The tight junction of intestinal epithelium plays an important role in maintaining the function of intestinal barrier and regulating the cell differentiation. The intestinal epithelial cells interact with neighboring cells and the extracellular matrix and then affect the epithelial barrier as well as the proliferation, polarization, and apoptosis of cells. As an important cell junction, the tight junction of intestinal epithelium participates in a series of signal transduction pathways including the classic cyclic adenosine monophosphate-protein kinase A-cyclic adenosine monophosphate response element-binding, inositol trisphosphate, Ras-mitogen-activated protein kinase, phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase, and in some special pathways including zonula occludents protein 1-associated Y-box factor,cyclin related protein, phosphorylation, and methylation. Furthermore, regulations of gene and protein expression of the tight junction are also complex, while disorders of such regulations may lead to clinical diseases, such as disruption of the intestinal barrier, refractory infection, and even cancers. This article reviews the research advances in gene expressions, related signal transduction, and self-regulation in the tight junction of intestinal epithelium.

Objective To investigate the features of resting energy expenditure (REE) in patients with well controlled type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Methods Totally 45 T2DM patients with stable blood glucose were enrolled. The general conditions, biochemical indicators, measurements of REE ( MREE), and basal energy expenditure (BEE) calculated with Harris-Benedict formula (HBEE) and Owen formula (OBEE) were recorded and compared. Results MREE had no significant difference with HBEE or OBEE in T2DM patients with stable blood glucose (P ＞ 0. 05). Correlation analysis showed that REE was significantly correlated with gender, age, body weight, body height, body surface area, and fat-free mass ( all P ＜ 0.05 ), but was not correlated with body mass index, fat mass, fasting plasma glucose, postprandial plasma glucose, haemoglobin Alc, total cholesterol, triglyceride, total protein, albumin, and haemoglobin (P ＞ 0. 05 ). Multiple regression analysis showed that fat free mass and age had the closest correlation with REE. Conclusions REE does not increase in T2DM patients with well controlled blood glucose. Factors that influence their REE are similar with healthy individuals. Determi nation of REE can provide useful information for the nutrition treatment of T2DM.

Objective To investigate the hospitalized patients incidence of nutritional risk and nutritional support in six departments (general surgery, thoracic surgery, gastroenterology, neurology, urology and respirology) in a middle hospital and in the medical/surgical departments in a small hospital, so provide reference for rational nutritional support for patients. Method Nutritional Risk Screening 2002 was used to assess the existence of nutritional risk and the necessity of nutritional support. Results The overall prevalence of the nutrition risk was 25% in the six departments in the middle hospital; more specifically, the prevalence of nutrition risk arranged from 18% to 31% in these six departments: 31% in the department of respiratory medicine, 29% in the department of neurology, 27% in the department of urology, 23% in the department of thoracicsurgery, 22% in the department of gastroenterology, and 18% in the department of general surgery. For those at nutritional risk, the nutritional support rate was 24%. For non-risky patients, 9% received nutritional support. The overall prevalence of nutrition risk was 18% in the small hospital; more specifically, the prevalence of nutrition risk was 29% in the department of internal medicine and 7% in the department of surgery. For those at nutritional risk, the nutritional support rate was 24%.For non-risky patients, the nutritional support rate was 4%. Conclusions Certain nutritional risk and malnutrition exist in inpatients in the middle and small hospitals in Shijiazhuang. The applications of parenteral and enteral nutritions still have some problems. It is of particular importance to further promote the application of evidence-based parenteral/enteral nutrition guidelines in middle and small hospitals to standardize the application of nutritional support.

Objective To investigate the nutritional risks, undernutrition, and nutritional support among inpatients in tertiary hospitals in Tianjin using Nutritional Risk Screening 2002 (NRS2002). Methods Inpatients in six departments in two tertiary hospitals in Tianjin (Tianjin Nankai Hospital and Tianjin Chest Hospital ) were consecutively enrolled from March 2005 to March 2006. Their nutritional risks were screened using NRS 2002, and the nutritional support was investigated. Results A total of 1200 inpatients received nutritional screening, and 93.0% of them underwent NRS 2002 scoring. The prevalence of undernutrition was 9. 8% and the prevalence of nutritional risk was 42. 8%. Of these patients, 241 patients (46.4%) with NRS2002≥3 received nutrition support, and 244 patients (35.9%) with NRS2002 ＜3 received nutritional support Conclusions NRS2002 is suitable for nutritional risk screening among inpatients. Inpatients usually have nutritional risks or undernutrition. However, physicians at different levels in different regions have different awareness of such risks or conditions, and the clinical application of nutritional supports sometimes are inappropriate.

Objective To investigate the incidences of nutrition risks, malnutrition ( undernutrition),overweight, and obesity, and nutrition support in tertiary hospitals in Xinjiang Uigur Autonomous Region. Methods Using fixed-point consecutive sampling, we collected the clinical data of inpatients in 6 departments of five tertiary hospitals in Xinjiang. According to the Nutrition Risk Screening 2002 (NRS 2002 ) published by European Society for Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition, patients were graded as at nutritional risk when their NRS 2002 scores ≥3 and as malnutrition when the body mass index (BMI) was ＜ 18.5 kg/m2 (or albumin ＜ 30 g/L). NRS 2002 screening was performed on the next morning after a patient was admitted. The nutrition supports within 2 weeks after admission were also investigated. The relationship between nutrition risks and nutrition support was analyzed.Results A total of 4036 inpatients were investigated, among them 3913 patients received NRS 2002 screening.The malnutrition (undernutrition) rate and the proportion of patients at nutritional risk were 8.4% and 34. 2%, respectively. The percentage of nutrition support was 10. 2%, which included parenteral nutrition (8. 5% ) and ena simple, fast and convenient tool for the investigation of nutrition risks and can provide a basis for reasonable nutrition support Therefore, it should be widely applied in clinical practice.

Toll-like receptors is a super-family of pathogen recognition-receptors discovered in recent years.During the process of ischemia-reperfusion, the Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) combines with lipopolysaccharide and many endogenous ligands such as high mobility group protein B1, heparan sulfate, and fibrinogen. Through the myeloid differentiation protein 88 -dependent and -independent signaling pathways, the products induce the release of inflammatory cytokine-mediated inflammatory response, leading to injuries. ω-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids, by inhibiting the signal pathway activation and target gene expression of TLR4, can influence the function of many immune cells and regulate the body's inflammatory response and immune function. This article reviews the function of TLR4 during ischemia-reperfusion injury and the possible interventional role of ω-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids.

Objective To compare the short-term quality of life after total gastrectomy in patients with gastric cancer with three recontructive methods of stamoch storage function. Methods Totally 62 cases underwent jejunal interposition afar total gastrectomy from March 2000 to December 2007. Patients were divided into three groups according to the procedures: functional jejunal interposition (FJI-type) group ( n = 23 ), modified jejunal interposition ( Ⅲ -type) group ( n = 20), and P-type jejunal interposition (P-type) group (n = 19). In each group,the patients' general conditions, the nutritional status at month 3 and 12, and gastrointestinal symptoms were evaluated. Results The durations of procedures were significantly different among three groups (P ＜0. 01 ). The intraoperative bleeding volume, postoperative complications, and food intake of each meal at month 3 were not significantly different ( P ＞ 0. 05 ). Compared with the data at month 3, the levels of hemoglobin and serum calcium at month 12 were significantly higher in all three groups (P ＜ 0. 01 ). Compared to the level at month 3, the level of serum albumin at month 12 significantly increased in FJI-type group (P ＜ 0. 05 ) but showed not significant difference in Ⅲ-type group and P-type group ( P ＞ 0. 05 ). The incidence of reflux esophagitis in three groups and the comparative parameters among the three groups at month 12 were not significantly different ( P ＞ 0. 05 ). Conclusions The jejunal interpositions after total gastrectomy will not increase the complexity and risk of the surgical procedure. In fact, they can reduce the reflux esophagitis and improve quality of life by keeping the storage function and restoring food passage through the duodenum. FJI-type is simpler than the other two types, and P-type is preferred for operations that need to open the pectoral cavity.

Objective To compare the characteristics of food and nutrition intake in type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) patients with or without carotid atherosclerosis and analyze the relationship between diets/C-reactive protein (CRP) and carotid intima-media thickness (C-IMT). Methods Sixty patients with T2DM were enrolled and divided into two groups based on C-IMT: group A (C-IMT ＜ 1 mm, n=30) and group B (C-IMT≥1 mm, n=30). All subjects were investigated with questionnaires including 3-day food recall They all took somatometric measurement. Blood and urine samples were collected in all subjects to examine the levels of high sensitive-CRP,C-peptide, blood glucose, glycosylated hemoglobin, blood lipid, renal function, urine microalbumin, and other indicators. Results The intakes of vegetables, fruits, and aquatic products were significantly higher in group A than in group B ( P ＜ 0. 05 ). The intake of vitamin C in group A was significantly higher than that in group B ( P ＜0. 05 ). The levels of CRP in group B was significant higher than that in group A (P = 0. 000). Positive correlation was found between CRP level and C-IMT in T2DM patients ( r = 0. 36, P = 0. 004). Furthermore, CRP was negatively correlated with the intakes of vegetables and fruits ( r = - 0. 334, P = 0. 01 ), aquatic products ( r = -0. 315, P = 0. 016), and vitamin C ( r = - 0. 2786, P = 0. 038 ), respectively. The intake of fruits was negatively correlated with C-IMT (r, = -0. 33, P = 0. 01 ). Conclusions T2DM patients without carotid atherosclerosis intake more vegetables, fruits, aquatic products and vitamin C than those with atherosclerosis. Vegetables, fruits,sea foods and vitamin C may be the protective factors against atherosclerosis in T2DM patients. CRP is associated with the development of atherosclerosis in T2DM patients.

Oxidative stress plays an important role in the progression of diabetes mellitus. As a potent antioxidant, alpha-lipoic acid is able to clear free radicals and alleviate oxidative damages and therefore has been widely applied in the clinical management of diabetes mellitus. This article summarizes the clinical application of alpha-lipoic acid in alleviating diabetes mellitus-related oxidative damages, protecting vascular lesions, treating diabetic polyneuropathies, and modulating insulin sensitivity.

Objective To investigate the causes of nutritional risks among inpatients in middle and small hospitals in Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region of China. Methods All the screened subjects were surveyed through classified collection of medical records and telephone follow-up. Factors including education background of patients and their family members, career, income, residence, medical payment methods, grade of hospital, and awareness of nutrition were analyzed. Results Lower education background of patients and their family members,less income, and self-funded health care payment were significantly associated with higher nutritional risks ( P ＜0. 01 ). The scores of malnutrition risks were significantly lower in patients whose careers were involved with culture, education and health and in patients whose family members had higher education levels (P ＜ 0.01 ). The nutrition risk was also significantly higher in patients from the rural areas than those from urban areas ( P＜0.01 ). It was also significantly higher in middle and small hospitals than in tertiary hospitals ( P＜0.01). Patients who had good awareness of nutritional knowledge had significantly lower incidence of nutritional risk (P ＜ 0. 01 ). Conclusion Low education level and poor economy in Guangxi are the main reasons for high nutritional risks.