Youth versus adult-onset type 2 diabetic kidney disease: Insights into currently known structural differences and the potential underlying mechanisms.

Type 2 diabetes (T2D) is a global health pandemic with significant humanitarian, economic, and societal implications, particularly for youth and young adults who are experiencing an exponential rise in incident disease. Youth-onset T2D has a more aggressive phenotype than adult-onset T2D, and this translates to important differences in rates of progression of diabetic kidney disease (DKD). We hypothesize that youth-onset DKD due to T2D may exhibit morphometric, metabolic, and molecular characteristics that are distinct from adult-onset T2D and develop secondary to inherent differences in renal energy expenditure and substrate metabolism, resulting in a central metabolic imbalance. Kidney structural changes that are evident at the onset of puberty also serve to exacerbate the organ's baseline high rates of energy expenditure. Additionally, the physiologic state of insulin resistance seen during puberty increases the risk for kidney disease and is exacerbated by both concurrent diabetes and obesity. A metabolic mismatch in renal energetics may represent a novel target for pharmacologic intervention, both for prevention and treatment of DKD. Further investigation into the underlying molecular mechanisms resulting in DKD in youth-onset T2D using metabolomics and RNA sequencing of kidney tissue obtained at biopsy is necessary to expand our understanding of early DKD and potential targets for therapeutic intervention. Furthermore, large-scale clinical trials evaluating the duration of kidney protective effects of pharmacologic interventions that target a metabolic mismatch in kidney energy expenditure are needed to help mitigate the risk of DKD in youth-onset T2D.

Early microvascular complications in type 1 and type 2 diabetes: recent developments and updates.

The prevalence of youth-onset diabetes is progressing rapidly worldwide, and poor glycemic control, in combination with prolonged diabetes duration and comorbidities including hypertension, has led to the early development of microvascular complications including diabetic kidney disease, retinopathy, and neuropathy. Pediatric populations with type 1 (T1D) and type 2 (T2D) diabetes are classically underdiagnosed with microvascular complications, and this leads to both undertreatment and insufficient attention to the mitigation of risk factors that could help attenuate further progression of complications and decrease the likelihood for long-term morbidity and mortality. This narrative review aims to present a comprehensive summary of the epidemiology, risk factors, symptoms, screening practices, and treatment options, including future opportunities for treatment advancement, for microvascular complications in youth with T1D and T2D. We seek to uniquely focus on the inherent challenges of managing pediatric populations with diabetes and discuss the similarities and differences between microvascular complications in T1D and T2D, while presenting a strong emphasis on the importance of early identification of at-risk youth. Further investigation of possible treatment mechanisms for microvascular complications in youth with T1D and T2D through dedicated pediatric outcome trials is necessary to target the brief window where early pathological vascular changes may be significantly attenuated.

Relationship between biomarkers of tubular injury and intrarenal hemodynamic dysfunction in youth with type 1 diabetes.

BACKGROUND: Early identification of youth with type 1 diabetes (T1D) at risk for diabetic kidney disease may improve clinical outcomes. We examined the cross-sectional relationship between kidney biomarkers neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (NGAL), copeptin, interleukin-18 (IL-18), kidney injury molecule-1 (KIM-1), chitinase-3-like protein-1 (YKL-40), and monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1) and intrarenal hemodynamic function in adolescents with T1D. METHODS: Urine albumin-to-creatinine ratio (UACR), renal vascular resistance (RVR), glomerular filtration rate (GFR), intraglomerular pressure (PGLO), efferent arteriole resistance (RE), afferent arteriolar resistance (RA), and renal plasma flow (RPF), and the above indicated biomarkers were assessed in youth aged 12-21 years with and without T1D of < 10 years duration. RESULTS: Fifty adolescents with T1D (16.1 ± 3.0 years, HbA1c 8.6 ± 1.2%) and 20 adolescents of comparable BMI without T1D (16.1 ± 2.9 years, HbA1c 5.2 ± 0.2%) were enrolled. Adolescents with T1D demonstrated significantly higher GFR, RPF, RE, and PGLO than controls (39%, 33%, 74%, and 29%, respectively, all p < 0.0001). Adolescents with T1D also exhibited significantly lower RVR and RA than controls (25% and 155%, respectively, both p < 0.0001). YKL-40 and KIM-1 concentrations, respectively, were positively associated with GFR (r: 0.43, p = 0.002; r: 0.41, p = 0.003), RPF (r: 0.29, p = 0.08; r: 0.34, p = 0.04), UACR (r: 0.33, p = 0.02; r: 0.50, p = 0.0002), and PGLO (r: 0.45, p = 0.006; r: 0.52, p = 0.001) in adolescents with T1D. CONCLUSIONS: Higher concentrations of biomarkers YKL-40 and KIM-1 may help define the risk for intraglomerular hemodynamic dysfunction in youth with T1D. A higher resolution version of the Graphical abstract is available as Supplementary information.

Continuous Glucose Monitor, Insulin Pump, and Automated Insulin Delivery Therapies for Type 1 Diabetes: An Update on Potential for Cardiovascular Benefits.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: The incidence of type 1 diabetes (T1D) is rising in all age groups. T1D is associated with chronic microvascular and macrovascular complications but improving glycemic trends can delay the onset and slow the progression of these complications. Utilization of technological devices for diabetes management, such as continuous glucose monitors (CGM) and insulin pumps, is increasing, and these devices are associated with improvements in glycemic trends. Thus, device use may be associated with long-term prevention of T1D complications, yet few studies have investigated the direct impacts of devices on chronic complications in T1D. This review will describe common diabetes devices and combination systems, as well as review relationships between device use and cardiovascular outcomes in T1D. RECENT FINDINGS: Findings from existing cohort and national registry studies suggest that pump use may aid in improving cardiovascular risk factors such as hypertension and dyslipidemia. Furthermore, pump users have been shown to have lower arterial stiffness and better measures of myocardial function. In registry and case-control longitudinal data, pump use has been associated with fewer cardiovascular events and reduction of cardiovascular disease (CVD) and all-cause mortality. CVD is the leading cause of morbidity and mortality in T1D. Consistent use of diabetes devices may protect against the development and progression of macrovascular complications such as CVD through improvement in glycemic trends. Existing literature is limited, but findings suggest that pump use may reduce acute cardiovascular risk factors as well as chronic cardiovascular complications and overall mortality in T1D.

Results from the Effects of MEtformin on cardiovasculaR function in AdoLescents with type 1 Diabetes (EMERALD) study: A brief report of kidney and inflammatory outcomes.

Youth with type 1 diabetes (T1D) demonstrate insulin resistance, independently of glycaemia, when compared to normoglycaemic peers. Insulin resistance increases the risk of cardiovascular disease and diabetic kidney disease, factors also associated with systemic inflammation. We evaluated the effect of metformin on markers of inflammation and diabetic kidney disease in adolescents with T1D. EMERALD, a double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial of 3 months of metformin in 48 participants aged 12-21 years with T1D, included baseline and follow-up assessments of serum creatinine and cystatin C to estimate glomerular filtration rate (eGFR), aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase, high-sensitivity C-reactive protein, white blood count, platelets, adiponectin, leptin, and urine albumin: creatinine ratio (UACR). Metformin was associated with a 13.9 mL/min/1.73 m2 (95% confidence interval 4.7-23.1 mL/min/1.73 m2 ) increase in estimated GFR by serum creatinine versus placebo (P ≤ 0.01), with a significant difference remaining after multivariable adjustments (P = 0.03). Whereas eGFR measured by serum creatinine increased significantly after metformin treatment, no differences were observed in cystatin C, UACR, or systemic inflammatory markers. Additional studies with directly measured GFR in response to metformin in T1D are needed.

Screening for cystic fibrosis-related diabetes and prediabetes: Evaluating 1,5-anhydroglucitol, fructosamine, glycated albumin, and hemoglobin A1c.

OBJECTIVE: Dysglycemia is prevalent in cystic fibrosis (CF) but screening with annual oral glucose tolerance tests (OGTT) can be burdensome. We investigated alternate glycemic markers-hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c), 1,5-anhydroglucitol (1,5AG), fructosamine (FA), and glycated albumin (GA)-as screening tests for CF-related diabetes (CFRD) and pre-diabetes (CFPD) in youth with CF as defined by the gold-standard OGTT 2-hour glucose (2hG). METHODS: Youth 10 to 18 years with CF had a 1,5AG, FA, GA, HbA1c, and 2-hour OGTT collected. Correlations between all glycemic markers and 2hG were evaluated. Area under the receiver operative characteristic (ROC-AUC) curves were generated. Optimal cut points for predicting CFPD (2hG ≥ 140 mg/dL) and CFRD (2hG ≥ 200 mg/dL) were determined. RESULTS: Fifty-eight youth with CF were included (2hG < 140, n = 16; CFPD, n = 33; CFRD, n = 9; 41% male, mean ± SD age 14.2 ± 3.6 years, BMI z-score 0.0 ± 0.8, % predicted forced expiratory volume in 1 second [FEV1] 89.9 ± 15.1, % predicted forced vital capacity [FVC] 103.2 ± 14.6). ROC-AUC's for all alternate markers were low for CFPD (0.52-0.67) and CFRD (0.56-0.61). At a cut point of 5.5%, HbA1c had 78% sensitivity (95% CI: 0.45-0.94) and 41% specificity (95% CI: 0.28-0.55) for identifying CFRD, correlating to a ROC-AUC of 0.61 (95% CI: 0.42-0.8). CONCLUSIONS: All alternate markers tested demonstrate poor diagnostic accuracy for identifying CFRD by 2hG.

The prolactin receptor transactivation domain is associated with steroid hormone receptor expression and malignant progression of breast cancer.

The polypeptide hormone prolactin (PRL) stimulates breast epithelial cell growth, differentiation, and motility through its cognate receptor, PRLr. PRLr is expressed in most breast cancers; however, its exact role remains elusive. Our laboratory previously described a novel mode of PRLr signaling in which Stat5a-mediated transcription is regulated through ligand-induced phosphorylation of the PRLr transactivation domain (TAD). Herein, we used a PRLr transactivation-deficient mutant (PRLrYDmut) to identify novel TAD-specific target genes. Microarray analysis identified 120 PRL-induced genes up-regulated by wild type but not PRLrYDmut. Compared with control, PRLr expression significantly induced expression of approximately 4700 PRL-induced genes, whereas PRLrYDmut ablated induction of all but 19 of these genes. Ingenuity pathway analysis found that the PRLr TAD most profoundly affected networks involving cancer and proliferation. In support of this, PRLrYDmut expression reduced anchorage-dependent and anchorage-independent growth. In addition, pathway analysis identified a link between the PRLr TAD and the estrogen and progesterone receptors (ERα/PR). Although neither ERα nor PR was identified as a PRL target gene, a TAD mutation significantly impaired ERα/PR expression and estrogen responsiveness. TMA analysis revealed a marked increase in nuclear, but not cytoplasmic, PRLr TAD phosphorylation as a function of neoplastic progression. We propose that PRLr TAD phosphorylation contributes to breast cancer pathogenesis, in part through regulation of ERα and PR, and has potential utility as a biomarker in this disease.

Minireview: Understanding and targeting inflammatory, hemodynamic and injury markers for cardiorenal protection in type 1 diabetes.

The coexistence of cardiovascular disease (CVD) and diabetic kidney disease (DKD) is common in people with type 1 diabetes (T1D) and is strongly associated with an increased risk of morbidity and mortality. Hence, it is imperative to explore robust tools that can accurately reflect the development and progression of cardiorenal complications. Several cardiovascular and kidney biomarkers have been identified to detect at-risk individuals with T1D. The primary aim of this review is to highlight biomarkers of injury, inflammation, or renal hemodynamic changes that may influence T1D susceptibility to CVD and DKD. We will also examine the impact of approved pharmacotherapies for type 2 diabetes, including renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system (RAAS) inhibitors, sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 (SGLT2) inhibitors and glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1RAs) on candidate biomarkers for cardiorenal complications in people with T1D and discuss how these changes may potentially mediate kidney and cardiovascular protection. Identifying predictive and prognostic biomarkers for DKD and CVD may highlight potential drug targets to attenuate cardiorenal disease progression, implement novel risk stratification measures in clinical trials, and improve the assessment, diagnosis, and treatment of at-risk individuals with T1D.

Glycoprotein Acetyls Associate With Intraglomerular Hemodynamic Dysfunction, Albuminuria, Central Adiposity, and Insulin Resistance in Youth With Type 1 Diabetes.

OBJECTIVES: Glycoprotein acetyls (GlycA's) are biomarkers of systemic inflammation and cardiovascular disease, yet little is known about their role in type 1 diabetes (T1D). In this study we examined the associations among GlycA's, central adiposity, insulin resistance, and early kidney injury in youth with T1D. METHODS: Glomerular filtration rate and renal plasma flow by iohexol and p-aminohippurate clearance, urine albumin-to-creatinine ratio (UACR), central adiposity by dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry, and estimated insulin sensitivity were assessed in 50 youth with T1D (16±3.0 years of age, 50% female, glycated hemoglobin 8.7%±1.3%, T1D duration 5.7±2.6 years). Concentrations of GlycA were quantified by targeted nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy. Correlation and multivariable linear regression analyses were performed. RESULTS: GlycA's were higher in girls vs boys (1.05±0.26 vs 0.84±0.15 mmol/L, p=0.001) and in participants living with overweight/obesity vs normal weight (1.12±0.23 vs 0.87±0.20 mmol/L, p=0.0004). GlycA's correlated positively with estimated intraglomerular pressure (r=0.52, p=0.001), UACR (r=0.53, p<0.0001), and trunk mass (r=0.45, p=0.001), and inversely with estimated insulin sensitivity (r=-0.36, p=0.01). All relationships remained significant after adjustment for age, sex, and glycated hemoglobin. CONCLUSIONS: As biomarkers of inflammation, GlycA's were higher in girls and those with overweight or obese body habitus in T1D. GlycA's associated with parameters of early kidney dysfunction, central adiposity, and insulin resistance.

Pharmacological management of youth with type 2 diabetes and diabetic kidney disease: a comprehensive review of current treatments and future directions.

INTRODUCTION: Diabetic kidney disease (DKD) is a leading cause of mortality in people with type 2 diabetes (T2D), and over 50% of individuals with youth-onset T2D will develop DKD as a young adult. Diagnosis of early-onset DKD remains a challenge in young persons with T2D secondary to a lack of available biomarkers for early DKD, while the injuries may still be reversible. Furthermore, multiple barriers exist to initiate timely prevention and treatment strategies for DKD, including a lack of Food and Drug Administration approval of medications in pediatrics; provider comfort with medication prescription, titration, and monitoring; and medication adherence. AREAS COVERED: Therapies that have promise for slowing DKD progression in youth with T2D include metformin, renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system inhibitors, glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists, sodium glucose co-transporter 2 inhibitors, thiazolidinediones, sulfonylureas, endothelin receptor agonists, and mineralocorticoid antagonists. Novel agents are also in development to act synergistically on the kidneys with the aforementioned medications. We comprehensively review the available pharmacologic strategies for DKD in youth-onset T2D including mechanisms of action, potential adverse effects, and kidney-specific effects, with an emphasis on published pediatric and adult trials. EXPERT OPINION: Large clinical trials evaluating pharmacologic interventions targeting the treatment of DKD in youth-onset T2D are strongly needed.

Triglyceride content of lipoprotein subclasses and kidney hemodynamic function and injury in adolescents with type 1 diabetes.

AIMS: Elevated triglycerides (TG) are associated with development and progression of kidney disease, and TG distributions across lipoprotein subclasses predict kidney dysfunction in adults with type 1 diabetes (T1D). Little is known regarding these relationships in youth. METHODS: In this single center study conducted from October 2018-2019, lipid constituents from lipoprotein subclasses were quantified by targeted nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy. Glomerular filtration rate (GFR), renal plasma flow (RPF), afferent arteriolar resistance (RA), efferent arteriolar resistance (RE), intraglomerular pressure (PGLO), urine albumin-to-creatinine ratio (UACR), and chitinase-3-like protein 1 (YKL-40), a marker of kidney tubule injury, were assessed. Cross-sectional relationships were assessed by correlation and multivariable linear regression (adjusted for age, sex, HbA1c) models. RESULTS: Fifty youth with T1D (age 16 ± 3 years, 50 % female, HbA1c 8.7 ± 1.3 %, T1D duration 5.7 ± 2.6 years) were included. Very-low-density lipoprotein (VLDL)-TG concentrations correlated and associated with intraglomerular hemodynamic function markers including GFR, PGLO, UACR, as did small low-density lipoprotein (LDL)-TG and small high-density lipoprotein (HDL)-TG. YKL-40 correlated with all lipoprotein subclasses. CONCLUSION: TG within lipoprotein subclasses, particularly VLDL, associated with PGLO, GFR, albuminuria, and YKL-40. Lipid perturbations may serve as novel targets to mitigate early kidney disease.

Coffee Consumption May Mitigate the Risk for Acute Kidney Injury: Results From the Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities Study.

Introduction: Coffee is one of the most frequently consumed beverages worldwide and has been found to have a wide assortment of health benefits. Although habitual coffee consumption is associated with a lower incidence of chronic kidney disease, an association between coffee and acute kidney injury (AKI) has not yet been revealed. Methods: In the Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities (ARIC) Study, a prospective cohort study of 14,207 adults aged 45 to 64 years, coffee consumption (cups/d) was assessed at a single visit via food frequency questionnaires and compared with incident AKI defined by hospitalization with an AKI-related International Classification of Diseases code. Results: In ARIC, there were 1694 cases of incident AKI in a median of 24 follow-up years. Higher coffee consumption was associated with lower AKI risk versus no consumption (hazard ratio [HR] <1 cup/d: 0.92 [95% CI: 0.79-1.08]; 1 cup/d: 1.08 [95% CI: 0.94-1.24]; 2 to 3 cups/d: 0.83 [95% CI: 0.72-0.95]; >3 cups/d: 0.83 [95% CI: 0.71-0.96]; reference: never, P = 0.003). Trends for AKI risk across coffee categories remained significant after multivariable adjustment for age, sex, race-center, education, total daily energy intake, physical activity, smoking, alcohol intake, diet quality (Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension [DASH] score), systolic blood pressure (BP), diabetes status, use of antihypertensive agents, estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR), and body mass index (BMI) (P = 0.02). Conclusion: Higher coffee intake was associated with a lower risk of incident AKI and could present an opportunity for cardiorenal protection through diet. Further evaluation of the physiological mechanisms underlying the cardiorenal protective effects of coffee consumption is necessary.

Aminoaciduria and metabolic dysregulation during diabetic ketoacidosis: Results from the diabetic kidney alarm (DKA) study.

OBJECTIVE: We examined changes in the excretion of various amino acids and in glycolysis and ketogenesis-related metabolites, during and after diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) diagnosis, in youth with known or new onset type 1 diabetes (T1D). METHODS: Urine samples were collected from 40 youth with DKA (52% boys, mean age 11 ± 4 years, venous pH 7.2 ± 0.1, blood glucose 451 ± 163 mg/dL) at 3 time points: 0-8 h and 12-24 h after starting an insulin infusion, and 3 months after hospital discharge. Mixed-effects models evaluated the changes in amino acids and other metabolites in the urine. RESULTS: Concentrations of urine histidine, threonine, tryptophan, and leucine per creatinine were highest at 0-8 h (148.8 ± 23.5, 59.5 ± 12.3, 15.4 ± 1.4, and 24.5 ± 2.4% of urine creatinine, respectively), and significantly decreased over 3 months (p = 0.028, p = 0.027, p = 0.019, and p < 0.0001, respectively). Urine histidine, threonine, tryptophan, and leucine per urine creatinine decreased by 10.6 ± 19.2, 0.7 ± 0.9, 1.3 ± 0.9, and 0.5 ± 0.3-fold, respectively, between 0 and 8 h and 3 months. CONCLUSIONS: In our study, DKA was associated with profound aminoaciduria, suggestive of proximal tubular dysfunction analogous to Fanconi syndrome.

Mechanisms of Cardiorenal Protection of Glucagon-Like Peptide-1 Receptor Agonists.

The worldwide prevalence of type 2 diabetes (T2D) is steadily increasing, and it remains a challenging public health problem for populations in both developing and developed countries around the world. Despite the recent advances in novel antidiabetic agents, diabetic kidney disease and cardiovascular disease remain the leading causes of morbidity and mortality in T2D. Glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonists (RAs), incretin hormones that stimulate postprandial insulin secretion, serve as a promising avenue for treatment of T2D as they result in a variety of antihyperglycemic effects including increased endogenous insulin secretion, decreased gluconeogenesis, inhibition of pancreatic α-cell glucagon production, decreased pancreatic ß-cell apoptosis, and increased ß-cell proliferation. GLP-1RAs have also been found to delay gastric emptying, promote weight loss, increase satiety, decrease hypertension, improve dyslipidemia, reduce inflammation, improve albuminuria, induce natriuresis, improve cardiovascular function, and prevent thrombogenesis. In this review, we will present risk factors for the development of cardiac and kidney disease in individuals with T2D and discuss possible mechanisms for the cardiorenal protective effects seen with GLP-1RAs. We will also present the possibility of dual- and tri-receptor agonist therapies with GLP-1, gastric inhibitory peptide, and glucagon RAs as an area of possible mechanistic synergy in the treatment of T2D and the prevention of cardiorenal complications.

Acute Kidney Injury in Pediatric Diabetic Kidney Disease.

Diabetic kidney disease (DKD) is a common complication of type 1 and 2 diabetes and often presents during adolescence and young adulthood. Given the growing incidence of both type 1 and type 2 diabetes in children and adolescents, DKD represents a significant public health problem. Acute kidney injury (AKI) in youth with diabetes is strongly associated with risk of DKD development. This review will summarize the epidemiology and pathophysiology of AKI in children with diabetes, the relationship between AKI and DKD, and the potential therapeutic interventions. Finally, we will appraise the impact of the recent COVID-19 infection pandemic on AKI in children with diabetes.

Delayed glucose peak and elevated 1-hour glucose on the oral glucose tolerance test identify youth with cystic fibrosis with lower oral disposition index.

BACKGROUND: Alternate methods for characterizing oral glucose tolerance tests (OGTT) have emerged as superior to the 2-hour glucose in identifying individuals at risk for type 2 diabetes. The significance of these methods in cystic fibrosis (CF) is unclear. We compared 3 OGTT classifications in youth with CF: 1. curve shape (biphasic vs. monophasic), 2. time to glucose peak (≤30minutes vs. >30minutes), 3. 1-hour glucose (1hG) <155 mg/dL vs. ≥155 mg/dL to traditional OGTT criteria to determine which best identifies lower oral disposition index (oDI), pulmonary function, and body mass index (BMI). METHODS: Youth 10-18 years with CF, not on insulin, underwent 2-hour OGTT. Glucoses were classified by traditional criteria and 3 alternate methods as normal (biphasic curve, glucose peak ≤30minutes, and/or 1hG <155 mg/dL) or abnormal (monophasic curve, glucose peak >30minutes, and/or 1hG ≥155 mg/dL). oDI was calculated [1/fasting insulin*(ΔInsulin0-30 min/ΔGlucose0-30 min)]. Mean oDI, BMI, forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV1), and forced vital capacity (FVC) were compared by OGTT classification. RESULTS: Fifty-two youth with CF participated (mean±SD age 13±4years; 37% male; BMI z-score 0.0±0.8; FEV1 88±16.3%; FVC 97±14.8%). Late time to peak glucose and 1hG ≥155 mg/dL identified individuals with lower oDI (p=0.01); traditional OGTT criteria for prediabetes did not. No OGTT classification identified individuals with worse BMI nor pulmonary function. oDI was not associated with BMI, FEV1, or FVC. CONCLUSIONS: Alternate OGTT measures including time to peak glucose and 1hG better identify oDI abnormalities than traditional criteria. Further studies are required to determine whether these alternate methods identify individuals with CF at risk for future clinical decline.

Sex-related differences in diabetic kidney disease: A review on the mechanisms and potential therapeutic implications.

Sexual dimorphism may play a key role in the pathogenesis of diabetic kidney disease (DKD) and explain differences observed in disease phenotypes, responses to interventions, and disease progression between men and women with diabetes. Therefore, omitting the consideration of sex as a biological factor may result in delayed diagnoses and suboptimal therapies. This review will summarize the effects of sexual dimorphism on putative metabolic and molecular mechanisms underlying DKD, and the potential implications of these differences on therapeutic interventions. To successfully implement precision medicine, we require a better understanding of sexual dimorphism in the pathophysiologic progression of DKD. Such insights can unveil sex-specific therapeutic targets that have the potential to maximize efficacy while minimizing adverse events.

A Pilot Study of the Safety and Efficacy of Alkali Therapy on Vascular Function in Kidney Transplant Recipients.

INTRODUCTION: Metabolic acidosis is associated with cardiovascular events, graft function, and mortality in kidney transplant recipients (KTRs). We examined the effect of alkali therapy on vascular endothelial function in KTRs. METHODS: We performed an 18-week, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled crossover pilot study examining the effect of sodium bicarbonate therapy versus placebo on vascular function in 20 adult KTRs at least 1 year from transplant with an estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) ≥45 ml/min per 1.73 m2 and a serum bicarbonate level of 20 to 26 mEq/L. Each treatment period was 8 weeks in duration with a 2-week washout period between treatments. The primary outcome was change in brachial artery flow-mediated dilation (FMD) between sodium bicarbonate treatment and placebo. RESULTS: Twenty patients completed the study and were included in the primary analysis. The mean (SD) baseline eGFR of participants was 75 (22) ml/min per 1.73 m2, respectively. Serum bicarbonate levels did not increase significantly with treatment (0.3 [1.5] mEq/L, P = 0.37). Sodium bicarbonate therapy was not associated with worsening blood pressure, weight gain, or hypokalemia. There was no significant increase in FMD after 8 weeks of sodium bicarbonate therapy compared to placebo (mean change in FMD 2.2%, 95% CI -0.1 to 4.6, P = 0.06). There were no significant changes in high-sensitivity C-reactive protein, interleukin-6, eGFR, or urinary albumin-to-creatinine ratio during treatment. Urinary ammonium excretion decreased by 9 mmol/d (P=0.003), with sodium bicarbonate. CONCLUSIONS: Sodium bicarbonate therapy is safe and feasible in KTRs, and our results strengthen the need for a larger randomized controlled trial.

Impact of Obesity on Measures of Cardiovascular and Kidney Health in Youth With Type 1 Diabetes as Compared With Youth With Type 2 Diabetes.

OBJECTIVE: Insulin resistance and obesity are independently associated with type 1 diabetes (T1D) and are known risk factors for cardiovascular and kidney diseases, the leading causes of death in T1D. We evaluated the effect of BMI on cardiovascular and kidney outcomes in youth with T1D versus control youth with normal weight or obesity and youth with type 2 diabetes (T2D). RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS: Pubertal youth (n = 284) aged 12-21 years underwent assessments of resting heart rate (RHR), systolic blood pressure (SBP) and diastolic blood pressure (DBP), leptin, hs-CRP, adiponectin, ratio of urine albumin to creatinine, and estimated glomerular filtration rate. Participants with T1D underwent bicycle ergometry for VO2peak, monitoring for peripheral brachial artery distensibility (BAD), endothelial function testing for reactive hyperemic index, and aortic MRI for central arterial stiffness or shear. RESULTS: In adolescents with T1D, RHR, SBP, DBP, mean arterial pressure, leptin, hs-CRP, and hypertension prevalence were significantly higher, and BAD, descending aorta pulse wave velocity, and VO2peak lower with an obese versus normal BMI. Although hypertension prevalence and RHR were highest in obese adolescents with T1D and adiponectin lowest in youth with T2D, other measures were similar between obese adolescents with T1D and those with T2D. CONCLUSIONS: Obesity, now increasingly prevalent in people with T1D, correlates with a less favorable cardiovascular and kidney risk profile, nearly approximating the phenotype of youth with T2D. Focused lifestyle management in youth-onset T1D is critically needed to reduce cardiovascular risk.