Diabetic retinopathy (DR) is the most common complication of diabetes mellitus and a leading cause of vision loss. Short peptides, such as di-, tri-, and tetrapeptides, have various beneficial activities, including antioxidant, antimicrobial, and anti-inflammatory effects. This study aims to test the hypothesis that the antioxidant effect of the synthetic tetrapeptide AEDG (Ala-Glu-Asp-Gly, Epitalon) improves the delayed healing process associated with hyperglycemia in DR, using a high glucose (HG)-injured human retinal pigment epithelial cell line (ARPE-19). We found that HG exposure delayed wound healing in ARPE-19 cells and increased intracellular levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS), while decreasing antioxidant gene expression. HG also induced epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) and upregulated fibrosis-related genes, suggesting that HG-induced EMT contributes to subretinal fibrosis, the end-stage of eye diseases, including proliferative DR. The antioxidant Epitalon restored impaired wound healing in HG-injured ARPE-19 cells by inhibiting hyperglycemia-induced EMT and fibrosis. These findings support using the antioxidant agent Epitalon as a promising therapeutic strategy for DR to improve retinal wound healing compromised by hyperglycemia. More mechanistic investigations are needed to confirm Epitalon's benefits and safety. Developing ophthalmic forms of Epitalon may enhance its delivery directly to the retina, potentially improving its therapeutic efficacy.
Background. It has been established that senile xerosis or “fragility” of the skin occurs in 75 % of the population over 65 years of age, when pathological skin dryness leads to peeling, the formation of microcracks, the appearance of senile itching, sleep disorders, the development of pressure sores and, as a result, decreased physical activity. According to the British authors, bedsores are formed in 15–20 % of patients in medical and preventive care facilities. Adequate prevention of pressure sores prevents their development in patients at risk in more than 80 % of cases, which allows not only to reduce the financial costs of bedsores treatment, but also to improve the patient’s quality of life. The risk assessment of the pressure sores development, as a rule, requires expert clinical opinions from qualified medical professionals with experience in managing patients at risk of pressure sores development. An alternative is to use specially designed assessment scales.
Background. Multiple comorbid conditions in the geriatric population are associated with changes in the classical clinical picture of diseases and the nature of their course, an increase in the number and severity of complications, a deterioration in quality of life (QL), and a decrease in functional activity. The desire to increase the effectiveness of treatment, to help the patient recover from all the diseases he has, inevitably leads to the appointment of a large number of drugs. The negative consequences of polypragmasia include: an increase in the incidence of adverse drug reactions (ADR), the development of geriatric syndromes, a decrease in the effectiveness of treatment and complianceto it, a decrease in the patient's QL, an increase in the frequency of hospitalizations and mortality due to a decrease in the effectiveness and safety of therapy, and an increase in the cost of treatment. Elderly and senile patients are particularly vulnerable to ADR. Undesirable reactions may occur atypically in them. A strikingexample is the adverse light-dependent skin reactions when taking drugs with the risk of photosensitization. Photosensitizing substances are drugs that, with resorptive or local action, increase skin sensitivity to sunlight or artificial ultraviolet rays (UVR). Compounds that make the skin hypersensitive to UVR are found in many medications. Once in the body, thesedrugs are converted into various metabolites and accumulate in tissues, and when activated byUVR, cause phototoxic or photoallergic reactions. In response to the effects of a combination of such drugs and UVR, edema, nodules, spots, vesicles, acute eczematous reaction, and urticaria appear. Epithelial desquamation, hyper- and hypopigmentation of the skin are also possible. Hypersensitivity to UVR can persist for several months after the withdrawal of photosensitizing drugs.
Background. The search for an optimal model of support and assistance to the aging population is underway in all countries of the world. Patients of older age groups constitute a special category of citizens, who are characterized by a potentially high level of comorbidity, which affects the formation of frailty and other geriatric syndromes. Elderly people with polymorbid pathology often have low functional activity, cognitive impairment, and depression. These are “fragile” patients with a reduced quality of life and frequent hospitalizations. As part of the development of a long-term care system (LTCS) for “fragile” patients and the introduction of innovative gerontotechnologies, since 2018, a scientific and practical project “Care and Nursing for the Older Generation!” has been implemented in St. Petersburg and the Leningrad Region. The project was initiated by the Scientific and Innovation Center “Professional Longevity” to expand the range of services in the field of social and medical care within the framework of the LTCS, improve the quality of life and extend the period of active longevity of geriatric patients.
