Hypoglycemic effect of insulin-loaded hydrogel-nanogel composite on streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats.

At present, how to increase insulin rapidly, availably and stably is still a conundrum in the treatment of diabetes mellitus. In vitro studies have shown that insulin can be released from hydrogel-nanogel composite according to the changes of glucose level. This study aimed to observe the glucose-lowering effects and evaluate the safety of the insulin-loaded hydrogel-nanogel composite in diabetic rats. We found that significant glycemic regulation could be observed up to 30 hours after subcutaneous injection, and the fasting blood glucose was reduced effectively. The result of an oral glucose tolerance test showed that the level of insulin expressed a stable increase from 0.5 hours to 3.5 hours, which led to a reduction of glucose with steady steps. Also, compared with Ins group, the Gel+Ins group showed slighter skin and pancreas damage, while the oxidative stress and inflammation response were similar to the normal control group. In conclusion, these results demonstrated that the glucose-lowering action of the insulin-loaded hydrogel-nanogel composite was superior to that of the regular insulin, and might thus become an insulin carrier in the future.

Neck circumference as a measure of neck fat and abdominal visceral fat in Chinese adults.

BACKGROUND: Visceral adipose tissue (VAT) is a unique pathogenic fatty deposit, in that it is closely correlated with risk of cardiovascular diseases. The present study is to investigate the usefulness of neck circumference (NC) to indicate VAT. METHODS: Participants aged 35 to 75 years who had taken abdomen and neck computer tomography (CT) examination were included in this study. Neck adipose tissue, abdominal VAT and subcutaneous adipose tissue (SAT) areas, as well as sagittal abdominal diameter (SAD) were measured by CT. Body anthropometrics and metabolic parameters including blood glucose, lipid profiles and blood pressure were also measured. RESULTS: A lower abdomen CT examination was carried out on a total of 177 patients (87 male and 90 female) with a mean age of 59 years. Of the 177 participants, 15 men and 15 women also took a neck CT examination. With a comparable age and BMI, neck adipose area was correlated with abdominal VAT area significantly in men (r = 0.57, p = 0.028) and women (r = 0.53, p = 0.041). NC is positively correlated with VAT both in men (r = 0.49, p < 0.001) and women (r = 0.25, p = 0.012). Meanwhile, SAD is the best predictor for visceral fat both in men (r = 0.83, p < 0.001) and women (r = 0.73, p < 0.001). Body mass index (BMI), waist circumference (WC), and waist to height ratio (WHtR) correlated significantly with VAT both in men and women (r = 0.68, 0.42, 0.46 in men and 0.50, 0.23, 0.39 in women, p < 0.001), while waist hip ratio (WHR) displayed the weakest least correlation in men (r = 0.32, p = 0.001) and no correlation in women (r = 0.08, p = 0.442). Additionally, BMI was more strongly correlated with VAT than NC in both sexes (both p < 0.01). CONCLUSION: Significant correlation between NC and VAT was present in Chinese men and women, which may be accounted by the fact that neck fat area is significantly correlated with abdominal VAT. Meanwhile, SAD is the best predictor for visceral fat in the Chinese population.

[Effect of electroacupuncture on GLP-1R/PI3K/Akt protein pathway in mice with Parkinson's disease].

OBJECTIVE: To observe the effect of electroacupuncture(EA) on glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor (GLP-1R)/ phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K)/ protein kinase B(Akt) protein pathway in the substantia nigra of mice with Parkinson's di-sease (PD)，so as to explore its underlying mechanisms in treatment of PD. METHODS: Forty-eight C57BL/6 male mice were randomly divided into normal, model, EA and inhibitor groups, with 12 mice in each group. PD mouse model was established by intragastrical administration of rotenone for 4 weeks. In the EA group, EA was applied at "Fengfu"(GV16), "Taichong"(LR3) and"Zusanli"(ST36) for 30 min, once daily, for 2 weeks. The mice of the inhibitor group received gavage of dipeptidyl peptidase-4 inhibitor ligliptin (10 mg·kg-1·d-1) once a day for 2 weeks. The behavioral scores of mice in each group were observed. The levels of tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) in serum and substantia nigra were detected by ELISA, and the protein relative expression levels of GLP-1R, phosphorylation of PI3K (p-PI3K) and phosphorylation of Akt (p-Akt) in substantia nigra of midbrain of mice were detected by Western blot. RESULTS: Compared with the normal group, the behavioral scores were significantly increased (P<0.01), TH levels in serum and substantia nigra, protein expression levels of GLP-1R, p-PI3K and p-Akt of the substantia nigra in the model group were significantly decreased (all P<0.01). After intervention and in comparison with the model group, the behavioral scores were significantly decreased (P<0.01), TH levels and the protein expression levels of GLP-1R, p-PI3K and p-Akt in both EA and inhibitor groups were significantly increased (all P<0.01). There were no significant differences in the abovementioned indexes between EA group and inhibitor group (all P>0.05), except for TH levels which were considerably down-regulated in the EA group relative to the inhibitor group (P<0.01, P<0.05). CONCLUSION: EA at GV16, LR3 and ST36 may increase the level of TH in serum and substantia nigra by up-regulating the activity of GLP-1R/PI3K/Akt protein pathway, and improve the behavioral performance of PD induced by rotenone.

Unintentional injuries at school in China--patterns and risk factors.

OBJECTIVE: To describe the rate and pattern of unintentional school injuries among primary and middle school students and to explore the major risk factors involved. STUDY DESIGN: A cross-sectional survey of more than 10,000 students attending 6 primary and 4 middle schools selected randomly from all schools in Maanshan City of Anhui Province in eastern China was conducted to collect information on school injuries occurring in the 12-month period before the survey. Rate ratios for risk factors were estimated using the negative binomial regression analysis. RESULTS: The annual person-based school injury rate was 5.22 (95% CI: 3.90-6.53) percent. The annual event-based injury rate was 5.40 (95% CI: 4.04-6.76) per 100 students. Most injuries in school were relatively mild and only 1.53% (9/590) of the episodes resulted in hospitalization. The most frequent injures were falls (73%), and the most commonly injured sites were the upper limbs (46%). Male sex, primary school grades, poor health status, poor ability to concentrate, bad risk-taking behavior and high study-related stress were important risk factors. CONCLUSION: This study provided useful baseline information on school injuries in China and identified important risk factors that would be important in planning prevention strategies.

Extracellular Signal-Regulated Kinase 5 in the Cerebrospinal Fluid-Contacting Nucleus Contributes to Neuropathic Pain in Rats.

BACKGROUND: The activation of mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs) have been observed in synaptic plasticity processes of learning and memory in neuropathic pain. Cerebrospinal fluid-contacting nucleus (CSF-CN) has been identified with the onset and persistence of neuropathic pain. However, whether extracellular signal-regulated protein kinase 5 (ERK5), a member of MAPKs, in CSF-CN participates in neuropathic pain has not been studied yet. OBJECTIVE: The aim of the present study was to identify the role of ERK5 in CSF-CN on the formation and development of neuropathic pain, and to investigate its possible mechanism. STUDY DESIGN: Controlled animal study. SETTING: University laboratory. METHODS: After a chronic constriction injury (CCI) model was produced, BIX02188 was dissolved in 1% DMSO and injected into the lateral ventricles LV in a volume of 3 µl with different doses (0.1 µg, 1 µg, 10 µg). Mechanical allodynia and thermal hypersensitivity behavioral test, immunofluorescence, and western blot technique were used in this research. RESULT: Following CCI, mechanical allodynia and thermal hypersensitivity were developed within a day, peaked at 14 days, and persisted for 21 days. ERK5 was remarkably activated by CCI in CSF-CN. Moreover, selective inhibiting of p-ERK5 expression in CSF-CN by BIX02188 could significantly relieve CCI-induced mechanical allodynia and thermal hypersensitivity, accompanying with the decreased phosphorylation of cAMP response-element binding protein (CREB) in CSF-CN. LIMITATIONS: More underlying mechanism(s) of the role of ERK5 in CSF-CN on the formation and development of neuropathic pain will be needed to explore in future research. CONCLUSION: These findings suggest activation of ERK5 in CSF-CN might contribute to the onset and development of neuropathic pain and its role might be partly accomplished by p-CREB.

[Cut-off points of fasting fingertip capillary blood glucose for detecting both undiagnosed diabetes and pre-diabetes].

OBJECTIVE: To determine the efficient cut-off points of fasting fingertip blood glucose test for undiagnosed diabetes mellitus (DM), impaired glucose tolerance (IGT), and impaired fasting glucose (IFG) in community-based residents aged above 45 years old. METHODS: A cluster-randomized study was conducted from May 2008 to January 2009. A total of 3250 subjects aged above 45 years in two communities of Baoding city received questionnaire investigation and tested for fingertip blood glucose. Those subjects whose capillary blood glucose level ≥ 5.1 mmol/L were subjected to 75 g oral glucose tolerance test. Undiagnosed diabetes mellitus and pre-diabetes were identified by fasting plasma glucose and OGTT. In this study, the cut-off points of fasting capillary blood glucose for detecting undiagnosed diabetes and pre-diabetes were evaluated, using receiver operator characteristic curve (ROC). RESULTS: Of 1351 subjects that having had oral glucose tolerance test, 230 cases were diagnosed as diabetes mellitus (7.3%), 166 cases (5.2%) as IFG, and 204 (6.7%) as IGT under fasting capillary blood glucose as test variable and state variables according to the following criteria. (1) FPG≥7.0 mmol/L or/and 2hPG≥11.1 mmol/L (2) FPG<5.6 mmol/L (3) FPG<7.0 mmol/L and 7.8 mmol/L≤2hPG≤11.1 mmol/L, areas under three ROC curves were 0.905, 0.633 and 0.719, respectively. The cut-off values of screening for undiagnosed DM, IGT and IFG were 6.0 mmol/L, 5.7 mmol/L, and 5.7 mmol/L, respectively. When cut-off value of screening for undiagnosed DM was 6.0 mmol/L, the maximal sensitivity was 78.0% and specificity was 89.3%. But there were both lower sensitivity and specificity in screening for IFG and IGT according to the best predicting value (5.7 mmol/L) from the ROC curves (50.3% and 28.0% vs. 60.8% and 28.0%). CONCLUSION: Fasting capillary blood glucose with the lower cut-point of 6.0 mmol/L in screening for undiagnosed diabetes mellitus alone, was relatively reliable, whereas for both IFG and IGT the fasting fingertip blood glucose tests were fallible. It was convenient and could be used in screening the DM at the community level.

[A case-control study on risk factors of type 2 diabetes mellitus related chronic complications in Baoding city].

OBJECTIVE: To recognize the main risk factors and to provide evidence for prevention and intervention of type 2 diabetes chronic complications. METHODS: A hospital-based frequency matched case-control study including 200 type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) chronic complications cases and 200 controls without T2DM chronic complications was carried out in Baoding city. Relationships between factors and T2DM chronic complications were analyzed by non-conditional uni-variate and multivariate logistic regression methodologies. RESULTS: High C-reactive protein (CRP) (OR = 5.568), dyslipidemia (OR = 4.400), high blood urea nitrogen (BUN) (OR = 4.399), high low density lipoprotein-cholesterol (LDL-C) (OR = 3.594), time of hospitalization (OR = 2.612), grease food intake before developing DM (OR = 2.300), high HbA1c% (OR = 1.747), lack of exercise after the development of DM (OR = 1.672), duration of DM (OR = 1.509), mental stress (OR = 1.427), high-quality sleep (OR = 0.606), well control of blood glucose (OR = 0.517), well control of blood fat (OR = 0.299), insulin injections (OR = 0.155) etc. were all significantly associated with T2DM chronic complications. CONCLUSION: The main risk factors of T2DM chronic complications seemed to be related to high CRP, dyslipidemia, high BUN and high LDL-C. The main protective factors were insulin injections, well control of blood fat and blood glucose, good-quality of sleep, while the unique risk factors of cardiovascular disease seemed to be high LDL-C and mental stress. The unique risk factors of neuropathy were lack of exercise after developing DM and the amount of sweet food intake. The duration of DM appeared to be the common risk factor and the common protective factor on those three complications was insulin injection.

Unintentional injuries among primary and middle school students in Maanshan City, eastern China.

AIM: To describe the rates and patterns of unintentional injuries among primary and middle school students in China. METHODS: A cross-sectional survey was conducted in Maanshan City of the Anhui Province in eastern China. All students attending six primary and four middle schools, selected randomly, were asked to report unintentional injuries occurring in the 12-mo period before the survey. The occurrence of unintentional injuries that resulted in medical attendance was summarized by study grade, sex, month and external causes. RESULTS: The annual event-based injury rate per 100 students was higher among boys (21.7) than girls (17.6). Only 1.9% of the episodes resulted in hospitalization, and 17.8% resulted in missing school. The most frequent injuries were falls (38.2%) and transportation-related injuries (19.6%). The risk of injury was lower in middle schools than primary schools. Distribution by month of occurrence showed two peaks in boys during spring and autumn, but no clear peak was observed in girls. CONCLUSION: The descriptive epidemiology of unintentional injuries among students in China provides useful information on the distributions in person, place and time, which in turn provide hints for the further exploration of possible risk factors that are important in planning strategies for future prevention.

[Study on familial factors regarding injury-related behaviors in children].

OBJECTIVE: To probe into the effects of familial factors on injury-related behaviors in children. METHODS: Injury-related behaviors and familial factors of 6884 children were investigated with Family Questionnaire and Child Behavior Checklist. Multi-nominal logistic regression analysis was performed. RESULTS: There were 1670 (24.26%) children having serious injury-related behaviors and 3683 (53.50%) children having moderate injury-related behaviors. Factors contributing to children's injury-related behaviors would include punishment or indifference as well as the mode of parents' education; reintegral type of family; the level of parents' cognition on injuries; unfit location of medicine at home and careless attitudes of parents. CONCLUSION: There was close relationship between children's injury-related behaviors and familial factors. To avoid injury-related behaviors and to prevent injury occurrence, the importance of familial factors must be stressed.