ABSTRACT
Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is an age-related degenerative disease with complex pathogenesis, whose initial lesion is accompanied with immune inflammatory response. Amyloid beta (Aβ), a small-molecule protein generated by the hydrolysis of amyloid precursor protein, as the main component, is involved in the formation of drusen, which serves as the early characteristic of AMD. In the local inflammatory response of AMD, Aβ is an important pathological deposit, promoting the proliferation and differentiation of macrophages as well as changing their morphology to accelerate the progression of AMD. In addition, Aβ can also regulate immune molecules and the complement system by activating inflammatory pathways, thus mediating chronic retinal inflammation and promoting the course of AMD. However, since AMD is not caused by inflammation alone, only the immunosuppression may not be effective in inhibiting the course of AMD, and thus the future development is to rebalance the disordered immune system in AMD patients eyes.
ABSTRACT
Diet management is the key part in the prevention and treatment of chronic kidney disease (CKD). A plant-based diet is a diet consisting mostly or entirely of foods derived from plants, with little or no animal foods. In recent years, research on plant-based diets for chronic kidney disease has been increasing. Large-scale epidemiological studies and interventional studies consistently suggest that plant-based diets could reduce the risk of CKD and related complications and slow down CKD progression. This article reviews the research progress of plant-based diets in the prevention and control of CKD.