Diabetic Women Research Articles

Insulin therapy combined or not with metformin is associated to a reduced bone mineral density and content in type 2 diabetic postmenopausal women

Anti-diabetic drugs may have negative, positive or neutral effect on bone health. The aim of this study was to compare the effect of combined treatment of metformin and insulin, metformin monotherapy and insulin monotherapy on Bone Mineral Density (BMD)

Evaluation of the Factors Associated with Reinfections towards SARS-CoV-2 Using a Case Control Design.

The risk of reinfection with SARS-CoV-2 has been rapidly increased with the circulation of concerns about variants. So, the aim of our study was to evaluate the factors that increase the risk of this reinfection in healthcare workers compared to those who have never been positive and those who have had only one positivity. A case-control study was carried out at the Teaching Hospital Policlinico Umberto I in Rome, Sapienza University of Rome, in the period between 6 March 2020 and 3 June 2022. Cases are healthcare workers who have developed a reinfection with the SARS-CoV-2 virus, while controls were either healthcare workers who tested positive once or those who have never tested positive for SARS-CoV-2. 134 cases and 267 controls were recruited. Female gender is associated with a higher odds of developing reinfection (OR: 2.42; 95% CI: 1.38-4.25). Moreover, moderate or high alcohol consumption is associated with higher odds of reinfection (OR: 1.49; 95% CI: 1.19-1.87). Diabetes is also associated with higher odds of reinfection (OR: 3.45; 95% CI: 1.41-8.46). Finally, subjects with increased red blood cell counts have higher odds of reinfection (OR: 1.69; 95% CI: 1.21-2.25). From the prevention point of view, these findings indicate that particular attention should be paid to subjects with diabetes mellitus, women and alcoholic drinkers. These results could also suggest that contact tracing represents a fundamental approach model against the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic, together with the health information of participants.

Red meat consumption, cardiovascular diseases, and diabetes: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Observational studies show inconsistent associations of red meat consumption with cardiovascular disease (CVD) and diabetes. Moreover, red meat consumption varies by sex and setting, however, whether the associations vary by sex and setting remains unclear. This systematic review and meta-analysis was conducted to summarize the evidence concerning the associations of unprocessed and processed red meat consumption with CVD and its subtypes [coronary heart disease (CHD), stroke, and heart failure], type two diabetes mellitus (T2DM), and gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) and to assess differences by sex and setting (western vs. eastern, categorized based on dietary pattern and geographic region). Two researchers independently screened studies from PubMed, Web of Science, Embase, and the Cochrane Library for observational studies and randomized controlled trials (RCTs) published by 30 June 2022. Forty-three observational studies (N = 4 462 810, 61.7% women) for CVD and 27 observational studies (N = 1 760 774, 64.4% women) for diabetes were included. Red meat consumption was positively associated with CVD [hazard ratio (HR) 1.11, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.05 to 1.16 for unprocessed red meat (per 100 g/day increment); 1.26, 95% CI 1.18 to 1.35 for processed red meat (per 50 g/day increment)], CVD subtypes, T2DM, and GDM. The associations with stroke and T2DM were higher in western settings, with no difference by sex. Unprocessed and processed red meat consumption are both associated with higher risk of CVD, CVD subtypes, and diabetes, with a stronger association in western settings but no sex difference. Better understanding of the mechanisms is needed to facilitate improving cardiometabolic and planetary health.

Is there a relationship between the urinary iodine of pregnant and diabetic patients?

We investigated the iodine status in this study in pregnant women, diabetic women-men, and nondiabetic men-women living in our region. A total of 385 cases who applied to the endocrine clinic between 2015 and 2020 were reviewed retrospectively. The gender, age, free T3 (pg/ml), free T4 (ng/dl), TSH (μIU/mL), anti-TPO antibody (IU/ml), anti-thyroglobulin antibody (IU/ml), and random urine iodine concentration (μg/L) levels of cases were recorded. The cases were grouped as pregnant, female, male, diabetic female, and diabetic male. Cases with overt thyroid disease, heart failure, liver failure, and kidney failure were excluded. There were 6.75% (n = 26) pregnant, 54.8% (n = 211) nondiabetic female patients, 18.9% (n = 73) diabetic female patients, 12.7% (n = 49) nondiabetic male, and 4.15% (n = 16) diabetic male patients. The random urinary iodine level was significantly higher in nondiabetic women (112.9 ± 77.21) and diabetic women (140.7 ± 97.8) than in pregnant women (77.8 ± 31.8) (P = 0.00 and P = 0.03). There was no significant relationship between random urine levels of pregnant women and nondiabetic men (104.1 ± 82.6) (P = 0.16). The random urinary iodine level was significantly higher in diabetic men (170.0 ± 112.1) than in pregnant women (P = 0.00). In our region (xxx Region), pregnant women had iodine deficiency. The iodine level in men and women was very close to the lower limit. The urinary iodine level was higher in diabetic women and diabetic men than in both pregnant women and nondiabetic women and nondiabetic men. The results brought us the question: Could the high spot urinary iodine level in diabetic patients be a clue to nephropathy?

The Association of Asymptomatic Urinary Tract Infection (UTI) with Diabetes Mellitus (DM) in Pregnant Women

Background: Urinary tract infection (UTI) is a common infection of diabetic pregnant women because of excess urine glucose excretion and lowered immunity. UTI during pregnancy is directly proportionate to maternal and neonatal complications. Diabetes mellitus (DM) and urological health problems are closely related during pregnancy. DM patients are prone to UTI, bladder issues and sexual dysfunction. The intent of the study was to find out the association of asymptomatic urinary tract infection (UTI) with diabetes mellitus (DM) in pregnant women. Material & Methods: A prospective cross-sectional study was carried out in the Department of Public Health of Varendra University in Bangladesh for the duration of 4 months in the summer session from May 2018 to August 2018. All the pregnant mothers (N=119) with diabetes mellitus in Chapai Nawabganj during the study period constituted the study population. Ethical clearance was taken from the hospital. The data analysis was performed using Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) Version 25.0. Results: Among the study population (N=119), the mean age of the respondents was 25.14 ± 4.82 years, and most of the respondents were in the age group of below 25 years. It was observed that around one-third of the respondents (36,30.3%) monthly income was up to 15,000 taka. Regarding the duration of gestation, it was observed that the mean duration of gestation was 19.06 ± 5.62 weeks. Around one-fourth of the respondents (33,27.7%) had good but unhygienic sanitation and the majority of them (78,65.5%) had good and hygienic sanitation conditions. It was recognized that the majority of the respondents (82,68.9%) had 6-8 times of micturition per day. Sixty-two respondents who had DM did not know about UTI and the relationship between the pattern of DM and urinary tract infection was not found statistically significant (p>0.05). Conclusion: In the case of pregnancy, in women with DM, UTI is the most commonly noticed maternal infection. The findings provided by the analysis might help in the management of asymptomatic urinary tract infections during pregnancy.

Diabetes mellitus and women health

Diabetes mellitus and women health

Association of Elevated Serum Homocysteine Level in Women with Gestational Diabetes Mellitus

Background: In gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM), risk prediction is mostly based on maternal history and clinical risk factors and may not optimally identify high risk pregnancies. Therefore, universal screening is widely recommended. Homocysteine levels during pregnancy in women with GDM have been studied; however, it remains unclear whether hyperhomocysteinemia is a useful predictor of GDM. Objective: To determine the association of serum homocysteine level in women with gestational diabetes mellitus. Methods: Case control study was conducted in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Institute of Child and Mother Health (ICMH), Dhaka. Pregnant women in their 24 weeks to 40 weeks of gestation attended for antenatal care diagnosed as GDM was selected as cases. Non- diabetic pregnant women matching with cases by age and gestational age were selected as control in this study. GDM was diagnosed by oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT). The serum homocysteine level of these patients was measured. Descriptive and inferential analysis was carried out using SPSS version 22.0. P-value less than 0.05 will be considered as statistically significant. Results: Among the cases fasting blood sugar (6.13 ± 0.66) and controls (4.60 ± 0.57). Similarly, 2 hours after 75 gm. glucose blood sugar among cases (8.46 ± 0.88) and controls (6.32 ± 0.96). Both results were statistically significant p=0.001. Majority of patients were at third trimester of pregnancy (67.0%). 37.5% were primigravida and 2.5% were multigravida. Mean gestational age of cases (30.25 ± 2.74) and controls (30.02 ± 3.03). Among the cases 62.1% had history of GDM where 37.9% don’t have history of GDM. Among control group only 7.7% had history of GDM. This result statistically significant p=0.001. 6.9% cases had history of macrocosmic child which was not statistically significant p=0.49. There was no history of still birth or other congenital defect. Mean serum homocysteine level among cases (6.50 ± 1.72) and controls (5.20 ± 1.87) which was statistically significant p=0.001. Positive correlation observed between maternal serum homocysteine level and maternal blood sugar (r=0.209, p=0.005) in this study. Respondents with high homocysteine level have 3.94 times more chance to develop GDM (OR=3.94; 95% CI = 1.59-9.77). Conclusion: Finding from the present study suggests that maternal elevated serum homocysteine level in pregnancy is significantly associated with Gestational Diabetes Mellitus.

Effect of nurse-led intervention on knowledge and preventive behavior of diabetic pregnant women regarding COVID-19 associated mucromycosis infection in mid-delta region of Egypt

BackgroundBlack fungus (mycoses) is an opportunistic invasive infection that predominantly occurred among immunosuppressed persons. It has been recently detected in COVID-19 patients. The pregnant diabetic woman is susceptible to such infections and needs recognition for protection. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of the nurse-led intervention on the knowledge and preventive practice of diabetic pregnant women regarding fungal mycosis during the COVID-19 pandemic.MethodThis quasi-experimental study was conducted at maternal health care centers in Shebin El-Kom, Menoufia Governorate, Egypt. The study recruited 73 diabetic pregnant women through a systematic random sampling of pregnant women attending the maternity clinic during the period of the study. A structured interview questionnaire was used to measure their knowledge regarding Mucormycosis and COVID-19 manifestations. The preventive practices were assessed through an observational checklist of hygienic practice, insulin administration, and blood glucose monitoring for the prevention of Mucormycosis infection.ResultsThe study revealed a statistically significant increment in the participants’ knowledge, preventive practice, personal hygiene, and diabetes self-care scores (9.56 ± 1.75 ,3.6 ± 1.18, 3.18 ± 1.29 post-intervention) comparable to (6.19 ± 1.66, 1.97 ± 1.35, 0.89 ± 1.38 pre-intervention) respectively. There was a significant improvement in the overall COVID-19 protective score against Mucormycosis (from 2.66 ± 1.74 to 4.53 ± 1.43).ConclusionNursing educational sessions had a positive effect on pregnant women’s awareness and preventive behavior. Hence, it is recommended to integrate nurse-led intervention targeting the preventive practice against COVID-19-associated Mucormycosis infection (CAM) as routine services for diabetic pregnant women during antenatal care.

QTC PROLONGATION, AN EARLY PREDICTOR OF CARDIOVASCULAR AUTONOMIC NEUROPATHY (CAN) IN POSTMENOPAUSAL DIABETIC WOMEN

To evaluate QTc interval in postmenopausal diabetic women in predicting cardiovascular autonomic neuropathy (CAN). A comparative cross-sectional study was conducted in the Cardiology Department of CMH Lahore and Sir Ganga Ram Hospital, Lahore, from April 2022- April 2023. A total of 80 women were included in the study, which was categorized into 40 pre and 40 postmenopausal women. Both groups were further divided into 20 diabetic and 20 non-diabetic women. A cut-off of 3-5 years was selected for natural menopause and 5-7 years for the available duration of type 2 diabetes. Blood samples were taken to determine serum estradiol levels in all 4 groups. Autonomic neuropathy was assessed by corrected QT interval (QTc), heart rate variability (HRV), Valsalva Ratio (VR), and resting heart rate (RHR). All variables were compared among groups by using SPSS version 20.0. Serum estradiol levels were significantly lowered in postmenopausal as compared to premenopausal women (p<0.001). QTc was significantly different (p=0.001) among all four groups. A statistically significant difference was found between premenopausal diabetic and postmenopausal diabetic groups (p=0.001) and between women of premenopausal non-diabetic and postmenopausal diabetic groups (p=0.003). Differences in RHR (p=0.840), HRV (p=0.084), and VR (p=0.129) were statistically nonsignificant among all four groups. A QTc prolongation is an important tool in investigating cardiac autonomic neuropathy (CAN) predisposition in postmenopausal diabetic women. Therefore, assessment of QTc prolongation could aid in early diagnosis of CAN in postmenopausal diabetic women.

Extended combined screening for preeclampsia prediction in women with diabetes mellitus

BACKGROUND:Early screening for preeclampsia has shown high efficiency for low-risk groups, however, the presence of systemic vascular disease in patients with diabetes mellitus complicates their use and requires the development of additional approaches to predicting preeclampsia in this group of patients.
 AIM:The aim of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of early prediction of preeclampsia with extended combined screening in patients with pregestational types of diabetes mellitus.
 MATERIALS AND METHODS:This study included 75 pregnant women: 40 patients with type 1 diabetes mellitus, and 35 patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus. To determine the risk of further preeclampsia development, we evaluated biochemical, biophysical and anamnestic factors, along with the serum levels of placental growth factor, soluble fms-like tyrosine kinase 1, and soluble endoglin at 11+0to 13+6gestational weeks. The main outcome assessed was the development of preeclampsia.
 RESULTS:In patients with further development of preeclampsia (35% in type 1 and 40 % in type 2 diabetic women), we observed higher soluble fms-like tyrosine kinase 1 / placental growth factor ratios, as well as elevated serum soluble endoglin (type 1 diabetes mellitus) and soluble fms-like tyrosine kinase 1 (type 2 diabetes mellitus) levels. Isolated determination of placental growth factor showed no significant differences in the levels of this angiogenic factor in preeclampsia. A multivariate predictive model for preeclampsia demonstrated high prognostic parameters: for patients with type 1 diabetes mellitus, area under the curve was 0.96 (95% confidence interval 0.931.00), with positive predictive value 76.7% and negative predictive value 90.1%; for patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus, area under the curve was 0.94 (95% confidence interval 0.861.00), with positive predictive value 88.5% and negative predictive value 97.1%.
 CONCLUSIONS:Specific biochemical and biophysical markers of preeclampsia combined with maternal risk factors and assessment of carbohydrate metabolism can increase the predictive value of early screening studies for preeclampsia in women with pregestational diabetes mellitus.

Association of Serum Zinc Levels and Some Risk Factors with Gestational Diabetes Mellitus in Women Referred to the Diabetes Clinic of Bu-Ali Hospital of Zahedan in 2021

Background: Diabetes is the most common medical complication of pregnancy. Low serum zinc levels in pregnant women can cause uterine growth restriction and increase the risk of abortion and neural tube defects. Objectives: This study was designed to evaluate the association of serum zinc levels with gestational diabetes (GDM) in diabetic and healthy pregnant women referred to Bu-Ali Hospital in Zahedan. Methods: This case-control study was performed on 70 pregnant women, including 35 diabetics and 35 healthy subjects, referred to our diabetes clinic. The subjects were enrolled based on inclusion and exclusion criteria. Demographic, clinical, and obstetric characteristics of the subjects were gathered, and a diabetes screening test was performed for all of them. Then 3 mL of blood was taken from each person to determine serum zinc level by a calorimetric method. Statistical analysis using SPSS software was 16. Results: The means of serum zinc level in pregnant women with GDM and healthy pregnant women were 62.22 ± 5.57 and 89.17 ± 12.16 g /dL, respectively (P = 0.001). Except for the mean values of fasting, 1-hour, and 2-hour blood sugar levels (P = 0.001), there was no significant difference between diabetic and non-diabetic women in terms of age, weight, gestational age, number of deliveries, number of abortions, and body mass index. Conclusions: Our results indicated that most of the pregnant women had severe zinc deficiency, which could intensify pregnancy complications, boosting the risk of pregnancy complications for mothers and neonates. Therefore, screening for gestational diabetes and zinc deficiency and their treatment are recommended to improve pregnancy outcomes.

Histological changes in the amniotic membrane structure of gestational diabetic women’s’ in comparison with pregestational diabetic and non-diabetic women

The main objective of this study was to compare the demographic characteristics and histological changes in the amniotic membrane (AM) of gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM), pregestational diabetes mellitus (PGDM), and non-diabetic women. A total of thirty AM samples (n = 10 for each group) were obtained from full-term pregnant women without any complications. These samples were processed for paraffin blocks, sectioned, and stained with H&E. The results of demographic characteristics showed the mean maternal age of the PGDM and GDM groups was significantly higher compared with the control. Neonatal weight decreased significantly in the PGDM group, but both diabetic groups showed no significant differences between them in terms of maternal age and neonatal weight. A random blood sugar (RBS) test and WBC count showed a highly significant increase in GDM and a significant increase in PGDM. The highest significant value of RBC was recorded for PGDM. The thickness of the epithelial layer plus the basement membrane (BM) was significantly increased due to the PGDM. while the compact layer plus the fibroblast layer and the total thickness of AM showed a significant increase in GDM. The nucleus diameter of AM epithelial cells was significantly decreased in diabetic groups. The histological examination revealed that both diabetic groups caused several changes and damage in AM, including: hypertrophy and hyperplasia in epithelial cells associated with the formation of the vacuole between them; degeneration of some of these cells that pinched off from the lining epithelium; breakdown of the compact and fibroblast layers and caused damage to the stromal collagen fibril; epithelial cells and their nuclei became elongated and resembled columnar epithelium; and the basement membrane appeared thicker in comparison to the control group. In conclusion, GDM and PGDM induced various alterations and damage to the AM, which in turn delayed embryonic development and the delivery.

Comparison of oxidative stress markers in the saliva, gingival crevicular fluid, and serum samples of pregnant women with gestational diabetes and healthy pregnant women.

To compare oxidative stress (OS) markers in the saliva, gingival crevicular fluid (GCF), and serum samples of pregnant women with gestational diabetes (GDM) and healthy pregnant women and to investigate the association between periodontal health/diseases and OS and GDM. Eighty women with GDM and 80 healthy pregnant women were included in the study. Medical and clinical anamnesis was obtained from all the pregnant women included in the study, and their plaque index (PI), gingival index (GI), bleeding on probing (BoP), probing pocket depth (PPD), and clinical attachment level (CAL) measurements were performed. GCF, saliva, and serum samples were collected for the measurements of the local and systemic total antioxidant status (TAS) and total oxidant status (TOS). Clinical periodontal parameters were found to be significantly higher in the GDM group compared to the control group. The serum and saliva TAS, TOS, and TAS/TOS values were significantly lower in the GDM group than in the control group. In the analysis of the GCF samples, the mean TAS and TAS/TOS values were significantly lower and the TOS value was significantly higher in the GDM group than in the control group. The multivariate reduced model indicated that gravidity, salivary TAS/TOS, and GCF TAS were significant independent variables in the development of GDM (p < .05). Our results indicated that the OS of serum, saliva, and GCF samples increased in patients with GDM compared to healthy pregnant women. The role of local OS parameters in GDM may be associated with elevated clinical periodontal parameters.

Association between serum uric acid levels and cardiovascular risk factors among adults in India

Background and aimThe objective of this study was to explore the association between serum uric acid (SUA) levels and cardiovascular risk factors in the Indian population. Methods and resultsThis was a cross-sectional, population-based study. The study enrolled adults aged 20 years and above residing in rural, sub-urban, and urban. All participants completed a detailed questionnaire, underwent anthropometric measurements, and had blood samples collected. Participants were divided into three tertiles based on their SUA concentrations. A total of 2976 participants were included in this study, with 865 from rural, 1030 from sub-urban, and 1081 from urban populations. The mean values of cardiovascular risk factors were significantly higher in tertile 3 (p < 0.001) as compared to the other tertiles. However, we observed a negative trend between the increase of SUA and SUA/Scr ratio and HbA1c levels (Pearson correlation r = −0.068; p < 0.001 and r = −0.140; p < 0.001, respectively). The healthy and prediabetic groups did not show any significant change in HbA1c with increasing SUA levels, while an inverse trend was observed in diabetics. In the diabetic population, both men and women showed an inverse trend between increasing SUA levels and HbA1c in both known and newly diagnosed diabetes (p < 0.001). ConclusionsThe study found a positive association between SUA levels and cardiovascular risk factors. However, HbA1c was inversely correlated with increasing SUA tertiles in both known and newly diagnosed diabetes, as compared to the general population. Additionally, both men and women with diabetes consistently showed an inverse relationship between increasing SUA/SCr ratio and HbA1c levels.

PREGNANT WOMEN WITH UNCONTROLLED DIABETES: COMMON FOETAL ANOMALIES

Background: Diabetes mellitus is a chronic metabolic illness characterised by elevated blood glucose levels. It is aserious global health concern that is becoming increasingly widespread. When diabetes strikes at a crucial pregnancyperiod, the effects are more severe.Objective: Examining typical foetal anomalies in 66 pregnant women with uncontrolled diabetes will draw attentionto the negative consequences of improperly managed blood glucose levels throughout pregnancy.Methodology: The medical records of expectant patients with uncontrolled diabetes who sought prenatal care atthe Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology between March 1,2020 to March 1, 2022, were reviewed retrospectively in this research. 66 pregnant women with uncontrolled diabetes participated in the trial. Included were womenwith poorly managed gestational diabetes and pre-existing diabetes at the start of their pregnancies. Women who hadwell-controlled diabetes and insufficient health information were not included.Results: The research included a cohort of 66 pregnant women diagnosed with diabetes, with an average age of 29.5years. The predominant age group among the participants was 30-40 years old, accounting for 34.1% of the total,and their average number of children born was 1.8. Among the women, 60.6% had pre-existing diabetes, whereas39.4% were diagnosed with gestational diabetes during pregnancy. Most of the abnormalities were classified as mild(31.1%) or moderate (25.8%), with a lesser proportion categorized as severe (15.2%).Conclusion: According to this study, pregnant diabetic women had a higher likelihood of foetal deformities, mostlycardiac abnormalities. Most anomalies were mild or moderate in kind.Keywords: fetal anomalies, Uncontrolled diabetes, neural tube defects, cardiac abnormalities, glycemic control, prenatal care.

Exploring the relationship between adiponectin and reproductive transition among diabetic and non-diabetic women

Introduction and Aim: The reproductive aging and the menopausal transition is a period of life in females which is well associated with several changes in the adipose tissue and the hormones. Little is known about the circulating levels of adiponectin and the status of the reproductive age. The aim of the study was to understand whether these transition changes affect the levels of adiponectin in the blood and the BMI.&#x0D; &#x0D; Materials and Methods: This was a cross sectional study with 73 diabetic females matched with 106 nondiabetic females. The subjects were between the age of 30-60 years. Serum adiponectin levels were estimated using precoated ELISA technique and BMI was calculated.&#x0D; &#x0D; Results: The study subjects showed age matched distribution. BMI showed significant difference between normal and diabetic subjects but failed to hold the significant difference when grouped based on their reproductive transition. Adiponectin failed to show any significant difference between diabetic and normal subjects, but adiponectin levels differed well with the reproductive group in diabetics only (p=0.008) and in normal subjects the difference was not statistically significant (p=0.07).&#x0D; &#x0D; Conclusion: This study does not hold up changes in BMI because of a transition in reproductive age and this causes a change in levels of adiponectin. However, the effect of diabetes on adiponectin level seems to be valid. The variation in the level of adiponectin is because of diabetes in the menopause state. Further the adiponectin and BMI did not show any significant difference between the age groups which shows that age is not a contributing factor for changes in BMI and levels of adiponectin.

Unwanted pregnancy in diabetic women

Searchable abstracts of presentations at key conferences in endocrinology ISSN 1470-3947 (print) | ISSN 1479-6848 (online)

Micronutrient deficiencies and functional disorders of postmenopausal diabetic women

Searchable abstracts of presentations at key conferences in endocrinology ISSN 1470-3947 (print) | ISSN 1479-6848 (online)

Montelukast, a LRRC8A inhibitor, decreases the contractile response to Endothelin-1 in the vaginal smooth muscle of aged mice

Introduction: Vaginal smooth muscle (VaSM) is an important contributor to female sexual function, desire, and arousal. Increased vaginal blood flow via vasodilation of the vaginal blood vessels is key to the of lubrication and creating an enjoyable sexual experience. Female sexual dysfunction (FSD) is common in hypertensive and diabetic women, as well as many who suffer from hormonal imbalances, including menopause. Despite the substantial population that suffers from FSD, research into the mechanisms and non-hormonal treatments are limited. Leucine rich repeat containing channel 8A (LRRC8A) is a volume regulated anion channel (VRAC) that regulates Nox1 and can modulate the extracellular production of superoxide (O2∙-). In aged tissues, there are increased in extracellular ROS production as well as vascular and smooth muscle dysfunction. The objective of these experiments is to elucidate the mechanisms behind female sexual dysfunction that present with vascular and smooth muscle dysfunction and determine if the LRRC8A inhibitor, Montelukast, can alleviate some of the symptoms of FSD and improve quality of life. In this study, we hypothesize that the inhibition of LRRC8A in will decrease the contraction to Endothelin-1 in the vaginal smooth muscle of the aged mice. Methods: Aged (16 mo and 20 mo old) female lean mice underwent distal vaginal dissection. Vaginal tissue was cleaned and mounted on a strip myograph in Krebs solution and the contraction elicited by Endothelin-1 was performed in the absence and repeated in the presence of the LRRC8A inhibitor, Montelukast (1uM) after a 30-minute incubation. Data was analyzed using Prism. The maximal contraction in the absence of the inhibitor was taken as 100%, and the contraction in the presence of the inhibitor was calculated as a percentage of the maximal contraction attained in the absence of the inhibitor. Results: Contraction induced by Endothelin-1 (10-12 M to 3✕10 -8 M) alone compared to in the presence of Montelukast (1 uM) showed that Montelukast decreased both the potency and the maximum force of contraction in the aged VaSM. After incubation with 1 mM Montelukast, the EC50 and Emax were significantly different (0.0430 and &lt;0.0001, respectively). Conclusion: This is the first study investigating the vaginal smooth muscle from the perspective of ROS production and the influence of LRRC8A in aged animals. The change in the contractile response in the treated animals may be due to the modulation of the production of O2∙-. Patients that suffer from FSD are a large and overlooked community in need of new therapeutic approaches. Treatment with LRRC8A offers a potential novel approach to treat FSD and should be further researched to observe its overall impact in FSD. 1R01DK132948-01, SMSNA Student Grant This is the full abstract presented at the American Physiology Summit 2023 meeting and is only available in HTML format. There are no additional versions or additional content available for this abstract. Physiology was not involved in the peer review process.

Custom-Made Ethyl Vinyl Acetate Insoles with Arch Support Could Improve Static Balance in Diabetic Women with Neuropathic Foot.

Individuals with diabetic neuropathy may experience plantar ulcers and postural instability. Although use of an insole with arch support has the potential to decrease the incidence of plantar ulcers, the choice of proper design and material density concerning postural stability is challenging. The objective of this pilot study was to conduct a preliminary evaluation of the immediate effects of custom-made ethyl vinyl acetate insoles with arch support and Shore A values of 30 or 50 on static balance in patients with diabetes and neuropathic foot/feet. Ten women with diabetes participated in this study. Static balance was analyzed while in double-limb standing with eyes closed and eyes open and while standing on a dominant limb with eyes open wearing shoes only and wearing shoes and insoles with Shore A values of 30 and 50. With insole, the mean values of center of pressure excursions decreased significantly while standing on double limbs with eyes closed. The improvement in static balance was greater while using the insole with greater density; however, the difference was not statistically significant. An insole with arch support made of ethyl vinyl acetate Shore A of 30 and 50, which could decrease plantar pressure concentration, had no negative effect on the static balance of diabetes. Therefore, further research on the long-term effects of such insoles on the static balance of diabetes is suggested.