Prognostic factors for the development and progression of proliferative diabetic retinopathy in people with diabetic retinopathy

Diabetes as a risk factor for tuberculosis disease

BACKGROUND

Tuberculosis (TB) is amongst the leading causes of death from an infectious disease, with an estimated 1.3 million deaths from TB in 2022. Approximately 25% of the global population is estimated to be infected with the TB bacterium, giving rise to 10.6 million episodes of TB disease in 2022. The prevalence of diabetes influences TB incidence and TB mortality. It is associated not only with an increased risk of TB disease but also death during TB treatment, TB relapse after treatment completion and multidrug-resistant TB. Since 2011, the World Health Organization (WHO) has recommended collaborative TB and diabetes activities as outlined in the Collaborative Framework for Care and Control of TB and Diabetes.

OBJECTIVES

To determine the prognostic value of diabetes mellitus (DM) in the general population of adults, adolescents and children for predicting tuberculosis disease.

SEARCH METHODS

We searched the literature databases MEDLINE (via PubMed) and WHO Global Index Medicus, and the WHO International Clinical Trials Registry Platform (ICTRP) on 3 May 2023 (date of last search for all databases); we placed no restrictions on the language of publication.

SELECTION CRITERIA

We included retrospective and prospective cohort studies, irrespective of publication status or language. The target population comprised adults, adolescents and children from diverse settings, encompassing outpatient and inpatient cohorts, with varying comorbidities and risk of exposure to tuberculosis.

DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS

We used standard Cochrane methodology and the Quality In Prognosis Studies (QUIPS) tool. Prognostic factors assessed at enrolment/baseline included diabetes, as defined by the individual studies, encompassing patient-reported status, abstracted from medical records or claims data, or diagnosed by plasma glucose/glycosylated haemoglobin. The primary outcome was the incidence of tuberculosis disease. The secondary outcome was recurrent TB disease. We performed a random-effects meta-analysis for the adjusted hazard ratios, risk ratios, or odds ratios, employing the restricted maximum likelihood estimation. We rated the certainty of the evidence using the GRADE approach.

MAIN RESULTS

We included 48 cohort studies with over 61 million participants from the six WHO regions. However, the representation was variable as eight population-based studies were from South Korea and 19 from China, with overlapping study periods, and only one from the African region (Ethiopia). All studies included adults, and nine studies also included children and adolescents. Most studies diagnosed DM based on clinical records, including fasting blood glucose levels or glucose-lowering treatments. The studies did not distinguish between type 1 and type 2 DM; only one study focused on type 1 DM. Diagnosis and exclusion of TB were performed using culture or molecular WHO-recommended rapid diagnostic tests (mWRD) in only 12 studies, which could have biassed the effect estimate. The median follow-up time was five years (interquartile range 1.5 to 10, range 1 to 16.9), and the studies primarily reported an adjusted hazard ratio from a multivariable Cox-proportional hazard model. Hazard Ratios (HR) The HR estimates represent the highest certainty of the evidence, explored through sensitivity analyses and excluding studies at high risk of bias. We present 95% confidence intervals (CI) and prediction intervals, which show between-study heterogeneity represented in measuring the variability of effect sizes (i.e. the interval within which the effect size of a new study would fall considering the same population of studies included in the meta-analysis). DM may increase the risk of tuberculosis disease (HR 1.90, 95% CI 1.51 to 2.40; prediction interval 0.83 to 4.39; 10 studies; 11,713,023 participants). The certainty of the evidence is low, due to a moderate risk of bias across studies and inconsistency. Considering a risk without diabetes of 129 cases per 100,000 population, this represents 102 more (59 to 153 more) cases per 100,000. When stratified by follow-up time, the results are more consistent across < 10 years follow-up (HR 1.52, 95% CI 1.47 to 1.57; prediction interval 1.45 to 1.59; 7 studies; 10,380,872 participants). This results in a moderate certainty of the evidence due to a moderate risk of bias across studies. However, at 10 or more years of follow-up, the estimates yield a wider CI and a higher HR (HR 2.44, 95% CI 1.22 to 4.88; prediction interval 0.09 to 69.12; 3 studies; 1,332,151 participants). The certainty of the evidence is low due to the moderate risk of bias and inconsistency. Odds Ratio (OR) DM may increase the odds of tuberculosis disease (OR 1.61, 95% CI 1.27 to 2.04; prediction interval 0.96 to 2.70; 4 studies; 167,564 participants). Stratification by follow-up time was not possible as all studies had a follow-up < 10 years. The certainty of the evidence is low due to a moderate risk of bias and inconsistency. Risk Ratio (RR) The RR estimates represent the highest certainty of the evidence, explored through sensitivity analyses and excluding studies at high risk of bias. DM probably increases the risk of tuberculosis disease (RR 1.60, 95% CI 1.42 to 1.80; prediction interval 1.38 to 1.85; 6 studies; 44,058,675 participants). Stratification by follow-up time was not possible as all studies had a follow-up < 10 years. The certainty of the evidence is moderate due to a moderate risk of bias.

AUTHORS' CONCLUSIONS

Diabetes probably increases the risk of developing TB disease in the short term (< 10 years) and may also increase the risk in the long term (≥ 10 years). As glycaemic control and access to care may be potential effect modifiers of the association between diabetes and the risk of TB disease, the overall estimates should be interpreted with caution when applied locally. Policies targeted at reducing the burden of diabetes are needed to contribute to the aims of ending TB. Large population-based cohorts, including those derived from high-quality national registries of exposures (diabetes) and outcomes (TB disease), are needed to provide estimates with a high certainty of evidence of this risk across different settings and populations, including low- and middle-income countries from different WHO regions. Moreover, studies including children and adolescents and currently recommended methods for diagnosing TB would provide more up-to-date information relevant to practice and policy.

FUNDING

World Health Organization (203256442) REGISTRATION: PROSPERO registration: CRD42023408807.

Effects of gut microbiome on type 1 diabetes susceptibility and complications: A large-scale bidirectional Mendelian randomization and external validation study

AIM

To assess and verify the effect of the gut microbiome on the susceptibility and complications of type 1 diabetes (T1D).

MATERIALS AND METHODS

To achieve this aim, a two-sample and reverse Mendelian randomization (MR) analysis was conducted. In addition, an external validation study was performed using individual microbiome data of patients with T1D from the gutMEGA datasets and the National Clinical Research Center for Metabolic Diseases. The circulating metabolites facilitated two-sample MR analysis, mediation and multivariable MR analysis to evaluate the direct relationship between the gut microbiome and T1D complications.

RESULTS

The MR analysis results from the discovery and validation phases confirmed that Veillonellaceae can potentially reduce the susceptibility of T1D. In the gutMEGA dataset, the average relative abundance of Veillonellaceae in patients with T1D was 0.66%, compared with 1.09% in the controls. Furthermore, the external validation, which included 60 patients with T1D and 30 matched healthy controls, found that the median relative abundance of Veillonellaceae was also lower than controls at 1.10% (95% CI 0.50%-1.80%). Specifically, the Eubacterium coprostanoligenes group, known for its ability to regulate cholesterol, was significantly associated with a lower risk of developing renal, neurological and ophthalmic complications in T1D. Moreover, high cholesterol in small high-density lipoprotein and cholesteryl esters in high-density lipoprotein were associated with a reduced risk of T1D renal and ophthalmic complications. The mediation and multivariable MR analysis combining cholesterol indicated that the E. coprostanoligenes group is the most dominant factor influencing T1D complications.

CONCLUSIONS

Our findings supported the potential causal effect of gut microbiota on the susceptibility and complications of T1D.

Characterization and prevalence of ocular comorbidities and risk of legal blindness across the United States

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES

Vision loss is a top disability in the United States (US). Patients commonly present with multiple ocular diseases, but the extent to which this places them at risk for vision loss, and if sex and race impacts this, is poorly understood. This exploratory analysis evaluated which ocular comorbidities and demographics are at highest risk for visual impairment.

SUBJECTS/METHODS

A retrospective cross-sectional study was conducted through the TriNetX Analytics Network, an aggregated network encompassing over 90 million insured and uninsured patients across 50 healthcare organizations from all regions in the US. Patients with diabetic retinopathy (DR), age-related macular degeneration (AMD), retinal vein occlusion (RVO), glaucoma, and uveitis were included in this study. Ocular diseases and visual impairment were determined through ICD-10 codes. Prevalence and odds ratios were calculated while stratifying by sex and racial demographics. Statistical analyses were completed using RStudio and Excel with 95% confidence intervals calculated.

RESULTS

The comorbid conditions with the highest prevalence of visual impairment were uveitis and RVO (39.94%), uveitis and neovascular AMD (37.61%), and uveitis and glaucoma (33.23%). The comorbidity with the highest odds for visual impairment was uveitis and RVO (POR 4.86; 95% CI 4.49, 5.26). Compared to white males, Black and Hispanic males were disproportionately affected by visual impairment across ocular comorbidities.

CONCLUSION

This study quantified the prevalence and odds of visual impairment for unilateral and comorbid ocular disease, with the addition of uveitis causing the greatest increase. Black and Hispanic males were disproportionately affected by visual impairment across comorbid conditions.

Prediction of proliferative diabetic retinopathy using machine learning in Latino and non-Hispanic black cohorts with routine blood and urine testing

PURPOSE

The objective was to predict proliferative diabetic retinopathy (PDR) in non-Hispanic Black (NHB) and Latino (LA) patients by applying machine learning algorithms to routinely collected blood and urine laboratory results.

METHODS

Electronic medical records of 1124 type 2 diabetes patients treated at the Bronxcare Hospital eye clinic between January and December 2019 were analysed. Data collected included demographic information (ethnicity, age and sex), blood (fasting glucose, haemoglobin A1C [HbA1c] high-density lipoprotein [HDL], low-density lipoprotein [LDL], serum creatinine and estimated glomerular filtration rate [eGFR]) and urine (albumin-to-creatinine ratio [ACR]) test results and the outcome measure of retinopathy status. The efficacy of different machine learning models was assessed and compared. SHapley Additive exPlanations (SHAP) analysis was employed to evaluate the contribution of each feature to the model's predictions.

RESULTS

The balanced random forest model surpassed other models in predicting PDR for both NHB and LA cohorts, achieving an AUC (area under the curve) of 83%. Regarding sex, the model exhibited remarkable performance for the female LA demographic, with an AUC of 87%. The SHAP analysis revealed that PDR-related factors influenced NHB and LA patients differently, with more pronounced disparity between sexes. Furthermore, the optimal cut-off values for these factors showed variations based on sex and ethnicity.

CONCLUSIONS

This study demonstrates the potential of machine learning in identifying individuals at higher risk for PDR by leveraging routine blood and urine test results. It allows clinicians to prioritise at-risk individuals for timely evaluations. Furthermore, the findings emphasise the importance of accounting for both ethnicity and sex when analysing risk factors for PDR in type 2 diabetes individuals.

Hsa_circ_0004776 regulates the retina neovascularization in progression of diabetic retinopathy via hsa-miR-382-5p/BDNF axis

The aim of this work was to identify the regulatory function of hsa_circ_0004776 in the progression of diabetic retinopathy (DR). The direct interactions between hsa_circ_0004776 and hsa-miR-382-5p and between hsa-miR-382-5p and BDNF, were confirmed via dual-luciferase reporter assays. Quantitative Real-Time PCR analysis indicated that hsa_circ_0004776 was highly expressed in aqueous humour samples of DR patients and human retinal microvascular epithelial cells (hRECs) under a high-glucose environment, whereas hsa-miR-382-5p showed the opposite trend. Overexpressed hsa_circ_0004776 significantly enhanced DNA synthesis, proliferation, migration, and tube formation in hRECs in hyperglycaemia, while hsa-miR-382-5p mimics reversed these changes. Additionally, in a streptozotocin-induced Sprague-Dawley rat model of DR, vitreous microinjection of rno-miR-382-5p agomir reversed the pathologic features in the progression of DR, including retinal vascular leakage, capillary decellularization, loss of pericytes, fibrosis, and gliosis. Our results indicated that under hyperglycaemic conditions, hsa_circ_0004776 influences the progression of DR via hsa-miR-382-5p and thus represents a potential therapeutic target.

Effect of a self-care promoting program on engagement in self-care behaviors and health-related outcomes among persons with type 2 diabetes and diabetic retinopathy: A single-blind randomized controlled trial

Background

Diabetic retinopathy (DR) is the most common microvascular complication of diabetes, leading to visual impairment and eventual blindness. Promoting self-care behaviors is crucial in controlling DR progression and preventing blindness.

Objective

This study aimed to investigate the effects of a Self-Care Promoting Program (SCPP) on engagement in self-care behaviors, HbA1c levels, visual acuity (VA), severity of DR, and vision-related quality of life (VRQoL) among individuals with type 2 diabetes and DR.

Methods

This study employed a single-blind randomized controlled trial design to compare SCPP with conventional diabetic care interventions (standard care). The SCPP was based on the Self-Care of Chronic Illness Theory, Self-efficacy theory, and the Association of Diabetic Care and Education Specialist (ADCES) guidelines incorporating health education, self-care maintenance, monitoring, and management skills training over 12 weeks. Ninety-eight participants were randomly allocated to the experimental or control group (n = 49 per group). While the experimental group received SCPP alongside standard care, the control group received standard care alone. Data collection occurred between May 2022 and March 2023 and included demographic information, the Self-Care of Diabetes Index questionnaire (SCODI), the self-care for diabetes eye care questionnaire (SCFDE), the impact of visual impairment questionnaire (IVI-Thai version), and retinal images for DR severity grading. Data analysis utilized descriptive statistics, Chi-Square tests, t-tests, and MANOVA.

Results

Following 8 and 16 weeks of SCPP, the experimental group had significantly higher mean scores in engagement with self-care and eye-care behaviors compared to the control group (p <0.001). The highest scores were observed in self-care and eye-care confidence behaviors, followed by maintenance, monitoring, and management. Furthermore, HbA1c levels and VRQoL significantly decreased and were lower than those of the control group at week 16 (p <0.001 and p <0.05, respectively). However, there were no significant differences in VA, and DR severity increased in both groups by week 16.

Conclusion

SCPP benefits individuals with DR, enhancing their confidence and ability to perform, monitor, and manage self-care behaviors. These strategies contribute to improved diabetes management, enhanced quality of life, and reduced DR-related blindness. Integrating SCPP into routine DR management is recommended, with nurses playing a pivotal role in overseeing and driving this integration, highlighting the critical role of nurses in managing this widespread global disease.

Trial Registry Number

Thai Clinical Trials Registration (TCTR20230302002).

Microvascular destabilization and intricated network of the cytokines in diabetic retinopathy: from the perspective of cellular and molecular components

Microvascular destabilization is the primary cause of the inner blood-retinal barrier (iBRB) breakdown and increased vascular leakage in diabetic retinopathy (DR). Microvascular destabilization results from the combinational effects of increased levels of growth factors and cytokines, involvement of inflammation, and the changed cell-to-cell interactions, especially the loss of endothelial cells and pericytes, due to hyperglycemia and hypoxia. As the manifestation of microvascular destabilization, the fluid transports via paracellular and transcellular routes increase due to the disruption of endothelial intercellular junctional complexes and/or the altered caveolar transcellular transport across the retinal vascular endothelium. With diabetes progression, the functional and the structural changes of the iBRB components, including the cellular and noncellular components, further facilitate and aggravate microvascular destabilization, resulting in macular edema, the neuroretinal damage and the dysfunction of retinal inner neurovascular unit (iNVU). Although there have been considerable recent advances towards a better understanding of the complex cellular and molecular network underlying the microvascular destabilization, some still remain to be fully elucidated. Recent data indicate that targeting the intricate signaling pathways may allow to against the microvascular destabilization. Therefore, efforts have been made to better clarify the cellular and molecular mechanisms that are involved in the microvascular destabilization in DR. In this review, we discuss: (1) the brief introduction of DR and microvascular destabilization; (2) the cellular and molecular components of iBRB and iNVU, and the breakdown of iBRB; (3) the matrix and cell-to-cell contacts to maintain microvascular stabilization, including the endothelial glycocalyx, basement membrane, and various cell-cell interactions; (4) the molecular mechanisms mediated cell-cell contacts and vascular cell death; (5) the altered cytokines and signaling pathways as well as the intricate network of the cytokines involved in microvascular destabilization. This comprehensive review aimed to provide the insights for microvascular destabilization by targeting the key molecules or specific iBRB cells, thus restoring the function and structure of iBRB and iNVU, to treat DR.

Intravitreal conbercept injection with panretinal photocoagulation for high-risk proliferative diabetic retinopathy with vitreous hemorrhage

AIM

To assess the clinical efficacy and safety of combining panretinal photocoagulation (PRP) with intravitreal conbercept (IVC) injections for patients with high-risk proliferative diabetic retinopathy (HR-PDR) complicated by mild or moderate vitreous hemorrhage (VH), with or without diabetic macular edema (DME).

METHODS

Patients diagnosed with VH with/without DME secondary to HR-PDR and received PRP combined with IVC injections were recruited in this retrospective study. Upon establishing the patient's diagnosis, an initial IVC was performed, followed by prompt administration of PRP. In cases who significant bleeding persisted and impeded the laser operation, IVC was sustained before supplementing with PRP. Following the completion of PRP, patients were meticulously monitored for a minimum of six months. Laser therapy and IVC injections were judiciously adjusted based on fundus fluorescein angiography (FFA) results. Therapeutic effect and the incidence of adverse events were observed.

RESULTS

Out of 42 patients (74 eyes), 29 were male and 13 were female, with a mean age of 59.17±12.74y (33-84y). The diabetic history was between 1wk and 26y, and the interval between the onset of visual symptoms and diagnosis of HR-PDR was 1wk-1y. The affected eye received 2.59±1.87 (1-10) IVC injections and underwent 5.5±1.02 (4-8) sessions of PRP. Of these, 68 eyes received PRP following 1 IVC injection, 5 eyes after 2 IVC injections, and 1 eye after 3 IVC injections. Complete absorption of VH was observed in all 74 eyes 5-50wk after initial treatment, with resolution of DME in 51 eyes 3-48wk after initial treatment. A newly developed epiretinal membrane was noted in one eye. Visual acuity significantly improved in 25 eyes. No complications such as glaucoma, retinal detachment, or endophthalmitis were reported.

CONCLUSION

The study suggests that the combination of PRP with IVC injections is an effective and safe modality for treating diabetic VH in patients with HR-PDR.

Undernutrition as a risk factor for tuberculosis disease

BACKGROUND

Tuberculosis (TB) is a leading cause of mortality due to an infectious disease, with an estimated 1.6 million deaths due to TB in 2022. Approximately 25% of the global population has TB infection, giving rise to 10.6 million episodes of TB disease in 2022. Undernutrition is a key risk factor for TB and was linked to an estimated 2.2 million TB episodes in 2022, as outlined in the World Health Organization (WHO) Global Tuberculosis Report.

OBJECTIVES

To determine the prognostic value of undernutrition in the general population of adults, adolescents, and children for predicting tuberculosis disease over any time period.

SEARCH METHODS

We searched the literature databases MEDLINE (via PubMed) and WHO Global Index Medicus, as well as the WHO International Clinical Trials Registry Platform (ICTRP) on 3 May 2023 (date of last search for all databases). We placed no restrictions on the language of publication.

SELECTION CRITERIA

We included retrospective and prospective cohort studies, irrespective of publication status or language. The target population comprised adults, adolescents, and children from diverse settings, encompassing outpatient and inpatient cohorts, with varying comorbidities and risk of exposure to tuberculosis.

DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS

We used standard Cochrane methodology and the Quality In Prognosis Studies (QUIPS) tool to assess the risk of bias of the studies. Prognostic factors included undernutrition, defined as wasting, stunting, and underweight, with specific measures such as body mass index (BMI) less than two standard deviations below the median for children and adolescents and low BMI scores (< 18.5) for adults and adolescents. Prognostication occurred at enrolment/baseline. The primary outcome was the incidence of TB disease. The secondary outcome was recurrent TB disease. We performed a random-effects meta-analysis for the adjusted hazard ratios (HR), risk ratios (RR), or odds ratios (OR), employing the restricted maximum likelihood estimation. We rated the certainty of the evidence using the GRADE approach.

MAIN RESULTS

We included 51 cohort studies with over 27 million participants from the six WHO regions. Sixteen large population-based studies were conducted in China, Singapore, South Korea, and the USA, and 25 studies focused on people living with HIV, which were mainly conducted in the African region. Most studies were in adults, four in children, and three in children and adults. Undernutrition as an exposure was usually defined according to standard criteria; however, the diagnosis of TB did not include a confirmatory culture or molecular diagnosis using a WHO-approved rapid diagnostic test in eight studies. The median follow-up time was 3.5 years, and the studies primarily reported an adjusted hazard ratio from a multivariable Cox-proportional hazard model. Hazard ratios (HR) The HR estimates represent the highest certainty of the evidence, explored through sensitivity analyses and excluding studies at high risk of bias. We present 95% confidence intervals (CI) and prediction intervals, which present between-study heterogeneity represented in a measurement of the variability of effect sizes (i.e. the interval within which the effect size of a new study would fall considering the same population of studies included in the meta-analysis). Undernutrition may increase the risk of TB disease (HR 2.23, 95% CI 1.83 to 2.72; prediction interval 0.98 to 5.05; 23 studies; 2,883,266 participants). The certainty of the evidence is low due to a moderate risk of bias across studies and inconsistency. When stratified by follow-up time, the results are more consistent across < 10 years follow-up (HR 2.02, 95% CI 1.74 to 2.34; prediction interval 1.20 to 3.39; 22 studies; 2,869,077 participants). This results in a moderate certainty of evidence due to a moderate risk of bias across studies. However, at 10 or more years of follow-up, we found only one study with a wider CI and higher HR (HR 12.43, 95% CI 5.74 to 26.91; 14,189 participants). The certainty of the evidence is low due to the moderate risk of bias and indirectness. Odds ratio (OR) Undernutrition may increase the odds of TB disease, but the results are uncertain (OR 1.56, 95% CI 1.13 to 2.17; prediction interval 0.61 to 3.99; 8 studies; 173,497 participants). Stratification by follow-up was not possible as all studies had a follow-up of < 10 years. The certainty of the evidence is very low due to the high risk of bias and inconsistency. Contour-enhanced funnel plots were not reported due to the few studies included. Risk ratio (RR) Undernutrition may increase the risk of TB disease (RR 1.95, 95% CI 1.72 to 2.20; prediction interval 1.49 to 2.55; 4 studies; 1,475,867 participants). Stratification by follow-up was not possible as all studies had a follow-up of < 10 years. The certainty of the evidence is low due to the high risk of bias. Contour-enhanced funnel plots were not reported due to the few studies included.

AUTHORS' CONCLUSIONS

Undernutrition probably increases the risk of TB two-fold in the short term (< 10 years) and may also increase the risk in the long term (> 10 years). Policies targeted towards the reduction of the burden of undernutrition are not only needed to alleviate human suffering due to undernutrition and its many adverse consequences, but are also an important part of the critical measures for ending the TB epidemic by 2030. Large population-based cohorts, including those derived from high-quality national registries of exposures (undernutrition) and outcomes (TB disease), are needed to provide high-certainty estimates of this risk across different settings and populations, including low and middle-income countries from different WHO regions. Moreover, studies including children and adolescents and state-of-the-art methods for diagnosing TB would provide more up-to-date information relevant to practice and policy.

FUNDING

World Health Organization (203256442).

REGISTRATION

PROSPERO registration: CRD42023408807 Protocol: https://doi.org/10.1002/14651858.CD015890.

Incidence of diabetic retinopathy in anti-tnf treated rheumatic disease patients with type 2 diabetes

OBJECTIVE

This study aimed to evaluate the impact of anti-TNF (biological) therapies on the incidence and progression of diabetic retinopathy.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A cross-sectional analysis of 50 diabetic patients with rheumatic diseases (group 1) was performed. An age-, sex-, and HbA1c-matched control group (group 2) was formed from a pool of diabetic patients who underwent regular eye examinations. The presence or absence of diabetic retinopathy was also assessed. Comorbidities such as hypertension, coronary artery disease, and hyperlipidemia were also evaluated as possible confounding factors.

RESULTS

Hundred eyes of 50 patients were evaluated in each group. Only three patients in group 1 had non-proliferative retinopathy. The median duration of rheumatic disease was 9 years, whereas that of diabetes was 11 years. The mean duration of anti-TNF therapy was 4 years. In the control group of diabetes-only patients, 13 patients developed some form of newly diagnosed diabetic retinopathy during the last five years. The calculated retinopathy occurrence between the groups was statistically significant (p < 0.05). In this study, the incidence rate ratio for patients receiving anti-TNF treatment was calculated as 0.4 in the study.

CONCLUSION

TNF inhibitors, with their anti-inflammatory effects, positively impact diabetic complications by reducing the incidence of retinopathy. To our knowledge, this is the first study to evaluate retinopathy development after anti-TNF therapy.

Changes in vessel density patterns assessed with OCTA in patients with diabetic macular edema treated with anti-VEGF therapy

AIMS

To determine the presence of sectoral changes in vessel density (VD) patterns induced by vascular endothelial growth factor inhibitors (anti-VEGF) in patients with diabetic macular edema (DME) using optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA).

METHODS

Prospective, interventional study. A total of 43 patients (63 eyes) were initially enrolled in the study. We performed swept source (SS) OCT and sectorial OCTA measurement to determine parafoveal VD at baseline and after six months of anti-VEGF treatment. In the locations with statistically significant differences in VD between baseline and month 6, we performed univariate and multivariate analyses to determine which, if any, of the baseline variables were associated with the observed changes.

RESULTS

A total of 34 patients (48 eyes) were included in the final analysis. Mean VD decreased from baseline to month 6 (from 45.2 (± 3.5) to 44.6 (± 3.2) % in the SCP and from 50 (± 3.3) to 49 (± 3.9) % in the DCP). The only significant changes in VD were observed in the nasal sector of the deep capillary plexus, with a decrease of 2.9% (p = 0.001). On univariate and multivariate analyses, the only variable significantly associated with changes in VD in the nasal sector after 6 months of treatment was baseline VD in the same sector.

CONCLUSIONS

Anti-VEGF therapy has a small impact on VD values over time. These variations observed after treatment seems to be related to changes over areas of vascular anomalies and displaced vessels adjacent to cystic areas, with no significant changes over ischemic areas. No correlation was observed between this trend and other clinical baseline features.

Association of diabetic retinopathy on all-cause and cause-specific mortality in older adults with diabetes: National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, 2005-2008

To evaluate the effect of diabetic retinopathy (DR) status or severity on all-cause and cause-specific mortality among diabetic older adults in the United States using the most recent National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) follow-up mortality data. The severity of DR was graded according to the Early Treatment Diabetic Retinopathy Study (ETDRS) grading scale. Multiple covariate-adjusted Cox proportional hazards regression models, Fine and Gray competing risk regression models, and propensity score matching (PSM) methods were used to assess the risk of all-cause and cause-specific mortality in individuals with diabetes. All analyses adopted the weighted data and complex stratified design approach proposed by the NHANES guidelines. Time to death was calculated based on the time between baseline and date of death or December 31, 2019, whichever came first. Ultimately 1077 participants, representing 3,025,316 US non-hospitalized individuals with diabetes, were included in the final analysis. After a median follow-up of 12.24 years (IQR, 11.16-13.49), 379 participants were considered deceased from all-causes, with 43.90% suffering from DR, including mild DR (41.50%), moderate to severe DR (46.77%), and proliferative DR (PDR) (67.21%). DR was associated with increased all-cause, cardiovascular disease (CVD) and diabetes mellitus (DM)-specific mortality, which remained consistent after propensity score matching (PSM). Results of DR grading assessment suggested that the presence of mild, moderate to severe NPDR was significantly associated with increased risk of all-cause and CVD-specific mortality, while the presence and severity of any DR was associated with increased DM-specific mortality, with a positive trend. The presence of DR in elderly individuals with diabetes is significantly associated with the elevated all-cause and CVD mortality. The grading or severity of DR may reflect the severity of cardiovascular disease status and overall mortality risk in patients with diabetes.

No bidirectional relationship between sleep phenotypes and risk of proliferative diabetic retinopathy: a two-sample Mendelian randomization study

This study aimed to investigate the probable existence of a causal relationship between sleep phenotypes and proliferative diabetic retinopathy (PDR). Single nucleotide polymorphisms associated with sleep phenotypes were selected as instrumental variables at the genome-wide significance threshold (P < 5 × 10-8). Inverse-variance weighted was applied as the primary Mendelian randomization (MR) analysis method, and MR Egger regression, weighted median, simple mode, and weighted mode methods were used as complementary analysis methods to estimate the causal association between sleep phenotypes and PDR. Results indicated that genetically predicted sleep phenotypes had no causal effects on PDR risk after Bonferroni correction (P = 0.05/10) [Chronotype: P = 0.143; Daytime napping: P = 0.691; Daytime sleepiness: P = 0.473; Insomnia: P = 0.181; Long sleep duration: P = 0.671; Morning person:P = 0.113; Short sleep duration: P = 0.517; Obstructive sleep apnea: P = 0.091; Sleep duration: P = 0.216; and snoring: P = 0.014]. Meanwhile, there are no reverse causality for genetically predicted PDR on sleep phenotypes [Chronotype: P = 0.100; Daytime napping: P = 0.146; Daytime sleepiness: P = 0.469; Insomnia: P = 0.571; Long sleep duration: P = 0.779; Morning person: P = 0.040; Short sleep duration: P = 0.875; Obstructive sleep apnea: P = 0.628; Sleep duration: P = 0.896; and snoring: P = 0.047]. This study's findings did not support the causal effect of between sleep phenotypes and PDR. Whereas, longitudinal studies can further verify results validation.

Acute worsening of microvascular complications of diabetes mellitus during rapid glycemic control: The pathobiology and therapeutic implications

While chronic hyperglycaemia resulting from poorly controlled diabetes mellitus (DM) is a well-known precursor to complications such as diabetic retinopathy, neuropathy (including autonomic neuropathy), and nephropathy, a paradoxical intensification of these complications can rarely occur with aggressive glycemic management resulting in a rapid reduction of glycated haemoglobin. Although, acute onset or worsening of retinopathy and treatment induced neuropathy of diabetes are more common among these complications, rarely other problems such as albuminuria, diabetic kidney disease, Charcot's neuroarthropathy, gastroparesis, and urinary bladder dysfunction are also encountered. The World Journal of Diabetes recently published a rare case of all these complications, occurring in a young type 1 diabetic female intensely managed during pregnancy, as a case report by Huret et al. It is essential to have a comprehensive understanding of the pathobiology, prevalence, predisposing factors, and management strategies for acute onset, or worsening of microvascular complications when rapid glycemic control is achieved, which serves to alleviate patient morbidity, enhance disease management compliance, and possibly to avoid medico-legal issues around this rare clinical problem. This editorial delves into the dynamics surrounding the acute exacerbation of microvascular complications in poorly controlled DM during rapid glycaemic control.

Relationship between circulating metabolites and diabetic retinopathy: a two-sample Mendelian randomization analysis

Diabetic retinopathy (DR) is the most frequent microvascular complication of diabetes mellitus, however, its underlying biological mechanisms remain poorly understood. We examined single nucleotide polymorphisms linked to 486 blood metabolites through extensive genome-wide association studies conducted on individuals of European ancestry. The FinnGen Biobank database served as a reference to define DR. Two-sample MR analysis was conducted to reveal the association between the levels of genetically predicted circulating metabolites and the susceptibility to DR. To validate the robustness of the obtained findings, sensitivity analyses with weighted median, weighted mode, and MR-Egger were conducted. 1-oleoylglycerophosphoethanolamine (odds ratio [OR] (OR per one standard deviation [SD] increase) = 0.414; 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.292-0.587; P = 7.613E-07, PFDR = 6.849E-06), pyroglutamine (OR per one SD increase = 0.414; 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.292-0.587; P = 8.31E-04, PFDR = 0.007), phenyllactate (PLA) (OR per one SD increase = 0.591; 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.418-0.836; P = 0.003, PFDR = 0.026), metoprolol acid metabolite (OR per one SD increase = 0.978; 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.962-0.993; P = 0.005, PFDR = 0.042), 10-undecenoate (OR per one SD increase = 0.788; 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.667-0.932; P = 0.005, PFDR = 0.049), erythritol (OR per one SD increase = 0.691; 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.513-0.932; P = 0.015, PFDR = 0.034), 1-stearoylglycerophosphoethanolamine (OR per one SD increase = 0.636; 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.431-0.937; P = 0.022, PFDR = 0.099), 1-arachidonoylglycerophosphoethanolamine (OR per one SD increase = 0.636; 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.431-0.937; P = 0.030, PFDR = 0.099) showed a significant causal relationship with DR and could have protective effects. stachydrine (OR per one SD increase = 1.146; 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.066-1.233; P = 2.270E-04, PFDR = 0.002), butyrylcarnitine (OR per one SD increase = 1.117; 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.023-1.219; P = 0.014, PFDR = 0.062), 5-oxoproline (OR per one SD increase = 1.569; 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.056-2.335; P = 0.026, PFDR = 0.082), and kynurenine (OR = 1.623; 95% CI 1.042-2.526; P = 0.041, PFDR = 0.097) were significantly associated with an increased risk of DR. This study identified metabolites have the potential to be considered prospective compounds for investigating the underlying mechanisms of DR and for selecting appropriate drug targets.

PFKFB3 in neovascular eye disease: unraveling mechanisms and exploring therapeutic strategies

BACKGROUND

Neovascular eye disease is characterized by pathological neovascularization, with clinical manifestations such as intraocular exudation, bleeding, and scar formation, ultimately leading to blindness in millions of individuals worldwide. Pathologic ocular angiogenesis often occurs in common fundus diseases including proliferative diabetic retinopathy (PDR), age-related macular degeneration (AMD), and retinopathy of prematurity (ROP). Anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) targets the core pathology of ocular angiogenesis.

MAIN BODY

In recent years, therapies targeting metabolism to prevent angiogenesis have also rapidly developed, offering assistance to patients with a poor prognosis while receiving anti-VEGF therapy and reducing the side effects associated with long-term VEGF usage. Phosphofructo-2-kinase/fructose-2,6-bisphosphatase 3 (PFKFB3), a key enzyme in targeted metabolism, has been shown to have great potential, with antiangiogenic effects and multiple protective effects in the treatment of neovascular eye disease. In this review, we summarize the mechanisms of common types of neovascular eye diseases; discuss the protective effect and potential mechanism of targeting PFKFB3, including the related inhibitors of PFKFB3; and look forward to the future exploration directions and therapeutic prospects of PFKFB3 in neovascular eye disease.

CONCLUSION

Neovascular eye disease, the most common and severely debilitating retinal disease, is largely incurable, necessitating the exploration of new treatment methods. PFKFB3 has been shown to possess various potential protective mechanisms in treating neovascular eye disease. With the development of several drugs targeting PFKFB3 and their gradual entry into clinical research, targeting PFKFB3-mediated glycolysis has emerged as a promising therapeutic approach for the future of neovascular eye disease.

The role of Keap1-Nrf2 signaling pathway during the progress and therapy of diabetic retinopathy

Diabetic retinopathy is a complex and progressive ocular complication of diabetes mellitus and is a leading cause of blindness in people of working age worldwide. The pathophysiology of diabetic retinopathy involves multifactorial processes, including oxidative stress, inflammation and vascular abnormalities. Understanding the underlying molecular mechanisms involved in its pathogenesis is essential for the development of effective therapeutic interventions. One of the pathways receiving increasing attention is the Keap1-Nrf2 signaling pathway, which regulates the cellular response to oxidative stress by activating Nrf2. In this review, we analyze the current evidence linking Keap1-Nrf2 signaling pathway dysregulation to diabetic retinopathy. In addition, we explore the potential therapeutic implications and the challenges of targeting this pathway for disease management. A comprehensive understanding of the molecular mechanisms of diabetic retinopathy and the therapeutic potential of the Keap1-Nrf2 pathway may pave the way for innovative and effective interventions to combat this vision-threatening disease.

Correlation between Topographic Vessel Density and Retinal Thickness Changes in Patients with Diabetic Macular Edema Treated with Anti-VEGF Therapy: Is It a Suitable OCTA Biomarker?

The objective of this study was to determine the correlation between topographic vessel density (VD) and retinal thickness (RT) reductions induced by vascular endothelial growth factor inhibitors (anti-VEGF) in patients with diabetic macular edema (DME) using optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA). This was a prospective, interventional case series. VD and RT measurements were separately taken in four parafoveal subfields at baseline and after six months of treatment. This correlation was statistically assessed using Spearman's rho correlation coefficient after adjustment for multiple comparisons. The study included a total of 48 eyes in the final analysis. Mean VD decreased from baseline to month 6 (from 45.2 (±3.5) to 44.6% (±3.2) in the superficial capillary plexus and from 50 (±3.3) to 49% (±3.9) in the deep capillary plexus). Statistically significant reductions in RT were observed in all ETDRS sectors (p < 0.0001). No significant association was found between RT and VD, even when analyzing responders and non-responders separately. After six months of anti-VEGF treatment, no significant correlation was observed between the topographic VD and RT values. These findings suggest that reductions in VD values may not solely result from a reduction in microaneurysms, also being affected by the repositioning of displaced vessels due to edema and a reduction in their caliber. Therefore, VD changes may not be a suitable indirect OCTA biomarker of microaneurysm turnover and treatment response.

Associated factors of diabetic retinopathy by artificial intelligence evaluation of fundus images in Japan

This cross-sectional study aimed to investigate the promoting and inhibitory factors of diabetic retinopathy (DR) according to diabetes mellitus (DM) stage using standardized evaluation of fundus images by artificial intelligence (AI). A total of 30,167 participants underwent blood and fundus examinations at a health screening facility in Japan (2015-2016). Fundus photographs were screened by the AI software, RetCAD and DR scores (DRSs) were quantified. The presence of DR was determined by setting two cut-off values prioritizing sensitivity or specificity. DM was defined as four stages (no DM: DM0; advanced DM: DM3) based on treatment history and hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) levels. Associated factors of DR were identified using logistic regression analysis. For cutoff values, multivariate analysis revealed age, sex, systolic blood pressure (SBP), smoking, urinary protein, and HbA1c level as positively associated with the risk of DR among all DM stages. In addition to glycemic control, SBP and Fibrosis-4 index might act as promoting factors for DR at all or an earlier DM stage. T-Bil, cholinesterase, and T-cho level might be protective factors at an advanced DM stage.

Identification of biomarkers associated with immune scores in diabetic retinopathy

Background

Diabetic retinopathy (DR) causes irreversible visual impairment in diabetes mellitus (DM) patients. Immunity played a crucial role in DR. Nevertheless, the triggering mechanism of DR was not yet thorough enough. Herein, we aim to identify the immune-associated genes as biomarkers associated with immune scores that can distinguish early DR from DM without DR.

Methods

In this study, total RNA of peripheral blood mononuclear cell (PBMC) samples from 15 non-proliferative DR patients and 15 DM patients without DR were collected and the transcriptome sequencing data were extracted. Firstly, the target genes were obtained by intersecting the differentially expressed genes (DEGs), which were screened by "limma", and the module genes (related to immune scores), which were screened by "WGCNA". In order to screen for the crucial genes, three machine learning algorithms were implemented, and a receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was used to obtain the diagnostic genes. Moreover, the gene set enrichment analysis (GSEA) was performed to understand the function of diagnostic genes, and analysis of the proportions of immune cells and their association with diagnostic genes was performed to analyze the pathogenesis of DR. Furthermore, the regulatory network of TF-mRNA-miRNA was built to reveal the possible regulation of diagnostic genes. Finally, the quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) was performed to verify the mRNA level of diagnostic genes.

Results

A total of three immune-associated diagnostic genes, namely, FAM209B, POM121L1P, and PTGES, were obtained, and their expression was increased in PBMC samples of DR, and qRT-PCR results confirmed these results. Moreover, the functions of these genes were associated with immune response. The expression of POM121L1P and PTGES was significantly negatively associated with naive B cells, and the expression of FAM209B was significantly negatively associated with immature dendritic cells. Moreover, ESR1 could regulate both FAM209B and PTGES.

Conclusion

This study identified three immune-associated diagnostic genes, FAM209B, POM121L1P, and PTGES, as biomarkers associated with immune scores in DR for the first time. This finding might proffer a novel perspective of the triggering mechanism of DR, and help to understand the role of immune-associated genes in the molecular mechanism of DR more deeply.