AIM: To explore the relationship between various mitochondrial (mt) DNA tRNA Leu (UUR) and ND1 gene mutations and type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) among Chinese in Hubei Province. METHODS: PCR restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) analysis was used to screen point mutations of mtDNA ( 3 243, 3 256, 3 290, 3 316, 3 394, 3 421, 3 426, 3 460, 3 593) in 174 T2DM and 207 healthy controls. Then, DNA sequencing, reverse dot blot hybridization and Genchip were used to compare and confirm mutations. All mutations were analyzed by DNASTAR and Antherprot softwares. RESULTS: In diabetic group, there were 5 carriers (2.9%) of 3 316 G→A (Ala→Thr) mutation, 4 (2.3%) of 3 394 T→C (Tyr→His) mutation, 1 (0.6%) of 3 593 T→C(Val→Ala) mutation, and 1 (0.6%) of 3 618 T→C(Phe→Phe) mutation. Among 3 316 (G→A) mutations , there were more than 1 point mutations in 2 cases, one accompanied with 3 256 C→T(Arg→Arg) and 3 688 G→C (Ala→Pro) mutations, another accompanied with 3 606 A→G(Leu→Leu) mutation. 3 606 (A→G), 3 618 (T→C) and 3 688 (G→C) were novel mutations, GenBank accession number is DQ092356. In controls, only 3 316 (G→A) mutation was found in 1 subject (0.5%). There was significant difference between two groups for 3 394 (T→C) mutation frequencies (P

Objective To evaluate the ability of contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) as a prognostic indicator of renal function in chronic kidney disease (CKD) patients.Methods A total of 122 patients with CKD were collected,and patients with allergies to sulfur hexafluoride,pregnancy,cardiopulmonary insufficiency,urinary calculus and tumour were excluded.These patients were divided into estimated glomerular filtration rate [eGFR,ml·min1· (1.73 m2)-1] ≥60 group,eGFR 30-59 group and eGFR ＜ 30 group.CEUS was performed after an intravenous bolus injection of 1.5 ml SonoVue (BR1;Bracco Milan,Italy).Time-intensity curves (TICs) and quantitative indexes were created using QLAB quantification software.Followed up for 2 years,and patients with eGFR dropped 50％,double serum creatinine and end-stage renal disease (ESRD) were regarded as having kidney failure events.Risk factors related to kidney survival were investigated using a multivariate Cox regression model.Results One hundred patients were enrolled in the study,with 78％ patients in CKD 1-2 stages,16％ in CKD 3 stage and 6％ in CKD 4-5 stages.Patients were followed for a mean period of 14.1 months,ten (10％) patients exhibited composite kidney failure events.Among 3 groups,significant differences in the left kidney length derived peak intensity (DPI) were noted (P=0.014,P=0.010).Multivariate Cox regression analysis revealed that the DPI was an independent factor of progression of kidney disease.Multiple linear regression showed that age,basic eGFR,peak intensity were associated with eGFR decline rate.Patients with DPI ＜ 12.27 db were less to recover from kidney disease progression as compared with patients with DPI≥ 12.27 db (P=0.008).The area under the curve (AUC) for DPI was 0.778(95％ CI 0.612-0.944,P＜ 0.05),with a sensitivity of 64％ and a specificity of 88％.Conclusions The DPI might be the most valuable CEUS parameter for the evaluation of renal function.The DPI could serve as an independent predictor of the long-term prognosis of CKD patients.

OBJECTIVETo analyze the effects of nicotine on the bone calcium and phosphorus content and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity in rat alveolar bone and mandible.

METHODSTwenty health male Wistar rats of five weeks of age were randomly assigned to two groups and received daily intraperitoneal injections for three months as follows: Saline solution for control group, nicotine 0.73 mg.kg-l.d-1 for experimental group. The bone calcium phosphorus content were detected by concentrated acid digestion method and the ALP activity was examined by improved Reddi method.

RESULTSCompared to the control group, bone calcium and phosphorus content was lower in the experimental group (P<0.05), ALP activity had no statistical significance(P>0.05). Bone calcium phosphorus and ALP activity in different parts had no statistical significance (P>0.05).

CONCLUSIONThe nicotine reduces calcium phosphorus deposition of jaw bone, but has no obvious influence to ALP activity.

Alkaline Phosphatase ; Animals ; Bone and Bones ; Calcium ; Male ; Nicotine ; Phosphorus ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar

Objective To study the outcomes and influencing factors of the conversion from normal glucose tolerance -hyperinsulinemia (NCT-HINS) to diabetes in the population of a community in Beijing.Methods All the subjects investigated received 75 g oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) for diabetes screening carried out in May, 2006 and May, 2008. Data were calculated to analyze the outcomes and influencing factors of the conversion. HINS was diagnosed if fasting serum insulin & 15 mIU/L and/or 2-hour serum insulin after glucose loading ≥ 80 mIU/L Results The prevalence of NGT-HINS in the community in 2006 and 2008 was 5.28% and 8.67% (P<0.01) respectively and that of diabetes mellitus (DM) and impaired glucose regulation (IGR) was 3.52% , 6.56% in 2006 and 4.42% ,6.47% in 2008.The probability of the conversion from NGT-HINS to IGR and DM was 18.6% and 2.3% , being much higher than that from normal glucose tolerance- normoinsulinemia (NGT-NINS) (5.4% and 0.7% , P <0.01). However, the probability of the conversion from NGT-HINS to DM was 2.3% , which was much lower than that from IGR (26.3% , P <0.01). The reason might be that individuals with NGT-HINS had a higher waist circumference, BMI, fasting plasma glucose, 2 h plasma glucose and TG but a lower HDL-C than individuals with NGT-NINS in 2006. The HOMA β-cell function index/HOMA insulin resistance index (HBCI/IR) of individuals with NGT-HINS was much lower than that of individuals with NGT-NINS, but much higher than that of individuals with IGR. Logistic regression analysis showed that age, TG and HBCI/IR were the major influencing factors of the conversion from NGT to glucose metabolic disorders.Conclusions The probability of conversion from NGT to DM was increased remarkably when HINS was diagnosed. The reason might be that individuals with NGT-HINS suffered more metabolic risk factors and had a decreased β-cell function. Therefore, individuals with NGT-HINS should be paid attention to in diabetes prevention study.

Transverse maxillary deficiency is a common malocclusion in the clinic. Palatal expansion techniques are commonly used in the treatment of maxillary transverse deficiency. Traditional palatal expansion techniques have good effects on the treatment of children and adolescents whose palatal suture has not yet closed, but the effects on adult patients are unsatisfied. New palatal expansion techniques, such as miniscrew-assisted rapid palatal expansion and surgical-assisted maxillary expansion, have increased the age-related indications for palatal expansion, and their bone expansion effect has been strengthened. With the development of CAD/CAM technology and 3D printing technology, techniques such as Invisalign and personalized appliances have been developed and have promising application prospects. To provide references for the clinical treatment of maxillary transverse deficiency, palatal expansion techniques are reviewed from the following aspects: mechanism and indications, expansion pattern, traditional and new palatal expansion appliances, stability and retention of palatal expansion, outlook of future expanders, etc.

Objective To investigate the efficacy and safety of 308-nm excimer laser compared to high-intensity ultraviolet radiation for the treatment of active localized vitiligo,and to observe changes in skin lesions before and after the treatment by confocal laser scanning microscopy.Methods Sixty patients with 203 skin lesions of active localized vitiligo and were enrolled into this study,and the vitiligo disease activity (VIDA) score of these patients ranged from 2 to 3.We selected more than 3 skin lesions from a same anatomical site of each patient,one of lesions served as a control and the other skin lesions (≥ 2) were randomly treated with 308-nm excimer laser (laser group) or high-intensity ultraviolet radiation (ultraviolet group).The treatment was conducted twice a week for 25 sessions,and a 3-month follow-up was performed.Results A total of 48 patients with 169 skin lesions completed the trial.The marked response rate was significantly higher in the laser group [66.15％ (43/65)] than in the ultraviolet group [44.64％ (25/56),x2 =8.28,P ＜ 0.01].The patients with a VIDA score of 2 showed a significantly higher marked response rate [67.69％(44/65)] compared with those with a VIDA score of 3 [44.64％(25/56),x2 =6.80,P ＜ 0.01].During the 3-month follow-up,no relapse was observed.Confocal laser scanning microscopy showed that the number of inflammatory cells increased at the dermal-epidermal junction of the intra-and extra-marginal lesional skin.After treatment,the number of inflammatory cells markedly decreased and returned to normal level in lesions.Conclusion Both 308-nm excimer laser and high-intensity ultraviolet radiation are effective in the treatment of active localized vitiligo,but the 308-nm excimer laser shows a more rapid onset of action and a better therapeutic effect.

Objective To compare the difference of cutpoint and clinical significance of HbA1C for the diagnosis of abnormal glucose metabolism in two population groups with different ages.Methods According to oral glucose tolerance test(OGTT),the cutpoint and clinical significance of HbA1C for the diagnosis of type 2 diabetes and impaired glucose regulation(IGR)were investigated in the two population groups.Results The mean HbA1C of 1 064 young subjects in an academy and 1 671 aged subjects in a community were 5.31% ±0.41% and 5.79% ±0.71%,respectively.The cutpoints of HbA1C for diagnosis of diabetes were 5.7%(specificity 86.7%,sensitivity 66.7%)and 5.9%(specificity 73.8%,sensitivity 80.1%)in the two population groups,and 5.6% for diagnosis of IGR (specificity 82.8%,sensitivity 55.8%)and 5.7%(specificity 60.9%,sensitivity 64.3%),respectively.87.8%,78.7%,and 38.5% were diagnosed diabetes by current OGTT criteria at HbA1C levels of ≥5.7%,≥5.9%,and≥6.5%,IGR being 61.6%,39.6%,and 4.1%,and normal glucose tolerance being 24.4%,10.0%,and 0.4%.Conclusion The cutpoints of HbA1C for diagnosis of diabetes and IGR are different in populations with different ages and HbA1C levels.As one of diagnostic criteria for diabetes,HbA1C 6.5% with relatively higher specificity and lower sensitivity must be combined with fasting blood glucose,random blood glucose,and OGTT.

Objective To investigate the effect of short-term complications after D2 radical gastrectomy on long-term survival rate of gastric cancer patients. Methods A retrospective case-control study was conducted on 421 patients with gastric cancer who underwent D2 radical gastrectomy. According to the short-term postoperative complications, they were divided into experimental group (complication group, n=76) and control group (without complication group, n=345). In order to reduce the selection bias, the long-term survival rate of the two groups was tested by Kaplan-Meier survival analysis method after balancing the variables by propensity score matching (PSM). Log rank method was used for univariate analysis and Cox multivariate analysis was used for prognostic factors. Results There was no significant difference in long-term survival rate between the experimental group and the control group (P > 0.05). Histological type, lymph node metastasis rate and pTNM stage were independent risk factors for long-term survival. Conclusion The short-term complications after D2 radical gastrectomy have no significant impact on the long-term survival rate of gastric cancer patients, but it has certain clinical significance to actively prevent and control complications.

Objective: To investigate the manufacturing procedures of personalized miniscrew-assisted rapid palatal expanders (pMARPE) using digital technologies and to evaluate the effect of the expanders when expanding the midpalatal suture of an adult. Methods: Digital technologies were used to make pMARPE, which was used to treat a 21-year-old woman with maxillary transverse deficiency (MTD). The relevant literature on MARPE was reviewed. Results: PMARPE could be manufactured using intraoral digital scanning, computer-aided design and computer-aided manufacturing(CAD/CAM ), and 3D printing technologies. After expansion, the width of the anterior midpalatal suture, posterior midpalatal suture and maxillary skeletal width increased by 3.9 mm, 3.2 mm and 4.7 mm, respectively. There was no significant change in the inclination of maxillary first molars, and the height of alveolar ridge decreased slightly. It could be seen that using digital technologies to manufacture personalized expanders was possible for MARPE , and the initial stability of miniscrews played an important role in the expansion success rate, the increase of molar inclination is composed of many parts, and the decrease of alveolar ridge height may be overestimated due to the measurement method, as shown by a literature review. Conclusion The midpalatal suture of an adult patient with MTD could be expanded by pMARPE. However, the effect of this expander on the inclination of the first molar and alveolar bone height needs to be further studied with a larger sample size.