Depression in Diabetic Patients: What Is the Link With Eating Disorders? Results of a Study in a Representative Sample of Patients With Type 1 Diabetes

Comorbidity between diabetes and depression, and diabetes and eating disorders (ED) conveys significant diagnostic, clinical and therapeutic implications. The present study was conducted on a sample of adult outpatients affected by Type 1 Diabetes (T1DM) to assess lifetime prevalence of ED; current prevalence of depression and Disturbed Eating Behaviors (DEB) and their impact on glycemic control. We hypothesized that patients with depression would have higher rates of lifetime ED and current DEB. We hypothesized a significant and independent association between DEB and the prevalence of depression

Investigation of Genetic Variants Associated with Tryptophan Metabolite Levels via Serotonin and Kynurenine Pathways in Patients with Bipolar Disorder

The kynurenine pathway (KP) may play a role in the pathophysiology of bipolar disorder (BD). We conducted a genome-wide association study (GWAS) to identify genetic variants associated with the plasma levels of the metabolites of tryptophan (TRP) via the serotonin (5-HT) and kynurenine (KYN) pathways in 44 patients with BD and 45 healthy controls. We assessed whether variants that were differentially associated with metabolite levels based on the diagnostic status improved the prediction accuracy of BD using penalized regression approaches. We identified several genetic variants that were significantly associated with metabolites (5-HT, 5-hydroxytryptophan (5-HTP), TRP, and quinolinic acid (QA) or metabolite ratios (5-HTP/TRP and KYN/TRP) and for which the diagnostic status exerted a significant effect. The inclusion of genetic variants led to increased accuracy in the prediction of the BD diagnostic status. Specifically, we obtained an accuracy of 0.77 using Least Absolute Shrinkage and Selection Operator (LASSO) regression. The predictors retained as informative in this model included body mass index (BMI), the levels of TRP, QA, and 5-HT, the 5-HTP/TRP ratio, and genetic variants associated with the levels of QA (rs6827515, rs715692, rs425094, rs4645874, and rs77048355) and TRP (rs292212) or the 5-HTP/TRP ratio (rs7902231). In conclusion, our study identified statistically significant associations between metabolites of TRP via the 5-HT and KYN pathways and genetic variants at the genome-wide level. The discriminative performance of penalized regression models incorporating clinical, genetic, and metabolic predictors warrants a follow-up analysis of this panel of determinants

Melatonin MT1 receptors as a target for the psychopharmacology of bipolar disorder: a translational study

The treatment of bipolar disorder (BD) still remains a challenge. Melatonin (MLT), acting through its two receptors MT1 and MT2, plays a key role in regulating circadian rhythms which are dysfunctional in BD. Using a translational approach, we examined the implication and potential of MT1 receptors in the pathophysiology and psychopharmacology of BD. We employed a murine model of the manic phase of BD (Clock mutant (ClockΔ19) mice) to study the activation of MT1 receptors by UCM871, a selective partial agonist, in behavioral pharmacology tests and in-vivo electrophysiology. We then performed a high-resolution Nuclear Magnetic Resonance study on isolated membranes to characterize the molecular mechanism of interaction of UCM871. Finally, in a cohort of BD patients, we investigated the link between clinical measures of BD and genetic variants located in the MT1 receptor and CLOCK genes. We demonstrated that: 1) UCM871 can revert behavioral and electrophysiological abnormalities of ClockΔ19 mice; 2) UCM871 promotes the activation state of MT1 receptors; 3) there is a significant association between the number of severe manic episodes and MLT levels, depending on the genetic configuration of the MT1 rs2165666 variant. Overall, this work lends support to the potentiality of MT1 receptors as target for the treatment of BD

A Multicenter Retrospective Survey regarding Diabetic Ketoacidosis Management in Italian Children with Type 1 Diabetes

We conducted a retrospective survey in pediatric centers belonging to the Italian Society for Pediatric Diabetology and Endocrinology. The following data were collected for all new-onset diabetes patients aged 0-18 years: DKA (pH < 7.30), severe DKA (pH < 7.1), DKA in preschool children, DKA treatment according to ISPAD protocol, type of rehydrating solution used, bicarbonates use, and amount of insulin infused. Records (n = 2453) of children with newly diagnosed diabetes were collected from 68/77 centers (87%), 39 of which are tertiary referral centers, the majority of whom (n = 1536, 89.4%) were diagnosed in the tertiary referral centers. DKA was observed in 38.5% and severe DKA in 10.3%. Considering preschool children, DKA was observed in 72%, and severe DKA in 16.7%. Cerebral edema following DKA treatment was observed in 5 (0.5%). DKA treatment according to ISPAD guidelines was adopted in 68% of the centers. In the first 2 hours, rehydration was started with normal saline in all centers, but with different amount. Bicarbonate was quite never been used. Insulin was infused starting from third hour at the rate of 0.05-0.1 U/kg/h in 72% of centers. Despite prevention campaign, DKA is still observed in Italian children at onset, with significant variability in DKA treatment, underlying the need to share guidelines among centers

Gioco responsabile e comportamenti di salute: un progetto di ricerca e intervento in Emilia-Romagna

Il gioco d\u2019azzardo ha una diffusione pervasiva nella societ\ue0 contemporanea e pu\uf2 esitare nel disturbo da gioco d\u2019azzardo \u2013 DGA \u2013 che determina gravi disagi personali, familiari e sociali. Il progetto di ricerca e intervento \ue8 stato svolto presso 8 sale bingo di 6 citt\ue0 della regione Emilia Romagna (Modena, Lugo, Bologna, Parma, Cesena, Cesenatico), con i seguenti obiettivi: a) valutare l\u2019incidenza di indicatori di gioco problematico, di stigma per il gioco, di assunzione problematica di acolici, di distress psicofisico negli utenti delle sale bingo; b) valutare se le sale bingo e i loro operatori possano promuovere comportamenti di gioco responsabile; c) verificare la fattibilit\ue0 e il gradimento di interventi di socio-psico-educazione per la promozione del benessere psicofisico nelle sale bingo. Il progetto \ue8 stato svolto in 3 fasi: I) screening dei giocatori; II) focus group per gli operatori; III) intervento di socio-psico-educazione. Dei 98 giocatori intervistati, il 40 % riferisce di avere un comportamento problematico e il 33% stigma per il gioco. Gli operatori hanno mostrato consapevolezza dei problemi psico-sociali legati al gioco d\u2019azzardo e disponibilit\ue0 a promuovere comportamenti sani. Gli interventi socio-psicoeducativi hanno attratto i giocatori, che hanno richiesto informazioni e talora supporto. I risultati del progetto incoraggiano l\u2019implementazione di azioni che consentano la trasformazione sociale delle sale bingo da loghi dove occultare abitudini negative a luoghi dove promuovere comportamenti sani sia possibile

Subclinical psychosis in adult migrants and ethnic minorities: systematic review and meta-analysis

Abstract BACKGROUND: It is well established that migration and ethnic minority status are risk factors for psychotic disorders. Recent studies have aimed to determine if they are also associated with subclinical psychosis (psychotic-like experiences and schizotypal traits). AIMS: We aimed to determine to what extent migrant and ethnic minority groups are associated with higher risk of subclinical psychosis. METHOD: We conducted a systematic review, using the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses statement, and examined findings by ethnicity, migrant status, outcomes of subclinical psychosis and host country. A meta-analysis was carried out with robust variance estimation where possible, to handle statistically dependent effect size estimates. RESULTS: We included 28 studies (19 studies on psychotic-like experiences and 9 studies on schizotypal traits) and found that ethnicity, but not migrant status, was associated with current and lifetime psychotic-like experiences. In the narrative analysis, we observed the effect of psychosocial risk factors on this association: Black ethnicity groups showed consistent increased prevalence of current and lifetime psychotic-like experiences compared with the reference population across countries. CONCLUSIONS: More generalisable and standardised cohort studies of psychotic-like experiences and schizotypal traits in relation to migration/ethnicity are necessary to examine the effects of exposures and outcomes in different contexts, and to understand the underlying mechanisms of the association between subclinical psychosis and migrant and ethnic minority status. DECLARATION OF INTEREST: None

Subclinical psychosis in adult migrants and ethnic minorities: systematic review and meta-analysis

International audienceBackground It is well established that migration and ethnic minority status are risk factors for psychotic disorders. Recent studies have aimed to determine if they are also associated with subclinical psychosis (psychotic-like experiences and schizotypal traits). Aims We aimed to determine to what extent migrant and ethnic minority groups are associated with higher risk of subclinical psychosis. Method We conducted a systematic review, using the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses statement, and examined findings by ethnicity, migrant status, outcomes of subclinical psychosis and host country. A meta-analysis was carried out with robust variance estimation where possible, to handle statistically dependent effect size estimates. Results We included 28 studies (19 studies on psychotic-like experiences and 9 studies on schizotypal traits) and found that ethnicity, but not migrant status, was associated with current and lifetime psychotic-like experiences. In the narrative analysis, we observed the effect of psychosocial risk factors on this association: Black ethnicity groups showed consistent increased prevalence of current and lifetime psychotic-like experiences compared with the reference population across countries. Conclusions More generalisable and standardised cohort studies of psychotic-like experiences and schizotypal traits in relation to migration/ethnicity are necessary to examine the effects of exposures and outcomes in different contexts, and to understand the underlying mechanisms of the association between subclinical psychosis and migrant and ethnic minority status. Declaration of interest None

EFFICACIA E SICUREZZA DI DEGLUDEC NEI BAMBINI ED ADOLESCENTI CON DIABETE DI TIPO 1

OBIETTIVI L’insulina Degludec (IDeg) è un nuovo analogo lento basale che negli adulti con diabete di tipo 1 (DM1) ha permesso di ottenere valori glicemici più bassi ed un minor numero di episodi di ipoglicemia rispetto all’insulina Glargine (IGlar). Gli studi pubblicati in letteratura sugli effetti di IDeg nei soggetti in età evolutiva sono pochi. Scopo di questo studio è stato quello di valutare effi cacia e sicurezza di IDeg in bambini ed adolescenti con DM1. METODI Sono stati reclutati 20 pazienti con DM1 (15.1±4.0 anni; 9 maschi, 7 prepuberi; durata DM1 7.2±3.7 anni; IGlar ≥1 anno) in cui è stato cambiato l’analogo lento basale, passando dall’iniezione giornaliera di IGlar a quella di IDeg. BMI-SDS, HbA1c, FPG, numero di episodi di ipoglicemia grave, e dose di insulina (UI/kg/die) [IGlar o IDeg più analogo rapido/rapida] sono stati raccolti al momento dello switch da IGlar a IDeg (T0), a 3 (T1) e 6 mesi (T2) dall’inizio di IDeg. RISULTATI Abbiamo dimostrato, longitudinalmente, una riduzione statisticamente signifi cativa della dose di insulina basal-bolus (χ2=13.1; p=0.004), di quella prima dei pasti (χ2=8.68; p=0.033) e di IDeg (χ2=10.1; p=0.018). La riduzione della dose di insulina basal-bolus è risultata essere determinata dal calo della dose di insulina prima dei pasti (-9.63% a T2), piuttosto che da quello di IDeg (-2.96% a T1). I livelli di HbA1c non sono migliorati (χ2=1.66; p=0.435), tuttavia, rispetto a T0, abbiamo riscontrato una riduzione del valore di 0.35% punti al T1 e di 0.20% punti al T2. FPG è risultato signifi cativamente diminuito al T1 (-18.6±34.1 mg/dl, p=0.05). Il passaggio da IGlar ad IDeg non ha determinato signifi cative modifi che del BMI-SDS ovvero nessun episodio di ipoglicemia grave. CONCLUSIONI Rispetto a quanto riscontrato in età adulta, i nostri dati suggeriscono che in età evolutiva il passaggio da IGlar ad IDeg dovrebbe prevedere una riduzione del 5% della dose di analogo lento basale e del 10% della dose di insulina ai pasti. IDeg sembra migliorare il controllo glicemico, riducendo sia la glicemia a digiuno che l’HbA1c in assenza di complicanze acute. IDeg può essere considerata utile e ben tollerata anche nei bambini ed adolescenti con DM1

Investigating the relationship between melatonin levels, melatonin system, microbiota composition and bipolar disorder psychopathology across the different phases of the disease

Bipolar disorder (BD) is characterized by recurrent episodes of depression and mania/hypomania alternating with intervals of well-being. The neurobiological underpinnings of BD are still veiled although there is evidence pointing to a malfunction of the circadian clock system that is regulated by the neuromodulator melatonin (MLT). Small sample size studies in BD patients have shown that changes in the levels of MLT are associated with shifts in illness status. Moreover, mood stabilizers (including lithium and valproic acid) influence the MLT system. Of interest, MLT also modulates intestinal microbiota, and recent work suggests an important role of microbiota alterations in neuropsychiatric disorders, including BD. This study is designed to explore whether the possible patterns of associations between changes in the levels of MLT and its precursors and BD mood phases are modulated by variants within the genes encoding for the elements of the MLT system and/or by the microbiota composition

The Effect of Chorionicity on Maternal Cardiac Adaptation to Uncomplicated Twin Pregnancy: A Prospective Longitudinal Study

Objective: The objective of this study was to longitudinally evaluate maternal echocardiographic findings in uncomplicated twin gestations according to chorionicity. Methods: Healthy women with twin pregnancy were assessed with transthoracic echocardiography across the first, second, and third trimesters. Cardiac findings were compared within each group and between monochorionic (MC) and dicho-rionic (DC) pregnancies. Results: Overall, 19 MC and 48 DC uncomplicated twin pregnancies were included. In the MC group, no significant maternal haemodynamic changes were documented across gestation, with the exception of a decrease in ejection fraction. Compared to DC pregnancies, in the MC set lower cardiac output (second and third trimester, p = 0.001 and p = 0.006, respectively) and higher total vascular resistance (first trimester, p = 0.032) were observed. Regarding the diastolic function in MC twins, significantly higher values were observed for mitral E/A ratio (third trimester, p = 0.014), septal mitral E1/A1 ratio (third trimester, p = 0.030), lateral mitral E1 (second and third trimester, p = 0.014 and p = 0.029, respectively), and E1/A1 ratio (third trimester, p = 0.006). Conclusions: Maternal cardiac adaptation in twin pregnancy seems to differ significantly according to chorionicity. In particular, in MC pregnancies the impairment of diastolic function is less pronounced, presumably due to the lower circulating volume