Aims/Hypothesis: The study aimed to assess the usefulness of capillaroscopy and photoplethysmography in the search for early vascular anomalies in children with type 1 diabetes. Methods: One hundred sixty children and adolescents aged 6–18, 125 patients with type 1 diabetes, and 35 healthy volunteers were enrolled in the study. We performed a detailed clinical evaluation, anthropometric measurements, nailfold capillaroscopy, and photoplethysmography. Results: Patients with diabetes had more often abnormal morphology in capillaroscopy (68.60%, p = 0.019), enlarged capillaries (32.6%, p = 0.006), and more often more over five meandering capillaries (20.90%, p = 0.026) compared to healthy controls. Meandering capillaries correlated with higher parameters of nutritional status. In a photoplethysmography, patients with diagnosed neuropathy had a higher percentage of flow disturbance curves (p < 0.001) with a reduced frequency of normal curves (p = 0.050). Conclusions: Capillaroscopic and photoplethysmographic examinations are non-invasive, painless, fast, and inexpensive. They are devoid of side effects, and there are no limitations in the frequency of their use and repetition. The usefulness of capillaroscopy and photoplethysmography in the study of microcirculation in diabetic patients indicates the vast application possibilities of these methods in clinical practice.

Genes encoding adipokines are considered as candidates for human obesity. In this study we analyzed the expression of leptin (LEP) and adiponectin (ADIPOQ) genes in relation to common 5′-flanking or 5′UTR variants: -2548G>A (LEP), 19A>G (LEP) and -11377C>G (ADIPOQ) in Polish obese children and adolescents. Relative transcription levels in the subcutaneous adipose tissue (real time RT–PCR) and serum protein concentrations (RIA) were measured in 48 obese subjects with known genotypes at three polymorphic sites and in five non-obese controls. None of the studied polymorphisms altered significantly the expression. Significantly elevated relative transcription levels of the LEP gene (P < 0.05) and serum leptin concentrations (P < 0.01) were recorded in obese patients, when compared with the non-obese controls, but such differences were not found for the ADIPOQ gene. Interestingly, the leptin to adiponectin protein concentration ratio (L/A) was approximately sevenfold higher in obese children and adolescents when compared with the non-obese controls (P < 0.001). Taking into consideration the observed relationship between the genotypes and the gene expression level we suggest that these SNPs are not conclusive markers for predisposition to obesity in Polish children and adolescents. On the other hand, we confirmed that the leptin to adiponectin gene expression ratio (L/A) is an informative index characterizing obesity.

Standard markers of glycaemic control, such as glycated haemoglobin (HbA1c) and self-measurement of blood glucose (SMBG), have proven insufficient. HbAc1 is an averaged measurement that does not give information about glucose variability. SMBG provides limited, intermittent blood glucose (BG) values over the day and is associated with poor compliance because of invasiveness of the method and social discomfort. In contrast to glucometers, continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) devices do not require finger-stick blood samples, but instead measure BG via percutaneous or subcutaneous sensors. The immediate benefits of CGM include prevention of hypoglycaemia or hyperglycaemia, and automated analysis of long-term glycaemic data enables reliable treatment adjustments. This review describes the principles of CGM and how CGM data have changed diabetes treatment standards by introducing new glycaemic control parameters. It also compares different CGM devices and examines how the convenience of sharing CGM data in telehealth applies to the current coronavirus-19 pandemic.

Obesity in childhood is associated with several steroid changes, which result from excess body mass. The aim of this study was to evaluate steroid metabolism in children with obesity compared with those with normal weight, especially in relation to sex and puberty progress. We analyzed the clinical data of 191 children, aged between 5 and 18 years, with 115 affected (64 girls and 51 boys) and 76 unaffected (35 girls and 41 boys) by obesity. Routine clinical assessment and pubertal stage evaluation based upon Tanner’s scale were performed. In addition, to evaluate the impact of puberty, children with pre-adolescence and advanced puberty were divided into separate subgroups. Then, 24 h urine steroid excretion profiles were analyzed by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry. Significant differences in the excretion of steroid metabolites were found between normal weight children and children with obesity, especially in the prepubertal cohort. In this group, we observed enhanced activity in all the pathways of adrenal steroidogenesis. Raised excretion of mineralocorticoid derivatives such as tetrahydro-11-deoxycorticosterone, tetrahydrocorticosterone, and 5α-tetrahydrocorticosterone supported increased activity of this track. No significant differences were detected in the excreted free forms of cortisol and cortisone, while the excretion of their characteristic tetrahydro-derivatives was different. In pre-adolescent children with obesity, α-cortol and especially α-cortolone appeared to be excreted more abundantly than β-cortol or β-cortolone. Furthermore, in children with obesity, we observed elevated androgen excretion with an enhanced backdoor pathway. As puberty progressed, remarkable reduction in the differences between adolescents with and without obesity was demonstrated.

Introduction. Obesity and its related disorders, clustered into metabolic syndrome (MetS), are increasingly diagnosed in children and adolescents. Clinical features, which define MetS are also encountered in patients with glucocorticoid excess. Since no evident hypercortisolaemia was detected in obesity and MetS, investigations turned to the local modulators of cortisol action. 11b-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type 1, encoded by HSD11B1 gene, controls tissue availability of cortisol by its regeneration from inert cortisone. Changes in HSD11B1 expression and enzyme activity may be influenced by its sequence variants and seem implicated in MetS pathogenesis. Our study was designed to evaluate plausible association of the HSD11B1 polymorphisms with early-onset obesity and features of MetS in Polish children and adolescents. Material and methods. The study comprised of 258 obese children (136 females), aged 12.3 ± 3.6 years, with excessive body mass lasting 7.1 ± 3.8 years. Anthropometric and blood pressure measurements, baseline biochemical analyses and oral glucose tolerance test were performed in all participants. Genotyp­ing of the HSD11B1 variants rs12086634, rs846910, rs4844880, and rs3753519 was conducted in obese youth and compared with 568 lean blood donors. Results. Mean relative body mass index in obese cohort was 164.7 ± 27.1%. Hypertension was detected in 12.4%, impaired fasting glucose in 8.9%, impaired glucose tolerance in 10.8%, diabetes in 2.7%, and dyslipidemia in 31.4% children and adolescents. None of the studied HSD11B1 polymorphisms displayed significant difference in frequency between obese and lean individuals. MetS was diagnosed in 27.6% of 203 patients with obesity aged 10–18 years. Further genotype-stratified analyses of relationship between HSD11B1 variants and particular features of MetS did not confirm increased susceptibility to develop early-onset hyperglycaemia, dyslipidaemia and hypertension in carriers of specific genotypes at rs4844880, rs846910, rs3753519, and rs12086634 (p ≥ 0.05 in all tests). Conclusion. Our study does not support the implication of the HSD11B1 polymorphisms in early-onset obesity and other features of MetS. Introduction. Obesity and its related disorders, clustered into metabolic syndrome (MetS), are increasingly diagnosed in children and adolescents. Clinical features, which define MetS are also encountered in patients with glucocorticoid excess. Since no evident hypercortisolaemia was detected in obesity and MetS, investigations turned to the local modulators of cortisol action. 11b-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type 1, encoded by HSD11B1 gene, controls tissue availability of cortisol by its regeneration from inert cortisone. Changes in HSD11B1 expression and enzyme activity may be influenced by its sequence variants and seem implicated in MetS pathogenesis. Our study was designed to evaluate plausible association of the HSD11B1 polymorphisms with early-onset obesity and features of MetS in Polish children and adolescents. Material and methods. The study comprised of 258 obese children (136 females), aged 12.3 ± 3.6 years, with excessive body mass lasting 7.1 ± 3.8 years. Anthropometric and blood pressure measurements, baseline biochemical analyses and oral glucose tolerance test were performed in all participants. Genotyp­ing of the HSD11B1 variants rs12086634, rs846910, rs4844880, and rs3753519 was conducted in obese youth and compared with 568 lean blood donors. Results. Mean relative body mass index in obese cohort was 164.7 ± 27.1%. Hypertension was detected in 12.4%, impaired fasting glucose in 8.9%, impaired glucose tolerance in 10.8%, diabetes in 2.7%, and dyslipidemia in 31.4% children and adolescents. None of the studied HSD11B1 polymorphisms displayed significant difference in frequency between obese and lean individuals. MetS was diagnosed in 27.6% of 203 patients with obesity aged 10–18 years. Further genotype-stratified analyses of relationship between HSD11B1 variants and particular features of MetS did not confirm increased susceptibility to develop early-onset hyperglycaemia, dyslipidaemia and hypertension in carriers of specific genotypes at rs4844880, rs846910, rs3753519, and rs12086634 (p ≥ 0.05 in all tests). Conclusion. Our study does not support the implication of the HSD11B1 polymorphisms in early-onset obesity and other features of MetS.