Objective: To study the effects of chromium on glucose and lipid metabolism and gene expression in diabetic rats.Methods: Male Wistar rats were assigned to three groups:normal control(NC), alloxan-induced diabetic control group(DM), and DM with chromium supplementation group(DM+Cr). Cr 200 ?g/(kg bw?d) was supplemented orally for 60 days. At the end of the treatment, the blood glucose, lipid and serum insulin were measured, and the changes in gene expression among three groups were studied by mRNA differential display technique.Results: Blood glucose in DM+Cr group decreased significantly than that before experiment. The levels of serum TG, TC, LDL-C and AI in DM+Cr group were lower than those of DM group, while the serum HDL-C levels were higher. Serum insulin was not improved obviously in DM+Cr group. 11 cDNA fragments larger than 400 bp expressed differences in skeletal muscles between DM+Cr group and DM group and were isolated, 4 of which expressed higher in DM+Cr group, while the rest expressed higher in DM group.Conclusion: Chromium supplementation could partially improve the disorders of glucose and lipid metabolism, and have an impact on some gene expression in diabetic rats, which may contribute to the regulating effects on its disorders of metabolism.

No abstract available.
Giant Cell Tumors ; Giant Cells ; Osteosarcoma

PURPOSE: Sensitization to house dust mite (Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus) is a considerable risk factor for the progression of allergic disease. The group 2 allergen from Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus, Der p 2, is considered a major one in patients with specific immunoglobulin E (IgE) to Der p 2. Der p 2 has structural homology with myeloid differentiation 2 (MD-2), which is involved in the lipopolysaccharide-binding component of the Toll-like receptor 4 signaling pathway and the development of inflammation. The aim of this study was to examine the genetic association of single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the promoter region of MD-2 with Der p 2-sensitive allergy. METHODS: We investigated associations between cohort's characteristics, including 280 allergic and 80 healthy subjects by examining total IgE, eosinophils, D. pteronyssinus-specific IgE, Der p 2-specific IgE, the number of IgE-producing B cells induced by Der p 2, and the odds ratio of allergic symptoms. RESULTS: Based on the 1,000 genome project data, the minor allele frequencies of the rs1809441 and rs1809442 are 0.467 and 0.474, respectively. However, the correlation of linkage disequilibrium (LD) between these 2 SNPs is D'=1, the genotype frequencies of the 2 MD-2 (LY96) SNPs (rs1809441 and rs1809442) that are located nearby were significantly different between allergic and health subjects: the TT genotype of rs1809441 and the GG genotype of rs1809442 were more frequent in allergic subjects than in healthy subjects (16.1% vs 2.5% in both genotypes). The allergic patients with these genotypes exhibited significantly higher levels of D. pteronyssinus-specific IgE and Der p 2-specific Ig E, and a larger number of Der p 2-activated B cells. In addition, these 2 SNPs in the MD-2 promoter region were significantly associated with the prevalence of nasal, skin, and asthmatic allergic symptoms. CONCLUSIONS: Our results indicated that 2 SNPs in the MD-2 promoter region were significantly associated with Der p 2-specific Ig E, and thereby suggest that these SNPs may play a major role in susceptibility to Der p 2-triggered immune responses in a Taiwanese population.
B-Lymphocytes ; Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus ; Eosinophils ; Gene Frequency ; Genome ; Genotype ; Humans ; Hypersensitivity* ; Immunoglobulin E ; Immunoglobulins ; Inflammation ; Linkage Disequilibrium ; Odds Ratio ; Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide* ; Prevalence ; Promoter Regions, Genetic* ; Pyroglyphidae ; Risk Factors ; Skin ; Toll-Like Receptor 4

OBJECTIVES: To compare the short- and long-term hearing outcomes after successful inlay cartilage tympanoplasty between patients with small (< or =25%) and large (> or =50%) eardrums perforations. METHODS: This is a retrospective case series study conducted in a tertiary referral center. Twenty-five patients who underwent 27 procedures were enrolled. Their mean age was 60.26 years (range, 42 to 76 years). The mean follow-up time was 18.86 months (range, 12.30 to 35.83 months). The preoperative, initial postoperative, and long-term hearing results in patients with total repair of the eardrum were analyzed. RESULTS: In the small size group, the average (+/-standard deviation) air-bone gap (ABG) closure was 1.08+/-7.53 dB in the short-term and 2.33+/-11.56 dB in the long-term hearing examinations. There was no difference between short- and long-term ABG closure (P=0.689). In the large size group, the average ABG closure was 9.77+/-9.40 dB in the short-term and 16.25+/-6.01 dB in the long-term hearing examinations. There was a significant difference between short- and long-term ABG closure (P=0.029). CONCLUSION: Patients with large perforations have continuous hearing improvement and ABG closure for more than one year. In contrast, the short- and long-term postoperative ABGs are almost the same in patients with small perforations. More long-term postoperative follow-up of hearing results is necessary for large perforations.
Cartilage* ; Follow-Up Studies ; Hearing* ; Humans ; Inlays* ; Retrospective Studies ; Tertiary Care Centers ; Tympanic Membrane* ; Tympanoplasty*

Objective To compare the efficacy and safety between cryoablation (Cryo) and radiofrequency (RF) ablation for treating patients with atrioventricular nodal reentrant tachycardia (AVNRT). Methods Patients with AVNRT (n=304) were divided into Cryo group (n=67) and RF group (n=237). The procedure success rate, complete slow pathway block rate, atrioventricular block rate and relapse rate were compared between two groups. Results There was no statistically difference between 2 groups in the success rate (Cryo group 98.5% vs RF group 97.0%, P=0.820), complete slow pathway block rate (Cryo group 98.5% vs RF group 91.6%, P=0.088), atrioventricular block rate (Cryo group 0 vs RF group 2.5%, P=0.413), relapse rate (Cryo group 0 vs RF group 1.7%, P=0.643). But Cryo group had more advantage than RF group. Conclusion Efficacy and safety were comparable between cryoablation and radiofrequency ablation for treating patients with AVNRT.

Purpose: This study aimed to compare the ability of B-mode ultrasonography and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to predict the repairability of large-to-massive rotator cuff tears (RCTs). Methods: This cross-sectional study included participants with large-to-massive RCTs who underwent arthroscopic repair. B-mode ultrasonography and MRI were conducted prior to arthroscopic repair. B-mode ultrasonography was used to evaluate the echogenicity of the rotator cuff muscle using the Heckmatt scale. Intra-rater and inter-rater reliabilities were examined for two independent physicians. MRI was used to evaluate the degrees of tendon retraction, fatty infiltration of rotator cuff muscles, and muscle atrophy. Finally, two experienced orthopedic surgeons performed surgery and decided whether the torn stump could be completely repaired intraoperatively. Results: Fifty participants were included, and 32 complete repairs and 18 partial repairs were performed. B-mode ultrasonography showed good intra-rater reliability and inter-rater reliability for assessment of the muscle echogenicity of the supraspinatus and infraspinatus muscles. The correlation coefficients between B-mode ultrasound findings and MRI findings showed medium to large effect sizes (r=0.4-0.8). The Goutallier classification of the infraspinatus muscles was the MRI predictor with the best discriminative power for surgical reparability (area under the curve [AUC], 0.89; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.81 to 0.98), while the Heckmatt scale for infraspinatus muscles was the most accurate ultrasound predictor (AUC, 0.85; 95% CI, 0.74 to 0.96). No significant differences in AUCs among the MRI and ultrasound predictors were found. Conclusion B-mode ultrasonography was a reliable examination tool and had a similar ability to predict surgical reparability to that of MRI among patients with large-to-massive RCTs.

No abstract available.
Elasticity Imaging Techniques ; Elasticity ; Tendons ; Ultrasonography