GSE significantly improved markers of inflammation and glycaemia and a sole marker of oxidative stress in obese Type 2 diabetic subjects at high risk of cardiovascular events over a 4-week period, which suggests it may have a therapeutic role in decreasing cardiovascular risk.

Aims To examine perceptions of risk related to type of cigarette brand. Design and Setting Cross-sectional findings from Wave 5 of the ITC Four Country Survey, conducted with nationally representative samples of smokers in 2006. Participants 8,243 current and former adult (≥ 18 years) smokers from Canada (n=2,022), US (n=2,034), UK (n=2,019), and Australia (n=2,168). Measurements Outcomes included beliefs about the relative risks of cigarettes, including perceptions of “own” brand. Correlates included socio-demographic, smoking-related covariates and brand characteristics. Findings One-fifth of smokers incorrectly believed that “some cigarette brands could be less harmful” than others. False beliefs were higher in both the US and UK compared to Canada and Australia. Smokers of “light/mild”, “slim”, and, 100mm/120mm cigarettes were more likely to believe that some cigarettes could be less harmful (OR=1.29, 95%CI=1.12-1.48) and that their own brand might be a little less harmful (OR=2.61, 95%CI=2.01-3.41). Smokers of “gold”, “silver”, “blue”, “purple” brands were more likely to believe their “own brand might be a little less harmful” compared to smokers of “red” or “black” brands (OR=12.48, 95%CI=1.45-107.31). Conclusions Despite current prohibitions on the words “light” and “mild”, smokers in Western countries continue to falsely believe that some cigarette brands may be less harmful than others. These beliefs are associated with descriptive words and elements of package design that have yet to be prohibited, including the names of colours and long, slim cigarettes.

Summary Despite the targeting of traditional risk factors for cardiovascular disease, disease burden has not been completely eliminated. Thiamine is an essential cofactor in carbohydrate metabolism and individuals with diabetes are thiamine deficient. The pathophysiology of recognised complications of thiamine deficiency is similar to that underlying atherosclerosis and the metabolic syndrome, namely oxidative stress, inflammation and endothelial dysfunction. This review examines the mechanisms by which thiamine deficiency occurs in individuals with diabetes, how this deficiency leads to hyperglycaemic‐induced damage, and the effect of thiamine replacement on vascular disease, endothelial function and oxidative stress. Thiamine administration can prevent the formation of harmful by‐products of glucose metabolism, reduce oxidative stress and improve endothelial function. The potential benefit of long‐term replacement in those with diabetes is not yet known but may reduce cardiovascular risk and angiopathic complications.

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Continuous glucose monitoring and flash glucose monitoring technologies measure glucose in the interstitial fluid and are increasingly used in diabetes care. Their accuracy, key to effective glycaemic management, is usually measured using the mean absolute relative difference of the interstitial fluid sensor compared to reference blood glucose readings. However, mean absolute relative difference is not standardised and has limitations. This review aims to provide a consensus opinion on assessing accuracy of interstitial fluid glucose sensing technologies. Mean absolute relative difference is influenced by glucose distribution and rate of change; hence, we express caution on the reliability of comparing mean absolute relative difference data from different study systems and conditions. We also review the pitfalls associated with mean absolute relative difference at different glucose levels and explore additional ways of assessing accuracy of interstitial fluid devices. Importantly, much data indicate that current practice of assessing accuracy of different systems based on individualised mean absolute relative difference results has limitations, which have potential clinical implications. Healthcare professionals must understand the factors that influence mean absolute relative difference as a metric for accuracy and look at additional assessments, such as consensus error grid analysis, when evaluating continuous glucose monitoring and flash glucose monitoring systems in diabetes care. This in turn will ensure that management decisions based on interstitial fluid sensor data are both effective and safe.