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Background. Taurine transporter gene expression (RNA-TauT) has a role in retinal cell function and is modulatedin vitroandin vivoby hyperglycemia and/or oxidative stress. This study was aimed at testing whether RNA-TauT gene expression is modified in blood mononuclear peripheral cells (MPCs) of type 1 diabetic patients, is related to plasma markers of oxidative stress or endothelial dysfunction, or, finally, is related to presence of retinopathy.Methods. RNA-TauT was measured in MPCs by real-time PCR-analysis in 35 type 1 diabetic patients and in 33 age- and sex-matched controls, additionally measuring plasma and cell taurine and markers of oxidative stress and endothelial dysfunction.Results. RNA-TauT, expressed as2-ΔΔCt, was significantly higher in MPCs of type 1 diabetic patients than in controls [median (interquartile range): 1.32(0.31) versus 1.00(0.15);P=0.01]. In diabetic patients RNA-TauT was related to HbA1c (r=0.42;P=0.01) and inversely to plasma homocysteine (r=-0.39;P=0.02) being additionally significantly higher in MPCs of patients without retinopathy [(n=22); 1.36(0.34)] compared to those with retinopathy [(n=13); 1.16(0.20)], independently from HbA1c or diabetes duration.Conclusions. RNA-TauT gene expression is significantly upregulated in MPCs of type 1 diabetes patients and is related to HbA1c levels and inversely to plasma homocysteine. Finally, in diabetes patients, RNA-TauT upregulation seems to be blunted in patients with retinopathy independently of their metabolic control or longer diabetes duration.

Considering old GDM diagnostic criteria, alterations in insulin secretion and action are present in women with GDM as well as in women with one abnormal value (OAV) during OGTT. Our aim is to assess if changes in insulin action and secretion during pregnancy are related to 1-hour plasma glucose concentration during OGTT. We evaluated 3 h/100 g OGTT in 4,053 pregnant women, dividing our population on the basis of 20 mg/dL increment of plasma glucose concentration at 1 h OGTT generating 5 groups (n=661; 120–139 mg/dL,n=710; 140–159 mg/dL,n=912; 160–179 mg/dL,n=885; and ≥180 mg/dL,n=996). We calculated incremental area under glucose (AUCgluc) and insulin curves (AUCins), indexes of insulin secretion (HOMA-B), and insulin sensitivity (HOMA-R), AUCins/AUCgluc. AUCglucand AUCinsprogressively increased according to 1-hour plasma glucose concentrations (bothP<0.0001for trend). HOMA-B progressively declined (P<0.001), and HOMA-R progressively increased across the five groups. AUCins/AUCglucdecreased in a linear manner across the 5 groups (P<0.001). Analysing the groups with 1-hour value P<0.001). Progressive increase in 1-hour OGTT is associated with deterioration of glucose tolerance and alterations in indexes of insulin action and secretion.