Adipokines are a superfamily of cell signaling proteins produced by the adipose tissue. This study’s purpose was to reveal the association of adipokines (leptin, adiponectin), hs-CRP, and IL-6 with well-known cardiovascular risk factors (lipid profile, diabetes control, obesity, physical activity) in children and adolescents with T1D. This cross-sectional study included 80 participants (36 boys) with T1D, aged (mean ± SD) 14.8 ± 3.4 years. Body Mass Index (BMI), metabolic profile, and level of physical activity were assessed (using pedometers) for evaluation of their effect on serum leptin, adiponectin, IL-6, and hs-CRP. Leptin levels were associated with BMI (beta = 0.184, p < 0.001), waist to hip ratio (beta = −2.017, p = 0.022), Low Density Lipoprotein-C (LDL-C) (beta = 0.021, p = 0.005), and fat mass (beta = 14.07, p < 0.001). Adiponectin was correlated with waist to height ratio (beta = 0.048, p = 0.006), ΒΜΙ (beta = −0.056, p = 0.005), and muscle mass (beta = −0.013, p = 0.020). Interestingly, hs-CRP was associated with weight (beta = 0.035, p < 0.001), ΒΜI (beta = 0.186, p < 0.001), fat mass (beta = 5.2859, p = 0.004), and muscle mass (beta = 0.027, p = 0.008). Multiple regression analysis of muscle mass unveiled associations with log hs-CRP (beta = −1.237, p = 0.014) and inverse IL−6 (beta = 18.57, p = 0.01). Finally, multiple regression models of fat mass unveiled associations with physical activity (7-day-total-step-count) (beta = −3.90 × 10⁻⁷, p = 0.027), Inverse IL-6 (beta = −0.1572, p = 0.009), and squared leptin (beta = 0.0077, p = 0.03). This study reports a positive association of leptin with LDL-C, BMI, fat mass, and hip circumference and a negative association of adiponectin with BMI and muscle mass. Finally, hs-CRP was associated with HbA1c, fat mass, and BMI. We propose that leptin, adiponectin, and hs-CRP could be used as prognostic indicators of cardiovascular risk in children with T1D.

Exercise has a direct positive effect on glycemic control by promoting insulin secretion from β-pancreatic islet-cells and by increasing skeletal muscle glucose uptake. The reduction in daily insulin needs and the optimization of glycemic control improves the patient’s quality of life, self-esteem, mental wellness, as well as diabetes-related mobility and mortality. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of physical activity in children and adolescents with type-1 diabetes (T1D) on diabetic control, cardiovascular, and biochemical profiles; hs-CRP; IL6; leptin; and adiponectin levels of the population under study. This is a prospective cross-sectional study that involved 80 participants (36 boys and 44 girls) with T1D, who were aged 6–21 years and who attended the Diabetes and Metabolism Clinic of the 2nd Pediatric Department, University of Athens, “P & A Kyriakou” Children’s Hospital of Athens. Twenty (25%) children were above the 75th percentile regarding total levels of physical activity, while 40 (50%) and 20 (25%) were between the 25th and 75th percentile, as well as below the 25th percentile, respectively. In the group with an intermediate level of exercise, physical activity was negatively associated with the participant’s family situation (traditional, single parent, grandparent, with others, or by himself/herself) (p = 0.013), ferritin (p = 0.031), lipoprotein(a) [Lp(a)] (p = 0.016), and squared leptin levels (p = 0.040). Whereas in the groups with extreme vs. no exercise there was a negative association with the number of daily glucose measurements (p = 0.047). However, in the group with non-vigorous exercise, physical activity was positively associated with high density lipoprotein-c (HDL-c) levels (p = 0.048). The findings of this study are indicative of the beneficial role of exercise on children and adolescents with T1D, which is achieved by primarily improving their cardiometabolic profile through the amelioration of lipid profile [HDL-c, Lp(a)] and leptin levels, as well as by reducing chronic systemic inflammatory response (ferritin) and ultimately decreasing the overall diabetes morbidity.

Background/Objectives: Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) and maternal obesity are major global health gestation-related conditions associated with several adverse maternal and neonatal outcomes. GDM is a common gestational metabolic disorder, presented usually during the second or third trimester of pregnancy with maternal hyperglycemia due to insulin intolerance. Maternal obesity, defined as a BMI of a woman during gestation ≥ 30 kg/m², has been associated with maternal complications such as GDM, fetal macrosomia and others. Methods: The presented article is a narrative review. The aim of this study was to review scientific evidence and conduct a comprehensive analysis of GDM and maternal obesity (“diabesity”) and its immediate and late complications for both maternal and fetal/offspring wellbeing. Results: This review highlighted that gestational hyperglycemia results in oxidative and nitrogen stress development and that maternal obesity may have an impact similar to maternal diabetes, as it may cause fetal macrosomia and cardiometabolic complications later in life. Conclusions: Optimal diabetic control is responsible for the prevention of oxidative stress in diabetic pregnancies. Similarly, pregnant women should exercise regularly, receive folic acid supplementation and avoid excess weight gain during pregnancy. Breastfeeding during the first months of life has a positive impact on weight monitoring in infants born to mothers with diabesity and may be crucial in the prevention of obesity and metabolic syndrome later in life.

Aim: We assessed whether antiarrhythmic drug-induced QT interval prolongation affects left ventricular function. Methods: Study population included 54 patients with symptomatic recent onset atrial fibrillation spontaneously cardioverted to sinus rhythm. Electrocardiographic and echocardiographic studies were done before initiating and after achieving drug's steady state. Results: Significantly prolonged corrected QT interval (QTc) was noticed following only sotalol and amiodarone. The corrected precontraction time increased after sotalol (p = 0.005) and amiodarone (p = 0.017), not propafenone (p = 0.139). Analysis results between ΔEF and ΔQTc, ΔEF and ΔQTc(p), ΔE/e′ and ΔQTc, ΔE/e′ and ΔQTc(p) for amiodarone group were (p = 0.66, p = 0.20, p = 0.66, p = 0.33), for sotalol (p = 0.36, p = 0.51, p = 0.44, p = 0.33) and for propafenone (p = 0.38, p = 0.12, p = 0.89, p = 0.61), respectively. Conclusion: QT interval prolongation following antiarrhythmic therapy does not affect significantly left ventricular fun...

Introduction and Aims: Psychiatric and neurological disorders are highly prevalent in the dialysis population. We postulated that because the presence of serious psychiatric and neurological disorders may have a negative impact on patient self-care, these conditions may be associated with higher rates of vascular access (VA) infections.