Intravitreal injections of anti-VEGF drugs have an effect on decreasing systemic VEGF values. Rhythm of changes in serum VEGF concentrations and lowest detected concentration on the seventh postinjection day are according to pharmacokinetics of Avastin in serum and vitreous, reported by similar studies. The small number of patients involved in this pilot study implicates the need for further studies.

Cystatin C serum level may have significant role as a marker of pre-eclampsia specially when used in combination with uric acid levels.

Increased platelet turnover and high level of reticulated platelets are associated with low response to antiplatelet therapy in diabetes mellitus type 2. This study evaluated association between percentage of reticulated platelets (%RP) and the response to antiplatelet therapy in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). This prospective, pilot, case-control, clinical trial included 79 subjects stratified in three groups: group I included 30 patients with T2DM, group II included 34 non-diabetic patients and 15 healthy age and sex matched healthy volunteers were enrolled in control group. Platelet response to clopidogrel and aspirin was assessed by Multiplate(®) aggregometry analyzer. Individual response to dual antiplatelet therapy was estimated by the percentage of decrease in overall platelet aggregability (%DPA) obtained after antiplatelet therapy, calculated by presented formulas: %DPAadp = 100 × (1 - ADP/TRAP) and %DPAaspi = 100 × (1 - ASPI/TRAP). %RP was significantly higher in diabetics, than in non-diabetics, (3.17 ± 1.26 vs. 2.39 ± 1.56; p < 0.05). Significantly lower response to clopidogrel (31.55 ± 13.02 vs. 50.24 ± 11.38; p < 0.001) and aspirin (52.33 ± 22.67 vs. 64.31 ± 16.47; p < 0.05) therapy was observed in diabetics. %RP negatively correlated with response to clopidogrel therapy, but positively with metabolic profile indicators in diabetics (p < 0.05, all). Correlation of %RP with metabolic profile indicators and poor response to antiplatelet therapy suggest that altered metabolic profile can affect platelet turnover in T2DM leading to low responsiveness to antiplatelet therapy in these patients.

Serum ceruloplasmin level may have significant role as the markers of oxidative stress in pre-eclampsia especially when used in combination with uric acid levels.

IntroductionObesity and inadequate vitamin D status are associated with endothelial dysfunction and cardiovascular disease. We evaluated the associations between vitamin D status (i.e. serum levels of 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D)), biomarkers of endothelial dysfunction (i.e. serum concentrations of soluble intercellular adhesion molecule 1 (sICAM-1) and soluble E-selectin (sE-selectin)), inflammatory markers (i.e. high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP) and fibrinogen) and cardiometabolic risk factors.Material and methodsFifty obese (body mass index (BMI) ≥ 30 kg/m2) non-diabetic adults (mean age: 36.2 ±5.4 years) without pre-existing cardiovascular abnormalities and 25 clinically healthy, normal weight and age-matched individuals were included. Anthropometric parameters, markers of glucose and lipid metabolism, and serum levels of inflammatory and endothelial dysfunction biomarkers were assessed in all subjects.ResultsThe mean serum 25(OH)D level was significantly lower in the obese group than in controls (33.5 ±15.2 vs. 60.1 ±23.1 nmol/l; p < 0.001). In the obese group, sE-selectin (36.4 (32.1–47.2) vs. 32.4 (24.6–35.5) ng/ml, p < 0.05) and hsCRP (6.0 ±3.4 vs. 3.5 ±1.0 mg/l, p < 0.05) were significantly higher in individuals with lower than median vitamin D levels (i.e. 31 nmol/l) compared with those with higher vitamin D levels. In multivariable linear regression analysis, hsCRP (β = –0.43; p < 0.001) and sE-selectin (β = –0.30; p = 0.03) were independently and significantly associated with serum 25(OH)D levels in the obese group.ConclusionsVitamin D levels may be related to increased levels of biomarkers of endothelial dysfunction and inflammation in obese non-diabetic individuals.

Background: Endothelin-1 (ET-1) is potent vasoconstrictor peptide which is able to contribute to the functional and structural renal changes. The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between plasma concentration of ET-1 and indices of renal function in patients with diabetic nephropathy. Methods: We measured plasma ET-1 levels in 99 patients with type 2 diabetes, divided into two groups according to the values of their glomerular filtration rate (GFR): group I (GFR ! 60 mL/min/1.73 m

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CLMD and vitamin D deficiency may commonly be present in obese non-diabetic subjects. Individually and combined, both deficiencies predispose non-diabetic patients to increased risk of cardiometabolic diseases. Maintaining normal Mg status may improve the beneficial effects of vitamin D on cardiometabolic risk indicators.