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Objective: To examine the prevalence, time trends, and risk factors of diabetic retinopathy (DR) among youth with type 1 diabetes (T1D) from 11 countries (Australia, Austria, Denmark, England, Germany, Italy, Luxemburg, Netherlands, Slovenia, United States, and Wales). Subjects and Methods: Data on individuals aged 10–21 years with T1D for >1 year during the period 2000–2020 were analyzed. We used a cross‐sectional design using the most recent year of visit to investigate the time trend. For datasets with longitudinal data, we aggregated the variables per participant and observational year, using data of the most recent year to take the longest observation period into account. DR screening was performed through quality assured national screening programs. Multiple logistic regression models adjusted for the year of the eye examination, age, gender, minority status, and duration of T1D were used to evaluate clinical characteristics and the risk of DR. Results: Data from 156,090 individuals (47.1% female, median age 15.7 years, median duration of diabetes 5.2 years) were included. Overall, the unadjusted prevalence of any DR was 5.8%, varying from 0.0% (0/276) to 16.2% between countries. The probability of DR increased with longer disease duration (aORper‐1‐year‐increase = 1.04, 95% CI: 1.03–1.04, p < 0.0001), and decreased over time (aORper‐1‐year‐increase = 0.99, 95% CI: 0.98–1.00, p = 0.0093). Evaluating possible modifiable risk factors in the exploratory analysis, the probability of DR increased with higher HbA1c (aORper‐1‐mmol/mol‐increase‐in‐HbA1c = 1.03, 95% CI: 1.03–1.03, p < 0.0001) and was higher among individuals with hypertension (aOR = 1.24, 95% CI: 1.11–1.38, p < 0.0001) and smokers (aOR = 1.30, 95% CI: 1.17–1.44, p < 0.0001). Conclusions: The prevalence of DR in this large cohort of youth with T1D varied among countries, increased with diabetes duration, decreased over time, and was associated with higher HbA1c, hypertension, and smoking. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

OBJECTIVE: To analyze whether the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic increased the number of cases or impacted seasonality of new-onset type 1 diabetes (T1D) in large pediatric diabetes centers globally. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS: We analyzed data on 17,280 cases of T1D diagnosed during 2018–2021 from 92 worldwide centers participating in the SWEET registry using hierarchic linear regression models. RESULTS: The average number of new-onset T1D cases per center adjusted for the total number of patients treated at the center per year and stratified by age-groups increased from 11.2 (95% CI 10.1–12.2) in 2018 to 21.7 (20.6–22.8) in 2021 for the youngest age-group, <6 years; from 13.1 (12.2–14.0) in 2018 to 26.7 (25.7–27.7) in 2021 for children ages 6 to <12 years; and from 12.2 (11.5–12.9) to 24.7 (24.0–25.5) for adolescents ages 12–18 years (all P < 0.001). These increases remained within the expected increase with the 95% CI of the regression line. However, in Europe and North America following the lockdown early in 2020, the typical seasonality of more cases during winter season was delayed, with a peak during the summer and autumn months. While the seasonal pattern in Europe returned to prepandemic times in 2021, this was not the case in North America. Compared with 2018–2019 (HbA1c 7.7%), higher average HbA1c levels (2020, 8.1%; 2021, 8.6%; P < 0.001) were present within the first year of T1D during the pandemic. CONCLUSIONS: The slope of the rise in pediatric new-onset T1D in SWEET centers remained unchanged during the COVID-19 pandemic, but a change in the seasonality at onset became apparent. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Patients with cystic fibrosis caused by the A455E mutation appear to have milder lung disease and other complications than patients with disease caused by other gene mutations. Cystic fibrosis is inherited genetic disorder outwardly characterized by excess mucus in the lungs, poor function of the pancreas and high concentrations of chloride in the sweat. Researchers matched and compared 33 cystic fibrosis patients with the A455E mutation to 33 patients with cystic fibrosis caused by another gene mutation. Although they were diagnosed later, patients with the A455E mutation had significantly better lung function than the comparison patients. Only 21% (7) had poor pancreatic function while 94% (31) of the matched patients did. In addition, fewer patients with the A455E mutation had bacterial infections and none developed diabetes.

Aim To assess 1) the prevalence of children and adolescents with type 1 diabetes (T1D) changing from low-risk into borderline-high-risk lipid levels or from borderline-high-risk into high-risk lipid levels ('lose track of lipids') and 2) the power of a risk score including the determinants HbA1c, body mass index (BMI), gender, age, diabetes duration and ethnicity in predicting which patients lose track of lipids. Methods 651 children and adolescents with T1D were included in this longitudinal retrospective cohort study. Lipid dynamics and the impact of the risk score on losing track of lipids were evaluated. Kaplan-Meier analysis was used to estimate screening intervals. Results 31–43% percent of the patients had lost track of one or more lipids at the next lipid measurement. This happened more frequently in patients with a low-risk lipid level at start. Depending on the lipid parameter, 5% of patients with low-risk lipid levels lost track of lipids after 13–23 months. The risk score based on concomitant information on the determinants was moderately able to predict which patients would lose track of lipids on the short term. Conclusions A considerable number of children and adolescents with T1D loses track of lipids and does so within a 2-year screening interval. The predictive power of a risk score including age, BMI, gender, HbA1c, diabetes duration and ethnicity is only moderate. Future research should focus on another approach to the determinants used in this study or other determinants predictive of losing track of lipids on the short term. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To establish whether diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) or HbA1c at onset is associated with year‐three HbA1c in children with type 1 diabetes (T1D). Methods: Children with T1D from the SWEET registry, diagnosed <18 years, with documented clinical presentation, HbA1c at onset and follow‐up were included. Participants were categorized according to T1D onset: (a) DKA (DKA with coma, DKA without coma, no DKA); (b) HbA1c at onset (low [<10%], medium [10 to <12%], high [≥12%]). To adjust for demographics, linear regression was applied with interaction terms for DKA and HbA1c at onset groups (adjusted means with 95% CI). Association between year‐three HbA1c and both HbA1c and presentation at onset was analyzed (Vuong test). Results: Among 1420 children (54% males; median age at onset 9.1 years [Q1;Q3: 5.8;12.2]), 6% of children experienced DKA with coma, 37% DKA without coma, and 57% no DKA. Year‐three HbA1c was lower in the low compared to high HbA1c at onset group, both in the DKA without coma (7.1% [6.8;7.4] vs 7.6% [7.5;7.8], P =.03) and in the no DKA group (7.4% [7.2;7.5] vs 7.8% [7.6;7.9], P =.01), without differences between low and medium HbA1c at onset groups. Year‐three HbA1c did not differ among HbA1c at onset groups in the DKA with coma group. HbA1c at onset as an explanatory variable was more closely associated with year‐three HbA1c compared to presentation at onset groups (P =.02). Conclusions: Year‐three HbA1c is more closely related to HbA1c than to DKA at onset; earlier hyperglycemia detection might be crucial to improving year‐three HbA1c. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To determine whether theCLCAgene family of calcium-activated chloride channels is a modulator of the basic defect of cystic fibrosis (CF), an association study was performed with polymorphic microsatellite markers covering a 40-Mbp region spanning theCLCAgene locus on human chromosome 1p in CF patients displaying CF transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR)-independent residual chloride conductance in gastrointestinal epithelia. Statistically significant association of the electrophysiological phenotype with the allele distribution of markers 5’ of and within theCLCAlocus was observed. Transmission disequilibrium and the significance of the association decreased within the locus fromhCLCA2towardshCLCA4. Expression of hCLCA1 and hCLCA4 in human rectal mucosa was proven by microarray analysis. TheCLCAgene region was identified to encode mediators of DIDS-sensitive anion conductance in the human gastrointestinal tract that modulate the CF basic defect. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A letter to the editor is presented in response to the article "Which Test for Diagnosing Early Human Diabetic Neuropathy?," by R. A. Malik in issue number 2014; 63: 2206-2208.

Purpose: The 'Biomarkers of heterogeneity in type 1 diabetes' study cohort was set up to identify genetic, physiological and psychosocial factors explaining the observed heterogeneity in disease progression and the development of complications in people with long-standing type 1 diabetes (T1D)., Participants: Data and samples were collected in two subsets. A prospective cohort of 611 participants aged ≥16 years with ≥5 years T1D duration from four Dutch Diabetes clinics between 2016 and 2021 (median age 32 years; median diabetes duration 12 years; 59% female; mean glycated haemoglobin (HbA1c) 61 mmol/mol (7.7%); 61% on insulin pump; 23% on continuous glucose monitoring (CGM)). Physical assessments were performed, blood and urine samples were collected, and participants completed questionnaires. A subgroup of participants underwent mixed-meal tolerance tests (MMTTs) at baseline (n=169) and at 1-year follow-up (n=104). Genetic data and linkage to medical and administrative records were also available. A second cross-sectional cohort included participants with ≥35 years of T1D duration (currently n=160; median age 64 years; median diabetes duration 45 years; 45% female; mean HbA1c 58 mmol/mol (7.4%); 51% on insulin pump; 83% on CGM), recruited from five centres and measurements, samples and 5-year retrospective data were collected., Findings to Date: Stimulated residual C-peptide was detectable in an additional 10% of individuals compared with fasting residual C-peptide secretion. MMTT measurements at 90 min and 120 min showed good concordance with the MMTT total area under the curve. An overall decrease of C-peptide at 1-year follow-up was observed. Fasting residual C-peptide secretion is associated with a decreased risk of impaired awareness of hypoglycaemia., Future Plans: Research groups are invited to consider the use of these data and the sample collection. Future work will include additional hormones, beta-cell-directed autoimmunity, specific immune markers, microRNAs, metabolomics and gene expression data, combined with glucometrics, anthropometric and clinical data, and additional markers of residual beta-cell function., Trial Registration Number: NCT04977635., Competing Interests: Competing interests: Diabeter Netherlands is an independent clinic, which was acquired by Medtronic. The research presented here was independently performed and there is no conflict of interest., (© Author(s) (or their employer(s)) 2024. Re-use permitted under CC BY-NC. No commercial re-use. See rights and permissions. Published by BMJ.)

Health information technology (eHealth) can be cost-effective if it replaces existing care services. The introduction of eHealth has provided the opportunity to directly support and improve care for children with chronic diseases. We show an example of this in children with diabetes mellitus. Giving patients direct feedback on their glucose levels results in better outcomes of patient care. Accessing data from electronic patient files and using them effectively, however, is not yet possible in a number of health care institutions.