Inhibition of 7α,26-dihydroxycholesterol biosynthesis promotes midbrain dopaminergic neuron development.

Dysregulated cholesterol metabolism has been linked to neurodegeneration. We previously found that free, non-esterified, 7α,(25)26-dihydroxycholesterol (7α,26-diHC), was significantly elevated in the cerebrospinal fluid of patients with Parkinson's disease (PD). In this study we investigated the role of 7α,26-diHC in midbrain dopamine (mDA) neuron development and survival.

Virus antibody survey in different European populations indicates risk association between coxsackievirus B1 and type 1 diabetes.

Enteroviruses (EVs) have been connected to type 1 diabetes in various studies. The current study evaluates the association between specific EV subtypes and type 1 diabetes by measuring type-specific antibodies against the group B coxsackieviruses (CVBs), which have been linked to diabetes in previous surveys. Altogether, 249 children with newly diagnosed type 1 diabetes and 249 control children matched according to sampling time, sex, age, and country were recruited in Finland, Sweden, England, France, and Greece between 2001 and 2005 (mean age 9 years; 55% male).

Malrotation of the intestine and chronic volvulus as a cause of protein-losing enteropathy in infancy.

Protein-losing enteropathy in children is caused by intestinal metabolic, inflammatory, or infectious processes, or by lymphatic obstruction (intestinal lymphangiectasia). In this report, a 17-month-old child is presented with protein-losing enteropathy due to intestinal malrotation and chronic midgut volvulus causing lymphatic obstruction and spillage of lymph in the intestine and the peritoneum. This report should alert the pediatrician that intestinal malrotation should be added to the wide list of possible causes of protein-losing enteropathy in children.

Seasonal variation of type 1 diabetes mellitus diagnosis in Greek children.

Objective: The aim of the study was to investigate the seasonal variation of type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) diagnosis in Greek children.

Design: The study group consisted of 1148 patients (604 males and 544 females) who were diagnosed with T1DM during the period 1978-2008. The mean age at diagnosis was 8.

Oligomenorrhoea in adolescents with type 1 diabetes mellitus: relationship to glycaemic control.

Objective: To investigate oligomenorrhoea in adolescents with type 1 diabetes and the possible relationship with glycaemic control.

Study Design: The study group consisted of 81 female adolescents with type 1 diabetes whose mean age was 15.0 years (range 12-18).

SMARTDIAB: a communication and information technology approach for the intelligent monitoring, management and follow-up of type 1 diabetes patients.

SMARTDIAB is a platform designed to support the monitoring, management, and treatment of patients with type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM), by combining state-of-the-art approaches in the fields of database (DB) technologies, communications, simulation algorithms, and data mining. SMARTDIAB consists mainly of two units: 1) the patient unit (PU); and 2) the patient management unit (PMU), which communicate with each other for data exchange. The PMU can be accessed by the PU through the internet using devices, such as PCs/laptops with direct internet access or mobile phones via a Wi-Fi/General Packet Radio Service access network.

Genetics of type 1 diabetes mellitus.

Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus is a complex and polygenic disease due to gene-environment interactions. The role of genetic background of diabetes has been extensively investigated. However, final conclusions have not yet been reached.

An insulin infusion advisory system for type 1 diabetes patients based on non-linear model predictive control methods.

In this paper, an Insulin Infusion Advisory System (IIAS) for Type 1 diabetes patients, which use insulin pumps for the Continuous Subcutaneous Insulin Infusion (CSII) is presented. The purpose of the system is to estimate the appropriate insulin infusion rates. The system is based on a Non-Linear Model Predictive Controller (NMPC) which uses a hybrid model.

A communication and information technology infrastructure for real time monitoring and management of type 1 diabetes patients.

This paper is focused on the integration of state-of-the-art technologies in the fields of telecommunications, simulation algorithms, and data mining in order to develop a Type 1 diabetes patient's semi to fully-automated monitoring and management system. The main components of the system are a glucose measurement device, an insulin delivery system (insulin injection or insulin pumps), a mobile phone for the GPRS network, and a PDA or laptop for the Internet. In the medical environment, appropriate infrastructure for storage, analysis and visualizing of patients' data has been implemented to facilitate treatment design by health care experts.

Neural network based glucose - insulin metabolism models for children with Type 1 diabetes.

In this paper two models for the simulation of glucose-insulin metabolism of children with Type 1 diabetes are presented. The models are based on the combined use of Compartmental Models (CMs) and artificial Neural Networks (NNs). Data from children with Type 1 diabetes, stored in a database, have been used as input to the models.

Loss of the Y chromosome PAR2 region and additional rearrangements in two familial cases of satellited Y chromosomes: cytogenetic and molecular analysis.

Two cases of rare structural aberrations of the Y chromosome were detected: a del(Y) (q12) chromosome in a child with mild dysmorphic features, obesity and psychomotor delay, and two identical satellited Y chromosomes (Yqs) in a normal twin, which were originally observed during routine prenatal diagnosis. In both cases a Yqs chromosome was detected in the father which had arisen from a reciprocal translocation involving the short arm of chromosome 15 and the heterochromatin of the long arm of the Y chromosome (Yqh). Cytogenetic and molecular studies demonstrated that in the reciprocal product of chromosomes 15 and Y PAR2 could not be detected, showing that PAR2 had been deleted.

Genetic screening for individuals at high risk for type 1 diabetes in the general population using HLA Class II alleles as disease markers. A comparison between three European populations with variable rates of disease incidence.

Background: To develop screening strategies for identification of individuals at increased genetic risk for type 1 diabetes in three populations with variable disease incidence rates and distinct ethnic origin.

Methods: A stepwise HLA DQB1-DQA1-DRB1-based screening approach was evaluated. Patients with childhood-onset type 1 diabetes were recruited from Finland (n = 1739), Hungary (n = 149), and Greece (n = 119).

HLA alleles and type 1 diabetes mellitus in low disease incidence populations of Southern Europe: a comparison of Greeks and Albanians.

Type 1 diabetes mellitus (DM1) is caused by environmental factors acting on genetically susceptible individuals. HLA-DQA1 and -DQB1 are major genetic determinants of the disease. Greece and Albania represent the low DM1 incidence countries of South-Eastern Europe.

Autonomic neuropathy and gastrointestinal motility disorders in children and adolescents with type 1 diabetes mellitus.

Introduction: There is little information on the gastrointestinal motility abnormalities and autonomic neuropathy of children with gastrointestinal symptoms and type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM).

Methods: The authors studied 33 consecutive patients (mean age, 15.3 years; 13 males) with T1DM (median duration, 7.

Estimation of genetic risk for type 1 diabetes.

The most important gene loci defining risk of type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) are located within the HLA gene region. HLA-DQ molecules are of primary importance but HLA-DR gene products modify the risk conferred by HLA-DQ. The risk associated with an HLA genotype is defined by the particular combination of susceptible and protective alleles.

Transition of the adolescent from the children's to the adults' diabetes clinic.

The transition of adolescents with type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) from pediatric to adult diabetological care is a critical phase that requires special attention. A considerable proportion of adolescents encounters certain difficulties during this transition, which can negatively affect adjustment and glycemic control. Etiological factors include: (a) the adolescent's separation anxiety elicited by the process of departing from the pediatrician who functions as a secure base in a period of developmental turmoil; (b) certain developmental factors that adversely affect glycemic control and the patient-physician cooperation; (c) the tendency of the adult diabetologist to focus more on medical than on psychosocial components; (d) the lack of the appropriate preparatory work which would: (i) help the adolescent to successfully cope with the difficulties that may arise due to the transition and (ii) make feasible the establishment of the proper pediatrician-adult diabetologist cooperation required for the development of a continuum in diabetological care through which the adolescent's special needs can be best met.

Nutritional implications of chronic dyspepsia in childhood.

Chronic dyspepsia is common in children. However, the association of individual predominant symptoms with gastric emptying and their impact on nutritional status are poorly defined. We therefore studied 31 children (mean age 11 years, 14 boys) with chronic dyspepsia and classified their predominant symptoms (PS) by their character and severity.