Objective The purpose of this study was to investigate the differential expression of circRNAs in human blood, as a diagnostic marker for pre-diabetes and type 2 diabetes mellitus( T2DM). Methods Microarray analysis was used to select several differentially expressed circRNAs from three normal patients and three T2DM patients. Enlarge the sample size(normal controls,n=20;subjects with impaired glucose regulation,n=20;and type 2 diabetes mellitus,n=20) to determine a circRNA which the most evident differentially expressed by fluorescence quantitative PCR( Q-PCR). Then they were verified with expanded samples ( normal controls, n= 50; impaired glucose regulations,n=50;type 2 diabetes mellitus, n=50) by Q-PCR. Results A total of 2 953 differentially expressed circRNAs were found in microarray analysis, of which 1 439 were up-regulated and 1 514 were down-regulated. Nine differentially expressed circRNAs were selected from the 1 439 circRNAs that were up-regulated(hsa-circ-103838, hsa-circ-103965, hsa-circ-104227, hsa-circ-002117, hsa-circ-000094, hsa-circ-101226, hsa-circ-101720, hsa-circ-400029, and hsa-circ-100633). The Q-PCR results of the expanded sample( n=60) showed that the difference expression of hsa-circ-000094(Alias:has-circ-0000247) in the nine circRNAs was the most obvious one among the 3 groups, the area under the maximum curve was found by ROC curve analysis, SIGR=0. 802 5[ 95% confidence interval (0.665 5-0.939 5), P=0.001]; ST2DM=0.77[95% confidence interval (0.624-0.916), P=0.003]. In order to verify the clinical diagnostic ability of hsa-circ-000094, the experiment was conducted to further expand the sample ( n=150). The results showed that the expression of hsa-circ-000094 in the three groups was different, the difference and ROC curve analysis were statistically significant, SIGR=0. 673 3 [ 95% confidence interval (0.575 7-0. 771 0), P＜0. 01]; ST2DM=0. 723 1 [ 95% confidence interval ( 0. 632 7-0. 813 4), P＜ 0.01]. Conclusion The higher expression of hsa-circ-000094 in peripheral blood provides a certain diagnostic basis for pre-diabetes as well as type 2 diabetes mellitus.

Hypercalcemia is an abnormal calcium metabolism, which can be caused by many diseases. Hypercalcemia caused by sarcoidosis is unusual. Sarcoidosis is a systemic granulomatous disease, it is lack of specificity in initial manifestations and easy to be misdiagnosed. In this paper, we report a patient with hypercalcemia and mediastinal lymphadenectasis, which the first diagnosis was misdiagnosed as tumour. Finally, sarcoidosis was diagnosed by mediastinal lymph node biopsy, and the patient was subsequently treated with glucocorticoid. Prednisone treatment improved symptoms of sarcoidosis, normalised serum calcium and mediastinal lymph nodes were diminished. This case suggests that clinicians need to raise awareness of sarcoidosis to identify and diagnose it correctly.

Objective The three-dimensional finite element model of the normal ankle joint was established to simulate the changes of stress and displacement under stress from different directions and of different magnitudes so as to provide a theoretical basis for the biomechanical mechanism of the ankle joint injury.Methods Spiral CT scan was performed on the left ankle of a 30 year old healthy male volunteer to obtain the original CT image data.The three-dimensional digital model of ankle joint generated by Mimics and Geomagic softwares was imported into the software Ansys.The three-dimensional finite element model of ankle joint with complete anatomical structure was obtained after the main steps of meshing,central node,element linking and module loading using finite element method.Stress from different directions and of different magnitudes were loaded unto the model.The stress changes were measured by foot stress distribution measurement system.The stress changes,displacement change distribution,the stress peak value of heel are,metatarsal stress,and plantar contact stress area as well as the maximum,minimum,and contact are of the tibial articular surface contact stress were compared between the finite element model and the volunteer himself to verify the consistency.Results For the finite element model of normal ankle joint,the plantar peak stress was [(0.33 ± 0.10) MPa],the metatarsal stress was [(0.13 ± 0.21)MPa],the foot contact stress area was [(78.60 ±0.32)mm2],the tibial articular surface maximum contact stress was [(2.72 ± 0.10) MPa],the minimum contact stress was [(1.35 ±0.12)MPa],and the contact stress area was [(79.1 ± 0.14)mm2].For the volunteer,double foot plantar peak stress was [(0.35 ± 0.12)MPa],the metatarsal stress [(0.13 ±0.16)MPa],the foot contact stress area was [(77.3 ± 0.42)mm2],the tibial articular surface maximum contact stress was [(2.79 ± 0.23) MPa],the minimum contact stress was [(1.37 ± 0.20) MPa],and the contact stress area was [(79.10 ±0.14)mm2] (P ＜0.05).Therefore,the three finite element model of ankle joint was basically consistent with the real human ankle joint because of the similiar distribution,trend,and values.Conclusion The three-dimensional finite element model of normal ankle joint can objectively reflect the anatomical structure and biomechanical characteristics of the joint,which is of great value to understand the changes of the internal mechanics and ankle joint injury.

Objective To investigate the feasibility of evaluating the pancreatic fat deposition with ultrasound,and analyze the relationship of pancreatic fat deposition with the risk factors for diabetes.Methods Two hundred and ninety-four subjects were recruited in the diabetes epidemic survey of Shanghai Sixth Peoples' Hospital,Shanghai Jiaotong University from Oct 2015 to Jan 2016,including 111 diabetes mellitus (DM) cases,54 sugar metabolic abnormalities (IGR) cases,and 129 healthy cases as control group.The general data were collected.Biochemical indicators including ALT,AST and insulin in fasting blood samples were detected,and insulin resistance index (HOMA2-IR) and insulin secretion index (HOMA-IS) were calculated.The pancreatic fat deposition was evaluated by the ultrasound,and pancreas echoes were divided into three levels (1,2,3),by comparing with the echo of the rectus.The Chi-square test was used to analyze the pancreatic fat deposition rate,while the Logistic regression was used to figure out the diabetes high-risk factors influencing the pancreatic fat deposition.Results Forty-two subjects were found to have the pancreatic fat deposition in the healthy group (33.3％),of whom 19 cases,16 cases and 8 cases were categorized into level 1,2 and 3,respectively.Thirty subjects were found to have the pancreatic fat deposition in the IGR group (55.6％),of whom 14 cases,11 cases and 5 cases were categorized into level 1,2 and 3,respectively.Sixty-seven subjects were found to have the pancreatic fat deposition in the DM group (60.4％),of whom 37 cases,18 cases and 12 cases,were categorized into level 1,2,3,respectively.The pancreatic fat deposition rates of the 3 groups were statistically significantly different (P＜0.01).Multivariate Logistic regression analysis showed that body mass index (BMI),HOMA2-IR,high triglycerides (TG),and total cholesterol (TC) may be the-risk factors for the pancreatic fat deposition in IGR and T2DM patients.Conclusions The ultrasound evaluation on pancreatic fat deposition was feasible,and the pancreatic fat deposition was related to multiple high-risk factors for diabetes.

Tyrosine-3-monooxy genase/tryptophane-5-monooxy-genase activator protein ( 14-3-3 protein ) is a family of highly conservative and widely expressed acidic polypeptides in all eukaryotic cells. The 14-3-3 protein family consists of adaptors and scaffolds that participates in many cellular processes, such as apoptosis and metabolism. Recent studies have found that 14-3-3 protein is associated with many proteins related to lipid metabolism. It could be exploited for therapy of lipid metabolism disorders. This paper briefly describes the role of the 14-3-3 protein in the lipid metabolism and its related diseases.

ObjectiveTo analyze the potential risk factors for relapse and development of epilepsy in patients with benign in-fantile convulsions associated with mild gastroenteritis (BICE).MethodsA total of 264 cases of BICE were recruited. Accord-ing to the frequency of convulsions, the patients were divided into single group (n=134, convulsion once), and multiple group (n=130, convulsions≥2 times). According to convulsion duration, the patients were divided into short-term group (n=186, con-vulsions duration <5 minutes) , and long-term group (n=78, convulsion duration≥5 minutes). The clinical data obtained during hospitalization and follow-up were analyzed.ResultsIn multiple group, 9.23% were relapsed and 6.15% developed epilepsy. In single group, 2.99% were relapsed and 0.75% developed epilepsy. There were signiifcantly different in the rate of relapses and development of epilepsy between two groups (P<0.05). In the long-term group, 12.82% were relapsed and 8.97% developed epi-lepsy. In the short-term group, 3.23% were relapsed and 1.08% developed epilepsy. There were signiifcantly different in the rate of relapses and development of epilepsy between the two groups (P<0.05).ConclusionsThere are the risks of relapse and development of epilepsy in BICE patients. Convulsions≥ 2 times and≥5 minutes may be the risk factors of relapse and devel-opment of epilepsy.

Hypertriglyceridemia, and the ectopic deposition of triglycerides, are the risk factors for insulin resistance. To clarify the mechanism of regulations in triglyceride metabolism is an approach to the elucidation of pathogenesis and effective treatment of insulin resistance-related diseases.

Porous surfaces have an important effect on bioactivity of titanium implants. In this study, two micro/nanostructural titanium surfaces were prepared by chemical and electrochemical method. The two samples had different diameters of nanotubes. Tests of biomineralization and codeposition in simulated body fluid and bovine serum albumin (BSA) were carried out in order to evaluate the bioactivity of micro/nanostructural titanium surfaces. The information of the surfaces was detected using scanning electron microscope and X-ray diffractometer. The results showed that the bioactivity of micro/nanostructural titanium increased with the diameter of nanotubes. Furthermore, the existence of BSA can accelerate biomineralization and decrease the crystallinity of hydroxyapatite coating.
Biocompatible Materials ; Coated Materials, Biocompatible ; chemistry ; Materials Testing ; Microscopy, Electron, Scanning ; Microtechnology ; Nanostructures ; chemistry ; Porosity ; Prostheses and Implants ; Surface Properties ; Titanium ; chemistry