The Effect of Intragastric Administration of Botulinum Toxin Type A on Reducing Adiposity in a Rat Model of Obesity Using Micro-CT and Histological Examinations

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Botulinum toxin type A (BTX), a long-acting inhibitor of muscular contraction in both striated and smooth muscles, is responsible for gastric motility. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of an endoscopic intragastric BTX injection on weight loss, body fat accumulation, and gastric emptying time. METHODS: The BTX group consisted of 15 obese rats in which 20 U of BTX were injected into the gastric antrum. The saline group consisted of 15 obese rats injected with 20 U of saline, and the control group included 10 obese rats that did not receive a surgical intervention. The gastric emptying time, biochemical parameters, and body fat volume were evaluated using micro-computed tomography (micro-CT) and histologic evaluations. RESULTS: The postoperative body weight of the BTX group was significantly lower than those of the other groups (p < 0.001) at 6 weeks after the operation. The gastric emptying time (156±54 minutes) was significantly delayed in the BTX group. The BTX group showed significantly lower lipid levels than the other groups. A reduction in body fat volume was observed in the BTX group using micro-CT and histological evaluations. CONCLUSIONS: BTX application to the gastric antrum represents a potentially effective treatment for obesity and may help improve the lipid profile by increasing the gastric emptying time.

Sweep pattern visual evoked potential acuity in visual developing children / 中华实验眼科杂志

BackgroundSweep pattern visual evoked potential(SPVEP) acuity,as an objective detective technique of visual function,can be used to measure visual acuity in children and uncooperative adults.Recent studies have shown that the amplitude-logarithm of the visual angle (A-LogVA) function regression method was more accurate than the amplitude-spatial frequency (A-SP)function regression method in evaluating SPVEP acuity.Objective This study was to explore the clinical use of SPVEP acuity in visual developing children and compare the evaluating the SPVEP acuity of children between A-SP function regression method and A-LogVA function regression method.Methods Twenty-six eyes of 26 asthenopic children with age range of 3-12 years and 31 age-matched normal children were enrolled in this study.SPVEP acuity was recorded with GT-2000 NV ( GUOTE MEDICAL APPARATUS LTD,China) using sinusoidally modulated horizontal gratings of 10 different spatial frequencies from 0.99 to 12.89 cpd as stimulus.The responses were averaged and displayed through discrete Fourier transformations (DFT) on the monitor display.SPVEP acuity was estimated by using both the SPVEP A-SP function regression method and the SPVEP A-LogVA function regression method.The LogMAR chart was used to acquire LogMAR visual acuity.ResultsIn the normal group,the correlation coefficient between LogMAR visual acuity and acuity calculated by the A-SP function regression method was 0.600 (P＜0.01).The correlation coefficient between LogMAR visual acuity and acuity calculated by the A-LogVA function regression method was 0.733 ( P＜0.01 ).The ANOVA of the LogMAR acuity and the SPVEP acuity calculated from the A-SP function regression method and A-LogVA function regression method were 113.173 (P＜0.01 ),which indicated that there were significant difference among all of subjects.The differences of the mean values of LogMAR visual acuity and the SPVEP acuity calculated from the A-SP function regression method and A-LogVA function regression method were respectively 0.40±0.02,0.26 ±0.02 and 0.14 ± 0.02.In the amblyopia group,the correlation coefficient between LogMAR visual acuity and acuity calculated by the A-SP function regression method was 0.134 (P =0.515 ).The correlation coefficient between LogMAR visual acuity and acuity calculated by the A-LogVA function regression method was 0.456 ( P＜0.05 ).The ANOVA of the LogMAR acuity and the SPVEP acuity calculated from the A-SP function regression method and A-LogVA function regression method were 3.433 (P＜0.05),indicating that there were significant difference among all of subjects.The differences of the mean values of LogMAR visual acuity and the SPVEP acuity calculated from the A-SP function regression method and A-LogVA function regression method were 0.07±0.05,0.12±0.05 and 0.05 ±0.01 respectively.Conclusions SPVEP can evaluate the visual acuity in children,although SPVEP acuity may overestimate or underestimate acuity in comparison with different LogMAR visual acuities.The amplitude-LogVA function regression method is more accurate in extrapolating SPVEP acuity.

Association of interleukin-10 gene polymorphism with cachexia in patients with gastric cancer / 中华肿瘤杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate whether the single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) at -1082, -819 and -592 of interleukin-10 gene and its haplotype are associated with cachexia in patients with gastric cancer.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Radioimmunoassay was used to examine the serum levels of IL-10 in 223 patients with gastric cancer. The single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of IL-10 gene -1082G/A, -819T/C and -592A/C were analyzed using polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP).</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The serum levels of IL-10 were significantly higher in patients with cachexia than those without (P < 0.001). An increased frequency of -1082G allele was noted in patients with cachexia (P = 0.049). The frequencies of -1082AG and -819CC genotypes were elevated in patients with cachexia than those without (P = 0.036, 0.024). In a logistic regression analysis adjusted for actual weight, carcinoma location and stage, the -1082AG genotype was associated with an odds ratio of 1.989 (95%CI, 1.041 - 3.802, P = 0.037), and the -819CC genotype with an odds ratio of 3.393 (95%CI, 1.298 - 8.871, P = 0.013) for cachexia. Furthermore, haplotype analysis revealed that G1082C819C592 haplotype was associated with a significantly increased risk of cachexia (OR = 2.21; 95%CI, 1.14 - 4.30; P = 0.02).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Our results suggest that the gene haplotype of IL-10 contributes to the occurrence of cachexia in patients with gastric cancer in Chinese population.</p>

Impact of application time of aspirin and clopidogrel on platelet aggregation in patients with acute coronary syndrome / 中华心血管病杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To observe the impact of various application time of aspirin and clopidogrel on the circadian rhythm changes of platelet aggregation in patients with acute coronary syndrome.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Patients with acute coronary syndrome were divided into day-time (8:00) and night-time (20:00) medication group (n = 15 each). After plasma concentration reached steady state, platelet aggregation was assessed at 5 time points within 24 hours with a mobile four-channel whole blood impedance aggregometer. The platelet aggregation was induced by ADP and arachidonic acid. Thereafter, the two groups were exchanged and platelet aggregation was assessed in the same way post plasma steady state.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Arachidonic acid-induced platelet aggregation was the highest at 10:00 Am [(7.96 +/- 3.64) ohm] and the lowest at 0:00 [(6.12 +/- 3.29) ohm, P > 0.05] in day-time group. Platelet aggregation was the highest at 20:00 [(9.40 +/- 5.39) ohm] and the lowest at 10:00 [(5.46 +/- 3.93) ohm], P < 0.05). ADP-induced platelet aggregation was the highest at 10:00 and the lowest at 16:00 in day-time group (P > 0.05) and was the highest at 20:00 and the lowest at 10:00 in night-time group (P > 0.05). Platelet aggregation induced by two inducers was significantly higher at 10:00 in day-time group compared to values in night-time group (all P < 0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Taking aspirin and clopidogrel at 20:00 was superior to taking the same medications at 8:00 for inhibiting peak platelet aggregation in the morning.</p>

Gene polymorphism of CYP450 2C9 and VKORC1 in Chinese population and their relationships to the maintaining dosage of warfarin / 中华流行病学杂志

Objective To investigate the distribution of gene polymorphism of CYP450 2C9 and VKORC1-1639A/G in the Chinese population as well as the difference of genetic polymorphism between Chinese Han population and other ethnic populations.Contribution of CYP2C9 and VKORC1 genotype to the maintenance doses on warfarin was also studied.Methods The genotype and allele frequencies were calculated and compared with those in other populations.One hundred and one patients with stable anticoagulation with warfarin under a target international normalized ratio(INR)of 2.0 to 3.0 were enrolled for studying the relationship between the CYP2C9 and VKORC1 gene polymorphism and the warfarin maintaining dosage.Results CYP450 2C9~*3 + 1075C/A allele frequencies were:AA in 449 cases(92.2%),AC in 36 cases(7.4%)and CC in 2 cases(0.4%),respectively.VKORC1-1639A/G allele frequencies were AA in 415 cases(85.2%),GA in 72 cases(14.8%),but GG in no case(0.0%),respectively.When linear stepwise regression analysis was used to identify factors contributing to warfarin stable dose,the final equation was:ln(D)=0.346 + 0.017(weight)-0.376(CYP450 2C9~*3 + 1075C/A)+ 0.148(VKORC1-1639A/G)-0.002(age)(r=0.827,P=0.02).Conclusion There existed significant gene polymorphism CYP450 2C9~*3 + 1075C/A and VKORC1-1639A/G in the Chinese Han population.Both Gene polymorphisms of CYP450 2C9*3 + 1075C/A and VKORC1-1639A/G were significantly affecting the maintaining dose of warfarin in the Chinese population.