Objective: To observe the safety of the Song-Relaxing and Zhen-Vibrating abdomen manipulation in treating patients with prediabetes and its effects on blood glucose and lipid metabolism.Methods: One hundred and two patients with prediabetes were divided into a manipulation group and a control group according to the random number table method, with 51 cases in each group. All patients received the general behavioral intervention for prediabetes, with additional Song-Relaxing and Zhen-Vibrating abdomen manipulation in the manipulation group and oral metformin hydrochloride tablets in the control group. Both groups received the intervention for six months. Results: Fourteen patients dropped out during the treatment, and a total of 88 patients completed the trial, including 45 cases in the manipulation group and 43 cases in the control group. After the treatment, the prediabetes control rate was 93.3％ in the manipulation group and 74.4％ in the control group, and the difference between the two groups was statistically significant (P<0.05); no patient in the manipulation group progressed to diabetes, while the rate of conversion to diabetes in the control group was 6.9％, with a significant difference between the two groups (P<0.05). After the treatment, the body mass index (BMI), glycosylated hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c), fasting plasma glucose (FPG), 2-hour postload plasma glucose (2hPG) level during an oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT), fasting insulin (FINS), homeostasis model assessment-2 of insulin resistance (HOMA2-IR), total cholesterol (TC), and triglycerides (TG) decreased in both groups versus baseline, with significant differences within the groups; the levels of all indicators were lower in the manipulation group than in the control group (P<0.05), and the differences between the two groups were more prominent at the sixth month (P<0.01). At the sixth month, the high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) in the manipulation group was increased, while there was no significant change in the control group. In the control group, three patients reported mild gastrointestinal reactions at the initial dosing, which improved after medication adjustment. No other adverse events were observed in either group. Conclusion: Both metformin hydrochloride tablets and the Song-Relaxing and Zhen-Vibrating abdomen manipulation can improve blood glucose and lipid metabolism and reduce insulin resistance and clinical discomfort in patients with prediabetes, but the Song-Relaxing and Zhen-Vibrating abdomen manipulation has higher efficacy and safety.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the changes in serum levels of sex hormones in male workers occupationally exposed to cadmium (Cd).

METHODSEighty-five Cd-exposed workers in a cadmium refinery in the south China and 76 local healthy subjects as control were selected in the study. Air samples in the workplaces were collected and detected for Cd concentration. Urinary Cd (UCd) level of the workers was measured by graphite atomic absorption spectrometry (AAS) and adjusted by urine level of creatinine (Cr), as an indicator of Cd-burden in the body of all subjects. Also, their serum levels of testosterone (T), follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) and luteinizing hormone (LH) were determined with radioimmunoassay and enzyme immunoassay, respectively, and dose-effect relationship was evaluated.

RESULTSThe serum testosterone levels in Cd-exposure group with 10.9-21.9 and > 21.9 micro mol/mol Cr were 13.00 and 11.37 nmol/L, significantly higher than that (9.31 nmol/L) in those with 0.0-2.2 micro mol/mol Cr. Significantly more increased level of LH (4.11 and 4.32 U/L) was detected in heavy exposure group in the workshop for electrolysis than in control group (2.52 U/L) and in the group with 0.0-2.2 micro mol/mol Cr of UCd (2.64 U/L). No changes in serum level of FSH were found related to Cd exposure.

CONCLUSIONOccupational Cd exposure could independently contribute to the changes of serum levels of sex hormone in male workers.

Cadmium ; adverse effects ; Follicle Stimulating Hormone ; blood ; Gonadal Steroid Hormones ; blood ; Humans ; Luteinizing Hormone ; blood ; Male ; Occupational Exposure ; adverse effects ; Testosterone ; blood