Evidences of +896 A/G TLR4 Polymorphism as an Indicative of Prevalence of Complications in T2DM Patients

T2DMis today considered as world-wide health problem, with complications responsible of an enhanced mortality and morbidity. Thus, new strategies for its prevention and therapy are necessary. For this reason, the research interest has focused its attention on TLR4 and its polymorphisms, particularly the rs4986790. However, no conclusive findings have been reported until now about the role of this polymorphism in development of T2DM and its complications, even if a recent meta-analysis showed its T2DM association in Caucasians. In this study, we sought to evaluate the weight of rs4986790 polymorphism in the risk of the major T2DMcomplications, including 367 T2DMpatients complicated for the 55.6%. Patients with A/A and A/G TLR4 genotypes showed significant differences in complication\u2019s prevalence. In particular, AG carriers had higher risk prevalence for neuropathy (P = 0.026), lower limb arteriopathy (P = 0.013), and the major cardiovascular pathologies (P = 0.017). Their cumulative risk was significant (P = 0.01), with a threefold risk to develop neuropathy, lower limb arteriopathy, and major cardiovascular events in AG cases compared to AA cases.The adjusted OR for the confounding variables was 3.788 (95% CI: 1.642\u20138.741).Thus, the rs4986790 polymorphism may be an indicative of prevalence of complications in T2DM patients

Mitochondrial DNA Backgrounds Might Modulate Diabetes Complications Rather than T2DM as a Whole

Mitochondrial dysfunction has been implicated in rare and common forms of type 2 diabetes (T2DM). Additionally, rare mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) mutations have been shown to be causal for T2DM pathogenesis. So far, many studies have investigated the possibility that mtDNA variation might affect the risk of T2DM, however, when found, haplogroup association has been rarely replicated, even in related populations, possibly due to an inadequate level of haplogroup resolution. Effects of mtDNA variation on diabetes complications have also been proposed. However, additional studies evaluating the mitochondrial role on both T2DM and related complications are badly needed. To test the hypothesis of a mitochondrial genome effect on diabetes and its complications, we genotyped the mtDNAs of 466 T2DM patients and 438 controls from a regional population of central Italy (Marche). Based on the most updated mtDNA phylogeny, all 904 samples were classified into 57 different mitochondrial sub-haplogroups, thus reaching an unprecedented level of resolution. We then evaluated whether the susceptibility of developing T2DM or its complications differed among the identified haplogroups, considering also the potential effects of phenotypical and clinical variables. MtDNA backgrounds, even when based on a refined haplogroup classification, do not appear to play a role in developing T2DM despite a possible protective effect for the common European haplogroup H1, which harbors the G3010A transition in the MTRNR2 gene. In contrast, our data indicate that different mitochondrial haplogroups are significantly associated with an increased risk of specific diabetes complications: H (the most frequent European haplogroup) with retinopathy, H3 with neuropathy, U3 with nephropathy, and V with renal failure

Association of kidney disease measures with risk of renal function worsening in patients with type 1 diabetes

Background: Albuminuria has been classically considered a marker of kidney damage progression in diabetic patients and it is routinely assessed to monitor kidney function. However, the role of a mild GFR reduction on the development of stage 653 CKD has been less explored in type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) patients. Aim of the present study was to evaluate the prognostic role of kidney disease measures, namely albuminuria and reduced GFR, on the development of stage 653 CKD in a large cohort of patients affected by T1DM. Methods: A total of 4284 patients affected by T1DM followed-up at 76 diabetes centers participating to the Italian Association of Clinical Diabetologists (Associazione Medici Diabetologi, AMD) initiative constitutes the study population. Urinary albumin excretion (ACR) and estimated GFR (eGFR) were retrieved and analyzed. The incidence of stage 653 CKD (eGFR < 60 mL/min/1.73 m2) or eGFR reduction > 30% from baseline was evaluated. Results: The mean estimated GFR was 98 \ub1 17 mL/min/1.73m2 and the proportion of patients with albuminuria was 15.3% (n = 654) at baseline. About 8% (n = 337) of patients developed one of the two renal endpoints during the 4-year follow-up period. Age, albuminuria (micro or macro) and baseline eGFR < 90 ml/min/m2 were independent risk factors for stage 653 CKD and renal function worsening. When compared to patients with eGFR > 90 ml/min/1.73m2 and normoalbuminuria, those with albuminuria at baseline had a 1.69 greater risk of reaching stage 3 CKD, while patients with mild eGFR reduction (i.e. eGFR between 90 and 60 mL/min/1.73 m2) show a 3.81 greater risk that rose to 8.24 for those patients with albuminuria and mild eGFR reduction at baseline. Conclusions: Albuminuria and eGFR reduction represent independent risk factors for incident stage 653 CKD in T1DM patients. The simultaneous occurrence of reduced eGFR and albuminuria have a synergistic effect on renal function worsening

On the thermal characteristics and the mitigation potential of a medium size urban park in Athens, Greece

Measurements have been performed during summer in and around a medium size urban park located in the western part of Athens, Greece. Additional temperature data from 15 urban and suburban stations are used to perform comparative analysis at the city level. The park presents an important temperature inhomogeneity during both day and night. Average nocturnal cool island intensities against the reference urban stations varied between -0.7. K and -2.8. K, while during the daytime the average maximum cool island intensity (CII) was between -0.2. K and -2.6. K. A statistical significant correlation between the CII and the population density is found for both day and night. The park was warmer than the urban stations for ambient temperatures lower than 34. °C, while for higher urban temperatures the park was cooler and the absolute CII increased as a function of the ambient temperature. An important correlation with the wind speed is observed for wind speeds higher than 6. m/s. The mitigation potential of the park was assessed by performing three types of traverses around the park. The park cooling intensity was varying between 3.3 and 3.8. K, while the temperature gradient along the traverses changes as a function of the thermal properties of the urban areas and was between 0.2 and 1.4. K/100. m. The park cooling intensity presents a strong correlation with the wind speed for values higher than 5. m/s. The climatic influence of the park was extended up to 300. m from the borders of the park. © 2013 Elsevier B.V

Moisture sorption properties of modified porous clays for roof evaporative cooling applications

This research concentrates on evaporative cooling, a sustainable and alternative way to cool a roof surface by taking advantage of the properties of porous materials. During periods of rain or high humidity nights, water sorbents store moisture in their small pores inside their particles. During a warm sunny day, the latent heat released due to evaporation of moisture, maintains the surface temperature at low level. Lower roof temperatures contribute to smaller heat flow inside the building while reducing the cooling load. In this work, materials consisting of ordinary soil, montmorillonite and modified clays were used. Prior to moisture sorption experiments, materials were characterized by techniques including X-ray diffraction, X-ray fluorescence, thermogravimetric analysis and porosimetry. In order to determine the sorption isotherms, dry specimens were placed initially in desiccators above four different saturated salts in water solutions (32.8% to 93.6%). The modified clay was found to have the highest equilibrium state (10% after almost 4 days of sorption at high relative humidity). Also the moisture sorption rate of the modified clay was faster than the rest of the materials and equilibrium was attained in less than 12 hours. Moreover, a specific environment chamber was developed and tested for the evaporative cooling properties of the materials. The lower observed surface temperatures under simulating radiation of the modified clays in comparison to ordinary soil, indicated their significant potential for evaporative cooling applications