Weight loss within first 2 years of treating type 2 diabetes associated with remission

Weight loss within the first 2 years of treating type 2 diabetes associated with remission suggests a new
study published in the Diabetes, Obesity & Metabolism.

Researchers used the health examination database of the Korean National Health Insurance Service.
Patients diagnosed with type 2 diabetes mellitus from 2009 to 2012 were enrolled and followed to 2017.
The baseline body weight was measured at the health examination closest to the time the patient was
enrolled, and the change was calculated by examining the weight measured at the subsequent
examination within 2 years. Remission was defined as fasting blood glucose less than 126 mg/dl at two
or more consecutive health examinations after stopping medication.

In total, 114, 874 patients with new-onset type 2 diabetes mellitus were analysed. Of these, 23 156
(20.2%) lost more than 5% of their body weight, and 2429 (2.1%) achieved remission. The adjusted odds
ratio for remission in the weight loss group was 2.56 (95% confidence interval 2.35-2.79) compared with
the group with stable body weight. Sensitivity analysis according to the degree of weight change showed
that the greater weight loss, the higher the likelihood of remission. In the subgroup analysis, the effects
of weight loss on remission were significantly greater in subgroups of age <65 years, male sex and body
mass index >25.

Weight loss within the first 2 years of treating type 2 diabetes mellitus was associated with diabetes
remission. Physicians should pay more attention to weight management in new-onset type 2 diabetes
mellitus, particularly for young and obese individuals.

Reference: Kim, Jinyoung, et al. "Weight Change in Patients With New-onset Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus
and Its Association With Remission: Comprehensive Real-world Data." Diabetes, Obesity & Metabolism,
2023.
NEWS RELEASE 14-NOV-2023

Genetic testing could greatly benefit patients with depression, save health system millions

A special kind of genetic test that helps determine the best antidepressant for patients with moderate-
to-severe depression could generate substantive health system savings and greatly improve patient
outcomes, according to new research from the University of British Columbia.

The study, published today in CMAJ, shows that in B.C. alone, implementing pharmacogenomic testing
could save the provincial public health system an estimated $956 million over 20 years.

One in 10 Canadians will experience major depression at some point in their lives, making it one of the
largest public health burdens. While more than 35 antidepressant medications are available in Canada,
over half of patients don’t respond to the antidepressant they are initially prescribed and roughly 27 per
cent report adverse effects.

For the study, the researchers worked with patient partners, clinicians and health system and
government partners to develop a simulation model that mimics the experience of patients with major
depression, from diagnosis through to treatment, recurrence and recovery. By incorporating B.C. health
administrative data, clinical trial data and defined treatment strategies, the model compared the
projected journey of 194,149 adults with and without pharmacogenomic testing over a 20-year period.

The model showed that pharmacogenomic testing would result in 37 per cent fewer patients
experiencing treatment-resistant depression, a situation in which the patients’ depression does not
improve despite trying several kinds of treatment. Pharmacogenomic testing would also result in
patients spending 15 per cent more time without depression symptoms, resulting in an anticipated
1,869 fewer deaths and 21,346 fewer hospital admissions over 20 years.

Reference: Genetic testing could greatly benefit patients with depression, save health system million;
Canadian Medical Association Journal; DOI:10.1503/cmaj.221785.
NEWS RELEASE 14-NOV-2023

Women with depression have 20% lower taurine concentration in the hippocampus

For the first time, a research team in Korea has discovered there is a significant relationship between
depression and the taurine concentration in the hippocampus, an area of the brain responsible for
memory and learning functions. This discovery provides the opportunity to publicize the role and
importance of taurine in future prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of depression.

Using ultra-high magnetic field 7T human MRI (7T MRI), researchers (Drs. Youngkyu Song, Jee-Hyun Cho
and Chaejoon Cheong) in the Korea Basic Science Institute (KBSI, President Seong-Kwang
Yang) Biochemical Analysis Team have confirmed that the taurine concentration was significantly lower
in the hippocampus of young females suffering from depression.

The study, conducted in collaboration with research teams led by Dr. Hyungjun Kim at the Korea
Institute of Oriental Medicine (KIOM) and Prof. Jin-Hun Sohn at Chungnam National University (CNU), is
the result of comparing two groups of female participants, a group of 36 female patients with major
depressive disorder, and a control group of 40 healthy females. All participants were aged 19 to 29.

Using 7T MRI, which achieves high signal sensitivity and resolution, and sLASER pulse sequence
designed to reduce chemical shift displacement errors, the research team successfully measured the
subtle differences in taurine signals in the hippocampus of the patient and control groups.

The concentrations of metabolites were also accurately measured with consideration to the precise
distributions of the constituents, white matter, gray matter, and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) which are
dependent on the individual. In the future, it is expected these measurements will be applied to
customized brain disease research, tailored to individual characteristics.

Reference: Association between taurine level in the hippocampus and major depressive disorder in
young women: a proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy study at 7 tesla; Biological Psychiatry

DOI: 10.1016/j.biopsych.2023.08.025