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Introduction: Type 1 diabetes (T1D) is associated with increased risk of cardiovascular disease. Insulin resistance is an important cardiovascular risk factor (CVRF), also in subjects with T1D, but the influence of the genetic predisposition of insulin resistance on cardiovascular risk is still unknown in T1D. We aimed to determine whether a genetic score composed of six variants, previously associated to insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes (T2D) risk, associates with insulin sensitivity and known CVRFs in children and adolescents with T1D. Materials and Methods: 330 children and adolescents (174 males; mean age 15.7±3.5 years) with T1D were genotyped for the following genetic variants: rs1801278 (IRS1), rs1044498 (ENPP1), rs2295490 (TRIB3), rs1801282 (PPARG), rs780094 (GCKR), and rs35767 (IGF1). An additive genetic risk score (GRS) and cardiovascular risk score (CVRS) were calculated. Anthropometric, glycemic control, insulin sensitivity, blood pressure, and biochemical parameters were assessed. Multivariate regression between evaluated phenotypes and GRS were performed. Results: We found a significant association between the GRS and estimated insulin sensitivity [β=-0.027 (-0.040 to -0.013), R2=0.86, p=

Changes in the desaturation activity of LC-PUFAs may influence insulin sensitivity by modulating the relative abundance of omega-3. The aim of this cross-sectional study was to assess the association between genetic variants of fatty acid desaturase cluster genes (FADS1, FADS2, FADS3) and insulin sensitivity in a cohort of children and adolescents with obesity. Anthropometric evaluation, lipid profile, glucose metabolism parameters and the genotype of rs1535 on FADS2 gene were assessed. In 162 obese children and adolescents (12.6 ± 2.3 years; BMI 30.9 ± 7.3), we found a significant association between an index of insulin sensitivity, i.e., Matsuda index, and rs1535 (B = -0,192; p = 0.008), BMI (B = -0,003; p 0.001), and triglycerides (B = -0,034; p 0.001), independent of age and sex [R² = 0.35; p = 0.001]. In conclusion, FADS cluster variants were associated with insulin sensitivity in a population of children and adolescents with obesity, contributing to identify individuals who may benefit from personalised prevention and treatment nutritional strategies since childhood.

The oral microbiota can be influenced by multiple factors, but only a few studies have focused on the role of glycemic control in determining early alterations of oral microbiota and their association with pathogenesis of both periodontitis and caries. The aim of this study is to evaluate the interplay between bacteria composition, oral hygiene, and glycemic control in a cohort of children with T1D. A total of 89 T1D children were enrolled (62% males, mean age: 12.6 ± 2.2 years). Physical and clinical characteristics, glucometabolic parameters, insulin treatment, and oral hygiene habits data were collected. Microbiological analysis was performed from saliva samples. A high prevalence of cariogenic and periodontopathogens bacteria in our cohort was detected. In particular, in all subjects Actinomyces spp., Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans, Prevotella intermedia, and Lactobacillus spp. were isolated. S. mutans was found in about half of the analyzed sample (49.4%), in particular in patients with imbalance values of glycemic control. Moreover, a higher presence of both S. mutans and Veillonella spp. was detected in subjects with poorer glycemic control, in terms of HbA1c, %TIR and %TAR, even adjusting for age, sex, and hygiene habits as covariates. Virtuous oral hygiene habits, such as frequency of toothbrush changes and professional oral hygiene, negatively correlated with the simultaneous presence of Tannerella forsythia, Treponema denticola, and Porphyromonas gingivalis, red complex bacteria. Our study shows it is crucial to pay attention to glycemic control and regular oral hygiene to prevent the establishment of an oral microbiota predisposing to dental and periodontal pathology in subjects with T1D since childhood.

Background: To date, no consistent data are available on the possible impact of CFTR modulators on glucose metabolism. The aim of this study was to test the hypothesis that treatment with CFTR modulators is associated with an improvement in the key direct determinants of glucose regulation in children and young adults affected by Cystic Fibrosis (CF). Methods: In this study, 21 CF patients aged 10–25 underwent oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) before and after 12–18 months of treatment with Lumacaftor/Ivacaftor or Elexacaftor-Ivacaftor-Tezacaftor. β-cell function (i.e., first and second phase of insulin secretion measured as derivative and proportional control, respectively) and insulin clearance were estimated by OGTT mathematical modelling. Insulin sensitivity was estimated by the Oral Glucose Sensitivity Index (OGIS). The dynamic interplay between β-cell function, insulin clearance and insulin sensitivity was analysed by vector plots of glucose-stimulated insulin bioavailability vs. insulin sensitivity. Results: No changes in glucose tolerance occurred after either treatment, whereas a significant improvement in pulmonary function and chronic bacterial infection was observed. Beta cell function and insulin clearance did not change in both treatment groups. Insulin sensitivity worsened in the Lumacaftor/Ivacaftor group. The analysis of vector plots confirmed that glucose regulation was stable in both groups. Conclusions: Treatment of CF patients with CFTR modulators does not significantly ameliorate glucose homeostasis and/or any of its direct determinants.

Sono riportati i risultati di una indagine conoscitiva sistematica effettuata negli anni 2016-2019 su alcuni gruppi di Insecta appartenenti a odonata, orthopteroidaea, Dermaptera, Coleoptera, lepidoptera, Isoptera e Mecoptera monitorati nel Parco Naturale archeologico dell’Inviolata (Roma, Lazio). Sono descritti i principali caratteri geomorfologici, climatologici e vegetazionali dell’area studiata. I campionamenti sono stati effettuati con metodologie diversificate; raccolta manuale, trappole a caduta, sorgenti luminose, ispezione di feci, animali morti e vegetazione acquatica. È stata accertata la presenza di 533 taxa appartenenti a 101 famiglie. l’ordine maggiormente rappresentato è quello dei Coleoptera (359 taxa) cui appartiene la famiglia più rappresentata, quella dei Carabidae (77 taxa); seguono i lepidoptera con 107 taxa. Nel complesso, le specie endemiche italiane e/o rare sono numerose. Eriogaster catax ed Euplagia quadripunctaria sono protette dalla Direttiva habitat (92/43/CEE). Si segnalano in particolare il rinvenimento di Labia minor (Dermaptera), osservata per la prima volta nella Campagna Romana, e di Anthaxia lucens (Buprestidae), per la quale il Parco dell’Inviolata è l’unica stazione nota nel lazio. l’analisi biogeografica, basata sui corotipi delle specie di odonata e Coleoptera Carabidae, ha evidenziato la predominanza di elementi ad ampia distribuzione, seguiti da quelli europei e mediterranei. Sono quindi state effettuate comparazioni con l’entomofauna di aree della Campagna Romana a nord-est di Roma. È stata sottolineata l’importanza ecologica dei piccoli bacini lacustri a regime idrologico variabile presenti nell’area protetta.

Nel lavoro vengono presentate check-list di specie di Insecta − Odonata, Mantodea, Orthopteroidea, Coleoptera, Lepidoptera - monitorate in un’area della Campagna Romana a nord-est di Roma, nota come “arcipelago Mentanese-Cornicolano”, caratterizzata da habitat altamente frammentati con parcelle di bosco mesotermofilo, agrosistemi, aree urbane e suburbane, attraversate da una rete di infrastrutture lineari. L’andamento morfologico tipico è quello di rilievi collinari e vallecole poco incise con terreni vulcanici argillificati e substrati carbonatici con vistose manifestazioni carsiche. Il territorio include integralmente le riserve naturali regionali gestite dalla Provincia di Roma, “Nomentum” e “Macchia di Gattaceca e Macchia del Barco”. Nonostante le misure di protezione, assai poco era noto sinora sull’entomofauna dell’area. osservazioni saltuarie protratte per oltre un decennio seguite da raccolte intensive concentrate tra il 2009 ed il 2013 con applicazione di metodiche di cattura dirette e indirette (retini entomologici, aspiratori, trappole a caduta, aeree e luminose) unitamente all’analisi dei dati bibliografici, hanno consentito di rilevare la presenza di 422 specie. L’analisi biogeografica è stata limitata a odonata e Coleoptera Carabidae ben rappresentati sul totale delle specie osservate nella città di Roma circoscritta dal Grande Raccordo anulare. Specie di particolare interesse conservazionistico sono analiticamente discusse. Per quanto la check-list debba considerarsi necessariamente incompleta e non sia stata condotta una adeguata analisi quantitativa, queste raccolte suggeriscono l’esistenza di un popolamento entomatico fortemente impoverito. In particolare, “Nomentum” versa in uno stato di conservazione complessivamente mediocre, “Macchia di Gattaceca e Macchia del Barco” versa in uno stato di conservazione discreto (Macchia di Gattaceca) o buono (Macchia del Barco). La presenza di alcune tessere ambientali di rilevante interesse zoocenotico suggerisce il potenziamento delle misure di protezione, ancora largamente insufficienti.

Morphological variation among a population of Testudo graeca from two neighbouring sites of the Nemrut Volcano has been analysed, and six morphometric characters have been assessed in 305 specimens, mainly adults. This population shows remarkable morphometric differences. Macrohabitat differences among sites have been involved to explain this variability in the light of the huge morphological plasticity of this wide-ranging taxon.