Melatonin reduces oxidative stress and improves vascular function in pulmonary hypertensive newborn sheep

Pulmonary hypertension of the newborn (PHN) constitutes a critical condition with severe cardiovascular and neurological consequences. One of its main causes is hypoxia during gestation, and thus, it is a public health concern in populations living above 2500 m. Although some mechanisms are recognized, the pathophysiological facts that lead to PHN are not fully understood, which explains the lack of an effective treatment. Oxidative stress is one of the proposed mechanisms inducing pulmonary vascular dysfunction and PHN. Therefore, we assessed whether melatonin, a potent antioxidant, improves pulmonary vascular function. Twelve newborn sheep were gestated, born, and raised at 3600 meters. At 3 days old, lambs were catheterized and daily cardiovascular measurements were recorded. Lambs were divided into two groups, one received daily vehicle as control and another received daily melatonin (1 mg/kg/d), for 8 days. At 11 days old, lung tissue and small pulmonary arteries (SPA) were collected. Melatonin decreased pulmonary pressure and resistance for the first 3 days of treatment. Further, melatonin significantly improved the vasodilator function of SPA, enhancing the endothelial‐ and muscular‐dependent pathways. This was associated with an enhanced nitric oxide‐dependent and nitric oxide independent vasodilator components and with increased nitric oxide bioavailability in lung tissue. Further, melatonin reduced the pulmonary oxidative stress markers and increased enzymatic and nonenzymatic antioxidant capacity. Finally, these effects were associated with an increase of lumen diameter and a mild decrease in the wall of the pulmonary arteries. These outcomes support the use of melatonin as an adjuvant in the treatment for PHN.     

COVID-19 and macular edema: a necessarily blindness?

Graefe's Archive for Clinical and Experimental Ophthalmology -     

25-羟维生素D_3治疗2型糖尿病患者早期肾损害的临床观察

目的观察25-羟维生素D3(Vit D3)对2型糖尿病(T2DM)患者早期肾损害的临床疗效。方法纳入T2DM早期肾损伤患者80例,采用随机数字表法等分为治疗组与对照组,对照组继续原有降糖方案,治疗组在既往用药基础上,肌肉注射Vit D3注射液,疗程均为10个月,治疗结束后进行疗效评价。结果 1与治疗前相比,治疗组糖化血红蛋白(HbA1c)、总胆固醇(TC)、甘油三酯(TG)、低密度脂蛋白胆固醇(LDL-C)水平上调,微量白蛋白(MA)、β2-微球蛋白(β2-M)及肾脏损伤分子-1(KIM-1)水平下调,治疗组低于对照组差异有统计学意义(P<0.05)。2与治疗前相比,治疗组治疗后Vit D3水平上调,治疗组高于对照组差异有统计学意义(P<0.01)。3T2DM患者Vit D3水平与MA(r=-0.432),β2-M(r=-0.615),及KIM-1(r=-0.763)水平均呈负相关(P<0.05)。结论 Vit D3可有效减轻T2DM患者的早期肾损害,对肾脏具有保护作用。