Background: Mechanistic target of rapamycin (mTOR) regulates lipid and glucose metabolism thus playing a key role in metabolic diseases like type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Recently, we demonstrated a functional interaction of microRNA-496 (miR-496) with mTOR and its impact on the regulation of human ageing. Objectives: As T2DM is most prevalent in older adults, we hypothesized that miR-496 may also have an impact on mTOR regulation in T2DM. Methods: Based on real-time PCR and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, mTOR gene and protein expression as well as miR-496 expression were monitored in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) from T2DM patients (median age: 71) and healthy age- and BMI matched controls (median age: 69). ­Results: We demonstrated significant upregulation of phospho-mTOR and P70S6 Kinase (P70S6K) levels and significant downregulation of miR-496 in PBMC from elderly T2DM patients in comparison to a BMI and age-matched control cohort. Moreover, significant upregulation of phospho-mTOR protein and significant downregulation of miR-496 were observed in advanced stages of obesity. Conclusions: BMI-dependent upregulation of mTOR and the inverse expression profile of miR-496 observed in elderly T2DM patients suggest a correlation with T2DM. Hence, our results indicate a potential association of miR-496 with mTOR expression in elderly T2DM patients and obesity. Since phosphorylation of P70S6K was also elevated in T2DM patients, we conclude that mTOR signaling through TORC1 may be affected in the regulation of T2DM.

BackgroundGender and sex differences in the development of children and adolescents are commonly found in the psychiatric examination. Family and developmental history is an important part of the clinical diagnostic interview, the basic examination technique. Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is associated with diagnosis-specific markers in family and development history. However, it is unclear to what extent ADHD-specific signs and narratives differ between females and males. The aim of this study was to assess and to compare the family and developmental history profiles of female versus male adolescents with ADHD.MethodsData were collected using the clinical diagnostic interview technique from parents of female and male patients diagnosed with ADHD (ICD-10  F90.0, F90.1 and F98.8) between the ages of 12 and 17  years (n = 92). The two groups were matched in pairs for sex, IQ and ICD-10 diagnosis (F90.0, F90.1 and F98.8). Interview data were operationalized in three categories: 0 - physiological marker, 1 - subclinical marker, 2 - clinical marker. The two groups were compared with two-way ANOVA.ResultsInformation about female in comparison to male adolescents were reported in the parental interview with few differences.ConclusionOur study suggests that family and developmental history of the neurodevelopmental disorder ADHD is only poorly influenced by gender or sex.

Background: Gender differences in the development of children and adolescents are well known in the psychiatric examination including the clinical diagnostic interview technique. Some gender-specific differences in behaviors of patients as assessed in the clinical examination are related to typical development and some are related to disorders. Family and developmental history is an important part of the clinical diagnostic interview. Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is associated with disorder-specific markers in family and development history. However, it is unclear to what extent ADHD-specific signs and narratives differ between female and male adolescents. The aim of this study was to assess and to compare the family and developmental history profiles of female versus male adolescents with ADHD.Methods: Data were collected using the clinical diagnostic interview technique from parents of female and male patients diagnosed with ADHD (ICD-10 F90.0, F90.1 and F98.8) between the ages of 12 and 17 years (n = 92). The two groups were matched in pairs for gender, IQ and ICD-10 diagnosis (F90.0, F90.1 and F98.8). The majority of interview data were non-metric and operationalized in three categories: 0 - normal behavior, 1 - minor pathological behavior, 2 - major pathological behavior. The two groups were compared with two-way ANOVA. Results: Female in comparison to male adolescents were reported by the parents with very few differences in items that are typical for ADHD. However, there were a few differences in items in which gender-specific differences are known regardless of ADHD. Conclusions: Our study suggests that ADHD-related items in family and developmental history, as obtained with the clinical diagnostic interview technique, appear in female compared to male adolescents more similar than different.