Multi­parameter quantitative magnetic resonance imaging in the early assessment of radiation­induced parotid damage in patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma following intensity­modulated radiotherapy.

The present study aimed to investigate the value of intravoxel incoherent motion imaging (IVIM) and three-dimensional pulsed continuous arterial spin labeling (ASL) in assessing dynamic changes of the parotid gland in patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) following radiotherapy (RT). A total of 18 patients with NPC who underwent intensity-modulated RT were enrolled in the present study. All patients underwent conventional magnetic resonance imaging, plus IVIM and ASL imaging of the bilateral parotid glands within 2 weeks prior to RT, and 1 week (1W) and 3 months (3M) following RT. Pure diffusion coefficient (D), pseudo-diffusion coefficient (D*), perfusion fraction (F) and blood flow (BF) were analyzed. D and BF values were significantly increased from pre-RT to 1W post-RT [change rate: Median (IQR), ΔD1W%: 39.28% (38.23%) and ΔBF1W%: 60.84% (54.88%)] and continued to increase from 1W post-RT to 3M post-RT [55.44% (40.56%) and ΔBF%: 120.39% (128.74%)]. In addition, the F value was significantly increased from pre-RT to 1W post-RT, [change rate: Median (IQR), ΔF1W%: 28.13% (44.66%)], and this decreased significantly from 1W post-RT to 3M post-RT. However, no significant differences were observed between pre-RT and 3M post-RT. Results of the present study also demonstrated that the D* value was significantly decreased from pre-RT to 1W post-RT and 3M post-RT [change rate: Median (IQR), ΔD*1w%: -41.86% (51.71%) and ΔD*3M: -29.11% (42.67%)]. No significant difference was observed between the different time intervals post-RT. There was a significant positive correlation between percentage change in ΔBF1W and radiation dose (ρ=0.548, P=0.001). Thus, IVIM-diffusion-weighted imaging and ASL may aid in the detection and prediction of radiation-induced parotid damage in the early stages following RT. They may contribute to further understanding the potential association between damage to the parotid glands and patient-/treatment-related variables, through the assessment of individual microcapillary perfusion and tissue diffusivity.

The Fabrication, Properties, and Application of a Printed Green Ag NWs-Based Flexible Electrode and Circuit.

A suitable conductive ink for office inkjet printers is important for the convenient design of flexible electrodes for triboelectric nanogenerators (TENG). Ag nanowires (Ag NWs) easily printed with an average short length of 1.65 µm were synthesized by using soluble NaCl as a growth regulator and adjusting the amount of chloride ion. The water-based Ag NWs ink with a low solid content of 1% but with low resistivity was produced. The printed flexible Ag NWs-based electrodes/circuits showed excellent conductivity with RS/R0 values kept at 1.03 after bending 50,000 times on PI substrate and an excellent anticlimate property in acidic conditions for 180 h on polyester woven fabric. The sheet resistance was reduced to 4.98 Ω/sqr heated at 30-50 °C for 3 min by a blower due to the formed excellent conductive network when compared to Ag NPs-based electrodes. Finally, the integration of printed Ag NWs electrode and circuits was applied to the TENG, which can be used to predict a robot's out-of-balance direction by the change of the TENG signal. In all, a suitable conductive ink with a short length of Ag NWs was fabricated, and flexible electrodes/circuits can be conveniently and easily printed by office inkjet printers.

Synthesis of covalent organic frameworks via Kabachnik-Fields reaction for water treatment.

Providing safe and clean domestic water for people is currently one of the greatest worldwide issues. In this context, heavy metal ions and pathogenic microbes are the two major factors in water pollution. The conventional water treatment methods, however, are generally high-energy and high-resource consumptive. Herein, we report, the first of its kind, the room-temperature synthesis of α-aminophosphonate-linked COFs via three-component one-pot in situ Kabachnik-Fields reaction (KF-3CR). Due to the coexistent bioactive α-aminophosphonate and photosensitive porphyrin, the obtained APCOF-1 exhibits highly efficient solar-powered bactericidal and heavy metal ion removal abilities, which allows it to be a promising COF-based multifunctional material for water treatment in an energy- and resource-saving way. Specifically, by incorporating APCOF-1 (up to 50 wt%) with eco-friendly and low-cost chitosan, an APCOF-1 @chitosan aerogel-based helical setup is fabricated via a facile templated freeze-drying approach and it can be a continuous flow-through water purifier model to achieve scaled-up water treatment through adsorptive removal of heavy metal ions and sunlight-driven sterilization. We believe that this research not only can significantly enrich the synthetic methodology of COFs, but also will hopefully bring COFs one step closer to the practical application.

Machine learning-based multiparametric traditional multislice computed tomography radiomics for improving the discrimination of parotid neoplasms.

Characterization of parotid tumors is important for treatment planning and prognosis, and parotid tumor discrimination has recently been developed at the molecular level. The aim of the present study was to establish a machine learning (ML) predictive model based on multiparametric traditional multislice CT (MSCT) radiomic and clinical data analysis to improve the accuracy of differentiation among pleomorphic adenoma (PA), Warthin tumor (WT) and parotid carcinoma (PCa). A total of 345 patients (200 with WT, 91 with PA and 54 with PCa) with pathologically confirmed parotid tumors were retrospectively enrolled from five independent institutions between January 2010 and May 2019. A total of 273 patients recruited from institutions 1, 2 and 3 were randomly assigned to the training model; the independent validation set consisted of 72 patients treated at institutions 1, 4 and 5. Data were investigated using a linear discriminant analysis-based ML classifier. Feature selection and dimension reduction were conducted using reproducibility testing and a wrapper method. The diagnostic accuracy of the predictive model was compared with histopathological findings as reference results. This classifier achieved a satisfactory performance for the discrimination of PA, WT and PCa, with a total accuracy of 82.1% in the training cohort and 80.5% in the validation cohort. In conclusion, ML-based multiparametric traditional MSCT radiomics can improve the accuracy of differentiation among PA, WT and PCa. The findings of the present study should be validated by multicenter prospective studies using completely independent external data.

Metalloporphyrin and Ionic Liquid-Functionalized Covalent Organic Frameworks for Catalytic CO2 Cycloaddition via Visible-Light-Induced Photothermal Conversion.

We report the construction of a porphyrin and imidazolium-ionic liquid (IL)-decorated and quinoline-linked covalent organic framework (COF, abbreviated as COF-P1-1) via a three-component one-pot Povarov reaction. After post-synthetic metallization of COF-P1-1 with Co(II) ions, the metallized COF-PI-2 is generated. COF-PI-2 is chemically stable and displays highly selective CO2 adsorption and good visible-light-induced photothermal conversion ability (ΔT = 26 °C). Furthermore, the coexistence of Co(II)-porphyrin and imidazolium-IL within COF-PI-2 has guaranteed its highly efficient activity for CO2 cycloaddition. Of note, the needed thermal energy for the reactions is derived from the photothermal conversion of the Co(II)-porphyrin COF upon visible-light irradiation. More importantly, the CO2 cycloaddition herein is a "window ledge" reaction, and it can proceed smoothly upon natural sunlight irradiation. In addition, a scaled-up CO2 cycloaddition can be readily achieved using a COF-PI-2@chitosan aerogel-based fixed-bed model reactor. Our research provides a new avenue for COF-based greenhouse gas disposal in an eco-friendly and energy- and source-saving way.

Three-dimensional pulsed continuous arterial spin labeling and intravoxel incoherent motion imaging of nasopharyngeal carcinoma: correlations with Ki-67 proliferation status.

BACKGROUND: Recurrence and distant metastasis are still the main problems affecting the long-term prognosis of nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) patients, and may be related to the Ki-67 proliferation status. We therefore explored the potential correlation between Ki-67 proliferation status in NPC with the parameters derived from two imaging techniques: three-dimensional pulsed continuous arterial spin labeling (3D pCASL) and intravoxel incoherent motion (IVIM). METHODS: Thirty-six patients with pathologically confirmed NPC were included, and the Ki-67 labeling index (LI) was measured by immunohistochemistry. All patients underwent plain and contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), IVIM, and 3D pCASL examination. The mean, maximum, and minimum of blood flow (BF), minimum of apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC), pure diffusion coefficient (D), pseudodiffusion coefficient (D*), and perfusion fraction (f) parameters were all measured, and Spearman's correlation analysis was performed to evaluate the relationships between these parameters and the Ki-67 LI. According to the Ki-67 values, the patients were divided into two groups: high (>50%) and low (≤50%). The rank-sum test (Mann-Whitney U test) was then used to compare the differences in quantitative parameters between the high and low Ki-67 groups. RESULTS: Ki-67 LI was positively correlated with BFmean and BFmax (r=0.415 and 0.425). D*mean and D*min did have positive correlation with Ki-67, but this was not significant (P=0.082 and 0.072). BFmax was significantly different between the high and low Ki-67 groups (P=0.028). CONCLUSIONS: 3D pCASL and IVIM are noninvasive functional MR perfusion imaging techniques that can evaluate perfusion information and perfusion parameters. Our study suggests that 3D pCASL is more effective than IVIM for assessing the proliferation status of NPC, which is beneficial for evaluating the prognosis of patients. Furthermore, BFmax is the best biomarker for distinguishing high from low Ki-67 levels.

Sulfonic Acid and Ionic Liquid Functionalized Covalent Organic Framework for Efficient Catalysis of the Biginelli Reaction.

A quinoline-linked and ionic liquid-decorated covalent organic framework was prepared by incorporation of a multicomponent Povarov reaction and postsynthetic modification. The imidazolium and sulfonic acid-decorated COF-IM-SO3H can be a highly efficient Brønsted acid catalyst to promote the Biginelli reaction under solvent-free conditions in a heterogeneous way. In addition, a scaled-up Biginelli reaction has been readily realized over a COF-IM-SO3H@chitosan aerogel-based cup reactor.

Effect of Early and Intensive Rehabilitation after Ischemic Stroke on Functional Recovery of the Lower Limbs: A Pilot, Randomized Trial.

OBJECTIVE: We aimed to develop an early and intense lower extremity training technique using a recumbent cycle ergometer system in patients with acute ischemic stroke. METHODS: This was a pilot, prospective, randomized, controlled study with 2 parallel groups followed for 3 months with blinded assessment of outcomes. Thirty-one eligible patients were randomized to experimental and control groups. To strengthen the motion of the lower extremities within 48 hours after stroke, the control and experimental groups received conventional treatment and additional interventions under a therapist's guidance combined with conventional treatment, respectively. The primary outcome measure was the change in lower extremity motor control from admission to 4 weeks, assessed by the Fugl-Meyer Assessment. Secondary outcomes were the number of days to walking 50 m and the change in the Berg Balance Scale score and Barthel index. The modified Rankin Score was used to assess the overall function and prognosis at 3 months. RESULTS: Fugl-Meyer Assessment and Berg Balance Scale scores and Barthel index increased over time in the experimental group, as did the Berg Balance Scale score and Barthel index in the control group (P < .001). However, Fugl-Meyer Assessment scores in the control group were similar over time (F = 2.303, P = 1.119). Fugl-Meyer Assessment scores in the experimental group were higher than those in the control group after 2 and 4 weeks (P = .084 and .037, respectively). Compared with the control group at 2 weeks or at discharge, the percentage of patients who returned to unassisted walking in the experimental group showed an increasing trend (56.3% versus 26.67%, P = .095), but there was no significant difference between the 2 groups after 3 months (P = .598). The modified Rankin Score at 3 months showed no significant difference between the 2 groups (P > .05). CONCLUSIONS: Our early and intense lower extremity training technique involving a leg cycle ergometer system contributes to the recovery of lower extremity function in patients with acute ischemic stroke. This finding will provide a basis for future investigations on the applicability of the intervention in early lower extremity and walking rehabilitation among individuals with neurological disorder.

Assessment of Toxicity and Absorption of the Novel AA Derivative AA-Pme in SGC7901 Cancer Cells In Vitro and in Zebrafish In Vivo.

BACKGROUND Asiatic acid (AA; 2α,3ß,23-trihydroxyurs-12-ene-28-oic acid) is an active compound derived from Centella asiatica, a traditional medicinal plant used widely in many Asian countries, particularly for the treatment of cancer. However, the modified AA derivative N-(2α,3ß,23-acetoxyurs-12-en-28-oyl)-l-proline methyl ester (AA-PMe) has shown markedly better anti-tumor activity than AA. MATERIAL AND METHODS We evaluated the toxicity of AA and AA-PMe on zebrafish morphology, mortality, and hatching rate and determined the effect on SGC7901 cancer cells by acute toxicity assay. AA-PMe absorption in vitro in SGC7901 cells and in vivo in zebrafish was determined by establishing a highly accurate and reproducible HPLC protocol. RESULTS In zebrafish, the toxicity of AA-PMe was lower than AA, with an acute toxic dose of AA-PMe above 25 µM, compared to acute toxicity at doses above 10 µM for AA. However, chronic toxicity of AA-PMe began occurring at doses below 25 µM but became apparent for AA at doses below 10 µM. Although low doses of AA-PMe were tolerated acutely, it became chronically toxic during zebrafish development, resulting in morphological abnormalities, including peripheral and abdominal edema, hemorrhage, abnormal body shape, enlarged yolk sac, and reduced motility. At low concentrations, absorption of AA-PMe by cells and zebrafish embryos occurred in a dose-dependent manner, but this stabilized as the concentration increased. CONCLUSIONS This pharmacokinetic study outlines the cellular and organismal effects of AA-PMe and suggests a theoretical basis that may underlie its mechanism of action.

MicroRNA­675­3p promotes esophageal squamous cell cancer cell migration and invasion.

Esophageal cancer ranks fourth in cancer­associated mortality in China and the incidence of esophageal adenocarcinoma has risen dramatically over the past two decades. MicroRNA (miRNA/miR) serves a pivotal role in human cancer cell growth, invasion and migration. MiR­675­3p is highly expressed in esophageal squamous cell cancer (ESCC) tissues, and may have an influence on ESCC cell migration and invasion. ESCC tumor tissue samples from 35 patients were profiled. MiR­675­3p expression was confirmed by reverse transcription­quantitative polymerase chain reaction. Manipulation of miR­675­3p via knockdown was carried out with subsequent evaluation of effects on cell proliferation, invasion, migration, and use of western blotting and ELISA assays. MiR­675­3p was overexpressed in ESCC tissues compared with normal tissues, and had higher expression levels in ESCC cells compared with the healthy esophageal epithelial cell line. The results revealed a predominant upregulation of cell migration and invasion ability. MiR­675­3p inhibitor inhibited ESCC cell proliferation, migration and invasion ability. It was also demonstrated that downregulation of miR­675­3p decreased the levels of matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) 2 and 9 and increased the level of E­cadherin. In addition, the effects of miR­675­3p inhibitor on ESCC cell lines were eliminated by con­transfection with miR­675­3p inhibitor and miR­675­3p mimic. In conclusion, the results indicated that miR­675­3p may be involved in the progression of ESCC through regulating ESCC cell migration and invasion capacity via modulating epithelial mesenchymal transition markers (MMP2, MMP 9 and E­cadherin).

Low Vitamin D Levels Are Associated With the Development of Deep Venous Thromboembolic Events in Patients With Ischemic Stroke.

The objective is to determine whether a low serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) level is associated with an increased incidence of deep venous thromboembolic events in patients with ischemic stroke. One hundred eighty persons admitted consecutively for inpatient rehabilitation at the Department of Rehabilitation of the First Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University with a diagnosis of ischemic stroke from January 2015 to December 2015 were enrolled. The following demographic data were collected: age, sex, body mass index, and history of risk factors. The levels of 25(OH)D and the presence of deep vein thrombosis (DVT) by routine duplex imaging were also recorded. The value of 25(OH)D needed to predict DVT was analyzed using logistic regression analysis, after adjusting for the possible confounders. We found that 80% of patients admitted to the acute inpatient rehabilitation unit had low levels of vitamin D. Forty-seven patients had DVT, and the incidence of DVT was 26.1% within 3 weeks after the stroke event. With all patients taken together, DVT occurrence as a dependent variable with the sufficient group as the reference used for vitamin D levels in the logistic analysis, deficiency of vitamin D was independently associated with the development of DVT (odds ratio = 4.683, 95% confidence interval: 1.396-15.703, P = .012). In conclusion, low serum 25(OH)D levels were independent predictors of DVT in patients with ischemic stroke during inpatient rehabilitation stay in China. This finding reveals the critical role played by 25(OH)D in the pathogenesis of DVT.

The Effects of BDNF Val66Met Gene Polymorphism on Serum BDNF and Cognitive Function in Methamphetamine-Dependent Patients and Normal Controls: A Case-Control Study.

Studies suggest that a functional polymorphism of the brain-derived neurotrophic factor gene (BDNF Val66Met) may contribute to methamphetamine dependence. We hypothesized that this polymorphism had a role in cognitive deficits in methamphetamine-dependent patients and in the relationship of serum BDNF with cognitive impairments. We conducted a case-control study by assessing 194 methamphetamine-dependent patients and 378 healthy volunteers without history of drug use on the Repeatable Battery for the Assessment of Neuropsychological Status (RBANS) and the presence of the BDNF Val66Met polymorphism and serum BDNF levels. We showed no significant differences in genotype and allele distributions between the methamphetamine-dependent patients and controls. Some aspects of cognitive function significantly differed in the 2 groups. The serum BDNF levels in methamphetamine-dependent patients were significantly higher than those of the healthy controls. In the patients, partial correlation analysis showed a significant positive correlation between serum BDNF and the delayed memory index score. The RBANS scores showed statistically significant BDNF level × genotype interaction. Further regression analyses showed a significant positive association between BDNF levels and the RBANS total score, immediate memory or attention index among Val homozygote patients, whereas a significant negative association of BDNF levels with the RBANS total score, visuospatial/constructional, or language index was found among Met/Val heterozygous patients. We demonstrated significant impairment on some aspects of cognitive function and increased BDNF levels in methamphetamine-dependent patients as well as genotypic differences in the relationships between BDNF levels and RBANS scores on the BDNF Val66Met polymorphism only in these patients.

The analysis of BDNF gene polymorphism haplotypes and impulsivity in methamphetamine abusers.

An increasing number of evidence showed that genetic factors might contribute to drug abuse vulnerability. Data from genetic scans in humans suggest that brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), a member of the neurotrophic factor family, may be associated with substance abuse or dependence. To test the hypothesis that the BDNF gene polymorphism is involved in methamphetamine abuse, we compared three single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs, rs16917204, rs16917234, and rs2030324) of the BDNF gene in 200 methamphetamine abusers and 219 healthy individuals. We also considered the association of these polymorphisms with impulsivity in methamphetamine abusers using Barratt Impulsivity Scale-11(BIS-11) Chinese version. Individual SNP analysis showed no significant differences in genotype and allele distributions between the methamphetamine abusers and controls. Haplotype analysis of rs16917204-rs16917234-rs2030324 revealed that a major C-C-T haplotype was significantly associated a lower odds of methamphetamine abuse, even after Bonferroni correction. Within the methamphetamine-abuse group, subjects carrying the T allele of rs2030324 genotype had significantly higher motor impulsivity scores of BIS compared to those with the C/C genotype. Our findings suggest that the BDNF gene polymorphism may contribute to the impulsivity in methamphetamine abusers.

An association between BDNF Val66Met polymorphism and impulsivity in methamphetamine abusers.

Recent studies showed an association between a functional polymorphism of BDNF gene (Val66Met) and the susceptibility to methamphetamine addiction. We hypothesized that this polymorphism was associated with methamphetamine abuse and impulsivity in methamphetamine-abuse patients. The polymorphism was genotyped in 200 methamphetamine-abuse patients and 219 healthy controls. The association of the Val66Met polymorphism of the BDNF gene and impulsivity in 138 methamphetamine abusers were assessed using Barratt Impulsivity Scale-11(BIS-11) Chinese version. The relationship between the polymorphism and age of onset of methamphetamine abuse was also examined. Our results showed no significant differences in genotype and allele distributions between the methamphetamine abusers and controls. Within the methamphetamine-abuse group, subjects carried the Met allele had significantly higher attentional impulsivity scores of BIS compared to those with the Val/Val genotype. The Met allele was also associated with earlier age onset of methamphetamine use. Our findings suggest that the BDNF Val66Met gene polymorphism may influence attentional impulsivity in methamphetamine abusers. Moreover, the BDNF Val66Met gene polymorphism may contribute to onset age of methamphetamine use.

Increased serum brain-derived neurotrophic factor levels during opiate withdrawal.

Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) has been implicated in the pathophysiology of opiate addiction. Both increased and decreased serum BDNF levels have been reported in heroin addicts. Moreover, the role of BDNF in heroin-dependent patients during withdrawal has not been studied. This study aimed to explore the differences in serum BDNF levels of heroin addicts and healthy controls, and investigate the changes of serum BDNF levels in heroin addicts at baseline and at one month after heroin cessation. Seventy-two heroin-dependent patients and ninety age- and gender-matched healthy controls were enrolled in this study. We measured serum BDNF levels at baseline (both heroin addicts and healthy controls) and one month after heroin cessation (heroin addicts only). A total of 37 (51.4%) heroin addicts completed the one-month study. We found that baseline serum BDNF levels were significantly higher in heroin addicts compared to controls (F=36.5, p=0.001). There was no difference in serum BDNF levels among heroin addicts at baseline and one month after heroin cessation (F=1.101, p=0.301). These results indicate that BDNF may play a critical role in the course of opiate addiction and withdrawal.

Legumain protein as a potential predictive biomarker for Asian patients with breast carcinoma.

BACKGROUND: Treatment for breast cancer is mainly performed by surgical resection of primary tumors and chemotherapy. However, after tumor invasion and metastases, breast cancer is hard to control. Clarification of the pathogenic mechanisms would be helpful to the prognosis or therapy for the breast cancer. The aim of this study is to investigate the clinical and prognostic implications of legumain protein Materials and Methods: In this study, we examined mastectomy specimens from 114 breast cancer and matching, 26 adjacent non-cancerous tissues using immunohistochemistry. RESULTS: The results indicated that positive expression of legumain protein in breast cancer was 51.8 % (59/114) and the positive expression of legumain protein in adjacent non-cancerous tissue was 11.5% (3/26). It appeared to be related with lymph node metastasis of breast cancer (p=0.02) and correlation analysis indicated that legumain expression was correlated positively with the estrogen receptor (ER) and mutant-type p53 expression (both p<0.05). Positive legumain expression was significantly associated with shorter overall survival time in breast cancer patients (log-rank p<0.01). Multivariate survival analysis suggested that the positive legumain expression was an independent predictor of poorer overall survival in patients with breast cancer (HR=0.24; 95%CI 0.11-0.65, p=0.03). CONCLUSIONS: Legumain might be a new potential biomarker for breast cancer, which may reflect the prognosis and overall survival.

Umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cell transfusion ameliorated hyperglycemia in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus.

BACKGROUND: Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is a serious threat to human health and remains incurable. Insulin deficiency seems to be attributed to the progressive failure of pancreatic islet ß-cells and immune cells such as T cells mediated cytotoxicity may be involved in the loss of pancreatic islet ß-cells in T2DM. Targeting on the immune system to maintain functional activity of pancreatic islet ß-cells could be an attractive way to treat T2DM. Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) exert potent capacity of immunomodulation. MSCs have been successfully applied for the treatment of several types of autoimmune diseases. So, the aim of this study is to evaluate the safety and potential therapeutic effects of UMSC on T2DM. METHODS: UMSCs were separated, expanded, and identified on the basis of the previous description. 18 patients of T2DM were recruited according to our experimental protocol. UMSC was intravenously transfused three times. All patients were followed up in the first, third, and sixth month. Age, gender, diabetes duration and medications as well as weight, height, and BMI were recorded. Fasting plasma glucose (FPG), postprandial blood glucose (PBG), HbA1c, C-peptide, and subsets of T cells were measured. All adverse reactions were carefully documented. Effective criteria were made and data was analyzed using SPSS 19.0 software. RESULTS: UMSCs were successful obtained. Baseline clinical characteristics between the efficacy and inefficacy groups were not statistically different (p > 0.05). FBG and PBG of the patients in efficacy group were significantly reduced (p < 0.05) after UMSC transfusion. Plasma C-peptide levels and regulatory T (Treg) cell number in the efficacy group were numerically higher after UMSC transfusion; however, the difference of both parameters did not reach significance (p > 0.05). During the treatment course only 4 out of 18 patients (22.2%) had slight transient fever. Up to 6 months after UMSC transfusion, all patients continued to have a feeling of well-being and were physically more active. CONCLUSIONS: UMSC transfusion is safe and well tolerated, effectively alleviates blood glucose, and increases the generation of C-peptide levels and Tregs in a subgroup of T2DM patients. This pilot study provides fundamental data for further study of UMSC transfusion on control of blood glucose as well as morbidity of T2DM in a larger cohort.

Gender differences in socio-demographic and clinical characteristics of methamphetamine inpatients in a Chinese population.

BACKGROUND: Over the past two decades, China has experienced a dramatic increase in methamphetamine (MA) abuse. This study examined gender-specific socio-demographic and clinical characteristics of MA use among Han Chinese, which has previously received little systematic study. METHODS: This analysis described MA-related socio-demographic and clinical characteristics in a broad cross-sectional sample (n=1464; male/female=1185/279), and examined differences between males and females in MA use history, MA initiation, MA-related subjective feelings and behaviors, and withdrawal symptoms. RESULTS: Most MA abusers (about 72%) were young (in their 20s or 30s), with women being 5 years younger than men on average. More males (33.2%) were married than females (21.9%). The average body mass index (BMI) was significantly lower in this MA abuser sample compared to the age-matched healthy controls. Moreover, the BMI of females was significantly lower than that of males. The laboratory tests showed that the blood levels of glucose, cholesterol and triglyceride were all significantly higher in males than females. Females used MA at a younger age compared to males. The most frequent route of MA use was smoking (90.9%). Males were more likely to use another drug, and more likely to be hospitalized. However, many characteristics and behaviors of MA use are similar for males and females, including the route, the dose and duration of MA use, and relapse status. CONCLUSION: Although there were some male-female similarities in MA use parameters, significant differences do exist that may have implications for gender-specific research as well as for prevention and treatment strategies.