Aluminum (Al) causes a delayed suppression of nucleotide excision repair (NER) capacity in zebrafish (Danio rerio) embryos via disturbance of DNA lesion detection.

Aluminum (Al) is extensively used for making cooking utensils and its presence in the aquatic environment may occur through acid mine drainage and wastewater discharge. Al is known to induce genotoxicity in human cells, rodents, and fish. Nucleotide excision repair (NER) eliminates helix-twisting DNA lesions such as UV-induced dipyrimidine photoproducts. Because our earlier investigation revealed the operation of NER in zebrafish (Danio rerio) embryos, this study explored if inhibition of NER could be a mechanism of Al-induced genotoxicity using zebrafish embryo as a model system. An acute fish embryo toxicity test indicated that Al (as aluminum sulfate) at 2-15 mg/L were nonlethal to zebrafish embryos, yet exposure of embryos at 1 h post fertilization (hpf) to Al at 10-15 mg/L for 71 h significantly repressed their NER capacity monitored by a transcription-based DNA repair assay. Band shift analysis indicated a higher sensitivity of (6-4) photoproduct (6-4PP) than cyclobutane pyrimidine dimer (CPD) detecting activities to Al, reflecting the preferential influence of Al on the detection of strongly distorted DNA lesions. Time-course experiments showed a delayed response of NER to Al as repair machinery was unaffected by Al at 15 mg/L following a 35-h exposure, while Al treatment for the same period obviously inhibited 6-4PP binding activities although the gene expression of damage recognition factors remained active. Inhibition of 6-4PP detection blocked downstream lesion incision/excision detected by a terminal deoxy transferase-mediated end labeling assay. As the disturbance of damage sensing preceded that of the overall repair process, Al exposure was believed to downregulate NER capacity by inhibiting the activities of lesion detection proteins. Our results revealed the ability of Al to enhance its genotoxicity by suppressing NER capacity.

Psychometric Properties of the Modified Personal Diabetes Questionnaire Among Chinese Patients With Type 2 Diabetes.

This study examined the psychometric properties of the Chinese version of the Personal Diabetes Questionnaire (C-PDQ). The PDQ was translated into Chinese using a forward and backward translation approach. After being reviewed by an expert panel, the C-PDQ was administered to a convenience sample of 346 adults with Type 2 diabetes. The Chinese version of the Summary of Diabetes Self-Care Activities (C-SDSCA) was also administered. The results of the exploratory factor analysis revealed a one-factor structure for the Diet Knowledge, Decision-Making, and Eating Problems subscales and a two-factor structure for the barriers-related subscales. The criterion and convergent validity were supported by significant correlations of the subscales of the C-PDQ with the glycated hemoglobin values and the parallel subscales in the C-SDSCA, respectively. The C-PDQ subscales also showed acceptable internal consistency (α = .61-.89) and excellent test-retest reliability (intraclass correlation coefficients: .73-.96). The results provide preliminary support for the reliability and validity of the C-PDQ. This comprehensive, patient-centered instrument could be useful to identify the needs, concerns, and priorities of Chinese patients with type 2 diabetes.

[Clinical study of yishen jianpi yangxue tongli therapy in treating polycystic ovary syndrome].

OBJECTIVE: To observe the effect of Yishen Jianpi Yangxue Tongli Therapy (YJYTT) in treating polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) and to explore the therapeutic mechanism of YJYTT. METHODS: One hundred and seven PCOS patients with syndrome differentiation of TCM as Pi-Shen Yang deficiency were randomly divided into two groups, the treated group (n = 76) was treated with Chinese herbal medicine, while the control group (n = 31) was treated by clomiphen. The therapeutic effect in both groups and the change of body mass index (BMI), Ferriman-Gallway (F-G) score, serum sex hormones and serum oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) before and after treatment were observed. RESULTS: The comparison of total effective rate between two groups was insignificantly different, but the pregnancy rate of the treated group (65.7%) was markedly higher than that of control group (25.0%, P < 0.01). Also, significant difference was shown in the aspect of BMI, F-G score, serum testosterone (T), luteinizing hormone (LH) and OGTT, etc. between the two groups (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: The YJYTT could markedly improve the clinical symptoms and pregnancy rate of PCOS patients, particularly showing good effect to the clomiphen resistant patients. The mechanism possibly was due to its regulation on hypothalamus-pituitary-ovarium axis and reducing the insulin resistance.