BACKGROUND To investigate gene expression of podocyte-specific proteins in urine of diabetes and prediabetes subjects and the association of these proteins with albuminuria. METHODS Fifteen controls, 19 prediabetes, and 67 diabetes subjects were included. Messenger RNA of nephrin, podocin, podocalyxin, synaptopodin, TRPC6, alpha-actinin-4, and TGF-β1 were measured using RT-PCR. Podocyte marke...

Depression affects neurons in the prefrontal cortex and hippocampus [1] and depression increases among the millions of older adults affected by diabetes worldwide [2-4]. Although diabetes and depression share certain risk factors, e.g. physical inactivity, obesity, inflammation, and hypothalamic-pituitaryadrenal (HPA) axis dysregulation [5], the underlying mechanisms accounting for the substant...

BACKGROUND Changes in retinal microvascular caliber, which occur prior to onset of retinopathy, may indicate presence of kidney damage. METHODS This study examined the association between retinal arteriolar [central retinal artery equivalent (CRAE)] and venular caliber [central retinal venule equivalent (CRVE)] and presence of albuminuria (micro- or macroalbuminuria) among participants of the...

Obesity and inflammation are risk factors for certain diabetes-related neurovascular complications although the underlying mechanism is unclear. Diabetic nephropathy is characterized by increased micro vascular permeability [1] (e.g. microand macro-albuminuria) and inflammation thought to drive the progression to end-stage-renal disease (ESRD) [2]. In a prior study in 305 diabetic nephropathy p...

Albuminuria has been recognized as a marker of generalized vascular endothelial damage. Even low levels, called micro-albuminuria, independently predict poor cardiovascular and renal outcome in subjects with diabetes, hypertension, but also in non-diabetic, non-hypertensive individuals [1–4]. These complications consume a large proportion of health-care budgets. Recently, several nephrological ...

OBJECTIVE The study aims to test whether biological interaction between hyperglycemia and albuminuria can explain the inconsistent findings from epidemiological studies and clinical trials about effects of hyperglycemia on stroke in type 2 diabetes. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS A total of 6,445 Hong Kong Chinese patients with type 2 diabetes and free of stroke at enrollment were followed up fo...

Background: The main factor causing chronic kidney disease, which progressively leads to end-stage renal failure, is diabetic nephropathy (DN). This study aims shed light on the importance of osteo-inductive (OIF) as a sensitive indicator for early identification DN Methods: On 80 participants, this prospective cohort observational research was conducted. A total 60 them had diabetes mellitus t...

OBJECTIVE To assess the value of micro-albuminuria analysis (MA) in predicting clinical complications of placentary insufficiency in women with no known risk factor. STUDY DESIGN A blind prospective investigation 20-24 weeks into pregnancy in a nulliparous population with no known risk factor. A reactive strip with a positive threshold value of 10 mg/l is used to detect MA. Judgment criteria ...

BACKGROUND Statins can cause tubular proteinuria by inhibiting tubular reabsorption of urinary proteins. To distinguish between microalbuminuria originating from glomerular leakage of albumin and tubular microalbuminuria due to statin therapy, the α1-microglobulin/albumin ratio is evaluated in patients taking statins and compared to untreated patients. METHODS Ten apparently healthy subjects ...