Fasting plasma preptin level was assayed by RIA in the patients with different glucose tolerances. Regarding fasting plasma preptin levels, it was higher in females than in males. Fasting plasma preptin level was increased in patients with type 2 diabetes as compared with subjects of impaired glucose tolerance and normal controls, and there were positive correlations with diastolic blood pressure, blood triglyceride, total cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein-cholesterol, free fatty acids, 2 h plasma glucose after glucose load, HbA1C and HOMA-IR, suggesting a potential link between preptin and glucose-lipid metabolism and insulin resistance.

Objective To investigate the association of HLA class Ⅱ genes and vitiligo in the eastern China Han nationality. Methods Ninety-eight patients with vitiligo and 150 healthy controls were studied for HLA-DRB1, DQA1 and DQB1 locus alleles by PCR-SSOP typing. Results The frequency of HLA-DQA1*03 increased significantly (Pc = 0.008) and DQA1*05 decreased significantly (Pc = 0.016) in the patients with vitiligo. Conclusions The results suggest that there exists a correlation between HLA class Ⅱ genes and vitiligo, and DQA1*03 allele may be a susceptible gene or have a close linkage with susceptible genes, while DQA1*05 allele may be a protective gene in the eastern China Han nationality.

Objective To investigate the effect of calcipotriol on melanin synthesis by human melanocytes and its possible action mechanism.Methods Primary melanocytes were cultured with various concentrations(10~(-5),10~(-6),10~(-7),10~(-8),10~(-9),10~(-10) mol/L)of calcipotriol for 24 or 48 hours.Subsequently,MTT assay,NaoH assay.Dopa-oxidase assay,Western blot and semiquantitative RT-PCR were used to measure the cell proliferation of,melanin synthesis by.tyrosinase activity,protein and mRNA expression levels in the melanocytes.respectively.Those untreated melanocytes served as the control.Results The calcipotriol between 10~(-9) and 10~(-5) mol/L had no significant effect on the proliferation of cultured melanocytes(P＞0.05).while that of 10~(-9) and 10~(-8) mol/L increased tyrosinase activity by 137%and 123%,and enhanced melanin synthesis by 40.63%and 18.75%,respectively,compamd with untreated melanocytes(both P＜0.05).Moreover,the tyrosinase protein level increased by 270.4%(P＜0.05)in melanocytes treated with calcipotriol at 10~(-9) mol/L for 24 hours.The strongest tyrosinase activity and melanin synthesis was observed in melanocytes treated with calcipotriol of 10~(-9) moI/L.Conclusions The proliferation of melanocytes is unaffected by calcipotriol at 10~(-9) to 10~(-5) mol/L,but it can elevate the expression of tyrosinase protein,enhance tyrosinase activity,and promote melanin synthesis in melanocytes.

Objective To evaluate volume doubling time (VDT) and net mass doubling time of tumor (nMDT) of pulmonary pure ground glass nodules (PGGN) of different pathological types and to investigate whether VDT and nMDT can help to differentiate invasive pulmonary adenocarcinomas from minimally invasive adenocarcinomas and preinvasive lesions.Methods Fifty-one pathologically confirmed pGGNs in 46 patients were retrospectively evaluated,in whom at least two HRCT scans were obtained preoperatively (median scan times,3 times;range,2-6 times) with 1-month or longer follow-up interval (median follow-up interval,251 days;range,30-1 552 days).According to the rechecked results of the postoperative pathological section,51 pGGNs were divided into two groups:group A,invasive adenocarcinoma (IAC),30 pGGNs (58.8％);group B,21 pGGNs (41.2％),including 8 minimally invasive adenocarcinoma (MIA),7 adenocarcinomas in situ (AIS) and 6 atypical adenomatous hyperplasia (AAH).The volume,cumulative percentage of volume growth and VDTs of pGGNs were automatically acquired by Lung VCAR (advantage windows 4.6,GE HealthCare).Subsequently,the mass,cumulative percentage of mass growth and nMDTs of pGGNs were calculated.The count data and measurement data between two groups were compared using Fisher exact probability and Mann-Whitney U test,respectively.A pairwise comparision were performed by using Wilcoxon signed-rank test.Subsequently,the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was used to determine the optimal cut-off values of VDT and nMDT for the differential diagnosis of IAC and MIA/AIS/AAH,and calculated the area under the curve (AUC).Results The median VDT and nMDT of 51 pGGNs were 1 854.11 days (range,165.22—+∞ days) and 1 138.45 days (range,95.92—+ ∞ days),respectively.The median nMDT was shorter than the median VDT,and the difference was significant (Z=-2.444,P=-0.O15).The median VDTs of IAC and MIA/AIS/AAH were 847.07 days (165.22—+∞ days) and 4 460.09 days (691.14—+∞ days),respectively.The median nMDTs of IAC,MIA/AIS/AAH were 769.93 days (95.92—+∞ days) and 3814.77 days (611.56—+∞ days),respectively.The median VDT and nMDT of IAC were significantly shorter than those of MIA/AIS/AAH (Z=-3.443,-3.860,P＜ 0.01,respectively).Differentiating IAC from MIA/AIS/AAH,the optimal cutoff value of VDT was 2095.86 days (sensitivity,71.4％;specificity,80.0％),the optimal cutoff value of nMDT was 1 169.77 days (sensitivity,81.0％;specificity,76.7％).Conclusions In pulmonary pGGNs,IAC showed significantly shorter VDT and nMDT than MIA/AIS/AAH.When VDT is shorter than 2 095.86 days or nMDT is shorter than 1 169.77 days,IAC is suggested.

Protein tyrosine phosphatase (PTP) 1B is a potential target for the treatment of diabetes and obesity. We have previously identified the benzoyl sulfathiazole derivative II as a non-competitive PTP1B inhibitor with in vivo insulin sensitizing effects. Preliminary SAR study on this compound series has been carried out herein, and thirteen new compounds have been designed and synthesized. Among them, compound 10 exhibited potent inhibition against human recombinant PTP1B with the IC50 value of 3.97 micromol x L(-1), and is comparable to that of compound II.

Freshwater crabs and snails were collected from Ninghai County in Zhejiang Province, and examined respectively for Paragonimus metacercariae and cercariae. Among 97 freshwater crabs found, the prevalence was 11.3% (11/97) with a mean intensity of 1 metacercariae per crab. It was 10.2% (5/49) and 20.2% (4/20) in the groups weighted 5-15 g and 15-25 g respectively, with an average intensity of 1, and no metacercariae were found in weight group of 25-35 g. Two positive crabs were found from 20 crabs with a low weight (

BACKGROUND:Surgical treatment is commonly used for decompressing the spinal cord in multilevel cervical spondylotic myelopathy, but the optimum anterior cervical reconstructive method has not been determined. OBJECTIVE:To compare and analyze the biomechanical characteristics of four anterior cervical reconstructive techniques in the surgical management of multilevel cervical spondylotic myelopathy utilizing the three-dimensional finite element model. METHODS:A three-dimensional finite element model of an intact C2–7 segment was developed and validated based on healthy adult male CT images. Four additional models were developed from the fusion model, including anterior cervical discectomy and fusion, anterior cervical corpectomy and fusion, anterior cervical hybrid decompression and fusion and anterior cervical discectomy and fusion with Cage alone. Von Mises stresses on the plate and the disc of adjacent levels (C2/3, C6/7) were comparatively analyzed. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:(1) The C2/3 disc stress in flexion, extension, lateral bending and rotation condition was significantly higher than the C6/7 disc in 4 anterior cervical reconstructive techniques, and the adjacent disc stress (C2/3, C6/7) was lowest in the anterior cervical discectomy and fusion with Cage alone, and highest in the anterior cervical corpectomy and fusion. (2) The stress at the plate-screw interface was highest in the anterior cervical corpectomy and fusion, and lowest in the anterior cervical discectomy and fusion. (3) In conclusion, among the four anterior cervical reconstructive techniques for multilevel cervical spondylotic myelopathy, the anterior cervical discectomy and fusion with Cage alone makes little effect on the adjacent disc stress, which might reduce the incidence of adjacent segment disease after fusion. However, the accompanying risk of the increased incidence of cage subsidence should never be neglected.

BACKGROUND:Fibroblast-like synoviocytes (FLS) in the synovial lining layer are related to the cell proliferation, invasion, migration and apoptosis as well as bone resorption in rheumatoid arthritis. OBJECTIVE:To compare the migration and invasion abilities of FLS (MH7A) in rheumatoid arthritis and normal FLS (HFLS). METHODS:The capacities of cell migration and invasion were evaluated by Transwell cell migration and invasion assays. The primers of the indicated microRNAs were designed and synthesized, and the expression levels of miRNAs were determined by real-time PCR according to the SYBR?PrimeScript?miRNA RT-PCR Kit instruction. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:MH7A possessed stronger migration and invasion abilities than HFLS. Compared with HFLS, obviously upregulated miR-132, -155, -203, -223 and -124, and significantly downregulated miR-15a, -16, 18a, -19a, -26a and -146a were found in MH7A. These findings suggest that the differentially expressed 11 kinds of rheumatoid arthritis-associated miRNAs participate in the pathogenesis of rheumatoid arthritis probably by enhancing the migration and invasion capacities of MH7A.

Objective To investigate the clinical and pathologic features of patients with gastric neuroendocrine neoplasms (g-NENs).Methods A total of 50 cases of g-NENs diagnosed by pathology in the First Hospital of Jilin University from May 2012 to January 2016 were retrospective analyzed to summarize the clinical manifestations and pathological features.The location of lesion,gross morphology,maximum diameter,lymph node metastasis rate,distant metastasis rate,and survival time between patients with neuroendocrine tumors and neuroendocrine carcinomas were compared.Results Among the 50 patients,34 were males and 16 were females with a male to female ratio of 2.125 ∶ 1.Their age ranged from 33 to 77 years with an mean age of 60± 11 years.There were 13 cases (26％) of neuroendocrine tumors,31 (62％) neuroendocrine carcinomas,and 6 (12％) mixed adenoneuroendocrine carcinomas.The maximum diameter of lesion was less than 2 cm in 8 cases (16％),and equal or greater than 2 cm in 42 cases (84％).There was single lesion in 48 cases (96％) and multiple lesions in 2 cases (4％).There were 19 cases (38％) located in gastric antrum,16 (32％) in gastric body,11 (22％) in gastric fundus or cardia,3 (6％) in gastric angle,and 1 (2％) in the junction of gastric antrum and body.Thirty-two patients (64％) had metastasis,including 20 cases of lymph node metastasis and 12 cases of distant metastasis.The clinical symptoms of the patients were different,mainly were digestive system symptoms and tumor occupying symptoms,and no carcinoid syndrome was reported.The gross morphology (x2 =24.446.P =0.000).maximum diameter (t =-4.044,P =0.001),lymph node metastasis rate (x2=4.435,P =0.035),and survival time (t =2.925,P =0.000) were significantly differences between 13 cases of neuroendocrine tumors and 37 cases of neuroendocrine carcinoma.But the location of lesion (x2 =6.921,P=0.082) and distant metastasis rate (x2 =0.715,P =0.389) were no statistically different between the two groups.Conclusion Gastric neuroendocrine neoplasms can occur in any part of stomach,majority of tumor is single lesion and lack of specific clinical manifestations.The mostly gross morphology of gastric neuroendocrine carcinoma and mixed adenoneuro-endocrine carcinoma are ulcer type with a large diameter and poor prognosis.

Objective To evaluate the effects of combined model of contract signing,team cooperation and telehealth care on social support and quality of life for empty nest elders at home.Methods A total of 320 empty nest elders at home were randomly divided into experimental group and control group.The elders in experimental group received contract signing,team cooperation and telehealth care for 1 year; For control group,routine nursing model was implemented.The elders were examined with social support (SSRS) and quality of life (SF-36) before and after intervention.Results Mter intervention,the scores of SSRS for experiment and control groups in subjective support 21.4 ±4.2 and 18.4 ±3.7,objective support 7.0 ± 1.6 and 6.0 ± 2.3,social support availability 7.6 ± 2.2 and 6.1 ± 2.5 ; the scores of SF-36 between experiment and control groups in physical functioning 74.8 ± 14.9 and 66.3 ± 15.6,role-physical 72.3 ±15.8 and 65.9 ± 14.7,bodily pain 71.3 ± 19.8 and 62.4 ± 15.0,general health 54.2 ± 13.0 and 47.8 ±13.1,vitality 58.4 ± 17.4 and 50.2 ± 13.9,social functioning 58.0 ± 17.9 and 48.8 ± 21.3,roleemotional 74.0 ± 18.9 and 64.8 ± 18.0,mental health 59.5 ± 12.8 and 50.1 ± 11.3 ; the rate of standard management of hypertension between experiment and control groups were 97.0％ and 86.1％,the control rate of hypertension between experiment and control groups 72.3％ and 61.7％,the control rate of diabetes between experiment and control groups 85.4％ and 64.7,there were significant inter-group differences in all the above indicators (P ＜ 0.05).Conclusion The combined model of contract signing,team cooperation and telehealth care can significantly improve social support and quality of life for elders.