Association between rs7901695 and rs7903146 polymorphisms of the TCF7L2 gene and gestational diabetes in the population of Southern Poland

Objectives: The etiology of gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) remains to be fully elucidated. Elevated risk for type 2 diabetes in patients with history of GDM and for GDM in women with familial history of diabetes may suggest that GDM and type 2 diabetes share a common genetic and environmental background. The TCF7L2 (Transcription Factor 7 Like 2) gene is one of the most important genetic factors of the established correlation with type 2 diabetes, and it may also play a role in the pathophysiology of GDM.The aim of the study was to assess the influence of two polymorphisms of the TCF7L2 gene (rs7901695 and rs7903146), which are associated with the development of type 2 diabetes, in women with GDM.Material and methods: The study included 50 women with glucose tolerance disorders diagnosed for the first time during the current pregnancy. Single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) were genotyped using allelic discrimination. The results were confirmed using the sequencing method. Selected clinical parameters were also analyzed.Results: No correlation between the studied polymorphisms of the TCF7L2 gene and GDM was observed. Glycemic control with diet or diet and insulin was associated with better control of the weight gain during pregnancy.Conclusions: No correlation between rs7903146 and rs7901695 polymorphisms of the TCF7L2 gene and GDM was found. Glycemic control with diet or diet and insulin is associated with better control of the weight gain during pregnancy

Local elasticity of the aorta in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus

Objective Arterial elasticity is important for assessing the state of an artery. This cross-sectional study aimed to non-invasively examine stiffness parameters of the ascending aorta in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Methods We studied 58 patients, including 38 with T2DM and 20 controls. The stiffness of the aorta was evaluated during transthoracic echocardiography. Aortic parameters of stiffness, such as the stiffness index, elasticity index, and compliance index, were calculated using the aortic maximal diameter, aortic minimal diameter, and blood pressure. Results Pulse pressure values were significantly higher patients with T2DM than in controls. The β index was significantly higher in patients with T2DM lasting for &gt;7 years compared with those with T2DM lasting for &lt;7 years. Mean aortic compliance was significantly lower in patients with a longer duration of diabetes than in those with a shorter duration of diabetes. Aortic elasticity was significantly lower in patients with diabetes and arterial hypertension compared with patients without diabetes with concomitant arterial hypertension. Conclusions Patients with T2DM, especially when T2DM is long-term, have increased stiffness and decreased compliance of the ascending aorta. Pulse pressure, which is a cardiovascular risk factor, is also significantly increased in patients with T2DM. </jats:sec

Level of Serum Fetuin-A Correlates with Heart Rate in Obstructive Sleep Apnea Patients without Metabolic and Cardiovascular Comorbidities

Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is the most common type of sleep-induced breathing disorder in the adult population and significantly affects the condition of the cardiovascular system. Fetuin-A (Fet-A) is a hepato- and adipokine, which prevents vessel calcification, and its level correlates with atherogenesis and metabolic disorders. The associations of cardiovascular diseases (CVD) both with OSA, which increases CVD risk, and Fet-A, which prevents CVD, justify the question of their mutual interactions in patients with OSA. Therefore, we sought to analyze Fet-A as an early biomarker of CVD risk in OSA patients without metabolic and cardiovascular comorbidities except for properly controlled arterial hypertension. We have found that in these patients, OSA does not appear to directly affect Fet-A levels. However, high Fet-A levels were more common in the group of patients with OSA, and the hypopnea index was significantly higher among subjects with the highest Fet-A levels. The level of Fet-A in OSA patients positively correlates with pulse rate, and it does not correlate with pulse pressure in this group unlike in the control group, where such a relationship exists. To our best knowledge, this is the first study to analyze this relationship in OSA patients without any significant cardiovascular comorbidities.</jats:p

Depresja u osób starszych z cukrzycą typu 2

Wstęp: Celem pracy było zbadanie związku między depresją u starszych pacjentów z cukrzycą typu 2 a czasem trwania choroby, powikłaniami mikronaczyniowymi i poziomem edukacji diabetologicznej. Materiał i metody: Chorych podzielono na trzy główne grupy: grupa badana I w wieku 37–58 lat, grupa badana II w wieku 70–79 lat, grupa badana III w wieku 80 lat więcej. Na podstawie zgromadzonej dokumentacji medycznej określono średni czas trwania cukrzycy, występowanie powikłań mikronaczyniowych, poziom edukacji diabetologicznej oraz nasilenie depresji w poszczególnych grupach wiekowych. Wyniki: Powikłania mikronaczyniowe częściej występowały w grupach pacjentów starszych i z niższym poziomem edukacji diabetologicznej. W najstarszej grupie najczęściej występowała depresja umiarkowanie ciężka i ciężka, natomiast w grupie najmłodszej 50% pacjentów nie miało objawów depresji, u 43,4% stwierdzono łagodną depresję, a najrzadziej występowała depresja umiarkowana i umiarkowanie ciężka (3,3%). Różnice były istotne statystycznie (p &lt; 0,00001). Wnioski: U chorych z cukrzycą typu 2 depresja częściej występuje w starszych grupach wiekowych z dłuższym średnim czasem trwania cukrzycy, niższym poziomem edukacji diabetologicznej i większym nasileniem powikłań mikronaczyniowych

Depression in the elderly with type 2 diabetes mellitus

Background: The aim of this work was to explore the association of depression in elderly patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) with disease duration, microvascular complications and level of diabetes education. Methods: Patients were divided into three main groups: group 1 aged 37–58 years, group 2 aged 70–79, group 3 aged ≥ 80 years. On the basis of collected medical records mean diabetes duration, microvascular complications, diabetes education level and depression severity were determined in particular age groups. Results: Microvascular complications occurred more frequently in older groups of patients with lower diabetes education level. In the oldest group moderately severe and severe depression was most frequent, while in the youngest group 50% of patients did not have any signs of depression, 43.4% presented mild depression, moderate and moderately severe depression was the least frequent (3.3%). Differences were statistically significant (p &lt; 0.00001). Conclusions: In patients with T2DM depression is more common in older age groups with longer average diabetes duration, lower diabetes education level and greater severity of microvascular disease complications

Level of Serum Fetuin-A Correlates with Heart Rate in Obstructive Sleep Apnea Patients without Metabolic and Cardiovascular Comorbidities

Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is the most common type of sleep-induced breathing disorder in the adult population and significantly affects the condition of the cardiovascular system. Fetuin-A (Fet-A) is a hepato- and adipokine, which prevents vessel calcification, and its level correlates with atherogenesis and metabolic disorders. The associations of cardiovascular diseases (CVD) both with OSA, which increases CVD risk, and Fet-A, which prevents CVD, justify the question of their mutual interactions in patients with OSA. Therefore, we sought to analyze Fet-A as an early biomarker of CVD risk in OSA patients without metabolic and cardiovascular comorbidities except for properly controlled arterial hypertension. We have found that in these patients, OSA does not appear to directly affect Fet-A levels. However, high Fet-A levels were more common in the group of patients with OSA, and the hypopnea index was significantly higher among subjects with the highest Fet-A levels. The level of Fet-A in OSA patients positively correlates with pulse rate, and it does not correlate with pulse pressure in this group unlike in the control group, where such a relationship exists. To our best knowledge, this is the first study to analyze this relationship in OSA patients without any significant cardiovascular comorbidities