NEET PG: In-service candidate alleges arbitrary seat allotment at RVM Medical College, HC issues notice

The Telangana High Court bench has recently issued notices in a plea challenging the arbitrary seat allotment to a postgraduate medical candidate in RVM Institute of Medical Sciences and Research Centre, Medak.

Issuing the notice, the HC bench comprising Chief Justice Alok Aradhe and Justice J. Anil Kumar has listed the matter for further hearing after two weeks.

The bench was considering a plea by an in-service PG medical candidate, who also belongs to the scheduled caste category. Approaching the HC bench, the petitioner alleged arbitrary seat allotment at the medical college.

For more details, check out the link given below:

NEET PG: In Service Candidate Alleges Arbitrary Seat Allotment At RVM Medical College, HC Issues Notice

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Tragic Accident Claims Lives of 2 Final Year RIMS Adilabad MBBS Students

Adilabad: In an unfortunate incident, two final-year MBBS students from the esteemed Rajiv Gandhi Institute of Medical Sciences (RIMS) met with a fatal accident on Sunday night in Yavatmal district, Maharashtra.

The accident happened when the motorcycles, carrying the medicos, collided with a stationary lorry in the vicinity of Pandharkawada.

The victims, identified as a 23-year-old hailing from Parkal in Hanamkonda district and a 24-year-old from Vijayawada, suffered fatal head injuries, tragically leading to their deaths at the scene of the accident. The news of this untimely loss has brought grief into the RIMS community, where both students were almost in the final year of their medical education journey.

RIMS Director, Dr. Jaisingh Rathod, expressed deep condolences and highlighted the devastating impact of the accident on the institute. The two students, along with four others, had informed institute officials that they intended to have a meal in the neighboring state of Maharashtra before the tragic turn of events. The loss of these promising young minds has left the RIMS community and their families in profound grief. The institute is extending support to the bereaved families during this challenging time. The entire medical fraternity mourns the loss of the young medicos recognizing the potential they held for contributing significantly to the field of medicine, reports  Telangana Today. 

Upon learning about the event, Rathod and the doctors of the medical college went to a government hospital in Pandharkawada where the remains were preserved. The parents of the victims were notified about the mishap. The bodies will be conveyed to the native locations of the students by evening. 

Also Read:Tragic car accident on Delhi-Dehradun highway claims life of MBBS Intern, injures second-year PG Medic

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Fake medical factory producing duplicate Betnovate-N busted, mastermind held

A fake medical factory preparing duplicate ‘Betnovate-N’ was busted by the Delhi Police’s Crime Branch and 2,200 filled tubes and 68,000 empty tubes of the skin ointment seized, an official said on Sunday, adding that they have also arrested the mastermind.

The accused was identified as Avan Monga, 45, a resident of Vishnu Garden, Delhi.

Betnovate-N’ cream, a product of Glaxo Smith Kline (GSK) Company, is used for skin problems.

For more details, check out the link given below:

Delhi: Factory Producing Duplicate Of GSK’s Betnovate-N Busted, Mastermind Held

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Ensure 75 percent faculty attendance or lose recognition: NMC warns medical colleges

New Delhi: Few days after issuing show-cause notices to over 350 medical colleges after finding a deficiency in attendance and failure to meet required faculty requirements (Minimum Standard Requirements 2020), the National Medical Commission (NMC) has now issued a warning for the institutions directing them to strictly follow UG-MSR 2023 and MSMER 2023 otherwise their applications will not be considered and they will lose on approvals/recognition.

Earlier this month, NMC issued show cause notices to around 50 percent of medical colleges for not following standards set by them. Medical Dialogues had earlier reported that 350 out of a total of 654 medical colleges were issued the show cause for violations of the Minimum Standard Requirements 2020 including a deficiency in having the required faculty numbers.

Among these 349 medical colleges, 197 colleges are government-aided and others are private medical institutes. Show cause notice was also issued to a medical college in Kerala’s Idukki after finding a deficiency in attendance and failure to meet required faculty requirements (Minimum Standard Requirements 2020)

“Your college has failed to meet the required faculty requirement (MSR 2020) for the existing MBBS Course being run in the college for 2023-24. This has been viewed seriously by the Competent Authority. Therefore, your college is hereby directed as to why the action should not be initiated against the non-compliance of the provisions contained in MSR as well as directions issued by NMC,” read the show cause notice.

Also Read:Faculty Shortage, Violation of MSR: 349 out of 654 medical colleges get NMC Show Cause Notice

Now, through a recent notice, the Undergraduate Medical Education Board (UGMEB) of the National Medical Commission (NMC) has ordered the medical colleges to strictly follow UG-MSR 2023 and MSMER 2023 and fulfil the requirements accordingly while applying for increase of seats/Renewal of permissions/Recognition of degree/continuation of Recognition for MBBS etc.

The Apex Medical Commission issued this direction after highlighting the fact that even though 75% attendance of the faculties is a must for approval or renewal, several colleges were found deficient in this regard.

NMC has, therefore, released a list of colleges with deficient faculty attendance and asked all the medical institutes to comply with UGMSR 2023 and MSMER 2023. “…failing which, appropriate action shall be taken against the college/institution,” warned the Apex Medical Body.

The Commission has clarified that in the absence of these requirements or deficiency in any of the fields, proposals for increase of seats/renewal of permissions/recognition of MBBS degree/continuation of Recognition shall not be considered and admissions for the Academic Year 2024-2025 shall not be allowed.

Earlier, NMC UGMEB notified the “Guidelines for Under Graduate Courses under Establishment of New Medical Institutions, Starting of New Medical Courses, Increase of Seats for Existing Courses & Assessment and Rating Regulations, 2023,” or the UG-MSR 2023 on August 16, 2023 in its official Gazette.

Also Read: NMC Notifies Guidelines for MBBS Course under Establishment of New Medical Institutions, Starting of New Courses, Increase of Seats, Assessment and Rating Regulations 2023

Meanwhile, the final Graduate Medical Education Regulations 2023 came into force on June 02, 2023, the date on which it was published in the official Gazette.

Referring to these, NMC mentioned in the recent notice dated 18.12.2023, “Para 3(f) of GMER-23: provide periodic and transparent assessment of medical education being imparted by Medical Institutions across the nation to meet with highest global standards. Further, in accordance with para 3.1 (i) & (ii) of UG-MSR 2023, All Medical Colleges/Institutions shall install AEBAS to be linked to Command and Control center of NMC and the daily AEBAS of the required staff (faculty, residents and supporting staff), preferably along with face linked recognition, shall be made available to NMC as well as on the Medical College Website in the form of daily attendance dashboard. Para 3.2 also provides that it shall be mandatory to have at least 75% of the total working days (excluding vacations) for all faculty and resident doctors.”

However, the Commission highlighted that while considering the applications received from the various medical colleges for increase of seats/renewal of permissions etc, it was found that there was a deficiency in respect of the attendance of the faculties. The attendance of the faculties were scrutinized by the Apex Medical Education Regulatory Body through the Aadhaar Enabled Biometric Attendance System (AEBAS), which has now been made mandatory in all the medical colleges.

“With reference to the applications received from various medical colleges for increase of seats/ renewal of permissions/ recognition of degree / continuation of Recognition for MBBS, attendance of faculties have been observed and scrutinized in accordance with the provisions contained in MSR 2020 so as to help colleges to cope up with the actual requirement as per Regulations/Guidelines, through AEBAS for the period from 19.6.2023 to 19.9.2023. 75% attendance of the faculties which is a mandatory requirement have been found deficient,” NMC mentioned in its notice.

Issuing the notice, NMC warned the medical institutes to strictly comply with the UG-MSR 2023 and MSMER 2023 (Maintenance Of Standards Of Medical Education Regulations 2023) requirements at their earliest. The Commission clarified that in case of deficiency the applications shall not be considered for the Academic Year 2024-2025.

“All the Medical Colleges are hereby informed that they must follow the UG-MSR 2023 and MSMER 2023 and fulfill the requirements accordingly, at their earliest. In the absence of these requirements or deficiency in any of the fields, proposal for increase of seats/ renewal of permissions /recognition of MBBS degree/ continuation of Recognition shall not be considered and admissions for the Academic Year 2024-25 shall not be allowed,” NMC mentioned.

Releasing a list of deficient colleges, the notice added, “All colleges/institutions which are not reflected in the list provided with the link shown at para 5 below and have students admitted at UG level shall be required to follow UGMSR 2023 and MSMER 2023 failing which, appropriate action shall be taken against the college/institution.”

Also Read: NMC releases final Graduate Medical Education Regulations 2023, check out details

Details of the attendance of these colleges may be viewed on the link mentioned in the notice :

Step 1 Open the link in Browser ( click on the link)

Step 2 Search your Medical College name

Step 3 Open the hyper link from last column ( Download from the website).

This will open PDF file in PDF viewer.

This will open the PDF file of the faculty attendance.

To read the NMC notice, click on the link below:

https://medicaldialogues.in/pdf_upload/nmc-public-notice-228200.pdf

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Biocon arm completes integration of Viatris biosimilars business in 120 countries

Bengaluru: Biocon Biologics Ltd (BBL), a subsidiary of Biocon Ltd, has announced the successful completion of the
transition of the acquired biosimilars business in -120 countries across Advanced
and Emerging Markets, a year ahead of schedule.

Over 10 Emerging Markets along with Japan, Australia
and New Zealand have transitioned in this final phase of the integration of the
biosimilars business acquired from Viatris. With the completion of this, Biocon Biologics is now a unique, fully integrated ‘lab to market’ biosimilars company.

Read also: Biocon arm concludes integration of Viatris biosimilar business in 31 European countries

Earlier in 2023, over 70 Emerging Markets were
integrated in July,
the North America business transitioned in
September and the European business in November.

Biocon
Biologics has made several key leadership appointments, built new capabilities
and infrastructure from the ground up and set up dedicated teams to address the
growing needs of patients and customers through self-led and partner or
distributor-led commercial models.     

Biocon Biologics will now have a commercial
footprint across ~120 countries with a direct presence in the United States,
Canada, Europe and 9 key Emerging Market countries, namely
India, UAE, Saudi Arabia, Morocco, South Africa, Brazil, Malaysia, Thailand,
and the Philippines.

All
Viatris’ biosimilar brands, including Ogivri & Hertraz (bTrastuzumab),
Abevmy (bBevacizumab), Fulphila (bPegfilgrastim), Hulio (bAdalimumab),
Nepexto (bEtanercept), Semglee (bGlargine) and Kirsty (bAspart), will now be
marketed by Biocon Biologics teams, ensuring business continuity for patients,
prescribers, partners, and healthcare systems. Most of these products have been
developed by Biocon Biologics and are being manufactured at the Company’s facilities in India and Malaysia. The diverse portfolio covers key therapeutic
areas of diabetology, oncology and immunology.

“A direct presence in these markets will enable the Company to get closer to patients and strengthen its relationships with prescribers and payers. It will also allow Biocon Biologics to expand its patient reach and generate significant savings for healthcare systems,” the release stated.

Shreehas Tambe, CEO & Managing
Director, Biocon Biologics Ltd, said: “I am very proud and excited that we have successfully
completed the integration of the acquired business across 120 countries. The
conclusion of this final wave of transition is a significant milestone and
marks the beginning of Biocon Biologics’ transformation to a fully integrated
global company. I congratulate and thank the entire Biocon Biologics team –
colleagues, advisors, and partners. This seamless transition, achieved ahead of
schedule, is an outcome of relentless focus, untiring efforts and an unwavering
commitment to patients and business continuity.”

Matthew Erick, Chief
Commercial Officer – Advanced Markets, Biocon Biologics Ltd, said:
“We are
extremely pleased to have reached this historic moment and are proud to say
that biosimilars are not just what we do – they are all that we do. With the
successful completion of the integration, we will be providing patients,
customers, and healthcare providers in North America, Europe and JANZ a strong
portfolio of biosimilars. Our deep expertise, commitment to continual
investment to advance biosimilars throughout the value chain from development,
manufacturing, distribution and commercialization makes us a trusted partner.”

Susheel Umesh, Chief Commercial
Officer – Emerging Markets, Biocon Biologics said: “The completion of the integration marks a key
milestone in Biocon Biologics’ transformational journey towards becoming a
global biosimilars leader. This presents a unique opportunity for our teams to take
Brand Biocon Biologics directly to many markets. This self-led business model in
key Emerging Markets will take us closer to patients, MoHs, prescribers and
payers. It will allow us to expand affordable access to larger patient pools in
these Emerging Markets, thus enabling equitable access to high quality
biosimilars.”

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UCMS Professor Dr Satendra Singh conferred National Annual Award for Medical Humanities 2023

New Delhi: Dr Satendra Singh, Director Professor of Physiology, University College of Medical Sciences (UCMS) & GTB Hospital and a prominent disability justice advocate and human rights defender received the fifth ‘National Annual Award for Medical Humanities 2023’ on 16th December 2023, in a graceful ceremony at UCMS.

The National Annual Award for Medical Humanities has been initiated by Dr Apoorva Pauranik, ex-professor of Neurology at M.G.M. Medical College, Indore and also Director of Pauranik Academy of Medical Education at Indore.

The motive behind the award is to increase awareness about the need for inclusion and promotion of the subjects of humanities during medical education at undergraduate and post-graduate level and also later during practice, teaching and research.

Also Read:First: UCMS Physiology Associate Professor honoured with disability service award in US

This award is a prestigious accolade that recognizes and celebrates exceptional contributions made in India in the field of Medicine and the Humanities. The selection process is rigorous, led by a committee chaired by Dr Ravi Ramakantan, an ex-professor of Radiodiagnosis at K.E.M. Hospital, Mumbai.

The committee comprises esteemed experts and professionals in both medical and humanities domains, including Prof. Sunil K. Pandya, a Neurosurgeon at Jaslok Hospital and the founding editor of the Indian Journal of Medical Ethics. Each year, only one person is selected based on their recognized work in the area and its impact on advancing the integration of medical and humanities disciplines.

The purpose of the award is to recognize how one individual can transform healthcare through humanistic approaches, inspiring and encouraging healthcare professionals and scholars to embrace the intersection of medicine and humanities. This holistic approach encompasses not only scientific aspects but also ethical, social, cultural, and emotional dimensions. The humanities award for Dr Satendra Singh carries a prize of Rs. Fifty Thousand along with a plaque of honor.

Dr. Satendra Singh, leading the Health Humanities Group at UCMS, has spearheaded transformative initiatives, including the establishment of the first Humanities journal tailored for the Asian cultural context. His advocacy efforts have successfully integrated disability rights into the medical curriculum in India, promoting inclusivity. Dr. Singh’s commitment extends globally, leveraging lived experiences and innovative tools from humanities to enhance training in the Global South.

Notably, he has been a driving force in banning unnecessary surgeries on intersex children in non-emergency situations in Delhi, emphasizing ethical healthcare practices. Furthermore, Dr Singh has actively championed reasonable accommodation for learners with disabilities in health education, training, and practice, fostering a more accessible and inclusive healthcare environment. His leadership underscores cross-movement solidarity, intertwining human rights with patient care, creating a lasting impact in the field.

While explaining the rationale behind establishing this award, Dr Apoorva Pauranik expressed that arts and sciences are like the two wheels of a chariot, both being necessary. He underscored that humanities should not be confused with humanity. The former provides a broad-angle lens perception of the human and social context of illness and disease, with the voice of a patient often better and more beautifully captured in fiction than a case report.

Dr HK Chopra, a senior cardiologist at Moolchand Hospital, New Delhi, served as the guest of honor and discussed wellness, integrating cardiology, neurology, and humanities using a quantum approach. Prof Piyush Gupta, Principal of UCMS, and Dr Ashmita M Rathore, Medical Director of GTB Hospital, presented the award and emphasized the fostering environment at UCMS & GTBH, highlighting how the institute pioneered this movement in India.

This year, the organizers chose to present the award at the host institution of the awardee. The previous awardees include Dr. Mario Vaz (Ethicist) in 2019, followed by Dr. Upreet Dhaliwal (Poet), Dr. Narayana Krishnappa (Lifestyle Medicine Specialist), and Dr. Radha Ramaswamy (Theatre of the Oppressed proponent) in 2022.

Also Read:Indian Doctors join hands to Lead Innovative Project to Transform Disability Education in Healthcare

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At least seven hours of sleep protects against all-cause mortality in sleep apnea patients: JAMA

China: A cohort study of 2574 participants with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) revealed significantly higher risks of all-cause mortality in individuals sleeping less than 7 hours compared to those with objective sleep duration of at least 7 hours, independent of apnea-hypopnea index (AHI).

“There is a need for further studies to investigate the health benefits of extending sleep length among patients with obstructive sleep apnea and short sleep duration,” the researchers wrote in JAMA Network Open.

Obstructive sleep apnea is a common sleep disorder with several adverse health outcomes, including cognitive decline and cardiovascular disease. Studies have revealed significantly higher all-cause mortality risk among patients with moderate-severe or severe OSA. However, AHI, a traditionally used assessment of OSA severity, was not always found to predict mortality in OSA patients. Therefore, there is a need for other measurements in addition to AHI to identify people with OSA at high risk of poor prognosis.

Sleep duration is the most important biomarker of sleep quantity and affects multiple systems. However, there is no clarity on the association between sleep duration and all-cause mortality among patients with obstructive sleep apnea. Therefore, Yiqi Lin, Shengli Clinical Medical College, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, China, and colleagues analyzed data of patients with OSA from the Sleep Heart Health Study (SHHS) and compared all-cause mortality risks in the groups of different subjective or objective sleep duration to determine the association between sleep duration and all-cause mortality in OSA.

The study included 2574 participants with OSA defined by AHI greater than or equal to 15 from SHHS; all of them had data on all-cause mortality. Participants were categorized into four groups with objective sleep duration of (1) at least 7 hours, (2) 6 to less than 7 hours, (3) 5 to less than 6 hours, and (4) less than 5 hours, which was determined by total sleep time on polysomnography (PSG) at baseline.

The risk of all-cause mortality, defined as deaths from any cause, was compared among 4 OSA groups using Cox regression models.

The researchers reported the following findings:

· 2574 participants with OSA were included (63.2% men; mean age, 65.4 years). Overall, 688 all-cause deaths were observed in participants.

· Compared with the group sleeping at least 7 hours, the groups sleeping 6 to less than 7 hours (hazard ratio [HR], 1.53), 5 to less than 6 hours (HR, 1.40), and less than 5 hours (HR, 1.64) had significantly higher risks of all-cause mortality independent of AHI.

· Sensitivity analyses were performed among participants with available data of positive airway pressure treatment during follow-up and the finding was mostly consistent, albeit the HR for the group of 5 to less than 6 hours was not statistically significant.

“Our study reported that participants with OSA with shorter sleep duration were at higher risk of all-cause deaths independent of AHI, compared to those with objective sleep duration of at least 7 hours,” the researchers wrote. “This finding was mostly consistent among participants with available CPAP treatment data during follow-up.”

Interestingly, the researchers found no significant association between all-cause mortality and self-reported habitual sleep duration in OSA.

“There would be a need for further research to shed light on its underlying mechanism and possible health benefits of extending sleep length among OSA patients with short sleep duration by sleep education or other sleep intervention,” they concluded.

Reference:

Lin Y, Wu Y, Lin Q, et al. Objective Sleep Duration and All-Cause Mortality Among People With Obstructive Sleep Apnea. JAMA Netw Open. 2023;6(12):e2346085. doi:10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2023.46085

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Peribulbar anaesthesia in ophthalmic surgery linked to development of pulmonary oedema

Researchers have found in  new study that Peribulbar anaesthesia in ophthalmic surgery was linked to development of  pulmonary oedema. Further it was found that majority of patients developed Pulmonary oedema during vitreoretinal procedures, particularly diabetic vitrectomies.

The research has been published in the Indian Journal of Anaesthesia. 

Recently published research investigates the occurrence of pulmonary edema (PE) in patients undergoing ophthalmic surgeries under regional anaesthesia.

The study is a retrospective observational analysis of patients who developed Pulmonary oedema during ophthalmic surgical procedures scheduled between 2019 and 2021. A total of 56,334 surgeries performed under regional anaesthesia were studied, and 27 patients (0.047%) developed Pulmonary oedema. The mean age of occurrence was 55.8 years, with hypertension and diabetes being the most common comorbidities among the affected patients. The majority of patients developed Pulmonary oedema during vitreoretinal procedures, particularly diabetic vitrectomies. Symptoms included breathing discomfort, tachypnoea, tachycardia, elevated blood pressure, and decreased oxygen saturation levels. The authors note that the incidence of Pulmonary oedema in this study was higher than the previously reported 0.006% incidence of major systemic complications in patients receiving peri-bulbar block. They also discuss the association between PE occurrence and the use of phenyl epinephrine eye drops, as well as the impact of underlying systemic comorbidities on lowering the threshold for Pulmonary oedema development. The paper suggests that slow diffusion of local anaesthetics into the medulla and suboptimal ventricular function due to systemic comorbid conditions may contribute to the development of Pulmonary oedema in these patients. The study provides valuable insights into the incidence and associated factors of Pulmonary oedema in ophthalmic surgeries under regional anaesthesia, highlighting the need for further research to understand and prevent such complications in this patient population.

Reference –

Kasanavesi, Ramakrishna Chaitanya; Dave, Vivek Pravin1; Jalali, Subhadra1; Rao, Rajanarsing. Pulmonary oedema in ophthalmic surgeries under peribulbar anaesthesia: A retrospective analysis. Indian Journal of Anaesthesia 67(11):p 1009-1010, November 2023. | DOI: 10.4103/ija.ija_623_23 

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Hormonal Contraceptives Increase Breast Cancer Risk in Women of Reproductive Age

A recent comprehensive study published in the Cancers Journal indicated a higher risk of breast cancer (BC) among women who have used hormonal contraceptives (HC) during their lifetime. This study shows the intricate relationship between hormonal contraceptives and breast cancer with a special focus on women of reproductive age.

The data from observational studies around the years 2015 to 2022 were pooled. This examined a total of 724 studies and narrowed down to 22 for meta-analysis by including 19 case-control studies and 3 cohort studies. The findings of the study revealed a significantly elevated risk of developing breast cancer in ever-users of hormonal contraceptives (pooled OR = 1.33; 95% CI = 1.19 to 1.49). The risk was found to be intensified in case-control studies (pooled OR = 1.44, 95% CI = 1.21 to 1.70) and in studies strictly defining menopausal status (pooled OR = 1.48; 95% CI, 1.10 to 2.00).

The study suggests a urging caution in interpreting the results because of the substantial heterogeneity (>70%) among studies. Factors like study design, variable measurement, confounders, and potential publication biased the contribution to the complexity. While the overall risk of breast cancer appeared to be elevated in users or ever-users of modern hormonal contraceptives, the findings emphasize the need for careful consideration of these variables when interpreting and applying the results in clinical practice.

This study contributes to the ongoing void surrounding the impact of hormonal contraceptives on women’s health. These findings highlight the importance of continuous research and a precise understanding of the diverse factors influencing the risk of breast cancer in the context of hormonal contraceptive use among women of reproductive age.

Source:

Torres-de la Roche, L. A., Acevedo-Mesa, A., Lizarazo, I. L., Devassy, R., Becker, S., Krentel, H., & De Wilde, R. L. (2023). Hormonal Contraception and the Risk of Breast Cancer in Women of Reproductive Age: A Meta-Analysis. In Cancers (Vol. 15, Issue 23, p. 5624). MDPI AG. https://doi.org/10.3390/cancers15235624

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Epigenetic alterations can cause type 2 diabetes, claims study

Sweden: A new study published in Nature Communications has provided increased support for the idea that epigenetic changes can cause type 2 diabetes. The researchers at Lund University now aim to develop methods for disease prevention. 

“Our new extensive study confirms our previous findings from smaller studies, showing that epigenetic changes can contribute to the development of type 2 diabetes. In this study, we have also identified new genes that impact the development of the disease. Our hope is that with the help of these results, we can develop methods that can be used to prevent type 2 diabetes,” says Charlotte Ling, professor of diabetes and epigenetics at Lund University’s Diabetes Centre (LUDC), who led the study.

We inherit our genes from our parents, and they seldom change. However, epigenetic changes that arise due to environmental and lifestyle factors can affect the function of genes.

The same epigenetic changes

The researchers studied epigenetics in insulin-producing cells from donors and found 5584 sites in the genome with changes that differed between 25 individuals with type 2 diabetes and 75 individuals without the disease. The same epigenetic changes found in people with type 2 diabetes were also found in individuals with elevated blood sugar levels, which increase the risk of developing the disease.

“Those of us who study epigenetics, have long tried to understand whether epigenetic changes cause type 2 diabetes or if the changes occur after the disease has already developed. Because we saw the same epigenetic changes in people with type 2 diabetes and individuals at risk for the disease, we conclude that these changes may contribute to the development of type 2 diabetes,” says Tina Rönn, lead author and researcher at LUDC.

The study identified 203 genes with different expressions in individuals with type 2 diabetes compared to the control group. The researchers found that the gene RHOT1 showed epigenetic changes in people with type 2 diabetes and that it also played a key role in insulin secretion in insulin-producing cells. When they knocked out the gene expression of RHOT1 in cells from donors without type 2 diabetes, insulin secretion decreased.

“When we examined the same type of cells in rats with diabetes, we found a lack of RHOT1, confirming the gene’s importance for insulin secretion,” says Tina Rönn.

Methods that can prevent the disease

One goal of the research is to develop a blood-based biomarker that can predict who is at risk of developing type 2 diabetes. Therefore, the researchers investigated whether their results from insulin-producing cells in the pancreas were reflected in the blood of living people. They found epigenetic changes in the blood of a group of 540 people without the disease and they linked this to the future development of type 2 diabetes in half of the individuals.

Factors such as unhealthy diet, sedentary lifestyle, and ageing increase the risk of type 2 diabetes, and they also affect our epigenetics. With the new study, researchers have identified new mechanisms that may make it possible to develop methods to help prevent type 2 diabetes.

“If we succeed in developing an epigenetic biomarker, we can identify individuals with epigenetic changes before they become ill. These individuals can, for example, receive personalised lifestyle advice that can reduce their risk of disease, or we can develop methods that aim to correct the activity of certain genes using epigenetic editing,” says Charlotte Ling.

Reference:

Rönn, T., Ofori, J.K., Perfilyev, A. et al. Genes with epigenetic alterations in human pancreatic islets impact mitochondrial function, insulin secretion, and type 2 diabetes. Nat Commun 14, 8040 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-023-43719-9.

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