Neurocognitive outcome and mental health in children with tyrosinemia type 1 and phenylketonuria: A comparison between two genetic disorders affecting the same metabolic pathway

Tyrosinemia type 1 (TT1) and phenylketonuria (PKU) are both inborn errors of phenylalanine–tyrosine metabolism. Neurocognitive and behavioral outcomes have always featured in PKU research but received less attention in TT1 research. This study aimed to investigate and compare neurocognitive, behavioral, and social outcomes of treated TT1 and PKU patients. We included 33 TT1 patients (mean age 11.24 years; 16 male), 31 PKU patients (mean age 10.84; 14 male), and 58 age- and gender-matched healthy controls (mean age 10.82 years; 29 male). IQ (Wechsler-subtests), executive functioning (the Behavioral Rating Inventory of Executive Functioning), mental health (the Achenbach-scales), and social functioning (the Social Skills Rating System) were assessed. Results of TT1 patients, PKU patients, and healthy controls were compared using Kruskal–Wallis tests with post-hoc Mann–Whitney U tests. TT1 patients showed a lower IQ and poorer executive functioning, mental health, and social functioning compared to healthy controls and PKU patients. PKU patients did not differ from healthy controls regarding these outcome measures. Relatively poor outcomes for TT1 patients were particularly evident for verbal IQ, BRIEF dimensions “working memory”, “plan and organize” and “monitor”, ASEBA dimensions “social problems” and “attention problems”, and for the SSRS “assertiveness” scale (all p values <0.001). To conclude, TT1 patients showed cognitive impairments on all domains studied, and appeared to be significantly more affected than PKU patients. More attention should be paid to investigating and monitoring neurocognitive outcome in TT1 and research should focus on explaining the underlying pathophysiological mechanism

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease concerns with glucokinase activators

We read with interest the Article in The Lancet Diabetes and Endocrinology by Dalong Zhu and colleagues, in which dorzagliatin, a dual-acting, allosteric glucokinase activator, showed a beneficial effect on glycaemic control in a phase 2 trial. Although the introduction of a new class of glucose-lowering drugs with a different mode of action is always welcome, particularly in this era of precision medicine, it is important to question the metabolic consequences of the dorzagliatin-induced reduction in plasma glucose

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease concerns with glucokinase activators

We read with interest the Article in The Lancet Diabetes and Endocrinology by Dalong Zhu and colleagues, in which dorzagliatin, a dual-acting, allosteric glucokinase activator, showed a beneficial effect on glycaemic control in a phase 2 trial. Although the introduction of a new class of glucose-lowering drugs with a different mode of action is always welcome, particularly in this era of precision medicine, it is important to question the metabolic consequences of the dorzagliatin-induced reduction in plasma glucose

Patients with aldolase B deficiency are characterized by increased intrahepatic triglyceride content

CONTEXT:There is an ongoing debate about whether and how fructose is involved in the pathogenesis of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). A recent experimental study showed an increased intrahepatic triglyceride (IHTG) content in mice deficient for aldolase B (aldo B-/-), the enzyme that converts fructose-1-phosphate to triose phosphates. OBJECTIVE:To translate these experimental findings to the human situation. DESIGN:Case-control study. SETTING:Outpatient clinic for inborn errors of metabolism. PATIENTS OR OTHER PARTICIPANTS:Patients with hereditary fructose intolerance, a rare inborn error of metabolism caused by a defect in aldolase B (n = 15), and healthy persons matched for age, sex, and body mass index (BMI) (n =15). MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE:IHTG content, assessed by proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy. RESULTS:IHTG content was higher in aldo B-/- patients than controls (2.5% vs 0.6%; P = 0.001) on a background of lean body mass (median BMI, 20.4 and 21.8 kg/m2, respectively). Glucose excursions during an oral glucose load were higher in aldo B-/- patients (P = 0.043). Hypoglycosylated transferrin, a surrogate marker for hepatic fructose-1-phosphate concentrations, was more abundant in aldo B-/- patients than in controls (P &lt; 0.001). Finally, plasma β-hydroxybutyrate, a biomarker of hepatic β-oxidation, was lower in aldo B-/- patients than controls (P = 0.009). CONCLUSIONS:This study extends previous experimental findings by demonstrating that aldolase B deficiency also results in IHTG accumulation in humans. It suggests that the accumulation of fructose-1-phosphate and impairment of β-oxidation are involved in the pathogenesis