Double Diabetes: The Search for a Treatment Paradigm in Children and Adolescents

Discusses double diabetes -- the coexistence of features of both type 1 and type 2 diabetes in the same individual -- with a comprehensive discussion of the various aspects of this disorder and a focus on the search for a treatment paradigm in children and adolescents

Double Diabetes: The Evolving Treatment Paradigm in Children and Adolescents

The global pandemic of obesity in children and adolescents has resulted in a new expression of diabetes mellitus designated as double diabetes. The entity encompasses the autoimmune load of Type 1 Diabetes and the metabolic load of Type 2 Diabetes. There is no consensus on the best therapeutic modality for this new expression of diabetes mellitus. Optimal therapeutic options must address the coexistence of both metabolic and autoimmune components of diabetes mellitus in the patient. There have also been calls to revise the current classification of diabetes mellitus to take into account the surging prevalence of double diabetes in children and adolescents

ROMAN CATHOLIC PERSPECTIVE OF SIN AND HOMOSEXUALITY: SCRUTINIZING THE SIGNS OF THE TIMES

In a pluralistic world, in which the issues of homosexuality and gay rights have taken the centre stage of discourse in Sub-Saharan Africa, critical analysis is required to re-appraise the Roman Catholic perspective of sin and homosexuality. Again, the emergence of the study of homosexuality as a subfield within African Studies gives further vent to critical reflection to assess the merits and demerits of Church pronouncements on the issues. In the context of emerging fields of study and various sexual orientations of people of different cultures today, the issue of the Roman Catholic understanding of sin and her teaching on homosexuality has become problematic to many, especially the young ones in various higher institutions of learning. A growing number of them think that the recent comments of the Catholic Pontiff are not helping matters. The challenges seem to lie in balancing the teachings on homosexuality with the belief that God is merciful and loving. The relatively charitable disposition of the Pope calls for the re-evaluation of the Church stance on sin and homosexuality. Therefore, the paper, using historical and analytical methods, examines the basic meaning of sin and puts in context the chances of accepting homosexuals without indeed undue focus on their habits that may be in need of healing. Drawing on relevant literature and on the assertions of some students in my classes, taking RCR 332, a course in Comparative Religious Studies in the Department of Religions, University of Ilorin, Nigeria, the paper concludes that in a pluralistic society the homosexuals may make the human community richer when given the same opportunities accorded the majority orientation

Partial Clinical Remission of Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus in Children: Clinical Applications and Challenges with its Definitions

The honeymoon phase, or partial clinical remission (PCR) phase, of Type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) is a transitory period that is marked by endogenous insulin production by surviving β cells following a diabetes diagnosis and the introduction of insulin therapy. It is a critical window in the course of the disease that has short and long-term implications for the patient, such as a significant reduction in the risk of long-term complications of T1DM. To promote long-term cardiovascular health in children with newly diagnosed T1DM, three key steps are necessary: the generation of a predictive model for non-remission, the adoption of a user-friendly monitoring tool for remission and non-remission, and the establishment of the magnitude of the early-phase cardiovascular disease risk in these children in objective terms through changes in lipid profile. However, only about 50% of children diagnosed with T1DM experience the honeymoon phase. Accurate and prompt detection of the honeymoon phase has been hampered by the lack of an objective and easily applicable predictive model for its detection at the time of T1DM diagnosis, the complex formulas needed to confirm and monitor PCR, and the absence of a straightforward, user-friendly tool for monitoring PCR. This literature review discusses the most up-to-date information in this field by describing an objective predictive model for non-remission, an easy tool for monitoring remission or non-remission, and objective evidence for the cardiovascular protective effect of PCR in the early phase of the disease. The goal is to present non-remission as an independent clinical entity with significantly poorer long-term prognosis than partial remission

Roman Catholic Perspective of Sin and Homosexuality: Scrutinizing the Signs of the Times

In a pluralistic world, in which the issues of homosexuality and gay rights have taken the centre stage of discourse in Sub-Saharan Africa, critical analysis is required to re-appraise the Roman Catholic perspective of sin and homosexuality. Again, the emergence of the study of homosexuality as a subfield within African Studies gives further vent to critical reflection to assess the merits and demerits of Church pronouncements on the issues. In the context of emerging fields of study and various sexual orientations of people of different cultures today, the issue of the Roman Catholic understanding of sin and her teaching on homosexuality has become problematic to many, especially the young ones in various higher institutions of learning. A growing number of them think that the recent comments of the Catholic Pontiff are not helping matters. The challenges seem to lie in balancing the teachings on homosexuality with the belief that God is merciful and loving. The relatively charitable disposition of the Pope calls for the re-evaluation of the Church stance on sin and homosexuality. Therefore, the paper, using historical and analytical methods, examines the basic meaning of sin and puts in context the chances of accepting homosexuals without indeed undue focus on their habits that may be in need of healing. Drawing on relevant literature and on the assertions of some students in my classes, the paper concludes that in a pluralistic society the homosexuals may make the human community richer when given the same opportunities accorded the majority orientation

Pseudohypoparathyroidism in Children

Summary: Albright hereditary osteodystrophy (AHO) is a genetic syndrome characterized by a distinctive set of developmental and skeletal defects that may easily be misdiagnosed as exogenous obesity in children. There are very few publications detailing the comprehensive management of children and adolescents with this disorder. This chapter provides a comprehensive discussion of the various aspects of this disorder. At the end, the reader should be able to: (1) List the clinical features of Albright hereditary osteodystrophy, (2) Identify the genetic and molecular abnormalities of AHO, (3) List the clinical features of pseudohypoparathyroidism type 1a (PHP 1a), (4) Describe the management of children and adolescents with PHP 1a

Does Hepatic Dysfunction Worsen Glucose Homeostasis by Impairing Vitamin D Metabolism?

The Management of diabetes mellitus (DM) remains an enigma even though the symptoms of the disease had been described more than 3000 years ago. This is because the central therapeutic goal of DM therapy, euglycemia, is influenced by complex physiologic and pathologic processes, some of which are clearly understood, while others are less clear. Suboptimal glycemic control is a recognized risk factor for acute and chronic complications of diabetes including microvascular and macrovascular diseases. The central question for this editorial is whether mild hepatic dysfunction could impair vitamin D metabolism and secondarily lead to sub-optimal glycemic control

THE CONCEPT AND PRACTICE OF INTER-RELIGIOUS DIALOGUE IN AFRICA

One major challenge adherents of different religions face, particularly in Nigeria is how to relate their faith with the truth of the other religious traditions. The shrinkage of space in the 21st century has made actual the fact that great number of human beings of diverse religious affiliations exist. The diverse religious traditions, practiced out there can no longer be suppressed or exterminated by sword. Thus, the concept of interreligious dialogue is placed in the front burner of contemporary discourse. The paper offers an ecumenical approach to the understanding and practice of interreligious dialogue within a pluralistic society. The discourse is applying historical and analytical methods, argues that interreligious dialogue is a sure path that promotes respect among members of different religions. The paper suggests practical ways of engaging in dialogue with adherents of other religions and concludes that exclusivist and inclusivity positions have no grounds for real religious acceptance

Econometric Analysis of the Effect of Changes in Price on Consumption Pattern of Petrol, Rice and Bean in Owerri City, Imo State, Nigeria

It was hypothesized that changes in price could affect the consumption pattern of petrol, rice and bean, their status as basic needs notwithstanding.  To test this hypothesis, primary data were generated, subjected to econometric model and analyzed. Two-hundred residents of different income groups who live in Owerri city, Imo State, Nigeria and have used petrol, rice and bean for at least ten years and were not less thanthirty-one years old were sampled using standard method. The pretest result of questionnaire validity and reliability was r = 0.726 and this indicates high reliability. A total of 90% strongly agreed and agreed that prices of petrol, rice and bean are unstable in Owerri City, Imo State, Nigeria. The results indicate that 70% of the consumers strongly agreed and agreed that price affects consumption of the products irrespective of need. This wasa significant observation too. In the study, availability of petrol, rice and bean affected consumption in an urban environment.Grain quality was found a strong determinant of consumption of rice and bean in the city. There was a positive and non-significant relationship between price and consumption of petrol, rice and bean and this shows that price is not the most important determinant of consumption of all commodities. Necessity was more important than price in consumption of petrol, rice and bean in the city of Owerri, Imo State, Nigeria. These findings are useful to econometricians, policymakers, governments and households. Keywords: Basic needs, Econometric model, Income groups, High reliability, Grain quality

Serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D levels do not correlate with asthma severity in a case-controlled study of children and adolescents

Background: There is no consensus on the association between vitamin D and asthma. Objective: To determine the relationship between 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D] levels and asthma symptom severity in children and adolescents. Methods: A retrospective, case-control study of 263 subjects of ages 2–19 years with asthma who were compared to 284 non-asthmatic controls of similar ages. Subjects were excluded if they had diseases of calcium or vitamin D metabolism or were receiving calcium or vitamin D supplementation. Serum 25(OH)D was measured in all subjects. Asthma symptom severity, usually stratified into 6 steps, was stratified into five steps [1–5] based on the number and dose of controller medications used as outlined by the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute’s guidelines. Mean 25(OH)D values were compared between the asthmatic patients and controls, as well as among the five steps of asthma symptom severity. Results were adjusted for age, sex, BMI, race and severity of asthma symptoms. Results:There was no difference in 25(OH)D between asthmatic patients and controls (28.64±10.09 vs. 28.42±11.47, p=1.0). However, there was a significant difference in 25(OH)D between obese and non-obese asthmatic patients (23.33±7.67 vs. 30.16±10.20, p Conclusions: There were no differences in mean 25(OH)D levels between asthmatic patients and controls. Mean 25(OH)D level was significantly lower in both the obese asthmatic patients and obese controls. Asthma severity had no relationship to mean 25(OH)D levels