Objective To observe the changes in levels of plasma leukocyte cell-derived chemnotaxin 2 (LECT2) in patients with newly diagnosed type 2 diabetes (T2DM) complicated with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD),and to investigate the clinical significance.Methods A total of 137 subjects were enrolled in the study,including 50 patients with newly diagnosed T2DM complicated with NAFLD,47 patients with newly diagnosed T2DM with non-NAFLD and 40 healthy subjects.The level of plasma LECT2 was determined by ELISA.Anthropometric data and other biochemical indicators were measured in three groups.The body mass index (BMI) and waist-to-hip ratio (WHR) were calculated.Insulin resistance and pancreas β-cell function were determined by homeostasis model assessment (HOMA-IR,HOMA-％β).Results Plasma concentration of LECT2 in patients with newly diagnosed T2DM complicated with non-NAFLD was higher than that in type 2 diabetic patients with non-NAFLD [(32.95 ± 10.11 vs 29.08 ± 7.54) ng/mL,P ＜ 0.01].Plasma LECT2 levels in both groups were significantly higher than that in normal control group [(22.38 ± 4.40) ng/mL,P ＜ 0.01].Plasma LECT2 level was positively correlated with BMI,FPG,FINS,C peptide,HbA1c,GGT,TG and HOMA-IR,while negatively with HDL-C and HOMA-％ β (all P ＜ 0.01).Multivariate regression analysis showed that levels of BMI,FPG and HDL-C were important factors affecting plasma LECT2 level.Conclusions Plasma LECT2 concentration significantly elevates in patients with newly diagnosed T2DM complicated with non-NAFLD.Plasma level of LECT2 is closely correlated with insulin resistance and glycolipid metabolism.LECT2 may play an important role in the patho genesis of insulin resistance and T2DM.

ObjectiveTo explore the effects of different doses of PcTx1,a specific blocker of acid-sensing ion channel 1a,on global cerebral ischemia/repedfusion (I/R) injury in rats,MethodsSixty adult male Sprague Dawley rats (weighing 250-300 g) were randomly divided into 6 grups ( n =10 each):sham operation group (group S),I/R group,different doses of PcTx1 ( 10 ng/ml,group P1 ; 25 ng/ml,group P2 ; 50 ng/ml,group P3 ;and 500 ng/ml,group P4 ) groups.Global cerebral ischemia was induced by the modified procedure of Pulsinelli 4-vessel occlusion.In groups P1,P2,P3 and P4,different doses of PcTx1 ( 10,25,50 and 500 ng/ml),6 μl each,were respectively injected into the lateral cerebral ventricle at the initiation of reperfusion,while equal volume of double distilled water was injected instead in group I/R.Six rats in each group were sacrificed at 24 h of reperfusion,and the brains were immediately removed,Thereafter,the contents of malondialdehyde (MDA),reduced glutathione (GSH) and ritric oxide (NO),the activities of constitutive NO synthase (eNOS) snd inducible NO synthase (iNOS) were detected in hippocampus.Four rats in each group were sacrificed at 72 h of reperfusion,and hematoxylin and eosin staining was used to observe the pathomorphological changes of the hippocampal neurons.ResultsCompared with group S,the other groups showed decreases in the contents of GSH,while increases in the contents of MDA and NO and the activities of cNOS and iNOS ( P ＜ 0.05 or 0.01 ).The contents of GSH increased,while the contents of MDA and NO and the activities of cNOS and iNOS decreased in groups P2,P3 and P4 compared with group I/R ( P ＜ 0.05 or 0.01).Compared with group P1,the contents of GSH increased,the contents of MDA and the activities of cNOS decreased in groups P2,P3 and P4,and the contents of NO and the activities of iNOS decreased in groups P3 and P4 ( P ＜ 0.05 or 0.01 ).Compared with group P2,the activities of iNOS decreased in groups P3 and P4(P ＜ 0.05 or 0.01).The damage to neurons in hippocampal CAI was severe in groups I/R and P1,but it was attenuated in groups P3 and P4.ConclusionPcTx1 25,50 and 500 ng/ml (6 μl)injected into lateral cerebral ventricle can attenuate global cerebral I/R injury in rats,and the dose 50 ng/ml (6 μl) is more suitable.

Objective To investigate the role of acid-sensing ion channel 1a(ASIC1a) in global cerebral ischemia-reperfusion injury in rats.Methods Forty male SD rats weighing 250-300 g were randomly divided into 4 groups (n =10 each): sham operation group (group S),cerebral ischemia-reperfusion group (group I/R),solvent control group (group SC) and group PcTX1 (a ASIC1 a blocker,group P).Global cerebral ischemia-reperfusion was induced by four-vessel occlusion.PcTX1(500 ng/ml)6 μl or solvent 6 μl was injected into the crerbral ventricular at the begining of reperfusion in groups P and SC respectively.The rats were sacrificed at 24 h of reperfusion,and then the hippocampi were removed for determination of Caspase-3,Bcl-2 and Bax protein expression and microscopic examination.Results Compared with group S,the expression of Caspase-3,Bcl-2 and Bax protein was up-regulated in groups I/R,SC and P (P ＜ 0.05).Compared with group I/R,the expression of Caspase-3 and Bax was down-regulated,and the expression of Bcl-2 was up-regulated in group P ( P ＜ 0.05).There was no significant difference in Caspase-3,Bcl-2 and Bax protein expression between groups I/R and SC (P ＞ 0.05).The histopathologic damage was ameliorated in group P as compared with group I/R.Conclusion ASIC1a can induce global cerebral ischemia-reperfusion injury in rats by up-regulating Caspase-3 and Bax expression,and down-regulating Bcl-2 expression and inducing apoptosis.

Objective To compare the curative effects between recombinant human brain natriuretic peptide (rhBNP) and sodium nitroprusside in treatment of the acute attack of elderly patients with chronic heart failure (CHF), and probe the impacts of rhBNP on the heart function,serum B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP), norepinephrine (NE), endothelin 1 (ET-1) and antidiuretic hormone (ADH) levels. Methods The 89 patients aged 65-85 years at acute attack stage of CHF were randomized into two therapy groups: rhBNP group (n= 47) and sodium nitroprusside group (n=42). The clinical effects, heart function, serum BNP, NE, ET-1 and ADH changes were observed before and after the treatment. Results After 24 hours of treatment, the efficacy rate and total effective rate were higher in rhBNP group than in sodium nitroprusside group (51.1% vs. 26.2 %,95.7% vs. 66. 7%, respectively, P＜0. 05 and P＜0. 01), and non-efficacy rate in rhBNP group was lower (4.3% vs. 33. 3%, P＜0. 01). There was one death case in rhBNP group and three in sodium nitroprusside group. In rhBNP group, left ventricular ejection fraction values increased after 2 weeks of treatment [(46.2± 9.5)% vs. (38.1 ±6.0)%], P＜0.05. Serum BNP level significantly decreased in rhlBNP group than in sodium nitroprusside group after 2 weeks of treatment (P＜0.05).In rhBNP group, serum BNP and NE levels decreased 24 hours and 2 weeks after treatment (P＜0. 01) and the levels furtherly reduced after 2 weeks (P＜0.01). Serum ET-1 level decreased in rhBNP group than in sodium nitroprusside group 2 weeks after treatment (P＜0.05). In rhBNP group, there was no significant difference in serum ET-1 level between baseline and 24 hours after treatment (P＞ 0. 05), but the ET-1 level decreased 2 weeks after treatment as compared with 24 hours after treatment (P＜0.01). There were no significant differences between the two groups before and after treatment (P＞0.05). Incidences of headache and hypotension were lower in rhBNP group than in sodium nitroprusside group (4.3% vs. 19.0%, 14.9% vs. 23.8%, both P＜0.05),Conclusions RhBNP can be safely and effectively used for acute attack of CHF.

Systems-based integrated course is the core and hot spot in current advanced medical education reform.An integrated organ-system oriented curriculum system of endocrinology and metabolism was applied in eight year clinical medicine and five year excellent doctor education.The teaching contents of endocrinology and metabolism from traditional Basic Medicine,Internal Medicine and Surgery were integrated and optimized to compile the integrated syllabus and teaching cases.Curriculum integration oriented PBL teaching and comprehensive morphology experimental teaching were implemented into the integrated endocrinology and metabolism system curriculum.This endocrinology and metabolism course integration based on organ-system based learning is conducive to establishing the organic connection between Basic Medicine and Clinical Medicine,and cultivating high-quality medical talents.

Objective To investigate the value of serum cholinesterase (S-ChE) levels in judgment of severity and prognosis in patients with severe pneumonia. Methods The clinical data of patients with severe pneumonia, who were admitted to the Department of Internal Medicine in the First Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, or the Department of Neurology in the Third People's Hospital of Foshan from May 2011 to May 2015, whose hospital time was longer than 24 hours, were retrospectively analyzed. They were divided into survival group and death group according to the final outcome. Lab data, acute physiology and chronic health evaluation Ⅱ (APACHE Ⅱ) score, multiple organ dysfunction syndrome (MODS) score, the improved pneumonia score of British Thoracic Society (confusion, uremia, respiratory, blood pressure, age 65 years, CURB-65), and S-ChE levels of all patients were collected after they were hospitalized into the intensive care unit (ICU) within 24 hours. Independent risk factors for prognosis were analyzed by binary logistic regression analysis, and receiver operating characteristic curve (ROC) was plotted. Best truncation point analysis was used to compare their estimated value for prognosis of patients with severe pneumonia. Results Eighty-six patients with severe pneumonia were studied. Among them 46 patients survived, and 40 patients died. By the single factor analysis, the following lab data in the death group were found significantly lower than those in the survival group: S-ChE levels (kU/L: 2.748±0.826 vs. 4.489±1.360, t' = 7.274, P = 0.000), arterial partial pressure of oxygen [PaO2 (mmHg, 1 mmHg = 0.133 kPa): 52.55±18.29 vs. 60.83±16.65, t = 2.196, P = 0.031], oxygenation index (mmHg: 114.20±48.01 vs. 167.10±69.68, t' = 4.229, P = 0.000), and carbon dioxide combining power [CO2-CP (mmol/L): 22.85±5.44 vs. 26.00±7.63, t' = 2.225, P = 0.029]. The following clinical data were significantly higher in the death group than those in the survival group, namely body temperature (℃: 38.67±1.18 vs. 37.74±1.18, t = -3.627, P = 0.000), pulse (bpm: 130.65±15.72 vs. 107.26±19.61, t' = -6.133, P = 0.000), the ratio of concomitant chronic lung disease [45.0% (18/40) vs. 13.0% (6/46), χ2 = 10.860, P = 0.001], fraction of inspired oxygen [FiO2: 0.495 (0.410, 0.600) vs. 0.380 (0.290, 0.500), Z = -3.265, P = 0.001], APACHE Ⅱ score (25.80±5.07 vs. 16.39±5.12, t =-8.540, P = 0.000), CURB-65 score [3 (3, 4) vs. 2 (1, 2), Z = -5.562, P = 0.000], MODS score (8.15±2.49 vs. 4.35±2.01, t = -7.832, P = 0.000), international normalized ratio [INR: 1.22 (1.08, 1.31) vs. 1.07 (1.00, 1.10), Z = -4.231, P = 0.000], and activated partial thromboplastin time [APTT (s): 33.80 (32.13, 38.75) vs. 28.50 (25.70, 36.00), Z = -3.482, P = 0.000]. Binary logistic regression analysis showed that, S-ChE levels, APACHE Ⅱ score and MODS score were found to be the independent risk factors for prognosis in the patients with severe pneumonia, respectively [S-ChE: odds ratio (OR) = 0.084, 95% confidence interval (95%CI) = 0.017-0.424, P = 0.003; APACHE Ⅱ score: OR = 1.675, 95%CI = 1.098-2.556, P = 0.017; MODS score: OR = 2.189, 95%CI = 1.262-3.800, P = 0.005]. The area under ROC (AUC) for S-ChE levels, APACHE Ⅱ score and MODS score were 0.874±0.036, 0.889±0.033 and 0.884±0.035, respectively (all P > 0.05 as compared between any two means). At the best truncation points of S-ChE levels, APACHE Ⅱ score and MODS score were 3.372 kU/L, 19.5 score, and 6.5 score respectively. The sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value and negative predictive value in predicting death risk in patients with severe pneumonia were (80.0%, 78.0%, 76.19% and 81.82%), (95.0%, 70.0%, 73.08% and 94.12%) and (70.0%, 91.0%, 87.50%, 77.78%), respectively. If S-ChE levels was combined with APACHE Ⅱ score or combined with MODS score, the sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value and negative predictive value [S-ChE levels combined APACHE Ⅱ score: 100%, 92.0%, 93.75% and 100%; S-ChE levels combined MODS score: all 100%] were higher than single power of S-ChE levels, APACHE Ⅱ score or MODS score. Conclusions S-ChE levels can be considered as an effective and practical index to estimate the severity and prognosis in patients with severe pneumonia. The combined application of S-ChE levels and APACHE Ⅱ score or MODS score can obviously improve the prognostic power in patients with severe pneumonia.

Objective To investigate the effects of AGEs-RAGE on the apoptosis of GLUTag cells and explore the possiblc mechanism.Methods GLUTag cells treated with 0、100、200、300μg/ml of AGEs for 24h were examined for gene and protein expression of RAGE using RT-PCR and western blotting,respectively.GLUTag cells were randomly divided into four groups:control,200μg/ml AGEs,AGEs+siRNA-RAGE and AGEs+apocynin.The protein expression of p22phox、p47phox 、Bcl-2、Bax in the cells were detected with western blotting.The reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels were examined using 2'7'-dichlorodihydroflur-rescein diacetate (DCFH-DA) and the apoptosis of L cells were tested by AnnexinV-FITC/PI.Results AGEs increased thc cxpression of RAGE in a dose dependent manner.Treatment with AGEs induced a significant increase in the expression of p22phox,p47phoxand the activity of ROS,caused up-regulation of Bax and down-regulation of Bcl-2,which enhanced the apoptosis of GLUTag cells.Apocynin,the inhibitor of NADPH oxidase,prevented those responses and the effects caused by AGEs were abolished by inhibition of RAGE activity with siRNA.Conclusion AGEs positively regulate the exprcssion of NADPH oxidase-derived ROS and its down-steam signaling pathway p53/Bax by targeting RAGE,leading to the apoptosis of GLUTag cells.

Objective To investigate the role of mitochondrial permeability transition pore (mPTP) of hippocampal neurons in process of hydrogen-rich saline attenuating global cerebral ischemia-reperfusion (I/R) injury in rats.Methods Seventy-two male Sprague Dawley rats,weighing 250-300 g,were randomly divided into six groups ( n =12 each):sham operation group (group S),cerebral ischemia-reperfusion group (group IR),normal saline group (group NS),hydrogen-rich saline group (group H),atractyloside group (group A) and hydrogen-rich saline + atractyloside group (group HA).Global cerebral I/R injury was produced by four-vessel occlusion method.Bilateral vertebral arteries were cauterized.Then bilateral common carotid arteries were occluded for 15min and followed by reperfusion.In groups H and HA,hydrogen-rich saline 5 ml/kg was injected intraperitoneally immediately after reperfusion,while equal volume of normal saline was injected in the other four groups.The rats in groups A and HA received intracerebroventricular injection of atractyloside 15 μl 10 min before reperfusion,while groups NS and H received intracerebroventricular injection of equal volume of normal saline.After the neurological behavior was evaluated at 24 h of reperfusion,8 rats in each group were sacrificed and the hippocampi were immediately isolated and homogenized followed by density gradient centrifugation.The opening degree of mPTP was assayed with spectrophotometry and the mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP) was detected with Rhodamine 123 method.Four rats in each group were killed at 72 h of reperfusion and the brains were removed for microscopic examination of the area CA1 of the hippocampus and determination of the number of normal pyramidal neurons.Results Compared with group S,the neurological behavior was compromised,MMP was decreased and mPTP opening degree was enhanced in the other five groups ( P ＜ 0.05).The neurological behavior was better,MMP was increased and mPTP opening degree was decreased in groups H and HA as compared with group IR ( P ＜ 0.05).Compared with group H,the neurological behavior was compromised,MMP was decreased and mPTP opening degree was enhanced in group HA ( P ＜ 0.05).Compared with group IR,the number of normal pyramidal neurons at 72 h of reperfusion in the CA1 region of the hippocampus was higher in group HA ( P ＜0.05).The injury of the CA1 region of the hippocampus at 72 h of reperfusion was attenuated in group H as compared with groups IR,NS,A and HA.Conclusion Hydrogen-rich saline can attenuate global cerebral I/R injury throngh inhibiting the mPTP opening and reducing the dissipation of MMP,thus maintaining the mitochondrial function.

Statistics plays an important role in medical research， and the selection of appropriate statistical methods is crucial for drawing reliable and valuable conclusions. This paper provides a brief introduction to commonly used statistical analysis methods for medical data， covering descriptive analysis， parametric test， nonparametric test， correlation analysis， regression analysis， and analysis of survival data. It focuses on discussing the assumptions of multiple linear regression， logistic regression and Cox proportional risk regression， as well as how to choose the appropriate statistical methods for analyzing and interpreting medical data based on different research objectives and data types.

Clinical research reports serve as the presentation of scientific research findings and directly reflect the quality of the research. This article describes the writing of different types of clinical research reports， such as observational studies and randomized controlled trial studies， with a particular focus on randomized controlled trials. Each scientific research design has its reporting focus， and the writing of scientific research papers has uniform requirements and a specific writing format. Mastering the proper format of drafting research reports is of practical value and significant importance for conduction high-quality clinical research.