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ObjectiveTo investigate the effects of Biling Qutong prescription （BLQT） on serum levels of NOD-like receptor thermal protein domain associated protein 3 （NLRP3）， purinergic ligand-gated ion channel 7 receptor （P2X7R）， fibronectin （FN）， and hepatic steatosis in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus （T2DM） complicated with gouty arthritis （GA）. MethodSixty-four patients diagnosed with T2DM comorbid with GA and treated at the First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui University of Chinese Medicine from January 2019 to December 2022 were enrolled and randomly divided into a BLQT group （Chinese medicine group， 32 cases） and the ibuprofen group （western medicine group， 32 cases）. Thirty healthy individuals who underwent routine health examinations during the same period were assigned to the control group. The BLQT group and the western medicine group received basic treatment along with BLQT and ibuprofen， respectively. After 8 weeks of continuous treatment， the traditional Chinese medicine syndrome score （TCMSS） of the patients was evaluated before and after treatment. The differences in fasting plasma glucose （FPG）， 2-hour postprandial plasma glucose （2 h PG）， glycated hemoglobin （HbA1c）， fasting insulin （FINS）， homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance （HOMA-IR）， serum uric acid （SUA）， serum creatinine （SCr）， total cholesterol （TC）， triglyceride （TG）， high-density lipoprotein cholesterol （HDL-C）， low-density lipoprotein cholesterol （LDL-C）， alanine aminotransferase （ALT）， aspartate aminotransferase （AST）， controlled attenuation parameter （CAP）， liver stiffness measurement （LSM）， NLRP3， P2X7R， and FN levels before and after treatment were compared. Adverse drug reactions that occurred during treatment were recorded. ResultThe TCMSS for joint redness， swelling， pain， joint burning， yellow urine， and red tongue with yellow and greasy coating， as well as total score were significantly reduced in both the BLQT group and the western medicine group as compared with those before treatment （P<0.05， P<0.01）. The BLQT group also showed a significant reduction in symptom scores such as dry mouth， polyuria， polydipsia， and slippery and rapid pulse （P<0.01）. Compared with the western medicine group after treatment， the BLQT group exhibited a more significant reduction in all symptom scores and total score （P<0.05， P<0.01）. The BLQT group and the western medicine group showed a decrease in FPG， 2 h PG， HbA1c， SCr， SUA， TG， TC， and LDL-C levels （P<0.05， P<0.01） after treatment， and the BLQT group showed decreased HOMA-IR， ALT， AST， and HDL-C levels （P<0.05， P<0.01） compared with those before treatment. When compared with the western medicine group after treatment， the BLQT group showed a more significant reduction in all laboratory parameters except for HDL-C （P<0.05， P<0.01）. Before treatment， NLRP3， P2X7R， and FN levels in both the BLQT group and the western medicine group were higher than those in the control group （P<0.01）. After treatment， NLRP3 and P2X7R levels in both groups significantly decreased （P<0.01）， and FN levels in the BLQT group also decreased significantly （P<0.01）. When compared with the western medicine group after treatment， the BLQT group showed a more significant reduction in NLRP3， P2X7R， and FN levels （P<0.01）. Before treatment， CAP and LSM levels in both the BLQT group and the western medicine group were higher than those in the control group （P<0.01）. After treatment， CAP and LSM levels in both groups decreased （P<0.05， P<0.01）. Compared with the western medicine group after treatment， the BLQT group showed a more significant reduction in CAP and LSM （P<0.01）. The incidence of adverse reactions was 3.13% （1/32） in the BLQT group and 15.63% （5/32） in the western medicine group， with no significant difference. ConclusionBLQT has good efficacy in patients with T2DM complicated with GA， which can significantly alleviate joint redness， swelling， heat， pain， limited mobility， dry mouth， and polydipsia， reduce blood glucose， uric acid， and lipid levels， suppress the high expression of NLRP3， P2X7R， and FN， and improve hepatic steatosis.
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Objective To investigate the relationship between white blood cell count (WBC) and the prevalence of simple fatty liver disease (SFL) and nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH). Methods We designed a large scale cross-sectional study in an adult population. Participants were selected from Tianjin Medical University's General Hospital-Health Management Centre. The diagnoses of simple fatty liver disease and nonalcoholic steatohepatitis were based on liver ultrasonography and serum alanine aminotransferase concentration. A total of 37507 subjects (8644 SFL and 2557 NASH) were included in this study. Multiple logistic regression analysis was used to assess whether the quartiles of WBC were associated with the prevalence of simple fatty liver disease and nonalcoholic steatohepatitis. Results After adjusting for potential confounders, the odds ratios (95% confidence interval) of simple fatty liver disease and nonalcoholic steatohepatitis for increasing quartiles of WBC were: simple fatty liver disease, 1.00 (reference), 1.37 (1.24, 1.50), 1.70 (1.55, 1.86) and 2.09 (1.90, 2.29) (P for trend<0.0001);nonalcoholic steatohepatitis, 1.00 (reference), 1.39 (1.16, 1.66), 1.69 (1.43, 1.99) and 2.13 (1.81, 2.50) (P for trend<0.0001). Conclusions This study proves the correlation between WBC and the prevalence of simple fatty liver disease and nonalcoholic steatohepatitis. Further study is needed to clarify whether WBC has a predictive value for the occurrence of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease.
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Objective To explore the association between the infection rate of Helicobacter pylori (Hp) and intake frequency of capsicum in dietary pattern. Methods A total of 914 health check-up participants were recruited from Tianjin Medical University General Hospital (male: 510,female:404). All participants were asked about the intake frequency of capsicum. Diagnostic criteria of the Hp infection included positive C13 breath test. Results The intake frequency of capsicum was ≥2 times/week, 1 time/week and <1 time/week. The infection rate of Hp was 56.08%, 49.04% and 48.29%. After adjusting for covariates, compared with the≥2 times/week, the odds ratios(95%confidence interval)of intake frequency of capsicum 1 time/week and <1 time/week: the frequency of capsicum intake ≥2 times/week was 1.00 (reference), the frequency of capsicum intake 1 time/week was 0.57(0.33-0.97) and the frequency of capsicum intake<1 time/week was 0.69(0.42-1.14) in men;the frequency of capsicum intake≥2 times/week was 1.00 (reference), the frequency of capsicum intake 1 time/week was 1.01(0.54-1.88), and the frequency of capsicum intake<1 time/week was 0.71(0.41-1.23) in women. Conclusions This study found that food intake frequency of capsicum≥2 times/week was associated with the infection rate of Hp in men. But similar relationship was not observed in women.
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Objective Neutrophil/lymphocyte ratio (NLR) is a simple and reliable inflammation biomarker but few studies have assessed the relationship between NLR and hypertension in Chinese population. In order to evaluate how NLR is related to the incidence of hypertension, we designed a large scale prospective cohort study in an adult population. Method Participants were recruited from Tianjin Medical University's General Hospital?Health Management Centre. Hypertension?free subjects (men, 13 638;women,15 212) were followed up for a median of 2.7 years. Adjusted Cox proportional hazards regression models were used to assess relationships between the quintiles of NLR and the incidence of hypertension. Result During the follow-up period, 1 348 subjects in men and 476 subjects in women developed hypertension. The hazard ratios of hypertension incidence were evaluated in increasing NLR quintiles both in men and women. In the final multivariate models, the hazard ratios (95% confidence interval) for hypertension across NLR quintiles were 1.00 (Reference), 1.05 (0.87, 1.26), 1.02 (0.85, 1.22), 1.07 (0.90, 1.29) and 1.22 (1.03, 1.45) (P for trend=0.01), in men;1.00 (Reference), 1.11 (0.82, 1.49), 0.79 (0.58, 1.08), 1.13 (0.85, 1.52) and 1.25 (0.94, 1.66) (P for trend=0.07), in women, respectively. Conclusion This study showed that the elevated NLR levels were significantly related to an increased risk of developing hypertension in men, but not in women.
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Objective Neutrophil/lymphocyte ratio (NLR) is an easy-to-analyze inflammation biomarker but few studies have assessed the relationship between NLR and type 2 diabetes. In order to evaluate how NLR is related to type 2 diabetes, we designed a large scale cross?sectional study in an adult population. Method A cross?sectional study (including 49 861 men and 40 376 women) was conducted on participants recruited from the Health Management Center of Tianjin Medical University General Hospital in Tianjin, China. Measurements of neutrophil and lymphocyte counts, fasting blood glucose and other potential confounding factors were performed. Type 2 diabetes was defined according to the criteria of American Diabetes Association. Adjusted logistic regression models were used to assess relationships between NLR quintiles and type 2 diabetes. Result In the final multivariate models, the odds ratios (95% confidence interval) for T2D across NLR quintiles were 1.00 (Reference), 1.19 (1.05, 1.35), 1.33 (1.17, 1.50), 1.28 (1.13, 1.44) and 1.34 (1.19, 1.51) (P for trend<0.000 1), in men. Similar relationships were also observed in women. Conclusion This study demonstrated that NLR was related to the prevalence of type 2 diabetes in men and women, and suggesting that NLR may be an efficient and accurate prognostic biomarker for type 2 diabetes.
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Objective To evaluate whether the serum uric acid (SUA) levels are related to development of prediabetes. Methods This was a 6-year cohort study, subjects were recruited from Tianjin Medical University General Hospital Health Management Center. A prospective assessment (n=30 910) was performed. Subjects without a history of prediabetes were followed up for 6 years (with a median follow-up of 2.7 person-years). All relevant variables including SUA concentrations, and fasting plasma glucose were assessed at baseline and yearly during the follow-up. Prediabetes was defined in accordance with the American Diabetes Association criteria of 2014. Multivariate-adjusted Cox proportional hazards regression models were fitted to assess relationships between the quintiles of baseline SUA and the incidence of prediabetes. Results The incidence of prediabetes was 55 per 1 000 person-years. In comparison with subjects in the lowest quintile, the odds ratios and hazard ratio (95%confidence interval) of higher quintile of SUA were 1.04 (0.93, 1.15), 1.07 (0.95, 1.19), 1.13 (1.01, 1.28) and 1.15 (1.02, 1.30) (P for trend=0.01), respectively, after adjusting for potential confounders. Conclusion SUA levels predicted an increased risk of prediabetes in adults.
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Objective To investigate the pathological changes and mechanism in the urethra by parturition-induced stress urinary incontinence.Methods Sprague Dawley female rats underwent vaginal balloon dilation for 4 hours immediately after delivery.One week later,the rats were anesthetized and both ovaries were excised.Then a rat model of stress urinary incontinence (SUI) was successfully established.One month after ovariectomy,conscious cystometry and Leak-Point Pressure (LPP) were measured by MP150.Histological examination and Western blotting were performed after functional assays.Results (1) 85％ of rats presented astress urinary incontinence in the model group.(2) The urethras in SUI rats had decreased muscles,and striated muscles showed fragmentized and disorganized.(3) Elastic fibers were long,well organized and tightly connected to the muscle bundles in sham group,while elastic fibers showed fragmentation and disorganization in the model group.(4) The protein expression of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and blood vessels were reduced in SUI rats as compared with the sham rats.Conclusions Muscle and elastic fibers in the urethra are disrupted in SUI rat.VEGF may play an important role in regulation of pathological changes in urethra.