Attitudes and Concerns of Diabetic Patients towards Bariatric Surgery as Treatment of Diabetes

<p><b>INTRODUCTION</b>Bariatric surgery is increasingly recognised as an effective treatment for type 2 diabetes that significantly improves glycaemic control, even achieving remission. This study examined perceptions and concerns of diabetic patients towards bariatric surgery as a treatment option for diabetes.</p><p><b>MATERIALS AND METHODS</b>A total of 150 patients were recruited from a specialised diabetic outpatient clinic and completed a questionnaire (items were rated on a Likert scale from slightly important [lowest score of 1] to extremely important [maximum score of 5]). Logistic regression was performed to identify factors influencing decision for surgery.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The 74 males and 76 females had mean age of 50 (range 20 to 78) and body mass index (BMI) of 29.6 kg/m(range 18.1 to 51); 61% considered surgery favourably. Predictive factors for interest in surgery: higher educational levels (OR = 2.3; 95% CI, 1.2 to 4.4), duration of diabetes (OR = 0.4; 95% CI, 0.2 to 1.0) and use of insulin (OR = 2.1; 95% CI, 1.1 to 4.1). Reasons for surgery: desire for remission (Likert scale 4.7 ± 0.7), to prevent complications (Likert scale 4.5 ± 0.9) and to reduce medications (Likert scale 4.3 ± 1.1). For those not keen on surgery, main reasons were fear of surgery (Likert scale 4 ± 1.5) and satisfaction with current therapy (Likert scale 3.7 ± 1.6).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Many diabetic patients would consider surgery as an option to improve their metabolic disorder (greater interest in patients with higher educational levels, currently using insulin and with shorter duration of diabetes). Surgical complications, length of recovery and duration of benefits were the main concerns.</p>

Effects of moxa-stick ignition locations on temperature of needle body and surrounding environment during warm needling / 中国针灸

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To observe the effects of different ignition locations of moxa stick on temperature of needle body and surrounding environment during warm needling, so as to provide experimental references for clinical manipulation.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>A high-accuracy infrared temperature measuring instrument was applied during warm needling to measure the temperature of needle body and surrounding environment at different ignition locations. The ignition method was divided into 2 ignition types with 4 measuring locations. The first method was to ignite moxa stick from upper-end to measure the temperature of needle body and surrounding environment 2 cm and 3 cm away from bottom-end of moxa stick; the second one was to ignite moxa stick from bottom-end to measure the temperature of needle body and surrounding environment 2 cm and 3 cm away bottom-end of moxa stick. Each ignition method was repeatedly measured for 5 times. The averaging values of measurement results which were processed with superposition method at identical time point were used to draw a temperature curve.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>With any identical ignition method, the maintenance time of moxibustion temperature 2 cm away from bottom-end of moxa stick was longer by 3 min compared with that from 3 cm, for bottom-end ignition and upper-end ignition, in the case of 30 degrees C to 35 degrees, more ignition time could be kept from bottom-end ignition; in the case of more than 35 degrees C, the maximum temperature of needle body by upper-end ignition was higher by 5 degrees C than that by bottom-end ignition. The bottom-end ignition could achieve earlier effective initial time of moxibustion temperature. From the curves, bottom-end ignition was characterized by left-shift peak while upper-end ignition was characterized by right-shift peak.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The ignition location of warming needling seems to be reasonable if moxa stick is ignited from bottom end which is 2 to 3 cm away from skin.</p>

Dihydroartemisinin down-regulates the expression of transferrin receptor in myeloid leukemia cells / 药学学报

This article reports the effect of dihydroartemisinin (DHA) on transferrin receptor (TfR) in myeloid leukemia cells by establishing the model of normal iron HL60 and K562 cells and iron overload K562 cells in vitro. The TfR content of myeloid leukemia cells was determined by flow cytometry, and the effect of DHA on iron content in K562 cells was determined by atomic absorption spectrophotometric analysis. Furthermore, the inhibitory effect of DHA on the anti-proliferation and expression of TfR protein and mRNA in myeloid leukemia cells was studied. As a result, DHA effectively decreased the TfR content and down-regulated TfR protein expression in normal iron HL60 and K562 cells in a dose- and time-dependent manner and inhibited the cell proliferation. The IC50 were 1.74 and 11.33 micromol x L(-1), respectively. DHA exerted more pronounced inhibitory action on expression of TfR protein and mRNA in iron overload K562 cells. Compared to normal iron K562 cells, the TfR protein and mRNA levels were lowered by 28.1% (P < 0.01) and 26. 2% (P < 0. 05) , respectively, after DHA treatment for 48 h in iron overload K562 cells. Moreover, DHA decreased the iron content of iron overload K562 cells and inhibited the proliferation of iron overload K562 cells more potently. DHA effectively down-regulated the TfR content as well as expression of TfR protein and mRNA in normal iron myeloid leukemia cells. DHA also inhibited the proliferation of HL60 and K562 cells. The anti-proliferation effect of DHA on iron overload K562 cells was more striking.

Effects of acupuncture at Dazhui (GV 14) on brain stem auditory evoked potentials in the patient with cervical spondylosis of vertebral artery type / 中国针灸

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To study on the mechanism of Dazhui (GV 14) in treatment of cervical spondylosis of vertebral artery type, and to explore the feasibility of regarding hrain stem auditory evoked potential (BAEP) as the objective criterion for assessment of the therapeutic effect.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Fifty-two cases of cervical spondylosis of vertebral artery type were treated with acupuncture at Dazhui (GV 14), their therapeutic effect and changes of BAEP before and after treatment were investigated.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Seventeen cases were cured, 26 cases improved and 9 cases were ineffective, with an effective rate of 82.7%. In BAEP, V PL, I-III IPL, III-V IPL had significant changes after treatment (P < 0.05), with a significant difference between the clinically effective group (cured and improved) as compared with the ineffective group (P < 0.05, P < 0.01).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Acupuncture at Dazhui (GV 14) improves blood supply of the vertebrabssilar artery, eliminates or alleviates clinical symptoms of cervical spondylosis of vertebral artery type. BAEP can be used as the criterion for assessment of the therapeutic effect.</p>

Astragalus membranaceus promote expression of insulin-like growth factor 1 in rat model of olivo-cerebellar degeneration / 中国中药杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To observe the effect of Astragalus membranaceus (AM) on insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1) expression in a rat model of olivo-cerebellar degeneration and assess the neuroprotective actions of AM meanwhile.</p><p><b>METHOD</b>Rats model of olivo-cerebellar degeneration was established by using 3-acetylpyridine. The effect of AM on the expression of Calbindin D-28K in inferior olive (IO) neurons by immunohistochemistry, the serum IGF-1 level by Elisa, the IGF-1 mRNA level in the cerebellum by RT-PCR were detected respectively.</p><p><b>RESULT</b>AM effectively improve the serum IGF-1 level, Cerebellar IGF-1 mRNA level and the survival of the 10 neurons in a rat model of olivo-cerebellar degeneration, even at a lower dose (9 g x kg(-1)), and the effect was in a dose-dependent manner.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>AM could effectively upregulate the IGF-1 expression in the rat model of olivo-cerebellar degeneration, and have neuroprotective effect on IO neurons.</p>

Dihydroartemisinin inhibits the expression of vascular endothelial growth factor in K562 cells / 药学学报

<p><b>AIM</b>To study the effect of dihydroartemisinin (DHA) on vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) expression in K562 cells and assess the effect of DHA on leukemic angiogenesis induced by K562 cells.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Firstly, analyzed the anti-proliferation effect of DHA on K562 cells and assessed the inhibitory effect on expression of VEGF in K562 cells. Further, the conditioned medium (CM) of K562 cells pretreated with DHA was assessed for its stimulating effect on proliferation of endothelial cells and angiogenesis on chicken chorioallantoic membrane (CAM) model.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>DHA effectively inhibited the proliferation of K562 cells in vitro, and the IC50 was 13.08 micromol x L(-1). The VEGF level of K562 cells was significantly lowered after treated with DHA for 48 h, even at a lower concentration (2 micromol x L(-1), P < 0.05). The stimulating effect on proliferation of endothelial cells and angiogenesis on CAM model were weakened in response to the CM from K562 cells pretreated with DHA in a dose-dependent manner.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>DHA could effectively downregulate the VEGF expression in K562 cells, and inhibit the leukemic angiogenesis induced by K562 cells.</p>

Inhibitory effects of artesunate on angiogenesis / 药学学报

<p><b>AIM</b>To investigate the inhibitory effects of artesunate on angiogenesis.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>The in vitro anti-angiogenic effect of artesunate was tested on models of angiogenesis: proliferation, migration and tube formation of human umbilical vein endothelial (HUVE) cells; The anti-angiogenic effect in vivo was evaluated in nude mice by means of human ovarian cancer HO-8910 implantation and immunohistochemical stainings for microvessel (CD31), vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and VEGF receptor KDR/flk-1.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Artesunate significantly inhibited angiogenesis in a concentration-dependent form in range of 0.5-50 mumol.L-1. The IC50 of artesunate for HUVE cells was (21 +/- 3) mumol.L-1. Growth of xenograft tumor was decreased and microvessel density was reduced following drug-treatment with no apparent toxicity to the animals. Artesunate also remarkably lowered VEGF expression on tumor cells and KDR/flk-1 expression on endothelial cells as well as tumor cells.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Artesunate was shown to inhibit angiogenesis in vitro and in vivo. These findings together with the known low toxicity of artesunate are clues that artesunate may be a promising angiogenesis inhibitor.</p>

Lipid-peroxidantion damage of embryo and placenta induced by artesunate in rats / 浙江大学学报·医学版

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To examine the effect and mechanism of artesunate (Art) on embryo development.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Rat embryo and placental glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px)and malondialdehyde (MDA) were identified by using DTNB (dithionitrobenzene) direct method and TBA (thiobarbituric acid). We investigated the damage of decidual cells caused by Art using cell culture techniques.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Subcutaneous administration of Art in rats on d 6 approximate, equals d 10 of gestation induced developmental toxicity. Absorption increased when progressively increased doses were given (r=0.996,P<0.01). Twenty four hours post injection, GSH-Px in embryo decreased significantly while MDA content was significantly higher than that in the control group (P<0.05). GSH Px: study group was(43.7+/-10.7)micromol/min.mg(-1)Hb, control group was(54.5+/-10.1)micromol/min.mg(-1)Hb; MDA:study group was(230.2+/-19.8)nmol/g tissue, control group was(150.4+/-44.1)nmol/g tissue. Placental GSH-Px activity was significantly higher than that in the control group(P<0.01). After cultured human decidual cells were exposed to Art for 24 h, the LC50 was (25.2+/-3.5)mg/L.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Art may induce developmental toxicity in rat embryo and placenta by neutralizing the antioxidant defense mechanism.</p>