Objective To explore the related factors of insulin sensitivity in infants and toddlers. Methods From January 2006 to May 2008, 246 infants and 120 toddlers who had regular physical check-ups at the Children Healthcare Center of Third Hospital of Peking University were selected in this retrospective study. The homeostasis model assessment insulin resistance index (HOMA-IR), insulin action index(IAI), fasting glucose-to-insulin ratio (FGIR) and HOMA-β cell function (HOMA-β) were measured with the homeostasis model analysis. According to different glucose metabolic situation of the pregnant mothers and diabetes family history, the infants and toddlers were divided into different groups. The above indicators were compared among groups.Results In infants with maternal diabetes, the levels of HOMA-IR and HOMA-β were 3.24 (2.76-4.12) and 164. 00 (114. 44-192.85), higher than those born to mothers without abnomal glucose metabolism [1.51 (0. 86-2.50) and 67.07 (41.83-106.22)], while the levels of IAI and FGIR were lower[-7.18(-7.41-7.02) and 7.31(5.82-8.55) vs -6.41(-6.92-5.85) and 14.84(9.49-24. 79)] (Z=3. 76,3. 35,3. 76 and 3.71, P＜0. 017). Compared with infants of maternal impaired glucose tolerance,the level of HOMA-IR was higher (Z= 3.19, P＜0.017) in infants with maternal diabetes,the level of IAI was lower(Z= 3. 19, P＜0. 017). No significant difference of insulin sensitivity were observed between infants with and without maternal impaired glucose tolerance (P＞0. 017). The level of HOMA-IR was higher in infants and toddlers with diabetes in first-degree relatives [infants: 3.24(2. 73-4. 13) vs 1.41(0.84-2.50) ; toddlers: 3.98(2.62-4.80) vs 1.70(0.92-3.04); P＜0. 017], while the levels of IAI and FGIR were lower [infants: IAI, -7. 18(-7.42-- 7.00) vs - 6.34 ( - 6.91- 5.82); FGIR, 7.31 (5.40-7.48) vs 14.87 (9.53-25.17); toddlers: IAI,-7.38(-7.57-6.97) vs -6.54(-7.11-5.92); FGIR, 6.17(6.04-8.00) vs 12.65(8.33-21.53), P＜0. 017], and the level of HOMA-β was higher just in the infants [164.00(137.82-198.00) vs 67.06(40.40-106.83), P＜0. 017]. No significant difference was observed in infants with second-degree relatives diabetes and without diabetic family history group (P＞0. 017). Conclusions Maternal diabetes and diabetic family history in first-degree relatives were significantly related to the decrease of insulin sensitivity in infants and toddlers.

Objective To study physiological foundation of acupunctureDeqi.Methods 28 healthy volunteers who never experienced acupuncture were recruited. The right Zusanli (ST36) and a site 1.5 cm beside Zusanli (ST36) (nominated as A) were acupunctured at different time. Shallow and deep acupuncturing was inserted at Zusanli (ST36). Only deep acupuncturing was inserted at A. Hemodynamic parameters of the anterior tibial artery including the peak value in the systolic phase (Vmax), the average blood flow velocity (Vm), and the inner diameter of vessels (Dist) were observed with colored Doppler ultrasound before, at the end of acupuncture, and 3 min afterDeqi response. Results There was significant difference in those parameters between before acupuncture and 3 min after deqi response when deep acupuncturing at Zusanli (ST36) (P＜0.05), but was not significant difference when shallow acupuncturing (P＞0.05). There was significant difference in ΔVmax and ΔVm between acupuncture at Zusanli (ST36) and A points (P＜0.05). Conclusion Arterial haemodynamics variation seems to be associated with acupunctureDeqi.

ObjectiveTo evaluate the value of endoscopy in the diagnosis of biliary tract roundworm disease.Methods32 cases of biliary tract roundworm diseases were diagnosed and treated with fibre (electron) stomach duodenum endoscopy and fibre biliary tract endoscopy under the direct-view.Results32 cases were all clearly diagnosed and the worms were taken out with direct-view endoscopy or direct cholangiography with no complications.ConclusionEndoscopy is effective and accurate for the biliary tract roundworm disease and has the advantage of rapidly dispelling the sufferings of the patients.

Objective To investigate the effects of pregnancy complicated with diabetes on the insulin sensitivity of offspring during their early childhood. Methods Offspring of diabetic mothers(ODM) and of non-diabetic mothers(ONDM) aged 1 month to 24 months were recruited into this prospective cohort study and followed up for two years. Body weight and body length were measured at 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, 18 and 24 months of age respectively, and body mass index (BMI) were calculated. Fasting plasma glucose and fasting serum insulin levels were measured on the following-up day at 6, 12 and 24 months of age and insulin sensitivity index (ISI) was calculated. Homeostasis model assessment was used to calculate the insulin resistance (HOMA-IR). Insulin sensitivity was evaluated by fasting serum insulin, ISI and HOMA-IR. The difference of insulin sensitivity between ODM and ONDM group were examined by analysis of covariance adjusted by gender, gestational age,birth weight and BMI. Results Six hundred and five babies including ninety ODM and five hundred and eleven ONDM met the inclusion criteria. There were no differences in gender, gestational age,birth-weight/height between the two groups(P＞0. 05). ODM were heavier and higher than ONDM at each measure point during early childhood, but there were statistical differences at the age of 2, 4 and 6 months only (P＜0. 05). And the BMI at age of 2 and 4 months of ODM were higher than those of ONDM(P＜0.05). The number of baby who accepted the measurement of fasting plasma glucose and fasting serum insulin levels at 6, 12 and 24 months of age was 276 cases, 273 cases and 56 cases respectively. The fasting serum insulin of ODM (logarithmically transformed) were 0. 95±0. 30,0. 89±0. 34 and 0. 90±0. 27, which were higher than those of ONDM (0. 70±0. 45, 0. 73±0. 35 and 0. 67±0. 30) (t=9. 58, 5.01 and 6. 11, P＜0.05); HOMA-IR (logarithmically transformed) were 0. 34±0. 33, 0. 27±0. 36 and 0. 27±0. 31, which were higher than those of ONDM also(0.08±0. 46,0. 10±0. 36 and 0. 03 ± 0.33) (t= 9. 55, 4. 79 and 5. 06, P＜0.05); ISI(natural logarithmically transformed) were -3.87±0. 75, -3.73±0. 81 and -3. 73±0. 71, which were lower than those of ONDM(-3.29±1.05, -3.35±0.84 and -3.18±0. 77) (t=9.20, 4. 90 and 5.06, P＜0.05).There were differences in feeding characteristics of ODM between insulin sensitive subgroup [40. 9%(9/22) breast-feeding] and insulin insensitive subgroup [16.67 % (12/72) breast-feeding] (x2 = 7.02,P=0. 03). Conclusions Pregnancy complicated with diabetes has adverse effects on the offspring insulin sensitivity during their early childhood, and affects the early growth and development of them.Breast-feeding might decrease insulin resistance in babies.

BACKGROUND:Experimental studies have showed that puerarin has an obvious protective effect on osteoporosis in ovariectomized and orchiectomized mice. But the influence of puerarin in the molecular level in the process of osteoblast differentiation is seldom reported.
OBJECTIVE:To observe the effect of puerarin on the mRNA expression of alkaline phosphatase, bone sialoprotein, osteopontin and osteocalcin in osteoblasts.
METHODS:The MC3T3-E1 cells from mice cultured in vitro were randomly divided into control group, puerarin group (10-6 mol/L puerarin) and estradiol group (10-7 mol/L estradiol) to observe the effects of puerarin on the differentiation of osteoblasts. mRNA expression of alkaline phosphatase, bone sialoprotein, osteopontin and osteocalcin in MC3T3-E1 cells was determined using RT-PCR method.
RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:Puerarin and estradiol both could prolong the expression of alkaline phosphatase that reached the peak at 12 days. Puerarin and estradiol strengthened the mRNA expression of bone sialoprotein at 10 and 12 days, reduced expression of osteopontin at 5 and 12 days, and increased expression of osteocalcin at 10 and 12 days. These results reveal that puerarin can induce the differentiation of cultured osteoblasts by influencing osteoblast differentiation-related protein mRNA expressions, which may be one of the important molecular mechanisms of puerarin for prevention of osteoporosis.

Skeletal muscle is the largest tissue in the human body, and it plays a major role in exerting force and maintaining metabolism homeostasis. The role of muscle transcription factors in the regulation of metabolism is not fully understood. MondoA is a glucose-sensing transcription factor that is highly expressed in skeletal muscle. Previous studies suggest that MondoA can influence systemic metabolism homeostasis. However, the function of MondoA in the skeletal muscle remains unclear.

Skeletal muscle is the largest tissue in the human body, and it plays a major role in exerting force and maintaining metabolism homeostasis. The role of muscle transcription factors in the regulation of metabolism is not fully understood. MondoA is a glucose-sensing transcription factor that is highly expressed in skeletal muscle. Previous studies suggest that MondoA can influence systemic metabolism homeostasis. However, the function of MondoA in the skeletal muscle remains unclear.

Coronaviruses are the causative agent of respiratory and enteric diseases in animals and humans. One example is SARS, which caused a worldwide health threat in 2003. In coronaviruses, the structural protein N (nucleocapsid protein) associates with the viral RNA to form the filamentous nucleocapsid and plays a crucial role in genome replication and transcription. The structure of N-terminal domain of MHV N protein also implicated its specific affinity with transcriptional regulatory sequence (TRS) RNA. Here we report the crystal structures of the two proteolytically resistant N- (NTD) and C-terminal (CTD) domains of the N protein from murine hepatitis virus (MHV). The structure of NTD in two different crystal forms was solved to 1.5 Å. The higher resolution provides more detailed structural information than previous reports, showing that the NTD structure from MHV shares a similar overall and topology structure with that of SARS-CoV and IBV, but varies in its potential surface, which indicates a possible difference in RNA-binding module. The structure of CTD was solved to 2.0-Å resolution and revealed a tightly intertwined dimer. This is consistent with analytical ultracentrifugation experiments, suggesting a dimeric assembly of the N protein. The similarity between the structures of these two domains from SARS-CoV, IBV and MHV corroborates a conserved mechanism of nucleocapsid formation for coronaviruses.
Amino Acid Sequence ; Binding Sites ; Crystallography, X-Ray ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Murine hepatitis virus ; chemistry ; metabolism ; Nucleocapsid Proteins ; chemistry ; metabolism ; Phosphoproteins ; chemistry ; metabolism ; Protein Binding ; Protein Folding ; Protein Multimerization ; Protein Structure, Secondary ; Protein Structure, Tertiary ; RNA ; metabolism ; Sequence Alignment