Clinical studies have shown a relationship between diabetic retinopathy and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) levels in ocular fluid. Advanced glycation end products (AGEs) have been implicated in diabetes complications, including diabetic retinopathy. Nepsilon-(carboxymethyl) lysine (CML) is a glycoxidation product that may be a marker of oxidative stress. In this study, we used enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays to determine the levels of VEGF, non-CML AGE and CML in the aqueous humor and serum of 82 Japanese patients with type 2 diabetes and 60 non-diabetic subjects. VEGF, non-CML AGE, and CML concentrations in aqueous humor and serum were then compared with the severity of diabetic retinopathy. Immunohistochemical detection analysis of non-CML AGE and CML was also performed using retinal tissues from patients with progressive diabetic retinopathy. Aqueous levels of VEGF, non-CML AGE and CML increased along with the progression of diabetic retinopathy compared to age-matched controls. After coagulation therapy, the VEGF, non-CML AGE, and CML levels were significantly reduced. Immunostaining showed diffuse co-localization of non-CML AGE and CML around microvessels and in the glial cells of proliferative membranes from patients with progressive diabetic retinopathy. These findings suggest that glycation and glycoxidation reactions (or oxidation, as revealed by CML) may contribute to both the onset and progression of diabetic retinopathy.
Introduction Wax gels obtained by solidifying liquid oils with small amounts of solid oils waxes are widely used for stick cosmetics, such as lipsticks and lip creams. Hydrocarbon waxes, such as paraffin wax and polyethylene, are mainly used as solidifiers gelling agents for these oil gels 1, 2. Since these waxes are derived from petroleum, they may be viewed unfavorably by cosmetics users. Further dependence on fossil fuels leads to environmental burden. On the other hand, botanical waxes like candelilla wax, carnauba wax, and rice bran wax are used in cosmetics as oil thickeners, emulsion stabilizers, and as gelling agents mixed with hydrocarbon waxes 3. However, when they are used as gelling agents, botanical waxes tend to form gels that are much softer than those formed from hydrocarbon waxes 4. Rice bran wax, a botanical wax containing an ester as the main component, is obtained as a by-product of edible grain rice processing 5 and is used both as a cosmetic raw material and a food additive. Among botanical waxes, rice bran wax is attractive as an oil gelling agent for cosmetics due to its relatively high melting point 72 and rather high gel hardness. Many studies have been conducted on
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