Spontaneous Neutrophil Extracellular Traps Release Are Inflammatory Markers Associated with Hyperglycemia and Renal Failure on Diabetic Retinopathy.

Diabetic retinopathy (DR) is the major microvascular complication of diabetes and causes vitreous traction and intraretinal hemorrhages leading to retinal detachment and total blindness. The evolution of diabetes is related to exacerbating inflammation caused by hyperglycemia and activation of inflammatory cells. Neutrophils are cells able to release structures of extracellular DNA and proteolytic enzymes called extracellular traps (NETs), which are associated with the persistence of inflammation in chronic pathologies. The purpose of the study was to determine the usefulness of neutrophil traps as indicators of DR progression in patients with type 2 diabetes (T2DM). We performed a case-control study of seventy-four cases classified into five groups (non-proliferative DR, mild, moderate, severe, and proliferative) and fifteen healthy controls. We found correlations between NETs and a diagnostic time of T2DM (r = 0.42; p < 0.0001), fasting glucose (r = 0.29; p < 0.01), glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) (r = 0.31; p < 0.01), estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) (r = -0.29; p < 0.01), and plasma osmolarity (r = 0.25; p < 0.01). These results suggest that due to NETs being associated with clinical indicators, such as HbA1c and eGFR, and that NETs are also associated with DR, clinical indicators might be explained in part through an NET-mediated inflammation process.

Seroprevalence of SARS-CoV-2 in Mexican Health Care Workers after Two Years of the Pandemic: The Picture of an Ophthalmic Medical Centre.

OBJECTIVE: In this study, we investigated the impact of the SARS-CoV-2 vaccination on seroprevalence in a cohort of healthcare workers (HCW) at an ophthalmic medical center. METHODS: IgG antibodies against the N, S1, and S2 antigens of SARS-CoV-2 as well as their serum neutralizing activity were determined. RESULTS: In the present study, we observed that 98.4% of HCW were seropositive for S1/S2 proteins of SARS-CoV-2 due to the national vaccination program. Interestingly, 78.4% of the participants had anti-N protein antibodies, suggesting previous COVID-19 infection. We also evaluated the neutralizing antibodies and found that the mean value was high (90.7%). CONCLUSION: These results indicate that our HCWs cohort presented a robust hybrid humoral response owing to the massive national vaccination program and natural infections.