Neural mechanisms distinguishing two types of cooperative problem-solving approaches: An fNIRS hyperscanning study.

Collaborative cooperation (CC) and division of labor cooperation (DLC) are two prevalent forms of cooperative problem-solving approaches in daily life. Despite extensive research on the neural mechanisms underlying cooperative problem-solving approaches, a notable gap exists between the neural processes that support CC and DLC. The present study utilized a functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) hyperscanning technique along with a classic cooperative tangram puzzle task to investigate the neural mechanisms engaged by both friends and stranger dyads during CC versus DLC. The key findings of this study were as follows: (1) Dyads exhibited superior behavioral performance in the DLC task than in the CC task. The CC task bolstered intra-brain functional connectivity and inter-brain synchrony (IBS) in regions linked to the mirror neuron system (MNS), spatial perception (SP) and cognitive control. (2) Friend dyads showed stronger IBS in brain regions associated with the MNS than stranger dyads. (3) Perspective-taking predicted not only dyads' behavioral performance in the CC task but also their IBS in brain regions associated with SP during the DLC task. Taken together, these findings elucidate the divergent behavioral performance and neural connection patterns between the two cooperative problem-solving approaches. This study provides novel insights into the various neurocognitive processes underlying flexible coordination strategies in real-world cooperative contexts.

Effect of serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D3 on insulin resistance and ß-cell function in newly diagnosed type 2 diabetes patients.

AIMS/INTRODUCTION: To evaluate serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D3 (25(OH)D3) in newly diagnosed type 2 diabetes patients and to explore the associations of 25(OH)D3 with insulin resistance and ß-cell function. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 97 newly diagnosed type 2 diabetes patients and 69 healthy controls were recruited. Serum 25(OH)D3 was determined using high-pressure liquid chromatography. Insulin resistance was measured using a homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR). ß-Cell function was determined using the HOMA ß-cell function index (HOMA-ß), early-phase insulin secretion index (ΔI30/ΔG30) and area under the insulin curve (AUCins). Correlation analysis was carried out using Pearson's correlation and multiple stepwise regression analysis. RESULTS: Serum 25(OH)D3 was much lower in patients with newly diagnosed type 2 diabetes (t = -13.00, P < 0.01), and the prevalence of hypovitaminosis 25(OH)D3 was 62.9% (61/97) in diabetic patients. Among the diabetic patients, patients with hypovitaminosis 25(OH)D3 showed higher glycosylated hemoglobin and AUCglu (P < 0.01) as well as lower HOMA-ß, ΔI30/ΔG30 and AUCins. Serum 25(OH)D3 was independently positively correlated with ΔI30/ΔG30 and AUCins (P < 0.05), but was not significantly correlated with either HOMA-IR or HOMA-ß. Only triglycerides, glycosylated hemoglobin and ΔI30/ΔG30 emerged as independent factors associated with serum 25(OH)D3 in both diabetes patients and the health control group. CONCLUSIONS: The present results further showed a low serum 25(OH)D3 concentration in patients with newly diagnosed type 2 diabetes. 25(OH)D3 deficiency is associated with disturbances in glucose metabolism and lipid metabolism. Serum 25(OH)D3 is not correlated with basal insulin resistance or ß-cell function, but is significantly positively correlated with glucose-stimulated insulin secretion and ß-cell function.

Comparison between recombinant human parathyroid hormone (1-34) and elcatonin in treatment of primary osteoporosis.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of rhPTH (1-34) vs. elcatonin. METHODS: Sixty patients with primary OP were randomly divided into two groups according to the ratio of 3:1. rhPTH (1-34) group (PTH group) was treated with subcutaneous injection of rhPTH (1-34) 20 µ g daily for 18 months, and the elcatonin group (CT group) was treated with intramuscular injection of elcatonin 20 U weekly for 12 months. Bone mineral density (BMD) of the lumbar spine 2-4 (L2-4) and femoral neck, serum calcium and phosphorus, urinary calcium, serum bone specific alkaline phosphatase (BSAP), and urinary c-terminal telopeptides of type I collagen/creatinine (uCTX-I/Cr) were tested at baseline, and 6, 12, and 18 months after treatment. RESULTS: In PTH group, BMD of L2-4 at 6, 12, and 18 months, BDM of femoral neck at 18 month, BSAP at 6 and 12 months and uCTX- I/Cr at 6, 12 and 18 months were all significantly raised. In CT group, BMD of L2-4 at 12 month and that of femoral neck at 12 and 18 months were significantly elevated, while BSAP was significantly decreased at 12 and 18 months, and no significant difference on CTX- I/Cr was observed. When BMD growth and growth rate between two groups were compared, PTH group had better improvement in L2-4 BMD and growth rate than CT group at 6, 12, and 18 months. BMD growth and growth rate of femoral neck at 12 month and its growth at 18 month in CT group were higher than in PTH group, but there was no significant difference between two groups regarding the growth rates at 18 month. Besides, there were no significant differences regarding the rates of adverse reactions between two groups. CONCLUSIONS: rhPTH (1-34), is safe and effective in the treatment of primary OP. It is superior to elcatonin in improving vertebral BMD at onset time, growth rate and growth range, but inferior to elcatonin at BMD of femoral neck.

The diagnosis of diabetic acute complications using the glucose-ketone meter in outpatients at endocrinology department.

OBJECTIVE: To determine urine ketone and blood ß-hydroxybutyrate acid (ß-HBA) in outpatients of endocrinology department and to investigate the association between urine ketone or blood ß-HBA and diabetic ketosis (DK) or diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA). METHODS: Urine ketone, blood ß-HBA, body mass index (BMI) and glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c) were determined in 134 patients with blood glucose ≥ 13.9 mmol/L. RESULTS: In 134 patients with severe hyperglycemia, there were 30 patients (22.4%) with acute complications of diabetes, including 24 patients (17.9%) diagnosed with DK and 6 patients (4.5%) diagnosed with DKA. Among them, 6 patients (20%) were withdrawal, 2 (6.7%) were infected, and 19 (63.3%) were not treated. When there was a negative urine ketone, 10% patients would have had blood ß-HBA ≥ 0.3 mmol/L. When there was a positive urine ketone (+ to +++), 22.62% patients would have had blood ß-HBA < 0.3 mmol/L. CONCLUSIONS: Blood ß-HBA had a positive correlation with blood glucose (r = 0.34, P < 0.001). Complications of severe hyperglycemia could be diagnosed quickly and accurately by analyzing blood ß-HBA using the glucose-ketone meter.

Association study of genetic variants in eight genes/loci with type 2 diabetes in a Han Chinese population.

BACKGROUND: At least twenty genes/loci were shown to be associated with type 2diabetes in European original populations. Five of these genes were shown to be associated with type 2 diabetes (T2D) in Chinese populations. The purpose of this study was to replicate the association of genetic vairants in the eight diabetes-related genes/loci with type 2 diabetes in a Han Chinese cohort from western part of China. Nineteen single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) from the eight genes/loci including TCF7L2, HHEX, CDKAL1, SLC30A8, PPARG, IGF2BP2, KCNJ11, and CDKN2A/CDKN2B were genotyped in 1,529 cases and 1,439 controls in a Han Chinese population using the ABI SNaPshot method. The meta-analysis of the association between rs7903146 in TCF7L2 gene and T2D in the Han Chinese was performed. RESULTS: Among the eight genes/loci examined, we found that four were significantly associated with T2D. Although previous studies showed that the association between the SNP rs7903146 in the TCF7L2 gene and T2D was controversial within the Han Chinese population, we have confirmed the significant association between the SNP rs7903146 in the TCF7L2 gene and T2D in both this study and the meta-analysis in the population. In addition, we also confirmed that three SNPs (rs1111875, rs7923837 and rs5015480) in HHEX , one SNP (rs10946398) in CDKAL1, and three SNPs (rs13266634, rs3802177 and rs11558471) in SLC30A8 were significantly associated with T2D in the population being studied. CONCLUSIONS: We demonstrated that the variants in TCF7L2, CDKAL1, HHEX, and SLC30A8 genes are associated with T2D in a Han Chinese population.