An association between fibrinogen gene polymorphisms and diabetic peripheral neuropathy in young patients with type 1 diabetes.

In complex etiopathogenesis of diabetic peripheral neuropathy (DPN), hemostatic dysfunction and subclinical inflammation play a possible role. Fibrinogen is involved in both the hemostatic and inflammatory pathways, so we hypothesize that fibrinogen gene polymorphisms might be associated with DPN. A total of 127 young patients with type 1 diabetes (T1D) (average age, 18.5 ± 4.65 years; average diabetes duration, 14.5 ± 2.26 years) and 90 healthy controls were enrolled into the study. Basic biochemical and coagulation parameters were measured and gene polymorphisms of fibrinogen alpha (rs6050) and beta (rs1800790) were established. DPN was diagnosed in 38 diabetic patients by neurological examination. AA genotype and A allele of rs1800790 polymorphism of fibrinogen beta were associated with increased risk of DPN (odds ratio [OR] 4.537, 95% confidence interval [95CI] 1.14-19.94, p = 0.019 and OR 1.958, 95CI 1.038-3.675, p = 0.029, respectively). No association was found between DPN and rs6050 gene polymorphisms. Plasma fibrinogen concentration significantly correlated with HbA1c (Spearman's correlation coefficient [r] = 0.54) and HDL cholesterol (r = - 0.67). A allele and AA genotype of rs1800790 seem to be associated with DPN in young patients with T1D. Further studies are appropriate to elucidate the role of fibrinogen gene polymorphisms in the complex etiology of DPN.

Polysomnographic profile in children diagnosed with celiac disease before starting on a gluten free diet.

STUDY AIMS: The study assessed the presence of sleep abnormalities in children who had recently been diagnosed with celiac disease (CD) and not started a gluten free diet (GFD). The children's polysomnographic profiles were also characterized and further compared with healthy children of the same age. METHODS: This prospective cross-sectional study involved 46 pediatric subjects (aged 1-19 years) who had recently been diagnosed with CD and not started a GFD. The control group consisted of 32 healthy children (aged 2-17 years). All children underwent anthropometric measurement, laboratory testing and standard overnight observation with in-laboratory video-PSG. The study and control group were divided into subgroups according to the subjects' median ages (8.1 years): celiac children aged less than 8.1 years (n = 23) and more than 8.1 years (n = 23), healthy children less aged than 8.1 years (n = 16) and more than 8.1 years (n = 16). RESULTS: No significant differences in the basic demographic and anthropometric parameters between the celiac and control group were observed. Significantly prolonged sleep latency (SOL) was evident in the celiac subjects (21.89 ± 20.77 min. vs. 10.99 ± 7.94 min, p = 0.02), with a probability of prolonged SOL of 4.23-fold greater (OR = 4.23; 95 % CI 1.1-16.22) than the healthy controls, especially in the subgroup of older celiac patients. No significant differences in the sleep period time (SPT), total sleep time (TST), wake during sleep (WASO), sleep efficiency (SE) and sleep stage distribution and cyclization were found. The respiratory rates during sleep indicated a significantly greater incidence of the central apnea-hypopnea index (CAHI) (0.54 ± 0.78 vs. 0.18 ± 0.24, p = 0.03) with a 3.16-fold greater probability of pathological CAHI (OR = 3.16; 95 % CI 1.02-9.77) than the control group. An increased incidence of CSA in the subgroup of younger celiac patients compared to younger healthy controls was especially evident. CONCLUSIONS: The findings of our study suggest a difference in sleep architecture and an increased incidence of CSA in children with untreated CD, but additional research is required to verify the results.

Modelling Duchenne muscular dystrophy in vitro with newly generated, blood cell-derived induced pluripotent stem cell line ORIONi003-A.

Here, we present newly derived in vitro model for modeling Duchenne muscular dystrophy. Our new cell line was derived by reprogramming of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (isolated from blood from pediatric patient) with Sendai virus encoding Yamanaka factors. Derived iPS cells are capable to differentiate in vitro into three germ layers as verified by immunocytochemistry. When differentiated in special medium, our iPSc formed spontaneously beating cardiomyocytes. As cardiomyopathy is the main clinical complication in patients with Duchenne muscular dystrophy, the cell line bearing the dystrophin gene mutation might be of interest to the research community.

In vitro modeling of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis with induced pluripotent stem cell technology-derived cell line ORIONi002-A.

We present here a new iPS cell line for modeling sporadic form of ALS. Cell line was generated by reprogramming skin fibroblasts isolated with explant culture technology from skin biopsy, donated by ALS patient. For reprogramming, polycistronic self-replicating RNA vector was used and derived iPS cells were characterized by immunocytochemistry and FACS (pluripotent factors expression), karyotyping, STR fingerprinting analysis and in vitro differentiation assay. New cell line showed normal (46, XY) karyotype and differentiated in vitro into cells from three germ layers. STR analysis proved the origin and originality of the cell line.

Sleep Architecture in Children With Common Phenotype of Obstructive Sleep Apnea.

STUDY OBJECTIVES: In children, the effect of the common phenotype of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) on sleep architecture is not adequately documented. The aim of this study was to evaluate sleep architecture in a pediatric population with the common phenotype of OSA. METHODS: The prospective cross-sectional study included 116 children in the age range of 3 to 8 years with suspected OSA and 51 healthy children. All children underwent standard overnight in-laboratory video polysomnography. Patients with obstructive apnea-hypopnea index ≥ 1, adenotonsillar hypertrophy, a long face, narrow palate or minor malocclusions, and no obesity were defined as a common phenotype. Polysomnographic parameters of sleep architecture and sleep clinical record were statistically analyzed according to OSA and its severity. RESULTS: In total, 94 pediatric patients (59.60% male) received the diagnosis of the common phenotype of OSA (mean age of 5.25 ± 1.39 years). A lower percentage of stage N3 sleep (27.70 ± 3.76% versus 31.02 ± 4.23%; P < .05), a greater percentage of stage N1 sleep (8.40 ± 3.98% versus 2.68 ± 3.02%, P < .01), reduced deep sleep efficiency (46.01 ± 4.98% versus 50.25 ± 3.72%; P < .05) and longer sleep latency (18.40 ± 8.48 minutes versus 9.90 ± 11.55 minutes, P < .01) were found in children with the common phenotype of OSA compared with healthy controls. No significant differences were found in total sleep time, sleep efficiency, and percentage of stage R sleep and stage N2 sleep between groups and in sleep stage distribution and cyclization. CONCLUSIONS: These findings suggest that the most common phenotype of pediatric OSA has a negative effect on the structure of sleep, but other clinical studies are needed to confirm this result.