Upsala journal of medical sciences
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The immune system declines with age, but the impact of chronological age may be affected by sex, co-morbidities, and sociodemographic factors. ⋯ Chronological age and co-morbidities are independent risk factors of infections associated with hospital admission in the last year in life while male sex and sociodemographic factors have less impact.
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Growth differentiation factor 15 (GDF-15) is a robust prognostic biomarker in patients with cardiovascular (CV) disease, and a better understanding of its clinical determinants is desirable. We aimed to study the associations between GDF-15 levels and traditional CV risk factors, indicators of atherosclerotic burden, and cardiac geometry and dysfunction in outpatients with peripheral arterial disease (PAD). ⋯ Circulating GDF-15 is more strongly associated with traditional CV risk factors, especially diabetes, LDL cholesterol, and physical activity than with specific indicators of atherosclerotic burden or cardiac dysfunction. To better understand the pathophysiological role of GDF-15 and its link to clinical outcomes in patients with PAD, future studies should focus on the metabolic processes involved in atherosclerotic disease.
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Diabetic kidney disease is a major contributor to end stage renal disease. A change in kidney oxygen homeostasis leading to decreased tissue oxygen tension is an important factor initiating alterations in kidney function in diabetes. However, the mechanism contributing to changed oxygen homeostasis is still unclear. Hyperglycemia-induced production of reactive oxygen species and an altered response to them have previously been demonstrated. In the present study, chronic treatment with DL-sulforaphane to induce nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) expression, a master transcriptional regulator binding to antioxidant response elements inducing increased protection against reactive oxygen species, is studied. ⋯ DL-sulforaphane treatment affects renal hemodynamics, improving cortical oxygen tension but not mitochondrial efficiency.