Circulating MicroRNA-15a Associates With Retinal Damage in Patients With Early Stage Type 2 Diabetes

: Circulating microRNAs are potential biomarkers of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and related complications. Here, we investigated the association of microRNA-15a with early retinal damage in T2DM. A cohort of untreated subjects screened for intermediate/high risk of T2DM, according to a score assessment questionnaire, and then recognized to have a normal (NGT) or impaired (IGT) glucose tolerance or T2DM was studied. The thickness of the ganglion cell complex (GCC), an early marker of retinal degeneration anteceding overt retinopathy was assessed by Optical Coherence Tomography. Total and extracellular vesicles (EV)-associated microRNA-15a quantity was measured in plasma by real time PCR. MicroRNA-15a level was significantly higher in subjects with IGT and T2DM compared with NGT. MicroRNA-15a abundance was correlated to body mass index and classical diabetes biomarkers, including fasting glucose, HbA1c, insulinemia, and HOMA-IR. Moreover, GCC thickness was significantly reduced in IGT and T2DM subjects compared with NGT controls. Importantly, total microRNA-15a correlated with GCC in IGT subjects, while in T2DM subjects, EV-microRNA-15a negatively correlated with GCC, suggesting that microRNA-15a may monitor initial retinal damage. The assessment of plasma microRNA-15a may help refining risk assessment and secondary prevention in patients with preclinical T2DM

Available Virtual Reality-Based Tools for Executive Functions: A Systematic Review

Introduction: Executive dysfunctions constitute a significant public health problem: their high impact on everyday life makes it a priority to identify early strategies for evaluating and rehabilitating these disorders in a real-life context. The ecological limitation of traditional neuropsychological tests and several difficulties in administering tests or training in real-life scenarios have paved the way to use Virtual Reality-based tools to evaluate and rehabilitate Executive Functions (EFs) in real-life. Objective: This work aims to conduct a systematic review to provide a detailed description of the VR-based tools currently developed for the evaluation and rehabilitation of EFs. Methods: We systematically searched for original manuscripts regarding VR tools and EFs by looking for titles and abstracts in the PubMed, Scopus, PsycInfo, and Web of Science databases up to November 2021 that contained the following keywords “Virtual Reality” AND “Executive function*.” Results and Conclusion: We analyzed 301 articles, of which 100 were included. Our work shows that available VR-based tools appear promising solutions for an ecological assessment and treatment of EFs in healthy subjects and several clinical populations

Circulating microRNA-21 is an early predictor of ROS-mediated damage in subjects with high risk of developing diabetes and in drug-naïve T2D

Background: Impaired glucose tolerance (IGT) is a risk factor for the development of diabetes and related complications that ensue. Early identification of at-risk individuals might be beneficial to reduce or delay the progression of diabetes and its related complications. Recently, microRNAs emerged as potential biomarkers of diseases. The aim of the present study was to evaluate microRNA-21 as a potential biomarker for the risk of developing diabetes in adults with IGT and to investigate its downstream effects as the generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS), the induction of manganese-superoxide dismutase-2 (SOD2), and the circulating levels of 4-HNE (4-hydroxynonenal). Methods: To evaluate the prognostic and predictive values of plasmatic microRNA-21 in identifying metabolic derangements, we tested a selected cohort (n = 115) of subjects enrolled in the DIAPASON Study, whom were selected on ADA criteria for 2hPG. Statistical analysis was performed using ANOVA or the Kruskal-Wallis test as appropriate. ROC curves were drawn for diagnostic accuracy of the tests; positive and negative predictive values were performed, and Youden's index was used to seek the cut-off optimum truncation point. ROS, SOD2 and 4-HNE were also evaluated. Results: We observed significant upregulation of microRNA-21 in IGT and in T2D subjects, and microRNA-21 was positively correlated with glycaemic parameters. Diagnostic performance of microRNA-21 was high and accurate. We detected significant overproduction of ROS by electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR), significant accumulation of the lipid peroxidation marker 4-HNE, and defective SOD2 antioxidant response in IGT and newly diagnosed, drug-naïve T2D subjects. In addition, ROC curves demonstrated the diagnostic accuracy of markers used. Conclusions: Our data demonstrate that microRNA-21 is associated with prediabetic status and exhibits predictive value for early detection of glucose imbalances. These data could provide novel clues for miR-based biomarkers to evaluate diabetes

Author Correction: A rare genetic variant of BPIFB4 predisposes to high blood pressure via impairment of nitric oxide signaling.

In the original version of this Article, Antonio Ceriello was incorrectly affiliated with ‘Diabetes Endocrine and Metabolic Diseases Unit, IRCCS MultiMedica, 20099, Sesto San, Giovanni (MI), Italy’. The correct affiliations are listed below. Institut d’Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi i Sunyer (IDIBAPS) and Centro de Investigación Biomedica en Red de Diabetes y Enfermedades Metabólicas Asociadas (CIBERDEM), Barcelona, Spain Department of Cardiovascular and Metabolic Diseases, IRCCS MultiMedica, 20099 Sesto San Giovanni (MI), Italy This error has now been corrected in the PDF and HTML versions of the Article, and in the accompanying Supplementary Information file

Dataset related to the article "Circulating microRNA-15a associates with retinal damage in patients with early stage type 2 diabetes"

Dataset related to the article "Circulating microRNA-15a associates with retinal damage in patients with early stage type 2 diabetes" By Elena Sangalli 1†, Elena Tagliabue1†, Lucia La Sala1, Francesco Prattichizzo1, AnnaChiara Uccellatore2, Daniela Spada1, Fabrizio Lorino1, Paola de Candia1, Silvia Lupini 2, Laura Cantone3, Chiara Favero3, Paolo Madeddu4, Valentina Bollati 3, Stefano Genovese5 and Gaia Spinetti 1* 1 IRCCS MultiMedica, Milan, Italy, 2 Department of Biomedical and Clinical Science L. Sacco, University of Milan, Milan, Italy, 3 EPIGET Lab, Department of Clinical Sciences and Community Health, University of Milan, Milan, Italy, 4 Department of Translational Health Sciences, Bristol Medical School, University of Bristol, Bristol, United Kingdom, 5 Centro Cardiologico Monzino IRCCS, Milan, Italy Front. Endocrinol., 23 April 2020 | https://doi.org/10.3389/fendo.2020.00254 Abstract Circulating microRNAs are potential biomarkers of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and related complications. Here, we investigated the association of microRNA-15a with early retinal damage in T2DM. A cohort of untreated subjects screened for intermediate/high risk of T2DM, according to a score assessment questionnaire, and then recognized to have a normal (NGT) or impaired (IGT) glucose tolerance or T2DM was studied. The thickness of the ganglion cell complex (GCC), an early marker of retinal degeneration anteceding overt retinopathy was assessed by Optical Coherence Tomography. Total and extracellular vesicles (EV)-associated microRNA-15a quantity was measured in plasma by real time PCR. MicroRNA-15a level was significantly higher in subjects with IGT and T2DM compared with NGT. MicroRNA-15a abundance was correlated to body mass index and classical diabetes biomarkers, including fasting glucose, HbA1c, insulinemia, and HOMA-IR. Moreover, GCC thickness was significantly reduced in IGT and T2DM subjects compared with NGT controls. Importantly, total microRNA-15a correlated with GCC in IGT subjects, while in T2DM subjects, EV-microRNA-15a negatively correlated with GCC, suggesting that microRNA-15a may monitor initial retinal damage. The assessment of plasma microRNA-15a may help refining risk assessment and secondary prevention in patients with preclinical T2DM

Ripartire dalla città. Prossimità educativa e rigenerazione delle periferie

Il volume è la sintesi di un progetto interdisciplinare dell'Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore di Milano per contribuire alla riflessione sulla rigenerazione urbana degli spazi, le dinamiche umane ed educative, la promozione dell'imprenditoria sociale e le iniziative educative con la comunità al centro. Il volume propone una "pedagogia della città" come impegno di "tutti a tutti", soprattutto per le persone fragili.The volume is the synthesis of an interdisciplinary project of the Catholic University of the Sacred Heart of Milan to contribute to the reflection on the urban regeneration of spaces, human and educational dynamics, promotion of social entrepreneurship and educational initiatives with the community at the center. The volume proposes a "pedagogy of the city" as commitment of "all to all", especially for fragile people