Current Pharmaceutical Design - Volume 11, Issue 18, 2005

Diabetic vascular complication is a leading cause of end-stage renal failure, acquired blindness, a variety of neuropathies and accelerated atherosclerosis, which could account for disabilities and high mortality rates in patients with diabetes. Recent large prospective clinical studies have shown that intensive glucose control reduces effectively microvascular complications among patients with diabetes, and insulin resistanc Read More

Studies over the last decade have revealed impairment of the microcirculation in the diabetic foot. Endothelial dysfunction along with derangements in numerous biochemical pathways has been implicated as causes of microcirculation impairment. Additionally, reduction or absence of the nerve-axon reflex renders the diabetic foot unable to mount a vasodilatory response under conditions of stress, such as i Read More

Angiogenic eye disease is among the most common causes of blindness worldwide. Current treatment approaches are insufficiently effective and partially associated with significant adverse effects. From an investigational view, the eye provides an ideal setting to observe real-time and serial observations of angiogenesis in vivo in humans. The current understanding of molecular biology involved in angiogenesis has already le Read More

Blood platelets play a crucial role in physiological haemostasis and in pathology of prothrombotic states, including atherosclerosis. In this paper, we review major factors underlying altered platelet reactivity, with special attention paid to abnormalities in platelet function in people with diabetes mellitus (DM). The overall picture of platelet abnormalities in DM, including altered adhesion and aggregation, is hypersensitivity of diabe Read More

Endothelial dysfunction is an early sign of diabetic vascular disease. Due to their unique position at the border between blood and vascular tissue, endothelial cells (EC) are the first vascular cells to sensor humoral changes, and they are able to transmit the information about these changes to other vascular cell types by changing their gene expression profile and producing growth factors, cytokines, adhesion molecules, and ot Read More

The endothelium represents an important therapeutic target for containment of oxidative stress, thrombosis and inflammation involved in a plethora of acute and chronic conditions including cardiovascular and pulmonary diseases and diabetes. However, rapid blood clearance and lack of affinity to the endothelium compromise delivery to target and restrict medical utility of antioxidant enzymes (e.g., catalase) and fibrin Read More