Objectives: To evaluate if magnesium supplementation, in addition to standard therapy, improves fasting blood sugar (FBS) and/or glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c) in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) compared to placebo or other comparator. Methodology: We searched MEDLINE/PubMed, Cochrane Library, Acta Medica Philippina, Health Research and Development Information Network (HERDIN) and references of reviewed journals from 1966 to July 2015 using the following search terms: “magnesium” OR “magnesium supplementation” OR “magnesium replacement”, AND randomized controlled trial AND diabetes OR diabetes mellitus OR non-insulin dependent diabetes mellitus OR diabetic OR diab* (with MeSH, where available). Studies were retrieved and rated independently using the standards provided by The Cochrane Collaboration. High quality trials were included in a systematic review and meta-analysis. Results: Of the 689 records screened, 10 studies were included in the qualitative synthesis and 7 studies in the meta-analysis. Pooled data showed a non-significant trend towards improvement in glycemic control in the magnesium-treated group (mean difference -0.19, CI -0.58 to 0.21). There was a stronger but still non-significant trend in T2DM patients with hypomagnesemia (mean difference -1.16, CI -2.92 to 0.6). Conclusion Routine magnesium supplementation for improvement in glycemic control in T2DM patients cannot be recommended based on data from included studies in this meta-analysis.
Magnesium ; Glycemic Control ; Meta-Analysis

Objectives: To evaluate if magnesium supplementation, in addition to standard therapy, improves fasting blood sugar (FBS) and/or glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c) in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) compared to placebo or other comparator. Methodology: We searched MEDLINE/PubMed, Cochrane Library, Acta Medica Philippina, Health Research and Development Information Network (HERDIN) and references of reviewed journals from 1966 to July 2015 using the following search terms: “magnesium” OR “magnesium supplementation” OR “magnesium replacement”, AND randomized controlled trial AND diabetes OR diabetes mellitus OR non-insulin dependent diabetes mellitus OR diabetic OR diab* (with MeSH, where available). Studies were retrieved and rated independently using the standards provided by The Cochrane Collaboration. High quality trials were included in a systematic review and meta-analysis. Results: Of the 689 records screened, 10 studies were included in the qualitative synthesis and 7 studies in the meta-analysis. Pooled data showed a non-significant trend towards improvement in glycemic control in the magnesium-treated group (mean difference -0.19, CI -0.58 to 0.21). There was a stronger but still non-significant trend in T2DM patients with hypomagnesemia (mean difference -1.16, CI -2.92 to 0.6). Conclusion Routine magnesium supplementation for improvement in glycemic control in T2DM patients cannot be recommended based on data from included studies in this meta-analysis.
Diabetes Mellitus ; Magnesium ; Meta-analysis

Background: Fine-needle aspiration biopsy (FNAB) is the most accurate and cost-effective method to evaluate thyroid nodule for possible malignancy. However, an adequate specimen is required for proper examination by a pathologist. Rapid on-site evaluation (ROSE), a service typically provided by pathologists, is the real-time evaluation for adequacy of FNAB smears which can help improve adequacy rates by allowing the submission of additional thyroid samples when the submitted samples are inadequate. This study aims to investigate if ROSE done by trained Endocrinologists can improve specimen adequacy in our patients. Methods: A total of 192 patients were included in this study and were divided in two groups: a ROSE group (n=96) and a non-ROSE group (n=96). In the ROSE group, the smear of thyroid aspirate was evaluated for adequacy by a trained Endocrinologist in real time. In the non-ROSE group, specimens are directly sent to the Pathologist. Results: ROSE done by Endocrinologists had 94% sensitivity, 46% specificity and 82% accuracy compared to a Pathologist. The adequacy rate under the ROSE group was 84.38% and 81.25% in non-ROSE group. Conclusion Our study showed that ROSE can improve adequacy rate in our center. ROSE can also be used by physicians in the provinces who are performing FNAB of the thyroid without ultrasound guidance to improve specimen adequacy and lessen repeat biopsy.
Rapid On-site Evaluation