Department of Solemn Scientific Research Platform in Liaoning University of Traditional Chinese Medicine
Department of Solemn Scientific Research Platform in Liaoning University of Traditional Chinese Medicine
Current knowledge: To the best of our knowledge, no studies have reported the correlation between pulmonary function and the vascular endothelial function in diabetic patients during the preclinical period. Indeed, diabetic nephropathy and retinopathy are the leading causes of end-stage renal failure and acquired blindness, respectively. However, when investigators treat patients with type 2 diabetes, investigators seldom consider the pulmonary vascular injury induced by glycemia. Experimental studies have shown that pulmonary function and Vascular endothelial function change during the preclinical stages of diabetic retinopathy. Researchers have already established that compared to healthy subjects, patients with type 2 diabetes have a reduced alveolar gas exchange capacity. The NO and ET-1 can be used to assess the Vascular endothelial function.
What this paper contributes to our knowledge: Regulating glycemia can improve Vascular endothelial function . This study suggests that detecting the NO and ET-1 would allow for the prediction of changes in pulmonary function during the preclinical stages of diabetic retinopathy and the degree of retinopathy in the future.
Inclusion Criteria:1) symptoms of diabetes (thirst, polydipsia, diuresis, and unexplainable weight loss); 2) random blood sugar ≥11.1 mol/L, fasting plasma glucose ≥7.0 mol/L or an oral glucose tolerance test outcome (2-hour postprandial blood glucose) ≥11.1 mol/L; or 3) no symptoms of diabetes but either random blood sugar ≥11.1 mol/L or fasting plasma glucose ≥7.0 mol/L.
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Exclusion Criteria:1) diagnosis of type 2 diabetes according to the guidelines of the American Diabetes Association;11 2) no history of smoking (never smoked), pulmonary disease or pulmonary infection (during the treatment or recovery period); 3) no hepatopathy, nephropathy, or gastrointestinal disease; and 4) a high likelihood of good compliance and the ability to visit our hospital for periodic assessments. The exclusion criteria were as follows: 1) diagnosis of type 1 diabetes; 2) pregnancy and/or active lactation; 3) intensive care with insulin treatment; 4) renal inadequacy, hypohepatia, or heart disease; 5) pneumonia, influenza (during the treatment or recovery period), phthisis or other pulmonary infection; 6) presence of multiple pulmonary cysts, bullae of the lung, or diffuse pulmonary calcifications confirmed via CT; 7) combined diabetic retinopathy and hypertension (for which antihypertensive drugs are used); 8) aneurysm, dissection of aorta; 9) inadequate control of serum lipid parameters by cholesterol-lowering drugs; 10) body mass index ≥32; and 11) the use of systemically injected glucocorticoids within 3 months prior to our study.
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