Screening of AIP Gene Variations in a Cohort of Turkish Patients with Young-Onset Sporadic Hormone-Secreting Pituitary Adenomas

Aims: Aryl hydrocarbon receptor-interacting protein (AIP) gene mutations have long been associated with apparently sporadic pituitary adenomas (PAs) with a prevalence range of 0-12%. The aim of this study was to evaluate the frequency of germline AIP variations in a large cohort of apparently sporadic PAs diagnosed before the age of 40 years, who did not exhibit hypercalcemia and/or MEN1 syndrome components during long-term follow-up. Materials and Methods: A total of 97 patients, diagnosed with functional PAs ≤40 years old, composed of somatotropinoma (n = 55), prolactinoma (n = 25), and corticotrophinoma (n = 17), were recruited for this study. Fifty-one of these patients [somatotropinoma (n = 30), prolactinoma (n = 15), and corticotrophinoma (n = 11)] were previously reported as AIP mutation-negative by Sanger sequencing. The entire coding sequence of the AIP gene, along with exon/intron boundaries and the untranslated regions of 41 newly recruited patients, were sequenced for germline variations. In addition, all patients were subjected to multiplex ligation-dependent probe amplification to detect copy number variations in the AIP gene. Results: The AIP c.911G>A: p.Arg304Gln (rs104894190) variant was detected in only two patients with functional PA: one with somatotropinoma [in 1/55 (1.8%)] and one with prolactinoma [in 1/25 (4%)]. None of the corticotrophinomas revealed AIP gene alterations. Thus, the overall prevalence of AIP variation was 2.1% in our cohort. Conclusions: Germline AIP gene variations among Turkish patients with apparently sporadic PAs are relatively rare among patients ≤40 years old. None of the patients in our cohort revealed any obviously pathogenic AIP variants.

Effects of prediabetes and type 2 diabetes on cognitive functions

INTRODUCTION

We aimed to investigate the effect of glycemic impairment in prediabetes on cognitive impairment and the impact of glycemic control on cognitive function in patients with diabetes.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

This age- and sex-matched case-control study included a total of 80 individuals: 20 patients with prediabetes, 20 patients with well-controlled type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) (HbA1C < %7.5), 20 patients with poorly controlled T2DM (HbA1C >% 7.5), and 20 healthy controls.

RESULTS

The poorly controlled T2DM patients performed significantly worse than controls and patients with prediabetes in the verbal memory process test (p = 0.041). In Trail Making Test B, the well-controlled and poorly-controlled groups with diabetes performed significantly worse (p = 0.015) than patients with prediabetes and controls, and in the Wisconsin Card Sorting Test (WCST), all three patient groups performed significantly worse (p = 0.007) than controls.

CONCLUSION

T2DM causes early brain aging and declines cognitive functions since the prediabetic stage. Poor glycemic control in T2DM patients contributes to cognitive impairments, especially in learning.

Fat mass is responsible for increased plasma and whole blood viscosity in obesity

OBJECTIVES

Our study is centered around a pivotal question: How does the increase in adipose tissue, which defines obesity, impact hemorheological parameters? By delving into this question, we aim to underscore the crucial role of fat tissue increase in obesity, a topic of significant interest and importance in the field of physiology and obesity research.

METHODS

Individuals with a body mass index (BMI) of 25 and above were included in this study. Height was measured with bare feet on flat surface, then, using the bioimpedance device (Tanita-BC418), weight, BMI, fat percentage, fat mass (FM), and fat-free mass were determined. Using the Brookfield viscometer, several shear rates were utilized (for whole blood, 75, 150, 300, and 450 sec-1; for plasma 450 sec-1) in accordance with established standards and test procedures. Whole blood and plasma viscosity were studied in Hamidiye Medical Faculty Hemorheology laboratory.

RESULTS

Plasma viscosity in the obese group was significantly (P = 0.01) higher than in the non-obese group, and increased statistically in proportion to weight, BMI, FM, fat-free mass (P < 0.05) in the obese group. At shear rates of 300 and 450 sec-1 (P < 0.05) were determined statistically significant differences between the obese and nonobese groups in whole blood viscosity (WBV). In the obese group, WBV at a shear rate of 75, 150, 300, and 450 sec-1 showed a positive correlation with weight, BMI, FM (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

Increased adipose tissue significantly affect plasma and blood viscosities in obesity. The increase in plasma and WBV is directly associated with the increase in adipose tissue.