Toxoplasma gondii Infection in Diabetes Mellitus Patients in China: Seroprevalence, Risk Factors, and Case-Control Studies.

The association between Toxoplasma gondii (T. gondii) infection and diabetes mellitus remains controversial. With the improvement of living standards, the prevalence rate of diabetes is steadily increasing in China. Thus, it is necessary to explore the possible association between toxoplasmosis and diabetes mellitus in China. Hence, case-control studies were conducted to explore the T. gondii seroprevalence and identify the risk factors and possible transmission routes of T. gondii infection in different types of diabetes, including type 1 diabetes (T1DM), type 2 diabetes (T2DM), and gestational diabetes (GDM) patients in China. Four hundred serum samples for each type of diabetes mellitus, matched with 400 control subjects for each group, were collected and examined for anti-T. gondii IgG and IgM antibodies using commercially available enzyme immunoassay kits. The total T. gondii seroprevalence in T1DM, T2DM, and GDM patients was 16.50%, 23.50%, and 21.25%, respectively. Each type of diabetes mellitus patients had a significantly higher T. gondii seroprevalence than the control subjects. Multivariate regression identified three variables as risk factors for T. gondii infection in diabetes patients, including keeping cats at home and consumption of raw oysters for T1DM patients and consumption of raw/undercooked meat and raw oysters for T2DM patients, which may help to guide future research and control policies in diabetes mellitus patients.

Altered patterns of gene expression distinguishing unruptured abdominal aortic aneurysms from ruptured ones: comprehensive analysis of inflammatory factors.

The purpose of this study was to profile altered patterns of gene expression that characterize abdominal aortic aneurysm and to compare these patterns between different conditions, unruptured (URA) and ruptured (RA). Full-thickness aortic wall tissues were obtained from patients during surgical repair of abdominal aortic aneurysm, including unruptured (n=29) and ruptured (n=11). RNA, protein and blood samples were prepared for each specimen, and differential levels of gene expression between unruptured and ruptured abdominal aortic tissues were assessed by immunohistochemistry, RT-qPCR and ELISA assays. Biochemical assay showed that triglyceride (TG), total cholesterol (TC) and low density lipoprotein (LDL) concentration in the peripheral blood of URA and UA patients with large size of aneurysm (>5 cm) was significantly increased compared with those with small size of aneurysm (3-5 cm). Of 7 genes examined, TRPV1, CAM, TNF-α, IL-6, MCP-1 and VCAM were significantly increased in RA patients compared with URA patients, which also showed markedly increased expression in large size of aneurysm, with TRPV1 and CAM exception in RA patients. Only PPARδ expression observed decrease in RA patients with larger size of aneurysm. Taken together, URA and RA exhibit distinct patterns of gene expression, with most alterations being unique to this disease. Abdominal aortic aneurysm arising in different sizes of aneurysm is thus characterized by a high degree of molecular heterogeneity, reflecting different pathophysiologic mechanisms.

Effect of miR-467b on atherosclerosis of rats.

OBJECTIVE: To observe the effect of miR-467b on the atherosclerosis (AS) of rats with apolipoprotein E (ApoE) gene knockout (ApoE(-/-)). METHODS: ApoE(-/-) rats were fed with high fat and high cholesterol diet and were randomly divided into group A, group B and group C, with 10 rats in each group. Group A: rats were injected with ApoE agonist through the caudal vein; group B: rats were injected with ApoE antagonist through the caudal vein; group C: as negative control group. Enzyme oxidation method was used to detect the blood lipid levels of rats. Western blotting method was used to detect the aortic lipoprotein lipase (LPL) expression levels of rats. HE staining and oil red O staining were performed to observe the AS lesions and lipid accumulation state. RESULTS: Compared with group C, blood lipid level, aortic intima and aortic sinus lipid accumulation area ratio, aortic sinus lesion area and LPL expression level in group A significantly reduced; while blood lipid level, aortic intima and aortic sinus lipid accumulation area ratio, aortic sinus lesion area, and LPL expression level in group B significantly increased, with the statistical difference (P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: miR-467b can alleviate the AS lesions of ApoE(-/-) rats, and its inhibiting effect on AS may be related to LPL expression.

Combining detection of Notch1 and tumor necrosis factor-α converting enzyme is a reliable biomarker for the diagnosis of abdominal aortic aneurysms.

AIMS: Although many markers were associated with abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA), there is no clear consensus on which marker is of the most value. Studies have implicated the role of Notch signaling in the pathogenesis of AAA. We investigate the value of plasma Jagged1, Notch receptors and tumor necrosis factor-α converting enzyme (TACE) in identifying AAA. MAIN METHODS: 42 patients with AAA and 36 controls were enrolled in our study. The concentrations of plasma Jagged1, Notch receptors and TACE were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The diagnostic value of plasma Notch1 and TACE was assessed by logistic regression and receiver operator characteristic (ROC) curve. Double immunofluorescence staining was used to investigate the distribution of Notch1 and TACE in AAA tissue specimens. KEY FINDINGS: The concentrations of plasma Notch1 and TACE were significantly higher in AAA than in the controls, respectively (Notch1: P < 0.001; TACE: P = 0.0001). The area under the curve (AUC) from ROC curve of plasma Notch1 and TACE in determining the presence of AAA was 0.878 and 0.804, respectively. Combining detection of plasma Notch1 and TACE could improve the accuracy in detecting AAA (AUC 0.984, P < 0.0001). The predicted probability cutoff of 0.70 gave a sensitivity of 90.5% and a specificity of 100% for combining detection of plasma Notch1 and TACE in predicting AAA. SIGNIFICANCE: This is the first report revealing that plasma Notch1 and TACE are highly expressed in AAA. Combining detection of plasma Notch1 and TACE may be reliable for identifying the presence of AAA.

[The isolation, subculture and identification of human adipose derived endothelial progenitor cells].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the methods of isolating and identifying human adipose derived EPCs. METHODS: The cells obtained from human lipoaspirates were plated on culture dishes coated with human fibronectin and were cultured in DMEM containing 2% FBS. Cells of passage 2 cultured in EGM-2 (2% FBS) served as the induced cells (experimental group), with cells cultured in DMEM (2% FBS) as the non-induced cells (control group) . Immunofluorescence was used to detect the expression of cell markers, including CD34, vWF and PECAM-1. FACS (fluorescence activated cell sorter) was used to quantitatively analyze the expression rate of cell markers (CD34, CD45, CD133 and PECAM-1). Fluorescence microscope was used to observe the function of taking up DiI-ac-LDL by the induced cells. To determine the ability of forming capillary-like structure in three-dimensional matrices, the induced cells were also cultured in methylcellulose. RESULTS: The induced cells of passage 2 exhibited cobblestone morphology, similar to that of the endothelial cells. In contrast, these morphological changes were not observed in non-induced cells. Immunofluorescence detected expression of vWF, PECAM-1 in induced cells and CD34 in non-induced cells. FACS analysis showed (67.41 +/- 13.35)% of the induced cells expressed PECAM-1 and (6.73 +/- 2.21)% of the non-induced cells expressed PECAM-1 (P < 0.01), while (72.39 +/- 13.45)% of the non-induced cells expressed CD34 and (16.06 +/- 3.86)% of the induced cells expressed CD34 (P < 0.01). Fluorescence microscopy observed the induced cells took up low-density lipoprotein (LDL). The formation of "branch-like" structure confirmed their functional activity. CONCLUSION: EPCs derived from human adipose may serve as another source of seeding cells for vascular tissue engineering.

[Resection of carotid body tumor under interrupted block of common carotid artery].

7 patients with carotid body tumor (CBT) were evaluated by DSA preoperatively. Carotid artery (CA) blocking test was carried out under local anesthesia before operation. With CA blocked temporarily, tumors were resected under general anesthesia after the test was normal. Meanwhile some cases underwent restoration with CA repair, end-to-end anastomosis or artificial vascular grafting. No case underwent internal bypass. CA was blocked 2 to 4 times in operation. The average blocking time of CA was 22 minutes and the longest blocking time of that reached 28 minutes. The average blood loss of cases without embolization preoperatively was 1100 ml, cases with embolization was 480 ml. 3 cases had nerve complications. DSA is of important value in the diagnosis and treatments of CBT. Temporary blocking artery method can help to judge when to use internal bypass, make operation easy, decrease blood loss and nerve complications.