Ambulatory blood pressure monitoring in diabetes for the assessment and control of vascular risk

Diabetic neuropathy: cutting-edge research and future directions

Diabetic neuropathy (DN) is a prevalent and debilitating complication of diabetes mellitus, significantly impacting patient quality of life and contributing to morbidity and mortality. Affecting approximately 50% of patients with diabetes, DN is predominantly characterized by distal symmetric polyneuropathy, leading to sensory loss, pain, and motor dysfunction, often resulting in diabetic foot ulcers and lower-limb amputations. The pathogenesis of DN is multifaceted, involving hyperglycemia, dyslipidemia, oxidative stress, mitochondrial dysfunction, and inflammation, which collectively damage peripheral nerves. Despite extensive research, disease-modifying treatments remain elusive, with current management primarily focusing on symptom control. This review explores the complex mechanisms underlying DN and highlights recent advances in diagnostic and therapeutic strategies. Emerging insights into the molecular and cellular pathways have unveiled potential targets for intervention, including neuroprotective agents, gene and stem cell therapies, and innovative pharmacological approaches. Additionally, novel diagnostic tools, such as corneal confocal microscopy and biomarker-based tests, have improved early detection and intervention. Lifestyle modifications and multidisciplinary care strategies can enhance patient outcomes. While significant progress has been made, further research is required to develop therapies that can effectively halt or reverse disease progression, ultimately improving the lives of individuals with DN. This review provides a comprehensive overview of current understanding and future directions in DN research and management.

Relation between nocturnal decline in blood pressure and choroidal thickness: a comparative analysis in dipper vs. non-dipper hypertensive patients

PURPOSE

To compare choroidal thickness (ChT) and echocardiographical changes in patients with dipper and non-dipper systemic arterial hypertension (HT).

METHODS

Patients with HT were evaluated in two groups according to the 24-hour ambulatory BP monitoring. Compared to day-time values, those whose night-time SBP decreased ≥10% were defined as dippers, and those whose SBP decreased <10% were defined as non-dippers. Transthoracic echocardiography was conducted in all patients. ChT and central macular thickness were measured with spectral-domain optical coherence tomography. ChT was obtained at the subfoveal, 1500 µm nasal and temporal to the fovea.

RESULTS

Thirty non-dipper (18 females and 12 males) and 23 dipper (16 females and seven males) hypertensive patients were recruited. Sex distribution and the mean age were similar between the groups (P = 0.472; P = 0.12). Disease duration was longer in the non-dipper group (8 ± 3.39 vs. 4.96 ± 1.19 years, P = 0.001). The non-dipper group had lower ChT in subfoveal and temporal locations (P = 0.02 and 0.03, respectively) and higher left atrial volume index (LAVI) and pulmonary valve maximum flow (PV-max; P < 0.001). The night-time SBP was negatively correlated with ChT (P = 0.048) and positive correlated with LAVI and PV-max (P < 0.05). However those correlations were not significant when were controlled by the possible confounding factors as disease duration, age and gender.

CONCLUSION

Non-dipper HT patients may have thinner choroid than dippers due to longer duration of HT and higher ambulatory BP levels.

Consensus document of the Spanish Society of Arteriosclerosis (SEA) for the prevention and treatment of cardiovascular disease in type 2 diabetes mellitus

A consensus document of the Diabetes working group of the Spanish Society of Arteriosclerosis (SEA) is presented, based on the latest studies and conceptual changes that have appeared. It presents the cardiovascular risk in type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and the action guidelines for the prevention and treatment of cardiovascular disease (CVD) associated with T2DM. The importance of lipid control, based on the objective of LDL-C and non-HDL-C when there is hypertriglyceridemia, and the blood pressure control in the prevention and treatment of CVD is evaluated. The new hypoglycemic drugs and their effects on CVD are reviewed, as well as the treatment and control guidelines of hyperglycemia. Likewise, the use of antiplatelet agents is considered. Emphasis is placed on the importance of global and simultaneous action on all risk factors to achieve a significant reduction in cardiovascular events. This supplement is sponsored by Laboratorios Esteve, S.A.

Clinical Benefits of Unilateral Adrenalectomy in Patients with Subclinical Hypercortisolism Due to Adrenal Incidentaloma: Results from a Single Center

INTRODUCTION

This study was designed to evaluate the results of unilateral laparoscopic adrenalectomy in patients with subclinical hypercortisolism (SH) due to adrenal incidentaloma (AI) concerning the main cardiometabolic disorders.

METHODS

We have studied between January 2000 to December 2015, 645 patients with AI (283 males and 362 females; mean age 61.9 ± 10 years) and we found 70 patients with SH (27 males and 43 females; mean age 61.9 ± 8.4 years). Twenty-six (37%) SH patients (6 males and 20 females; mean age 58.7 ± 7.1 years) underwent unilateral laparoscopic adrenalectomy, whereas 44 SH patients (21 males and 23 females; mean age 63.9 ± 9.9 years) performed a conservative treatment. All SH patients were evaluated at diagnosis and after follow-up (mean 12 months; range 9-15 months).

RESULTS

In only SH patients undergoing unilateral adrenalectomy we found a statistical significant reduction of the arterial hypertension and metabolic syndrome (p < 0.05, respectively). In particular we observed a reduction of 24-h systolic blood pressure and "non-dipper" pattern (p < 0.05, respectively) evaluated with ambulatory blood pressure monitoring (ABPM).

CONCLUSIONS

Our study confirm the high prevalence of SH in AI, and the unilateral laparoscopic adrenalectomy seemed to have a beneficial effect on some cardiometabolic disorders.