Association of urinary non-albumin protein with the different urinary marker for glomerular and tubular damage in patients with type 2 diabetes.

BACKGROUND/AIM: In recent years, the diagnostic utility of urinary protein levels has been demonstrated for the early detection and progression of kidney disease. This study aimed to evaluate the associations of the non-albumin protein (NAP) with different urinary marker for tubular and glomerular damage in patients with type 2 diabetes (T2D). METHODS: In this observational cross-sectional study, 424 patients with T2D duration > 10 years were classified into two groups according to estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR). The ratios of different urinary markers (albumin, NAP, total protein, transferrin, retinol-binding protein (RBP), and neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (NGAL) to creatinine were analyzed. RESULTS: The levels of urinary biomarkers increased significantly with decrease in eGFR levels. In the group with moderately decreased eGFR, the albumin to-creatinine ratio (ACR), non-albumin protein-to-creatinine ratio (NAPCR), and total protein-to-creatinine ratio (PCR) were independently associated with all urinary markers after being adjusted for risk factors. The area under the receiver operating characteristics (ROC) curve for ACR and PCR had a better diagnostic value than other urinary biomarkers. Comparing ROC curve of NAPCR with other urinary biomarkers, it was significantly better than NGAL/Cr (p = 0.033). CONCLUSIONS: The findings of the present study confirm that ACR and PCR are diagnostic biomarkers in T2D patients with decreased eGFR. NAPCR in these patients diagnostically only outperformed NGAL/Cr.

Physicians' choices in the first- and second-line management of type 2 diabetes in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

OBJECTIVES: The DISCOVER study is a global, prospective, three- year- observational (non-interventional) study that was conducted in 37 countries throughout the world including Saudi Arabia and aimed to assess variations in treatment patterns and therapeutic outcomes in type 2 diabetic patients. The current manuscript is reporting data of DISCOVER study across different health sectors of various provinces in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. METHODS: In this study, 519 Saudi type 2 diabetics, non-insulin users, aged 18 years or older, initiating second line therapy, were selected from nine health institutes, in four out of five provinces in Saudi Arabia. Data was collected at baseline (initiation of 2nd line therapy) by the treating physician using an electronic case report form (eCRF) via a web-based data capture system. Each selected subject was asked to complete four self-administered questionnaires. RESULTS: The mean age of the studied population was 52.4 ± 11 years. Among the subjects selected from the nine medical centers, 55% were men, with almost 65% between the ages of 46 and 65 years. The oral agent used as 1st line in the majority of patients was metformin, prescribed in 89.2% of the study cohort. In the second line, sitagliptin was the most frequently used, at 61.8%. followed by gliclazide, glibenclamide, and glimepiride at 35.6%, 13.1%, and 12.7%, respectively. CONCLUSION: Metformin, with or without sulfonylureas, is the most commonly prescribed first-line treatment for patients with type 2 diabetes, managed either in governmental institutions, or in the private sector. The most common second line drugs were DPP4 inhibitors, mainly sitagliptin, followed by the third and second generation of sulfonylureas. Drug affordability was not an issue, since the vast majority of the patients received medication free of charge.

ASSESSMENT OF KNOWLEDGE, ATTITUDE AND PRACTICE TOWARDS CONSANGUINEOUS MARRIAGES AMONG A COHORT OF MULTIETHNIC HEALTH CARE PROVIDERS IN SAUDI ARABIA.

This study aimed to assess knowledge, attitude and practice related to consanguinity among multiethnic health care providers in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Using a cross-sectional study design, a validated, self-administered close-ended questionnaire was randomly distributed to health care providers in different health institutions in the country between 1st August 2012 and 31st July 2013. A total of 1235 health care providers completed the study questionnaire. Of the 892 married participants (72.23% of total), 11.43% were married to a first cousin, and were predominantly Arabs, younger than 40 years and male. Only 17.80% of the patients seen by the health care providers requested consanguinity related counselling. A knowledge barrier was expressed by 27.49% of the participants, and 85.67% indicated their willingness to have more training in basic genetic counselling. A language barrier was expressed as a limiting factor to counselling for consanguinity among non-Arabs. The health care providers had a major dearth of knowledge that was reflected in their attitude and practice towards consanguinity counselling. This finding indicates the need for more undergraduate and postgraduate medical and nursing education and training in the counselling of consanguineous couples. It is recommended that consanguinity counselling is included in the current premarital screening and counselling programmes in the Kingdom.

A null mutation in TNIK defines a novel locus for intellectual disability.

Intellectual disability (ID) is one of the most common disabilities and, although many genes have been implicated in its etiology, the genetic heterogeneity of ID continues to expand. The purpose of the study was to describe a novel autosomal recessive non-syndromic ID locus. Autozygome and linkage analysis, and exome sequencing followed by RNA and protein analysis of the candidate disease gene were performed. We describe two multiplex consanguineous families with non-syndromic ID phenotype, which maps to a critical linkage locus on 3q26. Exome sequencing of the index in each family revealed the same homozygous truncating mutation in TNIK that results in complete loss of the protein. TNIK is a kinase with a well-established role in dendrite development and synaptic transmission. The phenotype we observe in human patients who lack TNIK is consistent with the previously published Tnik (-/-) phenotype in the murine model. Our data strongly implicate TNIK deficiency in the causation of ID in humans.

Multicentric Osteolysis Nodulosis Arthropathy Syndrome Simulating Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis in an Adult Female: A Case Report and a Literature Review.

Multicentric osteolysis, nodulosis, and arthropathy (MONA) syndrome is one of the rare genetic skeletal dysplasias, inherited as an autosomal recessive disorder, which predominantly involves carpal and tarsal bones with characteristic osteolytic lesions and can be misdiagnosed as juvenile idiopathic arthritis or rheumatoid arthritis. MONA syndrome includes diseases involving two genes: the matrix metalloproteinase 2 (MMP2) gene and matrix metalloproteinase 14 (MMP14). Both genes are assumed to cause phenotype variants of the same disease. Older patients may manifest some arthritic features, especially in the wrist, and minute pathological fractures can occur as well. These patients may be misdiagnosed as inflammatory arthritis and physicians might prescribe corticosteroid and disease-modifying immunosuppressive agents. Therefore, physicians should carefully evaluate genetic skeletal dysplasia to make a correct diagnosis and avoid unnecessary pharmacological intervention. We report a case of MONA syndrome in an adult female who came to our facility for an intensive rehabilitation program.

Metabolic control and incidence of hypoglycaemia, hospitalisation and complications among Saudi patients with type 2 diabetes initiating second-line therapy: an analysis of the Saudi Arabia data from the DISCOVER Observational Study programme.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of the global DISCOVERing Treatment Reality of Type 2 Diabetes in Real World Settings (DISCOVER) Study was to provide a comprehensive real world assessment of the treatment pattern changes for patients with type 2 diabetes. The aim of this analysis was to assess the metabolic control and the annual incidence of hypoglycaemia, hospitalisation and complications among Saudi patients with type 2 diabetes initiating second-line therapy. DESIGN: This study is part of the observational, longitudinal, prospective multinational DISCOVER Study. SETTING: Governmental and private health sectors from different regions within Saudi Arabia. PARTICIPANTS: The study recruited 519 patients with type 2 diabetes aged ≥18 years who were switching to second-line therapy. Patients who were already using insulin/injectable agents, patients with type 1 diabetes, pregnant women, and patients undergoing dialysis or with a history of renal transplantation were excluded. PRIMARY AND SECONDARY OUTCOME MEASURES: Metabolic control among patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus; fear of hypoglycaemia; quality of life; and the incidence of complications, hypoglycaemic events and/or hospitalisations. Data were analysed using descriptive statistics. RESULTS: A total of 519 patients were recruited with a mean age of 52.4±11 years. Of these participants, 54.7% were male and 45.3% were female. The incidence of hypoglycaemia was 56.72/1000 patient-years. The Hypoglycemia Fear Survey II showed a significant increase in patient worry related to hypoglycaemia from 6.4±11.9 at baseline to (p=0.0446) at the 36-month follow-up. The incidence of hospitalisation was 30.81/1000 patient-years. There was a moderate improvement in glycaemic control, represented as an HbA1c reduction from 8.8% at baseline to 8.2% at the 36-month follow-up. The incidence of macroangiopathy was 24.51/1000 patient-years and the incidence of microvascular complications such as retinopathy and albuminuria was 47.00/1000 patient-years and 221.71/1000 patient-years, respectively. The mean score of fear of hypoglycaemia showed an increase with 13.0±21.5 at baseline to 16.1±22.2 at the 36-month follow-up. When assessing the patients' quality of life, there was an improvement in the mental component score from 47.4±9.1 at baseline to 53.0±6.7 at the 36-month follow-up. CONCLUSIONS: Treatment intensification decisions should be made individually, weighing the benefit of good glycaemic control against the risk of hypoglycaemia. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: NCT02322762 and NCT02226822.

Longitudinal assessment of the quality of life and patterns of antidiabetic medication use in patients with type 2 diabetes, Saudi Arabia perspective, DISCOVER study.

OBJECTIVES: Patients with type 2 diabetes nowadays have a wide range of new antidiabetic medications with better efficacy and safety. Physicians' attitude toward selecting antidiabetic medications to reach targeted glycemic control and better quality of life (QOL) has not been studied prospectively. The global DISCOVER study aims to comprehensively provide a real-world assessment of the treatment pattern changes for patients with type 2 diabetes, in addition to QOL assessment. The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia was one of the countries participating in the DISCOVER study program. METHODS: This study is a part of the prospective, longitudinal multinational DISCOVER study conducted in 38 countries including Saudi Arabia, a country facing an epidemic of type 2 diabetes, recruited 519 adult patients with type 2 diabetes with a mean age of 52.4 ± 11 years, where, they were followed up for three years period, where 477 patients completed the follow-up period. The clinical, biochemical, and patient lifestyle data were assessed periodically during the study period. DISCOVER study is registered with ClinicalTrials.gov identifiers: NCT02322762. RESULTS: The most frequently used antidiabetic medications (ADMs) initially and during the follow-up were biguanides (metformin) and sulfonylureas (gliclazide, glibenclamide, glimepiride, glipizide, and glyclopyramide). Insulin (premix Insulin, basal insulin, and basal/bolus insulin) and dipeptidyl peptidase-4 (DPP-4) inhibitors (sitagliptin, vildagliptin, saxagliptin, and linagliptin) were the most frequent second and alternative of therapy. Other medications namely thiazolidinediones (TZds) (pioglitazone and rosiglitazone), incretins (exenatide and liraglutide), and Sodium-glucose co-transporter-2 (SGLT-2) inhibitors (canagliflozin) were used at a lesser rate. Drug availability, efficacy, and safety were the main determinants for choosing antidiabetic medications. The physical component score of the QOL had shown a significant decrease, while the mental component score has demonstrated an increase in QOL using SF36v2 Survey. CONCLUSIONS: There is an increasing trend of using of newly available ADMs, mainly DPP-4 inhibitors. The major limitation of ADMs use is related to efficacy, availability, and safety. This warrant taking all the measures to overcome these limitations through adopting a multidisciplinary team approach for close monitoring of the patients and any unfavorable side effects. Additionally, global insurance coverage for all patients with type 2 diabetes could be a solution for the drug availability factor.

Consanguineous marriages, pearls and perils: Geneva International Consanguinity Workshop Report.

Approximately 1.1 billion people currently live in countries where consanguineous marriages are customary, and among them one in every three marriages is between cousins. Opinions diverge between those warning of the possible health risks to offspring and others who highlight the social benefits of consanguineous marriages. A consanguinity study group of international experts and counselors met at the Geneva International Consanguinity Workshop from May 3, 2010, to May 7, 2010, to discuss the known and presumptive risks and benefits of close kin marriages and to identify important future areas for research on consanguinity. The group highlighted the importance of evidence-based counseling recommendations for consanguineous marriages and of undertaking both genomic and social research in defining the various influences and outcomes of consanguinity. Technological advances in rapid high-throughput genome sequencing and for the identification of copy number variants by comparative genomic hybridization offer a significant opportunity to identify genotype-phenotype correlations focusing on autozygosity, the hallmark of consanguinity. The ongoing strong preferential culture of close kin marriages in many societies, and among migrant communities in Western countries, merits an equivalently detailed assessment of the social and genetic benefits of consanguinity in future studies.

Celiac autoantibody positivity in relation to clinical characteristics in children with type 1 diabetes.

BACKGROUND: Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune disorder with a high risk of celiac disease (CD). AIM: This study aimed to determine the celiac autoantibody status and the clinical characteristics among children with type 1 diabetes and autoantibody positivity for CD compared to those without serological evidence of CD. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In this cross-sectional study, 240 children with type 1 diabetes underwent serological screening CD. Blood glucose, glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c), hemoglobin, calcium, phosphorous, Vitamin D, alanine aminotransferase (ALT), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), and gamma-glutamyl transferase (GGT) were evaluated. The participants were screened for human anti-endomysial antibody and human anti-tissue transglutaminase antibody. RESULTS: Of the 240 children with type 1 diabetes, 66 children were antibody positive for either anti-endomysial or anti-tissue transglutaminase or both autoantibodies for CD. There were 36 (54.5%) female and 30 (45.5%) male children with the mean age of 15.5±2.1 years. The mean duration of diabetes was 6.8±3.8 years. Only 35 (14.6%) children were found to have serological evidence of CD. CONCLUSION: CD is associated with type 1 diabetes. Serological screening for CD autoantibody should be performed routinely in children with type 1 diabetes. There is discrepancy in screening CD with antibodies, so a prospective follow-up of this cohort is needed for endoscopic evaluation and histopathological examination of intestinal biopsy to confirm CD in this population. RELEVANCE FOR PATIENTS: Anti-endomysial and anti-tissue transglutaminase autoantibodies should be included for screening CD among children with type 1 diabetes. Patients should undergo an endoscopy to confirm a diagnosis of CD.

The Saudi Diabetic Kidney Disease study (Saudi-DKD): clinical characteristics and biochemical parameters.

BACKGROUND: Saudi Arabia is facing an epidemic of type 2 diabetes that is complicated by a high rate of chronic complications such as kidney disease, which have a major impact on the healthcare system and economy. The Saudi diabetic kidney disease (SAUDI-DKD) study was launched to understand the implications of chronic diabetic kidney disease . OBJECTIVES: Examine the hematological, biochemical and metabolic parameters of the selected cohorts to look for biomarkers of diabetic nephropathy. DESIGN: Cross-sectional, hospital-based. SETTING: Four general hospitals and two dialysis centers in Riyadh. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We recruited adult type 2 diabetic patients aged between 35 and 70 years, with a duration of diabetes > 10 years, including subjects with microalbuminuria, macroalbuminuria and end stage renal disease (ESRD). They were compared with subjects with normal albumin excretion classified according to American Diabetes Association (ADA) criteria. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The effect of different stages of diabetic nephropathy on hematological and biochemical parameters. RESULTS: Of 427 subjects with nephropathy, 184 (43%) had microalbuminuria, 83 (19%) had macroalbu.minuria and 160 (37%) had end stage renal disease (ESRD). The remaining 213 (50%) subjects did not have nephropathy. Patients with nephropathy were older with a mean age (SD) of 55.62 (6.00) years and had a longer duration of diabetes (mean [SD], 19.04 [6.33]) years), and had a lower monthly income and body mass index (BMI) than patients without nephropathy. Insulin resistance, elevated uric acid level, low red blood cells (RBCs) count and low hemoglobin level were associated with significantly increased risk of macroalbuminuria and ESRD. Elevated uric acid and LDH were associated with significantly increased risk of microalbuminuria and ESRD, while elevated red blood cell distribution width was significantly associated with an increased risk of ESRD. CONCLUSION: Diabetic nephropathy is associated with insulin resistance, changes in liver enzymes and uric acid in addition to abnormalities in the red blood cell count and red blood cell shape that warrant frequent monitoring among patients with diabetic kidney disease. LIMITATIONS: Cross-sectional study design and exclusion of patients with some risk factors.

Assessment of the diagnostic value of different biomarkers in relation to various stages of diabetic nephropathy in type 2 diabetic patients.

Albuminuria is widely used to indicate early phases of diabetic nephropathy although it is limited by the fact that structural damage might precede albumin excretion. This necessitates identifying better biomarkers that diagnose or predict diabetic nephropathy. This is a cross-sectional hospital based study recruiting type 2 diabetic patients cohort aged 35-75 years with diabetes duration of ≥10 years. Out of total eligible 467 patients, 200 patients were with normal albumin excretion, 184 patients with microalbuminuria and 83 patients with macroalbuminuria. All the patients were tested for the 22 selected biomarkers including serum, plasma and urinary markers. Sensitivity, specificity, and area under the curve (AUC) were calculated as measures of diagnostic accuracy. Out of the tested biomarkers, urinary transferrin, urinary Retinol binding protein (RBP) and serum osteopontin had the best diagnostic value for diabetic nephropathy presence based on the AUC value. The rest of the biomarkers had comparatively less or even no discriminative power. The urinary transferrin and RBP and serum osteopontin, had the best diagnostic value in type 2 diabetic patients at different stages of diabetic nephropathy. Further longitudinal prospective studies are needed to evaluate the predictive power of those markers for detecting diabetic nephropathy before any structural damage occurs.

The bacterial contamination rate of glucose meter test strips in the hospital setting.

OBJECTIVES: To assess the rate of bacterial contamination of the multi-use vial and single-use packed glucose meter strips, and to identify the type and frequency of various bacterial contamination in different hospital wards. METHODS: This prospective observational study was conducted by a team from the Strategic Center for Diabetes Research in 7 general hospitals in the Central region of Saudi Arabia during the period from August to September 2014 to assess the bacterial contamination rate of the unused strips. A total of 10,447 strips were cultured using proper agar media and incubated both aerobically and anaerobically.  RESULTS: The total bacterial contamination rate for the multi-use vials glucose strips was 31.7%, while single-use packed strips were not contaminated at all. Ministry of Health hospitals had the highest contamination rates compared with other hospitals. Critical, obstetric, and surgical wards had the highest bacterial isolates number, where most were in the risk group 3 according to the National Institute of Health guidelines. Staphylococcus species were the most common bacteria found. CONCLUSION: Glucose meter strips should be recognized as a source of bacterial contamination that could be behind serious hospital acquired infections. The hospital infection control team should adopt proper measures to implement protocols for glucose meter cleaning and glucose strips handling.

All-cause mortality and its risk factors among type 1 and type 2 diabetes mellitus in a country facing diabetes epidemic.

AIM: Diabetes mellitus is associated with an increased risk of premature death mainly secondary to macrovascular and microvascular complications. Mortality data from the Eastern Mediterranean region known for its high diabetes prevalence are lacking. We aimed to assess all-cause mortality and its predictors using large cohort from the Saudi National Diabetes Registry (SNDR). METHODS: The study population comprised of 40,827 individuals with type 1 and type 2 diabetes mellitus aged ⩾25years registered in SNDR between January 2007 and December 2013. All patients were followed until death, according to the date of death or reaching 100years of age or end of the study. Death was verified from the national civil affairs database. The general population during the study period was used as a reference for standardized mortality ratio (SMR) calculation. RESULTS: With a total of 152,038 person-years of follow up, 2582 patients were deceased giving all-cause mortality rate of 16.98 per 1000 person-years and SMR (95% CI) of 1.93 (1.86-2.00). Mortality rates were higher among men and increased with age, while SMR attenuated with increasing age. The independent predictors for all-cause mortality were longer diabetes duration, presence of macrovascular complications, nephropathy, retinopathy, hypertension, male gender and older age, while morbid obesity and the presence of hyperlipidemia were associated with reduced risk. CONCLUSIONS: The unexpectedly low mortality rate in this population would be associated with higher number of deaths as a result of the high prevalence of diabetes and its complications. Reducing the prevalence of diabetes and its complications would reduce the risk of mortality.

Global transcriptional disturbances underlie Cornelia de Lange syndrome and related phenotypes.

Cornelia de Lange syndrome (CdLS) is a genetically heterogeneous disorder that presents with extensive phenotypic variability, including facial dysmorphism, developmental delay/intellectual disability (DD/ID), abnormal extremities, and hirsutism. About 65% of patients harbor mutations in genes that encode subunits or regulators of the cohesin complex, including NIPBL, SMC1A, SMC3, RAD21, and HDAC8. Wiedemann-Steiner syndrome (WDSTS), which shares CdLS phenotypic features, is caused by mutations in lysine-specific methyltransferase 2A (KMT2A). Here, we performed whole-exome sequencing (WES) of 2 male siblings clinically diagnosed with WDSTS; this revealed a hemizygous, missense mutation in SMC1A that was predicted to be deleterious. Extensive clinical evaluation and WES of 32 Turkish patients clinically diagnosed with CdLS revealed the presence of a de novo heterozygous nonsense KMT2A mutation in 1 patient without characteristic WDSTS features. We also identified de novo heterozygous mutations in SMC3 or SMC1A that affected RNA splicing in 2 independent patients with combined CdLS and WDSTS features. Furthermore, in families from 2 separate world populations segregating an autosomal-recessive disorder with CdLS-like features, we identified homozygous mutations in TAF6, which encodes a core transcriptional regulatory pathway component. Together, our data, along with recent transcriptome studies, suggest that CdLS and related phenotypes may be "transcriptomopathies" rather than cohesinopathies.

Diabetic nephropathy and its risk factors in a society with a type 2 diabetes epidemic: a Saudi National Diabetes Registry-based study.

AIMS: The prevalence of diabetic nephropathy and its risk factors have not been studied in a society known to have diabetes epidemic like Saudi Arabia. Using a large data base registry will provide a better understanding and accurate assessment of this chronic complication and its related risk factors. METHODOLOGY: A total of 54,670 patients with type 2 diabetes aged ≥ 25 years were selected from the Saudi National Diabetes Registry (SNDR) and analyzed for the presence of diabetic nephropathy. The American Diabetes Association (ADA) criterion was used to identify cases with microalbuminuria, macroalbuminuria and end stage renal disease (ESRD) for prevalence estimation and risk factor assessment. RESULTS: The overall prevalence of diabetic nephropathy was 10.8%, divided into 1.2% microalbuminuria, 8.1%macroalbuninuria and 1.5% ESRD. Age and diabetes duration as important risk factors have a strong impact on the prevalence of diabetic nephropathy, ranging from 3.7% in patients aged 25-44 years and a duration of >5 years, to 21.8% in patients ≥ 65 years with a diabetes duration of ≥ 15 years. Diabetes duration, retinopathy, neuropathy, hypertension, age >45 years, hyperlipidemia, male gender, smoking, and chronologically, poor glycemic control has a significantly high risk for diabetic nephropathy. CONCLUSION: The prevalence of diabetic nephropathy is underestimated as a result of a shortage of screening programs. Risk factors related to diabetic nephropathy in this society are similar to other societies. There is thus an urgent need for screening and prevention programs for diabetic nephropathy among the Saudi population.

Risk Factors for Thyroid Dysfunction among Type 2 Diabetic Patients in a Highly Diabetes Mellitus Prevalent Society.

Diabetes and thyroid dysfunction found to exist simultaneously. In this regard, the present study looked into the prevalence of different forms of thyroid dysfunction and their risk factors among Type 2 diabetic Saudi patients. Methodology. A cross-sectional retrospective randomized hospital-based study of 411 Type 2 diabetic Saudi patients of >25 years of age was conducted to test the prevalence of different types of thyroid dysfunction and their risk factors. Results. The prevalence of different types of thyroid dysfunction is 28.5%, of which 25.3% had hypothyroidism, where 15.3%, 9.5%, and 0.5% are clinical, subclinical, and overt hypothyroidism, respectively. The prevalence of hyperthyroidism is 3.2%, of which subclinical cases accounted for 2.7% and overt hyperthyroidism accounted for 0.5%. Risk factors for thyroid dysfunction among Saudi Type 2 diabetic patients are family history of thyroid disease, female gender, and duration of diabetes of >10 years, while the risk was not significant in patients with history of goiter and patients aged >60 years. Smoking and parity show a nonsignificant reduced risk. Conclusion. Thyroid dysfunction is highly prevalent among Saudi Type 2 diabetic patients, and the most significant risk factors are family history of thyroid disease, female gender, and >10 years duration of diabetes.