Galectin-3 levels in children with cystic fibrosis.

Cystic fibrosis (CF) is a multisystemic disease in which airway obstruction, infection, and inflammation play a critical role in the pathogenesis and progression of CF lung disease. The carbohydrate-binding protein Galectin-3 is increased in several inflammatory and fibrotic diseases and has recently been forwarded as a biomarker in these diseases. We aimed to define the role of serum Galectin-3 in children with CF by comparison with healthy subjects. This is a cross-sectional, case-control study. 143 CF and 30 healthy subjects were enrolled in the study. Peripheral blood and sputum concentrations of Galectins-3, interleukin (IL)-17A, IL-8, and neutrophil elastase (NE) were determined with commercial ELISA kits. There was no significant difference between the groups in age and gender (p = 0.592, p = 0.613, respectively). Serum Galectin-3 and NE concentrations were higher in the patient group than in healthy controls (p = 0.002, p < 0.001, respectively). There were no significant differences between groups according to IL-17A and IL-8 concentrations. Serum Galectin-3 was correlated with age (r = 0.289, p < 0.001) and body mass index (BMI) (r = 0.493, p < 0.001) in children with CF. Sputum Galectin-3 levels are negatively correlated with percent predictive forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV1) (r = - 0.297, p = 0.029), FEV1 z-score, (r = - 0.316, p = 0.020), percent predictive forced vital capacity (FVC) (r = - 0.347, p = 0.010), and FVC z-score (r = - 0.373, p = 0.006).   Conclusion: The study shows that serum Galectin-3 levels increased in clinically stable CF patients, and serum Galectin-3 response may depend on age, gender, and BMI. The sputum Galectin-3 was found to be negatively correlated with patients' lung functions. What is known: • Galectin-3 is a key regulator of chronic inflammation in the lung, liver, kidney, and tumor microenvironment. What is new: • Children with cystic fibrosis (CF) have higher serum Galectin-3 concentrations than healthy children. • Serum Galectin-3 expression influenced by age, BMI, and gender in children with CF.

The Relationship Between Continuous Glucose Monitoring and OGTT in Youth and Young Adults With Cystic Fibrosis.

CONTEXT: Early glucose abnormalities in people with cystic fibrosis (PwCF) are commonly detected by continuous glucose monitoring (CGM). Relationships between these CGM abnormalities and oral glucose tolerance testing (OGTT) in PwCF have not been fully characterized. OBJECTIVE: This work aimed to determine the relationship between CGM and common OGTT-derived estimates of ß-cell function, including C-peptide index and oral disposition index (oDI) and to explore whether CGM can be used to screen for OGTT-defined prediabetes and cystic fibrosis-related diabetes (CFRD). METHODS: PwCF not on insulin and healthy controls aged 6 to 25 years were enrolled in a prospective study collecting OGTT and CGM. A subset underwent frequently sampled OGTTs (fsOGTT) with 7-point glucose, insulin, and C-peptide measurements. Pearson correlation coefficient was used to test the association between select CGM and fsOGTT measures. Receiver operating curve (ROC) analysis was applied to CGM variables to determine the cutoff optimizing sensitivity and specificity for detecting prediabetes and CFRD. RESULTS: A total of 120 participants (controls = 35, CF = 85), including 69 with fsOGTTs, were included. CGM coefficient of variation correlated inversely with C-peptide index (Cpeptide30-Cpeptide0/Glucose30-Glucose0) (r = -0.45, P < .001) and oDIcpeptide (C-peptide index)(1/cpep0) (r = -0.48, P < .0001). In PwCF, CGM variables had ROC - areas under the curve ranging from 0.43 to 0.57 for prediabetes and 0.47 to 0.6 for CFRD. CONCLUSION: Greater glycemic variability on CGM correlated with reduced ß-cell function. However, CGM performed poorly at discriminating individuals with and without OGTT-defined CFRD and prediabetes. Prospective studies are now needed to determine how well the different tests predict clinically relevant nonglycemic outcomes in PwCF.

Serum bile acids in cystic fibrosis patients - glycodeoxycholic acid as a potential marker of liver disease.

BACKGROUND: Cystic fibrosis (CF) and CF-related liver disease can lead to disturbances in bile acid metabolism. AIM: This study determined serum bile acid concentrations in CF to define their usefulness in liver disease assessment. METHODS: Primary, secondary and conjugated bile acid levels were measured in three CF groups (25 patients each) exhibiting: liver cirrhosis, other liver disease, no liver disease, and in 25 healthy subjects (HS). RESULTS: Bile acid levels were higher in CF patients than in HS, except for glycodeoxycholic acid (GDCA). However, bile acid concentrations did not differ between patients with cirrhosis and other liver involvement. GDCA and deoxycholic acid (DCA) differentiated CF patients with non-cirrhotic liver disease from those without liver disease (GDCA-AUC: 0.924, 95%CI 0.822-1.000, p<0.001; DCA-AUC: 0.867, 95%CI: 0.731-1.000, p<0.001). Principal component analysis revealed that in CF liver disease was related to GDCA, GGTP activity, severe genotype and pancreatic insufficiency. CONCLUSIONS: A CF-specific bile acid profile was defined and shown to relate to liver disease. GDCA differentiates patients with non-cirrhotic liver involvement from those with no detectable liver disease. Hence, GDCA is a candidate for validation as a biomarker of non-cirrhotic progression of liver disease in CF.

Vitamin D Status in Pediatric and Young Adult Cystic Fibrosis Patients. Are the New Recommendations Effective?

INTRODUCTION: In recent years, guidelines for vitamin D supplementation have been updated and prophylactic recommended doses have been increased in patients with cystic fibrosis (CF). OBJECTIVE: To evaluate safety and efficacy of these new recommendations. RESULTS: Two cohorts of pancreatic insufficient CF patients were compared before (cohort 1: 179 patients) and after (cohort 2: 71 patients) American CF Foundation and European CF Society recommendations were published. Cohort 2 patients received higher Vitamin D doses: 1509 (1306-1711 95% CI) vs 1084 (983-1184 95% CI) IU/Day (p < 0.001), had higher 25 OH vitamin D levels: 30.6 (27.9-33.26 95% CI) vs. 27.4 (25.9-28.8 95% CI) ng/mL (p = 0.028), and had a lower prevalence of insufficient vitamin D levels (<30 ng/mL): 48% vs 65% (p = 0.011). Adjusted by confounding factors, patients in cohort 1 had a higher risk of vitamin D insufficiency: OR 2.23 (1.09-4.57 95% CI) (p = 0.028). CONCLUSION: After the implementation of new guidelines, CF patients received higher doses of vitamin D and a risk of vitamin D insufficiency decreased. Despite this, almost a third of CF patients still do not reach sufficient serum calcidiol levels.

Vitamin D Status and Risk of Cystic Fibrosis-Related Diabetes: A Retrospective Single Center Cohort Study.

OBJECTIVE: Cystic fibrosis-related diabetes (CFRD) affects up to half of the people with cystic fibrosis (CF) by adulthood. CFRD is primarily caused by pancreatic dysfunction that leads to insufficient insulin release and/or insulin resistance. Exocrine pancreatic insufficiency in people with CF is associated with fat-soluble vitamin malabsorption, including vitamins A, D, E, and K. This study examined the relationship between vitamin D status, assessed by serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D), and the development of CF-related diabetes (CFRD) in adults with CF. METHODS: This was a retrospective cohort study of adults seen at a single CF center. The data were extracted from the electronic medical records and the Emory Clinical Data Warehouse, a data repository of health information from patients seen at Emory Healthcare. We collected age, race, the first recorded serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) concentration, body mass index (BMI), and onset of diabetes diagnosis. Log-rank (Mantel-Cox) tests were used to compare the relative risk of CFRD onset in the subjects with stratified vitamin D status and weight status. A sub-group analysis using chi-square tests assessed the independence between vitamin D deficiency and CFRD risk factors, including gender and CF mutation types (homozygous or heterozygous for F508del, or others). Unpaired t-tests were also used to compare the BMI values and serum 25(OH)D between the CF adults based on the CFRD development. RESULTS: This study included 253 subjects with a mean age of 27.1 years (±9.0), a mean follow-up time period of 1917.1 (±1394.5) days, and a mean serum 25(OH)D concentration of 31.8 ng/mL (±14.0). The majority (52.6%) of the subjects developed CFRD during the study period. Vitamin D deficiency (defined as 25(OH)D < 20 ng/mL) was present in 25.3% of the subjects. Close to two thirds (64.1%) of the subjects with vitamin D deficiency developed CFRD during the study. Vitamin D deficiency increased the risk of developing CFRD (chi-square, p = 0.03) during the course of the study. The time to the onset of CFRD stratified by vitamin D status was also significant (25(OH)D < 20 ng/mL vs. 25(OH)D ≥ 20 ng/mL) (95% CI: 1.2, 2.7, p < 0.0078). CONCLUSION: Our findings support the hypothesis that adults with CF and vitamin D deficiency are at a higher risk of developing CFRD and are at risk for earlier CFRD onset. The maintenance of a serum 25(OH)D concentration above 20 ng/mL may decrease the risk of progression to CFRD.

Age-Related Progression of Microvascular Dysfunction in Cystic Fibrosis: New Detection Ways and Clinical Outcomes.

There are concerns about altered vascular functions that could play an important role in the pathogenesis and influence the severity of chronic disease, however, increased cardiovascular risk in paediatric cystic fibrosis (CF) has not been yet fully understood. Aim was to analyse vascular disease risk and investigate changes over times in CF and controls. We prospectively enrolled 22 CF subjects (a median age of 16.07 years), and 22 healthy demographically matched controls (a median age of 17.28 years) and determined endothelial function. We utilised a combined diagnostic approach by measuring the plethysmographic Reactive Hyperemia Index (RHI) as the post-to preocclusive endothelium-dependent changes of vascular tone, and biomarkers that are known to be related to endothelial dysfunction (ED): asymmetric dimethyl arginine (ADMA), high-sensitive CRP (hsCRP), VCAM-1 and E-selectin. RHI values were significantly lower in CF young adults (p<0.005). HsCRP (p<0.005), E-selectin (p<0.001) and VCAM-1 (p<0.001) were significantly increased in CF patients since childhood. The findings have provided a detailed account of the ongoing process of microvascular dysfunction with gradual progression with the age of CF patients, making them further at risk of advanced vascular disease. Elevations of biomarkers in CF children with not yet demonstrated RHI changes but with significantly reduced RHI in adulthood and lipid profile changes indicate the possible occurrence of ED with CF-related specific risk factors over time and will enable us to provide the best possible support.

IL-8 correlates with reduced baseline femoral neck bone mineral density in adults with cystic fibrosis: a single center retrospective study.

Cystic fibrosis (CF) is a multi-system disease that is characterized by lung disease due to recurrent airway infection and inflammation. Endocrine complications, such as CF bone disease (CFBD), are increasingly identified as patients are living longer. The cause of CFBD is multifactorial with chronic systemic inflammation theorized to be a contributing factor. Thus, we attempted to identify inflammatory biomarkers that are associated with CFBD. We conducted a retrospective observational study of 56 adult patients with CF with an average percentage predictive forced expiratory volume in one second (ppFEV1) of 73.7% (standard deviation: 30.0) who underwent baseline serum analysis for osteoprotegerin (OPG) and pro-inflammatory biomarkers (IL-1ß, IL-6, IL-8 and TNF-α), and had repeated dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry (DXA) scans separated by at least 2 years to examine correlations between serum biomarkers and bone mineral density (BMD) measurements. Univariate linear regression model analysis demonstrated that serum IL-1ß and IL-8, but not other pro-inflammatory markers, were negatively correlated with baseline BMD results. However, after accounting for confounding variables, only the relationship between IL-8 and left femoral neck BMD remained statistically significant. Additionally, IL-8 level was associated with BMD decline over time. These results suggest that IL-8 might play a unique role in the pathophysiology of CFBD relative to other pro-inflammatory cytokines but further study is warranted before firm conclusions can be made.

Peripheral blood mononuclear cell response to YKL-40 and Galectin-3 in cystic fibrosis.

BACKGROUND: Elevated circulating levels of YKL-40 correlate with disease severity in Cystic Fibrosis (CF), but the role of YKL-40 in the inflammatory response in CF is still under investigation. Our main goal was to evaluate if YKL-40 can modulate the expression of major cytokines (IL-6, IL-10, IL-13) implicated in the inflammatory response in CF. A secondary goal was to explore the interactions between YKL-40 and other circulating proteins to determine the impacts on cytokine modulation. METHOD: Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) were isolated from the blood of 83 adult CF patients in stable clinical condition. PBMCs were treated with human YKL-40 followed by the measure of IL-6, IL-10 and IL-13 gene expression. Protein arrays were used to explore the interactions between YKL-40 and circulating proteins. Interaction with Galectin-3 (GAL3) was identified, and confirmed by binding assay. Cytokine gene expressions were again monitored by RT-qPCR after PBMC treatment with GAL3, with or without YKL-40 co-stimulation. RESULTS: Following YKL-40 stimulation, PBMC gene expression of IL-6, IL-10 and IL-13 varies across patients. IL-6 and IL-13 are coexpressed, but this response was different in male and female patients. GAL3 protein was detected in the blood of CF patients, and a molecular interaction with YKL-40 was identified. GAL3 did not interfere with the YKL-40 stimulation of IL-6, IL-10 and IL-13 but may modulate the coexpression. CONCLUSION: We observed that YKL-40 stimulation had a variable impact on IL-6, IL-10, and IL-13 gene expression in CF PBMCs and uncovered an interaction between GAL3 and YKL-40 in the serum of CF patients. Our findings suggest that YKL-40 is not only a biomarker of disease severity in CF, but it might play an active role in the inflammatory pathophysiology of the disease.

Diabetes and Prediabetes in Children With Cystic Fibrosis: A Systematic Review of the Literature and Recommendations of the Italian Society for Pediatric Endocrinology and Diabetes (ISPED).

Cystic fibrosis related diabetes (CFRD) is a comorbidity of cystic fibrosis (CF) that negatively impacts on its clinical course. Prediabetes is an important predictor of either CFRD development and unfavorable prognosis of CF in both pediatric and adult patients. International guidelines recommend insulin only in case of CFRD diagnosis. Whether early detection and treatment of prediabetes may contribute to improve the clinical course of CF is still debated. A subgroup of pediatric diabetologists of the Italian Society for Pediatric Endocrinology and Diabetology (ISPED) performed a systematic review of the literature based on predefined outcomes: impact of pre-diabetes on clinical outcomes and on the risk of developing CFRD; diagnosis of diabetes and pre-diabetes under 10 years of age; effectiveness of therapy on glycemic control, impact of therapy on pulmonary function and nutritional status. Thirty-one papers were selected for the analysis data presented in these papers were reported in tables sorted by outcomes, including comprehensive evidence grading according to the GRADE approach. Following the grading of the quality of the evidence, the entire ISPED diabetes study group achieved consensus for the Italian recommendations based on both evidence and clinical experience. We concluded that in patients with CF, prediabetes should be carefully considered as it can evolve into CFRD. In patients with CF and prediabetic conditions, after complete evaluation of the OGTT trend, glucometrics, glycemic values measured during pulmonary exacerbations and/or steroid therapy, early initiation of insulin therapy could have beneficial effects on clinical outcomes of patients with CF and prediabetes.

Allergic Reactions to Serine Protease-Like Proteins of Staphylococcus aureus.

In cystic fibrosis (CF) infectious and allergic airway inflammation cause pulmonary exacerbations that destroy the lungs. Staphylococcus aureus is a common long-term colonizer and cause of recurrent airway infections in CF. The pathogen is also associated with respiratory allergy; especially the staphylococcal serine protease-like proteins (Spls) can induce type 2 immune responses in humans and mice. We measured the serum IgE levels specific to 7 proteases of S. aureus by ELISA, targeting 5 Spls (76 CF patients and 46 controls) and the staphopains A and B (16 CF patients and 46 controls). Then we compared cytokine release and phenotype of T cells that had been stimulated with Spls between 5 CF patients and 5 controls. CF patients had strongly increased serum IgE binding to all Spls but not to the staphopains. Compared to healthy controls, their Spl-stimulated T cells released more type 2 cytokines (IL-4, IL-5, IL-13) and more IL-6 with no difference in the secretion of type 1- or type 3 cytokines (IFNγ, IL-17A, IL-17F). IL-10 production was low in CF T cells. The phenotype of the Spl-exposed T cells shifted towards a Th2 or Th17 profile in CF but to a Th1 profile in controls. Sensitization to S. aureus Spls is common in CF. This discovery could explain episodes of allergic inflammation of hitherto unknown causation in CF and extend the diagnostic and therapeutic portfolio.

DeltaF508 CFTR Hetero- and Homozygous Paediatric Patients with Cystic Fibrosis Do Not Differ with Regard to Nutritional Status.

The purpose of this study was to compare the nutritional status between deltaF508 CFTR hetero- and homozygous paediatric patients with cystic fibrosis. We assessed the percentage profiles of fatty acids measured in erythrocyte membranes and the serum levels of vitamins A, D3, E and K1 in the studied groups. We also measured the weights and heights and calculated the body mass indexes (BMIs). The studied groups consisted of 34 heterozygous and 30 homozygous patients. No statistically significant differences were found in the serum vitamins or erythrocyte membrane fatty acid profiles between the hetero- and homozygous patient groups, except for heptadecanoic acid (p = 0.038). The mean percentiles of height, weight and BMI did not differ significantly between the two groups. The homozygous and heterozygous paediatric patients with cystic fibrosis were similar in terms of their nutritional statuses.

Identification of Potential Leukocyte Biomarkers Related to Drug Recovery of CFTR: Clinical Applications in Cystic Fibrosis.

The aim of this study was the identification of specific proteomic profiles, related to a restored cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) activity in cystic fibrosis (CF) leukocytes before and after ex vivo treatment with the potentiator VX770. We used leukocytes, isolated from CF patients carrying residual function mutations and eligible for Ivacaftor therapy, and performed CFTR activity together with proteomic analyses through micro-LC-MS. Bioinformatic analyses of the results obtained revealed the downregulation of proteins belonging to the leukocyte transendothelial migration and regulation of actin cytoskeleton pathways when CFTR activity was rescued by VX770 treatment. In particular, we focused our attention on matrix metalloproteinase 9 (MMP9), because the high expression of this protease potentially contributes to parenchyma lung destruction and dysfunction in CF. Thus, the downregulation of MMP9 could represent one of the possible positive effects of VX770 in decreasing the disease progression, and a potential biomarker for the prediction of the efficacy of therapies targeting the defect of Cl- transport in CF.

Peak glucose during an oral glucose tolerance test is associated with future diabetes risk in adults with cystic fibrosis.

AIMS/HYPOTHESIS: Cystic fibrosis-related diabetes (CFRD) affects up to 50% of adults with cystic fibrosis (CF) and its presence is associated with adverse effects on nutritional status and pulmonary function. Early diagnosis could minimise CFRD morbidity, yet current methods of an OGTT at 0 and 2 h yield unreliable results. Our aim was to determine which indices from a 2 h OGTT with sampling every 30 min might improve prediction of CFRD. METHODS: Cross-sectional analysis at baseline (n = 293) and observational prospective analysis (n = 185; mean follow-up of 7.5 ± 4.2 years) of the Montreal Cystic Fibrosis Cohort were performed. Blood glucose and insulinaemia OGTT variables were studied in relation to lung function (forced expiratory volume in 1 s [FEV1]), BMI and risk of developing CFRD. RESULTS: At baseline, maximum OGTT glucose (Gmax) was negatively associated with FEV1 (p = 0.003). Other OGTT values, including classical 2 h glucose, were not. A higher Gmax was associated with lower insulin secretory capacity, delayed insulin peak timing and greater pancreatic insufficiency (p < 0.01). Gmax was positively associated with the risk of developing CFRD (p = 0.0029); no individual with a Gmax < 8 mmol/l developed CFRD over the following decade. No OGTT variable correlated to the rate of change in BMI or FEV1. CONCLUSIONS/INTERPRETATION: In adults with CF, Gmax is strongly associated with the risk of developing CFRD; Gmax < 8 mmol/l could identify those at very low risk of future CFRD. Gmax is higher in individuals with pancreatic insufficiency and is associated with poorer insulin secretory capacity and pulmonary function.

Severe Genotype, Pancreatic Insufficiency and Low Dose of Pancreatic Enzymes Associate with Abnormal Serum Sterol Profile in Cystic Fibrosis.

BACKGROUND: Several factors could lead to lipid disturbances observed in cystic fibrosis (CF). This study aimed to assess sterol homeostasis in CF and define potential exogenous and endogenous determinants of lipid dysregulation. METHODS: The study involved 55 CF patients and 45 healthy subjects (HS). Sterol concentrations (µg/dL) were measured by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry. CF was characterised by lung function, pancreatic status, liver disease and diabetes coexistence, Pseudomonas aeruginosa colonisation and BMI. CFTR genotypes were classified as severe or other. RESULTS: Campesterol and ß-sitosterol concentrations were lower (p = 0.0028 and p < 0.0001, respectively) and lathosterol levels (reflecting endogenous cholesterol biosynthesis) were higher (p = 0.0016) in CF patients than in HS. Campesterol and ß-sitosterol concentrations were lower in patients with a severe CFTR genotype, pancreatic insufficiency and lower pancreatic enzyme dose (lipase units/gram of fat). In multiple regression analyses, ß-sitosterol and campesterol concentrations were predicted by genotype and pancreatic insufficiency, whereas cholesterol and its fractions were predicted by phytosterol concentrations, age, dose of pancreatic enzymes, nutritional status and genotype. CONCLUSIONS: Independent determinants of lipid status suggest that malabsorption and pancreatic enzyme supplementation play a significant role in sterol abnormalities. The measurement of campesterol and ß-sitosterol concentrations in CF patients may serve for the assessment of the effectiveness of pancreatic enzyme replacement therapy and/or compliance, but further research is required.

Evaluation of airway and circulating inflammatory biomarkers for cystic fibrosis drug development.

INTRODUCTION: Biomarkers of inflammation in blood and sputum can play a critical role in anti-inflammatory drug development in cystic fibrosis (CF). The objectives of this analysis were to examine relationships between airway and systemic measurements of inflammation, associations between inflammatory biomarkers and FEV1, differences in airway and systemic inflammation by baseline covariates, reproducibility of serum biomarkers, and to assess the effects of freezing and delayed processing on sputum analyte measurements. METHODS: We analyzed baseline and serial concentrations of inflammatory markers in blood and induced sputum collected from individuals with CF ages 10 years and older who participated in a multicenter clinical trial. RESULTS: Among circulating biomarkers, serum high sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP) and serum amyloid A (SAA) correlated most strongly with each other (rs = 0.85). Comparing sputum-based inflammation measurements, sputum neutrophil elastase and myeloperoxidase (MPO) were the most highly correlated (rs = 0.88). Markers most strongly correlated with ppFEV1 were serum hsCRP (rs = -0.55), SAA (rs =-0.58), and sputum neutrophil elastase (rs = -0.53). Within-subject standard deviation was consistently lower than between-subject standard deviation for all serum biomarkers. Serum calprotectin and MPO had the highest ratio of between-to-within subject variability. Freezing and delayed sputum processing were not associated with significant differences in measurements of sputum neutrophil elastase, IL-1ß, or MPO. CONCLUSIONS: Among the biomarkers analyzed, serum hsCRP and sputum neutrophil elastase are promising candidates to include in CF anti-inflammatory clinical trials to avoid redundancy, minimize variation, and serve as correlates of lung disease severity and change.

Perinatal Reduced Blood Concentrations of Free Carnitine and Acylcarnitines in Infants with Cystic Fibrosis.

OBJECTIVE: Cystic fibrosis (CF) is a multisystemic inherited disease. The aim of this study was to determine free carnitine (FC) and acylcarnitine concentrations in CF newborns with various mutations of the CFTR gene perinatally. STUDY DESIGN: FC/acylcarnitines were determined in dried blood spots via liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) on the third day of life of full-term normal (n = 50) and CF (n = 28) newborns. For infants with elevated immunoreactive trypsinogen values, FC/acylcarnitines were quantified again 48 hours later, followed by mutational analysis of CFTR gene via Sanger sequencing. RESULTS: Initial FC and sums of acylcarnitine concentrations were statistically significantly lower in CF patients than in controls and even lower 48 hours later. The mutations F508del and 621 + 1G > T were predominantly identified among CF patients. CONCLUSION: Low FC and acylcarnitine concentrations were measured perinatally in CF patients, for all CFTR mutations detected. Carnitine supplementation of breastfeeding mothers could be beneficial.

Circulating CRP and calprotectin to diagnose CF pulmonary exacerbations.

Cystic fibrosis (CF) pulmonary exacerbations (PEx) remain underdiagnosed by CF clinicians. Serum C-reactive protein (CRP) and calprotectin are inflammatory biomarkers that have the potential to aid in the diagnosis of PEx. 19 subjects (56 stable, 46 PEx visits) from a longitudinal study were included and the diagnostic performance of absolute and fold-change CRP and calprotectin cut-offs to discriminate stable and PEx visits was assessed. Based on Youden's index, optimal absolute and fold-change thresholds to identify PEx were 9.5 mg/L (Sn 76%, Sp 73%; AUC 0.76) and 2.2-fold (Sn 50%, Sp 96%; AUC 0.78) for CRP and 8.1 mg/L (Sn 61%, Sp 79%; AUC 0.72) and 1.3-fold (Sn 57%, Sp 88%; AUC 0.74) for calprotectin. A step-wise algorithm was able to improve diagnostic performance (Sn 80%; Sp 88%). CRP and calprotectin could discriminate stable vs. PEx visits with good performance and appear promising as diagnostic biomarkers but further validation studies are required prior to implementing these diagnostic thresholds.

Cystic fibrosis newborn screening: the importance of bloodspot sample quality.

OBJECTIVE: Wales has an immunoreactive trypsin (IRT)-DNA cystic fibrosis (CF) newborn screening (NBS) programme. Most CF NBS false negative cases are due to an IRT concentration below the screening threshold. The accuracy of IRT results is dependent on the quality of the dried bloodspot (DBS) sample. The aim of this study was to determine the cause of false negative cases in CF NBS and their relationship to DBS quality. DESIGN: Longitudinal birth cohort. SETTING: Wales 1996-2016. PATIENTS: Children with CF. INTERVENTIONS: Identification of all CF patients with triangulation of multiple data sources to detect false negative cases. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: False negative cases. RESULTS: Over 20 years, 673 952 infants were screened and 239 were diagnosed with CF (incidence 1:2819). The sensitivity of the programme was 0.958, and positive predictive value was 0.476. Eighteen potential false negatives were identified, of whom eight were excluded: four screened outside Wales, two had complex comorbidities, no identified cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) variants on extended analysis and thus not considered to have CF and two were diagnosed after their 16th birthday. Of the 10 false negatives, 9 had a low DBS IRT and at least one common CFTR variant and thus should have received a sweat test under the programme. DBS cards were available for inspection for five of the nine false negative cases-all were classified as small/insufficient or poor quality. CONCLUSIONS: The majority of false negatives had a low bloodspot IRT, and this was associated with poor quality DBS. The optimal means to improve the sensitivity of our CF NBS programme would be to improve DBS sample quality.

YKL-40 as a clinical biomarker in adult patients with CF: Implications of a CHI3L1 single nucleotide polymorphism in disease severity.

BACKGROUND: YKL-40 (chitinase 3-like 1 gene; CHI3L1) is an inflammatory marker that is increased in the blood of patients with inflammatory diseases, including cystic fibrosis (CF). The objective of our study was to explore the relationship between circulating levels of YKL-40, selected CHI3L1 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) and the severity of CF disease. METHODS: A prospective cohort of 188 adult patients with CF was established in 2015. Blood samples and clinical data were collected over 2 years to analyze the circulating levels of YKL-40 and to genotype selected CHI3L1 SNPs. We also looked for an association between these factors and clinical parameters. RESULTS: We found that according to the serum YKL-40 concentration, the patients could be categorized into two distinct groups: low and high YKL-40. Compared to the patients in the low YKL-40 group, the patients in the high YKL-40 group had lower lung function (P < 0.001), a higher proportion of delF508 homozygote mutations (P= 0.027) and dysglycemia (P= 0.015). They were also more colonized with Pseudomonas aeruginosa (P= 0.003) and required more frequent antibiotic intravenous courses (P < 0.001). We also observed that patients expressing the C/C-rs4950928 genotype had higher levels of YKL-40 in their blood and were more frequently dysglycemic. CONCLUSION: Our study suggests that YKL-40 could be a potential biomarker of CF disease severity. Furthermore, the CHI3L1 rs4950928 SNP could be a susceptible gene that could be used by CF health professionals to identify patients who are the most at risk of having a severe clinical profile.

Glucose Tolerance Stages in Cystic Fibrosis Are Identified by a Unique Pattern of Defects of Beta-Cell Function.

OBJECTIVE: We aimed to assess the order of severity of the defects of 3 direct determinants of glucose regulation-beta-cell function, insulin clearance, and insulin sensitivity-in patients with cystic fibrosis (CF), categorized according their glucose tolerance status, including early elevation of mid-level oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) glucose values (>140 and <200 mg/dL), referred to as AGT140. METHODS: A total of 232 CF patients aged 10 to 25 years underwent OGTT. Beta-cell function and insulin clearance were estimated by OGTT mathematical modeling and OGTT-derived biomarkers of insulin secretion and sensitivity were calculated. The association between glucometabolic variables and 5 glucose tolerance stages (normal glucose tolerance [NGT], AGT140, indeterminate glucose tolerance [INDET], impaired glucose tolerance [IGT], cystic fibrosis-related diabetes CFRD]) was assessed with a general linear model. RESULTS: Beta-cell function and insulin sensitivity progressively worsened across glucose tolerance stages (P < 0.001), with AGT140 patients significantly differing from NGT (all P < 0.01). AGT140 and INDET showed a degree of beta-cell dysfunction similar to IGT and CFRD, respectively (all P < 0.01). Insulin clearance was not significantly associated with glucose tolerance stages (P = 0.162). Each stage of glucose tolerance was uniquely identified by a specific combination of defects of the direct determinants of glucose regulation. CONCLUSIONS: In CF patients, each of the 5 glucose tolerance stages shows a unique pattern of defects of the direct determinants of glucose regulation, with AGT140 patients significantly differing from NGT and being similar to IGT. These findings suggest that AGT140 should be recognized as a distinct glucose tolerance stage and that reconsideration of the grade of glucometabolic deterioration across glucose tolerance stages in CF is warranted.