Gene polymorphism and plasma levels of miR-155 in diabetic retinopathy.

Circulating microRNA-155 (miR-155) is associated with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and the rs767649 polymorphism in the pre-MIR155 gene is associated with miR-155 expression. However, their relationship with diabetic retinopathy (DR) is still unknown. Therefore, the aim of this case-control study was to test the hypothesis that the rs767649 polymorphism in the pre-MIR155 gene is associated with DR in South Brazilians with T2DM. We also evaluated the association of plasma levels of miR-155 with DR and the rs767649 polymorphism in a subgroup of subjects. The rs767649 polymorphism was genotyped in 139 blood donors and 546 T2DM patients (244 had no DR, 161 had non-proliferative DR and 141 had proliferative DR). miR-155 expression was quantified in 20 blood donors and 60 T2DM patients (20 from each group). Among T2DM patients, the carriership of the A allele and the A allele were more frequent in subjects with DR than in those without it (P < 0.05), and the A allele was independently associated with an increased risk of DR (adjusted OR = 2.12, 95% CI = 1.12-4.01). The plasma levels of miR-155 were lower in T2DM patients than in blood donors (P < 0.001). However, the miR-155 levels did not differ according to the presence and severity of DR or according to rs767649 genotypes among T2DM patients. These findings support that the rs767649 polymorphism in the pre-MIR155 gene is associated with DR in T2DM and that the miR-155 plasma levels might be associated with T2DM. Additional studies are needed to further investigate their clinical significance in DR and T2DM.

Nursing home care: exploring the role of religiousness in the mental health, quality of life and stress of formal caregivers.

Despite the high number of studies on family caregivers, there is little research on the impact of religiosity on formal caregiving (paid providers). We examine the role of religiousness in the mental health, quality of life and stress of nurse aides (NA) who provide care for patients in a nursing home. NA in a Brazilian nursing home were invited to participate. Because of its coping function, we hypothesized that religiousness was related to better mental health and quality of life. Linear regression was used to test this hypothesis and control for confounders. Compared with the Brazilian general population, NA scored higher on measures of religious involvement. Intrinsic religiosity was associated with better mental health and quality of life. Organizational religiosity was associated with better social functioning, better general mental health and fewer anxiety symptoms. Non-organizational religiosity (prayer), however, was associated with negative outcomes, such as higher stress, poorer general health perceptions and more anxiety symptoms. Most NA indicated that they had prayed for and with their patients. In conclusion, paid caregivers (NA) have a strong sense of religiousness, which plays an important role in many ways, including the type of care they provide, their mental health and their quality of life.

The prevalence of chronic diabetic complications and metabolic syndrome is not associated with maternal type 2 diabetes

The maternal history of type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM) has been reported more frequently in patients with type 2 DM than paternal history. The aim of the present study was to determine if there was an association between maternal history of DM and the presence of chronic complications or metabolic syndrome (MetS) in patients with type 2 DM. A cross-sectional study was conducted with 1455 patients with type 2 DM. All outpatients with type 2 diabetes attending the endocrine clinics who fulfilled the eligibility criteria were included. Familial history of DM was determined with a questionnaire. Diabetic complications were assessed using standard procedures. The definition of MetS used was that of the World Health Organization and the National Cholesterol Education Program's Adult Treatment Panel III report criteria. Maternal history of DM was present in 469 (32.3 percent), absent in 713 (49.1 percent) and unknown in 273 patients (18.7 percent). Paternal history of DM was positive in 255 (17.6 percent), negative in 927 (63.8 percent) and unknown in 235 patients (16.1 percent). The frequency of microvascular chronic complications in patients with and without a positive maternal history of DM was similar: diabetic nephropathy (51.5 vs 52.5 percent), diabetic retinopathy (46.0 vs 41.7 percent), and diabetic sensory neuropathy (31.0 vs 37.1 percent). The prevalence of macrovascular chronic complications and MetS was also similar. Patients with type 2 DM were more likely to have a maternal than a paternal history of DM, although maternal history of DM was not associated with an increased prevalence of chronic complications or MetS.

The prevalence of chronic diabetic complications and metabolic syndrome is not associated with maternal type 2 diabetes.

The maternal history of type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM) has been reported more frequently in patients with type 2 DM than paternal history. The aim of the present study was to determine if there was an association between maternal history of DM and the presence of chronic complications or metabolic syndrome (MetS) in patients with type 2 DM. A cross-sectional study was conducted with 1455 patients with type 2 DM. All outpatients with type 2 diabetes attending the endocrine clinics who fulfilled the eligibility criteria were included. Familial history of DM was determined with a questionnaire. Diabetic complications were assessed using standard procedures. The definition of MetS used was that of the World Health Organization and the National Cholesterol Education Program's Adult Treatment Panel III report criteria. Maternal history of DM was present in 469 (32.3%), absent in 713 (49.1%) and unknown in 273 patients (18.7%). Paternal history of DM was positive in 255 (17.6%), negative in 927 (63.8%) and unknown in 235 patients (16.1%). The frequency of microvascular chronic complications in patients with and without a positive maternal history of DM was similar: diabetic nephropathy (51.5 vs 52.5%), diabetic retinopathy (46.0 vs 41.7%), and diabetic sensory neuropathy (31.0 vs 37.1%). The prevalence of macrovascular chronic complications and MetS was also similar. Patients with type 2 DM were more likely to have a maternal than a paternal history of DM, although maternal history of DM was not associated with an increased prevalence of chronic complications or MetS.

The European-specific mitochondrial cluster J/T could confer an increased risk of insulin-resistance and type 2 diabetes: an analysis of the m.4216T > C and m.4917A > G variants.

The aims of this study were to investigate the contributions of the mitochondrial DNA m.4216T > C and m.4917A > G variants, and also of the European-specific mitochondrial cluster J/T, to the development of type 2 diabetes mellitus in Caucasian-Brazilian patients from Southern Brazil. We analyzed 347 type 2 diabetes patients and 350 control subjects. Variant frequencies in patients and control subjects were compared using chi2 tests or odds ratio. We also compared clinical and laboratory characteristics among patients with and without the variants. We found that the frequencies of the m.4216T > C and m.4917A > G variants are higher in diabetic patients than in control subjects. Moreover, haplogroups J (partially defined by the presence of the m.4216T > C variant only) and T (partially defined by the presence of both m.4216T > C and m.4917A > G variants) are more frequent in the type 2 diabetic group than in the control group. Patients belonging to the cluster J/T are more insulin resistant than patients of other haplogroups. In conclusion, our results indicate the association of the cluster J/T (as suggested by analyses of the m.4216T > C and m.4917A > G variants) with insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes.

The presence of allele D of angiotensin-converting enzyme polymorphism is associated with diabetic nephropathy in patients with less than 10 years duration of Type 2 diabetes.

AIM: To investigate the association between angiotensin-converting enzyme gene I/D polymorphism and diabetic nephropathy (DN) in patients with Type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM) taking into consideration the known duration of DM. METHODS: Cross-sectional study with 982 patients categorized according to urinary albumin excretion (UAE) into normoalbuminuria (UAE < 20 microg/min or < 17 mg/l, 24-h timed urine or spot random sterile urine, respectively), incipient DN (UAE 20-199 microg/min or 17-174 mg/l) and overt DN (UAE > 200 microg/min or > 174 mg/l or dialysis). Patients were further grouped regarding presence of the D allele (DD/ID vs. II) and DM duration (< or = 10 years or > 10 years). RESULTS: Incipient DN was diagnosed in 17.3% (n = 170), and 20.7% (n = 203) had overt DN (macroalbuminuria, n = 129; dialysis, n = 74). Genotype distribution (DD/ID/II) was similar in patients with incipient (49/92/29) or overt DN (77/89/37) if compared with patients without DN (181/308/120, P = 0.172). In patients with DM < or = 10 years, having the D allele (DD/ID) resulted in an odds ratio (OR) of 2.66 (95% CI: 1.12-6.58, P = 0.015) for incipient DN, and 3.19 (95% CI: 1.18-9.30, P = 0.012) for overt DN. In patients with longer DM duration, the D allele did not increase the risk for incipient (OR 0.68, 95% CI 0.36-1.29, P = 0.206) or overt DN (OR 0.67, 95% CI 0.39-1.17, P = 0.138). CONCLUSION: The DD/ID genotypes were associated with incipient or overt DN in patients with DM < or = 10 years.

The G1888A variant in the mitochondrial 16S rRNA gene may be associated with Type 2 diabetes in Caucasian-Brazilian patients from southern Brazil.

AIM: To compare the frequencies of the G1888A variant in the mitochondrial 16S rRNA gene between patients with Type 2 diabetes and non-diabetic control subjects from southern Brazil. METHODS: We analysed 520 Type 2 diabetic patients (389 Caucasian- and 131 African-Brazilians) and 530 control subjects (400 Caucasian- and 130 African-Brazilians). DNA samples were amplified by polymerase chain reaction and digested with the RsaI enzyme. Variant frequency in patients and control subjects was compared using chi2 test, Fisher's exact test or odds ratio test. We also investigated the frequency of the G1888A variant in a subgroup of the patients with a maternal history of Type 2 diabetes plus two or more features of maternally inherited diabetes and deafness. RESULTS: The 1888A allele does not seem to be associated with Type 2 diabetes in African-Brazilians (frequency of 3.8% in patients and 0.8% in control subjects; PFisher=0.213). However, in Caucasian-Brazilians, the 1888A allele was significantly associated with diabetes (12.3% in patients vs. 3.5% in control subjects; OR=3.881; 95% CI 2.106-7.164; P<0.001) and also with higher levels of insulin resistance. The majority of the patients carrying the 1888A allele did not have clinical features of maternally inherited diabetes and deafness. CONCLUSION: The present study indicates the association of the mitochondrial G1888A variant with Type 2 diabetes and insulin resistance in Caucasian-Brazilian patients from southern Brazil. However, further studies are required to confirm its effects on mitochondrial function and the role of these effects on the pathogenesis of Type 2 diabetes.