Longitudinal analysis of low-molecular weight fluorophores in type 1 diabetes mellitus.

Objectives: Circulating low molecular weight (<10 kDa) fluorophores (LMW-F) measured by non-specific fluorescence spectroscopy may detect small advanced glycation end-products (AGEs) not recognized by other assays. This longitudinal study assessed correlates of LMW-F and predictive power of LMW-F levels for vascular health in Type 1 diabetes (T1DM) patients.

Methods: Fasting patients with T1DM (n=37) were studied twice at intervals of 12-60 months (mean+/-SD, 33+/-15 months).

Glutathionyl haemoglobin is not increased in diabetes nor related to glycaemia, complications, dyslipidaemia, inflammation or other measures of oxidative stress.

Modified haemoglobin levels were quantified in 21 Type 1 and 21 Type 2 diabetic patients and two groups of 17 non-diabetic subjects. Glycated haemoglobin levels were increased in diabetes but glutathionyl haemoglobin (HbSSG) levels did not differ between groups, nor by complications; nor correlate with haemoglobin glycation or vascular risk factors.

Increased serum pigment epithelium-derived factor is associated with microvascular complications, vascular stiffness and inflammation in Type 1 diabetes.

Aims: To determine in Type 1 diabetes patients if levels of pigment epithelium-derived factor (PEDF), an anti-angiogenic, anti-inflammatory and antioxidant factor, are increased in individuals with complications and positively related to vascular and renal dysfunction, body mass index, glycated haemoglobin, lipids, inflammation and oxidative stress.

Methods: Serum PEDF levels were measured by ELISA in a cross-sectional study of 123 Type 1 diabetic patients (71 without and 52 with microvascular complications) and 31 non-diabetic control subjects. PEDF associations with complication status, pulse-wave analysis and biochemical results were explored.

Traditional risk factor assessment does not capture the extent of cardiovascular risk in systemic lupus erythematosus.

Background: Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is associated with accelerated atherosclerosis. However, the degree of endothelial dysfunction and its relationship to traditional and novel cardiovascular risk factors have not been examined in SLE.

Methods: In a case-control design, 35 patients with clinically stable SLE and 35 control subjects matched for age, sex, body mass index and smoking status were studied.

Systemic and vascular inflammation is elevated in early IgA and type 1 diabetic nephropathies and relates to vascular disease risk factors and renal function.

Background: Inflammation is implicated in cardiovascular disease (CVD) and mortality in end-stage renal failure (ESRF). Its importance in early renal disease is yet to be defined.

Methods: Serum levels of systemic and vascular inflammatory markers in early IgA nephropathy (IgAN) and control subjects were measured and related to renal function and vascular risk factors.