Diabetic Retinopathy and Cardiovascular Disease: A Literature Review

Hydrogels with Ultrasound-Treated Hyaluronic Acid Regulate CD44-Mediated Angiogenic Potential of Human Vascular Endothelial Cells In Vitro

The development of hydrogels that allow vascular endothelial cells to form capillary-like networks is critical for advancing tissue engineering and drug discovery. In this study, we developed hydrogels composed of phenolated hyaluronic acid (HA-Ph) with an average molecular weight of 490-159 kDa via sonication in an aqueous solution. These hydrogels were synthesized by the horseradish peroxidase-catalyzed crosslinking of phenol moieties in the presence of hydrogen peroxide and phenolated gelatin. The sonication-degraded HA-Ph (198 kDa) significantly enhanced the migration ability of human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) on cell culture plates when added to the medium compared to the original HA-Ph (490 kDa) and less-degraded HA-Ph (312-399 kDa). In addition, HUVECs cultured on these hydrogels formed networks that did not occur on hydrogels made from the original HA-Ph. CD44 expression and PI3K gene expression, both markers related to angiogenesis, were 3.5- and 1.8-fold higher, respectively, in cells cultured on sonication-degraded HA-Ph hydrogels than in those cultured on hydrogels comprising the original HA-Ph. These results highlight the potential of hydrogels containing sonication-degraded HA-Ph for tissue engineering and drug-screening applications involving human vascular endothelial cells.

Association between blood urea nitrogen levels and diabetic retinopathy in diabetic adults in the United States (NHANES 2005-2018)

Objective

To investigate the association between blood urea nitrogen (BUN) levels and diabetic retinopathy (DR) in adults with diabetes mellitus (DM).

Methods

Seven cycles of cross-sectional population information acquired from NHANES(national health and nutrition examination surveys) 2005-2018 were collected, from which a sample of diabetic adults was screened and separated into two groups based on whether or not they had DR, followed by weighted multivariate regression analysis. This study collected a complete set of demographic, biological, and sociological risk factor indicators for DR. Demographic risk factors comprised age, gender, and ethnicity, while biological risk factors included blood count, blood pressure, BMI, waist circumference, and glycated hemoglobin. Sociological risk factors included education level, deprivation index, smoking status, and alcohol consumption.

Results

The multiple regression model revealed a significant connection between BUN levels and DR [odds ratio =1.04, 95% confidence interval (1.03-1.05), p-value <0.0001],accounting for numerous variables. After equating BUN levels into four groups, multiple regression modeling showed the highest quartile (BUN>20 mg/dl) was 2.22 times more likely to develop DR than the lowest quartile [odds ratio =2.22, 95% confidence interval (1.69-2.93), p- value <0.0001]. Subgroup analyses revealed that gender, race, diabetes subtype, and duration of diabetes had a regulating effect on the relationship between BUN and DR.

Conclusion

BUN levels were related with an increased prevalence of DR, particularly in individuals with BUN >20 mg/dl. These findings highlight the significance of BUN level in assessing the risk of DR.