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Social Innovation for Refugee Inclusion: From Bright Spots to System Change

In the three years since the European migration and refugee crisis vividly captured public attention, a wave of innovative initiatives has emerged to help newcomers settle into receiving societies. Now, as the sense of crisis abates, this report explores what these initiatives will need to do to outlast the hype and produce lasting change on key integration issues such as housing, economic inclusion, and community building.




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Diabetes Is Associated With Worse Long-term Outcomes in Young Adults After Myocardial Infarction: The Partners YOUNG-MI Registry

OBJECTIVE

We sought to determine the prevalence of diabetes and associated cardiovascular outcomes in a contemporary cohort of young individuals presenting with their first myocardial infarction (MI) at age ≤50 years.

RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS

We retrospectively analyzed records of patients presenting with a first type 1 MI at age ≤50 years from 2000 to 2016. Diabetes was defined as a hemoglobin A1c ≥6.5% (48 mmol/mol) or a documented diagnosis of or treatment for diabetes. Vital status was ascertained for all patients, and cause of death was adjudicated.

RESULTS

Among 2,097 young patients who had a type 1 MI (mean age 44.0 ± 5.1 years, 19.3% female, 73% white), diabetes was present in 416 (20%), of whom 172 (41%) were receiving insulin. Over a median follow-up of 11.2 years (interquartile range 7.3–14.2 years), diabetes was associated with a higher all-cause mortality (hazard ratio 2.30; P < 0.001) and cardiovascular mortality (2.68; P < 0.001). These associations persisted after adjusting for baseline covariates (all-cause mortality: 1.65; P = 0.008; cardiovascular mortality: 2.10; P = 0.004).

CONCLUSIONS

Diabetes was present in 20% of patients who presented with their first MI at age ≤50 years and was associated with worse long-term all-cause and cardiovascular mortality. These findings highlight the need for implementing more-aggressive therapies aimed at preventing future adverse cardiovascular events in this population.




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Reduced Myocardial Perfusion Reserve in Type 2 Diabetes Is Caused by Increased Perfusion at Rest and Decreased Maximal Perfusion During Stress

OBJECTIVE

To examine differences in myocardial blood flow (MBF) at rest and during stress between patients with type 2 diabetes and controls, and to identify potential predictors of changes in MBF at rest and during stress.

RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS

A cross-sectional study of 193 patients with type 2 diabetes and 20 age- and sex-matched controls. Cardiovascular magnetic resonance was used in order to evaluate left ventricular structure and function, and MBF at rest and during adenosine-induced stress. MBF was derived as the mean of the flow within all segments of a midventricular slice.

RESULTS

Patients with type 2 diabetes had higher global MBF at rest (0.81 ± 0.19 mL/min/g) and lower global MBF during stress (2.4 ± 0.9 mL/min/g) than did controls (0.61 ± 0.11 at rest, 3.2 ± 0.8 mL/min/g under stress; both P < 0.01). Patients with macroalbuminuria had lower MBF during stress (1.6 ± 0.5 mL/min/g) than did patients with microalbuminuria (2.1 ± 0.7 mL/min/g; P = 0.04), who in turn had lower MBF during stress than did normoalbuminuric patients (2.7 ± 0.9 mL/min/g; P < 0.01). Patients with severe retinopathy had lower MBF during stress (1.8 ± 0.6 mL/min/g) than did patients with simplex retinopathy (2.3 ± 0.7 mL/min/g; P < 0.05) and those who did not have retinopathy (2.6 ± 1.0 mL/min/g; P < 0.05). Albuminuria and retinopathy were associated with reduced MBF during stress in a multiple regression analysis. Stress-related MBF inversely correlated with myocardial extracellular volume (P < 0.001; R2 = 0.37), a measure of diffuse myocardial fibrosis. A trend toward lower basal MBF was observed in patients treated with sodium–glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitors (P = 0.07).

CONCLUSIONS

Patients with type 2 diabetes have higher global MBF at rest and lower maximal MBF during vasodilator-induced stress than do controls. Reduced MBF during stress is associated with diabetes complications (albuminuria and retinopathy) and is inversely correlated with diffuse myocardial fibrosis.




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The Effects of Intensive Glycemic Control on Clinical Outcomes Among Patients With Type 2 Diabetes With Different Levels of Cardiovascular Risk and Hemoglobin A1c in the ADVANCE Trial

OBJECTIVE

To study whether the effects of intensive glycemic control on major vascular outcomes (a composite of major macrovascular and major microvascular events), all-cause mortality, and severe hypoglycemia events differ among participants with different levels of 10-year risk of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) and hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) at baseline.

RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS

We studied the effects of more intensive glycemic control in 11,071 patients with type 2 diabetes (T2D), without missing values, in the Action in Diabetes and Vascular Disease: Preterax and Diamicron Modified Release Controlled Evaluation (ADVANCE) trial, using Cox models.

RESULTS

During 5 years’ follow-up, intensive glycemic control reduced major vascular events (hazard ratio [HR] 0.90 [95% CI 0.83–0.98]), with the major driver being a reduction in the development of macroalbuminuria. There was no evidence of differences in the effect, regardless of baseline ASCVD risk or HbA1c level (P for interaction = 0.29 and 0.94, respectively). Similarly, the beneficial effects of intensive glycemic control on all-cause mortality were not significantly different across baseline ASCVD risk (P = 0.15) or HbA1c levels (P = 0.87). The risks of severe hypoglycemic events were higher in the intensive glycemic control group compared with the standard glycemic control group (HR 1.85 [1.41–2.42]), with no significant heterogeneity across subgroups defined by ASCVD risk or HbA1c at baseline (P = 0.09 and 0.18, respectively).

CONCLUSIONS

The major benefits for patients with T2D in ADVANCE did not substantially differ across levels of baseline ASCVD risk and HbA1c.




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Continuous Glucose Monitoring in Pregnancy: Importance of Analysing Temporal Profiles to Understand Clinical Outcomes

OBJECTIVE

To determine if temporal glucose profiles differed between 1) women who were randomized to real-time continuous glucose monitoring (RT-CGM) or self-monitored blood glucose (SMBG), 2) women who used insulin pumps or multiple daily insulin injections (MDIs), and 3) women whose infants were born large for gestational age (LGA) or not, by assessing CGM data obtained from the Continuous Glucose Monitoring in Women With Type 1 Diabetes in Pregnancy Trial (CONCEPTT).

RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS

Standard summary metrics and functional data analysis (FDA) were applied to CGM data from the CONCEPTT trial (RT-CGM, n = 100; SMBG, n = 100) taken at baseline and at 24- and 34-weeks gestation. Multivariable regression analysis determined if temporal differences in 24-h glucose profiles occurred between comparators in each of the three groups.

RESULTS

FDA revealed that women using RT-CGM had significantly lower glucose (0.4–0.8 mmol/L [7–14 mg/dL]) for 7 h/day (0800 h–1200 h and 1600 h–1900 h) compared with those with SMBG. Women using pumps had significantly higher glucose (0.4–0.9 mmol/L [7–16 mg/dL]) for 12 h/day (0300 h to 0600 h, 1300 h to 1800 h, and 2030 h to 0030 h) at 24 weeks with no difference at 34 weeks compared with MDI. Women who had an LGA infant ran a significantly higher glucose by 0.4–0.7 mmol/L (7–13 mg/dL) for 4.5 h/day at baseline; by 0.4–0.9 mmol/L (7–16 mg/dL) for 16 h/day at 24 weeks; and by 0.4–0.7 mmol/L (7–13 mg/dL) for 14 h/day at 34 weeks.

CONCLUSIONS

FDA of temporal glucose profiles gives important information about differences in glucose control and its timing, which are undetectable by standard summary metrics. Women using RT-CGM were able to achieve better daytime glucose control, reducing fetal exposure to maternal glucose.




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A Randomized Trial Evaluating the Efficacy and Safety of Fast-Acting Insulin Aspart Compared With Insulin Aspart, Both in Combination With Insulin Degludec With or Without Metformin, in Adults With Type 2 Diabetes (Onset 9)

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the efficacy and safety of fast-acting insulin aspart (faster aspart) compared with insulin aspart (IAsp), both with insulin degludec with or without metformin, in adults with type 2 diabetes not optimally controlled with a basal-bolus regimen.

RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS

This multicenter, double-blind, treat-to-target trial randomized participants to faster aspart (n = 546) or IAsp (n = 545). All available information, regardless of treatment discontinuation or use of ancillary treatment, was used for evaluation of effect.

RESULTS

Noninferiority for the change from baseline in HbA1c 16 weeks after randomization (primary end point) was confirmed for faster aspart versus IAsp (estimated treatment difference [ETD] –0.04% [95% CI –0.11; 0.03]; –0.39 mmol/mol [–1.15; 0.37]; P < 0.001). Faster aspart was superior to IAsp for change from baseline in 1-h postprandial glucose (PPG) increment using a meal test (ETD –0.40 mmol/L [–0.66; –0.14]; –7.23 mg/dL [–11.92; –2.55]; P = 0.001 for superiority). Change from baseline in self-measured 1-h PPG increment for the mean over all meals favored faster aspart (ETD –0.25 mmol/L [–0.42; –0.09]); –4.58 mg/dL [–7.59; –1.57]; P = 0.003). The overall rate of treatment-emergent severe or blood glucose (BG)–confirmed hypoglycemia was statistically significantly lower for faster aspart versus IAsp (estimated treatment ratio 0.81 [95% CI 0.68; 0.97]).

CONCLUSIONS

In combination with insulin degludec, faster aspart provided effective overall glycemic control, superior PPG control, and a lower rate of severe or BG-confirmed hypoglycemia versus IAsp in adults with type 2 diabetes not optimally controlled with a basal-bolus regimen.




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Incidence of Type 2 Diabetes in Patients With Chronic Hepatitis C Receiving Interferon-Based therapy




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Effects of Low-Energy Diet or Exercise on Cardiovascular Function in Working-Age Adults With Type 2 Diabetes: A Prospective, Randomized, Open-Label, Blinded End Point Trial

OBJECTIVE

To confirm the presence of subclinical cardiovascular dysfunction in working-age adults with type 2 diabetes (T2D) and determine whether this is improved by a low-energy meal replacement diet (MRP) or exercise training.

RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS

This article reports on a prospective, randomized, open-label, blinded end point trial with nested case-control study. Asymptomatic younger adults with T2D were randomized 1:1:1 to a 12-week intervention of 1) routine care, 2) supervised aerobic exercise training, or 3) a low-energy (~810 kcal/day) MRP. Participants underwent echocardiography, cardiopulmonary exercise testing, and cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) at baseline and 12 weeks. The primary outcome was change in left ventricular (LV) peak early diastolic strain rate (PEDSR) as measured by CMR. Healthy volunteers were enrolled for baseline case-control comparison.

RESULTS

Eighty-seven participants with T2D (age 51 ± 7 years, HbA1c 7.3 ± 1.1%) and 36 matched control participants were included. At baseline, those with T2D had evidence of diastolic dysfunction (PEDSR 1.01 ± 0.19 vs. 1.10 ± 0.16 s–1, P = 0.02) compared with control participants. Seventy-six participants with T2D completed the trial (30 routine care, 22 exercise, and 24 MRP). The MRP arm lost 13 kg in weight and had improved blood pressure, glycemia, LV mass/volume, and aortic stiffness. The exercise arm had negligible weight loss but increased exercise capacity. PEDSR increased in the exercise arm versus routine care (β = 0.132, P = 0.002) but did not improve with the MRP (β = 0.016, P = 0.731).

CONCLUSIONS

In asymptomatic working-age adults with T2D, exercise training improved diastolic function. Despite beneficial effects of weight loss on glycemic control, concentric LV remodeling, and aortic stiffness, a low-energy MRP did not improve diastolic function.




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Prognostic Significance of Long-term HbA1c Variability for All-Cause Mortality in the ACCORD Trial

OBJECTIVE

The association between high glycemic variability and all-cause mortality has been widely investigated in epidemiological studies but rarely validated in glucose-lowering clinical trials. We aimed to identify the prognostic significance of visit-to-visit HbA1c variability in treated patients in the Action to Control Cardiovascular Risk in Diabetes (ACCORD) trial population.

RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS

We studied the risk of all-cause mortality in relation to long-term visit-to-visit HbA1c variability, expressed as coefficient of variation (CV), variability independent of the mean (VIM), and average real variability (ARV), from the 8th month to the transition. Multivariable Cox proportional hazards models were used to estimate adjusted hazard ratio (HR) and 95% CI.

RESULTS

Compared with the standard therapy group (n = 4,728), the intensive therapy group (n = 4,755) had significantly lower mean HbA1c (6.6% [49 mmol/mol] vs. 7.7% [61 mmol/mol], P < 0.0001) and lower CV, VIM, and ARV (P < 0.0001). In multivariate adjusted analysis, all three HbA1c variability indices were significantly associated with total mortality in all patients as well as in the standard- and intensive-therapy groups analyzed separately. The hazard ratios for a 1-SD increase in HbA1c variability indices for the all-cause mortality were 1.19 and 1.23 in intensive and standard therapy, respectively. Cross-tabulation analysis showed the third tertile of HbA1c mean and VIM had significantly higher all-cause mortality (HR 2.05; 95% CI, 1.17–3.61; P < 0.01) only in the intensive-therapy group.

CONCLUSIONS

Long-term visit-to-visit HbA1c variability was a strong predictor of all-cause mortality. HbA1c VIM combined with HbA1c mean conferred an increased risk for all-cause mortality in the intensive-therapy group.




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Dapagliflozin Versus Placebo on Left Ventricular Remodeling in Patients With Diabetes and Heart Failure: The REFORM Trial

OBJECTIVE

To determine the effects of dapagliflozin in patients with heart failure (HF) and type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) on left ventricular (LV) remodeling using cardiac MRI.

RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS

We randomized 56 patients with T2DM and HF with LV systolic dysfunction to dapagliflozin 10 mg daily or placebo for 1 year, on top of usual therapy. The primary end point was difference in LV end-systolic volume (LVESV) using cardiac MRI. Key secondary end points included other measures of LV remodeling and clinical and biochemical parameters.

RESULTS

In our cohort, dapagliflozin had no effect on LVESV or any other parameter of LV remodeling. However, it reduced diastolic blood pressure and loop diuretic requirements while increasing hemoglobin, hematocrit, and ketone bodies. There was a trend toward lower weight.

CONCLUSIONS

We were unable to determine with certainty whether dapagliflozin in patients with T2DM and HF had any effect on LV remodeling. Whether the benefits of dapagliflozin in HF are due to remodeling or other mechanisms remains unknown.




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Long-term Metabolic and Socioeducational Outcomes of Transient Neonatal Diabetes: A Longitudinal and Cross-sectional Study

OBJECTIVE

Transient neonatal diabetes mellitus (TNDM) occurs during the 1st year of life and remits during childhood. We investigated glucose metabolism and socioeducational outcomes in adults.

RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS

We included 27 participants with a history of TNDM currently with (n = 24) or without (n = 3) relapse of diabetes, and 16 non-TNDM relatives known to be carriers of causal genetic defects and currently with (n = 9) or without (n = 7) diabetes. Insulin sensitivity and secretion were assessed by hyperinsulinemic-euglycemic clamp and arginine-stimulation testing in a subset of 8 TNDM participants and 7 relatives carrying genetic abnormalities, with and without diabetes, compared with 17 unrelated control subjects without diabetes.

RESULTS

In TNDM participants, age at relapse correlated positively with age at puberty (P = 0.019). The mean insulin secretion rate and acute insulin response to arginine were significantly lower in TNDM and relatives of participants with diabetes than in control subjects (4.7 [3.6–5.9] vs. 13.4 [11.8–16.1] pmol/kg/min, P < 0.0001; and 84.4 [33.0–178.8] vs. 399.6 [222.9–514.9] µIU/mL, P = 0.0011), but were not different between participants without diabetes (12.7 [10.4–14.3] pmol/kg/min and 396.3 [303.3–559.3] µIU/mL, respectively) and control subjects. Socioeducational attainment was lower in TNDM participants than in the general population, regardless of diabetes duration.

CONCLUSIONS

Relapse of diabetes occurred earlier in TNDM participants compared with relatives and was associated with puberty. Both groups had decreased educational attainment, and those with diabetes had lower insulin secretion capacity; however, there was no difference in insulin resistance in adulthood. These forms of diabetes should be included in maturity-onset diabetes of the young testing panels, and relatives of TNDM patients should be screened for underlying defects, as they may be treated with drugs other than insulin.




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Wilson Disease With Novel Compound Heterozygote Mutations in the ATP7B Gene Presenting With Severe Diabetes

OBJECTIVE

To determine the relationship between ATP7B mutations and diabetes in Wilson disease (WD).

RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS

A total of 21 exons and exon-intron boundaries of ATP7B were identified by Sanger sequencing.

RESULTS

Two novel compound heterozygous mutations (c.525 dupA/ Val176Serfs*28 and c.2930 C>T/ p.Thr977Met) were detected in ATP7B. After d-penicillamine (D-PCA) therapy, serum aminotransferase and ceruloplasmin levels in this patient were normalized and levels of HbA1c decreased. However, when the patient ceased to use D-PCA due to an itchy skin, serum levels of fasting blood glucose increased. Dimercaptosuccinic acid capsules were prescribed and memory recovered to some extent, which was accompanied by decreased insulin dosage for glucose control by 5 units.

CONCLUSIONS

This is the first report of diabetes caused by WD.




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Erratum. Predicting 10-Year Risk of End-Organ Complications of Type 2 Diabetes With and Without Metabolic Surgery: A Machine Learning Approach. Diabetes Care 2020;43:852-859




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Cost and Cost-Effectiveness of Large-Scale Screening for Type 1 Diabetes in Colorado

OBJECTIVE

To assess the costs and project the potential lifetime cost-effectiveness of the ongoing Autoimmunity Screening for Kids (ASK) program, a large-scale, presymptomatic type 1 diabetes screening program for children and adolescents in the metropolitan Denver region.

RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS

We report the resource utilization, costs, and effectiveness measures from the ongoing ASK program compared with usual care (i.e., no screening). Additionally, we report a practical screening scenario by including utilization and costs relevant to routine screening in clinical practice. Finally, we project the potential cost-effectiveness of ASK and routine screening by identifying clinical benchmarks (i.e., diabetic ketoacidosis [DKA] events avoided, HbA1c improvements vs. no screening) needed to meet value thresholds of $50,000–$150,000 per quality-adjusted life-year (QALY) gained over a lifetime horizon.

RESULTS

Cost per case detected was $4,700 for ASK screening and $14,000 for routine screening. To achieve value thresholds of $50,000–$150,000 per QALY gained, screening costs would need to be offset by cost savings through 20% reductions in DKA events at diagnosis in addition to 0.1% (1.1 mmol/mol) improvements in HbA1c over a lifetime compared with no screening for patients who develop type 1 diabetes. Value thresholds were not met from avoiding DKA events alone in either scenario.

CONCLUSIONS

Presymptomatic type 1 diabetes screening may be cost-effective in areas with a high prevalence of DKA and an infrastructure facilitating screening and monitoring if the benefits of avoiding DKA events and improved HbA1c persist over long-run time horizons. As more data are collected from ASK, the model will be updated with direct evidence on screening effects.




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Hospitalization for Lactic Acidosis Among Patients With Reduced Kidney Function Treated With Metformin or Sulfonylureas

OBJECTIVE

To compare the risk of lactic acidosis hospitalization between patients treated with metformin versus sulfonylureas following development of reduced kidney function.

RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS

This retrospective cohort combined data from the National Veterans Health Administration, Medicare, Medicaid, and the National Death Index. New users of metformin or sulfonylureas were followed from development of reduced kidney function (estimated glomerular filtration rate [eGFR] <60 mL/min/1.73 m2 or serum creatinine ≥1.4 mg/dL [female] or 1.5 mg/dL [male]) through hospitalization for lactic acidosis, death, loss to follow-up, or study end. Lactic acidosis hospitalization was defined as a composite of primary discharge diagnosis or laboratory-confirmed lactic acidosis (lactic acid ≥2.5 mmol/L and either arterial blood pH <7.35 or serum bicarbonate ≤19 mmol/L within 24 h of admission). We report the cause-specific hazard of lactic acidosis hospitalization between metformin and sulfonylureas from a propensity score–matched weighted cohort and conduct an additional competing risks analysis to account for treatment change and death.

RESULTS

The weighted cohort included 24,542 metformin and 24,662 sulfonylurea users who developed reduced kidney function (median age 70 years, median eGFR 55.8 mL/min/1.73 m2). There were 4.18 (95% CI 3.63, 4.81) vs. 3.69 (3.19, 4.27) lactic acidosis hospitalizations per 1,000 person-years among metformin and sulfonylurea users, respectively (adjusted hazard ratio [aHR] 1.21 [95% CI 0.99, 1.50]). Results were consistent for both primary discharge diagnosis (aHR 1.11 [0.87, 1.44]) and laboratory-confirmed lactic acidosis (1.25 [0.92, 1.70]).

CONCLUSIONS

Among veterans with diabetes who developed reduced kidney function, occurrence of lactic acidosis hospitalization was uncommon and not statistically different between patients who continued metformin and those patients who continued sulfonylureas.




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Obstructive Sleep Apnea, a Risk Factor for Cardiovascular and Microvascular Disease in Patients With Type 2 Diabetes: Findings From a Population-Based Cohort Study

OBJECTIVE

To determine the risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD), microvascular complications, and mortality in patients with type 2 diabetes who subsequently develop obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) compared with patients with type 2 diabetes without a diagnosis of OSA.

RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS

This age-, sex-, BMI-, and diabetes duration–matched cohort study used data from a U.K. primary care database from 1 January 2005 to 17 January 2018. Participants aged ≥16 years with type 2 diabetes were included. Exposed participants were those who developed OSA after their diabetes diagnosis; unexposed participants were those without diagnosed OSA. Outcomes were composite CVD (ischemic heart disease [IHD], stroke/transient ischemic attack [TIA], heart failure [HF]), peripheral vascular disease (PVD), atrial fibrillation (AF), peripheral neuropathy (PN), diabetes-related foot disease (DFD), referable retinopathy, chronic kidney disease (CKD), and all-cause mortality. The same outcomes were explored in patients with preexisting OSA before a diagnosis of type 2 diabetes versus diabetes without diagnosed OSA.

RESULTS

A total of 3,667 exposed participants and 10,450 matched control participants were included. Adjusted hazard ratios for the outcomes were as follows: composite CVD 1.54 (95% CI 1.32, 1.79), IHD 1.55 (1.26, 1.90), HF 1.67 (1.35, 2.06), stroke/TIA 1.57 (1.27, 1.94), PVD 1.10 (0.91, 1.32), AF 1.53 (1.28, 1.83), PN 1.32 (1.14, 1.51), DFD 1.42 (1.16, 1.74), referable retinopathy 0.99 (0.82, 1.21), CKD (stage 3–5) 1.18 (1.02, 1.36), albuminuria 1.11 (1.01, 1.22), and all-cause mortality 1.24 (1.10, 1.40). In the prevalent OSA cohort, the results were similar, but some associations were not observed.

CONCLUSIONS

Patients with type 2 diabetes who develop OSA are at increased risk of CVD, AF, PN, DFD, CKD, and all-cause mortality compared with patients without diagnosed OSA. Patients with type 2 diabetes who develop OSA are a high-risk population, and strategies to detect OSA and prevent cardiovascular and microvascular complications should be implemented.




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Acrylamide Exposure and Oxidative DNA Damage, Lipid Peroxidation, and Fasting Plasma Glucose Alteration: Association and Mediation Analyses in Chinese Urban Adults

OBJECTIVE

Acrylamide exposure from daily-consumed food has raised global concern. We aimed to assess the exposure-response relationships of internal acrylamide exposure with oxidative DNA damage, lipid peroxidation, and fasting plasma glucose (FPG) alteration and investigate the mediating role of oxidative DNA damage and lipid peroxidation in the association of internal acrylamide exposure with FPG.

RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS

FPG and urinary biomarkers of oxidative DNA damage (8-hydroxy-deoxyguanosine [8-OHdG]), lipid peroxidation (8-iso-prostaglandin-F2α [8-iso-PGF2α]), and acrylamide exposure (N-acetyl-S-[2-carbamoylethyl]-l-cysteine [AAMA], N-acetyl-S-[2-carbamoyl-2-hydroxyethyl]-l-cysteine [GAMA]) were measured for 3,270 general adults from the Wuhan-Zhuhai cohort. The associations of urinary acrylamide metabolites with 8-OHdG, 8-iso-PGF2α, and FPG were assessed by linear mixed models. The mediating roles of 8-OHdG and 8-iso-PGF2α were evaluated by mediation analysis.

RESULTS

We found significant linear positive dose-response relationships of urinary acrylamide metabolites with 8-OHdG, 8-iso-PGF2α, and FPG (except GAMA with FPG) and 8-iso-PGF2α with FPG. Each 1-unit increase in log-transformed level of AAMA, AAMA + GAMA (UAAM), or 8-iso-PGF2α was associated with a 0.17, 0.15, or 0.23 mmol/L increase in FPG, respectively (P and/or P trend < 0.05). Each 1% increase in AAMA, GAMA, or UAAM was associated with a 0.19%, 0.27%, or 0.22% increase in 8-OHdG, respectively, and a 0.40%, 0.48%, or 0.44% increase in 8-iso-PGF2α, respectively (P and P trend < 0.05). Increased 8-iso-PGF2α rather than 8-OHdG significantly mediated 64.29% and 76.92% of the AAMA- and UAAM-associated FPG increases, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

Exposure of the general adult population to acrylamide was associated with FPG elevation, oxidative DNA damage, and lipid peroxidation, which in turn partly mediated acrylamide-associated FPG elevation.




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Screening and Treatment Outcomes in Adults and Children With Type 1 Diabetes and Asymptomatic Celiac Disease: The CD-DIET Study

OBJECTIVE

To describe celiac disease (CD) screening rates and glycemic outcomes of a gluten-free diet (GFD) in patients with type 1 diabetes who are asymptomatic for CD.

RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS

Asymptomatic patients (8–45 years) were screened for CD. Biopsy-confirmed CD participants were randomized to GFD or gluten-containing diet (GCD) to assess changes in HbA1c and continuous glucose monitoring over 12 months.

RESULTS

Adults had higher CD-seropositivity rates than children (6.8% [95% CI 4.9–8.2%, N = 1,298] vs. 4.7% [95% CI 3.4–5.9%, N = 1,089], P = 0.035) with lower rates of prior CD screening (6.9% vs. 44.2%, P < 0.0001). Fifty-one participants were randomized to a GFD (N = 27) or GCD (N = 24). No HbA1c differences were seen between the groups (+0.14%, 1.5 mmol/mol; 95% CI –0.79 to 1.08; P = 0.76), although greater postprandial glucose increases (4-h +1.5 mmol/L; 95% CI 0.4–2.7; P = 0.014) emerged with a GFD.

CONCLUSIONS

CD is frequently observed in asymptomatic patients with type 1 diabetes, and clinical vigilance is warranted with initiation of a GFD.




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Dietary Manganese, Plasma Markers of Inflammation, and the Development of Type 2 Diabetes in Postmenopausal Women: Findings From the Womens Health Initiative

OBJECTIVE

To examine the association between manganese intake and the risk of type 2 diabetes in postmenopausal women and determine whether this association is mediated by circulating markers of inflammation.

RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS

We included 84,285 postmenopausal women without a history of diabetes from the national Women’s Health Initiative Observational Study (WHI-OS). Replication analysis was then conducted among 62,338 women who participated in the WHI-Clinical Trial (WHI-CT). Additionally, data from a case-control study of 3,749 women nested in the WHI-OS with information on biomarkers of inflammation and endothelial dysfunction were examined using mediation analysis to determine the relative contributions of these known biomarkers by which manganese affects type 2 diabetes risk.

RESULTS

Compared with the lowest quintile of energy-adjusted dietary manganese, WHI-OS participants in the highest quintile had a 30% lower risk of type 2 diabetes (hazard ratio [HR] 0.70 [95% CI 0.65, 0.76]). A consistent association was also confirmed in the WHI-CT (HR 0.79 [95% CI 0.73, 0.85]). In the nested case-control study, higher energy-adjusted dietary manganese was associated with lower circulating levels of inflammatory biomarkers that significantly mediated the association between dietary manganese and type 2 diabetes risk. Specifically, 19% and 12% of type 2 diabetes risk due to manganese were mediated through interleukin 6 and hs-CRP, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

Higher intake of manganese was directly associated with a lower type 2 diabetes risk independent of known risk factors. This association may be partially mediated by inflammatory biomarkers.




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Using the BRAVO Risk Engine to Predict Cardiovascular Outcomes in Clinical Trials With Sodium-Glucose Transporter 2 Inhibitors

OBJECTIVE

This study evaluated the ability of the Building, Relating, Assessing, and Validating Outcomes (BRAVO) risk engine to accurately project cardiovascular outcomes in three major clinical trials—BI 10773 (Empagliflozin) Cardiovascular Outcome Event Trial in Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus Patients (EMPA-REG OUTCOME), Canagliflozin Cardiovascular Assessment Study (CANVAS), and Dapagliflozin Effect on Cardiovascular Events–Thrombolysis in Myocardial Infarction (DECLARE-TIMI 58) trial—on sodium–glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitors (SGLT2is) to treat patients with type 2 diabetes.

RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS

Baseline data from the publications of the three trials were obtained and entered into the BRAVO model to predict cardiovascular outcomes. Projected benefits of reducing risk factors of interest (A1C, systolic blood pressure [SBP], LDL, or BMI) on cardiovascular events were evaluated, and simulated outcomes were compared with those observed in each trial.

RESULTS

BRAVO achieved the best prediction accuracy when simulating outcomes of the CANVAS and DECLARE-TIMI 58 trials. For the EMPA-REG OUTCOME trial, a mild bias was observed (~20%) in the prediction of mortality and angina. The effect of risk reduction on outcomes in treatment versus placebo groups predicted by the BRAVO model strongly correlated with the observed effect of risk reduction on the trial outcomes as published. Finally, the BRAVO engine revealed that most of the clinical benefits associated with SGLT2i treatment are through A1C control, although reductions in SBP and BMI explain a proportion of the observed decline in cardiovascular events.

CONCLUSIONS

The BRAVO risk engine was effective in predicting the benefits of SGLT2is on cardiovascular health through improvements in commonly measured risk factors, including A1C, SBP, and BMI. Since these benefits are individually small, the use of the complex, dynamic BRAVO model is ideal to explain the cardiovascular outcome trial results.




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Predicting the Risk of Inpatient Hypoglycemia With Machine Learning Using Electronic Health Records

OBJECTIVE

We analyzed data from inpatients with diabetes admitted to a large university hospital to predict the risk of hypoglycemia through the use of machine learning algorithms.

RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS

Four years of data were extracted from a hospital electronic health record system. This included laboratory and point-of-care blood glucose (BG) values to identify biochemical and clinically significant hypoglycemic episodes (BG ≤3.9 and ≤2.9 mmol/L, respectively). We used patient demographics, administered medications, vital signs, laboratory results, and procedures performed during the hospital stays to inform the model. Two iterations of the data set included the doses of insulin administered and the past history of inpatient hypoglycemia. Eighteen different prediction models were compared using the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUROC) through a 10-fold cross validation.

RESULTS

We analyzed data obtained from 17,658 inpatients with diabetes who underwent 32,758 admissions between July 2014 and August 2018. The predictive factors from the logistic regression model included people undergoing procedures, weight, type of diabetes, oxygen saturation level, use of medications (insulin, sulfonylurea, and metformin), and albumin levels. The machine learning model with the best performance was the XGBoost model (AUROC 0.96). This outperformed the logistic regression model, which had an AUROC of 0.75 for the estimation of the risk of clinically significant hypoglycemia.

CONCLUSIONS

Advanced machine learning models are superior to logistic regression models in predicting the risk of hypoglycemia in inpatients with diabetes. Trials of such models should be conducted in real time to evaluate their utility to reduce inpatient hypoglycemia.




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Strict Preanalytical Oral Glucose Tolerance Test Blood Sample Handling Is Essential for Diagnosing Gestational Diabetes Mellitus

OBJECTIVE

Preanalytical processing of blood samples can affect plasma glucose measurement because on-going glycolysis by cells prior to centrifugation can lower its concentration. In June 2017, ACT Pathology changed the processing of oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) blood samples for pregnant women from a delayed to an early centrifugation protocol. The effect of this change on the rate of gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) diagnosis was determined.

RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS

All pregnant women in the Australian Capital Territory (ACT) are recommended for GDM testing with a 75-g OGTT using the World Health Organization diagnostic criteria. From January 2015 to May 2017, OGTT samples were collected into sodium fluoride (NaF) tubes and kept at room temperature until completion of the test (delayed centrifugation). From June 2017 to October 2018, OGTT samples in NaF tubes were centrifuged within 10 min (early centrifugation).

RESULTS

A total of 7,509 women were tested with the delayed centrifugation protocol and 4,808 with the early centrifugation protocol. The mean glucose concentrations for the fasting, 1-h and 2-h OGTT samples were, respectively, 0.24 mmol/L (5.4%), 0.34 mmol/L (4.9%), and 0.16 mmol/L (2.3%) higher using the early centrifugation protocol (P < 0.0001 for all), increasing the GDM diagnosis rate from 11.6% (n = 869/7,509) to 20.6% (n = 1,007/4,887).

CONCLUSIONS

The findings of this study highlight the critical importance of the preanalytical processing protocol of OGTT blood samples used for diagnosing GDM. Delay in centrifuging of blood collected into NaF tubes will result in substantially lower rates of diagnosis than if blood is centrifuged early.




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The Association of Energy and Macronutrient Intake at Dinner Versus Breakfast With Disease-Specific and All-Cause Mortality Among People With Diabetes: The U.S. National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, 2003-2014

OBJECTIVE

This study aims to evaluate the association of energy and macronutrient intake at dinner versus breakfast with disease-specific and all-cause mortality in people with diabetes.

RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS

A total of 4,699 people with diabetes who enrolled in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey from 2003 to 2014 were recruited for this study. Energy and macronutrient intake was measured by a 24-h dietary recall. The differences () in energy and macronutrient intake between dinner and breakfast ( = dinner – breakfast) were categorized into quintiles. Death information was obtained from the National Death Index until 2015. Cox proportional hazards regression models were developed to evaluate the survival relationship between and diabetes, cardiovascular disease (CVD), and all-cause mortality.

RESULTS

Among the 4,699 participants, 913 deaths, including 269 deaths due to diabetes and 314 deaths due to CVD, were documented. After adjustment for potential confounders, compared with participants in the lowest quintile of in terms of total energy and protein, participants in the highest quintile were more likely to die due to diabetes (hazard ratio [HR]energy 1.92, 99% CI 1.08–3.42; HRprotein 1.92, 99% CI 1.06–3.49) and CVD (HRenergy 1.69, 99% CI 1.02–2.80; HRprotein 1.96, 99% CI 1.14–3.39). The highest quintile of total fat was related to CVD mortality (HR 1.67, 99% CI 1.01–2.76). Isocalorically replacing 5% of total energy at dinner with breakfast was associated with 4% and 5% lower risk of diabetes (HR 0.96, 95% CI 0.94–0.98) and CVD (HR 0.95, 95% CI 0.93–0.97) mortality, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

Higher intake of energy, total fat, and protein from dinner than breakfast was associated with greater diabetes, CVD, and all-cause mortality in people with diabetes.




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microRNA-21/PDCD4 Proapoptotic Signaling From Circulating CD34+ Cells to Vascular Endothelial Cells: A Potential Contributor to Adverse Cardiovascular Outcomes in Patients With Critical Limb Ischemia

OBJECTIVE

In patients with type 2 diabetes (T2D) and critical limb ischemia (CLI), migration of circulating CD34+ cells predicted cardiovascular mortality at 18 months after revascularization. This study aimed to provide long-term validation and mechanistic understanding of the biomarker.

RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS

The association between CD34+ cell migration and cardiovascular mortality was reassessed at 6 years after revascularization. In a new series of T2D-CLI and control subjects, immuno-sorted bone marrow CD34+ cells were profiled for miRNA expression and assessed for apoptosis and angiogenesis activity. The differentially regulated miRNA-21 and its proapoptotic target, PDCD4, were titrated to verify their contribution in transferring damaging signals from CD34+ cells to endothelial cells.

RESULTS

Multivariable regression analysis confirmed that CD34+ cell migration forecasts long-term cardiovascular mortality. CD34+ cells from T2D-CLI patients were more apoptotic and less proangiogenic than control subjects and featured miRNA-21 downregulation, modulation of several long noncoding RNAs acting as miRNA-21 sponges, and upregulation of the miRNA-21 proapoptotic target PDCD4. Silencing miR-21 in control subject CD34+ cells phenocopied the T2D-CLI cell behavior. In coculture, T2D-CLI CD34+ cells imprinted naïve endothelial cells, increasing apoptosis, reducing network formation, and modulating the TUG1 sponge/miRNA-21/PDCD4 axis. Silencing PDCD4 or scavenging reactive oxygen species protected endothelial cells from the negative influence of T2D-CLI CD34+ cells.

CONCLUSIONS

Migration of CD34+ cells predicts long-term cardiovascular mortality in T2D-CLI patients. An altered paracrine signaling conveys antiangiogenic and proapoptotic features from CD34+ cells to the endothelium. This damaging interaction may increase the risk for life-threatening complications.




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The Influence of Baseline Diastolic Blood Pressure on the Effects of Intensive Blood Pressure Lowering on Cardiovascular Outcomes and All-Cause Mortality in Type 2 Diabetes

OBJECTIVE

To examine whether low baseline diastolic blood pressure (DBP) modifies the effects of intensive systolic blood pressure (SBP) lowering on cardiovascular outcomes in type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM).

RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS

The Action to Control Cardiovascular Risk in Diabetes Blood Pressure trial (ACCORD BP), a two-by-two factorial randomized controlled trial, examined effects of SBP (<120 vs. <140 mmHg) and glycemic (HbA1c <6% vs. 7.0–7.9% [<42 vs. 53–63 mmol/mol]) control on cardiovascular events in T2DM (N = 4,731). We examined whether effects of SBP control on cardiovascular composite were modified by baseline DBP and glycemic control.

RESULTS

Intensive SBP lowering decreased the risk of the cardiovascular composite (hazard ratio [HR] 0.76 [95% CI 0.59–0.98]) in the standard glycemic arm but not in the intensive glycemic arm (HR 1.06 [95% CI 0.81–1.40]). Spline regression models relating the effects of the intervention on the cardiovascular composite across the range of baseline DBP did not show evidence of effect modification by low baseline DBP for the cardiovascular composite in the standard or intensive glycemic arms. The relation between the effect of the intensive SBP intervention and baseline DBP was similar between glycemic arms for the cardiovascular composite three-way interaction (P = 0.83).

CONCLUSIONS

In persons with T2DM, intensive SBP lowering decreased the risk of cardiovascular composite end point irrespective of baseline DBP in the setting of standard glycemic control. Hence, low baseline DBP should not be an impediment to intensive SBP lowering in patients with T2DM treated with guidelines recommending standard glycemic control.




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A Randomized Controlled Trial Comparing Glargine U300 and Glargine U100 for the Inpatient Management of Medicine and Surgery Patients With Type 2 Diabetes: Glargine U300 Hospital Trial

OBJECTIVE

The role of U300 glargine insulin for the inpatient management of type 2 diabetes (T2D) has not been determined. We compared the safety and efficacy of glargine U300 versus glargine U100 in noncritically ill patients with T2D.

RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS

This prospective, open-label, randomized clinical trial included 176 patients with poorly controlled T2D (admission blood glucose [BG] 228 ± 82 mg/dL and HbA1c 9.5 ± 2.2%), treated with oral agents or insulin before admission. Patients were treated with a basal-bolus regimen with glargine U300 (n = 92) or glargine U100 (n = 84) and glulisine before meals. We adjusted insulin daily to a target BG of 70–180 mg/dL. The primary end point was noninferiority in the mean difference in daily BG between groups. The major safety outcome was the occurrence of hypoglycemia.

RESULTS

There were no differences between glargine U300 and U100 in mean daily BG (186 ± 40 vs. 184 ± 46 mg/dL, P = 0.62), percentage of readings within target BG of 70–180 mg/dL (50 ± 27% vs. 55 ± 29%, P = 0.3), length of stay (median [IQR] 6.0 [4.0, 8.0] vs. 4.0 [3.0, 7.0] days, P = 0.06), hospital complications (6.5% vs. 11%, P = 0.42), or insulin total daily dose (0.43 ± 0.21 vs. 0.42 ± 0.20 units/kg/day, P = 0.74). There were no differences in the proportion of patients with BG <70 mg/dL (8.7% vs. 9.5%, P > 0.99), but glargine U300 resulted in significantly lower rates of clinically significant hypoglycemia (<54 mg/dL) compared with glargine U100 (0% vs. 6.0%, P = 0.023).

CONCLUSIONS

Hospital treatment with glargine U300 resulted in similar glycemic control compared with glargine U100 and may be associated with a lower incidence of clinically significant hypoglycemia.




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Circulating Retinol-Binding Protein 4 Is Inversely Associated With Pancreatic {beta}-Cell Function Across the Spectrum of Glycemia

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this study was to examine the association of circulating retinol-binding protein 4 (RBP4) levels with β-cell function across the spectrum of glucose tolerance from normal to overt type 2 diabetes.

RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS

A total of 291 subjects aged 35–60 years with normal glucose tolerance (NGT), newly diagnosed impaired fasting glucose or glucose tolerance (IFG/IGT), or type 2 diabetes were screened by a standard 2-h oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) with the use of traditional measures to evaluate β-cell function. From these participants, 74 subjects were recruited for an oral minimal model test, and β-cell function was assessed with model-derived indices. Circulating RBP4 levels were measured by a commercially available ELISA kit.

RESULTS

Circulating RBP4 levels were significantly and inversely correlated with β-cell function indicated by the Stumvoll first-phase and second-phase insulin secretion indices, but not with HOMA of β-cell function, calculated from the 2-h OGTT in 291 subjects across the spectrum of glycemia. The inverse association was also observed in subjects involved in the oral minimal model test with β-cell function assessed by both direct measures and model-derived measures, after adjustment for potential confounders. Moreover, RBP4 emerged as an independent factor of the disposition index-total insulin secretion.

CONCLUSIONS

Circulating RBP4 levels are inversely and independently correlated with β-cell function across the spectrum of glycemia, providing another possible explanation of the linkage between RBP4 and the pathogenesis of type 2 diabetes.




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Promising New Research on Early Intervention for Autism

CNN reports that a study confirms that early autism intervention in toddlers is effective. A study was completed with a program called the Early Start Denver Model (ESDM). This program involves about twenty hours a week in the child's own home. It involves play and parents can easily learn some of the skills that can be applied in other settings. The study compared a group of toddlers that were given ESDM intervention to a group of toddlers receiving typical community interventions. Both groups showed improvement, but the ESDM group improved IQ by 18 points compared to 8 points with traditional interventions. The study is reporting that some of the children "virtually caught up to the typical kids their age." However, they are not claiming it is a cure for autism. According to the article they are working on a replication study to determine if there are similar results. Personally, I'm looking forward to the results of the replication study and want to find out more about this method. From what I understand it is less of a time constraint than ABA therapy.

This study also demonstrated the need for early intervention, which also includes early identification. When children are diagnosed early, they can begin receiving interventions that are proven effective. The study showed that current methods are working, but there may be a new program that can be even more effective on the horizon.

I'd love to hear more from my readers if you have any experience with ESDM or more information about it.




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Angela's Tips for Handling Your Child's Special Education Needs

This guest post is written by Angela Peterson who writes on the topic of Online Psychology Degrees and can be emailed at angela_peterson@rediffmail.com

It’s not easy raising a child, and when he or she is affected by a severe disorder or disease, you have a greater challenge ahead of you. You have to put in extra effort, energy and thought into your child’s development and progress, one aspect of which includes their education. Some parents of children with special needs may be tempted to overprotect by keeping them in cloistered environments and limiting their interaction with the outside world. This usually only hampers the child instead of helping them. If you’re a parent with a child who has special needs, here’s some strategies:

* Understand your child: Some children may be able to express themselves while others are limited because of their disability. Whatever the case, understand your child and know that they have a mind of their own even if they are unable to speak it. Instead of forcing your will on them, get to know what they wish to do and cater to their needs as much as possible as long as it does not cause them any harm.

* Be patient: It’s a tough task, but you need to have an enormous amount of patience with your child. You need to condition yourself to be patient through practice and experience, otherwise you and your child will be subject to a great deal of stress.

* Decide on their education: There are many options for providing education to your special needs child, so look for what is available in your area. If you plan to homeschool, you will need to do some research before you’re up to the task. Many feel that it’s better to let the professionals handle this task who are trained and more experienced. Also, your child gets to mingle with other children and interact with them on a regular basis, which is very important to his or her social development.

*Think about inclusive classrooms: Parents often want their special needs children to attend regular schools. Learn about inclusive classrooms and determine if it is a good fit for your child. Consider if your child is up to the task of being educated with general education children and if he/she can cope with the curriculum in such classrooms. Although teachers in inclusive classrooms are trained to deal with children with special needs, there may be times when your child could be bullied or teased by the other kids for not being like them. Take all these facts into consideration before you decide on an inclusive classroom for your child.


Children with special needs need all the help and support they can get from parents and teachers, and it’s up to you to decide on the best form of education for them.




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New posts coming soon!

I would like to apologize to my readers for the leave of absense over the last few months. The past few months have been excessively busy for me, and School Psychologist Files has been put on the back burner. Now I'm back and have some new ideas for posts and updates. Look for new information in the coming months and weeks. Thanks for being patient with me.




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Assessing Bilingual Individuals

Two years into my position in a culturally diverse school system has taught me many things that I never would have learned in my previous position in a school system with much less diversity. I had hoped to be bilingual by now, but I’m not even close to that goal. However, I do have the training to conduct assessments with bilingual students. Thanks to Samuel Ortiz, Ph.D. for his workshops, research, and books that we use so much in our system. Thanks to the other Psychologists in my system for mentoring me and helping me learn this process. It has helped us to better identify which students have a disability and which students only look like they have a disability because of their performance on tests that are not standardized on children with different cultural and linguistic backgrounds. Learning a second language is not a disability. Just because a student is struggling academically, does not mean he should qualify for special education.

What everyone involved in school needs to know:
It takes many years for a person learning a language to develop academic use of language to the same level as monolingual individuals. It does not always seem that way when a person has excellent conversational skills in English. However, social use of language is not as sophisticated as academic use of language. Students can appear to be fluent, when in actuality the language and vocabulary is not on grade level. If a student’s comprehension and expression of language is below grade level, academics will naturally be below grade level as well. This is not the same as having a disabling condition.

A child with good social use of language, but developing academic use of language often looks to teachers like a student with a disability, when in reality the student may be a typically developing second language learner. Special education is not the answer for this student; the answer comes through hard work, patience, and instruction through a high quality English as a Second Language Program. In the past (and currently in many systems) this child would be misidentified as a student with a disability and inappropriately put into special education programs.

What Parents need to know:
Traditional assessments are not standardized for use with culturally and linguistically diverse students, so typical interpretation of scores on these assessments are inappropriate. When school systems try to use these assessments in the traditional way and then apply the unreliable scores into eligibility criteria, it’s frankly scary.

If you are a parent of an English Language learner, insist that a bilingual assessment be administered. I recognize that the irony of this statement is that many parents of bilingual students are not reading this blog as it is in English only. I don’t really have a good answer for that at this time.

What Teachers need to know:
If you are a teacher, recognize that academic language competency takes time and it requires additional assessment tools to tease out if the difficulties are primarily the result of language and cultural differences or if it is the result of a disability.

What School Psychologists need to know:
If you are a School Psychologist and not using the Cattell-Horn-Carroll Cross-Battery Assessment, I strongly encourage you to take a look. Here is an article from the National Association of School Psychologists Website by Samuel Ortiz, Ph.D. on resources for cultural competency. http://www.nasponline.org/resources/culturalcompetence/ortiz.pdf Advocate that all School Psychologists in your system be trained to administer bilingual assessments or at least have someone competent on hand for these assessments. You can’t hire a School Psychologist in every possible language you might need, so it only makes sense for all School Psychologists to be trained to assess all students. It takes more time to do the assessment, interpret data, and write a report and it requires the use of hiring an interpreter for portions of the assessment, but it is well worth the time and money to properly identify these students. If your school system does not see it this way, bring it up as a solution to disproportionality.




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A Personal Challenge to All Parents

Confession time. I tend to write this blog with my professional hat on, keeping my personal life, personal. Today, I am writing as a mother of two very dear, but very spirited children. People tend to think since I am a School Psychologist, that I know exactly what to do in my own family, and that I should have it all together. The reality is that I have struggles just like everyone else. Sometimes, my kids just don't listen. Sometimes, I feel overwhelmed too. Sometimes, I don't respond in the most positive manner.

Sometimes it can be very difficult to be positive. I know this from experience. While I'm usually an optimistic person, who tends to find good in situations (at least eventually), I sometimes struggle in the heat of the moment. Especially, when I am running late or stressed about something, I have much less tolerance for resistance and disobedience from my children.

In the last few weeks I've really been having a difficult time with the morning routine. There are a lot of procedures that need to occur efficiently in order for everyone to get to work and school on time. I do not like that I have turned into a Drill Sargent with very little patience for any deviation from the schedule. There are mornings that I tell my children to get dressed multiple times and am ignored multiple times. As the clock ticks and it's time to rush out the door with two children (age 5 and 3) who haven't gotten dressed yet, I become more and more negative. By the time we get to the daily "Yes you are wearing a coat- it's 25 degrees outside!" argument with the second child, I have lost all patience. When they walk to the car, I'm behind carrying everything and making sure the door shuts, and have been known to yell "RUN!, RUN TO THE CAR, RUN!" and eventually pick up the meandering child and put her in the car at my own pace. How's that for a start to one's day? I don't feel very good about those days.

Thankfully, not every morning is like that. There are also days that everyone is calm and everyone got ready (although hurriedly), but we got to school/work on time and in good spirits. Specifically I think of a day earlier this week that I handed all the clothes to my five year old and asked him to get himself dressed and see if he could help his little sister a little bit. He helped her step by step, and was extremely proud of himself. I enthusiastically praised him for his help and everyone went to school and work happy that day.

So what is the difference between the crazy mornings and the relatively calm mornings? I want to say- "my kids." I want to say "some mornings they choose to focus on getting dressed and I don't have to argue with them, so we are happy." And while they do play a small part, the biggest factor is ME. I'm the difference. When I am more calm, I have the mindset to be more positive and encouraging, which the children actually respond to. When I am frantic, I think they retreat and are much more prone to act out or start throwing their own fits (about coats or shoes). Yes, there are days that my kids don't listen the first time. However, they are 3 and 5 years old. Also, they don't care if I am late, it means nothing to them. So, what is the main thing I can do to change our crazy mornings. It's not a magic cure to make my kids get ready in a hurried and frantic manner that will get everyone out the door on time. The answer is getting myself up earlier, so I am not stressing about my tardiness and I can focus on helping everyone else get ready.

So here's the challenge to all parents- Take a look at a part of your day that is prone to go poorly with your kids. Think about what you can do yourself to help change the situation. I don't mean what your children could or should do or what you need to do to change your child. Let's take a hard look at yourself first, and see what you can do to yourself to make a positive change in a situation. For my mornings- it's pretty obvious- like it or not, I need to wake up earlier. I'm always saying I should wake up earlier, but that snooze button is quite tempting every morning. Since I'm blogging about it, I now have many people out there to keep me accountable. I'm thinking that if I were not rushed and frantic, then I would be more patient with my kids and able to start using more positive methods for getting them to get ready. While there is an issue that I'm being ignored sometimes- right now I'm just going to focus on making a change to myself. I'm guessing it will spill into everyone else.

Let's all find one small thing we can do ourselves that will help be a blessing for our entire family.




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How Much of Your Child's Special Education Meeting Did You Understand?

As a School Psychologist- I attend numerous Special Education Meetings weekly. There are Child Study Meetings, where we discuss interventions and may decide to complete an evaluation. There are eligibility meetings, where we determine if a student is eligible for special education services. There are IEP meetings where we develop a plan for a student who is eligible for special education. Additionally, there are Manifestation Determination meetings, Functional Behavioral Assessments, Behavior Intervention Plans, and 504 Meetings.


I may attend around 5-10 meetings a week and I only work part time. Special education teachers, administrators, and a few others will attend these meetings as well. We are VERY used to the process and the terminology. That being said, we constantly have to remind ourselves that parents are often not used to any of it. We went to school for years to learn this, and we've been living it out in our careers. It's second nature to many of us. Parents often come in understanding very little. I try to be conscious of explaining what we are doing to the parents. However, it's a lot of information that gets thrown out very quickly.

I want to know how many of the readers feel that you understood what transpired in the meetings you attended? Did you feel rushed? Did you feel supported? Share your comments and please vote in the poll. I'll leave it open through January and then discuss the results.




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Sensory Processing

This article was originally posted on School Psychologist Files.  

Sensory Processing
Our senses help us understand and navigate our world. They help us feel, see, taste, etc. When one or more of those processes is more or less sensitive to world, life feels different to that person. It is hard to understand what it feels like to have sensory differences unless you have sensory differences. It’s easy to tell someone to ignore a noise that doesn’t seem excessively annoying to you. It’s hard to understand when someone has an intense need for pressure unless you have a similar need. Having these sensory differences can be anxiety producing and stressful. In a classroom, it can make that person less attentive or have a more difficult time sitting still. Kids don’t always have the words or understanding to express what they are feeling. As a result, children who have sensory processing issues are often misunderstood. Sensory issues are often associated with children who have an Autism Spectrum Disorder. There is also an association between Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder and sensory issues. Many times a child will have sensory issues and not have any other disability. Those children may have Sensory Processing disorder, which is a neurological disorder that makes processing and responding to sensory information more difficult. A person with Sensory Processing Disorder may be more or less sensitive than most people to any or all of the senses. Sensory Processing Disorder is not yet widely understood by the majority of people. Most people have an idea about what Autism is or ADHD, but people often do not know about Sensory Processing Disorder. Many school professionals have not learned about it and do not understand it. Many parents have never heard of it. If you have any concerns that your child may have difficulty with sensory processing, I strongly recommend The Out-of-Sync Child: Recognizing and Coping with Sensory Processing Disorder, Revised Edition This book was explains the various types of sensory processing and helps parents to understand what their child may be feeling. It is transformative for a parent to finally understand what is going on with their child. Strategies for the Classroom:

 Often making small changes to the environment can help a child regulate his own body and focus in the classroom. A seating disk fits on a chair and is filled with air. It allows a child to wiggle in his seat, without moving around and causing a distraction. The bumps and the movement can provide the sensory input needed to help a child focus better. The ball chair also allows movement and is good for low tone as well. Weighted lap pads help provide proprioceptive input that helps establish increased body awareness, improves attention span and concentration, and has calming benefits.   Strategies for home: Trampolines provide deep pressure. Also, it is great exercise. For some children, when they start having difficulty regulating his or her body, jumping on the trampoline helps provide the needed pressure and will calm the body after a few minutes. The Body Sock is made of tight material that pushes back against the child's movement. This can help children with coordination and spatial positioning.

 Disclaimer: I am not an Occupational Therapist and am not an expert in this area. I am writing this article to raise awareness in sensory issues that can have a huge impact in the classroom and within a family. Sometimes, minor accommodations can make significant improvements in the life of a child, which I have witnessed firsthand. I encourage any parents who think his or her child may have a sensory issue to seek help through an Occupational Therapist. In most cases, this will fall outside of Special Education and schools, unless the sensory issues are associated with a disability, such as Autism. Some schools are more proactive than others and have more Occupational Therapy support than others. Because OT services are not mandated outside of an IEP or 504 Plan, many schools will not be equipped to help you with this. It is recommended that you seek support through an OT, who can provide individual strategies to use in the classroom and at home.




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The Blog is moving to School Psychologist Files

You can find all of the same articles in a more visually appealing Blog.  From now on use www.schoolpsychologistfiles.com/blog.  Thanks!




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&quot;Merit-Based&quot; Immigration: Designing Successful Selection Systems

With the U.S. administration calling for the United States to adopt a more “merit-based” immigrant selection system, this conversation focused on what policymakers should consider in designing—and managing—immigrant selection systems in a time of intense labor-market and demographic change.




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Protecting the DREAM: The Potential Impact of Different Legislative Scenarios for Unauthorized Youth

With the Trump administration having announced the end of the DACA program, Congress is facing growing calls to protect unauthorized immigrants who came to the U.S. as children. This fact sheet examines DREAM Act bills introduced in Congress as of mid-2017, offering estimates of who might earn conditional legal status—and ultimately legal permanent residence—based on educational, professional, and other requirements in the legislation.




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Differing DREAMs: Estimating the Unauthorized Populations That Could Benefit under Different Legalization Bills

2017 saw the introduction of several bills—two of them by Senate Republicans in the weeks following the Trump administration’s announcement that it would terminate the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program—that would provide a pathway to conditional and then legal permanent residence to unauthorized immigrants brought to the United States as children, if they meet a range of educational, professional, and other criteria.




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Mainstreaming 2.0: How Europe’s Education Systems Can Boost Migrant Inclusion

Rising numbers of young immigrants and refugees entering European schools following the 2015–16 migration crisis strained system capacity and injected new urgency into debates about how to support diverse learners and their families. This report examines the challenges facing European education systems and identifies key lessons to improve migrant inclusion in schools and integration more broadly.




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Preparing Newcomers for the Jobs of Today and the Labor Markets of Tomorrow

This Migration Policy Institute Europe webinar examines possible scenarios for how social, economic, and technological trends could affect jobs, labor market policy, education and social policies, and migrant integration. Speakers also explored the potential of coding schools for refugees to help alleviate skills shortages and provide a pathway to work.




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Settling In: A Profile of the Unauthorized Immigrant Population in the United States

This fact sheet and accompanying interactive data tools provide characteristics of the estimated 11.3 million unauthorized immigrants in the United States, using a unique MPI methodology that assigns legal status to U.S. Census Bureau data. The fact sheet and tools offer statistics on these immigrants’ origins, U.S. destinations, educational attainment, English proficiency, employment, income, home ownership, and more.




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Police arrest two men in shooting death of Ahmaud Arbery

More than two months after Ahmaud Arbery was fatally shot while jogging near Brunswick, Georgia police arrested two men for the shooting, authorities said.




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Fourth person charged in shooting death of Michigan security guard

Authorities have charged a fourth person connected to the shooting death of a Flint, Mich., security guard who was killed after confronting a customer who entered a store without a state-mandated facemask.




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Introducing wolves leads to fewer wildland coyotes, researchers find

As the population of gray wolves expands across the northern United States, researchers are finding a surprising side-effect: Their presence appears to lead to a reduction in the coyote population.




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Pennsylvania, Texas, California among states lifting coronavirus restrictions Friday

California, Iowa, Pennsylvania and Rhode Island are among states that are loosening coronavirus restrictions Friday to gradually revive their economies.




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DNA genealogy leads police to James E. Zastawnik in 1987 killing of Ohio teen Barbara Blatnik

Cleveland police say they have used DNA research to solve the 33-year-old strangling of a teenage girl, and arrest her killer.




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Electrolyte disorders in a young female following short-term omeprazole therapy

A 29 years old female presented to us in the metabolic clinic of the University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital (UPTH) on account of a week history of easy fatigability, weakness, and lower extremity muscle cramps associated with numbness and tingling sensation in the peri-oral area, fingers and toes. Two weeks prior to the onset of her presenting symptoms, she had visited a local pharmaceutical shop on account of a distressing epigastric discomfort and was subsequently placed on daily oral omeprazole 20mg daily for a month by a pharmacist. She had been on the omeprazole medication for two weeks before her present symptoms manifested. Her past medical history was not suggestive of hypoparathyroidism nor pancreatitis. She was married with three children and has an uneventful family, social and obstetric histories. On examination, she was a healthy well-oriented young female with positive Trousseau’s, Chvostek’s and epigastric tenderness signs. Further Laboratory evaluation revealed she had low plasma magnesium, low plasma albumin-corrected calcium, and low serum parathyroid hormone levels, while other laboratory parameters were essentially normal. A diagnosis of omeprazole-induced electrolyte disorders (hypomagnesaemia and hypocalcaemia) associated with hypoparathyroidism was made following the review of her clinical examination and laboratory findings. She was subsequently managed with oral magnesium supplements following the withdrawal of the omeprazole medication (replaced with oral ranitidine), monitored weekly, and full recovery was achieved after three weeks.




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NASA lengthens SpaceX's first crewed mission to International Space Station

The duration of SpaceX's first mission with astronauts on board -- planned for launch at 4:32 p.m. EDT on May 27 from Florida -- has been extended from a few days to potentially weeks aboard the space station.




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Mars' magnetic field emerged earlier and lasted longer than previously thought

Mars' ancient magnetic field emerged earlier and persisted for longer than scientists previously thought, according to a new study.




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Global warming fuels algal bloom disrupting fisheries in Arabian Sea

A new scientific study published Monday found that global warming is fueling a destructive algal bloom that is disrupting fisheries in the Arabian sea.