No abstract

Aims/IntroductionStopping smoking deserves high priority in preventing complications of diabetes; however, only sparse data are available regarding the efficacy of pharmacotherapy in smokers with diabetes. We assessed the efficacy and safety of varenicline in smokers with diabetes who participated in 15 double‐blind, randomized, placebo‐controlled studies.Materials and MethodsThis retrospective pooled analysis included data from smokers of ≥10 cigarettes per day with diabetes. Participants received varenicline 1 mg b.i.d. or placebo for 12 weeks. We examined carbon monoxide‐confirmed continuous abstinence rates (CARs) for weeks 9–12, 9–24 and 9–52, and compared safety in participants with and without diabetes.ResultsOf 6,771 participants, 323 had diabetes (varenicline n = 162; placebo n = 161). Week 9–12 CAR was higher with varenicline than placebo (43.8% vs 24.8%; odds ratio 2.36, 95% CI 1.47–3.79), as was week 9–24 CAR (27.5% vs 14.4%; odds ratio 2.25, 95% CI 1.27–4.00). Week 9–52 CAR was 18.4% for varenicline and 10.1% for placebo (odds ratio 2.00, 95% CI 0.90–4.49). The most commonly‐reported adverse events in participants with diabetes for varenicline vs placebo were: nausea (27.2% vs 8.1%); headache (9.3% vs 9.9%); and insomnia (8.6% vs 5.6%), incidences that were similar in participants without diabetes (29.6% vs 9.7%; 13.4% vs 10.9%; and 11.4% vs 7.1%, respectively). Weight gain in quitters with diabetes (1.7 kg) was similar to that of those without diabetes (2.1 kg).ConclusionsVarenicline was an effective and well‐tolerated aid for smoking cessation in individuals with diabetes. Safety was comparable with participants without diabetes.

Extended abstract of a paper presented at Microscopy and Microanalysis 2008 in Albuquerque, New Mexico, USA, August 3 – August 7, 2008

Development has begun of a new experiment to measure the charged pion polarizability α π − β π . The charged pion polarizability ranks among the most important tests of low-energy QCD presently unresolved by experiment. Analogous to precision measurements of π • → γγ that test the intrinsic odd-parity (anomalous) sector of QCD, the pion polarizability tests the intrinsic evenparity sector of QCD. The measurement will be performed using the γγ → π + π − cross section accessed via the Primakoff mechanism on nuclear targets using the GlueX detector in Hall D at Jefferson Lab. The linearly polarized photon source in Hall-D will be utilized to separate the Primakoff cross-section from coherent ρ • production.

The availability of EXU may increase initiation of insulin, thereby contributing to improved overall glycaemic control in patients with Type 2 diabetes inadequately controlled on two or more oral glucose-lowering agents.