Background: Diabetic retinopathy (DR) is characterized by blood-retina barrier breakdown induced by local changes in the retina and systemic factors. We investigated vitreous and serum levels of glucose and uric acid (UA) in patients with DR and aimed to describe their correlation with the grade of DR. Methods: Prospective study of 81 patients with DR and 48 non-diabetic controls. Biochemical analysis of vitreous and serum samples was performed. Results: UA and glucose concentrations in vitreous and serum were significantly higher in diabetic patients than in controls. Absolute ratios (vitreous level/serum level) of UA and glucose were higher in proliferative compared with non-proliferative DR. Conclusions: The results suggest that, apart from glucose, increased levels of UA in diabetic patients may also be involved in the pathogenesis and progression of DR.
Gravity disturbances, the Marussi tensor, invariants of the gravity field, their certain ratio and other functions of the geopotential (including newly defined "virtual deformations") are computed based on the harmonic coefficients of the global gravitational field model EGM 2008. Regional examples of correlations of large-scale morphotectonic and landform patterns with some aspects of the geopotential as computed from the EGM 2008 are presented. It is suggested that morphotectonic and landform patterns with very conspicuous combinations of significantly high positive or negative values of Γ 33 are under the strong influence of rapid and/or intensive geomorphic processes. These geophysical signatures supported by values of the strike angle θ S and virtual dilatations or compressions of the ellipse of deformation reflect the regional dynamics of Earth surface evolution as characterised by very effective integration of tectonic and climate-driven morphogenetic processes.
Correlations of large-scale landform patterns with some aspects of the geopotential as computed from the global gravity field model EGM 2008, particularly the radial second derivatives of the disturbing gravitational potential Γ 33 , the strike angle θ S and virtual deformations of the ellipse of deformation, are demonstrated. Selected regions with documentation of aspects from EGM 2008 are the Nepal Himalaya and its neighbouring areas, the collision zone of East-Asian and West-Pacific lithospheric plates, the contact region of north-eastern Africa, south-western Asia and south-eastern Europe, morphotectonic contact between the Bohemian Massif, Eastern Alps and the Western Carpathians in Central Europe and regions of ancient rapid events indicated by relics of large impact craters Vredefort, Chicxulub and Popigai. It is suggested that landform patterns with very conspicuous combinations of significantly high positive or negative values of Γ 33 are under the strong influence of rapid and/or intensive geomorphic processes. These geophysical signatures supported by values of the strike angle θ S and virtual dilatations or compressions of the ellipse of deformation reflect the regional dynamics of Earth surface evolution as characterised by a very effective integration of tectonic and climate-driven morphogenetic processes.
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