Selective beta-1 blockers deteriorate glucose metabolism. A meta-analysis

To provide an up-to-date synthesis of available data, and to quantify the effect of highly selective beta-1 blockers on glucose metabolism in patients with essential hypertension and type 2 diabetes mellitus [T2DM] by using pooled analysis techniques. Cochrane Library, PubMed, MEDLINE, and EMBASE databases were searched from inception to July 2013 in the Third Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, Nanchang, China. We collected randomized controlled trails reporting on the effect of highly selective beta-1 blockers on glucose metabolism in patients with hypertension and type 2 diabetes. Data was screened, evaluated, and extracted by 2 independent researchers according to the inclusion and exclusion criteria. Meta-analysis was conducted using RevMan5.0 software. Seven trials were enrolled in the meta-analysis including a total of 1354 patients. Meta-analysis results revealed that when compared with the control group, selective beta-1 blockers were associated with a higher fasting blood glucose [weighed mean difference: 0.21, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.16-0.27; p<0.00001]. But results revealed no significant difference in glycosylated hemoglobin [weighed mean difference: 0.13, 95% CI: -0.11 to 0.37; p=0.28], fasting insulin [weighed mean difference: -1.13, 95% CI: -4.27 to 2.01; p=0.48], and gain in body weight [weighed mean difference: 1, 95% CI: -1.08 to 3.08; p=0.35]. Selective beta-1 blockers were associated with elevated fasting blood glucose. Thus, it should not be used for patients with essential hypertension and diabetes

Spatial and temporal variation in stable isotopes signatures of periphyton and an endangered fish in a flow-reduced river reach

The environmental and ecological issues in the flow-reduced river reach are very serious and are receiving increasingly attention. In this study, we investigate the temporal and spatial changes in Delta 13C and Delta 15N of Periphyton and isotopic relationship between Periphyton and the endangered fish [Ayu, Plecoglossus altivelis] in a flow-reduced river reach in Japan. Much of the spatial and temporal variation in Delta 13C of endangered fish was explained by variation in Periphyton, indicating a strong link between primary production and higher order consumers. The Periphyton Delta 13C was correlated with current velocity while it was not correlated with the Periphyton biomass [Chl. a]. Spatially, the relatively high Delta 13C and Delta 15N of Periphyton in the lower sites of the flow-reduced river reach might be due to high level of anthropogenically derived N and C introduced from the surrounding agricultural activities and human settings. The trophic position of the endangered fish in was estimated to be 1.5-2.2[1.8 +/- 0.3], which agrees with the previous stomach content analysis suggesting that the ayu mainly feed on Periphyton

Fundamental study of degradation of dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane in soil by laccase from white rot fungi

This research describes application of laccase from white-rot fungi [polyporus] to remove dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane in soil. The degradation kinetics of dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane in soil was also investigated by laboratory batch experiments. The results showed that laccase from white-rot fungi can effectively degrade dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane and the degradation of total dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane [the sum of the four dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane compounds in a sample] was pseudo-first-order kinetics. The residues of almost all the dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane components and total dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane in soils treated with laccase decreased rapidly during first 15 days and then kept at a stable level during next 10 days. The residues of total dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane in soils with different dosages laccase decreased by about 21-32%, 29-45%, 35-51% and 36-51% after 5, 10, 15 and 25 days of incubation, respectively. The half-life of total dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane in soils with different dosages laccase ranged from 24.75 to 41.75 days. The residues of total dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane in three different types of soils decreased by 25-29%, 39-43%, 44-47% and 47-52% after 5, 10, 15 and 25 days of incubation with laccase, respectively. The half-life of total dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane in different types of soil ranged from 24.71 to 27.68 days. The residues of total dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane in soils with different pH levels decreased by 18-24%, 29-39%, 36-39% and 39-50% after 5, 10, 15 and 25 days of incubation with laccase, respectively. The half-life of total dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane ranged from 25.63 to 36.42 days. Laccase can be an efficient and safe agent for remediation of dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane-contaminated soil