A randomised study of the impact of the SGLT2 inhibitor dapagliflozin on microvascular and macrovascular circulation.

Background: The sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitor, dapagliflozin, has been shown to improve diabetic control and reduce blood pressure in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus. Its effects on micro- and macrovascular structure and function have not yet been reported.

Methods: This was a prospective, single-centre, placebo-controlled, double-blind, randomised crossover phase IIIb study conducted between March 2014 and February 2015.

Retinal Capillary Rarefaction in Patients with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus.

Purpose: In diabetes mellitus type 2, capillary rarefaction plays a pivotal role in the pathogenesis of end-organ damage. We investigated retinal capillary density in patients with early disease.

Methods: This cross-sectional study compares retinal capillary rarefaction determined by intercapillary distance (ICD) and capillary area (CapA), measured non-invasively and in vivo by scanning laser Doppler flowmetry, in 73 patients with type 2 diabetes, 55 healthy controls and 134 individuals with hypertension stage 1 or 2.

Improvement in Retinal Capillary Rarefaction After Valsartan Treatment in Hypertensive Patients.

Decreased capillary density influences vascular resistance and perfusion. The authors aimed to investigate the influence of the renin-angiotensin receptor blocker valsartan on retinal capillary rarefaction in hypertensive patients. Retinal vascular parameters were measured noninvasively and in vivo by scanning laser Doppler flowmetry before and after 4 weeks of treatment with valsartan in 95 patients with hypertension stage 1 or 2 and compared with 55 healthy individuals.

Quality of life and emotional impact of a fixed-dose combination of antihypertensive drugs in patients with uncontrolled hypertension.

Often considered to be a symptomless condition, hypertension can be associated with a significant emotional burden. To analyze changes of health-related quality of life as well as the emotional burden questions regarding the impact of hypertension were incorporated into the noninterventional SeviTarget study. Comparisons were made between baseline and follow-up findings, and between patients with treatment target achievement and those without.

Early Signs of End-Organ Damage in Retinal Arterioles in Patients with Type 2 Diabetes Compared to Hypertensive Patients.

Background: Eutrophic and hypertrophic remodeling are major vascular hallmarks for hypertension and diabetes-associated microvascular end-organ damage in peripheral arterioles. The aim of this study is to compare retinal arterioles of diabetic, hypertensive, and healthy individuals.

Methods: Retinal parameters were assessed in 99 patients with T2DM, 158 hypertensive, and 149 healthy individuals.

Cocoa Flavanol Cardiovascular Effects Beyond Blood Pressure Reduction.

The protective cardiovascular (CV) effect of cocoa flavanol has been a target of many recent clinical prospective and retrospective investigations. Epidemiological data in different patient cohorts revealed an association between higher intake of flavanol-rich foods and decreased incidence of CV events, especially stroke and myocardial infarction. Cocoa flavanol has been shown to reduce systolic (2.

Effect of aliskiren on vascular remodelling in small retinal circulation.

Background: In hypertension, changes in small arterial structure are characterized by an increased wall-to-lumen ratio (WLR). These adaptive processes are modulated by the rennin-angiotensin system. It is unclear whether direct renin inhibitors exert protective effects on small arteries in hypertensive patients.

Effects of folic acid on renal endothelial function in patients with diabetic nephropathy: results from a randomized trial.

Unlabelled: Endothelial dysfunction has been shown to promote podocyte injury and albuminuria in diabetes, highlighting the importance of the interaction between renal endothelial cells and podocytes. Folic acid (FA) improves nitric oxide synthase (NOS) function and reduces progression of diabetic nephropathy in animal models. We tested whether high-dose FA treatment improves renal endothelial function and albuminuria in human subjects with incipient diabetic nephropathy.