OBJECTIVEThe inflammatory and immune systems are altered in type 2 diabetes. Here, the aim was to profile the immune and inflammatory response in subjects with prediabetes and diabetes in a large population-representative sample. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODSIn total, 15,010 individuals were analyzed from the population-based Gutenberg Health Study. Glucose status was classified according to HbA 1c concentration and history of diagnosis. All samples were analyzed for white blood cells (WBCs), granulocytes, lymphocytes, monocytes, platelets, C-reactive protein (CRP), albumin, fibrinogen, and hematocrit. Interleukin-18 (IL-18), IL-1 receptor antagonist (IL-1RA), and neopterin concentrations were determined in a subcohort. RESULTSIn total, 7,584 men and 7,426 women were analyzed (range 35-74 years), with 1,425 and 1,299 having prediabetes and diabetes, respectively. Biomarkers showed varying dynamics from normoglycemic via subjects with prediabetes to subjects with diabetes: 1) gradual increase (WBCs, granulocytes, monocytes, IL-1RA, IL-18, and fibrinogen), 2) increase with subclinical disease only (lymphocytes and CRP), 3) increase from prediabetes to diabetes only (neopterin), and 4) no variation with glucose status (hematocrit). The strongest relative differences were found for CRP, IL-1RA, and fibrinogen concentrations. Several inflammatory and immune markers were associated with the glucose status independent from cardiovascular risk factors and comorbidities, varied with disease severity and the presence of disease-specific complications in the diabetes subcohort. CONCLUSIONSThe inflammatory and immune biomarker profile varies with the development and progression of type 2 diabetes. Markers of inflammation and immunity enable differentiation between the early preclinical and clinical phases of the disease, disease complications, and progression.Type 2 diabetes and its disease-associated complications represent an important and increasing public health burden worldwide (1). Obesity, which leads to metabolic and adipocyte stress, is the most important predisposing factor for type 2 diabetes (2). Obesity-associated insulin resistance, activation of the innate immune system, and chronic increased production of cytokines and adipokines are an

PURPOSE.To analyze the association between myopia and cognitive performance. METHODS.A cohort of the population-based Gutenberg Health Study included 3819 eligible enrollees between 40 and 79 years. We used the Tower of London (TOL) test to assess cognitive performance. Myopia was defined as a spherical equivalent (SE) À0.5 diopters (D) via noncycloplegic autorefractometry. We conducted linear mixed models with the SE as the dependent variable and the age, sex, duration of education, and TOL score as covariates.RESULTS. Complete data were available for 3452 participants (90.4%). The mean TOL score was 14.0 6 3.9 in the myopes versus 12.9 6 4.0 in the nonmyopes (P < 0.001). The mean TOL score increased with the magnitude of myopia: it was 13.9 6 3.9 in low (less than À3 D); 14.2 6 3.7 in moderate (between À3 and À6 D); and 14.6 6 3.5 in high myopia (À6 D and greater; P < 0.001). Both the duration of education and cognitive performance were correlated with the magnitude of myopia (r ¼ À0.21, P < 0.001 and r ¼ À0.15, P < 0.001, respectively). In a linear mixed model, the duration of education significantly predicted myopia (b ¼ À0.14; t ¼ À7.55; P < 0.001), whereas cognitive performance did not (b ¼ À0.017; t ¼ À1.26; P ¼ 0.207). There was a significant effect of age on the SE (b ¼ 0.049; t ¼ 9.89; P < 0.001).CONCLUSIONS. When regarded separately, cognitive performance is linked to myopia. However, duration of education, which may be directly related to the risk factors for myopia, is more directly and strongly related to myopia than is cognitive performance. Cognitive ability may be associated with myopia primarily through its impact on level of education.

Summary. Objective: To determine the age-and sex-specific prevalence and determinants of retinal vein occlusions (RVOs) in a large population-based German cohort. Methods: The investigation included 15 010 participants (aged 35-74 years) from the Gutenberg Health Study. We determined the prevalence of RVO (central retinal vein occlusion [CRVO] and branch retinal vein occlusion [BRVO]) for the local population by assessing fundus photographs of 12 954 (86.3%; 49.8% women and 50.2% men) participants. Further, we analyzed the associations of RVO with cardiovascular, anthropometric, and ophthalmic parameters. Results: The weighted prevalences of RVO, CRVO, and BRVO were 0.40%, 0.08%, and 0.32%, respectively. Men were 1.7 times more frequently affected by RVO than were women. Prevalence of RVO was 0.2% in participants aged 35-44 and 45-54 years, respectively, 0.48% in those aged 55-64 years, and 0.92% in those aged 65-74 years. Of persons with RVO, 91.5% had one or more cardiovascular risk factor or disease vs. 75.9% of persons without RVO. BRVO was associated with arterial hypertension (odds ratio 2.69, 95% confidence interval 1.27-5.70) and atrial fibrillation (3.37, 1.24-9.12) and CRVO with higher age (7.02, 1.63-30.19) and a family history of stroke (4.64, 1.18-18.25). Median visual acuity (base 10 logarithm of minimum angle of resolution) was 0.2 in persons with RVO vs. 0.05 in those without. Conclusion: The prevalence of RVO in this German population was 0.4%, and men were 1.7 times more frequently affected than women. CRVO was associated with higher age and a family history of stroke, and BRVO was associated with arterial hypertension and atrial fibrillation.

Key Points• Genetic and nongenetic determiners of MPV substantially differ between males and females in a large population-based study.• MPV in males is significantly determined by the traditional CVRFs, and males with higher MPV are at higher risk of death. Seven single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) for females and 4 SNPs for males were associated with higher MPV. The full model, including age, CVRFs, laboratory parameters, medications, and genetic variation, explained 20.4% of the MPV variance in females and 18.6% in males. The curves of cumulative mortality, stratified for sex, showed worse survival for males only with MPV >9.96 fL vs MPV £9.96 fL (P < .0001). This study provides evidence for heterogeneity in the profile of determinants for MPV between sexes. The observed interactions between genetic variability, CVRFs, and MPV and its association with the development of cardiovascular disease or thrombotic risk need to be further investigated. (Blood. 2016;127(2):251-259)

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