Glycosylated hemoglobin-defined prediabetes and cardiovascular risk markers in rural India: the Nallampatti noncommunicable disease study

The aim of this study is to assess the associations between glycosylated hemoglobin in the prediabetes range and cardiovascular risk markers in a rural South Indian population. Local Ethics Committee approval and informed consent was obtained from all participants. Inclusion criteria were participants, aged ≥20 and ≤85 years, from Nallampatti, a classical farming village from Tamil Nadu State, India. Those with known history of diabetes were excluded from this analysis. All participants were administered a detailed questionnaire, had anthropometric measurements including height, weight, and waist circumference. Bloods were drawn for random blood glucose, glycosylated hemoglobin, nonfasting lipid profile, cystatin C, uric acid, and hemoglobin. All participants had carotid intima thickness done by high-resolution B-mode carotid ultrasound. Progressive hyperglycemia across the glucose tolerance continuum based on glycosylated hemoglobin levels in a rural South Indian population seems to be associated with worsening cardiovascular risk markers. A cut-off value of ≥6% (42 mmol/mol) seems to herald a much more significant increase in such markers. Long-term follow-up of this cohort for incident cardiovascular disease will help to substantiate the associations between glycosylated hemoglobin levels within the prediabetes range and cardiovascular disease in an Indian population. Evidence-based race-specific criteria for diagnosis of prediabetes and diabetes are the need of the hour for risk stratification and appropriate management.     

Do Meaning in life,Ideological Commitment,and Level of Religiosity,Related Adolescent Substance Abuse and Attitude?

The present study focuses on expanding and broadening the connection between meaning in life and psychoactive substance abuse. Since professional literature presents an individual’s meaning in life as an immunizing factor against substance abuse, the present study sought to examine the impact of level of religiosity and level of ideological-political commitment, through the prism of meaning in life, on the attitudes adopted by adolescents towards such abuse, and their actual use of the various substances. The findings of the study, in which 1032 Israeli adolescents aged 14 to 18 took part, supported the hypothesis whereby a high level of religiosity “immunizes” against psychoactive substance abuse. However, they also indicate that despite the negative approach to it among individuals with high levels of ideological commitment, no significant correlation can be found between ideological commitment and actual psychoactive substance abuse. The study findings underscore the importance of both religion and ideological commitment in the formation of meaning in life by youth, as well as the impact of social supervision and perceived norms in their environment, with regard to their willingness to attempt using psychoactive substances, and their actual use thereof. The study findings contribute both to research and practical application when constructing programs for the prevention of normative adolescent substance abuse.     

Autism Spectrum Disorder and School Bullying: Who is the Victim? Who is the Perpetrator?

While a growing number of studies indicate associations between experiences of bullying and autism spectrum disorder (ASD), it is not clear what roles comorbid behavioral problems may play. We investigated the experiences of children with ASD as victims and/or perpetrators of bullying. Children with ASD epidemiologically ascertained participated in a cross-sectional study. Although children with ASD showed significantly increased risk for bullying involvement compared to community children, after controlling for comorbid psychopathology and other demographic factors, increased risks for being perpetrators or victim-perpetrators disappeared while risk for being bullied/teased continued to be significantly elevated. This finding will help guide medical, educational and community personnel to effectively identify children with ASD at risk for school bullying and develop interventions.     

Tumor-associated Endo180 requires stromal-derived LOX to promote metastatic prostate cancer cell migration on human ECM surfaces

The diverse composition and structure of extracellular matrix (ECM) interfaces encountered by tumor cells at secondary tissue sites can influence metastatic progression. Extensive in vitro and in vivo data has confirmed that metastasizing tumor cells can adopt different migratory modes in response to their microenvironment. Here we present a model that uses human stromal cell-derived matrices to demonstrate that plasticity in tumor cell movement is controlled by the tumor-associated collagen receptor Endo180 (CD280, CLEC13E, KIAA0709, MRC2, TEM9, uPARAP) and the crosslinking of collagen fibers by stromal-derived lysyl oxidase (LOX). Human osteoblast-derived and fibroblast-derived ECM supported a rounded ‘amoeboid-like’ mode of cell migration and enhanced Endo180 expression in three prostate cancer cell lines (PC3, VCaP, DU145). Genetic silencing of Endo180 reverted PC3 cells from their rounded mode of migration towards a bipolar ‘mesenchymal-like’ mode of migration and blocked their translocation on human fibroblast-derived and osteoblast-derived matrices. The concomitant decrease in PC3 cell migration and increase in Endo180 expression induced by stromal LOX inhibition indicates that the Endo180-dependent rounded mode of prostate cancer cell migration requires ECM crosslinking. In conclusion, this study introduces a realistic in vitro model for the study of metastatic prostate cancer cell plasticity and pinpoints the cooperation between tumor-associated Endo180 and the stiff microenvironment imposed by stromal-derived LOX as a potential target for limiting metastatic progression in prostate cancer.     

Nutritional Surveillance of Christian Orthodox Minority Adolescents in Istanbul

Previous studies have shown that the diets of migrant populations are of poor quality; however, studies on populations remaining in one geographical region as a minority after an acute population movement are scarce. Therefore, the aim of the present study was to assess dietary intake and growth of Greek minority adolescents in Turkey. Anthropometric measurements and dietary assessment were performed in 103 Greek Orthodox students (aged 10–19 years old) of three minority schools in Istanbul. Prevalence of overweight and obesity according to the WHO growth charts was 39.8 %. Accordingly, 40 % of the sample exhibited excess body fat. Dietary intakes of protein, carbohydrate, fiber, vitamins E and D, folic acid and calcium were inadequate, while energy, total fat and iron intakes were considered adequate. Our results indicate that Greek minority adolescents living in Turkey have similar weight status compared to their counterparts in Greece, but greater body fat than Turkish coevals, while being at risk of several nutrient inadequacies.     

Cotard's Syndrome Triggered by Fear in a Patient with Intellectual Disability: Causal or Casual Link?

Cotard's syndrome is a neuropsychiatric disease characterized by a variety of nihilistic delusions, commonly associated with several psychotic and major affective disorders, and neurological diseases, including stroke, dementia, and mental retardation. A 39-year-old male with mental retardation developed Cotard's syndrome, following an important episode of fear. During admission to our neurological unit, the patient underwent an accurate assessment, including neuroradiological, clinical, and neuropsychological examinations. At the psychiatric evaluation, he presented nihilistic delusions, in which he negated the existence of his body parts and the existence of his family members. The neuropsychological assessment ruled out other possible causes of misidentification, including the post-traumatic stress disorder. Thus, since also organic causes of Cotard's syndrome were excluded, the correlation between fear and the syndrome has been postulated and the patient opportunely treated, using a multidisciplinary approach. Our case suggests that in predisposed individuals negative emotions, including fear, may lead to delusional syndromes.