Objective This study is aimed to evaluate the association between the ABCG2 gene rs2231142 variant and gout using meta-analysis. Methods Related studies were identified by searching extensively in Chinese and foreign language databases such as Pubmed, EMBASE, Cochrane Library, CBMdisc databases and so on. The quality of included studies was assessed by using the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale (NOS). The odds ratio (OR) was calculated using a random-effects or fixed-effects model. A Q statistic was used to evaluate the heterogeneity, and Eggerˊs test and funnel plot were used to assess publication bias. Sub-group analyses on ethnicities and sex were also performed. Results A total of 10 studies, including 3 478 gout patients and 10,089 controls from 6 countries or regions, were included and identified for the current metaan-alysis. It was found that the A allele or AA genotype of the ABCG2 rs2231142 polymorphism had an increased risk for gout in the general population [A allele: OR=2.03, 95%CI (1.77, 2.34), P<0.01 and AA genotype: OR=3.01, 95%CI (2.34, 3.88), P<0.01, respectively]. Similar results were found in sub-group analyses of different gender and races. Conclusion Existing evidence indicate that rs2231142 polymorphism (the A allele and AA genotype) is associated with increased risk of gout.

Objective To observe the signal transducers and activator of transcriptions (STATs) protein expression changes and investigate the functional role of STATs pathway in case of high glucoseinduced cardiac fibroblasts (CFs) proliferation and collagen deposition in vitro.Methods Rat cardiac fibroblasts were isolated from 1-to 3-day-old SD rats,cells from the second to fourth passages were used for the experiment.CFs were cultured in Dulbecco's modified Eagle's medium,supplemented with 5.5 mmol/L glucose(NG),5.5 mmol/L glucose plus 19.4 mmol/L mannose(OC) or 25 mmol/L glucose(HG) in the presence of absence of STAT1 inhibitor (fludarabine,FLU) and STAT3 inhibitor (S3I-201).After 24 h and 48 h culture in vitro,the proliferation of CFs was measured by 3-(4,5-dimethyl-2 thiazoyl)-2,5-diphenyl2H-tetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay.After 12 h and 24 h culture in vitro,the production of type Ⅰ and Ⅲ collagen was evaluated using real-time quantitative PCR and ELISA.After 0,30,60 and 120 min culture in vitro,the phosphorylated expression of STAT1 and STAT3 was analyzed by Western blot.Results CFs proliferation was significantly enhanced post 24 h and 48 h HG stimulation,and procollagen Ⅰ and Ⅲ mRNA expression was significantly upregulated post 12 h and 24 h HG stimulation.Deposition of collagen Ⅰ and Ⅲ was also significantly increased post 24 h and 72 h HG stimulation.STAT1 phosphorylation in CFs was increased after 120 min HG stimulation and STAT3 phosphorylation in CFs was increased post 60 min and 120 min HG stimulation.FLU and S3I-201 could inhibit HG-induced CFs proliferation and suppress of which was stimulated by FLU and S3I-201 could both suppress upregulated procollagen Ⅰ and Ⅲ mRNA expression and the deposition of collagen types Ⅰ and Ⅲ post HG stimulation.STAT1 phosphorylation inhibition resulted in less mRNA downregulation of procollagen type Ⅱ than that of procollagen type Ⅰ post 12 h HG stimulation.The STAT3 phosphorylation inhibition resulted in more significantly upregulated procollagen type Ⅲ mRNA expression than procollagen type Ⅰ mRNA expression at 12 h post HG stimulation.Conclusion HG could enhance the protein expression of phosphorylated STAT1 and STAT3 in CFs,which are responsible for HG-induced increased CFs proliferation and collagen deposition in vitro.

A total of 144 patients with Graves disease were divided into 3 groups according to their disease courses (≤ 1 year,1 year ＜ course ≤ 5 years,＞ 5 years).The bone metabolic biochemical markers and bone mineral density (BMD) of 144 patients with Graves disease and 26 normal controls were observed.Compared with control group,serum levels of calcium,phosphate,alkaline phosphatase and urinary levels of phosphate and magnesium in Graves disease patients were significantly increased(P ＜ 0.01 or P ＜ 0.05),but serum levels of magnesium and 25 (OH) D3,1,25 (OH)2D3 were significantly decreased (P ＜ 0.01 or P ＜ 0.05).BMD of all sites in patients were significantly lower than that of normal controls (P ＜ 0.01 or P ＜ 0.05).

[Summary] Vitamin D is one of the fat-soluble vitamins which,eventually through activation in the liver and kidneys within the human body,becomes an important hormone——1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3.Not only may 1,25dihydroxyvitamin D3 promote calcium and phosphate absorption by the intestine,but also stimulate the macrophages to secrete a protein(cathelicidin) which is able to digest the microbacterias,including viruses and bacteria,playing an antiinfective effects.Theofore,a proper supplementation of vitamin D would be beneficial for human health.

Pituitary hyperplasia may be found in patients with primary hypothyroidism as the decreased thyroid hormone level attenuates negative feedback effect.Sometimes the enlarged pituitary may be misdiagnosed as a pituitary tumor.Patients with long term untreated hypothyroidism often have extremely high level of serum creatine kinase and thus may be misdiagnosed as suffering from myositis.In order to increase the awareness of the nonspecific symptoms of primary hypothyroidism,this article introduces the diagnosis and treatment of a patient with primary hypothyroidism with raised serum creatine kinase level and pituitary hyperplasia.

Objective To assess the effects of artificial cordyceps sinensis(Jin shuibao) on the numbers of podocytes and epithelial-mesenchymal transition in diabetic rats.Methods Diabetes was induced by intraperitoneal injection of low dose streptozocin.Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into three groups:control group (CON),diabetic model group(DM),and artificial cordyceps sinensis treatment group(CS).After intervention for 8 weeks,the numbers of podocytes were estimated hy immunohistochemistry.The expressions of nephrin,desmin,and monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1) were detected.Results Compared with control group,DM group showed significantly decreased podocyte numbers and nephrin mRNA,with increased desmin and MCP-1 levels(P＜0.05).While the numbers of podocytes and nephrin mRNA were increased,and the expressions of desmin and MCP-1 were decreased in CS group as compared with those in DM group (all P＜0.05).Conclusions Artificial cordyceps sinensis notably improves epithelial-mesenchymal transition of podocytes,and increases the number of podocytes in diabetic rats.

ObjectiveTo investigate feasibility of use of glucose injection instead of glucose powder in oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT). MethodsSixty healthy adult volunteers without history of diabetes were recruited for a standard OGTT with 75 g anhydrous glucose powder first. One week later, they were randomly divided into two groups, each of the one group (30 volunteers) orally took seven ampoules (20 ml/ampoule) and each of the other group (30 volunteer) took 7.5 ampoules of 50％ glucose injection for OGTT again, as compared to those with standard OGTT.Plasma levels of glucose and insulin were examined to evaluate whether different forms and dosage of glucose had similar results in OGTT. ResultsIn 23 volunteers with normal glucose tolerance, their plasma levels of glucose were ( 4. 8 ± 0. 4 ), ( 6. 7 ±0. 6), (5.9 ±0. 8), (5.5 ±0. 9) and (4. 8 ±0. 9) mmol/L at 0, 30, 60, 120 and 180 min after oral load with 75 g anhydrous glucose powder, respectively. These values changed to (4. 8 ± 0. 3 ), (7.5 ± 1.1 ),(6.8±1.8), (6.3 ±1.0) and (4.6 ±1.2) mmol/Lor (4.7 ±0.3), (7.2±1.3), (6.1 ±1.1),(5.6 ± 0. 9 ) and (4. 3 ± 0. 9) mmol/L after oral load with seven ampoules ( 15 volunteers) or 7. 5 ampoules of (8 volunteers ) of 50％ glucose injection, respectively.With standard OGTT, 37 cases of impaired glucose tolerance were found from 60 volunteers tested, and their plasma levels of glucose were (5. 2 ±0.6), (9. 1 ±1.4), (8.9 ±2.6), (6.7±2.0) and (4.7 ±1.0) mmol/L at 0, 30, 60, 120 and 180 min after oral load with 75 g anhydrous glucose powder, respectively; (5. 1 ± 0. 7 ), ( 8. 8 ± 1. 7 ), (9. 0 ±3.0), (7.3±2.2) and (5.1 ±1.1) mmol/L (15 volunteers) or (5.3 ±0.6), (8.8 ±1.9), (8.5 ±2. 4), (6. 6 ± 1.4) and (4. 8 ± 1.6) mmol/L (22 volunteers) at 0, 30, 60, 120 and 180 min after oral load with seven or 7.5 ampoules of 50％ glucose injection, respectively, with no statistically significant difference between varied methods.Normal serum level of insulin was found in 38 of 60 volunteers, with their logarithmic transformation of serum insulin levels of 1.5 ± 0. 3, 3.9 ± 0. 3, 3.7 ± 0. 4, 3.2 ± 0. 6 and 2.2 ±0. 8 at 0, 30, 60, 120 and 180 min, respectively after glucose load in standard OGTT, and 20 of 38 volunteers with normal serum insulin of 1.7 ± 0. 4, 3.9 ± 0.4, 3.4 ± 0. 7, 3.3 ± 0. 8 and 2. 4 ± 0. 7 at 0,30, 60, 120 and 180 min after oral load with seven ampoules of 50％ glucose injection, respectively, or 18 of 38 with normal serum insulin of 1.7 ± 0. 4, 3.9 ± 0. 4, 3.8 ± 0. 5, 3. 3 ± 0. 7 and 2. 3 ± 1.0 at 0, 30,60, 120 and 180 min after oral load with 7. 5 ampoules of 50％ glucose injection, respectively, with no statistically significant difference between varied methods. Twenty-two cases of high serum level of insulin were found from 60 volunteers with standard OGTT, with their logarithmic transformation of serum insulin of 2.2±0.6, 4.7 ±0.5, 4.9±0.7, 4.2 t 1.0 and 2. 8 ±0.9 at0, 30, 60, 120 and 180 min after oral load with 75 g anhydrous glucose powder, respectively; 10 of 22 volunteers were found with high serum insulin level of its logarithmic transformation of 2. 4 ± 0. 6, 4. 7 ± 0. 5, 4. 7 ± 0. 3, 4. 1 ± 0. 8 and 2. 8 ± 1.1 at 0,30, 60, 120 and 180 min after oral load with seven ampoules of 50％ glucose injection, respectively ; and 12 of 22 volunteers were found with high serum insulin level of its logarithmic transformation of 1.9 ± 0. 5,4. 5 ± 0. 6, 4. 6 ± 0. 6, 3. 7 ± 1.0 and 2. 4 ± 0. 9 at 0, 30, 60, 120 and 180 min after oral load with 7. 5ampoules of 50％ glucose injection, respectively; with no significant difference between varied methods.There also was no statistically significant difference in occurrence of adverse effects between these three OGTT methods. ConclusionsEither seven or 7. 5 ampoules of 50％ glucose injection can substitute 75 g anhydrous glucose powder in OGTT, with similar test results and safety.

In patient with primary biliary cirrhosis,the metabolism of calcium and vitamin D could be affected and osteomalacia and secondary hyperparathyroidism might occurr.Besides,hypoalbuminemia may mask the real level of serum calcium and thus lead to misdiagnosis of coexisting parathyroid adenoma.Therefore,a rare case of parathyroid adenoma associated with primary biliary cirrhosis was herewith presented to call attention to the effect of hypoalbuminemia on serum calcium.

To investigate the regulation of osteoclast inhibitory lectin (OCIL) mRNA expression by prostaglandin E2 ( PGE2 ) in rat osteoblastic cells and the involved signaling pathways. Rat primary osteoblasts and UMR106 osteoblast-like cells were cultured and treated with various doses of PGE2 or regulators of different signaling pathways for different periods of time, the cells were then harvested at indicated dates. Total RNA were isolated and OCIL mRNA expression were studied by real-time PCR. PGE2, Forskolin, db-cAMP, and A23187 increased OCIL mRNA by 2. 38 fold,4. 2 fold,4. 5 fold, and 5. 1 fold ( all P＜0. 01 ) respectively, while PMA downregulated OCIL mRNA expression by 50% ( P＜0. 01 ). KT-5720, verapamil, W7, and PD98059 downregulated PGE2 induced OCIL mRNA expression by 56%, 40%, 65%, and 60%, respectively( all P＜0. 0l ). While chelerythrine enhanced PGE2 induced OCIL mRNA expression by 30% ( P＜0. 05 ). PGE2 up-regulated the expression of OCIL in rat osteoblastic cells via PKA, MAPK, and Ca2+/Calmodulin signaling pathways.

Parathyroid adenoma is the main cause of primary hyperparathyroidism and often associated with thyroid nodular goiter.Thyrothymic thyroid rest belong to the ectopic thyroids which are classified into 4 grades according to the state of their connection with the proper neck thyroid gland.Thyrothymic thyroid remnant can also develop into nodular goiter and may be difficult to be distinguished from parathyroid adenoma.We present herewith the diagnosis and treatment of a rare case of parathyroid adenoma accompanied by thyrothymic thyroid remnant nodular goiter in order to remind clinicians of the attention to the thyrothymic thyroid remnant disease.