Oral glucose tolerance test unravels circulating miRNAs associated with insulin resistance in obese preschoolers.

BACKGROUND: Circulating microRNAs (miRNAs) may act as biomarkers of metabolic disturbances. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to identify serum miRNAs signature of early insulin resistance in obese preschoolers. METHODS: Twelve obese children, aged 2-6 years, six insulin resistant (IR) and six controls were selected being age-matched, sex-matched and body mass index-matched. Profiling of 179 circulating miRNAs, known to be widely expressed in the bloodstream, was investigated by quantitative polymerase chain reaction at fasting and 120 min following a standard oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT). RESULTS: Twenty-one miRNAs were differentially regulated in IR obese preschoolers. miR-200c-3p, miR-190a and miR-95 were differently regulated both at fasting and 120 min after the OGTT. In controls, the fold changes of some miRNAs were correlated with Δglucose0-120 (miR-660, miR-26b-5p and miR-22-3p: p = 0.005 for all) and Δinsulin0-120 (miR-660 and miR-22-3p: p = 0.02 for both and miR-423-5p: p = 0.042). In IR patients, miR-1 fold changes were correlated with Δglucose0-120( r = -0.786; p = 0.036) and Δinsulin0-120( r = -0.821; p = 0.023). CONCLUSIONS: Our study identifies circulating miR-200c-3p, miR-190a and miR-95 as biomarkers of insulin resistance in obese preschoolers, being differentially regulated in IR patients both in fasting condition and after the OGTT. Expression of some circulating miRNAs seems reflecting glucose and insulin excursion following the OGTT differently in controls and IR obese preschoolers.

Clinical guidelines for prevention of osteonecrosis of the jaws in patients in treatment with bisphosphonates: literature review and report of three cases.

Lately clinical evidence has suggested that the development of osteonecrosis of the jaws (ONJ) might be associated to assumption of high doses of nitrogen-bisphosphonate (N-BPs), quite common in the treatment of multiple myeloma and skeletal metastasis due to breast and prostate cancer. Bisphosphonates are used for the treatment of several pathologies such as osteoporosis, Paget's disease, multiple myeloma, malignant hypercalcemia, breast and prostate tumours, and other tumours associated with bone metastasis. Their use might improve patient's life standard, reducing pain and complications of the skeletal structure. In this report three clinical cases of ONJ of patients in treatment with BPs are presented, and the possible pathogenesis is analysed. Further-more, treatment guidelines for the management of patients in treatment with BPs who need restorative dental care and oral surgery are proposed.