Role of BKCa channels in diabetic vascular complications

Objective This review focuses on the role of the large conductance calcium-activated potassium （BKCa） channels in diabetic vascular complications.Data sources Relevant articles published in English or Chinese from 1981 to present were selected from PubMed.The search terms were ＂BKCa channels＂ and ＂diabetes＂.Important references from selected articles were also retrieved.Study selection Articles regarding the role of BKCa channels in diabetic vascular complications and relevant mechanisms were selected.Results The BKCa channels are abundantly expressed in vascular smooth cells and play an important role in regulation of vascular tone.Multiple studies indicated that the expression and function of BKCa channels are altered by different mechanisms in diabetic vascular diseases such as coronary arterial disease,cerebral arterial disease,and diabetic retinopathy.Conclusion BKCa channels may play an important role in diabetic vascular complications and may be an effective therapeutic target for relieving and reducing the burden of diabetic vascular complications.

Food-advanced glycation end products aggravate the diabetic vascular complications via modulating the AGEs/RAGE pathway

The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of high-advanced glycation end products （AGEs） diet on diabetic vascular complications. The Streptozocin （STZ）-induced diabetic mice were fed with high-AGEs diet. Diabetic characteristics, indicators 3f renal and cardiovascular functions, and pathohistology of pancreas, heart and renal were evaluated. AGEs/RAGE/ROS pathway parameters were determined. During the experiments, the diabetic mice exhibited typical characteristics including weight loss, polydipsia, polyphagia, polyuria, high-blood glucose, and low-serum insulin levels. However, high-AGEs diet effectively aggravated these diabetic sharacteristics. It also increased the 24-h urine protein levels, serum levels of urea nitrogen, creatinine, c-reactive protein （CRP）, low density lipoprotein （LDL）, tumor necrosis factor-a （TNF-a）, and interleukin-6 （IL-6） in the diabetic mice. High-AGEs diet deteriorated the histology of pancreas, heart, and kidneys, and caused structural alterations of endothelial ceils, mesangial cells and podocytes in renal ：ortex. Eventually, high-AGEs diet contributed to the high-AGE levels in serum and kidneys, high-levels of reactive oxygen species ＇,ROS） and low-levels of superoxide dismutase （SOD） in serum, heart, and kidneys. It also upregulated RAGE mRNA and protein expression in heart and kidneys. Our results showed that high-AGEs diet deteriorated vascular complications in the diabetic mice. The activation of AGEs/RAGE/ROS pathway may be involved in the pathogenesis of vascular complications in diabetes.

Metabolic memory: mechanisms and implications for diabetic vasculopathies

In the past decades,a persistent progression of diabetic vascular complications despite reversal of hyperglycemia has been observed in both experimental and clinical studies.This durable effect of prior hyperglycemia on the initiation and progression of diabetic vasculopathies was defined as"metabolic memory".Subsequently,enhanced glycation of cellular proteins and lipids,sustained oxidative stress,and prolonged inflammation were demonstrated to mediate this phenomenon.Recently,emerging evidence strongly suggests that epigenetic modifications may account for the molecular and phenotypic changes associated with hyperglycemic memory.In this review,we presented an overview on the discovery of metabolic memory,the recent progress in its molecular mechanisms,and the future implications related to its fundamental research and clinical application.

Effect of intensive blood glucose control on quality of life in elderly patients with type 2 diabetes in Anhui Province

Background Intensive blood glucose control is proven to be associated with the diabetic microvascular and macrovascular complications, which could affect quality of life （QOL）. This study was performed to determine the effects of intensive glucose control therapy on QOL of elderly patients with type 2 diabetes in Anhui Province. Methods Ninety-seven elderly patients with type 2 diabetes in Anhui were randomly assigned to standard treatment group and intensive therapy group. All patients were followed up for five years on average. Correlated information has been collected during the regular follow-up.