Systematic evaluation of therapeutic effects of stem cell transplantation trials for heart diseases in China.

BACKGROUND: To systematically assess the quality of reports of clinical trials of stem cell for heart diseases published in Chinese. METHODS: The quality of reports was assessed according to the CONSORT statement and the Jadad score. The association between the CONSORT scores and the reported therapeutic effects was evaluated. RESULTS: A total of 36 randomized clinical trials were identified, and 1552 patients were included. The mean CONSORT score was 7.06 (SD = 2.99). The proportion of reports with a Jadad score of 3 was 8.33%. The improvement of left ventricular function, myocardial perfusion area, left ventricular diastolic diameter, and cardiac output decreased with the increase in the CONSORT score. CONCLUSIONS: The percentages of high-quality reports published in Chinese on stem cell therapy for heart diseases are low. Although stem cell transplantation seems promising for heart diseases, high-quality studies are needed to verify the conclusions．.

Assessment of the relationship between non-alcoholic fatty liver disease and diabetic complications.

AIMS/INTRODUCTION: Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is a metabolic disorder of the liver. The relationship between NAFLD and type 2 diabetes remains largely unknown. The aim of the present study was to determine the incidence of complications arising from the interaction between NAFLD and type 2 diabetes. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 212 individuals with type 2 diabetes were included in the study. The presence of NAFLD was determined in individuals using abdominal ultrasonography for the diagnosis of fatty liver disease. Patients were divided into three groups based on the duration of diabetes and NAFLD diagnosis. Type 2 diabetes patients were placed in group A; patients with type 2 diabetes longer than NAFLD were placed in group B; and patients with NAFLD longer than type 2 diabetes were placed in group C. All individuals had undergone electrocardiogram, blood pressure measurements, and thorough medical history and physical examinations (Doppler ultrasound, electrophysiology, fundoscopy, cardiac computed tomography). Laboratory measurements included fasting blood glucose, glycated hemoglobin, oral glucose tolerance test, liver and renal function, lipid profile, and urinary albumin excretion. RESULTS: Compared with groups A and B, the patients of group C showed a higher prevalence of significant coronary artery disease and hypertension (P < 0.05). Compared with groups A and B, the patients of group C showed a lower prevalence of diabetic retinopathy and diabetic peripheral neuropathy (P < 0.05). There was no significant difference in the prevalence of diabetic nephropathy among the three groups (P > 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: NAFLD combined with type 2 diabetes is associated with the presence of significant coronary artery disease and hypertension.

Near-infrared to near-infrared upconverting NaYF4:Yb3+,Tm3+ nanoparticles-aptamer-Au nanorods light resonance energy transfer system for the detection of mercuric(II) ions in solution.

A new luminescence resonant energy transfer (LRET) system has been designed that utilizes near-infrared (NIR)-to-NIR upconversion lanthanide nanophosphors (UCNPs) as the donor, and Au nanorods (Au NRs) as the acceptor. The UCNPs were excited by a near-infrared (980 nm) wavelength and also emitted at a near-infrared wavelength (804 nm) using an inexpensive infrared continuous wave laser diode. The Au NRs showed a high absorption band around 806 nm, which provided large spectral overlap between the donor and the acceptor. Hg(2+) ions were added to an aqueous solution containing the UCNPs and Au NRs that were modified with a Hg(2+) aptamer. Then, a sandwich-type LRET system was developed for the detection of Hg(2+) ions that had high sensitivity and selectivity in the NIR region. The method was successfully applied to the sensing of Hg(2+) ions in water and human serum samples.

[Effects of Helicobacter pylori on blood glucose fluctuation in type 2 diabetic patients].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effects of Helicobacter pylori (Hp) on blood glucose fluctuation in type 2 diabetic mellitus. METHODS: 130 type 2 diabetic patients were selected, 72 patients with Hp infection and 58 without Hp infection. Relevant clinical data: blood pressure, body mass index, cholesterol, triglyceride, low density lipoprotein cholesterol, high density lipoprotein cholesterol, glycosylated hemoglobin, insulin resistance index, liver function, and renal function were collected. The data of blood glucose levels at 7 time points, 6 - 7 am, 9 - 10 am, 11 - 12 am, 14 - 15 pm, 17 - 18 pm, 19 - 20 pm, and 22 - 23 pm in 3 days, totally 21 data, were collected. And input into the OTDMS data analysis software to evaluate the blood glucose fluctuation indexes: standard deviation of mean blood glucose (SDBG), mean amplitude of glycemic excursions (MAGE), large amplitude of glycemic excursions (LAGE). RESULTS: There were no significant differences in age, course of disease, blood pressure, body mass index, cholesterol, triglyceride, low density lipoprotein cholesterol, glycosylated hemoglobin, and insulin resistance index between these 2 groups (all P > 0.05). The levels of MBG, SDBG, MAGE, LAGE, (mmol/L: 9.0 +/- 1.1 vs 7.6 +/- 0.5, 3.3 +/- 1.1 vs 1.7 +/- 0.5, 6.7 +/- 4.5 vs 3.0 +/- 1.1, 8.6 +/- 3.8 vs 4.2 +/- 1.5, all P < 0.05) and incidence of hypoglycemia [16.6% (12/72) vs 5.1% (3/58), P < 0.05] were all higher in the Hp positive group than in the Hp negative group. CONCLUSION: Hp infection has a significant effect on the daily blood glucose level and blood glucose fluctuation in the patients with type 2 diabetes.