IntroductionThe gut microbiota may be relevant in the development of type 1 diabetes (T1D). We examined the effects of Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG and Bifidobacterium lactis Bb12 on beta-cell function in children with newly diagnosed T1D.Research design and methodsChildren aged 8–17 years with newly (within 60 days) diagnosed T1D were enrolled in a double-blind, randomised controlled trial in which they received L. rhamnosus GG and B. lactis Bb12 at a dose of 109 colony-forming units or placebo, orally, once daily, for 6 months. The follow-up was for 12 months. The primary outcome measure was the area under the curve (AUC) of the C-peptide level during 2-hour responses to a mixed meal.ResultsNinety-six children were randomised (probiotics, n=48; placebo n=48; median age 12.3 years). Eighty-eight (92%) completed the 6-month intervention, and 87 (91%) completed the follow-up at 12 months. There was no significant difference between the study groups for the AUC of the C-peptide level. For the secondary outcomes at 6 months, there were no differences between the study groups. At 12 months, with one exception, there also were no significant differences between the groups. Compared with the placebo group, there was a significantly increased number of subjects with thyroid autoimmunity in the probiotic group. However, at baseline, there was also a higher frequency of thyroid autoimmunity in the probiotic group. There were no cases of severe hypoglycemia or ketoacidosis in any of the groups. No adverse events related to the study products were reported.ConclusionsL. rhamnosus GG and B. lactis Bb12, as administered in this study, had no significant effect in maintaining the residual pancreatic beta-cell function in children with newly diagnosed T1D. It remains unclear which probiotics, if any, alone or in combination, are potentially the most useful for management of T1D.Trial registration numberNCT03032354.

Neurological complications of diabetic ketoacidosis are considered to be a serious clinical problem. The most common complication is cerebral edema. However, these neurological complications also include less common entities such as ischemic or hemorrhagic stroke, cerebral venous and sinus thrombosis or peripheral neuropathy.We present a case of a 9-year old girl admitted to our intensive care unit with new onset type 1 diabetes, diabetic ketoacidosis, cerebral edema, multifocal vasogenic brain lesions and bilateral lower limb peripheral paresis. The patient developed polydipsia and polyuria one week before admission. The initial blood glucose level was 1136 mg/dL and severe acidosis was present (pH 7.1; BE-25.9). Computed tomography scan showed brain edema and a hypodense lesion in the left temporal region. Brain magnetic resonance imaging revealed more advanced multifocal brain lesions. Nerve conduction studies demonstrated damage of the motor neurons in both lower limbs with dysfunction in both peroneal nerves and the right tibial nerve. With treatment and physiotherapy, the patient’s health gradually improved.Acute neuropathy after ketoacidosis is a rare complication and its pathogenesis is not clear. Patients with diabetic ketoacidosis require careful monitoring of neurological function, even after normalization of their glycemic parameters.

Biochemical abnormalities in the course of type 1 diabetes (T1D) may cause the production/activation of various proteins and peptides influencing treatment and causing a risk of complications. The aim of this study was to assess concentrations of selected serum substances involved in the pathogenesis and course of T1D and to correlate their concentrations with the duration of T1D. The study included patients with T1D (n = 156) at the age of 3–17, who were divided according to the duration of the disease into those newly diagnosed (n = 30), diagnosed after 3–5 (n = 77), 6–7 (n = 25), and over 7 (n = 24) years from the onset of T1D, and age-matched healthy controls (n = 30). Concentrations of amylin (IAPP), proamylin (proIAPP), catestatin (CST), chromogranin A (ChgA), nerve growth factor (NFG), platelet-activating factor (PAF), uromodulin (UMOD), and intestinal fatty acid binding protein (I-FABP) were measured in sera using immunoenzymatic tests. There were significant differences in concentrations of all the substances except UMOD and NGF between T1D patients and healthy children. The duration of the disease affected concentrations of CST, ChgA, PAF, and NGF, i.e., proteins/peptides which could have an impact on the course of T1D and the development of complications. In long-term patients, a decrease in concentrations of CST and ChgA, and an increase in PAF concentrations were found. In the case of NGF, a decrease was observed after the initial high values, followed by an increase over 7 years after T1D diagnosis. Concluding, the results show that concentrations of selected serum indicators may change in the course of T1D. Further studies are needed to establish whether these indicators could be used in the context of predicting long-term complications.

Gallstones are increasingly frequent in children. In this candidate gene study, we genotyped 5 gene variants (ANO1, SPTLC3, TMEM147, TNRC6B, rs12532734) from a recent gallstone genome-wide association study (GWAS) in a cohort of 214 children with gallstones and 172 gallstone-free adult controls. In total, 138 genotyped children presented with symptomatic gallstone disease, 47 underwent cholecystectomy, and 126 received ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA) as therapy for stones. Among 5 tested variants, the rs12532734 polymorphism modulated the gallstone risk in the studied cohort. Its genotype distribution significantly (P = 0.025) departed from the Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium among cases, and the common allele was associated with increased odds of developing gallstones at young age (OR = 1.69, P = 0.014). SLC26A3 is the nearest gene to rs12532734 and is involved in the transepithelial bicarbonate and chloride transport. The association of rs12532734 with pediatric gallstones is a novel finding warranting further investigations also with regard to biliary bicarbonate flux and bile composition.