BACKGROUND/AIMS: The relationship between C-peptide levels and gastrointestinal (GI) symptoms in type 2 diabetic patients is not clear. The purpose of this study is to examine the association between fasting C-peptide and GI symptoms of gastroparesis in type 2 diabetic patients. METHODS: We recruited 333 type 2 diabetic patients into the present study. All patients filled out questionnaires of gastroparesis cardinal symptom index (GCSI) to evaluate GI symptoms. Hospital anxiety and depression scale were adopted to define anxiety and depression. Patients with GCSI scores ≥ 1.9 were regarded as having symptoms of gastroparesis. RESULTS: In our study, 71 (21.3%) type 2 diabetic patients had GCSI scores ≥ 1.9. In comparison to patients with scores < 1.9, those with scores ≥ 1.9 had significantly lower fasting c-peptide levels (1.49 ng/mL vs 1.94 ng/mL, P < 0.001), higher prevalence of depression (40.9% vs 18.3%, P < 0.001) and anxiety (28.2% vs 13.0%, P = 0.002). Multivariate logistic regression revealed that fasting C-peptide was still significantly associated with symptoms of gastroparesis (odds ratio, 0.67; 95% confidence intervals, 0.48–0.94; P = 0.021), even after adjustments for age, sex, body mass index, HbA1c, current smoking and drinking status, anxiety, and depression. Furthermore, linear regressions showed that fasting C-peptide was independently and negatively related to GCSI scores (standardized regression coefficient, −0.29; P < 0.001) in patients with at least one GI symptom. CONCLUSION: GI symptoms of diabetic gastroparesis affect approximately 20% of type 2 diabetes patients and are associated with lower fasting C-peptide levels independent of depression and anxiety status.
Anxiety ; Anxiety Disorders ; Body Mass Index ; C-Peptide* ; Depression ; Depressive Disorder ; Diabetes Mellitus ; Drinking ; Fasting* ; Gastroparesis* ; Humans ; Linear Models ; Logistic Models ; Prevalence ; Smoke ; Smoking

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Appropriate inflammatory response is necessary for cardiac repairing after acute myocardial infarction (MI). Three-Bromo-4,5-dihydroxybenzaldehyde (BDB) is a potent antioxidant and natural bromophenol compound derived from red algae. Although BDB has been shown to have an anti-inflammatory effect, it remains unclear whether BDB affects cardiac remolding after MI. The aim of this study was to investigate the potential role of BDB on cardiac function recovery after MI in mice. METHODS: Mice were intraperitoneally injected with BDB (100 mg/kg) or vehicle control respectively 1 hour before MI and then treated every other day. Cardiac function was monitored by transthoracic echocardiography at day 7 after MI. The survival of mice was observed for 2 weeks and hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) staining was used to determine the infarct size. Macrophages infiltration was examined by immunofluorescence staining. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was used to test the production of cytokines associated with macrophages. The phosphorylation status of nuclear factor (NF)-κB was determined by western blot. RESULTS: BDB administration dramatically improved cardiac function recovery, and decreased mortality and infarcted size after MI. Treatment with BDB reduced CD68+ macrophages, M1 and M2 macrophages infiltration post-MI, and suppressed the secretion of pro-inflammatory cytokines, such as tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, interleukin (IL)-1β, monocyte chemoattractant protein (MCP)-1, and IL-6 in the injured hearts. Furthermore, BDB inhibited the phosphorylation of NF-κB in the infarcted hearts. CONCLUSIONS: These data demonstrate, for the first time, that BDB treatment facilitated cardiac healing by suppressing pro-inflammatory cytokine secretion, and indicate that BDB may serve as a therapeutic agent for acute MI.
Animals ; Blotting, Western ; Cytokines ; Echocardiography ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Eosine Yellowish-(YS) ; Fluorescent Antibody Technique ; Heart ; Hematoxylin ; Interleukin-6 ; Interleukins ; Macrophages ; Mice ; Monocytes ; Mortality ; Myocardial Infarction ; Phosphorylation ; Recovery of Function ; Rhodophyta ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Appropriate inflammatory response is necessary for cardiac repairing after acute myocardial infarction (MI). Three-Bromo-4,5-dihydroxybenzaldehyde (BDB) is a potent antioxidant and natural bromophenol compound derived from red algae. Although BDB has been shown to have an anti-inflammatory effect, it remains unclear whether BDB affects cardiac remolding after MI. The aim of this study was to investigate the potential role of BDB on cardiac function recovery after MI in mice. METHODS: Mice were intraperitoneally injected with BDB (100 mg/kg) or vehicle control respectively 1 hour before MI and then treated every other day. Cardiac function was monitored by transthoracic echocardiography at day 7 after MI. The survival of mice was observed for 2 weeks and hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) staining was used to determine the infarct size. Macrophages infiltration was examined by immunofluorescence staining. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was used to test the production of cytokines associated with macrophages. The phosphorylation status of nuclear factor (NF)-κB was determined by western blot. RESULTS: BDB administration dramatically improved cardiac function recovery, and decreased mortality and infarcted size after MI. Treatment with BDB reduced CD68+ macrophages, M1 and M2 macrophages infiltration post-MI, and suppressed the secretion of pro-inflammatory cytokines, such as tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, interleukin (IL)-1β, monocyte chemoattractant protein (MCP)-1, and IL-6 in the injured hearts. Furthermore, BDB inhibited the phosphorylation of NF-κB in the infarcted hearts. CONCLUSIONS These data demonstrate, for the first time, that BDB treatment facilitated cardiac healing by suppressing pro-inflammatory cytokine secretion, and indicate that BDB may serve as a therapeutic agent for acute MI.

After onset of acute ischemic stroke, nerve cells undergo ischemic necrosis, release endogenous damage related pattern molecules, which activate microglia and astrocytes, and lead to immune inflammatory responses. At the same time, it attracts and chemotactically guide peripheral blood immune cells to infiltrate brain tissue through the damaged blood-brain barrier, further exacerbating brain injury. Studies have shown that the peripheral blood immune cells are closely associated with the outcome of acute ischemic stroke. This article summarizes the mechanism of peripheral immune cells in ischemic brain injury, their correlation with clinical outcome, and possible intervention measures.

In recent years, endovascular therapy has become the most important progress in the field of the treatment of acute ischemic stroke caused by large vessel occlusion. However, the vascular recanalization shown by imaging after endovascular treatment cannot fully translate into effective tissue reperfusion and functional outcome, a phenomenon known as "futile recanalization". Combined neuroprotective therapy after vascular recanalization is expected to reduce the occurrence of futile recanalization and improve the outcome of patients. This article briefly summarizes the main application progress of commonly used neuroprotective therapies in clinical practice (edaravone dexborneol, glucocorticoids, hypothermia, and remote ischemic conditioning). It explores the trend and direction of combining endovascular therapy and neuroprotective therapy for patients with acute ischemic stroke caused by large vessel occlusion, and provides further reference and suggestions for intervention measures after endovascular therapy.

Objective? To investigate the hope level of elderly patients undergoing total knee arthroplasty (THA) and analyze its influencing factors, so as to provide evidence for improving the hope level and quality of life of patients after THA. Methods? A cluster random sampling method was used to select 308 patients with bilateral THA for the first time who were admitted to two ClassⅢ Grade A general hospitals in Harbin from January 2017 to July 2018. Questionnaire surveys were conducted using Herth Hope Scale, the Second Edition of Beck Depression Scale and Social Support Scale. Results? The total score of hope level in elderly THA patients was (29.96±8.72). Among them, 76.62% (236/308) had moderate to high level of hope and the total score of depression was (19.20±11.75) which was at a moderate level. There were significant differences in the hope level of patients with different gender, place of residence, educational level, marital status and family per capita monthly income (P＜ 0.05). The results of multiple stepwise regression analysis showed that age, sex, family income per capita, depression, negative coping style, subjective support and objective support were the influencing factors of elderly THA patients' hope level (P ＜ 0.05). Conclusions? The THA patients' hope are at a medium level. Medical staff should pay attention to the relevant factors affecting the level of hope, adopt targeted nursing intervention measures, give psychological guidance to patients, provide social support, and further improve the level of hope of the THA patients.

A new class of potent liver injury protective compounds, phychetins A-D ( 1- 4) featuring an unique 6/6/5/6/5 pentacyclic framework, were isolated and structurally characterized from a Chinese medicinal plant Phyllanthus franchetianus. Compounds 2- 4 are three pairs of enantiomers that were initially obtained in a racemic manner, and were further separated by chiral HPLC preparation. Compounds 1- 4 were proposed to be originated biosynthetically from a coexisting lignan via an intramolecular Friedel-Crafts reaction as the key step. A bioinspired total synthesis strategy was thus designated, and allowed the effective syntheses of compounds 2- 4 in high yields. Some of compounds exhibited significant anti-inflammatory activities in vitro via suppressing the production of pro-inflammatory cytokine IL-1β. Notably, compound 4, the most active enantiomeric pair in vitro, displayed prominent potent protecting activity against liver injury at a low dose of 3 mg/kg in mice, which could serve as a promising lead for the development of acute liver injury therapeutic agent.