Observations on heredity and obesity in the emergence of diabetes

Summary The 899 offspring of Natal Indian diabetic couples are compared with the general Indian population. Diabetes was present in 25% of offspring aged 40– 49 as against 14.7% of the general population. The ratio of offspring diabetics to population diabetics diminished with age, suggesting that the genetic influence affects mainly age of onset of diabetes. Old and young diabetic couples had a similar proportion of diabetic children. Another similar comparison could be made between an inbred Tamil Indian family in Cape Town and the general population of Cape Hindus. More young diabetics were obese than old diabetics, in3 different racial groups and in both clinic and survey diabetics, whereas in the general population obesity is more common over age 40. Overweight may be a more important diabetes risk factor in young than in old people.

---

Beobachtungen über Erblichkeit und Fettleibigkeit beim Auftreten des Diabetes

Zusammenfassung Eine Gruppe von 899 Indern aus Natal, Nachkommen diabetischer Elternpaare, wurde mit der indischen Gesamtbevölkerung in Natal verglichen. Diabetes wurde in 25% der Nachkommen im Alter zwischen 40 und 49 Jahren beobachtet, verglichen mit 14.7% in der Gesamtbevölkerung. Die Verhältniszahl: Diabetiker unter den Nachkommen zu den Diabetikern in der Gesamtbevölkerung verringerte sich mit ansteigendem Alter; dieser Befund scheint anzudeuten, daß ein möglicher genetischer Faktor einen besonderen Einfluß auf das Alter ausübt, in dem der Diabetes sich manifestiert. Alte und junge Elternpaare hatten eine ähnliche zahlenmäßige Verteilung diabetischer Kinder. Ein ähnlicher Vergleich konnte zwischen einer Familiengruppe indischer Tamilen in Kapstadt und der gesamten HinduBevölkerung' von Kapstadt angestellt werden. Bei drei rassisch verschiedenen Bevölkerungsgruppen und bei klinischen wie bei neuentdeckten Diabetikern wurde festgestellt, daß Fettleibigkeit häufiger bei jungen als bei alten Diabetikern auftrat, während in der Gesamtbevölkerung die Fettleibigkeit im Alter von über 40 Jahren häufiger war. Übergewicht ist ais Risikofaktor für den Diabetes vielleicht wichtiger bei jüngeren als bei älteren Personen.

---

Observations sur l'hérédité et l'obésité dans l'apparition du diabèté

Résumé 899 enfants nés de couples Indiens diabétiques (province du Natal) ont été comparés à l'ensemble de la population indienne. Le diabète était présent chez 25% des descendants âgés entre 40 et 49 ans contre 14.7% pour la population générale. La différence de prévalence du diabète entre les descendants des couples diabétiques et la population générale diminuait avec l'âge, ce qui semble indiquer que le facteur génétique affecte surtout l'âge d'apparition du diabète. La proportion d'enfants diabétiques était identique pour les couples diabétiques jeunes ou vieux. Cette même comparaison a pu se faire entre une famille indienne Tamil dont les membres s'épousent entre eux et vivant au Cap et l'ensemble de la population indienne du Cap. La prévalence d'obésité était plus grande chez les diabétiques jeunes que chez les diabétiques âgés dans trois groupes raciaux différents et ceci aussi bien pour le diabète symptomatique qu' asymptomatique; par contre l'obésité est plus fréquente pour la population générale dépassant l'âge de 40 ans. L'obésité semble jouer un rôle plus important comme facteur diabétogène chez les jeunes que chez les personnes âgées.

     

Transient enriched housing before amyloidosis onset sustains cognitive improvement in Tg2576 mice

Levels of educational and occupational attainment, as components of cognitive reserve, may modify the relationship between the pathological hallmarks and cognition in Alzheimer's disease (AD). We examined whether exposure of a Tg2576 transgenic mouse model of AD to environmental enrichment (EE) at a specific period during the amyloidogenic process favored the establishment of a cognitive reserve. We found that exposure to EE during early adulthood of Tg2576 mice—before amyloidogenesis has started—reduced the severity of AD-related cognitive deficits more efficiently than exposure later in life, when the pathology is already present. Interestingly, early-life exposure to EE, while slightly reducing forebrain surface covered by amyloid plaques, did not significantly impact aberrant inhibitory remodeling in the hippocampus of Tg2576 mice. Thus, transient early-life exposure to EE exerts long-lasting protection against cognitive impairment during AD pathology. In addition, these data define the existence of a specific life time frame during which stimulatory activity most efficiently builds a cognitive reserve, limiting AD progression and favoring successful aging.     

Molecular epidemiology of betanodaviruses isolated from sea bass and sea bream cultured along the Tunisian coasts

Viral nervous necrosis (VNN) is a serious viral disease affecting farmed sea bass (Dicentrarchus labrax). Only scarce molecular data are available on the disease-causing betanodavirus populations in Tunisia. Therefore, we carried out the first molecular survey of betanodaviruses in farmed sea bass and sea bream (Sparus aurata) along the Tunisian coasts. Among 81 samples from five farms, 20 tested positive with RT-PCR, not only in clinical cases but also in asymptomatic fish before and during outbreaks. Positive fish were found in all farms, except in one farm investigated in the south of Tunisia. Sequencing the fragments of both genomic components (RNA1 and RNA2) in 16 isolates revealed that the Tunisian viruses were related to the red-spotted grouper nervous necrosis virus (RGNNV) genotype. Furthermore, the newly sequenced isolates were generally highly related to one another suggesting a recent common ancestor. They also showed high identities with other isolates obtained from wild fishes in the Mediterranean, but were slightly more divergent from strains recently obtained from farmed fishes in the Mediterranean. The poor genetic diversity of the viral population along the Tunisian coasts is striking. One hypothesis is that it is the result of the maintenance of a homogenous genetic pool among infected wild fish, groupers for instance and subsequent dissemination to farmed fish over the seasons.     

Type-I Interferon assessment in 45 minutes using the FilmArray® PCR platform in SARS-CoV-2 and other viral infections

Low concentrations of type-I interferon (IFN) in blood seem to be associated with more severe forms of Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). However, following the type-I interferon response (IR) in early stage disease is a major challenge. We evaluated detection of a molecular interferon signature on a FilmArray® system, which includes PCR assays for four interferon stimulated genes. We analyzed three types of patient populations: (i) children admitted to a pediatric emergency unit for fever and suspected infection, (ii) ICU-admitted patients with severe COVID-19, and (iii) healthcare workers with mild COVID-19. The results were compared to the reference tools, that is, molecular signature assessed with Nanostring® and IFN-α2 quantification by SIMOA® (Single MOlecule Array). A strong correlation was observed between the IR measured by the FilmArray®, Nanostring®, and SIMOA® platforms (r-Spearman 0.996 and 0.838, respectively). The FilmArray® panel could be used in the COVID-19 pandemic to evaluate the IR in 45-min with 2 min hand-on-time at hospitalization and to monitor the IR in future clinical trials.