Serum Uric Acid Levels Are Related to Diabetic Peripheral Neuropathy, Especially for Motor Conduction Velocity of Tibial Nerve in Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus Patients

Hyaluronic Acid-Based Self-Healing Hydrogels for Diabetic Wound Healing

Diabetic wounds, particularly diabetic foot ulcers (DFUs), are significant threats to human well-being due to their impaired healing from poor circulation and high blood sugar, increased risk of infection and potential for severe complications like amputation, all compounded by peripheral neuropathy and chronic inflammation. Most therapies and dressings for DFUs focus on one symptom at a time, however, multifunctional smart self-healing hydrogels can withstand multifactorial motional diabetic wounds. Motional wounds are easy-to-split wounds that experience tension, compression, and movement caused by stress now and then. Hyaluronic acid (HA) based self-healing hydrogels stand out among other biomaterials due to their ability to cover irregular wound surfaces, maintain a moist environment, repair themselves when ruptured, and exhibit excellent biocompatibility. These self-healing hydrogels can repair damages caused by movement and recover the functional properties during healing. These hydrogels can also act as therapeutic delivery vehicles and tissue regeneration systems. This review demonstrates the potential of HA-based self-healing hydrogels for diabetic wound healing. Due to its self-healing capabilities, these hydrogels offer a customized therapeutic approach for motional diabetic wounds. The review also critically examines the challenges and future directions for HA-based self-healing hydrogels in diabetic wound healing.

Lower Free Triiodothyronine is a Risk Factor of Diabetic Peripheral Neuropathy in Patients with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus

PURPOSE

Our objective is to investigate the potential involvement of free triiodothyronine (FT3), a key bioactive compound found in thyroid hormones (THs) in the pathogenesis of diabetic peripheral neuropathy (DPN) in patients diagnosed with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM).

PATIENTS AND METHODS

A total of 121 T2DM patients were recruited. And then, they were divided into the control group and the DPN group. Clinical parameters were collected for each patient. Additionally, nerve conduction velocity was tested using neurophysiological methods. Correlation and regression analyses were employed to examine the relationship between the concentrations of FT3 and DPN.

RESULTS

Compared to 57 patients without DPN, 64 patients with DPN showed increased HbA1c and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) levels (P=0.001 and 0.042), as well as decreased concentrations of FT3 (P=0.042). Additionally, FT3 levels are positively associated with the motor and sensory fibers conduction velocity of the Ulnar nerve, as well as the motor conduction velocity of the Tibial nerve, with (R=0.205, P=0.025; R=0.191, P=0.038; R=0.220, p=0.016) or without (R=0.257, P=0.004; R=0.227, P=0.012; R=0.227, p=0.012) adjustment for HbA1c and LDL-C. Furthermore, multiple linear regression analysis suggests that decreased FT3 levels may influence the motor and sensory fibers conduction velocity of the Ulnar nerve (β=0.795, P=0.025 and β=0.909, P=0.038), as well as the motor conduction velocity of the Tibial nerve (β=0.727, P=0.016). Moreover, our study demonstrated that decreased FT3 levels are one of the risk factors for DPN in T2DM patients, as determined by binary logistic regression analysis (OR=0.542, P=0.022).

CONCLUSION

Lower concentrations of FT3 are one of the risk factors for DPN in patients with T2DM. Additionally, decreased FT3 levels may influence peripheral neuropathy, particularly affecting the motor and sensory fibers conduction velocity of the ulnar nerve, as well as the motor fiber conduction velocity of the tibial nerve.

Visceral Adiposity as an Independent Risk Factor for Diabetic Peripheral Neuropathy in Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus: A Retrospective Study

Background: Diabetic peripheral neuropathy (DPN) impacts approximately 50% of individuals with Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), leading to severe complications such as foot ulcers and amputations. Notably, visceral adiposity is increasingly recognized as a pivotal factor in augmenting the risk of DPN. We aim to evaluate the correlation between obesity-related body composition, particularly visceral fat, and DPN to facilitate early identification of high-risk patients with T2DM. Methods: This cross-sectional analysis encompassed 113 T2DM patients from the Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism at the Second Affiliated Hospital of Fujian Medical University, conducted between September 2020 and January 2021. Patients were categorized into two cohorts: those with DPN (DPN group) and those without (NDPN group). We utilized bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA) to determine body measurements, such as weight and visceral fat area, in addition to collecting clinical and biochemical data. Logistic regression was employed to analyze the data. Results: The study uncovered a statistically significant difference in the visceral fat area between the DPN and NDPN groups (p = 0.048). Through multivariate logistic regression analysis, the visceral fat area was identified as an independent risk factor for DPN among T2DM patients (OR 1.027; 95% CI 1.004-1.051, p = 0.022). Other significant risk factors included the duration of diabetes and the presence of diabetic retinopathy. Conclusion: The visceral fat area serves as an independent risk factor for DPN in individuals with T2DM. Implementing measures to assess and manage visceral obesity could be vital in the prevention and management of DPN. This underscores the value of technologies such as BIA in clinical and community settings for early intervention.

Assessing the diagnostic utility of urinary albumin-to-creatinine ratio as a potential biomarker for diabetic peripheral neuropathy in type 2 diabetes mellitus patients

BACKGROUND AND AIMS

Diabetic peripheral neuropathy (DPN) and diabetic nephropathy (DN) both have microcirculation dysfunction. Urinary albumin-to-creatinine ratio (UACR) is a biomarker for DN. We aimed to explore the links between DPN and UACR in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM).

METHODS

A total of 195 T2DM patients were defined as Control or DPN group. Clinical parameters were compared, and the association between HbA1c (or UACR) and DPN was analyzed. Risk factors for DPN were observed, and the diagnostic values of HbA1c and UACR were assessed.

RESULTS

Compared with 104 participants without DPN, 91 individuals with DPN exhibited higher HbA1c and UACR levels. In all patients, increased HbA1c and UACR were identified as risk factors for DPN in individuals with T2DM. Moreover, increased HbA1c was a risk factor for DPN in volunteers without DN, whereas elevated UACR was determined as a risk factor for DPN in participants with DN. The cut-off point for HbA1c (7.65%) in patients without DN had a sensitivity of 86.0% and specificity of 44.6%, while the cut-off point for UACR (196.081 mg/g) in patients with DN had a sensitivity of 52.9% and specificity of 76.2%.

CONCLUSION

Elevated HbA1c and UACR levels are risk factors for DPN and may serve as potential biomarkers for DPN in T2DM patients.

Association between serum uric acid levels and diabetic peripheral neuropathy in type 2 diabetes: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Background

The evidence supporting a connection between elevated serum uric acid (SUA) levels and diabetic peripheral neuropathy (DPN) is controversial. The present study performed a comprehensive evaluation of this correlation by conducting a systematic review and meta-analysis of relevant research.

Method

PubMed, Web of Science (WOS), Embase, and the Cochrane Library were searched for published literature from the establishment of each database to January 8, 2024. In total, 5 cohort studies and 15 cross-sectional studies were included, and 2 researchers independently screened and extracted relevant data. R 4.3.0 was used to evaluate the included literature. The present meta-analysis evaluated the relationship between SUA levels and the risk of DPN in type 2 diabetes (T2DM) by calculating the ratio of means (RoM) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) using the method reported by JO Friedrich, and it also analyzed continuous outcome measures using standardized mean differences (SMDs) and 95% CIs to compare SUA levels between DPN and non-DPN groups. Funnel plot and Egger's test were used to assess publication bias. Sensitivity analysis was conducted by sequentially removing each study one-by-one.

Results

The meta-analysis included 20 studies, with 12,952 T2DM patients with DPN and 16,246 T2DM patients without DPN. There was a significant correlation between SUA levels and the risk of developing DPN [odds ratio (OR) = 1.23; 95% CI: 1.07-1.41; p = 0.001]. Additionally, individuals with DPN had higher levels of SUA compared to those without DPN (SMD = 0.4; 95% CI: -0.11-0.91; p < 0.01).

Conclusion

T2DM patients with DPN have significantly elevated SUA levels, which correlate with a heightened risk of peripheral neuropathy. Hyperuricemia (HUA) may be a risk indicator for assessing the risk of developing DPN in T2DM patients.

Systematic review registration

https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/PROSPERO, identifier CRD42024500373.

The Relationship Between UA/HDL and Diabetic Peripheral Neuropathy: A Cross-Sectional Analysis

Purpose

This study was designed to analyze correlations between the uric acid to high-density lipoprotein cholesterol ratio (UHR) and peripheral nerve conduction velocity (NCV) among type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) patients.

Patients and Methods

This was a single-center cross-sectional analysis of 324 T2DM patients. All patients were separated into a group with normal NCV (NCVN) and a group with abnormal NCV (NCVA). Patients were also classified into groups with low and high UHR values based on the median UHR in this study cohort. Neurophysiological data including motor and sensory conduction velocity (MCV and SCV, respectively) were measured for all patients.

Results

Relative to patients with low UHR values, those in the high UHR group presented with greater NCVA prevalence (P = 0.002). UHR remained negatively correlated with bilateral superficial peroneal nerve SCV, bilateral common peroneal nerve MCV, bilateral ulnar nerve SCV, and bilateral right median nerve MCV even after adjustment for confounding factors. UHR was identified as an NCVA-related risk factor, with a 1.370-fold increase in NCVA prevalence for every unit rise in UHR (P < 0.001).

Conclusion

These results identify UHR as a risk factor associated with NCVA that was independently negatively associated with NCV among T2DM patients.

Impact of insulin resistance on mild cognitive impairment in type 2 diabetes mellitus patients with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease

AIMS

Insulin resistance (IR) is a pivotal factor in the pathogenesis of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). Nevertheless, the impact of IR on cognitive dysfunction in T2DM patients with NAFLD remains inadequately understood. We aim to investigate the effect of IR on mild cognitive impairment (MCI) in T2DM individuals with NAFLD.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

143 T2DM individuals were categorized into Non-MCI and MCI groups, as well as Non-NAFLD and NAFLD groups. Clinical parameters and cognitive preference test outcomes were compared. Correlation and regression analyses were executed to explore the interconnections between IR and cognitive details across all T2DM patients, as well as within the subgroup of individuals with NAFLD.

RESULTS

In comparison to the Non-MCI group, the MCI group displayed elevated HOMA-IR levels. Similarly, the NAFLD group exhibited higher HOMA-IR levels compared to the Non-NAFLD group. Additionally, a higher prevalence of MCI was observed in the NAFLD group as opposed to the Non-NAFLD group. Notably, HOMA-IR levels were correlated with Verbal Fluency Test (VFT) and Trail Making Test-B (TMTB) scores, both related to executive functions. Elevated HOMA-IR emerged as a risk factor for MCI in the all patients. Intriguingly, increased HOMA-IR not only correlated with TMTB scores but also demonstrated an influence on TMTA scores, reflecting information processing speed function in patients with NAFLD.

CONCLUSION

IR emerges as a contributory factor to cognitive dysfunction in T2DM patients. Furthermore, it appears to underlie impaired executive function and information processing speed function in T2DM individuals with NAFLD.

New Insights into the Role of Oxidative Stress in the Development of Diabetes Mellitus and Its Complications

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The mediating role of HbA1c in the association between elevated low-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels and diabetic peripheral neuropathy in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus

BACKGROUND

Increased levels of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) have been identified as one potential risk factor for diabetic peripheral neuropathy (DPN) in patients. The current study seeks to clarify the link between LDL-C, hyperglycemia, and DPN in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM).

METHODS

Here, a total of 120 T2DM individuals were recruited. These volunteers with T2DM were divided into 2 groups, based on the presence or absence of peripheral neuropathy. Additionally, their baseline characteristics were compared. Association among LDL-C and glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c) levels and DPN, particularly with respect to specific nerve conduction velocity were analyzed. To identify factors influencing DPN, regression was performed. Furthermore, mediation analysis was employed to evaluate the indirect, direct and total effects of LDL-C on specific nerve conduction velocity, with HbA1c serving as a mediator.

RESULTS

Compared to 55 patients without DPN, 65 patients with DPN demonstrated elevated levels of LDL-C and HbA1c. Both LDL-C and HbA1c have been found to be associated with reduced the motor fiber conduction velocities of Ulnar (or the Common peroneal) nerve in diabetic patients. HbA1c is one of the known risk factors for DPN in individuals with T2DM. Further mediation analysis revealed that the effect of LDL-C on the Ulnar (or the Common peroneal) nerve motor fiber conduction velocities are fully mediated by HbA1c in patients with T2DM.

CONCLUSIONS

The impact of elevated LDL-C levels upon the Ulnar (or the Common peroneal) nerve motor fiber conduction velocities in patients with T2DM was found to be entirely mediated by increased HbA1c levels.