OBJECTIVE: To observe the protective effect of Huaxia shallot preparation on human umbilical vein endothelial cell (HUVEC) injury induced by oxidized low density lipoprotein (Ox-LDL) in vitro. METHODS: Ox-LDL was prepared and identified, and HUVECs were cultured. After 2-hour intervention of different drugs and 24-hour following intervention of Ox-LDL, the number of HUVECs was observed by phase contrast optical microscope and the activity of the HUVECs was observed by methyl thiazolyl tetrazolium (MTT) technique. Superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity and nitric oxide (NO) content were assayed by respective kit. The protein expressions and mRNA levels of peroxisome proliferators activated receptor gamma(PPAR-gamma) and endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) were measured by western blot technique and reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). RESULTS: Ox-LDL could increase the apoptosis rate of the HUVECs and decrease the NO release as compared with the blank control group (P<0.05). These effects induced by Ox-LDL were all significantly inhibited by Huaxia shallot preparation. It could up-regulate the protein expressions and mRNA levels of PPAR-gamma and eNOS significantly (P<0.05). Huaxia shallot preparation could decrease the apoptosis rate of the HUVECs. CONCLUSION: Ox-LDL may be involved in the initiation and progression of atherosclerosis by injuring the endothelial cells directly and may cause the endothelial dysfunction. Huaxia shallot preparation can protect against Ox-LDL induced endothelial cell injury by up-regulating the protein expressions and mRNA levels of PPAR-gamma and eNOS. It suggests that Huaxia shallot preparation may play a role in the prevention and treatment of cardiovascular disease.

Objective:To investigate the association of the difference between 2-hour postprandial blood glucose and fasting blood glucose with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease(NAFLD)in elderly patients with type 2 diabetes(T2DM).Methods:A total of 953 patients aged≥65 years with T2DM hospitalized in the Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Shanghai Jiaotong University Affiliated Sixth People's Hospital from January 2007 to June 2009, with complete clinical data, were selected in this retrospective study.The absolute value of the difference between 2-hour postprandial blood glucose and fasting blood glucose was recorded as the blood glucose difference.According to the tertiles of the blood glucose difference, patients were divided into three groups including the first tertile(n=317, blood glucose difference<4.12 mmol/L), the second tertile(n=320, blood glucose difference between 4.12-7.69 mmol/L), and the third tertile(n=316, blood glucose difference≥7.69 mmol/L). Detailed clinical data of the patients were collected, and clinical characteristics and the prevalence of NAFLD were compared among the three groups.The correlation between the blood glucose difference and NAFLD was analyzed.Results:From the first tertile to the third tertile, there appeared to be increased proportions of patients using metformin( χ2=9.581, P=0.008), higher waist-to-hip ratios( F=3.663, P=0.026), increased 24 h uric acid excretion( χ2=6.241, P=0.044), increased alanine aminotransferase levels( χ2=22.361, P<0.001), increased γ-glutamyl transpeptidase levels( χ2=17.681, P<0.001)and increased 2h postprandial blood glucose levels( χ2=579.315, P<0.001), with significant statistical differences in the waist circumference( F=4.723, P=0.009), body mass index( F=5.811, P=0.003), fasting C-peptide levels( χ2=9.442, P=0.009), 2h postprandial C-peptide levels( χ2=17.599, P<0.001)and glycosylated hemoglobin A1c( F=30.836, P<0.001)between the three groups and the prevalence of NAFLD also grew steadily(24.0%, n=76 vs. 33.1%, n=107 vs. 36.7%, n=116, χ2=12.712, P<0.01). After adjusting for other variables, multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that the blood glucose difference was correlated with NAFLD in elderly patients with T2DM( OR=1.396, Wald χ2=0.002, P<0.01). Conclusions:Elderly T2DM patients with greater blood glucose differences have more severe metabolic disorders and a higher prevalence of NAFLD.An increase in blood glucose differences is an independent risk factor for NAFLD in elderly T2DM patients.

Objective:To explore the relationship between serum retinol binding protein(RBP)and metabolic-associated fatty liver disease(MAFLD)in elderly patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus(T2DM)and possible underlying metabolic mechanisms.Methods:A total of 3384 elderly T2DM patients hospitalized and with complete clinical records at the Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Sixth People's Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University between January 2003 and December 2012 were recruited in this retrospective study.Patients were divided into four groups according to the quartiles of serum RBP levels: the first quartile of serum RBP levels(<35 mg/L, 844 cases), the second quartile of serum RBP levels(35 mg/L≤ RBP ≤41 mg/L, 773 cases), the third quartile of serum RBP levels(42 mg/L≤ RBP ≤51 mg/L, 902 cases), and the fourth quartile of serum RBP levels(RBP>51 mg/L, 865 cases). Clinical data and laboratory test results were collected.Differences in the prevalence of MAFLD were compared between the four groups.The association between RBP and MAFLD was analyzed via binary logistic regression.Results:After adjusting for age and sex, the proportion of obesity( χ2=15.222, P<0.01), the percentage using lipid-lowering drugs( χ2=88.552, P<0.01), systolic blood pressure( F=12.002, P<0.01), diastolic blood pressure( F=6.872, P<0.01), waist circumference( F=9.563, P<0.01), waist-hip ratio( F=7.972, P<0.01), body mass index( F=9.057, P<0.01), serum creatinine( χ2=185.445, P<0.01), serum uric acid( χ2=314.691, P<0.01), 24-hour urinary albumin( χ2=91.012, P<0.01), alanine aminotransferase( χ2=17.049, P=0.003), γ-glutamyl transpeptidase( χ2=50.514, P<0.01), total cholesterol( F=45.669, P<0.01), triglycerides( χ2=361.269, P<0.01), low-density lipoprotein( F=8.772, P<0.01), fasting C-peptide( χ2=165.756, P<0.01), 2h postprandial C-peptide( χ2=120.690, P<0.01), and the homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance(HOMA2-IR)( χ2=148.884, P<0.01)in elderly patients with T2DM all showed a clear upward trend.The prevalence of MAFLD also gradually increased across the quartiles of serum RBP levels[26.5%(224/844), 30.1%(233/773), 36.6%(330/902), and 41.8%(362/865)], respectively( χ2=52.526, P<0.01). Elderly T2DM patients with MAFLD had a significantly higher value of HOMA2-IR than those without MAFLD[2.0(1.31-2.8) vs.1.39(0.86-2.06), F=220.826, P<0.01]. After correcting for other confounding factors, binary logistic regression showed that serum RBP was strongly associated with the presence of MAFLD in elderly patients with T2DM( β=0.209, 95% CI: 1.079-1.408, OR=1.232, χ2=9.441, P<0.01). Conclusions:Elevated serum RBP levels are an independent risk factor for the development of MAFLD in elderly T2DM patients, possibly through increased insulin resistance induced by RBP.

Objective To investigate the association of uric acid excretion(UUAE)with obesity and abdominal obesity in newly diagnosed patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus(T2DM).Methods A total of 1175 newly diagnosed T2DM patients hospitalized in the Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism of Shanghai Sixth People's Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine were enrolled in this study from January 2006 to December 2012.According to the quartile of UUAE,they were divided into Q1 group(UUAE＜2383 μmol/24 h,n=295),Q2 group(2383≤UUAE＜2953 μmol/24 h,n=292),Q3 group(2954≤UUAE＜3680 μmol/24 h,n=292)and Q4 group(UUAE＞3680 μmol/24 h,n=293).Clinical data and laboratory examination results were collected,and the prevalence of obesity and abdominal obesity was compared among the four groups.The associations of UUAE with obesity and abdominal obesity were analyzed.Results The prevalence of obesity was 47.9%,while the prevalence of abdominal obesity was 61.9%in the whole study population.After adjusting for age,the prevalence of abdominal obesity was higher in women than in men(P＜0.05).After adjusting for age and gender,the prevalence of obesity and MS was higher in Q4 group than in Q1,Q2,and Q3 groups(P＜0.05),and the prevalence of abdominal obesity was higher in Q4 group than in Q1 and Q2 groups(P＜0.05).Compared with Q1 group,the proportion of men,BMI,WC,DBP,FIns,2 hIns,HOMA-IR,TG,ALT,γ-GT,SUA,UAlb in Q4 group increased(P＜0.05),age,HbA1c,HDL-C decreased(P＜0.05).Logistic regression analysis showed that after adjusting for confounding factors,UUAE was a factor affecting obesity and abdominal obesity.Conclusion UUAE increases the risk of obesity,abdominal obesity and MS in newly diagnosed T2DM patients.UUAE may be used as a simple indicator to assess the risk of metabolic disorders such as obesity and MS in T2DM patients.