OBJECTIVETo investigate the hypoglycemic characteristics of hospitalized elderly patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM).

METHODSFrom January, 2014 to December, 2015, the data of 58 565 blood measurements using a standard blood glucose monitoring system (BGMS) were collected from 1187 cases of patients with type 2 diabetes during hospitalization in the Department of Endocrinology, Guangdong General Hospital (Guangzhou, China). Stratified analyses were conducted by dividing the patients into 3 age groups, namely <45 years group (128 cases), 45-64 years group (594 cases), and ≥65 years group (465 cases). The incidence and time distribution of hypoglycemia in these patients were compared among the 3 age groups.

RESULTSThe risk of hypoglycemia increased with age. Compared with those below 45 years of age, the patients beyond or equal to 65 years had a significantly increased hypoglycemic density (0.95% vs 0.40%, P<0.001), a higher proportion of patients with hypoglycemia (28.17% vs 10.94%, P<0.001), and greater patient-days with hypoglycemia (4.48% vs 1.76%, P<0.001). In the elderly patients, hypoglycemia occurred most frequently before dawn, at which time the hypoglycemic density was 2.66% in patients ≥65 years of age, significantly higher than that in patients below 45 years (1.09%, P<0.05) and between 45 and 64 years (1.90%, P<0.05); the proportion of patients with hypoglycemia was also significantly higher in the elderly patients (14.57%) than in those below 45 years (3.77%, P<0.02) and between 45 and 64 years (9.42%, P<0.02). The proportion of patients with recurrent hypoglycemia (≥2 times) was significantly higher in patients ≥65 years (13.33%) than in younger patients (2.34% in <45 years group and 9.43% in 45-64 years group, P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONThe hypoglycemic risk in hospitalized elderly patients with T2DM is significantly higher than that in younger patients, especially before dawn and in terms of recurrent hypoglycemia. Clinicians should develop differential blood glucose monitoring and management strategies for these elderly patients to improve the clinical safety.

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the effect of preoperative transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) on hepatocellular carcinoma located in caudate lobe.

METHODSTotally 29 cases of caudate lobe hepatocellular carcinoma admitted from January 2001 to December 2010 were analyzed retrospectively. Among the 29 patients, 23 were male and the other 6 were female. The median age was 52 years. According to receiving preoperative TACE or not, the 29 cases were divided into two groups: preoperative TACE plus surgery (group A, n = 11) and surgery only (group B, n = 18). The surgical results and long-term survival were compared between two groups.

RESULTSAfter TACE, the diameter of the tumour reduced by over 33.3% in 3 patients, 10.0% to 33.3% in 6 patients, and less than 10.0% in 2 patients. The duration of surgery and intraoperative blood loss in group A were (298 ± 39) minutes and (1031 ± 310) ml, respectively. The duration of surgery and intraoperative blood loss in group B were (281 ± 54) minutes and (868 ± 403) ml, respectively. No significant difference was found in terms of these two groups (t = 1.006, P = 0.324; t = 1.223, P = 0.232). In addition, 6 cases in group A developed complications and 4 cases in group B did so. Only one patient died because of postoperative complication, and this patient belonged to group A. No significant difference was found between two groups (χ(2) = 0.028, P = 0.868; χ(2) = 0.633, P = 0.426). The 5-year survival rate was 56.8% in group A and 34.9% in group B. The difference did not reach significant difference (P = 0.132).

CONCLUSIONSFor hepatocellular carcinoma located in caudate lobe, preoperative TACE does not significantly increase the surgical difficulty and impair the safety. In addition, preoperative TACE has the tendency to provide benefit to long-term survival.

Carcinoma, Hepatocellular ; surgery ; Chemoembolization, Therapeutic ; Hepatectomy ; Humans ; Liver Neoplasms ; surgery ; Retrospective Studies

Female ; Hepatitis B ; complications ; Humans ; Liver Cirrhosis ; complications ; Mesenteric Veins ; Middle Aged ; Venous Thrombosis ; complications

Objective To investigate the effect of insulin and gliclazide therapy on endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress and insulin sensitivity in the liver of type 2 diabetic rats.Methods A high fat diet plus a low-dose of streptozotocin was implemented to create a type 2 diabetic rats which were randomly divided into diabetes mellitus (DM) group,insulin treatment (INS) group and gliclazide treatment (GT)group; and healthy rats were as normal control group.Diabetic rats in INS and GT groups were given neutral protamine hagedorn (NPH) insulin and gliclazide respectively for 3 weeks.Protein expression levels of immunoglobulin binding protein (Bip),spliced X-box binding protein 1 (XBP-ls),phosphorylated c-Jun on serine 73 (p-c-Jun),phosphorylated insulin receptor substrate 1 on serine 307 (p-IRS-1),and glucose-6-phosphatase (G6Pase) in liver homogenate were detected by Western blotting.Results Compared with the normal rats,Bip and XBP-Is in the DM group were up-regulated (0.28 ±0.07 vs 0.90 ±0.10 for Bip;0.41 ± 0.07 vs 0.95 ±0.07 for XBP-1 s; both P ＜ 0.01 ) ; p-c-Jun (0.59 ± 0.18 vs 1.94 ± 0.03 ),p-IRS-1( 1.73 ± 0.18 vs 5.32 ± 0.22) and G6Pase (0.11 ± 0.01 vs 0.45 ± 0.01 ) were increased ( all P values ＜0.01 ).In the INS group,all of aforementioned changes were reversed (0.90 ± 0.10 vs 0.25 ± 0.04 for Bip; 0.95 ±0.07 vs 0.47 ±0.01 for XBP-1s; 1.94 ± 0.03 vs 0.50 ±0.10 for p-c-Jun; 5.32 ± 0.22 vs 1.59 ±0.32 for p-IRS-1 ; 0.45 ±0.01 vs 0.15 ±0.02 for G6Pase,all P values ＜0.01 ).In the GT group,all of aforementioned changes were also attenuated ( 0.90 ± 0.10 vs 0.53 ± 00.02 for Bip ; 0.95 ± 0.07 vs 0.78±0.02 for XBP-1s; 1.94 ±0.03 vs 1.33 ±0.11 for p-c-Jun; 5.32 ±0.22 vs 3.13 ±0.02 for p-IRS-1; 0.45 ± 0.01 vs 0.25 ± 0.01 for G6Pase,all P values ＜ 0.05).Furthermore,all of aforementioned protein levels were down-regulated more obviously in the INS group comparing to the GT group ( all P values ＜ 0.01 ).Conclusions Both insulin and gliclazide therapy could relieve ER stress and e-Jun N-terminal kinase activity and improved insulin sensitivity.The effect of insulin on Bip,XBP-1s,p-c-Jun,p-IRS-1 and G6Pase protein expressions is more obvious than that of glilcazide,which indicates besides lowering glucose,insulin might have protective effects of anti-inflammation,anti-oxidative stress or stimulation of lipid redistribution.

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the value of pedicle parameter obtained by the reformation images on multi-slice spiral CT (MSCT) in the surgical treatment of lumbar spondylolisthesis.

METHODSFrom January 2009 to March 2010, 60 patients with lumbar spondylolisthesis failing in conservative treatment were enrolled into the study and divided into experimental and control group randomly (each group with 30 patients). There were 26 males and 34 females ranging in age from 18 to 59 years with an average of (42.60 +/- 9.36) years. The experimental group was examined with volumetric scanning on MSCT before operation. Reformation such as multiplanar reconstruction (MPR) and volume rendering (VR) were carried out at the work station. Transverse section angle (TSA), sagittal section angle (SSA), pedicle length (PL), pedicle width (PW) and pedicle height (PH) were measured on different images and pedicle screws were implanted according pedicle parameter. In control group, the pedicle screws were implanted according to conventional anatomic landmark. Preparative time of screw canal and accuracy of screw were compared between two groups.

RESULTSA hundred fifty-six screws were inserted in experiment group,143 screws were excellent, 11 good, and 2 poor. A hundred fifty screws were inserted in control group, 101 screws were excellent, 26 good, and 23 poor. There was significant difference in accuracy of screw between two groups (P < 0.001). The preparative time of screw canal in experiment group was (66.20 +/- 7.31) s, and was shorter than that of control group [(104.11 +/- 9.51) s, P < 0.001)].

CONCLUSIONAbundant information and parameter could be obtained with the MSCT reconstruction images. The images and parameters could make a perfect operative strategy before operation, adjust the direction of pedicle screws during operation, avoid and decrease operative complications effectively.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Bone Screws ; Female ; Humans ; Lumbar Vertebrae ; diagnostic imaging ; surgery ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Spondylolisthesis ; diagnostic imaging ; surgery ; Tomography, Spiral Computed ; methods

BACKGROUNDLaminopathies are a group of rare genetic disorders characterized by multiple-tissue degeneration. We describe a new laminopathy with ovarian cystadenoma and explore its molecular etiology.

METHODSThe case is a 15-year-old girl who presents the prominent progeroid disorders, multiple system degeneration and early-onset cystadenoma of the ovary. Candidate genes including LMNA, ZMPSTE24, PPAR G, INSR and WRN were sequenced to screen for DNA variants. The mRNA and protein expression levels of LMNA were examined in primary fibroblasts. The pathophysiological events such as morphologic alterations, cell senescence, cell proliferation, apoptosis and pRb as well as p53 protein expressions were also investigated in primary fibroblasts.

RESULTSNo mutation was identified in the candidate genes screened. Nuclear abnormalities including nuclear blebs, mislocalization of lamin A/C were evident in the patient fibroblasts. Ultrastructurally, nucleus exhibited nuclear herniation and almost complete loss of peripheral heterochromatin. In addition, lamin C protein expression was markedly reduced whereas lamin A protein level was normal and no prelamin A was detected in the primary fibroblasts. Although the senescence-associated beta-galactosidase staining of patient' cells was negative, cells in S phase increased in accompany with a decrease in pRb protein expression. Furthermore, increases in apoptotic cell death and p53 expression were observed.

CONCLUSIONSOur data suggest that selective deficiency of lamin C protein is associated with a case of laminopathy with ovarian cystadenoma. The abnormalities in nuclear structure and alterations in gene expression such as the decrease in pRb and increase in p53 may be responsible for the multiple tissue degeneration.

Adolescent ; Apoptosis ; genetics ; physiology ; Blotting, Northern ; Blotting, Western ; Cell Cycle ; genetics ; physiology ; Cells, Cultured ; Cystadenoma ; genetics ; metabolism ; Female ; Fibroblasts ; cytology ; metabolism ; Humans ; Lamin Type A ; deficiency ; genetics ; metabolism ; Microscopy, Electron, Transmission ; Microscopy, Fluorescence ; Ovarian Neoplasms ; genetics ; metabolism ; Polymerase Chain Reaction

Objective To investigate the effect of early insulin therapy on NF-KB pathway and inflammatory cytokine responses in fiver of diabetic rat.Methods NF-KB p65 DNA binding was assayed with ELISA-based assay kit,cytokine gene expressions were quantified with real-time PCR and phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase(PEPCK),NF-KB and inhibitor KB(IKBα)protein levels wlere assayed with Westem blot.Results Compared with control,hepatic PEPCK protein level in the untreated diabetic rat increased by 40%.Early insulin and gliclazide treatment normalized PEPCK protein level.The abundance of IKBα protein was significantly decreased and nuclear NF-KB p65 DNA binding activity was incteased in untreated diabetic rats.IKBot protein content increased and NF-KB p65 DNA binding decreased during early intervention treatment.mRNAs encoding IL-1β and TNFα were increased,which were reduced to normal levels after insulin and gliclazide treatment.Conclusions It is suggested that early insulin treatment inhibits NF-KB activity and inflammatory cytokine responses in fiver that are involved in the aniefioration of insulin resistance in diabetic rats.Such results misht be due to indirect antiinflammatory effects of insulin thus relieving glucotoxicity and lipotoxicity in pefipherM tissues.

OBJECTIVETo study the resistant rate of hepatitis B virus (HBV) to ADV and the dynamic evolution of HBV in lamivudine (Lam)-resistant chronic hepatitis B (CHB) patients.

METHODSTwenty-three Lam-resistant CHB patients were assigned to a 10mg/d ADV monotherapy for 68-116 weeks. The baseline and different time point blood samples after ADV monotherapy were analyzed for ADV-resistant mutations using direct sequencing of PCR products; the evolution of HBV mutations was examined by clonal analysis of serial samples from one patient infected with ADV-associated resistant HBV strains.

RESULTSThe cumulative incidence of genotypic ADV resistance at weeks 48 and 96 was 4.3% and 10.5% respectively respectively. The evolution analysis of HBV mutant strains in an ADV-resistant CHB patient showed that the proportion of YMDD mutants gradually decreased with rtA181S mutants increasing over time after ADV monotherapy, and that rtA181S+N236T mutants became the predominant strains during prolonged ADV monotherapy. The addition of Lam to the ongoing ADV treatment had poorer antiviral response in the patient with rtA181S or rtA181S+N236T mutant infection; one clone with multi-drug resistant mutations was selected during Lam and ADV combination therapy.

CONCLUSIONIncreased risk of adefovir resistance and selection of multi-drug resistant mutations are associated with long-term ADV monotherapy in patients with Lam-resistant chronic hepatitis B.

Adenine ; analogs & derivatives ; therapeutic use ; Adult ; Antiviral Agents ; therapeutic use ; Drug Resistance, Viral ; Evolution, Molecular ; Female ; Hepatitis B virus ; classification ; drug effects ; genetics ; Hepatitis B, Chronic ; drug therapy ; virology ; Humans ; Lamivudine ; pharmacology ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Organophosphonates ; therapeutic use

Objective To establish a convenient,accurate and practical method for detection of adefovir dipivoxil resistance-as- sociated mutation in hepatitis B virus:rtA181V/T/S and rtN236T mutations.Methods According to HBV complete sequences in GenBank,two pairs of primers were designed to amplify the region of HBV reverse transcriptase in order to introduce a BglI restriction site upon PCR product of wild type (wt) and a BseDI restriction site upon PCR product of rt236 mutant type.After amplification,the PCR products were digested with BglI and BseDI separately.We used this method to detect wild,rt181 mu- tant,rt236 mutant plasmids and 3 chronic hepatitis B patients' serum with obvious ADV resistance-associated mutations.We also tested the sensitivity of this method by mixing the wild and mutant plasmids in different proportions.Results The method could detect rt181 and rt236 mutations simultaneously.The result of RFLP analysis was in accordance with that of DNA se- quencing and cloning analysis.This method could detect the mutants even when they comprised only 10% of the total virus population.Conclusions The PCR-RFLP method with high sensitivity can detect rt181 and rt236 mutations simultaneously.It can be used for early detection of ADV resistance-associated mutation in hepatitis B virus.

Actins ; analysis ; Alkaloids ; pharmacology ; Animals ; Immunohistochemistry ; Liver ; chemistry ; pathology ; Liver Cirrhosis, Experimental ; metabolism ; Male ; Muscle, Smooth ; chemistry ; Quinolizines ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Tissue Inhibitor of Metalloproteinase-1 ; analysis