Role of Fibrinogen in Type-2 Diabetes Mellitus with Diabetic Neuropathy and its Preliminary Mechanism.

INTRODUCTION: Diabetic peripheral neuropathy (DN) is the most common complication of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to explore the role of fibrinogen (FIB) in T2DM neuropathy and its preliminary mechanism. METHODS: Ten male Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into a normal control group (NC group) and a T2DM neuropathy model group (DN group). The DN group was given a high-energy diet and streptozotocin, while the NC group was given a normal diet and a citric acid buffer. The expression levels of related proteins were analysed. RESULTS: Electrophysiology: Compared with the NC group, the conduction latency of the somatosensory-evoked potential and nerve conduction velocity was prolonged in the DN group, while the motor nerve action potential was decreased. As seen under a light microscope, the peripheral nerve fibres in the DN group were swollen, and the nerve fibres in the posterior funiculus of the spinal cord were loose or missing. Moreover, as seen under an electron microscope, the peripheral nerve demyelination of the DN group was severe, with microvascular blood coagulation, luminal stenosis, and collapse. Compared with the NC group, in the DN group, the expression of FIB was positively correlated with the expression of both ionised calcium-binding adaptor molecule-1 and glial fibrillary acidic protein. Compared with the NC group, in the DN group, the expression of platelet/endothelial cell adhesion molecule-1 and B-cell lymphoma 2 was negatively correlated. CONCLUSION: The increased concentration of FIB may be the cause of neuropathy, and its mechanism may be related to its promotion of inflammatory response, blood coagulation, and vascular stenosis.

[Quality Assessment of Euglycemic Glucose Clamp Test].

OBJECTIVE: To explorethe quality of euglycemic glucose clamptest performed in the West China Hospital from 2014 to 2017 and to evaluate whether the quality control indexes are suitable for the quality assessment of the clamp test. METHODS: The data collected from 80 euglycemic glucose clamp tests performed between 2014 and2017 were divided into 4 groups according to the coefficient of variation of the blood glucose concentrations (CVBG): group A (CVBG≤4.5%), group B (4.5% < CVBG≤5.0%), group C (5.0% < CVBG≤5.5%) and group D(CVBG > 5.5%).The differences in percentage of glucose excursion from target range (GEFTR), the duration of GEFTR, the area under curve (AUC) of GEFTR, the mean value of excursion from target glucose (GEFT) and the AUC of GEFT were calculated and compared. RESULTS: In group A, the mean value of CVBG was 3.75%. In group B, the mean value of CVBG was 4.76%. In group C, the mean value of CVBG was 5.28%. The median value of CVBG in group D was 6.07%. The percentage of GEFTR, the duration of GEFTR, the AUC of GEFTR, the mean value of GEFT and the AUC of GEFT in group A were all less than those of other groups (P < 0.05).For the same indexes, there were no significant differences between group B and C, while they were higher in group D compared with the other three groups. CVBG was positively correlated with other quality control indexes (correlation coefficient r was 0.770-0.805). Based on the cut-off point 5% of CVBG, the cut-off points of the percentage of GEFTR, the duration of GEFTR, the AUC of GEFTR, the mean value of GEFT and the AUC of GEFT were 5.8%, 14.6 min, 22.82 mg/dL×min, 3.23 mg/dL, 216.25 mg/dL×min/h respectively, with the sensitivity range from 79.3% to 100% and the specificity range from 74.5% to 89.7%.Combined with these indexes, 8.11% of euglycemic clamps were found to havepoor quality in group A, while 66.67% of euglycemic clamps showed acceptable quality in group C. CONCLUSIONS: The investigators should provide an estimation of the quality of the clamps when reporting the results of the insulin analogues' PK/PD characteristics using euglycemic clamps. CVBG less than 4.5% indicates a good quality, and the above-mentioned quality control indexes especially the AUC of GEFT(cut-off point: 216.25 mg·/dL×min/h) should be evaluated when CVBG is more than 4.5%.False high quality and false low quality euglycemic clamps will be detected and a more precise estimation of quality assessment should be made by the combination of these indexes.

A comparative study of the metabolic effects of LSG and LRYGB in Chinese diabetes patients with BMI<35 kg/m2.

BACKGROUND: The metabolic effects of laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy (LSG) and laparoscopic Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (LRYGB) in type 2 diabetes (T2D) patients who do not meet National Institutes of Health indications has not been well studied. OBJECTIVES: To compare the effectiveness of LSG and LRYGB in Chinese T2D patients with body mass index (BMI)<35 kg/m2. SETTING: University hospital, China. METHODS: A nonrandomized cohort of patients who underwent LRYGB (n = 64) and LSG (n = 19) were followed up for 3 years and the outcomes (weight loss and remission of diabetes and other metabolic parameters) were compared. Univariate and multivariate analyses were applied to find associated parameters of T2D remission. RESULTS: In total, 5 patients (6%) were lost to follow-up. No significant differences in mean percentage of excess weight loss and BMI were observed between the 2 groups at 2 years. At 3-year follow-up, the LRYGB group had significantly higher percentage of excess weight loss and lower BMI. The total (complete and partial) remission rate achieved with both bariatric procedures was 75.9% at 1 year and 56.4% at 3 years. Surgical safety, diabetes remission, and remission of other obesity-related co-morbidities were comparable between the 2 groups. Patients who achieved complete or partial remission had lower fasting plasma glucose, lower plasma glucose at 2 hours, lower glycated hemoglobin, and higher fasting C peptide than the other patients at baseline. High recurrence rates of hypertension and hyperuricemia were observed at 3 years postoperation. CONCLUSIONS: Both LSG and LRYGB are safe and effective bariatric procedures for T2D in this Chinese population with diabetes and BMI<35 kg/m2.

Laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy versus Roux-en-Y gastric bypass for morbid obesity: a 1:1 matched cohort study in a Chinese population.

OBJECTIVES: This 1:1 matched cohort study with 3-year follow-up aimed to compare the safety and efficacy of LSG with LRYGB for morbid obesity patients. METHODS: From 2009 to 2013, patients undergoing LRYGB (n = 63) were matched with LSG (n = 63) by gender, age, and body mass index (BMI). Major complications, BMI, percentage of excess weight loss (%EWL), and obesity-related comorbidities after 6, 12, 24, and 36 months were compared. RESULTS: Hospital stay and major complication rates were comparable, but operative time in LSG was significantly shorter (83.2 ± 23.7 vs. 108.3 ± 21.3 min). No significant differences in mean %EWL and BMI were observed at 6, 12, 24 months. At 3-year follow-up, mean %EWL in the LRYGB group was significantly higher than in the LSG group (76.5 ± 9.2% vs. 65.7 ± 10.3%) and, consequently, mean BMI was significantly lower in LRYGB (28.2 ± 1.5 vs. 30.9 ± 2.4 kg/m2). No significant differences in remission of comorbidities were observed at 1- or 3-year follow-up. CONCLUSIONS: Both LRYGB and LSG were safe and effective bariatric procedures in this Chinese population, but LRYGB seemed to be superior to LSG in terms of mid-term weight loss.

Role of Notch signaling pathway in gastric cancer: a meta-analysis of the literature.

AIM: To perform a meta-analysis to quantitatively summarize the evidence for the association between the Notch signaling pathway and gastric cancer (GC). METHODS: An electronic search of the MEDLINE, EMBASE and Chinese National Knowledge Infrastructure, which contain articles published from 1966 onwards, was conducted to select studies for this meta-analysis. RESULTS: Fifteen studies with a total of 1547 gastric cancer cases and 450 controls were included in this meta-analysis. Overall, the expression of Notch1, Notch2, Delta-like 4 and Hes1 was significantly higher in tumor tissues of GC compared to normal tissues. Specifically, stratified analyses showed that significantly increased expression of Notch1 was associated with non-cardia location, > 5 cm size, diffuse type, positive lymphovascular invasion and distal metastasis. Statistically significant higher expression of Notch3 was found in diffuse type GC. Jagged1 was also significantly over-expressed in diffuse type and poor differentiation type of GC. DLL4 was significantly over-expressed in advanced T stage, N stage and TNM stage in GC patients. However, the stratified analysis showed that there was no statistically significant difference in Hes1 expression between different subgroups. Sporadic reports showed that Notch1 and Jagged1 were independent poor prognostic predictors in GC. CONCLUSION: The Notch signaling pathway plays an important role in tumor progression of gastric cancer.

Preoperative Cardiac, Pulmonary and Digestive Comorbidities of Morbidly Obese Patients Undergoing Bariatric Surgery: Morbidity, Assessment and Management.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: To investigate a proper preoperative assessment and management of preoperative cardiac, pulmonary and digestive comorbidities in morbidly obese patients undergoing bariatric surgery. METHODOLOGY: A general description of comorbidities in bariatric patients was reviewed and a clinical practice path in assessment and management of comorbidities was summarized. RESULTS: Morbidly obese patients frequently carried serious comorbidities in cardiovascular, pulmonary and digestive systems. The most common abnormalities included hypertension, left ventricular wall hypertrophy, ST and T wave abnormalities, obstructive sleep apnea, ventilatory dysfunction, and nonalcoholic fatty liver disease. A routine specialized preoperative evaluation could find the potential abnormality and screen the appropriate patients. Prophylactic treatments obviously reduced the morbidity of peri-operative complications CONCLUSION: Comprehensive preoperative evaluation and proper management is essential to appropriately select and prepare bariatric patients, and minimize surgical risk.