Dietary Blueberry Supplementation Attenuates the Effects of an Ultra-Processed Food Cafeteria Diet on Weight Gain and Metabolic Parameters, Enhancing Nutrigenomic Profiles in C57BL/6 Mice.

The cafeteria diet (CAFD) model mimics Western dietary patterns, inducing obesity in mice. Blueberry (BB) consumption improves metabolic outcomes due to its anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties, though mechanisms remain unclear. This study assessed BB supplementation effects on biometric, metabolic, and hepatic steatosis parameters in CAFD-fed mice, and analyzed obesity-related gene expression in adipose tissues, liver, muscle, and hypothalamus.

Low irisin levels are associated with increased body weight and an adverse metabolic profile.

Objective: To assess whether plasma irisin is associated with anthropometric, body composition, and metabolic parameters according to body mass index.

Methods: A prospective cohort study was conducted at a tertiary referral hospital in Southern Brazil. Patients were divided according to body mass index: Group 1 (body mass index = 18.

Network insights into childhood obesity: unveiling methylated-differentially expressed genes and pathways through integrative bioinformatics analysis.

Background: Childhood obesity, a global epidemic with profound impacts on physical and psychological health, remains a complex challenge with elusive underlying mechanisms. This study aimed to unravel the epigenetic landscape of this disease by identifying methylated-differentially expressed genes (MeDEGs) in childhood obesity through integrated bioinformatics approaches.

Methods: Expression profiling (GSE9624) and methylation profiling (GSE25301, GSE27860, and GSE57484) datasets containing data on children with obesity (cases) and eutrophic children (control group) were obtained from the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) repository.

The rs3844492/ARHGAP22 and rs741301/ELMO1 polymorphisms are associated with changes in laboratory markers of renal damage among patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus.

Objective: To investigate the association between the rs3844492/ARHGAP22 and rs741301/ELMO1 polymorphisms and diabetic kidney disease in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus.

Methods: The sample consisted of 740 patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus and diabetic kidney disease (cases) and 303 patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus, but no diabetic kidney disease (controls). The genotyping of the polymorphisms was conducted using real-time polymerase chain reaction with Taqman probes.

Identifying genetically predisposed type 1 diabetes mellitus individuals in a Southern Brazilian population: The construction of a genetic risk score.

Single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the HLA DR/DQ region have the greatest impact on susceptibility to type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM). Non-HLA SNPs interact with the HLA, influencing the risk for T1DM. The aim of this study was to develop a genetic risk score (GRS) based on HLA DR/DQ and non-HLA SNPs to discriminate patients with T1DM.

The C allele of the rs741301 polymorphism in the ELMO1 gene is associated with increased risk of diabetic retinopathy in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus.

Objective: To investigate the association of the rs741301 polymorphism in the ELMO1 gene with diabetic retinopathy (DR) in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM).

Materials And Methods: This study analyzed 350 patients withT2DM and DR (cases) and 234 patients withT2DM without this complication but with more than 10 years of diabetes mellitus (DM) (controls). DR was diagnosed by indirect fundoscopy.

Stress-induced hyperglycemia and expression of glucose cell transport genes in skeletal muscle of critically ill patients: a cross-sectional study.

Objective: To explore the association between diabetes and stress-induced hyperglycemia with skeletal muscle expression of key genes related to glucose transport.

Methods: This is a cross-sectional study. Skeletal muscle biopsies were taken from the left vastus muscle of critically ill adult patients within 24 hours of intensive care unit admission, and the expression of the genes of interest, namely insulin receptor substrate 1 (IRS1), insulin receptor substrate 2 (IRS2), solute carrier family 2 member 1 (SLC2A1), and solute carrier family 2 member 4 (SLC2A4), was analyzed using quantitative polymerase chain reaction.

Association between the G/G genotype of the lncRNA rs7158663 polymorphism and proliferative diabetic retinopathy.

Objective: To investigate the association between the long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) () rs7158663 polymorphism and diabetic retinopathy (DR) in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM).

Subjects And Methods: The study included 628 patients with T2DM and DR ("case group," including 283 with proliferative DR [PDR] and 345 with nonproliferative DR [NPDR]), and 381 patients with T2DM but no DR ("control group"). The diagnosis of DR was established using indirect ophthalmoscopy.

Association of the rs9896052 Polymorphism Upstream of with Proliferative Diabetic Retinopathy in Patients with Less than 10 Years of Diabetes.

Growth factor receptor-bound protein 2 (GRB2) is a negative regulator of insulin signaling and a positive regulator of angiogenesis. Its expression is increased in a mouse model of retinal neovascularization and in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). This case-control study aimed to investigate the association between the rs9896052 polymorphism (A>C) upstream of and proliferative diabetic retinopathy (PDR) in patients with T2DM from Southern Brazil, taking into consideration self-reported skin color (white or non-white) and the known duration of diabetes (<10 years or ≥10 years).

Food intake, plasma copeptin and cardiovascular risk in patients with type 2 diabetes: A cross-sectional analysis.

Background And Aim: Increased consumption of ultra-processed foods has been linked to both mortality and cardiovascular risk. Copeptin levels may serve as potential risk markers for cardiovascular death and events. This cross-sectional analysis seeks to assess the potential correlation between the intake of ultra-processed foods and copeptin levels in outpatients diagnosed with type 2 diabetes, based on estimates of cardiovascular risk.

Does liraglutide alleviate inflammation in brain-dead donors? A randomized clinical trial.

Brain death triggers an inflammatory cascade that damages organs before procurement, adversely affecting the quality of grafts. This randomized clinical trial aimed to compare the efficacy of liraglutide compared to placebo in attenuating brain death-induced inflammation, endoplasmic reticulum stress, and oxidative stress. We conducted a double-blinded, placebo-controlled, randomized clinical trial with brain-dead donors.

Association between diabetes and stress-induced hyperglycemia with skeletal muscle gene expression of INSR in critically ill patients: A prospective cohort study.

This study aimed to investigate the association between diabetes and stress-induced hyperglycemia with skeletal muscle gene expression of INSR of critically ill patients. Skeletal muscle biopsies were prospectively taken from the vastus muscle, and the expression level of INSR was analyzed using RT-qPCR. Fifty patients were included from April 2018 to September 2018.

The rs1800469 T/T and rs1800470 C/C genotypes of the TGFB1 gene confer protection against diabetic retinopathy in a Southern Brazilian population.

The transforming growth factor beta 1 (TGFB1) is a pro-inflammatory cytokine that plays a key role in the mechanisms of angiogenesis and breakdown of the blood-retina barrier, which are implicated in the pathogenesis of diabetic retinopathy (DR). Polymorphisms in the TGFB1 gene have been associated with DR; however, results are still contradictory. Therefore, the aim of this study was to investigate the potential association between two TGFB1 polymorphisms and DR.

The lncRNA MALAT1 is upregulated in urine of type 1 diabetes mellitus patients with diabetic kidney disease.

Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) are RNAs with >200 nucleotides that are unable to encode proteins and are involved in gene expression regulation. LncRNAs have a key role in many physiological and pathological processes and, consequently, they have been associated with several human diseases, including diabetes chronic complications, such as diabetes kidney disease (DKD). In this context, some studies have identified the dysregulation of the lncRNAs MALAT1 and TUG1 in patients with DKD; nevertheless, available data are still contradictory.

Integrated bioinformatics approach reveals methylation-regulated differentially expressed genes in obesity.

Objective: To identify DNA methylation and gene expression profiles involved in obesity by implementing an integrated bioinformatics approach.

Materials And Methods: Gene expression (GSE94752, GSE55200, and GSE48964) and DNA methylation (GSE67024 and GSE111632) datasets were obtained from the GEO database. Differentially expressed genes (DEGs) and differentially methylated genes (DMGs) in subcutaneous adipose tissue of patients with obesity were identified using GEO2R.

Polymorphisms in and genes are associated with protection against diabetic retinopathy in a Brazilian population.

Objective: The objective of this study was to investigate the association between SNPs in the and genes and diabetic retinopathy (DR).

Subjects And Methods: This study comprised 603 patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and DR (cases) and 388 patients with T2DM for more than 10 years and without DR (controls). The rs639225 (A/G) and rs638203 (A/G) SNPs and the rs4324901 (G/T) and rs2507800 (T/A) SNPs were genotyped by real-time PCR using TaqMan MGB probes.

Blueberry Consumption and Changes in Obesity and Diabetes Mellitus Outcomes: A Systematic Review.

Low-grade inflammation and oxidative stress are key mechanisms involved in obesity and related disorders. Polyphenols from blueberry (BB) and bilberries (BiB) might protect against oxidative damage and inflammation. To summarize the effects of BiB or BB consumption in parameters related to obesity and its comorbidities, a search of the literature was performed in PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane Library repositories to identify all studies that evaluated associations of whole BB or BiB with obesity and associated disorders.

Polymorphisms in , , , , and Genes Are Associated with Worse Clinical Outcomes in COVID-19.

Although advanced age, male sex, and some comorbidities impact the clinical course of COVID-19, these factors only partially explain the inter-individual variability in disease severity. Some studies have shown that genetic polymorphisms contribute to COVID-19 severity; however, the results are inconclusive. Thus, we investigated the association between polymorphisms in , , , , , , , , and and the clinical course of COVID-19.

The rs3931283/PVT1 and rs7158663/MEG3 polymorphisms are associated with diabetic kidney disease and markers of renal function in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus.

Background: Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) are key regulators of gene expression. Some studies have reported the association of polymorphisms in lncRNA genes with diabetes mellitus (DM) and its chronic complications, including diabetic kidney disease (DKD); however, the results are still inconclusive. Thus, we investigated the association of the rs3200401/MALAT1, rs1894720/MIAT, rs3931283/PVT1, rs11993333/PVT1, rs5749201/TUG1, and rs7158663/MEG3 polymorphisms with DKD in patients with type 2 DM (T2DM).

Elevated Extracellular HSP72 and Blunted Heat Shock Response in Severe COVID-19 Patients.

Aims: We hypothesized that critically ill patients with SARS-CoV-2 infection and insulin resistance would present a reduced Heat Shock Response (HSR), which is a pathway involved in proteostasis and anti-inflammation, subsequently leading to worse outcomes and higher inflammation. In this work we aimed: (i) to measure the concentration of extracellular HSP72 (eHSP72) in patients with severe COVID-19 and in comparison with noninfected patients; (ii) to compare the HSR between critically ill patients with COVID-19 (with and without diabetes); and (iii) to compare the HSR in these patients with noninfected individuals.

Methods: Sixty critically ill adults with acute respiratory failure with SARS-CoV-2, with or without diabetes, were selected.

Genetic polymorphisms associated with susceptibility to COVID-19 disease and severity: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Although advanced age and presence of comorbidities significantly impact the variation observed in the clinical symptoms of COVID-19, it has been suggested that genetic variants may also be involved in the disease. Thus, the aim of this study was to perform a systematic review with meta-analysis of the literature to identify genetic polymorphisms that are likely to contribute to COVID-19 pathogenesis. Pubmed, Embase and GWAS Catalog repositories were systematically searched to retrieve articles that investigated associations between polymorphisms and COVID-19.

Association of polymorphisms in the erythropoietin gene with diabetic retinopathy: a case-control study and systematic review with meta-analysis.

Background: Diabetic retinopathy (DR) is characterized by ischemia, hypoxia, and angiogenesis. Erythropoietin (EPO), an angiogenic hormone, is upregulated in DR, and the association of EPO genetic variants with DR is still uncertain, as conflicting results have been reported. Therefore, we performed a case-control study followed by a meta-analysis to investigate whether the rs1617640, rs507392, and rs551238 polymorphisms in EPO gene are associated with DR.

The rs705708 A allele of the ERBB3 gene is associated with lower prevalence of diabetic retinopathy and arterial hypertension and with improved renal function in type 1 diabetic patients.

Introduction: The Erb-b2 receptor tyrosine kinase 3 (ERBB3) is involved in autoimmune processes related to type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) pathogenesis. Accordingly, some studies have suggested that single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the ERBB3 gene confer risk for T1DM. Proliferation-associated protein 2G4 (PA2G4) is another candidate gene for this disease because it regulates cell proliferation and adaptive immunity.

Systems biology approach identifies key genes and related pathways in childhood obesity.

Background: Childhood obesity is triggered by a complex interplay of environmental, genetic, and epigenetic factors; however, the molecular mechanisms behind this disease are not completely elucidated. Thus, the aim of this study was to investigate molecular mechanisms involved in childhood obesity by implementing a systems biology approach.

Methods: Experimentally validated and computationally predicted genes related to childhood obesity were downloaded from DisGeNET database.

The A allele of the rs759853 single nucleotide polymorphism in the gene confers risk for diabetic kidney disease in patients with type 2 diabetes from a Brazilian population.

Objective: The gene encodes an enzyme that catalyzes the reduction of glucose into sorbitol. Chronic hyperglycemia in patients with diabetes mellitus (DM) leads to increased AKR1B1 affinity for glucose and, consequently, sorbitol accumulation. Elevated sorbitol increases oxidative stress, which is one of the main pathways related to chronic complications of diabetes, including diabetic kidney disease (DKD).