Objective To observe the serum betatrophin levels in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and to explore the role of betatrophin in the pathogenesis of diabetic retinopathy (DR). Methods A total of 59 patients with T2DM (DM group) and 14 healthy controls (NC group) were enrolled in the study. Vision, slit lamp microscope, indirect ophthalmoscope, fluorescein fundus angiography were performed on all the subjects. According to the results of the examination combined with the international DR clinical staging criteria, the patients were divided into no DR (Non-DR) group, non-proliferative DR (NPDR) group, and proliferative DR (PDR) group, with 30, 20 and 9 patients in each, respectively. The fasting blood glucose (FPG), insulin (FIN), C-peptide, glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c), total cholesterol (TC), triglyceride (TG), high-density lipoprotein (HDL-C), low-density lipid Protein (LDL-C) levels were detected. The level of betatrophin in serum was determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The correlation between betatrophin and other indicators was analyzed by Spearman correlation. The influencing factors of PDR were analyzed by logistic regression. Results Compared with subjects in the NC group, the level of FPG (F=-4.316, P＜0.001), FIN (F=2.142, P=0.001), HbA1c (F=-5.726, P＜0.001), TC (t=3.609, P=0.010), LDL-C (t=0.000, P=0.003), and betatrophin (F=-2.263, P=0.024) were significantly increased and HDL-C level (F=-3.924, P＜0.001) was decreases in the DM group. The difference of TG level between two groups was not statistically significant (F= -1.422, P=0.155). Compared with the Non-DR group and the NPDR group, the serum C-peptide (F=7.818, P=0.020) and betatrophin levels (F=12.141, P=0.002) were significantly increased in the PDR group. Spearman correlation analysis showed that the levels of betatrophin in the DM group was positively correlated to TC (r=0.304, P=0.019). The serum levels of betatrophin was positively correlated to body mass index in the Non-DR group (r=0.513, P=0.004). Furthermore, in the PDR group, a significant positive correlation was observed between the serum betatrophin levels and diastolic blood pressure (r=0.685, P=0.042). Logistic regression analysis showed that the duration of diabetes, serum C-peptide and betatrophin levels were risk factors for PDR. After controlling for the duration and serum C-peptide, the PDR risk for betatrophin levels great than or equal to 1.0 ng/ml was 12 times as much as betatrophin levels less than 1.0 ng/ml in T2DM patients. Conclusions The serum betatrophin content of patients with T2DM is abnormal. Betatrophin may be involved in the occurrence and development of PDR.
Objective To determine the clinical efficacy of probucol in patients with diabetic macular edema (DME) and elevated serum lipids after focal/grid laser photocoagulation. Methods A prospective randomized controlled study included 48 type 2 diabetic patients with DME and dyslipidemia which were randomly divided into three groups. For patients with bilateral disease only the more severe eye was included. All patients were subjected to strict metabolic and blood pressure control during enrollment. All cases received macular laser photocoagulation. Besides, sixteen patients in group A were treated with probucol, 16 members in group B with atorvastatin and 16 members in group C were not treated with any lipid-lowering therapy for about three months. The outcome measurements were status of macular edema and hard exudates, visual acuity, foveal thickness, serum lipids and urine 8-hydroxydeoxyguanosine (8-OHdG) during the three months. Results The study included 20 men and 28 women with noninsulin dependent diabetes mellitus who could achieve good metabolic and blood pressure control within three months of inclusion in the study. Thirteen of 16 patients in group A, twelve of 16 patients in group B and five of 16 patients in group C showed reduction in hard exudates. Regression of macular edema was seen in twelve patients in group A, 11 in group B and eight in group C (χ2=2.368,P＞0.05). The difference of foveal thickness in group A, B and C was statistically significant (t=4.929, 4.669; P=0.000). Nine patients in group A, eight in group B and six in group C showed improving of visual acuity (χ2=1.169,P＞0.05). Three months after treatment, triglycerides (TG) (t=7.954, 6.832; P＜0.05), total cholesterol (TC) (t=6.643, 5.368; P＜0.05) and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDLC) (t=3.279, 3.835; P＜0.05) decreased in group A and group B but not in group C, and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol showed no significant difference in the three groups. 8-OHdG decreased gradually during the first and third month in group A and group B but not in group C. In the first month post treatment, 8-OHdG showed no difference between group A and group B. In the third month, the 8-OHdG was lower in group A than group B, and the difference was statistically significant (t=2.947,P＜0.05). ConclusionsIn type 2 diabetes patients with DME and dyslipidemia, oral probucol can reduce the severity of hard exudates and macular edema, improve the visual acuity, and inhibit the levels of TG, TC, LDLC and 5-OHdG. The effect of probucol was similar to atorvastatin. Probucol could be an adjunct treatment of those patients.
Objective To explore the related risk factors for diabetic retinopathy (DR) in type 2 diabetes. Methods The clinical data of 412 type 2 diabetes patients, diagnosed between 2003 and 2010, were analyzed retrospectively. The diagnosis of DR and proliferative diabetic retinopathy (PDR) was confirmed by ophthalmoloscopy and fundus fluorescein angiography. Glycated hemoglobin A1c, glucose, insulin, and Cpeptide of fasting plasma, and 1, 2 and 3 hours postprandial plasma were measured. According to the abovementioned data, get the fluctuation of glucose, insulin and C-peptide of 1, 2 and 3 hour postprandial plasma. Results The morbidity of DR and PDR increased following the longer disease duration. Age, diabetic duration，body mass index (BMI), hypertension grade, HbA1C, fasting plasma insulin and C-peptide, 2 and 3 hours postprandial plasma glucose, 1 and 2 hours postprandial plasma insulin, 1, 2 and 3 hour postprandial plasma C-peptide, 1, 2 and 3 hours postprandial plasma glucose, insulin and C-peptide fluctuation are different statistically among non-DR group, non-PDR group and PDR group (P＜0.05). 3 hours postprandial plasma glucose and fasting plasma insulin were risk factors of DR (P＜0.05). Conclusions Postprandial plasma glucose and fasting plasma insulin were risk factors of DR. Nevertheless, postprandial insulin, fasting and postprandial C-peptide, postprandial plasma glucose, insulin and C-peptide fluctuation were useful for DR diagnosis.
ObjectiveTo observe and analyze the correlation between time within target glucose range (TIR) and hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) and the risk of diabetic retinopathy (DR). MethodsA retrospective clinical study. From March 2020 to August 2021, 91 patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) who were hospitalized in Department of Endocrinology and Metabolic Diseases, Affiliated Hospital of Weifang Medical University, were included in the study. All patients underwent Oburg's no-dilatation ultra-wide-angle laser scan ophthalmoscopy, HbA1c and continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) examinations. According to the examination results and combined with the clinical diagnostic criteria of DR, the patients were divided into non-DR (NDR) group and DR group, with 50 and 41 cases respectively. The retrospective CGM system was used to monitor the subcutaneous interstitial fluid glucose for 7 to 14 consecutive days, and the TIR was calculated. Binary logistic regression was used to analyze the correlation between TIR, HbAlc and DR in patients with T2DM0. At the same time, a new indicator was generated, the predicted probability value (PRE_1), which was generated to represent the combined indicator of TIR and HbA1c in predicting the occurrence of DR. The receiver operating characteristic curve (ROC curve) was used to analyze the value of TIR, HbAlc and PRE_1 in predicting the occurrence of DR. ResultsThe TIR of patients in the NDR group and DR group were (81.58±15.51)% and (67.27±22.09)%, respectively, and HbA1c were (8.03±2.16)% and (9.01±2.01)%, respectively. The differences in TIR and HbA1c between the two groups of patients were statistically significant (t=3.501,－2.208; P=0.001, 0.030). The results of binary logistic regression analysis showed that TIR, HbA1c and DR were significantly correlated (odds ratio=0.960, 1.254; P=0.002, 0.036). ROC curve analysis results showed that the area under the ROC curve (AUC) of TIR, HbA1c and PRE_1 predicting the risk of DR were 0.704, 0.668, and 0.707, respectively [95% confidence interval (CI) 0.597-0.812, P=0.001; 95%CI 0.558-0.778, P=0.006; 95%CI 0.602-0.798, P=0.001]. There was no statistically significant difference between TIR, HbA1c and PRE_1 predicting the AUC of DR risk (P>0.05). The linear equation between HbAlc and TIR was HbAlc (%) = 11.37－0.04×TIR (%). ConclusionsTIR and HbA1c are both related to DR and can predict the risk of DR. The combined use of the two does not improve the predictive value of DR. There is a linear correlation between TIR and HbAlc.
Objective To observe the amount of endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) at different stages of diabetic retinopathy (DR) in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM). Methods Sixty patients with type 2 DM were divided into no DR (NDR) group, non-proliferative DR (NPDR)group and proliferative DR (PDR)group according to the examination of fundus and fundus fluorescein angiography, 20 patients in each group. Twenty healthy people were collected as the control group. 6 ml blood samples were taken from all the subjects, and then the EPCs contents in peripheral blood were detected by flow cytometry. Results The EPCs contents in peripheral blood of the control, NDR, NPDR and PDR group were (0.0179plusmn;0.0047)%, (0.0151plusmn;0.0086)%, (0.0123plusmn;0.1137)%, (0.0316plusmn;0.0 294)%. The EPCs contents in peripheral blood of the PDR group was significantly higher than those in others (chi;2=43.780, P＜0.05); the EPCs contents in peripheral blood of the NDR and NPDR group were slightly lower than that in the control group (chi;2=5.244, P=0.73); the EPCs contents in peripheral blood of the NPDR group was lower than that in the NDR group (chi;2=6.016, P=0.12). Conclusion The EPCs contents in peripheral blood decreases in NDR, NPDR patients, while significantly increases in PDR patients.
ObjectiveTo observe the serum vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), apelin and heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) levels in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and to explore their their relationship with diabetic retinopathy (DR).MethodsA total of 208 patients with T2DM and 50 healthy subjects (control group) from the Central Hospital of Western Hainan during January 2014 and December 2017 were selected in this study. Vision, slit lamp microscope, indirect ophthalmoscope and FFA examinations were performed on all the subjects. According to the results of the examinations combined with the DR clinical staging criteria, the patients were divided into non-DR (NDR) group, non-proliferative DR (NPDR) group, and proliferative DR (PDR) group, with 72, 76 and 60 patients in each, respectively. The clinical data of each group were recorded, and the levels of fasting blood glucose (FPG), HbA1c, total cholesterol (TC), three acylglycerol (TG), high density lipoprotein (HDL-C), low density lipoprotein (LDL-C), VEGF, apelin and HO-1 were detected in each group. The receiver operating characteristic curve (ROC) were used to analyze the value of VEGF, apelin and HO-1 in predicting the occurrence of PDR. Correlation analysis of serum VEGF, Apelin and HO-1 with clinical parameters in PDR patients by Pearson correlation analysis.ResultsThe level of VEGF (56.82±10.16 vs 91.74±22.83, 140.15±36.40, 195.28±42.26 pg/ml) and apelin (2.95±0.53 vs 4.68±0.74, 7.25±1.13, 10.16±1.35 ng/ml) in PDR group were significantly higher than those in NPDR, NDR and control groups (F=17.306, 21.814; P＜0.05). The level of HO-1 (50.37±10.14 vs 43.58±8.16, 30.25±6.28, 22.60±4.72 mmol/L) in PDR group was significantly lower than those in NPDR, NDR and control groups (F=15.827, P＜0.05). The ROC curve analysis showed that the best cut-off values of serum VEGF, apelin and HO-1 were 162.50 pg/ml, 8.30 ng/ml, 27.13 mmol/L, and the three combined to predict PDR of AUC (95%CI) was 0.906 (0.849−0.962), and their sensitivity (90.3%) and specificity (83%) were better. The correlation analysis showed that the VEGF, apelin and HO-1 of PDR patients were correlated with the course of diabetes (r=0.382, 0.416, −0.36; P＜0.05), FPG (r=0.438, 0.460, −0.397; P＜0.05) and HbAlc (r=0.375, 0.478, −0.405; P＜0.05), and the serum VEGF were correlated with apelin and HO-1 (r=0.793, −0.594; P＜0.01).ConclusionElevated serum VEGF and apelin levels and reduced HO-1 levels are associated with the progression of DR, and the three combination helps predict the occurrence of PDR.
Objective To investigate the relationship between glomerular filtration rate (GFR) and diabetic retinopathy (DR) and macular thickness in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Methods A total of 161 T2DM inpatients were enrolled in this study. There were 95 males (95 eyes) and 66 females (66 eyes), with an average age of (62.2±11.0) years. The average duration of diabetes was (14.8±7.9) years. The patients were grouped according to the degree of DR. Among them, 91 patients were no DR, 24 patients were mild non-proliferative DR (NPDR), 24 patients were moderate NPDR, 13 patients were severe NPDR and 9 eyes were proliferative DR (PDR). Severe NPDR and PDR were combine into severe DR group for statistical analysis. All patients underwent direct ophthalmoscope, fundus colorized photography, spectral domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT), fasting blood-glucose, glycated hemoglobin and renal function examinations. GFR was evaluated by99 mTcDTPA. DR degree was evaluated by direct ophthalmoscope and fundus colorized photography. Central subfield (CSF), central macular volume and mean retinal thickness (MRT) were measure by SD-OCT. The correlation between GFR and DR staging and macular retinal thickness were analyzed by Spearman correlation analysis and Pearson correlation analysis. Logistic regression analysis was used to analyze the correlation between GFR and presence of DR. Results GFR was gradually decreased in patients with no DR, mild NPDR, moderate NPDR and severe DR (F=12.32,P＜0.001). Pearson correlation analysis demonstrated that GFR was negatively correlated to CSF (r=−0.202,P=0.010); but no correlation with MRT (r=−0.087,P=0.272). Spearman correlation analysis demonstrated that GFR was negatively correlated to DR staging (r=−0.325,P＜0.001). The difference of DR prevalence rate in normal, slight abnormal renal function and renal insufficiency patients was significant (χ2=12.32,P=0.002). Logistic regression analysis demonstrated that lower levels of GFR was significantly associated with presence of DR (95% confidence interval=1.71–4.32, odds ratio=2.72,P＜0.001). Conclusion In T2DM patients, GFR is negatively correlated to DR staging and CSF. Lower GFR is independent risk factors for DR.
Objective To investigate the relationship between diabetic retinopathy (DR) and coronary atherosclerosis (CAS) in type 2 diabetes patients and other risk factors of DR. Methods A total of 118 patients of type 2 diabetes with DR (DR group), 120 patients of type 2 diabetes without DR matched in age and sex (non-DR group), and 86 normal controls (control group) were enrolled in this study. The body mass index (BMI), blood pressure (BP), fasting blood-glucose (FPG), glycosylated haemoglobin (HbA1C), total cholesterol (TC), triglyceride (TG), high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), low density lipoprotein cholesterin (LDL-C), creatinine, estimate glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) and urinary albumin excretion rate(UAER) in all the subjects were measured. Meanwhile, the incidence of CAS in the three groups was detected by 64slice multidetector computed tomography angiography (MDCTA). Assume concurrent DR as dependent variable, clinical indicators and laboratory parameters as independent variable, the risk factors were determined by Logistic regression analysis. In addition, CAS as dependent variable, DR as fixed factor, analysis of covariance was used to investigate the relationship between CAS and DR. Results The incidence of CAS in DR group was higher than that in nonDR group and control group, the differences were statistically significant (chi;2=26.9,35.5;P＜0.05). The results of Logistic regression analysis showed that systolic BP, BMI, CAS, myocardial infarction and UAER were key risk factors for DR ［odds ratio (OR)=1.02, 0.89, 4.50, 3.89, 1.34;P＜0.05］. There was a negative relationship between BMI and DR. The results of analysis of covariance showed that there was significant correlation between CAS and DR (OR=5.31, 95% confidence interval=2.62-10.60; P＜0.05). Conclusion CAS is independently associated with DR in type 2 diabetes patients. In addition, the other risk factors for DR include systolic BP, BMI, myocardial infarction and UAER.
ObjectiveTo observe the changes in the structure and function of the retina in diabetic patients, and preliminarily explore the changes in the characteristics of neuropathy and microvascular damage in different degrees of diabetic retinopathy (DR). MethodsA prospective controlled study. From May to December 2020, 63 eyes of 63 patients with type 2 diabetes who were recruited from the Department of Ophthalmology of Shandong Provincial Hospital and 40 healthy volunteers with age and sex matching in the same period (control group) were included in the study. All subjects underwent optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA) and portable non-mydriatic visual electrophysiological diagnosis system RETeval. OCTA was used to measure the thickness of the retinal nerve fiber layer (pRNFL) around the optic disc, the blood flow density of theradial peripapillary capillary (RPC) around the optic disc, and the thickness of the macular ganglion cell complex (GCC). The "DR evaluation plan" mode of the RETeval device was used to perform flash electroretinogram examination, and the "DR evaluation score" measured by the system was recorded. According to the DR grading standard established in the early treatment of DR research, DR was classified. Diabetic patients were divided into non-DR (non-DR) group, mild to moderate non-proliferative DR (mNPDR) group, and severe non-proliferative DR (sNPDR) group , Proliferative DR (PDR) group, with 12, 16, 18, and 17 eyes respectively. The comparison of pRNFL thickness, GCC thickness, RPC blood flow density and "DR assessment score" between groups was performed by one-way analysis of variance; the correlation between pRNFL thickness and RPC blood flow density was analyzed by Pearson correlation analysis. ResultsCompared with the control group, the overall, upper and lower thickness of the macular GCC of the affected eyes in different degrees of DR groups were significantly thinner, and the difference was statistically significant (F=13.560, 15.840, 5.480; P<0.05). Compared with the control group, the overall pRNFL (F=6.120), upper part (F=6.310), lower part (F=5.330), upper nose (F=7.350), lower nose (F=2.690), the upper nasal side (F=4.780), the upper temporal side (F=3.710), and the lower temporal side (F=3.750) became thinner, the difference was statistically significant (P<0.05). Correlation analysis results showed that the whole optic disc, upper part, lower part, upper nose, upper nasal side, lower nasal side, and lower temporal RPC blood flow density were positively correlated with pRNFL thickness (r=0.260, 0.256, 0.275, 0.489, 0.444, 0.542, 0.261; P<0.01). The "DR evaluation scores" of the eyes in the control group, non-DR group, mNPDR group, sNPDR group, and PDR group were 12.71±5.62, 22.18±3.77, 24.68±2.41, 24.98±2.78, 29.17±7.98 points; the DR lesions were more severe, the evaluation score were higher, and the difference was statistically significant (F=1.535, P<0.01). ConclusionCompared with the control group, the macular GCC, pRNFL thickness and RPC blood flow density of diabetic patients are significantly reduced; the "DR evaluation score" is increased, and it is related to the severity of DR.
ObjectiveTo observe and analyze the effect of HbA1c level on macular microcirculation in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM).MethodsA cross-sectional study. One hundred and twenty-four T2DM patients (124 eyes) without diabetic retinopathy who diagnosed by the examination of fundus color photography in Lixiang Eye Hospital Of Soochow University during September to December 2017 were enrolled in this study. There were 59 males (59 eyes) and 65 females (65 eyes), with the mean age of 65.06±7.99 years old. All patients underwent BCVA, fundus color photography, and OCT angiography (OCTA). The history of diabetes, hypertension and dyslipidemia were recorded in detail. According to the HbA1c level, patients were divided into three groups, HbA1c ideal control group (group A, HbA1c ＜7%, 67 eyes), HbA1c control group (group B, 7%≤HbA1c≤9%, 44 eyes), and HbA1c poor control group (group C, HbA1c＞9%, 13 eyes), respectively. The 3 mm×3 mm range of the macular area was scanned by OCTA instrument. The vascular density (VD) and skeleton density (SD) of nonsegmented retinal layer (NRL), superficial retinal layer (SRL) and deep retinal layer (DRL) in the macular area and foveal avascular zone (FAZ) area, non-circularity index, axial rate (AR) of SRL were measured. The correlation between HbA1c, BCVA and VD, SD of NRL, SRL, DRL was analyzed statistically with Spearman correlation test. The correlation between systemic factors and the above indicators was analyzed statistically with linear regression analysis.ResultsThe results of linear regression analysis showed that HbA1c was significantly correlated with VD (t=−3.237, −3.156, −2.050) and SD (t=−0.3.45, −3.034, −2.248) of NRL, SRL and DRL (P＜0.05); but no correlation with FAZ, non-circularity index and AR (t=1.739, 0.429, 1.155; P＞0.05). The differences of VD (F=6.349, 5.981, 3.709), SD (F=7.275, 6.085, 1.904) and AR (F=0.027) of NRL, SRL and DRL in group A, B and C were statistically significant (P＜0.05); but the differences of FAZ (F=1.904), non-circularity index (F=0.280) was not statistically significant (P＞0.05). Significant differences (P＜0.05) of VD and SD of NRL were found between group A and B (t=1.987, 2.201), group A and C (t=3.365, 3.572), group B and C (t=2.010, 2.076). Significant differences (P＜0.05) of VD and SD of SRL were found between group A and B (t=2.087, 2.168), group A and C (t=3.197, 3.194). There were significant differences (P＜0.05) in SD of DRL between group A and B (t=2.239), group A and C (t=−2.519). There was significant difference in VD of DRL between group A and C (t=2.363). The results of Spearman correlation analysis showed that HbA1c was negatively correlated with VD (r=−0.273, −0.255, −0.222; P=0.002, 0.004, 0.013) and SD (r=−0.275, −0.236, −0.254; P＜0.05) of NRL, SRL, DRL; positively correlated with FAZ and BCVA (r=0.221, 0.183; P＜0.05). BCVA was negatively correlated with VD (r=−0.210, −0.190, −0.245) and SD (r=−0.239, −0.207, −0.296) of NRL, SRL, and DRL (P＜0.05), but not correlated with FAZ (r=0.099, P＞0.05).ConclusionThe decrease of macular perfusion and the morphological change of FAZ accompanied by HbA1c increased.