Ivana Barun
Current Organizations / Institutes
The organizations/institutes from the scholar's latest article
Research Subjects
Ivana Barun has a total of 8 co-authors. Here are the top co-authors by number of shared publications:
- Daniela Supe-Domic
Department of Medical Laboratory Diagnostics, University Hospital of Split, 21000 Split, Croatia
1 shared publication - Ivan Aranza
Department of Cardiovascular Diseases, University Hospital of Split, 21000 Split, Croatia
1 shared publication - Josip Katić
Department of Cardiovascular Diseases, University Hospital of Split, 21000 Split, Croatia
1 shared publication - Josko Bozic
Department of Pathophysiology, University of Split School of Medicine, Soltanska 2A, 21000 Split, Croatia
1 shared publication - Kajo Bućan
Department of Ophthalmology, University Hospital of Split, Spinciceva 1, 21000 Split, Croatia
1 shared publication - Karla Katić
Department of Ophthalmology, University Hospital of Split, 21000 Split, Croatia
1 shared publication
Latest Publications
- Open Access
- 13 March 2026
- Published by MDPI AG in Biomedicines
- Vol. 14 (3) , 648
Catestatin and Diabetic Retinopathy in Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus
Background: Diabetic retinopathy (DR) is the most common microvascular complication of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Catestatin (CST) has been implicated in cardiovascular physiology and autonomic modulation, but its role in diabetic microvascular disease remains unclear. Methods: In this cross-sectional study, serum CST levels were compared between healthy controls (n = 59) and patients with T2DM (n = 91), and further between T2DM patients with (n = 63) and without DR (n = 28). Results: CST levels did not differ between T2DM and healthy controls (16 vs. 14 ng/mL; p = 0.693). Among normotensive individuals, healthy controls had the lowest CST levels (6 ng/mL), whereas normotensive T2DM participants showed significantly higher concentrations (11 ng/mL; p = 0.004). Participants with DR exhibited significantly higher CST than those without DR (14 vs. 10 ng/mL; p = 0.034). In the total cohort, arterial hypertension (AH) was the strongest independent predictor of CST (B = 0.562; p < 0.001). In the multivariable model restricted to T2DM patients, DR emerged as the sole independent determinant of CST (B = 0.251; p = 0.028), whereas AH was no longer significant (p = 0.581). Conclusions: Circulating catestatin levels were not associated with the presence of T2DM itself but were significantly elevated in patients with DR. These findings suggest that CST may reflect microvascular and neurovascular stress rather than metabolic status and could represent a biomarker of diabetic microangiopathy.
- 13 March 2026
- Published by MDPI AG in Biomedicines
- Vol. 14 (3) , 648
Open AccessCatestatin and Diabetic Retinopathy in Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus
Background: Diabetic retinopathy (DR) is the most common microvascular complication of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Catestatin (CST) has been implicated in cardiovascular physiology and autonomic modulation, but its role in diabetic microvascular disease remains unclear. Methods: In this cross-sectional study, serum CST levels were compared between healthy controls (n = 59) and patients with T2DM (n = 91), and further between T2DM patients with (n = 63) and without DR (n = 28). Results: CST levels did not differ between T2DM and healthy controls (16 vs. 14 ng/mL; p = 0.693). Among normotensive individuals, healthy controls had the lowest CST levels (6 ng/mL), whereas normotensive T2DM participants showed significantly higher concentrations (11 ng/mL; p = 0.004). Participants with DR exhibited significantly higher CST than those without DR (14 vs. 10 ng/mL; p = 0.034). In the total cohort, arterial hypertension (AH) was the strongest independent predictor of CST (B = 0.562; p < 0.001). In the multivariable model restricted to T2DM patients, DR emerged as the sole independent determinant of CST (B = 0.251; p = 0.028), whereas AH was no longer significant (p = 0.581). Conclusions: Circulating catestatin levels were not associated with the presence of T2DM itself but were significantly elevated in patients with DR. These findings suggest that CST may reflect microvascular and neurovascular stress rather than metabolic status and could represent a biomarker of diabetic microangiopathy.