Objective To explore the characteristics of proinsulin secretion in latent autoimmune diabetes in adults (LADA). Methods Fasting and 2 h sera in oral glucose tolerance test from 36 LADA patients, 37 type 2 diabetic patients and 43 healthy controls were collected to test glucose, proinsulin (PI) and C-peptide (CP) by radioimmune assay. Glutamie acid decarboxylase antibodies (GAD-Ab) were determined by radioligand assay.Results (1) Fasting proinsulin (FPI) and 2 h proinsulin (PPI) level in LADA patients were lower than those in type 2 diabetic patients (P<0.05), being both significantly inereasad compared with healthy controls (P<0.05 or P<0.01); The ratios of FPI/FCP and PPI/PCP (%) in LADA were beth significantly higer than those of type 2 diabetes mellitus and controls (P<0.05 or P<0.01); (2) LADA type-1 (GAD-Abe>0.3) patients showed lower PI levels(P<0.05 or P<0.01) and higher PI/CP ratio (all P<0.05) than LADA type-2 (0.05≤GAD-Ab<0.3); Meanwhile, there were no significant differences in above parameters between LADA type-2 and type 2 diabetes meUitus (P>0.05). (3) GAD-Ab index was negatively correlated with FPI and PPI in LADA group (r=-0.236 and-0.268, both P<0.05), and positively correlated with PPI/PCP (r=0.254, P=0.030).Meanwhile BMI was positively correlated with FPI, PPI and PI/CP in type 2 diabetes mellitus (all P<0.01). No factor entered the multiple regression analysis for predieting the hyperproinsulinemia and dispropriately elevated proinsulin levels in LADA patients. (4) According to the 99.5 th percentile of proinsulinemia in the healthy controls, which is defined as the cutoff point dispropriately elevated proinsulin levels, the proportion of subjects with fasting dispropriately elevated proinsulin levels (FPI/FCP) were 77.8%, 62.2% and 2.3% in LADA, type 2 diabetes meUitus and controls respectively, and PPI/PCP 83.3%, 51.4% and 2.3% respectively. Conclusion LADA patients, as well as type 2 diabetic patients, all showed hyperproinsulinemia and disproportionately elevated proiasulin levels that were one of characteristics of defective β-cell function. Moreover, disproportionately elevated nproinsulin level is more evident in LADA patients than that in type 2 diabetics and this may be related to humoral immunity.

Objective To evaluate the association of islet autoantibodies [ glutamic acid decarboxylase antibody(GADA),protein tyrosine phosphatase antibody(IA-2A)and insulin autoantibodies(IAA)1 with HLA- DQ genotypes in the first-degree relatives of autoimmune type 1 diabetes mellitus.Methods This was a cross- sectional and case-control study.Three hundred and fifty-one first-degree relatives with normal glucose tolerance of patients with type 1 diabetes mellitus and 376 healthy controls were recruited and measured for GADA,IA-2A and IAA by radioligand assay,and 156 first-degree relatives of patients with autoimmune type 1 diabetes mellitus and 278 controls were typed for genetic polymorphisms of HLA-DQ with PCR sequencing-based typing method.Results (1)DQA1*03,DQBI*0303,*0401 alleles and DQA1 * 03-DQBI * 0303,DQA1 * 05-DQBI * 0201,DQA1 * 03-DQBI * 0401 haplotypes were significantly increased in the first-degree relatives of autoimmune type 1 diabetes mellitus(P

OBJECTIVETo study the development of pulmonary function of healthy children between 1-48 months.

METHODSA total of 295 healthy children at ages of 1-48 months were classified into 7 groups according to their age, i.e., 1-2 months, 3-4 months, 5-7 months, 8-12 months, 13-24 months, 25-36 months, and 37- 48 months. Pediatric pulmonary function laboratory type 2600 (Sensor Medics Corporation USA) was used to detect tidal flow volume curve, which can partially replace the maximum expiratory flow volume curve and reflect airway ventilation function. Passive expiratory flow volume technique was used to examine respiratory system static compliance and total airway resistance. Open nitrogen washout method was used to measure functional residual capacity.

RESULTSThe values of tidal, peak tidal expiratory flow, and respiratory system static compliance functional residual capacity increased with the increasing age and were significantly different among the 7 groups. However, respiratory rate and total airway resistance decreased with the increased age. The value of each parameter of tidal flow volume curve was stable during 1-48 months.

CONCLUSIONSThis study displayed the developmental characteristics of pulmonary function of healthy children at ages of 1-48 months, which is useful to observe the changes of pulmonary function in respiratory diseases.

Age Factors ; Child, Preschool ; Female ; Functional Residual Capacity ; Humans ; Infant ; Lung ; physiology ; Male ; Peak Expiratory Flow Rate

Objective To explore application and effects of the whole-procedure modular intelligent nursing evaluation system.Methods The whole-procedure modular intelligent nursing evaluation system was designed,and the closed-loop management system was implemented.Nurses' clinical work ability,incidence of nursing adverse events,and satisfaction of discharged patients were compared before and after implementing the whole-procedure modular intelligent nursing evaluation system.Results After application of the whole-procedure modular intelligent nursing evaluation system,nurses' clinical work ability and discharged patients' satisfaction were both improved,incidence of nursing adverse events was significantly lower than before(P＜0.05).Conclusion Application of the whole-procedure modular intelligent nursing evaluation system improved nurses' clinical work ability,reduced incidence of nursing adverse events,and improved discharged patients' satisfaction.

AIMTo study the effect of non-mitogenic human acidic fibroblast growth factor (nm-haFGF) on retinal injury induced by N-methyl-N-nitrosourea (MNU) in Sprague-Dawley rats and its mechanism.

METHODSFemale rats of 50-days-old were injected with MNU (60 mg x kg(-1)) intraperitoneally, and three doses of nm-haFGF (1.25 microg, 2.5 microg and 5 microg in one eye of each rat) were injected, separately, into vitreous body of one eye of each rat twice a day at 0 and 12 h after MNU treatment. 24 h later, apoptotic index of photoreceptor cells was detected by TUNEL labeling and the expressions of Bcl-2 and Bax were analyzed by Western blotting. At the 7th day, retinal injury was evaluated based on retinal thickness.

RESULTSCompared with model group, apoptotic index of photoreceptor cells was significantly reduced in nm-haFGF groups at the dose of 1.25 microg and 2.5 microg in one eye of each rat at 24 h, and the total retinal thickness as well as the outer retinal thickness markedly increased 7 days after MNU, respectively. The expressions of Bcl-2 increased and that of Bax decreased adversely after being injected with different doses of nm-haFGF.

CONCLUSIONnm-haFGF partially suppressed retinal injury induced by MNU in Sprague-Dawley rats. The mechanism could be related to up-regulation of Bcl-2 and down-regulation of Bax.

Animals ; Apoptosis ; drug effects ; Female ; Fibroblast Growth Factor 1 ; genetics ; pharmacology ; Methylnitrosourea ; Photoreceptor Cells, Vertebrate ; drug effects ; pathology ; Protective Agents ; pharmacology ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 ; metabolism ; Random Allocation ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Retina ; drug effects ; pathology ; Retinitis Pigmentosa ; chemically induced ; metabolism ; pathology ; bcl-2-Associated X Protein ; metabolism

To understand genetic patterns of the morphological and physiological traits in flag leaf of barley, a double haploid (DH) population derived from the parents Yerong and Franklin was used to determine quantitative trait loci (QTL) controlling length, width, length/width, and chlorophyll content of flag leaves. A total of 9 QTLs showing significantly additive effect were detected in 8 intervals on 5 chromosomes. The variation of individual QTL ranged from 1.9% to 20.2%. For chlorophyll content expressed as SPAD value, 4 QTLs were identified on chromosomes 2H, 3H and 6H; for leaf length and width, 2 QTLs located on chromosomes 5H and 7H, and 2 QTLs located on chromosome 5H were detected; and for length/width, 1 QTL was detected on chromosome 7H. The identification of these QTLs associated with the properties of flag leaf is useful for barley improvement in breeding programs.
Chlorophyll ; analysis ; Chromosome Mapping ; Hordeum ; genetics ; Phenotype ; Plant Leaves ; genetics ; Quantitative Trait Loci

BACKGROUND: With the development of 3D printing technology, organ and tissue construction can be achieved by constructing a three-dimensional scaffold that is conducive to cell growth. OBJECTIVE: To solve the scaffold over-accumulation during 3D printing.METHODS: Fluent, a finite element analysis software developed by ANSYS Company in the United States, was used to analyze the extrusion process of print heads and to obtain suitable viscosity and extrusion pressure of materials for the 3D printing of cellulose gel composites. We then compared simulation results with experimental results. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: The error between simulation results and experimental results was less than 5%. The simulated values at a kinetic viscosity of 45 and a pressure of 0.10-0.12 MPa solved the phenomenon of over-accumulation of cellulose gel composites during the 3D printing process, ensuring enough space for the 3D printed scaffold.

To establish a new method to evaluate the COLD and HOT nature of Coptis & Evodia and their prescriptions Zuojinwan and Fanzuojinwan. Physical models of mice were established by diet restriction with cold-water swimming (weak model, WM) and fed with high protein animal feeds (strong model, SM). An instrument with cold and hot pads was used to investigate the variation of temperature tropism among SM and WM groups of mice affected by drugs. Meanwhile, the oxygen consumption and activity of adenosine triphosphatase (ATPase) were detected, in order to investigate the mechanism of energy metabolism which might be affected by these drugs. The results showed that the drug effects gradually changed in an order of "Coptis-->Zuojinwan--> Fanzuojinwan-->Evodia". In detail, Coptis increased the remaining rate (RR) of mice on hot pad, decreased oxygen consumption and ATPase activity (n=6, P < 0.01 or P < 0.05), while Evodia performed inversely; which indicated the COLD nature of Coptis and HOT nature of Evodia, and confirmed with their traditional definition in medicinal works. In conclusion, the methods applied in this work, can objectively and directly express the nature disparity between the two herbs and predict the tendency of changes of the nature of their combination, which brings a new approach in investigation of the nature theory of traditional Chinese medicine.
Animals ; Body Temperature ; Cold Temperature ; Coptis ; chemistry ; Diet ; Drug Combinations ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology ; Evodia ; chemistry ; Hot Temperature ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Mice ; Oxygen Consumption ; drug effects ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry ; Sodium-Potassium-Exchanging ATPase ; metabolism ; Swimming ; Tropism

OBJECTIVETo make preimplantation genetic diagnosis (PGD) for female translocation carriers by analyzing first polar bodies (1PBs) with whole chromosome painting probe (WCP).

METHODSWCP was used in fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) analysis of 1PBs for four female Robertsonian carriers presented for PGD with 45 XX, der(13;14)(q10;q10) karyotype. All the patients underwent ovarian stimulation and during 6 h after oocyte retrieval 1PBs were biopsied and WCP were used in FISH. On day 3 after fertilization embryos diagnosed as normal or balanced were transferred.

RESULTSA total of 61 oocytes were collected in 4 PGD cycles. Of the 54 matured oocytes, 50 were biopsied and 45 were fixed successfully. Results were obtained in 40 1PBs. Overall, 74.1% (40/54) oocytes were diagnosed. The fertilization rate and good embryo rate were 64.8% (35/54) and 65.7% (23/35) respectively. Two clinical pregnancies were obtained. One patient delivered a normal female baby with karyotype 46, XX in June 2006. For another patient, the fetus spontaneously aborted at 9th week of pregnancy with karyotype of 45, X confirmed by amniotic villus diagnosis.

CONCLUSIONWCP can differentiate normal, balanced and unbalanced oocytes accurately and can be used as an efficient PGD method for female carriers of translocation.

Adult ; Chromosome Painting ; methods ; Female ; Heterozygote ; Humans ; In Situ Hybridization, Fluorescence ; Oocytes ; metabolism ; Pregnancy ; Preimplantation Diagnosis ; methods ; Translocation, Genetic ; genetics

In this article, canonical correlation analysis was used to explore the relationship between the toxicity-attenuating effect and the variation of chemical contents in rhubarb caused by processing. With quasi-acute toxicity test, the difference of hepatic and renal toxicity to mice with the processed materials of rhubarb was researched. The chemical contents of anthraquinones and tannins in rhubarb were measured by UV-vis spectrophotometry and high performance liquid chromatography. The results showed that there were toxic effects to liver and kidney in mice after repeated intragastric administration of rhubarb and its processed materials for 14 days at a dosage of 76 g x kg(-1). The toxic effect of processed materials was much lower than crude drug. With canonical correlation analysis, the sequence of the hepatic and renal toxicity of chemical contents in rhubarb were found as follows: total anthraquinone glycosides (AQGs) > tannins (Tns) > total anthraquinones (AQs); aloe-emodin (AE) > physcione (Ph) > rhein (Rn) > emodin (Ed) > chrysophanol (Ch) and AEG > PhG > ChG > EdG > RnG of glycosyl-anthraquinone. It could be concluded that processing would attenuate the toxicity of crude drug of rhubarb. The toxicity-attenuating effect might be correlated to the decline of the contents of both anthraquinone glycosides and tannins, especially the aloe-emodin glycoside and physcione glycoside. The results also suggested that the serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and creatine (CREA) would be useful to monitor the hepatic and renal toxicity of rhubarb.
Alanine Transaminase ; blood ; Animals ; Anthraquinones ; analysis ; Creatinine ; blood ; Kidney ; drug effects ; Liver ; drug effects ; Mice ; Plant Roots ; chemistry ; Proanthocyanidins ; analysis ; Rheum ; chemistry ; toxicity ; Technology, Pharmaceutical ; methods