Increased ANGPTL3, 4 and ANGPTL8/betatrophin expression levels in obesity and T2D.

BACKGROUND: Hypertriglyceridemia is associated with increased risk for cardiovascular diseases and type 2 diabetes (T2D). Angiopoietin like proteins particularly 3, 4 and recently 8 are well established regulators of plasma triglyceride level through regulating the activity of lipoprotein lipase. Plasma level and association between ANGPTL3, 4 and 8 is not well established in human subjects. This study was designed to establish the level of these proteins in plasma and adipose tissues and investigate the association between ANGPTL8 with ANGPTL3 and 4 in T2D and non-diabetics subjects. METHODS: A total of 235 subjects were enrolled in this study, 144 non-diabetics and 91 T2D. ANGPTL 3, 4 and 8 levels were measured in plasma by ELISA and using real time RT-PCR in adipose tissues. RESULTS: In this study, we showed that ANGPTL3, 4 and 8 were higher in T2D subjects. Dividing the non-diabetic subjects according to their BMI showed higher level of ANGPTL3, 4 and 8 in obese subjects compared to non-obese subjects. No significant difference was observed between the T2D subjects. ANGPTL8 was showed positive correlation with ANGPTL3 in the non-diabetic subjects in the non-obese (r = 0.2437, p-Value = 0.0543) and obese subjects (r = 0.418, p-Value = 0.0125). No association was observed in the T2D subjects. On the other hand, ANGPTL4 was positively associated with the obese subjects in both the non-diabetics (r = 0.3322, p-Value = 0.0316) and the obese T2D subjects (r = 0.3161, p-Value = 0.0211). CONCLUSION: In conclusion, our data shows that ANGPTL3, 4 and 8 are increased in obesity and T2D. ANGPTL8 associates with ANGPTL3 in the non-diabetic subjects while it associated more with ANGPTL4 in the obese and T2D subjects. Taken together, this data highlight the role of these proteins in metabolic diseases and how they interact with each other's under different physiological and pathophysiological conditions.

Intermediate hyperglycaemia, insulin resistance and metabolic syndrome among obese Arab children (12-17 years old) in Kuwait.

OBJECTIVE: To screen 97 obese Arab adolescents for metabolic risk factors. RESULTS: Insulin resistance, metabolic syndrome and intermediate hyperglycaemia was found in 56.7 %, 14.4 % and 27.8 % (HbA1c) while fasting plasma glucose was impaired in 0-16.5 %, using different cut-offs. Interventions to prevent obesity and diabetes are needed.

Microbiological profile of diabetic foot ulcers in Kuwait.

INTRODUCTION: Diabetic foot ulcers (DFU) and infection (DFI) are a major diabetes-related problem around the world due to the high prevalence of diabetes in the population. The aim of our study was to determine the microbiological profile of infected ulcers in patients attending Dasman Diabetes Institute (DDI) clinics in Kuwait and to analyze the distribution of microbial isolates according to wound grade, sex, age and diabetes control. METHODS: We collected and analyzed clinical data and samples from 513 diabetic patients with foot ulcers referred to our podiatry clinic at DDI from Jan 2011 till Dec 2017. RESULTS: We show a higher prevalence of DFU in men than in women, and a greater percentage of DFU occurred in men at an earlier age (p<0.05). Only about half of the DFU were clinically infected (49.3%) but 92% of DFU showed bacterial growth in the microbiological lab analysis. In addition, we isolated more monomicrobial (57.3%) than polymicrobial (34.8%) DFI and representing an average of 1.30 pathogens per patient. The presence of Gram-positive and Gram-negative strains was comparable between men and women regardless their age or glucose levels. Interestingly, more Gram-positive strains are present in ulcers without ischemia while more Gram-negative strains are present in ulcers with ischemia (p<0.05). While Staphylococcus aureus was common in infected ulcers without ischemia, Pseudomonas aeruginosa was predominant in ulcers with infection and ischemia, regardless of ulcer depth. Finally, a higher percentage of women has controlled HbA1c levels (19.41% versus 11.95% in men) and more women in this group displayed non-infected wounds (60.6% and 43.90% for women and men, respectively). CONCLUSION: Our results provide an updated picture of the DFI patterns and antibiotics resistance in patients attending Dasman Diabetes Institute (DDI) clinics in Kuwait which might help in adopting the appropriate treatment of infected foot and improving clinical outcomes.

Fructose tolerance test in obese people with and without type 2 diabetes.

BACKGROUND: Fructose is distinct among common sugars in its ability to raise serum uric acid, and some studies suggest fructose-induced uric acid production may have a role in the ability of this sugar to induce metabolic syndrome. A fructose tolerance test has been previously developed to evaluate the relative ability of fructose to raise uric acid in individuals. However, the effect of fructose to raise uric acid in people with diabetes has not been studied. METHODS: People with type 2 diabetes (n = 143) and without diabetes controls (n = 132) with similar body mass index (BMI) underwent an oral fructose tolerance test. As a comparison, participants also had their uric acid levels measured after an oral glucose tolerance test on a different day. RESULTS: Serum uric acid was lower in people with type 2 diabetes compared to controls with a similar BMI, especially those with poor glucose control (glycosylated hemoglobin [HbA1c] ≥ 8%). Fructose administration raised serum uric acid in both groups, with a lower absolute rise in people with diabetes. People with diabetes with a blunted rise in serum uric acid had higher baseline serum uric acid concentrations and a higher BMI. People without diabetes with a higher BMI also showed a blunted serum uric acid response. Oral glucose administration lowered serum uric acid in both participants, with a greater fall in those with diabetes. CONCLUSION: Both the presence of diabetes and obesity blunt the serum uric acid response to fructose ingestion. These data demonstrate altered fructose-dependent urate metabolism in type 2 diabetes.

Is There a Role for Informal Caregivers in the Management of Diabetic Foot Ulcers? A Narrative Review.

Successful management of diabetic foot ulceration (DFU) is crucial for preventing long-term morbidity and lowering risk of amputations. This can be achieved with a multifaceted approach involving a multidisciplinary team, with the patient at the centre. However, not all healthcare setups enable this, and the rate of lower limb amputations continues to rise. It is therefore time to consider new approaches to diabetic foot care, capitalising on engagement from patients in self-management while supported by their informal caregivers (ICGs) to help improve outcome. The role of ICGs in DFU care has the potential to make a significant difference in outcome, yet this resource remains, in most cases, underutilised. Limited research has been conducted in this area to reveal the true impact on patient outcomes and the caregivers themselves. This narrative review aims to explore how ICGs can benefit DFU management with applicability to different healthcare setups while benefiting from established experience in the care of other chronic health conditions.

Plasma and adipose tissue level of angiopoietin-like 7 (ANGPTL7) are increased in obesity and reduced after physical exercise.

OBJECTIVE: ANGPTL7 is a member of the Angiopoietin-like (ANGPTL) protein family that is composed of eight proteins (1-8). Increasing evidence is associating ANGPTL proteins to obesity and insulin resistance. The biological role of ANGPTL7 is yet to be understood except for a recently proposed role in the pathophysiology of glaucoma. This study was designed to shed light on the function of ANGPTL7 in obesity and its modulation by physical exercise as well as its potential association with lipid profile. METHODS: A total of 144 subjects were enrolled in this study and finished three months of physical exercise. The participants were classified based on their BMI, 82 subjects were non-obese and 62 obese. ANGPTL7 levels in plasma and adipose tissue were measured by ELISA, RT-PCR and immunohistochemistry. RESULTS: In this study, we showed that ANGPTL7 level was increased in the plasma of obese subjects (1249.05± 130.39 pg/mL) as compared to non-obese (930.34 ± 87.27 pg/mL) (p-Value = 0.032). ANGPTL7 Gene and protein expression levels in adipose tissue also showed over two fold increase. Physical exercise reduced circulating level of ANGPTL7 in the obese subjects to 740.98± 127.18 pg/mL, (p-Value = 0.007). ANGPTL7 expression in adipose tissue was also reduced after exercise. Finally, ANGPTL7 circulating level showed significant association with TG level in the obese subjects (R2 = 0.183, p-Value = 0.03). CONCLUSION: In conclusion, our data shows for the first time that obesity increases the level of ANGPTL7 in both plasma and adipose tissue. Increased expression of ANGPTL7 might play a minor role in the regulation of TG level in obese subjects either directly or through interaction with other ANGPTL protein members. Physical exercise reduced the level of ANGPTL7 highlighting the potential for targeting this protein as a therapeutic target for regulating dyslipidemia.

Prevalence of Urinary Tract Infection and Antimicrobial Susceptibility among Diabetic Patients with Controlled and Uncontrolled Glycemia in Kuwait.

Diabetic patients have higher risk of urinary tract infection (UTI). In the present study, we investigated the impact of glycemic control in diabetic patients on UTI prevalence, type of strains, and their antimicrobial drugs susceptibility. This study was conducted on urine samples from 722 adult diabetic patients from which 252 (35%) samples were positive for uropathogens. Most UTI cases occurred in the uncontrolled glycemic group (197 patients) versus 55 patients with controlled glycemia. Higher glycemic levels were measured in uncontrolled glycemia group (HbA1c = 8.3 ± 1.5 and 5.4 ± 0.4, resp., P < 0.0001). Females showed much higher prevalence of UTI than males in both glycemic groups (88.5% and 11.5%, resp., P < 0.0001). In the uncontrolled glycemia group 90.9% of the UTI cases happened at ages above 40 years and a clear correlation was obtained between patient age ranges and number of UTI cases (r = 0.94; P = 0.017), whereas in the group with controlled glycemia no trend was observed. Escherichia coli was the predominant uropathogen followed by Klebsiella pneumoniae and they were together involved in 76.2% of UTI cases. Those species were similarly present in both diabetic groups and displayed comparable antibiotic resistance pattern. These results highlight the importance of controlling glycemia in diabetic patients to reduce the UTI regardless of age and gender.