Objective To investigate the significance of measuring carotid arterial intima-media thickness(IMT) and diabetic retinopathy(DR).Methods 76 diabetic patients were divided into three groups:no diabetic retinopathy(NDR),nonpmliferative diabetic retinopathy(NPDR),and proliferative diabetic retinopathy(PDR).20 helath people were chosen as control All subjects were examined by ColorDoppler imaging on the carotid arterial intima-media thickness.Results The mean IMT was significantly higher in T_2DM patients than in normal control group(P

[Summary] Sodium glucose cotransporter 2 (SGLT2) inhibitors have been developed as a new antidiabetic agent .The antihyperglycemic effect of SGLT 2 inhibitors is independent of insulin secretion and insulin action .SGLT2 inhibitors improve IS and islet βcell function with the possible mechanisms of reducing glucotoxicity ,weight loss and increasing GLP‐1 response .

Objective To investigate the effect of angiotensin 1-7(Ang 1-7) on renal proximal tubular epithelial cell(HK-2) transdifferentiation induced by high glucose.Methods All the raised HK-2 cells were divided into 5 groups: normal control group,high glucose group,high glucose with Ang1-7 group,high glucose with Ang1-7 and A779 group,high glucose with pioglitazone group.Expression of peroxisome proliferator activated receptor-γ(PPAR-γ) and α-smooth muscle actin(α-SMA) was detected by Western blotting,real-time PCR and immunofluorescence.Results The levels of PPAR-γ protein and mRNA in HK-2 cells were significantly increased after treatment with high glucose and Ang 1-7.Expression of α-SMA protein and mRNA was inhibited remarkably after treatment with high glucose and Ang 1-7.These effects of Ang 1-7 on HK-2 cells could be reversed by Mas receptor antagonist A779.Conclusion Ang 1-7 inhibits high glucose-induced expression of o-SMA in HK-2 cells,which is in part through the Mas.

Objective To investigate the effect of surfactant protein D(SP-D)overexpression on lipopolysaccharide(LPS)-induced monocyte chemoattractant protein-1(MCP-1)expression in human renal proximal tubular epithelial cells(HK-2)and its mechanism. Methods HK-2 cells were treated with LPS at various concentrations (0, 0.1, 1, 2, 5, 10 mg/L)for 8 h and at 5 mg/L for various time points(0, 2, 4, 8, 16, 24 h). Expression of SP-D was detected by Western blotting and real-time PCR. Expression of MCP-1 was determined by ELISA and real-time PCR. Human SP-D cDNA eukaryotic expression vector pEE14-hSP-D was transfected to HK-2 cells. The changes in transfected cells of SP-D protein were observed by Western blotting. Expression of MCP-1 was detected by ELJSA and real-time PCR. Results SP-D was expressed in HK-2 cells. The levels of SP-D protein and mRNA in HK-2 cells were significantly decreased after treatment with LPS(P<0.05). Expression of MCP-1 protein and mRNA was increased remarkably after treatment with LPS(P<0.05). HK-2 cells transfected with pEE14-hSP-D showed up-regulated expression of SP-D. The overexpression of SP-D inhibited the LPS-inducedexpression of MCP-1(P<0.01). Conclusions SP-D inhibits LPS-induced expression of MCP-1 in HK-2 cells. SP-D may play an important role in the modulation of renal inflammation.

Objective To evaluate the effect of aldosterone (Ald) on glomerular mesangial cells apoptosis and to explore the possible mechanisms.Methods Twenty-four Sprngue-Dawley rats were subcutaneously embedded with osmotic mini-pumps and randomly divided into 3 groups.Aldosterone (1.5 μg/h) was administrated subcutaneouly by osmotic mini-pumps in Ald group,eplerenone (Epl,100 mg·kg-1·d-1) and Ald (1.5 μg/h) was given to Epl group.And normal saline was used in control group (Con group).Systolic blood pressure and urinary albumin excretion rate (UAER) were detected on day 0,7,14,21,28.Blood and kidney samples were harvested on day 28.Plasma creatinine,potassium and aldosterone were measured.Renal paraffin sections were stained by PAS and the morphological changes were evaluated by light microscopy.Apoptosis index of mesangial cells were detected by TUNEL assay.The glomerular mesangial cells (MCs) were cultured in a DMEM-F12 media.MCs apoptosis was evaluated by staining cells with Annexin V and propidium iodide (PI) using flow cytometer.Expression of Bcl-2 and Bax mRNA was examined by RT-PCR.The protein level of Bad or phospho-Bad was measured by Western blotting.Results Ald-infused rats developed hyperaldosteronemia and hypokalemia.Rats in Ald group exhibited significant hypertension and marked albuminuria.Ald group rats showed increased number of TUNEL-positive mesangial cells when compared with control rats (P＜0.05).Aldosterone induced mesangial cells apoptosis in a time-dependent manner.Expression of Bcl-2 mRNA was decreased but Bax mRNA was increased in aldosterone treated MCs compared to that in Con group (P＜0.05).Aldosterone promoted dephosphorylation of cytosolic phospho-Bad compared with vehicle treated cells (P＜ 0.05).However,eplerenone attenuated these effects of aldosterone.Conclusion Aldosterone directly promotes mesangial cells apoptosis,and eplerenone can attenuate this effect of aldosterone.Dephosphorylation of cytosolic phospho-Bad may be the key role in the progression of mesangial cells apoptosis induced by aldosterone.

[Summary] In newly diagnosed diabetic patients, fasting plasma glucose, HbA1C , and plasma lipid profiles were measured to analyze the association between HbA1C and plasma lipid profiles. HbA1C might affect plasma lipid profiles in newly diagnosed diabetic patients. Higher HbA1C was associated with the worse plasma lipid profiles and more severe insulin resistance.

Objective To discuss the diagnostic value of two-dimensional speckle tracking imaging in the evaluation of left ventricular rotation and torsion in pre-apical hypertrophic cardiomyopathy(PAHCM)patients. Methods A total of 26 patients with PAHCM,26 patients with hyperten-sive left ventricular hypertrophy(HLVH)and 26 healthy volunteers were recruited for the study. Two-dimensional echocardiographs were performed carefully. Two-dimensional images were obtained from the left ventricular apical four-chamber section,two-chamber section and two short-axis sec-tions,including mitral valve and apical levels. The peak subendocardial rotation(endo-rot),epicardial rotation(epi-rot),transmural torsion(mural-tor)and bulk rotation(bulk-rot)of each short-axis section were measured and analyzed using QLAB 9.1 software. Results In the mitral level, there was no statistically significant difference in endo-rot,epi-rot,mural-tor and bulk-rot between the PAHCM group and normal control group (P>0.05). There was statistically significant difference in endo-rot,epi-rot,mural-tor and bulk-rot between the PAHCM group and HLVH group (all P<0.05). There was statistically significant difference in endo-rot,epi-rot,mural-tor and bulk-rot between the HLVH group and normal control group(all P<0.05). In the apical level,there was no statistically significant difference in epi-rot among three groups(P>0.05). There was statisti-cally significant difference in endo-rot,mural-tor and bulk-rot between each two groups(P<0.05). There was statistically significant difference in G-tor between each two groups(P<0.05). The receiver operating characteristic curve analysis showed that the accuracy of differential diagnosis of G-tor PAHCM was high(the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve is 0.89),the sensitivity was 73.08%,and the specificity was 92.31%. Conclusion Two-dimensional speckle tracking imaging could accurately and quantitatively measure the left ventricular rotation and tor-sion in PAHCM patients. The G-tor could accurately screen and identify between PAHCM and HLVH.

Objective To explore the methods and curative effect of metallic self-expanding stent in inoperable malignant gas-troduodenal obstruction. Methods The data of 15 cases with gastroduodenal obstruction including 9 cases of carcinoma of head of pancreas and 6 cases of carcinoma of stomach were analyzed retrospectively. The operative procedures of the stent implanted and the tors accepted more radiation dose because the manipulation was under the fluoroscopy in a short distance and with a full field of view. sions, the postoperative eating habit and the development turnover of disease. The main death reasons were tumor transfer and sys-tem exhaustion. Conclusion To pay close attention to the details and main points of operative procedure is the key point to implant stent successfully for malignant gastroduodenal obstruction. The determinative factor to influence the curative effect is the develop-ment turnover of tumor.

ObjectiveTo evaluate the effects of Ang Ⅱ on apoptosis of podocytes and explore the signaling pathwayof nephrin in preventingAng Ⅱ-inducedpodocyte apoptosis.MethodsDifferentiated mouse podocytes were exposed to Ang Ⅱ at different concentrations for 18 h or at 10-8 mol/L for variable incubation times.Undifferentiated mouse pedocytes were transfected using lipofectamine 2000 with the pcDNA3.1-mNPHS1 plasmid and stably transfected cell lines were generated with G418 selection.In separated experiments,untransfected mouse podocytes (MPC) and stably transfected podocytes with pcDNA3.1-neo and PcDNA3.1-mNPHS1 were exposed toAng Ⅱ(10-8 mol/L) or LY294002(a selective Akt inhibitor,50 μmol/L) for indicated times.Apoptosis was evaluated by flow cytometry.The expression of nephrin was assessed by quantitative real-time PCR,immunofluorescence and Western blotting.The phosphorylation level of Akt was determined by Westem blotting.Results(1) AngⅡ promoted podocyte apoptosis in a dose-and time-dependentmanner. PretreatmentwithlosartansignificantlypreventedAngⅡ -induced apoptosis. (2) Nephfin mRNA and protein were obviously decreased in podocytes exposed to 10-8 mol/L Ang Ⅱ for at least 12 h than those in vehicle-treated cells (P＜0.05).(3) Ang Ⅱ exposure for more than 15 min inhibited the phosphorylation of AKT in MPC,which was dramatically reversed by pcDNA3.1-mNPHS1 transfection,but not by pcDNA3.1-neo transfection. (4) Podocyte apoptosis was promoted byLY294002. Conversely,Ang Ⅱ-induced podocyteapoptosis was significantly alleviated by pcDNA3.1-mNPHS1 transfection.ConclusionAng Ⅱinduces mouse podocyte apoptosis which is suppressed by overexpression of nephrin through PI3K-Akt signaling pathway.

To explore a new method to identify Moutan Cortex to guarantee its safe use, internal transcribed spacer 2 (ITS2) sequence was used to identify Moutan Cortex and its adulterants. DNA was extracted and target fragments were amplified. Sequences were analyzed and assembled by CodonCode Aligner V3.7.1. Genetic distances were computed and phylogenetic tree was constructed based on kimura 2-parameter (K2P) model by MEGA 5.0. The length of the 20 ITS2 sequences of Moutan Cortex from nine different places is 227 bp, and no variation site was detected. The maximum inter-specificK2P distance of Moutan Cortex is 0, the minimum intra-specific K2P distance is 0.041, the average intra-specific K2P distance is 0.222. According to NJ analysis, Moutan Cortex from different places can get together as one branch with bootstrap support values 99%, which indicates Moutan Cortex can be easily distinguished from its adulterants. Using ITS2 sequence can accurately identify Moutan Cortex and its adulterants, it is an effective supplementary to traditional identification methods.
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