Plasma E-selectin levels can play a role in the development of diabetic retinopathy.

PURPOSE: Diabetic retinopathy is one of the leading causes of blindness. There are several risk factors, such as the duration of diabetes or glycemic control of the patient; however, several biochemical factors also alter the process. Our aim was to investigate the role of soluble E-selectin in the formation of diabetic retinopathy. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Fifty-seven patients (37 female and 20 male, aged 61.71 ± 12.31 years) and 14 healthy control subjects (ten female and four male, aged 63.06 ± 10.46 years) were enrolled in the study. We measured the soluble E-selectin level in the plasma of patients by ELISA. All patients underwent careful ophthalmological examination, including ophthalmoscopy and color fundus photography, while diabetic retinopathy grading was performed in line with the 2012 classification of the American Academy of Ophthalmology (AAO). RESULTS: The soluble E-selectin level was significantly higher in patients with diabetes compared to controls (32.95 ng/ml vs. 26.55 ng/ml, p = 0.03). Dividing patients into groups by the presence of retinopathy, the E-selectin level was also significantly higher in the retinopathy group (p < 0.05). When we examined diabetic patients by the severity of retinopathy (groups A, B, and C, by the guidelines of the AAO), however, we did not find any significant difference in soluble E-selectin levels, although it tended to be higher in group B. CONCLUSIONS: An elevated E-selectin level can play a role in the development of diabetic retinopathy, but it does not seem to alter disease severity. However, glycemic control and the reduction of cardiovascular risk factors may also alter the level of E-selectin that might play a role in the prevention of diabetic retinopathy.

[Analysis of fecal mucus in children with prolonged and acute diarrhea]. / Estudio del moco fecal en niños con diarrea de evolución aguda o prolongada

The fecal mucus obtained from 110 samples in 50 children with diarrhea was studied. Leukocytes were present in 44 cases and 66 samples were negative. Patients with E. coli 0111 did not show fecal leukocytes in contrast with those with E. coli 0119. Patients with shigellosis showed fecal leukocytes of polymorphonuclear predominance, the same as patients with non-thyphoid salmonellosis. But when septicemia was present, either from salmonella or from other enterobacteria, there was a striking increase in percentage of mononuclears. Several patients with negative stool cultures showed fecal leukocytes of polymorphonuclear predominance which suggested residual inflammatory reaction or presence of bacteriologically unidentified invasive E. coli. The index of diagnostic prediction for this test was 73%. Its routine use is recommended in any child with acute or protracted diarrhea, before the initiation of antimicrobial treatment.