Background/Objectives: The aim of this study was to investigate quantitative differences in optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA) between diabetic patients and healthy controls and to identify the early OCTA biomarkers for diabetic macular changes. Methods: Ophthalmological examination and OCTA were performed on two groups of diabetic patients (with and without mild diabetic retinopathy) and healthy controls. Macular, foveal, perifoveal, and parafoveal vessel density (VD) in the superficial capillary plexus (SCP) and deep capillary plexus (DCP), foveal avascular zone (FAZ), and flow area in the choriocapillaris were calculated. Results: A total of 431 eyes of 233 participants were analyzed. The VD in the SCP in the whole macula was the lowest in the DM + DR group and lower than in the DMnoDR group; however, in the fovea, it was the highest in the DM + DR group and higher than in the DMnoDR group. The VD in the SCP in the parafovea was lower in the DM + DR group than in the DMnoDR group, and in the perifovea, it was lower in the DMnoDR group than in the control group. The VD in the DCP in the macula, parafovea, and perifovea was lower in the DM + DR group than in the DMnoDR and control groups. The FAZ and flow areas in the choriocapillaris were smaller in the DM + DR group than in both the DMnoDR and control groups. Conclusions: VD reduction in the SCP and the DCP of the macular and parafoveal regions, as well as in the DCP of the perifoveal region, may indicate progression of diabetic retinopathy from subclinical to clinical stages; however, an increase in the foveal region in the SCP can be a compensatory mechanism. VD reduction in the perifovea and whole macula in the SCP can be a screening factor for subclinical macular changes. FAZ reduction before clinical signs of retinopathy may be an early compensatory vascular mechanism.

The athlete's heart is an exercise-induced cardiac remodeling phenomenon, which is individual and depends on the intensity, duration and frequency of training, as well as genetic factors. Cardiovascular screening prior to participation in sports activities, is a systematic practice of medical evaluation in the athlete population. The current US recommendations for the screening of cardiovascular abnormalities in high school and university athletes at all levels of performance were initially put forther by the American Heart Association in 2007. These recommendations consist of 12 points, factoring personal and family history data, as well as physical examination. On the other hand, European recommendations suggest the importance of non-invasive diagnostic methods, such as the 12-lead ECG, which should be carried out in combination with a history and physical examination. According to the European Association for Cardiovascular Imaging, standard echocardiography is the first line approach to differentiate an athlete's heart from pathological left ventricular hypertrophy. Updated 'Seattle criteria' from 2017. include criteria for assessing abnormalities in the electrocardiogram of athletes and their differentiation from the adaptive electrophysiological changes, which do not require further evaluation. Since sudden cardiac death during sport activities remains a major concern and, as such, it is imperative for the physician to diagnose unrecognized pathological conditions in athletes. Following current expert consensus recommendations on this topic helps to prevent untoward events during physical activity in those who are found to be at elevated risk.

Diabetic retinopathy (DR) is the most frequent microvascular complication of diabetes mellitus (DM) and remains a leading cause of preventable blindness in the working-age population. Its course is notoriously variable: some patients with long-standing, poorly controlled diabetes never develop sight-threatening disease, whereas others progress rapidly despite reasonable metabolic control. This clinical heterogeneity, which the traditional risk factors cannot fully explain, has directed attention towards the inherited component of susceptibility. This review summarizes current understanding of the genetic architecture of DR, with particular emphasis on three extensively studied candidate genes: the vascular endothelial growth factor A gene (VEGFA), the angiotensin-converting enzyme gene (ACE) and the apolipoprotein E gene (APOE), specifically their most investigated polymorphisms: VEGFA rs699947, rs2010963 and rs3025039; ACE rs1799752 I/D; and APOE rs429358 and rs7412 (ε2/ε3/ε4). The evidence linking individual polymorphisms to disease is examined alongside the picture emerging from genome-wide association studies (GWAS), and the persistent inconsistency among studies is discussed in the context of ethnic differences, phenotype definition and limited statistical power. Finally, the review considers how genetic insight is beginning to inform therapy, from the established anti-VEGF paradigm to genebased approaches now in clinical trials, and outlines the main obstacles that still separate genetic findings from routine clinical use.