GAD65 as a potential marker for cognitive performance in an adult population with prediabetes

Prenatal tetrahydrocannabinol and cannabidiol exposure produce sex-specific pathophysiological phenotypes in the adolescent prefrontal cortex and hippocampus

Clinical and preclinical evidence has demonstrated an increased risk for neuropsychiatric disorders following prenatal cannabinoid exposure. However, given the phytochemical complexity of cannabis, there is a need to understand how specific components of cannabis may contribute to these neurodevelopmental risks later in life. To investigate this, a rat model of prenatal cannabinoid exposure was utilized to examine the impacts of specific cannabis constituents (Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol [THC]; cannabidiol [CBD]) alone and in combination on future neuropsychiatric liability in male and female offspring. Prenatal THC and CBD exposure were associated with low birth weight. At adolescence, offspring displayed sex-specific behavioural changes in anxiety, temporal order and social cognition, and sensorimotor gating. These phenotypes were associated with sex and treatment-specific neuronal and gene transcriptional alterations in the prefrontal cortex, and ventral hippocampus, regions where the endocannabinoid system is implicated in affective and cognitive development. Electrophysiology and RT-qPCR analysis in these regions implicated dysregulation of the endocannabinoid system and balance of excitatory and inhibitory signalling in the developmental consequences of prenatal cannabinoids. These findings reveal critical insights into how specific cannabinoids can differentially impact the developing fetal brains of males and females to enhance subsequent neuropsychiatric risk.

Association between cumulative lipoprotein(a) exposure and adverse cardiovascular outcomes in patients with prediabetes or diabetes

Few studies have characterized long-term exposure to lipoprotein(a), or Lp(a), different glucose metabolism status, and their joint role in adverse cardiovascular outcomes risk. We consecutively enrolled 10,724 coronary heart disease (CAD) patients from January to December 2013 in Fuwai Hospital. Associations of cumulative lipoprotein(a) (CumLp(a)) exposure and different glucose metabolism status with major adverse cardiac and cerebrovascular events (MACCEs) risk were evaluated using Cox regression models. Compared with participants with normal glucose regulation and lower CumLp(a), those with type 2 diabetes and higher CumLp(a) were at the highest risk (HR 1.56, 95% CI 1.25-1.94), and those with prediabetes and higher CumLp(a) and those with type 2 diabetes and lower CumLp(a) were at relatively higher risk (HR 1.41, 95% CI 1.14-1.76; HR 1.37, 95% CI 1.11-1.69; respectively). Similar findings concerning the joint association were observed in sensitivity analyses. Cumulative lipoprotein(a) exposure and different glucose metabolism status were associated with 5-year MACCEs risk and may be useful concurrently for guiding secondary prevention therapy decisions.

Associations between glutamic acid decarboxylase antibodies, oxidative stress markers, and cognitive capacity in adolescents who stutter

In this study, we amid to evaluate the correlation between the change in the expressed levels of anti-GAD antibodies titers, oxidative stress markers, cytokines markers, and cognitive capacity in adolescents with mild stuttering. Eighty participants (60 male/20 female) with the age range of 10-18 years with moderate stutteringparticipated in this study. To assess the stuttering and cognitive function, stutteringseverity instrument (SSI-4; 4th edit.)and the LOTCA-7 scores assessment were applied respectively in all subjects. In addition, serum GAD antibodies, cytokines like TNF-α, CRP,and IL-6 withtotal antioxidant capacity and nitric oxide as oxidative stress markers were estimated using calorimetry and immunoassay techniques.The results showed that good cognitive capacity was reported in about 56.25 % of the study population (n = 45) with a 117.52 ± 6.3 mean LOTCA-7 score. However, abnormal cognitive function was identified in 43.75 % of the study population (n = 35); they were categorized into moderate (score 62-92, n = 35), and poor (score 31-62; n = 10). There were significant associations between cognitive capacity reported and all biomarkers. The expression of GAD antibodies is significantly associated with the degree of cognitive capacity among students with stuttering. Significant association with the reduction (P = 0.01) in LOTCA-7 score domains, particularly orientation, thinking operations, attention, and concentration among students with variable cognitive capacity compared to controls. In addition, the expressed higher GAD antibodies in students with moderate and poor cognitive capacity showed to be significantly correlated with both elevated concentrations of cytokines; TNF-α, CRP, and IL-6, and the reduction of TAC and nitric oxide (NO) respectively. This study concludes that abnormality of cognitive capacity showed to be associated with higher expression of GAD antibodies, cytokines, and oxidative stress in school students with moderate stuttering.

Are the Different Diabetes Subgroups Correlated With All-Cause, Cancer-Related, and Cardiovascular-Related Mortality?

CONTEXT

Numerous studies have shown that cardiovascular disease (CVD) represents the most important cause of mortality among people with diabetes mellitus (DM). However, no studies have evaluated the risk of CVD-related mortality among different DM subgroups.

OBJECTIVE

We aimed to examine all-cause, CVD-related, and cancer-related mortality for different DM subgroups.

DESIGN, SETTING, PATIENTS, AND INTERVENTIONS

We included participants (age ≥ 20 years) from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey III (NHANES III) data set. We evaluated the risks of all-cause and cause-specific (CVD and cancer) mortality among 5 previously defined diabetes subgroups: severe autoimmune diabetes (SAID), severe insulin-deficient diabetes (SIDD), severe insulin-resistant diabetes (SIRD), mild obesity-related diabetes (MOD), and mild age-related diabetes (MARD).

PRIMARY OUTCOME MEASURE

The hazard ratios (HRs) for all-cause and cause-specific (CVD and cancer) mortality were measured for each of the 5 DM subgroups. We also evaluated the odds ratios (ORs) for retinopathy and nephropathy in each subgroup.

RESULTS

A total of 712 adults were enrolled and the median follow-up time was 12.71 years (range, 0.25-18.08 years). The number of deaths in the 5 subgroups (SAID, SIDD, SIRD, MOD, and MARD) were 50, 75, 64, 7, and 18, respectively, and the number of CVD-related deaths in the 5 subgroups was 29, 30, 26, 2, and 11, respectively. Compared to the MOD subgroup, the adjusted HRs and 95% CIs of CVD-related mortality for the SAID, SIDD, SIRD, and MARD subgroups were 3.23 (95% CI, 0.77-13.61), 2.87 (95% CI, 0.68-12.06), 2.23 (95% CI, 0.53-9.50), and 4.75 (95% CI, 1.05-21.59), respectively (the HR for the MARD subgroup had a P value of .04). In addition, compared to the MARD subgroup, the adjusted ORs and 95% CIs for retinopathy in the SAID and SIDD groups were 2.38 (95% CI, 1.13-5.01, P = .02) and 3.34 (95% CI, 1.17-6.88, P = .001), respectively. The ORs for nephropathy were nonsignificant.

CONCLUSIONS

Our study of patients from the NHANES III data set indicated that among the different DM subgroups, the MARD subgroup tended to have a higher CVD-related mortality than the MOD subgroup. The all-cause and cancer-related mortality rates were similar across the different diabetes subgroups. In addition, compared to the MARD subgroup, the SAID and SIDD subgroups had a higher retinopathy risk, but there was no difference in nephropathy among the subgroups.

Clinical characteristics of GAD 65-associated autoimmune encephalitis

OBJECTIVES

To examine the clinical characteristics of autoimmune encephalitis associated with the glutamate decarboxylase 65 (GAD 65) antibody.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Medical records of all patients that diagnosed with GAD 65 antibody-associated encephalitis were retrospectively analyzed. Data regarding demographics and symptoms, neurological signs, laboratory and imaging results, treatment and prognosis were collected.

RESULTS

We collected a total of seven patients, mainly young or middle-aged women with a subacute or chronic course. The main clinical symptoms mainly included chronic epilepsy, cerebellar ataxia, stiff-person syndrome, and limbic encephalitis. Three of seven (43%) patients had high CSF (cerebrospinal fluid) protein levels. Oligoclonal IgG bands (including IgG 1) and 24 hours intrathecal synthesis of IgG were detected in CSF and serum in six patients, five patients (83%) reported increased distribution of oligoclonal IgG bands (including IgG 1) and 24 hours intrathecal synthesis of IgG in serum and CSF. And six of seven patients (86%) had abnormal thyroid function or were positive for thyroid antibodies. By electroencephalogram examination, sharp or slow waves in the temporal region were often observed for six of seven patients (86%). Abnormal imaging signals (six of seven patients, 86%) of the temporal lobe and hippocampus were detected by brain magnetic resonance imaging, and decreased metabolism of the temporal lobe was detected by positron emission tomography/computed tomography (six of six patients, 100%). These patients were mainly treated with corticosteroid and gamma globulin. The clinical symptoms of the patients were alleviated.

CONCLUSIONS

The course of GAD 65 antibody-associated encephalitis is longer than other autoimmune encephalitides. The clinical symptoms of GAD 65 autoimmune encephalitis mainly manifested as chronic epilepsy, cerebellar ataxia, stiff-person syndrome, and limbic encephalitis, and combined with or without thyroid autoimmune diseases, type 1 diabetes, and thymoma. A comprehensive understanding of the disease is a way to prevent misdiagnosis and delayed treatment.

Serum brain-derived neurotrophic factor and neurocognitive function in children with type 1 diabetes

BACKGROUND/PURPOSE

This study aimed to clarify whether brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) is a biomarker for cognitive dysfunction in children with type 1 diabetes.

METHODS

We conducted a cross-sectional case-control study of children aged between 6 and 18 years with type 1 diabetes and healthy volunteers. Serum BDNF level was measured in all of the studied children, and they all underwent intelligence tests with the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children, Fourth Edition (WISC-IV). We further compared the cognitive function and BDNF levels in the diabetic children with positive glutamic acid decarboxylase 65 antibody (GAD65-Ab) and those with negative GAD65-Ab.

RESULTS

Forty-five children with type 1 diabetes (mean age 14.0 ± 2.6 years, 42% male) and 50 normal controls (mean age 13.2 ± 2.3 years, 54% male) were recruited. The serum BDNF level was significantly lower in the diabetes group than in the controls (15.92 ± 7.2 vs. 18.5 ± 5.1 ng/mL, respectively, t = -2.03, p = 0.045) and much lower in the subgroup with GAD65-Ab positive type 1 diabetes. The average Full-Scale IQ, verbal comprehension, perceptual reasoning and working memory scores in the diabetes group were significantly lower than in the controls (all p < 0.05). Among the children with type 1 diabetes, poor glycemic control was related to lower general cognitive abilities (r = -0.34, p < 0.02), lower verbal comprehension (r = -0.305, p < 0.05), and lower perceptual reasoning scores (r = -0.346, p = 0.02).

CONCLUSION

The children with type 1 diabetes had a lower serum BDNF level and poorer neurocognitive function than normal healthy children, especially those with GAD65-Ab positive diabetes. Poor glycemic control was correlated with worse cognitive performance.