As the prevalence of diabetes is increasing worldwide, research on some of the lesser-known effects, including impaired bone health, are gaining a lot of attention. The two most common forms of diabetes are type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) and type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). These two differ in their physiology, with T1DM stemming from an inability to produce insulin, and T2DM involving an insufficient response to the insulin that is produced. This review aims to highlight the most current information regarding diabetes as it relates to bone health. It looks at biochemical changes that characterize diabetic bone; notably increased adiposity, altered bone metabolism, and variations in bone mineral density (BMD). Then several hypotheses are analyzed, concerning how these changes may be detrimental to the highly orchestrated processes that are involved in bone formation and turnover, and ultimately result in the distinguishing features of diabetic bone. The review proceeds by explaining the effects of antidiabetes medications on bone health, then highlighting several ways that diabetes can play a part in other clinical treatment outcomes. With diabetes negatively affecting bone health and creating other clinical problems, and its treatment options potentiating these effects, physicians should consider the use of anti-osteoporotic drugs to supplement standard anti-diabetes medications in patients suffering with diabetic bone loss.
In patients with end-stage renal disease, kidney transplantation has been associated with numerous benefits, including increased daily activity, and better survival rates. However, over 20% of kidney transplants result in rejection within five years. Rejection is primarily due to a hypersensitive immune system and ischemia/reperfusion injury. Bilirubin has been shown to be a potent antioxidant that is capable of potentially reversing or preventing damage from reactive oxygen species generated from ischemia and reperfusion. Additionally, bilirubin has several immunomodulatory effects that can dampen the immune system to promote organ acceptance. Increased bilirubin has also been shown to have a positive impact on renal hemodynamics, which is critical post-transplantation. Lastly, bilirubin levels have been correlated with biomarkers of successful transplantation. In this review, we discuss a multitude of potentially beneficial effects that bilirubin has on kidney acceptance of transplantation based on numerous clinical trials and animal models. Exogenous bilirubin delivery or increasing endogenous levels pre- or post-transplantation may have therapeutic benefits.
Bladder cancer has been linked to numerous toxins which can be concentrated in the bladder after being absorbed into the blood and filtered by the kidneys. Excessive carcinogenic load to the bladder urothelium may result in the development of cancer. However, enzymes within the bladder can metabolize carcinogens into substrates that are safer. Importantly, these proteins, namely the UGTs (uridine 5-diphospho-glucuronosyltransferases), have been shown to possibly prevent bladder cancer. Also, studies have shown that the UGT1 expression is decreased in uroepithelial carcinomas, which may allow for the accumulation of carcinogens in the bladder. In this review, we discuss the UGT system and its protective role against bladder cancer, UGT genetic mutations that modulate risk from chemicals and environmental toxins, as well as targeting of the UGT enzymes by nuclear receptors.
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