Asymptomatic bacteriuria is common in diabetic patients. This article reviews several aspects of asymptomatic bacteriuria in diabetes mellitus, including prevalence, mechanisms, coexisting risk factors, bacteriology, treatment and prognosis.

The G protein-coupled receptor, GPR40, is a specific receptor for free fatty acids. Singnaling pathways are activated in islet ?-cells by fatty acids as binding to GPR40. Fatty acids regulate insulin secretion and cause ?-cell hyperplasia through GPR40. GPR40 also mediates responses to antidiabetic drugs like thiazolidinediones. GPR40 agonists and/or antagonists show potential effect in the development of new anti-diabetic drugs.

Objective To investigate the serum levels of anti-BRAF antibody in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and its clinical significance.Methods Blood samples from 129 patients with RA,71 patients with other rheumatic diseases and 68 healthy controls were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISA).The serum levels of anti-BRAF antibody in patients with RA were divided into high,medium and low groups,each group had 43 cases.The clinical symptoms,immunological findings and related imaging data of all cases were recorded.We investigated the relationship between the serum levels of anti-BRAF antibody and the clinical symptoms,immunological findings and related imaging changes of the RA group.Chi-square test,Mann-Whitney U test,Spearman's correlation test were used for statistical analysis.Results ① The serum levels of anti-BRAF antibody were significantly higher in RA group [A:1.093 (0.150-3.210)] than in other rheumatic diseases group [A:0.278 (0.093-0.455)] and healthy controls [A:0.202 (0.121-0.443)] (Z=-11.223,P=0.021 ; Z=-7.839,P=0.008 7).The serum levels of anti-BRAF antibody was not significantly different between patients with other rheumatic diseases group and healthy controls (Z=-0.905,P=0.445).② The difference in positive rate of rheumatoid factor (RF) in different groups of anti-BRAF antibody levels was statistically significant (λx2=10.14,P=0.006),namely the positive rate was significantlyhigher in the low-level group (88％) than in the high-level group (58％) (x2=10.03,P=0.002).Thepositive rate of anti-cyclic citrullinated peptide antibody and anti-keratin antibody of the three groups was not significantly different (x2=0.721,P=0.697; x2=1.735,P=0.188).③ There was significant negative correlation between the levels of anti-BRAF antibody and the course of disease (r=-0.233,P=0.047),RF(r=-2.84,P=0.039),IgM (r=-0.234,P=0.038),and hemoglobin (r=-0.287,P=0.032).There was no significant correlation between the level of anti-BRAF antibody and the joint swelling index (r=-0.133,P=0.230),joint pain index (r=-0.173,P=0.100),other clinical and laboratory parameters.There was significantly negative correlation between the ESR and hemoglobin level.④ There was no significant difference of the level of anti-BRAF antibody between the normal group and patients with bone destruction in the RA group (Z=-0.642,P=0.521).⑤ There was no significant difference in the level of anti-BRAF antibody between the normal group and patients with interstitial pulmonary fibrosis group in the RA group (Z=-0.121,P=0.904).Conclusion The anti-BRAF antibody can be used for the diagnosis of RA as a new autoantibody,and it can also be used in the diagnosis of early or RF-negative RA.There is no correlation between the level of anti-BRAF antibody and bone destruction and interstitial pulmonary fibrosis.

AlM:To determine the relations between the changes of vascular endothelial growth factor ( VEGF ) concentration in plasma, aqueous humor and vitreous of patients with diabetic retinopathy ( DR ) and proliferative diabetic retinopathy ( PDR) , as well as to find if the condition of metabolism control of patients with DR may affect the VEGF level.
METHODS: Double antibody sandwich enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay was used to measure the levels of VEGF concentration in plasma of non-diabetic retinopathy ( NDR ) patients group, background diabetic retinopathy ( BDR ) patients group, and proliferative diabetic retinopathy ( PDR) patients group. The levels of HbAlc in plasma of patients in above three groups were measured at the same time. The VEGF concentration in aqueous humor, vitreous of PDR patients group and normal group was also measured for further comprehensive analysis. Human VEGF immunoassay Quantikine with high sensibility and quality was imported from R&D Co. LTD. , USA.
RESULTS: There was an increasing tendency in the VEGF concentration in aqueous humor of PDR patients group. There was no statistically significant difference as it was compared with normal group (P>0. 05). The VEGF concentration in vitreous of PDR patients group was obviously increased, there was significant difference as it was compared with normal group (P<0. 01). lt showed an increasing tendency of VEGF concentration in turn in plasma, aqueous humor and vitreous of the 3 PDR patients selves. lt showed that there was significant difference among VEGF concentration in plasma, aqueous humor and vitreous of all the PDR patients (P<0. 01). ln normal group there was no significant difference among VEGF concentration in plasma, aqueous humor and vitreous ( P > 0. 05 ). ln normal group the VEGF concentration in plasma was the highest, but in PDR patients group the VEGF concentration in vitreous was the highest.
CONCLUSlON: The significantly increased VEGF concentration in eyes, especially in vitreous of PDR patients may play an important role in development and deterioration of DR. lt was clear that VEGF played its normal biological functions mainly in plasma in normal human. ln severe DR patients, abnormal high may come from ischemic and VEGF concentration in vitreous suggested that it hypoxic retina and there was a tendency to diffuse towards the front of eyes.

Objective To improve the phacoemulsification (PHACO) technical level and management level for hospitals and to support the health decisions of health administration departments , we establish an index system of PHACO quality control of Guangdong province. Methods We determined the critical value , screened indicators and calculated the weight value with a method of literature analysis , Dephi method , percentile method, correlation coefficient and so on. At last, we tested the content validity through literature research and expert opinions and tested construct validity of the indicator system using factor analysis. Results An index system of PHACO assessment of 5 first grade indicators , 11 second grade indicators and 20 third grade indicators was established. Reliability analysis showed that three rounds of positive coefficient were 80.00%, 90.00% and 92.59%. Experts' authority coefficient was ranged from 0.710 to 0.921. Coefficient of concordance were 0.400 , 0.395 and 0.278 (P < 0.01). The standardized Cronbach α was 0.837 and the construct validity was good. The corresponding rate between simulation results and expert assessment was 94.55%. Conclusions It is reasonable and practical to use Delphi method to construct the index system of PHACO assessment. Reliability and validity of the index system and empirical application indicate the feasibility of its practical application.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the correlation of the autophagy-associated gene Atg5 with the pathogenesis of prostate cancer.

METHODSUsing real-time fluorescent quantitative reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) and immunohistochemistry, we detected the expression of Atg5 in 50 cases of prostate intraepithelial neoplasm (PIN), 69 cases of prostate cancer (PCa), and 30 cases of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH).

RESULTSThe expression level of Atg5 mRNA was significantly higher in PIN (5.270 ± 0.230) and PCa (5.131 ± 0.252) than in the BPH tissue (1.723 ± 0.017) (P <0.01), and so was the positive rate of the Atg5 expression in the patients of the PIN group (94%) and PCa group (88.4%) than in those of the BPH group (6.7%) (P<0.01), but with no statistically significant differences between the PIN and PCa groups (P >0.05). No significant correlation was observed between the expression of Atg5 and the Gleason score of PCa (P >0.05).

CONCLUSIONThe upregulated expression of Atg5 might play a role in the tumorigenesis of prostate cancer.

Aged ; Autophagy ; Autophagy-Related Protein 5 ; Humans ; Immunohistochemistry ; Male ; Microtubule-Associated Proteins ; genetics ; Middle Aged ; Prostatic Hyperplasia ; genetics ; Prostatic Neoplasms ; genetics ; RNA, Messenger ; metabolism ; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction ; methods ; Up-Regulation

Objective To investigate the reduction of hydatid cyst weight and change of splenocyte lymphokines in mice immunized with recombinant BCG-Eg95 vaccine of Echinococcus granulosus(Eg). Methods BALB/C mice were subcutaneously, intranasally, orally and intramuscularly vaccinated respectively, with BCG and PBS served as controls. The mice were challenged with Eg protoscolices 8 weeks after vaccination and sacrificed in 18 weeks after infection. The weight of hydatid cyst was measured and reduction of the weight was obtained, spleens were used to separate splenocytes which were cultured under stimulation with EgAg or ConA. The supernatant was collected to measure the level of IL-2、IFN-?、TNF- and IL-4 by ELISA. Results The hydatid cyst weight reduced by 45.77%, 18.20%, 88.05% and 92.46% respectively in the 4 immunization groups. In comparison with PBS control, the level of IL-2、IFN-?and TNF-?was (30.0?0) pg/ml, (65.0?0) pg/ml and (425.0?10.7) pg/ml respectively in the intramuscular group with a significant increase, but that of IL-4 decreased, with a value of (10.0?0) pg/ml. Conclusion The recombinant BCG-Eg95 vaccination induces Th1 response in mice against challenge infection.

Objective To dynamically observe changes of cytokines of splenocytes in mice by immunization with recombinant BCG-EmII/3 vaccine of Echinococcus multilocularis(Em).Methods BALB/C mice were intranasally vaccinated and then killed to get spleen on 0、2、4、6、8 and 10w of immunization respectively, splenocytes were isolated to culture with stimulation of EmAg or ConA,their supernatants were gathered to measure the level of IL-2,IFN-?,TNF-? and IL-4 by ELISA Kits. Results In the groups of immunization, levels of IL-2,IFN-?,TNF-? and IL-4 obviously increased on 2～6、2～6、2～10 and 8～10w respectively, reached the highest level on 4、4、8 and 10w respectively. Conclusion TH1 response was induced in mice by rBCG-EmII/3 vaccine by early immunization(2～8w).

Objective To study the etiology and the management of postcholecystectomy syndrome (PCS). Methods A review of 148 cases of PCS was made. Results Positive signs existed in 111 cases. Seventy-eight cases underwent operations with complete cure in 74 cases and improvement in 4 cases, whereas the other 70 cases received conservative therapies with complete cure in 9 cases, improvement in 48 cases and no change in the remaining 13 cases. Conclusions PCS is a series of symptoms with complicated reasons. Prevention should be put first.

The experiments were carried out in mice to investigate the effects of acupuncturing Tsusanli (AT) on physical work capacity and neuroendocrino-immunological system. Mice were divided into four groups. The general health condition of the animals during the experimental period, the swimming duration, the content of hemoglobin and T, C, T/C, C 3, C 4 of alexin in the serum, the coefficients of spleen and thymus were observed. Results showed that AT could effectively improve the general health condition of the mice and strengthen the mice endurance as manifested by the prolonged swimming time,the increased content of hemoglobin and T, T/C, C 3, C 4 of alexin in the serum, and the higher coefficient of spleen and thymus gland. These indicated that AT was effective in elimination of fatigue and improving the endurance performance,showing the possibility of its appllication in the field of sports medicine.