Systematic review and Meta-analysis of efficacy and safety of Tangmaikang Granules in treatment of diabetic peripheral neuropathy / 中国中药杂志

This study aimed to explore the efficacy and safety of Tangmaikang Granules in the treatment of diabetic peripheral neuropathy(DPN). PubMed, Cochrane Library, EMbase, SinoMed, CNKI, Wanfang and VIP were retrieved for randomized controlled trial(RCT) of Tangmaikang Granules in the treatment of DPN. Cochrane handbook 5.3 was used to evaluate the quality of the inclu-ded studies, and RevMan 5.4.1 and Stata 15.1 were employed to analyze data and test heterogeneity. GRADEpro was used to assess the quality of each outcome index. Clinical effective rate was the major outcome index, while the improvement in numbness of hands and feet, pain of extremities, sluggishness or regression of sensation, sensory conduction velocity(SCV) and motor conduction velocity(MCV) of median nerve and peroneal nerve, fasting blood glucose(FBG), 2 h postprandial blood glucose(2hPBG), and glycated hemoglobin(HbA1c) and incidence of adverse reactions were considered as the minor outcome indexes. A total of 19 RCTs with 1 602 patients were eventually included. The Meta-analysis showed that the improvements in clinical effective rate(RR=1.45, 95%CI[1.32, 1.61], P<0.000 01), pain of extremities(RR=1.70, 95%CI[1.27, 2.27], P=0.000 3), MCV of peroneal nerve(MD=4.08, 95%CI[3.29, 4.86], P<0.000 01) and HbA1c(SMD=-1.23, 95%CI[-1.80,-0.66], P<0.000 1) of Tangmaikang Granules alone or in combination in the experimental group were better than those in the control group. Compared with the conditions in the control group, numbness of hands and feet(RR=1.42, 95%CI[1.12, 1.80], P=0.003), sluggishness or regression of sensation(RR=1.41, 95%CI[1.05, 1.91], P=0.02), SCV of median nerve(MD=4.59, 95%CI[0.92, 8.27], P=0.01), SCV of peroneal nerve(MD=4.68, 95%CI[3.76, 5.60], P<0.000 01) and MCV of median nerve(MD=5.58, 95%CI[4.05, 7.11], P<0.000 01) of Tangmaikang Granules in combination in the experimental group were improved by subgroup analysis. The levels of FBG(MD=-0.57, 95%CI[-1.27, 0.12], P=0.11) and 2hPBG(MD=-0.69, 95%CI[-1.70, 0.33], P=0.18) in the experimental group were similar to those in the control group after treatment with Tangmaikang Granules alone or in combination. There was no difference in the safety(RR=1.28, 95%CI[0.58, 2.82], P=0.54) of Tangmaikang Granules in the treatment of DPN between the experimental group and the control group. Tangmaikang Granules could significantly increase clinical effective rate and nerve conduction velocity as well as improve symptoms of peripheral nerve and blood glucose level, and no serious adverse reactions were identified yet. Further validation was needed in future in large-sample, multicenter, high-quality RCTs.

Comparison of plasma and pulmonary availability of chlorogenic acid, forsythiaside A and baicalin after intratracheal and intravenous administration of Shuang-Huang-Lian injection.

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: The off-label nebulization of Shuang-Huang-Lian (SHL) injection is often utilized to treat respiratory tract infections in China. However, the pulmonary biopharmaceutics of SHL was generally unknown, limiting the rational selection of therapeutic dose and dose frequency. AIM OF THE STUDY: To characterize the size distribution of nebulized aerosols and to compare the pharmacokinetics and the lung distribution of three chemical makers of SHL, chlorogenic acid (CHA), forsythiaside A (FTA) and baicalin (BC), after intratracheal and intravenous administration of SHL to rats. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The droplet size distribution profiles over nebulization process were dynamically monitored using a laser diffraction method whereas the levels of CHA, FTA and BC in plasma, lung tissues and bronchoalveolar lavage fluids (BALF) were determined by a validated LC-MS/MS assay. The pulmonary anti-inflammatory efficacy was evaluated using a lipopolysaccharide (LPS) induced lung inflammation model as indicated by the level of tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) in BALF. RESULTS: The nebulization of SHL showed good inhalability and allowed the aerosols to reach the upper or lower respiratory tract dependent on the performance of selected nebulizers. Following intratracheal administration of SHL at different doses, CHA, FTA and BC were absorbed into the bloodstream with the mean absorption time being 67.5, 63.5 and 114 min, respectively, rendering mean absolute bioavailabilities between 42.4% and 61.4% roughly independent of delivered dose. Relative to the intravenous injection, the intrapulmonary delivery increased the lung-to-plasma concentration ratios of CHA, FTA and BC by more than 100 folds and markedly improved the lung availability by 563-676 folds, leading to enhanced and prolonged lung retention. The production of TNF-α in BALF was decreased by ~50% at an intratracheal dose of 125 µL/kg SHL to LPS-treated mice. CONCLUSION: The nebulization delivery of SHL is a promising alternative to the intravenous injection for the treatment of respiratory tract infections.

miR1432-OsACOT (Acyl-CoA thioesterase) module determines grain yield via enhancing grain filling rate in rice.

Rice grain filling rate contributes largely to grain productivity and accumulation of nutrients. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are key regulators of development and physiology in plants and become a novel key target for engineering grain size and crop yield. However, there is little studies, so far, showing the miRNA regulation of grain filling and rice yield, in consequence. Here, we show that suppressed expression of rice miR1432 (STTM1432) significantly improves grain weight by enhancing grain filling rate and leads to an increase in overall grain yield up to 17.14% in a field trial. Molecular analysis identified rice Acyl-CoA thioesterase (OsACOT), which is conserved with ACOT13 in other species, as a major target of miR1432 by cleavage. Moreover, overexpression of miR1432-resistant form of OsACOT (OXmACOT) resembled the STTM1432 plants, that is, a large margin of an increase in grain weight up to 46.69% through improving the grain filling rate. Further study indicated that OsACOT was involved in biosynthesis of medium-chain fatty acids. In addition, RNA-seq based transcriptomic analyses of transgenic plants with altered expression of miR1432 demonstrated that downstream genes of miR1432-regulated network are involved in fatty acid metabolism and phytohormones biosynthesis and also overlap with the enrichment analysis of co-expressed genes of OsACOT, which is consistent with the increased levels of auxin and abscisic acid in STTM1432 and OXmACOT plants. Overall, miR1432-OsACOT module plays an important role in grain filling in rice, illustrating its capacity for engineering yield improvement in crops.

Quality of life in cervical cancer survivors after radical hysterectomy via laparoscopy or laparotomy / 中国实用妇科与产科杂志

OBJECTIVE: To study the difference between laparoscopic and open radical surgery in long-term quality of life(QOL)in cervical cancer survivors.METHODS: The patients with cervical cancer who were followed up in the Outpatient Department of Peking Union Medical College Hospital(PUMCH)from October 2017 to October 2018 were selected for life quality assessment by the EORTC questionnaires,QLQ-C30 and QLQ-Cx24.RESULTS: A total of 319 patients with primary cervical cancer were included in the study.Of all enrolled patients,262 underwent laparoscopic radical hysterectomy while 57 received laparotomy.All patients completed personal information survey,of which 102 patients reported urinary symptoms and 68 reported colorectal symptoms.There were no significant differences in the age of diagnosis,ovarian retention,and postoperative adjuvant radiotherapy between the laparoscopic and open surgery groups.The QLQ-C30 scores showed that the overall quality of life scale items for the laparoscopic and open group were 83.3(0-100)and 95.6(41.7-100)points,respectively,with no statistically significant difference between the two groups(P=0.931).CONCLUSION: Laparoscopic and laparotomic radical hysterectomy are similar in long-term QOL in cervical cancer survivors.

Real-time identification and early warning on drug-resistant bacteria by information technology / 中国感染控制杂志

Objective To explore the method of real-time identification and early warning of drug-resistant bacteria through information technology, timely obtain information about drug-resistant bacteria in clinic.Methods Interface of Hospital Information System (HIS), Laboratory Information Management System (LIS) and healthcare-associated infection (HAI) surveillance system were reconstructed in 2015, HL7 was used as interface framework to design standard, LIS was as baseline data source and HIS as patient information database, multi-information exchange was implemented on the commonly used interface, identification and early warning of detected drug-resistant bacteria was conducted, identification of drug-resistant bacteria before and after informationization was compared.Results Through the information construction, the information interface showed that the rules of drug-resistant bacteria determination can be changed at will, data results were more accurate and timely.The judgment time of manual review was reduced from 30 minutes to 2 minutes every day, information of drug-resistant bacteria can be obtained timely and conveniently on any internal network computer by clinical staff.After timely identification and intervention of drug-resistant bacteria, 284, 289 and 309 strains of drug-resistant bacteria were detected in key departments of HAI control in 2015-2017, drug-resistant bacteria per 1 000 bed-day were 9.23‰ (284/30 773), 8.91‰ (289/32 429), and 8.34‰ (309/37 031) respectively, with a slight decrease.Conclusion Through information technology, drug-resistant bacteria can be found timely, and new drug-resistant bacteria can be identified and intervened in time, so as to effectively reduce the infection rate of drug-resistant bacteria.

Prospective study of the efficacy of a ketogenic diet in 20 patients with Dravet syndrome.

PURPOSE: We evaluated the efficacy and tolerability of the ketogenic diet (KD) on generalised convulsions and status epilepticus (SE) in patients with Dravet syndrome (DS). METHODS: Patients with DS having ≥2 generalised convulsions/month despite drug treatment were included in this study and placed on a KD for 6 months. From 3 months before (baseline) to 6 months after KD initiation, caregivers recorded patients' seizure activity, antiepileptic drug use, and adverse events. The KD efficacy was determined by examining the frequency and duration of seizures at 3 and 6 months vs. baseline. Responders were defined as individuals whose generalised convulsions decreased in frequency by ≥50% vs. baseline. Seizures lasting ≥5 min and SE were specifically evaluated. Patients' cognition was also assessed at 3 and 6 months via questionnaire. RESULTS: Twenty patients continued the KD for at least 3 months. Of the 17 responders identified at month 3, seizures decreased by 50-89% and 90-99% in nine and two patients, respectively; six patients were seizure free. The KD was ineffective in three patients, who discontinued the diet. By month 6, seizures decreased by 50-89% and 90-99% in six and one patient(s), respectively; 10 patients were seizure free. The frequency of other seizure types also improved. During all 6 months, neither generalised convulsions lasting ≥5 min nor SE was detected in the 17 responders. The KD also improved patients' cognition. CONCLUSION: The KD is a good treatment option for medically intractable epilepsy.

Effect of antioxidant peptide AOP1 on healing repair of skin burns in mice / 中国药理学通报

Aim To explore the effect and mechanism of antioxidant peptide AOP1 on repair of skin burn wound healing in mice.Methods Fluorescence probe DCFH-DA was used to detect the changes of intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS).Cell proliferation and migration assay were used to detect AOP1 toxicity and its effect on wound healing.Moreover,the skin scald wound was made on the shaved dorsum of the anesthetized mice with a 1.0 cm diameter brass cylinder heated in a water bath at 80 ℃ for 2 min and pressed against the rat skin for 10 s.The effects of AOP1 on the healing of skin burns were observed by HE and Masson staining and the contents of MDA and the activity of SOD in skin tissues were measured.Results The antioxidant peptide AOP1 could significantly reduce the number of ROS in HaCaT and L929 cells,and promote cell migration and proliferation.Compared with the untreated group,the skin healing time of AOP1 group was short,the healing rate was high,the area of scab was small,and inflammation and the content of MDA in burned tissue significantly decreased.The effect of AOP1 on healing of burn wound healing was also confirmed by HE and Masson staining.Conclusion It is suggested that the antioxidant peptide AOP1 with natural activity may promote the healing of skin burns by reducing the oxidative stress caused by burns.

Arthroscopic meniscus partial resection in treatment of knee meniscus injury / 中国内镜杂志

Objective?To explore the effect of meniscus partial excision under arthroscopy for meniscus injury of knee joint, and compare it with meniscus plasty and conservative treatment.?Methods?The clinical data of 95 patients with meniscus injury of knee joint from September 2012 to September 2015 were analyzed retrospectively. According to the treatment plan, the patients were divided into partial meniscectomy group (37 cases), meniscus angioplasty group (30 cases) and conservative treatment group (28 cases). After 6 months of treatment, the clinical curative effect was evaluated. After 6 months and 2 years of treatment, L-ROM was used to measure the range of motion, and the visual analogue scale (VAS) was used to evaluate the pain degree. The knee function score (Lysholm) was issued to evaluate knee function. The incidence rates of long-term complications in the three groups were recorded.?Results?The total response rate in partial meniscectomy group (97.30%) and meniscus angioplasty group (86.68%) were higher than conservative treatment group (53.57%) (P < 0.05). There was no significant difference between partial meniscectomy group and meniscus angioplasty group (P > 0.05);After 6 months and 2 years of treatment, the knee range of motion and Lysholm scores of the three groups were significantly higher than those before treatment while VAS scores were significantly lower (P < 0.05). However, there were no significant differences between partial meniscectomy group and meniscus angioplasty group (P > 0.05) but there was significant difference, compared with conservative treatment group (P < 0.05). Lysholm scores of partial meniscectomy group were significantly higher than meniscus angioplasty group and conservative treatment group (P < 0.05), and there was significant difference between meniscus angioplasty group and conservative treatment group (P < 0.05).?Conclusion?The effect of arthroscopic surgery in the treatment of meniscus injury of knee joint is accurate. Arthroscopic partial meniscectomy has more advantages in improving the knee function.

Role of Paradoxical Hypersecretion of Glucagon in the Pathogenesis of Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus / 中国医学科学院学报

Insulin resistance and insulin deficiency have long been believed to be the two main causes of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). However,recent studies have shown that paradoxical hypersecretion of glucagon may also contribute the pathogenesis of T2DM. This article reviews the role of paradoxical hypersecretion of glucagon in the pathogenesis of T2DM and the recent advances in relevant treatment options.

DNA Methylation and Birth Weight: a Genome-wide Analysis / 生物医学与环境科学（英文）

The study illustrate the inner correlation between global DNA methylation variation and different birth weights. Infant birth weight was used to identify cases and controls. Cord blood and placentas were collected. We performed DNA methylation profiling of bisulphite-converted DNA. We have identified many differentially methylated CpG sites in experimental groups; these sites involved in hundreds of signalings. Among these, more than ten pathways were referred to the glucose and lipid metabolism. Methylation changes in the insulin-signaling pathway (ISP), adipocytokine signaling pathway (ASP) and MAPK signaling pathway are involved in the fetal programming of diabetes..

Positive Association Between Type 2 Diabetes Risk Alleles Near CDKAL1 and Reduced Birthweight in Chinese Han Individuals / 中华医学杂志(英文版)

<p><b>BACKGROUND</b>Fetal insulin hypothesis was proposed that the association between low birth weight and type 2 diabetes is principally genetically mediated. The aim of this study was to investigate whether common variants in genes CDKAL1, HHEX, ADCY5, SRR, PTPRD that predisposed to type 2 diabetes were also associated with reduced birthweight in Chinese Han population.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Twelve single nucleotide polymorphisms (rs7756992/rs10946398 in CDKAL1, rs1111875 in HHEX, rs391300 in SRR, rs17584499 in PTPRD, rs1170806/rs9883204/rs4678017/rs9881942/rs7641344/rs6777397/rs6226243 in ADCY5) were genotyped in 1174 unrelated individuals born in Peking Union Medical College Hospital from 1921 to 1954 by TaqMan allelic discrimination assays, of which 645 had normal glucose tolerance, 181 had developed type 2 diabetes and 348 impaired glucose regulation. Associations of these 12 genetic variants with birthweight and glucose metabolism in later life were analyzed.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Birthweight was inversely associated with CDKAL1-rs10946398 (β = -41 g [95% confidence interval [CI]: -80, -3], P = 0.034), common variants both associated with increased risk of impaired glucose metabolism and decreased insulin secretion index later in life. After adjusting for sex, gestational weeks, parity and maternal age, the risk allele of CDKAL1-rs7756992 was associated with reduced birthweight (β = -36 g [95% CI: -72, -0.2], P = 0.048). The risk allele in SRR showed a trend toward a reduction of birthweight (P = 0.085).</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>This study identified the association between type 2 diabetes risk variants in CDKAL1 and birthweight in Chinese Han individuals, and the carrier of risk allele within SRR had the trend of reduced birthweight. This demonstrates that there is a clear overlap between the genetics of type 2 diabetes and fetal growth, which proposes that lower birth weight and type 2 diabetes may be two phenotypes of one genotype.</p>

Chromium-containing traditional Chinese medicine, Tianmai Xiaoke Tablet improves blood glucose through activating insulin-signaling pathway and inhibiting PTP1B and PCK2 in diabetic rats / 中西医结合学报

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>Chromium is an essential mineral that is thought to be necessary for normal glucose homeostasis. Numerous studies give evidence that chromium picolinate can modulate blood glucose and insulin resistance. The main ingredient of Tianmai Xiaoke (TMXK) Tablet is chromium picolinate. In China, TMXK Tablet is used to treat type 2 diabetes. This study investigated the effect of TMXK on glucose metabolism in diabetic rats to explore possible underlying molecular mechanisms for its action.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Diabetes was induced in rats by feeding a high-fat diet and subcutaneously injection with a single dose of streptozotocin (50 mg/kg, tail vein). One week after streptozotocin-injection, model rats were divided into diabetic group, low dose of TMXK group and high dose of TMXK group. Eight normal rats were used as normal control. After 8 weeks of treatment, skeletal muscle was obtained and was analyzed using Roche NimbleGen mRNA array and quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR). Fasting blood glucose, oral glucose tolerance test and homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) index were also measured.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The authors found that the administration of TMXK Tablet can reduce the fasting blood glucose and fasting insulin level and HOMA-IR index. The authors also found that 2 223 genes from skeletal muscle of the high-dose TMXK group had significant changes in expression (1 752 increased, 471 decreased). Based on Kyoto encyclopedia of genes and genomes pathway analysis, the most three significant pathways were "insulin signaling pathway", "glycolysis/gluconeogenesis" and "citrate cycle (TCA)". qPCR showed that relative levels of forkhead box O3 (FoxO3), phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase 2 (Pck2), and protein tyrosine phosphatase 1B (Ptp1b) were significantly decreased in the high-dose TMXK group, while v-akt murine thymoma viral oncogene homolog 1 (Akt1) and insulin receptor substrate 2 (Irs2) were increased.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Our data show that TMXK Tablet reduces fasting glucose level and improves insulin resistance in diabetic rats. The mechanism may be linked to the inactivation of PTP1B and PCK enzymes, or through intracellular pathways, such as the insulin signaling pathway.</p>

Molecular Characterization of Taenia multiceps Isolates from Gansu Province, China by Sequencing of Mitochondrial Cytochrome C Oxidase Subunit 1

A total of 16 Taenia multiceps isolates collected from naturally infected sheep or goats in Gansu Province, China were characterized by sequences of mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit 1 (cox1) gene. The complete cox1 gene was amplified for individual T. multiceps isolates by PCR, ligated to pMD18T vector, and sequenced. Sequence analysis indicated that out of 16 T. multiceps isolates 10 unique cox1 gene sequences of 1,623 bp were obtained with sequence variation of 0.12-0.68%. The results showed that the cox1 gene sequences were highly conserved among the examined T. multiceps isolates. However, they were quite different from those of the other Taenia species. Phylogenetic analysis based on complete cox1 gene sequences revealed that T. multiceps isolates were composed of 3 genotypes and distinguished from the other Taenia species.

Hypercalcemia appeared in a patient with glucagonoma treated with octreotide acetate long-acting release.

PABCREATIC neuroendocrine tumours are uncommon neoplasms of the pancreas. They may cause a clinical syndrome due to hormone overproduction. Glucagonoma is a rare kind of pancreatic tumors. Here we report a case of glucagonoma. Hypercalcemia occurred when the patient underwent octreotide acetate long-acting release.

Degenerate oligonucleotide primed-PCR technology establishment and its sensitivity test analysis / 法医学杂志

OBJECTIVE@#To establish a whole genome amplification testing system based on degenerate oligonucleotide primed-PCR (DOP-PCR) and to explore its reliability and sensitivity.@*METHODS@#DOP-PCR amplified production was detected by fluorescent labeled multiplex STR amplification and capillary electrophoresis detection system to determine reliability and sensitivity of DOP-PCR system.@*RESULTS@#DOP-PCR system was successfully established and the detection sensitivity reached 5 cells (30 pg) by pretreatment of DOP-PCR and then detection of STR genotyping.@*CONCLUSION@#The system established in this study is reliable and more testing sensitive for forensic trace evidence.

Influence of surface modification of titanium on OPG/RANKL mRNA expression in MG-63 human osteoblast-like cells / 南方医科大学学报

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the influence of surface modification of titanium on OPG/RANKL mRNA expression in human osteoblast-like cells.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>MG-63 osteoblast-like cells were seeded on the titanium plates with surface polishing and with surface modification by sandblasting plus acid-base treatment, with the cells on glass slides as the control. On days 2, 4, 6, and 8 following cell seeding, the cells were harvested for examination of OPG/RANKL mRNA expression using RT-PCR and real-time PCR.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The expression of OPG/RANKL mRNA was sensitive to the surface microphotography. Compared with the other groups, the cells on the titanium plates with sandblasting plus acid-base treatment, which resulted in a porous micro-structure and high roughness, showed significantly up-regulated expression of OPG mRNA. OPG mRNA expression also showed a time-dependent up-regulation, and was the highest on day 8. The expression of the RANKL mRNA in cells on both of the titanium plates was higher than that in the control cells. The peak level of RANKL mRNA expression occurred on day 6 followed by a gradual decrease.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>A rough and porous surface of the culture plates and prolonged culture time can synergistically up-regulate the ratio of OPG/RANKL mRNA.</p>

Observation on osteoblasts responded to fluid induced shear cultured on different surfaces with scanning electron microscope / 华西口腔医学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate morphological change of osteoblasts cultured on titanium plates with different microarchitecture structure when exposured to fluid shear stress.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>14 dynes x cm(-2) fluid shear stress was applied on osteoblasts cultured on 3 different commercially pure titanium plates: Polished treatment (PT), sandblast (SB), sandblasting and acid-base (SB-AB) surfaces. Scanning electron microscope (SEM) was adopted to observe the morphological changes after 0.5, 4, 7.5 h time point respectively.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Morphologically, no significant changes were observed after 0.5 h and few osteoblasts were seen after 7.5 h on all 3 type of different surfaces, and significant changes could only be observed after 4 h. Osteoblasts were elongated and rearranged along the flow way on different levels on PT surface. Shape of cells was altered, from long fusiform suspending over depressed areas into polygon stretching out many synapsises tightly attached to pits on SB-AB surface. Osteoblasts on SB surface displayed similar change as SB-AB surface, besides, some cells were elongated along the way of flow, stretching out threadlike synapsises attached to edges of pits.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Morphological change of osteoblast responding to fluid shear stress in physiological range depends on substrate microarchitecture and varies with the time of fluid shear stress application.</p>

The association between common genetic variation in the FTO gene and metabolic syndrome in Han Chinese / 中华医学杂志(英文版)

<p><b>BACKGROUND</b>Genome-wide association studies for type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) identified FTO gene as a locus conferring increased risk for common obesity in many populations with European ancestry. However, the involvement of FTO gene in obesity or T2DM related metabolic traits has not been consistently established in Chinese populations. The objective of this study was to investigate the association of FTO genetic polymorphisms with metabolic syndrome (MetS) in Han Chinese.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>We tested 41 FTO single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) for association between FTO and MetS-related traits. There were a total of 236 unrelated subjects (108 cases and 128 controls), grouped according to the International Diabetes Federation (IDF) criteria.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Of the 41 SNPs examined, only SNP rs8047395 exhibited statistical significance (P = 0.026) under a recessive model, after Bonferroni adjustment for multiple testing (OR 1.64, 95%CI 1.11-2.42; P = 0.014). The common distributions of this polymorphism among Chinese--with a minor allele frequency (MAF) of 36% in the control group versus 48% in the MetS group--greatly improved our test power in a relatively small sample size for an association study. Previously identified obesity- (or T2DM-) associated FTO SNPs were less common in Han Chinese and were not associated with MetS in this study. No significant associations were found between our FTO SNPs and any endophenotypes of MetS.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>A more common risk-conferring variant of FTO for MetS was identified in Han Chinese. Our study substantiated that genetic variations in FTO locus are involved in the pathogenesis of MetS.</p>

Arecoline and oral keratinocytes may affect the collagen metabolism of fibroblasts.

BACKGROUND: The characteristic of oral submucous fibrosis (OSF) is related with the disturbance of synthesis and degradation of extracellular matrix. Arecoline, the areca nut (betel nut) component of betel quid, plays a major role in pathogenesis of OSF. But the exact mechanism how arecoline influences the collagen metabolism is unclear. METHODS: Oral keratinocytes and fibroblasts were cocultured and keratinocytes were pre-treated by arecoline. Fibroblasts alone, fibroblasts stimulated by arecoline, fibroblasts cocultured with keratinocytes and fibroblasts cocultured with keratinocyte pre-treated by arecoline were included as the four groups in the present study. The concentration of collagen, the content and activity of matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) and the concentration of tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase (TIMP) were assessed. RESULTS: The collagen production of fibroblasts decreased when cocultured with keratinocytes; when cocultured with keratinocytes pre-treated by arecoline, fibroblasts produced more soluble collagen than non-pretreated coculture group. MMP-9 was produced only in coculture groups. There was no significant difference in the two coculture groups. The activation ratio of pro-MMP-2 in arecoline pre-treated keratinocytes-fibroblasts coculture group was significantly higher than that of non-coculture groups, but no significant difference existed in the two coculture groups. TIMP-1 produced by arecoline pre-treated keratinocytes-fibroblasts coculture group was significantly higher than those by the other three groups. CONCLUSION: TIMP-1 and the interaction of oral keratinocytes and fibroblasts play important role in pathogenesis of OSF.

The effect of protease-activated receptor2 on rat apoptotic cardiomyocytes underwent ischemia reperfusion injury / 中华心血管病杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the effect of protease-activated receptor 2 (PAR-2) on rat apoptotic cardiomyocytes underwent ischemia reperfusion (I/R) injury.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Healthy male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into five groups (n = 8 each): sham-operation group, I/R (ligating the left coronary artery for 30 minutes and followed by 120 minutes reperfusion) group and three SLIGRL-NH2 groups treated with intravenous PAR-2 agonist SLIGRL-NH2 at different doses (0.5, 1, 3 mg/kg) 5 minutes before reperfusion. Apoptic cardiomyocytes was detected by TUNEL staining and by DNA ladder on agarose gel electrophoresis. Bax and Bcl-2 expression in myocardium was analyzed by immunohistochemical technique. The mRNA expression of PAR-2 was determined by Real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR).</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>(1) The apoptosis index and the expression of Bcl-2 and Bax were significantly increased in IR group and SLIGRL-NH2 groups than those in sham group (P < 0.05-0.01). (2) Compared with I/R group, the apoptosis index and the expression of Bax were significantly reduced while the expression of Bcl-2 and PAR-2 mRNA were significantly upregulated by SLIGRL-NH2 in a dose-dependent manner. (3) DNA Agarose gel electrophoresis demonstrated that DNA ladder existed in I/R and 0.5 mg/kg SLIGRL-NH2 group, but not in 1, 3 mg/kg SLIGRL-NH2 groups.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>PAR-2 agonist SLIGRL-NH2 could reduce myocardial apoptosis by upregulating the Bcl-2 and PAR-2 mRNA level and downregulating Bax expression in a dose-dependent manner in this rat I/R model.</p>