Diabetes care
-
Comparative Study
The impact of the Micro-Lightguide O2C for the quantification of tissue ischemia in diabetic foot ulcers.
Tissue oxygen supply is crucial for wound healing. Especially in diabetic foot lesions, the chances for healing are mainly dependent on the presence or absence of ischemia. This study investigates the impact of the tissue O2 analysis system "O2C" for noninvasive quantification of tissue oxygenation in diabetic foot ulcer patients. ⋯ O2C is a new reliable and valid method for noninvasive measurement of tissue oxygenation and microvascular blood flow in patients with diabetic foot ulcers.
-
Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and angiopoietin (Ang)-1 and Ang-2 are mediators of angiogenesis. More recent data suggest that the balance between these growth factors may affect vascular endothelial integrity. Because diabetes is closely associated with endothelial perturbation, we studied plasma levels of these angiogenic growth factors in patients with diabetes; their relationship with glycemia, inflammation, and endothelial damage/dysfunction; and the effect of intensified cardiovascular risk management. ⋯ Plasma Ang-2 (but not Ang-1), like VEGF levels, are selectively elevated in patients with diabetes and are associated with indexes of endothelial damage/dysfunction, regardless of vascular disease. Intensive multifactorial intervention is associated with reductions in plasma VEGF, vWf, and (in patients without CVD) Ang-2 levels, possibly reflecting an improved vascular profile with treatment.
-
The aim of this study was to evaluate a novel method for assessing the axon reflex and to determine its value in detecting neuropathy in type 2 diabetes. ⋯ This study confirms the neurogenic nature of the LDIflare and clearly demonstrates loss of C-fiber function in neuropathic subjects with type 2 diabetes. Moreover, it demonstrates C-fiber dysfunction before its detection by other currently available methods, including CASE IV. The LDIflare seems to be a simple objective method to detect early neuropathy and may be of value in assessing therapeutic interventions aimed at preventing or reversing C-fiber dysfunction.