Understanding the multifaceted etiopathogenesis of foot complications in individuals with diabetes

Adjuvant effect of antimicrobial photodynamic therapy (aPDT) in the treatment of diabetic foot ulcers: A case series

This study aimed to evaluate the clinical evolution of patients with diabetic foot ulcer treated with antimicrobial photodynamic therapy (aPDT) using the Bates-Jensen (BJ) scale. A total of 21 patients were monitored, with an average age of 58 years. Patients underwent the standard treatment protocol of the institution, supplemented with aPDT utilizing 0.01% methylene blue (MB) and laser irradiation (660 nm, 100 mW, 6 J per point). Following aPDT, the lesions were protected with hydrofiber dressings containing silver. The Bates-Jensen Scale was employed at pre-treatment and post-aPDT sessions to assess lesion progression. The results demonstrated a significant difference between pre- and post-treatment values in the overall BJ score. The use of MB in aPDT proved to be an effective, safe, well-tolerated treatment with high patient adherence and the potential for implementation in the care of diabetic foot conditions.

Investigation of in vitro Biological Activity from Extracts of Ruellia tuberosa

<b>Background and Objective:</b> <i>Ruellia tuberosa</i> is a common plant in the Mekong Delta and is widely used in many Vietnamese folk remedies. This study was conducted to investigate the potential use of roots, stems, leaves of <i>Ruellia tuberosa</i> as antioxidant, antimicrobial, α-amylase and α-glucosidase inhibitors. <b>Materials and Methods:</b> The extracts were tested for their ability to inhibit the enzymes α-amylase and α-glucosidase associated with diabetes. The antioxidant activities of the extracts were evaluated using 2,2-Diphenyl-1-Picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) and 2,2-Azino-Bis-(3-Ethylbenzothiazoline-6-Sulfonic Acid) (ABTS), ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP), total antioxidant capacity (TAC) and reducing power (RP) assays. The antibacterial activity of extracts from <i>Ruellia tuberosa</i> was evaluated by the agar well diffusion method. <b>Results:</b> The root extract of <i>Ruellia tuberosa</i> has more polyphenols (32.49±0.72 mg GAE/g extract) and flavonoids (15.48±1.32 mg QE/g extract) than the other parts. Simultaneously, the root extract of <i>Ruellia tuberosa</i> has antioxidant activity (IC₅₀ values range from 117.67±2.82 to 569.20±7.68 μg/mL), inhibiting amylase (IC₅₀ = 266.72±10.58 μg/mL) and glucosidase (IC₅₀ = 147.13±3.58 μg/mL) enzymes more effectively than the other parts. Research results also show that extracts from <i>Ruellia tuberosa</i> are capable of inhibiting <i>Staphylococcus aureus</i>, <i>Escherichia coli</i> and <i>Pseudomonas aeruginosa</i> bacteria with minimum inhibitory concentrations ranging from 1280 to 10240 mg/mL. <b>Conclusion:</b> These results highlighted the potential using of <i>Ruellia tuberosa</i> extracts as natural antioxidant, antimicrobial, α-amylase and α-glucosidase inhibitors agents.

Identification of potential immunologic resilience in the healing process of diabetic foot ulcers

Diabetic foot ulcers (DFUs) are one of the most common and challenging complications of diabetes, yet our understanding of their pathogenesis remains limited. We collected gene expression data of DFU patients from public databases. Bioinformatics tools were applied for systematic analysis, including the identification of differentially expressed genes (DEGs), weighted gene co-expression network analysis (WGCNA) and enrichment analysis. We further used single-cell RNA sequencing to identify the distribution of different cell populations in DFU. Finally, key results were validated using reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) and flow cytometry. We identified 217 DEGs between ulcerated and healthy skin, and 37 DEGs between healing ulcers and ulcers. WGCNA revealed that the cyan module had the highest positive correlation with healthy skin and negative correlation with ulcers. The black module had the highest negative correlation with healthy skin and positive correlation with ulcers. Enrichment analysis showed that the genes in the cyan module were mainly associated with complement and coagulation cascades, while the genes in the black module were mainly associated with the IL-17 signalling pathway. In addition, CD8 T cells were significantly lower in ulcers than in healthy and healing ulcers. By comparing marker genes of CD8 T cells, we identified key genes in the cyan and black modules and validated their expression using RT-qPCR. The proportion of CD8 T cells was increased in healing ulcers. Flow cytometry detected increased levels of CD8 T, B and natural killer cells in healing ulcers. CD8 T cells and related key genes play an important role in the healing process of DFU. The results of this study provide a new perspective for understanding the pathogenesis and treatment of DFU.

Exploring the Indications, Levels, and Outcomes of Lower Extremity Amputation at a Tertiary Care Hospital in Pakistan

BACKGROUND

Lower extremity amputation (LEA) is a surgical procedure performed to remove either a part or the entire lower limb due to medical conditions such as trauma, infection, peripheral vascular disease, or malignancy. The procedure is becoming increasingly common in Pakistan, with a bulk of patients presenting from rural areas in tertiary care centers. Understanding the indications, levels, and outcomes of LEA is essential for improving patient care and adopting preventive strategies, especially in developing countries.

METHODOLOGY

This study was conducted at Dow University Hospital in Karachi, Pakistan. Retrospective data of 384 patients who underwent non-traumatic lower extremity amputations between January 2016 and December 2020 was collected to include relevant history and characteristics, amputation indication and level, type of anesthesia used, and outcome within hospital stay. The data was analyzed using descriptive statistics.

RESULTS

The data is composed of a wide age range (18 to 91 years) of patients, including a male majority (76.3%, n = 293). The employment status of the patients was taken into consideration, with a reported high number of unemployed individuals (60.4%, n = 232). Diabetes mellitus (84.4%, n = 324) was a commonly reported past medical condition, followed by hypertension (4.4%, n = 17). Indications for amputation exceedingly recorded were diabetic foot ulcers (84.4%, n = 324), followed by infections (9.4%, n = 36) and peripheral arterial disease (3.6%, n = 14). The anesthetic approach that was observed most in these patients was regional anesthesia (74.7%, n = 287). Right-sided amputations (52.9%, n = 203) were dominant, with below-knee amputations leading by the level of amputation performed (42.5%, n = 163). Many patients delayed seeking treatment (71.6%, n = 275) and indicated denial of severity (18%, n = 69) as a reason for the delay. Regarding outcome, many patients were successfully discharged following treatment (85.9%, n = 330).

CONCLUSION

Overall, LEAs are being frequently performed in developing countries, such as Pakistan, especially with a large population living with diabetes mellitus. The implications of this disease are reflected in this study population, with the majority of patients reporting delays in treatment due to reasons such as the unknown severity of the disease or financial burdens. The challenges faced by these individuals, especially in this country, can be tackled with widespread affordability and availability of care and education on early management.

Characteristics and management of patients undergoing emergency surgery for diabetic foot attack

BACKGROUND

Diabetic foot attack (DFA) is considered one of the worst manifestations of diabetic foot. It is necessary to act quickly to prevent amputation and save the patient's life. The aim of this study is to reveal the characteristic features of DFAs and be a guide to healthcare professionals to manage and refer these patients.

METHODS

Sixty-five patients with DFAs were analyzed retrospectively. Demographics were collected. All patients' ınfectious dis-eases Society of America/International Working Group on the Diabetic Foot (IDSA/IWDGF) stages, site ıschemia neuropathy, bacterial ınfection and depth (SINBAD) and laboratory risk ındicator for necrotizing fasciitis (LRINEC) scores were calculated. According to these measurements, patients were categorized and statistical results were obtained.

RESULTS

We found that patients who underwent emergency surgery due to DFA applied to an average of two hospitals before applying to our facility and the median acceptance time since the beginning of the first complaint was 9 days. All patients were IDSA/IWDGF stages three and four. Most of the patients had SINBAD scores between four and six. 60% of the patients were at high risk for necrotizing fasciitis according to the LRINEC score. 58.2% of patients had periferic arterial stenosis and the amputation rate was 69.2%. 21.3% of the patients were followed in the intensive care unit, and our patients' mortality rate was 4.2%.

CONCLUSION

DFA is an emergency surgical condition that requires high clinical suspicion. If not diagnosed and treated with emergency surgery, it has a high mortality and amputation rate. High white blood cell count in patients, local and systemic signs of inflammation, presence of subcutaneous emphysema in the lower extremities on a direct X-ray radiography, and high blood sugar should be considered as warning signs for DFA. Emergency surgical intervention should be performed on these patients, and if the patient is not in a suitable center for emergency surgery, they should be rapidly referred to a center with experienced clinicians.