence of atrial fibrillation. The manifestations of diseases associated with insulin resistance (non-alcoholic steatohepatitis and polycystic ovary disease) are also improved with pioglitazone. Pioglitazone may possibly improve psoriasis and other dermopathies. Pioglitazone is therefore an inexpensive and efficacious drug for the insulin-resistant subject with diabetes that is underutilized because of biases that have evolved from the toxicities of other thiazolidinediones.

Anti-Diabetic Activity of Glycyrrhetinic Acid Derivatives FC-114 and FC-122: Scale-Up, In Silico, In Vitro, and In Vivo Studies

Type 2 diabetes (T2D) is one of the most common diseases and the 8th leading cause of death worldwide. Individuals with T2D are at risk for several health complications that reduce their life expectancy and quality of life. Although several drugs for treating T2D are currently available, many of them have reported side effects ranging from mild to severe. In this work, we present the synthesis in a gram-scale as well as the in silico and in vitro activity of two semisynthetic glycyrrhetinic acid (GA) derivatives (namely FC-114 and FC-122) against Protein Tyrosine Phosphatase 1B (PTP1B) and α-glucosidase enzymes. Furthermore, the in vitro cytotoxicity assay on Human Foreskin fibroblast and the in vivo acute oral toxicity was also conducted. The anti-diabetic activity was determined in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats after oral administration with FC-114 or FC-122. Results showed that both GA derivatives have potent PTP1B inhibitory activity being FC-122, a dual PTP1B/α-glucosidase inhibitor that could increase insulin sensitivity and reduce intestinal glucose absorption. Molecular docking, molecular dynamics, and enzymatic kinetics studies revealed the inhibition mechanism of FC-122 against α-glucosidase. Both GA derivatives were safe and showed better anti-diabetic activity in vivo than the reference drug acarbose. Moreover, FC-114 improves insulin levels while decreasing LDL and total cholesterol levels without decreasing HDL cholesterol.

Lobeglitazone, a novel thiazolidinedione, for secondary prevention in patients with ischemic stroke: a nationwide nested case-control study

INTRODUCTION

Ischemic stroke patients with diabetes are at high risk for recurrent stroke and cardiovascular complications. Pioglitazone, a type of thiazolidinedione, has been shown to reduce cardiovascular complications in patients with ischemic stroke and type 2 diabetes (T2D) or insulin resistance. Lobeglitazone is a novel thiazolidinedione agent that improves insulin resistance and has similar glycemic efficacy to pioglitazone. Using population-based health claims data, we evaluated whether lobeglitazone has secondary cardiovascular preventive effects in patients with ischemic stroke and T2D.

METHODS

This study has a nested case-control design. From nationwide health claims data in Korea, we identified patients with T2D admitted for acute ischemic stroke in 2014-2018. Cases were defined who suffered the primary outcome (a composite of recurrent stroke, myocardial infarction, and all-cause death) before December 2020. Three controls were selected by incidence density sampling for each case from those who were at risk at the time of their case occurrence with exact matching on sex, age, the presence of comorbidities, and medications. As a safety outcome, we also evaluated the risk of heart failure (HF) according to the use of lobeglitazone.

RESULTS

From the cohort of 70,897 T2D patients with acute ischemic stroke, 20,869 cases and 62,607 controls were selected. In the multivariable conditional logistic regression, treatment with lobeglitazone (adjusted OR 0.74; 95% CI 0.61-0.90; p = 0.002) and pioglitazone (adjusted OR 0.71; 95% CI 0.64-0.78; p < 0.001) were significantly associated with a lower risk for the primary outcome. In a safety outcome analysis for HF, treatment with lobeglitazone did not increase the risk of HF (adjusted OR 0.90; 95% CI 0.66-1.22; p = 0.492).

CONCLUSIONS

In T2D patients with ischemic stroke, lobeglitazone reduced the risk of cardiovascular complications similar to that of pioglitazone without an increased risk of HF. There is a need for further studies on the cardioprotective role of lobeglitazone, a novel thiazolidinedione.

Clinical pharmacology of antidiabetic drugs: What can be expected of their use?

The pharmacotherapy of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) has markedly evolved in the last two decades. Classical antidiabetic agents (sulphonylureas, metformin, insulin) are now in competition with new glucose-lowering medications. Alpha-glucosidase inhibitors and thiazolidinediones (glitazones) were not able to replace older agents, because of insufficient efficacy and/or poor tolerability/safety. In contrast, incretin-based therapies, both dipeptidyl peptidase-4 inhibitors (DPP-4is or gliptins, oral agents) and glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1RAs, subcutaneous injections) are a major breakthrough in the management of T2DM. Because they are not associated with hypoglycaemia and weight gain, DPP-4is tend to replace sulphonylureas as add-on to metformin while GLP-1RAs tend to replace basal insulin therapy after failure of oral therapies. Furthermore, placebo-controlled cardiovascular outcome trials demonstrated neutrality for DPP-4is, but cardiovascular protection for GLP-1RAs in patients with T2DM at high cardiovascular risk. More recently sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitors (SGLT2is or gliflozins, oral agents) also showed cardiovascular protection, especially a reduction in hospitalization for heart failure, as well as a renal protection in patients with and without T2DM, at high cardiovascular risk, with established heart failure and/or with chronic kidney disease. Thus, GLP-1RAs and SGLT2is are now considered as preferred drugs in T2DM patients with or at high risk of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease whereas SGLT2is are more specifically recommended in patients with or at risk of heart failure and renal (albuminuric) disease. The management of T2DM is moving from a glucocentric approach to a broader strategy focusing on all risk factors, including overweight/obesity, and to an organ-disease targeted personalized approach.

The Pre-Stroke Induction and Normalization of Insulin Resistance Respectively Worsens and Improves Functional Recovery

Type 2 diabetes (T2D) impairs post-stroke recovery, and the underlying mechanisms are unknown. Insulin resistance (IR), a T2D hallmark that is also closely linked to aging, has been associated with impaired post-stroke recovery. However, whether IR worsens stroke recovery is unknown. We addressed this question in mouse models where early IR, with or without hyperglycemia, was induced by chronic high-fat diet feeding or sucrose supplementation in the drinking water, respectively. Furthermore, we used 10-month-old mice, spontaneously developing IR but not hyperglycemia, where IR was normalized pharmacologically pre-stroke with Rosiglitazone. Stroke was induced by transient middle cerebral artery occlusion and recovery was assessed by sensorimotor tests. Neuronal survival, neuroinflammation and the density of striatal cholinergic interneurons were also assessed by immunohistochemistry/quantitative microscopy. Pre-stroke induction and normalization of IR, respectively, worsened and improved post-stroke neurological recovery. Moreover, our data indicate a potential association of this impaired recovery with exacerbated neuroinflammation and a decreased density of striatal cholinergic interneurons. The global diabetes epidemic and population aging are dramatically increasing the percentage of people in need of post-stroke treatment/care. Our results suggest that future clinical studies should target pre-stroke IR to reduce stroke sequelae in both diabetics and elderly people with prediabetes.

3. Prevention or Delay of Type 2 Diabetes and Associated Comorbidities: Standards of Care in Diabetes-2023

The American Diabetes Association (ADA) "Standards of Care in Diabetes" includes the ADA's current clinical practice recommendations and is intended to provide the components of diabetes care, general treatment goals and guidelines, and tools to evaluate quality of care. Members of the ADA Professional Practice Committee, a multidisciplinary expert committee, are responsible for updating the Standards of Care annually, or more frequently as warranted. For a detailed description of ADA standards, statements, and reports, as well as the evidence-grading system for ADA's clinical practice recommendations and a full list of Professional Practice Committee members, please refer to Introduction and Methodology. Readers who wish to comment on the Standards of Care are invited to do so at professional.diabetes.org/SOC.

Effect of pioglitazone on serum FGF23 levels among patients with diabetic kidney disease: a randomized controlled trial

AIM

Elevated fibroblast growth factor-23 (FGF23) is an established marker of cardiovascular disease among patients with type 2 diabetes (T2DM) and chronic kidney disease (CKD). Recently, circulating FGF23 positively correlated with insulin resistance level among patients with CKD. Pioglitazone improves insulin sensitivity and it may have potential for treating CKD-related FGF23 overactivity.

METHODS

A randomized, open-label, controlled trial was performed among patients with T2DM and CKD. Eligible participants were randomly assigned to either oral 15 mg/day of pioglitazone (N = 22) or control group (N = 24) for 16 weeks. Serum FGF23 and homeostatic Model Assessment of Insulin Resistance (HOMA-IR) were measured.

RESULTS

Forty-six patients completed the trial. After 16 weeks of treatment, significant decreases in serum intact FGF23 level (median change - 49.01 (IQR, - 103.51 to - 24.53) vs. 1.07 (IQR, - 22.4-39.53) pg/mL, P = 0.01) and HOMA-IR (mean change - 1.41 (95% CI, - 2.24 to - 0.57) vs. - 0.05 (95% CI, - 1.00-0.89), P = 0.031) were observed in the pioglitazone group compared with the control group. HemoglobinA1C also significantly decreased in the pioglitazone group compared with the control group. No difference was found in the changes of serum phosphorus, calcium and serum intact parathyroid hormone between the two groups. Changes of FGF23 were positively associated with changes of HOMA-IR (R = 0.47) and insulin levels (R = 0.47). No serious adverse event was reported during the study.

CONCLUSION

This study confirmed that pioglitazone effectively reduced serum FGF23 levels and related to improved insulin sensitivity among patients with T2DM and CKD.

CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION

TCTR20210316009.

American Association of Clinical Endocrinology Clinical Practice Guideline: Developing a Diabetes Mellitus Comprehensive Care Plan-2022 Update

OBJECTIVE

The objective of this clinical practice guideline is to provide updated and new evidence-based recommendations for the comprehensive care of persons with diabetes mellitus to clinicians, diabetes-care teams, other health care professionals and stakeholders, and individuals with diabetes and their caregivers.

METHODS

The American Association of Clinical Endocrinology selected a task force of medical experts and staff who updated and assessed clinical questions and recommendations from the prior 2015 version of this guideline and conducted literature searches for relevant scientific papers published from January 1, 2015, through May 15, 2022. Selected studies from results of literature searches composed the evidence base to update 2015 recommendations as well as to develop new recommendations based on review of clinical evidence, current practice, expertise, and consensus, according to established American Association of Clinical Endocrinology protocol for guideline development.

RESULTS

This guideline includes 170 updated and new evidence-based clinical practice recommendations for the comprehensive care of persons with diabetes. Recommendations are divided into four sections: (1) screening, diagnosis, glycemic targets, and glycemic monitoring; (2) comorbidities and complications, including obesity and management with lifestyle, nutrition, and bariatric surgery, hypertension, dyslipidemia, retinopathy, neuropathy, diabetic kidney disease, and cardiovascular disease; (3) management of prediabetes, type 2 diabetes with antihyperglycemic pharmacotherapy and glycemic targets, type 1 diabetes with insulin therapy, hypoglycemia, hospitalized persons, and women with diabetes in pregnancy; (4) education and new topics regarding diabetes and infertility, nutritional supplements, secondary diabetes, social determinants of health, and virtual care, as well as updated recommendations on cancer risk, nonpharmacologic components of pediatric care plans, depression, education and team approach, occupational risk, role of sleep medicine, and vaccinations in persons with diabetes.

CONCLUSIONS

This updated clinical practice guideline provides evidence-based recommendations to assist with person-centered, team-based clinical decision-making to improve the care of persons with diabetes mellitus.

Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease and osteoporosis: A potential association with therapeutic implications

Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and osteoporosis are two highly prevalent metabolic diseases. Increasing experimental evidence supports a pathophysiological link between NAFLD and osteoporosis. A key feature could be chronic, low-grade inflammation, which characterizes NAFLD and possibly affects bone metabolism. In this context, several factors, including but not limited to receptor activator of nuclear factor kappa-B ligand, osteoprotegerin, osteopontin and osteocalcin, may serve as mediators. In the clinical setting, most but not all epidemiological evidence indicates that NAFLD is associated with lower bone mineral density or osteoporosis in adults. Although an association between NAFLD and osteoporosis has not yet been established, and thus remains speculative, pharmacological considerations already exist. Some of the current and emerging pharmacological options for NAFLD have shown possible anti-osteoporotic properties (eg, vitamin E, obeticholic acid, semaglutide), while others (eg, pioglitazone, canagliflozin) have been associated with increased risk of fractures and may be avoided in patients with NAFLD and concomitant osteoporosis, especially those at high fracture risk. Conversely, some anti-osteoporotic medications (denosumab) might benefit NAFLD, while others (raloxifene) might adversely affect it and, consequently, may be avoided in patients with osteoporosis and NAFLD. If an association between NAFLD and osteoporosis is established, a medication that could target both diseases would be a great advancement. This review summarizes the main experimental and clinical evidence on the potential association between NAFLD and osteoporosis and focuses on treatment considerations derived from this potential association.

Impact of Molecular Symmetry/Asymmetry on Insulin-Sensitizing Treatments for Type 2 Diabetes

Although the advantages and disadvantages of asymmetrical thiazolidinediones as insulin-sensitizers have been well-studied, the relevance of symmetry and asymmetry for thiazolidinediones and biguanides has scarcely been explored. Regarding symmetrical molecules, only one thiazolidinedione and no biguanides have been evaluated and proposed as an antihyperglycemic agent for treating type 2 diabetes. Since molecular structure defines physicochemical, pharmacological, and toxicological properties, it is important to gain greater insights into poorly investigated patterns. For example, compounds with intrinsic antioxidant properties commonly have low toxicity. Additionally, the molecular symmetry and asymmetry of ligands are each associated with affinity for certain types of receptors. An advantageous response obtained in one therapeutic application may imply a poor or even adverse effect in another. Within the context of general patterns, each compound must be assessed individually. The current review aimed to summarize the available evidence for the advantages and disadvantages of utilizing symmetrical and asymmetrical thiazolidinediones and biguanides as insulin sensitizers in patients with type 2 diabetes. Other applications of these same compounds are also examined as well as the various uses of additional symmetrical molecules. More research is needed to exploit the potential of symmetrical molecules as insulin sensitizers.