Genetics: Is LADA just late onset type 1 diabetes?

Background: There is a controversy regarding Latent Autoimmune Diabetes in Adults (LADA) classification and whether it should be considered a slowly progressing form of type 1 (T1) diabetes (DM) or a distinct type of DM altogether. Methods: This cross-sectional study assessed major genes associated with T1DM (class II Results: A total of 578 participants were included: 248 with T1DM (70 diagnosed after the age of 30), 256 with T2DM and 74 with LADA. High risk HLA alleles were significantly more frequent in LADA than in T2DM, whereas the opposite was true for protective alleles. We found a lower frequency of the high-risk DRB1*04-DQB1*03:02-DQA1*03:01 haplotype in LADA (21.1%) than in the overall T1DM (34.7%) (p\u3c0.05), whereas no differences were found between these groups for DRB1*03-DQB1*02:01-DQA1*05:01 or for protective alleles. Only 12% the overall T1DM group had no risk alleles vs 30% of LADA (p\u3c0.0005). However, HLA allele distribution was similar in LADA and T1DM diagnosed after the age of 30. A total of 506 individuals (195 with T1DM [21 diagnosed after age 30] 253 with T2DM and 58 with LADA) were genotyped for the Conclusion: In this relatively small cross-sectional study, the genetic profile of subjects with LADA showed a similar T1DM-related risk allele distribution as in participants with T1DM diagnosed after the age of 30, but fewer risk alleles than those diagnosed before 30. Differences were present for HLA, as well a

Einfluss der Oberflächenveredlung auf die Korrosionsbeständigkeit oberflächengehärteter nichtrostender Stähle

This paper compares the surface morphology of differently finished austenitic stainless steel AISI 316L, also in combination with low temperature carburization. Milled and tumbled surfaces were analyzed by means of corrosion resistance and surface morphology. The results of potentiodynamic measurements show that professional grinding operations with SiC and Al2O3 always lead to a better corrosion resistance of low temperature carburized surfaces compared to the untreated reference in the used acidified chloride solution. Big influence on the corrosion resistance of vibratory ground or tumbled surfaces has the amount of plastic deformation while machining, that has to be kept low for austenitic stainless steels. Due to the high ductility, plastic deformation can lead to the formation of meta stable pits that can be initiation points of corrosion. The formation of meta stable pits can be aggravated by low temperature diffusion processes

Quality of life and type 1 diabetes: a study assessing patients’ perceptions and self-management needs

Dácil Alvarado-Martel,1,2 Rebeca Velasco,1 Rosa M Sánchez-Hernández,1,2 Armando Carrillo,1,2 Francisco Javier Nóvoa,1,2 Ana María Wägner1,2 1Servicio de Endocrinología y Nutrición, Complejo Hospitalario Universitario Insular Materno-Infantil de Gran Canaria, 2Instituto Universitario de Investigaciones Biomédicas y Sanitarias, Universidad de Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Spain Purpose: The main objective of this study was to assess quality of life (QoL) and treatment satisfaction in a group of patients with type 1 diabetes (T1D) and explore their needs regarding and their perception of QoL living with diabetes.Materials and methods: Patients with type 1 diabetes attending the outpatient endocrinology clinics of a reference hospital were invited to participate in a cross-sectional study. Clinical and sociodemographic data were obtained (interview and clinical records), and diabetes-related QoL was assessed using a standardized questionnaire. In 67 participants, satisfaction with treatment was also assessed, and an open interview was performed, assessing the impact of diabetes, long-term worries, flexibility, restrictions, and self-perception of QoL. Descriptive statistical analysis, bivariate analysis, and multivariate analysis were performed in order to find factors associated with QoL. Interviews were analyzed and summarized questionwise.Results: Mean patient age was 31.4±11.6 years, diabetes duration 14.2±9.3 years, and glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) 8.5%±1.9% (69±20.8 mmol/mol International Federation of Clinical Chemistry [IFCC]). The questionnaires showed good average QoL scores (94.6+22.9) and treatment satisfaction scores (25.7±6.7). QoL worsened with increasing HbA1c, female sex, severity of complications, and lower education (r2=0.283, P<0.005). In the open interview, 68.5% of the patients reported that diabetes had changed their lives, 83.5% identified complications as their most important long-term concern, and 59.7% said that they needed more training to manage the disease.Conclusion: Poor glycemic control, lower education, complications, and female sex are associated with worse QoL. Semi-structured interviews identified aspects not included in the standardized questionnaires. Keywords: type 1 diabetes, qualitative, quality of life, self-management, patients’ perception

Treatment and re-characterization of mouse obstructive genitourinary syndrome

We aimed to characterize and to explore a treatment for a condition in which male mice exhibited a solid bulge in the preputial area and an inability to breed. Twenty-seven mice from several animal housing institutions in Spain were included in this study for microbiological and pathological characterization of this condition. The condition mostly affected breeding animals and was associated with the C57BL/6J genetic background. A solid, yellowish-white substance was found inside the prepuce, which displaced the penis cranially, preventing its externalization and limiting the animal's capacity to breed. This pattern was almost identical to that of post-coital vaginal plugs, suggesting that the blocking substance originated from ejaculate. Opposite to what was suggested in previous publications, the penis was completely intact in all of the cases, with no signs of mutilation or wounds. Based on our findings, we developed a surgical technique to clear the prepuce and recover breeding performance, which we tested in 15 other mice with the condition. We eliminated the blocking substance and recurrence of the condition by surgically opening the prepuce, and most of the animals recovered fertility.Peer reviewe