Background: Tri-iodothyronine (T3) has been shown to be a hepatic mitogen. We investigated whether exogenous application of T3 improves liver regeneration after 70% partial hepatectomy (PH) and confers a survival advantage after 90% subtotal hepatectomy (SH) in rats and whether this is associated with the stimulation of angiogenesis. Methods: Rats were subjected to PH or SH 10 days after injection of a single dose of T3. Liver body weight ratio (LBR), hepatic proliferation (Ki-67), biochemical markers as well as vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) expression were assessed by immunohistochemistry. Gene expression of pathogenic relevant genes was determined by customized cDNA arrays and quantitative RT-PCR. Results: T3-treated rats showed an increased LBR and Ki-67 index after PH and SH, which reached statistical significance compared to placebo-treated rats (p < 0.05). On the transcriptional level, T3-treated rats had an increased expression of VEGF as demonstrated by immunohistochemistry, which was associated with a higher expression of its receptor Flt-1. Conclusions: Exogenous administration of T3 ameliorates liver regeneration after 70% PH and 90% SH, possibly due to stimulation of angiogenesis. Therefore, its clinical use might be of interest due to its excellent general practicability.

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Studies have reported conflicting results of the association of incretin-based treatment with the risk of diabetic retinopathy (DR), while the risk of DR in people treated with different antidiabetic drugs (ADD) in the context of glycaemic control in real-world settings is limited. This study aimed to evaluate (1) the risk of developing DR in metformin-treated patients with type 2 diabetes (T2DM) who initiated secondline ADD and (2) if glycaemic control over one-year post-therapy initiation is associated with DR risk during follow-up . From US Electronic Medical Records (EMR), those who received second line DPP-4 inhibitor (DPP-4i), GLP-1 receptor agonist (GLP-1RA), sulfonylurea, thiazolidinedione, or insulin for ≥3 months post-2004 were analysed. Based on 237,133 people with an average of 3.2 years follow-up, compared to people who initiated second-line with sulfonylurea, those with DPP-4i/GLP1RA/thiazolidinedione had 30%/31%/15% significantly lower adjusted risk of developing DR; insulin users had 84% increased risk (all p< 0.01), with significantly better sustainable HbA1c control over one year in incretin groups. This population representative EMR based study suggests that DR risk is not higher in people treated with incretins, versus other ADD, with the benefit of better glycaemic control.

S Heart, Lung and CirculationAbstracts S53 2011;20S:S1-S155 CSANZ Abstracts 2011 microvascular disease (MVD) is limited. We tested the association between HDL-C and MVD using prospective data from a large clinical trial of type 2 diabetics. Methods: 11,126 type 2 diabetics with ≥1 vascular risk factor were followed an average of 4.8 years. Cox proportional hazard models, adjusted for a wide range of covariates, were used to assess baseline HDL-C and development of new/worsening MVD; defined prospectively as a composite of total renal events (new/worsening albuminuria, doubling of creatinine ≥200 mol/L, need for dialysis or death due to renal disease) and total eye events (new proliferative retinopathy, macular oedema, need for photocoagulation-therapy or diabetes-related blindness).Results: During follow-up, 32% of patients developed new or worsening MVD (28% renal and 6% retinal events). In patients who developed MVD compared to those who did not, mean baseline HDL-C was slightly lower (1.25 ± 0.35 mmol/L versus 1.26 ± 0.35 mmol/L, p = 0.05). For each 0.4 mmol/L (1 SD) higher baseline HDL-C there was a significant 5% decrease in MVD (adjusted HR = 0.95, 95%CI 0.91-0.99, p = 0.02), primarily driven by a 6% decrease in the risk of renal events (adjusted HR = 0.94, 95%CI 0.90-0.99, p = 0.01). There was no such association between baseline HDL-C and retinal events (adjusted HR = 1.02, 95%CI 0.92-1.12, p = 0.7).Conclusions: In patients with type 2 diabetes HDL-C level is an independent risk factor for the development of renal events, but not retinal events.Background: Use of HMG CoA reductase inhibitors (statins) is a key element in the reduction of cardiovascular diseases (CVD). However, statin intolerance can be a limiting factor in control of lipid profile and CVD risk. Relatively little literature exists on management of patients with statin intolerance.