A cross-sectional study demonstrating increased serum amyloid A-related inflammation in high density lipoproteins from subjects with type 1 diabetes mellitus and how this association was augmented by poor glycaemic control

Inflammatory atherosclerosis is increased in subjects with type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM). Normally high-density lipoproteins(HDL) protect against atherosclerosis; however, in the presence of serum amyloid-A- (SAA-) related inflammation this propertymay be reduced. Fasting blood was obtained from fifty subjects with T1DM, together with fifty age, gender and BMI matchedcontrol subjects. HDL was subfractionated into HDL2 and HDL3 by rapid ultracentrifugation. Serum-hsCRP and serum-, HDL2-,and HDL3-SAA were measured by ELISAs. Compared to control subjects, SAA was increased in T1DM subjects, nonsignificantly inserum (P = 0.088), and significantly in HDL2 (P  = 0.003) and HDL3 (P  = 0.005). When the T1DM group were separated accordingto mean HbA1c (8.34%), serum-SAA and HDL3-SAA levels were higher in the T1DM subjects with HbA1c ≥ 8.34%, compared towhen HbA1c was <8.34% (P  < 0.05). Furthermore, regression analysis illustrated, that for every 1%-unit increase in HbA1c, SAAincreased by 20% and 23% in HDL2 and HDL3, respectively, independent of BMI. HsCRP did not differ between groups (P  > 0.05).This cross-sectional study demonstrated increased SAA-related inflammation in subjects with T1DM that was augmented by poorglycaemic control. We suggest that SAA is a useful inflammatory biomarker in T1DM, which may contribute to their increasedatherosclerosis risk.

Reduced Bacterial Colony Count of Anaerobic Bacteria Is Associated with a Worsening in Lung Clearance Index and Inflammation in Cystic Fibrosis

Anaerobic bacteria have been identified in abundance in the airways of cystic fibrosis (CF) subjects. The impact their presence and abundance has on lung function and inflammation is unclear. The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between the colony count of aerobic and anaerobic bacteria, lung clearance index (LCI), spirometry and C-Reactive Protein (CRP) in patients with CF. Sputum and blood were collected from CF patients at a single cross-sectional visit when clinically stable. Community composition and bacterial colony counts were analysed using extended aerobic and anaerobic culture. Patients completed spirometry and a multiple breath washout (MBW) test to obtain LCI. An inverse correlation between colony count of aerobic bacteria (n = 41, r = -0.35; p = 0.02), anaerobic bacteria (n = 41, r = -0.44, p = 0.004) and LCI was observed. There was an inverse correlation between colony count of anaerobic bacteria and CRP (n = 25, r = -0.44, p = 0.03) only. The results of this study demonstrate that a lower colony count of aerobic and anaerobic bacteria correlated with a worse LCI. A lower colony count of anaerobic bacteria also correlated with higher CRP levels. These results indicate that lower abundance of aerobic and anaerobic bacteria may reflect microbiota disruption and disease progression in the CF lung.