Proliferative diabetic retinopathy inauguring gestational diabetes

Introduction

Diabetic retinopathy is one of the diabetic microangiopathy complications generally occurring after insulin-dependent diabetes has evolved for a few years.

Observation

We report a 24-year-old pregnant woman with severe proliferative diabetic retinopathy discovered at the time of the gestational diabetes diagnosis. Argon laser photocoagulation of retinal ischemic territories was initiated. The disease progressed to vitreous haemorrhage in the right eye.

Discussion

Proliferative diabetic retinopathy is exceptionally present at the time of the gestational diabetes. We did not find any similar case in the literature.

Conclusion

Fundus examination seems necessary at the onset of gestational diabetes. It can prevent blindness in young women.     

Renal outcomes in patients with type 2 diabetes with or without coexisting non-diabetic renal disease

Aims

We sought not only to determine the independent predictors of non-diabetic renal disease (NDRD) but also to investigate the impact of NDRD on renal outcomes in patients with type 2 diabetes who underwent renal biopsy and were followed-up longitudinally.

Methods

The present study was conducted by reviewing the medical records of 119 type 2 diabetic patients who underwent renal biopsy at Yonsei University Health System from January 1988 to December 2008.

Results

Renal biopsy findings declared that 43 patients (36.1%) had diabetic nephropathy alone, 12 (10.1%) had NDRD superimposed on diabetic nephropathy, and 64 (53.8%) had only NDRD. On multivariate analysis, the absence of diabetic retinopathy, higher hemoglobin levels, and shorter duration of diabetes were independent predictors of NDRD in these patients. During the follow-up period, end-stage renal disease (ESRD) developed in 33 patients (27.7%). On multivariate Cox regression, higher serum creatinine levels, higher systolic blood pressure, longer duration of diabetes, and the presence of diabetic nephropathy were identified as significant independent predictors of ESRD. When the presence of diabetic retinopathy was included in the multivariate model, higher serum creatinine levels, higher systolic blood pressure, and the presence of retinopathy were shown to be independent predictors of ESRD.

Conclusions

Since diabetic patients with NDRD have significantly better renal outcomes compared to patients with biopsy-proven diabetic nephropathy, it is important to suspect, identify, and manage NDRD as early as possible, especially in type 2 diabetic patients with short duration of diabetes and those without diabetic retinopathy or anemia.     

Microangiopathy is independently associated with presence, severity and composition of carotid atherosclerosis in type 2 diabetes

Background and aims

Common mechanisms for the development of micro- and macroangiopathic diabetic complications have been suggested. We aimed to cross-sectionally investigate strength and characteristics of the association between carotid atherosclerosis and microangiopathy in type 2 diabetic patients.

Methods and results

Common carotid artery intima-media thickness (cIMT), carotid plaque (CP) type and degree of stenosis were evaluated by ultrasound, along with the determination of anthropometric parameters, HbA1c, lipid profile, assessment of diabetic retinopathy and nephropathy, in 662 consecutive patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Patients were divided according to high/low cIMT, presence/absence of CP and of retinopathy and nephropathy. Patients with CP were older, more prevalently males, past smokers, had longer diabetes duration, significantly lower HDL cholesterol and more prevalent ischemic heart disease (all p < 0.05) as compared to those with cIMT < 1 mm. Microangiopathies were more prevalent in patients with CP than in those without. At multivariate logistic regression, factors independently associated with the presence of CP were age, past smoke, HDL cholesterol, retinopathy and retinopathy plus nephropathy. A significant independent correlation of CP stenosis with stage of retinopathy and nephropathy was found. Finally, echolucent CPs were associated with a lower prevalence of proliferative retinopathy than CP containing calcium deposits.

Conclusion

In T2DM, retinopathy, alone or in combination with nephropathy, is independently associated to CP, and severity of microangiopathy correlates with severity of carotid atherosclerosis. These observations, together with the different prevalence of proliferative retinopathy according to CP types, point to possible common pathogenic mechanisms in micro- and macrovascular complications.     

Diabetes and Coronary Heart Disease as Risk Factors for Mortality in Older Adults

Background

Type 2 diabetes has been described as a coronary heart disease (CHD) “risk equivalent.” We tested whether cardiovascular and all-cause mortality rates were similar between participants with prevalent CHD vs diabetes in an older adult population in whom both glucose disorders and preexisting atherosclerosis are common.

Methods

The Cardiovascular Health Study is a longitudinal study of men and women (n = 5784) aged ≥65 years at baseline who were followed from baseline (1989/1992-1993) through 2005 for mortality. Diabetes was defined by fasting plasma glucose ≥7.0 mmol/L or use of diabetes control medications. Prevalent CHD was determined by confirmed history of myocardial infarction, angina, or coronary revascularization.

Results

Following multivariable adjustment for other cardiovascular disease risk factors and subclinical atherosclerosis, CHD mortality risk was similar between participants with CHD alone vs diabetes alone (hazard ratio [HR] 1.04, 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.83-1.30). The proportion of mortality attributable to prevalent diabetes (population-attributable risk percent = 8.4%) and prevalent CHD (6.7%) was similar in women, but the proportion of mortality attributable to CHD (16.5%) as compared with diabetes (6.4%) was markedly higher in men. Patterns were similar for cardiovascular disease mortality. By contrast, the adjusted relative hazard of total mortality was lower among participants with CHD alone (HR 0.85, 95% CI, 0.75-0.96) as compared with those who had diabetes alone.

Conclusions

Among older adults, diabetes alone confers a risk for cardiovascular mortality similar to that from established clinical CHD. The public health burden of both diabetes and CHD is substantial, particularly among women.     

Use of the UKPDS Outcomes Model to predict all-cause mortality in U.S. adults with type 2 diabetes mellitus: comparison of predicted versus observed mortality

Aims

The applicability of the United Kingdom Prospective Diabetes Study (UKPDS) Outcomes Model is unknown in populations with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) outside the United Kingdom. We compared all-cause mortality predicted from the UKPDS model with observed mortality among T2DM subjects in the U.S.

Methods

We studied participants with T2DM from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 1988-1994 with characteristics comparable to the UKPDS cohort. The 10-year observed all-cause mortality was compared to the UKPDS model-predicted mortality. The Lifetable method was used to estimate the probability of mortality for 10 years following diagnosis.

Results

Among 156 subjects with characteristics comparable to the UKPDS cohort, mean age was 49.6 years, age at T2DM diagnosis was 47.1 years, and T2DM duration averaged 2.6 years, with follow-up for 10.4 years. The UKPDS model-predicted 10-year mortality was 15.7%, similar to the observed mortality of 14.2%. Corresponding 10-year predicted versus observed mortality was 32.7% versus 32.4% including subjects >age 65, 17.0% versus 19.3% including individuals with pre-existing CVD, and 31.1% versus 20.9% including individuals with diabetes duration ≥6 years.

Conclusion

All-cause mortality predicted by the UKPDS model was comparable to observed mortality in U.S. NHANES participants with characteristics similar to the UKPDS.     

Subclinical hypothyroidism and the risk of coronary heart disease: a meta-analysis

Purpose

Subclinical hypothyroidism has been associated with elevated cholesterol and increased risk for atherosclerosis, but data on the risk of coronary heart disease (CHD) are conflicting. We performed a systematic review to determine whether subclinical hypothyroidism is associated with CHD in adults.

Methods

We searched MEDLINE from 1966 to April 2005, and the bibliographies of key articles to identify studies that provided risk estimates for CHD or cardiovascular mortality associated with subclinical hypothyroidism. Two authors independently reviewed each potential study for eligibility, assessed methodologic quality, and extracted the data.

Results

We identified 14 observational studies that met eligibility criteria. Subclinical hypothyroidism increased the risk of CHD (summary odds ratio [OR]: 1.65, 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.28-2.12). The summary OR for CHD was 1.81 (CI, 1.38-2.39) in 9 studies adjusted or matched for demographic characteristics, and 2.38 (CI, 1.53-3.69) after pooling the studies that adjusted for most cardiovascular risk factors. Sensitivity analyses including only population-based studies and those with formal outcome adjudication procedures yielded similar results. Subgroup analyses by type of study design showed a similar trend, but lower risk, in the 5 prospective cohort studies (OR 1.42, CI, 0.91-2.21), compared with the case-control and cross-sectional studies (OR 1.72, CI, 1.25-2.38).

Conclusion

Our systematic review indicates that subclinical hypothyroidism is associated with an increased risk of CHD. Clinical trials are needed to assess whether thyroxine replacement reduces the risk of CHD in subjects with subclinical hypothyroidism.     

The change points of HbA(1C) for detection of retinopathy in Chinese type 2 diabetic patients

Aims

To investigate the change points of HbA_1C for detection of retinopathy in Chinese type 2 diabetic patients.

Methods

This cross-sectional investigation included 992 diagnosed type 2 diabetic patients, who received non-mydriatic digital fundus photography examination. Joinpoint regression software was adopted to identify the change points of HbA_1C in association with retinopathy prevalence.

Results

The mean age of all patients was 59.1 ± 8.4 years and the duration of diabetes was 5.5 (95% CI: 5.2-5.9) years. The prevalence of retinopathy was 10.3% in total, and 4.1%, 7.4% and 19.6% in patients with different diabetes duration of ≤5 years, 5-10 years and >10 years, respectively. The change point of HbA_1C was 6.5% (95%CI 5.8-7.5%), at which retinopathy prevalence began to rise sharply. Furthermore, in subjects with diabetes duration ≤5 years, 5-10 years and >10 years, the change points of HbA_1C were 8.1% (95%CI 7.9-8.3%), 6.1% (95%CI 5.7-6.8%), 5.6% (95%CI 5.1-8.1%) for detection of retinopathy, respectively.

Conclusion

The steepest increase in retinopathy prevalence occurred when HbA_1C reached 6.5%. However, the duration of diabetes should be taken into concern, when using the change points of HbA_1C for detection of retinopathy in diabetic patients.     

Bénéfices tensionnels, anthropométriques et métaboliques de l’exérèse chirurgicale des adénomes cortisoliques infracliniques

Objectives

To compare clinical, vascular and metabolic parameters before and after surgery in patients with subclinical cortisol secreting incidentalomas.

Patients and methods

Eight patients were investigated before and 12 months after removal of the mass on hemodynamic (blood pressure by MAPA procedure), anthropometric (body weight, body mass index), and metabolic parameters (glucose level, HbA_1c).

Results

In the whole group, 75% of patients displayed decrease in blood pressure (cessation of at least one hypotensive medication) and 33% of them were definitely cured of hypertension. Seventy-one percent of patients lost body weight and 37.5% lost more than 5%. In the whole group of patients, glucose level decreased by 1.1% and medical treatment was discontinuated in two of three diabetic patients.

Conclusion

Subclinical cortisol secreting adrenal incidentalomas are associated with cardiovascular risk factors that may be corrected after removal of the mass. Therefore, surgery may be an appropriate choice in patients with subclinical Cushing's syndrome to improve hypertension, body weight and impaired glucose level. Controlled studies comparing surgical treatment to a medical follow-up including optimal cardiovascular risk factors treatment are needed to define the usefulness of surgery in hypertensive patients with subclinical cortisol secreting incidentalomas.     

Changes in serum adiponectin concentrations and endothelial function after intensive insulin treatment in people with newly diagnosed type 2 diabetes: a pilot study

Aims

We aimed to assess changes in serum adiponectin and endothelial function after intensive insulin treatment in patients with newly diagnosed type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM).

Methods

Patients with newly diagnosed T2DM were randomly assigned to Group A (intensive insulin treatment) or Group B (conventional insulin treatment). Before treatment and 2 weeks after plasma glucose concentrations had been maintained at the specified concentrations, blood samples were obtained to measure serum adiponectin and nitric oxide (NO) concentrations. A total of 21 patients were randomized to each Group.

Results

Adiponectin, NO, endothelium-dependent vasodilation (EDD), and endothelium-independent vasodilation (EID) measures were significantly higher post-treatment than pre-treatment in Group A (all P < 0.05). Only EID was significantly higher in Group B (P < 0.05). Post-treatment adiponectin and NO concentrations, and EDD were significantly higher in Group A compared with Group B (all P < 0.05). Both treatment regimens were well tolerated (all patients completed the study). The most common adverse event was hypoglycemia. Thus, early intensive insulin therapy can increase serum adiponectin and NO concentrations and improve endothelial function in patients with newly diagnosed T2DM.

Conclusions

These effects may underlie the reduced incidence of microvascular and macrovascular in patients who receive early intensive hypoglycemic therapy.     

Charcot arthropathy risk elevation in the obese diabetic population

Purpose

To examine the association of obesity, peripheral neuropathy, and other risk factors with the Charcot arthropathy incidence rate in a large diabetic population.

Methods

The Department of Veterans Affairs inpatient and outpatient administrative datasets were used to identify persons with diabetes in 2003. Logistic regressions were used to model the likelihood of a person developing Charcot arthropathy as a function of individual characteristics, obesity, peripheral neuropathy, diabetic control, and comorbidities.

Results

Of Veterans Affairs users with diabetes, 652 (0.12%) were newly diagnosed with Charcot arthropathy in 2003. Compared with persons without obesity or peripheral neuropathy, those with obesity alone were approximately 59% more likely, those with neuropathy alone were 14 times more likely, and those with both obesity and neuropathy were 21 times more likely to develop Charcot arthropathy. Ages 55 to 64 years, diabetes duration 6 years or more, hemoglobin-A1c 7% or more, renal failure, arthritis, and deficiency anemia also were associated with an increased incidence of Charcot arthropathy.

Conclusion

Obesity is significantly associated with an increased incidence of Charcot arthropathy independently of other risk factors. When obesity is combined with neuropathy, the Charcot arthropathy incidence rate increases multiplicatively. Prevention and detection of Charcot arthropathy should take the interaction between obesity and neuropathy into consideration.     

Ten-year incidence of diabetic retinopathy and macular edema. Risk factors in a sample of people with type 1 diabetes

Aims

To determine the 10-year incidence of diabetic retinopathy (DR) and macular edema (DME), and its relationship with its risk factors in a sample of type 1 diabetes mellitus.

Methods

A total of 334 patients without diabetic retinopathy at baseline underwent a 10-year prospective study, the risk factors included: age, gender, diabetes duration, HbA1c, LDL-C, HDl-C, TC/HDL-C ratio, ApoA1, ApoB, ApoB/ApoA1 ratio, and triglycerides were recorded. Risk factors for diabetic macular edema (DME) were also recorded.

Results

The 10-year incidence of any DR was 35.90%, and 11.07% developed DME. The risk factors for DR and DME were: diabetes duration, high glycosylated level, and arterial hypertension, and overt nephropathy was well correlated with DME. The lipid study demonstrated that ApoB/ApoA1 ratio was significant for any DR [HRR: 0.594 (0.416-0.848), p = 0.01], and DME [HRR: 0.601 (0.433-0.894), p = 0.009]. The TC/HDL ratio was only significant for DME [HRR: 0.624 (0.440-0.886), p = 0.008]; other lipids values were not significant for any groups studied.

Conclusions

In the present study, the ApoB/ApoA1 ratio was significant to the 10-year incidence of diabetic retinopathy and to macular edema; and the TC/HDL ratio was significant to a 10-year incidence of macular edema.     

Cumulative glycemia and microangiopathy in subjects with impaired glucose regulation in the Inter99 study

Aims

To assess cumulative glycemia, microvascular characteristics, and associated risk factors for diabetes in subjects with impaired glucose regulation.

Methods

Cross-sectional, population-based study comprising systemic characteristics in 6487 participants and ocular characteristics in 970 participants.

Results

Lens fluorescence, a quantitative index of life-long cumulative glycemia, was increased by 7.5% (CI₉₅ 0.37-15.1%) in subjects with impaired fasting glucose, by 13.0% (CI₉₅ 5.5-21%) in subjects with combined impaired fasting glucose and impaired glucose tolerance (IFG + IGT), and by 11.8% (CI₉₅ 6.8-17.1%) in subjects with screen-detected diabetes compared to normoglycemic subjects, adjusted for age, sex, and smoking. The prevalences of microalbuminuria and retinopathy were significantly increased in subjects with screen-detected diabetes after adjusting for age, sex and systolic blood pressure. The prevalences of associated risk factors for diabetes were elevated in all categories of abnormal glucose regulation compared to normoglycemic subjects.

Conclusions

Life-long cumulative glycemia, microangiopathy, and associated risk factors for diabetes were significantly elevated in subjects with abnormal glucose metabolism, most prominently in subjects with IFG + IGT and in subjects with screen-detected diabetes. These results provide the first objective evidence that cumulative glycemic load is increased at the earliest stage of impaired glucose regulation.     

Retinal microvascular calibre and risk of incident diabetes: the multi-ethnic study of atherosclerosis

Aim

To prospectively examine the association of retinal microvascular signs with incident diabetes and impaired fasting glucose (IFG) in a multi-ethnic population-based cohort.

Methods

The multi-ethnic study of atherosclerosis comprised Caucasians, African-Americans, Hispanics and Chinese aged 45-84 years. Retinal vascular calibre and retinopathy were quantified from baseline retinal photographs. Incident diabetes and IFG were ascertained prospectively.

Results

After a median follow-up of 3 years, 243 (4.9%) people developed diabetes and 565 (15.0%) developed IFG. After adjusting for known risk factors, participants with wider retinal arteriolar calibre had a higher risk of developing diabetes [HR: 1.60; 95% CI: 1.12-2.29, p = 0.011 comparing highest with lowest arteriolar calibre tertile]. In ethnic subgroup analysis, the association between wider retinal arteriolar calibre and incident diabetes was stronger and statistically significant only in Caucasians [HR: 2.78; 95% CI: 1.37-5.62, p = 0.005]. Retinal venular calibre and retinopathy signs were not related to risk of diabetes or IFG.

Conclusion

Wider retinal arteriolar calibre is independently associated with an increased risk of diabetes, supporting a possible role for early arteriolar changes in diabetes development. This effect was largely seen in Caucasians, and not in other ethnic groups, and may reflect ethnic differences in susceptibility to diabetes from microvascular pathways.     

Early-onset type 2 diabetes: high risk for premature diabetic retinopathy

Aim

To examine the relationship between early-onset type 2 diabetes (T2D) and retinopathy in relation to the burden, severity, the extent of its premature development and associated predictive risk factors.

Methods

A cross sectional study using the hospital diabetes register and eye screening database to identify T2D subjects and to ascertain retinopathy severity. Early and later-onset cohort were defined as age of diagnosis <40 and >40 years respectively.

Results

2516 subjects were identified of which 455 were diagnosed below 40 years. After 10 years of diagnosis, the prevalence of overall retinopathy was significantly higher in the early-onset cohort (p < 0.05). For significant retinopathy (SigDR), there was a non-significant trend of higher prevalence with increasing diabetes duration in the early-onset cohort. The rate of increase for SigDR was greater in the early-onset cohort who experienced similar burden of SigDR up to 20 years earlier than the later-onset cohort. Hypertension (p < 0.05), suboptimal glycaemic control (p < 0.05) and long diabetes duration (p < 0.05) were associated with risk of retinopathy whilst lower age of diagnosis and dyslipidaemia were not significant predictive factors.

Conclusions

Early-onset T2D subjects are at risk of developing premature retinopathy driven predominantly by hypertension and prolonged exposure to suboptimal diabetes control.     

External validation of the UK Prospective Diabetes Study (UKPDS) risk engine in patients with type 2 diabetes

Aims/hypothesis

Treatment guidelines recommend the UK Prospective Diabetes Study (UKPDS) risk engine for predicting cardiovascular risk in patients with type 2 diabetes, although validation studies showed moderate performance. The methods used in these validation studies were diverse, however, and sometimes insufficient. Hence, we assessed the discrimination and calibration of the UKPDS risk engine to predict 4, 5, 6 and 8?year cardiovascular risk in patients with type 2 diabetes.

Methods

The cohort included 1,622 patients with type 2 diabetes. During a mean follow-up of 8?years, patients were followed for incidence of CHD and cardiovascular disease (CVD). Discrimination and calibration were assessed for 4, 5, 6 and 8?year risk. Discrimination was examined using the c-statistic and calibration by visually inspecting calibration plots and calculating the Hosmer?CLemeshow ??² statistic.

Results

The UKPDS risk engine showed moderate to poor discrimination for both CHD and CVD (c-statistic of 0.66 for both 5?year CHD and CVD risks), and an overestimation of the risk (224% and 112%). The calibration of the UKPDS risk engine was slightly better for patients with type 2 diabetes who had been diagnosed with diabetes more than 10?years ago compared with patients diagnosed more recently, particularly for 4 and 5?year predicted CVD and CHD risks. Discrimination for these periods was still moderate to poor.

Conclusions/interpretation

We observed that the UKPDS risk engine overestimates CHD and CVD risk. The discriminative ability of this model is moderate, irrespective of various subgroup analyses. To enhance the prediction of CVD in patients with type 2 diabetes, this model should be updated.     

Which metabolic syndrome criteria best predict the presence of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease?

Aims

To know which MS criteria best predict the presence of NAFLD and the prevalences of metabolic syndrome (MS) and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) diagnosed ultrasonographically among pre-diabetic and diabetic subjects based on three different MS criteria (IDF, ATP III, WHO).

Methods

Subjects were screened and those with a fasting serum glucose level ≥100 mg/dL were further tested with a 75 g oral glucose tolerance test. And those who were newly diagnosed as having pre-diabetes or diabetes were evaluated for MS and NAFLD. We compared the risk ratios of NAFLD among three MS criteria using multivariate and multiple logistic regression analyses.

Results

A total of 1365 subjects (977 males, mean age 48.4 ± 9.5 years) were analyzed. The WHO criteria produced the highest prevalence of MS in both the pre-diabetic (49.8%) and diabetic (58.9%) groups. The IDF criteria produced the highest odds ratio for NAFLD in both pre-diabetic (3.89 [95% CI 2.75-5.51]) and diabetic (5.53 [95% CI 3.21-9.52]) groups.

Conclusions

The prevalence of MS depends on the set of diagnostic criteria used. IDF criteria best predicts the presence of NAFLD. The presence of NAFLD should be considered as a component of the diagnostic criteria for MS.     

Prevalence and risk factors for erectile dysfunction in the US

Purpose

To assess the prevalence of erectile dysfunction and to quantify associations between putative risk factors and erectile dysfunction in the US adult male population.

Methods

Cross-sectional analysis of data from 2126 adult male participants in the 2001-2002 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES). Erectile dysfunction assessed by a single question during a self-paced, computer-assisted self-interview. These data are nationally representative of the noninstitutionalized adult male population in the US.

Results

The overall prevalence of erectile dysfunction in men aged ≥20 years was 18.4% (95% confidence interval [CI], 16.2-20.7), suggesting that erectile dysfunction affects 18 million men (95% CI, 16-20) in the US. The prevalence of erectile dysfunction was highly positively related to age but was also particularly high among men with one or more cardiovascular risk factors, men with hypertension, and men with a history of cardiovascular disease, even after age adjustment. Among men with diabetes, the crude prevalence of erectile dysfunction was 51.3% (95% CI, 41.9-60.7). In multivariable analyses, erectile dysfunction was significantly and independently associated with diabetes, lower attained education, and lack of physical activity.

Conclusions

The high prevalence of erectile dysfunction among men with diabetes and hypertension suggests that screening for erectile dysfunction in these patients may be warranted. Physical activity and other measures for the prevention of cardiovascular disease and diabetes may prevent decrease in erectile function.     

Oral contraceptive use and abnormal glucose regulation in Swedish middle aged women

Aim

To investigate the association between oral contraceptive (OC) use and abnormal glucose regulation in Swedish middle aged women.

Methods

A prospective population-based study including 4794 women, aged 36-56 at baseline. None had previously diagnosed diabetes. At both baseline and follow-up 8 years later, the women were examined by oral glucose tolerance test. Information regarding lifestyle factors and anthropometric measurements were collected.

Results

At baseline, current use of OCs was associated with pre (Odds ratio, OR 4.1, 95%CI 2.2-7.8) but not with type 2 diabetes. The association to prediabetes was entirely linked to IGT (OR 7.1, 3.3-15.8) in current users of OCs and in former users (OR 2.1, 1.1-3.9). Women who used OC at baseline had a better cardiovascular disease risk profile; lower body mass index (BMI), more physically active and less smoking. At follow-up, the increased risk did not persist.

Conclusion

Current use of OC was associated with a four times increased risk of having prediabetes and seven times of having impaired glucose tolerance. No increased risk persisted at the follow-up, suggesting that the risk due to prior use of OC is decreasing with time. The healthier lifestyle in women who used OCs may have contributed to reduced long-term risk of prediabetes.     

Adipose tissue derived mesenchymal stem cell (AD-MSC) promotes skin wound healing in diabetic rats

Aims

Stem cells are a new hope to ameliorate impaired diabetic wound healing. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of adipose tissue derived mesenchymal stem cells (AD-MSCs) on wound healing in a diabetic rat model.

Methods

Twenty-six rats became diabetic by a single intraperitoneal injection of streptozotocin. Six rats served as non-diabetic (non-DM). Diabetic rats were divided into two equal groups randomly; control and treatment. Six weeks later, a full-thickness circular excisional wound was created on the dorsum of each rat. AD-MSCs were injected intra-dermally around the wounds of treatment group. PBS was applied to control and non-DM groups. The wound area was measured every other day. After wound healing completion, full thickness skin samples were taken from the wound sites for evaluation of volume density of collagen fibers, length and volume density of vessels, and numerical density of fibroblasts by stereological methods.

Results

AD-MSCs accelerated wound healing rate in diabetic rats, but did not increase length and volume density of the vessels and volume density of the collagen fibers. AD-MSCs decreased the numerical density of fibroblasts.

Conclusions

We concluded that AD-MSCs enhances diabetic wound healing rate probably by other mechanisms rather than enhancing angiogenesis or accumulating collagen fibers.