Aim To investigate the role of metabolites of eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) in promoting the transdifferentiation of pancreatic α cells to β cells. Methods Male C57BL/6J mice were injected intraperitoneally with 60 mg/kg streptozocin (STZ) for five consecutive days to establish a type 1 diabetes (T1DM) mouse model. After two weeks, they were randomly divided into model groups and 97% EPA diet intervention group, 75% fish oil (50% EPA +25% DHA) diet intervention group, and random blood glucose was detected every week; after the model expired, the regeneration of pancreatic β cells in mouse pancreas was observed by immunofluorescence staining. The islets of mice (obtained by crossing GCG

AIM To explore the clinical effects of Shuilu Erxian Pills combined with Modified Didang Decoction on patients with early and middle stage diabetic nephropathy.METHODS Eighty-three patients were randomly assigned into control group(42 cases)for 12-week administration of Irbesartan Tablets,and observation group(41 cases)for 12-week administration of Shuilu Erxian Pills,Modified Didang Decoction and Irbesartan Tablets.The changes in clinical effects,TCM syndrome scores,blood glucose indices(FBG,HbA1c),blood lipid indices(TC,TG),renal function indices(BUN,Scr,24 h UTP,eGFR),inflammatory factors(IL-1β,hs-CRP,IL-6,TNF-α,IL-18,TGF-β1),immune function indices(lymphocyte,neutrophil,CD8+,CD3+,CD4+,CD4+/CD8+)and incidence of adverse reactions were detected.RESULTS The observation group demonstrated higher total effective rate than the control group(P＜0.05).After the treatment,the observation group displayed decreased TCM syndrome scores,blood glucose indices,blood lipid indices,BUN,Scr,24 h UTP,inflammatory factors,CD8+(P＜0.05),reduced lymphocyte,neutrophil(P＜0.05),and increased eGFR,CD3+,CD4+,CD4+/CD8+(P＜0.05),which were more obvious than those in the control group(except for HbA1c,TG,SCr,24 h UTP,lymphocyte,neutrophil)(P＜0.05).No significant difference in incidence of adverse reactions was found between the two groups(P＞0.05).CONCLUSION For the patients with early and middle stage diabetic nephropathy,Shuilu Erxian Pills combined with Modified Didang Decoction can safely and effectively improve clinical symptoms,whose mechanism may contribute to the reduction of inflammatory levels and improvement of immune functions.

METRNL is a recently identified secreted protein with emerging functions. This study is to find major cellular source of circulating METRNL and to determine METRNL novel function. Here, we show METRNL is abundant in human and mouse vascular endothelium and released by endothelial cells using endoplasmic reticulum-Golgi apparatus pathway. By creating endothelial cell-specific Metrnl knockout mice, combined with bone marrow transplantation to produce bone marrow-specific deletion of Metrnl, we demonstrate that most of circulating METRNL (approximately 75%) originates from the endothelial cells. Both endothelial and circulating METRNL decrease in atherosclerosis mice and patients. By generating endothelial cell-specific Metrnl knockout in apolipoprotein E-deficient mice, combined with bone marrow-specific deletion of Metrnl in apolipoprotein E-deficient mice, we further demonstrate that endothelial METRNL deficiency accelerates atherosclerosis. Mechanically, endothelial METRNL deficiency causes vascular endothelial dysfunction including vasodilation impairment via reducing eNOS phosphorylation at Ser1177 and inflammation activation via enhancing NFκB pathway, which promotes the susceptibility of atherosclerosis. Exogenous METRNL rescues METRNL deficiency induced endothelial dysfunction. These findings reveal that METRNL is a new endothelial substance not only determining the circulating METRNL level but also regulating endothelial function for vascular health and disease. METRNL is a therapeutic target against endothelial dysfunction and atherosclerosis.

To explore the possible mechanism of liver injury, the effects of Ploygoni Multiflori Caulis and its extractive on the function of bilirubin-associated transporters were investigated in normal (N) and idiosyncratic (LPS) rats (M). The normal and LPS rats were respectively administrated powder of Ploygoni Multiflori Caulis, its extractive and same volume of 0.5% CMC-Na solution for 7 d. BSP, a substrate of the transporters of Oatp1a1 and Oatp1b2 was selected, and its pharmacokinetic parameters of intravenous injection were determined to examined the activity these transporters. Meanwhile the mRNA expressions of transporters were detected. Compared with N-blank control group, besides M-powder group, the Cmax has no significantly different from other groups, t1/2, AUC0-t and AUC0-∞ were significantly increased, and CL were significantly decreased. However, compared with N- blank control group, AST and ALT decreased significantly. The expression of Oatp1a1, Oatp1b2 and MRP2 mRNA was significantly decreased (P<0.05), but there was no act synergistically when Ploygoni Multiflori Caulis and extractive were combined with LPS. The function of Oatp1a1, Oatp1b2 and MRP2 in rats were significantly inhibited by Ploygoni Multiflori Caulis and extractive, which may be an important cause of hepatotoxicity.

Objective To investigate passive smoking status and to analyze health influencing factors among infants in Minhang District of Shanghai.Methods All 1 686 infants in Minhang District from May 2011 to May 2013 were recruited to be the subjects,and a questionnaire-based survey was conducted among their parents to collect the characteristics,passive smoking and health status of the infants.Results The prevalence of passive smoking in infants during their mothers' pregnancy and within one year after birth was 52.7％ and 19.2％,respectively.Total of 571 (33.9％) infants surveyed were reported to suffer from health problems.The investigated infants who suffered from passive smoking during mothers' pregnancy (OR =1.920,P＜0.001) and within one year after birth (OR=1.596,P＜0.001) were more likely to get health problems.Compared to the infants with six-month exclusive breast feeding,the infants with six-month artificially feeding were more likely to get health problems (OR=1.710,P＜0.001).Conclusions The prevalence of passive smoking for the investigated infants was high.Passive smoking during mothers' pregnancy as well as after birth were the risk factors for the infants' health.

Objective To explore the relationship between mental health status and intentional self harm and parenting style among adolescent students.Methods Using Parenting Style Questionnaire (PBI),Chinese middle school student mental health scale questionnaire and deliberate self harm questionnaire,6 middle schools in Quzhou City were randomly selected and a total of 876 students were investigated.Results A total of 869 questionnaires were recovered and the recovery rate was 99.20％.Totally 42.58％ of the adolescents had psychological problems,and 8.40％ and 7.36％ of the students feel bad themselves.Those who had thought or deliberately hurt themselves accounted for 15.54％ and 5.64％,respectively.The parenting style of father was mainly high care and low control(50.50％),while that of mother was mainly high control and low care(74.00％).Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that the mental health status was self reported poor among those their father parenting style was high control and low care (OR =3.291,95％ CI:1.724-6.285) and the possibility of intentional self harm behaviors were higher (OR =2.278,95％ CI:1.042-4.983) when the confounding factors were controlled.Conclusion The proportion of middle school students who have psychological problems were high and high control and low care of father parenting style were the risk factors of psychological problems and intentional self harm behaviors among adolescents.

BACKGROUNDMinimally invasive video-assisted thyroidectomy (MIVAT) has received increasing attention for malignant thyroid diseases. The aim of this study was to compare the outcomes of MIVAT with conventional open thyroidectomy (CT) for papillary thyroid microcarcinoma (PTMC).

METHODSThirty-one patients were treated with MIVAT and 37 with CT. Their pathological characteristics, surgical complications, 5-year postoperative thyroglobulin (TG) and ultrasonic results were followed up.

RESULTSAll the patients took levothyroxine for suppressing thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) after surgery, and were followed up with measurement of serum TG and neck ultrasonography at intervals of 6 or 12 months. There was no statistically significant difference between the CT and MIVAT groups for sex ratio, operation time, positive lymph nodes, complications and prognosis, but the MIVAT group had better cosmetic results.

CONCLUSIONSMIVAT did not differ significantly from CT for PTMC after 5 years follow-up, but it did have better cosmetic results. MIVAT is a safe and valid surgical technique for selected cases.

Adult ; Carcinoma ; Carcinoma, Papillary ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Minimally Invasive Surgical Procedures ; adverse effects ; methods ; Postoperative Complications ; Thyroid Neoplasms ; surgery ; Thyroidectomy ; adverse effects ; methods ; Treatment Outcome ; Video-Assisted Surgery ; methods

Objective To investigate the characteristics of prospective memory impairment and event related potentials(ERPs)changes in Parkinson's disease(PD)patients without early treatment.Methods Event-based prospective memory(EBPM),time-based prospective memory(TBPM)and ERPs were examined in 33 PD patients and 31 healthy controls matched with age,gender,education and occupation.Results The scores of EBPM and TBPM in PD patients were significantly lower than those in normal controls(P＜0.05).The latencies of N2 and P300 were significantly prolonged,and P300amplitude was markedly decreased in PD patients as compared with those in normal controls(P＜0.05).The relative analysis showed that the P300 latency was positively correlated with both EBPM(r=0.628,P=0.000)and TBPM(r=0.582,P=0.000).Conclusion The EBPM and TBPM impairment might exist in PD patients without early treatment; the P300 latency can be used as a predictive electrophysiological marker to assess the severity of EBPM and TBPM impairment in PD patients.

BACKGROUNDComputed tomography (CT) is better than routine magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in detecting intracranial calcification. This study aimed to assess the value of MR susceptibility weighted imaging (SWI) in the detection and differentiation of intracranial calcification and hemorrhage.

METHODSEnrolled in this study were 35 patients including 13 cases of calcification demonstrated by CT and 22 cases of intracerebral hemorrhage. MR sequences used in all the subjects included axial T1WI, T2WI and SWI. The phase shift (PS) of calcification and hemorrhage on SWI was calculated and their signal features on corrected phase images were compared. The sensitivity of T1WI, T2WI and SWI in detecting intracranial calcification and hemorrhage was analyzed statistically.

RESULTSThe detection rate of SWI for cranial calcification was 98.2%, significantly higher than that of T1WI and T2WI. It was not significantly different from that of CT (P > 0.05). There were 49 hemorrhagic lesions at different stages detected on SWI, 30 on T2WI and 18 on T1WI. The average PS of calcification and hemorrhage was +0.734 +/- 0.073 and -0.112 +/- 0.032 respectively (P < 0.05). The PS of calcification was positive and presented as a high signal or the mixed signal dominated by a high signal on the corrected phase images, whereas the PS of hemorrhage was negative and presented as a low signal or the mixed signal dominated by a low signal.

CONCLUSIONSSWI can accurately demonstrate intracranial calcification, not dependant on CT. Being more sensitive than routine MRI in detecting micro-hemorrhage, SWI may play an important role in differentiating cerebral diseases associated with calcification or hemorrhage.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Brain Diseases ; diagnosis ; Calcinosis ; diagnosis ; Cerebral Hemorrhage ; diagnosis ; Child ; Female ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; methods ; Male ; Middle Aged