Enhanced immunomodulation and periodontal regeneration efficacy of subgingivally delivered progranulin-loaded hydrogel as an adjunct to non-surgical treatment for Class II furcation involvement in dogs.

AIM: To evaluate the effect of subgingival delivery of progranulin (PGRN)/gelatin methacryloyl (GelMA) complex as an adjunct to scaling and root planing (SRP) on an experimental periodontitis dog model with Class II furcation involvement (FI). MATERIALS AND METHODS: A Class II FI model was established, and the defects were divided into four treatment groups: (a) no treatment (control); (b) SRP; (c) SRP + GelMA; (d) SRP + PGRN/GelMA. Eight weeks after treatment, periodontal parameters were recorded, gingival crevicular fluid and gingival tissue were collected for ELISA and RT-qPCR, respectively, and mandibular tissue blocks were collected for micro computed tomography (micro-CT) scanning and hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) staining. RESULTS: The SRP + PGRN/GelMA group showed significant improvement in all periodontal parameters compared with those in the other groups. The expression of markers related to M1 macrophage and Th17 cell significantly decreased, and the expression of markers related to M2 macrophage and Treg cell significantly increased in the SRP + PGRN/GelMA group compared with those in the other groups. The volume, quality and area of new bone and the length of new cementum in the root furcation defects of the PGRN/GelMA group were significantly increased compared to those in the other groups. CONCLUSIONS: Subgingival delivery of the PGRN/GelMA complex could be a promising non-surgical adjunctive therapy for anti-inflammation, immunomodulation and periodontal regeneration.

Body composition and metabolic syndrome in patients with type 1 diabetes.

BACKGROUND: In recent years, the prevalence of obesity and metabolic syndrome in type 1 diabetes (T1DM) patients has gradually increased. Insulin resistance in T1DM deserves attention. It is necessary to clarify the relationship between body composition, metabolic syndrome and insulin resistance in T1DM to guide clinical treatment and intervention. AIM: To assess body composition (BC) in T1DM patients and evaluate the relationship between BC, metabolic syndrome (MS), and insulin resistance in these indi-viduals. METHODS: A total of 101 subjects with T1DM, aged 10 years or older, and with a disease duration of over 1 year were included. Bioelectrical impedance analysis using the Tsinghua-Tongfang BC Analyzer BCA-1B was employed to measure various BC parameters. Clinical and laboratory data were collected, and insulin resistance was calculated using the estimated glucose disposal rate (eGDR). RESULTS: MS was diagnosed in 16/101 patients (15.84%), overweight in 16/101 patients (15.84%), obesity in 4/101 (3.96%), hypertension in 34/101 (33.66%%) and dyslipidemia in 16/101 patients (15.84%). Visceral fat index (VFI) and trunk fat mass were significantly and negatively correlated with eGDR (both P < 0.001). Female patients exhibited higher body fat percentage and visceral fat ratio compared to male patients. Binary logistic regression analysis revealed that significant factors for MS included eGDR [P = 0.017, odds ratio (OR) = 0.109], VFI (P = 0.030, OR = 3.529), and a family history of diabetes (P = 0.004, OR = 0.228). Significant factors for hypertension included eGDR (P < 0.001, OR = 0.488) and skeletal muscle mass (P = 0.003, OR = 1.111). Significant factors for dyslipidemia included trunk fat mass (P = 0.033, OR = 1.202) and eGDR (P = 0.037, OR = 0.708). CONCLUSION: Visceral fat was found to be a superior predictor of MS compared to conventional measures such as body mass index and waist-to-hip ratio in Chinese individuals with T1DM. BC analysis, specifically identifying visceral fat (trunk fat), may play an important role in identifying the increased risk of MS in non-obese patients with T1DM.

Tunable afterglow Ca1 - xSrxAl2O4:Eu2+, Nd3+ phosphors with dependence of an excitation wavelength.

In the emerging field of high-capacity information encryption, multicolor, multitemporal, and multimodal luminescence inorganic materials are of great significance. However, conventional inorganic materials lack the flexibility to dynamically adjust the photon transition path, resulting in unicolor luminescence of the sample and reducing the reading and decoding levels. Herein, we elaborately designed the components for constructing dual-phase crystal fields for Eu2+ in phosphors based on a high temperature solid-state method. Specifically, SrAl2O4:Eu2+ crystal with a bright green afterglow and CaAl2O4:Eu2+ crystal with a blue afterglow were obtained in phosphors at the same time. As a result, a tunable afterglow behavior from blue to white was achieved due to the 4f65d1 → 4f7 transition of Eu2+ at different crystal field sites. Finally, the color tunable afterglow sample was used to explore the encryption and decryption processes of information, and the results showed that the prepared material has a good anti-counterfeiting performance, which is promising for the development of long persistent luminescent materials.

Enhanced blue afterglow in Ce-doped boroaluminate glass modified by Na.

The alkali metal Na+ is commonly applied as a charge compensator to optimize afterglow performance but rarely reported as a structural regulator to modify afterglow behavior in long afterglow glass materials. In this paper, by preparing the Na + -modified Ce-doped boroaluminate glasses under a high-temperature reducing atmosphere, super-five times brighter blue-violet afterglow lasting up to 30 min was obtained. Results show that appropriate Na+ doping loosens the glass structure and widens the bandgap, thereby regulating most of the electron capture-release modes. This work provides new insights into the behavior of afterglow enhancement in alkali metal-doped glasses.

Efficient and tunable emission CsPbClxBr3-x quantum dot glass for overcoming the lack of cyan gap in WLED.

Recently, the photoluminescence (PL) performance and stability of cyan emission perovskite quantum dot (PQD) were found to be inferior to other color emitting PQDs, which greatly limits their practical applications. In this Letter, CsPbClxBr3-x PQD glass with excellent hydrothermal stability is successfully synthesized by a high-temperature melting method. Results review that the vacancy defects in [PbBr6]4- octahedra can be effectively compensated by excessive halogen doping, resulting in an improvement in the photoluminescence quantum yield (PLQY) of PQDs from 24.73% to 65.62%. In addition, compared to white light emitting diode (WLED) synthesized with commercial fluorescent powders, the introduction of CsPbCl2Br1 PQD glass effectively fills the cyan gap. Moreover, the WLED displays the color-rendering index (CRI) of 87 at correlated color temperature (CCT) of 5257 K, and the color gamut area reaches 126% of the National Television System Committee (NTSC). This work provides an effective way for improving the PL performance of PQDs and brings CsPbClxBr3-x PQD glass significant prospect in the optoelectronic applications.

Structural and mechanistic insights into the MCM8/9 helicase complex.

MCM8 and MCM9 form a functional helicase complex (MCM8/9) that plays an essential role in DNA homologous recombination repair for DNA double-strand break. However, the structural characterization of MCM8/9 for DNA binding/unwinding remains unclear. Here, we report structures of the MCM8/9 complex using cryo-electron microscopy single particle analysis. The structures reveal that MCM8/9 is arranged into a heterohexamer through a threefold symmetry axis, creating a central channel that accommodates DNA. Multiple characteristic hairpins from the N-terminal oligosaccharide/oligonucleotide (OB) domains of MCM8/9 protrude into the central channel and serve to unwind the duplex DNA. When activated by HROB, the structure of MCM8/9's N-tier ring converts its symmetry from C3 to C1 with a conformational change that expands the MCM8/9's trimer interface. Moreover, our structural dynamic analyses revealed that the flexible C-tier ring exhibited rotary motions relative to the N-tier ring, which is required for the unwinding ability of MCM8/9. In summary, our structural and biochemistry study provides a basis for understanding the DNA unwinding mechanism of MCM8/9 helicase in homologous recombination.

The global, regional and national burden of type 2 diabetes mellitus in the past, present and future: a systematic analysis of the Global Burden of Disease Study 2019.

Aim: To report the global, regional, and national burden of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) in 2019, assess its trends in the past, and forecast its trends in the future. Methods: The main data source was the Global Burden of Disease 2019 database. We assessed the changes in T2DM burden from 1990 to 2019 with joinpoint regression analysis. Age-period-cohort analysis was used to forecast the T2DM incidence and mortality rate from 2020 to 2034. Results: The burden of T2DM has increased from 1990 to 2019 generally. The low-middle socio-demographic index (SDI) region had the highest increase in age-standardized incidence rate (ASIR), age-standardized prevalence rate (ASPR), age-standardized mortality rate (ASMR), and age-standardized disability-adjusted life years (ASDR) due to T2DM. Nationally, the increase in ASIR (r=0.151, p=0.046) and the decrease in ASMR (r=0.355, p<0.001) were positively correlated with SDIs. In 2019, the global ASIR, ASPR, ASMR, ASDR due to T2DM were 259.9 (95% UI 240.3-281.4), 5282.9 (95% UI 4853.6-5752.1), 18.5 (95% UI 17.2-19.7), and 801.5 (95% UI 55477000-79005200) per 100,000 population, respectively. Additionally, the ASIR (r=0.153, p=0.030) and ASPR (r=0.159, p=0.024) of T2DM were positively correlated with SDIs, while ASMR (r=-0.226, p=0.001) and ASDR (r=-0.171, p=0.015) due to T2DM were negatively correlated with SDIs. The ASIR was estimated to increase to 284.42, and ASMR was estimated to increase to 19.1 from 2030 to 2034, per 100,000 population. Conclusion: Globally, the burden of T2DM has increased in the past and was forecast to continue increasing. Greater investment in T2DM prevention is needed.

An intermediate state allows influenza polymerase to switch smoothly between transcription and replication cycles.

Influenza polymerase (FluPol) transcribes viral mRNA at the beginning of the viral life cycle and initiates genome replication after viral protein synthesis. However, it remains poorly understood how FluPol switches between its transcription and replication states, especially given that the structural bases of these two functions are fundamentally different. Here we propose a mechanism by which FluPol achieves functional switching between these two states through a previously unstudied conformation, termed an 'intermediate state'. Using cryo-electron microscopy, we obtained a structure of the intermediate state of H5N1 FluPol at 3.7 Å, which is characterized by a blocked cap-binding domain and a contracted core region. Structural analysis results suggest that the intermediate state may allow FluPol to transition smoothly into either the transcription or replication state. Furthermore, we show that the formation of the intermediate state is required for both the transcription and replication activities of FluPol, leading us to conclude that the transcription and replication cycles of FluPol are regulated via this intermediate state.

Highly efficient green emission Cs4PbBr6 quantum dots with stable water endurance.

To date, quantum dots (QDs) based on perovskite materials with high photoluminescence quantum yield (PLQY) and stability have rarely been reported. In this work, Cs4PbBr6 QDs glass ceramic with high PLQY and water stability is obtained, and the research results confirm that the strong green emission originates from the trapping of free excitons by internal Br vacancies. The rise of Br vacancies and the spontaneous growth of multi-morphology Cs4PbBr6 QDs under the influence of air humidity increase the PLQY to 89.62%. Compared with pure QDs, the Cs4PbBr6 QDs maintain high-intensity luminescence after being immersed in water for up to 150 days. In short, this paper puts forward a new, to the best of our knowledge, and valuable perspective for investigating the luminescence of Cs4PbBr6 QDs glass ceramic derived from related work.

The application of sudoscan for screening microvascular complications in patients with type 2 diabetes.

The aim of the study was to evaluate the performance of sudoscan in screening diabetic microvascular complications in patients with type 2 diabete mellitus (T2DM). 515 patients with T2DM aged from 23 to 89 years were included for analysis in our study. The mean age was 60.00 ± 11.37 years and the mean duration of T2DM was 8.44 ± 7.56 years. Electrochemical skin conductance (ESC) in hands and feet was evaluated by SUDOCAN. Diabetic peripheral neuropathy (DPN) was diagnosed in 378 patients (44.3%), diabetic kidney disease (DKD) in 161 patients (31.26%), diabetic retinopathy (DR) in 148 patients (28.74%). Hands and feet ESC was significantly and independently associated with the presence of DPN, DKD and DR. Patients with a lower ESC (<60 µS) had 5.63-fold increased likelihood of having DPN, 4.90-fold increased likelihood of having DKD, 1.01-fold increased likelihood of having DR, than those with a higher ESC. Age, duration of T2DM, smoking, renal function and vibration perception thresholds were negatively correlated with ESC. Sudoscan parameters were correlated with diabetic microvascular complications, especially with DPN. Sudoscan could be an effective screening tool in primary health care for early screening microvascular complications.

Effectiveness of clinical pharmacist-led smartphone application on medication adherence, insulin injection technique and glycemic control for women with gestational diabetes receiving multiple daily insulin injection: A randomized clinical trial.

AIM: To investigate the efficacy of a clinical pharmacist-led smartphone application (app) on medication adherence, insulin injection technique (IIT) and diabetes-related outcomes among women with gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) receiving insulin therapy. METHOD: In all, 124 women were randomly (1:1 ratio) assigned to receive app intervention plus usual care (intervention) or usual care (control), and were followed up till 12 weeks postpartum. Interventions centralized on medication adherence and IIT. Primary outcome was medication adherence assessed by the 5-item Medication Adherence Report Scale. Secondary outcomes included IIT, insulin requirement, prepartal and puerperal glycemic control, hypoglycemia, and pregnancy and neonatal outcomes. RESULTS: A total of 119 patients completed the follow-up evaluation (58 intervention, 61 control). Significant more women with high medication adherence in the intervention group was observed (69.0% vs. 34.4%, p = 0.000). The other notable benefits (all p < 0.05) included patient percentage with appropriate IIT, lesser preprandial insulin dose, patient proportion with both qualified prepartal FPG and 2 hPG, and puerperal FPG or HbA1c, fewer hypoglycemia, and lower neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) admission rate. Cesarean delivery rate was higher among intervention cases (p < 0.05). Qualified prepartal glycemic control was related to high medication adherence and proper IIT. NICU admission was associated with complicated with gestational hypertension, deficient medication adherence and premature rupture of fetal membrane. CONCLUSION: Combined with usual care, clinical pharmacist-led smartphone app might be a valid tool for GDM management.

Corrigendum to "Residual ß-Cell Function in Type 1 Diabetes Followed for 2 Years after 3C Study".

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1155/2021/9946874.].

Residual ß-Cell Function in Type 1 Diabetes Followed for 2 Years after 3C Study.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the natural history and related factors of the pancreatic ß-cell function in Chinese type 1 diabetic patients from 3C study Shantou center. METHOD: Stimulated C-peptide levels from follow-up data of 201 individuals in 3C study Shantou subgroup starting in 2012 were used. Residual ß-cell function was defined as stimulated C - peptide level ≥ 0.2 pmol/mL, on the basis of cut-points derived from the Diabetes Control and Complications Trial (DCCT). RESULTS: 36.8% of patients had residual ß-cell function, and the percentage was 68.2% in newly diagnosed diabetic patients. COX regression analysis indicated that the age of diagnosis, HbA1C level, and duration were independent factors of residual ß-cell function in individuals with ≤5 years duration, but in those with duration ≥5 years, only the age of diagnosis was a predictor. The pancreatic ß-cell function mainly declined in the first 5 years of the duration, and the rate of decline was correlated negatively with the duration and age of diagnosis. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis indicated that the cut-off point of stimulated C-peptide was 0.615 pmol/mL in patients with <5 years duration to have 7% HbA1c. CONCLUSION: Age at diagnosis was the strongest predictor for residual C-peptide. There was a more rapid decline of stimulated C-peptide in duration ≤5 years and younger patients. Therefore, intervention therapies of ß-cells should start from the early stage, and the recommended target goal of stimulated C-peptide is 0.615 pmol/mL or above.

Effects of different diet-induced postnatal catch-up growth on glycolipid metabolism in intrauterine growth retardation male rats.

A number of studies have reported the occurrence of long-term metabolic disorders in mammals following intrauterine growth retardation (IUGR). However, the effects of dietary patterns during IUGR have not been fully elucidated. The present study aimed to evaluate the effects of different dietary patterns during critical growth windows on metabolic outcomes in the offspring of rats with IUGR. Male offspring rats from mothers fed either a normal or low-protein diet were randomly assigned to one of the following groups: Normal diet throughout pregnancy, lactation and after weaning (CON); normal diet throughout pregnancy and high-fat diet throughout lactation and after weaning (N + H + H); low-protein diet throughout pregnancy and high-fat diet throughout lactation and after weaning (IUGR + H + H); low-protein diet throughout pregnancy and lactation and high-fat diet after weaning (IUGR + L + H); and low-protein diet throughout pregnancy and normal diet throughout lactation and after weaning. During lactation, the male offspring in the N + H + H group exhibited the fastest growth rate, whereas the slowest rate was in the IUGR + L + H group. Following weaning, all IUGR groups demonstrated significant catch-up growth. Abnormal insulin tolerance were observed in the N + H + H, IUGR + H + H and IUGR + L + H groups and insulin sensitivity was decreased in IUGR + L + H group. The triglycerides/high-density lipoprotein ratio in the IUGR + L + H group was significantly higher compared with in the other groups. The abdominal circumference, Lee's index and adipocyte diameter of IUGR groups were significantly increased compared with the CON group. High levels of leptin and interleukin-6 in adipose tissues, and low adiponectin were observed in the IUGR + L + H group. Different dietary patterns during specific growth windows showed numerous impacts on glycolipid metabolism in IUGR offspring. The present study elucidated the mechanisms and potential options for IUGR treatment and prevention.

The Energy Density and Treatment Times Are the Main Factors That Affect the Efficacy of Long-Pulsed 1,064-nm Nd:YAG Laser Treatment for Onychomycosis Caused by Trichophyton rubrum.

BACKGROUND: No optimal regimen exists for the LPNYL (long-pulsed 1,064-nm neodymium:yttrium-aluminum-garnet laser) for treating onychomycosis. OBJECTIVE: To establish an optimal LPNYL treatment regimen for onychomycosis caused by Trichophyton rubrum (OCTr). PATIENTS AND METHODS: First, 511 infected nails of 177 patients were treated using LPNYL with orthogonally designed regimens according to various energy densities, spot sizes, pulse widths, and treatment times. The optimal treatment regimen was established by multivariate analysis. Next, 69 patients with 221 infected nails were randomized to receive oral itraconazole (drug group) and the optimal regimen of LPNYL treatment (laser group). The clinical efficacy (CE) and mycological efficacy (ME) were evaluated at 6 and 12 months following the start of treatment, and adverse reactions were recorded in both groups. RESULTS: Both CE and ME were significantly correlated with the energy density (p < 0.05) and treatment times (p < 0.05), but not with the spot size (0.071 < p < 0.083) or pulse width (0.051 < p < 0.060), at 6 or 12 months. There were no significant differences at 6 or 12 months (p > 0.05), and no significant difference was observed in CE at 12 months between the two groups (p > 0.05). At 6 months, the CE in the laser group was significantly higher than that in the drug group (p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: LPNYL is effective and safe for treating OCTr. The energy density and treatment times are the main factors that affect the efficacy. The optimal regimen for LPNYL is an energy density of 45 J/cm2, pulse width of 35 ms, spot size of 4 mm, frequency of 1 Hz, and 6 treatments with 1-week intervals. Laser treatment has rapid clinical recovery.

A retrospective, single-center cohort study on 65 patients with primary retroperitoneal liposarcoma.

Primary retroperitoneal liposarcoma (PRPLS) is the most common soft tissue malignancy of the retroperitoneum. To determine the pathological features and the curative effects of surgery in patients with PRPLS, and to elucidate key prognostic factors, the present study retrospectively analyzed the clinical cases of 65 patients with PRPLS. Immunohistochemical analysis demonstrated that vimentin and Ki-67 are better indicators for PRPLS immunohistochemical diagnosis compared with S-100 protein. S-100 protein was predominantly expressed in well-differentiated PRPLS. Positive expression of vimentin and Ki-67 were observed in almost all PRPLS samples, and Ki-67 exhibited a higher expression level in high-grade PRPLS. The level of Ki-67 expression was negatively correlated with disease-specific survival (DSS). Survival analysis revealed that the pathological subtype and histological grade were associated with DSS and local recurrence in the patients, whereas the tumor burden was associated with DSS but not local recurrence. In addition, complete tumor resection and contiguous organ resection were able to improve DSS. Microscopically positive margins did not affect DSS, whereas gross margins did. Multivariate analysis revealed that pathological subtype, histological grade and contiguous organ resection were independent prognostic factors, and that histological grade was an independent factor for local recurrence. Patient sex and age at presentation were not independent factors associated with prognosis or local recurrence. Correlation analysis demonstrated that postoperative local recurrence significantly affected DSS, and local recurrence was the most common cause of mortality among patients. Histological grade was strongly associated with the invasion of adjacent organs but not with tumor burden. Furthermore, the tumor burden was not associated with recurrence or tumor invasion of adjacent organs. Ki-67 expression was associated with prognosis. Pathological subtype, histological grade and contiguous organ resection were independent prognostic factors, while histological grade was an independent factor which affected tumor recurrence.

Impact of disease-management programs on metabolic control in patients with type 1 diabetes mellitus: A cohort study in Shantou, China.

The aim of this study is to evaluate the effect of diabetes disease management program (DMP) on glycemic control in type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) patients in Shantou China.A sample of 240 participants recruited from 3C study Shantou subgroup was followed up in DMP for 3 years. The DMP provided self-management education, individualized therapy plan, diabetes complications screening, and laboratory examination periodical according to clinical practice guidelines. Primary outcomes were changes in hemoglobin A1C (HbA1c).Two hundred one of the participants completed the follow-up. There was a significant decrease in the HbA1c levels after DMP implemented. The mean (± SD) pre- and post-intervention HbA1c levels were 10.26% ±â€Š3.30% and 8.57% ±â€Š1.57% respectively with a P value <0.001. General linear mixed model analyse demonstrated that changes in glycemic control were associated with insulin treatment regimen, frequency of Self-Monitoring of Blood Glucose (SMBG), diabetes diet adherence, physical activity, and duration of diabetes.DMP helped to improve glycemic control and should be general implemented in China's T1DM. Individuals with basal-bolus regimen (multiple daily injections or pump therapy), more frequency of SMBG, following a diabetes diet, more physical activity, shorter diabetes duration may derive greater benefits from DMP.

Scinderin promotes the invasion and metastasis of gastric cancer cells and predicts the outcome of patients.

Invasion and metastasis are major malignant characteristics of human gastric cancer (GC), but the underlying molecular mechanisms are poorly understood. Recent studies have shown that scinderin (SCIN), an actin severing and capping protein that regulates the actin cytoskeleton, is involved in the proliferation and migration of certain cancer cells. Accordingly, this study aimed to investigate the potential role of SCIN in the invasion and metastasis of human GC cells and to evaluate its prognostic value for GC patients. We found that high levels of SCIN expression in GC tumors were correlated with poor overall survival of patients. Silencing of SCIN effectively suppressed the migratory and invasive capabilities of human GC cells in vitro and tumorigenicity and metastasis in vivo. Furthermore, knockdown of SCIN markedly inhibited the formation of filopodia, decreasing GC cell migration and the expression of Cdc42, an important regulator of filopodia by GC cells. These findings suggest that SCIN may be a novel prognostic marker and a potential therapeutic target in human GC.

[Clinical efficacy comparison between laparoscopic and open surgery in the treatment of gastric gastrointestinal stromal tumor].

OBJECTIVE: To compare the efficacy between laparoscopic and open surgery in the treatment of gastric gastrointestinal stromal tumor (gastric GIST), and to explore the feasibility and safety of laparoscopic resection for gastric GIST. METHODS: Clinical data of 226 gastric GIST patients confirmed by pathology with maximal tumor diameter less than 10 cm undergoing operation in our department from January 2002 to December 2013 were retrospectively analyzed. Among them, 158 patients received laparoscopic surgery(laparoscopic group), and 68 open surgery (open group). Related indicators of clinical efficacy were compared between the two groups. Laparoscopic group patients were further divided into 4 groups according to chronological order, including 39 patients in group A, 39 in group B, 39 in group C and 41 in group D. Operating time was compared among 4 groups. RESULTS: Compared with the open group, laparoscopic group had shorter operation time [(138.8±69.2) min vs. (173.3±74.5) min, P=0.001], less intraoperative bleeding [30 ml vs. 125 ml, P=0.000], faster recovery to postoperative first flatus [(3.2±1.1) d vs. (3.8±1.1) d, P=0.000] and resumption of oral intake [(3.9±1.5) d vs. (4.7±1.5) d, P=0.000], and a shorter hospital stay [(8.1±2.3) d vs. (10.0±2.6) d, P=0.001]. The operation time of laparoscopic group A, B, C and D was (181.0±81.2) min, (124.7±57.8) min, (126.9±67.9) min and (123.4±51.8) min respectively, and the difference was statistically significant(F=7.188, P=0.001). Median follow-up time of 226 patients was 32 months(5 to 104 months). In laparoscopic group, 136 cases(86.1%) received follow-up, and the 1-, 3-, and 5-year overall survival were 98.7%, 90.7% and 72.8% respectively. In the open group, 59 cases (86.8%) received follow-up, and the 1-, 3-, and 5-year overall survival were 98.3%, 87.1% and 83.1%, respectively. The survival between two groups were not significantly different(P=0.164). CONCLUSIONS: Laparoscopic surgery removing gastric GIST with a maximal diameter of less than 10 cm is safe and feasible. The learning curve of laparoscopic gastric GIST surgery is about 40 cases.

Different effect of handle region peptide on ß-cell function in different sexes of rats neonatally treated with sodium L-glutamate.

BACKGROUND The (pro)renin receptor ((P)RR) was reported to be expressed in various tissues including the pancreas, and handle region peptide (HRP) is believed to block the function of (P)RR. This study aimed to investigate the effect of HRP on the glucose tolerance status and ß-cell function of female rats, neonatally treated with sodium L-glutamate (MSG) and to compare with the previously reported HRP effect on male rats. MATERIAL AND METHODS Female MSG rats aged 8 weeks were divided into MSG control group and HRP treated group and the normal SD rats served as control. The MSG rats were treated with HRP by osmotic minipumps with dose of 1 mg/kg per day for total 28 days. Glucose tolerance status was evaluated at the end of the study. Islets α-cell and ß-cell were marked with insulin antibody and glucagon antibody respectively. The proliferation of islet cells and expression of subunit of NADPH oxidase P22phox were marked by PCNA and P22phox antibody. Picrosirius red staining was performed for evaluating fibrosis of islets. RESULTS HRP improved the glucose status tolerance with decreasing α-cell mass, islets PCNA-positive cells, expression of P22phox and picrosirius red stained areas, and increasing ß-cell mass in female MSG rats. The indexes with obviously interacted effect of sexes and HRP for the MSG rats were the AUC of blood glucose concentration (P<0.01), α-cell mass (P<0.05), proliferation of islet cells (P<0.01) and area of picrosirius red staining (P<0.01). CONCLUSIONS HRP improved the glucose tolerance status in the females although it was previously reported to worsen the glucose tolerance in male MSG rats. Different levels of sex hormones may partly account for the disparate effects observed for HRP in different sexes.