Visfatin was expressed in rat anti mouse islets,as well as in MIN6 cells. The visfatin expression was affected by various concentrations of environmental glucose (5.5 and 33.3 mmoL/L) and palmitate(0.5 mmol/L). As compared with low-level glucose medium (5.5 mmol/L, 1.0±0.11) , visfatin expression increased in media with high glucose and palmitate (1.32 ±0. 18, 1. 33±0. 15,1.72±0.27, all P<0. 05). The result suggests that visfatin seems to be involved in the regulation of insulin secretion.

Electrolyte disturbance was prominent in patients with severe acute mountain sickness. In these patients hypoxia caused water and salt retension together with vasoactive substances and excessive free radicals might play important roles in the development of multiple organ dysfunction syndrome (MODS). More attention should be given to electrolyte monitoring in dealing with these severe mountain sickness in field.

Serum adipocyte fatty acid-binding protein (A-FABP) was raised in metabolic syndrome (MS)patients (n= 121) as compared with age-matched healthy subjects [n = 120, (14.7±4.8 vs 6.8 ±3. 0) μg/L,P<0.001]. It reached higher level in MS subjects with visceral obesity [(15.7±4.2 vs 12.6±5.1) μg/L, P<0.001]. Serum A-FABP concentration was positively correlated with body mass index, waist circumference, waist-tohip ratio, fasting insulin, homeostasis assessment for insulin resistance (HOMA-IR), fasting glucose, triglycerides,total cholesterol,and mean arterial blood pressure, whereas negatively correlated with HDL-C (r =-0. 448, P< 0.001).

Objective To evaluate the current state of glycemie control in Chinese patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus who have received oral antidiabetic agents in the out-patient clinic,and the efficacy and safety of optimized regiments of gliclazide modified-release tablets (Diamicron MR, SERVIER, Tianjin) in patients with failed glycemic control (HbA1c 6.5%). Methods The patients with type 2 diabetes were enrolled from 54 hospitals in more than 20 cities and received long-term (more than 3 months) oral antidiabetic agents. HbA1c was measured and the success rate of HbA1c reduction was evaluated. The patients who failed to achieve glycemic control (HbA1c 6. 5%) and received daily multiple-dosing insulin secretagogues were provided with the optimized treatment regimen, consisting of replacing daily multiple-dosing insulin secretagogues with single-dosing gliclazide sustained-release tablets. Clinical efficacy and safety were evaluated after three months treatment. Results The survey of glycemic control revealed that the mean HbA1c of 5 586 patients with diabetes mellitus was (7.97±2.89)% ,and the success rate (HbA1c≤6.5%) was 14. 1%. Further more, HbA1c decreased from (8.23±4.00)% before optimization to (6.86±2.24)% after optimization with the average decrement of 1.37% (P<0. 001) and the success rate was raised to 34. 1%. The gliclazide modified-release tablets were well tolerated by most patients, only 2.6% of whom were reported to experience unconfirmed hypoglycemia. Conclusion The success rate of glycemic control was low in Chinese out-patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus receiving oral antidiabetic agents in the clinic. The optimized regimen of gliclazide modified-release tablets taken once daily can down-regulate glycemic levels and increase the success rate of HbA1c reduction,and thus plays efficiently and safely a key role in the optimized management of type 2 diabetes mellitus.

The changes of Fas.FasL and Bcl-2 expression in thyrocytes of patients with Graves'disease were investigated before and 2 weeks after 131Ⅰ administration. The results showed that 131Ⅰ couhl induce thyrocytes to express the apoptotic protein Fas, FasL and the anti-apoptotic protein Bet-2 in patients with Graves'disease. A statistically significant correlation was found between the dose of 131Ⅰ and the expression levels of Fas and FasL but not Bet-2 ,suggesting that early onset of hypothyroid after 131Ⅰ administration may be due to the increased expression of Fas and FasL in thyrocytes.

Objective To observe the pathological characteristics of thyroiditis induced by iodine excess and thyroglobulin (Tg) immunization and to explore the mechanism of thyroiditis induced by iodine excess. Methods NOD mice were used for intaking 0.05% Nal water and(or) Tg immunization. Morphologic change in thyroid and apoptosis were observed. The levels of serum TT4, TSH, thyroglobulin antibody (TgAb) and thyroid peroxidase antibody (TPOAb) were measured. Responding to Tg, lymphocytic proliferation of lymph node and spleen, interleukin-4(IL-4)and γ-interferon(IFN-γ) levels in culture medium of splenocytes were detected. Real-time PCR Was used to detect mRNA expressions of IL-4, IFN-γ, chemokine ligand 10 (CXCL10) and intercellular adhesion molecular-1(ICAM-1) in thyroid. Results Distended thyroid follicles,colloid accumulation, intense lymphocytic infiltration and disorganization were seen in thyroid of iodine excess group, along with increased apoptosis of thyroid cells(34.66～ 2.78 vs 5.11±0.62 ,P<0.01). The levels of TT4 were lowered while TSH raised ,but no production of thyroid-specific autoantibodies was revealed. Lymph node and spleen cells showed positive respornse under stimulation of Tg. The level of IFN-γ[(1. 272±0.049 vs 1. 139±0. 025)ng/L,P<0. 01] was raised in culture medium of splenocytes but not IL-4. The expression of IFN-γ, CXCLI0 and ICAM-1 mRNA were increased in thyroid. But in Tg group, some lymphocytes were scattered in thyroid, autoantibodies emerged ,and the level of IL-4 was increased in cuhure medium of splenocytes[(18. 508±0. 113 vs 13. 368±0. 016)ng/L, P<0. 01]. ledine excess combined with Tg enhanced these inflammatory reaction. Conclusion Iodine excess induced thyroiditis in NOD mice. The process seems to be Th1 response dominant organ-specific autoimmune diseases. Iodine excess and Tg immunizatiou play a synergistic role in inducing experimental autoimmune thyroiditis.

Objective To investigate the epidemiological characteristics of non-toxic goiter and non-toxic thyroid nodules in the regions with different iodine intakes and the factors influencing the occurrence, development and outcome of goiter and thyroid nodules. Methods 3 385 subjects, who had taken part in the previous survey in 1999 with the ultrasonic examination of thyroid, were composed of individuals in Panshan with chronic mild iodine deficiency,in Zhangwu with more than adequate iodine "after iodine supplementation and in Huanghua with excessive iodine. These 3 groups of subjects were followed up in 2004. Results (1) The cumulative incidences of diffuse goiter in Panshan ,Zhangwu and Huanghua were 7.1% ,4.4% and 6.9% ,respectively ,being the lowest in Zhangwu (P<0.01) and those of nodular goiter were 5.0% ,2. 4% and 0.8%, respectively, being the highest in Panshan (P<0.01). (2) The incidences of single nodule were 4.0% ,5.7% and 5.6%, respectively, and those of multiple nodules 0.4%, 1.2% and 1.0%, respectively. (3)The result of logistic analysis showed that iodine deficiency,iodine excess and positive thyroid autoantibodies (TAA) were the independent risk factors for the occurrence of goiter. (4)In Zhangwu ,the incidence of non-toxic goiter in the group with positive TAA was higher than that in the group with negative TAA(P<0.01) ,while there were no such differences in Panshan and Huanghua. (5)In these three regions, the rates of positive TAA in the individuals with diffuse non-toxic goiter were higher than those in the healthy subjects (P<0.05). And in Huanghua,the rate of positive TAA in subjects with non-toxic nodular goiter was also higher than that in the healthy individuals (P<0.05). Conclusion Iodine deficiency and iodine excess may both induce the raising incidence of goiter. Nodular goiter is prevalent in iodine deficient district and diffuse goiter is the predominant form in places with iodine excess. Thyroid autoimmunity is associated with occurrence and maintenance of goiter, and this phenomenon is more obvious in the community with previous iodine deficiency followed then by treatment with more than adequate iodine.

The abdominal visceral fat content in obese SD rats induced by high fat diet for 10 weeks was significantly higher than that in control group [(26±6 vs 13±3)g,P<0.01] ,along with increased CRP mRNA expression in abdominal visceral fat (0.901±0.085 vs O. 402±0.036, P<0.01). As compared with normal control group, in the high fat group the concentrations of CRP in portal vein [(743.8±95.8 vs 558.3 ±118.3) mg/L, P<0.01] and peripheral vein[(596.3±38.9 vs 485.8±30.2) mg/L,P<0. 05] were higher. The concentration of CRP in portal vein was significantly higher than that in peripheral vein in high fat diet group(P<0.01) ,but this was not evident in control group. These results suggest that the increased CRP expression in visceral adipose tissue may partially account for the elevation of serum CRP in obesity.

The effect of globular adiponectiin (gAd)on the function of NIT-1 cells under high glucose medium was investigated. The results showed that gad could completely block the increase of NADPH oxidase components p47phox expression and recover mRNA expression of pancreatic duodenal homeobox-I ,paired box gene 6,glucose transpoter 2,and glucokinase except neurogenic differentiation factor 1 (P<0.05 or P<0.01). Whereas,impaired insulin secretion and mRNA expression at high glucose concentration were not significantly improved by gAd.

Objective To investigate the effects of diets with different calorie and nutritional values on pubertal onset in female rats. Method Female Wistar rat models receiving calorie-deprived (group R) (Experiment 1) ,fat-rich(group F) ,glucose-rich(group G) and protein-rich(group P) (Experiment 2) test diets were established,and rats receiving diets with normal caloric value were considered as control group (group C). The body weight (BW) ,food-intake and vaginal patency (VP) were observed. The rats were killed at the day of vaginal patency. The BW, uterus weight (UW), uterus index (UI), calorie intake per day (CI), perirenal fat weight (PFW) and perirenal fat index (PFI) were measured. The serum levels of leptin, ghrelin, IGF- Ⅰ were tested by means of ELISA.Results Experiment 1:The VP was retarded in group R compared with group C (P<0. 01). There was a significant difference in BW, UW,UI ,CI,leptin and ghrelin at the VP day between group R and group C (all P<0.01) ,and no significant difference in IGF- Ⅰ levels between these two groups. Experiment 2 :The VP was retarded in group F,group G and group P in comparison with group C (P<0.01). The BW, PFW and PFI in group G and group F were markedly higher than those in group P and group C. The leptin level in group F was the highest, and the lowest in group P. The ghrelin level in group G was the highest,and that in group P was the lowest. However,there were no significant differences in IGF- Ⅰ and UI among these, four groups. Conclusion The normal pubertal onset of female rats requires sufficient caloric stores and balanced nutrient. Diets malnutrition and fat-rich, glucoserich and protein-rich test diets all delay pubertal onset in female rats.