2012 Scientific Report - Queensland Children's Medical Research ...

Endocrinology and Diabetes Research Group
Summary of Research Activities and Achievements
Cardiovascular Risk in Children and Adolescents with Diabetes and Obesity
Research Programme (Louise Conwell)
‣ Characterisation of the metabonomic profile of adolescents with type 1 diabetes and
assessment of association with cardiovascular risk factors.
This project aims to explore the utility of metabonomics in young people with diabetes.
Metabonomics aims to profile all the small molecule metabolites found within cells, tissues
and biofluids in a given physiological and environmental context. It is an innovative
technique that may provide information about alterations in metabolism by monitoring
changes in the composition of biofluids (blood / urine) i.e. a ‘metabolic fingerprint’. The
project aims to compare the metabonomic profile of adolescents (14-19 years inclusive)
with type 1 diabetes for at least 5 years to controls using two analytical tools (i) Gas
chromatography – mass spectrometry (GC-MS) and (ii) Nuclear magnetic resonance NMR
spectroscopy. It also aims to compare putative cardiovascular risk factors in adolescents
with type 1 diabetes for at least 5 years to controls i.e. biochemical risk markers of
atherosclerosis and vascular dysfunction (dyslipidaemia, inflammation, oxidative stress); and
adverse vascular and echocardiographic measures. The metabonomic profile of adolescents
with type 1 diabetes will be correlated to other cardiovascular risk factors.
‣ Young Heart Study
A collaboration has been established with A/Prof Gary Leong, Dr Rachana Dayiha
(Department of Endocrinology and Diabetes, Mater Children’s Hospital) and their coinvestigator.
The study is exploring cardiometabolic links in obese young people, considering
insulin resistance, inflammation, adipocytokines, vascular measures and echocardiographic
measures.
Beta-cell Disorders (Congenital Hyperinsulinism and Monogenic Diabetes)
Clinical and Research Programme (Louise Conwell)
Dr Stephanie Johnson is conducting a PhD at the University of Queensland (supervised by
A/Prof Emma Duncan, RBWH; A/Prof Louise Conwell and Dr Mark Harris, Mater Children’s
Hospital). She is evaluating the efficacy of next generation DNA sequencing in the diagnosis
of disorders of beta cell function, including congenital hyperinsulinism and monogenic
diabetes. This research compliments clinical activities including development of a clinical
national framework for care of infants and children with congenital hyperinsulinism,
integrating genetics, 18F-DOPA Positron Emission Tomography (PET) / Computed
Tomography (CT) and medical and/or surgical management for best patient outcome. 18F-
DOPA PET/CT became uniquely available at the RBWH in 2010 which is a diagnostic tool to
distinguish focal from diffuse disease pre-operatively, important in planning the extent of
pancreatic resection.
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