Clinical application of 1,5-anhydroglucitol measurements in patients with hepatocyte nuclear factor-1α maturity-onset diabetes of the young

OBJECTIVE - 1,5-anhydroglucitol (1,5-AG) is a short-term marker of metabolic control in diabetes. Its renal loss is stimulated in hyperglycemic conditions by glycosuria, which results in a lowered plasma concentration. As a low renal threshold for glucose has been described in hepatocyte nuclear factor-1α (HNF-1α) maturity-onset diabetes of the young (MODY), the 1,5-AG level may be altered in these patients. The purpose of this study was to assess the 1,5-AG levels in patients with HNF-1α MODY and in type 2 diabetic subjects with a similar degree of metabolic control. In addition, we aimed to evaluate this particle as a biomarker for HNF-1α MODY. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS - We included 33 diabetic patients from the Polish Nationwide Registry of MODY. In addition, we examined 43 type 2 diabetic patients and 47 nondiabetic control subjects. The 1,5-AG concentration was measured with an enzymatic assay (GlycoMark). Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis was used to evaluate 1,5-AG as a screening marker for HNF-1α MODY. RESULTS - The mean 1,5-AG plasma concentration in diabetic HNF-1α mutation carriers was 5.9 μg/ml, and it was lower than that in type 2 diabetic patients (11.0 μg/ml, P = 0.003) and in nondiabetic control subjects (23.9 μg/ml, P < 0.00005). The ROC curve analysis revealed 85.7% sensitivity and 80.0% specificity of 1,5-AG in screening for HNF-1α MODY at the criterion of <6.5 μg/ml in patients with an A1C level between 6.5 and 9.0%. CONCLUSIONS - 1,5-AG may be a useful biomarker for differential diagnosis of patients with HNF-1α MODY with a specific range of A1C, although this requires further investigation. However, the clinical use of this particle in diabetic HNF-1α mutation carriers for metabolic control has substantial limitations

The role of insulin resistance candidate gene polymorphisms in susceptibility to type 2 diabetes mellitus in a Polish population

WSTĘP. W cukrzycy typu 2 współistnieją upośledzenie wydzielania insuliny i zmniejszona wrażliwość na jej działanie. Celem badania było poszukiwanie związku polimorfizmów w genach kandydatach insulinooporności (–308 GÆA w promotorze genu TNF-a (tumor necrosis factor a) oraz wariantu aminokwasowego K121Q w genie PC-1) z cukrzycą typu 2 w populacji polskiej oraz przeanalizowanie wpływu powyższych polimorfizmów na przedcukrzycowe cechy ilościowe. MATERIAŁ I METODY. Przebadano 732 osoby. Do analizy związku wybranych markerów z cukrzycą typu 2 włączono 612 niespokrewnionych osób (case-control analysis): 358 chorych na cukrzycę i 254 osoby z grupy kontrolnej. W analizie przedcukrzycowych cech ilościowych przebadano 120 osób z prawidłowymi stężeniami glukozy (średni wiek: 34,2 roku, średni BMI: 27,9), z dodatnim wywiadem rodzinnym w kierunku cukrzycy typu 2. W grupie tej dokonano pomiaru stężeń insuliny i glukozy podczas doustnego testu tolerancji glukozy (OGTT, oral glucose tolerance test) oraz obliczono pośrednie wskaźniki wrażliwości na insulinę. U wszystkich badanych osób przeprowadzono genotypowanie metodą zmiennej długości fragmentów restrykcyjnych (RFLP, restriction fragment length polymorphism). W analizie statystycznej w badaniu osób niespokrewnionych użyto testu c2. W części projektu, związanej z cechami ilościowymi, zastosowano wieloczynnikową analizę wariancji (ANOVA) z uwzględnieniem wpływu płci, wieku i wskaźnika masy ciała (BMI, body mass index). WYNIKI. Stwierdzono zbliżony rozkład alleli u chorych na cukrzycę typu 2 i u osób z grupy kontrolnej: 15,7%/84,2% vs. 14,0%/86,0%, p = 0,38 dla polimorfizmu –308 GÆA TNF-a i 12,9%/87,1% vs. 13,1%/ /86,9%, p = 0,86 dla wariantu aminokwasowego K121Q genu PC-1. Podobnie nie zaobserwowano różnic w rozkładzie genotypów. Jednak przy analizie cech ilościowych nosiciele przynajmniej jednego allelu A w genie TNF-a (28% analizowanych osób) cechowali się wyższym wskaźnikiem obliczonym jako stosunek stężenia insuliny w 120. minucie do stężenia insuliny na czczo niż nosiciele genotypu GG (5,9 ± ± 6,5 vs. 3,4 ± 2,4; p = 0,04). Ponadto, pewne dodatkowe różnice wykazano w analizie stratyfikacyjnej, przeprowadzonej na podstawie BMI, płci i wieku chorych w odniesieniu do obu badanych polimorfizmów. WNIOSKI. Oba badane markery, –308 GÆA promotora genu TNF-a oraz wariant aminokwasowy K121Q PC-1, wydają się wpływać na przedcukrzycowe cechy ilościowe w populacji polskiej. Nie znaleziono natomiast dowodów ich związku z cukrzycą typu 2 w badanej populacji.INTRODUCTION. Insulin secretion impairment and decreased insulin sensitivity coexist in type 2 diabetes mellitus. Aim of the study was: 1) to search for the association of insulin resistance candidate gene markers, the TNF-a –308 G/A promoter polymorphism and the K121Q PC-1 variant, with type 2 diabetes in a Polish population; 2) to examine their influence on pre-diabetes quantitative traits. MATERIALS AND METHODS. Overall 732 subjects were examined. For case-control analysis we included 612 individuals: 358 type 2 diabetes patients and 254 controls. To assess prediabetic quantitative traits we examined 120 normoglycaemic individuals (the mean age: 34.2 years, the mean BMI: 27.9) with a family history of type 2 diabetes. The insulin and glucose levels were measured during OGTT and secondary indices were calculated. The groups were genotyped using RFLP. For the case-control study c2 test was used. For quantitative traits a multivariate linear regression analysis was employed. RESULTS. The allele distribution was similar in the group of patients and in the controls: (15.7%/84.2% vs. 14.0%/86.0%, p = 0.38, for the - 308 G/A TNF-a polymorphism, and 12.9%/87.1% vs. 13.1%/86.9%, p = 0.86, for K121Q PC-1 variant, respectively). Similarly, there was no difference in the genotype distribution. However, the carriers of at least one TNF1-a A allele (28% of the analyzed subjects) showed a higher ratio of 120-min insulin to the fasting insulin versus GG carriers (5.9 ± 6.5 vs. 3.4 ± 2.4; p = 0.04). Moreover, some additional differences were found for both markers in stratified analyses based on BMI, gender and age at examination. CONCLUSION. Both examined markers, the TNF-a -308 GÆA promoter polymorphism and the K121Q PC-1 variant, seem to influence the prediabetic quantitative traits in a Polish population. However, in case-control study we did not find the evidence of their association with type 2 diabetes in a Polish population

Preliminary effects of fertilization on ecochemical soil condition in mature spruce stands experiencing dieback in the Beskid Śla̧ski and Żywiecki Mountains, Poland

In recent years, there has been the phenomena of spruce dieback in Europe. Significant areas of spruce low mortality now cover both sides of the Polish southern border. We evaluated ecochemical parameters influencing the heavy dieback occurring in mature spruce stands in the Polish Carpathian Mountains. Dolomite, magnesite and serpentinite fertilizers were applied to experimental plots located in 100-year-old stands in the autumn of 2008. The experimental plots were located in the mid-elevational forest zone (900-950 m) on two nappes of the flysch Carpathians: Magura (Ujsoły Forest District) and Silesian (Wisła Forest District). The saturation of the studied soils demonstrates moderate resilience of soils in Wisła Forest District in relation to acid load and high flexibility of the Ujsoły soils. After application of the fertilizers, an increase of Mg, Ca and Mb was noted in the soil solution, determined in the overlaying highly acidic organic horizons through the ion-exchange buffering mechanism of highly protonated functional groups with high buffering capacity. Magnesium concentration increased following fertilization, presenting a potential improvement of forest growth capacity without the hazard of adverse side effects of liming. Aluminium stress in old spruce is unlikely, while trees in the control plots in Wisła Forest District may already be sensitive to aluminium stress. Serpentinite fertilization improved the supply of soils in magnesium without causing significant changes in the pH of the soil. Such changes in the pH were found in dolomite and magnesite fertilizer. © The Author(s) 2014

Creating Supportive Classroom Environment for Disabled Students – Equalisation of Educational Opportunities

The situation of disabled students in Polish schools and universities has improved over the last years, however it is still not perfect. As NIK’s audit showed, in many places barriers still exist, which makes it impossible for the disabled to function in the same way as able students do. Problems stem from the construction of buildings, which are not adjusted to the needs of the disabled, unfriendly technical facilities and difficulties with accessing the full educational offer. Despite these shortages, the majority of the schools have not fully used the funds they receive for current support for the disabled

Phosphatase activities of spruce stand soils after serpentinite fertilisation in combination with nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium fertilisers

The aim of this study was to assess the condition of soil after serpentine fertilisation by determining the activity of phosphatase and some physicochemical properties of soil. The study was conducted in southern Poland in the Wisła Forest District (49°8’12.92N 18°58’56.36E). The following variants: C - control - no fertiliser; S - ground serpentinite; SN - serpentinite + nitrogen; SP - ground serpentinite + P; SNP - ground serpentinite + NP; SNPK - ground serpentinite + NP (as above) + K. Fertilisation of serpentinite stimulates the activity of phosphatase in soil under spruce stands. The positive impact is reflected in the organic horizon. Less activity was noted in the humus-mineral horizon (AE) in all the fertiliser combinations three years after the fertilisation. Fertilisation of serpentinite improves the chemical properties - pH was increased, reduction of molar ratio of exchangeable calcium to magnesium form was noted

Impact of Native <i>Quercus robur</i> and Non-Native <i>Quercus rubra</i> on Soil Properties during Post-Fire Ecosystem Regeneration

Following disturbances, ecosystems are more susceptible to invasion by non-native species. Furthermore, it is important to determine the impact of alien tree species on soil regeneration processes during secondary succession. In this study, we analyzed the effect of native and late successional common oak (Quercus robur) and non-native red oak (Q. rubra) on soil physicochemical (pH, carbon, and nutrient content) and microbial properties (microbial biomass [Cmic] and respiration [RESP]) nearly 30 years after severe fire disturbance. Post-fire soils under Q. rubra had organic horizons with a greater mass, lower pH values, and depleted nutrient (N, Ca, K, Mg, and P) contents than soils under Q. robur. The impact of Q. robur as a late successional species on soil properties 30 years after a disturbance was similar to that of pioneer species (Scots pine, European larch, common birch, and black alder), as is indicated in previous studies. Most of the studied physicochemical (bulk density, soil organic carbon, N, Ca, K, and P content) and microbial (RESP and Cmic) soil parameters under Q. robur were within the ranges found for post-fire soils under pioneer tree species. Only the pH and Mg and Na contents in organic horizons were higher under Q. robur than under pioneer species. Our results indicate that Q. robur could be a valuable addition to reforestation sites after fire disturbance, especially in more fertile microhabitats. Due to the depletion of soil nutrients, care should be taken when introducing Q. rubra during the reforestation of post-fire sites, especially in larger groups