OBJECTIVETo explore the possible mechanism of total flavonoids of Litsea coreana (TFLC) on reducing blood glucose level in rat with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM).

METHODSMale SD rats of T2DM allocated in two groups were treated with 400 mg/kg TFLC or metformin respectively via gastrogavage for 6 weeks. Blood routine biochemical indices in rats were measured; pathology of rats' liver was examined with HE stain under transmission electron microscopy; levels of malondialdehyde (MDA) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) in liver homogenate were determined, and the expression of protein tyrosine phosphatase 1B (PTP1B) in liver was detected using RT-PCR at the terminal of the experiment.

RESULTSBiochemical measuring showed that the glucose tolerance of rats after treatment was markedly improved in both groups. Meantime, levels of fast blood glucose (FBG), glycohemoglobin (HbA1c), fast blood insulin (FINS), free fatty acid (FFA), total cholesterol (TC), triglyceride (TG) and low density lipoprotein-cholesterol (LDL-C), as well as MDA level in liver were decreased, while levels of high density lipoprotein-cholesterol (HDL-C) in blood and SOD in liver were significantly increased in both groups after treatment, showing insignificant difference between two treatment groups. Light microscopic examination showed markedly fatty degeneration of liver, and electron microscopic examination found mitochondria swelling and endoplasmic reticulum breakage in liver of T2DM rats, but these changes were ameliorated to some extent after treatment. The elevated PTP1B expression in liver of T2DM rats was decreased in the TFLC treated group, but unchanged in the metformin treated group.

CONCLUSIONTFLC can significantly decrease the blood levels of glucose and lipid and ameliorate oxidation stress in liver; its mechanism of action in improving insulin resistance might be related with its suppression on PTP1B expression in rat's liver to enhance the insulin signaling pathway.

Animals ; Blood Glucose ; metabolism ; Diabetes Mellitus, Experimental ; drug therapy ; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 ; drug therapy ; Flavonoids ; isolation & purification ; therapeutic use ; Hypoglycemic Agents ; therapeutic use ; Litsea ; chemistry ; Liver ; metabolism ; Male ; Oxidative Stress ; drug effects ; Protein Tyrosine Phosphatase, Non-Receptor Type 1 ; metabolism ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley

Purpose To investigate the positive rate and concordance rate of BRAF mutation in papillary thyroid carcinoma detected by real-time PCR method and Sanger sequencing. Methods 312 papillary thyroid carcinomas patients were enrolled in this study. Real-time PCR method and Sanger sequencing were performed to detect BRAF gene mutations. The frequency of BRAF mutation and the concordance of two methods were analyzed. Results BRAF mutation was detected in 65. 4% (204/312) and 63. 8% (199/312) of 312 papillary thyroid carcinoma samples by using real-time PCR method and Sanger sequencing, respectively. There was no significant correlation between BRAF gene mutations and patients’ gender. There was significant correlation between BRAF gene mutations and patients’ age. The overall concordance between real-time PCR method and Sanger sequencing for BRAF mutation detection was 98. 4%. Conclusion Real-time PCR method provides an effective method in BRAF gene mutation detection.

Objective To explore the effects of lifestyle intervention on index of early artery diseases in nondiabetic patients with metabolic syndrome (MS). Methods Eighty-seven nondiabetic patients with MS were randomly assigned to the intervention group ( n =47) and the control group ( n =40).The patients in the intervention group received health education,diet control,regular physical exercises,and unhealthy habit correction; however,the control group did not receive any intervention.All the patients were followed up for 9 months.Body mass index (BMI),waist circumference (WC),systolic blood pressure (SBP),diastolic blood pressure (DBP),triglyceride (TG),total cholesterol (TC),high-density lipoprotein cholesterol ( HDL-C ),low-density lipoprotein cholesterol ( LDL-C ),fasting blood glucose (FBG),HbAlc,fasting insulin (FINS),HOMA-IR,high sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP),carotid intima-media thickness (IMT),brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity (baPWV) and ankle-brachial index(ABI) were measured at baseline and at 9 months.ResultsAfter 6 or 9 months' intervention,BMI,WC,SBP,TG,HDL-C,FPG,HbAlc,FINS,HOMA-IR and hs-CRP of the intervention group were improved (all P ＜ 0.05). HDL-C,FPG,HbAlc,FINS,HOMA-IR and hs-CRP of the intervention group were further improved at 9 months when compared to 6 months ( all P ＜ 0.05 ). In comparison with the control group,BMI,WC,HDL-C,FPG,HbA1 c,FINS,HOMA-IR and hs-CRP were significantly improved in the intervention group at 9 months ( all P ＜ 0.05 ).After 6 or 9 months' intervention,baPWV and ABI were significantly changed ( both P ＜ 0.05 ) in the intervention group although IMT of the carotid did not changed (P ＞0.05). BaPWV and ABI were significantly changed in the intervention group when compared with those in the control group at 9 months ( both P ＜ 0.05).The abnormal rate of baPWV in the intervention group at 9 months was 44.68％. BaPWV and ABI were associated with hs-CRP and HOMA-IR.ConclusionsIn nondiabetic MS patients, health management could significantly improve insulin resistance,modify metabolic disorders,and prevent the development of atherosclerosis.

Objective To investigate the relationship between metabolic syndrome (MS) and education level in Su-Xi-Chang area to provide evidence for healthcare policy making. Methods A clustered sampling of 6798 subjects from Su-Xi-Chang areas of Jiangsu Province was included. Questionnaires and physical examinations were completed to collect clinical data. Logistic regression was used to analyze weather education level could be an independent risk factor of MS. Results Significant differences were found in waist circumstance (WC) ,systolic blood pressure (SBP) and fasting blood glucose (FBG) among participants with different education level. Significant differences were also existed in triglyceride and diastolic blood pressure (DBP) between subjects with higher and lower education level ( P＜0. 05 ). In single-factor or multivariate analysis, education level was negatively correlated with the prevalence of MS (P＜0. 05 ). Conclusions Education level may be an independent risk factor of MS. People with low and moderate education level have higher risk of MS. Therefore,it is recommended that health-related information should become an integral part of the compulsory education system.

Objective To investigate the relationship between metabolic syndrome (MS) and diet style in the elderly. Methods The 781 old people were consecutively selected. Related data were collected by means of questionnaires and physical examinations. And logistic regression was performed to analyze if moderate and high fat diet were risk factors of MS. Results The total prevalence rate of MS in old people was 40. 7%, with 36.7% in old males and 55.4% in old females,and the prevalence rate of MS was higher in old women than in old men (P=0. 000). The significant differences in waist circumferences among three groups of low, moderate and high-fat diet [(86.0±9.3) cm vs. (88.8±8.5) cm vs. (90. 0±7.9) cm, respectively (all P＜0.05)]were found. Fasting blood glucose showed a significant difference between two groups of low and high-fat diet, with the results of (5.78 ± 0.98) mmol/L and (6.27 ± 1.80) mmol/L, respectively ( P＜0. 05 ). The logistic regression analysis showed that odds ratio for people with moderate and high-fat diets were 1. 541 ( 1. 092-2. 174) and 2. 293 ( 1. 317-3. 994), respectively (P＜0.05), which indicated that moderate and high-fat diet was independent risk factors for MS in old people. Conclusions Both moderate and high-fat diets are risk factors of MS in old population, low fat diet with food balance is recommended to old population in order to decrease the prevalence of MS.

Objective To explore the effects of exercise on the levels of neurotrophin-3 (NT-3) in the skeletal muscles of streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats. Methods The rats were divided into an 8-week exercise group (A), a 4-week exercise group (B), a diabetes control group (C), an exercise group (D) in which no dia-betes was induced, and a control group (E). The rat model of diabetes was induced in the rats of groups A, B and C by intra-abdominal injection of streptozotocin (STZ) at 55 mg/kg. The exercising rats were forced to swim for 60 minutes once daily, 5 days a week. The levels of NT-3 in skeletal muscles were measured with an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Cadual nerve conduction velocity (CNCV) in all of the rats was evaluated at the beginning, and after 4 and 8 weeks of swimming exercise. Results NT-3 levels in the skeletal muscles in group C were sig-nificantly lower than in groups A, D and E. There was no statistically significant difference in NT-3 levels between groups B and C. The NT-3 levels showed a significant positive correlation with CNCV at the 8th week. Conclu-sions The increase in NT-3 levels of skeletal muscles induced by exercise could contribute partially to the im-provement of diabetic neuropathy.

Objective To summarize the manifestations of contrast-enhanced ultrasound in different stage cervical cancer.Methods Contrast-enhanced ultrasound using pulse inversion harmonic imaging and on time-intensity curve was undergone in 48 cases with pathologically diagnosed cervical cancer, data were analyzed to summarize the features of contrast enhancement.Results Lesion tissue was enhanced homogeneously or heterogeneously earlier than myometrium.Lesion exhibited earlier washout than that of myomerium in the later phase, while the peripheral area still remained hyper-enhancement.Lesion invasion and borderline could be determined in ultrasound clearly.Conclusions Contrast-enhanced ultrasound could accurately diagnose the stage of cervical cancer and lesion invasion.It may compensate for the shortcomings of conventional ultrasound in the diagnosis of cervical cancers and disease stage.

Objectives To estimate the prevalence of the cardiovascular health (CVH) status in south Jiangsu adults. Methods A cross-sectional study was conducted, a total of 11 996 participants that took health examination in hospitals from March 2013 to August 2013 and live in south Jiangsu were selected. Results Totally 136 participants (1.1%) met all 7 ideal CVH metrics;while 27.6%participants met 5 to 7 ideal CVH metrics, women had higher proportion (47.2%) than men (16.9%). The percentage of participants who met 5 to 7 ideal CVH metrics, whether male or female, decreased with increasing age. Ideal total cholesterol (TC) was the most prevalent (72.0%), whereas ideal salt intake was the least (19.9%). The mean (± SD) number of ideal CVH metrics for urban participants was (3.61 ± 1.46), higher than the rural participants (3.45±1.49). Old age, male and residence in rural area were risk factors for ideal CVH metrics≥5. Conclusions The prevalence of ideal CVH was extremely low in South Jiangsu adults, and there were differences in the distribution of ideal CVH metrics across gender and age. To improve CVH, specific promotion and interventions at the population and individual levels should be developed and implemented actively.

Objective To investigate the relationship between pure -tone audiometry (PTA ) ,speech dis‐crimination abilities in quiet or in noise and the international outcome inventory for hearing aids (IOI-HA) in pres‐bycusis patients .Methods Twenty presbycusis subjects were tested in this study .Pure-tone audiometry (PTA) and speech discrimination threshold were obtained before being fitted with hearing aids .They weared hearig aids more than six months ,and pure-tone audiometry ,speech discrimination scores in quite(the level = 65 dB SPL) and in noise(signal to noise ratio = 10 dB) were carried out in sound field .A stepwise forward multiple-regression analysis was performed to investigate the impact of PTA and speech discrimination scores to IOI-HA .Results The PTAs before or after hearing aid fittings showed a negative association with IOI-HA ,while speech discrimination scores in quiet or in noise before or after hearing aid fittings showed a positive association with IOI-HA .Speech discrimination threshold in noise was identified as a single predictor of IOI-HA(P<0 .001) .Conclusion The relation between speech discrimination scores in noise and IOI-HA suggests that a poor score might limit the hearing aids outcome .The speech discrimination scores in noise help the clinicians predict the outcomes of hearing aid in real‐ities .

OBJECTIVETo analyze the rules for acupoint selection of acupuncture and moxibustion in domestic clinical treatment of perimenopausal syndrome based on data mining technology in modern times.

METHODSThe relevant literature were retrieved from Chinese Biomedical Literature Database (CBM), China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI) and Wanfang database on this disease treated with clinical acupuncture and moxibustion in China from 1978 to 2013. The database of acupuncture-moxibustion prescription was set up. The relevant regulations of data mining technology were used to analyze the rules for acupoint selection.

RESULTSTotally, 211 papers, 254 acupuncture-moxibustion prescriptions and 130 acupoints were included. The total frequency of acupoints application was 2193 times, with 14 meridians involved. The utilization of the acupoints in the lower limbs and on the back were 33.0% (723/2193) and 23.8% (521/2193) and those of yin and yang meridians were 51.8% (1136/2193) and 44.0% (965/2193), respectively. The utilization of the specific acupoints accounted for 88.7% (1946/2193).

CONCLUSIONIn clinical treatment of perimenopausal syndrome with acupuncture and moxibustion in modern times, the acupoint selection from involved meridians is the basis, associated with multiple methods of acupoint combination; yin and yang meridians are equally important and the specific acupoints are considered particularly critical in application.

Acupuncture Points ; Acupuncture Therapy ; China ; Clinical Trials as Topic ; Female ; Humans ; Perimenopause ; physiology