[Summary] It has been believed that both environmental and genetic effects play roles in the pathogenesis of type 2 diabetes. Genetic factors may influence the effect of environmental factors on risk of developing type 2 diabetes. This review focused on the latest evidence of the interaction effect of genes and the environmental factors on type 2 diabetes.

Airway Obstruction ; complications ; etiology ; physiopathology ; Asphyxia ; etiology ; physiopathology ; Fibroma ; complications ; pathology ; Humans ; Infant, Newborn ; Oropharyngeal Neoplasms ; complications ; pathology ; Rare Diseases

Fatty Acids ; metabolism ; Humans ; Myocardial Ischemia ; diagnostic imaging ; metabolism ; Tomography, Emission-Computed, Single-Photon

Objective To investigate the association between peripheral white blood cell (WBC) count and the carotid intimal-medial thickness (cIMT) in middle-aged and elderly Chinese of suburban area of Shanghai.Methods A total of 2 519 subjects aged 40 years or older from Jiading District,Shanghai were recruited to undergo questionnaire interview,anthropometric measurements,fasting blood sampling,and carotid B-mode ultrasonography.After excluding subjects with biochemical index missing,WBC count ＞ 10× 109/L as well as those with known myocardial infarction,cerebral infarction,coronary heart disease,and those taking lipid-lowing agents,2 239subjects were included in this analysis.Results Increased WBC count was associated with more unfavorable metabolic risk profiles.With the increasing quartiles of WBC count,cIMT were 0.558,0.570,0.573,and 0.587mm respectively(P for trend ＜ 0.01).As compared with participants in the first WBC quartile,the risks of cIMT thickening were increased by 79％,109％ in males and 29％ in females (P＞ 0.05 in females).Multiple linear regression model showed that peripheral WBC count was an independent risk marker for cIMT thickening,especially for neutrophil and monocyte count.Conclusion A high-normal WBC count was significantly associated with cIMT thickening in middle-aged and elderly Chinese of suburban area of Shanghai,especially in males.

Humans ; Metals ; Microwaves ; adverse effects ; Occupational Exposure ; adverse effects ; analysis ; Workplace

Objective:To valuate the treatment value and analyse the effect on the cellular immune functions by studying the differences of T-lymphocyte subsets and CD4+CD25+Treg cells in peripheral blood after adoptive immunotherapy ( dendritic cells and cytokine-induced killer cells,DC-CIK) combined with chemotherapy on MM.Methods:50 patients with MM were randomly divided into two groups.24 patients in chemotherapy group were treated by chemotherapy only,26 patients in joint group were treated by adoptive immunotherapy( DC-CIK) combined with chemotherapy,and the clinical outcomes and the levels of T-lymphocyte subsets and CD4+CD25+Treg cells in peripheral blood between two groups were compared.Moreover,the differences of cellular immune indicators (Th1/Th2,the ratio of AgNOR,and TGF-β)between two groups were also compared.Results: After treatment,quality of life,clinical index and survival in joint group were better than in chemotherapy group( P<0.05);the proportion of CD3+CD8+,the ratios of CD4+CD25+,CD4+CD25+/CD4+and the level of TGF-βof joint group wes clearly lower than chemotherapy group(P<0.05),and the ratios of CD3+CD4+/CD3+CD8+, Th1/Th2 and AgNOR of joint group wes clearly higher than chemotherapy group .Conclusion: DC-CIK combined with chemotherapy could be an effective and promising treatment to patients with MM,and it maybe strengthen the anti-tumor action of bodies by regulating the balance between Th1 and Th2 reaction.

Objective To investigate the association between levels of serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and the risks of metabolic syndrome in middle-aged and elderly Chinese. Methods After excluding subjects with known liver disease, excess alcohol consumption and serum ALT≥40 IU/L,1 664 subjects aged 40 years or older from Baoshan Community, Shanghai were recruited to undergo questionnaire interview, anthropometric measurements, and fasting blood sampling. Biochemical features were evaluated and the metabolic syndrome was defined according to the National Cholesterol Education Program Adult Treatment Panel III (NCEP ATP III) criteria with modification on waist circumference cutoff which is more appropriate for an Asian population. Results Increased ALT levels were associated with more unfavorable metabolic risk profiles. The prevalence rates of the metabolic syndrome in participants with increasing ALT quartiles were 29. 2% , 38. 0% , 44.9% , and 62. 9% , respectively (P for trend <0. 01 ). ALT concentrations were significantly elevated with increasing number of the metabolic syndrome components (P for trend<0.01). Serum ALT levels were significantly associated with the risks of metabolic syndrome and most of its components in a dose-response manner. As compared with participants in the first ALT quartile, the risks of metabolic syndrome were increased by 146% , central obesity by 204% , hypertension by 35% , high triglycerides by 133% , and hyperglycemia by 72% in participants of the fourth ALT quartile. Conclusions A high-normal serum ALT level was significantly associated with an increased risk of the metabolic syndrome in middle-aged and elderly Chinese.

Objective To explore the effects of injection of wnt3a gene-modified bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) on acute graft-versus-host disease (aGVHD) in a murine allogeneic bone marrow transplantation (allo-BMT) model.Methods C57BL/6 mice were used as the donors and Balb/c mice as the recipients in the murine allo-BMT model.The recipient mice were divided into four groups by random number table method: transplantation control group (group A) (infusion of 5 × 106bone marrow cells via the tail vein of recipient mice); aGVHD group (group B) (infusion of 5 × 106bone marrow cells and 5 × 106 splenocytes via the tail vein of recipient mice); aGVHD + empty vector group (group C) (infusion of 5 × 106 bone marrow cells,5 × 106 splenocytes and 1 × 106 pAd-GFP-transfected MSCs via the tail vein of recipient mice) ; experimental group (group D) (infusion of 5 ×106 bone marrow cells,5 × 106 splenocytes and 1 × 106 wnt3a gene-modified MSCs).The general performance and survival were monitored,the occurrence of aGVHD was observed,the changes of donor T lymphocyte quantity present in the spleen,and interleukin-2 (IL-2) and interferon-γ (IFN γ)levels of the recipient mice were detected in each group after transplantation.Results The survival time of recipient mice in group A was all more than 60 d,and that in groups B,C and D was (19.1 ±6.19),(32.6 ± 19.6) and (47.2 ± 15.6) d,rcspcctivcly.The survival time in group D was significantly longer than in groups B and C (P＜0.05).After the transplant,the aGVHD score points in groups B,CandDwere (8.0±0.41),(6.7±0.29) and (4.0± 1.0),respcctively.The aGVHD score points in group D were significantly less than in groups B and C (P＜0.05),and the pathological grade in group D was significantly reduced.The number and proliferation rate of T lymphocytes were reduced significantly in group D as compared with groups B and C at 3rd and 5th day after transplantation (P ＜ 0.05).The levels of IL-2 and IFN-γ in peripheral blood were decreased significantly in group D as compared with those in groups B and C at 7th,14th,21st and 28th day after transplantation (P＜0.05).The chimeric rate of the murine H-2Kb cells in the bone marrow cells of long-term survival mice was all in the range of 95％ to 100％ 60 d after transplantation.Conclusion The injection of wnt3a gene-modified MSCs can more effectively alleviate aGVHD in murineallo-BMT model,which may be correlated with the Wnt3a overexpression which activating the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway of MSCs,thereby inhibiting the early activation and amplification of donor T lymphocytes and the IL-2 and IFN-γ expression.

Objective To evaluate the effect of the conspecific bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) infusion on the platelets count and the ratio of CD4+ CD25highCD127low regulatory T (Treg) cells in mice with immune thrombocytopenia and the mechanisms.Method ITP mice models were induced by daily intraperitoneal injection of 200 μL phosphate buffer solution [containing 2 μg rat anti-platelet membrane CD41 antibody (MWReg30)] into female Balb/c mice.MSCs were got from male mice.Then different number of MSCs was injected into ITP mice through the tail veins.After 5,7 and 14 days,the number of blood platelets was counted and the ratio of Treg cells was detected by flow cytometry,and compared with those in the healthy mice.Result Twenty-four h after injection of CD41 antibody,platelet counts were reduced sharply to the lowest point,which was about a quarter of the normal level.Then ITP mice models were induced successfully.Platelet counts were increased after the injection of MSCs.On 7th day after injection of MSCs,the platelet counts were significantly higher than those in control mice,and the greater the degree of injection dosage,the greater the elevated platelets (P＜0.05 for all).The ratio of Treg cells in ITP mice models was significantly lower than in the normal mice.The ratio of peripheral blood Treg cells in ITP mice was increased after injection of MSCs and the higher the dose,the greater the effect (P＜0.05 for all) but did not reach the normal level.Conclusion The conspecific bone marrow MSCs infusion can increase the platelet counts in mice with ITP,which may be related to the increase of CD4+ CD25highCD127low Treg cells.

Objective To improve the diagnosis and treatment of ureteral cancer. Methods A retrospective analysis of 24 cases of primary ureteral cancer treated from January 1990 to March 2005 was performed.The diagnostic value of ultrasound,IVU,CT,MRU and the patients' outcomes were reviewed. There were 19 males and 5 females aged 38-72 years(mean,59 years).The tumors were on the left side in 16 cases and on the right in 8.Of the 24 cases,17(71%)had gross hematuria and 7(29%)had micro- scopic hematuria.Urine cytology was performed in 16 cases with a positive rate of 6.3%.B-ultrasonic exami- nation showed hydronephrosis in 19 cases(79%)and low-echo space-occupying disease of middle-inferior ureter in 3(12%).IVU demonstrated hydronephrosis in 20 cases(83%)and filling defect of the diseased ureter in 3(12%).Retrograde pyelography showed filling defect of the diseased ureter in 16(76%)of 21 cases(5 cases had failure of intubation).CT scan was performed in 20 cases,indicating thickening of the ureteral wall and infiltration of the cancer in 14(70%).In 3 cases who had undergone spiral CT thin layer scan and 1 of 3 cases who had undergone MRU,the definite diagnosis was made.Results All the 24 pa- tients underwent surgical treatment.Among them,nephroureterectomy and bladder cuff or partial resection were performed in 18 cases,and nephrectomy and partial ureterectomy in 6 cases.Postoperative pathology showed transitional cell carcinoma in 23 cases,and adenoma in 1.Of the 14 cases during 1990-1999 peri- od,1,5,3,2,2 and 1 cases had survival time of 1,2,3,4,5 and 6 years,respectively.Of the 10 cases during 2000-2005 period,3 were lost to follow-up;2 survived for 3 years and 2,for 1 year;the other 3 who have survived near 5 years have been followed till now.Conclusions IVU and retrograde urography are the most common diagnostic measures for primary ureteral cancer.They can be used in combination with other imaging study to reduce missed diagnosis rate.The 5-year survival rate was lower because of late pathologic stage of the tumors in the patients of this series.