Pancreatic Fat is not significantly correlated with ß-cell Dysfunction in Patients with new-onset Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus using quantitative Computed Tomography.

Objective: Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is a chronic condition resulting from insulin resistance and insufficient ß-cell secretion, leading to improper glycaemic regulation. Previous studies have found that excessive fat deposits in organs such as the liver and muscle can cause insulin resistance through lipotoxicity that affects ß-cell function. The relationships between fat deposits in pancreatic tissue, the function of ß-cells, the method of visceral fat evaluation and T2DM have been sought by researchers. This study aims to elucidate the role of pancreatic fat deposits in the development of T2DM using quantitative computed tomography (QCT), especially their effects on islet ß-cell function. Methods: We examined 106 subjects at the onset of T2DM who had undergone abdominal QCT. Estimated pancreatic fat and liver fat were quantified using QCT and calculated. We analysed the correlations with Homeostatic Model Assessment of Insulin Resistance (HOMA-IR) scores and other oral glucose tolerance test-derived parameters that reflect islet function. Furthermore, correlations of estimated pancreatic fat and liver fat with the area under the curve for insulin (AUCINS) and HOMA-IR were assessed with partial correlation analysis and demonstrated by scatter plots. Results: Associations were found between estimated liver fat and HOMA-IR, AUCINS, the modified ß-cell function index (MBCI) and Homeostatic Model Assessment ß (HOMA-ß). However, no significant differences existed between estimated pancreas fat and those parameters. Similarly, after adjustment for sex, age and body mass index, only estimated liver fat was correlated with HOMA-IR and AUCINS. Conclusions: This study suggests no significant correlation between pancreatic fat deposition and ß-cell dysfunction in the early stages of T2DM using QCT as a screening tool. The deposits of fat in the pancreas and the resulting lipotoxicity may play an important role in the late stage of islet cell function dysfunction as the course of T2DM progresses.

Cytological mechanism of astragaloside IV in promoting repair of bone defects.

To explore the possible cytological mechanism underlying the role of Astragaloside IV in promoting the repair of bone defects, osteoblasts were cultured in vitro and identified using inverted phase contrast microscopy, alkaline phosphatase (ALP) staining and alizarin red staining.

[The progress and prospect of ophthalmological research on cerebral visual impairment in children].

With the rapid development of global perinatal medicine and neonatal medicine, the survival rate of high-risk neonates (premature, and those who suffer neurologic lesion during or shortly after birth, et al.) improved significantly, however the incidence of cerebral visual impairment (CVI) also rose, which has become the most common cause of visual impairment in children in developed countries. Studies found that visual abnormalities of patients with CVI can be various. Since children's cognition and motor development are inseparable from visual functions, children with CVI are usually characterized by abnormalities in sensory perception, cognition and even movement, other than visual impairment itself. Due to the characteristics of CVI, such as early onset, complex etiology, difficulty in diagnosis and treatment, and involvement with ophthalmology, pediatrics, rehabilitation medicine, genetic epidemiology and other multi-disciplinary content, current domestic research on CVI is limited. From the perspective of ophthalmologist, this paper reviews the progress of ophthalmology diagnosis and treatment in children with CVI in recent years, aiming to have better early recognition and individualized intervention, so as to help pediatrician and rehabilitation physicians to improve survival skills for CVI children and their quality of life. (Chin J Ophthalmol, 2019, 55:469-474).

[Prognostic influence of preoperative Nutritional Risk Screening -2002 (NRS-2002) score for patients with thoracic esophageal squamous cell carcinoma receiving surgery].

Objective: To apply Nutritional Risk Screening-2002(NRS-2002) to perform nutritional status score for the patients with thoracic esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) receiving surgery, and to explore the prognostic impact of long-term survival. Methods: A total of 117 patients who were diagnosed with ESCC from 2010 to 2012 were retrospectively analyzed. They recieved standard curative esophagectomy in the Yangzhou University Affiliated Taixing People's Hospital. The nutritional status and risk score for recruited patients were assessed according to the standard of NRS-2002 tool prior to surgery, and these patients were grouped for further analysis according to the median values of NRS-2002 score. Finally, the relationship between NRS-2002 score and prognosis was analyzed. Results: Patients were classified into two groups, with 45 in the NRS-2002<2.0 group, and 72 cases in the NRS-2002≥2.0, respectively. In the NRS-2002<2.0 group, the 1-, 3-, and 5-year progression-free survival (PFS) rates were 75.6%, 44.4% and 40.0% separately, while in the NRS-2002≥2.0 group, the PFS rates were 61.1%, 6.9% and 4.2% respectively, and the differences were statistically significant (P<0.001). Correspondingly, in the NRS-2002< 2.0 group, the 1-, 3-, and 5-year overall survival (OS) rates were 97.8%, 66.7% and 57.8% separately, while in the NRS-2002≥2.0 group, the OS rates were 91.7%, 33.3% and 16.7% respectively, and the differences were also statistically significant (P<0.001). Univariate analysis showed that N stage, TNM stage and NRS-2002 score were closely related to PFS and OS (P<0.05), and T stage was only associated with OS in patients with thoracic esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (P<0.05). Furthermore, multivariate Cox regression analysis showed that N stage (RR=1.640, 95% CI 1.049-2.565, P=0.030) and NRS-2002 (RR=3.154, 95% CI 1.946-5.113, P<0.001) were independent prognostic factors for PFS in patients with ESCC after surgery. Additionally, pathological differentiation (RR=1.556, 95% CI 1.004-2.440, P=0.041), N stage (RR=1.624, 95% CI 1.017-2.593, P=0.042) and NRS-2002 (RR=3.906, 95% CI2.245-6.795, P<0.001) were independent prognostic factors for OS in ESCC patients following surgery. Conclusion: Preoperative nutritional risk screening NRS-2002 score is an independent prognostic factor in patients with ESCC receiving surgery and could be used as a tool for primary screening for nutritional risk.

[Medial anterior flange overhang related to the prosthesis selection determined by femoral sizer in total knee arthroplasty].

Objective: To evaluate the medial anterior flange overhang related to the femoral prosthesis size determined by femoral sizer in total knee arthroplasty. Methods: Sixty one cases of varus knee osteoarthritis (61 knees) were analyzed from January 2014 to January 2015, 14 males and 47 females, aged (66.8±6.8) year old. 3D models of distal femur were established by Mimics, total knee arthroplasty surgeries were simulated and the medial and lateral femoral condylar anteroposterior diameter were measured. According to the AP diameter of lateral femoral condyle (lateral condyle group) and femoral sizer (sizer group), different size of the PFC Sigma femoral prosthesis models were imported to mimics, and the coverage of medial anterior femoral flange were compared. Results: The AP diameter of lateral femoral condyle[(55.76±3.64) mm]was significantly less than the sizer group[(57.02±3.59) mm], P<0.05. The distal femur aspect ratio for male (1.2 %±0.1%) and female (1.2%±0.1%) has no statistically difference (P>0.05). Femoral prosthesis sizes, the uncoverage diameter of the anterior chamfer line, midpoint of the flange in the sizer group were significantly larger than the lateral condyle group (P<0.05). The femoral size, overhang ratio of anterior chamfer line and midpoint of the flange in male were significantly larger than females (P<0.05). Conclusion: The AP diameter determined by femoral sizer instrument had a tendency to larger prosthesis, and the risks of medial femoral anterior flange overhang increased. Medial anterior flange overhang in male was significantly less than female, but the difference had no correlation to the distal femur asepect ratio.

Survey of sweetpotato viruses in China.

Ten sweetpotato viruses were surveyed in 3 major sweetpotato planting region (covering 11 provinces) in China from 2006 to 2010 to understand the distribution of sweetpotato viral diseases. Nine out of the 10 viruses were found in every major planting region. The most frequently detected virus in the Northern and the Yangtze River region was SPMSV. In the Southern region, SPVG was the most frequently detected virus. Compared to the results of the survey done in 1989, the incidences of all the viral diseases increased.

Effects of freezing rates and cryoprotectant on thermal expansion of articular cartilage during freezing process.

The intact articular cartilage has not yet been successfully preserved at low temperature most likely due to the volume expansion from water to ice during freezing. The objective of this current study focuses on examining thermal expansion behavior of articular cartilage (AC) during freezing from 0 degree C to -100 degree C. Thermo Mechanical Analysis (TMA) was used to investigate the effects of different concentrations of dimethyl sulphoxide (DMSO) (0%, 10%, 30% and 60% v/v) and different freezing rates (1 C/min, 3 C/min and 5 C/min). The results showed that: (1) the inhomogeneous thermal expansion (or contraction) presents due to inhomogeneous water distributions in articular cartilage during freezing, which also may be the most likely reason that the matrix has been damaged in cryopreserved intact articular cartilage; (2) at the phase transition temperature range, the maximum thermal strain change value for 5C/min is approximately 1.45 times than that for 1 C/min, but the maximum thermal expansion coefficient of the later is about six times than that of the former; (3) the thermal expansion coefficient decreases with increasing cooling rate at the unfrozen temperature region, but some opposite results are obtained at the frozen temperature region; (4) the higher the DMSO concentration is, at the phase change temperature region, the smaller the thermal strain change as well as the maximum thermal expansion coefficient are, but DMSO concentration exhibits little effect on the thermal expansion coefficient at both unfrozen and frozen region. Once the DMSO concentration increasing enough, e.g. 60% v/v, the thermal strain decreases linearly and smoothly without any abrupt change due to little or no ice crystal forms (i.e. vitrification) in frozen articular cartilage. This study may improve our understanding of the thermal expansion (or contraction) behavior of cryopreserved articular cartilage and it may be useful for the future study on cryopreservation of intact articular cartilage.

The GluN2B-Containing NMDA Receptor Alleviates Neuronal Apoptosis in Neonatal Hypoxic-Ischemic Encephalopathy by Activating PI3K-Akt-CREB Signaling Pathwa.

Neonatal hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy (HIE) is a disease caused by insufficient blood supply in the brain in newborns during the perinatal period. Severe HIE leads to patient death, and patients with mild HIE are at increased risk of cognitive deficits and behavioral abnormalities. The NMDA receptor is an important excitatory receptor in the central nervous system, and in adult hypoxic-ischemic injury both subtypes of the NMDA receptor play important but distinct roles. The GluN2A-containing NMDA receptor (GluN2A-NMDAR) could activate neuronal protective signaling pathway, while the GluN2B-NMDAR subtype is coupled to the apoptosis-inducing signaling pathway and leads to neuronal death. However, the expression level of GluN2B is higher in newborns than in adults, while the expression of GluN2A is lower. Therefore, it is not clear whether the roles of different NMDA receptor subtypes in HIE are consistent with those in adults. We investigated this issue in this study and found that in HIE, GluN2B plays a protective role by mediating the protective pathway through binding with PSD95, which is quite different to that in adults. The results of this study provided new theoretical support for the clinical treatment of neonatal hypoxic ischemia.

ß-induced Alfvén eigenmodes destabilized by energetic electrons in a Tokamak plasma.

The ß-induced Alfvén eigenmode (BAE) excited by energetic electrons has been identified for the first time both in the Ohmic and electron cyclotron resonance heating plasma in HL-2A. The features of the instability, including its frequency, mode number, and propagation direction, can be observed by magnetic pickup probes. The mode frequency is comparable to that of the continuum accumulation point of the lowest frequency gap induced by the shear Alfvén continuous spectrum due to finite ß effect, and it is proportional to Alfvén velocity at thermal ion ß held constant. The experimental results show that the BAE is related not only with the population of the energetic electrons, but also their energy and pitch angles. The results indicate that the barely circulating and deeply trapped electrons play an important role in the mode excitation.

Observation of a spontaneous particle-transport barrier in the HL-2A tokamak.

Using the profile analysis, the density perturbation transport analysis, and the Doppler reflectometry measurement, for the first time a spontaneous and steady-state particle-transport barrier has been evidenced in the Ohmic plasmas in the HL-2A tokamak with no externally applied momentum or particle input except the gas puffing. A threshold in density has been found for the observation of the barrier. The particle diffusivity is well-like, and the convection is found to be inward outside the well and outward inside the well. The formation of the barrier coincides with the transition between the trapped electron mode and the ion temperature gradient driven mode.

Effectiveness of laser-assisted treatments for medication-related osteonecrosis of the jaw: a systematic review.

The feasibility of laser-assisted treatments of medication-related osteonecrosis of the jaw (MRONJ) remains poorly understood, so we have therefore systematically evaluated their effectiveness. We made a comprehensive search of MEDLINE, Pubmed, and Embase to find randomised controlled trials, case-control studies, and prospective cohort studies that assessed them. We assessed the eligible studies in duplicate, and if possible conducted a meta-analysis. Ten studies with a low to high risk of bias met the inclusion criteria. We found that a comparison of pain scores before and after using visible and infrared GaAs laser in the low-level laser treatment based on the Numerical Pain Rating Scale (mean difference 4.28; 95% CI 3.62 to 4.93; p<0.00001), showed that there were significant differences in the amount of pain. The effectiveness of other laser-assisted treatments on the reduction of pain - for example, Er:YAG laser surgical treatment, and laser-assisted treatment plus platelet-rich plasma, and the effect of other techniques on wound healing of laser-assisted treatments, are uncertain. We found that the results of the studies that were deemed to be high-to-low quality and to have high-to-low statistical power suggested that there may be considerable clinical improvement in MRONJ by using laser-assisted treatment; we cautiously consider that low-level laser treatment may manage pain and symptoms in these patients. More randomised studies of good quality and with a low risk of bias are needed to test whether laser-assisted treatment should be a routine part of management of patients with MRONJ.

Association of von Willebrand factor (vWF) expression with lymph node metastasis and hemodynamics in papillary thyroid carcinoma.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to analyze the relationship between von Willebrand factor (vWF) expression and lymph node metastasis or hemodynamics parameters in PTC. This work will provide a novel biomarker for the diagnosis of papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC). PATIENTS AND METHODS: A total of 156 PTC patients were divided into metastatic and non-metastatic groups based on the presence or absence of lymph node metastasis. The Adler blood flow grading, color doppler flow imaging (CDFI), and blood flow index (PSV, PI, RI, AT) were measured and analyzed between the two groups. The expression of vWF was examined by immunocytochemical assay and quantitative Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction (qRT-PCR). The function of vWF was investigated by methyl thiazolyl tetrazolium (MTT) and the transwell assays. RESULTS: Both metastatic and non-metastatic groups with the major Adler grades as 0-1 had abundant blood flows. There was a significant difference in the rate of lymph node metastasis between Adler 2-3 and Adler 0-1. Moreover, the expression of vWF was found to be associated with lymph node metastasis or Adler blood flow grade in PTC. Significant differences in peak systolic velocity (PSV), systolic acceleration time (AT), and resistance index (RI) were detected in metastatic and non-metastatic groups. In addition, the upregulation of vWF was positively correlated with PSV, RI, and PI in PTC. Functionally, the knockdown of vWF inhibited the development of PTC by suppressing cell proliferation, migration, and invasion. CONCLUSIONS: Abnormal expression of vWF is closely related to lymph node metastasis and hemodynamics parameters in PTC patients. Furthermore, vWF plays an oncogene role in PTC progression.

[A multicenter survey of the accessibility of essential medicines for children in China].

Objective: To investigate the availability, prices and affordability of essential medicines in pediatric population across China, in the hope of improving rational use of medicines. Methods: A multicenter cross-sectional survey of medicine prices, availability and affordability was conducted in 17 provinces, municipalities and autonomous region across east, south-central part, west and north of China. Data on 42 medicines used in pediatric population, both original and generic, were collected in 55 public hospitals from May 26 to June 2, 2017. Availability was expressed as the percentage of hospitals with stock of the target medicine on the day of data collection,and median price ratio (MPR) was the ratio of price upon investigation to international reference. Based on national minimum daily wage, affordability represents the number of working days needed to earn the expense which covers a standard course using the target medicine. Statistical software SPSS 13.0 was applied for descriptive analysis of availability, MPR and affordability. Results: Mean Availability of original and generic medicine was 33% and 32%, with median MPR being 5.43 and 1.55. Among the 19 medicines with price information for both original and generic product, the median MPR was 7.73 and 2.04 respectively. Regarding the five medicines used to treat four common pediatric diseases (pneumonia,peptic ulcer, congenital hypothyroidism, refractory nephrotic syndrome), the affordability was 0.63 (0.16-6.17) d for generic medicine, and 1.03 (0.16-11.53) d for its original counterpart. Conclusions: The availability to both original and generic products of the 42 medicines used in pediatric population was low in China. The prices of generic medicines seem to be lower and affordability higher than those of original medicines. There is an urgent need to improve the availability and affordability of pediatric medicines.

Effect of a free-range raising system on growth performance, carcass yield, and meat quality of slow-growing chicken.

Experiments were conducted to evaluate the effect of free-range raising systems on growth performance, carcass yield, and meat quality of slow-growing chickens. Slow-growing female chickens, Gushi chickens, were selected as the experimental birds. Two hundred 1-d-old female chicks were raised in a pen for 35 d. On d 36, ninety healthy birds, with similar BW (353.7+/-32.1g), were selected and randomly assigned to 2 treatments (indoor treatment and free-range treatment, P>0.05). Each treatment was represented by 3 groups containing 15 birds (45 birds per treatment). During the indoor treatment, the chickens were raised in floor pens in a conventional poultry research house (7 birds/m2). In the free-range treatment, the chickens were housed in a similar indoor house (7 birds/m2); in addition, they also had a free-range grass paddock (1 bird/m2). All birds were provided with the same starter and finisher diets and were raised for 112 d. Results showed that the BW and weight gain of the chickens in the free-range treatment were much lower than that of the chickens in the indoor floor treatments (P<0.05). There was no effect of the free-range raising system on eviscerated carcass, breast, thigh, and wing yield (P>0.05). However, the abdominal fat yield and tibia strength (P<0.05) significantly declined. The nutrient composition (water, protein, and fat), water-holding capacity, shear force, and pH of the muscle were largely unaffected (P>0.05) by the free-range raising system. The data indicated that the free-range raising system could significantly reduce growth performance, abdominal fat, and tibia strength, but with no effect on carcass traits and meat quality in slow-growing chickens.

Long-range correlations of density fluctuations in the Kerner-Klenov-Wolf cellular automata three-phase traffic flow model.

Detrended fluctuation analysis (DFA) is a useful tool to measure the long-range power-law correlations in 1f noise. In this paper, we investigate the power-law dynamics behavior of the density fluctuation time series generated by the famous Kerner-Klenov-Wolf cellular automata model in road traffic. Then the complexities of spatiotemporal, average speed, and the average density have been analyzed in detail. By introducing the DFA method, our main observation is that the free flow and wide moving jam phases correspond to the long-range anticorrelations. On the contrary, at the synchronized flow phase, the long-range correlated property is observed.

[Facial symmetry after conservative treatment of unilateral condylar fracture in children: a three-dimensional study].

Objective: To investigate the influence of condylar fractures on the growth of condylars after conservative treatments by three-dimensional measurement. Methods: Twenty three children with unilateral condylar fracture followed-up for at least 1 year in Shanghai Ninth People's Hospital were included from June 2016 to March 2017. CT scans were performed for each patient. Three-dimensional virtual skulls were reconstructed and measuring points were defined with Simplant 11.04 software. The depth of glenoid fossa, height of articular eminence, width, height and depth of condylar, deviation of pogonion were measured. Statistical analyses were conducted to assess difference between the bifid group and the normal group. Results: No difference was observed in the vertical position of crest of the articular eminence between two groups (P=0.110). The vertical position of roof of the glenoid fossa in bifid side was significantly superior than the one in normal side (P=0.010). Bifid side had a shorter (P=0.002) and wider(P=0.002) condylar than normal side did. No difference was observed in the depth of condylar between two groups (P=0.071). The average deviation of pogonion was (0.69±1.75) mm (P=0.072) from sagittal plan. Conclusions: This short-termed study indicates that children's growth potential of condylar is under average after conservative treatments. Because the bone hyperosteogeny of glenoid fossa compensates the hypotrophy of condylar, no deviation of pogonion is detected.

Variability in carbon uptake and (re)cycling in Antarctic cryptoendolithic microbial ecosystems demonstrated through radiocarbon analysis of organic biomarkers.

Cryptoendolithic lichens and cyanobacteria living in porous sandstone in the high-elevation McMurdo Dry Valleys are purported to be among the slowest growing organisms on Earth with cycles of death and regrowth on the order of 103 -104  years. Here, organic biomarker and radiocarbon analysis were used to better constrain ages and carbon sources of cryptoendoliths in University Valley (UV; 1,800 m.a.s.l) and neighboring Farnell Valley (FV; 1,700 m.a.s.l). Δ14 C was measured for membrane component phospholipid fatty acids (PLFA) and glycolipid fatty acids, as well as for total organic carbon (TOC). PLFA concentrations indicated viable cells comprised a minor (<0.5%) component of TOC. TOC Δ14 C values ranged from -272‰ to -185‰ equivalent to calibrated ages of 1,100-2,550 years old. These ages may be the result of fractional preservation of biogenic carbon and/or sudden large-scale community death and extended period(s) of inactivity prior to slow recolonization and incorporation of 14 C-depleted fossil material. PLFA Δ14 C values were generally more modern than the corresponding TOC and varied widely between sites; the FV PLFA Δ14 C value (+40‰) was consistent with modern atmospheric CO2 , while UV values ranged from -199‰ to -79‰ (calibrated ages of 1,665-610 years). The observed variability in PLFA Δ14 C depletions is hypothesized to reflect variations in the extent of fixation of modern atmospheric CO2 and the preservation and recycling of older organic carbon by the community in various stages of sandstone recolonization. PLFA profiles and microbial community compositions as determined by molecular genetic characterizations and microscopy differed between the two valleys (e.g., predominance of biomarker 18:2 [>50%] in FV compared to UV), representing microbial communities that may reflect distinct stages of sandstone recolonization and/or environmental conditions. It is thus proposed that Dry Valley cryptoendolithic microbial communities are faster growing than previously estimated.

The impact of modifiable risk factors on mortality from prostate cancer in populations of the Asia-Pacific region.

Mortality from cancer of the prostate is increasing in the Asia-Pacific, when much of this region is undergoing a transition to a Western lifestyle. The role that lifestyle factors play in prostate cancer appears limited, but existing data mainly are from the West. We conducted an individual participant data analysis of 24 cohort studies involving 320,852 men (83% in Asia). Cox proportional hazard models were used to quantify associations between risk factors and mortality from prostate cancer. There were 308 deaths from prostate cancer (14% in Asia) during 2.1 million person-years of follow-up. The age-adjusted hazard ratio (95% confidence interval; CI) for men with body mass index (BMI) 28 kg/m2 or more, compared with below 25, was 1.55 (1.12 - 2.16); no such significant relationship was found for height or waist circumference. The BMI result was unchanged after adjustment for other variables, was consistent between Asia and Australia/New Zealand (ANZ) and did not differ with age. There was no significant relationship with diabetes, glucose or total cholesterol (p > or = 0.18). Smoking, alone, showed different effects in the two regions, possibly due to the relative immaturity of the smoking epidemic in Asia. In ANZ, the multiple-adjusted hazard ratio for an extra 5 cigarettes per day was 1.12 (95%CI: 1.03 - 1.22), whereas in Asia it was 0.77 (0.56 - 1.05). Body size is an apparently important determinant of prostate cancer in the Asia-Pacific. Evidence of an adverse effect of smoking is conclusive only in the predominantly Caucasian parts of the region.