Correspondence and offprint requests to: Geoffrey Douglas Braatvedt; E-mail: g.braatvedt@auckland.ac.nz Abstract Background. In this study, our main goal was to determine whether an integrated, community-based model of care using culturally appropriate health-care assistants to manage hypertension in Māori and Pacific patients with diabetes and chronic kidney disease (CKD) is more effective than conventional care in achieving blood pressure (BP) targets and delaying progression of cardiac and renal end-organ damage. Methods. Sixty-five Māori and Pacific patients (aged 47-75 years) with type 2 diabetes, moderate CKD (>0.5 g proteinuria/day, serum creatinine 130-300 μmol/l) and hypertension were randomized to usual care (n = 32) or community/intervention care (n = 33) for 12 months. Community care patients were visited monthly by a nurse-led health-care assistant for BP measurement. Antihypertensives were adjusted using a stepwise protocol, aiming for a BP <130/80 mmHg. Office BP and renal and echocardiographic parameters were measured at baseline and 12 months.Results. Baseline characteristics including office BP, renal and echocardiographic parameters, and number of antihypertensives were well matched in both groups. By 12 months, the community care patients had achieved a significantly greater reduction in office systolic BP (−21 ± 26 mmHg vs −12 ± 20 mmHg, P = 0.04) and in 24-h urine protein (−1.4 ± 2.6 g vs +0.1 ± 2.8 g, P = 0.04). The number of prescribed antihypertensives was greater in these patients at 12 months (3.4 ± 1.1 vs 2.3 ± 1.0, P < 0.01). Left ventricular (LV) mass and left atrial (LA) volume progressed in the usual care group, but not in the intervention group (P < 0.05).Conclusion. This novel model of care is more effective than conventional care in lowering systolic BP and reducing cardiac and renal end-organ damage in these highrisk patients.

The correlation of corneal SBN density with total neuropathy score suggests that reduced corneal nerve density reflects peripheral neuropathy in diabetes. Corneal SBN changes precede other clinical and electrophysiology tests of neuropathy supporting a possible role for corneal IVCM and corneal sensitivity testing as surrogate markers in the assessment of diabetic peripheral and cardiac autonomic neuropathy.

Purpose. To compare tear film metrics in patients with type 1 diabetes mellitus (DM) and healthy controls and investigate the association between peripheral neuropathy and ocular surface quality. Methods. Dry eye symptoms were quantified in 53 patients with type 1 DM and 40 age-matched controls. Ocular examination included tear film lipid layer thickness grading, tear film stability and quantity measurement, and retinal photography. DM individuals additionally underwent a detailed neuropathy assessment. Results. Neither mean age nor dry eye symptom scores differed significantly between the DM and control groups (P = 0.12 and P = 0.33, resp.). Tear lipid thickness (P = 0.02), stability (P < 0.0001), and quantity (P = 0.01) were significantly lower in the DM group. Corneal sensitivity was also reduced in the DM group (P < 0.001) and tear film stability was inversely associated with total neuropathy score (r = −0.29, P = 0.03). Conclusion. The DM group exhibited significantly reduced tear film stability, secretion, and lipid layer quality relative to the age-matched control group. The negative correlation between tear film parameters and total neuropathy score suggests that ocular surface abnormalities occur in parallel with diabetic peripheral neuropathy.

1. The effects of the subcutaneous administration of a long-acting somatostatin analogue (octreotide) or of placebo on the splanchnic blood flow response to a mixed solid meal has been examined in eight normal subjects by using a transcutaneous Doppler ultrasound technique. Each subject was studied on two occasions more than 1 week apart. 2. On the control day, feeding had a pronounced effect on both superior mesenteric artery and portal venous blood flows, causing a peak rise of 82% in superior mesenteric artery blood flow at 15 min and of 75% in portal venous blood flow at 30 min post-prandially (P less than 0.001). Blood flows remained elevated 2 h after the meal. Pulse and blood pressure showed no significant changes from baseline. 3. Octreotide reduced fasting superior mesenteric artery blood flow by 59% (P less than 0.05) and portal venous blood flow by 49% (P less than 0.01) and blunted the normal post-prandial rise. Pulse and blood pressure did not change in response to either the injection or the ingestion of the meal. 4. Octreotide suppressed the release of insulin, glucagon and pancreatic polypeptide in response to feeding and resulted in post-prandial hyperglycaemia. 5. The mechanism of action of octreotide on splanchnic blood flow is uncertain. It may be mediated via a direct vascular effect or it may act via suppression of vasoactive intestinal hormones.

Some studies have reported low bone mineral density (BMD) in patients with Addison's disease, whereas others have found BMD to be normal. It is possible that over-replacement of corticosteroids and adrenal androgen deficiency may contribute to a reduction in BMD in these patients. The aims of this study were to examine BMD using dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry in patients with treated Addison's disease at multiple skeletal sites and to investigate the relationships between these measurements and corticosteroid dose. Nineteen men, 3 premenopausal and 7 postmenopausal women with Addison's disease were studied and data from these patients were analyzed separately and as a group. The mean SEM age and duration of Addison's disease of the men were 44 +/- 3.8 years and 15 +/- 2.2 years, in the premenopausal women 40 +/- 2 years and 5 +/- 2.4 years, and in the postmenopausal women 68 +/- 4 years and 20 +/- 5 years, respectively. Eight men were unexpectedly hypogonadal (serum testosterone <13 nmol/l). BMD was expressed as a percent of values in normal controls (n = 418) adjusted for age, sex, ethnic origin, menopausal status and body weight. In the whole group (n = 29), mean BMD of the patients with Addison's disease was not different from normal at any site [mean (+/- SEM) lumbar spine 99.5% +/- 2.9%; femoral neck 99.3% +/- 2.5%; Ward's triangle 96.2% +/- 3.5%; trochanter 99.2% +/- 2.9%; radius 99.8% +/- 2.1%; total body 98.5% +/- 1.4%]. However, there was a wide range of bone densities, with some patients having a low BMD at multiple sites. Bone density was negatively correlated with current and cumulative corticosteroid dose per kilogram body weight and duration of Addison's disease. In conclusion, BMD in patients with Addison's disease is little different from normal, but may be lower in patients with disease of long duration and a high cumulative corticosteroid dose. Unexpected hypogonadism in men with Addison's disease is common.