Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), accounting for 90–95% cases of diabetes, is characterized by chronic inflammation. The mechanisms that control inflammation activation in T2DM are largely unexplored. Inflammasomes represent significant sensors mediating innate immune responses. The aim of this work is to present a review of links between the NLRP3 inflammasome, endothelial dysfunction, and T2DM. The NLRP3 inflammasome activates caspase-1, which leads to the maturation of pro-inflammatory cytokines interleukin 1β and interleukin 18. In this review, we characterize the structure and functions of NLRP3 inflammasome as well as the most important mechanisms and molecules engaged in its activation. We present evidence of the importance of the endothelial dysfunction as the first key step to activating the inflammasome, which suggests that suppressing the NLRP3 inflammasome could be a new approach in depletion hyperglycemic toxicity and in averting the onset of vascular complications in T2DM. We also demonstrate reports showing that the expression of a few microRNAs that are also known to be involved in either NLRP3 inflammasome activation or endothelial dysfunction is deregulated in T2DM. Collectively, this evidence suggests that T2DM is an inflammatory disease stimulated by pro-inflammatory cytokines. Finally, studies revealing the role of glucose concentration in the activation of NLRP3 inflammasome are analyzed. The more that is known about inflammasomes, the higher the chances to create new, effective therapies for patients suffering from inflammatory diseases. This may offer potential novel therapeutic perspectives in T2DM prevention and treatment.

In the treatment of chronic wounds the wound surface area change over time is useful parameter in assessment of the applied therapy plan. The more precise the method of wound area measurement the earlier may be identified and changed inappropriate treatment plan. Digital planimetry may be used in wound area measurement and therapy assessment when it is properly used, but the common problem is the camera lens orientation during the taking of a picture. The camera lens axis should be perpendicular to the wound plane, and if it is not, the measured area differ from the true area. Current study shows that the use of 2 rulers placed in parallel below and above the wound for the calibration increases on average 3.8 times the precision of area measurement in comparison to the measurement with one ruler used for calibration. The proposed procedure of calibration increases also 4 times accuracy of area measurement. It was also showed that wound area range and camera type do not influence the precision of area measurement with digital planimetry based on two ruler calibration, however the measurements based on smartphone camera were significantly less accurate than these based on D-SLR or compact cameras. Area measurement on flat surface was more precise with the digital planimetry with 2 rulers than performed with the Visitrak device, the Silhouette Mobile device or the AreaMe software-based method. The calibration in digital planimetry with using 2 rulers remarkably increases precision and accuracy of measurement and therefore should be recommended instead of calibration based on single ruler.

Background: Proper healing of ulcers and wounds on the feet of diabetes patients is important in order to prevent amputation. If the wound area reduction during the first 4 weeks of the treatment is not 40% or more, reevaluation of the treatment is necessary. The wound area evaluation is not complicated when the patient stays at a hospital, but when he or she goes home the physician does not have a tool allowing monitoring of the wound area. Methods and Results: The aim of the present article is to present a new device able to take a wound picture and send it automatically to the database. This device, called the Patient's Module (PM), is also able to download data from the memories of blood pressure and blood glucose meters and send the data to the database. The PM is able to operate within the TeleDiaFoS system (developed earlier in collaboration with the Department and Clinic of Gastroenterology and Metabolic Diseases, Medical University of Warsaw, Warsaw, Poland) aimed at monitoring of treatment of patients with diabetic foot syndrome. The PM was tested on 10 type 2 diabetes patients during a 3-month period. Conclusions: The study revealed that the PM can be used as a home telemonitoring device, and the analysis of the data sent from patient's home enables the assessment of wound healing progress, giving the physician the possibility for earlier change of the treatment if the wound area reduction is not satisfactory.

Diabetes mellitus causes endothelial dysfunction. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of normal (5 mmol/L), high (20 mmol/L), and fluctuating (5 and 20 mmol/L changed every day) glucose concentration in the culture medium on the viability of human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) co-cultured with human umbilical artery smooth muscle cells (HUASMCs). The cultures were conducted on semi-permeable flat polysulfone (PSU) fibronectin-coated membranes immobilized in self-made inserts. The insert contained either HUVECs on a single membrane or HUASMCs and HUVECs on two membranes close to each other. Cultures were conducted for 7 or 14 days. Apoptosis, mitochondrial potential, and the production of reactive oxygen species and lactate by HUVECs were investigated. The results indicate that fluctuations in glucose concentration have a stronger negative effect on HUVECs viability than constant high glucose concentration. High and fluctuating glucose concentrations slow down cell proliferation compared to the culture carried out in the medium with normal glucose concentration. In conclusion, HUASMCs affect the viability of HUVECs when both types of cells are co-cultured in medium with normal or variable glucose concentration.