OBJECTIVETo analyze the changes of patients with type 2 diabetes in different stages in glucagon (GC) and free fatty acid (FFA) in fasting, OGT and L-Arg experiments, and discusses the role of pancreatic alphabeta cells in diabetes pathogenesis by studying the relations among indexes such as glucagon (GC), free fatty acid (FFA) and blood glucose (BG), insulin, insulin homeostasis model (HOMA) and glucose metabolism hormone secretion curve, in order to provide theoretical basis for the treatment of diabetes.

METHODStudy objects were divided into the T2DM group (45 cases), the IGT group (28 cases) and the NGT group (30 cases) for an OGTT experiment and then an L-Arg experiment on the next day. Under the fasting state, their blood glucose (FBG), insulin (F), glucagon (FGC), free fatty acid (FFA) were detected to calculate HOMA-beta, insulin sensitivity index (ISI) and HOMA-IR of different groups. Meanwhile, efforts were made to calculate different time quantum detected in OGTT and L-Arg experiments and area under the curve AUC(BG), AUC(INS) and AUC(GC).

RESULTObvious overall differences were observed in FFA and FGC of the three groups. FGC of each group was negatively correlated with HOMA-beta and ISI. Among all of the 103 study objects, FGC was positively correlated with FBG and HOMA-IR and negatively correlated with HOMA-beta and ISI, with no correlation with FINS; FFA was positively correlated with FBG, HOMA-IR and negatively correlated with FINS, HOMA-beta, ISI. FGC and FFA were positively correlated in the T2DM group and the IGT group, but with no statistical correlation in the NGT group. The sequence of the three study objects was T2DM > IGR > NGT in AUC(GC) in the OGTT experiment and T2DM > IGR > NGT in in AUC(GC) in the L-Arg experiment, with the significant positive correlation between AUC(GC) and AUC(BG) and significant negative correlation with AUC(INS).

CONCLUSIONGlucagon and free fatty acid of T2DM and IGT patients increased, which was positively correlated with blood glucose and HOMA-IR and negatively correlated with INS, HOMA-beta and ISI. The increase in glucagons of T2DM and IGT patients indicated inappropriate secretion of pancreatic alphabeta cells among patients with type 2 diabetes.

Adult ; Blood Glucose ; metabolism ; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 ; metabolism ; Fatty Acids, Nonesterified ; metabolism ; Female ; Glucagon ; blood ; Humans ; Insulin ; secretion ; Islets of Langerhans ; secretion ; Male ; Middle Aged

In order to evaluate the effect of mitofusin-2 gene (mfn2) on proliferation and chemotherapy sensitivity of human breast carcinoma cell line MCF-7 in vitro, pEGFPmfn2 plasmid carrying full length of mitofusin-2 gene was transfected, by using sofast, into MCF-7 cells. Mitofusin-2 gene expression in MCF-7 cells transfected by sofast after 48 h was detected by PCR and Western blotting, and the stable expression of GFP protein in MCF-7 cells by Western blot analysis. The proliferation of MCF-7 cells was assayed by MTT and cell counting. By using PI method, the effects of mfn2 on the cell cycle distribution of MCF-7 were measured. Annexin-V/PI double labeling method was employed to detect the changes in apoptosis induced by chemotherapeutics before and after transfection. The results showed that the MCF-7 cells transfected with mfn2 gene could stably and highly express GFP protein. MTT assay revealed that after transfection of mfn2 cDNA, the proliferation of MCF-7 cells was significantly inhibited. DNA histogram showed that cells arrested in S phase, and the percentage of S phase cells was 42.7, 17.2 and 19.6 in mfn2 cDNA transfection group, blank plasmid transfection group and blank control group, respectively (P<0.05). The apoptosis ratio of the cells transfected with mfn2 gene was increased from 3.56% to 15.95%, that of the cells treated with camptothecin (CAMP) followed by mfn2 gene transfection was 69.6%, and that in blank plasmid transfection group and blank control group was 31.0% and 23.4% respectively (P<0.05). It was suggested that transfection of mfn2 gene could significantly inhibit the proliferation of MCF-7 cells and promote their sensitivity to CAMP with a synergic effect.
Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic/pharmacology ; Apoptosis ; Camptothecin/pharmacology ; Cell Cycle ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Cell Proliferation ; Drug Screening Assays, Antitumor ; Flow Cytometry ; Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic ; Green Fluorescent Proteins/metabolism ; Membrane Proteins/*biosynthesis ; Membrane Proteins/*genetics ; Mitochondrial Proteins/*biosynthesis ; Mitochondrial Proteins/*genetics ; Transfection

Objective To investigate the potential clinical factors associated with the prognosis and relapse of adult onset Still's disease(AOSD).Methods The factors possibly influencing the prognosis and relapse of AOSD were analyzed by logistic regression and COX regression in the cohort study.Ninety-six con- secutive inpatients of AOSD diagnosed based on Yamaguchi criteria in the hospital from March 1996 to September 2004 were included in the study.Results Nine cases(9.4%)were lost during the follow-up. Eleven patients(12.6%)were diagnosed as other diseases(5 with other rheumatic diseases,4 with tumor and 2 with infections)in the 87 follow-up cases.In 76 cases,3 patients(3.9%)died and 33 patients(43.4%) got remission over one year after treatment.Splenomegaly(OR=3.14,95%CI=1.01～9.74)and treated with methotrexate(OR=0.22,95%CI=0.07～0.67)were associated with the prognosis from the logistic regression analysis of the 76 cases.The serum ferritin(RR=I.05,95%CI=1.01～1.08)and treated with methotrexate (RR=0.13,95%CI=0.02～0.76)were associated with relapse from the COX regression analysis of the 61 remis- sion cases.Conclusion We need to be very cautious in the follow-up of AOSD patients because some of them may change to other diseases.Methotrexate may be an importent therapy of AOSD not only in improve- ment the prognosis but also in reduction of relapse.

China ; epidemiology ; Cross Infection ; epidemiology ; Hospitals ; Humans

AIMTo synthesize poly(N-isopropylacrylamide)/cyclodextrin conjugate (PNIPA-beta-CD) as thermosensitive drug carrier, incorporate indomethacin into the conjugate and evaluate the drug release from the carrier in vitro.

METHODSPNIPA-beta-CD was synthesized by introducing carboxyl terminated PNIPA into the primary hydroxy group of beta-CD. The obtained conjugate was characterized by FTIR, 1H NMR and DSC. The indomethacin/PNIPA-beta-CD complex was prepared by lyophilization. In vitro drug release from the complex was carried out at 25 degrees C and 37 degrees C respectively.

RESULTSThermosensitive PNIPA-beta-CD was synthesized successfully. The LCST is 35 degrees C, as measured by turbidity method. The drug release from indomethacin/PNIPA-beta-CD complex was slower at 37 degrees C than that at 25 degrees C.

CONCLUSIONThermosensitive PNIPA-beta-CD with molecular inclusion capacity is a potential carrier for drug sustained release.

Acrylic Resins ; chemistry ; Delayed-Action Preparations ; chemistry ; Drug Carriers ; Indomethacin ; administration & dosage ; chemistry ; Temperature ; beta-Cyclodextrins ; chemistry

AlM: To observe retinal hemodynamic influence of compound xueshuantong capsule on nonproliferative diabetic retinopathy ( NPDR) after laser photocoagulation.METHODS:A total of 41 patients (72 eyes) with NPDR after laser photocoagulation were enrolled in this study. They were all given compound xueshuantong capsule, and used color Doppler flow imaging for detection of retinal hemodynamics.
RESULTS: After treatment, patients with retinal blood perfusion significantly improved; central retinal arterial peak systolic velocity ( PSV ) , end - diastolic velocity (EDV) and medial velocity (Vm) were increased, while the resistance index ( Rl) decreased. The difference have statistical significance (P<0. 05). The visual acuity of 61 eyes improved, efficiency was 85%. Visual acuity was related with PSV, Vm and Rl.
CONCLUSlON: Compound xueshuantong capsule can improve retinal blood perfusion for nonproliferative diabetic retinopathy after laser photocoagulation, which is related to improvement of visual prognosis.

OBJECTIVETo study the relationship between drinking environment, attitudes and situation and alcohol-related health problems.

METHODSA sample of 2327 respondents was randomly collected from Wuhan, Hubei Province in China by a face-to-face interview. The structural equation modeling analysis was performed for the data collected.

RESULTSBoth parents' drinking behaviors and respondents' drinking situation strongly impacted the alcohol-related problems and diseases. Friends' or peers' drinking behaviors influenced the respondents' drinking attitudes and behaviors. Males experienced more alcohol-related problems and diseases than females.

CONCLUSIONSComparatively, parents' drinking behaviors exert the most significant influence on drinkers. Therefore, it is beneficial to restrict parents' drinking behaviors for the offsprings and the whole society, and an intensive professional education in early motherhood is also necessary for Chinese women.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Age Factors ; Aged ; Alcohol Drinking ; epidemiology ; trends ; Alcohol-Related Disorders ; epidemiology ; Attitude ; Behavior ; China ; epidemiology ; Cities ; Factor Analysis, Statistical ; Family Health ; Female ; Friends ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Models, Statistical ; Sex Factors ; Surveys and Questionnaires

Although mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are increasingly used to treat graft-versus-host disease (GVHD), their immune regulatory mechanism in the process is elusive. The present study aimed to investigate the curative effect of third-party umbilical cord blood-derived human MSCs (UCB-hMSCs) on GVHD patients after allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo-HSCT) and their immune regulatory mechanism. Twenty-four refractory GVHD patients after allo-HSCT were treated with UCB-hMSCs. Immune cells including T lymphocyte subsets, NK cells, Treg cells and dendritic cells (DCs) and cytokines including interleukin-17 (IL-17) and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) were monitored before and after MSCs transfusion. The results showed that the symptoms of GVHD were alleviated significantly without increased relapse of primary disease and transplant-related complications after MSCs transfusion. The number of CD3(+), CD3(+)CD4(+) and CD3(+)CD8(+) cells decreased significantly, and that of NK cells remained unchanged, whereas the number of CD4(+) and CD8(+) Tregs increased and reached a peak at 4 weeks; the number of mature DCs, and the levels of TNF-α and IL-17 decreased and reached a trough at 2 weeks. It was concluded that MSCs ameliorate GVHD and spare GVL effect via immunoregulations.
Adolescent ; Adult ; Cord Blood Stem Cell Transplantation ; methods ; Cytokines ; metabolism ; Dendritic Cells ; metabolism ; Female ; Graft vs Host Disease ; immunology ; therapy ; Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation ; adverse effects ; Humans ; Immunomodulation ; Killer Cells, Natural ; metabolism ; Male ; T-Lymphocyte Subsets ; metabolism ; Transplantation, Homologous ; adverse effects ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effect of ginsenoside-Rg3 on lung metastasis of ribonuclease inhibitor (RI) gene-transfected mouse B16 melanoma.

METHODSC57BL/6 mice were iv injected with parental or RI-transfected B16 melanoma cells. Lung metastasis was assessed by the number of surface tumor nodules. Mice were divided into 6 groups. Group I, II and III of mice were given parental, mock-transfected and RI-transfected B16 melanoma cells, respectively while in group IV, V and VI, Rg3 (1.5 mg/kg, iv q.o.d. x 10) was given to mice bearing parental, mock-transfected and RI-transfected B16 melanoma, respectively. Micovessel density (MVD) of the lung metastatic tumor was assessed by immunohistochemical staining of factor VIII-R expression.

RESULTSThe number of tumor nodules was significantly decreased in mice injected with RI-transfected B16 melanoma (Gp III, compared to Gp I and II). Rg3 treatment per se could also decrease the number of lung tumor nodules but to a lesser extent (Gp IV and V compared to Gp III). However, Rg3 synergized with RI transfection resulting in most significant inhibition of lung metastasis (Gp VI). Mice in Gp I and II died within 26 days of the experiment, whereas all the mice in Gp VI were alive during the observation period of one and one half month. MVD was significantly decreased in the lung tumor nodules in mice injected with RI-transfected B16 melanoma. It was further decreased when additional Rg3 was given (Gp VI).

CONCLUSIONTransfection of ribonuclease inhibitor gene significantly reduces the metastatic potential of B16 melanoma. Ginsenoside-Rg3 has a synergistic effect.

Animals ; Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic ; pharmacology ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Ginsenosides ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology ; Lung Neoplasms ; pathology ; secondary ; Male ; Melanoma, Experimental ; genetics ; pathology ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred C57BL ; Neoplasm Transplantation ; Panax ; chemistry ; Placental Hormones ; genetics ; Transfection

OBJECTIVETo investigate glycometabolism of patients with depression at first episode.

METHODSOral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) was performed in 100 patients with depression at first episode and 50 healthy subjects; the levels of fast blood plasma insulin were also measured.

RESULTThere were no statistically significant differences in fast blood plasma insulin levels and postprandial blood glucose levels at 0 h, 1 h and 3 h (P>0.05); the fasting blood glucose (FBS), postprandial blood glucose levels in 2 h and area under OGTT curve of depression patients were significantly higher than those of healthy controls. The frequency of impaired glucose tolerance (IGT) in depression patients was higher than that in controls (P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONDepression patients at the first episode are abnormal in glycometabolism, which may have clinical implication.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Blood Glucose ; metabolism ; Case-Control Studies ; Depressive Disorder ; blood ; complications ; Female ; Glucose Intolerance ; complications ; Glucose Tolerance Test ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Young Adult