Omentin-1 and diabetic foot

Introduction: Diabetic foot disease is an advanced complication of diabetes mellitus, which is associated with severe invalidization and high mortality rate among affected people. Many factors are involved in its pathogenesis but not all of them are fully elucidated. Objectives: Adipose tissue and its hormones – adipokines, are related to diabetic complications and metabolic disorders. Until now, there are limited data on their role in diabetic foot. The aim of this cross-sectional study is to determine the levels of the adipokine omentin-1 in people with and without diabetic foot disease and to look for its potential involvement in this complication. Methods: Eighty patients with type 2 diabetes and mean age of 60.8±10.5 years were included in this study. They were divided into two groups: with (n=36) and without (n=44) diabetic foot disease. Standard antrometric, clinical and laboratory tests were made. Body composition was analyzed by bioelectrical impedance based device. Serum omentin-1 was measured using ELISA method. Results: Levels of omentin-1 were significantly higher among people with diabetic foot disease (700.2±345.1 ng/ml), compared to the other group (560.2±176.7 ng/ml). This difference remained significant even after adjusting for potential confounders. In a regression model omentin-1 proved its predictive value for development of diabetic foot. Conclusion: Adipokines, and particularly omentin-1, might be included in the pathogenesis of diabetic foot disease.

Recent advances in terahertz imaging: 1999 to 2021

We discuss the progress in the field of THz imaging based on time-domain spectroscopy during the last 20 years emphasizing several highlights. These include 3D mapping of the water distribution of plants, THz reflection imaging of samples with arbitrary shape, burn wound imaging and the early diagnosis of diabetic foot disease. These applications greatly benefit from the introduction of fibre-coupled THz time-domain system operated by rugged and portable femtosecond fibre-lasers. THz imaging is a versatile measurement method that has a plethora of practical applications and great promise for the future.

Association Between the Diabetes mellitus Duration and the Severity of Diabetic Foot Disease in Hospitalized Patients in Latin America

The objective was to determine the association between a diabetes mellitus duration greater than 10 years and the severity of diabetic foot in hospitalized patients in Latin America. Analytical, observational, and retrospective study based in secondary databases. Patients older than 18 years with diagnosis of diabetes mellitus (DM) and hospitalized for any causes were included. The independent and dependent variables were having more than 10 years of diagnosis of DM and the severity of the diabetic foot disease (Wagner> = 2), respectively. A crude Poisson regression analysis was performed to obtain prevalence rates adjusted to confounders. Male gender was 54.8% and the median age was 62 years. In the group with more than10 years of disease (n = 903) 18% (n = 162) had severe injuries. We performed two Poisson regression analyzes, one of which included the entire sample; and in the other, only patients with some degree of ulcer were included at the time of evaluation (Wagner > = 1). In the first analysis the PR was 1.95 ( p < 0.01) adjusted for the significant variables in the bivariate analysis and in the second analysis the PR was 1.18 ( p < 0.01) adding to the adjustment the days of injury prior to hospitalization and the location of the ulcer. We conclude that in patients with more than 10 years of diabetes mellitus, diabetic foot injuries are more severe, regardless type of diabetes, gender, age, history of amputation and days of injury prior to hospitalization for inpatients in Latin America.

Awareness of diabetic foot disease among patients with diabetes mellitus in Al-Ahsa Saudi Arabia

Background: The prevalence of diabetes mellitus (DM) in Saudi Arabia is 18.3% in 2020. One of the most common complications that affects diabetic patients is diabetic foot disease (DFD). Patient education is the most effective way to reduce the complications of DFD.Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted in the period from January to May 2021. A pretested standardized questionnaire was used to collect information upon knowledge, attitude and practice toward diabetic foot care. Data entry was performed using SPSS.Results: The responses of 480 of which 294 male and 186 female, 41.6% have high school degree, 19.3% have bachelor’s degree and 2.2% have master or Ph. D. degree. The mean age of the respondents was 47 years. The 58% of the participant agreed that they might develop reduce flow to their feet. half of the participant were not aware that smoking can reduce blood flow in their feet. There were only 2.3% of the respondents attended a class on how to care of the foot. Participants who received information about foot care from a nurse and physician were 23% and 9.2% respectively. The 97.5% of the participant would like to know how to care for their foot. 75.8% of participants walk barefoot and 42.2% use a comfortable coated shoe. Conclusions: Participants have inadequate knowledge, attitude and practice about DFD. providing a structured educational program about diabetic foot care has significant impact on diabetic patient to improve their knowledge and practices and to motivate them to have a positive attitude toward diabetic foot care.

Diabetic Foot Disease Research in Aotearoa New Zealand: A Bibliometric Analysis (1970-2020)

Aim The aim of this bibliometric study was to examine trends in the quality and quantity of published diabetic foot disease (DFD) research in Aotearoa/New Zealand (NZ) over the past five decades. Method In July 2021, the Scopus® database was searched for DFD-related publications (1970-2020) using predetermined search and inclusion criteria. Bibliometric data were extracted from Scopus® and Journal Citation Reports. Retrieved bibliographic indicators were analysed in Biblioshiny, an R Statistical Software interface and reported using descriptive statistics. Results Forty-seven DFD-related articles were identified. The annual number of publications showed a significant upward trend increasing from one in 1988 to 47 in 2020 (P < 0.001). The majority of identified articles (n = 31, 66%) were published in the last decade (2011-2020). Basic/clinical research accounted for 87% (n = 41) of publications and 14 (30%) investigated the screening and/or prevention of DFD. The average citation per article was 20.23 (range: 0-209) and the median impact factor was 4.31 (range, 1.82-79.32). Over a third of articles (36%) had an international authorship network. Funding was reported by 15 (32%) articles; 12 (26%) were supported by public national grants vs. three (6%) reporting industry-sponsorship. Conclusion DFD articles authored by NZ researchers have increased over the past five decades. Despite that NZ researchers increased their global impact through collaborative networks, most of the research was classified as low-level evidence, with limited focus on Indigenous Māori and limited financial support and funding. Increased funding for interventional research is required to enable a higher level of evidence-based and practice-changing research to occur. With rates of diabetes related amputations higher in Māori future research must focus on reducing inequalities in diabetes related outcomes for Māori by specifically targeting the prevention and screening of DFD in primary care settings in NZ.

Review of microbiological sampling in diabetic foot disease

Introduction: Diabetes mellitus is a significant cause of morbidity and mortality. Foot-related complications affect 2–2.5% of people with diabetes. There is significant variation in outcomes for patients with diabetic foot disease within the UK. The multidisciplinary approach to diabetic foot disease is well publicised and protocols, guidance and consensus approaches exist for most components of the management of diabetic foot disease. Antimicrobial therapy to treat diabetic foot infections based on microbiological sampling and culture is well documented, but no consensus exists on how these samples should be obtained, processed and reported. Methods: A literature review was undertaken to establish the reporting of techniques used in obtaining and processing microbiological samples in diabetic foot disease to establish if consensus exists in the methodologies used with a view to develop best practice guidelines. Results: Six out of 102 papers reported all processes in obtaining and processing microbiological samples. Conclusion: No gold standard consensus exists for microbiological sampling of diabetic foot infections, preventing optimisation of this aspect of management of diabetic foot disease and ultimately potentially adversely affecting the outcomes of this growing patient cohort.