Elevated Prevalence of Abnormal Glucose Metabolism and Other Endocrine Disorders in Patients with ß-Thalassemia Major: A Meta-Analysis.

BACKGROUND: Endocrinopathies are common in patients with ß-thalassemia major despite parenteral iron chelation therapy with deferoxamine. Prevalence of abnormal glucose metabolism in previous studies was controversial. The aim of this study was to discuss the prevalence of abnormal glucose metabolism in ß-thalassemia major based on a meta-analysis. METHODS: PubMed, ScienceDirect, Springerlink, Ovid, Web of Science, MEDLINE, Wanfang database, and Chinese National Knowledge Internet were searched for relevant articles. Two authors selected the articles according to the inclusion criteria and then extracted the data. The prevalence of diabetes mellitus (DM) in ß-thalassemia major was defined as the primary outcome. The prevalence with the 95% confidence interval (95%CI) was used to evaluate the proportion of abnormal glucose metabolism and other endocrine disorders in patients with ß-thalassemia major. Subgroup analyses were applied to explore the prevalence in different regions. Sensitivity analysis and publication bias assessment were also conducted. RESULTS: A total of 44 studies with 16605 cases were included in this analysis. Diabetes mellitus was present in 6.54% (95% CI: 5.30%-7.78%). The fixed subgroup study revealed that the region with the highest prevalence was the Middle East (prevalence= 7.90%, 95% CI: 5.75%-10.05%). The accumulated meta-analysis revealed that the prevalence of DM in ß-thalassemia major was relatively steady in each year. The prevalence of impaired fasting glucose (IFG), impaired glucose tolerance (IGT), and other endocrine disorders in ß-thalassemia major was 17.21% (95% CI: 8.43%-26.00%), 12.46% (95% CI: 5.98%-18.94%), and 43.92% (95% CI: 37.94%-49.89%), respectively. Sensitivity analysis showed that the pooled results were robust; publication bias assessment revealed that there was no significant evidence that the pooled results were influenced by publication bias. CONCLUSION: High prevalence of endocrine disorders involving abnormal glucose metabolism was detected in ß-thalassemia major. Treatment and prevention measurements may be necessary to prevent growth and endocrine problems.

Combined chromium and magnesium decreases insulin resistance more effectively than either alone.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Peroral supplementation with trivalent-chromium (Cr) or magnesium (Mg) has been shown to improve insulin resistance (IR). The objective of this study was to determine whether combined peroral supplementation with Cr and Mg improves IR more effectively than Cr or Mg alone. METHODS AND STUDY DESIGN: Subjects (n=120, age range 45-59 years old) and diagnosed with IR were randomly divided into four groups and monitored for a period of 3 months: group 1 (the placebo control group), group 2 (160 µg/d Cr), group 3 (200 mg/d Mg), and group 4 (160 µg/d Cr plus 200 mg/d Mg). Fasting blood glucose (FBG), fasting insulin (FIns), erythrocyte Cr and Mg content, and glucose-transporter-4 (GLUT4) and glycogen-synthase-kinase-3ß (GSK3ß) mRNA levels in activated T-lymphocytes were measured, and insulin resistant index (IRI) was calculated. RESULTS: Significant decreases between the baseline and study conclusion values of FBG (0.37 mmol/L, p<0.01), FIns (2.91 µIU/mL, p<0.01) and IRI (0.60, p<0.01) were observed in group 4, but not groups 1-3. Similarly, compared with baseline, significant changes in GLUT4 (2.9-fold increase, p<0.05) and GSK3ß (2.2-fold decrease, p<0.05) mRNA levels in activated T-lymphocyte were observed at the study's conclusion in group 4, but not in groups 1-3. CONCLUSIONS: Our results indicate that combining peroral supplementation with Cr and Mg improves IR more effectively than Cr or Mg alone, and this may be attributable to increased induction and repression, respectively, of GLUT4 and GSK3ß expression.

In silico and in vitro analyses identified three amino acid residues critical to the catalysis of two aphid farnesyl diphosphate synthase.

Farnesyl diphosphate synthase (FPPS) plays an essential role in the isoprenoid biosynthetic pathway of microbes, plants and animals. In the present study, we first cloned two FPPSs from the bird cherry-oat aphid (RpFPPS1 and RpFPPS2), and activity assay by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry showed that both RpFPPS1 and RpFPPS2 were active in vitro. They were then subjected to homology modeling and molecular docking. Molecular interaction analysis indicated that three amino acid residues (R120, R121 and K266) might play key roles in the catalysis of the two aphid FPPSs by forming hydrogen bonds with the diphosphate moiety of the allylic substrate. These in silico results were subsequently confirmed by site-directed mutagenesis and in vitro activity assay of the mutant enzymes, in which each of the single mutations R120G, R121G and K266I abolished the activities of the two FPPSs. This study contributes to our understanding of the catalytic mechanism of farnesyl diphosphate synthases.

[Effect of tianma gouteng recipe on interfering LV and aortic hypertrophy in renovascular hypertension rats].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effect of Tianma Gouteng recipe (TGR) on interfering left ventricular (LV) and aortic hypertrophy and tissue angiotensin II (Ang II) in rats with renovascular hypertension. METHOD: The animal model of renovascular hypertension was used in this experiment. Hypertensive rats were randomly allocated into model group, Enalapril group and TGR group, and the drugs were used for 6 weeks continuously. During this period, the blood pressure of rats was measured every two weeks. After rats were sacrificed, the wet weight, tissue Ang II level of LV and aorta, and the cardiac index were measured. RESULT: One week after renovascular stenosis, the systolic blood pressure (SPS) of model group was increased by 37.4 mmHg, and 7 weeks after stenosis, the LV and aortic hypertrophy was obvious increased, meanwhile, tissue Ang II of LV and aorta was raised markedly (P < 0.01). Contrasting with the model group, blood pressure was reduced and the morphological index was improved in Enalapril group respectively (P < 0.05 or P < 0.01); the wet weight of LV and aorta were reduced, the morphological index was improved, the rise of Ang II in tissue was suppressed, in TGR group significantly. CONCLUSION: TGR can attenuate myocardial and aorta hypertrophy induced by renovascular hypertension, and suppress the rise of Ang II in tissue significantly. This suggests that TGR has the effects on interfering LV and aortic hypertrophy by an independent-antihypertensive way.

[Effects of Tianzhi Keli on extracellular acetylcholine and catecholamine levels in striatum of rats with neuromitochondrial impairment].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effects of Tianzhi Keli (TZ) on acetylcholine (ACh) and catecholamine levels in striatum of rats with neuromitochondrial impairment, and try to find out the neuroprotective mechanism of TZ. METHOD: The microdialysis and high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC)-post column Immobilized enzyme reactor (IMER)-electrochemical detection (ED) were used to establish a model of mitochondrial energy metabolism impairment which induced by perfusion with sodium azide (NaN3), and measure continuously the effects of TZ on extracellular ACh, choline (Ch) and catecholamine of model rats. RESULT: After perfusion with NaN3, ACh, noradrenalin (NE), adrenaline (E), dopamine (DA), 3,4-Dihydroxyphenyl-aletic (DOPAC), and homovanillic acid (HVA) levels were decreased obviously (P < 0.05-0.01), while Ch level was increased distinctly (P < 0.01). Transmitters levels were recovered individually after stop the perfusion with NaN3. TZ can postpone the decrease of ACh and advance the recover of Ch. The effect of TZ coupled with duxil on increasing ACh level is more obviously than effect of TZ or duxil. TZ is also showing a tendency to postpone the decrease of catecholamine and advance its recovery. TZ coupled with duxil can advance the recovery of DOPAC and adjust the metabolic abnormity positively. CONCLUSION: TZ has effect on protecting impairment of choline neurosystem, which induced by damage of mitochondrion and abnormity of energy metabolism; coupled with duxil have synergistic action. TZ also has tendency to protect the impairment of epinephrine and dopamine neurosystem.

[Effects of tianma gouteng fang on transmitter amino acids in the hippocampus extracellular liquids in freely moving rats subjected to brain ischemia].

OBJECTIVE: To observe the effects of Tianma Gouteng Fang (TGF) on the transmitter amino acids in the hippocampus extracellular liquids in freely moving rats subjected to incomplete brain ischemia. METHOD: Hippocampus extracellular liquids was collected continuously by the microdialysis sampling technology in freely moving rats during pre-ischemia, incomplete ischemia and reperfusion periods induced by the occlusion and loose of both common carotid arteries. Each dialysate sample was assayed for GABA, Tau, Glu, Cys and Arg with HPLC-electrochemical detector. RESULT: TGF increased the concentrations of GABA and Tau in the extracellular liquids of rat hippocampus. Compared with the model group, the concentration of Glu in the middle and large dosage groups of TGF, during the 120 min of ischemia, reduced by 38.64% and 31.35%, Tau increased by 13.99% and 12.86%, GABA advanced 25.89% and 33.99%, Cys decreased by 40.93% and 42.08%, Arg raised to 116.95% and 108.96%, respectively. After 120 min of reperfusion, the concentration of Glu decreased by 14.55% and 11.48%, Tau increased by 16.13% and 14.03%, GABA increased by 24.41% and 26.22%, respectively. CONCLUSION: TGF can increase the concentration of inhibitory amino acids in hippocampus extracellular liquids of rats and inhibit the excessive release of excitatory amino acids and raise the concentration of the inhibitory amino acids and Arg during the ischemia-reperfusion periods. Therefore, TGF can play the neuroprotective role.

[Research progress of neuroprotective mechanisms of Gastrodia elata and its preparation].

The effects of Gastrodia elata on preventing decrepitude and advancing memory are closely associated with its neuroprotective activity. Previous researches proved that G. elata, its active components and preparations played a neuroprotective role by affecting the excitotoxicity, nitric monoxide (NO) system, neuroglia, biomembrane, oxidative neurotoxicity, apoptosis et al. Recent researches also suggest that reducing energy metabolism impairment, anti-inflammatory and immune modulating function may be new research targets of neuroprotective mechanism of G. elata.

[The effect of shourong compound formula on levels of dopamine and its metabolites in brain of Parkinson's disease mice induced by reserpine].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effect of Shourong compound formula on treating Parkinson's disease. METHOD: Parkinson's disease model mice induced by reserpine was used and by HPLC-ED the levels of Dopamine (DA) and its metabolites were determined. RESULT: Madopar could increase the levels of DA in brain of PD mice. The effect of madopar together with Sourong compound formula was better than that of madopar(P < 0.001). CONCLUSION: Shourong compound formula together with madopar has synergic effect on increase of DA level in brain and can reduce clinic dose of madopar so that side effect of madopar can be decreased.