Editorial [Hot Topic: Pathogenesis and Treatment of Diabetic Complications,Retinopathy, Nephropathy and Cardiomyopathy (Executive Editor: J.L. Wilkinson-Berka)]

This issue of Current Pharmaceutical Design, for which I have the great pleasure to be Executive Guest Editor, addresses topical issues relating to the pathogenesis and treatment of diabetic complications, retinopathy, nephropathy and cardiomyopathy. Fletcher et al. [1] describes neuronal and glial cell dysfunction in diabetic retinopathy, and how these changes relate to vascular compromise. Marshall [2] discusses the importance of the podocyte in the development of diabetic nephropathy, and how a variety of factors including metabolic and hemodynamic abnormalities affect podocyte integrity. Connelly et al. [3] examines the prevalence of coronary artery disease and cardiac failure in the diabetic population, and how factors such as angiotensin II are crucial for the development of diabetic cardiac disease Dean and Burrell [4] examines the role of the recently identified enzyme, ACE2, in microvascular and macrovascular disease in diabetes, and how compounds that target ACE2 may potentially be of clinical value for the treatment of diabetic complications. Calkin et al. [5] reviews evidence that PPARα agonists have potential benefits for the treatment of diabetes-associated atherosclerosis. Given the excellence of the reviews in this issue, I hope the readers of Current Pharmaceutical Design will find this issue informative with regard to updating their knowledge about the variety of factors implicated in the development and progression of diabetic complications. The reviews identify the potential for the development of new and improved treatment strategies for the better management of diabetic micro- and macro-vascular disease. References [1] Fletcher EL, Phipps JA, Ward MM, Puthussery T, Wilkinson-Berka JL. Neuronal and Glial Cell Abnormality as Predictors of Progression of Diabetic Retinopathy. Curr Pharm Des 2007; 13(26): 2699-2712. [2] Marshall SM. The Podocyte: a Potential Therapeutic Target in Diabetic Nephropathy. Curr Pharm Des 2007; 13(26): 2713-2720. [3] Connelly KA, Boyle AJ, Kelly DJ. Angiotensin II and the Cardiac Complications of Diabetes Mellitus. Curr Pharm Des 2007; 13(26): 2721-2729. [4] Dean RG, Burrell LM. ACE2 and Diabetic Complications. Curr Pharm Des 2007; 13(26): 2730-2735. [5] Calkin AC, Jandeleit-Dahm KA, Sebekova E, Allen TJ, Mizrahi J, Cooper ME, Tikellis C. PPARs and Diabetes- Associated Atherosclerosis. Curr Pharm Des 2007; 13(26): 2736-2741.