Body Composition and Bone Mineral Quality in Phenylketonuria: Influence of Pubertal Development

Background/Objectives: Early diagnosis and a low-Phe diet significantly improved prognosis of PKU patients whose management is now-a-day mostly focused on preventing nutritional imbalances and resulting comorbidities. Puberty is a turning point for the risk to develop overweight and bone quality impairment. The present study aims to evaluate body composition and bone quality in prepubertal and pubertal PKU patients. Subjects/Methods: This is an observational, prospective study on an historical cohort of patients with PKU aged between 4.1 and 18 years, with early diagnosis and continuous protein-restrictive diet treatment. Bioimpedance, weight measurements, height, body mass index calculation, and quantitative ultrasound were collected. Sexual maturity was evaluated by using the Tanner staging. Results: Thirty PKU patients (14 prepubertal, 16 pubertal) were included in the study. Mean BMI was within the normal range in both groups, although fat content was higher in prepubertal, whereas lean mass was higher in the pubertal group who had also a higher total protein content. Among QUS parameters, bone quality index and broadband ultrasound were lower in prepubertal children than in adolescents, with a Z-score BQI within the osteopenia range in both of them. Conclusions: Pubertal patients with PKU develop a higher lean mass and protein content. If on one hand the high non-Phe protein intake in the pubertal period may promote increase in bone mineral quality, on the other hand the higher protein retention, typical of this period, may increase the risk for hyperinsulinism and glucose intolerance in later life. Adjusting dietary management by modulating total protein intake in the peripubertal period could result in better management of PKU patients.

Analysis of Micro-RNAs Profile Identifies miR-3065-3p, miR-4650-3p, miR-29b-2-5p, and miR-3915 as Novel Biomarkers in Gestational Diabetes Mellitus

Background: Gestational Diabetes Mellitus (GDM) is a metabolic disorder characterized by carbohydrate intolerance. Complete mechanisms involved in pathophysiology of GDM are still not well known and hence makes its early diagnosis and treatment a difficult task. Micro-RNAs are non-coding RNAs and have been found to be associated with many diseases including GDM. Methods: Here, we analyzed the transcriptomic datasets (GSE98043) to unravel the role of miRNAs in GDM. We processed and analyzed the microarray datasets to find differentially expressed miRNAs followed by miRNA-mRNA gene regulatory module to have a better understanding of its regulation. Results: We identified a total of 128 Differentially Expressed (DE) miRNAs, of which the top 20 were selected for downstream processing. Four potential GDM miRNAs biomarkers namely miR-3065-3p, miR-4650-3p, miR-29b-2- 5p and miR-3915 were significantly altered in GDM. The micro-RNAs were linked to carbohydrate metabolism, insulin signaling, and cell proliferation and apoptosis. The pathways enrichment analysis shows that they are involved in insulin signaling and pathways related to cancer. Conclusions: Our study lead to the identification of four potential GDM miRNAs biomarkers namely miR-3065-3p, miR-4650-3p, miR-29b-2-5p and miR-3915 were significantly altered in GDM and can be used as diagnostic as well as therapeutic purpose.

Elevated Levels of the Pollutant PM2.5 in Crowded Subways of Cities with High COVID-19 Related Mortality-Has COVID-19 Gone Underground?

A nationwide study by [1] in the United States indicated a connection between long-term exposure to particulate matter PM2.5 and COVID-19 related mortality [1]. COVID-19 had been found to be adherent to particulate matter and it has been suggested that PM2.5 is an airborne co-factor in COVID-19 infection [2]. PM2.5 minimum and maximum levels in subways have been found several times higher than surface level. An elevated mean PM2.5 concentration of 381 μg/m³ was reported on the Victoria Underground, approximately 16 times higher than surface PM2.5 results [3]. The World Health Organization guideline recommends that PM2.5 levels should not exceed an average level of 25 μg/m³ 24-hour. The guideline stipulates that a PM2.5 concentration of 10 μg/m³/24 hr is the lowest level at which combined cardiopulmonary and lung cancer mortality have been shown to rise in response to chronic exposure to PM2.5 [4]. Commuter use of underground rail is significant. On a global scale the use of transport via subways represents around 11% of worldwide public transport. In New York, the daily ridership is 5 million and decreased by 90% after the institution of the New York lockdown [5]. More than 200 million passengers commute daily in the 156 underground networks around the world. With the movement of rural populations to urban areas as in China, the ridership is increasing exponentially as in subways of Beijing and Shanghai.